Aim
To better understand the neural and performance factors that may underlie developmental coordination disorder (DCD), and implications for a multi-component account.

Method
A systematic review of the experimental literature published between June 2011 and September 2016 was conducted using a modified PICOS (population, intervention, comparison, outcomes, and study type) framework. A total of 106 studies were included.

Results
Behavioural data from 91 studies showed a broad cluster of deficits in the anticipatory control of movement, basic processes of motor learning, and cognitive control. Importantly, however, performance issues in DCD were often shown to be moderated by task type and difficulty. As well, we saw new evidence of compensatory processes and strategies in several studies. Neuroimaging data (15 studies, including electroencephalography) showed reduced cortical thickness in the right medial orbitofrontal cortex and altered brain activation patterns across functional networks involving prefrontal, parietal, and cerebellar regions in children with DCD than those in comparison groups. Data from diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging suggested reduced white matter organization involving sensorimotor structures and altered structural connectivity across the whole brain network.

Interpretation
Taken together, results support the hypothesis that children with DCD show differences in brain structure and function compared with typically developing children. Behaviourally, these differences may affect anticipatory planning and reduce automatization of movement skill, prompting greater reliance on slower feedback-based control and compensatory strategies. Implications for future research, theory development, and clinical practice are discussed.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/dmcn.13530

Cognitive and neuroimaging findings in developmental coordination disorder: new insights from a systematic review of recent research

Two nonparametric procedures for detecting differ ential item functioning (DIF)—the Mantel-Haenszel (MH) procedure and the simultaneous item bias (SIB) procedure—were compared with respect to their Type I error rates and power. Data were simulated to reflect conditions varying in sample size, ability distribution differences between the focal and reference groups, pro portion of DIF items in the test, DIF effect sizes, and type of item. 1,296 conditions were studied. The SIB and MH procedures were equally powerful in detecting uniform DIF for equal ability distributions. The SIB procedure was more powerful than the MH procedure in detecting DIF for unequal ability distributions. Both procedures had sufficient power to detect DIF for a sample size of 300 in each group. Ability distribution did not have a significant effect on the SIB procedure but did affect the MH procedure. This is important because ability distribu tion differences between two groups often are found in practice. The Type I error rates for the MH statistic were well within the nominal limits, whereas they were slightly higher than expected for the SIB statistic. Com parisons between the detection rates of the two proce dures were made with respect to the various factors. Index terms: differential item functioning, Mantel- Haenszel statistic, power, simultaneous item bias statis tic, SIBTEST, Type I error rates.

Performance of the Mantel-Haenszel and Simultaneous Item Bias Procedures for Detecting Differential Item Functioning. Laboratory of Psychometric and Evaluative Research Report No. 252.

Methods for detecting item score patterns that are unlikely (aberrant) given that a parametric item response theory (IRT) model gives an adequate description of the data or given the responses of the other persons in the group are discussed. The emphasis here is on the latter group of statistics. These statistics can be applied when a nonparametric model is used to fit the data or when the data are described in the absence of an IRT model. After discussion of the literature on person-fit methods, the use of person-fit statistics in empirical data analysis is briefly discussed. In some situations, the analysis of item score patterns might reveal more information about examinees than the analysis of test scores. Finding an aberrant pattern does not explain the reason for the aberrance. A full person-fit analysis requires additional research into the motives, strategies, and backgrounds of the examinees who deviate from the statistical norm set by the model or group.

/pdf/detection-of-aberrant-item-score-patterns-a-review-of-recent-25ibnxea7z.pdf

Detection of Aberrant Item Score Patterns: A Review of Recent Developments. Research Report 94-8.

Diagnostic criteria for DCD: Past and future.

There is a growing concern that when scores from low-stakes assessments are reported without considering student motivation as a construct of interest, biased conclusions about how much students know will result. Low motivation is a problem particularly relevant to low-stakes testing scenarios, which may be low stakes for the test taker but have considerable consequences for teachers, school districts, or educational and governmental institutions. The current review addresses the impact of motivation on assessment scores and research that have identified methods for minimizing the error introduced by unmotivated test takers. A comprehensive review of the test conditions that have been shown to influence motivation is provided. In addition, the review identifies a number of circumstances under which motivation can be enhanced or diminished. The benefits and limitations of the various measurement techniques that have been used to mitigate the negative impact of low-motivation test takers on score interpretation are discussed.

