ScratchMaths: evaluation report and executive summary

Since 2014, computing has been part of the primary curriculum. ‘Scratch’ is frequently used by schools, and the EEF funded this trial to test whether the platform could be used to improve pupils’ computational thinking skills, and whether this in turn could have a positive impact on Key Stage 2 maths attainment. Good computational thinking skills mean pupils can use problem solving methods that involve expressing problems and their solutions in ways that a computer could execute – for example, recognising patterns. Previous research has shown that pupils with better computational thinking skills do better in maths. The study found a positive impact on computational thinking skills at the end of Year 5 – particularly for pupils who have ever been eligible for free school meals. However, there was no evidence of an impact on Key Stage 2 maths attainment when pupils were tested at the end of Year 6. Many of the schools in the trial did not fully implement ScratchMaths, particularly in Year 6, where teachers expressed concerns about the pressure of Key Stage 2 SATs. But there was no evidence that schools which did implement the programme had better maths results. Schools may be interested in ScratchMaths as an affordable way to cover aspects of the primary computing curriculum in maths lessons without any adverse effect on core maths outcomes. This trial, however, did not provide evidence that ScratchMaths is an effective way to improve maths outcomes

Evidence that process simulations reduce anxiety in patients receiving dental treatment: randomized exploratory trial

Process simulations – mental simulations that ask people to imagine the process of completing a task – have been shown to decrease anxiety in students facing hypothetical or psychological threats in the short term. The aim of the present study was to see whether process simulations could reduce anxiety in a sample of the general population attending a dental practice, and whether these effects could be sustained throughout treatment. Participants (N = 75) were randomized to an experimental condition where they were asked to simulate mentally the process of seeing the dentist, or to a control condition where they were asked to simulate mentally the outcome of seeing the dentist. Findings showed that participants in the experimental condition were significantly less anxious both before and after their consultations. Self-efficacy and self-esteem remained unchanged. This study suggests that process simulation is one active ingredient in anxiety treatment programs and further research is required to enhance its effects

The slalom illusion in the context of illusory lines.

In the slalom illusion, the straight trajectory of a dot crossing a pattern of tilted lines is perceived as being sinusoidal (Cesaro and Agostini, 1988, P&P, 60(3),518-523). The perceived trajectory of the moving dot bends to enter the line perpendicularly, generating a local distortion at each line trajectory intersection. The magnitude of the illusion is known to be affected by the angle of intersection, the velocity of the moving dot and the distance between the inducing lines. In the present research, we investigate whether the slalom illusion persists when replacing the inducing lines with Kanizsa illusory ones and the impact of this on the magnitude of the illusion. There is evidence in the literature that V1 and V2 neurons respond to illusory contours, which would suggest that the illusion should persist in the presence of illusory lines. However, the response to illusory lines in V1 is weaker and delayed when compared to V2 (Lee & Nguyen, 2001, PNAS, 98(4), 1907-1911), and given V1 neurons' implication in processing motion, it is expected that if the slalom illusion persists in the illusory condition its magnitude would be negatively affected. Results are discussed in the context of early perceptual processing and global integration

The effect of inter-stimulus interval on the partially occluded slalom illusion

The slalom effect is a kinetic illusion of direction where the straight trajectory of a dot is perceived as sinusoidal due to its intersection with static tilted lines. The illusion has been explained as a global integration of local distortions occurring at each dot-line intersection (Cesaro & Agostini, 1998). When the dot trajectory is partially occluded by replacing the inducing lines with solid black triangles, the magnitude of the effect increases (Soranzo, Gheorghes & Reidy, 2014). A possible explanation is that the inferred motion path behind the occluder is longer than that perceived directly; Kim, Feldman & Singh (2012) showed that when two objects are alternately presented at the ends of an occluder, the reported path of the object varies with the inter-stimulus interval (ISI), in that a longer ISI induces a longer reported path. The present study investigates whether the magnitude of the slalom illusion depends on the time spent by the dot behind the occluding triangles. To test this, the dot speed is kept constant when the trajectory is visible, but manipulated when the dot is occluded. Results are discussed in relation to apparent motion and amodal completion as well as possible delayed global integration of local distortions

Computer assisted strabismus/amblyopia diagnosis

Computer assisted strabismus/amblyopia diagnosi

The slalom illusion in the context of partially invisible trajectory

The slalom illusion is the condition whereby the straight trajectory of a dot crossing a pattern of tilted lines is perceived as being sinusoidal (Cesaro and Agostini, 1998). The authors suggested that this illusion might be due to a local distortion of the moving dot when traversing each tilted line: When the dot approaches the lines, its trajectory is distorted toward the normalization, that is, the dot bends to enter the line perpendicularly (Swanson, 1984). Furthermore, there might be a perceptual tendency of the moving dot to continue along this virtual trajectory. However, as the physical trajectory of the dot is straight, the final perceived trajectory is a compromise between the virtual and the physical trajectory. In the present experiment, we test this hypothesis by manipulating the area between the tilted lines.The area between the lines was either a) the same colour as the dot, to make the dot trajectory partially invisible; or (b) empty, leaving the dot's full trajectory visible. Results show that the illusion magnitude increases when the dot trajectory is partially invisible, supporting the hypothesis that the illusion results from a compromise between the physical and the virtual trajectory

