Does visual redundancy inhibit older persons’ information processing in learning?

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the redundancy effect on older and younger persons’ cognitive performance in a caregiver video training. Participants (N = 92) were recruited from one research-intensive university and three senior centers in a midsize city in the western United States. The mixed within- and between-subjects design was used. Participants watched the caregiving video with caption followed by a video without caption or vice versa depending on the condition. The results showed that older persons benefited from the redundancy learning whereas younger persons suffered from the redundancy learning. Implications of the findings are discussed with suggestions for future research.     

Mindfulness and Intelligence: A Comparison

The theory of mindfulness (Langer, 1989a) shares with some current theories of intelligence an emphasis on the importance of cognitive flexibility. The mindfulness approach to cognitive flexibility differs from the intelligence approach in its conception of the relation between individuals and their environment. Intelligence theory employs a criterion of optimal fit between individual and environment. Mindfulness theory emphasizes that individuals may always define their relation to their environment in several ways. We examine the historical background of this difference between mindfulness and intelligence and find that (a) the concept of intelligence is embedded in a theory of correspondence that has been inherited from the 19th century; (b) current intelligence theories continue to focus on thought as adaptively corresponding to external reality; (c) despite apparent differences between unidimensional and multidimensional approaches to intelligence, common reliance on a criterion of optimal fit engenders more similarity than difference; (d) this similarity prolongs the detrimental effects of intelligence theories on self-perception, perception of others, and the educational process. Mindfulness theory rejects an evaluative standard that is external to the individual's capacity to give meaning to experience. We examine mindful enhancement of personal control and the educational process, and contrast this with the limitations of an intelligence approach.     

Program of the 1965 conference of the central states speech association

President Kennedy perceived a threat to American national security in Communist sponsorship of “wars of national liberation” in developing nations. He responded with a policy of counter‐insurgency, which was to be implemented primarily by the U. S. Army's Special Forces, known as the Green Berets. In order to gain public and Congressional support, pacify the political right wing, and bolster his own flagging public image, Kennedy portrayed the Special Forces as contemporary reincarnations of the mythic frontier hero. His efforts were, in the short run, successful, but they paved the way for later escalation of the war by Lyndon Johnson.     

Moving Beyond the Ableist Roots of Educational Psychology: Audit of the Field and a Path Forward

Educational Psychology Review - In the current literature review, we studied the articles published between 2010 and July 2020 in six prominent educational psychology journals to determine the...     

Sedentary time and vigorous physical activity are independently associated with cardiorespiratory fitness in middle school youth

Abstract

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between objectively measured physical activity, sedentary time, and cardiorespiratory fitness in a diverse sample of youth. Participants were recruited from three middle schools and completed assessments of height, weight, cardiorespiratory fitness, and wore an accelerometer for a minimum of four days. Hierarchical general linear models controlling for age, body mass index (BMI) percentile, and sex were used to evaluate the association of time (minutes per day) spent sedentary, and in moderate physical activity and vigorous physical activity with cardiorespiratory fitness (i.e., heart rate response [beats per minute], dependent variable). Results indicated age (β = –0.16, P < 0.05), BMI percentile (β = 0.33, P <0.05), being male (β = 0.17, P < 0.05), sedentary time (β = 0.11, P <0.05), moderate (β = –0.03, P > 0.05) and vigorous (β = –0.22, P < 0.05) physical activity explained 29% of the variance in cardiorespiratory fitness. Evaluation of fitness among high sedentary/high vigorous, high sedentary/low vigorous, low sedentary/low vigorous, and low sedentary/high vigorous groups (defined by the median split) showed that high levels of vigorous activity removed the detrimental effect of high levels of sedentary time on cardiorespiratory fitness. These analyses suggest that the negative impact of sedentary time can be mitigated by engaging in vigorous activity.     

