Bulletin Spring‧Summer 2001

Introducing Statistical Analysis in Education The D e p a r t me nt of E d u c a t i o n al P s y c h o l o g y b e g an i n t r o d u c i ng n e w tools of advanced statistical analysis for e d u c a t i on a n d d a ta p r o c e s s i ng to m a i n l a n d t e a c h e rs a n d g r a d u a t e s t u d e n ts i n the m i d - 9 0 s. Since t h e n over 10 statistics wo r k s h o ps have been r u n at v a r i o us n o r mal universities on the ma i n l a n d. Profs. H a u K i t - t ai a nd Z h a n g Hu a h u a of the department have also h e l p e d m a i n l a n d e x a m i n a t i on centres a n d associated un i ts to c o n d u ct c omp u t e r i z e d adaptive testing research. Upper: A training programme held in Beijing Normal University in 1996 Lower: Prof. Hau Kit-tai (fron t middle, seated) and participants of the workshop on structural equation modelling held in Guangzhou in 1998 Building New Concepts of Counselling W i t h t h e i r ma s t e ry of t he latest t h e o r i es i n c o u n s e l l i ng a nd t h e ir unde r s t and i ng of Chinese society and t h i n k i n g. H o n g K o n g scholars enjoy an edge ove r those f r om other cultural backgrounds i n p r o v i d i ng t r a i n i ng for educational psychologist s f r om the ma i n l a n d. That is w h a t Prof. L a m M a n P i ng ha s been d o i ng since 1997. I n the t r a i n i ng p r o g r ammes she conducts, special attention i s p a i d to the personal g r o w th of her students a nd mentoring. I n 1997, she r a n a 16-day n a t i o n al conference at Ce n t r al Ch i na N o r m al Un i v e r s i t y for some 200 academics, counsellors, a n d centres-in-charge of 83 t e r t i a ry institutions. 'It was v e ry encouraging to see scholars w h o have g r o w n u p under a socialist e n v i r o nme nt demonstrate suc h open-mindedness t owa r ds n ew theories a nd concepts. It gave depth to th e discussion,' Prof. L am observes. She subsequently hosted similar wo r k s h o ps for seven t op universities i n Ch i na at their invitation. F r o m 1998 to 2002, P r o f. L a m h e l p ed B e i j i ng N o r m a l Un i v e r s i t y a nd the M i n i s t ry of Ed u c a t i on t o organize the first e v er m a s t e r 's a n d d o c t o r al p r o g r a mm e s i n c o u n s e l l i ng psychology i n ma i n l a nd China . The doctora l students are given opportunities to visit C U H K , attend seminars, a nd conduct field trips and research i n H o n e Ko n g. Prof. Lampoints out that w h i l e counselling services on themainland h a v es o far b e e n l i m i t e d t o schools a n d hospitals, they can b e b r o a d e n e d t o c o v e r p r o b l e m children, w o m e n a n d f a m i l i e s i nn e e d ,drug a d d i c t s , p r i s o n e r s a n d t e r m i n a l p a t i e n t s. 10