bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Euro-Commentary
Authors: Lynch Peter
Published: May 2004

The Convention on the Future of Europe was created to draw up a constitution for an enlarged European Union. The Convention contained representatives of member states, acceding states, national parliaments and European Union institutions, as well as the Committee of the Regions. Regional representatives within the Convention and external organizations such as the Conference of Regional Legislative Assemblies in Europe (CALRE) sought to lobby the Convention in pursuit of regional interests which had been part of the regional agenda since Maastricht. This paper examines the various efforts by the regional lobby to influence the Convention and, in particular, the emergence of the ‘constitutional’ regions as a more coherent representative of Europe’s third level of government. It argues that regional interests were largely marginalized within the Convention but that regional demands might be reinserted into a new European constitution given regional lobbying of national governments in advance of the 2004 intergovernmental conference in addition to intergovernmental bargaining and negotiations at the intergovernmental conference (IGC) itself.
Tales from the Tracks
Authors: Ravenscroft Neil
Published: May 2004

This article examines the constraints facing those wishing to use non-motorized cycle and walking routes for sport and recreation activities. Using transcripts from six group interviews, the article identifies an emergent ‘discourse of constraints’, based on the development of conventional constraints models. The theoretical frame of the article is informed by Giddens’s ontological uncertainty, mediated by Beck’s work on individuation and the risk society. The article argues that, rather than being structural, as much policy implies, constraints are largely articulated in intrapersonal and interpersonal terms, as people’s response to the increasing mistrust that they experience in most external environments. As a result, the constraints can only be successfully addressed through the development of new forms of social integration that place the individual within a group or ‘ companion’ context. It is recognized that these types of social forms are at odds with wider processes in sport and recreation, in which people are shifting away from group and club affiliations.
Sport and Violence
Authors: Guilbert SÈbastien
Published: May 2004

This study deals with forms of violence and aims at showing that these are very much in evidence at the very heart of sport. A cross-section of nine sport practices (soccer, basketball, volleyball, karate, judo, shooting, table tennis, swimming, tennis) was sampled for that purpose. Some 420 competitors filled in a questionnaire. Results show that instances of violence greatly vary depending on the sporting area and produces collective representations. Three groups of practices showing differentiated forms of violence have been observed thus proving that these forms are particularly pertinent differentiation factors in the field of sport.
England’s Barmy Army
Authors: Parry Matthew , Malcolm Dominic
Published: May 2004

This article examines a group of English cricket supporters known as the Barmy Army which explicitly and self-consciously challenges the traditions of spectatorship in English cricket. Following a discussion of who the Barmy Army are and a description of the distinctive characteristics of the style of their support, we seek to examine the factors which have led to the group’s development at this particular time and in this specific sporting context. The article argues that in order to understand why the Barmy Army arose and why it has had such a significant impact on the game we must consider: a) society-wide processes such as time-space compression and the development of ‘New Laddism’; b) sports-wide processes such as changes in football and in football supporter cultures; and c) sport-specific processes such as cricket’s economic development and the internationalization of the game. The article concludes by suggesting that the Barmy Army represent a qualitatively new form of English national identity, that its behavioural style involves a blurring of traditional class-based forms of spectatorship, and that the influence wielded by this small, deviant, group indicates the relatively limited nature of the cricketing establishment’s power.
Policing Football in Scotland
Authors: O’Neill Megan
Published: May 2004

In this article, I suggest that the prevailing literature which has been generated by academics and official enquiry on football spectator culture and violence has neglected one of the main features of any UK football match: the police. I demonstrate through reference to my own work with Scottish police officers how a significant police culture exists in relation to football. A key aspect in this culture is that the police do not operate as one homogeneous unit, or ‘team’ in Erving Goffman’s (1959) terms, but as several smaller teams working largely independently of each other. This police culture needs to be investigated further in order to gain a complete understanding of football spectator culture and violence.
The World According to Voluntary Sport Organizations
Authors: Seippel Ørnulf
Published: May 2004

Current social shifts pose challenges for voluntary sport organizations. Various discourses present volunteering, facilities and economics as critical obstacles to the future of these organizations. In this article, I ask how voluntary sport organizations themselves see the situation. What are the most pressing obstacles to their future development? How do they actually meet these challenges in their daily life? I also see how various kinds of sport organizations vary with respect to their answers on these questions. The study is based on a survey of Norwegian sport organizations.
Risky Behaviours among Young Elite-Student-Athletes
Authors: Peretti-Watel Patricky , Guagliardo Valérie , Verger Pierre , Pruvost Jacques , Mignon Patrick , Obadia Yolande
Published: May 2004

