bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Do Migrants Rob Jobs? New Evidence from Australia
Authors: Gang Tian Gary , Shan Jordan
Published: March 2003

This study contributes to the recent debate on immigration and unemployment in Australia by investigating the causal linkage between immigration and unemployment. The question of whether ‘immigrants rob jobs’ is examined by identifying the sources of unemployment through causal linkages between unemployment and other key variables such as immigration. The research finds no Granger causality between immigration and unemployment, but does run from industrial structural change to the high unemployment rate in Australia. This research also finds that both GDP growth and immigration inflow reinforce each other in the course of economic development in Australia.
Australia and the Emergence of the Modern Two‐Party System
Authors: Moore Tod , Bourke Sandra , Maddox Graham
Published: March 2003

Although the Australian party system is accepted in some literature as a "classic" example of a two‐party system, information about how this system came about does not feature prominently in international studies on political parties. It is here argued that Australia indeed blazed the trail for the two‐party model by being the first to link parliamentary organisation directly to a mass electorate.
An Imperial Aspect: The Australasian Town Planning Tour of 1914–15
Authors: Freestone Robert
Published: March 2003

The international diffusion of town planning theory, techniques and ideology was facilitated by many agencies in the early twentieth century, with lecture tours a popular mechanism. Driven by a mix of evangelism and imperialism, the Garden Cities and Town Planning Association (GCTPA) became a logical focus for the export of British planning ideals relating to better housing and planned local environments. The Australasian Town Planning Tour of 1914–15 organised by Charles Reade on behalf of the GCTPA was a major event in the development of Australian planing thought. There has, however, been no extended analysis of its origins, organisation and impacts. Drawing on contemporary sources, that task is attempted here. Discussion is set against the backdrop of the rise and decline of British imperialistic influence.
The All‐Union Society for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries and French Intellectuals, 1925–29
Authors: Stern Ludmila
Published: March 2003

The 1920s and 1930s were years of active personal support for the USSR by a number of eminent French intellectuals who assisted in the creation of an image of the USSR in French public opinion. This was largely based on their perceptions of the social, political and cultural achievements in Soviet society. Analysis of the archival, and mainly unpublished, documents of VOKS (the All‐Union Society for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries) illustrate the true nature of an organisation that claimed to have been created in order to promote international cultural relations. The internal correspondence and reports reveal the mechanisms used by VOKS from its inception in order to create, foster, and manipulate relations with numerous members of the French intelligentsia. Also revealed in this paper is the leading role played by VOKS in the creation of the USSR‐France “cultural” friendship societies, its policies concerning the selection and treatment of French visitors, and other features of political propaganda that have been commonly considered to belong to the period of the 1930s.
Stephen H. Roberts' The House That Hitler Built as a Source on Nazi Germany
Authors: Bonnell Andrew G.
Published: March 2003

This article is a critical evaluation of Stephen H. Roberts' The House that Hitler Built (1937) as a source on Nazi Germany. Roberts' book was one of the most successful contemporary accounts of Nazi Germany by an English‐speaking visitor, at least as far as the number of printings and translations was concerned. The work is also of interest on account of Roberts' important position in the history of the historical profession in Australia. The present article proceeds by examining the evidence about Roberts' visits to Germany in 1936, and the context of the book's composition, relating it to other contemporary sources, in order to arrive at an assessment of the book's merits as a primary source and as a scholar's assessment of the “Third Reich”. The article finds that while Roberts' work contains some shrewd insights and is persuasively written, the scholarship is sometimes flawed, with Roberts ultimately arriving at correct conclusions for the wrong reasons.
What is to be Done? WTO, Globalisation and State‐Labour Relations in China
Authors: Liew Leong H.
Published: March 2003

China as a nation benefits from entry into the World Trade Organisation (WTO) but the effects are neither immediate nor uniform. Significant long‐term benefits from WTO entry can be realised only if WTO entry acts as a catalyst for further and deeper systemic reform of the economy. Some workers benefit from the opening of foreign markets to Chinese goods but others are affected adversely by the increase in foreign competition in Chinese markets. This paper examines the impact of globalisation and WTO entry on China and how they affect state‐labour relations.
The Legacy of Colonial Labour Unions in Indonesia
Authors: Ingleson John
Published: March 2003

