The applicability of undergraduate education in jobs

The primary goals of this study are to determine the degree of applicability of undergraduate education in jobs and to evaluate some of the benefits accruing to a college educated person in the labor force. Closely related to this study is the question of whether a relationship exists between the usefulness of college training in jobs and the levels of job satisfaction and income. Some of the principal findings suggest that a large percentage of college graduates feel that their college major is related to their jobs and that the quality of job performance is dependent upon college training and on-the-job training. In addition, where college majors are applicable to job requirements, job satisfaction is high.     

A reevaluation of the CS− hypothesis for schedule-induced polydipsia under intermittent schedules of pellet delivery

Lashley and Rosellini (1980) have recently suggested that schedule-induced polydipsia (SIP) is determined by the occurrence of absolute periods within schedules of periodic food delivery which are associated with a low probability of food delivery, that is, CS? periods. To assess this hypothesis, SIP was examined in the present experiments under three schedules—fixed time, variable time, and random time (RT)—which differed in probability of occurrence and/or duration (Experiment 1), and under a range of RT schedules in which the CS? period was systematically varied by changing the interpellet interval (Experiment 2). In both experiments, the level and temporal distribution of SIP did not seem to be related to the absolute period associated with the absence of food. Instead, SIP was more systematically related to the average length of the interpellet interval and, therefore, to the average period associated with no food. It was suggested that drinking under intermittent schedules of pellet delivery, that is, SIP, is determined by an average CS? period and not by an absolute period associated with the unavailability of food.     

Piagetian cognitive functioning in students with learning disabilities

This study investigated the cognitive abilities as measured by the Inventory of Piaget's Developmental Tasks (IPDT) (Furth, 1970) of male and female fourth and fifth graders with learning disabilities. In addition, their cognitive abilities were compared to their reading and mathematics achievement, as measured by the Peabody Individual Achievement Test (PIAT) (Dunn & Markwardt, 1970). A two-way analysis of covariance revealed a significant mean difference in cognitive ability between students with learning disabilities and nondisabled students. No significant differences existed in performance between males and females. Multiple regression showed that a linear combination of reading and mathematics achievement yielded a significant positive correlation to cognitive ability.     

What do daily behavior report cards (DBRCs) measure? An initial comparison of DBRCs with direct observation for off‐task behavior

This study investigated the similarity of information provided from a daily behavior report card (DBRC) as rated by the teacher to direct observation data obtained from external observers. In addition, the similarity of ratings was compared with variations of problem severity (mild, severe) and teacher training (none, some). Results suggested a moderate association between teacher perceptions of behavior as measured by DBRC ratings and direct observation conducted by an external observer. In addition, 23–45% of the variance in DBRC ratings was consistent with the direct observation data. Severity of the behavior problem or the inclusion of training was not found to significantly affect the similarity of ratings. In summary, results tentatively suggest that the DBRC may be a viable supplement to direct observation for estimating behavior in applied settings. Limitations, future research directions, and implications are discussed. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 42: 669–676, 2005.     

Limited capacity information processing and pigeon matching-to-sample: Testing alternative hypotheses

The limited capacity hypothesis explains the element superiority effect observed in pigeons’ element-compound matching-to-sample performance as the result of a central information processing overload occurring at the time of sample exposure. Major alternative hypotheses offered in the literature to date argue that element superiority is due to a difference in element- and compound-sample memory codes or to a peripheral sensory limitation during sample exposure. These alternative factors weresimultaneously prevented from influencing matching performance in the present experiment, but the element superiority effect remained. A central information processing account of the element superiority effect is supported by the strong tests of alternative hypotheses provided herein. The discussion addresses remaining challenges to the hypothesis that information overload for compound samples occurs at the time of sample exposure.     

Evaluation of a State Initiative to Improve Child Care Quality

Wisconsin's Early Childhood Excellence Initiative was a $15 million public policy effort designed in 2000 to increase child care quality for low-income children. An evaluation revealed significant improvement in classroom quality, the quality of caregiver interaction, and caregivers' beliefs about children following a complex multi-faceted intervention in 28 selected child care centers. The evaluation also revealed higher quality in Centers for Excellence relative to Comparison centers. Research over the past 35 years has demonstrated that high quality early care and education is one of our best hopes for optimizing the long-term developmental outcomes of infants and young children in poverty. Positive results from this evaluation suggest that it may be within the power of state government to raise the quality of early care and education, should the commitment be there to do so.     

Effects of support on stress and burnout in school principals

Background: More than ever before, school principals are dealing with stress and burnout, resulting from increasing role demands and decreasing decision latitude and autonomy. Following the Demand–Support–Constraints model, reasons for stress and burnout can be found in the lack of social support in the environment.

Purpose: This longitudinal study investigates whether changes in social support from colleagues, supervisors and/or the broader community affect levels of principal stress and burnout.

Sample: Approximately 26% of Australia’s school principals took part (N = 3572): primary (n = 2660) and secondary (n = 912) spread across all Australian states and territories. Age ranged between 46 and 55 years, and mean leadership experience was 12 years.

Design and methods: Since stress and burnout are psychological phenomena that develop over time, a longitudinal approach was adopted. Data were collected across four waves, spread over four years, from 2011 to 2014.

Results: It was found that social support predicts decreased stress and in turn burnout in school principals, however differences were found according to the type of social support. The data provide strong evidence for a positive effect of stress on burnout (e.g. the more stress at time 2, the more burnout in principals at time 3) and partial support for indirect negative effects of social support on burnout (e.g. the more support from colleagues at time 2, the less burnout in principals at time 3). However, we also found two instances of positive effects of social support from the broader community on burnout. This suggests that the more support principals receive from the broader community, the more likely they are to show burnout symptoms. This might be explained as the ‘the downside of empathy’, where principals who are strongly supported by their community might also feel more connected to that community. When their community is struggling, they are probably struggling as well.

Conclusions: The findings highlight the positive impact the wider school community can play in providing supplementary professional support to the principal. Unbundling or repackaging the job responsibilities with an administrative team that shares the leadership of the school, could be part of the solution.     

Schooling The Citizens Of Tomorrow: The Challenges For Teaching And Learning Across The Global North/south Divide

Drawing on examples from a range of contexts, this article explores some of the challenges for schooling in the 2lst century from the vantage points of both resource rich and developing countries, suggesting that schools on each side of the global North/South divide have much to learn from each other. It offers an inclusive framework for schooling for the 21st century, identifying the foundations which need to be put in place to establish that framework, as well as the options along the way. The core challenges are seen as how to prepare our young people – the citizens of tomorrow – for an increasingly uncertain and technologically orientated world; how to equip them to assess the relevance of a vast array of facts and information and discriminate between competing ideologies; and how to encourage them to relate to each other in a fragmented, although globalised, world.     

Longitudinal Trajectories of Four Domains of Parenting in Relation to Adolescent Age and Puberty in Nine Countries

Children, mothers, and fathers in 12 ethnic and regional groups in nine countries (N = 1,338 families) were interviewed annually for 8 years (M_age child = 8–16 years) to model four domains of parenting as a function of child age, puberty, or both. Latent growth curve models revealed that for boys and girls, parents decrease their warmth, behavioral control, rules/limit-setting, and knowledge solicitation in conjunction with children’s age and pubertal status as children develop from ages 8 to 16 across a range of diverse contexts, with steeper declines after age 11 or 12 in three of the four parenting domains. National, ethnic, and regional differences and similarities in the trajectories as a function of age and puberty are discussed.