No abstract

The purpose of this article is to present the scale items, the statistical characteristics, and evidence of validity of the previously unpublished Beliefs about Learning and Teaching Questionnaire that examines elementary teachers’ epistemological beliefs and their beliefs about learning and teaching in inclusive classrooms. In this study, 186 teachers completed the questionnaire. Reliability analysis yielded a Cronbach’s alpha of .81. A factor analysis yielded four factors, including teachers’ beliefs about ability and their preferences for teacher-controlled and student-centred instruction. To examine the relationship between teachers’ beliefs about ability and their beliefs about disability and their responsibilities in working with students with disabilities, 36 teachers completed both the revised questionnaire and a semi-structured interview focused on beliefs and practices, the Pathognomonic-Interventionist Interview. The results suggest that teachers have varying beliefs about their roles and responsibilities in working with students with disabilities, and they provide evidence that these beliefs are related to their more widely held epistemological beliefs about ability. These range from a belief that ability is fixed and is unlikely to be influenced by learning and instruction, to a belief that ability is fluid and malleable, that it is increased by learning and therefore is responsive to instruction.

A new scale for examining attitudes toward obese people had 44 items selected from previously published scales designed to indicate attitudes toward obese people. Reliability analysis yielded a Cronbach coefficient alpha of .92 for the total sample. A factor analysis yielded four factors. Employing the Body Mass Index as an indicator of obesity, the attitudes of 239 men and women were examined. Women were significantly more positive than men in their attitude toward obese people. When examining Body Mass Index as a factor, comparisons of obese and nonobese women indicated obese women were more positive on the Diet and Exercise factor of the scale. Suggestions for improvement and research are offered.

Eighty-nine patients infected with Entamoeba histolytica, non-pathogenic amoebae or Trichuris trichiura were studied prospectively to determine the safety and efficacy of diphetarsone therapy. An additional 75 patients were studied retrospectively to assess further the efficacy of diphetarsone in the treatment of E. histolytica cyst passers. Side effects were noted in 9% and included gastrointestinal upset, lightheadedness and headache. Transient liver function abnormalities were recorded in 5.6%. diphetarsone was completely effective in the treatment of Dientamoeba fragilis, Entamoeba hartmanni, Iodamoeba buetschlii and Trichuris trichiura. 99% of the patients with E. histolytica, 97% of those with E. coli and 98% of those with Endolimax nana were cured.