28th International Congress of Psychology August 8 ... - U-netSURF

methodologies to model both intra-indiviual and inter-individual variation in growth rates across
critical transitions are discussed with emphasis on recent developments in random coefficients
modeling and latent growth modeling.
4064.2 Uses of the global guidelines assessment tool (GGAT), S. Wortham 1 , B.J. Hardin 2 ,
1 2
The University of Texas at San Antonio, West-San Antonio, TX, USA; Anne R. Sanford Center
for Research Chapel Hill Training Outreach Project, Inc. Chapel Hill, NC, USA
A study was conducted to investigate the reliability and validity of the GGAT-Spanish Edition,
designed to help early childhood educators assess and improve program quality. Eight early
childhood programs and 160 directors and teachers in five Spanish-speaking countries (Columbia,
Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela) participated in the study. The GGAT-Creole Edition is
also being used in Haiti as a guide in planning and implementing a model preschool program.
Planners, trainers, and teachers are using the tool to understand early childhood standards as the
model is initiated, improved, and disseminated in Haiti and Sierra Leone. We will present the
challenges and successes related to translation/adaptation concerns when using evaluation tool
globally.
4064.3 Using the cultural probe approach (CPA) to study social constructs cross-culturally, A.M.
Wang, Miami University, Oxford, OH, USA
Studying socially constructed concepts such as self-esteem, self-perception, and self-efficacy
cross-culturally is reinforcing and yet challenging. Early research typically uses translated
instrument to make comparisons with the assumption that the translated instrument is valid as long
as the translation is accurate. Researchers, when conducting this type of research, either
acknowledge this weakness or employ qualitative designs to avoid the biases caused by this
problem. The Cultural Probe Approach (CPA), suggested by the present researcher, provides a tool
of in-depth study of socially constructed concepts quantitatively. Basic ideas and examples of the
CAP will be introduced and discussed.
4064.4 Emerging designs for educational evaluation research, D. Bergen, Miami University,
Oxford, OH, USA
Evaluators of educational programs initially followed traditionally approved empirical research
designs, which were often difficult to conduct effectively in educational field settings. Therefore,
many educational evaluation designs have incorporated field partner input and have drawn on
qualitative design strategies. Recently, the use of empirical research designs is again being stressed
for the evaluation of U.S. federally funded educational projects, thus raising questions of
appropriateness among evaluators. The benefits and drawbacks of qualitative field-specific
methods compared to traditional empirical approaches are reviewed and emerging evaluation
designs that may affect perspectives on the usefulness of educational evaluation will be discussed.
4065 INVITED SYMPOSIUM
Imaging the bilingual brain
Convener and Chair: M.W.L. Chee, Singapore
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