关于初中学业不良者学业求助特征及相关研究

本研究通过问卷与学业测验方法对165名初中生进行了学业不良者学业求助特征及相关研究,其研究结果表明:初中学业不良者在学业求助对象选择上倾向于向同学求助;在求助态度衡量上,他们对求助益处的考虑较少;更能知觉到来自同学的自尊威胁;在求助方式的选择上更倾向于执行性求助。成绩-回避目标、低下的自尊与自我效能感等是学业不良者学业求助特征的影响因素。     

THE EFFECTS OF SEVERE BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN ON THE TEACHING BEHAVIOR OF ADULTS

Applied behavior analysts have focused on how adults can influence the problem behavior of children using a variety of behavior modification strategies. A related question, virtually unexplored, is how the behavior problems of children influence adults. This child-effects concept was explored empirically in a study involving 12 adults who were asked to teach four pairs of children in which one member of the pair exhibited problem behavior and the other typically did not. Results demonstrated that problem children displayed tantrums, aggression, and self-injury contingent on adult instructional attempts but not at other times, whereas nonproblem children showed little or no problem behavior at any time. Importantly, from a child-effects perspective, adults engaged in teaching activities with nonproblem children more often than with problem children. Also, when an adult worked with a problem child, the breadth of instruction was more limited and typically involved those tasks associated with lower rates of behavior problems. The implications of these results are discussed with respect to theories of escape behavior, current assessment practices, and intervention issues related to maintenance. The existence of child effects suggests that problem behavior may be better understood when it is conceptualized as involving a process of reciprocal influence between adult and child.     

发展性计算障碍的最新研究进展

发展性计算障碍是一种影响算术技能获得的特定的学习障碍。截至目前,有关发展性计算障碍的认知与神经机制的理论尚存分歧,有关诊断与鉴别标准也未统一。近年来,对于发展性计算障碍的理论假设有从一般认知因素取向到数学特定因素取向发展的趋势。而随着脑成像技术的不断发展,对于发展性计算障碍神经机制的研究也从针对单个脑区的特异性功能发展到从功能连接网络角度进行研究。并且研究者们开始尝试开发基于数学认知基本理论的干预方法,并采用了利用生物技术手段的新方法。基因-脑-行为的整合研究将有助于全面揭示发展性计算障碍的发生机制,而建立在系统理论基础上经过科学评估的干预手段将可能有效促进障碍者的计算能力。     

Effects of reinforcer choice measured in single-operant and concurrent-schedule procedures

The effects of choice and no choice of reinforcer on the response rates of 3 children with autism were compared across single-operant and concurrent-schedule procedures. No consistent differences in responding between choice and no-choice components emerged during single-operant phases. During the concurrent-schedule phases, however, all participants had substantially higher rates of responding to the button that led to a choice among reinforcers than to the button that did not lead to choice.     

Effects of deprivation on engagement in preferred activities by persons with developmental disabilities

This study examined the effects of deprivation on engagement in activities for 3 adult men with developmental disabilities. First, an assessment was conducted to identify a high- and a low-preference activity for each participant. Second, the high-preference activity was made available following three amounts of deprivation of the activity (15 min, 2 hr, and 1 to 4 days); the low-preference activity was made available following the schedule of deprivation that produced the highest level of engagement by each participant in the high-preference activity. The results were that 1 to 4 days of deprivation produced the highest average amounts of engagement in the high-preference activity for each participant; this amount of deprivation did not produce high engagement in the low-preference activities. Third, the deprivation procedures and results were replicated when high-preference activities were presented by teachers during the participants' daily activities when their engagement had been quite low.     

Does the Conners' Continuous Performance Test Aid in ADHD Diagnosis?

The performance of clinic-referred children aged 6–11 (N = 100) was examined using the Conners' Continuous Performance Test (CPT) and measures of auditory attention (Auditory Continuous Performance Test; ACPT), phonological awareness, visual processing speed, and visual-motor competence. The Conners' CPT overall index was unrelated to measures of visual processing speed or visual-motor competence. Although the Conners' CPT converged with the ACPT, the latter demonstrated age and order effects. Significant variance in Conners' CPT parameters was predicted by phonological awareness measures, suggesting that Reading Disordered (RD) children could be false positives on the Conners' CPT. The Conners' CPT overall index, phonological awareness, and visual-motor measures were submitted to a 2×2 MANCOVA (ADHD vs. RD, covarying for age and socieoeconomic status): a main effect for RD status was found. Children with ADHD did not have higher Conners' CPT scores than did clinical controls; however, children with Reading Disorders did. Phonological measures distinguished RD children from ADHD children and other clinical controls. ADHD children who failed the Conners' CPT were rated by teachers as more hyperactive. Despite the strengths of the Conners' CPT, its utility for differential diagnosis of ADHD is questioned.     

The relation of learning disabilities to the long-term outcomes of concussion

ObjectiveThis study sought to cross-sectionally evaluate the relation between learning disorders (LD) and long-term concussion outcomes.MethodSeventy-three asymptomatic male university athletes (23 history of concussion with LD; 24 history of concussion no LD; 26 controls) completed the Beck Depression Inventory-2 (BDI-II), the Profile of Mood States (POMS), the Cogstate battery, and an Oddball task during which event-related brain potentials were recorded.ResultsConcussed athletes with LD exhibited greater depressive symptoms (BDI-II), greater total mood disturbance (POMS), decreased accuracy on the One-Card Learning and the N-back task (Cogstate), decreased accuracy on the Oddball task, and reduced ERN amplitude relative to both the concussed athletes without a LD and controls. Concussed athletes with LD also exhibited prolonged P3 latency relative to controls. Irrespective of LD, concussed athletes exhibited increased anger-hostility and decreased Pe amplitudes relative to controls. No differences were observed in P3a amplitude or latency.ConclusionHaving LD may be a significant factor moderating the neurophysiological, cognitive and psycho-affective outcomes of concussion, and may explain a significant portion of the persistent deficits observed by researchers and clinicians.     

Inhibition and shifting in children with learning deficits in arithmetic and reading

The executive functions of inhibition and shifting were studied in arithmetic-disabled children, reading-disabled children, reading plus arithmetic-disabled children, and controls (N = 74). Measures involved the rapid naming of objects, digits, letters, or quantities with or without additional task requirements that reflected inhibition or shifting. Also, the Making Trails task, reflecting shifting, was administered. For tasks without executive demands, arithmetic-disabled children were slower in the naming of digits and quantities, whereas reading-disabled children were slower in the naming of digits and letters. For the executive tasks, arithmetic-disabled children as well as reading plus arithmetic-disabled children were impaired on the Making Trails task and on an object naming task that required both inhibition and shifting. Reading-disabled children exhibited no problems in executive functioning. Furthermore, it was shown that reading plus arithmetic-disabled children experienced the combination of problems that characterize children with a single learning deficit.