Peer Interaction, Cognition And Argumentative Writing (Key Stage 2 Children)

Argumentative writing, which has become a National Curriculum requirement, is recognised to be a cognitively taxing undertaking at Key Stage 2 This dissertation describes an experiment using a multiple research approach to investigate 10-year-olds in peer groups of three, interacting in preparation for a written argument. This situation was hypothesised to foster logical reasoning which could affect writing quality. The study contrasts the peer support strategy with the pervasive teacher direct instruction of composition writing, It also investigates the effects of each of the two conditions on the written task. Both experimentals and controls, each 33 in number, were selected to be quasi-equal in written, verbal and general abilities. Direct observations and talk transcripts show that the experimental participants used sustained deductive utterances and modelled the written argumentative structure verbally during their interactions. The teacher-led strategy, however, was constraining and hindered extended speech and logical reasoning. The peer learning and assistance process is explained in terms of both Vygotskian and Piagetian social constructivist perspectives. The subsequent written scripts were close-read, compared and evaluated both qualitatively and quantitatively in terms of (a) stating and instantiating viewpoints, (b) sequencing and coherence and (c) processing content material. The reasoning at micro-level within the clauses was quantified. Findings indicate that the experimentals significantly excelled the controls’ performance in both adjustment to argument form and the internal reasoning. It suggested that implementing the strategy at Key Stage 2 can be facilitating, particularly in large sized classes

A cell is a cell is a cell:lay medical understanding and its role in online health tutoring

Es wurden Erklärverhalten und Einschätzung von Laienwissen durch Experten für die medizinische Emailberatung untersucht. Hierbei wurden die Tutoringforschung sowie psycholinguistische Ansätze berücksichtigt. Eingangs wurde das Wissen einer Laienstichprobe (Studie I, n = 100) per Fragebogen untersucht. Auf dieser Grundlage wurde Versuchsmaterial entwickelt, mit dessen Hilfe der Einfluss falscher Annahmen in Laienemails auf die Wissenseinschätzung durch medizinische Experten (Studie II, n = 72) sowie auf deren Antwortverhalten (Studie III, n = 83) experimentell untersucht werden konnte. Die Ergebnisse legen eine spezifische Verarbeitung der fehlerhaften Annahmen nahe; die Antworten zeigen eine Beschränkung der Anpassung auf eine lokale, eher indirekte Art der Fehlerkorrektur. Abschließend wird der Frage nachgegangen (Studie IV, n = 70), inwiefern linguistische Höflichkeit eine Erklärung für das Antwortverhalten der Experten darstellen kann, hierfür finden sich experimentelle Hinweise

Shadow of the Leviathan: the Role of Dominance in the Evolution of Costly Punishment

Costly ‘altruistic’ punishment, where an individual intervenes to punish someone for behaving unfairly towards another or for violating a social norm, seems to be vital for large-scale cooperation. However, due to the costs involved, the evolution of this behaviour has remained a puzzle. The thesis initially describes why punishment is costly and explains why current theories do not sufficiently explain its evolution in the context of these costs. The thesis then offers a solution to this puzzle in the form of a dominance-based theory of the evolution of punishment. The theoretical underpinnings of this theory are discussed in reference to the previous literature, specifically how a dominant position provides sufficient heterogeneity in the cost and benefits of punishment to allow the behaviour to evolve at the individual-level of selection. Across 10 studies, the thesis empirically investigates the role dominance is theorised to play in costly punishment behaviour. First, the judgements observers make about punishers are investigated. It is demonstrated that punishers are perceived as dominant but, unlike individuals who engage in other aggressive behaviours, punishers are also well liked. While successful punishers are judged to be of the highest rank in a social group, the wider social judgements of punishers are dependent on the attempt at punishment only; successful and unsuccessful punishers are seen as equally dominant and well liked, suggesting that the willingness to attempt punishment can honestly signal both dominance and ones pro-sociality. However, additional studies show that observers a) perceive subordinate punishers will face a great deal of retaliation, b) show surprise when subordinates attempt to punish, and c) expect that dominants will punish and be successful, whereas subordinates are expected to never punish. Thus, while there are reputational benefits from punishment, only dominant individuals can actually access them. Second, the effect of a dominant position on punishment behaviour is investigated. Two studies sought to simulate the greater access to resources that dominants enjoy, and demonstrate that individuals who receive more resources from group-level cooperation will punish free-riding more frequently and more severely than those who receive less resources. Moreover, individuals who are in a stable dominant position, i.e. who can continually benefit to a greater degree than others from group cooperation, punish even more frequently and severely than when individuals receive additional resources alone. The results show that individuals only punish when it is cheap for them to do so and when investment in the public good (by punishing) can produce higher future returns for them. A dominant position provides the opportunity for both of these. Further studies demonstrate that individuals at the centre of a social network, an example of a ‘real life’ informal dominant position, are more sensitive to unfairness when making punishment decisions compared to those at the periphery of a group. However, when punishment decisions are public, and there are no economic incentives to punish, individuals behave in a similar manner regardless of social position. Taken together, the results of the empirical studies support the proposed dominance-theory of costly punishment. The theoretical implications of the dominance-theory of punishment are discussed in reference to both the proximate occurrence of punishment and its evolutionary origins in dominance and dominant behaviours. The practical implications of this theory will also be discussed, specifically in regard to when and why individuals will act in defence of the public good. While further investigation is necessary, a dominance-theory of punishment explains both results of this thesis and the findings of the wider literature, and as such provides a coherent and compelling explanation for the evolution of costly punishment and its associated emotions

