Sudan in the light of its national censuses,with special reference to the 1983 census

"The aim of this paper is to examine Sudan's development conditions, using its national censuses as indicators of the status of the country, with special reference to the 1983 census, the last census in Sudan." The importance of taking migration into account when examining the prospects for development is stressed. The author also describes available demographic data sources for the Sudan, including the censuses of 1955-1956 and 1973. Sections are included on population size and growth, sex and age distribution, spatial distribution, population density, mortality, migration, illiteracy, and the labor force.     

Intention-to-treat analysis in partially nested randomized controlled trials with real-world complexity

ABSTRACT

Demands for scientific knowledge of what works in educational policy and practice has driven interest in quantitative investigations of educational outcomes, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have proliferated under these conditions. In educational settings, even when individuals are randomized, both experimental and control students are often grouped into particular classrooms and schools and share common learning experiences. Analyses that account for these clusters are common. A less common design involves one clustered experimental arm and one unclustered experimental arm, sometimes called a partially clustered design. Analysts do not always use methods that yield valid statistical inferences for such partially clustered designs. Additionally, published methods for handling partially clustered designs may not be flexible enough to handle real-world complications, including treatment non-compliance. In this paper, we illustrate how models that accommodate partial clustering may be used in educational research. We explore the performance of these models using a series of Monte Carlo simulations informed by data taken from a large-scale RCT studying the impacts of a programme designed to decrease summer learning loss. We find that clustering and non-compliance can have substantial impacts on statistical inferences about intent-to-treat effects, and demonstrate methods that show promise for addressing these complications.     

Bayesian Estimation of the True Score Multitrait–Multimethod Model With a Split-Ballot Design

This article examines whether Bayesian estimation with minimally informed prior distributions can alleviate the estimation problems often encountered with fitting the true score multitrait–multimethod structural equation model with split-ballot data. In particular, the true score multitrait–multimethod structural equation model encounters an empirical underidentification when (a) latent variable correlations are homogenous, and (b) fitted to data from a 2-group split-ballot design; an understudied case of empirical underidentification due to a planned missingness (i.e., split-ballot) design. A Monte Carlo simulation and 3 empirical examples showed that Bayesian estimation performs better than maximum likelihood (ML) estimation. Therefore, we suggest using Bayesian estimation with minimally informative prior distributions when estimating the true score multitrait–multimethod structural equation model with split-ballot data. Furthermore, given the increase in planned missingness designs in psychological research, we also suggest using Bayesian estimation as a potential alternative to ML estimation for analyses using data from planned missingness designs.     

Return intention of students from four developing countries

Students from Iran, Nigeria, Taiwan, and Venezuela studying at 30 U.S. universities in 1979 were compared with regard to their perceived likelihood of remaining in the United States permanently. Their perceived likelihood differed by country of origin. They also differed by country as to their choice of reasons that might make them remain in the United States and their anticipated satisfaction with the home country situations upon returning home. Within each country group, the students' perceived likelihood differed little in terms of selected personal characteristics, but differed significantly in terms of their choices of possible reasons for remaining in the United States. The reasons chosen reflected students' perceptions of the politico-economic situations of their countries.

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Zusammenfassung Studenten aus dem Iran, Nigeria, Taiwan und Venezuela, die 1979 an US amerikanischen Universitäten studierten, wurden miteinander verglichen, für wie wahrscheinlich sie es hielten, auf Dauer in den USA zu bleiben. Die von ihnen selbst empfundene Wahrscheinlichkeit unterschied sich je nach Herkunftsland der Studenten. Je nach Land unterschieden sich auch die Gründe der Studenten, in den USA zu bleiben und für ihre antizipierte Zufriedenheit mit der Lage, die sie bei ihrer Rückkehr in ihre Heimat vorfinden würden. Innerhalb jeder Gruppe von Ländern wichen die von den Studenten empfundenen Wahrnehmungen im Hinblick auf ausgewählte persönliche Eigenschaften nur geringfügig von einander ab, jedoch gab es erhebliche Unterschiede bei den von ihnen angeführten persönlichen Gründen, in den USA zu bleiben. Diese Gründe spiegelten wider, wie die Studenten die wirtschaftlich-politische Lage in ihrer Heimat einschätzten.

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Résumé Des étudiants provenant de l'Iran, du Nigeria, de Taiwan et du Venezuela inscrits dans 30 universités américaines en 1979 ont été comparés eu égard à leur perception des chances qu'ils avaient de rester définitivement aux Etats-Unis. Leur perception de cette probabilité différait selon le pays d'origine. Ils différaient aussi par pays selon leur choix des raisons qui devraient les retenir aux Etats-Unis et selon la satisfaction attendue des situations prévalant dans leur pays à leur retour. Au sein de chaque groupe représentant un pays, la perception de cette éventualité par les étudiants différait peu en fonction de certaines charactéristiques personnelles, mais elle différait davantages selon le choix des raisons possibles qui les poussaient à rester aux Etats-Unis. Les raisons présentées par les étudiants reflétaient leurs perceptions des conditions politico-économiques de leurs pays.

