Task-Dependent Oscillatory Brain Activity During Oculomotor Delayed Response Task

This study used three Oculomotor Delayed Response (ODR) tasks to investigate the unique cognitive demands during the delay period. Changes in alpha power were used to index cognitive efforts during the delay period. Continuous EEGs from 25 healthy young adults (18-34 years) were recorded using dense electrode array. The data was analyzed by 6-cycle Morlet wavelet decompositions in the frequency range of 2-30 Hz to create time- frequency decompositions for four midline electrode sites. The 99% confidence intervals using the bootstrapped 20% trimmed mean of the 10 Hz frequency were used to examine the differences among conditions. Compared to two Memory conditions (Match and Non-Match), Control condition yielded significant differences in all frequencies over the entire trial period, suggesting a cognitive state difference. Compared to Match condition, the Non–Match condition had lower alpha activity during the delay period at each midline electrode site reflecting the higher cognitive effort required.

Priming Prosocial Behavior to Augment Bystander Interventions in Bullying Situations

Bullying is a harmful phenomenon wherein victims have difficulty defending themselves. Bystanders have been identified as a potentially effective group for reducing bullying. The goal of this research is to determine whether prosocial primes (operationalized as empathy and civility) have an effect on increasing bystander interventions among youth. A total of 52 participants between the ages of 10-14 were randomly assigned to two experimental groups or one control group. Participants either received neutral control stories or they were primed twice with stories showing characters acting empathetically or civilly. Testing measures involve a short video and questionnaire assessing willingness to act as a bystander. Results reveal that prosocial training can augment willingness to engage in defending behaviors when compared to the control V = .19, F(2, 46) = 5.53, p < .01, ω2 = .19, correcting for the sphericity violation. This finding represents a relatively easy and non-invasive way to potentially change the bullying-related attitudes of adolescents, thereby potentially reducing bullying behaviors.

Student Perspectives of the Context of Recess; Implications for Student Well-Being

With most students in Canada spending approximately 180 days a year in school, averaging more than six hours a day (Morrison & Kirby, 2011), Wei, Szumilas and Kutcher (2011) argue that this places educational institutions in an unique position in terms of influencing the health and well-being of students. This brings forth the need for school environments to be utilized in ways that are conducive to promoting student development. Much of the educational and developmental components embedded within the school system as well as experiences within greatly influence student’s health and well-being. A national statement was made a concerning American children’s education and mental health that is greatly applicable to the Canadian school system. It was stated that schools “must be active partners in the mental health care of our children” because of the “important interplay between emotional health and school success” (Lazarus & Sulkowski, 2011, pp. 15-16). This identifies the need to ensure that all students, as much as possible, are being provided with safe environments and sufficient support in order to encourage positive developmental trajectories of student health and well-being.

Age-Related Changes in Visual Spatial Working Memory Cognits: Frontal-Parietal EEG Coherence During Delay

This study explored changes in scalp electrophysiology across two Working Memory (WM) tasks and two age groups. Continuous electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded from 18 healthy adults (18-34 years) and 12 healthy adolescents (14-17) during the performance of two Oculomotor Delayed Response (ODR) WM tasks; (i.e. eye movements were the metric of motor response). Delay-period, EEG data in the alpha frequency was sampled from anterior and parietal scalp sites to achieve a general measure of frontal and parietal activity, respectively. Frontal-parietal, alpha coherence was calculated for each participant for each ODR-WM task. Coherence significantly decreased in adults moving across the two ODR tasks, whereas, coherence significantly increased in adolescents moving across the two ODR tasks. The effects of task in the adolescent and adult groups were large and medium, respectively. Within the limits of this study, the results provide empirical support that WM development during adolescence include complex, qualitative, change.

Coping with a Learning Disability: A Case Study

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand a child’s experience with a learning disability (LD) through the way that they cope with it, and how self-esteem, self-efficacy, attribution style, and social support contribute to this process. Qualitative interviews were conducted with one child, his parents, and his teacher, accompanied by a content analysis of the child’s psychosocial assessment report. It was found that the child copes well with having a learning disability, employing a problem-focused/approach coping style by seeking help and practicing for skills he struggles with, an emotion-focused coping style by implementing strategies to alleviate frustration, and compartmentalizing his disability. Further, self-esteem, self-efficacy, attribution style, social support and sports and leisure engagement were found to contribute positively to the coping process. These findings offer useful implications for parents, teachers, and practitioners to support other students with LD.

