The aims of this study were to (a) characterize the prevalence and interrelationship of Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals in academic (reading, writing, math) and developmental (language, social skills, behavioral) domains in a large U.S. national sample of autistic children across the elementary and secondary grade levels and (b)…

Despite the recognised importance of communicative competence in language acquisition, many English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners persistently grapple with affective barriers such as speaking anxiety, shyness, and demotivation, alongside underdeveloped social-emotional competence (SEC), challenges that traditional speaking instruction…

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly limited access to vital services and resources required to support the health, education and development of neurodivergent children, especially children with Down syndrome (DS). We undertook qualitative analysis of responses to open-ended questions exploring caregiver (n = 194) concerns about the impact of the…

To investigate the antecedents of children's trait- and state-level peer competence, this study used a random-intercepts model to separately explore the influences of early stable predictors (i.e. temperament and attachment) and dynamic environmental factors (i.e. family and school) on peer competence. The study sample included children in the…

This study explores the evolving nature of students' sense of belonging in Finnish higher education, particularly as learning environments shift between in-person, online, and hybrid modes. While much research has focused on belonging in Higher Education, the experiences of Language Centre students remain underexplored. The aim of this study is to…

Practitioner research plays a crucial role in education because of its applied nature and its ability to address pertinent issues within learning and teaching contexts. Exploratory practice (EP) is a form of practitioner research that emphasizes puzzles while striving to understand and improve students' and teachers' quality of life in the…

Background: Both being bullied and being absent frequently occur in U.S. elementary schools (Chang et al., 2023; National Center for Education Statistics, 2024). Who are bullied or who are absent more tend to exhibit lower academic, poor socio-behavioral functioning, and reduced well-being over time (e.g., Ansari & Gottfried, 2021; Moore et…

"Baby schema" refers to physical features perceived as cute, known to trigger attention, induce positive emotions, and prompt social interactions. Given the reduced visual attention to social stimuli observed in individuals on the autism spectrum, the current study examines whether the sensitivity to baby schema is also affected. We…

Joint engagement involves a child coordinating their attention between a person and a shared event. Children with autism present with impaired joint engagement. Playdates are a common way that children socially engage yet have been largely overlooked in the social skills literature. Requesting skills have been conceptualized as pivotal, producing…

The worldwide big data and analytics investment market continues to grow, with projections indicating strong compound annual growth rates over the next decade. To achieve true competitive advantage from business intelligence and data analytics, organizations must control how these investments are being integrated into the culture of the…

This study explored how domain-specific perfectionism (academic, social, physical appearance) among high school freshmen relates to internalizing symptoms using critical elements of expectancy-value theory (i.e., domain value and competence) as moderators. Results indicate that perfectionism across all domains was positively and significantly…

Literature has documented inflated rates of features associated with autism spectrum (AS) in clinic referred, gender diverse young people. This study examined scores on the Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2) over time in a group of clinic referred, gender diverse adolescents accessing gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues…

In this study, it was investigated whether adolescents' developmental guidance needs predicted by their interpersonal problem-solving skills. Adolescents' Determination of Developmental Guidance Needs Scale, Interpersonal Problem Solving Skills Scale, and Personal Information Form used as data collection tools. The sample group of the study…

Many bright and gifted kids do not feel understood or supported. For adults wanting to change that, "Bright, Complex Kids" provides guidance for gaining entrance to their internal world. This practical and easy-to-use field guide includes ideas for how and why to: (1) listen and respond; (2) self-monitor adult biases; (3) avoid…

Animal-assisted interventions are increasingly used for children with ASD to promote inclusion and quality of life but are not accessible to many families. Companion animals may provide similar benefit but have not been well-investigated within this population. This scoping review presents the state of research regarding natural-based animal…