The Culture of Mediocrity     

Joseph C. Hermanowicz 《Minerva》2013,51(3):363-387

Select groups and organizations embrace practices that perpetuate their inferiority. The result is the phenomenon we call “mediocrity.” This article examines the conditions under which mediocrity is selected and maintained by groups over time. Mediocrity is maintained by a key social process: the marginalization of the adept, which is a response to the group problem of what to do with the highly able. The problem arises when a majority of a group is comprised of average members who must decide what to do with high performers in the group. To solve this problem, reward systems are subverted to benefit the less able and the adept are cast as deviant. Marginalization is a resolution of two tensions: marginalization of the adept for their behavior, and protection from the adept for the mediocre. The American research university is used as an example to describe the phenomenon and to formulate a theoretic argument. The forms and consequences of marginalization are discussed. Marginalizing the adept illustrates an anti-meritocratic behavioral pattern which serves to sustain social systems on which all people, however able, depend.  相似文献   

From Findings to Theories: Institutionalizing Social Informatics     

Steve Sawyer  Andrea Tapia 《The Information Society》2013,29(4):263-275

We focus here on the history, status, and future of social informatics. In doing this we build on the visionary work of the late Rob Kling. Social informatics research contributes insights and perspectives to the study of computing in our society that other approaches do not. We make the case that social informatics is on its way to becoming a scholarly institution: accepted as one of the several approaches to study computing, and in particular, the approach best suited to engage on computerization. In making this case, we highlight the value of social informatics, summarize its principles and common findings, point to current work and issues, illustrate the three perspectives through which to pursue this scholarship, and identify several current activities remaining for social informatics to institutionalize.  相似文献   

Carl A. Burtis, Edward R. Ashwood and David E. Bruns (eds): Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis (5th edition)     

Joseph Lopez 《Indian journal of clinical biochemistry : IJCB》2013,28(1):104-105

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One- or Two-Legged Standing     

Patrice Rougier  Nicolas Genthon  Thibault Gallois-Montbrun  Steve Brugière  Eric Bouvat 《Research quarterly for exercise and sport》2013,84(4):702-709

To highlight the capacity of one- and two-legged standing protocols when assessing postural behavior induced by a rigid ankle orthosis, 14 healthy individuals stood upright barefoot and wore either an elastic stocking on the preferred leg or a rigid orthosis with or without additional taping in one- or two-legged (TL) conditions. Traditional center-of-pressure (CP) measures were evaluated for the total two-feet resultant CP and under the feet (plantar CP). Focusing on the plantar CP displacements under the leg fitted with the various orthoses demonstrated particular postural behaviors for traditional parameters with main effects along the mediolateral axis. Only the TL protocol showed the limiting effects of the rigid shells on the inversion-eversion movements in healthy individuals.  相似文献   

The influence of match location,quality of opposition,and match status on technical performance in professional association football     

Joseph B. Taylor  Stephen D. Mellalieu  Nic James  David A. Shearer 《Journal of sports sciences》2013,31(9):885-895

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of match location, quality of opposition, and match status on the technical aspects of performance within a single professional British football team. Forty matches from the 2002–2003 and 2003–2004 domestic league seasons were notated post-event using a computerized notational analysis system with 13 on-the-ball behaviours and corresponding outcomes (successful or unsuccessful) assessed. Log-linear modelling procedures indicated that the incidences of all on-the-ball technical behaviours, with the exception of “set-pieces”, were influenced by at least one of the three situation variables, with both independent and interactive effects found. In contrast, logit modelling suggested that there was no general influence of the situation variables on the outcomes of the on-the-ball behaviours. The findings emphasize the need for notational analysts and coaches to consider the potential independent and interactive effects of match location, quality of opposition, and match status when assessing the technical components of football performance, particularly those relating to behaviour occurrence. Future research should consider the effects of additional situation variables purported to influence the mental, physical, technical, and tactical components of football performance.  相似文献   

Force-Time Characteristics of the Exertion and Release of Hand Grip Strength under Normal and Fatigued Conditions     