This article discusses the legacy of the colonial labour movement in Indonesia under five broad headings; labour unions and the development of political consciousness; labour unions as socio‐economic institutions; leaders, followers and the development of worker leadership; organisations and structural legacies; and class, ethnic and religious divisions. For over three decades after the first labour union was created in 1908, union leaders struggled to build organisations that cut across the ethnic, linguistic and social class divisions of Indonesian workplaces. They had limited success. Nevertheless, labour unions did have an important role in increasing workers' wages, representing their grievances to employers and forcing the colonial government to pressure employers to improve both wages and conditions. They were central to the development of political consciousness, creating opportunities for Indonesians to acquire organisational skills and providing a channel for many to join nationalist political parties. In 1941, on the eve of the Japanese occupation, labour unions were among the strongest Indonesian organisations in the colonial towns and cities. In the aftermath of independence in August 1945 labour unions were quickly re‐formed and, freed from many of the restrictions of the colonial states, recruited large numbers of urban workers. The successes and failures of the colonial labour movement were part of the collective memory of many leaders and members, influencing the direction of post‐independence activities.
Development of Labour Organisation in Singapore, 1800‐1960
Authors: Trocki Carl A.
Published: March 2003

This paper looks at the long‐term development of labour relations in Singapore. Firstly, it suggests a periodisation for the history of the Singapore labour movement. Secondly, the paper examines the shifting nature of industrial relations and the ability or lack thereof for labour to organise. One consistent theme emerges, that is the question of identity and consciousness among labour. Unless workers were able to identify themselves as labour, as opposed to capitalists, it was difficult for them to maintain a sustained effort to press for their own interests. In the nineteenth century, labourers were organised under patriarchal groups based on surnames or lineages. In the twentieth century, unions were part of the political movements for independence. Within the tripartite framework of labour, business and government, labour almost always found itself subordinated by the partnership of the state and capital, or government and business.
Forgetting the Führer: the Recent History of the Holocaust Denial Movement in Germany
Authors: Long Anthony
Published: March 2003

The crimes committed by National Socialist Germany during the Second World War place Germany in a unique position for the Holocaust denial movement, and combine its so‐called “academic” aspect with its political core. In no other country has the movement attracted so much publicity for its pernicious mixture of lies, distortions and half‐truths as it has in Germany since the late 1980s. The introduction of laws in 1985 and 1994 that target “die Auschwitzlüge” (Auschwitz‐Lie) changed the frequency of Holocaust denial in German public life, if not its nature. This article is an analysis of the German Holocaust denial movement since 1988, with an emphasis on the most important individuals and events that have influenced the movement's direction in this period. It also includes an examination of the laws that seek to stop its spread.
From the State of Nature to Evolution in John Stuart Mill
Authors: Gerson Gal
Published: March 2003

John Stuart Mill’s familiar ideas, such as the harm principle, the emphasis on the liberty of thought and discussion, and the extension of politics into the family and education, are all linked to a developmental and open–ended view of nature. To ground this perception of nature, Mill makes use of contemporary notions of evolution. For Mill, nature encompasses human civilisation and its higher products such as morality and justice. However, Mill recognises no benevolent guiding hand in the physical world, which the idea of evolution enables him to understand as self–propelled. Destruction and pain are part of the overall developmental movement, so that human lives always stand the danger of being crushed by nature. To minimise such risks, humans should use the distinctive features of their species, such as reason and morality, thus continuing nature while transforming it.
Asylum–Seekers and National Histories of Detention
Authors: Bashford Alison , Strange Carolyn
Published: March 2003

The Australian system of mandatory detention of asylum–seekers has become increasingly controversial. Insofar as commentary on detention has been framed historically, critics have pointed to Australia’s race–based exclusionary laws and policies over the twentieth century. In this article, we suggest that exclusion and detention are not equivalent practices, even if they are often related. Here we present an alternative genealogy of mandatory detention and protests against it. Quarantine–detention and the internment of “enemy aliens” in wartime are historic precedents for the current detention of asylum–seekers. Importantly, in both carceral practices, non–criminal and often non–citizen populations were held in custody en masse and without trial. Quarantine, internment and incarceration of asylum–seekers are substantively connected over the twentieth century, as questions of territory, security and citizenship have been played out in Australia’s histories of detention.
Accountability in Australian Government: Towards the Year 2000
Authors: Simms Marian , Keating Michael
Published: March 2003

This symposium is based on a workshop held at the Australian National University on 27 March 1998, sponsored by the Australia Institute, the Centre for Australian Public Centre Management at Griffith University and the Institute of Public Administration, Australia. The Political Science Program, within the Research School of Social Sciences, at the ANU provided a congenial environment for the workshop. Marian Simms is grateful to Barry Hindess for his ongoing support for the ‘Accountability in Australian Government’ project. More particularly Christel Cools, Louise Sims and Wayne Naughton provided technical back‐up. Peter McCarthy assisted with library research. Dhammika Dharmapala made useful comments on the final version.
Competition, Marketisation, Public Services and Public Ethics
Authors: Harris Tony
Published: March 2003

