Relationship of sex,achievement, and science self-concept to the science career preferences of black students

Science career preferences of junior high school-aged students, while not stable predictors of ultimate career choice, do serve to direct and maintain individuals along the paths to careers in science. In this study, factors relevant to science career preferences of black eighth grade students were investigated. This issue is of particular import to blacks since they are severely underrepresented in the scientific fields. The sample consisted of 113 males and 148 females in an inner city junior high school. The Science Career Preference Scale, the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, and the Self-Concept of Ability Scale (Form B-Science) were administered. Mathematics and science grades were obtained from class rating sheets. Treatment of the data involved multiple regression analysis according to a hierarchical model. Results showed that of all the independent variables, sex was the strongest predictor of science career preferences, accounting for 25% of the criterion variance. The findings suggest that early adolescent science career preferences are related more to interests that are consonant with sex-role considerations than realistic assessment of mathematics or science achievement.     

Introduction To The Futures Focus Issue: The New Rules Of Business

The Community College Futures Assembly has served as a national independent policy think tank since 1995. Its purpose is to articulate the critical issues facing American community colleges and recognize leading-edge trendsetting programs. Convening annually in January in Orlando, Florida, the Assembly offers a learning environment where tough questions are raised, critical issues are discussed, and policy implications are challenged. The 2006 Community College Futures Assembly focused on “The New Rules of Business.”

This special focus issue of the Community College Journal of Research and Practice highlights the “best practices” of 30 Bellwether trend-setting institutions. These institutions competitively presented their “lessons learned” to representatives of colleges interested in replicating their award winning programs. In each of the three award categories, Instructional Program and Services; Planning, Governance and Finance; and Workforce Development; 10 Bellwether finalists were competitively selected. Finalists were featured as presenters at the assembly to share their leading-edge ideas with participants. Three institutions then won the prestigious Bellwether Award in their respective category.     

Student engagement scale: development,reliability and validity

In this study, the purpose was to develop a student engagement scale for higher education. The participants were 805 students. In the process of developing the item pool regarding the scale, related literature was examined in detail and interviews were held. Six factors – valuing, sense of belonging, cognitive engagement, peer relationships (emotional engagement-I), relationships with faculty members (emotional engagement-II) and behavioural engagement within the scope of the components of campus engagement and class engagement – made up of 41 items were identified. The total variance explained was 59%. A higher student engagement score was regarded as an indicator that the student had a high level of engagement with the university, campus and class, while a lower score demonstrated that the student’s engagement with the campus and class was weak or that disengagement could occur.     

Caregiver perceptions of inclusive playgrounds targeting toddlers and preschoolers with disabilities: has recent international and national policy improved overall satisfaction?

The purpose of the current study was to survey and interview caregivers of children with disabilities (ages 2–5 years) to obtain their input as to whether current playground equipment meets their child's needs. A total of 149 participants agreed to participate. Caregivers (i) indicated that their child with a disability could not fully participate in the playground's offerings, (ii) felt that the playground was not appropriate for their child with a disability and (iii) dreamed of a fully inclusive playground that met their child's needs. The results also demonstrate that social participation barriers continue to remain for families who have children with disabilities despite the passing of international human rights standards targeting individuals with disabilities and a global focus in improving the overall well‐being of children with disabilities.     

What publishers can take away from the latest early career researcher research

Key points

• Early career researchers (ECRs) consider journals the central form of communication – but are concerned about pressure to publish.
• ECRs want to share but currently accept the closed publishing system because of the need to build a traditional reputation.
• ECRs know – and appear to care – little about publishers but trust them as publishing and reviewing facilitators.
• Editors are criticized for not managing peer review with better selection of reviewers.
• Megajournals are not seen as the future journal form and criticized for lack of selectivity.
• ECRs want open access/science in principle but are circumspect about their contribution to it.
• ResearchGate is a key force for change as ECRs consider it a mainstay communication and reputation platform.

