Exploring sex differences in science enrolment intentions: An application of the General Model of Academic Choice

In many countries there remain substantial sex differences in enrolments in elective science courses, despite concerted efforts in recent years to alleviate them. This paper explores the reasons for these differences by comparing models of male and female enrolment intentions in elective courses in biology, chemistry and physics. The models are based on responses from approximately 450 students from 5 Australian high schools. First, a theoretical model, the Science Enrolment Model, was derived from Eccles and colleagues’ General Model of Academic Choice. Students’ responses were then used to develop empirical models of enrolment intentions in the three elective courses. Analyses for the models were conducted using the LISREL “mean structures” extension. Sex differences in the dependent variables in the models were then attributed to the relevant sets of independent variables. Substantial sex differences were identified in measures of perceived career value, interest and performance expectations in all three models which explained between 70% and 82% of the sex differences in enrolment intentions.     

Achieving equivalence: a transnational curriculum design framework

Transnational education is now essential to university international development strategies. As a result, tertiary educators are expected to engage with the complexities of diverse cultural contexts, different delivery modes, and mixed student cohorts to design quality learning experiences for all. To support this transition we developed a transnational curriculum design framework that synthesises knowledge about what impacts on curriculum design. This framework aims to help academic developers communicate complex educational concepts and foster international communities of practice. It guides cyclical implementation that is focused on achieving equivalent and quality educational outcomes for students regardless of their location across the globe.     

Conditioning of the nictitating membrane response of the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) as a function of length and degree of variation of intertrial interval

The study involved three experiments. The first, a parametric investigation of nictitating membrane conditioning with eight constant intertrial intervals (ITIs) between 5 and 120 sec, orthogonal to interstimulus intervals (ISIs) of 250 and 750 msec plus three temporal conditioning control groups, revealed that performance improved rapidly with increasing ITI but stabilized at relatively low ITI values. At 750-msec ISI, a decrement in performance was found at 60-sec ITI. Experiment II, using constant ITIs of 45–75 sec in 5-sec steps, at 750-msec ISI confirmed the trend toward a performance decrement around 60 sec, although the trend was weak and highly variable. Experiment III evaluated the differences in performance between constant and variable ITI, using three ITI values and three conditions of variation at each value. Findings were discussed in terms of differences in conditioning resulting from both length and degree of variation of ITI and some subtle effects which may emerge only when constant ITIs are used.     

A study of race and gender bias in the punishment of handicapped school children

There is scant research concerned about punishment of handicapped, minority students in public schools. The purpose of this study was to investigate race and gender, types of rules violations, types of punishments, referral rates, referral frequencies, and follow-up activities to determine differences in treatment by race, sex, and handicapping condition. The sample consisted of 4,391 discipline files representing records from 9 schools in a district (K-12). All data were analyzed using the Chi Square statistic. It was demonstrated that racial bias existed in the administration of punishment, and that Black, male handicapped students were punished more severely than others for commission of the same offenses.     

Adolescent adjustment, social systems and parental separation

The changing positions of different members of adolescent support networks are examined with respect to adolescent age (11–15) and sex, and, in particular, with respect to changes following parental separation. Older children’s reports of less parental support are consistent with expectations of diminishing attachment. However, the relative importance of same sex friends for provision of support for girls, in comparison to boys, suggests more flexibility in the sense of their being less tied to parents for support. The comparison between children from different family types revealed no differences in respect of relations with same sex or opposite sex friends. Hence, no compensation or spill over from parental separation was evident. However, there was a clear system effect in that children from divorcing families that lived with their mother provided relatively more support for mother, and also reported less acceptance from their fathers in comparison to those children where no parental separation had taken place. Their adjustment will depend, at least in part, on the functioning of their broader social networks.