bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Differing Item Parameters on Closed-Interval DIF Statistics
Authors: Feinstein Zachary S.
Published: March 2007

The closed-interval signed area (CSA) and closed- moderate to large differences between the groups than interval unsigned area (CUA) statistics were studied by the CUA. However, the effect of the pseudo-guessing monte carlo simulation to detect differential item func- parameter varied depending on item discriminations. tioning when the reference and focal groups had differ- Index terms: closed-interval measures, differential item ent parameter distributions. When the-pseudo-guessing functioning, item response theory, monte carlo simula- parameter was varied, the CSA was better able to detect tion, signed area measures, unsigned area measures.
Weights That Maximize Reliability Under a Congeneric Model
Authors: Wang Tianyou
Published: March 2007

In many measurement situations, it is often desirable to weight different scores to form a composite score. The desire to maximize the reliability of the composite score is an important factor in determining the weights. Current procedures are computationally complex and usually require information, not always readily available, about the reliability of each part score. Equations for computing weights that maximize the reliability of a test with multiple parts were derived using a congeneric model. A direct derivation for the three-part case and a two-step derivation for the n-part case are presented, and results for these two approaches were shown to be consistent for the three-part case. The computations are relatively simple and are based on the variance-covariance matrix of the part scores. Two examples are given to show the computations and the usefulness of the equations.
On Theory, Statistics, and the Search for Interactions in the Organizational Sciences
Authors: Bobko Philip , Russell Craig J.
Published: March 2007

This study is based on a review of several papers on multiple regression ( with an emphasis on moderated regression) that have recently been published in the Journal of Management and elsewhere. Independent contributions from each of these articles suggest six sets of questions and/or conclusions that might motivate future researchers in this area, and we call for research which integrates the questions into unified studies.
Centering Decisions in Hierarchical Linear Models: Implications for Research in Organizations
Authors: Hofmann David A. , Gavin Mark B.
Published: March 2007

Organizational researchers are increasingly interested in model ing the multilevel nature of organizational data. Although most organi zational researchers have chosen to investigate these models using traditional Ordinary Least Squares approaches, hierarchical linear models (i.e., random coefficient models) recently have been receiving increased attention. One of the key questions in using hierarchical linear models is how a researcher chooses to scale the Level-1 indepen dent variables (e.g., raw metric, grand mean centering, group mean centering), because it directly influences the interpretation of both the level-1 and level-2 parameters. Several scaling options are reviewed and discussed in light of four paradigms of multilevellcross-level research in organizational science: incremental (i.e., group variables add incremental prediction to individual level outcomes over and above individual level predictors), mediational (i.e., the influence of group level variables on individual outcomes are mediated by individual perceptions), moderational (i.e., the relationship between two individ ual level variables is moderated by a group level variable), and sepa rate (i.e., separate within group and between group models). The paper concludes with modeling recommendations for each of these paradigms and discusses the importance of matching the paradigm under which one is operating to the appropriate modeling strategy.
Estimating Export Activity in a Regional Economy: A Theoretical and Empirical Analysis of Alternative Methods
Authors: Isserman Andrew M.
Published: March 2007

Four methods of estimating exports are widely used in regional analysis, particularly with the economic base model. The theoretical rationales for each are examined. An interpretation of the minimum requirement method is offered which solves the oft-noted, non-importation problem. The difference between the minimum requirement and location quotient estimates is proven not to be an estimate of imports as is widely believed, and a relatively new econometric method is shown to over-estimate exports. Estimates of exports are calculated for 101 metropolitan areas in the United States. Both theoretical and empirical evidence indicates that the location quotient method underestimates, yet the minimum requirement method produced lower estimates for 22 areas. The results suggest that the choice of estimation method may affect the results of sub-sequent analyses.
Wage Rate Specfication in Regional and Interregional Econometric Models
Authors: Beaumont Paul M.
Published: March 2007

This paper addresses the issue of wage specification in interregional econometric models. Several shortcomings in commonly used regional wage specifications are demonstrated, and a new inter-regional wage specification is developed. It is based on a wage transmission variable that is simple to construct and that can be applied uniformly to diverse regions. Empirical tests demonstrate the usefulness of this specification.
A Model of Urbanization with Nonlinear Migration Flows
Authors: Ledent Jacques
Published: March 2007

