PREFERRED CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND REDUCED PROBLEM BEHAVIORS IN STUDENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES

This research examined the relation between students' preferences for curricular activities and the occurrence of problem and desirable behaviors in 3 students with moderate intellectual disabilities. Activity preference was determined with a systematic assessment procedure. Subsequently, the influence of activity preference on student behavior was evaluated using a reversal design. Results showed that preferred activities were associated with reduced levels of problem behavior and increased levels of desirable behaviors. The findings of this investigation contribute to the applied literature on activity preference and suggest directions for future research in the areas of curriculum design, preference, and curricular modifications as a viable behavior-management strategy.     

工程活动的伦理责任

自觉地担负起对人类健康、安全和福利的责任是工程伦理学的第一主题。工程活动的伦理责任,是随着科学技术对社会的影响力日益增大而出现的。科学技术力量的强大和高速度发展以及后果的不确定性,使我们置身于巨大的风险之中,是我们需要责任伦理的根本原因。工程活动的伦理责任是多层次的。从根本上说来,工程乃是一项集体的以至全社会的活动过程,这就要求伦理学建立在新的基础上。     

Construct validity of the medical specialty preference inventory: A critical analysis

The Medical Specialty Preference Inventory (MSPI; Zimny, G.H. (1979). Manual for the Medical Specialty Preference Inventory. St. Louis, MO: St. Louis University School of Medicine), a measure of medical students’ interests, was substantively and empirically examined to identify an underlying factor structure. A factor model for the original MSPI based on 38 factors in five general areas was evaluated on a national sample of 1014 medical students and yielded poor fit to the data. Exploratory factor analyses at the item level utilizing the full pool of MSPI items produced an 11 factor solution with 88 items. Sub-scales were identified within this model and an 11-18 higher-order model and an 18 sub-scale model also were proposed. The relative fits of the three models were evaluated by confirmatory factor analysis with the 18 sub-scale model shown to be superior. This model was cross-validated on a separate sample of 1016 medical students and fit the data well. All sub-scales exhibited adequate internal consistency across samples. These findings support the need for a revised MSPI based on 18 scales. Implications of these findings for MSPI scoring practices are discussed along with future directions.     

(Spi)ritual interaction in musical activity for infants in the church space – a qualitative analysis

Abstract

Early mother–infant interaction has been seen as very important for the development of religiosity and spirituality. This case study examines one specific musical activity for infants and mothers from the perspective of human interaction. The studied activity is ‘Babysalmesang’, or baby hymn singing (BHS), within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark. Meetings are held in church buildings and include singing hymns and other songs, playing in and exploring the church space. The qualitative empirical data on BHS activities were collected through video recording, observing and interviewing. The initial analysis on the data showed that four types of interaction can be found: mother–infant interaction, interaction between the participants, interaction between the participants and instructors and ritual interaction. BHS can be seen as a space for (spi)ritual interaction. In this context, nurturing spirituality combines with religious elements. Together with mother–infant interaction, also other types of interaction might nurture spirituality in early childhood.