A model for understanding collaborative information behavior in context: A study of two healthcare teams

Collaborative information behavior is an essential aspect of organizational work; however, we have very limited understanding of this behavior. Most models of information behavior focus on the individual seeker of information. In this paper, we report the results from two empirical studies that investigate aspects of collaborative information behavior in organizational settings. From these studies, we found that collaborative information behavior differs from individual information behavior with respect to how individuals interact with each other, the complexity of the information need, and the role of information technology. There are specific triggers for transitioning from individual to collaborative information behavior, including lack of domain expertise. The information retrieval technologies used affect collaborative information behavior by acting as important supporting mechanisms. From these results and prior work, we develop a model of collaborative information behavior along the axes of participant behavior, situational elements, and contextual triggers. We also present characteristics of collaborative information system including search, chat, and sharing. We discuss implications for the design of collaborative information retrieval systems and directions for future work.     

An attributional analysis of students' interactions: The social consequences of perceived responsibility

Recent research on why some children are disliked by their classmates, why students do or do not help one another, and how children manage to get along with teachers and classmates is reviewed in this article. A motivational approach focusing on attribution theory is used to examine these questions. Inferences of responsibility and feelings of anger and sympathy are documented to impact students' negative social responses (rejection and neglect) as well as their willingness to help their classmates. Students' understanding of the responsibility-emotion-behavior links is proposed to influence their self-presentation strategies, such as excuse giving and seeking social approval.     

Play for young handicapped children in an integrated setting,part 1

This is the first of two articles on the importance of play for young handicapped children. Part 1 explores activities for mentally retarded and emotionally disturbed children.     

On the Issue of Item Selection in Computerized Adaptive Testing With Response Times

Many standardized tests are now administered via computer rather than paper‐and‐pencil format. The computer‐based delivery mode brings with it certain advantages. One advantage is the ability to adapt the difficulty level of the test to the ability level of the test taker in what has been termed computerized adaptive testing (CAT). A second advantage is the ability to record not only the test taker's response to each item (i.e., question), but also the amount of time the test taker spends considering and answering each item. Combining these two advantages, various methods were explored for utilizing response time data in selecting appropriate items for an individual test taker. Four strategies for incorporating response time data were evaluated, and the precision of the final test‐taker score was assessed by comparing it to a benchmark value that did not take response time information into account. While differences in measurement precision and testing times were expected, results showed that the strategies did not differ much with respect to measurement precision but that there were differences with regard to the total testing time.     

Software that assists learning within a complex abstract domain: the use of constraint and consequentiality as learning mechanisms

This paper describes a research project into undergraduates’ use of a software tool to learn symbolic logic—a complex abstract domain that has been shown to be intimidating for students. The software allows the students to manipulate proofs in certain ways and then calculates the consequences of their actions. A research method has been developed that allowed students’ use of this tool to be modelled, and this model was then used to identify, refine and create visual cues that provide support for students’ reasoning. The focus of this paper is the role of the software as an artefact to aid students’ visualisation of reasoning processes rather than the logic itself. The main mechanisms by which this visualisation is supported are the imposition of constraints on the actions available and the demonstration to students of the consequences of their actions. The study shows that the software encouraged experimentation with different routes to a proof, and constituted a challenge to fixated reasoning.     

数学教育的社会文化研究:中国面临的挑战与机遇

浙江师范大学主办的数学教育的社会-文化研究国际专题会议上报告与交流论文的主要论点有:数学学习始于模仿并以创造为目的;中国教育环境有两个基本成分:传统的考试文化中评价的重要性,父母对孩子成绩的期望以及他们对数学成就的信念和态度等.培养创造力和创造性思维在数学学习中是必要的,在生活的各个领域也是如此.     

Who Killed the Local Education Authority‐‐Cambridgeshire 1974‐1998?

Local government finance has been the Conservatives’ defining preoccupation and the focus of their least successful reform (the poll tax). Central government's effort to modernise local administration, control public spending and eliminate rival centres of power has created tension within the Conservative party and the country at large. Traditional shire counties have suffered as much as urban authorities and Conservative councillors have struggled with capping and the poll tax almost as much as their political opponents. This study examines, particularly in relation to education policy, how these conflicts have unfolded in Cambridgeshire. The authority has been a crucible for radical Tory ideas about the management of public services, but has lost a third of its secondary schools (to grant maintained status), a third of its territory (Peterborough becomes a unitary council on 1 April 1998) and most of its power.