Since the end of the 1980s, ‘youth risky behaviours’ have become a major issue for public health. The relationship between these behaviours and sporting activity is well-documented but still controversial. This article examines some sociological hypotheses related to this relationship, with data from a pilot survey conducted on a sample of 458 elite-student-athletes (ESAs) aged 16–24, gathered and trained in specialized public centres. We found a significant relationship between motives to do sport and ‘risky behaviours’: ESAs who considered sport as a convivial leisure were more prone to use cannabis, while ESAs who mingled sporting and extra-sporting achievements together were more likely to engage in risky behaviours on the road, possibly because they transposed values from the sporting field (speed, competition) into the ‘real world’. Moreover, sporting activity may provide opportunities for drug use with peers as well as incentives to use drugs in order to cope with the anxiety induced by high-level competition. Thus ‘recreational’ drugs may be used as ‘integrative’ drugs.
The Strength of Strong Ties
Authors: Carpenter Daniel , Esterling Kevin , Lazer David
Published: May 2004

Interest groups establish contacts with each other as a way of gaining useful policy information, and in this article we develop and test a model to explain this political phenomenon. Our simulation model suggests that when few need information, groups will pursue an acquaintance strategy by investing time and resources in gaining `weak tie' political acquaintances rather than in gaining `strong tie' political friends, but that as the collective demand for information rises, groups increasingly follow a chum strategy, placing greater emphasis on establishing strong ties. We test these hypotheses in an analysis of inter-organizational contact-making in U.S. health politics, using the data of Laumann and Knoke (1987), with OLS regressions of average group contacts over lobbying events over time and maximum likelihood count models of contacts across interest groups. Both analyses show that as collective demand for information increases, interest groups place greater priority on establishing strong ties, even while controlling for organizational attributes such as budget, mobilization capacity and organization age. The results suggest some conditions where policy networks in the aggregate are less likely to distribute information efficiently, and, in particular, that policy networks are less efficient at distributing information when information is most in demand.
Trust Problems in Household Outsourcing
Authors: de Ruijter Esther , van der Lippe Tanja , Raub Werner
Published: May 2004

This article addresses the issue of domestic outsourcing. We view outsourcing decisions as the result of utility-maximizing behavior on the part of households. Earlier studies have shown that households with more time constraints, the most common reason for outsourcing, do not always outsource more. To account for these unexpected empirical findings, we provide a new explanation for outsourcing decisions that focuses on trust problems associated with outsourcing household and caring tasks. Trust problems are related to the competence, values, and possibilities as well as incentives for opportunism on the part of the supplier of the product or service. Using insights from the transaction cost approach, new hypotheses are formulated on the influence of the problem potential on the make-or-buy decision (whether or not to outsource a task). The embeddedness of the supplier is introduced as a way to generate trust, thus decreasing the problem potential.
Nursing Education on Women’s Health Care in Australia, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand
Authors: Lambert Vickie A. , Lambert Clinton E. , Daly John , Davidson Patricia M. , Kunaviktikul Wipada , Shin Kyung Rim
Published: May 2004

Only within the last 3 decades have a select number of countries addressed issues surrounding the all-inclusive health and well-being of women. This factor has had a major influence on nursing education within these countries and the subsequent development of curricula. Because the preparation of nurses is pivotal in shaping a society’s health care agenda, this article compares and contrasts demographic characteristics, curricular frameworks, the role of the nurse, quality control of nursing curricula, and the focus of nursing courses related to women’s health care among the countries of Australia, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand. Recommendations based on infant mortality rates, life expectancy, leading causes of death, and country-based health care issues are provided to inform and guide the future focus of nursing education courses on women’s healthcare within these countries.
New Paradigms for Transcultural Nursing: Frameworks for Studying African American Women
Authors: Shambley-Ebron Donna Z. , Boyle Joyceen S.
Published: May 2004

African American women continue to experience disparities in health status when compared to their European American counterparts, yet, often their unique perspectives are not presented in the nursing literature. This article will discuss various theoretical frameworks arising from Black women’s thought and reality that can be used to enhance and expand transcultural nursing knowledge. Historical, sociocultural, and literary perspectives will be used to illuminate the realities of African American women’s lives. Selected frameworks arising from these realities will be discussed that recognize the impact of race, class, and gender on the lives of African American women and have the potential to guide nursing research and practice.
Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes of Nursing Students Regarding Culturally Congruent Care of Native Americans
Authors: Wittig Deborah R.
Published: May 2004