The topic I address provides an embarrassment of scope. At the same time, it allows the development of a theme that is worthwhile discussing. When in the public sector is it worthwhile to import private sector concepts, principles and practices and when would the adoption of a private sector model be injurious to the state's constituents? The theme is worthwhile discussing, in part because some of Australia's jurisdictions appear to be adopting what they consider to be private sector practices, without an adequate framework to guide them. Because there is no proper framework, mistakes are made which could have been avoided. There is also some evidence that the public is uneasy about the loss of ‘public’ from the term public services. It would not be in the public’s own interests to resist, for no good reason, the adoption of private sector principles where that would allow more cost‐effective services. The topic also allows a discussion on the influence on public sector ethics of the trend to place senior public servants on contracts that can be disposed of without a reason or prospect of appeal.
Research Note: Purchaser‐Provider – Are the Purchasers Ready for It?
Authors: Stewart Jenny
Published: March 2003

New Public Management (NPM) is correctly seen as a multifaceted set of changes, with different emphases in the many countries in which programs of reform have been implemented (Hood 1995). In Australia and New Zealand, and to a significant extent in the UK, the replacement of hierarchical with contractual or quasi‐contractual relations lies at the heart of NPM (Boston et al. 1996; Laffin 1997; Walsh 1995).
Local Government in Tasmania: Reform and Restructuring
Authors: Haward Marcus , Zwart Ivan
Published: March 2003

Tasmania has a long history of failed attempts at restructuring local government boundaries yet managed a major reform process of ‘modernisation’ between 1990 and 1993 that incorporated major changes to council operations together with a restructuring of boundaries and a reduction from 46 to 29 councils. This process can be compared with a recent attempt to reduce further the number of local governments. In April 1997 the Liberal Premier announced reforms (‘Directions for Tasmania’) that led to a further reduction in the number of councils. This process collapsed following legal challenges and the proroguing of parliament prior to the 1998 state election. The defeat of the Liberal government saw the abandonment of the proposed amalgamations and establishment of ‘partnerships’ between the new ALP state government and councils. This paper compares the 1990–93 and 1997–98 reform processes and evaluates the outcomes of the amalgamations in 1990–93. It argues that the success of amalgamation and reform in local government has been strongly influenced by the degree of local government involvement and support in the reform process, lessons that have wider application.
An Attitudinal Response to Role Conflict in Local Government
Authors: Cetinic‐Dorol Laurie J
Published: March 2003

Local government consists of elected community representatives, who serve on a part‐time basis, hold office for a limited term and do not possess particular managerial skills. The chief executive officer (CEO) is appointed to manage the local government entity. Role conflict becomes an issue due to the competing values of the council and the CEO regarding resource allocation and the overall direction of the organisation. This paper looks at the underlying issues of the friction between the volunteer council and the paid staff and what strategies could be implemented to ensure the two functions are complementary and not conflicting.
Continuity and Change: The New South Wales Public Sector Under Labor
Authors: O'Donnell Michael
Published: March 2003

This paper analyses recent developments in wage bargaining in the New South Wales public sector under the Labor government. It contrasts the approach taken by the former Coalition government with that of its successor. The discussion is focused on the Memorandum of Understanding between the Labor government and the public sector unions. With the agreement of the unions, the government has reasserted both substantive and procedural control over public sector industrial relations. This has not, however, prevented widespread industrial action in schools, hospitals and public transport and continuing tensions between the principal public service union and the government.
Staff Selection in the Australian Public Service: A History of Social Closure
Authors: Matheson Craig
Published: March 2003

This paper argues that recruitment and promotion within the Australian Public Service (APS) have historically exemplified the practice of ‘social closure’. Three periods of AP'S staff selection that correspond to what Halligan and Power identify as the bureaucratist/technicist, administrationist and political management models of executive branch regime are identified. Social closure in each instance was based on educational credentials or lack thereof. These practices have been justified in terms of various ‘ideologies of promotion’. Such ideologies tend to reflect the ideal or material interests of social groups rather than the skill requirements of administrative work. The current form of social closure based on economics degrees illustrates this phenomenon. Accordingly, greater recognition of the value of non‐economics degrees is required.
Reconsidering the Revolution? Australian Public Sector Administration in 2000
Authors: Broughton Charles , Chalmers Jim
Published: March 2003

While the year 2000 was memorable for public administration in Australia it was notable mainly for the unexpected. Success occurred where risk and failure were predicted. Failure emerged where success had been talked‐up. Notable examples include the so‐called Y2K problem, management of the Olympic Games, the introduction of the GST, and the outsourcing of government services (especially Information Technology (IT)). Also memorable were important shifts in the policy fields of defence and welfare. The Howard government ended the year in decision‐making and largese mode—setting the agenda for the following election year. The events of 2000 invite reconsideration of the merits of the traditional bureaucratic model and those of the emerging post bureaucratic models of service provision.
Citizens, Consumers and Courts
Authors: Spigelman J.J.
Published: March 2003

