Advice to doctoral guidance committees from alumni at two universities

This investigation provided a comparative analysis of results of follow-up studies of graduates of doctoral programs at Ohio State and Michigan State universities. The same questionnaire survey and similar sampling procedures were used in both settings. The survey considered alumni perceptions of guidance committee activities, course work, comprehensive examinations, and dissertations. Most findings were consistent across both institutions (e.g., about one-fifth of the graduates from both universities wish they had taken more course work in research methodology). However, some striking contrasts were also found (e.g., the proportion of graduates who published articles based on their dissertations was 40% at one university and 23% at the other). The report offers recommendations for doctoral guidance committees suggested by the findings.     

Child Development and the Social Demography of Childhood

This article provides background information and a practical guide for including demographic information in developmental research. First, it portrays historic demographic trends reflecting critical ways in which the family and economic environments of children have been, and continue to be, transformed in the United States. Second, it presents current demographic statistics to provide a basis for researchers to compare their special study population to the general population of children and to formulate specific hypotheses about ways in which their result might differ for children in various demographic situations. Third, it offers an Appendix with standardized wording for a minimum set of questions needed to measure the demographic characteristics and environments of children. The Appendix provides researchers the technical capacity to collect such data, so they can develop and test hypotheses about how family and econmic environments shape child development processes and outcomes.     

The effect of network size on intra-network knowledge processes

This paper addresses a neglected topic in the knowledge management literature: how the size of a network of actors affects the nature of intra-network social relations and knowledge processes. It makes a theoretical contribution to developing understanding in this area drawing on a range of literatures including practice-based perspectives on knowledge, the literature on the embeddedness of social relations, and relevant knowledge management literature. The central focus of this paper is on the relationship between network size, network density, and how these variables affect intra-network knowledge processes. It suggests that as network size increases network density is likely to decrease (as it becomes problematic for the actors in such networks to retain strong ties with a significant proportion of the network's members), which it will be suggested has significant ramifications for intra-network knowledge processes. This paper concludes by reflecting on the implications of the ideas developed for network-based forms of organizing, and innovation processes.     

The approximate frequency response of semi-active systems requiring no computer

Semi-active systems are those in which a passive, dissipative element (damper, friction clutch, fluid orifice) is modulated, via low power inputs, to enhance the performance of its associated dynamic system. This type of control is inherently nonlinear, thus forcing the closed-loop response of the total system to be determined numerically using a digital computer. Although, strictly speaking, the frequency response for nonlinear systems does not exist, it is typical to simulate semi-active systems with sinusoidal input and present results as frequency transmissibilities. This paper uses energy dissipation per cycle to determine an approximate frequency response of semi-active systems requiring only a calculator for numerical analysis.     

Engaging adolescents with LD in higher order thinking about history concepts using integrated content enhancement routines

The understanding and use of historical concepts specified in national history standards pose many challenges to students. These challenges include both the acquisition of content knowledge and the use of that knowledge in ways that require higher order thinking. All students, including adolescents with learning disabilities (LD), are expected to understand and use concepts of history to pass high-stakes assessments and to participate meaningfully in a democratic society. This article describes Content Enhancement Routines (CERs) to illustrate instructional planning, teaching, and assessing for higher order thinking with examples from an American history unit. Research on the individual components of Content Enhancement Routines will be illustrated with data from 1 of the routines. The potential use of integrated sets of materials and procedures across grade levels and content areas will be discussed.     

Bilingual Mathematics

在加拿大。有人讲英语,有人讲法语,于是加拿大就将英语和法语都定为自己的官方语言。其实,加拿大不仅仅在官方语言上实施“一国两制”,在度量单位上也是公制和英制交替使用。这给加拿大人生活带来了些许不便。Brad也常为之头疼。     

Driving in China

Brad夫妇今年来中国故地重游。看到如今城市里满大街的汽车代替了20年前比比皆是的自行车,感慨之余,也对中国马路上的交通状况甚是担忧。     

The Sorrows of Being Young

编者按：年轻,固然令人羡慕,却也是个容易彷徨困惑的年纪。脚下的路似乎很长,但到底会伸向何方？又该如何去走？Brad给出了他中肯的建议。