The provision of culturally congruent care for Native Americans can improve health care compliance and outcomes. The purpose of this survey was to determine the knowledge, skills, and attitudes students deem essential to provide culturally competent healthcare for Native American clients. This information provides nurse educators with critical information regarding the cultural competence of nursing students and may be used to direct curriculum development. An openended survey was administered to associate degree nursing students, and conceptual analysis was used for data analysis. The researcher identified four knowledge themes, two skill themes, and two attitude themes. These themes were interrelated and connected. Findings from this study indicate that the current nursing curriculum supports the development of cultural competence among the student nurses who will practice in a multicultural climate. Practice implications include the use of a cultural assessment tool by the students.
A Transdisciplinary, Transcultural Model for Health Care
Authors: Glittenberg Jody
Published: May 2004

For the past 28 years, members of the Transcultural Nursing Society have been pioneers in generating knowledge about transcultural health issues, and this important body of knowledge will continue to increase and influence nursing research and practice worldwide. Yet at the same time, worldwide changes, demographic disparities, and new discoveries necessitate transitioning what has been a nursing discipline approach to that of a more inclusive transdisciplinary alliance. This alliance will build on pioneering strengths but also link with other disciplines such as anthropology, genetics, epidemiology, law, economics, and health policy to build cutting-edge research and theory for transcultural health care. A transdisciplinary, transcultural model for health care is presented for discussion, debate, and input. Suggestions are made for how such a model might be implemented through a changed curriculum using on-line education including consultation, teaching, and research.
The Effect of the Health Belief Model in Explaining Exercise Participation among Jordanian Myocardial Infarction Patients
Authors: Al-Ali Nahla , Haddad Linda G.
Published: May 2004

This study describes the effect of health belief model (HBM) in explaining exercise participation among Jordanian myocardial infarction (MI) patients. A convenient sample of 98 MI patients was recruited from four governmental hospitals in northern Jordan. A self-reported questionnaire and structured interview were designed to obtain the needed information. Study results indicated that Jordanian MI patients had a high score in perceived severity and a low score in perceived barriers. Results also showed a significant correlation between exercise participation and health belief variables and sociodemographics such as age, annual income, level of education, and physician recommendation. These findings have implications for designing intervention programs aimed at improving physical activity by all MI patients. These programs should consider culture, socioeconomic status, personal system, and demographics. Further research is needed to develop a culturally sensitive instrument that takes into consideration the cultural variation and the specific needs of MI patients.
Comparative Study of Meanings, Beliefs, and Practices of Female Circumcision Among Three Nigerian Tribes in the United States and Nigeria
Authors: Anuforo Prisca O. , Oyedele Lola , Pacquiao Dula F.
Published: May 2004

The study was conducted to gain insight into the meanings, beliefs, and practices of female circumcision among three Nigerian tribes in the United States and Nigeria. Participant-observations occurred in three sites in Nigeria (Ibadan, Lagos, and Owerri) and in Essex County, New Jersey (Newark, Irvington, and East Orange). A total of 50 informants included adult males and females from the three main Nigerian ethnic tribes: Igbo, Yoruba, and Hausa. Leininger’s culture care theory of diversity and universality was the study framework. Findings revealed existence of similarities and differences in the cultural meanings, beliefs, and practices among the tribes. Religion, education, and occupation were significant factors influencing informants’ attitudes toward continuation of the practice. Government-sponsored public education and influence by the media were found to increase informants’ awareness of complications of female circumcision. Changes in attitudes toward the practice and use of alternative practices were evident.
A Hypothesized Model of Korean Women’s Responses to Abuse
Authors: Choi Myunghan , Harwood Jake
Published: May 2004

Many abused married Korean women have a strong desire to leave their abusive husbands but remain in the abusive situations because of the strong influence of their sociocultural context. The article discusses Korean women’s responses to spousal abuse in the context of patriarchal, cultural, and social exchange theory. Age, education, and income as component elements share common effects on the emergent variable, sociostructural power. Gender role attitudes, traditional family ideology, individualism/collectivism, marital satisfaction, and marital conflict predict psychological-relational power as a latent variable. Sociostructural, patriarchal, cultural, and social exchange theories are reconceptualized to generate the model of Korean women’s responses to abuse.
The Meaning of Compstat
Authors: Walsh William F. , Vito Gennaro F.
Published: May 2004

Policing is presently undergoing a paradigm shift. One of the new models of police operations, Compstat, has been widely touted as an effective and efficient method of delivering police services. It also has been critiqued and criticized by police scholars. The authors consider these criticisms and offer their interpretations of the meaning of Compstat.
The Natural History of Neighborhood Violence
Authors: Fagan Jeffrey , Davies Garth
Published: May 2004

