Mastery mathematics: changing teacher beliefs around in-class grouping and mindset

Internationally, reform efforts in teaching of mathematics have found it difficult to change practice. This study used classroom video stimulated recall interviews with Primary teachers in England to investigate their beliefs during implementation of a textbook-based South Asian mastery approach to teaching mathematics. The self-reported beliefs of the teachers showed their support for change in practice, from in-class grouping by prior attainment to whole class teaching with everyone exploring the same problem, and suggested conceptions of malleable intelligence in the specific domain of school maths

Finite Size Effects in Quark-Gluon Plasma Formation

Using lattice simulations of quenched QCD we estimate the finite size effects present when a gluon plasma equilibrates in a slab geometry, i.e., finite width but large transverse dimensions. Significant differences are observed in the free energy density for the slab when compared with bulk behavior. A small shift in the critical temperature is also seen. The free energy required to liberate heavy quarks relative to bulk is measured using Polyakov loops; the additional free energy required is on the order of $30-40 MeV$ at $2-3 T_c$.Comment: LATTICE98(hightemp), talk at Lattice 98, 3 pages, 3 encapsulated postscript figures, uses espcrc2.st

Enhancing Environmental data Resources in Cohort Studies: ALSPAC exemplar (ERICA)

Introduction Novel data platforms are needed to expedite the linkage of geospatial and natural environment data with longitudinal population study(ies) (LPS) data. However, the intrinsic relationship between geospatial data and participant identities raises confidentiality concerns amongst participants which need to be accommodated within platform designs to ensure acceptable data use. Objectives and Approach We aimed to establish generalisable mechanisms for linking spatial records into a cohort study LPS databank. Using ‘Data Safe Haven’ (Burton et al. 2015) approaches we developed a pipeline of technical processes (e.g. geocoding participants’ residential and school address records, developing an ‘engine’ for linking exposure data to LPS data), which we tested for participant acceptability (through a focus group testing acceptable use of personal identifiers in this context) and tuned to meet regulatory requirements (e.g. privacy impact assessments, information security accreditation). We demonstrated our approach through an exemplar investigation assessing in utero NO2 exposure with later childhood respiratory outcomes. Results Participants’ expressed clear expectations that the research use of location data should be restricted to trusted study staff (as distinct from the wider research community), although this expectation is context specific and does not represent a carte blanche for using granular information (e.g. GPS tracing data). This necessitated a ‘split stage’ protocol, where personal identifiers are handled separately from data/analysis. Daily NO2 exposure was modeled using road, other local and regional records; with validation exposure data collected from city-based sensors. Participants’ location information was geocoded and linked to NO2 using the ALGAE (ALorithms for Generating address histories and Exposures) privacy-preserving geocoding engine. We will summarise participant views, our exemplar findings, and describe the linkage engine we have developed and its availability via an open-source repository. Conclusion/Implications Participants’ expect that studies control for confidentiality risks introduced by research using spatial identifiers. It is not realistic to expect that all LPS have the capacity to undertake specialist spatial linkages. Our generalisable approaches and open-source software could provide the basis for geospatial and natural environment epidemiology platforms in LPS

Young people's views about the purpose and composition of research ethics committees:findings from the PEARL qualitative study

BACKGROUND: Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) is a birth cohort study within which the Project to Enhance ALSPAC through Record Linkage (PEARL) was established to enrich the ALSPAC resource through linkage between ALSPAC participants and routine sources of health and social data. PEARL incorporated qualitative research to seek the views of young people about data linkage, including their opinions about appropriate safeguards and research governance. In this paper we focus on views expressed about the purpose and composition of research ethics committees. METHODS: Digitally recorded interviews were conducted with 48 participants aged 17–19 years. Participants were asked about whether medical research should be monitored and controlled, their knowledge of research ethics committees, who should sit on these committees and what their role should be. Interview recordings were fully transcribed and anonymised. Thematic analysis was undertaken, assisted by the Framework approach to data management. RESULTS: The majority of interviewees had little or no specific knowledge of ethics committees. Once given basic information about research ethics committees, only three respondents suggested there was no need for such bodies to scrutinise research. The key tasks of ethics committees were identified as monitoring the research process and protecting research participants. The difficulty of balancing the potential to inhibit research against the need to protect research participants was acknowledged. The importance of relevant research and professional expertise was identified but it was also considered important to represent wider public opinion, and to counter the bias potentially associated with self-selection possibly through a selection process similar to ‘jury duty’. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for more education and public awareness about the role and composition of research ethics committees. Despite an initial lack of knowledge, interviewees were able to contribute their ideas and balance the rights of individuals with the wider benefits from research. The suggestion that public opinion should be represented through random selection similar to jury duty may be worth pursuing in the light of the need to ensure diversity of opinion and establish trust amongst the general public about the use of ‘big data’ for the wider public good

Using Linkage to Electronic Primary Care Records to Evaluate Recruitment and Nonresponse Bias in The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children

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Assessment of contact involvements and scrums in international rugby union match-play using video analysis and microsensor technology methods

This study sought to assess the validity of contact involvement (CI) detection using microsensor technology (MST, Catapult Vector) within the context of a Tier One national rugby union (RU) squad, consisting of 44 players. Sensitivity of MST units to detect CI and scrums was assessed in eight test matches, by comparison with match data obtained by video analysis. This paper is the first to assess the sensitivity of MST to the full range of skilled CI which occur in RU, including evaluating “non-performance” collisions, such as incidental collisions or foul play. Sensitivity to tackles made (52.9–84.9%) and ruck hits (53.3–87.2%) was lower than previous research, although ball carries (71.9–93.5%) showed broadly similar sensitivity to established results. The sensitivity of the MST to detect scrums was substantially lower than previous findings, with large positional variation evident (51.4–91.5%). Further refinement of MST software should be considered in order to facilitate valid monitoring of RU performance and injury risk. An additional finding was that video analysis generally demonstrated satisfactory intrarater reliability. This result supports the use of video analysis as a reliable method of assessing RU performance, including CI

Application of the Rasch measurement framework to mammography positioning data

This work was supported by the School of Medicine Research Investment Fund at the University of St Andrews, and by charitable donations from Mrs Fiona Edwards (no grant numbers).The purpose of this article is to provide raw data and measure-validation data pertaining to a co-submission to published in European Journal of Radiology and entitled: Development and validation of a novel measure of adverse patient positioning in mammography. This Data in Brief article serves not only to provide greater detail than its companion article but also as an educational worked example of the Rasch measurement framework. Rasch measurement is a form of modern psychometric technique and our articles provide the first known example of its use in the evaluation of clinical radiological image quality. The data consist of observations of mammographic images, selected relevant patient and examination data, and validation indices produced by subjecting the primary data to Rasch analysis. An expert observer generated the primary data by reviewing mammographic images to judge the presence or absence of a set of features developed through theory and consultation with other experts. The validation data were generated through Rasch analysis, performed using Winsteps® software, which mathematically models the probability of having a correct response (or a present feature in this dataset) to an item in a given measurement instrument (e.g. questionnaire), as a function of the participant's ability/position on the underlying construct under study. The data can be reused by anyone wishing to learn and practice psychometric validation techniques. They can also form a basis for researchers wishing to build on our preliminary measure for the assessment of mammographic clinical image quality.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe