General Subject Matter Research Articles

Struggle for the Heartland: The Campaigns from Fort Henry to Corinth, and: Banners to the Breeze: The Kentucky Campaign, Corinth, and Stones River (review)

Struggle for the Heartland and Banners to the Breeze are two new titles in the University of Nebraska Press's Great Campaigns of the Civil War series. In book length and general subject matter, the series recalls the Scribner's Campaigns of the Civil War volumes of the 1880s. The similarities end there, however. The Scribner's series focused almost solely on the battlefield and boasted authors who had played prominent command roles in the campaigns they wrote about (an approach that worked with varying degrees of success, depending on the author's skill and veracity). On the other hand, the University of Nebraska series features professional historians who eschew the traditional narrow tactical study, and instead examine the military operations within a wider political and social context. The books are synthetic works that use the most recent scholarship in providing a comprehensive overview of the campaigns."The most pressing challenge facing Civil War scholarship today," argue series co-editors Anne J. Bailey and Brooks D. Simpson, "is the integration of various perspectives and emphases into a new narrative that explains not only what happened, why, and how, but also why it mattered." The authors of Struggle and Banners, Stephen D. Engle and Earl J. Hess, meet this formidable challenge. Their two studies form a continuous narrative delineating the crucial military operations of 1862 in the war's Western theater—roughly the area between the Appalachian Mountains to the east, the Mississippi River to the west, the Ohio River to the north, and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. The first half of 1862 saw an almost unbroken string of Federal successes in the west. As its subtitle indicates, Struggle traces the Union invasion of the Confederate heartland, beginning with the captures of Forts Henry and Donelson, continuing with the Battle of Shiloh, and concluding with the siege of Corinth, Mississippi. By mid-1862, the momentum appeared to shift, as the Federals consolidated their gains and the Confederates attempted to seize much of the territory they had lost. Banners traces the Confederate counteroffensive that culminated in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, followed by the Southerners' retreat into central Tennessee and the Battle of Stones River. The book also recounts the unsuccessful Confederate effort to recapture Corinth.

Review Article: Household, family and welfare: past, present and future

J. Robin, From childhood to middle age: cohort analysis in Colyton, 1851–1891. (Cambridge: Cambridge Group for the History of Population and Social Structure, Working Paper Series, no. 1, n.d.). Pages iv+83. £2.50.H. Cunningham and P. P. Viazzo (eds.), Child labour in historical perspective, 1800–1985: case studies from Europe, Japan and Colombia. (Florence: United Nations Children's Fund, International Child Development Centre, 1996.) Pages 105. US$9.00.L. Marks, Metropolitan maternity: maternal and infant welfare services in early-twentieth century London. (Amsterdam: Rodopi, 1996.) Pages xxii+344.A. Walker (ed.), The new generational contract: intergenerational relations, old age and welfare. (London: UCL Press, 1996). Pages xiii+241.These four publications vary significantly in their geographical coverage and general subject matter, but it is still possible to identify a number of common themes. They are particularly important for what they reveal about the links between formal welfare provision, protective legislation, family care, and the standard of living. They also yield many individual insights into such matters as family reconstitution, migration, child labour, working conditions, municipal welfare services, the decline of infant and maternal mortality, and the possible existence of a demographic threat to the viability of modern welfare states.

Hidden Agendas

Modem democratic society is a mixture of centralized state power, a powerfulcorporate/finance sector, a virtually monopolized media network, and variouscivil institutions, the underlying ideological themes of which are the freedomof an individual to participate in the decision-making process and toexpress alternative viewpoints in the political, economic, and social spheres.Freedom has always been a cherished ideal, and freedom of thought a hardfought-for reality which today symbolizes one of the outward hallmarks ofmodem, particularly Western, societies. Pilger's book highlights the fact thatwhen this ideal - in essence the ability of a citizen to think, understand, andplay a meaningful role in managing the public affairs of his own society - coexistsalongside the reality of a set of powerful groupings working toward adifferent agenda within the same society, then true participatory citizenshipbecomes meaningless and democracy a sham. In other words, privileged elitesworking for their own wealth and self-interests become the leading orchestratorsof plans or "agendas" to maintain skewed power distributions, keeping thereality of matters so "hidden" from the public that a smoke screen of half-truthsand propaganda is created, preventing those outside from understanding reality,and therefore, acting in their own interests. These hidden agendas can takethe fonn of direct concealment or by the manufacture of consent (as defined byNoam Chomsky) whereby facts are manipulated and presented in such a guiseas to obtain the firm support of the individuals making up society.To the general reader, the title and subject matter of the book will undoubtedlyhave an almost conspiratorial ring about it, enough at least for most ...

