Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
open access
2016-11-22T00:00:00Z
Sleeping difficulties have a negative influence on cognitive functioning and behavioral problems, in both children and adults (Alhola & Polo-Kantola, 2007; Astill et al., 2012). Studies have...Show moreSleeping difficulties have a negative influence on cognitive functioning and behavioral problems, in both children and adults (Alhola & Polo-Kantola, 2007; Astill et al., 2012). Studies have revealed that temperament might be a predictor of sleep disturbances in children. The aim of the current study was to examine the association between different temperament traits and sleep disturbances, sleep onset latency, sleep duration and subjective sleep quality in children. Participants were 113 children, aged 9 – 11 years (M = 10.47 years; SD = .72). Parents kept track of a sleep diary and both parents and children completed several questionnaires, regarding sleep and temperament. Significant associations were found between the different sleep disturbances and effortful control, high intensity pleasure/surgency, frustration, affiliation, and fear. Sleep duration was related to affiliation and fear. Subjective sleep quality was associated with affiliation and shyness. The current study provides evidence for the association between and sleep and temperament.Show less
Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
open access
2016-01-01T00:00:00Z
This study examined whether temperament is a moderator of the association between sleep duration and the cognitive functions alertness, inhibition, and working memory in 130 children (56 boys and...Show moreThis study examined whether temperament is a moderator of the association between sleep duration and the cognitive functions alertness, inhibition, and working memory in 130 children (56 boys and 74 girls) aged 9 to 11 years. The children completed a short 3-min version of the Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT), a GoNogo task and a visual Digit Span test. Furthermore, a questionnaire regarding temperament (EATQ-R) was filled out by the children. Parents kept a sleep log for a week. ANCOVA results showed that the relation between average sleep duration on weekdays and alertness (PVT mean reaction time (RT) and PVT number of lapses) was moderated by the temperament traits extraversion (pPVT_RT = .030, η2 = .05; pPVT_lapses = .076, η2 = .03) and negative affectivity (pPVT_RT = .039, η2 = .04; pPVT_lapses = .057, η2 = .04). Relatively high levels of extraversion or low levels of negative affectivity were associated with more adverse effects of inadequate sleep on alertness. For inhibition and working memory this effect was not found. No significant interaction effects appeared for the other temperament traits: effortful control and affiliativeness. We conclude that the sensitivity for sleep related cognitive decrements in children can be partly explained by differences in temperamental traits.Show less
Reading comprehension is a dynamic process which is influenced by a range of text characteristics and individual characteristics (Van den Broek, 1994). An important text characteristic is coherence...Show moreReading comprehension is a dynamic process which is influenced by a range of text characteristics and individual characteristics (Van den Broek, 1994). An important text characteristic is coherence, a measure of the interconnectedness of information within a text, which can be assessed locally and globally. This study was intended to conceptually replicate previous research using event-related potentials (ERPs) to investigate the maintenance of global coherence. ERPs were computed for critical words in each story to compare the difference in mean amplitude of the N400 component across coherent and incoherent story conditions. The N400 is thought to be inversely related to the ease with which semantic processing is carried out (Nieuwland & Van Berkum, 2006). It was hypothesised that breaks in global coherence would produce an N400 effect relative to the coherent control condition. A repeated measures ANOVA was carried out to test whether the N400 amplitude, measured as mean amplitude in the 300 – 500ms post critical word time window across 11 chosen scalp sites, was more strongly negative for critical words in the incoherent condition than for those in the coherent condition. Mean amplitude values for the N400 were more negative for critical words in the incoherent condition than those in the coherent condition across 7 out of 11 scalp sites, but the differences did not reach significance.Show less
