Where creeds meet incredulity: educational research in a post-utopian age

In contrast to Jean-Francois Lyotard’s classic warning, postmodern society in the United States seems increasingly influenced by metanarratives—religious metanarratives. This article examines the implications of this religious resurgence for educational researchers. It offers a competing analysis of the postmodern that draws on Harold Bloom, Slavoj ŽiŽek and others to identify the gnostic elements in contemporary religiosity, both in Europe and the United States. This competing reading of postmodern religiosity suggests a reframing of Lyotard’s paralogy—research that searches for instabilities in the framework of knowledge. Drawing examples from recent educational research, I will argue for ways in which researchers can better engage religion in their work.The author would like to thank the anonymous reviewer who brought to his attention additional texts and debates about this highly interdisciplinary topic.     

Barriers to Adherence to Child Assessment Recommendations

We conducted a one-year follow-up study of child psychoeducational assessment cases to examine whether and how the assessments were helpful to families. The current report focuses on parents’ views of their child’s assessment as well as the parents’ adherence with the written recommendations provided to them following their child’s assessment. Fifty-one of 72 eligible parents whose child received an assessment in an urban, Midwest university clinic participated. Based on semistructured interviews with the parents about the assessment recommendations, we grouped the recommendations and any barriers to adherence the parents mentioned into categories, and we also rated the clarity and complexity of the recommendations. Findings showed that, on average, parents identified the assessment process as useful and attempted or fully adhered to 71.5?% of recommendations. Parents reported the lowest adherence when referrals were recommended for their child to be seen by other professionals such as a pediatrician or psychiatrist; and they cited significantly more stigma barriers for recommendations to seek counseling/therapy or psychotropic medication than for recommendations pertaining to changes at home or school. Higher parental compliance was predicted by a combination of parents reporting fewer barriers and receiving more home based recommendations. The results support the utility of psychological assessments from parents’ perspectives and suggest ways in which psychologists may increase the likelihood that parents will adhere to their recommendations.     

Adherence to sport injury rehabilitation programs

Abstract

Adherence to sport injury rehabilitation prognms has emerged as a prime area of interest in the psychology of sport injury. In this article, behaviors typically involved in sport injury rehabilitation adherence are described. research findings on sport injury rehabilitation adherence are reviewed. and theoretical, methodological. and practical issues associated with sport injury rehabilitation research are identified and discussed. Primary recommendations resulting from the literature reviewed include use of conceptual models to guide research efforts, use of prospective resexch designs and standardized, psychometrically-sound measures of key constructs. and resolution of the question of whether enhancing adherence actually improves rehabilitation outcomes before interventions targeted at adherence behavior are developed, implemented, and evaluated.     

New Church Rising

Abstract I had the privilege of participating as a Campbell Scholar at Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta with a group of theologians from Kenya, Egypt, Argentina, Jamaica and the US. The theme for our eight weeks together was “The Mission of the Church in an Age of Uprooted People”. This intensive time of dialogue and study helped clarify how the church as a whole has been uprooted from God's desired unity, and provided the space to reflect on the future of the global church from a congregational perspective. The result is this paper in which I explore the present state of Presbyterianism, Protestant denominationalism, and the church as a whole, while also envisioning new paths forward in our global, multicultural age.     

教会社会

圣经是了解西方文明的切入点之一,也是基督徒们视为权威的书卷。通过梳理教会音乐与崇拜的圣经基础,来探寻它们今日缤纷复杂的现象之渊源。