Late Adolescents' Experiences With and Attitudes Toward Videogames1

A total of 229 late adolescents (a large majority 15 to 19 years of age) completed a questionnaire that assesses a broad range of videogame-relevant experiences, preferences, and attitudes. Videogame playing was found to be a more popular, and a more highly regarded, activity among males than females. Gender differences were also found in participants' ratings of their motivations for playing videogames, their evaluations of particular characteristics of videogames, and their selection of their “most favorite” videogame. The differences between frequent and infrequent videogame players appeared to be limited to differences in the extent to which videogame playing is pursued and evaluated as a positive leisure activity, rather than reflecting broad differences in interest or personality. Some relations were found between participants' self-reported personality characteristics (i.e., self-esteem, empathy, conscientiousness, and introversion) and their attitudes toward videogames.     

小学儿童社会创造性与其同伴关系、学业成绩的关系

采用整群取样法, 选取387名小学儿童, 采用问卷法、同伴提名法和成绩评定, 考察了其社会创造性与其同伴关系、学业成绩的关系。结果表明:(1)小学儿童的社会创造性与学业成绩、社会喜好、社会影响, 学业成绩与社会喜好均呈显著正相关;(2)社会喜好在社会创造性与学业成绩之间、学业成绩在社会创造性与社会喜好之间、社会创造性在社会喜好与学业成绩之间均具有显著的中介效应, 社会影响在社会创造性对学业成绩的影响中具有显著的调节作用。     

同伴团体对儿童青少年学业成就和社会功能关系的影响

运用同伴评价、教师评估和学校记录等多种渠道收集关于同伴团体、社会功能、同伴接纳以及学业成就的资料,旨在考察同伴团体与儿童青少年学业成就和社会功能的关系。研究发现：绝大多数儿童青少年都有自己的同伴团体。这些同伴团体在学业成就上有很高的同质性。学业成就与社会适应无论在团体内的个体水平还是在团体水平上都密切相关。而且,团体的学业表现是个体学业成就和社会适应间的重要调节因素,表明团体学业规范对个体水平上学业成就与社会功能的关系有增强或是减弱的作用。这项研究再一次证明同伴团体在儿童个体发展中的重要意义。     

Achievement and adjustment correlates of the matching familiar figures test

To help clarify the relationship between the Matching Familiar Figures (MFF) Test and measures of school achievement and adjustment, 450 children from kindergarten, second, and fifth grades were tested and achievement scores and teacher's ratings of classroom and personal adjustment were obtained. Regardless of grades, MFF latency in most instances did not predict achievement or adjustment. At the kindergarten level the correlations between MFF errors and both achievement and adjustment were significant for most subscales but at second grade correlations were lower and generally nonsignificant except for a few adjustment items. At the fifth grade level the correlations were moderately high but when IQ was partialled out the correlations with achievement and school adjustment dropped to near zero; however, partialling out IQ did not affect the moderate correlations between errors and personal adjustment. The errors score evidencedmore important relationships than the latency scores. The relationship between the MFF and ratings of social and emotional adjustment was consistently higher than the correlations between the MFF and achievement. These results suggest that MFF errors are personalogically relevant and that MFF performance is generally more related to adjustment than achievement.     

Gender, Female Traditionality, Achievement Level, and Cognitions of Success and Failure

Differences in ratings of initial expectancy of success, perceived scholastic ability, and causal attributions were assessed for male and female high school students for a simulated academic test. Subjects were also differentiated on their achievement level (i.e., under- and overachievement) and the traditionality of their career aspirations. As predicted, higher expectancies were found for high performance achievers and nontraditional females. Males generally made more attributions to lack of effort for failure, as did low performance achievers. Females and high performance achievers attributed success more to effort. Hypotheses concerning differential usage of luck and ability attributions were not supported. Although there was an overall trend for females to be more external, traditionality also mediated causal attributions for females.     

Attention in Children with Myelomeningocele

This study examined attentional functioning in 64 children with myelomeningocele and 27 of their siblings, all ranging from 8 to 15 years of age. The children were assessed using measures of Mirsky's (1996) four elements of attention: encode, sustain, focus/execute, and shift. Their academic achievement also was assessed, and their parents provided ratings of attentional behavior. Demographic and medical background variables were derived from parent questionnaires, and medical records for children with myelomeningocele. Children with myelomeningocele showed deficits across all four elements of attention compared to siblings. Demographic and medical background variables predicted individual differences in the four elements of attention among children with myelomeningocele. The four elements of attention predicted behavior ratings and academic achievement, although the predictive relationships were different for the two outcomes and for the children with myelomeningocele and their siblings.     

