Danielle Tracey

Multidimensional Self-Concept Structure for Preadolescents With Mild Intellectual Disabilities A Hybrid Multigroup–MIMC Approach to Factorial Invariance and Latent Mean Differences

Confirmatory factor analysis of responses by 211 preadolescents (M age = 10.25 years,SD = 1.48) with mild intellectual disabilities (MIDs) to the individually administered Self Description Questionnaire I–Individual Administration (SDQI-IA) counters widely cited claims that these children cannot differentiate multiple self-concept factors. Results provide clear support for the a priori eight-factor solution, modest correlations between the factors (Mdn r = .38), substantial reliabilities (Mdn = .90), and invariance of the factor solution over gender, age, and educational placement (regular vs. special, segregated classes). Also introduced is a new hybrid compromise between multigroup and multipleindicator-multiple-cause (MIMIC) approaches to latent mean differences. Consistent with a priori predictions, preadolescents with MIDs have lower self-concepts in segregated classes than in regular classes for three academic self-concept scales (reading, math, and general-school) and, to a lesser extent, peer relationships and global selfesteem, but not for the other three nonacademic components of self-concept (physical, appearance, and parent relationships).

Head mathematics teachers’ beliefs about the learning and teaching of mathematics

This paper reports on an investigation of teacher beliefs concerning the nature of mathematics and the learning and teaching of mathematics. The focus is on the espoused beliefs of 40 Head Mathematics Teachers in Australian secondary schools. These beliefs are compared with the espoused beliefs of classroom mathematics teachers in the same schools and with recent mathematics education reform documents from Australia and USA. A confirmatory factor analysis of responses from a specifically constructed survey identified two factors (child-centredness and transmission) which form the basis for the comparative analysis. Interviews with eight of the Head Mathematics Teachers who responded to the survey provide further detail for these comparisons. The ramifications of the similarities and differences in espoused beliefs of the different groups of teachers and the reform documents are discussed.

Inclusion of Children with Special Needs in Early Childhood Education: What Teacher Characteristics Matter.

Whereas the inclusion of children with special needs in regular classrooms has gained increasing advocacy, teachers’ attitudes vary. Previous studies examining teacher attitudes have focused on primary and secondary schools in the Western world, and little is known about early childhood settings in Eastern countries. This study used MANOVA to examine preschool teachers’ attitudes in Hong Kong (N = 410). Teachers reported only modest support for inclusion. Teachers with training in special education were stronger advocates of inclusion, irrespective of their professional roles (administrator or class teacher), for children with intellectual disability, or visual, hearing, and speech and language impairments. However, neither teacher training nor professional role made a significance difference to teachers’ support of including children with physical disability, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), specific learning difficulty, and the gifted and talented. Implications for practice and further research are explored.

Applying Positive Psychology to Illuminate the Needs of Adolescent Males Transitioning Out of Juvenile Detention

Reducing the recidivism of young offenders is a critical research issue, not only to enhance the future outcomes for the young person but also to reduce the future risk to the community. Navigating the immediate transition from detention back into the community is positioned as a critical milestone. This small qualitative study describes how young offenders participating in a formal mentoring program in Australia experienced the transition from detention to the community and the intrinsic drivers of their behaviour throughout this transition. Perspectives of their mentors and caseworker were also solicited. Importantly, their stories were interpreted through the lens of positive psychology and self-determination theory to discuss the relevance of one’s pursuit of autonomy, relatedness, and competence. Increasing our understanding of these intrinsic motivators will assist young offenders to pursue a better life away from crime and benefit both themselves and the wider community.

A place to learn: cultivating engaging learning environments for young rural Aboriginal Australians

Rural Aboriginal Australians experience disadvantage across a number of significant social and economic outcomes, including educational engagement and achievement. Current debate postulates that educational environments and systems perpetuate this disadvantage. This qualitative study aimed to contribute to the debate by taking a broader ecological view to consider the aspects of the learning environment that may promote engagement with learning. This paper reports on research conducted in a community-based programme designed to support the engagement of young rural Aboriginal students. A total of 32 participants (including children, parents/carers, tutors, managers, and local teachers) were interviewed to explicate their perspectives on the key aspects of the learning environment that fostered student engagement. An analysis of the interview data identified core characteristics that could be employed to foster engagement and thus contribute to developing equity and self-determination for young rural Aboriginal Australians. Core characteristics that were valued included: a focus on learning and individualised pace; a flexible and relaxed atmosphere; individualised assistance; having an adult who showed interest in the child and their learning; providing a culturally secure learning environment; provision of food; supplying transportation; and staff being part of the same community. This paper contends that these characteristics are valued by the community and thus should inform the practices within the community-based programme as well as mainstream education to facilitate future engagement in learning.

