James Ernest | University of Alabama at Birmingham (original) (raw)

Papers by James Ernest

Page 1. Copyright © eContent Management Pty Ltd. International Journal of Multiple Research Appro... more Page 1. Copyright © eContent Management Pty Ltd. International Journal of Multiple Research Approaches(2011) 5(2): 223–237. 223 Volume 5, Issue 2, October 2011 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MULTIPLE RESEARCH APPROACHES Using Q Methodology as a mixed ...

American Journal of Health Education, 2016

In this paper, the authors discuss the articles in a topical issue surrounding statistical tests ... more In this paper, the authors discuss the articles in a topical issue surrounding statistical tests for significance and the role of effect sizes, confidence intervals, and replicability in research.

Student outcome data were examined for 35 teacher education candidates working toward special edu... more Student outcome data were examined for 35 teacher education candidates working toward special education certification who used an iterative differentiated instruction process over a 5-week period. Data were analyzed across a range of content areas and ages. Results indicated statistically significant and noteworthy effects across students regardless of whether teachers were working in an elementary, middle, or high school in a number of content areas. Qualitative data support a conceptual shift in how teacher education candidates use outcome data to inform their teaching, providing support for the social validity of this approach to implementing differentiated instruction.

Journal of Research in Childhood Education, 2008

Journal of Research in Childhood Education, 2012

Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, 2001

Due to the predominance of positivism in the twentieth century, many researchers have been traine... more Due to the predominance of positivism in the twentieth century, many researchers have been trained to use traditional research methods. The use of these methods determines how research questions are framed, data are collected, results are analyzed, and hence, what conclusions are drawn. This article uses the concept of developmentally appropriate practices to explore some of the limitations of traditional research methods and to describe an alternate method of research that has been found to be useful in explicating subjective phenomena. This method, known as Q-methodology, has been used in such diverse fields as political science, communication science, medicine, psychiatry, psychology, sociology, and linguistics, but has received little attention in education. The method has developed over a period of 65 years and takes into account cultural and contextual factors when providing multiple stories or narratives about an issue.

Exceptional Children, Mar 22, 1997

International Journal of Early Childhood, Mar 1, 2002

The purpose ofthe study was to explore the beliefs ofHungarian teachers and parents of children i... more The purpose ofthe study was to explore the beliefs ofHungarian teachers and parents of children in preschool and Grade 1 as they relate to the construct ofdevelopmentally appropriate practices (DAP) identified by the National Association for the Education ofYoung Children (NAEYC,1987(NAEYC, ,1997. In order to overcome methodological problems inherent in many previous DAP studies, Q-methodology and interviews were utilized to collect, analyze and interpret the data. Fourteen teachers and 14 parents were included in the Q-methodology (7 teachers and 7 parents in each grade level). Follow-up interviews were conducted with 6 participants. Results ofthe study suggest three major viewpoints regarding DAP beliefs ofthe Hungarian participants. These included: (1) focusing on children's individual development and learning, (2) focusing on teaching children according to the traditional teaching methods, and (3) focusing on respecting diversity in schools, in children, and in families. Recommendations for further research included: (1) teacher observations in addition to interviews, (2) exploring administrators'vviews ofDAP along with that ofteachers and parents, and (3) extending the study into higher grade levels.

Childhood Education, 2001

International Journal of Special Education, 2011

This article provides a description of how a beginning special education teacher in an inclusion ... more This article provides a description of how a beginning special education teacher in an inclusion classroom used pre-assessment, self-assessment, and on-going assessment to implement the principles of differentiated instruction to become more responsive to her students' needs in a systematic way. This article describes a case study of one beginning teacher's use of differentiated instruction. First, a discussion of the usefulness of differentiated instruction in increasing the likelihood of success for children with disabilities is provided. Next, qualitative data supported the implementation of the differentiated instruction process to help the teacher realize how she could positively impact students' learning using categories of content, product, process, and learning environments. Finally, recommendations are provided for how to engage teachers to implement differentiated instruction as a data-based iterative process of using evidence-based practices to meet the needs of all children in an inclusion classroom.

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Journal of Sport Rehabilitation, Feb 1, 2010

To compare EMG activity of selected hip and knee muscle groups in female athletes performing a mo... more To compare EMG activity of selected hip and knee muscle groups in female athletes performing a modified single-leg squat and the 2-leg squat using the same relative intensity. Methods: Eleven Division I female athletes from a variety of sports (soccer, softball, and track) completed the study. EMG measurements were taken as the subjects completed 3 parallel repetitions at 85% of their 3-repetition maximum on each exercise. Mean and mean peak EMG data from the gluteus medius, hamstrings, and quadriceps and the quadriceps:hamstrings EMG ratio were compared between the 2 exercises. Results: Statistically higher mean (P < .01) and mean peak (P < .05) gluteus medius and mean and mean peak (P < .01) hamstring EMG activity occurred during the modified single-leg squat. The 2-leg squat produced higher mean and mean peak (P < .05) quadriceps activity and a higher quadriceps:hamstrings EMG ratio (P < .01). Conclusion: Musclerecruitment patterns appear to differ between the 2 types of squat exercises when performed at the same relative intensity by female athletes.

As Schools and Colleges of Education work to increase enrollment and retention of teacher candida... more As Schools and Colleges of Education work to increase enrollment and retention of teacher candidates, providing courses through distance education has become a practical necessity and a competitive reality. Students have grown to expect that schools will accommodate their busy schedules and thus may "shop around" for convenient programs that don't require them to drive to campus or to sit in a classroom at a designated time. This article describes some of the benefits and challenges of creating a fully online initial certification program. First, we review empirical data for teaching using an online medium. Second, we show how our program focuses on rigor by describing how we document our teacher candidates' effectiveness within the classroom and provide quality online supervision. Finally, we discuss such issues as access to education, time devoted to online education, and the flexibility that online education provides.

College Student Journal, Jun 1, 2004

Research in the Schools, 1998

The research methodology literature

The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research

We investigated the effects of creatine (Cr) supplementation on muscle strength and body composit... more We investigated the effects of creatine (Cr) supplementation on muscle strength and body composition during 13 weeks of training in female collegiate soccer players. Fourteen athletes were randomly assigned to receive either Cr supplementation (7.5 g, 2 times a day for 1 week and 5 g per day thereafter) or placebo dissolved in a fluid-replacement beverage. Baseline measurements were made 1-2 weeks before and at 5 and 13 weeks after beginning supplementation. The Cr group demonstrated greater improvements in bench press and full-squat maximal strength (the trial by group interaction) compared with the placebo group, which were significantly different between baseline and 5 weeks for the bench press and between 5 and 13 weeks for the full squat. Fat-and bone-free lean masses measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry increased with training (main effect) but were not enhanced by Cr supplementation. These results suggest that female soccer players increase strength as well as lean ti...

The research methodology literature in recent years has included a full frontal assault on statis... more The research methodology literature in recent years has included a full frontal assault on statistical significance testing. The purpose of this paper is to promote the position that, while significance testing as the sole basis for result interpretation is a fundamentally flawed practice, significance tests can be useful as one of several elements in a comprehensive interpretation of data. Specifically, statistical significance is but one of three criteria that must be demonstrated to establish a position empirically. Statistical significance merely provides evidence that an event did not happen by chance. However, it provides no information about the meaningfulness (practical significance) of an event or if the result is replicable. Thus, we support other researchers who recommend that statistical significance testing must be accompanied by judgments of the event's practical significance and replicability.