bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Politics of History: some methodological and ethical dilemmas in élite‐based research
Authors: Phillips Robert 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe last decade has seen a wide range of education policy reforms initiated at a macro‐level. In turn, these reforms have stimulated a rich, extensive literature describing qualitative educational research concerned with analysing macro‐education policy. In particular, education researchers have used élite interviews as a means of explaining education policy. This article shows the ways in which this literature was utilised to describe one of the most fiercely contested policies of the period, namely history in the National Curriculum. The article focuses upon the particular methodological and ethical challenges initiated by élite‐based research by considering the extent to which political influence was exerted over the policy‐making process relating to history in the early 1990s.
Which Mental Strategies in the Early Number Curriculum? A Comparison of British Ideas and Dutch Views
Authors: Beishuizen Meindert , Anghileri Julia 
Published: June 2007

AbstractMental arithmetic has recently gained a higher profile in primary mathematics. The question then arises whether mental strategies should be left to spontaneous development or should be taught in some didactic order? In reaction to a School Curriculum and Assessment Authority (SCAA) discussion paper and other publications a comparison is made between British ideas and Dutch views. In the Netherlands the Realistic Mathematics Education theory has, since the 1980s, inspired textbook design and teaching practice, but also discussions on mental mathematics. Better balancing between ‘mental recall and mental strategies’ led to an improved National Programme (1990) and a second generation of revised textbooks. A great difference is the radical choice for postponing (formal) place value and written algorithms and building first on pupils’ (informal) mental strategies. This principle of ‘progressive mathematisation’ is developed further with the empty number line as a new model for mental strategies up to 100. Some British experts have called for a similar curriculum change. Although current suggestions for everyday mental activities and for mental methods in relation to written procedures mark a beginning, they are analysed as not going far enough. The assumption is made that British pupils also develop informal mental strategies, which deserve more substantial attention.
A Review of Reviews: structure and function in reviews of educational research
Authors: Foster Peter , Hammersley Martyn 
Published: June 2007

AbstractReviews are one of the main means by which the findings of educational research are communicated to audiences outside the research community. In this article, we look at some aspects of the production of reviews in the light of this function. Attention is given to issues relating to the initiation of reviews, the definition of the field to be covered, the coverage and treatment of relevant research, and the drawing of conclusions. The discussion is illustrated by reference to some recent examples of reviews of educational research.
A Coherent Framework for the Application of Psychology in Schools
Authors: Miller Andy , Leyden Gerv 
Published: June 2007

AbstractA coherent and integrated theoretical model for the application of psychology in schools will serve two major purposes. Firstly, it will allow practitioner educational psychologists (EPs) to represent the extent of the work they carry out with schools to research‐based psychologist colleagues. This in turn could reveal the rich research agenda that awaits creative combinations of practitioner experience and academic research skills. Secondly, a coherent framework will allow all those seeking to apply or draw on psychology when working in schools to explicate that psychology in order to promote a productive dialogue with professional colleagues, be they teachers, researchers or other psychologists. The framework proposed in this article draws mainly on practitioner‐directed research within educational and organisational psychology, supplemented by related university‐based research. In particular, the model highlights the need for those who seek to apply psychology in schools, to appreciate the relationships between both the formal and informal aspects of school staff, pupil, and family subsystems, and the ways in which different interventions impact upon different areas of this psycho‐social framework.
Making the University Fit for Critical Intellectuals: recovering from the ravages of the postmodern condition
Authors: Fuller Steve 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe author observes that ‘postmodernism’ in its most widely used sense was born of disillusionment with the university's role in state‐driven attempts at social control. Specifically, Lyotard saw the teaching function impeding the natural proliferation of research trajectories. And while he may have correctly identified the reactionary social role of the university in his day, the use of the curriculum to curb, reorient and channel research is not itself reactionary. In fact, it has been a potent vehicle for democratising social life by inhibiting the emergence of new knowledge‐based forms of elitism. The author illustrates this point by considering the role of history across the academic curriculum today, singling out the humanities and ‘softer’ social sciences for their pedagogical attentiveness to the contingent character of research developments. If there is a role for critical intellectuals in academic life, it is in terms of spreading this ‘prolescience’ mentality in whatever discipline they happen to practise and resisting all attempts to sever the evaluation of research from that of teaching. This amounts to an extension of ‘affirmative action’ principles from disadvantaged groups to schools of thought.
Educational Research: pursuit of truth or flight into fancy?
Authors: Bridges David 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThis article observes the apparent determination of some educational researchers to distance themselves from any claim to the truth of their published work and poses the question: is educational research concerned in some sense with the truth in relation to the matter which is the focus of its enquiry or is it not? It argues that either it is so concerned or it probably collapses into incoherence. It explores, first the relationship between propositions (of the kind found abundantly in educational research reports) and truth claims, before exploring five classical theories of truth. Truth, it is pointed out is itself not a monolithic concept and it is possible to deny some notions of truth without necessarily denying all. It goes on to illustrate the way in which different theories of truth are associated with different paradigms of educational research and finally explores in more detail the senses in which truth claims persist in two influential pieces of writing (Guba & Lincoln's Fourth Generation Evaluation and Stronach & MacLure's expressly postmodernist approach to educational research in Educational Research Undone) even as their authors wrestle to deny it.
Effect of Allocated Radiotherapy after Breast Surgeries over Death Risk in Early Breast Cancer Patients: A Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Alba-Fernández V. , Ruiz-Fuentes N. 
Published: June 2007

