54 research outputs found

    Rasch Analysis of Inattentive, Hyperactive and Impulsive Behaviour in Young Children and the Link with Academic Achievement

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    Individuals traditionally have been diagnosed as having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) by using a combination of rating scales of criteria that describe symptoms of the disorder and case histories. Cut-off points are suggested in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (American Psychiatric Association, 1994) for the number of criteria above which individuals are considered to have the disorder. An alternative approach would be to use Rasch scaling to determine the relative frequency of each behavioral symptom. The cut-off points used at the present time imply that the more symptoms an individual shows, the greater will be their impairment. The possibility that some of the criteria might be more indicative of the severity of impairment than other items and more predictive than others of learning difficulties of young children was explored in this study. Data came from schools that were part of a study of performance indicators in elementary schools in England. Participants were 1,821 children from 70 schools. Principal components analysis was used to explore in detail the separate dimensions of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The less frequently met items of the behavior rating scale did not appear to indicate a more severe level of impairment in terms of academic achievement. The total number of criteria met appeared to be more important than their frequency, and items related to inattention were more strongly related to achievement than criteria relating to hyperactivity/impulsivity. The highest correlation between behavior and achievement was found when a combination of a few behavior items were used. These items were within the attention subscale, but did not form a specific factor in the analysis. An appendix contains the Behavior Rating Scale used. (Contains 2 tables, 10 figures, and 19 references.) (Author/SLD

    An Investigation into the Impact of Mission Statements on School Development Planning.

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    This thesis uses quantitative as well as qualitative methods to examine the impact of school philosophical statements on school development planning. Three case study schools from an Asian city were selected. A questionnaire and face to face interviews were used as data gathering tools. The data from the questionnaires informed the questions created for the interviews and the outcomes of these two data sources were analysed qualitatively. As a result of the findings from qualitative analysis a further quantitative analysis was made of the questionnaire data. A total of 188 responses to questionnaires were examined and 22 interviews took place. The main aim of this research is to empirically examine the assumptions that underpin the Council of International Schools and New England Association of Schools and College’s accreditation standards for school philosophical statements and development planning. At the heart of these assumptions is the belief that school development planning is most effective when it is closely linked to a clearly written, collaboratively created set of philosophical statements which articulate the school’s values and beliefs. To date this assumption has not been substantiated by research. A secondary aim is to examine the systems and structures in schools that assist in linking the school’s philosophy to its planning processes. The data resulted in a set of interesting findings. Firstly, insights were gained into techniques used to reaffirm and embed school philosophy into the school’s culture. Secondly, the data suggested that the assumptions made by the accrediting agencies hold true under certain circumstances but that a school’s underlying ideology may be more powerful in driving institutional planning. As a result of the findings, suggestions to further develop accreditation standards are made and ideas for further research are proposed

    Current directions in videoconferencing tele-mental health research

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    The provision of mental health services via videoconferencing tele-mental health has become an increasingly routine component of mental health service delivery throughout the world. Emphasizing the research literature since 2003, we examine (a) the extent to which the field of tele-mental health has advanced the research agenda previously suggested and (b) implications for tele-mental healthcare delivery for special clinical populations. Previous findings have demonstrated that tele-mental health services are satisfactory to patients, improve outcomes, and are probably cost effective. In the very small number of randomized controlled studies that have been conducted to date, tele-mental health has demonstrated equivalent efficacy compared to face-to-face care in a variety of clinical settings and with specific patient populations. However, methodologically flawed or limited research studies are the norm, and thus the research agenda for tele-mental health has not been fully maximized. Implications for future research and practice are discussed

    Historical Analysis of Bibliometric Trends in the Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics With a Particular Focus on Sex