Few studies have applied life course methods to understand the natural history of crime rates in neighborhoods or other small social areas. Recent research on neighborhood effects has produced evidence of small area variations in child development and maltreatment, teenage sexual behavior and childbearing, school dropout, home ownership, several indicia of health, suicide, drug use, and adolescent delinquency. However, fewer studies have examined neighborhood variation over time in rates of violence and injury. In this study, we estimate the effects of neighborhood disadvantage on cyclical and nonlinear patterns of violence in New York City from 1985 to 2000. The pattern of violence suggests a "slow epidemic," although with meaningful neighborhood differences in the onset, peak and decline of violence that vary according to neighborhood structure. Violence spreads and then contracts in a pattern similar to a contagious disease epidemic. Patterns of spread and change differ for gun violence compared to other forms of violence. The results illustrate the salience of a developmental perspective on neighborhoods, the unique conceptual meaning of gun violence, and the importance of modeling periods of decline as a unique phenomenon independent from the predictors of onset.
Assessing Group Efficacy
Authors: Whiteoak John W. , Chalip Laurence , Hort Linda K.
Published: May 2004

Two hundred eighty-two undergraduate students (94 groups) participated in a laboratory study designed to compare three methods of assessing group efficacy: an aggregate of self-efficacy perceptions, an aggregate of individual perceptions of group efficacy, and a consensual approach. Findings indicate that the three methods of measuring group efficacy do not differ in their capacity to discriminate high and moderate task-difficulty conditions nor do they differ in terms of their consistency, the magnitude of their relationship with goals, or the degree to which they are affected by performance. Findings suggest that any of the three methods can be applied when studying the effects of group efficacy, at least for tasks with low interdependence.
Time, Change, and Development
Authors: Arrow Holly , Poole Marshall Scott , Henry Kelly Bouas , Wheelan Susan , Moreland Richard
Published: May 2004

This article reviews literature that takes a temporal perspective on groups, focusing particularly on the theories that guide such work. The temporal perspective is a process-focused view that treats groups as systems in which change occurs across multiple time scales. The review is organized around six themes that have been especially generative: (a) Time is socially constructed; (b) time is a resource; (c) time is a fundamental issue for theory and research; (d) groups change systematically over time; (e) group processes have temporal patterns; and (f) groups are complex systems characterized by nonlinear dynamics. The article closes by identifying the need for continued theory development and testing to better integrate the disparate theories and findings found in literature inspired by the temporal perspective.
The Symbolic-Interpretive Perspective on Group Dynamics
Authors: Frey Lawrence R.
Published: May 2004

A symbolic-interpretive perspective as applied to the study of groups is concerned with understanding how group members use symbols and the effects of symbol usage on individual, relational, and collective processes and outcomes, as well as the manner in which groups and group dynamics themselves are products of such symbolic activity. After reviewing philosophical, theoretical, and methodological foundations of a symbolic-interpretive perspective, we offer a conceptual model and review some representative research that illuminates the nature of symbolic predispositions, practices, processes, and products in groups. We conclude by discussing some of the strengths and challenges of studying group dynamics from a symbolic-interpretive perspective.
ZIP & TERRY: A New Attempt at Designing Language Learning Simulation
Authors: Li Rong-Chang , Topolewski David
Published: May 2004

ZIP& TERRY is a simulation designed for children to learn English as a second language (ESL). This article introduces the contents and structure of the program, discusses issues such as balance of entertainment and education, and uses of speech recognition technology in language learning simulation.
A Simple Classification Model for Debriefing Simulation Games
Authors: Peters Vincent A. M. , Vissers Geert A. N.
Published: May 2004

Debriefing is an important phase in using simulation games. Participants are invited to make a connection between experiences gained from playing the game and experiences in real-life situations. Thus, debriefing is the phase meant to encourage learning fromthe simulation game. Although design and practice of debriefing sessions should be aligned to this aim, it is necessary to distinguish different forms or modes of learning. The authors’central argument is that the shape of debriefing will have to meet the learning objectives being pursued in a concrete simulation game. They propose a general classification of learning objectives that allows a distinction to be made between types of use of simulation games. In each of the four types distinguished, the debriefing serves different purposes for which specific requirements can be formulated.
The Tournament Concept in Assessment
Authors: Thavikulwat Precha , Pillutla Sharma
Published: May 2004

This article reports on two studies that were conducted to determine whether (a) total enterprise simulations are suitable for assessing business skills and (b) the tournament concept can be effectively applied to such simulations. The first study involved 141 senior business students; the second, 74. The results are consistently favorable on both questions. The studies also show that the free-rider problem that may have previously undermined the validity of simulation performance scores can be overcome by incorporating a system of individual performance scores, and that a progressively difficult simulation experience can keep participants challenged for 30 decision periods.
A Building Block Approach to Simulation: An Evaluation Using Containers Adrift
Authors: Mayer Igor S. , Bockstael-Blok Wieke , Valentin Edwin C.
Published: May 2004

