Digital Module 04: Diagnostic Measurement: Modeling Checklists for Practitioners https://ncme.elevate.commpartners.com

In this ITEMS module, we provide a didactic overview of the specification, estimation, evaluation, and interpretation steps for diagnostic measurement/classification models (DCMs), which are a promising psychometric modeling approach. These models can provide detailed skill‐ or attribute‐specific feedback to respondents along multiple latent dimensions and hold theoretical and practical appeal for a variety of fields. We use a current unified modeling framework—the log‐linear cognitive diagnosis model (LCDM)—as well as a series of quality‐control checklists for data analysts and scientific users to review the foundational concepts, practical steps, and interpretational principles for these models. We demonstrate how the models and checklists can be applied in real‐life data‐analysis contexts. A library of macros and supporting files for Excel, SAS, and Mplus are provided along with video tutorials for key practices.     

Developing students' mental health literacy through the power of sport

This research is an evaluation of a six-week mental health literacy programme, referred to as the Cambridge United Community Trust’s ‘Mind Your Head’ programme, which was delivered by sports professionals to secondary school students (11-16) in Cambridge, England, during 2017–18. A Mental Health Literacy Scale was used to measure students’ knowledge of mental health issues pre- and post-intervention. Statistical data from these surveys were analysed using an independent samples t-test. Focus groups were held with students in each school, and individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with one lead teacher in each school. The statistical data indicate that statistically significant improvements in mental health literacy were achieved, and this occurred across all genders and ethnicities. The qualitative data suggest that this programme resulted in positive attitudes towards mental health and improved knowledge of how to seek help. The data indicate that investment in similar programmes would be beneficial for schools in improving students’ knowledge of mental health and reducing stigma.     

Effects of the TWA strategy on expository reading comprehension of students with autism

High‐functioning students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been shown to have significant reading comprehension difficulty. This multiple baseline study examined the effect of the think before reading, think while reading, and think after reading (TWA) strategy on expository text comprehension of four boys with ASD. Following baseline, each student received six sessions of TWA instruction. Data were collected on retell and comprehension question accuracy during the baseline, intervention and maintenance phases. Results supported the effectiveness of TWA as a reading strategy to increase the expository text comprehension of students with ASD. Effects during the intervention phase were immediate and consistent for comprehension questions, with greater variability observed for retell. Data collected at maintenance suggested that the gains were sustained for both comprehension questions and retell.     

Our need for certainty in an uncertain world: the difference between special education and inclusion?

Despite decades of effort to achieve inclusive education systems, the emphasis on special education persists. This article explores the contradictory impulses that underpin these two concepts and considers whether they can be brought together. It does this through the development of two models; a model of certainty and a ‘model of uncertainty’. These models seek to represent and create a platform for thinking about the emergence and perpetuation of these two contradictory impulses and how these contradictions are experienced and might be resolved.     

Determining the effect of cricket leg guards on running performance

Modern-day cricket has experienced a shift towards limited over games, where the emphasis is on scoring runs at a rapid rate. Although the use of protective equipment in cricket is mandatory, players perceive that leg guards, in particular, can restrict their motion. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of cricket leg guards on running performance. Initial testing revealed that wearing pads significantly increased the total time taken to complete three runs by up to 0.5?s compared with running without pads (P?相似文献   

A computer simulation model of tennis racket/ball impacts

A forward dynamics computer simulation for replicating tennis racket/ball impacts is described consisting of two rigid segments coupled with two degrees of rotational freedom for the racket frame, nine equally spaced point masses connected by 24 visco-elastic springs for the string-bed and a point mass visco-elastic ball model. The first and second modal responses both in and perpendicular to the racket string-bed plane have been reproduced for two contrasting racket frames, each strung at a high and a low tension. Ball/string-bed normal impact simulations of real impacts at nine locations on each string-bed and six different initial ball velocities resulted in <3% RMS error in rebound velocity (over the 16–27 m/s range observed). The RMS difference between simulated and measured oblique impact rebound angles across nine impact locations was 1°. Thus, careful measurement of ball and racket characteristics to configure the model parameters enables researchers to accurately introduce ball impact at different locations and subsequent modal response of the tennis racket to rigid body simulations of tennis strokes without punitive computational cost.     

Haptoglobin Polymorphism and Association with Complications in Ghanaian Type 2 Diabetic Patients

There is scanty information on the role of genetic factors, especially those relating to haptoglobin (Hp) phenotypes in the expression of complications among diabetes mellitus patients in Ghana. In this study, we investigated whether there is any association between Hp phenotypes and diabetic complications and to determine if association of the Hp phenotypes with diabetic complications in Ghanaian diabetics differ from those in Caucasians. A total of 398 participants were randomly recruited into the study. These comprised diabetic patients numbering 290 attending a diabetes Clinic in Ghana and 108 non-diabetic controls from the same community. Analyses of the results indicate that most of the diabetics with complications were of the Hp 2–2 (35%) and Hp 2–1 (23.9%) phenotypes. Fewer diabetics were found to be of the Hp 2–1 M phenotype. The controls were mostly of Hp 1–1 and Hp 2–1 M phenotypes. The odds ratio of having complications in a diabetic with an Hp 2–2 phenotype was 18.27 times greater than that for Hp 0–0. Hp 2–2 phenotype with its poor antioxidant activity may therefore be a useful predictor for the propensity of an individual to develop diabetes complications.