Address by the Honourable JJ Spigelman AC, Chief Justice of New South Wales, to the International Conference on Regulation Reform Management and Scrutiny of Legislation, New South Wales State Parliament House, Sydney, on 9 July 2001.
The Salinity Crisis in Western Australia: A Case of Policy Paralysis
Authors: Beresford Quentin , Phillips Harry , Bekle Hugo
Published: March 2003

This article focuses on the Court government’s development of a State Salinity Strategy during the 1990s which took nine years from the initial announcement to the final realease. Western Australia has 70 percent of the nation’s dryland salinity, a figure widely regarded as representing a potential environmental disaster with significant flow‐on economic and social impacts. The paralysis that has surrounded decision‐making on this issue is examined as a case study in the lack of effectiveness of government policy‐making capacity on the environment. The shortcomings of the Salinity Strategy examined in the article include a lack of a leadership role for government, inadequate resourcing and weaknesses in the supporting institutional arrangements.
The Immediate Challenge Regarding COAG Reform
Authors: Beattie Peter
Published: March 2003

Federalism presented an attractive model for young Australia. Preserving the autonomy of colonies through the retention of state governments and the establishment of a bicameral Commonwealth parliament with a ‘states’ house’ helped to counter the suspicion of central government. But as a system of government, federalism requires coordination and cooperation between the layers of government. In the history of Australia’s federation there are examples that show times of strong cooperation and coordination between the states and the Commonwealth. However more and more, our federation does not enjoy cooperation or coordination on issues of vital importance to all Australians. I believe it is time to look at the way our system of federalism works. We require a mechanism to facilitate coordination and cooperation between the layers of government.
Review Essay
Authors: DeGrazia David
Published: March 2003

Rollin, Bernard E. The Frankenstein Syndrome: Ethical and Social Issues in the Genetic Engineering of Animals
Genetic Therapy, Person‐regarding Reasons and the Determination of Identity — A Reply to Robert Elliot
Authors: Persson Ingmar
Published: March 2003

I have outlined two ways of defending the claim that there are so‐called person‐regarding reasons for practising gene therapy on human conceptuses. One is metaphysical and concerns our nature and identity. The upshot of it is that, in cases of most interest, this therapy does not affect our identity, by bringing into existence anyone of our kind who would not otherwise have existed. The other defence is value theoretical and claims that even if genetic therapy were to affect the identity of beings our kind, there could still be person‐regarding reasons for performing it, since we can be benefited and harmed by being caused to exist or not to exist. Robert Elliot has attacked both of these lines, and my present objective is to show how his criticisms can be deflected.
Transporting Values by Technology Transfer
Authors: De Castro Leonardo D.
Published: March 2003

The introduction of new medical technologies into a developing country is usually greeted with enthusiasm as the possible benefits become an object of great anticipation and provide new hope for therapy or relief. The prompt utilization of new discoveries and inventions by a medical practitioner serves as a positive indicator of high standing in the professional community.

But the transfer of medical technology also involves a transfer of concomitant values. There is a danger that, in the process of adopting a particular technology, the user takes for granted the general utility and desirability of the implements and procedures under consideration without recognizing the socio‐cultural peculiarities of the adopting country. A sensitivity to the social conditions and cultural traditions is important so that the emergence of new values can be examined critically and the transfer of necessary technology can be effected smoothly.

In the Philippines, efforts to boost patronage of transplant technology appear to have overlooked this need for socio‐cultural sensitivity. Legislative fiat cannot be used to override deep‐seated values.

There is a need to be more sensitive to the possible confrontation of values that the transfer of technology brings in order to avoid the erosion of indigenous socio‐cultural values and minimize the intrusiveness of beneficial medical technology.
Birds Do It. Bees Do It. So Why Not Single Women and Lesbians?
Authors: Robinson Bambi E.S.
Published: March 2003

Infertile couples have come to take assisted reproductive technologies (ART) for granted. An increasing number of single women and lesbian couples also desire to have children and turn to ART, especially donor insemination, to fulfill this desire. While most married couples find that access to ART is limited primarily by the ability to pay, for single women and lesbian couples, the story may be much different. In the United States, they may find that doctors and infertility clinics view their desires as immoral and refuse to accept them as patients, although other doctors and clinics readily accept them. In most other countries, however, it is against the law for single women and lesbian couples to make use of ART, including donor insemination.