Morningness‐eveningness and educational outcomes: the lark has an advantage over the owl at high school

Background. Chronotype refers to individuals’ preference for morning or evening activities. Its two dimensions (morningness and eveningness) are related to a number of academic outcomes. Aims. The main goal of the study was to investigate the incremental validity of chronotype as a predictor of academic achievement after controlling for a number of traditional predictors. In so doing, a further aim was ongoing validation of a chronotype questionnaire, the Lark‐Owl Chronotype Indicator. Sample. The sample comprised 272 students attending 9th and 10th grades at five German high schools. Data was also obtained from 132 parents of these students. Method. Students were assessed in class via self‐report questionnaires and a standardized cognitive test. Parents filled out a questionnaire at home. The incremental validity of chronotype was investigated using hierarchical linear regression. Validity of the chronotype questionnaire was assessed by correlating student ratings of their chronotype with behavioural data on sleep, food intake, and drug consumption and with parent ratings of chronotype. Results. Eveningness was a significant (negative) predictor of overall grade point average (GPA), math–science GPA, and language GPA, after cognitive ability, conscientiousness, need for cognition, achievement motivation, and gender were held constant. Validity evidence for the chronotype measure was established by significant correlations with parent‐ratings and behavioural data. Conclusions. Results point to the possible discrimination of adolescents with a proclivity towards eveningness at school. Possible explanations for the relationship between chronotype and academic achievement are presented. Implications for educational practice are also discussed.     

Longitudinal Predictors of School-Age Academic Achievement: Unique Contributions of Toddler-Age Aggression, Oppositionality, Inattention, and Hyperactivity

This project examined the unique predictive validity of parent ratings of toddler-age aggression, oppositionality, inattention, and hyperactivity-impulsivity to academic achievement at school-age in a sample of 566 high-risk children and families. The study also investigated potential indirect effects of the Family Check-Up on school-age academic achievement through changes in child behavior problems. The results demonstrated that toddler-age aggression was most consistently associated with school-age academic achievement, albeit modestly. Moreover, findings showed that the intervention predicted greater decreases in aggression from ages 2–3 to 4–5 compared to controls. The results suggest that in high-risk toddler-aged children, aggression may be a more consistent predictor of school-age academic achievement than other externalizing dimensions, which has implications for early identification and efforts to promote children’s adaptation.     

Neurobehavioral Evaluation System (NES) and school performance

The aims of this study were to explore the validity of a set of computerized tests, and to explore the validity of reaction time variability as an index of sustained attention. In Phase 1, 105 children 7–10 years old were presented with five tests from the Neurobehavioral Evaluation System (NES). The children were able to complete four of the tests: the Continuous Performance, Simple Reaction Time, Symbol-Digit Substitution, and Digit Span tests. In Phase 2, a follow-up of 88 children, performance on these tests was significantly associated with teachers' ratings of attention and with standardized academic achievement measures. Moreover, variability on the Simple Reaction Time and performance on the Digit Span and Symbol-Digit tests significantly predicted reading achievement. Similarly, performance on the Digit Span and Symbol-Digit tests significantly predicted mathematics achievement. In addition, variability on the Simple Reaction Time and Digit Span test performance were significant predictors of reading achievement above and beyond the prediction provided by teachers' ratings.     

儿童网络使用与学业成就：有调节的中介模型

摘 要 为探讨网络使用对学业成就的影响及其作用机制,从自我效能感理论的角度使用问卷对425名小学生进行调查。结果表明：（1）网络使用完全通过学习效能感的中介作用正向预测学业成就;（2）学习效能感中介作用受到开放性的调节,即在开放性高的个体中,学习效能感在网络使用与学业成就之间的中介效应不显著;在开放性低的个体中,学习效能在网络使用与学业成就之间有显著的中介效应。研究结果揭示了网络使用对学业成就的影响与作用机制,对家长、教育工作者根据儿童的个人特质对网络使用进行适度引导有启示意义。     

