bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Survey of Music Education in the Primary Schools of South Africa's Cape Peninsula
Authors: Herbst Anri , de Wet Jacques , Rijsdijk Susan
Published: February 2009

We investigated the state of music education in government primary schools in the Cape Peninsula (Western Cape Province, South Africa) as perceived by the general class teacher. Since the first democratic elections in South Africa (1994), the entire primary and secondary school education system has changed drastically in terms of content, and general class teachers (not music specialist teachers) are now responsible for music education within the Arts and Culture learning area. We aimed to identify and analyze problems that these teachers experience in implementing the music component of the revised curriculum. A structured questionnaire was sent to all primary schools in the Cape Peninsula; the response rate was 51.7%. Findings are discussed and interpreted against the historical background of education in South Africa and relevant music philosophical perspectives.

January 27, 2005

September 12, 2005
The State of Music in the Elementary School
Authors: Abril Carlos R. , Gault Brent M.
Published: February 2009

This study is an examination of school principals' perceptions of the elementary school music curriculum. A survey, mailed to 350 elementary school principals (61% response rate), was designed to answer the following questions: What are principals' perceptions of music learning outcomes and broad educational goals that result from school music instruction at their respective schools? How do they believe these should exist in ideal conditions? Is there a difference between principals' ratings for current and ideal conditions? To what degree do certain variables affect the music program? Results revealed that principals were generally satisfied with their music programs' ability to meet music education standards and broad educational goals. However, significant differences between the current and ideal conditions imply that they believe improvement is possible. Principals reported that the No Child Left Behind Act, budgets, standardized tests, and scheduling had the most negative effects on their music programs.

September 15, 2005

November 30, 2005
The Effect of Various Instructional Conditions on Expressive Music Performance
Authors: Woody Robert H.
Published: February 2009

This study is a comparison of the effectiveness of three approaches used to elicit expressivity in music students' performances: (a) aural modeling, (b) verbal instruction addressing concrete musical properties, and (c) verbal instruction using imagery and metaphor. Thirty-six college pianists worked with three melodies, one in each instructional condition. With each, subjects first gave a baseline performance, then received instruction for performing more expressively, and then gave a final performance. Subjects also verbally reported their thoughts during the process. Results confirmed that musicians can accommodate all three types of instruction used in the study and that each has strengths and weaknesses related to the characteristics of the music being performed and the musicians themselves. Additionally, analysis of the verbal reports suggested that musicians may use a cognitive translation process whereby they convert metaphor/imagery information into more explicit plans for changing the expressive musical properties of their performance (e.g., loudness, tempo, articulation).

August 22, 2005

January 30, 2006
Singing Practices in 10 Families with Young Children
Authors: Custodero Lori A.
Published: February 2009

This article addresses types and functions of singing practices in 10 families with 3-year-old children living in New York City, with illustrative cases of three families. Initial interviews were held with the parents in the families' homes. Between the initial visit and a follow-up visit 2-3 weeks later, parents observed their children and kept journals describing their engagement in music activity. Transcripts of interviews from each visit, field notes, and parent journals were reviewed for evidence of singing practices. Analyses revealed families used singing to “make special” routine activities and to create and maintain traditions. Parent and researcher observations of children's musical play were characterized by singing. Possible trends were suggested around learned song and spontaneous song. Implications for teaching and learning are considered in terms of what educators might learn from observations of both children's spontaneous play and from musical parenting.

June 14, 2005

March 7, 2006
Research Design and Analysis Clinic
Authors: Hopkins Kenneth D. , Kretke George L.
Published: February 2009

The important design implication of the n/cell question is that, whenever possible, one should have at least 2 observations per cell. We should not disregard additional factors in a study simply because they will create small cell sizes. In other words, the credibility of a study should not be questioned because of small cell size, per se. In addition to the greater information obtained from the additional factors and their interactions, their inclusion will tend to increase the power of the other significance tests in the design when any of the null hypotheses associated with the additional factor are not true. Even if all null hypotheses with which the additional factors are associated are true, the power of the other significance tested is reduced trivially, except when their inclusion reduces the degrees of freedom of the error term to perhaps 30 or less. The size of slices into which a pie is cut does not alter the size of the pie.
Prediction of Social Adjustment Over a Period of 6 or 9 Years
Authors: Feldhusen John F. , Roeser Thomas D. , Thurston John R.
Published: February 2009