Combining Acceptance and Commitment Therapy With Adventure Therapy to Promote Psychological Wellbeing for Children At-Risk

With high rates of psychological distress reported amongst children internationally, the development and evaluation of new program initiatives is critical in order to meet the challenge of this burgeoning issue. Both acceptance and commitment therapy and adventure therapy are emerging as popular strategies to elevate psychological wellbeing. This small-scale program evaluation focuses on nine upper primary school-aged children enrolled in a specialist school in Australia for children with challenging behavior and/or emotional needs. Participants completed a newly developed 8-week intervention entitled ‘ACT in the Outdoors’ which combined key principles of both acceptance and commitment therapy and adventure therapy. The program was evaluated via a combination of pre and post participant psychological measures, and post interviews with participants and teachers. The results of this small-scale preliminary evaluation suggest that a portion of the participating children reported improvements in psychological wellbeing and skill development. Improvements appear to be mitigated by attendance and level of psychological wellbeing upon program entry. Based on this premise, the results suggest that more research is warranted to further understand the potential benefit of this innovative interdisciplinary approach.

Reciprocal relationships between teacher ratings of internalizing and externalizing behaviors in adolescents with different levels of cognitive abilities

Are internalizing and externalizing behavior problems interrelated via mutually reinforcing relationships (with each behavior leading to increases over time in levels of the other behavior) or mutually suppressing relationships (with each behavior leading to decreases over time in levels of the other behavior)? Past research on the directionality of these relationships has led to ambiguous results, particularly in adolescence. Furthermore, the extent to which prior results will generalize to adolescents with low levels of cognitive abilities remains unknown. This second limit is particularly important, given that these adolescents are known to present higher levels of externalizing and internalizing behaviors than their peers with average-to-high levels of cognitive abilities, and that the mechanisms involved in the reciprocal relationships between these two types of behaviors may differ across both populations. This study examines the directionality of the longitudinal relationships between externalizing and internalizing behavior problems as rated by teachers across three measurement waves (corresponding to Grades 8–10) in matched samples of 138 adolescents (34.78 % girls) with low levels of cognitive abilities and 556 adolescents (44.88 % girls) with average-to-high levels of cognitive abilities. The results showed that the measurement structure was fully equivalent across time periods and groups of adolescents, revealing high levels of developmental stability in both types of problems, and moderately high levels of cross-sectional associations. Levels of both internalizing and externalizing behaviors were higher among adolescents with low levels of cognitive abilities relative to those with average-to-high levels of cognitive abilities. Finally, the predictive analyses revealed negative reciprocal longitudinal relationships (i.e., mutually suppressing relationships) between externalizing and internalizing problems, a result that was replicated within samples of adolescents with low, and average-to-high levels of cognitive ability.

Bolstering graduates’ success through working as student ambassadors in university widening participation programs

ABSTRACT Since 2010, the Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program (HEPPP) has provided funding for Australian universities to ‘raise aspiration’ among under-represented groups. Underpinned by utilitarian discourses of human capital and individual capacitation, these resources have transformed the ways that universities seek to engage prospective students. This paper turns to an overlooked cohort that is integral to widening participation initiatives, but has rarely been the focus of research. These are the student ambassadors – university students who work within HEPPP programs. This paper reports findings from the alumni component of a mixed-method study which examines how widening participation programs, which are ostensibly directed at future university enrolments, might also help university students who work as student ambassadors to become successful professionals and citizens once they graduate from university. Alumni accounts of their experiences and self-reported impact of their ambassador work advocate a more holistic view of graduate success and how activities beyond mandatory coursework can contribute to success beyond university graduation. Evidence from student ambassador alumni suggests that these positive impacts are broad and long-lasting, contributing to students’ professional successes and personal lives.

Static postural control among school-aged youth with Down syndrome: A systematic review

BACKGROUND Youth with Down syndrome are characterized by motor delays when compared to typically developing (TD) youth, which may be explained by a lower postural control or reduced postural tone. OBJECTIVE In the present article, we summarize research comparing the static postural control, assessed by posturography, between youth with Down syndrome and TD youth. METHODS A systematic literature search was performed in 10 databases and seven studies, published between 2001 and 2017, met our inclusion criteria. RESULTS Based on the present reviewed findings, it is impossible to conclude that children with Down syndrome present significantly lower static postural control compared to TD children. In contrast, findings showed that adolescents with Down syndrome tended to present significantly lower static postural control compared to TD adolescents when visual and plantar cutaneous inputs were disturbed separately or simultaneously. CONCLUSION The present findings should be interpreted with caution given the limitations of the small number of reviewed studies. Therefore, the static postural control among youth with Down syndrome should be further investigated in future rigorous studies examining the contribution of a range of sensory information.

Exercise interventions to improve balance for young people with intellectual disabilities: a systematic review and meta-analysis

To conduct a systematic review and meta‐analysis of the effects of exercise interventions designed to improve balance in young people with intellectual disabilities.