Bilingualism and the increased attentional blink effect: evidence that the difference between bilinguals and monolinguals generalizes to different levels of second language proficiency

The attentional blink task involves rapid serial presentation of visual stimuli, two of which the participants have to report. The usual finding is that participants are impaired at reporting the second target if it appears in close temporal proximity to the first target. Previous research has shown that the effect is stronger in bilinguals than monolinguals. We investigated whether the difference between monolinguals and proficient bilinguals can be extended to bilinguals of different proficiency levels. Therefore, we replicated the paradigm in a large sample of Hindi–English bilinguals with different proficiency levels of English, as measured with a validated vocabulary test. We additionally measured the participants’ intelligence with the raven progressive matrices. We found that the size of the attentional blink effect correlates with the degree of second language proficiency and not with the degree of intelligence. This indicates that research on executive control functions can be done with bilinguals of different proficiency levels. Our results are also in line with recent findings showing that the attentional blink effect is not primarily due to limited processing resources.     

Street Girls and Their Fight for Survival Across Four Developing Countries

Utilizing both quantitative and qualitative approaches this study explored the lives of 115 girls on the streets, the data were gathered from the cities of New Delhi (India), Jakarta (Indonesia), Manila (Philippines), and Pretoria (South Africa). The average age of the sample was 15.17 years and the sample comprised of family based, street based, and shelter based children. The results indicated that the girls who were street based were at maximum risk of being involved in antisocial activities with peers, being low on problem solving, and high on depression and mental health related problems. However, the sample was also high on community engagement, religiosity, and individual attributes of self esteem, self efficacy, and resilience. The results were further substantiated via protocols from the participants. Given the vulnerable position of the girl child on the streets, programs that directly address the well-being and health of the girl child, especially those who are street based, are important to be examined.     

Thinking Styles and Academic Performance Among Tribal and Non-tribal Students

This study examines differences in thinking styles among tribal (n = 272) and non-tribal (n = 229) secondary school students, and their relationship with academic performance. Based on Sternberg’s (1997) theory of mental self government, MANOVA results indicated that thinking style of tribal and non-tribal students differed. Regression results revealed that hierarchic and local thinking styles contributed positively while legislative, monarchic, anarchic and global thinking styles contributed negatively to academic achievement of the students.     

Primary Care Physicians’ Awareness, Experience and Opinions of Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing

The purpose of this study was to assess primary care physicians’ awareness, experience, opinions and preparedness to answer patients’ questions regarding direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing. An anonymous survey was mailed to 2,402 family and internal medicine providers in North Carolina. Of the 382 respondents, 38.7% (n = 148) were aware of and 15% (n = 59) felt prepared to answer questions about DTC genetic tests. Respondents aged 50 or older were more likely to be aware of DTC genetic testing than those less than 40 years old (OR = 2.42). Male providers were more likely to feel prepared to answer questions than female providers (OR = 2.65). Among respondents who reportedly were aware, family practitioners were more likely than internists (OR = 3.30) to think DTC testing was clinically useful, and 18.9% had patients ask questions or bring in test results. The small percent of physicians who were aware of DTC genetic testing or felt prepared to answer questions about it suggests that education of providers will be necessary if testing becomes more widespread.     

Post-migration Education Among Recent Adult Immigrants to Canada

The present study examines post-migration educational investment by new immigrants to Canada from two perspectives. First, what are the factors that influence whether a new immigrant invests in post-migration education (PME)? Second, is investment in PME associated with improved earnings? The results indicate that younger immigrants from ??non-traditional?? source countries, who are already well educated, fluent in English or French, and worked in a professional or managerial occupation prior to migration are most likely to enroll in PME. But acceptance of previous work experience by Canadian employers lowers the likelihood of investing in PME. Family obligations also reduce the likelihood of participating in PME. Financial limitations are not found to affect participation in PME. The earnings effect of PME is dependent on the type of course undertaken. In the short term, job-related seminars lead to improved earnings growth, while post-secondary courses result in a period of deceased earnings growth. Policy implications are discussed.