Principal components analysis to characterise fatigue-related changes in technique: Application to double under jump rope

The upper extremities play an important role in managing the rope-turning technique required to perform continuous double unders. However, acute adaptions in this technique may occur as a jumper fatigues. The purpose of this study was to examine how turning technique is adapted with fatigue. Three-dimensional kinematic data of the upper extremity were collected from 10 trained athletes as they performed consecutive double unders to volitional fatigue. Time series wrist, elbow and shoulder joint angles were calculated where joint angle waveforms representing 10 unique trials from the beginning (“fresh”) and end (“fatigued”) of the continuous jumping protocol for all participants were analysed using principal component analysis. Participants reported stopping due to cardiovascular and shoulder muscular fatigue. From a kinematics perspective, with fatigue athletes used a more internally rotated range of motion at the shoulder, which we believe prompted a series of more distal adaptions in order to maintain rope turning, preserving consecutive double under performance. The presence of a maladaptive adaptation at the shoulder may increase the risk of developing shoulder injuries. Coaches should consider helping jumpers develop appropriate shoulder muscle endurance such that they can continue to maximise their training and proficiency, while protecting against potential fatigue-related maladaptation.     

Abilities assessed by the K-ABC mental processing subtests: The perceptions of practitioners with varying degrees of experience

Eighty practitioners with varying levels of experience in the administration of the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) were asked to complete a K-ABC Abilities Matrix to indicate their perceptions of the specific abilities assessed by each of the ten K-ABC Mental Processing subtests. The practitioners' responses were compared to the perceptions of the K-ABC authors, and, in roughly half of the judgements, a majority of the practitioners agreed with the test authors, while the remaining judgements constituted majority disagreements. The practitioners associated additional psychoeducational abilities or skills, that had not been identified previously by the K-ABC authors, with several of the K-ABC subtests.     

Rational-emotive staff development

The application of Rational-Emotive Therapy principles and techniques in in-service education for school personnel is discussed. Teachers and counselors participated in a staff development program designed to: (a) help participants develop an understanding of how emotions work, (b) decrease irrational beliefs among participants, (c) provide participants with techniques to manage their emotions more effectively, and (d) provide participants with techniques useful in helping students to manage their emotions more effectively. All four program goals were met. Implications of these findings are discussed in light of previous research.     

Decision-Making Behaviour of Potential Higher Education Students

This paper examines the decision-making behaviour adopted by candidates hoping to gain entry into Higher Education. Whether or not the potential students operate a systematic process, thinking logically throughout each step and choosing the alternative with the most favourable ranking, is worthy of discussion. Secondary research confirms the many variables influencing this process, particularly within the USA. However, in-depth knowledge concerning the criteria that British students employ and their thoughts regarding decision-making is limited. Hence an exploratory study incorporating Sixth Form pupils of a High School in the NW of England and students from across the UK attending an open-day at a university also in the NW was undertaken. Results indicate that applicants do follow the sequential stages from 'problem recognition'to 'evaluation of alternatives' using parents' as well as teachers'advice throughout, although there seems to be a gap in the information needs of potential students, which many universities are not currently satisfying.     

When "where" is more important than "when": birthplace and birthdate effects on the achievement of sporting expertise

In this study, we assessed whether contextual factors related to where or when an athlete is born influence their likelihood of playing professional sport. The birthplace and birth month of all American players in the National Hockey League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, and Professional Golfer's Association, and all Canadian players in the National Hockey League were collected from official websites. Monte Carlo simulations were used to verify if the birthplace of these professional athletes deviated in any systematic way from the official census population distribution, and chi-square analyses were conducted to determine whether the players' birth months were evenly distributed throughout the year. Results showed a birthplace bias towards smaller cities, with professional athletes being over-represented in cities of less than 500,000 and under-represented in cities of 500,000 and over. A birth month/relative age effect (in the form of a distinct bias towards elite athletes being relatively older than their peers) was found for hockey and baseball but not for basketball and golf. Comparative analyses suggested that contextual factors associated with place of birth contribute more influentially to the achievement of an elite level of sport performance than does relative age and that these factors are essentially independent in their influences on expertise development.     

Cultural Indicators and Global Freedom of the Press

This study sought to determine if cultural variables might explain differences in press freedom across nations. The results confirmed that two of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions – power distance and individualism – explained a significant amount of variance in press freedom rankings produced by Freedom House and Reporters Without Borders. For example, the two factors combined to explain 48% of the variance in Reporters Without Borders rankings and accounted for 42% of the variance in Freedom House’s civil liberties scores. The results suggest that those who seek to promote freedom of the press around the world would be wise to pay more attention to cultural factors that may stand in the way of change.     

Preschoolers at risk: Social,emotional and cognitive considerations

This report examines the IQs of 75 preschool children perceived to be “at risk” by parents, nursery school teachers, and diagnostic nursery staff. Full Scale, verbal and Performance IQs of the WPPSI were correlated with: (a) assessment of problem area (b) socioeconomic and familial variables (c) gross assessments of speech and motor development and (d) attendance, participation and improvement in a special preschool program. Significant correlations were obtained between IQ and: (a) socioeconomic and familial variables, and (b) perceived improvement. The findings emphasize that social, emotional and cognitive factors are interrelated components in the child's global development.