Showing papers by "Rider University published in 2007"
TL;DR: Results suggest that an underlying negative cognitive style may account for the stress generation effect often found in depressed individuals, particularly for women.
168 citations
TL;DR: Amabile et al. as mentioned in this paper examined the reliability of ratings of sentence captions and found that captions appear to be a useful way of measuring creativity with a reasonable level of reliability in the frame of CAT.
129 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigate a strategy of "concession" that draws upon the societal rule of reciprocation, which makes the waiving of inconsequential audit differences transparent.
Abstract: Auditors face the challenging tasks of attesting that the financial statements are free from material misstatement while simultaneously fostering a functional working relationship with the client. As the financial statements may be considered, in part, a product of negotiations between the auditor and client management (Antle and Nalebuff 1991), the negotiation strategy employed by the auditor may be useful in effectively fulfilling both tasks. To investigate the effect of auditor strategy on the resolution of proposed audit adjustments in a post Sarbanes‐Oxley environment, we conduct experiments that examine both the client and auditor sides of the negotiation. We investigate a strategy of “concession” that draws upon the societal rule of reciprocation, which makes the waiving of inconsequential audit differences transparent. Specifically, with a concession approach, the auditor brings to the attention of the client all the audit differences (both significant and inconsequential) discovered during the au...
105 citations
TL;DR: This paper explored the experiences of two pairs of preservice teachers who co-taught as they were placed with teams of collaborating cooperating teachers for a semester-long student teaching experience.
Abstract: To adequately prepare preservice teachers to implement inclusive classrooms, teacher preparation programs must encourage professional interaction, collaboration, and knowledge about inclusion. Although some of these skills can be presented in coursework, prospective teachers must be provided with opportunities to practice these skills in classroom settings. This case study explored the experiences of two pairs of preservice teachers who co-taught as they were placed with teams of collaborating cooperating teachers for a semester-long student teaching experience. Analysis of data sources including student journals, interviews, and observation notes resulted in themes including the comfort of peer support, the impact of personality on the co-teaching experience, the structure of co-teaching interactions, and the impact on children. Implications for designing collaborative experiences in teacher education programs are discussed.
99 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a discussion of how to safeguard children from and educate them about online sexual solicitation and pornography is presented. But, the authors do not address the issue of online sexual exploitation of children.
Abstract: Over the past 20 years, the internet has provided an expedient mode of communication and access to a wealth of information. The internet is a valuable tool; however, it can also be detrimental to the wellbeing of children due to numerous online hazards. There is the potential for children to be abused via cyberspace through online sexual solicitation and access to pornography. Indeed, the internet is replete with inappropriate material, including pornography, chatrooms with adult themes and access to instant messaging wherein others could misrepresent themselves. Because children are actively utilizing the internet where unknown others can have access to them or where they can be exposed to inappropriate sexual materials, they require safeguarding and education in safe internet use. The purpose of this article is to provide a discussion of how to safeguard children from and educate them about online sexual solicitation and pornography. We contend that society needs an overall conceptual shift in its attitude towards young people's internet use.
85 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a conceptual framework for social creativity that integrates perspectives from published literature is presented, and a set of names for the outcomes of the creative process is suggested, including individually generated creative outcomes, socially influenced creativ...
Abstract: Creativity is increasingly understood as a social phenomenon, especially in organizational contexts. This article offers a conceptual framework for social creativity that integrates perspectives from published literature. The foundational questions that structured the literature review are twofold. First, because both individuals and entities, such as teams, can be agents of creativity, who or what creates? Second, through what sites of action or contexts does creative engagement by individuals, groups, and organizations occur? An integrative review of the literature reveals that the engagement occurs in individuals, in individuals interacting, in group work, and in complex multilevel systems.A concept map is used to represent the literature in this domain. This is then discussed with reference to the representative authors in each of the identified sectors. A set of names for the outcomes of the creative process is suggested, including individually generated creative outcomes, socially influenced creativ...
78 citations
TL;DR: This study extends research on the relationship between multi-dimensional user relevance assignments and stage in the process of completing a task and suggests that users consistently identify relevance criteria beyond topical relevance.
