11 May 2012:
A mind shift is
taking place which views autism not as a deficit, needing a cure,
but simply a different, but valid pathway within human diversity.
This "neurodiversity movement" challenges our traditional
medical model which sees autism as a separate entity from the person
and something needing a cure Kapp, S. et al. (2012, Apr 30). "Deficit,
Difference, or Both? Autism and Neurodiversity." Developmental
Psychology, preview, nps.
4 May 2012:
Substance use increases in African American teens as a result
of feelings of racial discrimination. However, the effect is only
seen in youth who endorse substance use as a coping mechanism. Gerrard,
M. (2012, April 30). "Coping With Racial Discrimination: The
Role of Substance Use." Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, preview,
nps.
2 May 2012:
Diets high is saturated fats are not only bad for your physical
health, they cause impairment of cognitive function and now researchers
also link it to learning and relearning of tasks. Asem, J. et al.
(2012). "The Effect of High-Fat Diet on Extinction and Renewal."
Behavioral Neuroscience, (Apr 30), preview nps.
1 May
2012: The positive
feedback bias refers to previous studies showing that white teachers
give more positive feeback to minority students. New research indicates
this may be tempered by stronger support systems from colleagues and
administration. In the new study, white teachers were less prone to
the positive feedback bias in high-support schools. The support system
though tempered the effect only on the feedback given to Black students.
White teachers show the bias toward Hispanic students, regardless
of school support network.
Harber, K. et al. (2012). "Students'
Race and Teachers' Social Support Affect the Positive Feedback Bias
in Public Schools." Journal of Educational Psychology, Apr 30.,
preview, nps.
20 April 2012:
Preschool / elementary students who come from harsh home environments
with punitive discipline practices, and/or exposure to violence show
declines in academic performance and function. This decline is greatly
exacerbated if the students also experience victimization. Schwartz,
D. et al. (2012, Apr 16). The Link Between Harsh Home Environments
and Negative Academic Trajectories Is Exacerbated by "Victimization
in the Elementary School Peer Group." Developmental Psychology,
preview, nps.
14 April 2012:
Adding traditional paper-based study aids (especially those prompting
key ideas) does increase learning via computer and game-based applications.
Providing a list of main ideas to look for seemed to benefit all learners,
whereas have a paper the students had to fill out as they went along
only favored some learners. Fiorella, L. & Mayer, R. (2012, Apr
9). "Paper-Based Aids for Learning With a Computer-Based Game."
Journal of Educational Psychology, preview, nps.
10 April 2012:
Adolescents who use fitness supplements are at greater risk of
later using illicit perfomance enhancing substances such as anabolic-androgenic
steroids. Other risk indicators include body image disturbance, compulsive
exercise, and perfectionism.Hildebrandt, T, Harty, S.; Langenbucher,
J. (2012, Apr 9). "Fitness Supplements as a Gateway Substance
for Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Use". Psychology of Addictive
Behaviors, preview, nps.
6 April 2012:
Pre-adolescent girls with ADHD were measured for Executive Function
(planning, organization, attention, working memory, etc) and then
tracked for 10 years into adulthood. Regardless of whether or not
the ADHD symptoms continued, the girls continued to show problems
with Exectuve Function into adulthood compared to the control group
of girls without ADHD. Miller, M.; Ho, J.; Hinshaw S. (2012, April
2) "Executive Functions in Girls With ADHD Followed Prospectively
Into Young Adulthood." Neuropsychology, preview nps.
28 Mar 2012:
There is a reciprocal relationship between math interest and
math ability that begins before school even starts. Researchers have
found that preschooler's interest in math predict their math performance
later and preschoolers math skills also predict interest in math later.
Fisher, P. et al. (2012, March 26). "Early Math Interest and
the Development of Math Skills.". Journal of Educational Psychology,
preview, nps.
25 Mar 2012:
Research on rats shows that stress during adolescence causes
an increase in depression and anxiety in adulthood. New research shows
that WHERE in adolescence the stress occurs has an effect too. Stress
in early adolescence causes an increase in both depression and anxiety
problems in adulthood, whereas stress in mid-adolescence did not cause
an increase in axiety related issues but did tend to increase risk-taking
behavior. Wilkin, M., et al. (2012, April). "Intermittent physical
stress during early- and mid-adolescence differentially alters rats'
anxiety- and depression-like behaviors in adulthood." Behavioral
Neuroscience, Vol 126(2), 344-360.
23 Mar 2012:
Researchers used a large pool of elementary children from diverse
ethnic backgrounds who were below average in both literacy and math
at the end of first grade. Half the students were retained a year
and half were promoted onto the next grade. They then tracked the
students through elementary grades using the Woodcock Johnson test
annually. The retained students received a one year boost in achievement
early on, however that boost had completely disappeared by the end
of the elementary grades. Moser, S.;West, S.;Hughes, J. (2012). "
Trajectories of Math and Reading Achievement in Low-Achieving Children
in Elementary School: Effects of Early and Later Retention in Grade.
Journal of Educational Psychology, Mar 19 preview, nps.
21 Mar 2012:
If you work with traditionally gifted, or high achieving students,
you may be aware of the "Big Fish Little Pond" effect which
suggests students may suffer a decline in their academic self concept
if put in groups with higher achieving students. New reserach indicates
that may not be the case - often times it just depends on the educational
environment. When high achieving students were pulled out to attend
supplemental summer programs, not only did their self concept not
deminsh, many of them had a higher academic self concept upon completion.
Makel, M. et al (2012). "Changing the Pond, Not the Fish: Following
High-Ability Students Across Different Educational Environments."
Journal of Educational Psychology, Mar 19 preview, nps.
19 Mar 2012:
People of all ages who suffer from social anxiety are much more
likely to use marijuana to cope in social situations. In fact, they
are more likely to avoid any social situation if marijuana is unavailable.
Heimberg, J. et al. (2012). "Marijuana-related problems and social
anxiety: The role of marijuana behaviors in social situations".Psychology
of Addictive Behaviors, Vol 26(1), 151-156 .
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