bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Problems of Antagonism: Applying Liberal Political Theory to Conflict in Northern Ireland
Authors: Little Adrian
Published: August 2003

In recent issues of the British Journal of Politics & International Relations a debate has developed between Shane O'Neill and Glen Newey on the role of liberal political theory in resolving conflicts in Northern Ireland. This article argues that the roots of this debate lie in the differing perceptions of the role of political theory that the two protagonists employ. It suggests that O'Neill's Habermasian approach relies on an abstract understanding of political legitimacy and an excessively legalistic approach to dealing with the conflicts that permeate politics in Northern Ireland. However, where Newey's critique focuses on the problems of conflicting rights as they emerge in O'Neill's theory, this article highlights the difficulties that arise from the latter's understanding of rationality when applied to the real problems of antagonism in Northern Ireland. This implies that we need to rethink our expectations of political theory when addressing enduring conflicts and that democratic processes are likely to lead to complex and contingent outcomes rather than ‘rational’ answers to the prevailing antagonisms.
Labour in Disguise? Liberal Democrat MPs, 1997–2001
Authors: Cowley Philip , Stuart Mark
Published: August 2003

This article analyses Liberal Democrat voting in the 1997 parliament. Overall, Liberal Democrat MPs were most likely to find themselves voting with the Labour government than with the Conservatives. But the Liberal Democrats became noticeably less supportive of the government, and more favourable towards the Conservatives, as the parliament went on. There are also clear differences between different types of votes, with the Liberal Democrats being much more likely to support the government over votes on the principle of legislation than on the detail. To use the Party's own phrase of constructive opposition, the data appear to indicate that they began to stress the ‘opposition’, whilst still retaining the ‘constructive’.
Devolution and the Gatekeeping Role of the Core Executive: The Struggle for European Funds
Authors: Bache Ian , Bristow Gillian
Published: August 2003

The purpose of this article is to explore the impact of devolution to Wales on the policy control of the UK core executive. Our case study is the implementation of the additionality principle guiding EU structural funds. Successive UK governments have been reluctant implementers of this principle and have played the ‘gatekeeper’ role in controlling the financial impact of EU funds on domestic public spending. Devolution presents a challenge to central control over this policy. In this context, we seek to refine the ‘gatekeeper’ concept by drawing on the insights of the core executive approach.
Aggregate Investment and Political Instability: An Econometric Investigation
Authors: Campos Nauro F. , Nugent Jeffrey B.
Published: August 2003

Although in theory the long‐run effect of uncertainty on investment is ambiguous, available econometric evidence widely supports a negative association between aggregate investment and political instability. A shortcoming of this body of evidence is that it has failed to investigate the existence and direction of causality between these two variables. This paper fills this gap by testing for such causal and negative long‐run relationship between political instability and investment. We find there is a causal relation going from instability to investment, but it is positive and particularly strong in low‐income countries. This finding is robust to various sensitivity checks.
Inflation, Transaction Costs and Indeterminacy in Monetary Economies with Endogenous Growth
Authors: Itaya Jun‐Ichi , Mino Kazuo
Published: August 2003

This paper investigates the relationship between inflation (the rate of monetary expansion) and economic growth in a monetary version of Benhabib and Farmer's (Journal of Economic Theory, 63, 19–41, 1994) one‐sector endogenous growth model, in which money reduces transaction costs or shopping time. It is shown that when labour externalities are large there may be dual steady states, one of which is indeterminate and the other is determinate, and that the Tobin effect in the growth rate sense (i.e. higher rates of inflation increase the growth rate of the economy) always emerges in either of the steady states depending on the properties of a transaction cost technology.
Is Reserve‐ratio Arithmetic More Pleasant?
Authors: Bhattacharya Joydeep , Haslag Joseph H.
Published: August 2003

Does it matter in a revenue‐neutral setting if the government changes the inflation tax base or the inflation tax rate? We answer this question within the context of an overlapping‐generations model in which government bonds, capital and cash reserves coexist. We consider experiments that parallel those studied in Sargent and Wallace's ‘unpleasant monetarist arithmetic’; the government uses seigniorage to service its debt, choosing between changing either the money growth rate (the inflation tax rate) or the reserve‐requirement ratio (the inflation tax base). In the former case we obtain standard unpleasant arithmetic; in the long run a permanent open market sale results in higher money growth, and higher long‐run inflation. Somewhat surprisingly, it turns out that, for a given money growth rate, lower reserve requirements fund the government's interest expense. Associated with the lower reserve requirements is lower long‐run inflation and higher welfare, compared with the money‐growth case. The broad message is that reserve‐ratio arithmetic can be pleasant even when money‐growth arithmetic is not.
Trade in Intermediate Goods in a Model with Monopolistic Competition
Authors: Chakraborty Brati Sankar
Published: August 2003

