On convergence of the generalized Maxwell scheme: conductivity of composites containing cubic arrays of spherical particles

The Maxwell concept of equivalent inhomogeneity generalized to account for the interactions between the particles in the cluster and combined with recently reported results on the polarizability of a cube is used to evaluate the effective conductivities of the materials reinforced by cubic arrays of spherical particles. New numerical results demonstrate that the estimates of the effective properties based on the generalized Maxwell scheme with the equivalent inhomogeneity of cubic shape converge to the accurate periodic benchmark solutions, unlike spherical shape-based estimates.     

Deterministic Chaos and Computational Complexity: the Case of Methodological Complexity Reductions

Some problems rarely discussed in traditional philosophy of science are mentioned: The empirical sciences using mathematico-quantitative theoretical models are frequently confronted with several types of computational problems posing primarily methodological limitations on explanatory and prognostic matters. Such limitations may arise from the appearances of deterministic chaos and (too) high computational complexity in general. In many cases, however, scientists circumvent such limitations by utilizing reductional approximations or complexity reductions for intractable problem formulations, thus constructing new models which are computationally tractable. Such activities are compared with reduction types (more) established in philosophy of science. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Change schools through revolution,not evolution

The school's traditional practices are linked to current failures and to the limited prospects of future success. The major problems with current school practices are: adopting instructional programs that have never been fieldtested and revised on the basis of data; using diagnostic practices that blame the child as being the sole cause of poor performance; using testing techniques that do not imply curricular remedies; promoting children beyond their grade-level performance; failing to provide teachers with effective training and monitoring. Recommendations for changing the system to become accountable and databased include: bringing pressure from outside the system; lobbying for alternatives to public schools; promoting intervention by the board; involving parents in union negotiations; establishing committees of expert teachers to review administrative proposals and report to the board. The central feature of the plan is to fire administrators who fail to meet attainable student-achievement goals. This practice would ensure that administrators are reinforced when children succeed, a feature that is not part of current practices.     

Is the three-term contingency trial a predictor of effective instruction?

Two experiments are reported which test the effect of increased three-term contingency trials on students' correct and incorrect math responses. Experiment 1 included two junior high school students in need of special instruction in mathematics while in Experiment 2 two other students with similar instructional needs from the same classroom were studied. In the first experiment the increased rate of presentation (3 times the baseline rate) was done without regard to whether the antecedent teacher presentations to the student were presented vocally or in written form; in the second experiment, the rates of presentation were systematically rotated across written and vocal presentations. The dependent variables were rate per minute of correct and incorrect responses of students (vocal or written). The experiments used designs incorporating features of the multiple baseline (Students A and B) and reversal (Students B, C, and D). The data showed that increasing the number of three-term trials increased correct rates while incorrect rates remained relatively low. The second experiment replicated these findings with two other students and found that the treatment effect occurred independently with vocal and written antecedents when each was isolated. The results warrant further research to test whether or not rates of presentation of three-term contingency trials are predictors of effective instruction.     

How competent are trainee and newly qualified counsellors to work with Lesbian,Gay, and Bisexual clients and what do they perceive as their most effective learning experiences?

Aim: Professional therapy organisations promote the importance of working with difference, yet subtle negative biases towards lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) clients continue. Issues of competence in this area have only recently been addressed. This research aims to study the effectiveness of training to support therapists working with LGB clients in Britain. Method: Students (past and present) of an integrative counselling diploma course completed questionnaires including: background details, a Sexual Orientation Counselor Competence scale (Bidell, 2005), and two qualitative questions about previous learning relating to LGB issues. Quantitative analysis utilising a one way ANOVA test was used to compare the levels of competence at different times in training, and grounded theory to analyse the qualitative responses. Results: Results show that students have a high level of awareness, although a lower level measured in year two of the programme. The qualitative results indicate the learning value of personal experiences. Further themes describe the ways in which students learnt about LGB issues. Discussion: The reduction in scores for awareness may indicate that training facilitates a deeper understanding of self. Key themes indicate the importance of challenging old internal working models of sexual orientation. Implications for practice: The results will enable competences and effective learning experiences to be mapped in the curriculum.     

培训迁移影响因素研究述评

对培训迁移的研究从关注培训本身发展到关注培训以外影响其效果的因素,且焦点集中在对于企业来说更可控的因素上,主要是迁移气氛与组织特征。培训迁移气氛包括情境线索与结果两个维度。该文分析了影响培训迁移的几个主要因素,并根据已有的研究,提出了培训迁移研究未来的方向,例如,组织和个人的职业生涯管理与培训迁移的关系,以及培训类型的扩展对培训迁移带来的影响     

Re-Examination of Classroom Rules

Abstract

This article provides a contemplative, research-based discussion of classroom management by examining classroom rules. The introduction contains a discussion establishing the importance of effective classroom management strategies. The article also provides a consideration of the literature to gain a better understanding of ineffective and effective rules.     

运动中的效能期望、归因和情感反应的相关研究

运用Ｒｕｓｓｅｌｌ的归因维度量表等问卷对被试的效能期望、归因和情感反应进行相关研究，结果表明：效能期望影响着被试运动中的归因和情感反应；所测被试倾向于把运动结果归于个人可控的、不稳定的和内部的原因；归因能预测运动后的情感反应，但并非所有的归因维度都与运动后的情感反应有显著性相关；成败结果是影响被试归因和情感反应的重要因素；运动中的效能期望、归因方式和情感反应均存在着显著的性别差异。     

Poverty and the Peril of Particulars

Moral extremists argue for a demanding duty of poverty relief by leveraging powerful intuitions about our duties to rescue those close at hand. I clear the way for a less demanding duty by arguing that this argumentative strategy commits the extremist to a conception of our duty in the face of global poverty that is deeply at odds with our convictions about how we may discharge that duty. These convictions reveal that global poverty and easy rescue cases give rise to duties of different kinds: whereas duties of rescue are ultimately explicable by appeal to moral claims to assistance, duties of poverty relief are not. The extremist’s most compelling argumentative strategy is therefore not viable—he may not straightforwardly appeal to facts about the demandingness of duties of rescue in arguing for demanding duties of poverty relief.     

有效的领导者及其权力的行使

本文在大量关于领导与权力的研究基础上 ,深入阐述了领导者的权力的本质及其基础 ,并区分了领导者的职权与个人权力 ,认为一味地依靠职权作为领导的基础只能产生各种消极的组织行为 ,而有效的领导者往往依靠个人权力来影响职工 ,激励职工。最后 ,本文也讨论形成个人权力的途径以及个人权力行使方法和注意的问题。