Guts and Brains: An Integrative Approach to the Hominin Record

The human brain and its one hundred billion neurons compose the most complex organ in the body and harness more than 20 per cent of all the energy we produce. Why do we have such large and energy-demanding brains, and how have we been able to afford such an expensive organ for thousands of years? Guts and Brains discusses the key variables at stake in such a question, including the relationship between brain size and diet, diet and social organization, and large brains and the human sexual division of labour. This interdisciplinary volume provides an entry for the reader into understanding the development of both early primates and our own specie

2011-2012 UNLV McNair Journal

Journal articles based on research conducted by undergraduate students in the McNair Scholars Program Table of Contents Biography of Dr. Ronald E. McNair Statements: Dr. Neal J. Smatresk, UNLV President Dr. Juanita P. Fain, Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. William W. Sullivan, Associate Vice President for Retention and Outreach Mr. Keith Rogers, Deputy Executive Director of the Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach McNair Scholars Institute Staf

Combining SOA and BPM Technologies for Cross-System Process Automation

This paper summarizes the results of an industry case study that introduced a cross-system business process automation solution based on a combination of SOA and BPM standard technologies (i.e., BPMN, BPEL, WSDL). Besides discussing major weaknesses of the existing, custom-built, solution and comparing them against experiences with the developed prototype, the paper presents a course of action for transforming the current solution into the proposed solution. This includes a general approach, consisting of four distinct steps, as well as specific action items that are to be performed for every step. The discussion also covers language and tool support and challenges arising from the transformation

Guts and brains : an integrative approach to the hominin record

The human brain and its one hundred billion neurons compose the most complex organ in the body and harness more than 20 per cent of all the energy we produce. Why do we have such large and energy-demanding brains, and how have we been able to afford such an expensive organ for thousands of years? Guts and Brains discusses the key variables at stake in such a question, including the relationship between brain size and diet, diet and social organization, and large brains and the human sexual division of labour. This interdisciplinary volume provides an entry for the reader into understanding the development of both early primates and our own species.Wetensch. publicati

Programs and Courses 2008-2010

This catalog is published for students and other persons who want to know more about the University of Northern Iowa. Its purpose is to communicate as objectively and completely as possible what the university is and what it does. The catalog is presented in sections to give a general view of the university as well as the detailed information required for informed decision making.https://scholarworks.uni.edu/uni_catalogs/1007/thumbnail.jp

Products and Services

Today’s global economy offers more opportunities, but is also more complex and competitive than ever before. This fact leads to a wide range of research activity in different fields of interest, especially in the so-called high-tech sectors. This book is a result of widespread research and development activity from many researchers worldwide, covering the aspects of development activities in general, as well as various aspects of the practical application of knowledge