Joseph Royce 《Research quarterly for exercise and sport》2013,84(3):444-450

Abstract

A recording, spring-loaded hand ergograph was used to record force-time relationships as 32 young men were tested on a hand dynamometer. Exponential equations were used to describe the changes in hand grip force during development and release. Strength reached half of its maximal value in .08 sec. and three-fourths in .15 sec. During release, the force dropped to the halfway point in .04 sec. and to the three-fourths point in .06 sec. Under conditions of fatigue the rate of buildup of muscular force decreased 50 percent, and the rate of release decreased 150 percent.  相似文献   

Learning from the Experts: Practice Activities of Expert Decision Makers in Sport     

Joseph Baker  Jean Côté  Bruce Abernethy 《Research quarterly for exercise and sport》2013,84(3):342-347

Abstract

This study was an experimental investigation of the emotional responses of boys 9 through 15 years of age to highly organized competitive baseball. The subjects were 75 boys who participated in Little League Baseball, 50 boys who were members of Middle League teams, and 80 boys who did not play on an organized team.

The Galvanic Skin Response test was employed to measure the emotional changes of boys participating in league baseball and to compare the results of these tests with those of the same boys participating in softball competition in physical education classes. Insofar as the Galvanic Skin Response test can be taken to be a valid measure of emotional excitation of boys of this age level, the results of this study suggest that youngsters were no more stimulated by competition in league games than they were by competition in physical education games.  相似文献   

An improvement index to quantify the evolution of performance in running     

Steve J. Haake  David M. James 《Journal of sports sciences》2013,31(7):610-622

Abstract

Improvements in track and field sports have been attributed to factors such as population increase, drugs and new technologies, but previous research has found it difficult to distinguish the contributions from specific influences. Here it is shown how this is possible by means of a performance improvement index based on useful work done combined with modelling of the annual top 25 performances. The index was set to 100 in 1948 and showed that, by 2012, it had increased in running events to between 110.5 and 146.7 (men’s 100 m and marathon). Underlying global effects accounted for the majority of all improvements (16.2 to 46.7) with smaller influences attributable to an influx of African runners (3.6 to 9.3), and a 4 -year oscillation that arose from staging of the Olympic Games (±0.2 to ±0.6). Performance decreased with the introduction of compulsory random drug testing (?0.9 to ?3.9) the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA; ?0.5 to ?2.5) and fully automated timing (?0.6 to ?2.5). Changes in elite sporting performance since the 1890s are attributable to societal changes caused by the industrial revolution and globalisation superimposed on millennia of human evolution.  相似文献   

A Method for Rapid Collection and Processing of Isokinetic Data     

Louis R. Osternig  James A. Sawhill  Barry T. Bates  Joseph Hamill 《Research quarterly for exercise and sport》2013,84(3):252-256

Abstract

This study verified earlier anecdotal evidence indicating that spatial assimilations could be reduced by offsetting movements in time. In Experiment 1, 40 right-handed participants (ages 18–23 years) made single and dual quick lever reversals of 20° and 60° with the left and right limbs, respectively. Participants were assigned to either the Overlapping (O) group, in which one limb began when the other limb reached the reversal point, or to the Sequential (S) group in which one limb followed the other with a delay of 114 ms, on average. The shorter-distance limb of the O group overshot relative to the S group. Short-distance spatial assimilations were also shown in the S group in Experiment 2, when the delay was increased to 250, 500, or 1,500 ms (N = 30), suggesting that assimilation effects can be caused by command interactions at both the planning and the execution levels.  相似文献   

A meta‐analytic review of the cover‐copy‐compare and variations of this self‐management procedure     

Laurice M. Joseph  Moira Konrad  Gary Cates  Terra Vajcner  Elisha Eveleigh  Katelyn M. Fishley 《Psychology in the schools》2012,49(2):122-136

Studies that examined copy‐cover‐compare (CCC) and variations of this procedure were reviewed and analyzed. This review revealed a substantial number of studies that validated the use of CCC across spelling and math skills and across students with and without disabilities. A meta‐analysis of findings indicated that CCC and variations of this procedure were effective for helping students acquire and become fluent in academic skills. The strongest effects were evident when CCC and variations of this procedure were combined with other evidence‐based instructional components. Limitations, future directions for research, and recommendations for practice are offered. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.  相似文献