The Impact of Labeling in Childhood on the Sense of Self of Young Adults

Research studies on labeling of children have either focused on the effects of formal labels on the lives of children with exceptionalities and mental health issues, or the effect of informal labeling by parents, peers and teachers on teenagers. The effects of informal labeling in childhood and its implications in later life or for one’s career choice have not yet been examined. This study adds to the growing research on informal labeling. The purpose of this qualitative study was to determine what negative effects informal labeling of children as deviant had on their lives. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews conducted with seventeen young adults, between the ages of sixteen and thirty years, from a post-secondary institution and an organization for homeless youth. The results showed an initial negative impact on the lives of the young adults during their childhood and early teenage years but as they progressed into their late teens and early adulthood, most were able to overcome their negative labels suggesting resilience. There were no significant gender differences in the impact of the labels. The implications of the study for policy makers and parents are discussed as well as some recommendations for parents and practitioners are offered.

Motivation among reluctant readers: Capturing the goal setting experience in the 'Reading Rocks' program

This study explored goal setting among children with reading disabilities. Of particular focus was the goal setting experience of participants in a literacy-based program, titled “Reading Rocks”. Reading Rocks, offered by the Learning Disabilities Association of Niagara Region (LDANR), supports children with reading disabilities to become more confident readers. The program aims to strengthen literacy skills among vulnerable readers. Another essential component of the program targets children’s reading motivation through goal setting, a recognized strategy for increasing motivation. I outline the importance of reading, followed by exploring children’s reluctance to read. Goal setting is examined as an opportunity to increase motivation among reluctant readers. My research included a qualitative case study of one child-tutor pair in the program. I utilized a think-aloud protocol, a photo elicitation interview, and researcher observations to collect my data. Lastly, I triangulated the data to analyze how children in Reading Rocks experience goal setting.

Examining Bullying Intervention Motivations Through a Cost/Benefit Analysis

The purpose of the present study was to examine the role of the bystander in bullying situations. A cost/benefit model was explored in researching factors adolescents consider in deciding whether to intervene when witnessing bullying. Adolescents in the present study (N = 101 (50.5% female), between the ages of 12 to 18, M = 15.37 years; SD = 1.71 years) completed self-report questionnaires, and also responded to bullying scenarios, stating how the bystander would react, while explaining potential personal costs and benefits. Adolescents were able to articulate various personal costs and benefits when making the decision to intervene. Conclusions of the present study include: 1) the evolutionary approach is quite informative in illuminating the decision process of the bystander, 2) adolescents’ beliefs about bullying and the role of bystanders are different from their teachers’, and 3) the rather explicit cost/benefit model could be used to develop more targeted anti-bullying programs.

Cahier des charges fonctionnel pour la conception et l’évaluation des plans d’intervention