Learning to lead: Self‐ and peer evaluation of team leaders in the human structure didactic block

Increasing emphasis on leadership in medical education has created a need for developing accurate evaluations of team leaders. Our study aimed to compare the accuracy of self‐ and peer evaluation of student leaders in the first‐year Human Structure block (integrated gross anatomy, embryology, and radiology). Forty‐nine first‐year medical students at Mayo Medical School were assigned to learning teams of three or four members. Teams worked together on daily laboratory dissection, clinical projects, embryology presentations, and daily group quizzes. Student team leaders were responsible for leading laboratory dissection, reviewing radiographic findings, and organizing group assignments. Weekly electronic surveys were administered to evaluate team leaders on altruism, compassion, respect, integrity, responsibility, commitment to excellence, and self‐reflection. Results demonstrated that team leaders rated themselves lower than their peers rated them in multiple aspects of leadership. Peer evaluation of team leaders was statistically higher than self‐evaluation in all traits measured except respect. Female leaders were rated higher by their peers in the areas of responsibility and self‐reflection compared to male leaders. This study demonstrates the need for increased communication between team leaders and members, along with creation of a mutually respectful environment, to improve leader awareness of their abilities and foster team success. Anat Sci Educ 2:210–217, 2009. © 2009 American Association of Anatomists.     

The control of upper body segment speed and velocity during the golf swing

Understanding the dynamics of upper body motion during the downswing is an important step in determining the control strategies required for a successful and repeatable golf swing. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between head, thorax, and pelvis motion, during the downswing of professional golfers. Three-dimensional data were collected for 14 male professional golfers (age 27 +/- 8 years, golf-playing experience 13.3 +/- 8 years) using an optical motion analysis system. The amplitude and timing of peak speed and peak velocities were calculated for the head, thorax, and pelvis during the downswing. Cross-correlation analysis was used to examine the strength of coupling and phasing between and within segments. The results indicated the thorax segment had the highest peak speeds and peak velocities for the upper body during the downswing. A strong coupling relationship was evident between the thorax and pelvis (average R2 = 0.92 across all directions), while the head and thorax showed a much more variable relationship (average R2 = 0.76 across all directions). The strong coupling between the thorax and pelvis is possibly a method for simplifying the motor control strategy used during the downswing, and a way of ensuring consistent motor patterns.     

Tear osmolarity is sensitive to exercise-induced fluid loss but is not associated with common hydration measures in a field setting

This investigation (i) examined changes in tear osmolarity in response to fluid loss that occurs with exercise in a field setting, and (ii) compared tear osmolarity with common field and laboratory hydration measures. Sixty-three participants [age 27.8 ± 8.4 years, body mass 72.15 ± 10.61 kg] completed a self-paced 10 km run outside on a predetermined course. Body mass, tear fluid, venous blood and urine samples were collected immediately before and after exercise. Significant (p < 0.001) reductions in body mass (1.71 ± 0.44%) and increases in tear osmolarity (8 ± 15 mOsm.L^?1), plasma osmolality (7 ± 8 mOsm.kg^?1), and urine specific gravity (0.0014 ± 0.0042 g.mL^?1; p = 0.008) were observed following exercise. Pre- to post-exercise change in tear osmolarity was not significantly correlated (all p > 0.05) with plasma osmolality (r_s = 0.24), urine osmolality (r_s = 0.14), urine specific gravity (r_s = 0.13) or relative body mass loss (r = 0.20). Tear osmolarity is responsive to exercise-induced fluid loss but does not correlate with the changes observed using other common measures of hydration status in the field setting. Practitioners shouldn’t directly compare or replace other common hydration measures with tear osmolarity in the field.

Abbreviations: BML: Body Mass Loss; CV: Coefficient of Variation; P_osm: Plasma osmolality; SD: Standard Deviation; T_osm: Tear Osmolarity; U_osm: Urine Osmolality; USG: Urine Specific Gravity; WBGT: Wet bulb globe thermometer