Abstract: The process of information seeking involves a varied set of tasks and interactions. Exactly how the information seeker judges the relevance of what is retrieved has been a renewed area of interest in information retrieval studies. Various studies have identified facets or categories of relevance which go beyond simple topical relevance, and there has been some recent research on how these multi-dimensional concepts of relevance relate to the information seeking process. This study extends research on the relationship between multi-dimensional user relevance assignments and stage in the process of completing a task. Our results concur with and add detail to previous studies and suggest that users consistently identify relevance criteria beyond topical relevance. Our results also find a statistically significant relationship between the users' stage in the search process and relevance categories chosen using the convenience sample chosen for this study.
72 citations
TL;DR: It was revealed that Web users sought health information at a higher rate than non-Web users and were more likely to communicate with medical professionals about the health Information found and claimed that their decisions about health treatments were influenced by the health information.
Abstract: Given the advantages of using the Web for health information-seeking and a survey result that women are more likely to use the Web as a channel to locate health information, the authors explored the health information-seeking process and behavior of women who use the Web to seek such information. Although based on previously collected data, this article represents an extension of the earlier analysis with its focus on women who, at least to some extent, seek health care information via The Web (herein, Web user), a topic not thoroughly addressed in the earlier study. A comparison of female Web users and non-Web users who seek health information revealed that Web users sought health information at a higher rate than non-Web users. Web users were more likely to communicate with medical professionals about the health information found and claimed that their decisions about health treatments were influenced by the health information. In most cases, Web users expressed a higher awareness of resources, regardle...
70 citations
TL;DR: The findings of this study suggest that the HPQ is a promising set of measures for assessing student homework functioning and contextual factors that may influence performance.
58 citations
TL;DR: The authors investigated the effects of mock juror age, defendant age, type of excuse defense used by defendants, and jurors' perceptions of the victim's responsibility for the attack to indicate that the defendant using the highly self-inflicted excuse was more likely to receive a guilty verdict and a longer sentence.
Abstract: The authors investigated the effects of mock juror age (younger vs. older), defendant age (22 vs. 65), and type of excuse defense used by defendants (a highly self-inflicted condition, Cocaine Dependency Disorder, vs. a less self-inflicted condition, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder) on mock juror decisions. Ninety-six younger and 96 older adults read a scenario and answered a questionnaire. Results indicated that the defendant using the highly self-inflicted excuse was more likely to receive a guilty verdict and a longer sentence than was the defendant using the less self-inflicted excuse. Older jurors were more certain of their verdicts and saw the defendant as more responsible for his condition than did younger jurors. Defendant age did not affect juror decisions. In addition, excuse type and juror age affected the jurors' perceptions of the victim's responsibility for the attack. The authors discuss the potential influence of juror age on perceptions of defendant responsibility.
44 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the electronic structure of sodium tungsten bronzes using high resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (HR-ARPES).
Abstract: The electronic structure of sodium tungsten bronzes, $Na_xWO_3$, for full range of x is investigated by high resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (HR-ARPES). The experimentally determined valence band structure has been compared with the results of ab initio band-structure calculation. The HR-ARPES spectra taken in both the insulating and metallic phase of $Na_xWO_3$ reveal the origin of metal-insulator transition (MIT) in the sodium tungsten bronze system. In the insulating $Na_xWO_3$, the near-EF states are localized due to the strong disorder caused by the random distribution of $Na^+$ ions in $WO_3$ lattice. While the presence of an impurity band (level) induced by Na doping is often invoked to explain the insulating state found at low concentrations, there is no signature of impurity band (level) found from our results. Due to disorder and Anderson localization effect, there is a long-range Coulomb interaction of conduction electrons; as a result, the system is insulating. In the metallic regime, the states near $E_F$ are populated and the Fermi level shifts upward rigidly with increasing electron doping (x). The volume of electronlike Fermi surface (FS) at the $\Gamma (X)$ point gradually increases with increasing Na concentration due to $W 5dt_2_g$ band filling. A rigid shift of $E_F$ is found to give a qualitatively good description of the FS evolution.
TL;DR: Three productive wellsprings of democratic theory are reviewed: Jurgen Habermas, Sheldon Wolin, and those working on democratic education (Amy Gutmann, Richard Brosio, Maxine Greene) and some possible LIS questions and approaches drawn from these democratic theorists are outlined.