In this paper I will argue that marital status and sexual orientation should not serve as a barrier to accessing the world of reproductive medicine. I will base this conclusion on two arguments. First, that justice requires that we treat like cases alike. Just as we would not accept or reject patients for cardiac rehabilitation programs based on factors such as a history of poor eating habits, so too we should not look at nonmedical factors such as marital status when deciding whether to treat infertility. For the second justification for the conclusion of equal access to ART, I will examine the concept of the family. I will argue that it is morally acceptable for single women and lesbian couples to have children and to head families.
The Principle of Agency
Authors: Rachels James
Published: March 2003

The Principle of Agency says that if it would be good for a state of affairs to occur “naturally”, then it is permissible to take action to bring it about. This contradicts the views of some bioethicists, who object to euthanasia, in vitro fertilization, and cloning, even though they acknowledge that the states of affairs produced are good. But the principle, or some form of it, seems inescapable. The opposite view — that we may not, by our action, reproduce “natural” goods — may owe its appeal to an implicitly religious view of nature.
Points to Consider for Ethics Committees in Human Gene Therapy Trials
Authors: Dettweiler Ulrich , Simon Perikles
Published: March 2003

Recent political developments and disclosures of serious adverse events in human gene therapy (HGT) with the death of 18‐year old Jesse Gelsinger in the USA have shown that the clinical application of HGT raises some severe ethical issues. These have either been neglected or not yet been discussed to a satisfactory extent. In this paper, we will address this deficiency and develop strategies for a safer application of HGT. Such a study must first look closely at the science of HGT itself. We will evaluate the latest preclinical research, especially data on the viruses that are used as vectors and on modes of administration of vectors. We will put forward new arguments concerning the toxicity assessment of so‐called ‘gene drugs‘, the tissue and cell type specificity of the vectors, and the duration and on‐set of gene expression. Secondly, we will look at procedural aspects of applied research ethics on the way to clinical application of HGT. There, informed consent (IC) and the patient‐researcher relationship are of utmost concern. Furthermore, we will explore the problem of expertise in risk assessment and will show how current regulations foster conflicts of interests that create dilemma situations even for those researchers who act in the best interest of the patients. We will conclude the article with a set of questions for ethicists who have to decide about the quality of HGT protocols. This may contribute to the safety of patients participating in HGT trials and to achieving the aim of efficient application of HGT.
Competence and Paternalism
Authors: DeMarco Joseph P.
Published: March 2003

Some bioethicists have argued in favor of a sliding scale notion of competence, paternalistically requiring greater competence in relation to more significant risk. I argue against a sliding scale notion, taking issue with the positions of Allen E. Buchanan and Dan W. Brock, Ian Wilkes, and Joel Feinberg. Rejecting arguments that a sliding scale is supported by legal cases, by ordinary usage, and by fallible judgments about competence, I argue in favor of greater evidence of competence when risk is greater. Two clinical cases are examined, both involving amputation, to show that my fixed concept of competence, with a requirement of clearer evidence of competence when risk is high, better accounts for good moral decisions in bioethics.
Supporting Irrational Suicide
Authors: Gray Hardcastle Valerie , Walker Stewart Rosalyn
Published: March 2003

In this essay, we present three case studies which suggest that sometimes we are better off supporting a so–called irrational suicide, and that emotional or psychological distress – even if medically controllable – might justify a suicide. We underscore how complicated these decisions are and how murky a physician's moral role can be. We advocate a more individualized route to end–of–life care, eschewing well–meaning, principled, generalizations in favor of a highly contextualized, patient–centered, approach. We conclude that our Western traditions of promoting reasoned behavior and life themselves may at times be counter–productive.
Reflections On Determining Competency
Authors: Silver Mitchell
Published: March 2003

Psychiatrists are the health care professionals most frequently called upon to determine the competency of a patient to refuse treatment. The motives for determining competency vary in morally significant ways. This paper explores what I term ‘the ideal motivational situation’ for determining a patient's competency: a desire to respect the patient's autonomy, a desire to promote the patient's overall best interests, and a belief that when these two motives conflict the patient's autonomy should not be dismissed out of hand as a partial patient interest which is naturally outweighed by the totality of his or her interests. I claim that in a liberal, democratic society autonomy ought to trump best interests and be the sole criterion of patient competence. I conclude by offering an essentially aesthetic criterion for determining autonomy.
Rationing Mental Health Care: Parity, Disparity, and Justice
Authors: Woolfolk Robert L. , Doris John M.
Published: March 2003

