Achieving abstraction: Generating far analogies promotes relational reasoning in children.

Analogical reasoning is essential for transfer by supporting recognition of relational similarity. However, not all analogies are created equal. The source and target can be similar (near), or quite different (far). Previous research suggests that close comparisons facilitate children's relational abstraction. On the other hand, evidence from adults indicates that the process of solving far analogies may be a more effective scaffold for transfer of a relational strategy. We explore whether engaging with far analogies similarly induces such a strategy in preschoolers. Children were provided with the opportunity to solve either a near or far spatial analogy using a pair of puzzle boxes that varied in perceptual similarity (Experiment 1), or to participate in a control task (Experiment 2). All groups were then presented with an ambiguous spatial reasoning task featuring both object and relational matches. We were interested in the relationship between near and far conditions and two effects: (a) children's tendency to spontaneously draw an analogy when solving the initial puzzle, and (b) their tendency to privilege relational matches over object matches in a subsequent, ambiguous task. Although children were more likely to spontaneously draw an analogy in the near condition, those who attempted the far analogy were more likely to privilege a relational match on the subsequent task. We argue that the process of solving a far analogy-regardless of a learner's spontaneous success in identifying the relation-contextualizes an otherwise ambiguous learning problem, making it easier for children to access and apply relational hypotheses. (PsycINFO Database Recor

A National Portrait of Domestic Violence Courts

A growing number of criminal courts nationwide handle domestic violence cases on separate calendars, termed domestic violence courts. There are now 208 confirmed domestic violence courts across the U.S. (Center for Court Innovation 2009). More than 150 similar projects have been established internationally. Some domestic violence courts emerged in the context of the broader "problem-solving court" movement and share characteristics with other specialized courts, such as separate dockets and specially trained judges. However, the origins of domestic violence courts are also distinct, growing out of the increased attention afforded domestic violence matters by the justice system over the past 30 years. With funding from the National Institute of Justice, this study explores how criminal domestic violence courts have evolved, their rationale, and how their operations vary across the U.S. This study does not test whether domestic violence courts reduce recidivism, protect victims, or achieve other specific effects -- although we provide a thorough literature review on these points. Rather, our aim is to present a comprehensive national portrait of the field as it exists today, laying the groundwork for future information exchange and research

Effectiveness of Social Stories™ for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

This study evaluated the effectiveness of Social Stories™ for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), by beginning to address three serious methodological shortcomings in previous studies: (1) not using experimental research designs, (2) not isolating Social Stories™ as the sole independent variable, and (3) not following Gray\u27s guidelines for writing and presenting Social Stories™. This study also examined the minimum receptive language level required to benefit from Social Stories™. Fifteen boys with ASD, between the ages of 27 and 92 months, participated. Participants were divided into 4 groups based on their receptive language levels on the Mullen Scales of Early Learning. The mean receptive language levels for Groups 1 to 4 were 13.75,24.00, 31.50, and 45.25 months, respectively. A multiple baseline design was used for each group. Lead therapists were 13 mothers, 1 father, and 1 teacher. Data were analyzed using visual inspection. Three of the 4 participants in Group 4 demonstrated immediate, notable downward shifts in level in their respective, challenging target behaviours following intervention. By contrast, only 1 or 2 of the participants in Groups 1 to 3 demonstrated changes in their respective target behaviours following intervention. Thus, the changes in these groups could not be reliably attributed to the Social Stories™. The results provide support for the use of Social Stories™ to decrease challenging behaviours in most children with receptive language at or above the 37-month level, plus or minus a few months. The results also suggest that children\u27s receptive language is a reasonably good predictor of whether or not they will benefit from this intervention. Social validity of Social Stories™ was assessed using a modified version of the Treatment Evaluation Inventory Short Form. Most lead therapists considered Social Stories™ to be acceptable and effective, even for children who did not show behaviour change. Furthermore, child participants seemed to like this treatment. Recommendations are provided for parents, clinicians, and researchers

Comparison of fluid intake of self-feeding to assisted-case elderly nursing home residents

Includes bibliographical references

Predicting romantic relationship satisfaction using three self-disclosure variables.

Three self-disclosure variables have been associated with romantic relationship satisfaction: (1) personal self-disclosure, (2) partner self-disclosure, and (3) the difference between the two. This study re-examines the relation between each of these self-disclosure variables and males\u27 and females\u27 romantic relationship satisfaction. This study also provides answers to two novel questions: (1) which self-disclosure variable best predicts males\u27 romantic relationship satisfaction, and (2) which best predicts females\u27 romantic relationship satisfaction. Participants were 124 heterosexual couples who completed the following four measures: the Background Inventory, the Self-Disclosure Index, the Dyadic Satisfaction Subscale, and the Relationship Assessment Scale. Results indicated that only two of the three self-disclosure variables (viz., personal self-disclosure and partner self-disclosure) predicted romantic relationship satisfaction. Although these variables were found to be equally good predictors of females\u27 romantic relationship satisfaction, personal self-disclosure emerged as the best predictor of males\u27 romantic relationship satisfaction. Stepwise multiple regressions supported correlations revealing that, for females, the optimal prediction model involved the interaction between personal and partner self-disclosure, whereas for males, the optimal prediction model involved only personal self-disclosure. A possible reason for this sex difference is discussed.Dept. of Psychology. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis2004 .S33. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 43-01, page: 0325. Adviser: Ken Cramer. Thesis (M.A.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 2004

What Lies Ahead: An Exploration of Future Orientation, Self-Control, and Delinquency

Self-control has been consistently linked to antisocial behavior and though low self-control makes delinquency more likely, neither the findings nor the theory suggests that low self-control necessitates participation in such behavior. There remains a shortage of research on those situational factors or individual characteristics that might lessen the effects of low self-control on antisocial behavior. Future orientation is one such characteristic that can have implications for the control of behavior. The purpose of the current study was to explore the independent and interactive effects of future orientation and low self-control on delinquency using data from Wave 1 of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. A series of regressions showed that self-control and future orientation had independent effects on delinquent behavior. Further, future-oriented achievement expectations conditioned the effect of self-control on delinquency such that the effects of self-control were weakened with increases in future orientation. The findings suggest that prevention programs should place more emphasis on helping youth plan for the future. Further, research should more fully explore the other aspects of future orientation (e.g., specificity of planning and change/stability of aspirations), as they relate to self-control and delinquency