Does Preschool Enrichment of Precursors to Arithmetic Influence Intuitive Knowledge of Number in Low Income Children?

In this study, we examine whether preventive enrichment of pre-math skills has an influence on number knowledge in preschool children from low income families. Our data analyses use two methods to examine the influence of two independent programs implemented during junior kindergarten and kindergarten. The first implies the traditional approach comparing the self-selected treated group to a self-selected comparison group. The second approach uses a self-selected dosage approach to the treatment condition, considering that implementation of the program varied across teachers. The results regarding the enrichment program in kindergarten were inconclusive. Nevertheless, the pre-math program implemented in junior kindergarten showed a positive influence on children’s core requisite skills for later learning of arithmetic. Although children were receptive during both preschool years, a junior kindergarten program that elaborates upon conceptual issues beyond the number line appears both feasible and beneficial over the short-term.     

Academic judgment and institutional evaluation made by teachers according to pupils’ explanatory activity

The influence of sixth-graders’ explanatory activity was studied on their teachers’ academic judgment. Concerning the pupils’ explanatory activity, trait-related internal explanations were chosen more to explain positive events than negative ones, whereas the reverse was observed for effort/intention-related internal explanations. In response to positive and negative events, the trait-related and effort/related internal explanations were socially valued, whereas external explanations (Situational factors and others’ traits; Luck and others’ efforts and intentions) were socially devalued. Concerning teachers’ judgment, the more pupils chose traits and the less they chose lack of effort/intention to explain the negative events, and the less they chose traits and the more they chose effort/intention to explain the positive events, the more teachers attributed socially desirable traits to them. The more pupils chose effort/intention to explain the positive and negative events and the less they chose luck and others’ effort/intention to explain the negative events, the more teachers’ attributed socially useful traits to them (if the pupils do not value these internal explanations and devalue these external explanations). The results are discussed in reference to the social functions implied by the academic judgment.     

Forms of interdisciplinarity in four sport science research centres in Europe

Abstract

Interdisciplinarity is often presented as a significant element of sport science. We present here the results of an investigation conducted in four European Sport Science Research Centres applying interdisciplinarity. Four main dimensions, that we have called “forms”, have been investigated. The “scientific”, “organisational”, “academic” and “societal” forms cover a wide range of activities run by these Centres. We have compared their situations using indicators. Globally they present quite similar combinations of forms, with dominant roles in the construction of interdisciplinarity played by the organisational and societal forms. The scientific form is never quite supported by an epistemological setting and the academic form, mostly characterised by the position of the university, plays an influential role when it is hostile to that kind of research. Following Klein classification, all of them remain at a multidisciplinary stage, one of them exploring interdisciplinary tracks in some research projects. The development of a common culture and a curiosity regarding disciplines other than its own is a key factor for a sustainable situation, as is the capacity to secure long-term financial resources, often linked to a high academic recognition for the director(s).     

Interactional effects of the environment on interviews

This study investigates the effect of the environment factor on discourse mode and content in an interview situation. Fifteen eight-year-olds were interviewed in three specific and different locations in their school (classroom, doctor's office and playground) that formed the three experimental groups. Analysis of the interview data (propositional discourse analysis) shows that each experimental group produced a specific type of speech characterized by the occurrence of particular language markers.     

Coaches’ perceptions of decision making in rugby union

ABSTRACT

Background: In team games situations, the ability to make fast and accurate decisions is crucial to performance. As such, effective decision making, characterised by the consistent and efficient ability to choose the right course of action at the right moment, is a key component of match performance in team sports such as rugby union. Previous research has identified pedagogical approaches to enhance decision making. However, there is dearth in research to investigate how coaches evaluate tactical decision making and subsequently develop context specific ‘on’ and ‘off-field’ coaching practices to improve it. Further, the value coaches place on decision making is under explored.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore coaches’ perceptions of decision making in rugby union. The specific objectives to meet this aim were to: (i) Explore coaches’ perceptions of the value and importance of decision making in rugby union; (ii) Identify coaches’ opinions of the key decision making moments in games and how to evaluate them; and (iii) Investigate coaches’ on and off field methods for improving players’ tactical and strategic decision making.

