Causal knowledge and children’s possibility judgments

Children often say that strange and improbable events, like eating pickle-flavored ice cream, are impossible. Two experiments explored whether these beliefs are explained by limits in children's causal knowledge. Participants were 423 predominantly White Canadian 4- to 7-year-olds (44% female) tested in 2020–2021. Providing children with causal information about ordinary events did not lead them to affirm that improbable events are possible, and they more often affirmed improbable events after merely learning that a similar event had occurred. However, children were most likely to affirm events if they learned how similar events happened (OR = 2.16). The findings suggest that knowledge of causal circumstances may only impact children's beliefs about the possibility after they are able to draw connections between potential events and known events.     

Observing preschool storytime practices in Aotearoa New Zealand's urban public libraries

This study explores how preschool storytimes in public libraries in Aotearoa New Zealand incorporate practices which have been identified as beneficial for children's early literacy skills. The results of observations of storytimes in four public library services are reported, focusing on whether they included activities that foster six key literacy skills: print motivation; phonological awareness; vocabulary; narrative skills; print awareness and print concepts; and letter awareness. The results indicate that the storytimes observed focused strongly on techniques to increase children's print motivation, and other skills, such as the development of letter awareness, did not feature as frequently. It is suggested that the librarians leading the sessions were wary of introducing more formal instructional elements into the storytimes because they felt it might detract from the main aim of the sessions, which was to encourage children to enjoy books and reading.     

A Similarity Heuristic in Children’s Possibility Judgments

Children often judge that strange and improbable events are impossible, but the mechanisms behind their reasoning remain unclear. This article (N = 250) provides evidence that young children use a similarity heuristic that compares potential events to similar known events to determine whether events are possible. Experiment 1 shows that 5- to 6-year-olds who hear about improbable events go on to judge that similar improbable events can happen. Experiment 2 shows that 5- to 6-year-olds more often affirm that improbable events can happen if told about related improbable events than if told about unrelated ones. Finally, Experiment 3 shows that 5- to 6-year-olds affirm the possibility of improbable events related to known events, but deny that related impossible events can happen.     

The teacher researcher and the management of change

A school has used a full‐time post as teacher researcher, supporting a curriculum development team, and herself being supported by a consultant from Higher Education. Issues and outcomes are discussed including the role of data collection in educational decision‐making, and ways in which both the teacher‐researcher, and her colleagues must rethink their planning approach. Finally, we consider how this model might be developed under grist to evaluate whole‐school effects on INSET.     

Higher education libraries and SENDA

Reports selected results of a Masters research project which examined provision of higher education library and information services for students with disabilities within the context of the new disability legislation, the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001 (SENDA), which came into force on 1st September 2002. Five HE libraries were selected as case studies and provision was evaluated via staff interviews, student questionnaires and an accessibility audit. The results are presented under three themes: policies; procedures; and practices. Both good and bad practice was identified. All libraries had a disability representative, demonstrating a commitment to disability issues, and many staff had received disability awareness training. Libraries were often well supported by the institutions’ student support services. Accessibility of the built environment was often inadequate for the needs of people with disabilities. Often, lighting was poor, shelving was of inappropriate width and height and signage was far from ideal. Recommendations to improve provision are given covering policies, training, publicity and promotion, co‐operation and liaison.     

Children’s Beliefs About Possibility Differ Across Dreams,Stories, and Reality

Are children’s judgments about what can happen in dreams and stories constrained by their beliefs about reality? This question was explored across three experiments, in which four hundred and sixty-nine 4- to 7-year-olds judged whether improbable and impossible events could occur in a dream, a story, or reality. In Experiment 1, children judged events more possible in dreams than in reality. In Experiment 2, children also judged events more possible in dreams than in stories. Both experiments also suggested that children’s beliefs about reality constrain their judgments about dreams and stories. Finally, in Experiment 3 children were asked about impossible events more typical of dreams and stories. In contrast with the other experiments, children now affirmed the events could happen in these worlds.     

Macaulay as a critic of parliamentary speaking

Macaulay combined historical‐normative and comparative approaches in his critical evaluations of British parliamentary speakers. His criticism, though lacking in subtlety and precision, was based upon wide knowledge and parliamentary experience, and constitutes an important body of criticism to the contemporary student.     

Recreational Reading in University Libraries in The United Kingdom

This article presents selected results from a study investigating the promotion of recreational reading in university libraries in the United Kingdom. An email questionnaire survey and follow-up interviews with a sample of respondents explored provision and attitudes toward recreational reading. The results suggest that recreational reading promotion is increasing in UK university libraries. Participants were positive about the benefits of recreational reading but they identified a number of barriers preventing them from increasing their activity including finance, staff time, and mission drift. The article concludes with recommendations for increasing recreational reading including the need for better staff awareness and training.     

The consumption of contemporary visual art: identity formation in late adulthood

This paper examines the responses of older people to the British Art Show 6, which is an exhibition of recent developments in contemporary visual art in the UK. One group of respondents attended two “meet the artist talks” and a second group attended an artist-led workshop where they produced work that had been stimulated by the exhibition. The focus groups that resulted were analysed using theoretical frameworks related to identity construction. The analysis demonstrated that respondents were using the resources of the exhibition to construct identity positions in response to their social contexts. However, their ability to do this was governed by how the relationship between agency and structure played out for individuals in their engagement with contemporary visual art. It is suggested that wellbeing originates from the control such a process might give individuals over their social environment.     

Older People Learning through Contemporary Visual Art – Engagement and Barriers

This article addresses how older people understand and engage with contemporary art in the gallery context – whether there is something unique to the art, the format of the visits, the pedagogical approaches used by gallery educators, the social contact, or a combination of all these factors. It also addresses the psychosocial barriers to engagement. It draws from ‘Contemporary visual art and identity construction – wellbeing amongst older people’, a two‐year research project funded by the cross‐research council New Dynamic of Ageing Programme. Over 21 months, 43 participants aged 60–92 made three visits to contemporary art galleries in north‐east England. The potential for art galleries to develop lifelong learning opportunities for post‐retirement people has implications for the cultural, health and voluntary sector.