We examined relations among select components of the 4-H Thriving Model, focusing on youth sparks and four presumed determinants: program quality, developmental relationships, situational engagement, and dosage. Based on our results and results of previous studies, we propose a formal theory of youth program sparks. Three hundred fifty-six Texas…

Recent work in reinforcement learning has demonstrated a choice preference for an option that has a lower probability of reward (A) when paired with an alternative option that has a higher probability of reward (C), if A has been experienced more frequently than C (the frequency effect). This finding is critical as it is inconsistent with…

Objectives: This study examined the prevalence, patterns, and knowledge of Energy Drink (ED) consumption among undergraduate students. Participants: Participants included students (n = 373) attending a medium-sized rural university in Texas. Methods: Students were surveyed anonymously using convenience sampling and a cross-sectional design with 15…

This quantitative study used a linear regression model to determine if a relationship exists between one independent variable (i.e., Socioeconomic Status) and one dependent variable (i.e., Specific Learning Disabilities). State level data was collected from publicly available databases in the State of Texas that delineate the percentage of…

Research Findings: Shared book reading is important for children's early literacy development. Although there is an increasing number of dual language learners, few studies have examined families' shared book reading practices in their two languages. The current study examined Hispanic parents' beliefs and practices during shared reading in…

Objective/Participants: In a large, diverse sample of college students (N = 2,230), this online study investigated racial/ethnic differences on type of discriminatory event experienced and perceived stress, and whether discrimination-related stress was associated with mental health symptoms. Methods: Prevalence of lifetime/past year discriminatory…

This study adds to a series investigating the publication patterns of refereed articles in Library and Information Science (LIS) journals by United States academic librarians (USALs). The first study covered 1993-97, and subsequent studies continued in five-year increments. This study presents data and metrics for 2013-17 from fifty-two journals:…

Purpose: Individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often exhibit auditory processing issues, including poor speech recognition in background noise and dichotic processing (integration of different stimuli presented to the two ears). Auditory training could mitigate these auditory difficulties. However, few auditory training…

This study examined the incidence of intentional nondisclosure by postgraduate, prelicensed counselors receiving supervision as they pursue licensure, which has not been previously examined. Examining the responses of 107 prelicensed counselors, we found that 95.3% reported withholding some degree of information from their supervisors, and 53.3%…

The shift to emergency remote teaching due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020 forced educators across the globe to heavily rely on technology for the continuity of teaching and learning. As educators return to face-to-face instruction with increased access and expectations to implement technology in their classrooms, it is important to…

We use data from Texas spanning 2007-2017 to explore the frequency of teacher sanctions for illegal and unethical behavior and their disproportionality by teacher characteristics. Analyses reveal that the overall incidence of teacher sanctioning is low, with teachers most frequently sanctioned for sexually related offenses. Consistent with…

Previous studies have implicated migration and ethnicity as possible risk factors for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in developed countries. Using Texas education data, we calculated district-reported ASD prevalence stratified by geographic region, with reported home language as a proxy for immigration. Prevalence ratios were also stratified by…

The present study examined (1) intraindividual changes in the frequency of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use across young adulthood, 18 to 30 years old, and (2) if depressive symptoms and sensation-seeking tendencies, independently and in interaction with one another, were associated with these changes. Data were from a longitudinal…

State legislation serves as a guide and critical influence on the evaluation and identification of students with dyslexia across the United States. The state of Texas has numerous laws and regulations concerning dyslexia, guided by the Texas Administrative Code, Texas Education Code, Texas Occupations Code, and the Texas Education Agency's…

Purpose: Children with speech sound disorders feature prominently on the caseloads of speech-language pathologists working in schools, with many receiving services once or twice weekly for 20-30 min. This study compared the outcomes of services provided twice weekly for 30 min to those provided 4 times weekly for 15 min to examine their…