From Vocational College to New University: The Research Profile and Development Needs of Academic Staff in a Period of Transition

Prompted by the provision of special funding for research development from the Department of Employment, Education and Training, an analysis of the research status and development needs of staff one network member of a newly amalgamated University was undertaken. It was found that many staff were without research‐based qualifications and had limited research experience. Teaching and curriculum development were dominant activities, the latter being particularly so in some of the newer disciplines. It was felt by many that there was a lack of institutional support for research by senior management in general and in some faculties in particular, as people in those positions took time to adjust to the changing climate of expectations in the transition from College to University. Specific research skills needing development were identified, including submission writing, statistical data analysis and reporting research. The availability of time and money for research were, predictably, seen as critical. In a conclusion unanticipated at the commencement of the study, the emergence of a widely recognised and supported research ethos was perceived as perhaps the most significant element to contribute to the development of research in a new university.     

Maternal language to prelinguistic infants: syntactic aspects

Maternal speech to children has been shown to vary by age and language ability of the children. Previous studies have usually involved children over 1 year of age. In this study maternal speech to male and female 4-, 6-, and 8-month-old infants was recorded in the laboratory. Mothers used shorter utterances to 8-month-olds than to 4- or 6-month-olds, presumably in response to the infant's changing level of comprehension. Mothers used more sentences with subjects, verbs, or objects deleted to 8-month-olds and more complex sentences to 4-month-olds.     

Anatomical Sciences Education Vol. 4, Issue 4, 2011 Cover Image

Medical students at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University receive instruction from a resident at the cadaver during their anatomy course. As discussed by McBride and Drake in this issue of ASE, residents teaching in the anatomy course at his institution who satisfy specific requirements qualify for an academic appointment as a Clinical Instructor.     

A Maximal Graded Exercise Test to Accurately Predict VO2max in 18–65-Year-Old Adults

The purpose of this study was to develop an age-generalized regression model to predict maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max) based on a maximal treadmill graded exercise test (GXT; George, 1996) George, J. D. 1996. Alternative approach to maximal exercise testing and VO_2max prediction in college students. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 67: 452–457. [Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]. Participants (N?=?100), ages 18–65 years, reached a maximal level of exertion (mean?±?standard deviation [SD]; maximal heart rate [HR_max]?=?185.2?±?12.4 beats per minute (bpm); maximal respiratory exchange ratio [RER_max]?=?1.18?±?0.05; maximal rating of perceived exertion (RPE_max)?=?19.1?±?0.7) during the GXT to assess VO_2max (mean?±?SD; 40.24?±?9.11 mL·kg^?1·min^?1). Multiple linear regression generated the following prediction equation (R?=?.94, standard error of estimate [SEE]?=?3.18 mL·kg^?1·min^?1, %SEE?=?7.9): VO_2max (mL·kg^?1·min^?1)?=?13.160?+?(3.314 × gender; females?=?0, males?=?1) ? (.131 × age) ? (.334 × body mass index (BMI))?+?(5.177 × treadmill speed; mph)?+?(1.315 × treadmill grade; %). Cross validation using predicted residual sum of squares (PRESS) statistics revealed minimal shrinkage (R_p ?=?.93 and SEE _p ?=?3.40 mL·kg^?1·min^?1); consequently, this model should provide acceptable accuracy when it is applied to independent samples of comparable adults. Standardized β-weights indicate that treadmill speed (.583) was the most effective at predicting VO_2max followed by treadmill grade (.356), age (?.197), gender (.183), and BMI (?.148). This study provides a relatively accurate regression model to predict VO_2max in relatively fit men and women, ages 18–65 years, based on maximal exercise (treadmill speed and grade), biometric (BMI), and demographic (age and gender) data.     

Kinematic characteristics of elite men's and women's 20 km race walking and their variation during the race

The aim of this study was to analyse the important kinematic variables in elite men's and women's 20 km race walking. Thirty men and 30 women were analysed from video data recorded during the World Race Walking Cup. Video data were also recorded at four points during the European Cup Race Walking and 12 men and 12 women analysed from these data. Two camcorders operating at 50 Hz recorded at each race for 3D analysis. The two main performance determinants of speed were step length and cadence. Men were faster than women because of their greater step lengths but there was no difference in cadence. A reduction in step length was the initial cause of slowing down with later decreases in speed caused by reductions in cadence. Shorter contact times were important in optimising both step length and cadence, and faster athletes tended to have longer flight times than slower athletes. It was less clear which other kinematic variables were critical for successful walking, particularly with regard to joint angles. Different associations were found for some key variables in men and women, suggesting that their techniques may differ due to differences in height and mass.     

What ISPI and performance improvement mean to me

This year, the International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI) celebrates its 50th anniversary. Over the past half century, our field has moved from programmed instruction to performance and instruction to performance improvement. This new column reflects on 50 years of member memories and what the organization and the field have meant to each of this column's contributors. If you would like to add to the dialogue, please contact the PI journal editors: publications@ispi.org