Tyranny

Non-fiction by William Phelp

The Imitated

Non-fiction by William Phelp

A Qualitative Study of Supervisees’ Internal Representations of Supervisors

Eleven US-based doctoral student supervisees were interviewed regarding their internal representations (IRs) of their clinical supervisors. Data were analyzed using consensual qualitative research. In speaking about their overall IR experiences, supervisees reported that their exposure to IRs occurred at off-site practicum placements. The IRs, which were both spontaneous and intentionally invoked, usually were auditory in form, were stimulated by supervisees’ clinical work, were used to guide their clinical performance, and were considered a normal part of their development. When describing one specific IR, supervisees characterized the relationship with the supervisor as positive, and noted that supervision focused on clinical interventions. These brief and vivid IRs were auditory/verbal in form, occurred spontaneously, and consisted of the supervisor instructing or supporting the supervisee when s/he felt challenged or doubted her/himself clinically. The IRs yielded positive effects, but were usually not discussed with supervisors. Implications are addressed

Antibaryon Photoproduction using CLAS at Jefferson Lab

Antibaryon production has been investigated since the advent of nuclear physics, largely motivated by the potential for baryon-antibaryon bound states. Due to the recent availability of high statistics experiments there has been a renewed interest in how antibaryons are created in photoproduction. The g12 (E04-005) experiment conducted at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Fa- cility used the CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer to provide the world’s largest dataset for baryon-antibaryon photoproduction on a liquid hydrogen tar- get. The focus of this work is to investigate the photoproduction mechanism of γp → ppp ̄ through detailed differential cross section measurements from 3.95 to 5.45 GeV. These first time results as well as the resulting total cross section measurement are reported. In particular the energy dependence (σ(Eγ)) and the angular dependence (dσ/dcos(θCM)) have interesting features that have never p ̄ been seen before. On the other hand, the mass distributions (dσ/dM(pp) and dσ/dM(pp ̄) do not show evidence for previously reported narrow resonances. In addition, the first time total cross section mesurement of an antineutron in photoproduction using the reaction γp → ppn ̄π− is reported. The significance and implications of these results will be discussed as well

High School Block Scheduling As a Stimulus: A Multiple-site Case Study

The purpose of this study was to identify the processes that have been used for implementing the alternative scheduling plan of block scheduling in high schools. The study attempted to discover what professional development activities were used for the change, if teachers altered instruction, and what additional staff development was needed. The qualitative method of case study research was selected for the study. The investigator chose five public high schools, representing city and county systems and different professional development budgets and types of instructional support. Central office administrators who were responsible for the implementation of block scheduling, principals, and a purposeful sample of teachers were interviewed. Utilizing interview transcripts, field notes, and records, case studies were formulated for each school. A cross-site analysis was also developed. This aspect of the study focused on several themes that emerged from the case studies. These themes included reasons for the scheduling change; implementation procedures; professional development strategies; effects on instruction, students, and schools; and procedural and staff development needs. The conclusions of the study were as follows: a concern for students prompted the change; considerable effort was devoted to implementation; the 4 x 4 semester plan was the most common configuration; a considerable difference existed in the amounts schools spent for professional development; and staff development was integral to implementation. Additional conclusions were that block scheduling had both positive and negative effects on instruction; some teachers altered instruction with the schedule; the majority of students preferred a block schedule instead of a traditional one; the plan had a positive impact on the discipline, course offerings, and learning atmosphere of a school; and changes in implementation and professional growth would enhance the innovation. These conclusions will assist educators in developing and implementing procedural strategies and professional development plans for block scheduling, as well as other reform efforts

Customized Versus Standardized Exams For Learning Outcomes Assessment In An Undergraduate Business Program

A standardized exam for program-level assessment can take the form of 1) a customized exam developed in-house by faculty and linked explicitly to program-level learning goals; or 2) a standardized exam developed externally by assessment experts and linked to a set of somewhat broader and more generalizable learning goals.  This article discusses the design, development and implementation of a customized exam and subsequent transition to a commercial exam (i.e., the ETS Major Field Test), within an undergraduate business program.  We discuss the lessons learned from our experience with the customized exam, our analysis of both the assessment process and the results gathered (primarily curriculum-related), and the rationale underlying the eventual migration to the commercial exam.  Of particular emphasis is the situation-dependent and potentially complementary roles of the customized and commercial exams.  In this regard we provide a comparison of the two approaches through a framework based on a set of administrative and assessment considerations.  They include: relevance to learning goals, exam design and development process, delivery of the exam, impact on learning, impact on courses and curriculum, and impact on student monitoring and management.  We note that although the customized exam no longer exists as a standalone assessment instrument, it continues to play a role in assessment by complementing other methods.  This outcome, as well as the process leading to it, are potentially applicable to other institutions pursuing an evolutionary approach to learning outcomes assessment

Measurements of the Young’s modulus of hydroxide catalysis bonds, and the effect on thermal noise in ground-based gravitational wave detectors

With the outstanding results from the detection and observation of gravitational waves from coalescing black holes and neutron star inspirals, it is essential that pathways to further improve the sensitivities of the LIGO and VIRGO detectors are explored. There are a number of factors that potentially limit the sensitivities of the detectors. One such factor is thermal noise, a component of which results from the mechanical loss in the bond material between the silica fibre suspensions and the test mass mirrors. To calculate its magnitude, the Young’s modulus of the bond material has to be known with reasonable accuracy. In this paper we present a new combination of ultrasonic technology and Bayesian analysis to measure the Young’s modulus of hydroxide catalysis bonds between fused silica substrates. Using this novel technique, we measure the bond Young’s modulus to be 18.5 ± 2.0 2.3     GPa . We show that by applying this value to thermal noise models of bonded test masses with suitable attachment geometries, a reduction in suspension thermal noise consistent with an overall design sensitivity improvement allows a factor of 5 increase in event rate to be achieved