Reciprocal Versus Nonreciprocal Assessment of Knee Flexors and Extensors in Concentric Actions Using the CON-TREX Multijoint Isokinetic Dynamometer: A Reliability Study

Knee flexor and extensor muscular assessment via isokinetic dynamometry is common practice and established in the research literature. However, reporting assessment methodology regarding reciprocal and nonreciprocal movements is often vague or absent. Such methodological issues are crucial for accurate assessments. Therefore, knee extensor and flexor peak moment using either reciprocal movement or nonreciprocal modalities was assessed. Fifteen participants performed three blocks of five concentric muscle actions at three angular velocities [1: nonreciprocal (maximal active flexion followed by passive extension); B2: reciprocal (maximal active extension followed by maximal active flexion); B3 nonreciprocal (maximal active extension followed by passive flexion)]. ANOVA revealed statistically significant within-subject modality effects for peak knee extensor moment and flexor velocity and modality differences (p < .05). Reciprocal and nonreciprocal assessments give significantly different results, with nonreciprocal giving higher peak moments. Reporting which modality is used is crucial to allow for greater clarity for the reader and practitioner.     

A Q factor analysis of college undergraduate students' study behaviours

This study attempted to better understand the study behaviours of undergraduate students by categorizing students into distinctive typologies based on their self-reported study behaviours through an exploratory approach – Q factor analysis. A sample of 152 undergraduate students completed a survey instrument, the Study Behavior Inventory. The Q factor analysis yielded a 2-factor structure. Participants exhibiting the 1st behavioural type demonstrated reflective, well-organized study behaviours and favoured high-level thinking; thus were described as “Organized Holistic Learners”. Those exhibiting the 2nd behavioural type were found to manage time poorly and primarily focus on memorizing facts; thus were labelled “Disorganized Procrastinators”. Type 1 students had significantly higher grade point averages (GPAs) than Type 2 students. Student type was a significant predictor of academic achievement, as measured by self-reported GPA above and beyond students' attribute variables including sex, age, major, and enrolment status. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed.     

Commonsense reasoning about the physical world

This paper reports on a programme of research carried out over a period of twenty years by Joan Bliss, Jon Ogborn and others, and aimed at understanding how pupils and students reason about the everyday physical world. Our starting point was the science alternative conceptions literature, particularly force and motion, where the results puzzled and motivated us to make sense of the diversity of the findings. In a second step a Commonsense Theory of Motion was developed, which served as a framework for four other studies in the area of force and motion. These revealed that children were indeed using their everyday knowledge to explain these physical notions. The next step was to ask whether children also reasoned in a commonsense way about the physical world more generally, which led to the development of both a new theoretical framework and a further study to investigate these ideas. The findings showed that the physical reasoning schemes shown to exist were: movement, action/force/effort, container, carrier, support, fall, barrier, resistance, space, flow, break/not break, rigidity, stretch/squash and balance. The last section describes some ideas for future research in this area.     

Piaget's Theories and some Possible Implications for Educational Television

This article discusses the extent to which Piaget's general theories of thinking and mental development might have relevance for the production of educational television programmes. Joan Bliss summarises and discusses the main points of Piaget's theories, and Michael Goater and Christopher Jones provide their own critical analysis of the implication of those theories for television production. Tony Bates concludes that, while there are some major difficulties in making the jump from Piaget's more general theories to specific television practice, the exercise does raise some fundamental questions about the relationship between television and the development of thinking.     

The Analysis of Qualitative Data

Summaries

English

A method for the analysis of qualitative data, based on the linguistic device of systemic networks used to represent a structure of possibilities, is reported. Some initial applications are described, and work in progress including a computing system is outlined.     

Development and initial investigation of a self-report measure of teachers’ readiness to implement

This paper describes development and piloting of a self-report measure of teachers’ readiness to implement evidence-based programs. Using mixed methods, this project proceeded in two phases. In the first phase, a program-independent self-report measure of readiness to implement was developed and piloted with N?=?53 teachers. Results of quantitative analyses offer initial support for the structure and utility of this scale. In the second phase, qualitative interviews were conducted with a subset of the overall sample in order to more thoroughly understand teachers’ experiences of readiness and implementation. Together, results contribute to further scale development and offer preliminary support for the validity of this measure in assessing readiness.     

Effective performance improvement and management strategies for the information technology industry

Information technology (IT) not only has a significant impact on various fields of human endeavor, it also creates the potential for greater operational efficiency and influences changes in the way business activities are performed. Nevertheless, it is still perceived as more of an operational cost than a benefit. Use of effective performance improvement and management strategies in the IT industry provides a means to ensure that IT remains a pivotal force in driving businesses to achieve strategic competitive advantage and success.     

A psycho-logic of motion

In this paper we set out a theoretical account of how we suppose commonsense reasoning about motion may develop. We identify some of the most primitive building blocks necessary to the construction of a psycho-logic of motion. Our analysis shows how such primitive elements could combine together to provide schemes of motion, recognisable in psychological accounts of infancy, which themselves generate both prototypes of and rules for motion used in commonsense reasoning. The theory takes as fundamental the basic (essentially Kantian) categories of commonsense reasoning: action, object, space, cause, time and movement. We also start with Piaget’s intuition that action and movement are primitive and fundamental to all development. A number of levels are suggested from the initial primitive schemes, emerging rules and prototypes, new prototypes from combinations, projection of prototypes onto other objects and elaboration. Examples are given of prototypes which are the link between the deep seated ways of thinking and commonsense reasoning.     

Teachers Don’t Always Do What They Think They Should: A Preliminary Validation of the Early Childhood Educators’ Knowledge of Self-Regulation Skills Questionnaire

The extent to which teachers understand the concept of self-regulation skills and how best to implement practices that enhance self-regulation in children in the early childhood education classroom remains unexamined. The purpose of this study is to examine the psychometric properties of the self-reporting Early Childhood Educators Knowledge of Self-Regulation Questionnaire (ECESRQ) instrument designed to identify teachers’ knowledge and instruction of self-regulation skills in the classroom. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to determine three latent factors: teacher attitudes and beliefs, classroom management techniques, and child behavior. The findings identified parallel the literature in the preservice teacher-training arena, suggesting a theoretical basis for the underlying constructs. EFA contributed to establishing good estimates of construct validity in the ECESRQ; in addition Cronbach’s alpha results demonstrated moderate levels of internal reliability. Pearson correlation was used to additionally determine the extent to which teachers understand self-regulatory skills and their ability to implement effective tools in the classroom to enhance these skills. Results and implications for practice in the early childhood classroom are discussed.     

Broadcast Journalism

Edward Bliss Jr. and John M. Patterson's Writing News for Broadcast (New York: Columbia University Press, 1971 – $13.50)

David Dary's Television News Handbook (Blue Ridge Summit, Pa., Tab Books, 1971 – $9.95)

Bob Thomas' Winchell (Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1971 – $7.95)