A building block approach to simulation uses modules that are easily reusable and therefore speed up the simulation process. The authors assume that this approach can enhance complex decision making between stakeholders on infrastructure planning and design. The authors combined insights from process management and a simulation building block approach into an experimental interactive decision-making procedure and developed a simulation building block tool. The authors tested the procedure and the tool in the game CONTAINERSADRIFT. Evaluation results indicate that the simulation tool is fast and easy to work with and that the combination of simulation building blocks and process management contributes to the quality and process of negotiation and generates mutual understanding.
The Fatherhood Scale
Authors: Dick Gary L.
Published: May 2004

This article reports on the initial validation of the Fatherhood Scale (FS), a 64-item instrument designed to measure the type of relationship a male adult had with his father while growing up. The FS was validated using a convenience sample of 311 males. The assessment packet contained a demographic form, the Conflict Tactics Scale (2), Self-Esteem Scale, and the Fatherhood Scale. A series of factor analysis resulted in 13 factors accounting for 75% of the variance. Factors with high correlations that were theoretically related to other factors were combined resulting in nine subscales measuring positive and negative paternal engagement, fatherhood roles, and paternal emotional responsiveness. The subscales attained high levels of internal consistency reliability, with alpha levels ranging from 0.80 to 0.96. The scale has an overall reliability of 0.98, and showed preliminary evidence of differentiating between groups of men on self-esteem and intimate partner violence. The FS is a new assessment tool designed for use by social work practitioners and researchers to assess an individual’s relationship with his father.
Quality in Qualitative Evaluation: Issues and Possible Answers
Authors: Anastas Jeane W.
Published: May 2004

Qualitative evaluation studies can differ markedly from quantitative ones in both purpose and method and therefore must be understood and evaluated on their own terms. This article defines qualitative evaluation research and describes key parameters of quality to be considered when conducting and evaluating these studies in terms that take their epistemological assumptions and unique methods into account. Dimensions discussed include clarity in the research question, identifying the epistemological framework, using theory and prior knowledge effectively, addressing ethical issues, documenting all aspects of the study method, ensuring trustworthiness of the data, and communicating findings effectively.
The Validity and Reliability Testing of a Consumer-Based Cultural Competency Inventory
Authors: Cornelius Llewellyn J. , Booker Naomi C. , Arthur Thomas E. , Reeves Iris , Morgan Oscar
Published: May 2004

A statewide data collection effort was implemented to assess the validity and reliability of a 52-item consumer assessment instrument of the cultural competency mental health providers. Following a 2-year, community-driven instrument development process, a consumer assessment tool was administered to 238 African American, Latino, and Vietnamese American mental health consumers across the state of Maryland. A subsequent principal components analysis indicated that 44 of the 52 items loaded on one of four factors, which accounted for 52% of the variance in the principal components analysis. It was also found that the overall instrument had a Cronbach’s alpha of .92. The authors conclude that although these findings suggest this scale has good psychometric properties and can be used as a clinical tool in the assessment of the cultural competency of mental health providers, more work is needed to finetune the scale.
A Validity Study of Two Forms of the Self-Esteem Rating Scale
Authors: Nugent William R.
Published: May 2004

A study was conducted to assess the equivalence of validity and reliability of two forms of the Self-Esteem Rating Scale. A total of 228 responses were obtained from a purposive sample. Several data analysis methods were used to test specific hypotheses, and two methods of equating observed scores on the two forms were used. The results were consistent with the general hypothesis of equivalence of validity and reliability. Equipercentile and linear equating methods produced nearly the same results in terms of equivalent scores between the two forms. The results suggested that the two forms of the Self-Esteem Rating Scale produce scores with a practical level of equal validity and reliability, that the two forms may be used interchangeably in social work practice, and that the equating formula may be used to convert a score from one form to an equivalent score on the other form.
Sexual Abuse Survivors’ Perceptions of the Effectiveness of EMDR and Eclectic Therapy
Authors: Edmond Tonya , Sloan Lacey , McCarty Dawn
Published: May 2004