This paper seeks an appropriate specification of the migration exchange between rural and urban areas so that the implied evolution of the degree of urbanization agrees with its commonly observed S-shape. After demonstrating that the gross migration flows between rural and urban areas should be specified as nonlinear functions of the population in the origin sector, the paper introduces a model in which such flows are represented by gravity-type functional forms. When proper bounds are imposed on the parameters of these functional forms, the model yields an evolution of the degree of urbanization that is depicted by a logistic curve. It thus can be used to give insights into the time paths of three basic urbanization variables: the urban-rural growth rate differential, the rural net outmigration rate, and the urban net immigration rate. All take on a zero value at the two extremes of the urbanization process and evolve in between according to a bell-shaped curve. These findings are illustrated by applying the model to data from the United States for the period 1790-1980.
Population Migration and Economic Restructuring in the United States
Authors: Plane David A.
Published: March 2007

This article demonstrates that sectoral employment shifts associated with the migration pattern changes of the 1970s are very different than those for the period 1955-60 to 1965-70. Changing competitiveness for jobs in manufacturing and other traditional basic sectors of the economy cannot account for the greatly accelerated levels of core-periphery net outflow that have been the dominant characteristic of interstate movement during the 1970s and 1980s. Instead, an interconnected set of activities that includes government, services, trade, and construction is associated with the broadscale shifts in the geographic pattern of the United States' population. The causal linkage from migration to employment change assumed heightened importance during the 1970s.
The Impact of Space: Land Division and Urban Development in Kenya and South Africa
Authors: Fox Roddy
Published: March 2007

In the context of the debate between Belsky and Karaska, who advocate a location-allocation approach to rural development, and Rondinelli, who argues for a functional integration approach, this article adds an element neglected by both, the impact of land division on the development of urban systems. Urban development in Kenya between 1962 and 1989 was greatly affected by the division of land. A case study from South Africa demonstrates that Kenya's experience may be applicable elsewhere.
Images of Technology in Popular Films: Discussion and Filmography
Authors: Goldman Steven L.
Published: March 2007

From at least 1925 to the present, science and technology have been depicted largely negatively in popular films of all genres. The images of science and technology in films reflect consistent public anxiety over the linkage between science, technology, and corporate power; the complacency of government agen cies and scientists toward new knowledge and artifacts; the insensitivity of scientists toward the moral implications of their research and its applications; and the co-option of technical knowledge by vested corporate and government interests. Public conservatism is reflected in the suspicion toward new knowledge and new artifacts and in questioning whether science and technology truly improve the human condition
Communication, Competition, and Secrecy: The Production and Dissemination of Research-Related Information in Genetics
Authors: McCain Katherine W.
Published: March 2007

The dissemination of experimental materials, instruments, and methods is central to the progress of research in genetics. In recent years, competition for research funding and intellectual property issues have increasingly presented barriers to the dissemination of this "research-related information. "Information gathered in interviews with experimental geneticists and analysis of acknowledgment patterns in published genetics research are used to construct a series of basic scenarios for the exchange of genetic materials and research methods. The discussion focuses on factors affecting individuals' behavior and expectations as information requesters and information providers.
The Moral Character of Mad Scientists: A Cultural Critique of Science
Authors: Toumey Christopher P.
Published: March 2007

The mad scientist stories of fiction and film are exercises in antirationalism, particularly its Gothic horror variant. As such, they convey the argument that rationalist secular science is dangerous, and their principal device for doing so is to invest the evil of science in the personality of the scientist. To understand this cultural critique of science, it is necessary to understand how the symbols of the scientist's personality are manipulated. This article argues that mad scientists become increasingly amoral as nineteenth-century texts are adapted to twentieth-century films. The consequence is that this cultural critique is becoming even more severe, due to external reasons independent of the glories or the crimes of real scientists.
Do Not Despair: There Is Life after Constructivism
Authors: Bijker Wiebe E.
Published: March 2007

This article reviews recent work in socio-historical technology studies. Four problems, frequently mentioned in critical debates, are discussed—relativism, reflexivity, theory, and practice. The main body of the article is devoted to a discussion of the latter two problems. Requirements for a theory on socio-technical change are proposed, and one concrete example of a conceptual framework that meets these requirements is discussed. The second point of the article is to argue that present (science and) technology studies are now able to break away from a too academic, internalistic perspective and return to the politically relevant "Science, Technology & Society" issues that informed much of this work more than a decade ago.
Studying Invention: The Hand Tool as a Model System
Authors: Weber Robert J. , Dixon Stacey , Llorente Antolin M.
Published: March 2007

