Impact of cultural background on fundamental movement skill and its correlates

Children’s fundamental movement skill levels (FMS) predict moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Asian children have been reported as less active than English-Europeans, possibly due to poorer skills. This study compared the FMS of children from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds and examined FMS correlates. A total of 261 children (122 males) aged 9-to-11 years were divided based on language spoken at home: English-European (n = 105) and Asian (n = 156). Height, mass, FMS (Test of Gross Motor Development-2), MVPA (accelerometer) and cardio-respiratory fitness (20m multistage shuttle run) were directly measured. Sex, age, language and perceived sport competence (CY-PSPP) were self-reported. Independent sample t-tests assessed age, BMI, FMS and perception by CALD group. Linear mixed models examined FMS correlates. Asian-speaking children had lower object control skill (35.5 v 37.2; CI [0.17, 3.18]; p < 0.03) compared to English-European- children, but no between-group differences in locomotor skills were observed. Fitness, physical activity and sport competence perception were positively associated with object control, yet adjusting for these variables (and age and BMI) did not remove the CALD effect (B = ?2.02, SE = 0.69, p = 0.004). Cultural factors may affect object control competence in Asian-Australian children.     

Development of raw acceleration cut-points for wrist and hip accelerometers to assess sedentary behaviour and physical activity in 5–7-year-old children

ABSTRACT

This study validated sedentary behaviour (SB), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and vigorous physical activity (VPA) accelerometer cut-points in 5–7-year-old children. Participants (n = 49, 55% girls) wore an ActiGraph GT9X accelerometer, recording data at 100 Hz downloaded in 1 s epochs, on both wrists and the right hip during a standardised protocol and recess. Cut-points were generated using ROC analysis with direct observation as a criterion. Subsequently, cut-points were optimised using Confidence intervals equivalency analysis and then cross-validated in a cross-validation group. SB cut-points were 36 mg (Sensitivity (Sn) = 79.8%, Specificity (Sp) = 56.8%) for non-dominant wrist, 39 mg (Sn = 75.4%, Sp = 70.2%) for dominant wrist and 20 mg (Sn = 78%, Sp = 50.1%) for hip. MVPA cut-points were 189 mg (Sn = 82.6%, Sp = 78%) for non-dominant wrist, 181 mg (Sn = 79.1%, Sp = 76%) for dominant wrist and 95 mg (Sn = 79.3%, Sp = 75.6%) for hip. VPA cut-points were 536 mg (Sn = 75.1%, Sp = 68.7%) for non-dominant wrist, 534 mg (Sn = 67.6%, Sp = 95.6%) for dominant wrist and 325 mg (Sn = 78.2%, Sp = 96.1%) for hip. All placements demonstrated adequate levels of accuracy for SB and PA assessment.     

The Effects of Streaming : A Further Contribution

This paper reports the results of an investigation into the proportional participation of West Indian boys in secondary school sports teams. Information on participation in the first two years was obtained by questionnaire from 969 third‐year boys of whom 13 per cent were West Indian, and analysed in two groupings, the top and botton half streams. An overwhelming predominance of West Indian boys proportionate to their numbers were found in soccer, cricket and athletics. A secondary finding was a high correlation between academic ability and participation; both West Indian and white English participation was proportionally higher in the top streams.     

Verbal aggression in violent and nonviolent marital disputes

Recent research suggests that verbal aggression may function as a catalyst to violence between spouses in marital disputes. Communication skills deficiencies may predispose spouses to rely upon verbal aggression in family conflict situations instead of more constructive forms of communication such as argumentation. This suggests a need to understand better the role of verbal aggression in interspousal violence. A study is presented which compared a sample of nonabused wives to a clinical sample of abused wives in terms of self‐reports of the use of verbal aggression by the husband and wife in their most recent dispute. While there were several differences between the two groups, of the ten types of verbally aggressive messages examined, character attacks most clearly differentiated violent from nonviolent marital disputes. Two hypotheses which predicted the degree of verbal aggression in violent and nonviolent disputes and the relationship between husband and wife usage were supported. Implications are discussed especially in terms of studying interspousal violence from a communication orientation.     

Clay modeling versus written modules as effective interventions in understanding human anatomy

The effectiveness of clay modeling to written modules is examined to determine the degree of improvement in learning and retention of anatomical 3D relationships among students with different learning preferences. Thirty‐nine undergraduate students enrolled in a cadaver dissection course completed a pre‐assessment examination and the VARK questionnaire, classifying learning preference as visual, auditory, read/write, or kinesthetic. Students were divided into clay, module, and control groups with preference for learning style distributed among groups. The clay and module groups participated in weekly one‐hour classes using either clay models or answering written questions (modules) about anatomical relationships, respectively. The control group received no intervention. Post‐assessment and retention examinations were administered at the end of the semester, and three months later, respectively. Two variables (Δ1, Δ2) represented examination score differences between pre‐ and post‐assessment and between post‐assessment and retention examinations, respectively. The Δ1 for clay and module groups were each significantly higher than controls (21.46 ± 8.2 vs. 15.70 ± 7.5, P ≤ 0.05; and 21.31 ± 6.9 vs. 15.70 ± 7.5, P ≤0.05, respectively). The Δ2 for clay and module groups approached but did not achieve significance over controls (?6.09 ± 5.07 vs. ?8.80 ± 4.60, P = 0.16 and ?5.73 ± 4.47 vs. ?8.80 ± 4.60, P = 0.12, respectively). No significant differences were seen between interventions or learning preferences in any group. However, students of some learning styles tended to perform better when engaging in certain modalities. Multiple teaching modalities may accommodate learning preferences and improve understanding of anatomy. Anat Sci Educ. © 2013 American Association of Anatomists.     

Professional Development?+?Coaching?=?Enhanced Teaching: Increasing Usage of Math Mediated Language in Preschool Classrooms

In an effort to determine the most efficacious manner to deliver professional development training to early childhood educators, this study investigated the effect of a 2-h workshop followed by side-by-side classroom coaching. Twelve early childhood educators with 4-year degrees teaching in a university child development center participated in the study. The twice weekly classroom observations were analyzed for the use of math mediated language. Results indicate a 56% increase of math mediated language following the professional development; however, the greatest increase (39% increase over professional development condition) occurred during the side-by-side coaching phase of the treatment. These results corroborate previous findings that implementation of teaching strategies presented in professional development trainings can be enhanced by coaching teachers on the use of the strategies.