Abstract: Despite quantities of popular rhetoric, democratic theory holds an aposiopetic place within library and information science (LIS) in both senses of that word: It is both in a stasis holding to basic ideas outlined 200 years ago and also a silence largely maintained. A review of a number of state-of-the-literature reviews make the case that it has not been systematically explored or applied, and most LIS work elides the questions democratic theory raises. It is time to emend this and account for a relevant intellectual source which can more firmly ground LIS practice and research in normative terms. Toward that end, three productive wellsprings of democratic theory are reviewed: Jurgen Habermas, Sheldon Wolin, and those working on democratic education (Amy Gutmann, Richard Brosio, Maxine Greene). The article concludes with an outline of some possible LIS questions and approaches drawn from these democratic theorists. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss what it means to be a beginning teacher from the perspective of four mid-career entrants to the profession and find that regardless of preservice teacher preparation or school districts' formal induction practices, newcomers experience a dramatic threshold or liminal phase among colleagues that can be disorienting and discouraging.
Abstract: This article discusses what it means to be a beginning teacher from the perspective of four mid-career entrants to the profession. Findings from this ethnographic study suggest that regardless of preservice teacher preparation or school districts' formal induction practices, newcomers experience a dramatic threshold or liminal phase among colleagues that can be disorienting and discouraging. The “as lived” experiences of participants in this study remind us that while beginning teaching can be a fleeting phase of cultural initiation, it also can be an intensely alienating passage that dampens newcomers' enthusiasm to thrive or even remain in the profession.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide fresh insights into the patterns of fish and blue crabs habitat use for the Delaware Bay and River (upstream to tidal fresh water) over 211 km of aquatic habitats.
Abstract: Although the importance of salt marsh habitats for fishes and crabs has been accepted for nearly a half century, the linkages between marshes and adjacent estuarine habitats have been ill-defined. In this synoptic study (n > 19,000 samples, 14 species, 10 million individuals), we provide fresh insights into the patterns of fish and blue crab habitat use for the Delaware Bay and River (upstream to tidal fresh water) over 211 km of aquatic habitats. Our examination was based on 7 years (1998–2004) of sampling (with multiple gears) across 12 habitat types along the entire salinity gradient. While this study reinforces the importance of salt marsh creeks as fish and blue crab habitat, it also makes clear that there are few marsh-dependent species because almost all species simultaneously use a variety of other bay and river habitats. The pattern of use varies over seasons and with ontogeny. This facultative use of marshes, due in large part to the extensive migrations for many of the species, makes an improve...
TL;DR: In this article, the effects of timing of feedback on student learning were examined and the authors found that the provision of feedback at either the end of a test or after a 24-hour delay, relative to control procedures, increased retention for 3 to 5 weeks during the semester.
Abstract: In an examination of the effects of timing of feedback on student learning, participants were randomly assigned to complete five introductory course tests using either control (Scantron form) or one of three feedback (end-of-test, 24-hr delay, immediate) procedures. A cumulative final examination with 50 new items and 10 items repeated from each course test was used to assess retention during the academic semester. Fifty final examination items, administered at postcourse intervals of 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, were used to measure longer-term retention. The provision of feedback at either the end of a test or after a 24-hr delay, relative to control procedures, increased retention for 3 to 5 weeks during the semester. Robust enhancement of retention at all intervals was observed only when immediate feedback was provided. The magnitude of the immediate feedback effect indicates that students benefit from affirmation of correct responding and notification of incorrect responding during classroom tests and suggests noteworthy potential for creating learnable moments during which students validate and self-correct their knowledge stores.
TL;DR: This article used item response theory to provide a detailed examination of the psychometric properties of scores from two goal orientation instruments popular in the work motivation literature: Button, Mathieu, and Zajac (1996) and VandeWalle (1997).
Abstract: The current study used item response theory to provide a detailed examination of the psychometric properties of scores from two goal orientation instruments popular in the work motivation literature: Button, Mathieu, and Zajac (1996) and VandeWalle (1997). In general, the results of these analyses indicated that all scales except Button et al.'s (1996) Learning Goal Orientation (LGO) scale suffered from low levels of measurement precision. The Performance Goal Orientation scales contained a number of items that were of limited informational value. Button et al.'s (1996) LGO scale performed adequately but only for those with low to moderately high standings on the construct. Implications of these results and recommendations for future research on the goal orientation construct are presented.
