Ideological Contestation on Twitter Over Diversity: Constructions of Diversity as Clashing Projects

The problematic of diversity today circulates a discourse on human differences and similarities which is also taken up by actors with controversial political agendas, notably right-wing populist and neoconservative movements. Focusing on contestation over the meaning of “diversity” by lay actors in social media, we suggest here that different constructions of diversity may be seen as clashing projects largely shaping each other through their emphasis on differences or similarities among people. In a qualitative analysis on the tweets mentioning diversity in Greek over a year, constructions of diversity were mirror images of each other across two independent ideological tensions, with distinct social stakes. Individualist constructions of diversity praising individuals' differences clashed over the legitimation of power with majoritarianist constructions emphasizing social homogeneity, and universalist constructions of diversity advocating the fundamental similarities of individuals clashed over the legitimation of social identities with particularist constructions praising cultural differences. Those constructions converse with basic social psychological models of diversity, suggesting that the emphasis on difference or similarity across people may stem from a dynamic context of political confrontation. The findings also suggest that right-wing populist representations may be channeled by the content of contestation and the positions held by the other side.     

Metacognitive components of writing: Construction and validation of the Metacognitive Components of Planning Writing Self-inventory (MCPW-I)

IntroductionWriting and metacognition play an essential function in the learning process, in that writers engage arduous cognitive efforts by selecting and organizing ideas, then reviewing and readjusting them.ObjectiveThe present research aimed to construct and validate a self-report instrument to measure some specific metacognitive processes implicated in writing planning. Two categories of metacognitive components were considered: metacognitive knowledge and self-regulation strategies.MethodBased on exploratory and confirmatory analyses, the Metacognitive Components of Planning Writing Self-inventory (MCPW-I) was constructed and validated. This instrument is composed of three factors: Metacognitive Conditional Knowledge – MCK (6 items), Covert Self-regulation – CSF (4 items), and Environmental self-regulation – ESF (5 items). 1022 undergraduates students engaged in various programs of a French university filled in the inventory.ResultsThe alpha coefficients indicated a reliable internal consistency and the test-retest reliability showed a good temporal stability. Correlational analyses revealed that the CRS factor was related to ESR and MCK factors, and these last two were not correlated with each other. After the analysis of variance, the responses relative to ESR and MCK dimensions differed according to gender, but no differences relatively to the academic disciplines considered was found. Concerning the predictive validity, CSF and MCK were correlated with writing performance.ConclusionThe results confirm the validity and reliability of the MCPW-I which constitutes a new research tool for the study of metacognitive processes of writing.     

The eternal yearning

Parker Palmer defines spirituality as ‘the eternal yearning to be connected with something larger than our own egos’ (2003, 121). This yearning is an innate human need that transcends age, culture, ethnicity and belief. Despite deficit assumptions about young people, they are drawn to this need to surmount the ego and contribute to something larger than their own wants and needs. Two counter stories of young people involved in social activism outline how this is achieved. These are stories of contribution, compassion, empathy and understanding. Implications for schools are outlined including the range of learning that social activism inspires.     

Abusive interactions and burnout: Examining occupation,gender, and the mediating role of community

Abstract

Two studies examined the association of gender and occupational group (nursing versus non-nursing) with perceived risk of abuse (sexual harassment and verbal and physical abuse) as well as the relationship of perceived abuse risk with burnout and sense of community. Study 1, comprising of two settings (tertiary care hospital, N = 3,062; psychiatric hospital, N = 383), found gender and occupational group associated with perceived risk of abuse (women felt greater risk than men; nurses felt greater risk than non-nurses). It also found a gender/occupational group interaction. Study 2, conducted at an Irish tertiary care hospital (N = 892), found nurses felt at greater risk for all three types of abuse than did non-nurses. Further, women perceived themselves at greater risk for sexual harassment and verbal abuse than did men; the study found no gender difference regarding physical abuse. The analysis identified a gender/occupational group interaction for sexual harassment. The study considers methods of reducing perceived risk in regard to the research literature on abuse at work.     