Recent policy debates in the US over access to mental health care have raised several philosophically complex ethical and conceptual issues. The defeat of mental health parity legislation in the US Congress has brought new urgency and relevance to theoretical and empirical investigations into the nature of mental illness and its relation to other forms of sickness and disability. Manifold, nebulous, and often competing conceptions of mental illness make the creation of coherent public policy exceedingly difficult. Referencing a variety of approaches to ethical reflection on health care, and drawing from the empirical literature on therapeutic efficacy and economic efficiency, we argue that differential rationing, ‘disparity,’ is unjustifiable.
Facilitating communication between education and health services: the provision for children with speech and language needs
Authors: Law James , Lindsay Geoff , Peacey Nick , Gascoigne Marie , Soloff Nina , Radford Julie , Band Sue
Published: March 2003

In this article, James Law, Marie Gascoigne and Nina Soloff, of the Department of Language and Communication Science at City University, London; Geoff Lindsay and Sue Band, of the Institute of Education, University of Warwick; and Nick Peacey and Julie Radford, of the Institute of Education, University of London, explore provision for children with speech and language needs. The authors report the outcomes of Government‐funded research into the provision of speech and language therapy services and identify 13 key themes which emerge from a review of these findings. They proceed to make a series of important and challenging recommendations, many of which focus on the need for enhanced collaboration at a range of levels.
Equality, Fairness and Rights – The Young Person’s Voice
Authors: Hamill Paul , Boyd Brian
Published: March 2003

This article presents findings from a one–year research project undertaken by experienced researchers and practitioners from the University of Strathclyde. Eleven comprehensive schools in Scotland were involved and the aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of in–school support systems for young people who display challenging behaviour. Pupil Support Bases (Pupil Referral Units) had been set up in most of the schools aimed at reducing exclusion rates and these were examined from the perspective of all stakeholders – teachers, parents, young people and key inter–agency personnel. The specific focus of this article is the views of the young people who, although often perceived as disruptive, disaffected and troubled, were surprisingly articulate. They had clear messages for all professionals and, in this article, Paul Hamill, Head of the Department of Educational Support and Guidance, and Brian Boyd, a Reader in the Language Education Department, ensure that their voices are heard.
Focus on Practice: The Relevance and Value of Music Therapy for Children with Rett Syndrome
Authors: Hill Sarah A.
Published: March 2003

Rett syndrome was first described in 1966 by Andreas Rett and, to date, has only been reported in girls. It is characterised by normal development from 6 to 18 months followed by a progressive loss of motor and cognitive skills and the development of stereotyped hand movements. Girls with Rett syndrome appear to be responsive to music. Using case study material Sarah Hill, a music therapist at a special school in Surrey, shows the value and relevance of music therapy.
Target Setting in Special Schools
Authors: Muncey Jim , McGinty John
Published: March 2003

Jim Muncey, Chief Adviser, City of Coventry Education Service, and John McGinty, Headteacher, Wainbody Wood School, examine a model which ensures that target setting in special schools reflects both national demands and the particular nature of special provision.
The National Literacy Strategy and Pupils with Special Educational Needs
Authors: Byers Richard
Published: March 2003

Richard Byers, an independent consultant on curriculum development for pupils with learning difficulties, and a part‐time lecturer in special educational needs at the University of Cambridge School of Education, considers the effectiveness of the National Literacy Strategy and the relevance of recent guidance.
Creating Opportunities for Contact between Mainstream Pupils and their Counterparts with Learning Difficulties
Authors: Shevlin Michael , O'Moore Astrid Mona
Published: March 2003

Michael Shevlin, Lecturer in Education, and Astrid Mona O'Moore, Senior Lecturer in Child and Educational Psychology and Co‐ordinator of the Anti‐Bullying Centre, both at Trinity College, Dublin, describe a programme linking mainstream pupils and their counterparts with severe and profound learning difficulties, consider the reactions of the pupils, and assess the social and educational benefits for all involved.
The self‐evaluating school — a case study of a special school
Authors: Neil Peter , McEwen Alex , Carlisle Karen , Knipe Damian
Published: March 2003

School self‐evaluation allows staff to review the quality of their work in relation to local contexts. In this article, Peter Neil, senior lecturer in education, Alex McEwen, professor of education, and Karen Carlisle and Damian Knipe, both research assistants in the Graduate School of Education at Queen’s University, Belfast, discuss a research project focusing on the process of self‐evaluation carried out by staff at a special school in Northern Ireland. The project involved the participants in the completion of a research journal over a four‐week period. The authors describe the ways in which the outcomes of the project were fed back to staff and the impact the project had on a range of issues, including teaching and learning and the school’s professional development agenda.
Computer based simulation of laboratory experiments
Authors: Edward Norrie S.
Published: March 2003

The author is currently developing computer based simulations of practical laboratory experiments in engineering. He takes the view that the aim of computer based simulations is to provide a learning experience as close to that of the lab as possible. This requires that the learning outcomes and methodology of practical work be established.