Participants: Purposive sampling was used to select five male coaches, whose ages ranged from 25 to 41 years, from a regional rugby union club in Wales to participate in the study. Coaching experience ranged from two years to 16 years.

Methods: The interpretative paradigm was used within the study with data collected through semi-structured interviews with academy rugby union coaches. This type of interview gathered rich, detailed and complex accounts of coaches’ opinions of players’ in-game decision making in rugby union in order to inform practice and theory. Inductive and deductive qualitative thematic analysis was used to analyse and interpret the data.

Findings: All five coaches agreed that decision making was a crucial part of the modern game of rugby union. There was some disagreement between them about the players’ autonomy to make their own decisions on the pitch and a general lack of clarity between ‘game plan’, ‘strategy’ and ‘tactics’ amongst the coaches. All the coaches agreed that the process of evaluation of players’ decision making should involve a joint discussion with the players. They also agreed that developing decision making was one of the hardest things to coach. Finally, they used a variety of ‘on’ and ‘off-field’ coaching methods to achieve this including video analysis, questioning and the use of games based scenarios.

Conclusion: This study acquired the coaches’ voice on players’ decision making in rugby union by exploring its perceived importance to them and how they evaluated and attempted to improve it. A clear attempt was made among the coaches to develop a ‘non-judgemental’ atmosphere in the evaluation and improvement of players’ decision making. Future research should consider the use of explicitation interviewing, where the interviewer (coach) aims to get the player into a state of evocation, to relive the key decision making moments in an attempt to improve it.     

A review of the penetration of Francophone research on intervention in physical education and sport in Anglophone journals since 2010

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Since the 1990s, the notion of intervention has expanded with growing interest in the analysis of practices in Francophone country. French-speaking research community considers intervention sciences as a specific field of research in sport and PE. The aim of this literature review was to characterize the penetration of Francophone research in the English-language literature in physical education and sport concerned with intervention since 2010 in the category ‘Education & Educational Research’ of the Journal Citation Reports (2017). This research was in line with the analysis of the papers presented during six Francophone congresses from 2000 to 2010 of the Association for Research on Intervention in Sport (Musard and Poggi 2015 Musard, Mathilde, and Marie-Paule Poggi. 2015. “Intervention in Physical Education and Sport: Trends and Developments in a Decade of Francophone Research.” Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy 20 (3): 250–267. doi:10.1080/17408989.2013.817008.[Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]).

Methods: The selection of articles was carried out in three stages: selection of journals, selection of articles manually, the second level of selection. The selection of journals is do in this category "Education & Educational Research" (JCR, 2017) focusing primarily on sport and physical education. Six journals met these criteria: Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, European Physical Education Review, Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, Sport Education and society, Quest, Journal of Hospitality Leisure Sport & Tourism Education. Then, the selection of articles was manually analyzing all the publications of each journal since 2010 (almost 2000 articles) according to inclusion criteria "sport or physical education", "francophone authors", and "intervention". Each 46 articles selected was classified according to its theoretical framework. The last stage of selection corresponded to an analyze and an extension of the literature review by a French-speaking specialist in each theoretical framework.

Results: The results show that French-language research on/in/for intervention is in close connection with the international tradition. Some approaches such as didactique, a technological approach, and course of action, have a Francophone specificity based on various international theoretical anchors; others such as motor learning, social psychology, ecological approach come from non-French-speaking international theoretical frameworks.

Discussion and conclusion: These findings raise the question of the Francophone specificity of intervention sciences. Beyond particular French-speaking theoretical frameworks, concepts and concerns join Anglophone traditions. As in the international fields of ‘sport pedagogy’ or ‘praxis’, the Francophone intervention sciences are composed of a diversity of theoretical approaches and are focused towards an epistemology of action. These two communities can enrich each other and deserve more interaction and exchange.     

