Wednesday, August 29, 2007

LD and RTI - guest blog post by Jim Hanson

The following is a guest blog post by Jim Hanson (School Psychologist, M.Ed., Portland Public Schools, Portland, Oregon), a new member of IQs Corner Virtual Community of Scholars project.

Jim recently shared some material (on the CHC listserv) that he and his colleagues had developed in response to new regulations regarding the identification of children with specific learning disabilities (SLD). He received many "me to" requests for copies of the materials he was offering. IQ's Corner invited Jim to share his materials via a guest post and to ask Jim to become a regular guest blogger. He agreed!!!!!

Below are links to the two documents he was distributing. One is in the form of a pdf file (click here to view). The other is a PowerPoint show, which I've made available via Slideshare (click here to view). Below are Jim's comments. His colleagues are listed on the title slide of the PPT show.

  • Federal and most state regulations have changed the critieria for identifying specific learning disabilities from the IQ/achievement discrepancy model to 1) response to intervention (RTI) and/or 2) a pattern of strengths and weaknesses in achievement or performance relative to age, state grade level standards, and intellectual development (PSW). School districts are struggling to interpret what PSW means. Some administrators wish to continue using the IQ/achievement discrepancy model and call it PSW. This ignores voluminous research evidence on the nature and the federal definition of learning disabilities, which define SLD as a weakness in one or more of the basic psychological processes. The reason for some districts' wish to continue with "business as usual" might be that district personnel are not familiar with the neurology of learning disabilities. If they are acquainted with cognitive science, they might still be daunted by the science's diversity of terms among researchers, its technological complexity, and its relation to effectiveness and ease in application across a wide variety of schools and school teams. The proposed reductionist model is based on models by several leading researchers in the field. It is designed as a first step in acquainting administrators with current cognitive science. It may also provide an acceptable research model until personnel can be trained in more expansive and technically adequate methods of identification. Interested persons are welcome to contact Jim Hanson atJaBrHanson@yahoo.com, or the Oregon School Psychologists Association for further questions and comments."

Psychology book nook reviews 8-29-07

A new issue of PsycCRITIQUES is available online.



August 29, 2007
Volume 52, Issue 35


Book Reviews
1. What Is Genocide?
Author: Martin Shaw
Reviewer: Leonard S. Newman

2. Psychology's Territories: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives From Different Disciplines
Authors: Mitchell G. Ash and Thomas Sturm (Eds.)
Reviewer: John G. Benjafield

3. Healing With Death Imagery
Authors: Anees A. Sheikh and Katharina S. Sheikh (Eds.)
Reviewer: Stephen A. Diamond

4. Religious Fundamentalism and Social Identity
Author: Peter Herriot
Reviewer: Rachel M. MacNair

5. Poverty and Discrimination
Author: Kevin Lang
Reviewer: Steven Rose

6. Restoring Fiscal Sanity 2007: The Health Spending Challenge
Authors: Alice M. Rivlin and Joseph R. Antos (Eds.)
Reviewer: Jack G. Wiggins

7. Kids of Character: A Guide to Promoting Moral Development
Authors: David M. Shumaker and Robert V. Heckel
Reviewers: Victoria Talwar and Mina Popliger

8. Diagnostic Issues in Dementia: Advancing the Research Agenda for DSM-V
Authors: Trey Sunderland, Dilip V. Jeste, Olusegun Baiyewu, Paul J. Sirovatka, and Darrel A. Regier (Eds.)
Reviewer: F. Richard Ferraro

9. Another Mother: Co-Parenting With the Foster Care System
Author: Sarah Gerstenzang
Reviewer: Susan L. O'Donnell

10. Philosophy of Psychology and Cognitive Science
Author: Paul Thagard (Ed.)
Reviewer: Yoshimi Matsuda

11. Against Prediction: Profiling, Policing, and Punishing in an Actuarial Age
Author: Bernard E. Harcourt
Reviewer: Frederick J. Frese, III

12. Understanding Anger Disorders
Authors: Raymond DiGiuseppe and Raymond Chip Tafrate
Reviewer: Joe Alford

13. Child and Adolescent Development for Educators
Authors: Michael Pressley and Christine B. McCormick
Reviewer: Cody Ding

14. Cognitive–Behavioral Therapy for PTSD: A Case Formulation Approach
Authors: Claudia Zayfert and Carolyn Black Becker
Reviewer: Carrie H. Kennedy

15. The Way of Splendor: Jewish Mysticism and Modern Psychology (Updated 25th Anniversary Edition)
Author: Edward Hoffman
Reviewer: Michael Sales

16. Logic Modeling Methods in Program Evaluation
Author: Joy A. Frechtling
Reviewer: Jay C. Thomas

Video Review
17. Evidence-Based Treatment
with Larry Beutler
Reviewers: Thomas H. Ollendick and Matthew A. Jarrett

Film Review
18. Superman Returns
Director: Bryan Singer
Reviewers: Stefan E. Schulenberg and Stephanie Wood

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Sunday, August 26, 2007

Focus on Sharp Brains

Although I provide an online feed of all Sharp Brain blog posts at this blog (as well as The IQ Brain Clock), which allows readers to monitor this important brain fitness blog every time they check my blogs, I thought I'd remind readers of the importance of this blog via this reminder post.

