Unpublishable research: examining and organizing the ‘file drawer’

It is well known that a number of research outcomes are not reported (the so‐called ‘file drawer problem’). It is generally assumed that what is not reported are ‘negative results’. Our study approaches the issue from a new angle by exploring what researchers perceive to be ‘unpublishable’. A survey regarding ‘unpublishables’ was sent out to 2,535 faculty members at Indiana University. Forty of these individuals consented to in‐depth interviews, which more fully explored these academics' views on the issue of unpublishable work. Our results indicate that there are several types of research besides negative results that are perceived to be unpublishable yet worthy of publication. Moreover, there is a great diversity within and across disciplines as to what constitutes ‘unpublishable’ research. Respondents indicated that academic discourse would benefit from the formal dissemination of papers that included inconclusive or null results, as well as replication and refutation studies. The results of our study suggest that there is a perceived gap in scholarly communication, which is to the detriment of science. These results can be used by administrators, educators, and publishers in order to refine scholarly communication practices so as to create a more robust, accurate literature and to inform future generations of researchers.     

Bewegungstherapie in der Kinder- und Jugendlichenrehabilitation

Although recommended in most treatment guidelines for child/adolescent rehabilitation, there is a lack of standards regarding the amount of exercise therapy that children and adolescents should receive during rehabilitation to ensure effective treatment. First, existing treatment guidelines were examined with regard to data on the frequency, duration, content, and modes of procedure of exercise therapy in the treatment of children and adolescents with asthma, obesity, and atopic dermatitis. Moreover, the actual implementation of exercise therapy in child/adolescent rehabilitative care was analyzed by using standardized data on the classification of therapeutic measures of the years 2007/2008 and comparing different rehabilitation centers. In the context of a nationwide survey, experts and clinicians were asked to describe and define how exercise therapy can be adopted in rehabilitative practice. On this basis, an expert workshop was conducted during which a pilot version of treatment guidelines for child/adolescent rehabilitation was developed and compared with actual medical care practice. Obese children/adolescents receive the highest amount of exercise therapy (4.7 h/week). However, children suffering from atopic dermatitis engage just as long in therapeutic exercises (1.9 h/week) as do children with asthma (1.9 h/week). Exercise therapy modules vary significantly between rehabilitation centers in terms of average frequency and duration. When comparing treatment guidelines and actual medical practice, it becomes apparent that only children up to the age of 7 with atopic dermatitis or asthma are provided to some degree adequately with exercise therapeutic treatment, whereas children aged 8 or older with asthma and/or obesity receive too little exercise therapy. Potential reasons for large variations between rehabilitation centers regarding the use of exercise therapy as well as possible factors that influence discrepancies between actual rehabilitative care practice and therapeutic guidelines are discussed.     

1.2 Denzin, Norman, K./Lincoln, Yvonna S. (Eds.): Collecting and Interpretating Qualitative Materials

Ohne Zusammenfassung

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1.2 Denzin, Norman, K./Lincoln, Yvonna S. (Eds.): Collecting and Interpretating Qualitative Materials Thousand Oaks/London/New Delhi: International Educational and Professional Publisher 1998. 462 S. Preis:€ 19

     

Teaching of social and philosophical background to atomic theory

The history of atomic theory is outlined from earliest times up to the orbital model, and a corresponding teaching method described. The first, historical part of the paper emphasizes social and philosophical aspects in the development of atomic theory. The following milestones are dealt with: the development of the concept of matter from Greek mythology up to the atom; the spreading of Arab philosophy to the Occident during the Middle Ages; the conflict between the church and its opponents in the Middle Ages about the nature of the individual and society; and the status of atomic theory at the time of Newton, and its final acceptance after Dalton. The second part of the paper describes a method for teaching this material at secondary level, in which students are encouraged to make their own conclusions from the range of material offered.     

Media and Occupational Aspirations: The Effect of Television on Career Aspirations of Adolescents

Vocational decisions are important decisions for adolescents. This article takes television effects into account. A literature review for the occupational world in TV programs reveals a strong focus on some occupations as well as small cultivation effects plus learning effects from mediated role models. A secondary analysis of 2 panel waves was undertaken to study the effect of media role models on occupational aspiration. Television usage in a program segment correlated with corresponding aspirations. A process models showed a strong effect of career aspiration in 1 panel wave on related television usage and career aspirations in the following panel wave.