     

Dismay and Disappointment: Parental Involvement of Latino Immigrant Parents

Parental involvement in schools has become more popular over the past decade due to Goals 2000 and research suggesting that student academic success increases when parents are included in the education of their children. Although researchers have examined the issue of parents and schools, limited research on parental involvement has been conducted within immigrant communities. Latino immigrant parents within a predominantly Latino community in California were interviewed. Although the community has strong Latino roots, these immigrant parents believed the schools do not listen or care to listen to their needs as parents. The parents in this study desired to be a part of their children's education, but forces within their children's school prevented them from doing so. The parents wished that teachers would be available to speak about grades, be able to find interpreters during open house and at other times throughout the school day, and communicate with the parents when their child is in need of assistance. Due to the apparent walls that had been established within the school's structure, the parents in this study felt abandoned and helpless while trying to gain information regarding their children's education. Parents in this study were so passionate about their stories that they pleaded with the researcher to let their story be heard in the researchers' teacher education courses so future teachers would know how immigrant parents felt.     

Learning disabilities in children with very low birthweight: prevalence, neuropsychological correlates, and educational interventions

This study examined achievement, neuropsychological, and intervention outcomes at a mean age of 11 years in children with very low birthweight (VLBW, <1500 g) compared with a term-born control group. To assess the prevalence and correlates of specific learning disabilities (LD), the sample was limited to children without neurosensory disorders who had at least low average IQ. Participants included 31 children with <750 g birthweight, 41 with 750-1499 g birthweight, and 52 controls. The <750 g group obtained lower scores in math, IQ, and perceptual-organizational skills than the term-born group. The < 750 g group also had higher rates of past and present LD than the controls. Despite these differences, the groups did not differ significantly in rates of special education or tutorial/remedial assistance. These findings suggest that children with extremely low birthweight without gross physical or intellectual impairments are at higher risk for LD and cognitive deficiencies than their term-born peers and that further efforts are needed to improve identification and treatment of these learning problems.     

The contribution of phonological and morphological awareness in Chinese–English bilingual reading acquisition

The current study examined the contribution of cross-language phonological and morphological awareness to reading acquisition in bilingual children. Participants were 140 children (M _age = 8.26 years) between Grades 1–4 who learned Chinese as their first language and English as their second language. Awareness of phoneme, onset-rime, compound structures and polysemy (i.e. words with multiple meanings) were measured using conceptually comparable tasks in both languages. Oral vocabulary, single word reading, and reading comprehension were also assessed. Path analysis revealed significant direct effects from Chinese rime awareness to both English word reading and reading comprehension. English phoneme awareness also had a significant direct effect on Chinese word reading. There was a significant direct effect from Chinese polyseme identification to English reading comprehension. Awareness of compound structure in one language also had indirect effects on reading outcomes in the other language via within-language compound structure awareness. These finding provided evidence for bi-directional cross-language phonological and morphological transfer in Chinese–English bilingual reading acquisition.     

Reflective lesson planning in refresher training programs for experienced physics teachers

This paper reports on some aspects of a refresher training program for experienced physics teachers that is based on Dewey's idea of reflective teaching. The program introduces experienced teachers to a reflective lesson planning model, and a more constructivist approach to physics teaching, and provides them with the opportunity to develop and experience their own strategies during micro-teaching sessions. Three instructional strategies developed by participants in the program and the corresponding suggestions/comments made by their peers in follow-up discussions are presented and analyzed in this paper. The authors, who have coordinated or taught the course, are convinced that the program provides considerable impetus for experienced teachers to redevelop their innovative capacity.     

The utility of cadaver‐based approaches for the teaching of human anatomy: A survey of British and Irish anatomy teachers

Utilizing reality anatomy such as dissection and demonstrating using cadavers has been described as a superior way to create meaning. The chemicals used to embalm cadavers differentially alter the tissue of the human body, which has led to the usage of different processes along the hard to soft‐fixed spectrum of preserved cadavers. A questionnaire based approach was used to gain a better insight into the opinion of anatomists on the use of preserved cadavers for the teaching of human anatomy. This study focused on anatomy teachers in the United Kingdom and Ireland. From the 125 participating anatomists, 34.4% were medically qualified, 30.4% had a PhD in a non‐anatomical science and 22.4% had a PhD in an anatomical science, these figures include ten anatomists who had combinations of MD with the two other PhD qualifications. The main findings from the questionnaire were that 61.6% of participants agreed that hard‐fixed formalin cadavers accurately resemble features of a human body whereas 21.6% disagreed. Moreover, anatomists rated the teaching aids on how accurately they resemble features of the human body as follows: plastic models the least accurate followed by plastinated specimens, hard fixed cadavers; soft preserved cadavers were considered to be the most accurate when it comes to resembling features of the human body. Though anatomists considered soft preserved cadavers as the most accurate tool, further research is required in order to investigate which techniques or methods provide better teaching tool for a range of anatomical teaching levels and for surgical training. Anat Sci Educ 10: 137–143. © 2016 American Association of Anatomists.     

Analysing and evaluating the linguistic benefit of residence abroad for UK foreign language students

This paper reports on a longitudinal study designed to assess the progress made by UK foreign language undergraduate students during the residence abroad (RA) component of their degree. The article first of all places the study within the international research context, and then describes the data collation procedures and methodology employed. It reports findings concerning proficiency gains and the predictive validity of factors such as gender, IQ, length of stay, prior levels of achievement and previous methodological exposure. The findings confirm significant linguistic gains in general for RA. They also appear to show that individuals vary greatly in their rates of progress during RA on holistic measures of proficiency but that previous methodological exposure is a key factor in determining gains on discrete measures. There is also evidence that longer stays do not necessarily lead to greater proportionate proficiency gains. Findings concerning progress, prediction of progress and individual performance variation are compared and contrasted with those of American and other British studies.