A Critical Review of Line Graphs in Behavior Analytic Journals

Visual displays such as graphs have played an instrumental role in psychology. One discipline relies almost exclusively on graphs in both applied and basic settings, behavior analysis. The most common graphic used in behavior analysis falls under the category of time series. The line graph represents the most frequently used display for visual analysis and subsequent interpretation and communication of experimental findings. Behavior analysis, like the rest of psychology, has opted to use non-standard line graphs. Therefore, the degree to which graphical quality occurs remains unknown. The current article surveys the essential structure and quality features of line graphs in behavioral journals. Four thousand three hundred and thirteen graphs from 11 journals served as the sample. Results of the survey indicate a high degree of deviation from standards of graph construction and proper labeling. A discussion of the problems associated with graphing errors, future directions for graphing in the field of behavior analysis, and the need for standards adopted for line graphs follows.     

University Admissions and the Prediction of Degree Performance: an Analysis in the Light of Changes to the English Schools’ Examination System

The United Kingdom's Department for Education has recently changed the nature of the AS‐level examinations normally taken by students aspiring to enter higher education degree courses one year into their post‐compulsory education. In the face of protests from universities and other institutions that this would both harm students’ progression towards the A‐level qualifications, on which entry to English universities is normally based, and make it difficult for universities determining which of their applicants were best placed to benefit from their degree courses, the Department conducted research which it claimed showed that degree outcome could be predicted as well from the results of GCSE examinations taken one year before AS‐levels as from AS‐levels themselves. This paper critiques those analyses and their conclusions showing, through a re‐analysis and extended interpretation of the Department's data, that AS‐levels provide a more reliable predictor of degree performance in 2011 than GCSEs and that many students who performed better at AS‐level than at GCSE gained a place, and performed well, at a university with high entrance standards.     

Climbing the academic ladder: A critique of provincialism in contemporary rhetoric

Finding its place in the Sun, rhetoric has been corrupted by its own unexpected success.     

Commentary on research into learning in physical education: towards a mature field of knowledge

In this commentary, I consider each of the papers in this special issue in regard to their contribution to a debate on the nature of learning in physical education (PE). I also discuss how we might take this aspiration further by moving beyond a ‘mere’ debate over learning theories to a knowledge building process in which knowledge claims are ‘tested’ against their compatibility (or non-compatibility) with other ‘knowings’. In this regard, I introduce the idea of vertical integration or compatibility as a consideration for building a more mature field of study of learning in PE.     

U3As in Australia and New Zealand: their value to the wider community,and new directions for future developments

Population ageing and growing competition for limited resources are likely to increase the onus on older adults to maximize their own well‐being. Recent literature speculates that it may be possible for older people to improve, or at least maintain, aspects of their health by engaging in stimulating mental activity. If that is the case, self‐funding adult education organizations like the University of the Third Age (U3A) are contributing, not only to the well‐being of members, but also to the national economy. U3A has grown strongly in Australia and New Zealand in recent years, and the value of its voluntary services to the community is calculated to be more than A$3 million annually. Despite their present rapid growth, the independent U3A groups may need to develop a more outward‐looking focus if they are to continue to meet the needs of existing members, and to provide different kinds of intellectually challenging programmes for newer ageing cohorts. One practical way of doing this would be through electronic networking between the U3A groups and similar adult education organizations, as well as by using the limitless resources on the World Wide Web. However, the hardware for electronic communication is expensive and purchases of this nature would be beyond the immediate resources of most U3A groups. A mechanism is outlined by which U3As may be able to attract one‐off funding for the purchase of computers or other resources which could help them to meet their educational objectives.     

中国地方政府绩效评估中的绩效维度:现状与未来——基于德尔菲法的研究

对绩效的认识是确定政府绩效评估内容的基础,而评估内容往往反映了对不同绩效维度的使用。本文应用德尔菲法,对当前地方政府绩效评估中各种绩效维度的使用情况进行系统描述,并对其未来可能的发展趋势进行预测。分析表明,目前各地政府偏重于用"关键议题是否解决"来衡量政府绩效,以GDP为代表的"正式的效果"被普遍而且优先使用;而在未来三年中,各种绩效维度的使用均会得到不同程度的加强,各个维度的使用情况将可能不再存在显著差异,总体上会向着评估内容逐渐全面、区域之间逐渐统一的方向发展。     

Systems thinking: An experimental course for college freshmen

An experimental interdisciplinary freshman course called The Systems Approach to the Universe was taught at North Carolina State University in the Spring of 1986. The goals of the course were to introduce principles of general systems theory; to provide examples through lectures and readings of applications of these principles in a wide variety of fields and disciplines; and to introduce and provide practice in critical questioning and evaluation. This paper outlines what was done, how it worked, and how the instructors and the students assessed the experience afterwards.He received his B.Ch.E. from the City College of New York, and his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Princeton University. Barbara A. Soloman is Coordinator of Advising for the Academic Skills Program and Lecturer in the University Studies Program at North Carolina State University. She received her B.S. in mathematics from the City College of New York and her M.S. in mathematics from North Carolina State University.