Meta‐analysis is a widely used tool to synthesize the results of a set of primary studies leading to more powerful conclusions than those provided by isolated ones. To evaluate the effect of allocated radiotherapy, types of breast surgery and other risk factors over death risk in early breast cancer patients, we carried out a meta‐analysis using logistic regression attending to the dichotomous character of the outcome.Our findings suggest that the type of breast surgery is an effect modifier of the risk factors over death in early breast cancer patients. The effect of allocated radiotherapy is associated with a less risk of death only for patients who had mastectomy plus axillary sampling. The effect of a systemic treatment is not associated with death risk for patients who had breast conservation, on the contrary it is associated for those patients with mastectomy alone and with mastectomy with axillary clearance.
Kava in Arnhem Land: a review of consumption and its social correlates
Authors: Clough Alan R. , Burns Christopher B. , Mununggurr Ngarrawu 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe debate about the effects and public health importance of the way Aboriginal people drink kava has been confounded by claims, based on anecdote, of imputed health effects. Anecdote and comment have promoted the perception that dosage levels among Aboriginal people are much greater than in Pacific island societies. In this paper we review published data about kava consumption, and evaluate it with respect to information collected from observation of one Aboriginal community in Arnhem Land (Northern Territory) where people tend to consume kavaat a steady tempo; 37g of kava powder containing around 3800mg of kava lactones in 670ml of water in an hour. The highest levels of consumption in Arnhem Land have been reported to be up to 900g/week of kava powder with heavy consumers drinking at least 610g/week, levels comparable to estimates for Pacific‐island societies. The significance of a steady drinking tempo means that an individual's weekly kava consumption relates directly to the amount of time spent drinking which, in turn, is correlated with categories of social setting of drinking (p < 0.0002). Lone drinkers appear to be the heaviest users while lowest consumption takes place in private domestic situations, where people enjoy kava as part of family group activities. Surrogates of consumption levels may be found in local socio‐economic circumstances. This approach may be useful when more direct measurement of consumption is difficult or impossible.
Clobazam maintenance among methadone maintenance patients with problematic benzodiazepine use: five case studies
Authors: WICKES WENDY A. , DARKE SHANE , ROSS JOANNE 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe aim of this pilot study was to determine the potential of maintenance with clobazam in patients on methadone who we also benzodiazepine dependent. Five individuals we recruited and four were maintained on clobazam for a minimum of 3 months prior to reduction. Three subjects we abstinent from other benzodiazepines at 3 months. Clobazam was given as a single daily dose and was reported by the clients as less sedating than diazepam There is potential for clobazam to be used as a maintenance benzodiazepine.
The empirical testability of Skog's theory of collective drinking behaviour
Authors: GMEL GERHARD , REHM JÜRGEN 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe objects of this study we (1) to review systematically Skog's theory of collective drinking behaviour and its interpretations by alcohol researchers, and (2) to give examples of how Skog's theory and these different interpretations have been empirically tested and to indicate how they might be tested. Based on a computer‐aided search of the literature, a reconstruction of the theory and possible alternative interpretations is provided. Different interpretations of Skog's theory are possible and can be found in the literature. Surprisingly, there is little empirical evidence, especially recent evidence, to support Skog's key assumptions. Suggestions for further research are given.
Reproductive Caste Performs Intranidal Tasks Instead of Workers in the Ant Mystrium oberthueri
Authors: Molet Mathieu , Peeters Christian , Follin Isabelle , Fisher Brian L. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractDivision of labour improves the efficiency of animal societies. Efficiency is further improved in many social insects where morphologically specialized adults perform different tasks. In ants, the wingless worker caste performs non‐reproductive activities and sometimes exhibits multiple phenotypes when requirements between brood care and expert foraging diverge. Mystrium rogeri from Madagascar is a specialist predator on large centipedes, and the worker caste is highly polymorphic in size. In contrast, M. oberthueri has only large workers. The replacement of the queen caste by wingless intermorphs much smaller than workers explains this evolutionary shift in M. oberthueri. Many intermorphs occur in each colony but only a few mate and reproduce. In order to determine their contribution to non‐reproductive tasks, we performed multivariate analyses on behavioural data recorded by scan sampling from four M. oberthueri colonies in the laboratory. In unmanipulated colonies, workers and intermorphs exhibited two distinct behavioural profiles. Workers focused on guarding and foraging, while intermorphs performed brood care and nest cleaning, regardless of whether they reproduced or not. This pattern of polyethism where the reproductive caste completely takes charge of some non‐reproductive tasks is novel, as confirmed by our observations of one colony of M. rogeri where non‐reproductive tasks were restricted to workers, as in most ants. When isolated from one another, M. oberthueri workers and intermorphs developed less distinctive behavioural patterns. Some workers cared for the brood, but the intermorphs could not hunt because of their small mandibles. Such plasticity in polyethism at the colony level confers the ability to react to unexpected changes, including variable proportions of workers and intermorphs.
Endothelial dysfunction and low‐grade inflammation and the progression of retinopathy in Type 2 diabetes
Authors: Spijkerman A. M. W. , Gall M.‐A. , Tarnow L. , Twisk J. W. R. , Lauritzen E. , Lund‐Andersen H. , Emeis J. , Parving H.‐H. , Stehouwer C. D. A. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractAims  To study whether microalbuminuria, endothelial dysfunction and low‐grade inflammation are associated with the presence and progression of diabetic retinopathy.Methods  Patients with Type 2 diabetes (n = 328) attending a diabetes clinic were followed for 10 years and examined annually during the last 7 years. Retinopathy was assessed after pupillary dilatation by direct ophthalmoscopy (baseline) and two‐field 60° fundus photography (follow‐up). Urinary albumin excretion, and markers of endothelial function (von Willebrand factor, tissue‐type plasminogen activator, soluble E‐selectin (sE‐selectin), and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1) and inflammatory activity (C‐reactive protein and fibrinogen) were determined.Results  The prevalence of retinopathy was 33.8%. The median diabetes duration at baseline was 7 years (interquartile range 2–12 years). The highest tertiles of baseline urinary albumin excretion and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) were associated with prevalent retinopathy: odds ratio (OR) 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.80 (1.44–5.46) and 2.19 (1.11–4.32), respectively. Progression of retinopathy occurred in 188 patients. The second and third tertiles of baseline sE‐selectin were associated with progression of retinopathy [1.44 (1.04–2.01) and 1.61 (1.19–2.18)] but not independently of HbA1c. None of the other markers was significantly associated with the presence or progression of retinopathy. High baseline HbA1c was significantly associated with progression of retinopathy: 1.65 (1.21–2.25).Conclusions  In this population of patients with Type 2 diabetes who attended a diabetes clinic, there was some evidence for a role of endothelial dysfunction in the progression of retinopathy. We could not demonstrate a role for low‐grade inflammation. Our study emphasizes the importance of glycaemic control in the development and progression of retinopathy.
The videoconferencing learning environment: Technology, interaction and learning intersect
Authors: Saw K. G. , Majid Omar , Abdul Ghani N. , Atan H. , Idrus R. M. , Rahman Z. A. , Tan K. E. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThis paper is a study on the interaction patterns of distance learners enrolled in the Mathematics and Physics programmes of Universiti Sains Malaysia in the videoconferencing learning environment (VCLE). Interaction patterns are analysed in six randomly chosen videoconferencing sessions within one academic year. The findings show there are more interactions in the graphics display mode than the video display mode. The graphics display mode, which involves the simultaneous interaction of the teacher, students and course materials, shows greater student engagement in the VCLE. The focus on a three‐component interaction in distance learning differs from previous studies which looked at distinct types of two‐component interactions. The types of communicative interaction, in particular the explanatory and cognitive types which are dominant in the graphics display mode, are discussed within the construct of learning. The higher number of teacher‐initiated interactions may also imply that the teacher plays a crucial role in creating and maintaining a community of inquiry focused on exploring and developing content as well as giving feedback on concepts, ideas or solutions.
An empirical investigation of students' behavioural intentions to use the online learning course websites
Authors: Chang Su‐Chao , Tung Feng‐Cheng 
Published: June 2007