Factors Affecting Students' Classroom Teaching Evaluations

Background: Evaluating teaching is becoming more important because it is more frequently used for making administrative decisions about teachers. Purpose: To explore the possible effects of student and class characteristics on students' evaluation of classroom teaching. Method: Three factors--student academic level, class size, and subject matter--were analyzed with the data of students' ratings of classroom teaching in 12medical schools in China. Student academic level ranged from 1st year through 4th year. Class sizes (range = 30 to 200 students) were divided into 4 groups. Four general subject matter categories--basic sciences, basic medical sciences, clinical sciences, and preventive medicine--were examined. Results: Analyses showed that teachers who taught smaller classes and who taught in clinical sciences received higher ratings from students. Conclusions: When students' ratings are used by administration for evaluating classroom teaching, attention should be paid to the variables of class size, year, and subject being taught.

The presently contrived and convoluted view of censorship

I encountered this sign in a wel l -known bookstore while on a business trip earlier this year. It was displayed at roughly eye-level on a small case of books clearly set apart from the moderately extensive collection of books treating of history, current affairs, politics, economics, and related topics. The limited assortment of books in the labelled case dealt with this same general subject matter but from what is currently described as the "conservat ive/neoconservative" perspective. I was hardly dumbfounded by this overt but subtle form of censorship for this is, as I knew, a presently chic and fashionable posture wide ly affected by many involved in the North American book world. Publishers Weekly, for example, is quite unable to deal with a title so oriented without, at least, the de rigueur censorious adjective or adverb, if not a positively condemnatory sentence or two. In much of the library literature the same sanctimonious denigration of views other than the currently fashionable brand of discourse is a matter of routine. I was at the same time reminded of the now virtually unknown Preface for Animal Farm written by George Orwell in 1944 w h e n that MS was, after multiple rejections, finally published.

Complications in Theological Thinking about Other Species: A Reply to David Jones

This discussion concerns some difficulties which occur when we try to think about other, non-human animals. It takes the form of a reply to an article which appeared in this journal in December of 1992. The article, written by David Jones and entitled “Do Whales Have Souls?”, was a free-ranging attempt to ask theologically and philosophically inspired questions about whales and other life. This reply points out difficulties inherent in any thinking about other animals, and in particular those risks which such thinking faces if it relies on primary categories of Catholic theology. Failure to see the limitations of such categories can perpetuate the dismissal of other animals’ possibilities which has been characteristic of the Christian tradition.Jones’ article contains the first mention of whales appearing in this journal, and it aims to be speculative and provocative. While at first we may smile at the range of the questions and the tendency to poetic observation in the article, the general subject matter—the existence of another group of species characterized by large brains, the occurrence of complex inter-individual communication, and both family structure and enduring social networks of distinct individuals—invites speculation of a very pointed sort. This reply argues that two sets of complications arise when Jones tries to think about whales. The first concerns the inherent limitations of familiar theological categories if we use them when trying to assess the significance of other living creatures, and the second concerns the viability of the familiar category of “species” when seeking to understand other animals’ value.

Topographic representation of the visual cortex in man

A study to investigate the expressed nutrition information needs of low-income homemakers enrolled in the California Cooperative Extension's Expanded Nutrition Education Program was undertaken. It was thought that inquiry regarding nutrition needs and interests could identify those needs not previously recognized and pinpoint needs considered most important by the target audience.Program aides in four counties volunteered to gather data on home-makers' interests. The aides were trained to administer a questionnaire consisting of open-ended questions and a ranking question to newly enrolled homemakers. It was hoped that these homemakers were a representative cross-section of homemakers enrolled in the ENEP program during June 1973. At that time, 87% of the homemakers were racial minorities, one-third did not have more than an eighth grade education, and 37% were on welfare. A total of 128 completed questionnaires were returned. The responses were categorized into 10 general nutrition subject matter areas. The three top-ranking categories were divided into subtopics for closer examination.The primary need of low-income homemakers was for information on food shopping, meal planning, cooking, and recipes. They were also very concerned about the best foods for their families and to a much lesser extent, weight control.It is suggested that expressed nutrition information needs be taken into consideration in nutrition education program planning.

Electrophysiological correlates of visual development in premature and full term infants

A study to investigate the expressed nutrition information needs of low-income homemakers enrolled in the California Cooperative Extension's Expanded Nutrition Education Program was undertaken. It was thought that inquiry regarding nutrition needs and interests could identify those needs not previously recognized and pinpoint needs considered most important by the target audience.Program aides in four counties volunteered to gather data on home-makers' interests. The aides were trained to administer a questionnaire consisting of open-ended questions and a ranking question to newly enrolled homemakers. It was hoped that these homemakers were a representative cross-section of homemakers enrolled in the ENEP program during June 1973. At that time, 87% of the homemakers were racial minorities, one-third did not have more than an eighth grade education, and 37% were on welfare. A total of 128 completed questionnaires were returned. The responses were categorized into 10 general nutrition subject matter areas. The three top-ranking categories were divided into subtopics for closer examination.The primary need of low-income homemakers was for information on food shopping, meal planning, cooking, and recipes. They were also very concerned about the best foods for their families and to a much lesser extent, weight control.It is suggested that expressed nutrition information needs be taken into consideration in nutrition education program planning.