Objective: This article examines survivor perspectives of the effectiveness of two different treatments for trauma symptoms among adult female survivors of childhood sexual abuse—Eye movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and eclectic therapy. Method: Qualitative interviews obtained in the context of a mixed-methods study were conducted with 38 adult female survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Results: Two major differences in outcomes between the two treatment approaches were observed. There were considerable distinctions between the two treatment groups in terms of the importance and effect of the client-therapist relationship, and in terms of the depth of change reportedly caused by the different therapies. Conclusions: Survivors’ narratives indicate that EMDR produces greater trauma resolution, while within eclectic therapy, survivors more highly value their relationship with their therapist, through whom they learn effective coping strategies.
Developing a Safety Protocol in Qualitative Research Involving Battered Women
Authors: Langford David R.
Published: May 2004

Qualitative research involving battered women requires advanced planning to protect participants and the investigator from the risk of violence from an abusive partner. Domestic violence creates a potentially dangerous research environment that is seldom discussed in the literature. The use of a safety protocol has been advocated as a way to ensure that research is conducted with maximum safeguards for the participating women. In this article, the author presents a safety protocol developed for a study of battered women’s perceptions of danger in their relationships. Issues that relate to safely contacting participants, conducting the interviews, and protecting data are discussed.
Mental Illness, Caregiving, and Emotion Management
Authors: Karp David A. , Tanarugsachock Valaya
Published: May 2004

Based on 50 in-depth interviews, this article considers how caregivers to a spouse, parent, child, or sibling suffering from depression, manic-depression, or schizophrenia manage their emotions over time. By considering the turning points in the joint career of caregivers and ill family members, our analysis moves beyond studies that link emotions to particular incidences, momentary encounters, or discreet events. Four interpretive junctures in the caregiver-patient relationship are identified. Before diagnosis, respondents experience emotional anomie. Diagnosis provides a medical frame that provokes feelings of hope, compassion, and sympathy. Realization that mental illness may be a permanent condition ushers in the more negative emotions of anger and resentment. Caregivers’ eventual recognition that they cannot control their family member’s illness allows them to decrease involvement without guilt. The article concludes with a call for research that understands that emotions in groups, settings, or organizations are linked to their distinctive histories.
Negotiating With Helping Systems: An Example of Grounded Theory Evolving Through Emergent Fit
Authors: Wuest Judith
Published: May 2004

A strength of substantive grounded theories is that they are modifiable. Yet, little attention is given in the research literature to the evolution of grounded theories through the process of emergent fit. In this article, emergent fit is discussed, and the evolution of the theoretical understanding of relationships with helping systems is provided as an example. In a feminist grounded-theory study of women’s caring, emergent fit with existing inductive research on health care relationships resulted in a framework of negotiating, which includes four strategies: reframing responsibility, becoming an expert, harnessing resources, and taking on more. This explanatory model demonstrates how the use of emergent fit can avoid the generation of isolated theories and contribute to knowledge accumulation by producing a substantive theory with wider applicability.
The Patient’s Diagnosis: Explanatory Models of Mental Illness
Authors: Sayre Joan
Published: May 2004

The purpose of the study was to develop a grounded theory about individuals’ perception of the situation of being a psychiatric patient. Thirty-five inpatients (19 males, 16 females), ages 18 to 68, in two psychiatric units of an urban, public facility were interviewed on a biweekly basis from admission to discharge. Data were analyzed using the constant comparative method, and the data indicated that participants used the basic social process of managing self-worth to deal with the stigmatizing social predicament of being a mental patient. Events occurring before admission that shaped their responses were substance abuse, medication noncompliance, and the lack of social capital, which led to norm violations and subsequent hospitalization. Six attribution categories emerged: problem, disease, crisis, punishment, ordination, and violation. Findings support the need for professionals to improve their practice by acknowledging the effects of patients’ subjective assessments on their response to hospitalization and by placing more emphasis on assisting patients to deal with the stigmatizing effects of a psychiatric diagnosis.
Self-Harm: Cutting the Bad out of Me
Authors: Harris Jennifer
Published: May 2004

The practice of self-harm is increasing in the United Kingdom, accounting for the highest number of acute medical admissions for women. The medical and nursing response to repeaters, set within a climate of dwindling emergency and accident resources, has been one of impatience, frustration, and hostile care. The author undertook a correspondence study with 6 women who regularly self-harmed. The women claimed that medical and nursing professionals viewed their self-harm as irrational and illogical. However, a qualitative examination of the motivations and interests of all parties reveals that self-harm acts possess situated internal logic, whereas professionals tend to use rational logic in attempting to understand them.
Getting the Focus and the Group: Enhancing Analytical Rigor in Focus Group Research
Authors: Kidd Pamela S. , Parshall Mark B.
Published: May 2004