TL;DR: In this paper, a review of Foucauldian ideas within library and information science literature from a core group of authors is undertaken, focusing on Foucault's ideas within LIS.
Abstract: Michel Foucault (1926–84) is a primary thinker informing the construction of a critical theory of library and information science (LIS), or librarianship. He is widely cited and is adapted in various ways that focus on LIS forms of power, discourse, and so on. Others have addressed Foucault’s topics, but he remains central. Librarianship has taken up a prior challenge to more fully explore his work, and it is now time to carefully review the implications of Foucault’s thinking as a foundation for a critical‐theoretical LIS. Foucault has undergone extensive analysis and critique, and this article is a similar step within LIS. While not comprehensive, a review of Foucauldian ideas within LIS literature from a core group of authors is undertaken. Critiques and problems in Foucault’s thinking are reviewed since, by relying on Foucault’s insights for a line of analysis and research, this LIS theoretical work will reflect some of those same problems.
TL;DR: To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating that the expression of HMGR is regulated in response to non-optimal salinity in a halophilic archaeon.
Abstract: The moderately halophilic archaeon Haloferax volcanii was surveyed for protein profile changes correlated with growth at high and low salinity. A single polypeptide with an approximate mass of 46 kDa was conspicuously more abundant during growth at high salinity. This protein was identified as HMG-CoA reductase (HMGR), encoded by the hmgR gene. HMGR is a key enzyme in the mevalonate pathway of isoprenoid biosynthesis, the sole route in haloarchaea for lipid and carotenoid production. Enzymatic assays confirmed that HMGR activity is more abundant in cells grown at high salinity. Low salt cultures of H. volcanii contained lower amounts of hmgR transcript compared to cells grown in high salt suggesting that the observed regulation occurs at the level of transcription. Paradoxically, both lipid and carotenoid content decreased in H. volcanii grown at high salinity despite the increased levels of HMGR specific activity. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating that the expression of HMGR is regulated in response to non-optimal salinity in a halophilic archaeon.
TL;DR: The study revealed a gradient relationship between low birth weight/preterm birth and cognitive ability, and implications for school psychology prevention, assessment, and intervention are discussed.
Abstract: This study is one of the first to investigate the relationship between low birth weight and cognitive outcomes in an urban, poor, prospectively designed African-American birth cohort. Multivariate analyses of the Pathways to Adulthood study, a subset of the Johns Hopkins Collaborative Perinatal study, compared low birth weight African-American children with normal birth weight AfricanAmerican children on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) at seven years of age. When controlling for various sociodemographic factors, associations were obtained for the very low birth weight group (less than 2000 g) indicating an overall 7 point IQ difference. Milder associations were reported in the moderately low birth weight (MLBW) group (2000 to 2500 g) resulting in a 3 IQ point decrement compared to a normal birth weight reference group. There were no differential effects for gender. Our study revealed a gradient relationship between low birth weight/preterm birth and cognitive ability. Implications for school psychology prevention, assessment, and intervention are discussed.
TL;DR: In this paper, a framework for systematically investigating international advertising regulation is proposed to provide an in-depth understanding of the Chinese advertising regulation system and to examine how various global and local forces interact and negotiate the landscape of advertising regulation.
Abstract: Purpose – This paper seeks to propose a framework for systematically investigating international advertising regulation; to provide an in‐depth understanding of the Chinese advertising regulation system; and to use China as a case study to examine how various global and local forces interact and negotiate the landscape of international advertising regulationDesign/methodology/approach – The paper employs historical analysis; and textual analysis to achieve its purposeFindings – Chinese advertising regulation relies largely on government regulation, and self‐regulation plays a much subdued and marginal role The Chinese regulator aims to control the negative effects of advertising through rigorous regulation as well as certification and censorship programs, but its various advertising laws and regulations are invariably phrased in vague and general terms, so that enforcement and compliance become a major issue The lack of autonomous trade and consumer organizations combined with minimal public participa
TL;DR: In this paper, the effect of illicit drug use during pregnancy on two measures of poor infant health: low birth weight and abnormal infant health conditions, was estimated using data from a national longitudinal study of urban parents.
