Replication of a Rank-Framed Social Norms Experiment

Decades of research on the social norms approach (SNA) has shown that informing people of how their behavior compares to their peers is an effective way to reduce risky behavior. The SNA has been particularly successful at reducing drinking on college campuses. However, one recent study may have found a way to improve upon the SNA: rank-framing messages. This study found that reframing social norms messages to show how students’ alcohol consumption ranks relative to their peers is more effective at increasing information seeking. The current study is a replication of this study. Rank-framed messages did decrease drinking behaviors but did not increase information seeking. Possible explanations and the potential merit of rank-framed social norms interventions are discussed.     

Motivation and Engagement with Physics: a Comparative Study of Females in Single-Sex and Co-educational Classrooms

Research in Science Education - It has been argued that the establishment of single-sex classes for females can increase their motivation and participation in physics. This paper reports on...     

Displaying Special Collections Online

This article explores ways of creating an online presence for Special Collections. Options available for institutions limited by budget are explored, progressing from the point of initially considering going digital, and then on through the steps of digitization to online platforms. This article centers more on practicalities of creating an online presence more than on arguments for why an institution should have one. Ultimately, the individual institution has to decide what is best for their collection and act from there.     

Issues in the sexual molestation of deaf youth

An overview is provided of issues involved in sexual abuse in schools (as well as the general problem of child molestation in society), some characteristics of pedophiles and hebephiles, and data on how sexual molesters are dealt with by the criminal justice system. Specific information is provided on how sexual abuse becomes an issue in schools for children who are deaf, what can be done to prevent it, and symptoms to look for in identifying deaf children who are being victimized.     

Learning Neuroscience with Technology: a Scaffolded,Active Learning Approach

Mobile applications (apps) for learning technical scientific content are becoming increasingly popular in educational settings. Neuroscience is often considered complex and challenging for most students to understand conceptually. iNeuron is a recently developed iOS app that teaches basic neuroscience in the context of a series of scaffolded challenges to create neural circuits and increase understanding of nervous system structure and function. In this study, four different ways to implement the app within a classroom setting were explored. The goal of the study was to determine the app’s effectiveness under conditions closely approximating real-world use and to evaluate whether collaborative play and student-driven navigational features contributed to its effectiveness. Students used the app either individually or in small groups and used a version with either a fixed or variable learning sequence. Student performance on a pre- and post-neuroscience content assessment was analyzed and compared between students who used the app and a control group receiving standard instruction, and logged app data were analyzed. Significantly, greater learning gains were found for all students who used the app compared to control. All four implementation modes were effective in producing student learning gains relative to controls, but did not differ in their effectiveness to one another. In addition, students demonstrated transfer of information learned in one context to another within the app. These results suggest that teacher-led neuroscience instruction can be effectively supported by a scaffolded, technology-based curriculum which can be implemented in multiple ways to enhance student learning.     

Obstacles faced by deaf people in the criminal justice system

Deaf people, especially those who are not well educated, are at risk for serious injustices when they enter the criminal justice system. The present study describes these risks at all stages of the legal process, including arrest, trial, probation, prison, and parole. These dangers are greatest for those who are poorly educated, read at a fourth-grade level or lower, have poor communication skills (American Sign Language and English), and lack awareness of their legal rights. Primitive personality disorder (PPD) is the term mental health professionals use to describe this set of characteristics. The risks that the segment of the deaf population with PPD faces when its members run afoul of the law are described, a case history provided, and some relevant legal and interpreting issues are discussed. A case is made for applying the concept of linguistic incompetence to deaf individuals with PPD.     

The good preschool teacher

Randa Roen Nachbar taught young children in New York City for many years. She is the editor of Day Care and Early Educationand is an advocate for children and early education professionals.