High Temperature Fatigue: Properties and Prediction

Abstract High Temperature Fatigue: Properties and Prediction is a good summary text that reviews the major topics in high temperature fatigue of laboratory specimens and its utilization in structural engineering design. The general subject matter is ferritic and austenitic steels utilized in the power generation fields and particularly smooth bar low cycle fatigue and thermomechanical fatigue response.

Cooperative learning and group educational modules: Effects on cognitive achievement of high school biology students

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to examine the effects of cooperative learning and Group Educational Modules (GEM) on the achievement of high school biology students. GEM materials are self‐instructional packets designed for use with groups of biology students. Cooperative learning is a classroom learning environment in which students work in small, mixed‐ability groups toward a common goal. A 2 × 2 factorial design was used in this study. The independent variables considered included (1) participation of students in the GEM project, and (2) use of cooperative learning techniques including heterogeneous grouping and group incentives. The dependent variables for all treatment groups were scores on the instrument developed for this study. A total of 11 teachers with 36 classes and 715 students were included in this study. All teachers involved covered the same general subject matter during the study period. An analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used as the data analysis procedure. Significant differences were found in the achievement of students using GEM materials and those using traditional instructional approaches. The use of cooperative learning also produced significant differences when compared to traditional classroom structures.

Settlement of Space Law Disputes

International Space Law forms one of the most recently established branches of international law. Its progressive development requires effective means to settle disputes at an international level. A generally accepted system to settle disputes on space law matters peacefully would not only benefit the world community by reducing tension in international relations, but would also appear to be indispensible for an increase in the reliability and credibility of this new field of international law.Moreover, enhanced trust in the existing system of international regulation of space activities could facilitate the willingness of nations to extend and elaborate this specific field of international law. Establishment of an effective mechanism for dispute settlement in international space law could positively influence the general subject matter of peaceful settlement of international disputes by setting an example for international relations in the increasingly dependant world of modern times.

Kuwait University and its evaluation program

As the only institution of higher education in Kuwait offering a four-year degree pro- gram, Kuwait University is expected to provide its society and its rapidly changing labor market with professionally trained Kuwaiti nationals in fields requiring up-to-date scientific and technical knowledge. Its location in the Arabian Gulf region requires KU to honor and preserve the Arab and Islamic tradition. Thus, the success of KU graduates in the job market and in society will de- pend on a combination of scientific knowledge and appreciation for local and regional values. With the introduction of the graduate studies program, KU is on the threshold of becoming a ma- jor institution of research and scholarship. With this step forward, KU increases its responsibility to offer a diversified academic program designed to meet the specialized manpower requirements of Kuwait as a major commercial center in the Middle East. To evaluate its programs, KU established the Center for Evaluation and Measurement in 1977 which introduced the Course and Instructor Evaluation project, and later expanded its activities through the KU Academic Evaluation Committee, to include program evaluation. The office of the Vice-Rector for Research was established in 1981 to encourage, support, and develop scientific research activities at Kuwait University. At present, KU has fully realized the importance of educational reform. A few of the issues, identified in this paper, can be outlined as follows: 1. The need for an admission policy to recruit more students competent in general subject matter knowledge as well as in English proficiency, and to assign them fairly to the subject areas of choice. 2. The need to design a research oriented curriculum with stronger emphasis on general educa- tion as required of an undergraduate studies program rather than stressing professionalism. 3. The need for an instructional program that deemphasizes students' total reliance on memori- zation and examinations for completing course requirements. 4. The need to improve instructional and research facilities, as well as make them available to stu- dents and to train students in their proper use. 5. The need to reappraise employment conditions for non-Kuwaiti teaching staff providing them with job security and career certainty. 6. The need for an administratively and financially independent KU, and long-range plan for a campus to accommodate the increasing number of students, faculty, and support staff. This report is based on studies conducted at the Center for Evaluation and Measurement and on the status reports of several foreign consultants, members of the KUAE Committee, who evaluated various departments. The author has highlighted those issues and added his interpretations in vari- ous areas of the academic program dealing with admission and recruitment of students and their career preparation, as well as curriculum, instruction, faculty, research, facilities, and introduction of graduate studies at Kuwait University.

Nonlinguistic beliefs in linguistics

Investigation of the linguistic code in which messages are couched is a legitimate scientific enterprise, even though the study of communication involves a great deal more than just the code itself. Unfortunately, many aspects of the general communication subject matter have been incorporated into the grammatical description of linguistic codes, far more than most researchers realize, and the resulting descriptions have suffered in both accuracy and elegance as a result.

