Acute adaptations and subsequent preservation of strength and speed measures following a Nordic hamstring curl intervention: a randomised controlled trial

This randomised controlled trial investigated changes in eccentric hamstring strength, 10m sprint speed, and change-of-direction (COD) performance immediately post Nordic hamstring curl (NHC) intervention and following a 3-week detraining period.

Fourteen male team sports athletes were randomised to a do-as-usual control group (CG; n = 7) or to a NHC intervention group (NHC; n = 7). Isokinetic dynamometry at 180°/s evaluated eccentric hamstring strength immediately post-intervention as the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcomes included 10 m sprint time and COD. Each outcome was measured, pre, immediately post-intervention and following a 3-week detraining period.

Immediately post-intervention significant group differences were observed in the NHC group for eccentric hamstring strength (31.81 Nm^?1 vs. 6.44 Nm^?1, P = 0.001), COD (?0.12 s vs. 0.20 s; P = 0.003) and sprint (- 0.06 s vs. 0.05 s; P = 0.024) performance. Performance improvements were maintained following a detraining period for COD (?0.11 s vs. 0.20 s; P = 0.014) and sprint (?0.05 s vs. 0.03 s, P = 0.031) but not eccentric hamstring strength (15.67 Nm^?1 vs. 6.44 Nm^?1, P = 0.145) These findings have important implications for training programmes designed to reduce hamstring injury incidence, whilst enhancing physical qualities critical to sport.     

Canadian University Rankings: Buyer Beware Once Again

We present a data-based perspective concerning recent (e.g., 2008) Maclean’s magazine rankings of Canadian universities, including cluster analysis of the 2008 data. Canadian universities empirically resemble and relate to each other in a manner different from their formal classification and final rank ordering in the Maclean’s system. Several pitfalls in ranking procedures, related to invalid and unreliable relationships among indices underlying the final ranks, are outlined, along with relevant findings from previous studies. In their present format, although they have become increasingly publicized and promoted, data based on the Maclean’s system can seemingly be of only limited practical use to students. Perhaps more important, in our opinion, ranking exercises have unintended though potentially serious consequences for the intellectual and personal well-being of students.     

Help-Seeking Experiences and Attitudes among African American, Asian American, and European American College Students

The study examined African American, Asian American, and European American college students’ previous direct and indirect experiences of seeking professional psychological services and related attitudes. Survey data were collected from 254 European American, 182 African American and 82 Asian American college students. Results revealed that fewer African American and Asian American college students had sought professional psychological services, knew someone who had sought psychological services, and knew a close person who was diagnosed with a psychological disorder, relative to European American students. Furthermore, African American and Asian American participants showed less favorable attitudes on a variety of help-seeking attitudes, compared to the European American group.     

Sources of satisfaction and stress among Indigenous academic teachers: findings from a national Australian study

Academics of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent are few in number but play a vital role in Australian university teaching. In addition to teaching both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, they interact with academic colleagues in a context where pressures to “Indigenize” Australian curricula and increase Indigenous enrolments are growing. In this article, we will draw on our nation-wide research with Indigenous academics to further explore this under-researched area of Australian university teaching, and the highs and lows of how Indigenous teachers experience their roles. Our findings reveal that for our Indigenous colleagues, sources of personal and professional satisfaction – as well as stress – appear qualitatively different from those commonly associated with academic work. Of particular concern are the findings in relation to issues of cultural difference on our campuses, played out in the ways Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff and students interact daily. Counterbalancing this potential negativity is the strong, indeed inspiring, commitment on the part of our Indigenous academic participants to the educational futures of their students, and thus, to the futures of Indigenous communities across Australia. The findings raise some thought-provoking questions for individuals and institutions in the higher education systems of our region, and perhaps beyond.     

Parent Mastery of Conversational Reading at Playgroup in Two Remote Northern Territory Communities

Early Childhood Education Journal - This paper explores strategies that support Aboriginal parents’ mastery of evidence-based early learning strategies, and their impact on young Aboriginal...     

Putting journals out to tender: guidelines for societies and other sponsors

Many journals are sponsored by one body and published by another. These notes are intended to guide sponsors by outlining the stages, processes, and timetable involved in obtaining and comparing tenders. Sponsors are advised that detailed analysis and open communication are more likely to result in satisfactory long‐term publishing arrangements.     

Should we re‐design our discipline? A major question for educational psychologists 1

Five purposes of a scientific society are listed, from holding annual meetings to establishing the status of members. The question is raised whether the American Psychological Association, with an increasingly clinical emphasis and heavy administrative/legislative structures, can still accomplish such purposes. Two models for increasing organizational autonomy are examined. For economy, scientific emphasis, and member status, the Psychonomic Society is admirable. For expanding membership outside the APA, while remaining an APA division, a model is the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues. A proposed Society for Educational Psychology might combine the best from these two models.