Sharp Brains recently had a nice post (Feed your brain with fun neuroscience) where they summarize their favorite top-10 quotes from their Neuroscience Interview Series. Check it out....and remember to keep an eye on the topic feed I provide to their site.

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Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Hammill Institute on Disabilities and SAGE partnership

I just learned of a new strategic partnership between SAGE publications and the Hammill Institute on Disabilities. Additional information can be found here and here.

Click here for a previous post re: Don Hammill and the special gift he sent the blogmaster.


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Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Psychology book nook reviews 8-21-07


A new issue of PsycCRITIQUES is available online.



August 22, 2007
Volume 52, Issue 34


Book Reviews
1. Fear of Persecution: Global Human Rights, International Law, and Human Well-Being
Authors: James D. White and Anthony J. Marsella (Eds.)
Reviewer: Harry C. Triandis

2. The Muscular Ideal: Psychological, Social, and Medical Perspectives
Authors: J. Kevin Thompson and Guy Cafri (Eds.)
Reviewer: Gary R. Brooks

3. Psychological Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Fundamentals and Beyond
Authors: Martin M. Antony, Christine Purdon, and Laura J. Summerfeldt (Eds.)
Reviewer: Michael J. Kozak

4. Oxford Handbook of Methods in Positive Psychology
Authors: Anthony D. Ong and Manfred H. M. van Dulmen (Eds.)
Reviewer: Michael Hogan

5. The Anxious Brain: The Neurobiological Basis of Anxiety Disorders and How to Effectively Treat Them
Authors: Margaret Wehrenberg and Steven Prinz
Reviewer: John E. Carr

6. The Mathematics of Behavior
Author: Earl Hunt
Reviewer: David Nussbaum

7. Assimilation and Contrast in Social Psychology
Authors: Diederik A. Stapel and Jerry Suls (Eds.)
Reviewer: Brent Dean Robbins

8. The Mindful Brain: Reflection and Attunement in the Cultivation of Well-Being
Author: Daniel J. Siegel
Reviewer: Christy Barongan

9. The Meaning of Others: Narrative Studies of Relationships
Authors: Ruthellen Josselson, Amia Lieblich, and Dan P. McAdams (Eds.)
Reviewer: Theresa A. Thorkildsen

10. Stories From VA Psychology
Author: Rodney R. Baker (Ed.)
Reviewer: Kathleen M. McNamara

11. The Descent of Madness: Evolutionary Origins of Psychosis and the Social Brain
Author: Jonathan Burns
Reviewers: Mike Knight and Gabriel Rupp

12. Physical Abusers and Sexual Offenders: Forensic and Clinical Strategies
Author: Scott Allen Johnson
Reviewers: Judith V. Becker and Laura G. Kirsch

13. Knowledge Under Construction: The Importance of Play in Developing Children's Spatial and Geometric Thinking
Authors: Daniel Ness and Stephen J. Farenga
Reviewer: David Yun Dai

14. The Secret History of a Woman Patient: Discoveries of a Breast Cancer Survivor
Author: Janet Rhys Dent
Reviewer: Susan K. Johnson

15. Earth-Based Psychology: Path Awareness From the Teachings of Don Juan, Richard Feynman, and Lao Tse
Author: Arnold Mindell
Reviewers: Constance T. Fischer and Will W. Adams

16. Moved by the Spirit: Discovery and Transformation in the Lives of Leaders
Authors: Jeffrey Kottler and Jon Carlson
Reviewer: Kathryn Gow

17. Freud's Wizard: Ernest Jones and the Transformation of Psychoanalysis
Author: Brenda Maddox
Reviewer: Alan C. Elms

Film Review
18. Jesus Camp
Directors: Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady
Reviewer: Susan L. O'Donnell


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Random tidbits from the mind blogosphere 8-21-07



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Thursday, August 16, 2007

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

More on the Flynn effect

Thanks to the Frontal Cortex for saving me some time. I had just set aside a new article on the relevance of the Flynn Effect and neuropsychological testing for reading as a potential blog post. FC beat me to it...and also provided a link to the actual article. Visit the FC blog for the low down.

Readers should be aware that there has been a recent flurry of new research on the Flynn effect, and not all researchers are in agreement. See my prior posts for more information. Also, a relatively comprehensive list of 24 articles dealing with various aspects of the Flynn effect can be found by clicking here.


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Celendrical savants


A colleague of mine asked if I knew of any articles related to calendrical savants. I ran a quick search of the IAP Reference Database and located the following articles. I thought, given that I took the time to do the work, that I would share this information with nterested readers who may find if of value. Links to most of the articles are provided below (embedded in the article reference).





Cowan, R., & Carney, D. P. J. (2006). Calendrical savants: Exceptionality and practice. Cognition, 100(2), B1-B9.

Cowan, R., Stainthorp, R., Kapnogianni, S., & Anastasiou, M. (2004). The development of calendrical skills. Cognitive Development, 19(2), 169-178.

