The mind behind the message: advancing theory-of-mind scales for typically developing children, and those with deafness, autism, or Asperger syndrome

Children aged 3-12 years (n = 184) with typical development, deafness, autism, or Asperger syndrome took a series of theory-of-mind (ToM) tasks to confirm and extend previous developmental scaling evidence. A new sarcasm task, in the format of H. M. Wellman and D. Liu's (2004) 5-step ToM Scale, added a statistically reliable 6th step to the scale for all diagnostic groups. A key previous finding, divergence in task sequencing for children with autism, was confirmed. Comparisons among diagnostic groups, controlling age, and language ability, showed that typical developers mastered the 6 ToM steps ahead of each of the 3 disabled groups, with implications for ToM theories. The final (sarcasm) task challenged even nondisabled 9-year-olds, demonstrating the new scale's sensitivity to post-preschool ToM growth.     

Food‐Based Science Curriculum Increases 4th Graders Multidisciplinary Science Knowledge

Health professionals and policymakers are asking educators to place more emphasis on food and nutrition education. Integrating these topics into science curricula using hand‐on, food‐based activities may strengthen students’ understanding of science concepts. The Food, Math, and Science Teaching Enhancement Resource (FoodMASTER) Initiative is a compilation of programs aimed at using food as a tool to teach mathematics and science. Previous studies have shown that students experiencing the FoodMASTER curriculum were very excited about the activities, became increasingly interested in the subject matter of food, and were able to conduct scientific observations. The purpose of this study was to: (1) assess 4th graders food‐related multidisciplinary science knowledge, and (2) compare gains in food‐related science knowledge after implementation of an integrated, food‐based curriculum. During the 2009–2010 school year, FoodMASTER researchers implemented a hands‐on, food‐based intermediate curriculum in eighteen 4th grade classrooms in Ohio (n = 9) and North Carolina (n = 9). Sixteen classrooms in Ohio (n = 8) and North Carolina (n = 8), following their standard science curricula, served as comparison classrooms. Students completed a researcher‐developed science knowledge exam, consisting of 13 multiple‐choice questions administered pre‐ and post‐test. Only subjects with pre‐ and post‐test scores were entered into the sample (Intervention n = 343; Control n = 237). No significant differences were observed between groups at pre‐test. At post‐test, the intervention group scored (9.95 ± 2.00) significantly higher (p = 0.000) than the control group (8.84 ± 2.37) on a 13‐point scale. These findings suggest the FoodMASTER intermediate curriculum is more effective than a standard science curriculum in increasing students’ multidisciplinary science knowledge related to food.     

关于中国高校在创新人才培养存在问题的分析

高等教育与中等教育、初等教育的最大区别就在于,它对于学生的引领不仅仅是在理论知识上,而是更多地侧重于对学生创新意识的唤醒以及创新能力的提高。2007年,党的十七大报告中明确提出：“提高自主创新能力,建设创新型国家”是发展战略的核心和提高综合力的关键。高等院校,是创新人才的摇篮,肩负着为国家培养创新人才的重大使命。     

College Students with Learning Disabilities (SWLD) and Their Responses to Teacher Power

Individuals in relationships accrue dependence power to the extent that they are perceived by a committed partner to be uncommitted to the relationship and have viable relationship alternatives (Cloven &; Roloff, 1993). This investigation examined how relational dependence power influences post‐hoc appraisals and communicative decisions about problematic events for both problematic event offenders and observers. One hundred and six dating couples participated in this investigation. Each person individually completed measures of dependence power. Then, one person in each couple was designated the offender and the other was the observer of one of five hypothetical problematic events; participants rated the severity of the scenario, as welt as completing several measures related to defining the scenario as a problematic event. Respondents also reported the likelihood that they would not communicate about the situation. Analyses indicated that for offenders, appraisals of problematic event severity were negatively associated with partner's commitment and positively associated with perceptions of partner's alternatives; the opposite pattern was indicated for observers. Moreover, when events were appraised as serious, offenders and observers were less likely to avoid communicating about the situation. Little support was found for the association between dependence power and decisions to communicate about problematic events.     

Validity of the verbal immediacy scale

The development and use of the verbal immediacy scale (Gorham, 1988) are outlined and discussed. Data are presented which bring into question the validity of the measure. It is concluded that the scale may not be a valid operationalization of the immediacy construct as outlined by Mehrabian (1971) and, even if it is, it generates a response set such that the meaning of the responses obtained is unknown. The scale is not recommended for continued use in communication research prior to its reformulation and additional testing for validity.     