In the literature on focus groups, far more attention has been devoted to how groups are organized and conducted than to issues of analysis. Although exploitation of group dynamics is touted as a virtue of focus groups, there is very little guidance in the literature with respect to how differences between group and individual discourse impact the analysis and interpretation of focus group data. In this article, the authors describe analytical challenges inherent in the interpretation of focus group data and suggest approaches for enhancing the rigor of analysis and the reliability and validity of focus group findings.
Metasynthesis of Qualitative Research on Living with HIV Infection
Authors: Barroso Julie , Powell-Cope Gail M.
Published: May 2004

Qualitative studies of people living with HIV infection are crucial for providing direction for practice and research because they provide the emic perspective. As more of these qualitative studies are conducted, researchers are challenged to develop ways to synthesize the findings for research and clinical practice. The purpose of the metasynthesis described in this article was to understand the experience of adults living with HIV infection as described in published research. Findings from the studies were categorized into six overarching metaphors: (a) finding meaning in HIV/AIDS, (b) shattered meaning, (c) human connectedness, (d) focusing on the self, (e) negotiating health care, and (f) dealing with stigma.
The Standpoint of Storyteller
Authors: Frank Arthur W.
Published: May 2004

The legitimacy of an interest in illness narratives that is therapeutic, emancipatory, and pre-occupied with ethics is defended in response to Atkinson’s critique of this interest as a blind alley. The value of storytelling as complementary to story analysis is argued, and the importance of recognizing one’s own standpoint is emphasized. The conclusion considers how qualitative methods can inform changing relationships between illness, health, medicine, and culture.
The Changing Face of Phenomenological Research: Traditional and American Phenomenology in Nursing
Authors: Caelli Kate
Published: May 2004

In recent years, phenomenological researchers in nursing have become concerned about the differences between traditional European phenomenology and the way phenomenology is frequently conducted in nursing. Indeed, Crotty asserts that much of the phenomenology conducted by nurses cannot be phenomenology because it does not espouse the constructionist epistemological position regarded by Husserl as essential to phenomenology. This article explores the differences between traditional European and American phenomenology and argues that the latter approach extends the phenomenological project in valuable and meaningful ways that are particularly appropriate for the health sciences.
Conducting Focus Groups in Developing Countries: Skill Training for Local Bilingual Facilitators
Authors: Maynard-Tucker Gisele
Published: May 2004

Many countries of the world are characterized by the use of two or more languages, and qualitative research is usually conducted in indigenous languages; however, bilingual facilitators often do not have any experience in research studies or in conducting focus group discussions. This article presents a 4-day skill-training workshop for local facilitators in which they learn the role of moderator, recorder, and observer and acquire research skills during role playing and during a pretest of the study population. Developed over several years of field experience, this technique has proven successful in collecting reliable data in situations when time is limited, when participants speak indigenous languages, and when bilingual facilitators have no background in research and lack focus group skills. The advantages of this training are that it is low cost and fast and permits a careful translation of the data. Moreover, because facilitators are involved in the collecting and analyzing of the data, their input provides the investigator with a valuable understanding of the findings from an emic perspective.
The Family Resemblance Metaphor: Some Unfinished Business of Interpretive Inquiry
Authors: Miller Steven I. , Fredericks Marcel
Published: May 2004

The rapidly expanding discipline of interpretive inquiry, especially in its narrative analysis form, has not been fully cognizant of certain crucial epistemological and methodological assumptions that form the ultimate basis of its purpose. Even after abandoning traditional positivist views, the related disciplines within the human sciences that are engaged in interpretive inquiry have still not discovered the core implicit assumptions that militate against a full acceptance of this form of inquiry. This article outlines the locus of these implicit assumptions and then argues that the legitimacy of these enterprises must be grounded in a well-known but heretofore undiscovered perspective, namely, Wittgenstein’s notion of a family resemblance. It is argued that this metaphoric phrase is the key to unlocking the real and unique nature of narrative analysis.
The Church Family and Kin: An Older Rural Black Woman’s Support Network and Preferences for Care Providers
Authors: Porter Eileen J. , Ganong Lawrence H. , Armer Jane M.
Published: May 2004

Although kin and church are considered premier support sources for rural elders, few scholars have undertaken descriptive studies to explore the nature of rural Black elders’ support networks and their preferences for in-home service providers. In the case study described in this article, methods of support network analysis and descriptive phenomenology were used to analyze data from five lengthy, open-ended interviews with a 94-year-old rural Black woman. The various groups and individuals of her network are labeled in her words, the network’s supportive functions are described, and preferences for providers are noted. In addition, the varying structures of her home care experience with the support network members are described. Her attempts to voice and exercise her preferences for in-home service providers are explained in terms of two contrasting processes: preference uptake and preference suppression. Based on these findings, implications for appraising the appropriateness of rural elders’ in-home services are discussed.
Warnings about Vulnerability in Clients with Diabetes and Hypertension
Authors: Weiss Joanne , Hutchinson Sally A.
Published: May 2004