A model of trade in intermediate and final goods is developed incorporating the features of increasing returns and monopolistic competition. It is shown that the endowment basis (comparative advantage) for trade becomes crucial in determining trade across stages of production, with the capital‐rich country a net exporter of specialized intermediate inputs and an importer of the final good. The capital‐rich country is shown to be immune to distributional conflicts, whereas for the labour‐rich country the distributional conflict crucially hinges upon the elasticity of substitution between intermediate inputs. Thus, free trade has inherently asymmetric effects on the functional distribution of income for countries differing in labour–capital ratios.
Competition and the Incentive to Produce High Quality
Authors: Kranton Rachel E.
Published: August 2003

Previous literature indicates that, when quality is a choice variable, firms have an incentive to produce high quality to maintain their reputations with consumers. The strategic interaction among firms and competition for market share is not considered. This paper finds that, when firms compete for market share, perfect equilibria in which firms produce high‐quality goods need not exist. Competition for customers can eliminate the price premium needed to induce firms to maintain a reputation for high‐quality production. In this case, economists and policy analysts should pay greater attention to the interaction among firms and the institutions, such as professional associations, that structure interfirm relations when considering whether firms have an incentive to produce high‐quality goods.
The Malleability of Undiscounted Utilitarianism as a Criterion of Intergenerational Justice
Authors: Asheim Geir B. , Buchholz Wolfgang
Published: August 2003

Discounting future utilities is often justified by the ethically motivated objective of protecting earlier generations from the excessive saving that seems to be implied by undiscounted utilitarianism in productive economies. We question this justification of discounting by showing that undiscounted utilitarianism has sufficient malleability within important classes of technologies: any efficient and non‐decreasing allocation can be the unique optimum according to an undiscounted utilitarian criterion for some choice of utility function.
Leaving Home as a Self‐selection Device
Authors: Jellal Mohamed , Wolff François‐Charles
Published: August 2003

We develop a model of intergenerational co‐residence and transfers within the family in a setting of asymmetric information. Following an exchange motive, altruistic parents receive services from their children, who may make them financial gifts in return. However, parents do not know the privacy cost to children of home‐sharing. Hence they make additional transfers in order to discipline their children and give them incentives to reveal their true privacy cost. We show that only children who stay at the parental home receive an informational rent, and that this rent is greater for recipients with a low privacy cost.
A Revised Tobin Effect from Inflation: Relative Input Price and Capital Ratio Realignments, USA and UK, 1959–1999
Authors: Gillman Max , Nakov Anton
Published: August 2003

The paper studies the realignments induced by inflation within an endogenous growth monetary economy. Accelerating inflation raises the ratio of the real wage to the real interest rate, and so raises the use of physical capital relative to human capital across all sectors. We find cointegration evidence for the US and UK economies consistent with a general equilibrium, Tobin‐type, effect of inflation on input prices and capital intensity, even while the growth rate of output is reduced by inflation.
A Definition of ‘More Systematic Risk’ with Some Welfare Implications
Authors: Hennessy David A. , Lapan Harvey E.
Published: August 2003

Producers are subject to similar production risks, and so their outputs are likely correlated. Using the entire data‐set rather than summary statistics, we study an ordinal definition of systematic risk. For risk‐neutral producers in perfect competition, we trace the effects of an increase in systematic risk through to impacts on welfare measures and production decisions. Expected welfare falls under more systematic risk, but either of expected producer surplus or expected consumer surplus may rise. Our definition of systematic risk also has relevance for the incentive to incur R&D expenditures, the benefits of diversity and the gains from risk‐sharing.
Measuring Over‐education
Authors: Chevalier Arnaud
Published: August 2003

Previous work on over‐education has assumed homogeneity of workers and jobs. Relaxing these assumptions, we find that over‐educated workers have lower education credentials than matched graduates. Among the over‐educated graduates we distinguish between the apparently over‐educated workers, who have similar unobserved skills as matched graduates, and the genuinely over‐educated workers, who have a much lower skill endowment. Over‐education is associated with a pay penalty of 5%–11% for apparently over‐educated workers compared with matched graduates and of 22%–26% for the genuinely over‐educated. Over‐education originates from the lack of skills of graduates. This should be taken into consideration in the current debate on the future of higher education in the UK.
Ökonomie der Grundlagenforschung und Wissenschaftspolitik
Authors: Hoppe Heidrun C. , Pfähler Wilhelm
Published: August 2003

This paper has four major objectives. The first is to emphasize the fundamental but mostly overlooked role of instrumentation and experimental technique in linking basic and applied research. The second is to provide an overview of the major economic effects of basic research investments. The third is to discuss reasons for public provision and support of basic research. And the fourth aim is to argue in favour of a reorientation of science policy towards the support of instrumentation and education in experimental laboratories.
Intrinsische Motivation und umweltpolitische Instrumente
Authors: Gawel Erik
Published: August 2003

