Male college students and family planning use in Zambia

The success of family planning depends on attitudes and knowledge about contraception. In this study, the correlation between ever use of contraception and health attitudes among men was assessed. 65 male participants were randomly selected from residence halls on the University of Lusaka campus in Lusaka, Zambia. Students reflected a diverse ethnic mix. The findings indicated that only 37.5% had approval from ethnic traditions for contraceptive use. Chi square tests rejected the null hypothesis that there is no relationship between the variables "ever use" and "ethnic orientation." 52.5% who reported ever use of contraception were juniors or seniors, which indicated little difference by level of education and ever use. Family planning ever use due to health reasons was reported by 70% of participants. These findings support the research of Manda on noncollege populations about use of condoms. College students do have favorable attitudes toward contraception and toward health. This research supports the public education campaign of the Ministry of Health to promote the practice of safe sex for health reasons and the prevention of AIDS, a widespread problem in Zambia.     

Immigrant and nonimmigrant children's social interactions and peer responses in mainstream preschool classrooms

The authors examined the social practices and outcomes of 23 immigrant and 16 nonimmigrant preschoolers in English only preschool classrooms. In both classrooms, the majority of the children (nearly two thirds) were immigrant, English language learners. The children's social attempts, social strategies, speech functions, and degree of social success were observed and comparisons were made between nonimmigrant and immigrant peers. There were similarities between groups in their social engagement and social construction strategies; there were differences in social roles, social language functions, and types of social construction strategies. There also were significant differences in the social success of the two groups. Immigrant children experienced rejection of their social bids more than their preschool peers did. Immigrant children also were less likely to be leaders and seemed positioned in a lower social status among their peers did. These results are discussed along with implications for educational practices.     

Effect of string bed pattern on ball spin generation from a tennis racket

Topspin has become a vital component of modern day tennis. Ball-to-string bed and inter-string friction coefficients can affect topspin generation from a racket. The aim of this research was to determine the effect of string bed pattern on topspin generation. Tennis balls were projected onto nine head-clamped rackets with different string bed patterns. The balls were fired at 24 m/s, at an angle of 26° to the string bed normal with a backspin rate of 218 rad/s and outbound velocity, spin and angle were measured. Outbound velocity was shown to be independent of string bed pattern. Outbound angle increased with the number of cross strings, while outbound topspin decreased. In the most extreme case, decreasing the number of cross strings from 19 to 13 increased rebound topspin from 117 to 170 rad/s.     

The effect of sodium pentobarbital on attraction in the albino rat

Two “target” rats, one drugged and one undrugged, were tethered on opposite sides of an open arena in which single, undrugged “subject” rats were allowed to roam free. On the last 2 days of testing, the S rats spent significantly more time in physical contact with the undrugged target rat than with the drugged target rat. Prior adaptation to the arena of S rats had no effect on the relative preferences for the target animals.     

Power Relationships in Rumpelstiltskin: A Textual Comparison of a Traditional and a Reconstructed Fairy Tale

Reconstructed fairy tales provide a different point of view and challenge the assumptions of a common set of values; for that reason, these stories provide a medium in which to examine power relationships in texts by applying a critical multicultural analysis (Botelho & Rudman, forthcoming, 2008, A critical multicultural analysis of children’s literature: Mirrors, windows and doors. New York: Lawrence Erlbaum) to identify and analyze power relations of Rumpelstiltskin (Grimm & Grimm, 1812/1987, New York: Bantam) and Rumpelstiltskin’s Daughter (Stanley, 1997, New York: Morrow Junior Books). Specifically, this study examines how power is exercised on a continuum: domination, collusion, resistance, and agency. Findings indicate that by identifying and questioning text ideologies, critical readers can consider how texts maintain, counteract, or promote alternative systemic power structures.

Understanding Images: educating the viewer

Given the growing importance of the visual media in society and in education, relatively little attention has been devoted to educating the viewer. Recent studies suggest this is an important area, and successful programmes of television literacy have demonstrated that it is possible to enhance the comprehension of viewers. Extending this work into the understanding of images (visual literacy), the following study outlines a new course developed and tested on 12‐ and 13‐year‐old pupils that showed highly significant gains in their understanding of a range of images. The implications of this research for television literacy and our understanding of how people respond to images is evaluated, and further research based on this project is suggested.     

The communication of forgiveness

This investigation examined the interpersonal dynamics of forgiveness processes, by analyzing personal narratives recounting forgiveness situations. The interpersonal forgiveness process is described as consisting of relationship type, forgiver and offender motivations, forgiver and offender strategies, and relational consequences. Findings indicate that the process of forgiveness plays an important role in determining progress in interpersonal relationships. In addition, the forgiveness process was found to vary by relationship type. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.     

From Community College to Four-Year Institution: A Model for Recruitment and Retention

Increasing Numbers, Connections, and Retention in Science and Engineering (INCRSE) was funded with the goal of increasing the quantity, quality, and diversity of undergraduate students pursuing and obtaining degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs at West Texas A&M University (WTAMU). A major objective of INCRSE was to recruit STEM transfer students from regional community colleges (CC) and to provide academic and social support necessary for retention of these students. The INCRSE CC recruitment and retention model involved (a) strengthening relationships between faculty at WTAMU and regional CCs; (b) inviting CC faculty and staff to developmental workshops at WTAMU; (c) improving advising for transfer students at CCs and WTAMU; and (d) developing articulation agreements between WTAMU and regional CCs. Because INCRSE was funded in fall 2006, the number of CC STEM transfers enrolled at WTAMU increased from 214 to 253, an increase of 18%, while overall enrollment of CC transfers to WTAMU declined 3.5%. The number of new CC STEM transfers increased 22% from 92 in the 2006–2007 to 112 in 2008–2009 academic years. WTAMU's first-year retention of STEM transfers increased from 57% in 2006–2007 to 68% in 2007–2008, far surpassing the WTAMU first-year retention of traditional freshmen in the STEM fields by almost 30%. While all components of the model were important, much of the success can be attributed to improved relationships between WTAMU and CC faculty.