English Composition by Workshop

This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of intensive in-class guidance of daily writing practice in freshman English composition courses as opposed to the presently practiced procedures in the course. The study involved 568 themes written by 142 students enrolled in six classes at UWM. Four groups were taught according to a workshop method developed by two instructors in English and an educational psychologist. Two groups were taught according to the procedures outlined in the freshman composition syllabus. An evaluation chart was developed by the three instructors and four complete sets of themes were graded once each by three raters. The hypothesis–there will be a significant difference in the grade achievement on selected freshmen English essays based on differences in instructional procedures between two control and four experimental groups–was supported. Since major variables of initial superiority of any writing group, variation in grading practices, and effect on students of theme assignments per se were not shown to be significant, it was concluded that the instructional procedures affected the grade achievement of the groups involved.     

The relationship of supervisor use of power and affinity‐seeking strategies with subordinate satisfaction

Subordinate perceptions of supervisor communication of power (control) strategies and supervisor communication of affinity‐seeking strategies were found to correlate with subordinate satisfaction. Supervisor use of power strategies such as Deferred Reward from Behavior, Self‐Esteem, and Supervisor Feedback were positively correlated with subordinate satisfaction. Punishment from Supervisor, Punishment from Others, Guilt, Supervisor/ Subordinate Relationship‐Negative, Legitimate‐Higher Authority, Legitimate‐Supervisor Authority, Personal Responsibilty, and Debt were negatively correlated with subordinate satisfaction. The results also revealed many affinity‐seeking strategies were positively associated with subordinate satisfaction. Present Interesting Self and Assume Control, when overused by supervisors, led to lowered satisfaction.     

General education: A college dropout

Fifty Famous Painters. By Henrietta Gerwig. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell Co., 1926. Pp. ix + 416. Price, $3.50.

A Glossary of Three Hundred Terms Used in Educational Measurement and Research. By Charles W. Odell (University of Illinois). Bulletin No. 40, Bureau of Educational Research. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1928. Pp. 68. Price, 50 cents.

Three Problem Children. Narratives from the Case Records of a Child Guidance Clinic. New York: Joint Committee on Methods of Preventing Delinquency, 1926. Pp. viii + 142.

High School Chemistry. By George Howard Bruce. Yonkers, N. Y.: World Book Co., 1928. Pp. x + 550. Price, $1.68.

Psychology for Teachers. By Charles E. Benson, James E. Lough, Charles E. Skinner, and Paul V. West (New York University). Boston: Ginn &; Co., 1926. Pp. x + 390. Price, $2.

Standardizing Teachers' Examinations, and the Distribution of Class Marks. By Robert S. Ellis. Bloomington, Ill.: Public School Publishing Co., 1927. Pp. 170. Price, 75 cents.

The New Human Interest Library. S. E. Farquhar, Managing Editor. Chicago: The Midland Press, 1928. 6 volumes.

The Path of Learning. By Henry W. Holmes (Harvard University) and Burton P. Fowler. Boston: Little, Brown &; Co., 1926. Pp. x + 488.

Fundamentals of Human Motivation. By Leonard T. Troland (Harvard University). New York: D. Van Nostrand Co., Inc., 1928. Pp. xiv + 521. Price, $5.

School Training for Gifted Children. By Henry Herbert Goddard (Ohio State University). Yonkers, N. Y.: World Book Co., 1928. Pp. xii + 266. Price, $2.

Parents and Sex Education, By B. C. Gruenberg. New York: American Social Hygiene Association, 1923. Pp. vi + 100. Price, $3.

Elements of Qualitative Chemical Analysis. A Laboratory Guide. By Wilfred Welday Scott. New York: D. Van Nostrand Co., Inc., 1928. Pp. x +164. Price, $1.60.

Principles and Methods of Junior High School Mathematics. By James Herbert Blackhurst. New York: The Century Co., 1928. Pp. xvi + 355.

The Singing Farmer. By James S. Tippett. New York: World Book Co., 1927. Pp. vi + 90. Price, 68 cents.

The Techniques of Educational Research. By W. S. Monroe and Max D. Engelhart (University of Illinois). Bulletin No. 38, Bureau of Educational Research. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1928. Pp. 84. Price, 50 cents.

A Teacher's Geography. By Mendel E. Branom. New York: The Macmillan Co., 1928. Pp. xviii + 252.