Replication crisis or an opportunity to improve scientific production?

Science is undergoing a crisis that has been referred to, since the early 21st century, as a crisis of confidence and a crisis of replication. This article reviews questions pertaining to the replication crisis; questions addressing the quality and credibility of the sciences; specifically, questions linked to what are known as false positives, null results, and questionable research practices (p-hacking, harking, cherry-picking). As an outcome of our review and analysis, a set of recommendations to strengthen the elaboration of reliable and valid research studies is provided. Changes are needed in order to foment meta-research, open science practices and replication studies; notably, changes are needed in the instruction of research methods; in the use and interpretation of statistical data, as well as in research culture in general. We conclude that the replication crisis presents an opportunity to improve research practices and the quality of scientific production in all fields of research, including research in education.     

Influence of gender on ventilatory efficiency during exercise in young children

In this study, we assessed the ventilatory response in 84 children (46 males: age 8.1 +/- 1.0 years, body mass 34.2 +/- 7.9 kg, height 1.32 +/- 0.16 m; 38 females: age 8.0 +/- 0.8 years, body mass 31.7 +/- 8.7 kg, height 1.31 +/- 0.08 m) during a cycle ergometer test to determine if there was an influence of gender on ventilatory efficiency. The test commenced at 25 W and increased by 10 W every minute. Expired air was collected through a face mask and analysed breath by breath. The ventilatory anaerobic threshold was determined according to gas exchange methods and we focused our attention on the analysis of carbon dioxide production (VCO(2)), ventilation (V(E)), the ratio V(E)/VCO(2) and its slope. Differences between the sexes at maximal power output were strongly significant for V(E) and VCO(2) (P = 0.0001 and P = 0.0004 respectively) and moderately significant for the V(E)/VCO(2) ratio (P = 0.05). The slope of V(E) versus VCO(2) was 30.8 +/- 4.2 for males and 29.4 +/- 3.2 for females, with no difference between the sexes (P = 0.1). In conclusion, although the peak values of V(E) and VCO(2) were significantly different between the sexes, there were no such differences in ventilatory efficiency during a maximal incremental test expressed as the slope of V(E)/VCO(2), at least in young children.     

Bone quality in young adults with intellectual disability involved in adapted competitive football

The objective of this study was to analyse bone quality parameters of football players with intellectual disability (ID) participating in adapted competitive football. Sixty-seven male football players with ID were studied: 22 with Down syndrome (DS) and 45 without DS. The average age was 26 years (range: 16 ? 50 years). A group of 25 age-matched sedentary individuals with ID (11 DS and 14 non-DS) and another group of 20 healthy participants of the same age group not involved in competitive football were comparatively analysed. There were no differences in the bone quality parameters when the healthy sedentary individuals were compared with both the sedentary and the football players with ID. However, the speed of sound (SOS), T-score, and estimated bone mineral density (BMD) were of higher values in the football players with ID than in the sedentary ID group (p?p?T-scores (p?p?T-scores less than ?1.5. Two of the 14 sedentary non-DS participants (14.3%) had T-scores indicating osteoporosis. In summary, the ID population actively involved in football showed higher values of bone mass parameters than their sedentary ID and healthy peers. The participants with non-DS ID showed a higher prevalence of osteoporosis than the football players with DS. Participation in sports seems to prevent bone loss in individuals with ID.     

Early Childhood Education and Public School Principals: Constructing a Relationship

This article discusses the results of a statewide study of elementary school principals' perceptions of barriers to the establishment of preschool programs in the public school setting. The study was conducted in response to current federal an: state mandates requiring school districts to provide comprehensive services for developmentally delayed and at-risk preschoolers, as well as other preschool populations. A representative sample of principals responded to a comprehensive questionnaire that included principals' knowledge of child development and their attitudes about establishing programs for preschool children in the public school sector. Results indicate that, across the board, elementary principals foresee major barriers to the effective implementation of such federal mandates as Public Law 99-457. Specific barriers are identified and discussed. Implications for practice and policy are presented.     

Technology‐enhanced learning in higher education: How to enhance student engagement through blended learning

Blended learning has risen in popularity in the last two decades as it has been shown to be an effective approach for accommodating an increasingly diverse student population in higher education and enriching the learning environment by incorporating online teaching resources. Blending significant elements of the learning environment such as face‐to‐face, online and self‐paced learning leads to better student experiences and outcomes and more efficient teaching and course management practices if combined appropriately. Hence, an appropriate systematic and dynamic approach of blended learning design is crucial for a positive outcome, starting with planning for integrating blended elements into a course and creating blended activities and implementing them. Evaluating their effectiveness and knowing in which environments they work better and improving the blended activities designed from both the student’s and instructor’s perspective are critical for the next delivery of the course. This article aims to increase awareness of higher education educators about how traditional face‐to‐face learning can be transformed into blended courses so as to develop student engagement with both in‐class and online approaches, whilst being time effective for the instructor.     

Are student exchange programs worth it?

The number of university students participating in exchange programs has risen sharply over the last decade. A survey of Swiss university graduates (classes of 1999 and 2001) shows that participation in student exchange programs depends significantly on the socio-economic background of students. We further analyze whether the participants benefit from additional advantages caused by these exchange programs. Analyses show that student exchange programs are associated with higher starting salaries and a higher likelihood of opting for postgraduate degrees. Analyses using instrumental variable estimations (IV), however, show that these outcomes are not causally related to participation in exchange programs.      

Components of Early Childhood Interagency Collaboration: Results of a Statewide Study

This article describes the results of a comprehensive statewide study of early child- hood service providers in a heavily populated midwestern state. Interagency collaboration among early childhood programs and agencies providing services for special needs preschoolers is now required through the passage of Public Law 99-457. Special needs children aged 3 to 5 years are being placed in early childhood education sites, such as public schools, nursery schools, Head Start programs, child care settings, and other preschool/child development environments. This statewide survey investigates existing interagency collaboration efforts, studies factors related to successful collaboration, identifies inhibitors to early childhood collaboration, and determines possible interagency collaboration training needs of early child- hood service providers. Results indicate that training needs for early childhood service providers do exist in the area of interagency collaboration. Implications are identified that relate to teacher preparation and in-service needs regarding integration of special needs children into regular early childhood settings. The study is a part of the state- funded research related to the implementation of EL. 99-457 in school districts and existing early childhood community-based programs.     

Comparison of Dynamic Visual Acuity Between Water Polo Players and Sedentary Students

In this study, we examined differences in dynamic visual acuity between elite and subelite water polo players and sedentary students. To measure dynamic visual acuity binocularly, we asked participants to indicate the orientation of a broken ring, similar to the Landolt C, which increased in size as it moved across a computer screen. Two different speeds, three possible trajectories, and two different levels of contrast were evaluated. There were statistically significant differences between elite players and sedentary students for each combination of speed, contrast, and trajectory. Elite players achieved better dynamic visual acuity scores, and results also improved for some combinations of speed, contrast, and trajectory. Comparison between elite and subelite groups failed to reveal any     

Multinationality, foreignness and institutional distance in the relation between R&D and productivity

This paper empirically examines to what extent being foreign and part of a multinational affects the endogenous relation between R&D and productivity. Our findings indicate that multinationals obtain in general higher R&D returns. Also, there is a negative foreignness effect in that domestic-owned multinationals outperform foreign subsidiaries. However, these effects are somehow moderated by the institutional distance between the home and host countries. These results, obtained for a panel of UK firms, are largely consistent with a set of hypotheses derived from the institutional and international business theories.