title: A Positive behavioural Intervention on Prospective Memory of Children with Autism

authors: Peisley, Monique

subjects: Prospective Memory

abstract: Prospective memory is remembering to carry out a behaviour on a particular occasion or at a specific point in time in the future. This form of memory is particularly critical for the daily functioning of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their functional independence from their caregivers. My first aim was to assess the prospective memory abilities of each child when completing virtual week. My second aim was to investigate if reinforcing the prospective remembering of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder increased the probability of those behaviours occurring again. Four children with a diagnosis of ASD participated in a computerised board game called 'Virtual Week'. Using a single-subject design, baseline, positive reinforcement, and maintenance or prompt phases were implemented for each child. For every correct prospective memory response in the positive reinforcement phase, they received positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement increased the accuracy of prospective memory responses for all participants. Data for all participants showed a decrease in missed responses and an increase in correct responses to the prospective memory tasks. These effects were maintained after reinforcement was discontinued for three out of four children. This is the first study of which I was aware to use a behavioural behavioural intervention to improve the prospective memory behaviours of children with ASD. reinforcing prospective remembering in real-life situations using say-do correspondence training could extend research in this area.

text: A Positive behavioural Intervention on Prospective Memory of Children with Autism Prospective memory is remembering to carry out a behaviour on a particular occasion or at a specific point in time in the future. This form of memory is particularly critical for the daily functioning of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their functional independence from their caregivers. My first aim was to assess the prospective memory abilities of each child when completing virtual week. My second aim was to investigate if reinforcing the prospective remembering of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder increased the probability of those behaviours occurring again. Four children with a diagnosis of ASD participated in a computerised board game called 'Virtual Week'. Using a single-subject design, baseline, positive reinforcement, and maintenance or prompt phases were implemented for each child. For every correct prospective memory response in the positive reinforcement phase, they received positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement increased the accuracy of prospective memory responses for all participants. Data for all participants showed a decrease in missed responses and an increase in correct responses to the prospective memory tasks. These effects were maintained after reinforcement was discontinued for three out of four children. This is the first study of which I was aware to use a behavioural behavioural intervention to improve the prospective memory behaviours of children with ASD. reinforcing prospective remembering in real-life situations using say-do correspondence training could extend research in this area.

year: 2016

title: Matlab application for fitting progress curves to the Equilibrium Model

authors: Peterson, Michelle E.

subjects: Equilibrium Model

abstract: The general procedures for carrying out the necessary rate determinations required for accurate determination of the Equilibrium Model parameters, and fitting this data to the mathematical model to generate the parameters, are described in "Peterson, M.E., Daniel, R.M., Danson, M.J. & Eisenthal, R. (2007) The dependence of enzyme activity on temperature: determination and validation of parameters. Biochemical Journal, 402, 331-337". It should be borne in mind that the Equilibrium Model equation contains exponentials of exponentials – quite small deviations from ideal behaviour, or a failure to obtain true Vmax values, may lead to difficulty in obtaining reliable Equilibrium Model parameters.

text: Matlab application for fitting progress curves to the Equilibrium Model The general procedures for carrying out the necessary rate determinations required for accurate determination of the Equilibrium Model parameters, and fitting this data to the mathematical model to generate the parameters, are described in "Peterson, M.E., Daniel, R.M., Danson, M.J. & Eisenthal, R. (2007) The dependence of enzyme activity on temperature: determination and validation of parameters. Biochemical Journal, 402, 331-337". It should be borne in mind that the Equilibrium Model equation contains exponentials of exponentials – quite small deviations from ideal behaviour, or a failure to obtain true Vmax values, may lead to difficulty in obtaining reliable Equilibrium Model parameters.

year: 2010

title: Is physical education relevant? Interpersonal skills, values and hybridity

authors: Fitzpatrick, Katie

subjects: health education

abstract: Discussion surrounding the relevance of the document Health and Physical Education in the New Zealand Curriculum has focused on a range of areas. While some writers claim it has the potential to be emancipatory and the inclusion of interpersonal skills and values is important and meaningful, others have levelled criticisms that the document is trying to do too much and has a middle class agenda. This article reports part of the findings of a small study which explored how some Maori and Pasifika students viewed their experiences of physical education in one major urban New Zealand high school. The experiences of these students are related to Besley's notion of hybridity. Her argument suggests that young people actively negotiate and make critical decisions about what they think is relevant to them. The students believed physical education has provided them with opportunities to develop and practice care for others and to learn and apply interpersonal skills as well as to gain confidence and apply their skills in situations outside the school setting. The study argues the need for curriculum to connect with the wider lives of students and any degree of connection can only occur if students are given a voice in the curriculum implementation process.

text: Is physical education relevant? Interpersonal skills, values and hybridity Discussion surrounding the relevance of the document Health and Physical Education in the New Zealand Curriculum has focused on a range of areas. While some writers claim it has the potential to be emancipatory and the inclusion of interpersonal skills and values is important and meaningful, others have levelled criticisms that the document is trying to do too much and has a middle class agenda. This article reports part of the findings of a small study which explored how some Maori and Pasifika students viewed their experiences of physical education in one major urban New Zealand high school. The experiences of these students are related to Besley's notion of hybridity. Her argument suggests that young people actively negotiate and make critical decisions about what they think is relevant to them. The students believed physical education has provided them with opportunities to develop and practice care for others and to learn and apply interpersonal skills as well as to gain confidence and apply their skills in situations outside the school setting. The study argues the need for curriculum to connect with the wider lives of students and any degree of connection can only occur if students are given a voice in the curriculum implementation process.

year: 2005