Investigating visual strategies during the recognition of static and dynamic facial affect in TBI and control cohorts

bjectives: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) often precipitates socio-emotional problems which impinge on social relationships. Although socio-emotional impairments are debilitating the mechanisms underpinning these are poorly understood. Social interactions are dynamic yet research frequently employs static assessments. We investigated eye scan patterns of TBI and controls viewing static/dynamic facial expressions. Design: Factorial analysis investigated correct response, reaction time, fixation duration/count to areas of interest (eyes, nose and mouth) across six emotions (anger, disgust, fear, happy, sadness and surprise). Methods: 17 TBI participants were recruited from the NHS and age/gender matched controls were recruited using stratified opportunity sampling. Images from the Amsterdam Dynamic Facial Expression Set (ADFES) were presented on a Tobii T120 Eye Tracker screen. Multivariate and correlational methods were used to analyse data. Static Results: Controls displayed greater fixation durations; counts to eyes were more accurate and quicker identifying emotions than TBI participants. The TBI group focused more on the nose compared to controls. Higher scores on the ADFES correlated with quicker responses across all emotions for all participants and positive relationships between empathy, emotion recognition and fixation patterns were revealed. Gaze-patterns for the six emotions differed slightly between the groups although fearful faces induced more/longer fixations and happy faces the least/shortest fixations. Dynamic Results: Controls were more accurate at identifying emotions than the TBI group but no group differences were found for gaze-patterns. Happy faces induced more/longer fixations and sad faces the least/shortest fixations. A positive correlation between correct scores on the ADFES and empathy scores across all emotions for all participants was established. Conclusions: Irregular gaze-patterns could underpin some socio-emotional problems after TBI, highlighting the potential for innovative rehabilitation approaches. Visual strategies underlying the recognition of static/dynamic emotions may differ. The key limitation was the small sample size which will hopefully be rectified in future wor

The role of pain, perseverative cognition and goal adjustment in vasculitis associated fatigue.

Fatigue is a common symptom associated with Vasculitis and contributes significantly to impaired quality of life. Motivational Control Theory (Hockey, 2013) suggests a role for perseverative cognition and goal adjustment in fatigue. Therefore, this study investigated these potential predictors of fatigue in individuals with Vasculitis. 249 participants completed online questionnaires assessing fatigue, perseverative cognition, goal disengagement and goal reengagement, in addition to demographic and disease related variables. Hierarchical regression analysis found only pain, sleep disturbance, disease activity and perseverative cognition to significantly predict fatigue. This highlights the importance of psychological factors in determining fatigue in those with Vasculitis

The importance of behaviour as an aesthetic feature

In this study we measured aesthetics of interactive objects (IOs), which are three-dimensional physical artefacts. By means of an Arduino Mini board fitted with a motion sensor to detect the ‎objects being picked up, IOs can exhibit autonomous behaviour when ‎handled. These stimuli therefore activate more than one sense at the time, in compound stimulation. The main aim of this research was to test the hypotheses that behaviour is an aesthetic feature. Corollary aims were to investigate whether aesthetic preference for distinctive objects' structures emerges in compound stimulation to investigate whether aesthetic preference for distinctive objects' structures emerges in compound stimulation; secondly, to explore whether there exists aesthetic preference for distinctive objects’ behaviours; and lastly, to test whether there exists aesthetic preference for specific combinations of objects' structures and behaviours. The following variables were manipulated: 1) IOs’ contour (rounded vs. angular); 2) IOs’ size (small vs. large); 3) IOs’ surface texture (rough vs. smooth); and 4) IOs’ behaviour (Lighting, Sounding, Vibrating, and Quiescent). Results show that behaviour influenced aesthetics preference more than any other characteristic; Vibrating IOs were preferred over Lighting and Sounding IOs, supporting the importance of haptic processing in aesthetics. Results did not confirm the size and smoothness effects previously reported in vision and touch, respectively; this suggests that, for some stimulation, the aesthetics preference that emerges in isolated conditions may be different in compound stimulation. Results corroborate the smooth curvature effect. It is concluded that for Interactive Objects behaviour can be considered an aesthetic primitive

Systematic Review: Occupational Therapy and Chronic Conditions in Primary Care

Learning Objectives: Define occupational therapy’s role in the primary care setting with a focus on those with chronic conditions using Occupational Therapy Practice Framework terminology. Describe the current evidence on occupational performance related to occupational therapy services in primary care. Discuss the future implications for occupational therapists working in primary care