‘These are issues that should not be raised in black and white’: the culture of progress reporting and the doctorate

This paper reports findings from Australian research into student, academic and administrative staff understandings of the role and efficacy of periodic progress reports designed to monitor the progress of higher-degree-by-research candidates. Major findings are that confusion of the purpose and ultimate audience of these reports is linked to less than effective reporting by all parties; countersigning and report dependency requirements inhibit the frank reporting of progress and ‘social learning’ impacts on the way candidates and sometimes supervisors approach reporting obligations, running counter to institutional imperatives. We conclude that no ready or transparent nexus between the progress report and progress may be assumed. Fundamentally, this calls into question the usefulness of this process as currently implemented. Arising from this is the recommendation that progress reporting be linked to substantive reviews of progress and embedded in the pedagogy and curriculum of higher-degree-by-research programmes.     

The associations between fast bowling technique and ball release speed: A pilot study of the within-bowler and between-bowler approaches

Abstract

The inability of the between-bowlers methodology to control parameters external to technique could lead to erroneous significant and non-significant associations being reported between fast-bowling technique and ball release speed. Using Pearson's product – moment correlation, we first examined the effectiveness of a within-bowler methodology to identify associations between technique and ball release speed of an elite semi-open fast bowler over 20 deliveries. These results were compared with associations identified from a between-bowlers methodology in which 20 single-performance trials bowled by elite fast bowlers adopting a semi-open shoulder alignment were collated. Sufficient variation was observed in within-bowler ball release speed to allow f relationships to be identified between technique and ball release speed. Although greater variation in bowling technique parameters was observed in the between-bowlers methodology, no associations were identified between technique and ball release speed. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that 87.5% of the within-bowler variation in ball release speed can be attributed to run-up velocity, angular velocity of the bowling arm, vertical velocity of the non-bowling arm, and stride length. The within-bowler methodology provided significant detailed information about the individual bowler that the between-bowlers methodology overlooked, forming the basis of a performance enhancement programme. It is recommended that within-bowler methodology be used in future investigation of technique relationships.     

Effect of gender and stroke rate on joint power characteristics of the upper extremity during simulated rowing

Males typically have greater upper body strength than do females, which is likely to impact on the rowing techniques adopted by each sex. The aim of this study was to quantify energy contributions and compare the joint power production of upper extremity joints between the sexes. Seven males and eight females performed 60 s trials at five different stroke rates. External forces were measured at the handle and stretcher, while kinematics were recorded by motion analysis. Joint moments were derived by inverse dynamic calculations, followed by the calculation of joint powers and gross mechanical energy expenditure. Male rowers expended more total external energy per stroke and made a larger percentage contribution of angular shoulder energy to their total external energy expenditure. As stroke rate increased, the contribution from elbow and angular shoulder energy contributions decreased for both males and females. Female rowers decreased their angular shoulder contribution at a slower rate than did males as stroke rate increased. The overall percentage of work done on the stretcher was higher for male rowers, and this difference further increased at higher stroke rates. The results of this study suggest that specific upper body conditioning may be particularly important for female rowers.     

Competition,cooperation, and an adversarial model of sport

In this paper, I defend a general theory of competition and contrast it with a corresponding general theory of cooperation. I then use this analysis to critique mutualism. Building on the work of Arthur Applbaum and Joseph Heath I develop an alternative adversarial model of competitive sport, one that helps explain and is partly justified by shallow interpretivism, and argue that this model helps shows that the claim that mutualism provides us with the most defensible ethical ideal of sport is false. By replacing that view with an understanding of sporting adversarial ethics we can appreciate that the ethics of sport are more complex than has been commonly recognized.     

Striving for contribution: the five Cs and positive effects of cross-age peer mentoring

This article explores the relationship between cross-age peer mentoring and positive life outcomes as defined by the Five Cs: competence, character, confidence, connection, and compassion. Qualified high school juniors and seniors were randomly assigned groups of 4–5 freshmen to mentor through the challenges of transitioning to secondary school. Through a qualitative interview process, 12 former mentors discuss the benefits they have experienced in their lives as college students or productive members of the workforce, ranging from 1–4 years removed from the experience. All mentors found some value to the program as outlined by the Five Cs.     

Designing spatial visual tasks for research: the case of the filling task

This article focuses on the development and problematization of a task designed to foster spatial visual sense in prospective and practicing elementary and middle school teachers. We describe and analyse the cyclical stages of developing, testing, and modifying several “task drafts” related to ideas around dilation and proportion. Challenged by participant non-actions and non-responses, we as task designers identified and anticipated sources of difficulties, which motivated repeated modification of the task to further the intended learning goals. The task in its present form incorporates numerous considerations including choices around materials, wording of questions and prompts, and sequencing of experiences. It also reflects our enriched understanding of exploration strategies and the roles of manipulatives and technology in spatial visual tasks designed for adult learners.     

A constructive response to `Where mathematics comes from'

Lakoff and Nuñez's bookWhere mathematics comes from: How the embodied mind brings mathematics into being (2000) provided many mathematics education researchers with a novel, and perhaps startling perspective on mathematical thinking. However, as evidenced by reviewers' criticisms (Gold,2001; Goldin, 2001; Madden, 2001), their perspective — though liberating for many,with its humanistic emphases — remains controversial. Nonetheless, we believe this perspective deserves further constructive response. In this paper, we propose that several of the book's flaws can be addressed through a more rigorous establishment of conceptual distinctions as well as a more appropriate set of methodological approaches.This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The validation and application of Inertial Measurement Units to springboard diving

Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) may offer an ecologically valid, reliable, and practical method for biomechanical performance analysis. With such potential in mind, Part 1 of this study examined the accuracy of IMUs gyroscopes with an optical system (Cortex 3.3). A calibration formula standardised the IMUs angular velocity output with the optical system. The percentage differences between the two measures = 0.5% (p < 0.05), suggest IMU’s efficacy for application. In Part 2, the aim was to examine and understand how dive flight angular velocity time series plots change and increase according to dive degree of difficulty. With IMUs attached to three competitive divers performing forward somersault dives, dive flight kinematics were assessed. Biomechanically, a 4½ tuck somersault dive differed to lower degree of difficulty dives in terms of: (1) a rotational delay immediately after takeoff (to gain greater vertical translation); (2) increased total time of flight; (3) greater muscle effort to resist increased centrifugal forces produced by the increased angular velocity (1,090 °/s); and (4) greater eccentric control during deceleration allow a safe and vertical entry into the water. IMUs can be effectively utilised and integrated into contexts such as springboard diving for performance analysis and optimisation purposes.