In the discussion on the rational choice model of individual behavior, a growing emphasis has recently been placed on the importance of intrinsic motivation. Contrary to assumptions made in the standard economic literature, it is suggested that an individual's motivation to act may not be exclusively determined by external influences (incentives, restrictions) and (given) personal preferences, but, in addition, depends on intrinsically anchored ethical preferences. Intrinsic motivation may diminish if parallel external incentives, such as rewards or orders, come into play: Insofar as external intervention weakens the corresponding intrinsic motivation to act, the (normal) effect of relative prices is opposed by a (countervailing) crowding-out effect of intrinsic motivation. The effect of (over-) crowding-out has been thematized especially in the context of environmental policy. It was suggested that subsidies may support intrinsic incentives whereas taxes and licences (especially though command-and-control measures) tend to undermine them. This paper critically analyzes the impact of intrinsic behavior considerations on the evaluation of environmental policy instruments. It is argued that, if at all, economists' standard recommendations for policy design with respect to subsidies need not be revised even if intrinsic motivation plays any role for the agents' environmental bevavior. Furthermore, command-and-control policy might rather support than weaken intrinsic motivation.
Der deutsche Telekommunikationsmarkt zwei Jahre nach der vollständigen Marktöffnung: Eine Bestandsaufnahme aus Sicht der Verbraucher
Authors: Götz Georg
Published: August 2003

This paper describes the development of the German telecommunications sector in the aftermath of complete liberalization. The paper focuses on the effects on the consumers. I present data showing the speed with which new firms entered the market. As a result of entry, rates for long distance and international calls fell drastically. In the local loop, however, competition hardly exists and the rates for local calls are unchanged. The paper also discusses questions concerning consumer rights. A particular concern is that it is still difficult for many consumers to get sufficient information on rates.
Was Ökonomen lesen und schätzen: Ergebnisse einer Umfrage
Authors: Bräuninger Michael , Haucap Justus
Published: August 2003

This paper summarizes the main results of a survey, which we conducted in May 2000 among German-speaking economists about their views on economics publications. Our results indicate that the world market for economics publications is not fully integrated across countries, but it appears to be at least partially segmented. Economics journals published in German-speaking countries appear to be relatively important for the work of German-speaking economists even though other journals have a better reputation among them. And although internationally reputed journals enjoy the highest reputation among Germanspeaking economists, domestic economic journals enjoy a higher reputation than would be justified according to international citation-based rankings. Especially older German-speaking economists tend to attach relatively high importance and reputation to domestic journals, while younger economists tend to favour international journals that focus on certain subfields of economics.
Wege zur Sicherung der Qualität im Gesundheitswesen: Theorie und Praxis
Authors: Sauerland Dirk
Published: August 2003

In order to keep premium rates for Statutory Health Insurance (SHI) stable, German health policy designed several cost-containment acts since 1989. Within these reform acts budgets for SHI-expenditures were introduced in 1997, and reimbursement schemes were changed from fee-for-service-payments to capitation and flat rates per case. This article discusses the possible effects of these institutional changes on the quality of health care. It then demonstrates the weaknesses of the regulatory strategy for quality assurance pursued by German health policy. Finally, it outlines a two-tier strategy based on regulatory and competitive elements to ensure a high quality of care.
Schattenwirtschaft und Schwarzarbeit – Eine wirtschafts- und gesellschaftspolitische Herausforderung
Authors: Enste Dominik H.
Published: August 2003

The growing shadow economy in Germany is a challenge to the welfare state and economic policy. The burden of taxation and social security contributions combined with rising state regulatory activities are the main causes for the increase in the shadow economy. The consequences are ambivalent, since illicit work can increase welfare and boost institutional change but can also lead to a crisis of the welfare state. A substantial reform of the social security system and the tax system can reduce the incentives to use the `exit option’. In addition, the use of the `voiceoption’ must become more attractive.
Practitioner Review: Recognition of Pseudoseizures in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Stores Gregory
Published: August 2003

Pseudoseizures or their possibility remain a troublesome clinical issue with serious implications as, particularly in older children and adolescents, they can take various forms so that their differential diagnosis is wide. Many of the traditional criteria do not, in fact, discriminate well between pseudoseizures and other episodic disorders, especially those involving dramatic behavioural manifestations. These include certain forms of epilepsy (notably mesial frontal seizures) and some other organic and psychiatric conditions. A number of more reliable diagnostic criteria remain. These include selective clinical criteria and certain findings from carefully conducted EEG monitoring with informed analysis of the results.
What Do Executive Factors Contribute to the Failure on False Belief Tasks by Children with Autism?
Authors: Russell James , Saltmarsh Rebecca , Hill Elisabeth
Published: August 2003

