title: The role of social signals in segmenting observed actions in eighteen-month-old children.

authors: Kliesch, Christian

subjects: Action Imitation

abstract: Learning about actions requires children to identify the boundaries of an action and its units. Whereas some action units are easily identified, parents can support children's action learning by adjusting the presentation and using social signals. However, currently little is understood regarding how children use these signals to learn actions. 
In the current study we investigate the possibility that communicative signals are a particularly suitable cue for segmenting events. We investigated this hypothesis by presenting 18-month-old children (N = 60) with short action sequences consisting of toy animals either hopping or sliding across a board into a house, but interrupting this two-step sequence either (a) using an ostensive signal as a segmentation cue, (b) using a non-ostensive segmentation cue, and (c) without additional segmentation information between the actions. 
Marking the boundary using communicative signals increased children's imitation of the less salient sliding action. Imitation of the hopping action remained unaffected. Crucially, marking the boundary of both actions using a non-communicative control condition did not increase imitation of either action. Communicative signals might be particularly suitable in segmenting non-salient actions that would otherwise be perceived as part of another action or as non-intentional. These results provide evidence of the importance of ostensive signals at event boundaries in scaffolding children's learning.

text: The role of social signals in segmenting observed actions in eighteen-month-old children. Learning about actions requires children to identify the boundaries of an action and its units. Whereas some action units are easily identified, parents can support children's action learning by adjusting the presentation and using social signals. However, currently little is understood regarding how children use these signals to learn actions. 
In the current study we investigate the possibility that communicative signals are a particularly suitable cue for segmenting events. We investigated this hypothesis by presenting 18-month-old children (N = 60) with short action sequences consisting of toy animals either hopping or sliding across a board into a house, but interrupting this two-step sequence either (a) using an ostensive signal as a segmentation cue, (b) using a non-ostensive segmentation cue, and (c) without additional segmentation information between the actions. 
Marking the boundary using communicative signals increased children's imitation of the less salient sliding action. Imitation of the hopping action remained unaffected. Crucially, marking the boundary of both actions using a non-communicative control condition did not increase imitation of either action. Communicative signals might be particularly suitable in segmenting non-salient actions that would otherwise be perceived as part of another action or as non-intentional. These results provide evidence of the importance of ostensive signals at event boundaries in scaffolding children's learning.

year: 2021

title: The reliability and validity of the Sexual Violence Risk-20 (SVR-20): An International Review

authors: Rettenberger, Martin

subjects: risk assessment

abstract: This article reports on the current state of research about the most commonly used Structured Professional Judgement (SPJ) guidelines for sexual offender risk assessment, the Sexual Violence Risk-20 (SVR-20). After describing the general characteristics as well as frequently discussed strengths and weaknesses of this risk assessment approach, we give an international overview of the empirical results of the reliability and validity of the SVR-20. We conclude by describing briefly a convergent strategy for sexual offender risk assessment incorporating the SVR-20 and offer some future directions for international research on the SPJ approach.

text: The reliability and validity of the Sexual Violence Risk-20 (SVR-20): An International Review This article reports on the current state of research about the most commonly used Structured Professional Judgement (SPJ) guidelines for sexual offender risk assessment, the Sexual Violence Risk-20 (SVR-20). After describing the general characteristics as well as frequently discussed strengths and weaknesses of this risk assessment approach, we give an international overview of the empirical results of the reliability and validity of the SVR-20. We conclude by describing briefly a convergent strategy for sexual offender risk assessment incorporating the SVR-20 and offer some future directions for international research on the SPJ approach.

year: 2009

title: Planning and governance under the LGA: Lessons from the RMA experience.

authors: Borrie, Nancy

subjects: New Zealand

abstract: The purpose of this report is to identify ways in which experiences gained from the
RMA as a devolved and co-operative planning mandate can enable local and central
government and other stakeholders to more effectively implement the LGA. The
report is based on findings from the FRST-funded research programme on Planning
under Co-operative Mandates (PUCM). We argue in this report that the experiences gained from the RMA can inform
effective implementation of the LGA in three important respects: Preparation and implementation of LTCCPs; The community consultation process for formulating community outcomes;
and Māori participation in planning and governance.

text: Planning and governance under the LGA: Lessons from the RMA experience. The purpose of this report is to identify ways in which experiences gained from the
RMA as a devolved and co-operative planning mandate can enable local and central
government and other stakeholders to more effectively implement the LGA. The
report is based on findings from the FRST-funded research programme on Planning
under Co-operative Mandates (PUCM). We argue in this report that the experiences gained from the RMA can inform
effective implementation of the LGA in three important respects: Preparation and implementation of LTCCPs; The community consultation process for formulating community outcomes;
and Māori participation in planning and governance.

year: 2004-06-01