Using a longitudinal study on childrens’ understanding of scientific concepts, we compare the relative importance of general (e.g., standardized test scores) and microgenetic measures (interaction patterns) to characterize the development of scientific understanding over 1.5 years. A researcher worked five times with 31 children (3-5 years old, from regular and special primary schools) on scientific tasks about air pressure and gravity. The researchers scaffolding behavior and the childs understanding were coded per utterance. Furthermore, children’s standardized test scores (math and language) and information on their home environment were obtained. A cluster analysis yielded three distinct developmental trajectories, which could best be predicted by interactions between the child and the environment. In the discussion we question the validity of standardized tests
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Om de groeiende wereldbevolking van voedsel te voorzien en tegelijkertijd de landbouw te verduurzamen is een voedseltransitie nodig. Martina Sura levert daar een bijdrage aan. Op 5 oktober hield ze in Leeuwarden haar inaugurele rede als lector Eiwittransitie. Het lectoraat richt zich onder meer op de inzet van micro-organismen voor de eiwittransitie met als uiteindelijk doel een gezonderemens en een duurzamere wereld.
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Aim The aim of this study is to gain more insight into child and environmental factors that influence gross motor development (GMD) of healthy infants from birth until reaching the milestone of independent walking, based on longitudinal research. Background A systematic search was conducted using Scopus, PsycINFO, MEDLINE and CINAHL to identify studies from inception to February 2020. Studies that investigated the association between child or environmental factors and infant GMD using longitudinal measurements of infant GMD were eligible. Two independent reviewers extracted key information and assessed risk of bias of the selected studies, using the Quality in Prognostic Studies tool (QUIPS). Strength of evidence (strong, moderate, limited, conflicting and no evidence) for the factors identified was described according to a previously established classification. Results In 36 studies, six children and 11 environmental factors were identified. Five studies were categorized as having low risk of bias. Strong evidence was found for the association between birthweight and GMD in healthy full-term and preterm infants. Moderate evidence was found for associations between gestational age and GMD, and sleeping position and GMD. There was conflicting evidence for associations between twinning and GMD, and breastfeeding and GMD. No evidence was found for an association between maternal postpartum depression and GMD. Evidence for the association of other factors with GMD was classified as ‘limited’ because each of these factors was examined in only one longitudinal study. Conclusion Infant GMD appears associated with two child factors (birthweight and gestational age) and one environmental factor (sleeping position). For the other factors identified in this review, insufficient evidence for an association with GMD was found. For those factors that were examined in only one longitudinal study, and are therefore classified as having limited evidence, more research would be needed to reach a conclusion.