As children with autism have pervasive executive difficulties it is necessary to determine whether these contribute to their often‐reported failure on the false belief task. Failure on this task is frequently taken to diagnose the lack of a “theory of mind”. We report two studies using two tasks that make similar executive demands to the false belief task. The first experiment showed that children with autism are significantly challenged by a “conflicting desire ” task, which suggests that their difficulty with the false belief task is not rooted in difficulty with grasping the representational nature of belief. In the second study children with autism were also found to be impaired on a novel version of the “ false photograph task”. A parsimonious reading of these data is that their difficulty with all three tasks is due to commonalities in the tasks' executive structure.
Verbal Memory and Performance IQ Predict Theory of Mind and Emotion Recognition Ability in Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders and in Psychiatric Control Children
Authors: Buitelaar Jan K. , Wees Marleen van der , Swaab‐Barneveld Hanna , Gaag Rutger Jan van der
Published: August 2003

This study was designed to examine the developmental and cognitive correlates of theory of mind (ToM) and emotion recognition ability in children with autism (N= 20), with pervasive developmental disorder‐not otherwise specified (PDD‐NOS) (N= 20), and in psychiatric control children (N= 20). The diagnostic groups were person‐to‐person matched on age and verbal IQ. The age of the children was between 8 and 18 years; their Full Scale IQ was at least 65. The test battery included tasks for the matching and the context recognition of emotional expressions, and a set of first‐ and second‐order ToM tasks. The relationships between composite domain scores and the subjects' age, Verbal IQ, Performance IQ, verbal memory, visual memory, and gender were examined in bivariate and multivariate analyses. Further, the subjects who reliably and consistently passed the tasks of a domain and those who could not were compared on developmental and cognitive characteristics. Overall, the results of the various analyses converged and indicated that verbal memory, Performance IQ, age and gender were the best predictors of social cognitive ability.
Distinguishing Serious and Playful Fighting by Children with Learning Disabilities and Nondisabled Children
Authors: Nabuzoka Dabie , Smith Peter K.
Published: August 2003

The ability to distinguish serious from playful fighting by two groups of children with learning disabilities (LD) (mean age=9.3 and 11.8 years) and non‐LD children (mean age = 10.1 years) was examined. Children with LD were generally able to make this distinction, with older children being more accurate. However, the performance of children with LD was not as high as that of non‐LD children: they used a smaller range of criteria ; some criteria were used significantly less ; and they were much more likely not to give any reason for the judgements made. On the other hand, the order in frequency of those criteria cited was similar for both non‐LD children and children with LD. Physical actions of the participants, and inference about actions and/or intent were the most frequently cited criteria. These findings indicate that although children with LD use fewer social cues, and are less accurate in making judgements about the nature of behavioural episodes, the acquisition of the meaning of particular cues may follow the same sequence as for non‐LD children. Possible delays in the social cognitive development of children with LD, and their implications for the social adjustment of these children, are discussed.
Mother‐Child Interaction, Private Speech, and Task Performance in Preschool Children with Behavior Problems
Authors: Winsler Adam , Diaz Rafael M. , McCarthy Elizabeth M. , Atencio David J. , Chabay Lori Adams
Published: August 2003

The purpose of the present study was to explore patterns of mother‐child interaction, children's private speech use, and behavioral self‐regulation among a sample of preschool children identified by their preschool teachers as evidencing behavior problems. Forty preschoolers were classified into two groups (behaviorally at‐risk and a matched comparison group) on the basis of teacher ratings of impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity. Children completed a magnet board puzzle task once in collaboration with their mother and once individually, and maternal and child speech and behavior were coded from videotapes.Although there were no group differences in children's behavior or speech during the collaborative session, nor were there differences in children's individual task performance or on‐task attention, mother‐child interaction involving behaviorally at‐risk children was characterized by more other‐regulation, negative control, less praise, and less physical withdrawal over time, compared to interactions involving comparison children. Behaviorally at‐risk children, compared to controls, used more overt, task‐relevant private speech during individual problem solving. Partially internalized private speech use among at‐risk preschoolers was positively associated with task performance. Group differences rather than similarities prevailed in terms of the relations between maternal behavior, child speech, and child performance.
Prosocial Action in Very Early Childhood
Authors: Hay Dale F. , Castle Jenny , Davies Lisa , Demetriou Helen , Stimson Carol A.
Published: August 2003

We tested a model of prosocial development, which predicted that prosocial action might decline, not increase, throughout childhood, becoming increasingly selective, individual, gender‐related, and linked to emotional dysregulation. Sixty‐six focal children at 18, 24, or 30 months of age were observed at home with familiar peers and then again 6 months later. Episodes of peer interaction were analysed for instances of sharing. The predicted decline in sharing with age was qualified by cohort differences and many associations with gender. Most children shared less as they grew older, but the oldest girls slightly increased their rate of sharing over time. As peer relationships developed, girls were more likely to share with other girls ; boys were more likely to show reciprocity in sharing. Individual differences in sharing were moderately stable over time and linked to another form of prosocial action, sensitivity to the peer's distress. As predicted, children who shared at higher rates were rated more negatively by their mothers. The positive relationship between prosocial action and mothers' ratings of negative personality traits was especially strong for boys.
Marital Conflict Management Skills, Parenting Style, and Early‐onset Conduct Problems: Processes and Pathways
Authors: Webster‐Stratton Carolyn , Hammond Mary
Published: August 2003

