Concept Relationships in Knowledge Organization Systems: Elements for Analysis and Common Research Among Fields

Knowledge organization systems have been studied in several fields and for different and complementary aspects. Among the aspects that concentrate common interests, in this article we highlight those related to the terminological and conceptual relationships among the components of any knowledge organization system. This research aims to contribute to the critical analysis of knowledge organization systems, especially ontologies, thesauri, and classification systems, by the comprehension of its similarities and differences when dealing with concepts and their ways of relating to each other as well as to the conceptual design that is adopted.     

Narrative Persuasion in a New Media Environment: The Impact of Binge-Watching and Second-Screening

The study explored the role of second-screen use and binge-watching in moderating entertainment education (EE) effects. A pretest/posttest experiment of 273 viewers of East Los High measured the effects of exposure to three subplots, concerning alcohol abuse, abortion, and immigration. The effect of identification with characters on change in attitudes was significantly moderated by second-screen use and binge-watching. In particular, second-screening tended to enhance the positive impact of identification; whereas, among respondents who binge-watched the show, the effects of identification were weaker.     

An exploratory investigation into factors affecting visual balance

Throughout the history of art more attention has been given to pictorial balance than to any other principle of visual composition. When examining pictorial balance, the visual weights of significant elements within a given field must be taken into consideration. This study, by means of ocular photography and the analysis of eye fixations, examined factors that have an effect upon visual weight. Confirming earlier studies, the upper half of a visual field was found to have inherently greater visual weight than the lower half. While several researchers have attributed greater visual weight to the left side of a field, others have favored the right. Data from this study were not sufficiently reliable to indicate a preference for either side. Results were insufficient to support the hypothesis that the upper left quadrant has greater inherent visual weight than the upper right quadrant. While it was shown that the interrelationships between tone and size have an effect on visual weight, the exact nature of these relationships must await future investigation.     

Can Examinees Use a Review Option to Obtain Positively Biased Ability Estimates on a Computerized Adaptive Test?

Part of the controversy about allowing examinees to review and change answers to previous items on computerized adaptive tests (CATs) centers on a strategy for obtaining positively biased ability estimates attributed to Wainer (1993) in which examinees intentionally answer items incorrectly before review and to the best of their abilities upon review. Our results, based on both simulated and live testing data, showed that there were instances in which the Wainer strategy yielded inflated ability estimates as well as instances in which it yielded deflated ability estimates. The success of the strategy in inflating ability estimates depended on the ability estimation method used (maximum likelihood versus Bayesian), the examinee's true ability level, the standard error of the ability estimate, the examinee's ability to implement the strategy, and the type of decision made from the ability estimate. We discuss approaches to dealing with the Wainer strategy in operational CAT settings.     

Toward preparing students for change: A critical discussion of the contribution of the history of physics in physics teaching

In this paper I place physics teaching, and the inclusion of the history of physics into teaching, within a wide context. I start from the conviction that there are considerable changes ahead in the life circumstances of people in western industrial societies. This expectation should influence our aims of education generally, and in particular the aims of physics teaching. The paper does not offer final solutions, but analyses the situation and thereby argues for a change in perspective in physics teaching. The main idea is that physics teaching has to solve the problem of balancing seemingly incompatible needs, for example, conveying a stock of stable, dependable physics knowledge to students, and on the other hand to train them to see their physics knowledge within varying contexts of change. It is argued that the history of physics can be of high value in solving this problem.This article was originally published in: F. Bevilacqua and P.J. Kennedy (eds.): 1983, Proceedings of the Conference on Using History of Physics in Innovatory Physics Education, Pavia University.     

Combining issues of “girl-suited” science teaching,STS and constructivism in a physics textbook

This paper outlines the design of a physics textbook that addresses issues of gender-inclusive physics teaching, STS and constructivism. Difficulties of addressing these issues in a textbook for normal classes, which has to compete with other textbooks on the market will be discussed. Specializations: constructivist approaches in science education research and practice. Specializations: gender issues in science instruction. Specializations: primary education, integrated science. Specializations: STS, phenomenological oriented physics instruction. Specializations: peace education within science education.