La politique québécoise de l’adaptation scolaire confirme que le plan d’intervention (PI) constitue l’outil privilégié pour répondre aux besoins des élèves handicapés ou en difficulté d’adaptation ou d’apprentissage. Toutefois, la recension des écrits nous informe que le plan d’intervention est encore loin d’être efficace. Le Ministère de l’Éducation, des Loisirs et des Sports du Québec (MELS, 2004) ainsi que l’Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services des U.S. department of Education (dans Eichler, 1999) ont bien identifié et présenté explicitement cinq à six fonctions du PI mais, aucun des deux organismes ne définit ce qu’est une fonction, à quoi elle sert, son importance relative et ce qu’elle implique. De plus, on retrouve, explicitement ou implicitement, soit dans le cadre de référence pour l’établissement des PI (MELS, 2004), soit dans la revue de la littérature, soit dans les milieux de pratique plusieurs autres fonctions que le PI remplit ou devrait remplir. Ce flou entourant le concept de fonction entraîne un manque de rigueur dans la conception des PI, car « lorsque la totalité des fonctions a été identifiée, elle permet le développement d’un produit répondant à l’usage attendu » (Langevin et coll., 1998). Il y a d’emblée une somme de fonctions qu’un PI remplit déjà et d’autres sûrement à remplir. Or, cela n’a pas été élucidé, précisé et validé. Le but de la présente recherche a été de définir les rôles du PI au regard des besoins de ses différents utilisateurs. Les objectifs spécifiques ont été les suivants, 1) Identifier les différents utilisateurs d’un PI, 2) Identifier les besoins des différents utilisateurs d’un PI, 3) Identifier les fonctions qu’un PI doit remplir afin de satisfaire les besoins de ses utilisateurs, 4) Créer un cahier des charges fonctionnel pour la conception et l’évaluation d’un PI, 5) Identifier certains coûts reliés à la conception d’un PI. Afin d’atteindre les objectifs précités, nous avons eu recours à la méthode de l’analyse de la valeur pédagogique (AVP) (Langevin, Rocque et Riopel, 2008). La méthode d’AVP comportait une analyse des besoins des différents utilisateurs potentiels, une analyse de la recension des écrits, une analyse des encadrements légaux, une analyse de produits types et une analyse écosystémique. En conclusion, nous avons identifié les différents utilisateurs potentiels d’un PI, identifié les différents besoins de ces utilisateurs, identifié les fonctions qu’un PI doit remplir pour satisfaire leurs besoins, crée un cahier des charges fonctionnel (CdCF) pour la conception et l’évaluation des PI et identifié certains coûts liés à la conception d’un PI. Le CdCF pourra servir à concevoir des PI et à évaluer leur efficience. Une partie du CdCF pourra aussi remplir un rôle prescriptif pour la conception d’outil de soutien à l’élaboration du PI. Enfin, le CdCF pourra servir à la formation et à la recherche en éducation.

Educar las emociones: una reflexión sobre los programas de educación emocional en la primera infancia a través de la lente de la Psicología Positiva

La primera infancia es la etapa comprendida entre los 0 y los 6 años, y es el momento en el cual el cerebro tiene mayor plasticidad, por lo que en la actualidad se cree que la educación debe iniciar en este momento de la vida. La educación inicial ha venido dejando de lado el interés por los procesos cognitivos y ha puesto su foco de atención en el desarrollo social y emocional de los niños. El objetivo del presente trabajo es describir las características de los programas de educación emocional en la primera infancia a través de la lente de la Psicología Positiva utilizando una metodología cualitativa documental y específicamente el estado del arte. Los resultados obtenidos se dividen en corte empírico y corte teórico; para los de corte empírico se encontró que si bien el target que se pretende impactar son los niños en la primera infancia, varios programas le apuntan a trabajar como primera instancia con los cuidadores de los niños. Por otro lado como variables más comunes se manejaban las habilidades interpersonales y la resolución de problemas. Para los de corte teórico se encontró que los programas se orientan bajo una pedagogía dinámica y que muchos se centran en enfoques orientados a la promoción de habilidades sociales.

O trabalho atrapalha os estudos?

Nas últimas décadas a frequência à escola entre os jovens brasileiros aumentou consideravelmente. A porcentagem de crianças, entre 10 e 14 anos de idade que estão matriculados na escola está acima de 95% e na faixa de 15 a 18 anos de idade, cerca de 70%. Vinte anos atrás estes números eram 80% e 50%, respectivamente. Por outro lado, quando se analisa os dados de participação na força de trabalho o quadro é menos otimista: para ambos os grupos, a participação é bastante elevada e tem apresentado comportamento estável ao longo dos anos. Este estuda analisa o efeito da participação no mercado de trabalho sobre o atraso escolar de crianças de nestes dois grupos de faixa etária utilizando a metodologia de emparelhamento por nota de propensão (propensity score matching) de participação no mercado de trabalho. Como seria de se esperar quanto maior a probabilidade de participar maior o atraso escolar. Mas, nosso principal resultado é que em ambos os grupos e mais acentuadamente para os mais jovens, a diferença de atraso entre os que participam e não participam do mercado de trabalho é mais elevado para valores intermediários de probabilidade de trabalhar. Nos valores extremos da distribuição as diferenças não são tão elevadas e muitas vezes não significantes estatisticamente. Isto significa que para os jovens com elevada probabilidade de participar no mercado de trabalho, e que são os que têm o mais elevado grau de atraso escolar, o trabalho em si não é a maior razão para este mal desempenho. Estes resultados sugerem que as políticas públicas para combate ao atraso escolar entre os grupos mais pobres deveriam ser mais abrangentes envolvendo uma ação mais ampla sobre a família e não apenas na erradicação do trabalho infantil e juvenil.