The objectives of this research were to identify long-range predictors of social adjustment and to determine the multiple correlation between these predictors and the social adjustment of children after 6 or 9 years had elapsed. The subjects were 536 children who were first evaluated in third or sixth grade and for whom social adjustment was assessed either 6 or 9 years later. A multiple correlation of .66 for a best set of predictors was found. Significant predictors included classroom behavior traits, arithmetic achievement level, response to a sentence completion test, rating of the parents' marital relationship, and maternal discipline. These findings are discussed in terms of early identification and treatment of children likely to experience subsequent social maladjustment.
Modification of Impulsive Visual Discrimination Performance
Authors: Margolis Howard , Brannigan Gary G. , Penner William J.
Published: February 2009

The present investigation was concerned with the question of whether or not the visual discrimination performances of primary-grade; conceptually impulsive school children could be modified by altering the directions and administration procedures of a visual discrimination match-to-sample test. An experimental/ control group, matched-subjects design was used, with 16 subjects matched for age randomly assigned to the treatment or control group. The data indicated that (a) an impulsive conceptual tempo can successfully be modified to improve visual discrimination test performance, and (b) it is quite possible to underestimate the visual discrimination capacities of young, impulsive children.
Effects of Deafness on Maternal Expectations About Child Development
Authors: Stinson Michael
Published: February 2009

Mothers of 8–12-year-old hearing-impaired and and normal hearing boys were asked when they expected their child to acquire skills for: (a) speech and language, (b) acceptable social conduct, and (c) independence. Mothers of the hearing-impaired children expected later acquisition of speech and language than mothers of normal hearing children. These results supported the hypothesis that expectations of the mothers of the hearing-impaired children reflect the delayed development of speech and language that generally occurs for these children. Mothers of the hearing-impaired children also expected later development of acceptable social conduct; they did not, however, expect later development of independence. These results suggested that expectations are also influenced by the mother's efforts to reduce the extensive teaching and supervision often involved in rearing handicapped children.
Behavior Newsletter
Authors: Lovitt Thomas C. , Mann Lester
Published: February 2009

We are pleased, with this issue, to introduce our Behavior Newsletter, by Tom Lovitt which we anticipate appearing in the Journal semiannually, and perhaps expanding to a quarterly basis if Tom's journalistic appetites are whetted.

The Behavior Newsletter will attempt to keep our readers up to date — at least partially — with work in behavioral modification and contingency management which appears particularly relevant to the needs and interests of special education. We are sure that Professor Lovitt will welcome newsworthy items from our readers to consider for inclusion in his newsletter. We are also sure that all of us will benefit from the quick and ready access to new information that his writings will provide.
Visual Discrimination in Good and Poor Readers
Authors: Gupta Raj , Ceci Stephen J. , Slater Alan M.
Published: February 2009

Two studies are described in which match-to-sample tasks were presented to elementary school children. These tasks were of approximately equal difficulty with respect to visual discriminatory ability but differed in terms of their approximation to written and spoken English. It was found that poor readers made comparatively more errors than good readers when the items to be matched closely approximated English; however, when the items were nonsense shapes, which did not therefore have verbal labels that could be readily associated with them, good readers did not make fewer errors than poor readers. Our results do not support the hypothesis that visual discrimination abilities are a causative factor in reading retardation: When items to be visually matched or discriminated are letters or words, differences that are found between good and poor readers are almost certainly caused by differences in cognitive/linguistic strategies rather than by differences in visual discrimination abilities.
The Misreading of High-Frequency Words
Authors: Allington Richard L. , Fleming James T.
Published: February 2009

While the misreading of visually similar words has been thought to lie in a visual-perceptual deficit, recent research has seriously undermined such hypotheses. This study suggests that such errors are more typically a function of a lack of effective and efficient integration of semantic and syntactic cues with visual information.
Good Quality Childcare for All? Progress Towards Universal Provision
Authors: La Valle Ivana , Smith Ruth
Published: February 2009

In 1998 childcare was for the first time put on the political map with the publication of the Green Paper‘Meeting the Childcare Challenge’(DfEE, 1998), setting out the firstNational Childcare Strategy.Since then the childcare landscape has changed beyond recognition with a range of initiatives and considerable funding aimed at improving childcare services. A decade after its introduction, this article considers what the childcare strategy has achieved in relation to early years and what remains to be done to meet its key aim, that is: to provide good quality childcare for all parents who need it and all children who can benefit from it.
Contextual Issues in Assessing Value for Money in Early Years Education
Authors: Campbell-Barr Verity
Published: February 2009

