Self-categorization process in sport: An examination of the “Linsanity” phenomenon in Taiwan

The “Linsanity” phenomenon attracted an increase in attention toward the National Basketball Association (NBA) for a short period of time. Drawing on self-categorization theory to elucidate current literature on team identification, this research proposed a conceptual model delineating the social psychological process for international consumers during the phenomenon. Using an online survey with a convenience sample in Taiwan, structural equation modeling, including confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and path analysis, validated the conceptual model and confirmed the relationships between constructs in the model. Results indicated that Taiwanese identification positively influenced player identification, while player identification mediated the relationship between Taiwanese identification and team identification. Consequently, team identification positively influenced NBA involvement. The research findings together contribute to explicating the mechanism behind consumers’ self-categorization process during the “Linsanity” phenomenon while offering implications for international sport marketing. The research concludes with suggestions for future research.     

The expected value of possession in professional rugby league match-play

This study estimated the expected point value for starting possessions in different field locations during rugby league match-play and calculated the mean expected points for each subsequent play during the possession. It also examined the origin of tries scored according to the method of gaining possession. Play-by-play data were taken from all 768 regular-season National Rugby League (NRL) matches during 2010–2013. A probabilistic model estimated the expected point outcome based on the net difference in points scored by a team in possession in a given situation. An iterative method was used to approximate the value of each situation based on actual scoring outcomes. Possessions commencing close to the opposition’s goal-line had the highest expected point equity, which decreased as the location of the possession moved towards the team’s own goal-line. Possessions following an opposition error, penalty or goal-line dropout had the highest likelihood of a try being scored on the set subsequent to their occurrence. In contrast, possessions that follow an opposition completed set or a restart were least likely to result in a try. The expected point values framework from our model has applications for informing playing strategy and assessing individual and team performance in professional rugby league.     

Talent identification and selection in elite youth football: An Australian context

We identified the perceptual–cognitive skills and player history variables that differentiate players selected or not selected into an elite youth football (i.e. soccer) programme in Australia. A sample of elite youth male football players (n?=?127) completed an adapted participation history questionnaire and video-based assessments of perceptual–cognitive skills. Following data collection, 22 of these players were offered a full-time scholarship for enrolment at an elite player residential programme. Participants selected for the scholarship programme recorded superior performance on the combined perceptual–cognitive skills tests compared to the non-selected group. There were no significant between group differences on the player history variables. Stepwise discriminant function analysis identified four predictor variables that resulted in the best categorization of selected and non-selected players (i.e. recent match-play performance, region, number of other sports participated, combined perceptual–cognitive performance). The effectiveness of the discriminant function is reflected by 93.7% of players being correctly classified, with the four variables accounting for 57.6% of the variance. Our discriminating model for selection may provide a greater understanding of the factors that influence elite youth talent selection and identification.     

浅论电大基层教师在远程教育中的角色及职责

从基层电大教师在远程开放教育改革中的实际出发，剖析他们所面临的角色意识不清、职责功能混乱所造成的困惑，客观地分析了目前教师定位理论研究中存在的偏差，研究探索了基层电大教师的职责和定位问题，提出了电大教师不同层级理论和分类研究。     

进修教师的反思能力培养

教师到高校进修，通过专业知识的学习，专业技能的培养，提高自身的专业素养最终目的是增强教师的反思性教学能力，走教育的可持续化发展之路。     

师范英语本科翻译教学:问题、内容与对策

文章分析了新世纪的人才培养目标、教学大纲、教学对象以及本科翻译教学的客观规律,在此基础上尝试性地提出了针对师范英语专业本科生的笔译课教学内容的编选策略。     

理想与现实：贵州普通高校教师队伍建设研究报告

西部大开发,发展民族地区的经济需要把沉重的劳动力负担转换为强大的人力资源优势,其关键在于发展高等教育,特别是高等教育教师队伍建设更是值得关注。提升高等教育竞争力,建设高素质的高校教师队伍,是当前高等教育需要思考的问题。透视贵州省普通高校教师队伍建设的现状及存在的问题,提出应对策略,为我省高等教育的进一步发展提供了具体的政策性建议。     

普通高等师范院校音乐专业钢琴教学思考

国家教育体制的改革、高校扩招、以及国家教育部《全日制义务教育课程标准》（实验稿）的出台，给高等师范教育指明了方向，提出了更高的要求。从钢琴教学的特点和现代社会要求两个角度出发，当前高等师范院校音乐专业的钢琴教学要以学生掌握钢琴即兴伴奏为最终目标，实施计划教学，改革课型模式和教学方法。     

农村职业学校教师压力问题探析

本文描述了农村职业学校教师在经济待遇、社会地位、工作负荷、岗位作为以及人际关系等方面存在的压力, 并就压力存在的原因,缓解压力的策略从社会、政府、学校和教师本身等方面进行了分析与思考。     

Maintaining teachers’ face in the context of change: results from a study of Vietnamese college lecturers’ perceptions of face

Gaining and saving face are very important in Vietnam as a mechanism of social control, including the professional behaviour of teachers. Interviews with 15 lecturers (aged 24–37) at a teacher training college in a Central Coast province of Vietnam illustrated the relationship between their concepts of face and their beliefs about good teaching. Most were still strongly influenced by traditional Confucian beliefs about the role and position of teachers, the nature of teachers’ knowledge and the relationship between teachers and students. On the other hand, some teachers also were aware of, and to a limited extent open to, more modern ideas that seemed to be related to broad social changes and reforms in approaches to teaching and learning in recent decades in Vietnam. The findings suggest that some teacher educators are uncertain about the value of traditional professional wisdom in the context of critical changes in society and in education. The research also suggests that the concepts of face and saving face are important for teachers’ sense of agency, and that Vietnamese educational authorities could increase the effectiveness of innovations in teacher education by paying attention to the influence of concepts of face on the teachers’ beliefs and behaviours.