This study examined whether the link between marital conflict management style and child conduct problems with peers and parents is direct or mediated by mothers' and fathers' parenting style (critical parenting and low emotional responsivity). One hundred and twenty children, aged 4 to 7 years, were observed interacting in our laboratory playroom solving a problem with their best friend as well as at home with their parents. In addition, all the children's parents were observed in our laboratory trying to solve two family problems as well as at home interacting under more natural conditions with each other and with their children. Mothers and fathers completed questionnaires assessing marital problem solving as well as reports of their children's behavior problems. Results indicated that a negative marital conflict management style had direct links with children's conduct problems. In addition, the linkage between negative marital conflict management and children's interactions with parents and peers was found to be mediated by both mothers' and fathers' critical parenting and low emotional responsivity, thereby supporting the indirect as well as the direct model of negative family interactions. The findings are discussed in relation to the implications for treatment.
The Nature of the Mother's Tie to Her Infant: Maternal Bonding under Conditions of Proximity, Separation, and Potential Loss
Authors: Feldman Ruth , Weller Aron , Leckman James F. , Kuint Jacob , Eidelman Arthur I.
Published: August 2003

Attachment has generally been examined from the infant's perspective. We focused on mothers' post‐partum thoughts and behaviors. Guided by an ethological approach, maternal bonding was examined under conditions of proximity, separation, and potential loss. Ninety‐one mothers were interviewed: mothers of full‐term infants who maintained continuous proximity to the infant, mothers of healthy premature infants who were separated from the infant, and mothers of very low birthweight infants who experienced potential loss and prolonged separation. Mothers of term infants reported medium‐to‐high levels of preoccupations with thoughts of infant safety and well‐being. Preoccupations increased with separation (Group 2) and significantly decreased with impending loss (Group 3). Attachment behaviors and representations were the highest among mothers of term infants and declined linearly with the duration of mother‐infant separation. Maternal trait anxiety and depression were related respectively to higher levels of preoccupations and reduced attachment behaviors and representations, independent of the infant medical condition and mother‐child separation. Discussion focused on the comparability of maternal and infant attachment in relation to the neurobiological system underlying bond formation.
The Discrimination of Children's Phobias Using the Revised Fear Survey Schedule for Children
Authors: Weems Carl F. , Silverman Wendy K. , Saavedra Lissette M. , Pina Armando A. , Lumpkin Peyton White
Published: August 2003

The discriminant validity of children's and parents' ratings of the child's fear on the Revised Fear Survey Schedule for Children (FSSC‐R; Ollendick, 1983) was examined using a clinic sample of children who met DSM criteria for phobic disorders (N = 120). Discriminant function analyses and item analyses were conducted to determine if children meeting diagnostic criteria for a primary disorder of social phobia, simple phobia of the dark/sleeping alone, simple phobia of animals, or a simple phobia of shots/doctors could be differentiated on the basis of FSSC‐R subscale scores and items. Results of the discriminant function analyses indicated that the child‐completed as well as the parent‐completed FSSC‐Rs were similarly useful in differentiating the specific types of phobias. Results of the item analyses indicated that child‐completed FSSC‐R items could discriminate among the different simple phobias but not social phobia and that parent‐completed FSSC‐R items could discriminate not only the different simple phobias but also social phobia. Results are discussed in terms of the utility of the FSSC‐R in the assessment of clinically significant fears in children with phobic disorders and the relative utility of child and parent ratings in the assessment of childhood fears.
A Twin Study of State and Trait Anxiety in Childhood and Adolescence
Authors: Legrand Lisa N. , McGue Matt , Iacono William G.
Published: August 2003

Little research has addressed the relative influence of genetic and environmental factors on subclinical levels of anxiety in children. Of the two twin studies to date, one concluded that measures of adolescents' self‐reported trait anxiety were best explained by shared environmental factors (Thapar & McGffin, 1995), while the second determined that approximately half the variance was attributable to genetic effects (Topolski et al., 1997).The present study, using a sample of 547 twin pairs, reached conclusions similar to those of Topolski et al. Heritability was estimated at 45%. Measures of state anxiety conformed more closely to Thapar and McGuffin's findings, with environmental factors accounting for the variance.
Latent Negative Self‐schema and High Emotionality in Well Adolescents at Risk for Psychopathology
Authors: Kelvin Raphael G. , Goodyer Ian M. , Teasdale John D. , Brechin Don
Published: August 2003