Early years education has been attributed as having benefits for the public good, avoiding social stratification and acquiring human capital. Although these outcomes appear social, the focus on value for money highlights their economic undertones. However, an assessment of value for money in early years education has a number of tensions, not only in relation to how and for whom value is assessed, but also with regard to the marginalisation of the economic position of early years education providers and emerging evidence of both hidden and masked costs within the sector. Drawing on interviews with a range of stakeholders, it will be demonstrated, therefore, that there is a need to acknowledge wider contextual issues when making an assessment of value for money in early years education.
Review Essay: John Rawls's Last Word
Authors: Schultz Bart
Published: February 2009

Although no one can deny the profound importance of John Rawls's work in political philosophy, which covered both an original theory of justice and extensive work and teaching on the history of moral and political philosophy, we are now at the point where his contributions more clearly suggest certain historical limitations. Such topics as gender justice, racial justice, and environmental justice figured in Rawls's work only belatedly and in less than satisfactory ways. Surely the wide influence of the Rawlsian revolution should suggest that the erasures and blindspots in his historical reconstructions ought to be acknowledged and addressed, rather than avoided out of some misguided conception of charity in interpretation.
Issue Publics in the New Information Environment
Authors: Young Mie Kim
Published: February 2009

The present research revisits citizen competence in the changing political and information environment, considering citizens as pluralistic issue publics. Using 2000 and 2004 American National Election Study data, Study 1 explores the conceptual premises of issue publics and the impact of the Web on domain-specific knowledge and extremity. Study 2 uses a unique data set combining an innovative direct measure of users' Web behavior records with survey responses from those users in the context of the 2004 U.S. general election. The results shed light on issue publics' information acquisition on the Web. This complementary data set provides a more complete picture of how issue publics develop unique patterns of information acquisition and make voting decisions. The findings indicate that issue publics enhanced their domain-specific knowledge by using information highly selectively. In addition, their selective information use contributed to increases in extremity and issue voting patterns. Implications for the functioning of democracy are discussed.
Intended or Unintended Consequences? A Critical Reappraisal of the Safety First Movement and its Non-Union Safety Committees
Authors: Taksa Lucy
Published: February 2009

For the most part, the extensive literature produced on joint labour—management safety committees since the 1970s has neglected historical antecedents. To provide insights from the past, this article focuses on America's early 20th-century Safety First Movement, which sought to reduce accidents through the adoption of non-union safety committees and re-engineering techniques, based on various aspects of scientific management. By assessing the relationship between these `soft' and `hard' dimensions of Safety First, this article demonstrates that the two were united in practical terms not only in the US but also in Britain and Australia. This fusion, it is argued, provided a means of obtaining workers' consent for organizational and workplace changes and overcoming prevailing resistance to the methods associated with scientific management. In doing so, it emphasizes the value of focusing on management goals and anticipated consequences of employee participation and representation.
Moderation of Resource Depletion in the Self-Control Strength Model: Differing Effects of Two Modes of Self-Control
Authors: Dvorak Robert D. , Simons Jeffrey S.
Published: February 2009

The current study examined the effects of good and poor control and changes in blood glucose following self-control depletion on task persistence. Good self-control attenuated the effect of depletion on task persistence. Poor control exerted a main effect; however, there were no significant interactions between poor control and self-control depletion. In addition, the association between depletion and task persistence was partially mediated by decreases in blood glucose. Task persistence in the experimental, but not control, condition was correlated with several risk behaviors. These correlations provide support for the external validity of the laboratory experiment. The differential effects of good and poor control support a two-mode model of self-control. The interaction between the depletion manipulation and good self-control suggests that associations between good self-control and behavior may be due, in part, to good self-control reducing the effects of self-control demands on behavior.
Wisdom
Authors: Mick David Glen , Bateman Thomas S. , Lutz Richard J.
Published: February 2009

The macromarketing system is largely the function of many micromarketing decisions made each day. But this connection has not been probed thoroughly in the macromarketing literature, and there is a need for conceptual frameworks that can successfully link the challenges of effective micromarketing with the laudable goals of the macromarketing field, which focuses on the interdependencies between marketing and society. To this end, we explore wisdom, the zenith of human virtues, through pertinent literature and in-depth interviews with executives nominated for their wise decision making. We discovered that wisdom in marketing is characterized by the recognition and management of five central paradoxes (e.g., the need for expertise versus the need to admit knowledge limitations and the need to enact authority and accountability versus the need for ego control). We discuss the implications of these findings for the theory, practice, and teaching of macromarketing and for basic wisdom theory.
Understanding and Improving the Burden and Unmet Needs of Informal Caregivers of Homebound Patients Enrolled in a Home-Based Primary Care Program
Authors: Ornstein Katherine , Smith Kristofer L. , Boal Jeremy
Published: February 2009

