Advocates of RCTs in education should look more closely at the differences between medical research and education research

Neil Davies reflects on recent debates about randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and education research. While the renewed attention given to education is certainly welcome, the focus on RCTs has obscured the crucial differences between medical research and educational research, with the latter being chronically underfunded

Do teachers matter? Measuring the variation in teacher effectiveness in England

Using a unique primary dataset for the UK, we estimate the effect of individual teachers on student outcomes, and the variability in teacher quality. This links over 7000 pupils to the individual teachers who taught them, in each of their compulsory subjects in the high-stakes exams at age 16. We use point-in-time fixed effects and prior attainment to control for pupil heterogeneity. We find considerable variability in teacher effectiveness, a little higher than the estimates found in the few US studies. We also corroborate recent findings that observed teachers’ characteristics explain very little of the differences in estimated effectiveness.education, test scores, teacher effectiveness

Pedestrian characteristics and control for the Toowoomba city centre master plan area

[Abstract]: An understanding of pedestrian characteristics is an essential role in delivering safe and effective control measures within urban environments. An appreciation of the volume and direction of pedestrian movement also provides insight into the areas of commercial and social activity and enables greater success in the planning and implementation of community infrastructure. The aim of this study is to provide an assessment of the movement and behavioural characteristics of pedestrians within the Central Business District of Toowoomba in response to the preparation of a Master Plan for the city centre. The study provides an analysis of existing pedestrian control measures within the study area through survey of pedestrian activity at key locations along routes identified for greater pedestrian focus. The study also provides an assessment of existing car parking within the study area and recommendations for consideration in the implementation of the Master Plan

The influence of shape on the strength of tablets

The effect of the compact perimeter shape on the compressional properties of pharmaceutical excipients has been examined. Compacts of a deforming material, Avicel PH-102 and a fragmenting material, Emcompress were prepared. The compacts were prepared on single punch and rotary machines using flat faced circular, hexagonal and square tooling. The mechanical strengths of the compacts were determined using the diametral compression test and an axial compression test. The validity of using the diametral compression test for shaped compacts was assessed using shaped casts of gypsum. It was shown that with the appropriate selection of platens the test could reliably induce tensile failure in square and hexagonal specimens as well as in conventional circular specimens. The diametral compression test did not reveal any differences in the tensile strengths of different shaped compacts prepared with the same compaction pressure. Visual inspection of Emcompress compacts did reveal flaws present on the lower surface of square compacts produced on the single punch machine that were not evident on circular compacts. Further evidence of such structural differences was seen when comparing the axial compression test results for square and circular compacts of Emcompress. The differences are due to poor force transmission at the comers of the squares and may be prevented by improving lubrication. No such differences are seen between square and circular compacts of Avicel. Large differences were detected in the compaction pressure/ tensile strength profiles of Avicel compacts produced on different tablet machines. The compacts prepared using the rotary machine had lower tensile strengths and exhibited a lower capping pressure. The pressure at which capping commenced was greater for the square compacts than the circles. The differences are attributed to the material being compressed between two moving punches on the rotary machine as opposed to one moving punch on the single punch machine

Internal Policing of the Enduring Issue of Racism in Professional Team Sports

The issue of racism is one that is covered by both international treaties and domestic legislation. Most major sports, however, now have internal regulations, usually reflecting the treaties and legislation. Case studies from Australian, English and European sport, in particular, football, basketball, cricket and rugby league, indicate that the internal regulations have been effective in dealing with racism issues in those sports. The issues have involved players, managers, coaches, owners, officials and spectators, with the latter representing the main problem area for sport. The reasons for this are that it can be harder to identify the culprits and there is a lack of formal contracts between the sporting leagues and the spectators, though obligations can be enforced through ticketing and the law of licence. While banning spectators who have been identified as having made racist comments is important, it is suggested that education of culprits, be it player, manager, spectator or official, is also an essential requirement