The effect of number of siblings and birth order on educational attainment: Empirical Evidence from Chinese General Social Survey

Data from China demonstrate that the effect of the number of siblings on education is restricted by many factors, such as children’s gender, urban or rural household registration, whether there is only one child, the birth order of children within the family, and parents’ status. Chinese families have significant preferences for the eldest son and the youngest son. Moreover, research based on the natural experiment and instrumental variable approach suggests that market-oriented reform of education has increased the cost of family education expenditures since China’s reform and opening up, which further aggravates the negative impact on education of having many siblings in an urban setting.     

Outstanding performances during elite-standard short and middle-distance finals and the hyperandrogenism regulation—A detailed analysis of Caster Semenya’s results

ABSTRACT

Recently, there has been much controversy over the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) regulations regarding eligibility to compete and natural testosterone levels in female athletes. Much interest lies in the analysis of Caster Semenya's extraordinary performance. The objective of this work were, a) Complete an analysis of Caster Semenya's results during the 800m finals and b) search for existing similar performances by other female athletes. We analysed the results of the finals of all IAAF World Championships and Olympic Games from 1984–2016, including the 800m results of the Diamond Leagues 2016–2018. Exponential curves were fit to the data to characterise and predict performance for each event. Caster Semenya's finishing times before her ineligibility to compete and after the suspension of the IAAF hyperandrogenism regulation were found to be 1.24% and 1.49%, respectively, faster than the characteristic performance of the elite-standard in the women’s 800m final. Other female athletes, with finishing times faster than the ones predicted by the characteristic curves were also discovered. The percentage difference in performance between Caster Semenya and the other participants did not reach 3% in the 800m event. No conclusions can be drawn regarding extraordinary results ever performed during the 100m, 200m or 400m finals.     

从性别角色社会化透析我国体育人口性别结构现状

结合影响个体性别角色社会化的重要因素:家庭、学校、同辈群体和大众传媒.阐述人的生命周期的性别角色社会化中所经历的重要事件对当前各年龄段不同性别体育人口的影响,分析造成体育人口性别结构失衡的社会学因素.旨在提高我国女性体育人口比例,平衡体育人口性别结构.为发展我国妇女体育、制定体育人口发展对策提供参考.     

角色冲突对职业妇女参与体育的影响

全民健身活动实施过程中,妇女体育一直是薄弱环节。当代中国职业妇女深受职业—家庭双重角色的困扰,这种双重角色所引起的角色冲突在很大程度上影响了妇女参与体育锻炼。从社会性别差异的角度进行研究,认为职业妇女由于受双重的角色压力,对其体育价值观念的形成,以及对余暇时间的支配等方面产生影响,导致她们很少参与体育锻炼。     

Student Perceptions of Chemistry Laboratory Learning Environments, Student–Teacher Interactions and Attitudes in Secondary School Gifted Education Classes in Singapore

This study investigated the chemistry laboratory classroom environment, teacher–student interactions and student attitudes towards chemistry among 497 gifted and non-gifted secondary-school students in Singapore. The data were collected using the 35-item Chemistry Laboratory Environment Inventory (CLEI), the 48-item Questionnaire on Teacher Interaction (QTI) and the 30-item Questionnaire on Chemistry-Related Attitudes (QOCRA). Results supported the validity and reliability of the CLEI and QTI for this sample. Stream (gifted versus non-gifted) and gender differences were found in actual and preferred chemistry laboratory classroom environments and teacher–student interactions. Some statistically significant associations of modest magnitude were found between students' attitudes towards chemistry and both the laboratory classroom environment and the interpersonal behaviour of chemistry teachers. Suggestions for improving chemistry laboratory classroom environments and the teacher–student interactions for gifted students are provided.     

Gender,dialogue and discursive psychology: a pilot sexuality intervention with South African High-School learners

Good-quality sexuality education can be effective in reducing sexual health risks, but may also be disconnected from the lived realities of learners’ lives and reinforce gendered stereotypes. In line with the trend towards ‘empowerment’ in and through sexuality education, we implemented a pilot sexuality intervention with Grade 10 participants following a rigorous consultation process. Nine weekly group dialogues were held with 11 participants, with 2 follow-up sessions the next year. Freirian principles of critical consciousness and dialogical pedagogy, infused with discursive psychological understandings, were used to foreground gendered/sexual norms and to provide recognition for participants in a variety of gendered and sexual subject positions. Sessions were recorded, the facilitator kept a diary, and participants were asked to evaluate the intervention. The dialogical format of the group generated curiosity and engagement, and some participants took up a ‘responsible’ sexual subject position in a reflexive manner. A partial normalisation of some ‘hidden’ aspects of sex was enabled, and critical consciousness around some gendered inequities was promoted. We argue, first, that it is not so much sexuality education that young people need, but sexuality dialogues, and second, that a discursive psychology framework provides a nuanced and fruitful dimension to Freirean inspired ‘empowerment’ sexuality interventions.     

Conflicts,competition and social support in female-dominated vocational education – breaking or reaffirming stereotypical femininity?

One in four upper secondary school students in Norway experience nearly single-sex classrooms, an unintended consequence of choosing certain vocational study programmes, such as Health care, childhood and youth development or Building and construction. This raises a question about how female students describe their experiences of social relationships and classroom culture within the context of a gender-segregated vocational education setting. Analyses of educational biography interviews reveal that stories of conflict, competition and cultural differences dominate and are often described using derogative or gendered language, such as ‘bitching’, ‘gossip’ and ‘drama’. These stories demonstrate a break with gender stereotypes but, at the same time, accentuate femininity by aligning the behaviour to stereotypical discourses of ‘girl’ behaviour. In their stories, gender loses its importance as a basis for solidarity and commonality when students share the same gender; instead, hierarchies and other differences become highlighted.     

网络环境下学习策略群体差异研究——基于陕西师范大学《现代教育技术》网络课程的研究

为了解学习者网络学习策略在不同性别、学历及学科背景间的群体差异,该研究在对网络学习策略的内涵及结构进行重新分析的基础上,以参与陕西师范大学《现代教育技术》网络公共必修课的1713名本科生和教育硕士为研究对象,采用问卷调查法对学习者的网络学习策略使用水平进行调查。通过对研究数据进行方差齐性检验、独立样本T检验以及单因素ANOVA分析,结果表明:网络学习中,学习者的信息素养策略、资源管理策略、合作交流策略以及自我调节策略在性别、学历及学科背景间均存在显著性差异,反思性学习策略无显著性群体差异。     

Higher Order Teacher Questioning of Boys and Girls in Elementary Mathematics Classrooms

Abstract

The interaction patterns of teachers and students in public and private urban schools was investigated specifically to explore higher order teacher questioning. On the basis of a review of the literature, the authors speculated that patterns of student response to higher order teacher questioning would differ by student gender. Higher order questioning encourages students to think critically, and, therefore, is powerful for learning. Lower order questioning, however, taps only the memorization of facts. The results from this study suggested no gender difference in students' responses to higher order questioning. The 16 teachers observed used predominately lower level questioning patterns in their classrooms.