The growing homebound population is heavily reliant on informal caregivers, who are increasingly burdened by their roles. This study describes informal caregivers of the homebound who remain caregivers at a 9-month follow-up and examines the impact of a home-based primary care (HBPC) program on caregiver burden and unmet needs using a prospective design with a pre—post intervention assessment. Informal caregivers of the urban homebound are similar to caregivers of other populations and have a broad range of unmet needs. The intervention described is the regular provision of multidisciplinary HBPC. Hundred fourteen caregivers of newly admitted patients complete a baseline interview. For the 56 caregivers who complete a 9-month follow-up interview, participation in HBPC is associated with a statistically significant decrease in overall caregiver burden. At 9 months, caregivers demonstrate an overall decrease in unmet needs, with a statistically significant decrease across two measured domains. These results suggest that the regular provision of multidisciplinary care in the home can mitigate the deleterious impact of informal caregiving.
Looking Back, Looking Forward
Authors: Feldman Susan , Howie Linsey
Published: February 2009

The aim of this article is to examine the use of the Self-Discovery Tapestry (SDT) tool, a life history review instrument, and its application to an Australian qualitative study of community-dwelling older people aged 80 years and more. The researchers set out to engage with older people through an innovative research approach that acknowledged their experiences and recognized their skills and capacities across the course of their lives. The article reports and assesses this research instrument as a tool for gathering data in narrative studies involving older people. It proposes that the instrument, with some modifications might be used to further develop specific knowledge of aging to benefit research, education, and practice in gerontology. By undertaking to critique the research processes, the authors hope to show the value of incorporating a critical appraisal approach that may prove useful for strengthening further research in this area of inquiry.
Gerontology
Authors: Haber David
Published: February 2009

With gerontology boomers beginning to collect their social security checks, this article challenges gerontology professionals to transform the jobs, services, programs, and institutions that will allow the boomers to realize their dreams and goals. Gerontology educators, practitioners, and researchers will need to collaborate with boomers who have a history of creating change and are likely to redefine retirement. This article describes the boomer cohort, provides a brief summary of an empowerment paradigm, offers six examples of movements that are beginning to empower boomers, and ends with a call to action. According to the author, there is a need to educate our colleagues and the general public about the innovations that are emerging, evaluate them in a broader and more coordinated way, and help promote them by partnering with the coming cohort of gerontology boomers.
Metabolic and Cardiac Side Effects of Second-generation Antipsychotics: What Every Clinician Should Know
Authors: Breden Ericka L. , Liu Mei T. , Dean Stacey R. , Tofade Toyin S.
Published: February 2009

In 2007, 5 of the 7 second-generation antipsychotics were listed in the Top 200 Drugs prescribed by retail sales in the United States. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of natural death in individuals with schizophrenia. Second-generation antipsychotics have been implicated with metabolic and cardiovascular adverse effects, and it is important for nonpsychiatric practitioners to be familiar with the monitoring parameters recommended for these agents. This article discusses the risk of weight gain, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, hyperprolactinemia, and cardiovascular concerns associated with second-generation antipsychotic agents. It also discusses the proposed mechanisms for each of these adverse effects. Furthermore, it reviews suggested monitoring parameters to help manage cardiovascular disease in this patient population, and to improve the gap that exists between mental health care and physical health care in the schizophrenic population.
Self-Defensive Gun Use by Crime Victims
Authors: Hart Timothy C. , Miethe Terance D.
Published: February 2009

As a means for analyzing categorical data, conjunctive analysis is an emerging analytic approach used in both exploratory and confirmatory research. This technique is applied in the current study to examine two important issues related to the use of firearms as a means of self-defense by crime victims. Using data from the National Crime Victimization Survey, the current study uses conjunctive analysis (a) to examine the contextual factors associated with the use of a firearm by crime victims as a means of self-defense and (b) to identify the situational factors most closely associated with instances where the self-defensive use of a firearm is most and least effective. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for future research.
Peers and Gun Use Among Urban Adolescent Males
Authors: Wilkinson Deanna L. , McBryde Marquette S. , Williams Brice , Bloom Shelly , Bell Kerryn
Published: February 2009

Youth gun violence is most often a group phenomenon yet most empirical examinations ignore this fact. Using interview data with 416 violent male offenders from two disadvantaged New York City neighborhoods, this paper examines the roles that the peer contexts play in explaining the nuanced patterns of respondent gun-related behaviors. We hypothesize that respondents who are comparatively more embedded in networks of peers who carry and use guns will also report greater involvement in serious gun violence. We found that guns were equated with self-protection and the most prevalent reason given for possession and carrying behaviors of peers. Belonging to a group of associates was also perceived to have protective value. Guns and armed peers played a role in heightened risk for lethal conflict. Peers are involved as co-offenders in the majority of gun events reported. We discuss the implications of our findings for violence intervention policy and future research.
City-Level Characteristics and Individual Handgun Ownership
Authors: Kleck Gary , Kovandzic Tomislav
Published: February 2009

