How does orthographic knowledge influence performance on phonological awareness tasks?

Three experiments explored the nature of orthographic influences on performance on phonological awareness tasks. Experiment 1 demonstrated that adults find it easier to perform phoneme deletions on items where there is a direct correspondence between letters and target sounds (e.g., take the /r@/ from struggle) than where there is not (e.g., take the /w@/ from squabble). Analogous results were found in a phoneme reversal task. Spelling production ability tended to correlate more strongly with performance on the former type of item than on the latter, suggesting that elevated performance on phonological awareness tasks is associated with the use of orthographic information. Experiment 2 produced similar results in Grade 5 children. Experiment 3 suggested that adults cannot inhibit orthographic activation when it is disadvantageous to them, as they performed no better on items such as squabble when they were presented in pure blocks than when they were presented in mixed blocks. It is concluded that there are substantial automatic orthographic influences on phonological awareness task performance that need to be taken into account in interpreting data concerning the relationship between phonological awareness and reading.     

Arts for the blues – a new creative psychological therapy for depression

ABSTRACT

Routinely prescribed psychological therapies for depression are not always effective. Arts therapies, particularly Dance Movement Psychotherapy, may offer additional therapeutic mechanisms for depression. Therefore, client-reported helpful factors from various therapy types, along with client preferences, are key in devising new therapeutic interventions. We present a framework for a new pluralistic “meta-approach” of therapy for depression, based on an interdisciplinary thematic synthesis (Thomas, J., & Harden, A. (2008). Methods for the thematic synthesis of qualitative research in systematic reviews. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 8[1], 45) of active ingredients from both talking therapies and creative approaches. Lastly, we offer an illustrative group therapy workshop based on this approach, to be piloted with clients and practitioners within an NHS mental health service. Further research is required to evaluate this pilot and to devise a full treatment for trialling within the service.     

Die Methode der abbildenden Motorik bei Kommunikation der Systeme und ihre Anwendung auf die Affektpsychologie

Ohne Zusammenfassung Mit 40 Abbildungen im Text.     

What do zebra finches learn besides singing? Systematic mapping of the literature and presentation of an efficient associative learning test

Animal Cognition - The process of learning in birds has been extensively studied, with a focus on species such as pigeons, parrots, chickens, and crows. In recent years, the zebra finch has emerged...     

DIFFERENCES IN CRITICAL READING PERFORMANCE BETWEEN PUPILS IN SIXTH AND EIGHT GRADES

This study examines the area of critical reading in which pupils are to judge the truth value of statements related to social studies passages. A total of 526 subjects, 250 sixth grade and 276 eighth grade pupils were required to judge 45 statements, six statements for each of the seven passages, as either “true” (T), “probably true” (PT), “not enough facts” (NE), “probably false” (PF) or “false” (F) based upon passage information. Pupils differed significantly on 11 of 42 statements (X = 4.25, p<.05 to 51.65, p<.001). Findings support previous research that shows older pupils to be more aware of organizational structure, more precise in assessing information and better able to deal with logical relationships. Younger pupils respond more impulsively to ambiguous statements. When judging conclusive statements, the majority of sixth appear to rely upon their own belief system rather than upon passage information.