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of three formats (traditional, vertical, and subtype) on the validity of the Curriculum-based Measurement (CBM) maze measure as an indicator of...Show moreThe purpose of this study was to examine the effects of three formats (traditional, vertical, and subtype) on the validity of the Curriculum-based Measurement (CBM) maze measure as an indicator of reading performance. The effects of gender on maze scores for each format were also examined. Participants were 42 students (17 females, 25 males) in grade 6 between the age of 11 and 13 from a Dutch school. CITO test scores and comprehension questions served as criterion measures for the maze tasks. Results revealed format, but not gender, effects for the mean maze scores. No format effects were found for correlations between maze and the criterion variables. Correlations between maze and CITO scores were all significant and ranged from .34 to .36. Correlations between the maze and comprehension question scores ranged from .25 to .36.Show less
Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
open access
2017-10-10T00:00:00Z
We investigated the year prevalence of child sexual abuse (CSA) in residential and foster care and compared it with prevalence rates in the general population. We used two approaches to estimate...Show moreWe investigated the year prevalence of child sexual abuse (CSA) in residential and foster care and compared it with prevalence rates in the general population. We used two approaches to estimate the prevalence of CSA. First, 264 professionals working in residential or foster care (sentinels) reported CSA for the children they worked with (N = 6,281). Second, 329 adolescents staying in residential or foster care reported on their own experiences with CSA. Sentinels and adolescents were randomly selected from 82 Dutch youth care facilities. We found that 4.3 per 1000 children had been victims of CSA based on sentinel reports. In addition, 248 per 1000 adolescents reported having experienced CSA. Results based on both sentinel and self-report revealed higher prevalence rates in youth care than in the general population, with the highest prevalence in residential care. Prevalence rates in foster care did not differ from the general population. We conclude that residential placements should remain a last resort. Unfortunately foster care does not effectively protect children against sexual abuse either, and thus its quality needs to be further improved.Show less
Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
open access
2017-09-20T00:00:00Z
One of the dysfunctions associated with Klinefelter syndrome (KS) (47,XXY) are difficulties in social functioning, which may arise as a consequence of executive functioning (EF) and Theory of Mind ...Show moreOne of the dysfunctions associated with Klinefelter syndrome (KS) (47,XXY) are difficulties in social functioning, which may arise as a consequence of executive functioning (EF) and Theory of Mind (ToM) deficits. In this study, the influence of EF on ToM skills in KS boys was examined, as well as how these skills relate to autistic features. ASD traits were assessed with the parent-report Autism-Spectrum Quotient. ToM skills were measured with the Social Cognitive Skills Test. EF skills were measured with the Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals and Amsterdam Neuropsychological Tasks. 28 KS boys (Mage=13.2, SD=3.0) participated in this study, along with 45 ASD boys (Mage=11.9, SD=2.0) and 46 boys from the general population (Mage=12.2, SD=2.9) as control groups. KS boys showed substantially elevated levels of ASD traits compared to the general population, but lower levels than ASD boys. In addition, difficulties regarding ToM and cognitive flexibility were more prominent in KS boys than in ASD boys compared to the general population. ToM task performance could partly be explained by spatial WM and attention switching (as autistic trait) could partly be explained by ToM skills in KS boys. The current study highlights the importance of attention modulation skills and ToM skills in social functioning of individuals with KS, providing promising insights regarding prevention and intervention. Future studies should focus on the effectiveness of enhancing EF skills in KS boys and the role of the X chromosome in vulnerability for autistic traits.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
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Restoring law and order and trust in the state is a challenge in a post conflict situation. Especially in the case of Bosnia Herzegovina, where the state is not easy to define. Based on field...Show moreRestoring law and order and trust in the state is a challenge in a post conflict situation. Especially in the case of Bosnia Herzegovina, where the state is not easy to define. Based on field research in the city of Mostar this thesis tries to answer theShow less