Um olhar crítico sobre a concessão urbanística em São Paulo: formulação pelo executivo, audiências públicas e regulamentação pelo legislativo

A temática urbana no Brasil foi legitimada pela Constituição Federal em 1988 e pela Lei Federal do Estatuto da Cidade, em 2001. Depois disso, as formulações das legislações municipais, em relação a planos diretores participativos e à regulamentação de instrumentos urbanísticos específicos, têm sido acompanhadas com a promessa de um enfrentamento das desigualdades que integram o cenário urbano brasileiro. Esta dissertação pretende analisar, dentro do contexto supracitado, o processo de formulação e regulamentação do instrumento de intervenção urbana denominado “concessão urbanística”, considerando três momentos distintos. Primeiro: sua origem no Executivo durante a gestão Marta Suplicy (PT, 2001-2004) e sua inserção no Plano Diretor Estratégico de São Paulo (2002-2012). Segundo: a estratégia das gestões José Serra (PSDB, 2005-2006) e Gilberto Kassab (DEM, 2006-2008/2009-atual) de promover a “revitalização” do centro de São Paulo, por meio do projeto Nova Luz, utilizando a concessão urbanística. Terceiro: desde o período das discussões realizadas pela Sociedade Civil quando o projeto de lei sobre a concessão urbanística (projeto de lei nº 87 de 2009) foi enviado à Câmara de Vereadores até o de sua regulamentação pelo Legislativo (Lei Municipal nº 14.917 de 2009). Ao investigar esse processo, a dissertação pretende contribuir para a análise sobre a inclusão da concessão urbanística na agenda pública governamental, considerando as estratégias de atores da Sociedade Civil para influenciar as ações do Governo Municipal. O objetivo é alcançar uma melhor compreensão das limitações na produção de políticas públicas urbanas no contexto democrático pós-Constituição de 1988 e pós-Estatuto da Cidade de 2001.

A agenda das metas e indicadores educacionais: disseminação, atores e desafios

Nos últimos vinte anos vem acontecendo, em âmbito mundial, uma mudança na compreensão do conceito de direito humano à educação. Tradicionalmente esse entendimento envolvia basicamente o acesso aos níveis obrigatórios de escolarização. Hoje, é crescente o consenso de que não só o acesso é fundamental, mas também a qualidade do aprendizado de cada criança e jovem. Assim sendo, as metas e indicadores, que permitem que se quantifique a trajetória e as expectativas de melhorias na educação, ganharam uma dimensão central nos esforços de acompanhamento do cumprimento do direito à educação em todo o mundo. Assim, a presente dissertação tem por objetivo analisar como os atores sociais e governamentais na América Latina como um todo e no Brasil especificamente têm lidado com o uso de metas e indicadores educacionais, enquanto elemento relevante para monitorar o cumprimento do direito humano à educação.

Bandas de música, escolas de vida

The focus of this dissertation is to understand the child and youth musical learning trajectory by using two philharmonic orchestras from Seridó, an area in the interior of Rio Grande do Norte. One is called the Hermann Gmeiner Philharmonic Orchestra of Aldeias Infantis SOS Project from Caicó, and the other is the 24 de Outubro Philharmonic Orchestra from Cruzeta. It emphasizes the singular relationship between the band s master and his students, based on a permanent interaction with tradition, creativity and change, resulting from a shared educational process. The idea that unites the work of these two communities is the gamble about the individual's formation as a complex human being, which it is not just concerned with the learning of a musical instrument, but is, more importantly, an educational process capable of facilitating the discovery of the self, others and society. The history and the course of the musical education of these two experiences were facilitated using a base of semi-structured interviews of the bands masters, students and people from two municipal districts. Their history is understood through analysis of the band s pictures and the theoretical-social approach is governed by the complexity idea expressed by Edgar Morin. For the author, complex means to `weave together`; therefore it is multidimensional, and it creates a dialogue about several domains and aspects that occur on the same phenomenon. The complex always supposes creativity and the relationship between the subject s reason and affectivity

O papel da escola na vida de adolescentes vítimas de violência sexual: risco e proteção

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)