A validity study of two paper-pencil tests of concrete and formal operations

Two group paper-pencil batteries, the Longeot (consisting of three subtests) and three puzzles (KLR) from Science Teaching and the Development of Reasoning, were administered to 607 students from ninth and tenth grade mathematics and science classes. A subsample of 69 students was then administered three Inhelder tasks (chemicals, rods, and shadows). In general, the expected developmental trends were confirmed, with formal status being most difficult to attain on the Inhelder tasks and easiest to attain on the Longeot. The correlations between the KLR and Inhelder (0.61, p < 0.01) and the Longeot and Inhelder (0.55, p < 0.05) were moderately high. According to the method of Shayer (Note 2), it was found that each of five paper-pencil subtests discriminates at or between the 2B (late concrete) and 3A (early formal) levels while the sixth subtest, the mealworm puzzle, was found to discriminate at the 3A level. This study indicates that either group battery may be useful in identifying transitional subjects. However, if a more stringent criterion of “formal” is needed, a “success” rate of four or five out of the six subtests may be required. Both group batteries are relatively easy to administer and score with a minimum of guidance, although the KLR scoring might need to be simplified for use by the practitioner. Sex differences found on the KLR and the Longeot are suggestive of the potential differential use of these tests by researchers investigating sex differences in achievement or aptitude.     

Each Medium Tells a Different Story: The Effect of Message Channel on Narrative Persuasion

Limited attention has been given to the medium of story presentation in this process of narrative persuasion. The present study (N = 243) fills this gap by directly comparing narrative involvement across print and audiovisual versions of the same cervical cancer-related story. The mediation analysis revealed that exposure to an audiovisual narrative was associated with higher levels of cognitive and emotional involvement than exposure to the exact same narrative in its printed form. Yet the higher levels of transportation in the audiovisual condition came at a price of enhancing psychological reactance, eliminating the relative advantage of the film narrative.     

Assessing library services during a renovation

The Frazar Memorial Library at McNeese State University closed on the last day of the fall 2012 semester (December 8, 2012). The building remains under renovation through summer 2016. The library faculty anticipated big decreases in services. They studied the literature to establish baselines for those decreases. In response to these findings, the library staff tried to establish new service models to minimize the anticipated decline. This article measures the decline in library circulation, instruction, interlibrary loan (ILL), and reference services due to the renovation upheaval. The data presented in this study are anticipated to serve as a benchmark for subsequent actions for reversing the decline.     

The effects of baseball bat mass properties on swing mechanics,ground reaction forces,and swing timing

Swing trajectory and ground reaction forces (GRF) of 30 collegiate baseball batters hitting a pitched ball were compared between a standard bat, a bat with extra weight about its barrel, and a bat with extra weight in its handle. It was hypothesised that when compared to a standard bat, only a handle-weighted bat would produce equivalent bat kinematics. It was also hypothesised that hitters would not produce equivalent GRFs for each weighted bat, but would maintain equivalent timing when compared to a standard bat. Data were collected utilising a 500 Hz motion capture system and 1,000 Hz force plate system. Data between bats were considered equivalent when the 95% confidence interval of the difference was contained entirely within ±5% of the standard bat mean value. The handle-weighted bat had equivalent kinematics, whereas the barrel-weighted bat did not. Both weighted bats had equivalent peak GRF variables. Neither weighted bat maintained equivalence in the timing of bat kinematics and some peak GRFs. The ability to maintain swing kinematics with a handle-weighted bat may have implications for swing training and warm-up. However, altered timings of kinematics and kinetics require further research to understand the implications on returning to a conventionally weighted bat.     

Differences among fastball,curveball, and change-up pitching biomechanics across various levels of baseball

Controversy continues whether curveballs are stressful for young baseball pitchers. Furthermore, it is unproven whether professional baseball pitchers have fewer kinematic differences between fastballs and off-speed pitches than lower level pitchers. Kinematic and kinetic data were measured for 111 healthy baseball pitchers (26 youth, 21 high school, 20 collegiate, 26 minor league, and 18 major league level) throwing fastballs, curveballs, and change-ups in an indoor biomechanics laboratory with a high-speed, automated digitising system. Differences between pitch types and between competition levels were analysed with repeated measures ANOVA. Shoulder and elbow kinetics were greater in fastballs than in change-ups, while curveball kinetics were not different from the other two types of pitches. Kinematic angles at the instant of ball release varied between pitch types, while kinematic angles at the instant of lead foot contact varied between competition levels. There were no significant interactions between pitch type and competition level, meaning that kinetic and kinematic differences between pitch types did not vary by competition level. Like previous investigations, this study did not support the theory that curveballs are relatively more stressful for young pitchers. Although pitchers desire consistent kinematics, there were differences between pitch types, independent of competition level.     

Limit analysis of flow through conical converging dies

A variety of mathematical models may be used to analyse plastic deformation during a metal-forming process. One of these methods—limit analysis—places the estimate of required power between an upper bound and a lower bound. The upper and lower bound analyses are designed so that the actual power or forming stress requirement is less than that predicted by the upper bound and greater than that predicted by the lower bound. Finding a lower upper bound and a higher lower bound reduces the uncertainty of the actual power requirement. Upper and lower bounds will permit the determination of such quantities as required forces, limitations on the process, optimal die design, flow patterns, and prediction and prevention of defects.Fundamental to the development of both upper bound and lower bound solutions is the division of the body into zones. For each of the zones there is written either a velocity field (upper bound) or a stress field (lower bound). A better choice of zones and fields brings the calculated values closer to actual values.In the present work, both upper and lower bound solutions are presented for axisymmetric flow through conical converging dies. For the upper bound triangular velocity fields have been solved and compared to previously published work on spherical velocity fields. It is found that each type provides a lower solution over a part of the range of process variables. A previously published lower bound solution for axisymmetric flow is refined.     

The Inter‐Church Religious Education Survey

This exciting and provocative article came to us from France by way of Bishop Fulton Sheen of Rochester and Professor Edward M. Bradley of Dartmouth College, who is the translator