‘Photo-words’: promoting language skills using photographs

Abstract

This study, using a mixed methods design, examined the use of a photograph-based model to improve students’ language and writing skills. Classes were assigned to receive the photograph-based intervention (experimental) or to receive the regular language-based curriculum (control). Both second and fifth grade students in the experimental group significantly improved their language and writing skills compared to the control group. Second grade students improved significantly more than fifth grade students. The findings also enabled the research team to identify deficiencies that required specific modifications in language curriculum design.     

A Study of Reported Tension in Interparental Relationships as Co-Existent with Behavior Adjustment in Young Children

The importance of replication is widely recognized in several research traditions. Empirical synthesis of seemingly diverse results may be particularly important when factor structure similarities are being evaluated because apparent differences in findings may be an artifact of different locations of factor axes, even though variable positions in factor space may be virtually identical. The present study empirically evaluated the comparability of seven sets of factor structures reported in previous research with the Bem Sex-Role Inventory. Results indicate that the inventory’s primary factors were reproduced in the studies, although the Masculine scale was somewhat less invariant than its Feminine counterpart. Thus, the results support the validity of this androgyny measure across several variations in sample types. The study represents a heuristic example of a methodology for the meta-analysis of factor structure studies.     

Illinois Project for Democratic Accountability

Education is experiencing a case of misplaced accountability, where an exclusive reliance on high stakes tests overlooks the more subtle judgments of teachers and professional educators and, because of its simplicity, passes as democratic. This article investigates the theoretical underpinnings of current accountability initiatives and draws upon extensive teacher interviews to reveal the practical aspects of accountability pressures in schools today. We provide a discussion of local teacher knowledge that exposes teachers' commitments to a deeper sense of successful education that is eclipsed by testing and that offers a richer resource for improving classrooms and educational outcomes. We provide a discussion of educational foundations and policy that rethinks democratic goals and encourages educationists to shift the current debate in order to make accountability truly democratic. This article suggests that the contemporary climate of accountability may be misplaced in its intentions.     

Muscle Fiber Type Composition and Knee Extension Isometric Strength Fatigue Patterns in Power- and Endurance-Trained Males

Abstract

Muscle fiber type composition in the vastus lateralis and knee extension isometric strength fatigue patterns were assessed in eight endurance-trained and eight power-trained males. Two different 25-trial isometric contraction exercise regimens were administered: a 10-second contraction, 5-second intertrial rest condition designed to induce a fast rate of fatigue and a 10-second contraction, 20-second intertrial rest condition designed to induce a slower rate of fatigue. The power group fatigued almost four times faster than the endurance group in the 10:5 exercise condition. In the 10:20 exercise condition, the endurance group showed no fatigue pattern while the power group had a significant strength decrement of 32%. In both exercise conditions, the power group exhibited more complex fatigue patterns in terms of statistically significant trend components. Maximum isometric strength correlated positively with slow twitch (ST) percent number in power (r = .80) and endurance (r = .48) groups, but negatively with linear trend coefficients in endurance (r = -.62) and power (r = -.80) groups. Maximum isometric strength also correlated higher with fatigue curve trend coefficients than did muscle fiber type composition. Thus, a faster rate of fatigue was associated with higher maximum isometric strength and with higher ST percent number and area. Since maximum isometric strength correlated with body weight (r = .86 for groups combined), both maximum isometric strength and muscle mass appear to be more important determinants of knee extension isometric strength fatigue patterns than muscle fiber type composition.     

成年人身体活动变化阶段及其社会心理学相关因素——初步检验“从无活动到保持活动的四步骤(FIT)”模型

基于锻炼心理学领域中的“从无活动到保持活动的四步骤模型”(Four Steps from Inactivity to Ac-tivity; FIT模型),以1 206名成年人为研究对象,通过横断性研究考查了6个身体活动变化阶段与10个社会心理学相关变量之间的关系.研究结果表明,被试在身体活动阶段上的分布为:前考虑期147(12.2％),考虑期273(22.6％),准备期148(12.3％),探索期144(11.9％),波动期201(16.7％)和保持期293(24.3％).有关社会心理学相关变量在相邻阶段间的配对比较,37项假设关系中的22项得到了支持,假设符合率为59.5％.进一步回归分析表明,性别、受教育程度、主观障碍、自我效能、情感态度和社会支持共同解释了阶段方差变异的32.6％.该研究初步验证了FIT模型所涉及的重要社会心理学相关因素与身体活动变化阶段之间的相关关系,基本支持了FIT模型的理论建构.     