Teasdale's (1988) differential activation hypothesis proposes that a tendency for negative mood to activate latent negative self‐schemas characterises people at risk for depression. The current study tested predictions from this hypothesis in a community sample of 102 adolescents who were free from history of psychiatric illness, and who were subdivided according to level of emotionality, a temperamental style as assessed by parental questionnaire.Amusical mood induction task was used to induce temporary mild dysphoria, and the effect of mood induction on self‐schemas was assessed. There was no difference between high and low emotionality groups in the liability to sad mood induction. However, adolescents with high emotionality endorsed significantly more negative self‐descriptors after dysphoric, but not after neutral, mood induction. This was not accounted for by level of self‐reported depressive symptoms over the previous week. This suggests that a “dysphoric mood induction challenge” may provide important information about vulnerability to depression that is not identified by routine self‐report of mood or cognitions.
A Case‐comparison Study of the Characteristics of Children with a Short Stature Syndrome Induced by Stress (Hyperphagic Short Stature) and a Consecutive Series of Unaffected “Stressed” Children
Authors: Gilmour Jane , Skuse David
Published: August 2003

Recently a type of growth failure (Hyperphagic Short Stature) has been described, in which there is potentially reversible severe impairment of growth hormone secretion, in association with excessively high levels of psychosocial stress. This condition is a variant of the disorder formerly known as Psychosocial Dwarfism. In the present study we compared children with Hyperphagic Short Stature (N= 25, aged 9.04 years±3.78, 72% male) and a closely matched sample with normal height, drawn from comparably stressful family circumstances (N= 25, aged 10.61±3.04, 60% male). Measures of the psychosocial environment, anthropometry, and developmental history from infancy were obtained. Many symptoms thought previously to be characteristics of psychosocial dwarfism were found to be nonspecific stress responses. Hypotonia (p < .05), enuresis/encopresis (p < .01), and sleep cycle disruption (p < .05) did differentiate the groups. Growth, appetite, and sleep are all influenced by hypothalamic nuclei, suggesting hypothalamic pathology could account for most of the clinical features of Hyperphagic Short Stature.
Practitioner Review: School Refusal: Issues of Conceptualisation, Assessment, and Treatment
Authors: Elliott Julian G.
Published: August 2003

Developments in the assessment and treatment of school refusal have often been hampered by a failure to recognise its essentially heterogeneous nature. This paper provides a review of major conceptual complexities that have helped to undermine developments in clinical practice. In particular, it considers the distinction between school refusal and truancy, and school phobia and separation anxiety. Common approaches to the assessment and treatment of school refusal are outlined. Although behavioural and cognitive behavioural approaches are now widely accepted as central to treatment, it is increasingly recognised that individually tailored programmes, utilising a range of approaches, are most likely to prove successful. An approach focusing upon the functions, rather than the symptoms, of school refusal is advocated as having most promise for assessment and the subsequent formulation of individual prescriptive treatment.
A Longitudinal Study of Maternal Labour Force Participation and Child Academic Achievement
Authors: Horwood L. John , Fergusson David M
Published: August 2003

The associations between maternal labour force participation and child academic achievement were examined in a birth cohort of New Zealand children who have been studied from birth to age 18. The results of this analysis suggested the presence of small associations between the extent of maternal labour force participation and scores on standardised tests of word recognition, reading comprehension, and mathematical reasoning. Similar associations were found between maternal labour force participation and success in school leaving examinations. These associations arose predominantly because children whose mothers worked had better performance than children whose mothers who had not worked in paid employment. However, patterns of maternal labour force participation were also related to a series of family and child factors including: maternal education, family socioeconomic status, race, birth order, family composition, early mother‐child interaction, and child IQ. Adjustment for these factors reduced associations between maternal labour force participation and academic achievement to the point of practical and statistical nonsignificance. These results were found to be robust and similar conclusions were found for (1) a range of measures of maternal labour force participation, and (2) subgroups of the cohort defined by gender, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, or family type.
Siblings, Parents, and Partners: Family Relationships within a Longitudinal Community Study
Authors: Dunn Judy , Deater‐Deckard Kirby , Pickering Kevin , Golding Jean
Published: August 2003

Links between sibling relationships, mother‐partner, and parent‐child relationships were studied in a longitudinal community sample of 3681 sibling pairs. Individual differences in sibling relationship quality were related to mother‐partner affection and hostility assessed 4 years earlier, to contemporary parent‐child negativity, and to indices of social adversity. Evidence for both direct and indirect pathways (via parent‐child relations) linking mother‐partner and sibling relations were found. Comparisons of prediction for non‐stepfamilies and stepfather families showed similarities in patterns of association, but also differences: In stepfather families, mother‐partner hostility was unrelated to parent‐child negativity and sibling relationship quality. Both positivity and negativity towards young siblings decreased with the age of older siblings, and older sisters were more positive than older brothers.
Hyperactivity and Reading Disability: A Longitudinal Study of the Nature of the Association
Authors: Chadwick Oliver , Taylor Eric , Taylor Alan , Heptinstall Ellen , Danckaerts Marina
Published: August 2003