Importance of Ability Grouping in French “Collèges” and its Impact upon Pupils’ Academic Achievement

This article tries to assess the prevalence and learning consequences of ability grouping in French lower secondary schools (collèges). The article shows that ability grouping is in fact relatively widespread in France and has a strong local connotation. In terms of pupil learning, the article stresses that the better the class they attend, the better students tend to perform. However, a heterogeneous context proves to be more favourable (for low achievers, a homogeneous class is the worst case). The results also stress the existence of a potential conflict of interest between the policy-maker and the actors of the system. Résumé L’article vise à évaluer l’importance de l’organisation des études en groupes de niveau dans le premoier cycle secondaire en France ainsi que ses conséquences en termes d’acquisitions des élèves. L’article montre en premier lieu que cette pratique est en fait relativement fréquente dans les établissements français tout en ayant une dimension locale assez accentuée. En termes d’acquisitions, l’article souligne que les progressions des élèves ont tendance à être d’autant meilleures que le niveau moyen des élèves de la classe est élève; cependant, un contexte hétérogène s’avère aussi le plus favorable (un contexte homogène étant la pire des choses pour les élèves faibles). Les résultats soulignent aussi l’existence d’un conflit potentiel d’intérêt entre le décideur du système qui vise des onjectifs généraux et les différents acteurs (enseignants, parents d’élèves) qui visent leurs intérêts particuliers.     

A Round-Up of French Language Media Publications

François Archambault & Jean François Lemoine, Quatre milliards de journaux: La presse de province (Paris: A. Moreau, 1977—55 FF, 484 pp.)

Alain Besson, La Presse locale en liberté surveillée (Paris: Editions Ouvrières, 1978—38 FF, 256 pp.)

Jean Cluzel, Télé-Violence (Paris: Plon, 1978—35 FF, 251 pp.)

Jean Egen, Le Canard Enchainé (Paris: Seghers, 1978—19.50 FF, 187 pp.)

Francis Hamon, Liberté et responsabilité de la presse en Grande-Bretagne: le Press Council; and Claude-Jean Bertrand, Les Conseils de presse dans la monde (Paris: Notes et etudes documentaires, La Documentation francaise, December 26, 1977—10.50 FF, 79 pp.)

Denis Perier-Daville, La Liberté de la presse nest pas à vendre (Paris: Le Seuil, 1978—42 FF, 254 pp.)

Jean Bruno Renard, Clefs pour la bande dessineé (Paris: Seghers, 1978— 25 FF, 256 pp.)

Pierre Schaeffer, Les Antennes de Jéricho (Paris: Stock, 1978—49 FF, 333 pp.)     

Force-velocity characteristics of upper limb extension during maximal wheelchair sprinting performed by healthy able-bodied females

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between force and velocity parameters during a specific multi-articular upper limb movement--namely, hand rim propulsion on a wheelchair ergometer. Seventeen healthy able-bodied females performed nine maximal sprints of 8 s duration with friction torques varying from 0 to 4 N x m. The wheelchair ergometer system allows measurement of forces exerted on the wheels and linear velocity of the wheel at 100 Hz. These data were averaged for the duration of each arm cycle. Peak force and the corresponding maximal velocity were determined during three consecutive arm cycles for each sprint condition. Individual force-velocity relationships were established for peak force and velocity using data for the nine sprints. In line with the results of previous studies on leg cycling or arm cranking, the force-velocity relationship was linear in all participants (r = -0.798 to -0.983, P < 0.01). The maximal power output (mean 1.28 W x kg(-1)) and the corresponding optimal velocity (1.49 m x s(-1)) and optimal force (52.3 N) calculated from the individual force-velocity regression were comparable with values reported in the literature during 20 or 30 s wheelchair sprints, but lower than those obtained during maximal arm cranking. A positive linear relationship (r = 0.678, P < 0.01) was found between maximal power and optimal velocity. Our findings suggest that although absolute values of force, velocity and power depend on the type of movement, the force-velocity relationship obtained in multi-articular limb action is similar to that obtained in wheelchair locomotion, cycling and arm cranking.