Other Foreign Media

John A. Lent's Asian Mass Communications: A Comprehensive Bibliography (Philadelphia: Temple University School of Communications and Theater, 1975---$44.00, paper with spiral binding)

H.Edward English (ed.) Telecommunications for Canada: An Interface of Business and Government (Toronto: Methuen, 1973---price not known)

Television Advertising Conditions in Europe

Communication Policies in Ireland, by John Stapleton (1974, 73 pages, $3.95, paper)

Communication Policies in Hungary, by Tamas Szecsko and Gabor Fodor (1974, 58 pages, $3.30, paper)

Communication Policies in the Federal Republic of Germany, by Walter A. Mahle and Rolf Richter (1974, 86 pages, $4.95, paper)

Communication Policies in Sweden, by Lars Furhoff, Lennart Jonsson, and Lennart Nilsson (1974, 76 pages, $4.65, paper)     

Music and Recording

Roger D. Kinkle's The Complete Encyclopedia of Popular Music and Jazz: 1900-1950 (New Rochelle, N.Y.: Arlington House, 1974—$75.00 for set of four volumes)

Clive Davis and James Willwerth, Clive: Inside Inside the Record Business (New York: Morrow, 1974—$8.95)

Studies in Jazz Discography I (Institute of Jazz Studies University Extension Division, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J.—$3.25, paper)

Walter E. Hurst and William Storm Hale's Your Introduction to Music/Record Copyright, Contracts and other Business and Law (Seven Arts Press, Inc., 6605 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, Calif. 90028—$10.00/5.00)     

School-based prevention: effects on obesity and physical performance after 4 years

Juvenile obesity is increasing worldwide. Preventive strategies are warranted. The school-based Children's Health Interventional Trial (the CHILT Project) combines health education and physical activity for children. The effect on obesity and physical performance was studied after four years in 12 primary schools compared with five control schools. Anthropometric data were recorded. Physical performance was measured by a coordination test for children (balancing backwards, one-legged obstacle jumping, lateral jumping, sideways movements) and a 6-min run (endurance). No difference in the prevalence and incidence of overweight and obesity was found between the intervention and control schools before and after the intervention. Remission of overweight was higher in the intervention schools (23.2 vs. 19.2%), but not significant. An increase in coordination related to lateral jumping and balancing backwards was apparent in the intervention schools (30.6, s = 10.8 vs. 26.1, s = 10.8, P = 0.005; 21.8, s = 11.8 vs. 19.4, s = 11.7, P = 0.007), and the increase in endurance performance tended to be higher in intervention schools (100.8, s = 122.7 vs. 92.8, s = 126.0, P = 0.055), adjusted for age, sex, baseline test result, and body mass index at final examination. Therefore, preventive intervention in primary school offers the possibility to improve physical performance in children. The prevalence and incidence of obesity were not affected.     

The effect of national culture on partner buyouts in cross-border biotechnology alliances

This study examines how national culture influences the likelihood and rate of buyouts among R&D equity alliances and joint ventures in the biotechnology industry. We hypothesize that the interaction of specific national culture attributes and cultural differences between alliance partners have an impact on: (1) the amount of endogenous uncertainty surrounding the potential integration of the target firm and (2) the marginal rate of learning in hierarchical versus collaborative governance. Applying a competing hazard model to a sample of 173 joint ventures and minority equity collaborations in the biotechnology industry, we found that investing firms from high power distance and high uncertainty avoidance countries are more likely to buy out their alliance partners. Furthermore, greater cultural distance between alliance partners increases the likelihood of partner buyout when investing firms are from high power distance countries.