EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATION: AN EVALUATION OF EFFECTIVENESS IN A RURAL COMMUNITY.

Little research has been done to evaluate the effectiveness of early childhood mental health consultation (ECMHC) in rural, applied settings. In this mixed-methods study, we evaluated an approach to ECMHC used in rural Southwest Kansas with individualized services for childcare providers. Twenty-nine home-based and center-based childcare providers completed measures on provider growth, perceptions of child outcomes, and satisfaction with sessions. In total, 162 data points were collected and analyzed using multilevel growth models. In addition, 16 providers participated in qualitative interviews. Both home-based and center-based providers reported very high satisfaction with consultation sessions which increased with time, although home-based providers showed significantly higher satisfaction than did center-based providers. Provider growth, encompassing personal well-being, scheduling and transitions, connections with parents, and positive discipline strategies increased significantly over time. Child outcomes, encompassing prosocial behavior, resilience, and overall well-being also improved significantly in providers' perception. ECMHC as conducted in Southwest Kansas appears to have a positive effect on childcare providers and the children in their care.

Underlying reading-related skills and abilities among adult learners.

This exploratory study identified underlying skill and ability differences among subgroups of adolescent and young adult struggling readers (N = 290) overall and in relation to a fluency-based instructional grouping method. We used principal axis factoring of participants' scores on 18 measures of reading-related skills and abilities identified in the research literature to identify a smaller set of generally uncorrelated constructs. The four underlying factors of the 18 measures explained 62.7% of the variance. We labeled these factors Encode/Decode (44.5%), Vocabulary (9.5%), Processing Speed (5.2%), and Working Memory (3.5%). Regression analysis demonstrated Working Memory, Encode/Decode, and Vocabulary collectively predicted 45.9% functional reading as measured by the Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment System. Alternatively, when measured by the Test of Adult Basic Education, Vocabulary and Encode/Decode predicted 47.1% of variance in reading. Differences in predictive utility of the factors by fluency group suggest approaches to tailoring instruction for each group. Future research might examine the optimal mix of instructional approaches that support the identified factors.

The Openness/Intellect Model on the M5-50: Supporting the Flexibility of IPIP-Based Instruments / El Modelo Apertura/Intelecto en M5-50: apoyando la flexibilidad de instrumentos basados en IPIP

This study examined ways to improve fit and interpretive capacity of the M5-50, an IPIP-based personality instrument, using the Openness/Intellect model (O/I) given a history of poor performance of the M5-50 Openness scale (Socha, Cooper, & McCord, 2010). With participants from Amazon's MTurk (n = 305), theoretical models for the five-factor model, Openness as a 10-item single factor, and the O/I model were tested and fitted poorly. After removing one problematic item, the O/I model showed acceptable fit. Findings indicate that the O/I model improved psychometric validity and interpretive capacity for the M5-50. The flexibility and open access of IPIP-based instruments such as the M5-50 makes the IPIP an optimal choice for instrument adaptation and construction in Latin America.

Este estudio examinó maneras de mejorar el ajuste y la capacidad interpretativa del M5-50, un instrumento de medición de la personalidad basado en el IPIP, utilizando el modelo Apertura/Intelecto (O/I por sus siglas en inglés) dado el historial de desempeño pobre de la escala de Apertura del M5-50 (Socha, Cooper, y McCord, 2010). Con participantes de Amazon MTurk (n = 305), se analizaron modelos teóricos para los cinco factores de la personalidad, Apertura como un factor individual de 10 ítems, y el modelo O/I; todos los análisis tuvieron ajustes deficientes. Luego de remover un ítem con problemas, el modelo O/I demostró ajuste aceptable. Los resultados indican que el modelo O/I mejoró la validez psicométrica y la capacidad de interpretación del M5-50. La flexibilidad y el acceso libre a los instrumentos basados en el IPIP, como ser el M5-50, hacen del IPIP una elección óptima para la adaptación y construcción de instrumentos en Latinoamérica.