Showing the dynamics of student thinking as measured by the FMCE

Using data from over 14,000 student responses we create item response curves, fitted to the polytomous item response theory model for nominal responses, to evaluate the relative correctness of various incorrect responses to questions on the Force and Motion Conceptual Evaluation (FMCE). Based on this ranking of incorrect responses, we examine individual students\u27 pairs of responses to FMCE questions, using transition matrices and consistency plots, to show how student ideas develop over the span of an introductory mechanics course. Using data from two different schools (N ~= 200 each), we explore how these representations can show student learning even when individuals do not choose the correct answer. Comparing response pairs provides a rich picture of student learning that is unavailable in many traditional analyses

The Association Between Parent Engagement and Child Outcomes in Social Skills Training Programs: Discovering the Secret Agent Society in Partnership

Previous research in clinical, community, and school settings has demonstrated positive outcomes for the Secret Agent Society (SAS) social skills training program. This is designed to help children on the autism spectrum become more aware of emotions in themselves and others and to ‘problem-solve’ complex social scenarios. Parents play a key role in the implementation of the SAS program, attending information and support sessions with other parents and providing supervision, rewards, and feedback as their children complete weekly ‘home mission’ assignments. Drawing on data from a school-based evaluation of the SAS program, this study examined whether parents’ engagement with these elements of the intervention was linked to the quality of their children’s participation and performance. Sixty-eight 8-14 year olds (mean age 10.7) with a diagnosis of autism participated in the program. The findings indicated that ratings of parental engagement were positively correlated with children’s competence in completing home missions and with the quality of their contribution during group teaching sessions. However, there was a less consistent relationship between parental engagement and measures of children’s social and emotional skill gains over the course of the program

The Grizzly, April 24, 2003

Queen Noor to Address Ursinus Graduates • Car-Sharing with Zipcar: the Newest Way to Travel • New Orientation Assistants Chosen • Opinions: Human Life Impossible?; Is Campus Parking Really a Big Deal?; Room Lottery and Selection: No Hard Feelings • Behind the Scenes of Psycho Beach Party • Greek Week • Women\u27s Lacrosse Starting to Heat Up • UC Softball Drops Two to Haverfordhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1536/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, February 13, 2003

Iraqi Speaker Describes his Country as a Prison of Suffering • Ursinus Student Heroes 30 Years Ago • To Fight or not to Fight: You May not Have the Option • Opinions: Skiing Fun Close to Home; Lonely this Valentine\u27s Day? • Female Pride, Guerrilla Warfare • First of Pew Fellows Speaks • Francis Moore Lappe to Visit Ursinus on February 19th • Ursinus Swimmers Look Towards Champions Meet • Men\u27s Basketball Dominate Centennial Conference • Track Handling Business Indoors • Women\u27s Basketball Can\u27t Find the Right Touchhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1529/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, May 1, 2003

Political Theorist Discusses Democracy and Terrorism • Ursinus Students Celebrate Spring with a Fling • Opinions: More Responses to Berliner\u27s Article; Greek Week a Blast! • New in Berman • Annual Student Exhibition 2003 Award Recipients • UC Women\u27s LAX Fall to Washington, Invest in Bulletproof Jackets • Dr. D Says Farewell with a Fantastic Finish • Men\u27s Tennis Looks to Rebound Next Season • UC Baseball Wins Eight Straight • Men\u27s Lax Records Two Wins • Women\u27s Golf Hurt by Weather, Injuries • Final Exam Schedulehttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1537/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, March 6, 2003

Preparing for the Future Today: Job and Internship Fair 2003 • The Art of Kissing • Trading the Beach for Hard Work • Celebrating Women\u27s History Month with Ursinus Legends • Showcasing Women\u27s Pride in Berman • Bloody Poetry Director Speaks Out • Women\u27s History Month Events • Centennial Conference Champions! • UC Swimmers Make a Splash • Ykoruk Named Women\u27s Head Soccer Coachhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1531/thumbnail.jp

Psychopathology in Young People With Intellectual Disability

Context Comorbid severe mental health problems complicating intellectual disability are a common and costly public health problem. Although these problems are known to begin in early childhood, little is known of how they evolve over time or whether they continue into adulthood. Objective To study the course of psychopathology in a representative population of children and adolescents with intellectual disability. Design, Setting, and Participants The participants of the Australian Child to Adult Development Study, an epidemiological cohort of 578 children and adolescents recruited in 1991 from health, education, and family agencies that provided services to children with intellectual disability aged 5 to 19.5 years in 6 rural and urban census regions in Australia, were followed up for 14 years with 4 time waves of data collection. Data were obtained from 507 participants, with 84% of wave 1 (1991-1992) participants being followed up at wave 4 (2002-2003). Main Outcome Measures The Developmental Behaviour Checklist (DBC), a validated measure of psychopathology in young people with intellectual disability, completed by parents or other caregivers. Changes over time in the Total Behaviour Problem Score and 5 subscale scores of the DBC scores were modeled using growth curve analysis. Results High initial levels of behavioral and emotional disturbance decreased only slowly over time, remaining high into young adulthood, declining by 1.05 per year on the DBC Total Behaviour Problem Score. Overall severity of psychopathology was similar across mild to severe ranges of intellectual disability (with mean Total Behavior Problem Scores of approximately 44). Psychopathology decreased more in boys than girls over time (boys starting with scores 2.61 points higher at baseline and ending with scores 2.57 points lower at wave 4), and more so in participants with mild intellectual disability compared with those with severe or profound intellectual disability who diverged from having scores 0.53 points lower at study commencement increasing to a difference of 6.98 points below severely affected children by wave 4. This trend was observed in each of the subscales, except the social-relating disturbance subscale, which increased over time. Prevalence of participants meeting criteria for major psychopathology or definite psychiatric disorder decreased from 41% at wave 1 to 31% at wave 4. Few of the participants (10%) with psychopathology received mental health interventions during the study period. Conclusion These results provide evidence that the problem of psychopathology comorbid with intellectual disability is both substantial and persistent and suggest the need for effective mental health interventions

The Grizzly, February 6, 2003

Fallen Heroes: Space Shuttle Columbia Disaster • Best Buddies Goes Under da Sea • A New Semester Means New Members for Ursinus Greeks • The World Beyond Ursinus: Study Abroad Experience • Plans in Progress: Contemporary Design Class Visits NYC • The Hunt for J.D. Salinger: Ursinus\u27 Most Mysterious Alumnus • Spring Break from Winter Fashions • Beat of a Different Drummer • D.C. Demonstration: First Hand Account • Fallen Angels: East Asian Film Introduction • Pledging in the Past • Bridget Hussey Scores 1,000 • Strong Season for Men\u27s Basketball • Women\u27s Basketball Having Ups and Downs • Nolan Named Honorable Mentionhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1528/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, April 17, 2003

Silence Broken: Filmmaker Tells Story of Korean Comfort Women • Is Registration a Class Act or a Big Headache? • Ursinus Students Making a Mark • No Place Like Home • Opinion: If Environmentalists Succeed, They Will Make Human Life Impossible • Senior Class Gift Drive • Meeting Wynton • Airband Review • Easter History • Women\u27s LAX Can\u27t Stop the Rain • UC Softball Beats F&Mhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1535/thumbnail.jp