General Social Survey (GSS) data are used in a multilevel analysis to examine the relationship between an individual's decision to own a handgun and his or her city's (a) homicide rate and (b) police strength level. The cities in which respondents lived were identified using special supplementary codes provided by the National Opinion Research Center so that information about surrounding cities could be attached to each GSS respondent. Logistic regression analyses indicate that the likelihood of handgun ownership is increased by higher local homicide rates. The effects are not mediated by the individual's own victimization experiences or fear of crime. Positive macro-level associations previously found between homicide rates and gun ownership levels may be indicative of homicide effects on handgun acquisition rather than the reverse. Larger city police forces discourage handgun ownership, supporting the idea that the provision of greater collective security reduces the felt need of the citizenry to provide their own protection.
The Heller Decision and Its Possible Implications for Right-to-Carry Laws Nationally
Authors: Neil Benjamin A. , Neil Brian A.
Published: February 2009

The decision by the United States Supreme Court in District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 2008, together with the research of Professor and research scientist John Lott now opens a number of new discussions concerning handguns in the United States. Whereas Professor Lott maintains that allowing citizens to carry concealed handguns lowers crime rates. The Supreme Court has now established for the first time ever, that citizens may possess handguns and firearms for private use in their homes. Taken together, more questions have been created than answered.
Alpha Biofeedback and LD Children
Authors: Gracenin Carolyn T. , Cook Jimmie E.
Published: February 2009

Our hypothesis that alpha biofeedback training would make a significant difference in a clinic subject's reading gain scores was rejected. Table 4 shows these gain scores.

As in Nail's initial study, most of our subjects gained in amplitude and duration of alpha waves with the biofeedback training. There was also a slight improvement in hyperkinetic and maladaptive behavior, and there was a significant increase in comprehension.

Oral reading and comprehension scores were separated and no significant differences in gain were found. Perhaps one semester and ten sessions were not enough to demonstrate a significant difference in reading improvement by learning-disabled children using alpha biofeedback training. The results did show, however, that the control group made better oral gains while the experimental group made better comprehension gains—and that was our original target.
Listening/Reading
Authors: Janiak Richard
Published: February 2009

Another option to the list of teaching alternatives for remediating reading problems
A Special Service Team on the Alert
Authors: Brezel Barbara , D'Aniello David
Published: February 2009

A public school special service team provides a “safety net” for students and faculty by identifying and treating stress and personal conflicts.
Solving the Puzzle of Cluttering
Authors: Zorotovich Betty
Published: February 2009

Incomplete lateralization between a dominant eye and hand can cause “cluttering and delays in reading progress.
Ten Myths about Microcomputers
Authors: Gordon Horace G. , Roberts David , Milone Michael N.
Published: February 2009

The increased interest in microcomputers in education has generated a number of misconceptions. These authors pinpoint the ten most common of these.
Confessions of a Speech Pathologist
Authors: Alpern Ramona Lenny
Published: February 2009

A speech pathologist describes a method for the learning disabled that successfully combines articulation and language skill into one unified whole.
A Stitch in Time
Authors: Sutaria Saroj
Published: February 2009

The Stich Adaptation of the well-known Fernald Method combines writing of stories with illustrations, and a daily reading and review of the typed stories.
Early FCS Extension Specialist: Martha Van Rensselaer
Authors: Scholl Jan F.
Published: February 2009

A review of the early Extension career of Martha Van Rensselaer. It has been determined that hers was one of the first Extension home economics or family and consumer science programs in the United States, and this work led to contributions establishing new programs throughout the country and in parts of the world. She received many awards, but sadly few books or articles have been written about her. This historical study attempted to address and clarify aspects of her life.
From Treatise to Textbook: A History of Writing About Household Management
Authors: Nickols Sharon Y.
Published: February 2009

The origins of contemporary writing about household management in the United States have been traced back to Catharine Beecher's A Treatise on Domestic Economy. The expansion of academic programs in home economics, the rise of research using the scientific method, and the changing economic and social conditions during the early 20th century contributed to the transition from treatises offering household advice based on Christian precepts and customary roles to more analytical approaches to household management and the publication of textbooks for college courses. Using qualitative research methods, this study traced the 75‐year history of home management/family resource management textbooks published in the United States. The themes found throughout this period show both subtle shifts and dramatic changes in seven areas of analysis: the rationale for studying home management, the theoretical conceptualization of management, what is managed, individual and family concepts within home management, internal/external emphasis on resource management, pedagogical style, and audience.
Willie Lee Glass: A Lady of Remarkable Influence
Authors: Greer Rebecca W. , Kenner Janie O.
Published: February 2009

