A.R.I.C.D. Association of Research in Infant and Child Development

Summary
Proposals are invited from suitably qualified persons to head up a re-standardisation of the GMDS in association with the Association for Research in Infant and Child Development (ARICD) and the Hogrefe Test Publishing Group.

The GMDS
Two revisions of the original Griffiths Mental Development Scales have been made. In 1996 revision of the 1954 Scales from Birth to Two Years; in 2006 revision of the 1970 Scales from Two to Eight. The two scales have a difference in organisation (such as number of Sub Scales) and of scoring/ statistics. There is a need for a continuous Scale structure which would cover the original age range Birth to Eight Years without break. In order to maintain or increase the world-wide use of the Scales, new and innovative approaches are needed whilst maintaining breadth, quality and cultural flexibility.

The Requirement
To create a continuous and re-standardised version of the Griffiths Mental Development Scales 0-8 years using the 1996 Birth to Two Years Scale and the 2006 GMDS-ER. Consider development of new items representing modern child development e.g. early memory skills, attention control, executive function markers. Run collaborative studies to test items/ outline profiles with GMDS for use in children with common childhood disorders. More details can be found in the GMDS proposal and ARICD research strategy.

The Proposal
Proposals should include:

•  full details of the professional and academic qualifications of the proposer and
• his or her team where appropriate.
• reasons for interest in the project.
•  specification of proposed methodology including resources for conducting the
• project.
• support required from the ARICD and Hogrefe Ltd to complete the project.
• likely timetable.

Process
Proposals should be submitted to Dr Elizabeth Green at Farthings, Furners Green, Uckfield, East Sussex TN223RP. Closing date for this application is available from Dr. Green. An electronic copy to Elizabethg46@aol.com and three hard copies should be provided. The bidder will be invited to discuss his or her proposal with the project committee. Bidders will not be reimbursed for any costs related to the submission of proposals.

Dear Everyone

I am very honoured to have been elected ARICD President at the May AGM. We have also agreed changes in the Officer team with Rosemary O’Connell elected to the Vice President position following the retirement of Phyllis Preston, and Dr. Ngozi Oluonye elected as Honorary Secretary. Brian Burne remains as Founder and Honorary Treasurer.
It is a time when the Association is moving ahead fast. Much work been done over past few years – some of it invisible.

•    Denise Challis in her time as President worked very hard to modernise aspects of ARICD e.g. payments by PayPal, more courses overseas and creating a governance report for the Charity Commission. We owe her great thanks.
•    Phyllis Preston as Vice President for over a decade provided steady back up, her own brand of thinking outside the box as well as taking on the role of temporary Acting president when circumstances made this necessary. She has run many training courses, some with me. She was also the First Chair of the Training sub-committee. We owe her great thanks for all her years of input to ARICD. I know that I will continue to use her wisdom.
•    Rosemary O’Connell. I have benefitted from her help and guidance during my time as Interim President so am extremely pleased she has been elected as Vice President.
•    Paula MacAlinden who chairs the Equipment Sub committee was not eligible for re-election for the executive committee this year. Some of you may not know that she has been unwell but she is willing to carry on looking after equipment issues as well as giving input to the R&R.
•    Similarly Patricia Jackson will continue as Chair of the Training Sub Committee although not eligible this year for re-election to the executive.
•    Vivian Burden has been the Chair of the Conference Sub Committee. We have enjoyed the fruits of labour of the Sub Committee at the London ISM. Vivian has been liaising with Kerry Schweigert in Australia regarding the ISM there later this month.
•    Enitan Ogundipe will continue her work on the R&R Sub Committee although not standing for election to the executive this year.
•    Brian Burne continues to carry out his treasurers, membership and charity commission work – we owe him great thanks also.
•    Many thanks also to Andrew Chew for his help with the Treasurers work.
•    Lastly many thanks for all that Ivy Smith, membership secretary does for the association

The current ARICD Priorities are the Re-standardisation; raising of the  ARICD profile and that of the GMDS and the production of Easiscore.

The Research and Re-standardisation Sub committee have met several times in the last year and are putting in place the arrangements for the next re-standardisation. A person specification for the Principal Researcher is agreed and current work is on the tender document and research strategy. We will be using the Australian ISM to get as many views as possible regarding the re-standardisation as experience with the Scales does differ from country to country. We would also be pleased to welcome new members to the R&R sub committee and are particularly looking for psychologists with experience in research and education. Currently we are aiming to have a re-standardisation across the 0-8 age range, initially against a British Isles population as in previous re-standardisations. We would also like to consider the possibility of new aspects of assessment to ensure the scales are both contemporary and maintain their quality, breadth, flexibility and cultural fairness. I and other members of the R&R sub committee would like to hear from you regarding your wishes regarding the re-standardisation.

The annual ISM is in Sydney this year with an excellent programme. I am looking forward to hearing the views from the other side of the world!

A prototype version of Easiscore designed by Dr Richard Warrington has been considered by the Executive committee and by Hogrefe. The next stage is to decide what this instrument should include. To get a wide range of views on this, we will be emailing a questionnaire to members with possible inclusions. If you want to be included in this mailing, please ensure that Ivy Smith ( ivyasmith@tiscali.co.uk ) has your current email address.

There have been a number of GMDS training courses this year and very many thanks to those involved. I would like to encourage Tutors to hold as many courses as possible and also to advertise their course on the ARICD website. This will help to promote the scales internationally.

Just to finish – a little about me! I am now retired from the NHS but was a consultant developmental paediatrician at Chailey Heritage and Brighton, as well as Medical Director of South Downs Health community and mental Health trust. In order to gain the skills I needed for a doctoral thesis I did an Open University honours psychology degree so can partly see both sides of the medical/psychological fence!
I hope to meet some of you at the Sydney ISM. I hope that those who wish to input about the next re-standardisation will contact me or another member of the R&R sub committee and we look forward to hearing from you.

Elizabeth Green