You Can Ask Me If You Really Want to Know What I Think

Abstract

Recent social policy discourses in Aotearoa New Zealand focus on vulnerable children’s well-being and the detrimental, long-term and costly impacts of child poverty. The discourse pervading much of the policy labels children and young people as ‘vulnerable’ or ‘at risk’ or ‘in crisis’, a view, which we argue, is both disempowering and marginalising. We propose a shift in focus which views children and young people as agentic, capable and competent. Drawing on several small-scale research projects and reports we demonstrate how, when asked, children and young people can participate effectively in discussions about policy matters that concern them (Article 12, United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989 [UNCROC]). We have much to learn from the insights children share with us when asked, but very often existing structures, at both government and community level, do not include adequate processes to hear their voices, let alone act on what has been communicated.     

Face[book] Management: Self-Presentation of Political Views on Social Media

This study explores Facebook users’ management behaviors related to their—and their friends'—political communication via social media, utilizing the concepts of context collapse and self-presentation. A new two-factor measure of Facebook management was developed, pilot tested (N = 139) and implemented in a survey utilizing a national sample (N = 352) of individuals aged 18–29. Results indicated Facebook users are not generally engaging in the strategic management of political disclosures or the political content to which they are exposed. However, as network sizes increase, participants engage in more disclosure behaviors and make greater efforts to manage content exposure. Additionally, participants with strong political beliefs engage in more Facebook management behaviors, possibly indicating an effort to limit cognitive dissonance.     

The rhetoric of radical black nationalism: A case study in self‐conscious criticism

The rhetoric of Black nationalism is used as a case study to illustrate problems involved in the criticism of contemporary protest rhetoric. The conclusions resulting from the application of traditional theory are contrasted with those developed from Burkeian dramatism in order to outline an alternative perspective toward this rhetoric and in order to provide a technique for increasing the self‐consciousness of the critic.     

Possibilities of International Diffusion and Documentation of Scientific Innovations by Communication Satellites

A study of the attitude of students towards the Use of Library course which involves library orientation/bibliographic instruction and user education was conducted during the 1988/89 academic session. Use of Library is one of the courses taught in the general studies programme which has been going at Bendel State University for 4 years. The object of the study was to test whether students liked the Use of Library course, whether they found it useful, whether it should continue to be compulsory or be made optional, and the impact of the programme. The result of the study is highly positive. The respondents found the course very useful both in academic work and in social life. The respondents were ambivalent as to whether the course should continue to be compulsory or be made optional. The administration of the programme is delineated. Suggestions are made for the improvement of the course.     

Libraries,Literacy and Development: Combined Libraries as an Option for Developing Countries

Abstract

Public and school library development has been slow in Third World countries. This can only be overcome by a shift in perception whereby libraries become important to national development and educational and literacy goals. When considering transformation in library mission and delivery systems, combined school and public libraries offer an alternate and innovative model. Research has determined conditions under which combined libraries are successful and when these success factors and conditions in developing countries are juxtaposed, striking correlations appear. Combined libraries may offer the integration necessary in a climate of scarcity; they may provide the framework in which libraries can serve all the people by contributing to a literate environment and literacy efforts, while supporting formal education and development programs.     

White children's empathy-related responding and prosocial behavior toward White and Black children

Relations among White (non-Latinx) children's empathy-related responding, prosocial behaviors, and racial attitudes toward White and Black peers were examined. In 2017, 190 (54% boys) White 5- to 9-year-old children (M = 7.09 years, SD = 0.94) watched a series of videos that depicted social rejection of either a White or Black child. Empathy-related responses, prosocial behaviors, and racial attitudes were measured using multiple methods. Results showed that younger children showed less facial concern toward Black than White peers and greater increases with age in concern and prosocial behaviors (sharing a desirable prize) for Black, compared to White, targets. Children's facial anger increased with age for White but not Black targets. The findings can extend our understanding children's anti-racism development.     

Moving Beyond the Ableist Roots of Educational Psychology: Audit of the Field and a Path Forward

Educational Psychology Review - In the current literature review, we studied the articles published between 2010 and July 2020 in six prominent educational psychology journals to determine the...     

Contributions of bilingual home environment and language proficiency on children’s Spanish–English reading outcomes

This study examines the influence of language environment on language and reading skills and the cross-linguistic contributions to reading outcomes in 132 Spanish–English bilingual children ages 7–12 (52% female; 98% Hispanic). We present three major findings: children's language knowledge is separable into general (e.g., phonological awareness) and language-specific (e.g., meaning, grammar) skills; regular Spanish use positively relates to children's Spanish language and reading skills and does not limit English skills; and Spanish reading comprehension is positively associated with English reading comprehension. The model explains a significant percentage of the variance in English (R² = .89) and Spanish (R² = .87) reading comprehension outcomes. Findings shed light on the interdependence of Spanish and English as they relate to bilingual reading acquisition.     

Links between justice sensitivity and moral reasoning,moral emotions,and moral identity in middle childhood

Associations between moral-related traits, such as justice sensitivity (JS), the tendency to negatively respond to injustice, and moral development are largely unknown. From May to December 2018, 1329 5- to 12-year-olds (M = 8.05, SD = 1.02; 51.2% girls, 1.3% transgender and gender-nonconforming) from Germany rated their JS, moral reasoning, emotions, and identity; parents and teachers rated children's theory of mind (ToM) and empathy. Victim JS (caring for own justice) predicted more attributions of positive emotions to norm transgressors in structural equation models (β = .295). Altruistic JS (caring for other's justice) predicted less attributions of positive emotions (β = −.343) and a stronger moral identity (β = .392) unless ToM was considered. Particularly altruistic JS showed associations with advanced moral development. Hence, moral-related traits deserve more attention by moral-development research.