When forgetting benefits motor retention

Recent research (Lee & Weeks, 1987; Weeks, Lee, & Elliott, 1987) investigating the processes responsible for the contextual interference phenomenon has used a modified short-term motor retention paradigm to support the reconstruction explanation (Lee & Magill, 1985; Magill, 1989; Magill & Hall, 1990). The present experiment was an extension of these experiments in which forgetting of an acquisition task was induced through performance of either a similar or dissimilar distractor task during the intertrial interval. The effects of an extra practice trial with the acquisition task as well as no activity during the intertrial interval were also investigated. In addition, forgetting of the acquisition task was assessed prior to a reconstruction trial, which immediately preceded a 2-min filled retention interval. Both similar and dissimilar distractor tasks caused equivalent amounts of forgetting of the acquisition task prior to the reconstruction trial. However, retention of the acquisition task was significantly improved if its reconstruction occurred following forgetting due to interference from performance of a similar distractor task. These findings suggest forgetting and subsequent reconstruction alone are not sufficient for improved retention. These processes must occur in the context of a similar task for improved retention.     

Summary knowledge of results

Summary knowledge of results (KR) involves delaying the presentation of KR until a predetermined number of trials has been completed. Schmidt, Young, Swinnen, and Shapiro (1989) found an optimal summary length of 15 trials (compared to 1, 5, and 10) and Schmidt, Lange, and Young (1990) found an optimum length of 5 trials (compared to 1, 10, and 15) for 1 and 2 kinematic degree of freedom timing tasks, respectively. Experiment 1 was designed to determine the optimal summary length for learning a simple isometric force production task. The results indicated better retention for the 16-trial summary than for 8- or 1-trial summaries. Experiment 2 was an initial attempt to determine the locus of the 16-trial summary effect. Specifically, Experiment 2 focused on the role played by both the information provided in the summary presentations and the practice per se of the first 14 trials in the 16-trial block. The results suggest KR is important to ensure response stability. However, it also appears important to restrict the subject's immediate utilization of KR. This latter requirement may potentially aid the parameterization process, resulting in a reduction in response bias.     

Communication aids in the classroom: the views of education staff and speech and language therapists involved with the Communication Aids Project

The findings presented in this paper are part of an independent evaluation study of the Communication Aids Project (CAP). The study was carried out between July 2003 and April 2004 and looked at the impact of CAP on children receiving communication aids and evaluated the CAP strategy of assessment and delivery. In this paper the views of education staff and speech and language therapists who were working with communication aid users in school are presented. The professionals who were interviewed provided positive feedback on the existence of CAP, on the assessment for the communication aid, particularly where the use of the aid in the classroom was considered, and on the children's increased participation in classroom and learning activities since receiving the aid. They also highlighted the issue of managing parents' expectations regarding the use of aids and the value of and need for continued training for professionals working with communication aids in the classroom. The authors of this article, Jannet Wright, senior lecturer, Chris Donlan, senior lecturer, Caroline Newton, lecturer, and Michael Clarke, lecturer, from University College London; Claire Lister, from the Institute of Child Health, London; and Jasmina Cherguit, assistant psychologist, draw upon their findings to develop recommendations for future policy, practice and professional development.     

Markov choice processes in simultaneous matching-to-sample at different levels of discriminability

Decision and choice processes by pigeons were studied in a simultaneous matching-to-sample task. In order to view the recessed stimuli, the pigeons had to move in front of the pecking keys. They frequently moved back and forth between the comparison stimuli before choosing one of them as the match to the sample stimulus. These looking and choice responses were studied and recorded for five different discriminability levels, from near perfect (92%) to near chance (56%) performance, by changing the wavelength difference of the stimuli to be discriminated. The decision process was shown to be Markovian throughout the discriminability range, and the decision strategy based upon a Markov process is contrasted with other potential decision strategies.     

‘Just Say No’: public dissent over sexuality education and the Canadian national imaginary

ABSTRACT

Scholars of sexuality have argued that ‘moral panics’ about sexuality often stand in for broader conflicts over nationality and belonging. Canada has spent decades cultivating a national image founded on multiculturalism and democratic equality. The Ontario sexuality education curriculum introduced in 2015 drew audible condemnation from a variety of groups. Drawing from Critical Discourse Analysis and Critical Race Theory, we argue that the public discourse surrounding these protests exposed the limits of Canadian pluralism, fuelling a meta-debate about the ‘Canadianness’ of recent immigrants and the incompatibility of liberal values with those of non-Westerners, especially Muslims. We explain this in terms of contextual factors such as Ontario’s publicly funded Catholic school system and anti-Muslim xenophobia in the post-9/11 era. Our analysis speaks to the importance of intersectional social justice efforts as part of the movement for comprehensive sex education.     

Developmentally appropriate criteria for evaluating sexual abuse prevention programs

Many sexual abuse prevention programs originally designed for school children are inappropriately used with preschool children. Programs used with young children need to take into consideration their unique learning abilities. This paper uses a developmentally appropriate practice framework as a guide in helping early childhood professionals evaluate sexual abuse prevention programs.