Sample representation in a psychological treatment study after single event paediatric trauma

Children and their families who attended an emergency department following a single traumatic incident and who agreed to participate in a psychological treatment study (N = 211) were compared with nonparticipants (N = 2333) on several measures of trauma and injury severity: duration of admission and heart rate in the emergency department, emergency transport and admission to hospital, injury severity score, and triage code. Within the nonparticipant population, those who requested further information about the study (N = 573) were exposed to more severe trauma or injury than other nonparticipants (N = 1760). In addition, participants were exposed to more severe trauma or injury than either group of nonparticipants. These observations indicate that those exposed to more severe trauma or injury do not avoid participation in psychological treatment studies. Findings can therefore be generalized to those with more severe exposure, but not to the population as a whole

Teaching and learning trigonometry with technology

Modern school classrooms have access to a range of potential technologies, ranging from calculators to computers to the Internet. This paper explores some of the potential for such technologies to affect the curriculum and teaching of trigonometry in the secondary school. We identify some of the ways in which the teaching of trigonometry might be supported by the availability of various forms of technology. We consider circular measures, graphs of functions, trigonometric identities, equations and statistical modeling and focus on activities that are not possible without the use of technology. Modern technology provides an excellent means of exploring many of the concepts associated with trigonometry, both trigonometric and circular functions. Many of these opportunities for learning were not available before technology development and access within schools we enjoy today. This paper suggests some of the avenues for exploration

Symbolic manipulation on a TI-92: New threat or hidden treasures?

The availability of hand held devices that can undertake symbolic manipulation is a recent phenomenon, potentially of great significance for both the algebra and calculus curriculum in the secondary and lower undergraduate years. The significance to date of symbolic manipulation for mathematics is described, and parallels drawn with the significance of arithmetic skills for the primary school. It is suggested that, while symbolic manipulation is central to mathematics, many students develop only a restricted competence with the associated mathematical ideas. The Texas Instruments TI-92 is used to suggest some potential beneficial uses of technology that involves symbolic manipulation

Graphics calculator use in examinations: accident or design?

As graphics calculators become more available, interest will focus on how to incorporate them appropriately into curriculum structures, and particularly into examinations. We describe and exemplify a typology of use of graphics calculators in mathematics examinations, from the perspective of people designing examinations, together with some principles for the awarding of partial credit to student responses. This typology can be used to help design examinations in which students are permitted to use graphics calculators as well as to interrogate existing examination practice

Diverse Aging and Health Inequality by Race and Ethnicity

Although gerontologists have long embraced the concept of heterogeneity in theories and models of aging, recent research reveals the importance of racial and ethnic diversity on life course processes leading to health inequality. This article examines research on health inequality by race and ethnicity and identifies theoretical and methodological innovations that are transforming the study of health disparities. Drawing from cumulative inequality theory, we propose greater use of life course analysis, more attention to variability within racial and ethnic groups, and better integration of environmental context into the study of accumulation processes leading to health disparities

Research on ion beam diagnostics Final report

Research on ion beam diagnostic