Abstract: We estimate the effect of illicit drug use during pregnancy on two measures of poor infant health: low birth weight and abnormal infant health conditions. We use data from a national longitudinal study of urban parents that includes postpartum interviews with mothers, hospital medical record data on the mothers and their newborns, and information about the neighborhood in which the mother resides. We address the potential endogeneity of prenatal drug use. Depending on how prenatal drug use is measured, we find that it increases low birth weight by 4-6 percentage points and that it increases the likelihood of an abnormal infant health condition by 7-12 percentage points.
TL;DR: The results strongly indicate that fewer than expected numbers of students are diagnosed as having a behavioral and emotional disorder if they are born during the fall months, and a greater than expected number areborn during the late spring and summer.
Abstract: For several decades, evidence has been accumulating that pathologies of thecentral nervous system occur more frequency for persons born betweenJanuary and June than during the remainder of the year. The strongestÞndings are for schizophrenia, but associations have been reported for arange of mental illnesses. The purpose of the current study was to extend thisresearch to children receiving special education services for behavioral andemotional disorder. A sample in excess of 8,000 was studied from northernGeorgia. The results strongly indicate that fewer than expected numbers ofstudents are diagnosed as having a behavioral and emotional disorder if theyare born during the fall months, and a greater than expected number areborn during the late spring and summer. These Þndings could be the resultof prenatal insults or could be related to relative age-in-grade. The implica-tions of these interpretations for school psychology are discussed.
TL;DR: This article evaluated the response of invasive Phragmites australis to changes in pore water geochemistry associated with tidal enhancement, alone or in combination with other prescribed management regimes used by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Abstract: This multi-year study evaluated the response of invasive Phragmites australis to changes in pore water geochemistry associated with tidal enhancement, alone or in combination with other prescribed management regimes used by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. A pilot study was conducted prior to the treatment experiment that showed a negative correlation between the growth of Phragmites and cation concentrations in a transitional vegetation zone. In the targeted 535- acre brackish-water impoundment (East Pool) where Phragmites dominated, the soil water chemistry was changed by introducing tidal salt
TL;DR: Claims defense expenses are found to be higher in the presence of noneconomic damage caps, punitive damage limits, and attorney fee limits--an unintended and counterproductive effect of reform--but are lower with mandatory pretrial screening and patient compensation funds.
Abstract: In response to recent and past medical malpractice insurance crises, most states have implemented reforms meant to stabilize premiums and coverage availability. The importance of understanding whether these reforms implicitly affect the behavior and incentives of plaintiffs, attorneys, medical providers, and malpractice insurers in the intended way is crucial to policy makers, if they are to achieve their goal. This study specifically examines the effect of reforms on the claims defense efforts of insurers, given that defense expenses account for approximately 30 percent of malpractice premiums. Using state data for the period 1998-2002, we regress claims defense expenses against a variety of reform variables. These include seven tort reforms (noneconomic damage caps, punitive damage limits, attorney fee limits, modified collateral source rule, modified joint and several liability doctrine, mandatory pretrial screening, and statute of limitations) and two government-sponsored insurance mechanisms (joint underwriting associations and patient compensation funds). Claims defense expenses are found to be higher in the presence of noneconomic damage caps, punitive damage limits, and attorney fee limits--an unintended and counterproductive effect of reform--but are lower with mandatory pretrial screening and patient compensation funds.
06 Jun 2007
TL;DR: It is proved that the set of directions of lines intersecting three disjoint balls in R3 in a given order is a strictly convex subset of S2, which can improve upon several old and new results on line transversals to disjointed balls in arbitrary dimension.
Abstract: We prove that the set of directions of lines intersecting three disjoint balls in R3 in a given order is a strictly convex subset of S2. We then generalize this result to n disjoint balls in Rd. As a consequence, we can improve upon several old and new results on line transversals to disjoint balls in arbitrary dimension, such as bounds on the number of connected components and Helly-type theorems.
TL;DR: This paper examined the role that gender plays in a microenterprise program (MEP) that focused on developing quality business plans and found that women scored significantly better on the presentation of their plan to judges.