Bolte, S., & Poustka, F. (2004). Comparing the intelligence profiles of savant and nonsavant individuals with autistic disorder. Intelligence, 32, 121-131.

Cowan, R., OConnor, N., & Samella, K. (2003). The skills and methods of calendrical savants. Intelligence,31(1), 51-65.

Mottron, L., Dawson, M., Soulieres, I., Hubert, B., & Burack, J. (2006). Enhanced perceptual functioning in autism: An update, and eight principles of autistic perception. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36(1), 27-43.

Mottron, L., Lemmens, K., Gagnon, L., & Seron, X. (2006). Nonalgorithmic access to calendar information in a calendar calculator with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36(2), 239-247.



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Monday, August 13, 2007

Psychology book nook reviews 8-2-07


A new issue of PsycCRITIQUES is available online.



August 1, 2007
Volume 52, Issue 31


Book Reviews
1. Understanding the Bush Doctrine: Psychology and Strategy in an Age of Terrorism
Authors: Stanley A. Renshon and Peter Suedfeld (Eds.)
Reviewers: Kathleen Malley-Morrison and Michael Corgan

2. Emotion and Psychopathology: Bridging Affective and Clinical Science
Authors: Jonathan Rottenberg and Sheri L. Johnson (Eds.)
Reviewer: Todd B. Kashdan

3. Mind as Machine: A History of Cognitive Science
Author: Margaret A. Boden
Reviewer: Susan E. Chipman

4. The Mark of Shame: Stigma of Mental Illness and an Agenda for Change
Author: Stephen P. Hinshaw
Reviewer: Alan Cheney

5. Children and Society: The Sociology of Children and Childhood Socialization
Authors: Gerald Handel, Spencer E. Cahill, and Frederick Elkin
Reviewer: Sherine Ramzy

6. Implicit Measures of Attitudes
Authors: Bernd Wittenbrink and Norbert Schwarz (Eds.)
Reviewer: Robert T. Hitlan

7. Evolutionary and Neurocognitive Approaches to Aesthetics, Creativity and the Arts
Authors: Colin Martindale, Paul Locher, and Vladimir M. Petrov (Eds.)
Reviewer: Paul J. Silvia

8. Concept Mapping for Planning and Evaluation
Authors: Mary Kane and William M. K. Trochim
Reviewer: Mitch Earleywine

9. Human Behavior and the Social Environment, Micro Level: Individuals and Families
Author: Katherine van Wormer
Reviewer: Luciano L'Abate

10. Unstrange Minds: Remapping the World of Autism
Author: Roy Richard Grinker
Reviewer: Ian Evans

11. Feminist Research Practice: A Primer
Authors: Sharlene Nagy Hesse-Biber and Patricia Lina Leavy
Reviewer: Patricia M. Berliner

12. Demystifying Love: Plain Talk for the Mental Health Professional
Author: Stephen B. Levine
Reviewer: Simon Boag

13. Mind and Its Evolution: A Dual Coding Theoretical Approach
Author: Allan Paivio
Reviewers: Elizabeth J. Marsh and Kristi S. Multhaup

14. Collaborative Treatment of Traumatized Children and Teens: The Trauma Systems Therapy Approach
Authors: Glenn N. Saxe, B. Heidi Ellis, and Julie B. Kaplow
Reviewer: Lesley A. Slavin

15. Social Psychology in Sport
Authors: Sophia Jowett and David Lavallee (Eds.)
Reviewers: Matthew L. Newman and Sasha Skulsky

16. Five Minds for the Future
Author: Howard Gardner
Reviewer: Robert J. Sternberg

17. Where God and Science Meet: How Brain and Evolutionary Studies Alter Our Understanding of Religion: Vol. 1. Evolution, Genes, and the Religious Brain
Author: Patrick McNamara (Ed.)
Reviewer: Dan G. Blazer

Film Review
18. Requiem
Director: Hans-Christian Schmid
Reviewer: Etzel CardeƱa




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Vacation - why I've been neglecting my blogs


I should have made this post a few weeks ago.

Regular readers will have noted that I have been MIA from blog posting. Why? Well......I've been busy the past month (and esp. the past two weeks) helping my lovely fiance pack and move out of her house of twenty years, finally get my house sold (just yesterday), and deal with CONSTANT decisions/frustrations/stress that comes with building a new house the Diane and I will move into next Tuesday. On top of that my father and his lovely wife moved to this area and I've needed to help him with some computer set-up issues. Finally, there has been the small matter of planning a "small" wedding on August 18.

With all that has been going on I've found zero time for my hobby....posting to my two blogs. I simply should have notified all readers that I was on vacation....but it really is not a vacation.....I'm physically and mentally drained.

Regardless, I hope to return to nurturing my two blogs sometime soon. I may make some easy FYI posts....but don't expect any creative new stuff (unless some of IQs Corners Virtual Community of Guest Scholars provide some material).

When I shall return to regular posting is not yet known. I'm living the "one day at a time" mantra at this point in time.

Rest assured...once settled into my lovely new house and life I will be back as a regular blogmaster.

Thanks