Affiliative Subgroups in Preschool Classrooms: Integrating Constructs and Methods from Social Ethology and Sociometric Traditions

Recent studies of school-age children and adolescents have used social network analyses to characterize selection and socialization aspects of peer groups. Fewer network studies have been reported for preschool classrooms and many of those have focused on structural descriptions of peer networks, and/or, on selection processes rather than on social functions of subgroup membership. In this study we started by identifying and describing different types of affiliative subgroups (HMP- high mutual proximity, LMP- low mutual proximity, and ungrouped children) in a sample of 240 Portuguese preschool children using nearest neighbor observations. Next, we used additional behavioral observations and sociometric data to show that HMP and LMP subgroups are functionally distinct: HMP subgroups appear to reflect friendship relations, whereas LMP subgroups appear to reflect common social goals, but without strong, within-subgroup dyadic ties. Finally, we examined the longitudinal implications of subgroup membership and show that children classified as HMP in consecutive years had more reciprocated friendships than did children whose subgroup classification changed from LMP or ungrouped to HMP. These results extend previous findings reported for North American peer groups

Affiliative Subgroups in Preschool Classrooms: Integrating Constructs and Methods from Social Ethology and Sociometric Traditions

Recent studies of school-age children and adolescents have used social network analyses to characterize selection and socialization aspects of peer groups. Fewer network studies have been reported for preschool classrooms and many of those have focused on structural descriptions of peer networks, and/or, on selection processes rather than on social functions of subgroup membership. In this study we started by identifying and describing different types of affiliative subgroups (HMP- high mutual proximity, LMP- low mutual proximity, and ungrouped children) in a sample of 240 Portuguese preschool children using nearest neighbor observations. Next, we used additional behavioral observations and sociometric data to show that HMP and LMP subgroups are functionally distinct: HMP subgroups appear to reflect friendship relations, whereas LMP subgroups appear to reflect common social goals, but without strong, within-subgroup dyadic ties. Finally, we examined the longitudinal implications of subgroup membership and show that children classified as HMP in consecutive years had more reciprocated friendships than did children whose subgroup classification changed from LMP or ungrouped to HMP. These results extend previous findings reported for North American peer groups

Intra-Individual Variability For Basketball Free Throws

Several studies have attempted to identify differences between subjects in the performance of basketball free throws. All of these studies have been twodimensional analyses of free throw kinematics and have analyzed only interindividual variability. An analysis of the directional errors for 1042 free throws completed by NCAA Division I varsity basketball players has revealed that 32.8% of missed free throws were off-line to the left, and 19.5% were off to the right. This is indicative of movement outside the sagittal plane. To date, a three-dimensional analysis of free throw shooting has not been reported in the literature, however. Also, since performers do not execute athletic movements in an identical manner each time, intra-individual variability is a component of athletic performance that should be considered. The purpose of this study was to complete a three-dimensional kinematic analysis of the intraindividual variability in basketball free throws. The subjects were members of an NCAA Division I varsity basketball team who attempted a minimum of 30 free throws in games over the course of a season. Five players met this criterion. A total of 648 free throws (FT) were videotaped during games (317 FT) and regular team practices (331 FT) throughout the season. The result of each free throw was classified into one of nine categories--swish, short make, long make, left make, right make, short miss, long miss, left miss, or right miss. A representative sample of free throws was selected that approximated each player's overall performance both in accuracy and error tendency. The number of free throws varied from 10 to 14 for each player. The free throw percentage for the 60 free throws analyzed was 73.3%, compared to an accuracy rate of 73.6% for the 648 free throws recorded. The subjects' free throw percentages ranged from 56.5% to 83.8%. Kinematic variables included range of motion at the wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle joints, trunk rotation, arm horizontal abduction/adduction, foot elevation angle, release height, velocity, and angle, and vertical and horizontal center of gravity position. Mean values for kinematic parameters were used to compare inter-individual variability. Intra-individual variability was defined as ± 1 standard deviation from the mean for each subject. Results indicate that intraindividual variability was larger than inter-individual variability for wrist and elbow ROM, and release velocity. Inter-individual variability was greater than intra-individual variability for hip, knee, and ankle ROM. The intra- and inter-individual differences were comparable for other variables. The findings suggest that multiple samples may be required to ensure representative data

The Web Magazine 1969, April

The Web Magazine focuses on alumni news and campus events from Gardner-Webb College; now Gardner-Webb University. This issue lists some of the first junior applicants to Gardner-Webb, recognizes Carolyn Stone as May Queen, and reminds students of the upcoming $10,000 scholarship announcement.https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/the-web/1015/thumbnail.jp

The Web Magazine 1969, February

The Web Magazine focuses on alumni news and campus events from Gardner-Webb College; now Gardner-Webb University. This issue talks about O. Max Gardner and the legacy she left for Gardner-Webb. It also asks alumni to consider donating to Gardner-Webb.https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/the-web/1013/thumbnail.jp

The Web Magazine 1969, May

The Web Magazine focuses on alumni news and campus events from Gardner-Webb College; now Gardner-Webb University. This issue provides detailed information about the 1969 Alumni Banquet, announces a new director of the Division of Psychology and Education, and it lists donors to the Annual Fund.https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/the-web/1016/thumbnail.jp

The Web Magazine 1969, March

The Web Magazine focuses on alumni news and campus events from Gardner-Webb College; now Gardner-Webb University. This issue talks about the success of Sock it to Me Week and the speakers who attended. It also gives a detailed description (with pictures) of the new home of the president, Webb-Knoll.https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/the-web/1014/thumbnail.jp

The Web Magazine 1968, November

The Web Magazine focuses on alumni news and campus events from Gardner-Webb College; now Gardner-Webb University. This issue gives a schedule of Homecoming, lists a few new faculty members, and talks about where Gardner-Webb stands with obtaining its four year status.https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/the-web/1011/thumbnail.jp

The Web Magazine 1968, December

The Web Magazine focuses on alumni news and campus events from Gardner-Webb College; now Gardner-Webb University. This issue announces that it was voted at the Baptist State Convention of NC for Gardner-Webb College to have status as a senior college.https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/the-web/1012/thumbnail.jp

The Web Magazine 1969, June

The Web Magazine focuses on alumni news and campus events from Gardner-Webb College; now Gardner-Webb University. This issue names Dr. J. Joy Robinson as Alumnus of the Year , talks about several scholarships, and mentions 20 students who are on mission.https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/the-web/1017/thumbnail.jp