The Relations of Regualation and Emotionality to Resiliency and Competent Social Functioning in Elementary School Children

The relations of regulation and emotionality to elementary school children's social functioning were examined. Teachers and peer reproted on children's social functioning; I parent and teacher rated children on various measures of regulation, resiliency, and emotionality; and a behavioural index of regulation was obtained. The effects of individual differences in attentional regulation on social status and socially appropriate behavior were mediated by resiliency, and dispositional negative emotionality moderated the positive relation between attentional control and resiliency (with this path being stronger for children high in negative emotinality). The effects of behavioural regulation were not mediated by resiliency; however, the relation of behavioral regulation to socilaly appropriate behaviour (but not social status) was moderated by negative emotionality, with effects being significant and higher for children high in negative emotionality.     

Asserting the demand and needs for research as indicated by various groups in community colleges

This study investigates the future role of the community colleges in a southeastern state. Presidents, deans of instruction, deans of student services, representative department chairmen, state community college administrators, and educators in a state university formed a panel of 100 respondents in a four iteration delphi study. The panel rated the importance of meeting seven major demands: physical facilities, financial bases, curricula needs, system coordination, student services, personnel needs, and accountability, and also evaluated the importance of about 60 specific research projects. The use of multivariate techniques showed that: (1) agreement was obtained on the importance of meeting the major demands, (2) the importance of the various demands are differentially related to concerns about major types of research, and (3) there are significant differences between types of decision-makers on the needs for various types of research. These results show the need of additional efforts to obtain agreement concerning research priorities. They also reveal the relative predispositions of the various groups of decision-makers concerning research needs.     

Multicollinearity and testing questions of sex equity

Multiple regression is being used by some investigators to determine the unique statistical relevance of potential sex bias for various groups of individuals. The following article shows that the presence of multicollinearity among the independent variables can cause misleading interpretations of the resulting regression weight for sex coded as a dummy variable. An alternative approach is proposed with an example to demonstrate the interpretation of the results. Questions are raised concerning the interpretation of some previous research.     

Testing Teachers: Perspectives on a pilot numeracy skills test in England

From May 2001 all teachers qualifying in England must be successful in computer-based skills tests in numeracy and literacy. The first test to be developed was the QTS Skills Test in Numeracy, which was a paper and pencil test taken on 1 June 2000 by approximately 22,000 trainee teachers. In this article I argue that the pilot test signals an unjustified departure from performance-based assessment, provides an example of inconsistency between national imperatives and teacher certification and was not robust. A small study of trainee teachers of secondary English was undertaken to explore perceptions of professional numeracy in relation to their experience in training, what was tested in the skills test and what is known about testing mathematics through questions set in pseudo-real contexts. I conclude that theoretically it would be difficult to devise an appropriate examination type test of professional numeracy and that in the event the pilot test was not successful.     

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.     

Variations in goal priorities of academic departments: A test of Holland's theory

This study investigated the relative importance which six groups of academic departments attached to five institutional goal dimensions. The six groups were formed on the basis of Holland's theory of vocational choice and the five goal dimensions were developed from a factor analysis of eleven goal statements. A stepwise, multiple discriminant analysis revealed significant differences between the six groups of academic departments on the Research-Graduate and Quality Education goal dimensions. These two dimensions produced significant differentiation in eleven of the fifteen possible group comparisons. The findings suggest tentatively that Holland's theory of vocational choice can assist in the interpretation of varying goal priorities within the academic community. Suggestions are offered to indicate how this theory might be employed by university administrators and in subsequent research on the administration of academic departments and the complex roles of their chairmen.