Willie Lee Campbell Glass was a Black educator and home economist whose career spanned almost four decades from 1933 through the 1970s. As the first Black state consultant for home economics with the Texas Education Agency, Glass was a leader in the development of programs that prepared classroom teachers for desegregation. Using wit and diplomacy, she paved the way for many women and African Americans as a respected professional in the field of home economics/family and consumer sciences education. Glass focused on serving others and making young Black students feel good about themselves. Her life provides important information related to the history of the profession and a model for family and consumer sciences students, educators, and administrators.
A Concise Report of Family and Consumer Sciences Graduate Research Productivity Reported for 2007
Authors: Pickard Mary J.
Published: February 2009

Twenty‐three universities reported 149 master's level theses and 105 doctoral dissertations completed in 2007. There continues to be a gradual decline in the number of universities that report this information each year although data from the National Center for Education Statistics indicate there are increasing numbers of graduate students in the field. This article reports only the theses and dissertations completed and does not report research or other projects completed in nonthesis graduate degree options.
Is Open-Space Preservation a Form of Exclusionary Zoning?
Authors: Schmidt Stephan , Paulsen Kurt
Published: February 2009

This article examines the evolving policy context of municipal open-space acquisition in New Jersey. The authors hypothesize that voters’ interest in open-space protection is sensitive to changes in state policy and that municipal acquisition may have exclusionary effects. The authors examine local acquisition practices using three different approaches: voting behavior, municipal acquisition, and parcel-level characteristics of acquired lands. They find that support for preservation is responsive to growth pressures and changing state policy environments. They also present evidence that municipalities are targeting land able to accommodate higher-density development in their preservation efforts and that municipalities that preserve open space are also active in transferring away their affordable housing obligations.
The Effects of Weighted Vests on Appropriate In-Seat Behaviors of Elementary-Age Students With Autism and Severe to Profound Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Cox Amy L. , Gast David L. , Luscre Deanna , Ayres Kevin M.
Published: February 2009

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of weighted vests on the amount of time 3 elementary-age students with autism, intellectual disabilities, and sensory processing abnormalities engaged in appropriate in-seat behavior. An alternating treatments design was used to examine the duration of appropriate in-seat behavior under three conditions: baseline or no vests (A), vests with no weights (B), and weighted vests (BC). Because weighted vests did not have an effect on appropriate in-seat behavior for any participant, a second experiment was conducted. Noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) was assessed within the context of a withdrawal design. NCR had an optimal effect on the participants' in-seat behavior.
Long-Term Exercise Training Selectively Alters Serum Cytokines Involved in Fever
Authors: Rowsey Pamela Johnson , Metzger Bonnie L. , Carlson John , Gordon Christopher J.
Published: February 2009

Long-term exercise training selectively alters serum cytokines involved in fever. Chronic exercise training has a number of effects on the immune system that may mimic the physiological response to fever. Female rats that voluntarily exercise on running wheels develop an elevated daytime core temperature after several weeks of training. It remains to be seen whether the elevation in daytime temperature involves inflammatory patterns characteristic of an infectious fever. We assessed whether chronic exercise training in the rat would alter levels of cytokines involved in fever. Female Sprague Dawley rats at 45 days of age weighing 90—110 g were divided into two groups (exercise and sedentary) and housed at an ambient temperature of 22°C. Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), iron, and zinc levels were analyzed. Rats underwent 8 weeks of exercise on running wheels. Exercise led to altered levels of some key cytokines that are involved in fever. Exercise animals had significantly higher IL-1β levels and lower IL-10 levels compared to sedentary animals. Although IL-6 levels were slightly lower in the exercise animals, these levels were not significantly affected by training. TNF-α activity was similar in the two groups. Training also led to a slight increase in serum zinc and decrease in serum unsaturated iron binding capacity (UIBC). The data suggest that chronic exercise training evokes immune responses that mimic some, but not all, aspects of fever. This may explain why exercise leads to elevated daytime core temperature.
Get-Out-The-Vote Phone Calls
Authors: Ha Shang E. , Karlan Dean S.
Published: February 2009

