The Impact of Multidimensionality on Extraction of Latent Classes in Mixture Rasch Models

This study investigates the effect of multidimensionality on extraction of latent classes in mixture Rasch models. In this study, two‐dimensional data were generated under varying conditions. The two‐dimensional data sets were analyzed with one‐ to five‐class mixture Rasch models. Results of the simulation study indicate the mixture Rasch model tended to extract more latent classes than the number of dimensions simulated, particularly when the multidimensional structure of the data was more complex. In addition, the number of extracted latent classes decreased as the dimensions were more highly correlated regardless of multidimensional structure. An analysis of the empirical multidimensional data also shows that the number of latent classes extracted by the mixture Rasch model is larger than the number of dimensions measured by the test.     

Productive pedagogies and the challenge of inclusion

Julie Allan is Professor of Education at the Institute of Education, University of Stirling, where she also directs the Participation, Inclusion and Equity Research Network. In this article, she explores the challenges involved in achieving an inclusive education system. Her argument draws on recommendations from two separate studies, undertaken in Queensland, Australia and Scotland, which are attempting to shape inclusion policy and practice. The Queensland School Reform Longitudinal Study identified a set of productive pedagogies in which issues of social justice, equity and inclusion are foregrounded. The Scottish Parliamentary Inquiry into special needs, to which Professor Allan was adviser, recommended a number of changes aimed at establishing an inclusive education system for all pupils. Comparisons of the two sets of recommendations, which formed the basis of a series of workshops with teachers, school leaders and administrators within Education Queensland, have prompted two major questions which are addressed in this paper: what gets in the way of inclusive practice and what will it take to be inclusive? Julie Allan's responses to these questions take account of the ways in which we think about ‘special education’ teacher training and professional development; and educational policies and practices. She represents a fascinating set of ‘double‐edged responsibilities’ that will challenge practitioners, policy makers and teacher educators to refocus and reframe their thinking about special educational needs and inclusion.     

As pliant as the bamboo: A grounded theory study of incarcerated Filipino elderly people’s sense of resiliency

The impact of prison upon incarcerated individuals is considerably destructive and may lead to low mental health resiliency. Despite a large body of literature on resiliency, little is known about the process that the elderly go through in developing resiliency in the penal setting—hence, this grounded theory investigation. The overall intent of this investigation is to describe the process by which older male adults develop resiliency while in prison. The study used a grounded theory design. To gather the needed data, a two-part research instrument that included a robotfoto and a semistructured interview was employed. A total of 25 incarcerated Filipino elderly in New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, Philippines were purposively selected. Field text was subjected to thematic analysis following Corbin and Strauss coding procedure. Interestingly, this study yielded the Maze Theory of Resiliency, which describes the Filipino elderly’s road to achieving resiliency. Initially, they go through the sending up phase in which they feel condemnation and uncertainty. The sending off phase captures the moments in which prisoners show signs of optimism and readiness to experience life in their new environment. Lastly, the sending in phase, prisoners became accustomed to the dynamics of penal environment—thus, achieving their sense of resiliency. The emerged theory from this study could help nurses in the early recognition of psychological deterioration and in providing counseling services to the incarcerated elderly without any prejudice. And at the same time, the theory could help implement nursing interventions appropriate for each stage of resiliency.     

The “disinhibition” of extinguished operant behavior in pigeons: Trial-tempo shifts and novel stimulus effects

After conditioning and extinction of keypecking with 25-see intertrial intervals between key illuminations, an immediate change to 5-sec intertrial intervals reinstated pecking during trials. Brief illuminations of the chamber during intertrial intervals also temporarily restored extinguished keypecking. The same manipulations of trial tempo and chamber illumination usually weakened well established, still reinforced keypecking. No recovery of extinguished behavior occurred when the intertrial interval was shifted upward from 5 sec to 25 sec. These and other behavioral findings were examined in relation to (a) Pavlov’s and Skinner’s research and views on “disinhibition” and “external inhibition” and to (b) analogous phenomena in physiological studies of habituation and dishabituation. The reliable evidence of disinhibition obtained in the present experiments suggests the involvement of an inhibitory process in extinction.     

The dynamics of educational reforms in the Philippine basic and higher education sectors

This paper explains the current reforms in basic and higher education in the Philippines. Specifically, internal and external enablers in the educational environment were reviewed as justifications of the reforms both at the national level as well at the individual teacher. The reforms were treated in the light of four perspectives in the measurement of quality namely; the reputational view, the resources view, the outcomes view and the value-added view.     

When everything is under control: Chronicling the affective containment experiences of Filipino elderly in institutionalized settings

Affective Containment has been recognized as a means to manage negative experience by projecting emotions to others. To date, there are no known literatures on the process of affective containment in the elderly context; hence, this grounded theory investigation. This study aims to describe the process by which affective containment is experienced by a select group of institutionalized Filipino elderly. To achieve the overall intent of this study, Strauss and Corbin’s Grounded Theory design was employed. Face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were carried out among 20 institutionalized Filipino elderly. Field texts were subjected to thematic analysis involving open, axial, and selective coding. The overall validity of the findings was ensured through member checking procedure. An interesting set of phases emerged relative to the layer of experience, namely: Holding-up, Gearing-up, and Opening-up; collectively known as the 3-Stage Analogy of Elderly Affective Containment. Said model describes how emotions can be contained to other individuals through interactions inside the institution. The study has eidetically described and examined the process of affective containment among the institutionalized Filipino elderly. Findings of the study invite nurses to put premium to nurse–patient relationship and provide timely interventions with a view to improving emotional health.     

Bright and Beautiful: High achieving girls,ambivalent femininities,and the feminization of success in the primary school

This paper refocuses attention on and problematizes girls’ experiences of school achievement and the construction of schoolgirl femininities. In particular, it centres on the relatively neglected experiences and identity work of high achieving primary school girls. Drawing upon ethnographic data (observations, interviews, and pupil diaries) from a broader study of girls’ and boys’ perceptions and experiences of schoolwork and achievement from two contrasting primary schools in a city in South Wales (UK), the paper will explore the gendered subjectivities of high achieving girls from diverse social and cultural backgrounds. Three narrative case studies are re-presented and analysed to explore the feminization of success and thus the tensions and contradictions as girls negotiate the pushes and pulls to be both “bright” (i.e. succeeding academically) and “beautiful” (succeeding in “doing girl”). Of key interest are the possibilities, costs, and consequences of girls producing ambivalent femininities and the rearticulation and transgression of normative ways of “doing clever” and “doing girl” in 21st century primary schools.     

Influence of Prior Distributions on Detection of DIF

Detection of differential item functioning (DIF) on items intentionally constructed to favor one group over another was investigated on item parameter estimates obtained from two item response theory-based computer programs, LOGIST and BILOG. Signed- and unsigned-area measures based on joint maximum likelihood estimation, marginal maximum likelihood estimation, and two marginal maximum a posteriori estimation procedures were compared with each other to determine whether detection of DIF could be improved using prior distributions. Results indicated that item parameter estimates obtained using either prior condition were less deviant than when priors were not used. Differences in detection of DIF appeared to be related to item parameter estimation condition and to some extent to sample size.     

Reply to a Student Majoring in Business English

Courtney是个商务英语专业的大学生。每天都勤苦地学习英语。可转眼毕业在即,她却觉得自己所学的英语是纸上谈兵,在现实世界里会全无用处。不由得惶恐茫然起来。Brad会给Courtney何种启发？