Development of decisional balance and self-efficacy measures for adolescent sedentary behaviors

Writing about traumatic events can produce health benefits, yet emotionally non-expressive or cognitively avoidant individuals may be unwilling or unable to express their emotions. This study examined non-expression, cognitive avoidance, response to writing, and subsequent health. As part of a larger study, participants ( N = 71) with asthma or rheumatoid arthritis (RA) wrote about traumatic experiences for 20 min on three consecutive days. Alexithymia, denial, behavioral disengagement, mental disengagement, focus on/venting of emotions, avoidant thoughts, and health status were assessed at baseline, health status again 4 months after writing. Essays were coded for how personal and how emotional they were, and for narrative structure. Non-expression and cognitive avoidance were neither related to how personal or emotional essays were, nor to affective response to writing. High levels of denial or avoidant thoughts predicted less narrative structure. Avoidant thinking marginally predicted health improvements in RA patients. Results suggest that non-expression and cognitive avoidance do not interfere with writing in terms of emotional engagement, but may influence narrative use.     

从诺贝尔医学奖获取教益

通过对诺贝尔医学奖100余年获奖项目和获奖者的分析研究,发现创造性成果获奖多,基础研究成果获奖多,获奖者大多具有多学科的知识结构,获奖者大多出自一流的学术环境和获奖者都具有崇高的精神品质等特点.并且指出,我国要向诺贝尔医学奖迈进,就必须重视创造性、基础性成果的研究,必须重视和加强医学工作者和医学生创造性和综合素质的培养,必须营造有国际级科学大师引领的世界一流的学术环境.     

部件特征和正字法意识在儿童汉字书写发展中的作用

研究以北京地区262名汉语儿童为研究对象,探讨了部件复杂程度和部件数量对儿童延迟抄写成绩的影响,并通过一年的追踪,考察了儿童书写加工基本单位及其发展变化历程,并分析了儿童的正字法意识对其书写能力发展的预测作用。实验一发现汉语儿童的书写单位是一个从笔画到部件的多水平发展过程,在控制整字笔画的情况下,对于部件复杂的汉字,以笔画为单位进行编码,错误类型以笔画乱写和部件错误为主,而对于由简单部件组成的汉字,主要以部件为单位进行组块,儿童多犯部件替换的错误。实验二发现在部件复杂程度相同的情况下,汉字所包含的部件数量越多,儿童的书写正确率越低,多犯部件缺失和部件替换的错误。实验三发现儿童一年级的正字法意识能够显著预测当年及一年后的书写成绩,表明正字法意识对于儿童的书写发展具有重要作用。     

同伴互动类型对三年级小学生写作水平的影响

研究通过对比同伴辅导、合作、协作等三种同伴互动写作方式与个体化写作教学干预前后,三年级学生独立写作水平的变化,了解同伴互动类型对初学者写作水平的影响.结果发现,和个体化写作相比,三种同伴互动写作方式均更有利于整体写作水平和"结构"维度写作水平的提高;但合作写作最为突出,不仅在各个维度都优于个体化写作,而且在"选材"维度上还优,于同伴辅导写作和协作写作.这说明,社会性互动有利于初学者写作水平的提高,且主要表现为提升记叙文的结构完整性和层次清楚性;但只有兼顾"个人责任"和"高平等性、相互性",社会性互动对写作的促进作用才能更加充分地发挥.     

"史诗"和"碎片":解读《希望原理》文本之钥

西方马克思主义哲学家恩斯特·布洛赫的《希望原理》是理解其思想的最主要文本之一。但是对文本特征的把握不够使得此书长期以来像天书一般无解。该文认为,只有理解《希望原理》的“史诗性”特征和“碎片性”特征,才可能进入布洛赫的这部著作。无论布洛赫的生平还是《希望原理》的思想内容、文本结构抑或精神气质,都与荷马史诗有重重关联。而布洛赫有意识运用的碎片化写作策略,又使得《希望原理》成为一部反体系的哲学著作。