This article reports the results of a field experiment testing the effectiveness of different quality get-out-the-vote (GOTV) nonpartisan phone calls. During the week preceding the November 2004 election, we randomly assigned registered voters in North Carolina and Missouri to one of three live phone calls with varying length and content. The scripts are (1) standard GOTV, (2) interactive GOTV, and (3) interactive GOTV with a request for mobilizing neighbors. We find that people assigned to the interactive GOTV treatment are more likely to turn out, whereas the effect of the “get your neighbors to vote” script is relatively as weak as that of the standard script. The findings suggest that interactive calls generally tend to increase voter turnout, but for a phone call to be effective, the message needs to be focused. The borderline statistical significance of the script that encourages neighbors' participation invites replication of this experiment.
A Study of Institutional Affiliations of Authors of Articles in Selected Special Education Journals
Authors: Miller Susan A. , Maddux Cleborne D.
Published: February 2009

All issues of the five most widely read general special education journals were examined for the years 1983-1987. Institutional affiliations of authors were recorded, and two scoring systems were used to produce two separate rankings of publishing productivity of institutions. One scoring system awarded fractions of points based on number of authors, while the other system awarded one full point to each affiliated institution, regardless of number of authors. The systems produced similar results, and both of these systems identified different institutions than those identified by a previous researcher who analyzed five educational administration journals. The results of this study will probably be most useful to students, as well as potential faculty, who are seeking institutions with high scholarly productivity in special education.
The Construct Validity of the Einstein Assessment of School-Related Skills
Authors: Gottesman Ruth L. , Cerullo Frances M. , Bennett Randy Elliot
Published: February 2009

The Einstein Assessment of School-Related Skills (Gottesman & Cerullo, 1988) was developed to aid professionals in the educational, medical, and health-care fields in identifying children at risk for or experiencing learning problems in grades kindergarten through 5. Their brief (7 to 10 minute) screening instrument was constructed to measure reading, arithmetic, auditory memory, language-cognition, and visual-motor abilities. The items that compose the Einstein are in many cases similar to those found in achievement tests. Therefore, the Einstein should be, in part, a measure of school achievement. However, given the processes used in its development, the Einstein should function as a more effective screening device than traditional achievement measures. This study was undertaken to determine the extent to which the Einstein is a school achievement measure and to determine whether it predicts special education placement better than traditional achievement measures. For students in grades k-3, Einstein scores were correlated with reading and mathematics tests and with teacher ratings. The scores on the Einstein and on the achievement measures were also correlated with the presence or absence of school-diagnosed learning difficulty. Results showed the Einstein to be significantly related to achievement and generally to predict learning difficulty as well as or better than the achievement measures.
School Psychologists' Knowledge of Traumatic Head Injury
Authors: Mira Mary P. , Meck Nancy E. , Tyler Janet S.
Published: February 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate school psychologists' knowledge base, training, and experience in the area of traumatic head injury (THI). The results indicated that school psychologists have received little systematic training in the area of THI and consequently do not have broad-based information about this group of children. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications for training professionals who will serve THI children.
Effects of Frequency of Data Collection and Graph Characteristics on Visual Inference
Authors: Munger Gail F. , Loyd Brenda H.
Published: February 2009

Though visual inference is the most frequently used procedure in the analysis of behavioral and performance data, accuracy and reliability continue to be of concern. This study addressed the questions of whether different trends on graphs produced different judgments, and whether different frequencies of data collection produced different judgments. Also addressed was the question of whether there was an interaction between trend and frequency that influenced judgments of student performance. Results indicate that judgments tend to be accurate and consistent when performance data represent systematic improvement, but when graphed data represent a decrease in performance, no change, or highly variable performance, judgments tend to differ by frequency.
Comparison of the Slosson Intelligence Test and the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, Fourth Edition, with Children Referred for Psychoeducational Assessment
Authors: Hunter Maxwell W. , Ballash Joan B.
Published: February 2009

The Slosson Intelligence Test (SIT) and the Stanford-Binet, Fourth Edition (SBIV) were administered to two groups of children referred for psychoeducational evaluation. Group 1 participants were referred because of concern for learning progress, and Group 2 participants were referred as potentially gifted. Taken at face value, SIT scores significantly overestimated all SBIV scores for potentially gifted students and significantly underestimated four of five SBIV scores for students with learning problems. However, in 9 of 10 instances across groups, the SIT correlated significantly with SBIV area and composite scores. In both groups the SIT predicted the SBIV verbal reasoning score more accurately than the composite score. Overall, the SIT predicted SBIV performance better for students with learning problems. Use of the SIT to screen students for subsequent SBIV evaluations is discussed.
Factor Analytic Study of the WISC-R for Three Groups of Handicapped Students
Authors: Fuller Gerald B. , Vance Booney , Eaves Ronald
Published: February 2009

