Acquisition of the Novel Name–Nameless Category (N3C) Principle

Toddlers' acquisition of the Novel Name–Nameless Category (N3C) principle was examined to investigate the developmental lexical principles framework and the applicability of the specificity hypothesis to relations involving lexical principles. In Study 1, we assessed the ability of 32 children between the ages of 16 and 20 months to use the N3C principle (operationally defined as the ability to fast map). As predicted, only some of the children could fast map. This finding provided evidence for a crucial tenet of the developmental lexical principles framewor: Some lexical principles are not available at the start of language acquisition. Children who had acquired the N3C principle also had significantly larger vocabularies and were significantly more likely to demonstrate 2-category exhaustive sorting abilities than children who had not acquired the principle. The 2 groups of children did not differ in either age or object permanence abilities. The 16 children who could not fast map were followed longitudinally until they attained a vocabulary spurt; at that time, their ability to fast map was retested (Study 2). Results provided a longitudinal replication of the findings of Study 1. Implications of these findings for both the developmental lexical principles framework and the specificity hypothesis are discussed.     

A Method for Studying Differential Distractor Functioning

A method of analyzing test item responses is advocated to examine differential item functioning through distractor choices of those who answer an item incorrectly. The analysis, called Differential Distractor Functioning, uses log-linear models of a three-way contingency table to examine whether there is an interaction of population subgroup and option choice when ability is held constant. The analysis is explained and is exemplified in an analysis of the Verbal portion of a recent Scholastic Aptitude Test.     

Capturing classroom context: The observation system as lens for assessment

Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, 1988, New Orleans.     

Perceptions of Video Scenarios to Learn Human Pathophysiology Among Undergraduate Science Students

Pathophysiology describes and explains the physiological dysfunctions that occur in human diseases. Pathophysiology is content heavy, often leading to medical/biomedical science students adopting a surface approach to learning. To encourage more engagement, we developed clinical simulation practical classes using manikin patients. Students considered these were more effective than paper-based case studies. However, they found the first encounter with the manikins daunting. In addition, they did not have a strong sense of responsibility towards the outcome of their treatment choices largely because they recognized this as a simulated experience. Video is a powerful teaching tool to demonstrate situations that are difficult to explain in words, to see theory applied to practice or create enthusiasm and confidence in the viewer regarding the use of new practices. In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of exposure to a video scenario, in which a high-fidelity manikin was used as the ‘patient’, before the students’ own interactions with the manikin in later classes. Survey results suggested that the students felt more engaged with the case study. They felt the video helped them appreciate aspects of clinical communication and prepare for their time in the simulation laboratory interacting with the manikin. They saw the video as a useful addition to the written case study notes. Their criticisms were mainly around the production quality. This study supports the use of video scenarios as a valuable adjunct to the teaching of pathophysiology to medical/biomedical science students when using either paper- or simulation-based case studies.

     

A Feminised Profession: women in the teaching profession

The education profession in Germany is presented as a feminised profession. This is defined and qualified, showing what sort of schools women are employed in and why there is a difference between women's opportunities in certain school types. An analysis is presented as to why women were allowed to enter the education profession when they did, linking women's employment opportunities and national shortages. The prejudice still existing against women's professional status within the employment sector is questioned. The paper shows how the education profession in Germany has been feminised and how the feminisation of a profession affects its pay and social prestige.     

A Comparison of Three Variations on a Standard-Setting Method

The purpose of this study was to determine whether two variations on the typical Angoff group standard-setting process would produce sufficiently consistent results to recommend their use. Judgments obtained from a group of experts during a meeting were compared with judgments gathered from the same group before and after the meeting. The results indicate that differences between passing scores obtained with the three variations are relatively small, but those gathered before the meeting were less consistent than ratings gathered during and after the meeting. These results imply that judgments gathered after an initial traditional group-process session can provide an efficient alternative mechanism for setting cutting scores using the Angoff method.
This research was supported by The American Board of Internal Medicine, but does not necessarily reflect its opinions or policies.     

Social Work Students’ Experiences With Group Work in the Field Practicum

The study reported on in this article assessed MSW and BSW students’ opportunities to practice group work in their field practicum. More than one third of participants had no such opportunity during their yearlong internship, despite their program’s requirement that group work opportunities be available. Among the students who did have experience leading a group for clients, their opportunities to engage in core group work activities and skills was limited, as was their academic preparation to do so. Students demonstrated a desire to practice group work as professionals. Yet the findings call into question whether they were adequately prepared to effectively engage in the modality. The findings underscore the need for schools and programs of social work to collaborate more closely with field instructors and agencies to ensure that students are provided with suitable opportunities to practice group work. Greater attention also must be focused on ensuring that practice opportunities in the field reflect the depth and breadth of the group modality and complement learning in the classroom.     

Caring Behavior in Children of Clinically Depressed and Well Mothers

Young children's sensitivity and responsiveness to mothers' needs were investigated under conditions of high and low parenting risk (depressed and nondepressed mothers, SADS-L). Child characteristics of gender, affect, and impulse control problems and the mother-child attachment relationship were examined as they related to children's caring actions. Children's caring behavior was observed in an experimental situation in which their mothers simulated sadness and in a naturalistic setting. Attachment alone and child's problems alone were not predictors, and maternal diagnosis alone was not a strong predictor. Girls were significantly more caring than boys. Severe maternal depression was necessary to bring out high levels of responding in boys. Highest frequencies of caring were from children with severely depressed mothers, problems of affect regulation, and secure attachment. The importance of recognizing interacting influences and diverse underlying processes in the development of children's caring behavior is discussed.     

Learning in digital environments: a model for cross-cultural alignment

Educational technology research and development - This article presents a conceptual model of cross-cultural alignments in education in the digital era. The intention was to explore and respond to...     

A Scheme to Promote Social Attention and Functional Language in Young Children with Communication Difficulties and Autistic Spectrum Disorder

This paper describes an approach to intervention that aims to foster the skill of young children with autistic spectrum disorder to share social attention and action to promote socially meaningful communication. It applies principles derived from research into pre‐linguistic development. The efficacy of the approach was evaluated through both a formal research project and within a clinical setting of a Portage scheme with groups of three to five year olds with a severe delay in their ability to communicate/autistic spectrum disorder. Outcome measures showed significantly accelerated levels of participation in social games and associated development of communication skills.