In order to investigate the possible causal relationships between hyperactivity and educational underachievement that might account for their frequent co‐occurrence, four groups of boys, defined by the presence or absence of hyperactivity and specific reading retardation, were identified in an epidemiological study of 7–8‐year‐old children. They were examined in detail by means of parental interviews and psychological tests and reassessed 9 years later at the age of 16–18 years on a similar range of measures. The findings provided little support for the idea that persistent reading disabilities either lead to the development of hyperactivity de novo or increased the likelihood that hyperactivity, when present, would persist. Similarly, although features of hyperactivity persisted to follow‐up, there was little evidence that they either lead to the development of reading disabilities or increased the likelihood that reading disabilities, when present, would persist. Socioeconomic adversity and a history of speech therapy were more common in the group with both hyperactivity and reading disability, but the strength of these associations made it unlikely that these factors could account for the frequent co‐occurrence of the two conditions.
Helping Children Adjust—A Tri‐Ministry Study: I. Evaluation Methodology
Authors: Boyle Michael H , Cunningham Charles E , Heale JoAnn , Hundert Joel , McDonald Jan , Offord David R , Racine Yvonne
Published: August 2003

This report describes the evaluation methodology of the Tri‐Ministry Study—a school‐based trial evaluating the effectiveness of three universal programs: (a) a classwide social skills program (SS), (b) a partner reading program (RE); and, (c) a combination of both (SS & RE), to reduce and prevent behavioural maladjustment among children in the primary division (up to grade 3) of Ontario schools. The trial was done between 1991 and 1995. Sixty schools in 11 boards of education took part and were assigned randomly to program(s) during the study. Contributing to the evaluation database are detailed follow‐up assessments (observations, ratings, and standard tests) on 2439 children. Three‐level growth trajectory models are used to evaluate program effects. The analysis presented for illustration in this report focuses on reading achievement measured by the Wide Range Achievement Test. A companion paper presents the results of the study and discusses important methodological and programmatic issues applicable to this and other prevention studies in the field.
Helping Children Adjust—a Tri‐Ministry Study: II. Program Effects
Authors: Hundert Joel , Boyle Michael H. , Cunningham E. Charles E. , Duku E. , Heale JoAnn , McDonald Jan , Offord David R. , Racine Yvonne
Published: August 2003

This report describes program effects of the Tri‐Ministry Study—a school‐based, longitudinal trial carried out over a 5‐year period to assess the effectiveness of classwide social skills training (SS), partner reading (RE), and a combination of both (SS & RE) to reduce maladjustment among children in the primary division (up to grade 3) of Ontario schools. It also places these effects in the context of other school‐based prevention studies and discusses them in view of important methodological and programmatic issues. The incremental effects attributable to the intervention programs were small and sporadic. There were statistically significant increases in prosocial behaviour observed in the playgrounds of intervention schools with no differentiation by program type. Furthermore, there was some evidence—a reduction in teacher and parent‐rated externalising problems—that the combination of SS & RE and SS alone may have had modest beneficial effects. A review of nine other school‐based studies, which evaluated universally delivered mental health prevention programs in general populations of students, revealed similar mixed results. There are both methodologic and programmatic issues implicated in the weak findings that have been reported to date. These issues need to be addressed to advance knowledge about the potential impact of mental‐health prevention initiatives delivered universally through school‐based programs. A companion paper gives the specific details on the programs, randomisation of schools, selection of subjects, measurements, and analysis.
Psychological Screening of Children for Post‐traumatic Stress Disorder
Authors: Stallard Paul , Velleman Richard , Baldwin Sarah
Published: August 2003

One hundred and seventy children attending a hospital accident and emergency department following everyday trauma were interviewed and completed the Post‐traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) screening battery suggested by Yule and Udwin (1991). Diagnostic interviews (CAPS‐C) confirmed that 39 (22.9%) fulfilled the DSM‐IV criteria for PTSD. There were significant differences between children with and without PTSD on each individual component of the screening battery. Various criteria for caseness were evaluated and at 6 weeks post trauma the screen identified up to 90% of children diagnosed with PTSD and 73% with borderline conditions. A subset of 36 children were reassessed 8 months post trauma and all children with persistent PTSD were correctly identified by initial screen scores. The limitations of the study and the role of screening for PTSD in the absence of proven psychological interventions are discussed.
Maternal Expressed Emotion and Adjustment in Children with Epilepsy
Authors: Hodes Matthew , Garralda M. Elena , Rose Gillian , Schwartz Ruby
Published: August 2003

