Promoting high school boys' reading engagement and motivation: The role of the school psychologist in real world research

It can be difficult for school psychologists to become involved in research within their day-to-day role. This article details real world research undertaken in a single high school to identify and address mechanisms which were contributing to boys' literacy underachievement. In an attempt to promote reading engagement and motivation amongst high school boys, an affective reading intervention was delivered to Year 8 pupils in a single sex comprehensive school. The lack of desired outcomes prompted a systemic enquiry into boys' views and perceptions of reading in this context. Reported here are findings from focus group interviews with staff and pupils which suggest that factors that facilitated or inhibited boys' reading were the result of complex interactions between socio-cultural influences, peer pressures, gender perceptions and literacy preferences. A motivational model is proposed as a useful framework for helping schools explore how school-based literacy practices might facilitate reading development. School Psychology International Copyright © 2009 SAGE Publications

Using concept mapping to understand motivational interviewing practice

Purpose Motivational interviewing (MI) has developed considerably since its inception, which may have led to diverse practice across contexts and differential understanding of core principles. Concept mapping is one potential method for offering insight into practitioner awareness, understanding and application of MI. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach In total, 29 professionals from a range of disciplines, including counselling, education and health, completed concept maps about MI, following brief training at the UK regional MI interest network. In total, 17 completed maps were submitted for analysis using quantitative and qualitative methods. Findings A total of 186 concepts and 175 propositional links were found within the 17 maps. The most commonly identified concepts were: change, empathy, collaboration, open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections, summaries (OARS), client centred and compassion. The concept maps also suggested differing levels of expertise across network members using concept mapping morphology classification. Research limitations/implications The sample was small scale and located in one region of the UK. Maps were submitted anonymously meaning that participant data could not be matched to the maps. Practical implications Concept mapping is a potentially useful method for auditing practice and developing skills in MI, as well as exploring participants’ understanding of related concepts and therapeutic mechanisms. Social implications MI has a strong evidence-based across a variety of disciplines and contexts. Refining practitioner skills in MI has implications for the integrity of delivery, and improved client outcomes in areas such as substance use, health promotion and educational disaffection. Originality/value This is the first study to investigate concept mapping as a means of understanding MI practice. It has potential implications for training, monitoring, supervision and development in MI practice

Charitable Giving for Overseas Development: UK trends over a quarter century

Charitable giving is an important source of funding for overseas development and emergency relief. Donations in the UK are about a quarter of the size of government development aid. There has been strong growth over time, reflecting the activities of development charities and the public response to humanitarian emergencies. The paper examines how this charitable giving has changed since 1978, using a newly constructed panel data set on donations to individual UK charities. When did the increase take place? Did the public respond to events such as Live Aid or has there been a steady upward trend? What has been the relationship with changes in household income? Which charities have grown fastest? Have new charities displaced old? How do changes in giving for overseas compare with changes in giving for other causes?charitable giving, overseas development

The pens of American historians during World War I :instruments of patriots or professionals?

Purpose: The intention of this thesis was to study the propagandist activities of American historians during World War I by examining (1) the sentiments among historians concerning their wartime activities; (2) the extent to which scientific methodology was abandoned; (3) the professional status of those historians engaged in propaganda: and (4) the repercussions the historians' activities had on their personal careers as well as upon the profession itself. Methods: The methodology employed included (1) the consultation of general works on propagandist activities in the United States during World War I; (2) the analysis of the historians' work in the Red, White, And Blue Series, the War Information Series, and in the field of public education; and (3) the evaluation of the historians' adherence to scientific research methodology. Findings: 1. there were three organized groups of historians during World War I -- the National Security League, the National Board for Historical Service, and the Committee on Public Information. Each of these associations disregarded scientific research methodology at times-- some more frequently than others. 2. The historians associated with the National Security League were alarmist in their attempt to arouse the attention of Americans for military preparations as early as 1914. For this reason the United States government viewed their activities with disdain. 3. The function of the National Board of Historical Service was to serve as the ' watch- dog'' for the maintenance of scientific research methodology. However, even this organization contributed to the distortion of history in the field of public education. 4. The Committee on Public Information historians considered the task of promoting patriotism and reassuring Americans of the honorable intentions of the United States participation in the way as their main priority, rather than abiding by scientific research methodology. Their adherence to this propagandist philosophy, however, was only temporary, and it dissolved with the end of the war. 5. The non-scientific research methodology of historians was not detrimental to their individual careers, with the exception of Samuel B. Harding. Other historians who engaged in the propagandist endeavors, such as Guy Ford, James Shotwell, Andrew McLaughlin, Wallace Notestein, Claude Van Tyne, and Carl Becker became prominent in their discipline. 6. The propagandist activities of historians’ were significantly detrimental to the profession. This was because many other disciplines were also engaged in propaganda work. Also, the revisionist historians' reprimand of their colleagues' activities restored the discipline's professionalism by re-emphasizing the importance of scientific research methodology. 7. Historians generally were not ashamed of their wartime activities nor were they boastful. Guy Ford, Claude Van Tyne, and Albert Hart on the contrary were very defensive about their war-oriented work

