Influence of deviant behaviours in workgroups in relation with group composition

The potential for behaviourally challenged students to negatively impact typically developing students is a concern shared by many parents and teachers. However, deviant peer influence during workgroup activities has not been thoroughly investigated through systematic observation of deviant interactions. This study compares sequences of deviant behaviours and peer responses recorded during cooperative activities. Seventy fifth-grade elementary school students were observed in three specific contexts, homogeneous EBD workgroups, homogeneous regular workgroups and inclusive workgroups. Findings reveal a greater prevalence of verbal aggressions and more explosive exchanges in EBD workgroups. In groups consisting solely of typically developing students, intentionally ignoring disruptive teammates proved to be effective in stopping deviant behaviours. Finally, it was in inclusive workgroups that observed deviant interactions sequences were the longest. These findings are discussed in relation with the role of group composition and workgroup training in fostering effective cooperative learning environments.     

Venture finance,small firms and public policy in the UK

During the tenure of the current Conservative administration, public policy in Britain has very much favoured the smaller firm. This policy emphasis appears to be based on a belief in the superior job creating potential and innovatory capacity of smaller firms over their larger counterparts. Evidence presented in the paper shows that small firms have, indeed, made an important contribution to innovation in the UK and that their share of significant British innovations has increased significantly since the mid-1970s. An important aspect of small firm policy in the UK has been the introduction of several schemes designed to increase the flow of capital into the small firm sector, with special emphasis being placed on venture capital. The first of these schemes, the Loan Guarantee Scheme, has directed capital from the banks into over 14,000 small firms. The second scheme, the Business Expansion Scheme, has increased significantly the overall flow of venture capital and has biased investments towards start-up and early stage financing. These two schemes, together with the establishment of an Unlisted Securities Market, have provided some impetus to the development of private sector venture capital in Britain, which is growing apace. Essentially, the public sector schemes have underwritten the costs of entry to the venture capital market of both individual and institutional investors. In other words, they have had an important catalytic effect in stimulating the growth of private sector venture capital industry which is now the largest in Europe.     

Protective Role of Bilirubin Against Increase in hsCRP in Different Stages of Hypothyroidism

In conjunction with thyroxine, bilirubin may play an important role for regulation of hsCRP level and a consequent pro-inflammatory condition in hypothyroidism. In present study we evaluated the dependence of hsCRP changes on total bilirubin (BT) and fT4 level in thirty overt (OH) and thirty subclinical hypothyroidism (SH). Serum BT, hsCRP, thyroxine and TSH were measured in both groups and compared with forty control subjects. Serum values of TSH, hsCRP showed raised (P < 0.001 for both) values with lower levels for fT4 and BT (P < 0.001 and 0.03 respectively) in hypothyroid patients compared to the controls. ANOVA showed significant increments in TSH and hsCRP values with decreases in fT4 among the control, SH and OH groups respectively (P < 0.001). BT values showed decrease in OH group only in comparison to controls (P = 0.04). Regression analysis revealed that hsCRP was negatively dependent on fT4 (β = −0.35, P = 0.002) and serum bilirubin (β = −0.40 and P < 0.001 respectively). Univariate general linear model analysis showed this dependence persisted even when carried out distinctly in SH and OH groups separately (P < 0.001). TSH did not show any significant predictive value on the hsCRP level in either of these two tests. From these analyses we suggest that serum hsCRP is closely integrated to a lowered synthesis of bilirubin and fT4 in hypothyroid patients. Furthermore, this causal relationship is not only limited to overt but also extends to the SH.     

Climbing the Staircase: science education for the knowledge economy

Science and technology are widely regarded as the dominant drivers of transformation to a ‘knowledge’ economy and society — a transition in which higher education has a critical role. This paper reviews the influence of successive NZ governments intention to ‘proactively steer’ the tertiary education system towards the achievement of this critical role, and describes an initiative at the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) specifically designed to meet New Zealand's needs for a well trained, articulate and flexible workforce of scientists, engineers, technicians and support staff. The ‘staircasing’ model is the culmination of an effort to adapt, modify and extend traditional models of professional science and technology education to provide a mechanism for ‘life‐long learning’ through a flexible and responsive network of purpose‐built courses.     

Inferential statistics made fun: stories that boxes of ‘100 paper clips’ can tell

The natural experiment proposed in this article extracts three stories from boxes of “100 paper clips”. The activity requires students to apply three lessons from inferential statistics, starting with a hypothesis test and including confidence intervals as well as tolerance intervals.     

Incorporating Social Justice in Reference Education

Students of reference service can better prepare for careers in serving today’s communities by not only being sensitive to the needs of all members of their communities but also serving as advocates for services for those who are disenfranchised. This column addresses the place of incorporating the philosophy and application of social justice into the education of information specialists who are preparing for careers as reference librarians.     

The cognitive habitus: its place in a realist account of inequality/difference

The existence of social differences in educational achievement as a social fact presents the sociology of education with a challenge to which it has responded with indifferent success. It is argued that contemporary explanations that dismiss the existence and relevance of differences in cognitive performance arising as a consequence of class variation in socialisation are likely to misrepresent the real causes of inequality/difference. The substantive discussion, organised around six questions dealing with the explanatory capacity of this concept, suggests that a satisfactory theory of inequality of educational opportunity will need to concern itself with the effects of socialisation on cognition. Some implications for educational practice and policy‐making are briefly noted in conclusion.     

A critical comparison of factors affecting science and technology students’ entrepreneurial intention: a tale of two genders

International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance - This study assesses the influence of gender differences in the formation of entrepreneurial intention. Specifically, we investigate...