This study investigated home literacy environment in relation to emergent literacy, through a cluster analytic approach. Fifty eight parents of kindergartens completed a HLE questionnaire, an...Show moreThis study investigated home literacy environment in relation to emergent literacy, through a cluster analytic approach. Fifty eight parents of kindergartens completed a HLE questionnaire, an author recognition test and a child book recognition test. Included were scores on literacy activities, watching television, emergent literacy as well as socioeconomic status. From the findings emerge three home literacy profiles differing in engagement in literacy activities: (1) high engagement in literacy activities and low television watching, (2) low engagement in any activity, and (3) low engagement in literacy activities but high in watching television. Socioeconomic status did not differ among clusters.Show less
This thesis systematically reviews research published from 1999 to 2012 examining the effects of cooperative learning on the academic achievement of primary pupils. The literature search is...Show moreThis thesis systematically reviews research published from 1999 to 2012 examining the effects of cooperative learning on the academic achievement of primary pupils. The literature search is described. Eleven studies which followed a randomized controlled trial or a quasi-experimental research design were included according to pre-established criteria and were afterwards reviewed. Sample characteristics, cooperative interventions and outcomes on primary pupil’s academic achievement are reported. Results showed (a) the positive effects of cooperative learning interventions on primary pupils’ academic achievement in comparison to traditional instructional methods, (b) the positive effect of cooperative methods on the academic subject of language in primary education and the potentially positive effects of this method in science and math and (c) the potentially positive effects of teacher training in cooperative methods on primary pupils’ academic achievement. However, the scarce amount of experimental studies found limit conclusions to be drawn about the efficacy of cooperative learning.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
Nowadays, transnational exhibitions play a significant role in the museum communication. By making transnational exhibitions, museums can communicate to each other, absorb others’ advantages and...Show moreNowadays, transnational exhibitions play a significant role in the museum communication. By making transnational exhibitions, museums can communicate to each other, absorb others’ advantages and become more international. Furthermore, visitors can have a better opportunity to know other cultures. In this thesis, I try to introduce how to make co-operation in a transnational exhibition. My case study is the Terracotta Warriors exhibition of National Museum of Ethnology, Leiden. I introduce the process of this transnational exhibition in my thesis, and describe museums how to negotiate a transnational exhibition, how to choose objects, and how to arrange objects. Meanwhile, I also try to find the co-operation between presentation and culture, such as how museums use limited objects to exhibit other culture in transnational exhibitions. My main theory support is from James Clifford, “Museum as contact zones” (Clifford, 1997).Show less
Research master thesis | Developmental Psychopathology in Education and Child Studies (research) (MSc)
open access
2016-01-01T00:00:00Z
Methylation of the serotonin transporter gene (5HTTLPR) might be one of the underlying molecular mechanisms of epigenetics through which effects of child maltreatment persist into adulthood. We...Show moreMethylation of the serotonin transporter gene (5HTTLPR) might be one of the underlying molecular mechanisms of epigenetics through which effects of child maltreatment persist into adulthood. We investigated how the experience of child maltreatment is associated with methylation density of 5HTTLPR and whether 5HTT genotype moderates this relation. The sample consisted of 22 females selected from the larger TwinPAD study (Out, Pieper, Bakermans-Kranenburg & Van IJzendoorn, 2010). DNA was obtained from buccal cells. The percentage of methylation in the first 245 bps was assessed using quantitative mass spectroscopy. Experiences of child maltreatment were established using the Adult Attachment Interview, coded with the Modified Maltreatment Classification System. We found that maltreatment severity was not significantly related to higher methylation density of 5HTTLPR, but the interaction of genotype with maltreatment severity significantly predicted methylation density. For carriers of the ss and sl genotype, more severe maltreatment was associated with higher methylation density, while for carriers of the ll genotype more severe maltreatment was associated with lower methylation density. We conclude that the relation between maltreatment severity and methylation density of 5HTTLPR is moderated by genotype, with ll carriers being protected against the methylating effects associated with maltreatment experiences. This study suggests that DNA methylation may be one of the molecular mechanism by which child maltreatment affects current and long-term functioning.Show less