Relation of scores on the Open Middle Test to self-control and academic achievement of inner-city fourth-grade children

The construct validity of the Open Middle Test, a measure of children's social problem-solving ability, was investigated by assessing its relationship to self-control (Self-control Rating Scale) and academic achievement (Wide-Range Achievement Test). Subjects were 113 minority fourth graders from two urban parochial schools. A significant correlation was obtained between Open Middle Test effectiveness scores of first responses and WRAT Reading scores. No other correlations were significant. However, mean differences were significant for Open Middle Test effectiveness ratings of first responses and chosen responses, suggesting possible deficits in the evaluation of self-generated problem solutions. Implications of the results for training programs and for the use of the Open Middle Test as an outcome measure are discussed.     

A factorial, reliability, and validity study of the Devereux Elementary School Behavior Rating Scale

This investigation explored the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the Devereux Elementary School Behavior Rating Scale, employing a large (n = 648) sample of children. Factor analysis suggested that the Devereux scale can be described by four factors, which were named Disruptive-Oppositional, Poor Comprehension-Disattention, Cooperative-Initiating, and Performance Anxiety. All four factors showed high internal consistency, and three of the four were stable over a 17-mo. period. Correlations of the four factors with academic achievement, IQ, socioeconomic status, and peer ratings of social competence are presented. All four factors showed significant relations with these variables, with Poor Comprehension-Disattention the strongest of all. Multiple regression analysis indicated that the Poor Comprehension-Disattention factor accounted for significant variance in academic achievement even after IQ was taken into account. Large differences between classroom means on the factor scores suggested that Devereux ratings for individual students may need to be interpreted cautiously.     

Relations between Shyness-Sensitivity and Internalizing Problems in Chinese Children: Moderating Effects of Academic Achievement

Shy-sensitive children are likely to develop adjustment problems in today’s urban China as the country has evolved into an increasingly competitive, market-oriented society. The main purpose of this one-year longitudinal study was to examine the moderating effects of academic achievement on relations between shyness-sensitivity and later internalizing problems in Chinese children. A sample of 1171 school-age children (591 boys, 580 girls) in China, initially at the age of 9 years, participated in the study. Data on shyness, academic achievement, and internalizing problems were collected from multiple sources including peer evaluations, teacher ratings, self-reports, and school records. It was found that shyness positively and uniquely predicted later loneliness, depression, and teacher-rated internalizing problems, with the stability effect controlled, for low-achieving children, but not for high-achieving children. The results indicate that, consistent with the stress buffering model, academic achievement may be a buffering factor that serves to protect shy-sensitive children from developing psychological problems.     

Preference for numerical information and academic achievement of African-American students

Viswanathan's Preference for Numerical Information scale was used to investigate the attitudes of 236 African-American college students toward using numerical information in their thinking and problem solving. The results showed that the participants expressed a positive preference for numerical information, statistically similar in size to the preferences reported in prior research for other groups of students. Also, participants' scores correlated positively (r=.27) with their academic achievement (fraction answered correctly) on examination questions requiring the use of numerical information but were nonsignificantly related to their academic achievement on questions not requiring the use of numerical information. This pattern of correlations persisted, at reduced levels, when the effects of variations in SAT scores were partialled out. Moreover, for the men correlations between Preference for Numerical Information scores and achievement on examination questions involving numerical information significantly exceeded the correlations between the test scores and academic achievement on questions not involving numerical information. This contrasted with results obtained for women. For them, the correlations did not vary significantly by question type. Thus, for reasons yet to be uncovered, Preference for Numerical Information scores of the African-American men appear to reflect an aspect of cognitive style related to proficiency in using and manipulating numerical information.     

An evaluation of the ABIC,pluralistic norms,and estimated learning potential

Relationships between the ABIC, the pluralistic assessment's Estimated Learning Potential (ELP) and school achievement are examined for elementary children from three racial-ethnic groups and two social classes. The ABIC is largely independent from both WISC-R IQs and achievement. In contrast to the highly significant IQ-achievement correlations, the ELP-achievement correlations tend to be lower. Empirical evidence is presently weak regarding how the ABIC and ELP can be used to understand academic achievement.     