The purpose of the grounded theory study discussed in this article was to discover and explicate the basic social problem in clients with diabetes and hypertension that affects their adherence to health care directives. In-depth interviews with 21 clients with both diabetes and hypertension and 3 health care providers who care for such clients were concurrently conducted, coded, and analyzed according to the grounded theory method. Clients with diabetes and hypertension described being bombarded repeatedly with warnings about their vulnerability. The warnings were both external (coming from health care providers, family, and friends) and internal (coming from within themselves). Internal warnings were discovered to be far more influential in affecting adherence. This discovery can be used to shape health care provider’s social interactions and treatment plan strategies with clients with diabetes and hypertension.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Qualitative Data Collection and Transcription
Authors: Easton Kristen L. , McComish Judith Fry , Greenberg Rivka
Published: May 2004

The subjective nature of qualitative research necessitates scrupulous scientific methods to ensure valid results. Although qualitative methods such as grounded theory, phenomenology, and ethnography yield rich data, consumers of research need to be able to trust the findings reported in such studies. Researchers are responsible for establishing the trust worthiness of qualitative research through a variety of ways. Specific challenges faced in the field can seriously threaten the dependability of the data. However, by minimizing potential errors that can occur when doing fieldwork, researchers can increase the trustworthiness of the study. The purpose of this article is to present three of the pitfalls that can occur in qualitative research during data collection and transcription: equipment failure, environmental hazards, and transcription errors. Specific strategies to minimize the risk for avoidable errors will be discussed.
Awakening as a Change Process among Women at Risk for HIV Who Engage in Survival Sex
Authors: Mallory Caroline , Stern Phyllis Noerager
Published: May 2004

Women who exchange sex for survival requirements risk exposure to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This grounded theory study was conducted to better understand these women’s concerns, attitudes, and behaviors related to HIV, with the goal of informing prevention research. Interviews with 11 women engaged in survival sex were analyzed. Women described sliding into survival sex as a result of economic crises. Survival sex exposed women to violence, drug use, sexually transmitted infections, and HIV. Mitigating these risks is a process of awakening in which women reconstruct risk and survival and make changes in their behavior. These findings highlight the complexity of the problem of survival sex and suggest interventions to help women protect themselves against HIV.
The Search for Meaning in HIV and AIDS: The Carers’ Experience
Authors: Carlisle Caroline
Published: May 2004

This article explores informal carers’ experiences in caregiving for people living with HIV and AIDS. The search for meaning encompasses the ways in which carers find meaning in caregiving. A grounded theory approach was taken. Data were collected by means of 43 in-depth interviews and participant observation. Caregivers felt that it was important to have control over the emphasis that HIV had within their lives and developed an attitude that put the virus in perspective. Getting involved in HIV and AIDS work outside of the immediate caregiving relationship was evident. The motivation for this was in part a reaction to prevailing societal views on HIV and in part altruistic in that it provided further meaning for the caregiving experience. This study suggests that finding meaning in caregiving is a powerful way to achieve a balance between the costs of caregiving and personal reward.
Caring for Organ Donors: The Intensive Care Unit Nurses’ View
Authors: Sadala Maria Lúcia Araújo , Mendes Heloísa Wey Berti
Published: May 2004

The nursing care for patients who are pronounced brain-dead but kept alive to serve as organ donors demands technical-scientific skills and the ability to handle situations that are often in conflict with the traditional concepts of nursing care. Based on the phenomenological approach in this article, essential themes of the lived experience of caring for these patients, including the technical and specific nursing care, the relationship with organ donors and their families, and the nurses’ perception of themselves in this professional situation are described. The results point to the contradictions and ambiguities of this type of nursing, especially in regards to the affective and philosophical aspects.
Maximizing Qualitative Responses about Smoking in Structured Interviews
Authors: Erickson Pamela I. , Kaplan Celia Patricia
Published: May 2004

This article addresses the important methodological issue of whether face-to-face or self-administered interviews elicit better qualitative data on reasons for smoking and quitting among 173 current and former smokers. The data are from a study of smoking behaviors among 601 African American and Latina women age 14 to 21 years recruited from family planning clinics in Los Angeles from 1995 to 1996. Results suggest that responses to closed questions about smoking behavior are similar in both methods but that self-administered surveys elicit more responses to open-ended questions than face-to-face interviews. The authors encourage the use of self-administered surveys in smoking research because they are cheaper to administer, yield similar data on closed-question items, and elicit richer and more provocative responses to open-ended questions.