Identifying distinctive approaches to studying

Dimensions which have been used to describe various aspects of studying are reviewed. These draw attention to three distinctive approaches to studying which contain elements of both study processes and motivation. The development of an inventory of approaches to studying is reported which confirmed the importance of these three dimensions, but also drew attention to the importance of characteristic styles of learning in describing the processes through which students arrive at different levels of under-standing.     

The reading experiences and interests of junior school children

David Wray taught in primary schools for several years and is now Senior Lecturer in Education at the University of Exeter. He was President of the United Kingdom Reading Association for 1992–93 and is editor of the association's journalReading. He has written and edited many books on aspects of literacy development.     

Does co-location matter for formal knowledge collaboration in the Swedish biotechnology-pharmaceutical sector?

This article addresses the validity of assumptions about the importance of co-locality for innovation, by analyzing whether or not co-location matters for formal knowledge collaboration in the Swedish biotechnology-pharmaceutical sector, or biotech-pharma sector. The population of Swedish biotech-pharma firms has been defined, based on the three criteria of geographical location, their engagement in active knowledge development, and their specialized knowledge/product focus. The firms’ patterns of regional, national and international collaboration with other firms and with universities is analyzed, as well as the differing collaborative patterns of small versus large firm. In addressing the theoretical questions about the relative importance of co-location for innovation, the article also provides an empirical overview of the Swedish biotech-pharma sector, especially trends over time. This paper thus contributes to the literature by expanding our empirical knowledge about one European biotech-pharma sectoral system, e.g. Sweden, as well as addressing the theoretical question about the relative importance of co-location for formal knowledge collaboration.     

Early adolescents' and their parents' mental imagery in relation to perceived reading competence

This cross‐sectional survey study examined the relation between mental imagery (i.e., seeing images of a story ‘in the mind's eye’) and perceived self‐competence in reading. The study was conducted with a group of seventh‐grade to ninth‐grade students in the prevocational educational track of secondary schools in the Netherlands and their parents. Results showed a moderate relation between mental imagery and self‐competence beliefs, also after controlling for the quality of students' home literacy environment. Examination of gender differences revealed that girls outperformed boys in self‐competence beliefs. Furthermore, boys perceived themselves as better readers when their parents had higher mental imagery skills. No direct relation was found between parents' and adolescents' mental imagery skills. These findings imply that parents and teachers may need to be made aware of the importance of mental imagery strategies as it may enhance the reading experiences of boys as well as girls.     

Physical health of today's school children

The health habits of today's children will largely determine their subsequent health as adults of the twenty-first century. Smoking, inactivity, poor dietary practices, drug and alcohol abuse, and other deleterious habits may develop early, yet exert lifelong influences. This paper contains a review of (a) statistics and research on major health status indicators in school-aged children, (b) behaviors that contribute to disease risk, and (c) school-based interventions designed to change risk behaviors and enhance wellness. Activities that can be initiated by classroom teachers are emphasized in the concluding section of the paper. Through early intervention, enhanced longevity and quality of life may be accomplished.     

Sexual imprinting: The stability of mate preference in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

This study investigated the persistence of a mate preference that resulted from early social experience.Coturnix males that achieved an imprinting criterion of selecting an imprint object (an albino conspecific hen) in 8 of 10 trials were then given one of three intervening treatments. Subjects were housed for 10 days with only normal hens or albino and normal hens, or they were isolated for the treatment period. A comparison of subsequent preference for the albino in a second series of 10 choice tests indicated that the strength of the imprinted bond is weakened with respect to the type of intervening experience. This outcome is discussed in terms of the persistence construct of the imprinting process.     

Unintended Consequences: Understanding the Relationship Between Dual Enrollment Participation,College Undermatch,and Bachelor’s Degree Attainment

Research in Higher Education - Recent research suggests that dual enrollment programs are a useful recruiting tool for colleges and universities as many high school students remain at their dual...     

Progress and performance in National Literacy Strategy classrooms

This paper presents evidence from an ESRC funded research study into the implementation of the Literacy Hour in small rural schools in England. It supports evidence from national UK data that progress in literacy was made during the first year in which the Literacy Hour was operative. However, evidence from this small‐scale study shows progress being different in each class. Evidence is also presented to show that reading scores provide only a partial picture and that progress in writing may be evident in different classes. It is argued that following the Literacy Hour is not enough but that how teachers teach and the tasks they set during this classroom time have implications for the kind of progress made.