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    Background: Orthopaedics is the clinical discipline with the lowest percentage of female residents and faculty. Pediatric orthopaedics has a higher percentage of women than other orthopaedic subspecialties. It was the purpose of this study to examine bibliometric trends in the Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics (JPO) with a specific focus on sex. Methods: A bibliometeric analysis for the years 2015, 2005, 1995, 1985, 1981 was performed. The names of first and corresponding authors; corresponding author position; country of origin; number of institutions, countries, authors, printed pages, and references was tabulated. Author sex was identified for the first and corresponding authors using the “Baby Name Guesser” (www.gpeters.com/names/baby-names.php). A P<0.05 was considered significant. Results: There were 746 publications; 68.7% were from North America. The average number of authors, corresponding author position, collaborating institutions, countries, and number of references increased, whereas the number of printed pages decreased. Asia had the greatest number of authors (4.4), with Australia/New Zealand the fewest (3.4). Sex was determined for 98.3% of the first authors and 98.5% of the corresponding authors. There was a significant increase in the number of female first authors over time (5.9% to 25.6%, P<10−6), especially in Europe and North America. There were significant increase in the number of female corresponding authors over time (5.8% to 17.6%, P=0.000009). There was a significant trend to have a greater percentage of both female first and corresponding authors over time (P=0.0005) with a reverse trend for both male first and corresponding authors (P<10−6). Conclusions: In this study, we noted that the number of female first and corresponding authors in Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics has been steadily increasing. This should result in more female pediatric orthopaedic surgeons in academic faculty positions

    Archaeological reconstruction illustrations: an analysis of the history, development, motivations and current practice of reconstructionil lustration, with recommendations for its future development.

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    Initially, this study examines how archaeological reconstruction drawing evolved into its present form. Its development within the wider context of social and art history is traced from the 15th to the 201h century, with particular attention to its various applications, and the motivations for its production. The result is a clearer understanding and definition of the present role and purposes of this branch of illustration. Secondly,the study examines how these purposes are achieved in contemporary reconstruction artwork. By using an experiment in reconstruction, each component of the process is examined in turn: the design brief,illustrator, illustration and audience. The illustrations produced by the experiment are ranked according to performance, using the aims of the reconstruction as criteria. Aspects are identified which appear to contribute to good performance,using the information obtained about the illustrations and illustrators. Finally, the results are reviewed as a whole to identify present and possible future trends that may be worth exploring, and to inform a set of proposed guidelines for the commissioning and production of archaeological reconstructions. At present, archaeological reconstruction artwork has received very little academic attention, and there appears to be no formal identification of its aims, agenda or working practice. This study provides the groundwork for rectifying this situation, and supplies new information in several dffferent areas

    Architecture in tension: an examination of the position of the architect in the private and public sectors, focusing on the training and careers of Sir Basil Spence (1907-1976) and Sir Donald Gibson (1908-1991)

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    In the early 1900s tensions began to appear within the architectural profession, as private practitioners struggled to deal with the implications of professional colleagues moving into public sector employment. Sir Basil Spence and Sir Donald Gibson began their architectural training in the mid-1920s and, as tensions between the sectors intensified, Spence entered private practice and Gibson chose to enter the public sector. Each became an exemplar of his chosen sector of the profession and yet both have, until recently, escaped critical attention. The tensions between the public and private sectors of the profession have been acknowledged within the historiography, but not received detailed analysis. This thesis advances the current historiography by presenting an examination of the division between the sectors, focusing on the relationship between the RIBA and the public sector union AASTA and assessing the influence of AASTA on Gibson's Coventry City Architect's Department. Through an examination of archival material, contemporary published material, and buildings, this thesis builds on the work of the Sir Basil Spence Archive Project, adding detailed accounts of his early life, architectural training, and RIBA presidency, presenting new information and correcting certain aspects of the accepted historiography. It likewise presents new information on Gibson's early life and training and his central role in achieving improved status and representation for the public sector. An analysis of selected projects provides a comparative study of their contrasting approaches to architecture: the technically informed, collaborative team-work of Gibson and the individual artistry of Spence. Both men played pivotal roles in reforming the RIBA and in changing public and professional perceptions of the architect, nevertheless, the long lineage and complex nature of tensions within the profession meant that the public/private division was never be bridged and issues of status and representation remained essentially immutable

    Delft Delta Design: The Houston Galveston Bay Region, Texas, USA

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    In 2008, Hurricane Ike devastated Bolivar Peninsula, narrowly missing the more heavily industrialized and populated areas in the region. In the aftermath of the hurricane, the Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters (SSPEED) Center at Rice University in Houston, and Texas A&M University in Galveston (TAMUG) led initiatives to propose and design flood mitigation strategies. In collaboration with TAMUG and the SSPEED Center, students and researchers at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands have been investigating regional strategies for flood risk reduction. In this publication they and their Texas counterparts reflect on the research, design, and insight that has sprouted from this collective endeavor.Delft University of Technolog
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