Academic achievement and popularity in low-socioeconomic status black children

The literature suggests that popularity may have different correlates depending on the ethnic, racial, and/or socioeconomic characteristics of the peer group. This study therefore investigated the relationship between peer popularity and academic achievement in low-socioeconomic status urban black children, a population in which this relationship had not previously been examined. Two hundred ninety-six children in grades 4, 6, and 8 completed three sociometric rating scales, indicating the popularity of each of their same-sex classmates as a workmate, playmate, and best friend. These ratings were subjected to a multivariate analysis of variance in which gender and academic achievement (high vs. low achievement test scores) were factors. Consistent with previous research, high achievement was associated with greater popularity as a workmate for an academic task at all three grade levels examined. Popularity as a playmate and as a best friend, however, was inversely related to achievement among fourth graders and unrelated to achievement among eighth graders. These findings suggest that, although high achievement may be recognized for its adaptive value in a work-related context, it may actually be something of a social liability among younger children choosing partners for social and athletic activities. The results support a conceptualization of popularity as a multidimensional construct and highlight the importance of the use of multiple measures.The authors express their appreciation to the children, parents, and staff of the Orleans Parish Schools for their cooperation and participation in the study and to Rex Forehand and Ben Lahey for helpful comments on the design and analysis.     

Metamemory and academic achievement: testing the validity of a group-administered metamemory battery

This study was designed to assess the validity of a recently introduced group-administered battery of metamemory tasks for children and to concurrently assess the relationship between performance on these tasks and academic achievement for second- and fourth-grade normal and learning-disabled (LD) children. Consistent with theoretical predictions and with results from individually administered metamemory tasks, significant age-related performance differences were found for four of the battery's five subtests. However, three of these four performance differences appeared to be due to a floor effect--that is, the second graders performed at chance levels for all but one of the subtests. Nevertheless, modest zero-order correlations between academic achievement measures and scores on metamemory subtests, which did show interpretable age-related performance differences, were found, as were significant group (normal versus LD) differences for fourth graders. In all, these results provided some support for the validity and the utility of the group-administered metamemory battery, although the performance of young children must be interpreted with caution.     

教师支持与心理素质对中学生学业成绩的影响

采用学生感知教师支持行为问卷和中学生心理素质问卷,对西南地区两所中学7~12年级的824名在校中学生进行调查研究,探讨教师整体支持和不同类型支持与中学生学业成绩的关系及心理素质在其中的中介作用。结果发现：（1）教师整体支持与中学生心理素质、学业成绩间存在显著正相关;教师情感支持与中学生心理素质、学业成绩间存在显著正相关,教师学习支持、能力支持与中学生心理素质存在显著正相关,但与学业成绩相关均不显著;（2）控制性别和年龄后,心理素质在教师整体支持与学业成绩的关系中起完全中介作用;心理素质在教师情感支持与学业成绩关系中起部分中介作用,在教师学习支持与学业成绩、教师能力支持与学业成绩关系中均起完全中介作用。     

Parental influences on self-regulation and achievement in children with adolescent mothers

The predictors of academic achievement and self-regulation in 95 high-risk children studied from birth were investigated during the second grade. Parenting, early maternal adjustment, child adjustment and temperament were hypothesized to predict the emergence of self-regulation. Although parenting, maternal adjustment, and child adjustment were related to achievement and classroom adjustment, they were not related to children's self-regulation, which was the strongest predictor of teacher ratings of academic performance, standardized achievement in math and reading, and classroom adjustment.     

A Randomized Trial of Two Promising Computer-Based Interventions for Students with Attention Difficulties

Few studies have examined whether attention can be improved with training, even though attention difficulties adversely affect academic achievement. The present study was a randomized-controlled trial evaluating the impact of Computerized Attention Training (CAT) and Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) on attention and academic performance in 77 inattentive first graders. Students receiving either intervention were more likely than controls to show a moderate decline in teacher rated attention problems in first grade. Students receiving CAI also showed gains in reading fluency and in teacher ratings of academic performance. Intervention effects for attention were absent by second grade largely because attention problems declined in all groups. However, post hoc analyses indicated potential longer-term benefits for children with 6 or more inattentive symptoms at baseline. Persistent attention problems were associated with poorer academic performance in multiple domains. Results provide initial evidence that CAT and CAI can improve children’s attention in the classroom - and support additional studies to determine whether more clinically significant benefits are attainable.