Cultural values at the individual level and the malleability of ways of knowing

This research tested the relationship between individuals cultural values and the malleability in their ways of knowing in two social contexts. Two hundred and ninety-two college students majoring in either business or social sciences initially received two priming conditions (two weeks apart) where they reflected on either their in-group or their out-group. Then, their adherences to ways of knowing: separate knowing (SK, being a devil’s advocate) and connected knowing (CK, being perspective taker) and cultural values: collectivist-horizontal, collectivist-vertical, individualist-horizontal and individualist-vertical were assessed. Analyses revealed a priming condition X ways of knowing X cultural values interaction. When students had their in-group in mind, their CK score was significantly higher than their SK score in all cultural categories. When students had their out-group in mind, their CK scores decreased to comparable levels of their SK score in all cultural values except horizontal-collectivist. Students with a dominant collectivist-horizontal values maintained higher CK scores compared with their SK scores in the out-group condition. Implications for perspective-taking and critical thinking are discussed.     

Conscientious Consumerism Project in an Undergraduate Quality Management Class

This article describes a “conscientious consumerism” project that involves the student as the consumer to either commend or complain to a company about a recent product or service experience. This activity and presentation helps students develop an understanding of the commendation/complaint management process within organizations while adding realism with the student as the customer. Students initiate communication with an organization and maintain a timeline of all contacts, calls, e‐mails, letters, and visits to the company as they work to resolve or report their issue. The project begins early in the semester and concludes with a final registered, certified letter to the company CEO where students summarize the class project and praise processes or recommend any needed changes. When the project is presented, students learn how organizations manage and process customer feedback and complaints. Students have insightful comparisons of the implementation and execution of such processes within organizations. The project contributes to student learning and understanding of numerous key objectives of quality management including: how quality is managed in organizations, the strategic focus customer feedback can play in organizations, process management, voice of the customer, and benchmarking best compliment/complaint management practices.     

Student perceptions of the classroom environment: Relations to motivation and achievement in mathematics

This study examined the relationship of 979 middle school students’ perceptions of their mathematics classroom environment to their motivation and achievement. Structural equation modeling indicated that motivational variables (utility, personal achievement goals, efficacy) mediated the influence of perceived teacher expectations, teacher support and use of reform practices on mathematics standardised test scores. Our study provides empirical evidence that students’ perceptions that their teachers believe that they are capable of learning and understanding mathematics positively relate to their Mastery and Performance Goal orientations and mathematics Utility. Further, we found an interaction between students’ perceptions of the frequency of reform practice use in their mathematics classroom and mathematics efficacy. For students with lower mathematics efficacy, their perceptions of more frequent use of reform practices in their mathematics class related to higher standardised test performance. For students with higher mathematics efficacy, perceived use of reform practices did not significantly relate to standardised test performance. These data suggest that frequent exposure to reform practices is especially critical for students who judge themselves as being less capable in mathematics and who are lower performers. This finding differs from prior research that has suggested that reform practice use benefits higher achievers but not lower achievers. An important implication of our study is the need for coordinated, ongoing professional development that highlights reform pedagogy and beliefs while also focusing on student motivation theories and strategies.     

Validity of Alternative Cut-Off Scores for the Back-Saver Sit and Reach Test

The purpose of the study was to determine if currently used FITNESSGRAM® cut-off scores for the Back Saver Sit and Reach Test had the best criterion-referenced validity evidence for 6–12 year old children. Secondary analyses of an existing data set focused on the passive straight leg raise and Back Saver Sit and Reach Test flexibility scores of 87 boys and 91 girls. The reliability and validity evidence was determined for Back Saver Sit and Reach Test cut-off scores of 7, 8, 9, and 10 inches for the boys and girls separately. Reliability evidence for passive straight leg raise and all Back Saver Sit and Reach Test cut-off scores was good to excellent. The most valid cut-off scores had the highest proportion of correct decisions associated with sensitivity ≥.67, and false-positive rate ≤.24. Based on moderate validity evidence, the best Back Saver Sit and Reach Test cut-off scores for 6–12 year olds are 8 and 9 inches for boys and girls, respectively. These findings should be cross-validated with other samples.     

Validity and Generalizability of Social Dance Performance Ratings

Abstract

The purpose of three related studies was to develop a social dance instrument that had logical validity and generalizable performance ratings. Three social dance experts critiqued the instrument and concluded the items described the characteristics of good social dance performance. Twelve couples from a social dance class were videotaped for 5 min while performing the fox trot. Their performances were evaluated by a different set of coders in each of the three generalizability (G-) studies conducted (Subjects × Coders × Days ANOVA design). Dance performances were held constant across coding occasions so the day facet represents degree of consistency in coding, not stability of subjects' performances. Decision (D-) studies were also conducted for various measurement conditions. Results of the G-studies indicated that coders with several years of experience teaching and evaluating dance had less systematic coder bias and less systematic coder bias for a subset of dancers than coders who had little or no experience evaluating movement of any form. The performance ratings given by novice coders could be generalized for any randomly selected coder evaluating on any given day (G = .79). It was concluded the social dance test was valid and coders could be trained to obtain generalizable performance ratings.     

Validation of the Rockport Fitness Walking Test in Females 65 Years and Older

Abstract

Speed and energy expenditure of the closed and open freestyle swimming turns were determined on six male swimmers. The subjects were tested while in a post-absorptive state. Resting metabolic rates were determined utilizing an open-circuit, Douglas bag method. The test included swimming a distance of 70 ft. and performing either the closed or open turn without taking a breath. Upon completion of the test, the subject breathed into a Douglas bag for 15 min. Each turn was timed with a stopwatch; a turn started 3 ft. 10 in. before touching and ended as the feet left the side of the pool. Statistical treatment of the date revealed no significant difference in energy expenditure. However, the closed turn proved to be significantly faster than the open.     

Understanding the Development of a Hybrid Practice of Inquiry-Based Science Instruction and Language Development: A Case Study of One Teacher’s Journey Through Reflections on Classroom Practice

This qualitative case study looks closely at an elementary teacher who participated in professional development experiences that helped her develop a hybrid practice of using inquiry-based science to teach both science content and English language development (ELD) to her students, many of whom are English language learners (ELLs). This case study examines the teacher’s reflections on her teaching and her students’ learning as she engaged her students in science learning and supported their developing language skills. It explicates the professional learning experiences that supported the development of this hybrid practice. Closely examining the pedagogical practice and reflections of a teacher who is developing an inquiry-based approach to both science learning and language development can provide insights into how teachers come to integrate their professional development experiences with their classroom expertise in order to create a hybrid inquiry-based science ELD practice. This qualitative case study contributes to the emerging scholarship on the development of teacher practice of inquiry-based science instruction as a vehicle for both science instruction and ELD for ELLs. This study demonstrates how an effective teaching practice that supports both the science and language learning of students can develop from ongoing professional learning experiences that are grounded in current perspectives about language development and that immerse teachers in an inquiry-based approach to learning and instruction. Additionally, this case study also underscores the important role that professional learning opportunities can play in supporting teachers in developing a deeper understanding of the affordances that inquiry-based science can provide for language development.