Epilepsy in childhood may alter family relationships but the relevance of these changes for the increased rates of psychopathology has been little investigated. This study uses maternal expressed emotion (EE) to examine family relationships of children with epilepsy and the association with high risk for psychiatric disorder. EE was assessed using the Camberwell Family Interview carried out with the mothers of 22 schoolchildren with chronic epilepsy who were attending a general hospital outpatient clinic. Sixteen of these children had similarly aged healthy siblings who served as controls. High risk for psychiatric disorder in the children and mothers was assessed using behavioural, mood, and self‐esteem questionnaires completed by mothers, teachers, and children. It was found that mothers showed significantly more emotional overinvolvement and a trend for more hostility towards their children with epilepsy than towards sibling controls. For the 22 children with epilepsy, maternal emotional overinvolvement was not associated with child behavioural deviance. High levels of criticism and, to a lesser extent, hostility did show associations with child behavioural deviance, and the strongest links were between maternal criticism and maternal rated antisocial and overactive behaviour in the child. Fewer positive comments by mothers towards the children were associated with child emotional symptoms and lower self‐esteem in a number of areas. This study suggests that further research could consider the appropriateness of psychological intervention for families in which mothers are critical and hostile and whose children show antisocial behaviour.
Syndrome Dimensions of the Child Behavior Checklist and the Teacher Report Form: A Critical Empirical Evaluation
Authors: Hartman Catharina A. , Hox Joop , Auerbach Judith , Erol Nese , Fonseca Antonio C. , Mellenbergh Gideon J. , Nøvik Torunn S. , Oosterlaan Jaap , Roussos Alexandra C. , Shalev Ruth S. , Zilber Nelly , Sergeant Joseph A.
Published: August 2003

The construct representation of the cross‐informant model of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and the Teacher Report Form (TRF) was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis. Samples were collected in seven different countries. The results are based on 13,226 parent ratings and 8893 teacher ratings. The adequacy of fit for the cross‐informant model was established on the basis of three approaches: conventional rules of fit, simulation, and comparison with other models. The results indicated that the cross‐informant model fits these data poorly. These results were consistent across countries, informants, and both clinical and population samples. Since inadequate empirical support for the cross‐informant syndromes and their differentiation was found, the construct validity of these syndrome dimensions is questioned.
Predictors of Cognitive Test Patterns in Autism Families
Authors: Folstein S. E. , Santangelo S. L. , Gilman S. E. , Piven J. , Landa R. , Lainhart J. , Hein J. , Wzorek M.
Published: August 2003

In a case‐control study of cognitive performance, tests of intelligence, reading, spelling, and pragmatic language were administered to the parents and siblings of 90 community‐ascertained probands with autism (AU group) and to the parents and siblings of 40 similarly ascertained probands with trisomy 21 Down syndrome (DS group). The two samples were comparable for age and parents' education; both groups were well‐educated and had above‐average intelligence. AU parents scored slightly but significantly lower on the WAIS‐R Full Scale and Performance IQ, on two subtests (Picture Arrangement and Picture Completion), and on the Word Attack Test (reading nonsense words) from the Woodcock‐Johnson battery. There were no differences between AU and DS siblings. As in earlier studies, AU parents, more often than DS parents, reported a history of early language‐related cognitive difficulties; we were not able to replicate this in siblings. AU parents who reported such difficulties scored significantly lower on Verbal IQ, spelling, and the nonsense reading test. AU parents without a history of early language‐related cognitive difficulties often had a Verbal IQ that exceeded Performance IQ by more than one standard deviation. AU siblings with early language‐related difficulties had similar findings: lower Verbal IQ, poorer spelling, and poorer reading scores, compared to AU siblings without such a history. Parents with a positive history also scored worse on a measure of pragmatic language, the Pragmatic Rating Scale, but not on measures of social‐related components of the broader autism phenotype. We propose that cognitive differences in a subset of autism family members are manifestations of the language‐related component of the broader autism phenotype, and separate from the social‐related component. This is consistent with the hypothesis that there are several genes that may interact to cause autism which segregate independently and have distinguishable manifestations in family members. The hypothesis would be further supported by finding different patterns of genetic loci linked to autism in families where one or both parents has language difficulties.
A Visually Impaired Savant Artist: Interacting Perceptual and Memory Representations
Authors: Hermelin Beate , Pring Linda , Buhler Michael , Wolff Sula , Heaton Pamela
Published: August 2003

In this single case study, paintings by a visually impaired and cognitively handicapped savant artist are evaluated. He paints his pictures exclusively from memory, either after having looked at a natural scene through binoculars, or after studying landscape photographs in brochures, catalogues, and books. The paintings are compared with the models from which they were derived, and the resulting generative changes are accounted for by an interaction between impaired visual input and memory transformations.