Invention is an important source of technology, and, to understand invention, one needs a model system or prototype. A candidate model system is the hand tool. Using the hand tool as an example, the authors present a systematic approach to invention, dealing with description, classification, and joining or integrating simpler forms. Heuristics for when to integrate are presented. Finally, the authors introduce a new way of thinking about hand tools: simple spatial transformations applied to an abstract element make possible the re-creation of a large number of tools.
The AIDS Virus Dispute: Awarding Priority for the Discovery of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV
Authors: Rawling Alison
Published: March 2007

The bitter, public contest for priority over the discovery of the virus that causes AIDS was officially closed in 1987 with equal credit being awarded to two parties from opposite sides of the Atlantic. One was led by Robert C. Gallo of the Laboratory of Tumor Cell Biology at the National Cancer Institute in the United States and the other was led by Luc Montagnier of the viral-oncology unit at the Pasteur Institute in France. Using citation counts from articles published by the scientific community, a process of alloca tion of credit is examined and compared with this official settlement. A novel pattern emerges. It is found that the scientific community began to redistribute priority when the dispute became highly publicized and took little notice of the official settlement. This, along with the fact that Gallo has now officially been charged with misconduct by an investigative committee, may mean that Montagnier's team may eventually receive sole creditfor the discovery of the AIDS virus. The importance of examining priority disputes from many different angles and the potential for citation analysis in such cases are highlighted.
Frankenstein and the Debate Over Embryo Research
Authors: Mulkay Michael
Published: March 2007

This study uses evidence from the press and from the parliamentary record to examine the extent to which, and the ways in which, people involved in the public debate over laboratory experiments on human embryos in Britain during the 1980s drew on images from science fiction. It is shown that negative images from science fiction were used in the debate, but that these images could be transformed into resources for defending, as well as attacking, this form of scientific endeavor. It is also shown that other fictional structures were present in the debate and that both sides relied heavily on fictional components to justify their competing appraisals of embryo research.
The Role of Material Objects in the Design Process: A Comparison of Two Design Cultures and How They Contend with Automation
Authors: Henderson Kathryn
Published: March 2007

This article compares two cultures of engineering design, one flexible and interactive, the other rigid and hierarchical. It examines the practices of design engineers who use a mixture of paper documents and computer graphics systems and contrasts these with the practices of workers reengineering their own work process and its technological support system, using predesigned software. Based on the idea from actor network theory that objects participate in the shaping of new technologies and the networks that build them, the study reveals that (1) design cultures are intrinsically tied to the way in which their representations are constructed because such representations—sketches, drawings, prototypes—are the heart of design work; (2) such design tools can engage or restrict participation in the design process; (3) politics in the form of management prerogatives can be built into a design tool, influencing the range of creativity allowed and innovation accomplished in a given sociotechnological setting.
The Structure of Incentive: Design and Client Roles in Application-Oriented Research
Authors: Weedman Judith
Published: March 2007

End user participation in design is widely believed to benefit system development. In 1992, when the U.S. National Research Council advocated broadening research in computer science, it strongly recommended collaborative projects in which the user/ application discipline was an equal partner with computer science. This article exam ines the incentives and costs in user-designer relationships and argues that the costs to users are unexpected and often not assumable and that there are asymmetries inherent in the user-designer relationship that destabilize the collaboration. The article draws on a case study of Sequoia 2000, a multimillion dollar collaboration between computerscien tists and global change researchers.
Evaluating Health Care Technology An Example from Electrocardiography
Authors: Wortman Paul M. , Rogers James L.
Published: March 2007

This paper discusses the evaluation of innovations in health care technology using an illustrative example drawn from computerized electrocardiography. It focuses on the increasing role of such soft technologies that involve computer- assisted diagnostic problem-solving. The purpose is not only to present one evaluative methodology, but also to detect any unanticipated side effects. Since knowledge of the patient's true state is usually not possible in these situations, an alternative evaluative approach has been used to assess the automated system. It is argued that if computer-physician agreement is as high or higher than that between different physicians or the same physician over time, then the computer is interpreting electrocardiograms on an equal par with physicians even though at times both could be wrong. By this criterion, computer interpretation was judged as inadequate for one of five diagnostic classifications. In addition, it was found that the computer systematically biased the judgment of those physicians previously unfamiliar with computerized electrocardiography.
Perspective On Evaluation
Authors: Turner A. Jack
Published: March 2007

The noncritical utilization of readmission figures as presently collected to evaluate community mental health centers is questroned in this report Several issues are raised concerning the validity and relia bility of readmission rate figures collected at the community mental health center level. The paper argues that these issues must be addressed prior to the utilization of readmission rates as an indicator of success or failure for community mental health centers.
Nurse Practitioner Effectiveness
Authors: Prescott Patricia A. , Driscoll Laura
Published: March 2007