The paper starts with a review of published opinions on the intended learning outcomes of practical work. The views of staff and students of the School were established by conducting an internal survey. The paper then outlines the types of simulations possible on the computer before concentrating on the development of the operational simulations being used in the present context. The approach to obtaining fidelity in operation forms the main part of the paper.

The author is currently engaged in evaluating the effectiveness of one of the packages. He discusses the approach being taken and his views on the advantages and disadvantages of simulation. It is hoped that a subsequent paper will publish the results of the evaluation.
Designing and evaluating an educational performance support system
Authors: Wild Martyn
Published: March 2003

This paper provides an account of the design of the Lesson Planning System (LPS), a performance support system (PSS) to support novice teacher‐education students in learning and performing the complex cognitive task of lesson planning. It also reports on an initial research study to investigate the effectiveness of this software. The LPS is a hypermedia software system, predicated on task performance rather than learning, which has been developed to better understand the nature and potential role of PSSs in teacher education. The principles applied in the design and development of the LPS are relevant to the design of other PSSs across a wide range of task‐based activities in the professional development of teachers.
Instructional support for distance education and faculty motivation, commitment, satisfaction
Authors: Lee June
Published: March 2003

The purpose of this study is to examine the faculty perceptions of instructional support in relation to faculty members' motivation, commitment, and satisfaction associated with distance teaching. Findings indicated that faculty motivation and commitment toward distance teaching were strong in general. However, faculty motivation and commitment were higher in the institutions with well‐provided instructional support.
VICAID: Development and evaluation of a palmtop‐based job aid for workers with severe developmental disabilities
Authors: Furniss Frederick , Lancioni Giulio , Rocha Nelson , Cunha Bernardo , Seedhouse Philip , Morato Pedro , O'Reilly Mark F.
Published: March 2003

The development of technologies to assist people with severe and profound developmental disabilities to engage in constructive activity without constant support from carers may assist such persons to participate fully in vocational and other occupational activities. We describe the development, evaluation and use of VICAID, a system based on a radically simplified palmtop computer. The VICAID system enables a person with a developmental disability to access pictorial instructions designed to help him or her in the accurate completion of tasks. It also provides reminders to access the instructions, and/or alerts a job coach or supervisor should the worker's interaction with the system suggest that they are having difficulty with a task. Evaluative studies show that (1) the system is more effective than alternative supports (pictorial instructions presented in booklets) in maintaining accurate task performance, (2) that the system is preferred to such booklets by most users with severe disabilities, and (3) that it can be used in real work settings. Future development of the system will require attention to be paid to issues of training job‐coaches and support workers in its setting‐up and maintenance.
The effective use of virtual environments in the education and rehabilitation of students with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Standen P. J. , Brown D. J. , Cromby J. J.
Published: March 2003

Computer based learning has enjoyed an increasing role in mainstream education with the development of more powerful personal computers available at a lower price. This articlereviews work on a specific form of computer software, virtual environments. It aims to illustrate the potential of this computer application in the education and rehabilitation of people with intellectual disabilities. Virtual environments appear to be a fruitful method of teaching skills for independent living to people with intellectual disabilities. Initial studies demonstrate that learning in this way transfers to the real life situation in which the skills are required. However, to effectively exploit their educational potential, interaction with virtual environments needs to be guided. This can be done using a human tutor and a software tutor and preliminary findings from current research suggest guidelines for the effective employment of both. Future directions involve ensuring the availability of the software, making the technology accessible to a wider range of users and researching staff support to ensure that use is facilitated and that this technology is appropriately exploited.
Responding to free response examination questions: computer versus pen and paper
Authors: MacCann Robert , Eastment Benjamin , Pickering Samantha
Published: March 2003

A two‐part study, involving 14‐ to 15‐year‐old high school students, compared two modes of responding to free response examination questions: by computer and, the traditional way, by pen and paper. In Part 1, both the computer group (n= 57) and the pen and paper group (n= 52) were formed by random assignment. They answered three essay questions from a 1997 external English test which were holistically marked. In Part 2, the computer group (n= 88) and the pen and paper group (n= 53) chose their preferred method of response. They answered two essay questions from a 1999 external English test, which were analytically marked using standards‐referenced criteria. For four of the five questions, there were no significant differences between the pen and paper response marks and the computer response marks when presented in their original formats. When the pen and paper responses were word‐processed, markers tended to award higher marks to the handwritten scripts.
Enhancing learning with ICT at primary level
Authors: Goodison Terry
Published: March 2003