AbstractWith the development of the Internet in the era of knowledge‐driven economy, e‐learning is experiencing rapid growth. The online learning course websites are drawing more attention as well. This research combines the innovation diffusion theory and the technology acceptance model, and adds two research variables, perceived system quality and computer self‐efficacy to propose a new hybrid technology acceptance model to study students' behavioural intentions to use the online learning course websites. This research finds that compatibility, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived system quality and computer self‐efficacy were critical factors for students' behavioural intentions to use the online learning course websites. By explaining students' behavioural intentions from a user's perspective, the findings of this research help to develop more user‐friendly websites and also provide insight into the best way to promote new e‐learning tools for students.
Changes in parent‐assessed oral health‐related quality of life among young children following dental treatment under general anaesthetic
Authors: Malden P. E. , Thomson W. M. , Jokovic A. , Locker D. 
Published: June 2007

Abstract – Objective:  To estimate the nature and magnitude of changes in oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) among children having dental treatment under general anaesthetic (GA) and to examine the evaluative properties of the Child Oral Health‐related Quality of Life Questionnaire (COHQOL©).Methods:  Data from a consecutive clinical sample of the parents/caregivers of children receiving dental treatment under GA at Wellington and Kenepuru Hospitals were collected from parents using the Parental‐Caregivers Perception Questionnaire (P‐CPQ) and the Family Impact Scale (FIS), which both form part of the COHQOL© Questionnaire. The first questionnaire was completed before treatment or while the participant's child was undergoing treatment. The follow‐up questionnaire was completed 1–4 weeks afterward. Treatment‐associated changes in OHRQoL were determined by comparing baseline and follow‐up data for the mean scores and the prevalence of impacts. The discriminative properties of the instrument were confirmed and then its evaluative properties were assessed (by examining its test–retest reliability, responsiveness and longitudinal construct validity). The minimally important difference was determined for the overall scale and subscales.Results:  Complete baseline and follow‐up data were obtained for 202 and 130 participants, respectively (64.4% follow‐up rate). The evaluative properties of the P‐CPQ and FIS were acceptable. There were substantial and highly statistically significant reductions in mean P‐CPQ and FIS scores after treatment, with effect sizes ranging from moderate to large, depending on the subscale being examined. The minimally important difference was shown by almost two‐thirds of the children treated.Conclusion:  The provision of dental treatment under GA for young children with severe dental caries experience is associated with substantial and highly significant improvements in both their OHRQoL and in the impact on their families. The P‐CPQ and the FIS show promise as evaluative measures for use in dental health services research.
Does ketamine mimic aspects of schizophrenic speech?
Authors: Covington MichaeL A. , Riedel Wim J. , Brown Cati , He Congzhou , Morris Eric , Weinstein Sara , SempLe James , Brown John 
Published: June 2007

Speech disturbances are well-known symptoms contributing to the diagnosis of schizophrenia. Subanesthetic doses of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist ketamine have been reported to produce positive and negative symptoms and cognitive impairments consistent with those seen in schizophrenia. Insofar as this is true, it constitutes evidence that the NMDA system is involved in schizophrenia. It is therefore of interest to know whether ketamine produces speech disturbances like those of schizophrenia. Quantitative computer-aided analysis of apparently normal speech can detect clinically relevant changes and differences that are not noticeable to the human observer. Accordingly, in this study, speech samples were analysed for repetitiousness, idea density, and verb density using software developed by the authors. The samples came from two experiments, a within-subjects study of healthy volunteers given intravenous ketamine versus placebo, and a between-groups study of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and comparable healthy controls. Our primary hypothesis was that in both schizophrenia and ketamine, repetitiousness wouLd increase, since perserverative speech is a well-known symptom of schizophrenia. Our secondary hypotheses were that in both schizophrenia and ketamine, idea density and verb density would decrease as indicators of cognitive impairment. The primary hypothesis was confirmed in the schizophrenia experiment (between groups) and the ketamine experiment (within subjects). The secondary hypotheses were disconfirmed except that in the ketamine experiment, verb density was significantly lowered. Reduced use of verbs apparently reflects a cognitive impairment of a different type than repetitiousness, and further investigation is needed to determine whether this impairment occurs in psychosis.
Writing Rape, Trauma, and Transnationality onto the Female Body
Authors: Schultermandl Silvia 
Published: June 2007

AbstractIn Nora Okja Keller's Comfort Woman (1997), the Korean American protagonist reconciles with her Korean heritage through the act of spreading her mother's ashes. This essay looks at Keller's use of a “language of the body” that protests against rape and other forms of oppression of the female body. This language of the body does not rely on essentialist parameters of “race” or of women's “nature.” On the contrary, by depicting rape as universal, non-culture–specific issue, Keller's novel sketches a mother–daughter relationship where the daughter finds a way to identify with the mother despite the fact that the mother remains, at times, the cultural “Other.” It is a shared experience of rape and trauma that facilitates a means of understanding between mother and daughter and serves as a point of contact for the building of transnational feminist solidarity between women of different cultures.