Ian Hay

Transition from school for youths with a disability: issues and challenges

Australian research has demonstrated that students with a disability are more likely to remain out of the full‐time workforce. These research findings have been the catalyst for a call for a comprehensive career development and transition planning approach for all students with disabilities in schools as well as for employers to rethink the role of people with disabilities in the workforce. In the Australian context the transition from school for individuals with a disability is complicated by a disparate and fragmented group of service agencies providing a range of services, including employment, supported accommodation, recreation and leisure pursuits, as well as training and placement, along with, at times, a deep‐seated prejudice towards people with disabilities in the market place. This paper reviews a number of issues and challenges confronting individuals with a disability making the transition from school to the post‐school environment.

Language Delays, Reading Delays, and Learning Difficulties Interactive Elements Requiring Multidimensional Programming

Researchers have hypothesized four levels of instructional dialogue and claimed that teachers can improve childrens language development by incorporating these dialogue levels in their classrooms. It has also been hypothesized that enhancing childrens early language development enhances childrens later reading development. This quasi-experimental research study investigated both of these hypotheses using a collaborative service delivery model for Grade 1 children with language difficulties from a socially and economically disadvantaged urban community in Australia. Comparing the end-of-year reading achievement scores for the 57 children who received the language intervention with those of the 59 children in the comparison group, the findings from this research are supportive of both hypotheses. The interrelationships between learning difficulties, reading difficulties, and language difficulties are discussed along with childrens development in vocabulary, use of memory strategies and verbal reasoning, and the need for multidimensional programming.

The Influence of Gender, Academic Achievement and Non‐school Factors Upon Pre‐adolescent Self‐concept

Abstract The influence of gender on the development of elementary school students’ (N = 390) general self‐concept was investigated along with academic achievement. Previous research into the construct of general self‐concept identified mathematics to be a significant influence on the formation of adolescent boys’ general self‐concept. In this study, pre‐adolescent boys’ and girls’ general self‐concepts were significantly influenced by peer and parent relationships and physical appearance; however, only boys’ general self‐concept was influenced by reading and general school dimensions. The absence of school‐related dimensions in the formation of pre‐adolescent girls’ general self‐concept is discussed in terms of gender stereotyping, achievement motivation and striving for success, with the findings contradicting the notion that boys value school and reading less than girls.

Students with Asperger's syndrome in an inclusive secondary school environment: Teachers', parents', and students' perspectives

This qualitative study used focus groups and interviews to investigate the inclusion of students with Aspergers Syndrome (AS) into secondary education from the perspectives of: general teachers; special education teachers; students with AS; and their parents (N = 122). Across the four cohorts, five main themes emerged, however, different cohorts concentrated more on one theme than another. Mainstream teachers concentrated more on the nature of the AS condition and its influence on behaviour and social interactions; special education teachers on collaboration and relationships; parents on burnout and a lack of services; and the students with AS on the notion special educators worked hard to assist others. The fifth theme across the four cohorts was the quality of school facilities. The study found that diversity was both an inter‐cohort and an intra‐cohort variable. The research provides insight into how inclusive practice can be enhanced and why it is a complex, dynamic and multidimensional concept.

Identification of self-verification in the formation of children's academic self-concept

From a self-verification perspective, individuals strive to maintain a consistent self-concept, even if that self-concept is negative. However, most of the research has involved adults and social relationships. In contrast, this study evaluated whether self-verification was also present with children and in the formation of academic self-concept. This was done with a sample of preadolescent students with low and high reading and mathematics performance. There was support for the self-verification notion that individuals with low achievement in one academic domain reduce their self-concept in another.

