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Biomedical subjects

M G Fowler

Publications and source records attributed to M G Fowler.

61 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Preschool risk factors as predictors of early school performance.

The relative importance of selected developmental, medical, and social factors in assessing a child's early academic potential was evaluated prospectively in a rural southern school district. Two hundred and ten (210) preschoolers were given the Sprigle School Readiness Screening Test (SSRST) and the Beery Test of Visual Motor Integration (VMI) while physicians rated the children's attention span. A parental questionnaire assessed medical, behavioral, social, and family variables. Follow-up school data were available on 176 children (84%). Using regression techniques, reading and math achievement scores were directly correlated with maternal education, SSRST and VMI results, and lack of family history of learning problems, whereas grade failure was associated with low VMI scores, decreased maternal education, boys with late birthdays, and family history of learning problems. Medical problems and parental preschool behavior concerns were unrelated to school achievement, but physician rating of preschool attention span showed a significant correlation with reading and math scores. A 0-11 Risk Index of School Capability (RISC) scale based on data analyses was developed to rate a preschooler's early academic potential. A score of 7 or above had a 98% positive predictive value of successful grade completion, whereas a score of 3 or below had a 70% predictive value for grade failure. The value of assessing the scores of the VMI and SSRST alone was also considered, but was found less useful. This study demonstrates the importance of evaluating a number of risk factors in assessing a preschooler's early academic potential. Such data can be used to focus school resources for children at increased risk for grade failure.

Achievement↗
PubMed1985

School achievement and absence in children with chronic health conditions.

Families of 270 children with chronic health conditions observed in 11 subspecialty clinics at a tertiary care center were surveyed to assess the relation of demographic and health variables to school achievement and absenteeism. National achievement test scores and school days absent were compared with North Carolina state results. The mean days absent for children with chronic health conditions was 16 days, compared with the state average of less than 7 days, during the 1981-1982 academic year. The mean national achievement score for the chronically ill children was at the 51st percentile, compared with the 63rd percentile for the state's sixth graders. Log of school days absent was correlated with the number of clinic visits, physician rating of activity limitations, sex, and specific health conditions (R2 = 0.17, P = 0.001). National achievement scores were mainly related to socioeconomic factors and specific health conditions (R2 = 0.44, P = 0.001), but were unrelated to school absence. Children with spina bifida, sickle cell disease, or epilepsy, and children with the added burden of low socioeconomic status, were at particular risk for poor school achievement.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed1983

Parental and pediatric trainee knowledge of development.

This study evaluated the fund of knowledge about normal development and developmental disabilities of parents and pediatric residents. A 23-item questionnaire was administered to 91 parents of children who were being evaluated at the Division for Disorders of Development and Learning (DDDL) and to 20 pediatric residents at the University of North Carolina (UNC). The physicians-in-training were provided with an additional 26 questions on development, as well as a rating scale of "personal comfort" in discussing three specific developmental disabilities with parents (epilepsy, hyperactivity, and mental retardation). On the series of identical questions, pediatric residents scored significantly better than parents; the mean number correct was 19.4/23 (residents) versus 15.9/23 (parents). However, in both groups there were notable errors. Incorrect responses by 25% or more of parents and/or physicians were labeled "common misconceptions." Sixteen parent and 15 physician common misconceptions were identified in the areas of normal development and developmental disabilities. The pediatric residents revealed greater comfort in discussing the medical problem (epilepsy) than the two developmental problems (mental retardation and learning disabilities/hyperactivity). The study revealed important and similar gaps in the pediatric trainees' and parents' knowledge of development. These deficiencies need to be addressed in the training of pediatric residents in order to help them better understand the needs of families of developmentally disabled and normal children.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

The person in personality research: an laternate lifestyle case study.

The current crisis in personality research, with large-scale, objective, reductionistic, vs. individual, subjective, holistic paradigms, is seen as a real issue that reflects the prevailing schism between academic and professional, applied psychology. Each approach is seen as uniquely useful, but limited in its conception of man. A clinician-personologist approach that allows the combined implementation of the best of both traditions is proposed. A case study of a homosexual is presented as an illustration of this method, which also substantively provides a new perspective on man. Methodological considerations and refinements of this technique and closely related techniques also are discussed in the context of their relevance for both the "helping" orientation of professional psychology and the heuristic orientation of personology.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Gender roles and human sexuality.

Personality differences among three self-ascribed render-role types (predominantly masculine, predominantly feminine, or no predominant orientation) were investigated within a group of 128 male and female homosexuals. The results, utilizing the Adjective Check List (ACL) and a specially designed questionnaire placed all groups within +/- one standard deviation of the mean on all ACL scales except abasement. A multiple discriminant analysis demonstrated that 10 of the ACL scales significantly discriminated between self-ascribed gender-role types. It was suggested that homosexuality may be appropriately conceived of as an alternate life style rather than a noslogical entity, and that gender-role may, in some instances, be more important than biological sex as regards one's self perceived personality characteristics.

Dominance-Subordination↗