A principle component factor analysis with varimax rotation was performed for 252 subjects on 11 WISC-R variables. Three factors were specified for extraction. The subjects were divided into three diagnostic groups (educable mentally handicapped, slow learners, learning disabled) based on their WISC-R scores and individual placement committee decisions. The factors thus obtained for each diagnostic group corresponded to those found in the standardization group. The three factors were verbal-conceptual, perceptualspatial, and distractibility-short term memory. The findings suggested that the factor paradigm found for the three diagnostic groups can be used confidently to interpret scores from the WISC-R. These findings also indicated that the basic ability dimensions are the same for clinical samples as they are for subjects in the standardization sample.
The Nature and Extent of Test-Wiseness Cues in Seventh— and Tenth-Grade Classroom Tests
Authors: Hughes Charles A. , Salvia John , Bott Deborah
Published: February 2009

In the present study, 100 seventh— and tenth-grade tests across several content areas were examined for the presence of six types of test-wiseness cues. Questions addressed included: (a) What is the frequency of each type of cue, (b) is there a difference in the frequency of cued items between teacher-made and publisher-provided tests, (c) which type of item contains more cues, and (d) is there an increase in the likelihood of making a correct guess based on the use of existing cues? Analyses indicated approximately 75% of both types of tests contained cued items. The most frequent type of cue was length of option, followed by specific determiners. Increases in the likelihood of making a correct guess based on cue usage ranged from 8% to 1&9percnt; depending on item format. Implications for test construction and teaching test-taking skills are discussed.
Puerto Rican Children's Codeswitching and their Performance on Receptive Vocabulary Instruments and a Nonverbal Cognitive Measure
Authors: Loyola Jaime L. , McBride David F.
Published: February 2009

Analyses of Puerto Rican bilingualism reveal the unique role of Spanish/English codeswitching in their communication. In the present study, 34 bilingual students (aged 9 to 13 years) of both sexes were administered forms of the Test de Vocabulario en Imágenes Peabody—Adaptación Hispanoamericana (TVIP-H) (Dunn, Padilla, Lugo & Dunn, 1986) and Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised (PPVT-R) (Dunn & Dunn, 1981), along with translations of both aforementioned tests. The Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM) (Raven, 1958) was administered as a nonverbal cognitive measure. Standard scores were recorded; then, a separate set of combined scores was derived for the TVIP-H and PPVT-R and their respective translations, in which the student was given credit for items answered incorrectly in one language but correctly in the other. Standard scores were also recorded for the SPM. Results revealed significant mean differences between the TVIP-H monolingual vocabulary tests and its respective combined/bilingual scores. Both combined/bilingual instruments' results positively correlated with the nonverbal measure. These findings suggest that the influence of codeswitching/bilingualism on verbal tests must be accounted for with this population.
Comparison of the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised and the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale, Fourth Edition with Elementary Students Referred for Learning Problems
Authors: Hunter Maxwell W. , Ballash Joan B. , Chen Alexander N.
Published: February 2009

The Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Revised and the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition were administered to 66 elementary students referred because of concern for learning progress. Mean PPVT-R performance was significantly below mean performance on all SB:FE area scores except memory. Pearson productmoment and partial correlations indicated the importance of the PPVT-R's relationship with the SB:FE verbal area score. Use of the PPVT-R to screen for SB:FE performance was discussed.
Assessing Critical Thinking in Mathematics
Authors: Enright Brian E. , Beattie Susan A.
Published: February 2009

Traditionally, students have demonstrated substantial difficulties in the area of problem solving. Their strategies appear to be limited as they look for key words or rely on gimmicks to assist in the solution of word problems. The process is mindless, inefficient, and ineffective. This area of weakness is especially prevalent in the mildly handicapped population. The importance of problem-solving skills for these students is critical, as they engage not only in mathematical decisions but as they make functional decisions in their daily lives.

A sequential hierarchy is presented that establishes a process for students to follow when confronted with problem-solving issues. The step-by-step process enhances student understanding and control. Problem solving becomes planned and deliberate. Implementing the SOLVE strategies enables the teacher to assess and teach the skills and improves students' success rates.
Assessing Children with Traumatic Brain Injuries
Authors: Shaw Steven R. , Yingst Christine A.
Published: February 2009

Children with Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) is one of the new funding categories created by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990 (PL 101-476). Children with TBI require a different model of educational assessment than other disabling conditions because of the rapid cognitive, emotional, and physical changes that children with TBI undergo in the two years post-incident. To conduct appropriate educational assessment of children with TBI, the medical issues unique to this population must be understood and translated into educationally relevant data. The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of traumatic brain injuries and to provide a model of assessment that is educationally relevant to the unique needs of children with TBI.