Reduced Educational Outcomes Persist into Adolescence Following Mild Iodine Deficiency in Utero, Despite Adequacy in Childhood: 15-Year Follow-Up of the Gestational Iodine Cohort Investigating Auditory Processing Speed and Working Memory

There is increasing evidence that even mild gestational iodine deficiency (GID) results in adverse neurocognitive impacts on offspring. It’s unclear, however, if these persist long-term and whether they can be ameliorated by iodine sufficiency in childhood. We followed a unique cohort (Gestational Iodine Cohort, n = 266) where gestation occurred during a period of mild population iodine deficiency, with children subsequently growing-up in an iodine replete environment. We investigated whether associations between mild GID and reductions in literacy outcomes, observed at age 9-years, persisted into adolescence. Comparisons were made between offspring of mothers with gestational urinary iodine concentrations (UICs) ≥ 150 μg/L and < 150 μg/L. Educational outcomes were measured using Australian National Assessment Program—Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) tests. Children whose mothers had UICs < 150 μg/L exhibited persistent reductions in spelling from Year 3 (10%, −41.4 points (95% Confidence Interval −65.1 to −17.6, p = 0.001)) to Year 9 (5.6%, −31.6 (−57.0 to −6.2, p = 0.015)) compared to children whose mothers had UICs ≥ 150 μg/L. Associations remained after adjustment for biological factors, socioeconomic status and adolescent UIC. Results support the hypothesis that mild GID may impact working memory and auditory processing speed. The findings have important public health implications for management of iodine nutrition in pregnancy.

Measuring Middle School Students' Interest in Statistical Literacy

The following paper describes the development of an instrument designed to assess middle school students’ interest in statistical literacy. The paper commences with a review of the literature as it relates to interest in this context and then proposes a theoretical model upon which the proposed instrument is based. The Rasch Rating Scale model is then applied to student responses to items in the instrument and fit statistics are analysed in order to assess the extent to which these responses conform to the requirements of the measurement model. The paper then presents evidence, including interview data, to support the validity of interpretations that can be made from the proposed instrument. The findings suggest that the proposed instrument provides a theoretically sound measure of middle school students’ interest for statistical literacy that will be useful for the evaluation of interventions aimed at developing these students’ statistical literacy.

Enhancing guidance and school counselling consultation services from a self-system psychological perspective

This paper reviews consultation between school guidance counsellors and teachers and parents from a self-system psychological perspective. From this perspective factors, such as self-serving bias, self-enhancement, self-verification, sense of control, and stress coping strategies all impact on the consultation process. The paper addresses the challenge of understanding and minimising the negative ramifications of the self-system factors and suggests strategies that can help build a positive professional relationship. The paper explores the interations between the self-system variables and behaviour so that guidance and school counsellors are in a better position to monitor their interactions and work more effectively with a range of consultees.

Self-concept test generalisability: Self-description questionnaire- I and the perception of ability scale for students

The validity of standardised ossessment instruments and their normative data is a significant issue in school psychology. Consequently, this study of 515 coeducational Queensland Year 5 students investigated the generalisability and robustness of the norms of two contemporary self-concept instruments, the Self-Description Questionnaire-I (SDQ-I; Marsh, 1988) and the Perception of Ability Scale for Students (PASS; Boersma & Chapman, 1992). Both tests have received praise for their theoretical construct but have been criticised for the regionalisation of their norming populations.The results of this study demonstrated that the Queensland students had higher mean PASS self-concept scores than the North American students used in the norming of all the PASS scales. For the SDQ- I, a similar distribution pattern was shown for Queensland students and SDQ-I norming sample, with the exception of small variability with Reading and Mothematics self-concepts scales. Issues associated with interpreting and reporting of assessment results and with the assessment responsibilities of educational psychologists and counsellors are discussed.

Raising levels of school student engagement and retention in rural, regional and disadvantaged areas: is it a lost cause?

ABSTRACT This paper reports on the views of key members of the educational community about student engagement and retention in rural, regional and disadvantaged areas of the Australian state of Tasmania. It provides insights into the attributed reasons for the longstanding low levels of student retention in Tasmania, and the possible ways to militate against the widely censured problem of students leaving school too soon. The paper draws from principles of Bronfenbrenner’s model of ecology to situate the 25 participants who formed the sample of the study in the exosystem of the environment of the young people whose educational attainment and retention in schools is the focus of this work. Data analysis generated three major themes: families and the socio-cultural environment; teachers and teaching; and the school system. The study’s findings play an important role in prompting us to question when, and if, the dire situation of student dropout in the state and in similar contexts worldwide will begin to be reversed. Implications of the work include the need to develop and sustain a strong policy environment in which high-quality education and schooling success are contextualised as key features to which members across the systems and sections of society can contribute.