Anthropometric correlates of basketball free-throw shootings by young girls.

The purpose of this analysis of data from a larger investigation was to assess effects of anthropometric factors on free throw shooting performance of 15 girls from Michigan and 18 from Puerto Rico. Subjects performed 60 free throws (10 trials x 3 ball sizes x 2 basket heights). Correlations were low, with two exceptions, .53 between shooting performance at the low basket and grip strength (as measured by hand grip dynamometer) for girls from Michigan, and .49 for hand width and performance at the low basket for girls from Michigan.     

Affect Regulation and Attachment Strategies of Adjudicated and Non-Adjudicated Adolescents and Their Parents

This exploratory qualitative study used semi-structured interviews with adjudicated and non-adjudicated adolescents and their parents to identify: (1) different behavioral manifestations of affect regulation and attachment interactions as described by respondents; and (2) interactional patterns that we might wish to target in a therapeutic intervention. Parents used more functional internal affect regulation strategies, while adolescents relied on less functional ones. Most respondents used functional external affect regulation strategies, such as direct communication. Approximately half of them used more dysfunctional strategies, such as yelling and aggression. Most of the adolescents used at least one secure attachment strategy in their relationships with their parents, but the majority also used avoidant or ambivalent strategies. Almost half of the parents described secure strategies in their relationships with their adolescents, while the remainder indicated using insecure.     

Developmental changes in attention: the effects of endogenous cueing and of distractors

We used two reaction time tasks to examine age differences in the ability to use an endogenous cue to shift attention covertly and to ignore distractors. In Experiment 1, 8‐year‐olds, 10‐year‐olds and adults (n = 24 per age) were asked to push a button as soon as they detected a target that was presented in a cued, miscued or non‐cued peripheral location at 100, 400 or 800 ms after the appearance of a central cue. In Experiment 2, 10‐year‐olds and adults (n = 24 per age) were asked to indicate which of two shapes appeared in the periphery 400 ms after a central cue, with those shapes surrounded by compatible or incompatible distractors. Unlike previous studies, the data were corrected for a reaction time bias that can inflate the apparent effect of cueing. Children were slower and more variable than adults overall. However, there were no age differences in the effects of the cues in either experiment: at all ages, the speed of responding was increased similarly by correct cueing and slowed similarly by incorrect cueing. Thus, under these conditions, the ability to use endogenous cues to orient covertly to the periphery is already adult‐like by 8–10 years of age, although there may be subsequent changes in the consistency of responding. In Experiment 2, 10‐year‐olds were slowed more than adults by incompatible distractors. Thus, the ability to ignore distracting information is not adult‐like even by 10 years of age. The findings suggest different rates of development for the ability to shift attention following an endogenous cue and for the ability to filter out irrelevant information.     

Transsexuals within the Prison System: An International Survey of Correctional Services Policies

This survey examined policies of correctional facilities as they relate to transsexual inmates in the European Community as well as Australia, Canada and the United States. Where formal policies were reported, we inquired into whether these policies addressed the following issues: is hormonal therapy provided and if so under what conditions; are transsexual inmates at greater risk of physical or sexual assault; is surgery ever available to those in the prison system; and are placement decisions of corrections departments influenced by surgical status. We found that only 40% of correctional services departments had either formal or informal policies which addressed issues such as hormone treatment. While more than half of correctional services departments would not initiate hormone therapy, almost half would maintain previously prescribed hormone treatment. Genital status was the overwhelming factor in determining placement in a men's or women's prison. There was no consensus on the risk of either physical or sexual assault of transsexual inmates. The 60% of respondents without formal or informal policies were largely consistent in asserting that policy is developed and implemented on a case management basis in the best interests of the institution and the inmate.     

Evaluative RE? A response to two articles by Andrew Wright on hermeneutics and religious understanding

In broad agreement with Wright, this article seeks to take the discussion a stage further by excavating assumptions at the root of the problem detected in the adoption of inappropriate hermeneutical models for religious education based on romanticism and postmodernism. A radical critique of these assumptions has significant implications for the subject. This leads to discussion developing Wright's suggestions for a model which can promote openness and thoughtfulness on the part of pupils/students whilst paying attention to truth-claims. I call this evaluative religious education because it focuses on sharing reflective thinking skills used in an affirming as well as a critical way.