Using concept mapping to understand motivational interviewing practice

Motivational interviewing (MI) has developed considerably since its inception, which may have led to diverse practice across contexts and differential understanding of core principles. Concept mapping is one potential method for offering insight into practitioner awareness, understanding and application of MI. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach In total, 29 professionals from a range of disciplines, including counselling, education and health, completed concept maps about MI, following brief training at the UK regional MI interest network. In total, 17 completed maps were submitted for analysis using quantitative and qualitative methods. Findings A total of 186 concepts and 175 propositional links were found within the 17 maps. The most commonly identified concepts were: change, empathy, collaboration, open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections, summaries (OARS), client centred and compassion. The concept maps also suggested differing levels of expertise across network members using concept mapping morphology classification. Research limitations/implications The sample was small scale and located in one region of the UK. Maps were submitted anonymously meaning that participant data could not be matched to the maps. Practical implications Concept mapping is a potentially useful method for auditing practice and developing skills in MI, as well as exploring participants’ understanding of related concepts and therapeutic mechanisms. Social implications MI has a strong evidence-based across a variety of disciplines and contexts. Refining practitioner skills in MI has implications for the integrity of delivery, and improved client outcomes in areas such as substance use, health promotion and educational disaffection. Originality/value This is the first study to investigate concept mapping as a means of understanding MI practice. It has potential implications for training, monitoring, supervision and development in MI practice

W-DARE: a three-year program of participatory action research to improve the sexual and reproductive health of women with disabilities in the Philippines

BACKGROUND: In many contexts, women with disability have less access to sexual and reproductive health information, screening, prevention, and care services than women without disability. Women with disability are also known to be more likely to experience physical and sexual violence than women without disability. In the Philippines, health service providers often have little awareness of the sexual and reproductive experiences of women with disability and limited capacity to provide services in response to their needs. Very limited data are available to inform development of disability-inclusive sexual and reproductive health, and violence prevention and response, services in the country. This paper presents the protocol for W-DARE (Women with Disability taking Action on REproductive and sexual health), a three-year program of participatory action research that aims to improve the sexual and reproductive health of women with disability in the Philippines. DESIGN: W-DARE is a disability-inclusive program that will use mixed methods to 1) increase understanding of factors influencing the sexual and reproductive health of women with disability, and 2) develop, implement and evaluate local interventions to increase supply of and demand for services. W-DARE will generate data on the prevalence of disability in two districts; the wellbeing and community participation of people with and without disability, and identify barriers to community; and describe the sexual and reproductive health needs and experiences, and service-related experiences of women with disability. These data will inform the development and evaluation of interventions aiming to improve access to sexual and reproductive health services, and violence prevention and response services, for women with disability. Local women with disabilities, their representative organisations, and SRH service providers will be involved as members of the research team across all stages of the research. DISCUSSION: This three-year study will provide evidence about factors undermining the sexual and reproductive health of women with disability in a lower-middle income country, and provide new insights about what may be effective in increasing access to services in settings of limited resources. Findings will be relevant across Asia and the Pacific. Analysis of the program will also provide evidence about disability-inclusion in participatory action research approaches

Investigating children’s interactions around digital texts in classrooms : how are these framed and what counts?

This article argues that, in informing our understanding of the possibilities and challenges associated with new technologies in educational contexts, we need to explore what counts to children when using digital texts in classrooms, and what children think counts for their teachers. It suggests that such insights can be gained by investigating children's interactions around these texts and, drawing on Goffman's work, considering how these are framed. This is illustrated using examples from a study of classroom digital literacy events. The article suggests that it is important to consider how frames disrupt, intersect with and over-layer each other

Questioning the rise of gelatinous zooplankton in the World's oceans

During the past several decades, high numbers of gelatinous zooplankton species have been reported in many estuarine and coastal ecosystems. Coupled with media-driven public perception, a paradigm has evolved in which the global ocean ecosystems are thought to be heading toward being dominated by “nuisance” jellyfish. We question this current paradigm by presenting a broad overview of gelatinous zooplankton in a historicalcontext to develop the hypothesis that population changes reflect the human-mediated alteration of global ocean ecosystems. To this end, we synthesize information related to the evolutionary context of contemporary gelatinous zooplankton blooms, the human frame of reference forchanges in gelatinous zooplankton populations, and whether sufficient data are available to have established the paradigm. We conclude that the current paradigm in which it is believed that there has been a global increase in gelatinous zooplankton is unsubstantiated, and we develop a strategy for addressing the critical questions about long-term, human-related changes in the sea as they relate to gelatinous zooplankton blooms