Abstract: Purpose – This paper proposes to examine the role that gender plays in a microenterprise program (MEP) that focused on developing quality business plans.Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected over four years from 1,013 participants in a microenterprise business development program. Empirical evidence is presented on the outcomes of the program.Findings – Women and men had similar program completion rates and similar overall business plan scores. However, women scored significantly better on the presentation of their plan to judges. The level of formal education a participant had upon entering the program mattered, but only for women.Research limitations/implications – Further research could determine whether the type of formal education made a difference in producing higher scoring plans (liberal arts, business, etc.) or is it the process of formal learning that matters? Startups and existing firms, segmentation of firm type (retail, service, etc.) should be researched in conjunction with gende...
TL;DR: The authors described a middle school language arts teacher attempting to maintain high standards of instruction while attending to the increasing demands of high-stakes assessments, and the tensions that emerged between teacher's professional beliefs and the opportunity to enact these in her daily practice raise questions about the current trend in assessment procedures in middle school languages arts classrooms.
Abstract: This case study describes a middle school language arts teacher attempting to maintain high standards of instruction while attending to the increasing demands of high-stakes assessments. Understanding how this teacher, Lisa, maintained effective pedagogy while attending to the external demands of standardized assessments offers ideas for maintaining responsive pedagogy in an era where assessment is moving toward uniform expectations for all middle school students. The tensions that emerged between Lisa’s professional beliefs and the opportunity to enact these in her daily practice raise questions about the current trend in assessment procedures in middle school language arts classrooms.
TL;DR: In this paper, 15 key stakeholders involved in alcohol policy were interviewed about law enforcement, judicial, and treatment issues Several obstacles to reducing DUI crime emerged: inadequate case preparation time, case overload, prosecution challenges such as leniency and inconsistency in sentencing, and the need for more collaboration between law enforcement and the judicial system and treatment providers.
Abstract: Driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious crime that contributes to approximately 9% of traffic-related crashes, injuries, and fatalities in the state of Florida Specifically, Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa, has the highest rate of DUI-related occurrences in the state of Florida There are several gaps in policy, enforcement, and treatment that need to be addressed before Hillsborough County can shed this dubious distinction To this end, 15 key stakeholders involved in alcohol policy were interviewed about law enforcement, judicial, and treatment issues Several obstacles to reducing DUI crime emerged: inadequate case preparation time, case overload, prosecution challenges such as leniency and inconsistency in sentencing, and the need for more collaboration between law enforcement, the judicial system, and treatment providers Suggested recommendations included the addition of a DUI court, stricter legal and treatment requirements, and mandatory blood testing
TL;DR: In this paper, a zero-one mixed integer programming model is presented to correctly compute earliest and latest start times of all activities and determine the optimal compression schedule for an early project completion.
Abstract: Operations research techniques, especially linear and integer programming, have been suggested for use in project management. Most frequently these techniques are applied to finding critical path(s) in project networks and for compressing activities for an early project completion. The simplest of these models are usually found in introductory operations research/management science textbooks and they often suffer from a common deficiency: when they employ earliest start times (ES) as variables in the model, ES of activities that are not on the critical path may be computed incorrectly. This may lead to inefficient resource reallocation and leveling. Furthermore, activities outside the critical path may be compressed unnecessarily, as will be demonstrated in this paper. We present a zero–one mixed integer programming model to correctly compute earliest and latest start times of all activities and determine the optimal compression schedule. Several extensions to the model are offered to provide different pe...
TL;DR: In this article, two veteran elementary school educators, a generalist and a music specialist, used a highly condensed overview of creativity in a streamlined action research initiative, gained a broad grasp of creativity concepts, discovered some personal creativity strengths and weaknesses, and made some targeted improvements in their classrooms.
Abstract: Busy educators find it difficult to work creatively in conditions imposed by ill‐conceived, politically charged reform initiatives such as the No Child Left Behind Act. In order to keep up with research findings, emerging theories and practical recommendations in the creativity literature, they need accessible, highly condensed distillations of the literature to help them improve their work. They also need simplified investigative strategies to help them select, test and refine creative ideas that are best suited to their unique classroom settings. Two veteran elementary school educators, a generalist and a music specialist, used a highly condensed overview of creativity in a streamlined action research initiative. From the process, they gained a broad grasp of creativity concepts, discovered some personal creativity strengths and weaknesses, and made some targeted improvements in their classrooms.