     

Should I Stay or Should I Go? A Survey of Career Path Movement Within Academic,Public and Special Librarianship

Just as there are many types of library environments, the librarians working within those spaces represent a variety of experiences, job skills, and perspectives. Librarians develop these qualities through library curricula and on-the-job experience. While some librarians spend their careers in one type of library, others may travel between library environments and gain a wider range of experiences and skills. Decisions to transition between library types may be triggered by personal and professional motivators. Results of this survey confirm some librarians are actively and successfully transitioning between library environments as an alternative career path.     

Starting where we can: using action research to develop inclusive practice

This paper details how one city in the north‐east of England set out to explore the concept of ­inclusion and to develop more inclusive early years and childcare services through the use of an action research/reflective practice approach with practitioners. It describes a local project, the ­Inclusive Practice Pilot Project (IPP), designed to develop more inclusive services for young children and children using out‐of‐school clubs. The paper outlines the progress of the project which used action research as a mechanism for developing thinking and understanding linked to practice change. It highlights both the catalysts for, and barriers to, the development of more inclusive practice. It concludes by suggesting that if early years and childcare services are to become more inclusive, then alongside technical and organizational change there needs to be more emphasis on supporting changes in attitudes, understandings and ways of thinking about practice.

Cet article expose en détail comment une ville dans le nord‐est de l’Angleterre a entrepris deexplorer le concept de l’inclusion et de développer avec les praticiens un service pré‐escolaire etd’ assistance à l’enfance plus inclusif à travers de l’utilisation d’une pratique qui utilise la recherche d’action/ recherche reflective. Un projet local est décrit, le Pilote Projet de Pratique Inclusive (IPP), conçu pour développer des services plus inclusives pour les enfants plus petits et les enfants qui utilisent dehors des clubs d’activités dehors de l’école. Cet essai décrit le progrès du projet qui a employé la recherche active comme mécanisme pour développer la pensée et la compréhension liées au changement de pratique. Il accentue non seulement les catalyseurs mais aussi les barrières au développement d’une pratique plus inclusive. On conclut en suggérant que si les services de la première enfance et d’ assistance à l’enfance doivent devenir plus inclusifs alors qu’à côté du changement technique et organisationnel il faut mettre plus d’emphase en faveur du changement des attitudes, des ententes et des manières de penser autour la pratique.

Este ensayo detalla cómo una ciudad en el nordeste de Inglaterra se propuso a explorar el concepto de la inclusión y a desarrollar junto a los profesionales servicios más inclusivos para el cuidado de niños y de pre‐escolar a través del uso de una práctica basada sobre el método “investigación‐acción/ práctica reflexiva”. Describe un proyecto local, el Proyecto Piloto de la Práctica Inclusiva (IPP), diseñado para desarrollar servicios más inclusivos para los niños en general y los niños pequeños que usan clubs de actividades extraescolares. El papel perfila el progreso del proyecto en el que fue utilizada la investigación‐acción como mecanismo para desarrollar el pensamiento y el entendimiento ­relacionados al cambio de práctica. Destaca tanto los catalizadores como las barreras al desarrollo de una práctica más inclusiva. Concluye sugiriendo que para que los servicios pre‐escolares y de cuidado de niños lleguen a ser más inclusivos, entonces junto al cambio técnico y de organización se necesita poner más énfasis en el apoyo al cambio en las actitudes, el entendimiento y la manera de pensar sobre la práctica.     

Not so different after all: Malaysian researchers' cross‐discipline view of quality and trustworthiness in citation practices

This paper reports a survey on citation behaviour of Malaysian researchers. It is part of a wider study gauging quality and trustworthiness in scholarly communication in the emerging digital environment. The survey questionnaire was distributed between 1 October 2014 and 31 January 2015. A total of 391 respondents, from four research areas (humanities, life sciences, physical sciences, and social sciences) completed the questionnaire. The finding indicated that motivations for citing were complex and multi‐faceted, but in all four disciplines, researchers cite a work because they regard it as an authoritative and trustworthy source, which provides a context or building block to their own research. Although researchers have moved from a print‐based system to a digital one, it has not significantly changed the way they decide what to trust. Peer reviewed journals are still the most influential. Open access journals will be cited if they have been peer reviewed. Citing on the basis of high altmetrics and other social judgements, such as mentions, likes, and use, was not prevalent. Measures of establishing trust and authority do not seem to have changed profoundly in Malaysia.