Direction of regard and the still-face effect in the first year: does intention matter?

In the first study, 3-, 6-, and 9- month-olds' behavior was assessed as a stranger broke contact to stare at the infant, to look at a wall, or to look at another person. Regardless of age and the reason contact was broken, the still-face reaction did not depend on the experimenter's intention. In the second study, 3-, 6-, and 9-month-olds interacted with their mother who broke contact to look away for no apparent reason or in the direction of a sound. Infants at all ages responded to the still-face episode, but not as a function of the underlying reason contact was broken. The findings suggest a primacy of interpersonal communication in the first year.     

Leadership provided by non-academic middle-level managers in the Australian higher education sector: the enablers

This study seeks to identify the leadership behaviours displayed by non-academic middle-level managers in the Australian higher education sector. The study also identifies the importance of these leadership behaviours and the leadership effectiveness of these managers. The integrated competing values framework was used to measure leadership behaviours and effectiveness. A total of 75 middle-level managers participated in a 360-degree feedback programme that sought responses from 816 of their work colleagues (line manager, peers and staff). Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to analyse the data. The results of the analysis found that the managers were reasonably effective, were reflective and learnt new behaviours, displayed all leadership behaviours at a reasonable level and considered all the leadership behaviours to be important. In the main, the managers held similar perceptions to their work colleagues. Future research is needed to identify gender and cultural differences.     

Generalizability of the AAHPERD Health Related Skinfold Test

Abstract

Generalizability theory was utilized to investigate the amount of variation associated with various facets in the assessment of skinfolds as suggested by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) Health Related Physical Fitness Test. The facets utilized were testers, instruments, and repeated trials. Results indicate that the variation associated with the tester, instrument, and trial facets was small. Components of variance and G coefficients indicate that skinfold measures vary little depending upon the tester, instrument, or trial used. Suggestions are made for accurate assessment of the skinfolds recommended in the AAHPERD Health Related Physical Fitness Test.     

Cultural Constructions of Childhood and Early Literacy

This paper is based on the findings of two research teams, working collaboratively, between 1998 and 2000 in four countries: Australia, Singapore, France and England (see David et al 2000). Taking an ecological stance (Bronfenbrenner 1979), both teams adopted a cross‐cultural approach in order to gain a better understanding of the contexts in which young children become familiar with literacy. The team led by Bridie Raban worked in Singapore and Australia, that led by Tricia David in France and England. Early years practitioners in all four countries responded to questionnaires, were observed in action and interviewed. (Information about their training and about entry to primary school in each of the countries is given in the endnote.) In addition, the research teams carried out document analyses on Governmental, research and training literature and teachers’ plans, and discussed their findings with others in positions to be able to ‘authenticate’– or refute – findings. Further data were obtained through group interviews with parents of children attending selected settings involved in the research. Here we provide some of the evidence about the different views expressed by practitioners, our observational findings and analysis of the different pressures relating to literacy experienced in early childhood education and care settings. In each case the learning experiences practitioners provided for children were influenced by a range of factors, such as the contested role of preschools as preparation for schooling. In some settings this preparation was not explicit and practitioners often emphasised the importance of the ‘here and now’ nature of young children’s experiences. Rosenthal’s (2000) framework for exploring ‘collectivist’ and ‘individualist’ cultures in relation to their valued educational practices was applied to our findings, in order to identify how the cultural assumptions about literacy, learning and young children influenced the teaching approaches selected.