/pdf/measuring-motivation-in-low-stakes-assessments-7fwefvri0o.pdf

Measuring Motivation in Low-Stakes Assessments

Starting with the "right" foot minimizes sprint start time.

When large-scale assessments (LSA) do not hold personal stakes for students, students may not put forth their best effort. Low-effort examinee behaviors (e.g., guessing, omitting items) result in an underestimate of examinee abilities, which is a concern when using results of LSA to inform educational policy and planning. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between examinee motivation as defined by expectancy-value theory, student effort, and examinee mathematics abilities. A principal components analysis was used to examine the data from Grade 9 students (n = 43,562) who responded to a self-report questionnaire on their attitudes and practices related to mathematics. The results suggested a two-component model where the components were interpreted as task-values in mathematics and student effort. Next, a hierarchical linear model was implemented to examine the relationship between examinee component scores and their estimated ability on a LSA. The results of this study provide evidence that motivation, as defined by the expectancy-value theory and student effort, partially explains student ability estimates and may have implications in the information that get transferred to testing organizations, school boards, and teachers while assessing students’ Grade 9 mathematics learning.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/2158244011421803

Modeling Student Motivation and Students' Ability Estimates From a Large-Scale Assessment of Mathematics

Teachers’ conceptual understanding of elementary mathematics is believed to be fundamental to effective classroom level mathematics reform. This study examined preservice teachers’ change in conceptual mathematical knowledge after taking a reform-based mathematics methods course as part of a teacher certification program, and investigated the relationship between this change and factors such as preservice teachers’ academic background, initial levels of conceptual and procedural mathematical knowledge and values, and the number of mathematics courses taken in high school and university. The results of this study suggest that the number of mathematics courses taken in high school may influence growth in conceptual mathematical knowledge, while preservice teachers’ subject-area background and the number of university mathematics courses taken did not appear to influence growth in conceptual mathematical knowledge as needed to teach in a reform-based manner.

/pdf/factors-that-impact-preservice-teachers-growth-in-conceptual-43r7nda3dx.pdf

Factors that Impact Preservice Teachers’ Growth in Conceptual Mathematical Knowledge During a Mathematics Methods Course

The purpose of this study was to provide evidence of reliability and validity for the use of a Microsoft Kinect system to measure displacement in human movement analysis. Three dimensional (3D) video motion systems are commonly used to analyze human movement kinematics of body joints and segments for many diverse applications related to gait analysis, rehabilitation, sports performance, medical robotics, and biofeedback. These systems, however, have certain drawbacks pertaining to the use of markers, calibration time, number of cameras, and high cost. Microsoft Kinect systems create 3D images and are low cost, portable, not markers required, and easy to set up. They lack, however, evidence of reliability and validity for human movement kinematics analysis. Twenty-six participants were recruited for this study. Peak Motus version 9 and Microsoft Kinect system with customized skeleton software were used to collect data from each subject sitting on a platform moving horizontally at the speed of 2.4 meters per minute. The Peak Motus system demonstrated higher degree of reliability for all body joints when compared to the Kinect system. In terms of validity evidence, the Kinect system demonstrated a stronger agreement to the Peak Motus system for the left and right knee joints. The results of this study support the literature and indicate that the Kinect system has potential to be used as a tool to measure and analyze human movement kinematics.

/pdf/the-use-of-microsoft-kinect-for-human-movement-analysis-3mksgzroej.pdf

The Use of Microsoft Kinect for Human Movement Analysis

Purpose: To investigate the effects of patellar taping (Leukotape® (LT), Pinetown, South Africa, Kinesio Tape (KT), Dortmund, Germany, or no tape) on lower extremity kinematics in runners with and ...

Carlos Zerpa

Papers

Starting with the "right" foot minimizes sprint start time.

Modeling Student Motivation and Students' Ability Estimates From a Large-Scale Assessment of Mathematics

Factors that Impact Preservice Teachers’ Growth in Conceptual Mathematical Knowledge During a Mathematics Methods Course

The Use of Microsoft Kinect for Human Movement Analysis

The effect of patellar taping on lower extremity running kinematics in individuals with patellofemoral pain syndrome.