A Content Analysis of the Journal of Research in Music Education, 1953–1983

The purpose of this study was to review the Journal of Research in Music Education from 1953 (the first issue) through 1983, a 31-year period, with particular attention to editorial policies, content analysis, and organization of research topics. Specifically, frequencies and percentages of articles and pages were determined for (a) articles based on dissertations and theses and (b) articles using historical, philosophical, experimental, descriptive, and behavioral research methodologies. Furthermore, articles within each methodology were categorized by general subject matter topic, by the sample characteristics of age and training, and by specific research technique where applicable. All articles (N = 658) were reviewed.

Recent Trends and Advances In Sedimentology

Expansion in our knowledge and understanding of sedimentary rocks has resulted in a recent emergence and sharpened identity of sub-disciplines of study within the general subject matter of sedimentology. Even though technological advances have made possible routine study of the submicroscopic and geophysical properties of sediments and sedimentary rocks, emphasis in approach has shifted from description to conceptual consideration of sedimentary processes.

Expressed nutrition information needs of low-income homemakers

A study to investigate the expressed nutrition information needs of low-income homemakers enrolled in the California Cooperative Extension's Expanded Nutrition Education Program was undertaken. It was thought that inquiry regarding nutrition needs and interests could identify those needs not previously recognized and pinpoint needs considered most important by the target audience. Program aides in four counties volunteered to gather data on home-makers' interests. The aides were trained to administer a questionnaire consisting of open-ended questions and a ranking question to newly enrolled homemakers. It was hoped that these homemakers were a representative cross-section of homemakers enrolled in the ENEP program during June 1973. At that time, 87% of the homemakers were racial minorities, one-third did not have more than an eighth grade education, and 37% were on welfare. A total of 128 completed questionnaires were returned. The responses were categorized into 10 general nutrition subject matter areas. The three top-ranking categories were divided into subtopics for closer examination. The primary need of low-income homemakers was for information on food shopping, meal planning, cooking, and recipes. They were also very concerned about the best foods for their families and to a much lesser extent, weight control. It is suggested that expressed nutrition information needs be taken into consideration in nutrition education program planning.

Standards and Specifications, an Introduction

Some twenty-six articles have been published in the “Reviews of Standards and Specifications” since the advent of this section nearly seven years ago. The time is here to review the subject and to chart a possible course for the future. This review is an introduction to a proposed ASQC publication which will present these articles under a single cover in order to make them available to a wider audience. Because there is virtually no limit on what might be brought together under the general subject matter heading if selections from other journals or periodicals were included in the publication, a decision was made to use only the articles which have been published in this section.

Brock's injuries of the Brain and Spinal Cord, and Their Coverings

The medical literature on trauma of the central nervous system (CNS) has expanded substantially since the last edition of Brock's text was published 14 years ago. Although the current volume resembles its predecessor in format and general subject matter, it is commendably longer and less speculative. Forty contributors, nine of whom are emeritus professors, write from extensive clinical experience emphasizing practical approaches to CNS injuries. Their 26 chapters range from standard discussions of fractures, edema, hematomas, and the like, to thoughtful appraisals of the psychological sequelae of head injury. The analysis of simulation and malingering by Miller and Cartlidge constitutes a particularly refreshing component of a textbook on trauma. Added variety is provided by chapters on boxing, injuries of childbirth, and electrical shock. Most authors have attempted to incorporate new ideas into traditional concepts. Their works are generally well written and substantiated by lengthy lists of references. Other authors had

CONTINGENCY MANAGEMENT IN AN INTRODUCTORY PSYCHOLOGY COURSE PRODUCES BETTER LEARNING1

For the contingency management techniques first devised by Keller (1966, 1968) to become a widely accepted teaching method, it is necessary that they be shown (1) to be applicable to general subject matter and (2) to be superior to traditional lecture methods. The present study demonstrated (1) by successfully teaching the material from a standard psychology text. The superiority of contingency management was established by direct comparison of final examination scores from comparable groups taught the same subject matter by either Keller's method or traditional methods. Students taught by Keller's method also rated the course more favorably.

The Opening Sentence

In any writing the opening sentence has a heavy responsibility. It must seize the reader's attention and make him want to continue, indicate the general subject matter, and impart its information in a pleasing and attractive form. Students in journalism courses are taught a formula for writing the opening sentence—the who-where-when-what-how approach. This will tell who did what, where and when he did it, and will give whatever attendant circumstances can fit into a single sentence. But medical writing is different from a newspaper report. The first sentence has a dual function: it must carry some essential information, particularly the problem under consideration, and at the same time gently translate the reader into the body of the article. There is no need to crowd all the specific information that the news reporter tries to express, nor yet to provide a setting or background such as a short story writer might