This study looks at three primary schools which have been successful in integrating ICT into the teaching and learning process. It confirms that a range of organisational features are correlated with successful implementation (eg, a sound learning environment, headteacher commitment, good forward planning etc) and goes on to argue that staff commitment plays a pivotal role in the process. This commitment can, however, be compromised by technological change (in this case from CD‐ROM and LAN‐based learning to WAN and Web‐based learning) if the process is not properly managed.
Sharing designer and user perspectives of web site evaluation: a cross‐campus collaborative learning experience
Authors: Collings Penny , Pearce Jon
Published: March 2003

In this paper we present an online, collaborative process that facilitates usability evaluation of web sites. The online workspace consists of simple and effective proformas and computer–mediated discussion space to support usability evaluation. The system was designed and used by staff and students at two universities. Students, working in small teams, at each university, developed web sites and then evaluated the usability of web sites developed at the other university, using the results to improve their own sites. Our project evaluations show that the process provides valuable feedback on web site usability and provides students with the experience of usability evaluation from two important perspectives: those of a user and of a developer. Further, students develop important generic skills: the ability to participate in and critique computer supported cooperative work environments.
A theoretical framework for the study of ICT in schools: a proposal
Authors: Lim Cher Ping
Published: March 2003

A sociocultural approach towards the study of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in education rejects the view that ICT can be studied in isolation; it must be studied within the broader context in which it is situated. The paper argues for a more holistic approach of studying ICT in schools by adopting a sociocultural perspective. It proposes a theoretical framework based on activity theory, with the activity system as a unit of analysis that is surrounded by different levels of ecological circles.
Science learning in virtual environments: a descriptive study
Authors: Trindade Jorge , Fiolhais Carlos , Almeida Leandro
Published: March 2003

Usually, students learn more if the method of instruction matches their learning style. Since Physics and Chemistry deal with three–dimensional (3–D) objects, the ability to visualize and mentally manipulate shapes is very helpful in their learning. In fact, much of what Physics and Chemistry students know takes the form of images. However, little attention has been given to the pedagogical effectiveness of visual stimuli in those disciplines. Computers are being increasingly used as teaching tools. The new approaches include simulations, multimedia presentations and, more recently, virtual environments. Computer–based worlds are useful to visualize physical and chemical processes allowing for better conceptual understanding. Since 3–D virtual environments need to be explored and evaluated in science education, we have created a virtual environment (Virtual Water) for studying phases of matter, phase transitions and atomic orbitals at the final year of high school and first year of university levels. Based on that work, we discuss the implications of visual learning in designing strategies to cater for differences in learning modes. Our study indicates that 3–D virtual environments may help students with high spatial aptitude to acquire better conceptual understandings. However, only some parameters (interactivity, navigation and 3–D perception) have shown to be relevant and only for some topics. On the other hand, stereoscopic visualizations do not seem to be relevant, with the exception of crystalline structures.
Trends in the Training of Male and Female Workers in the United Kingdom
Authors: Green Francis , Zanchi Luisa
Published: March 2003

After controlling for the effect of impact of human capital and other characteristics, including whether respondents are interviewed directly or by proxy, there has been a convergence in the experience of women and men regarding access to training in Britain. This convergence applies both to total training participation in any four weeks and to the weekly volume of off‐the‐job training.
The Perception and Effects of Share Ownership: Empirical Evidence from Employee Buy‐Outs
Authors: Pendleton Andrew , Wilson Nicholas , Wright Mike
Published: March 2003

Forward Links to Citing Articles
 
Apology
British Journal of Industrial Relations 43:4, 751

This paper explores the impact of employee ownership on employee attitudes, using attitudinal data obtained from four UK bus companies which had adopted the ESOP form of employee share ownership. After reviewing the recent UK literature, the paper highlights the findings from US literature that a ‘sense of ownership’ is an important intervening variable between actual ownership and attitudinal change, and that opportunities for participating in decision‐making are more important than ownership per se in generating feelings of ownership. The paper incorporates these possibilities in using a two‐stage ordered probit model to explore the relationships between ownership and attitudinal outcomes. The findings support intrinsic and instrumental models of ownership, and indicate that feelings of ownership are significantly associated with higher levels of commitment and satisfaction.
Employee Participation and Equal Opportunities Practices: Productivity Effect and Potential Complementarities
Authors: Pe´rotin Virginie , Robinson Andrew
Published: March 2003

The relationships between employee participation, equal opportunities practices and productivity are explored. Data from the British Workplace Employee Relations Survey of 1998 provide strong evidence that equal opportunities practices improve productivity overall, and increasingly so as the share of female and ethnic minority employees increases. However, short‐term effects may be negative in segregated workplaces. Non‐financial participation schemes are negatively associated with productivity, but in most cases the joint presence of these participatory schemes and equal opportunities practices significantly increases productivity. Interactions between participatory and equal opportunities schemes are also affected by work‐force composition and by the level of equal opportunities policies implemented.