This article discusses selected conceptual and methodological issues associated with studies evaluating nurse practitioner effectiveness by comparing nurse practitioner and physician practice. The particular areas covered include: the comparison criteria and the standards and the research methods used in these studies. Recommen dations for future studies include: (1) activities representing the full range of the nurse practitioner role should be included in any comprehensive evaluation of nurse practitioners; (2) explicit criteria with adequate sensitivity should form the basis of comparisons between nurse practitioners and physicians; (3) empirically established relationships between process and outcome variables should form the basis for estab lishing nonarbitrary performance standards whenever possible; (4) random sampling of nurse practitioners and physicians should be used when possible. When random sampling is not possible, providers should be selected using variables known to correlate with quality of care; (5) random assignment of patients to providers is strongly recommended, taking care to use clients new to both providers; (6) use of multiple data sources is recommended to decrease the current heavy reliance on audits; (7) conclusions should point out differential findings identifying those which favor physicians, those which favor nurse practi tioners, and those identifying no differences between providers.
Psychometric Properties of Clinical Performance Ratings
Authors: Dielman T.E. , Hull Alan L. , Davis Wayne K.
Published: March 2007

A total of 7931 ratings of 482 third- and fourth-year medical students were gath ered over twelve four-week periods. Ratings were made by multiple raters, house officers, and attending faculty, on fifteen behaviorally-anchored rating scales. The data were factor analyzed separately for each of the twelve periods.
ComputerBased Student Information Systems
Authors: Woodward Christel A. , Anderson David O.
Published: March 2007

Increasingly, health professional schools are using computers to store, sort, and retrieve student data. This article discusses the reasons behind this trend Methods are suggested to ensure that the data system developed will meet administrative and evaluative needs and be financially viable.
Pharmacists as Drug Prescribers
Authors: Mcghan William F. , Stimmel Glen L. , Gilman Thomas M. , Segal Jack L.
Published: March 2007

The purpose of this article is to discuss the validit l and reliabilit y of 'certification tests and evaluation instruments for pharmacists as drug prescribers. Under California Law AB 717, the University of'Southern California is operating one of two pilot programs to train and evaluate prescribing iharmacists. Various instruments have heen created and administered, and validity results are presented. The presentation is organized into two areas dealing with the development of' the examination instrumient and then the assessment of'the prescriptions written by pharmacists. The reliability of' the three sections of the certification examination as mneasured hi internal consistencyl was as fbllows: clinical therapeutics (KR 20=.84), physical assessment (KR 20 =.88), and law (KR 20= .84). The exam was given to a group of physicians (N = 14) to establish a cutting score. Thirty pharmacists who took the exam didslightlY better than the phi sicians on clinical therapeutics, but the ph} vsicians perfornied better than pharmacists on physical assessment (p <.01). A prescription evaluation form was (constructed to evaluate the performance of the pharmacists as prescribers. The reliability of the form as measured b y (coej, ficient alpha was .84. Concurrent validit Y was explored bY assessing the relationship between perfbrmance on the certification exam and judges' appropriateness scores on prescriptions for ambulator he pertensive patients. These results indicate that the pharmacists, who passed the exam, can prescribe as appropriatelY as physicians.
Determining Physicians' Performance
Authors: Sanazaro Paul J.
Published: March 2007

Participation informal continuing medical education (CME) is required by many organizations and state governments as the foremost means of assuring the quality of medical care. Analysis of the literature reveals that CME in all its forms is effective in improving competence, i.e., the ability to provide good care. However, that competence is not regularly reflected in physicians'habitual performance in the care of patients. A number offactors are known to narrow the gap between competence and performance, including clear specification of standards, individualfeedback on actual performance, and a professional environment conducive to the maintenance of high standards. In the presence of such factors, CMEcan improve physicians 'performance when directed to objectively identified def ciencies. However, public assurance of the quality of medical care can only be provided through certification that individual physicians'performance conforms to contemporary valid standards.
Assessment and Assurance of the Quality of Nursing Care
Authors: Lang Norma M. , Clinton Jacqueline F.
Published: March 2007

This article describes the historical development of quality assurance in nursing in the United States and its link with quality assurance efforts in other health disciplines. Explored are the creation and application of models, standards, criteria, and toolsfor measuring quality of care. Highlighted are recent empirical studies addressing structure, process, or outcome dimensions of nursing quality assurance. Emphasized is the use of empirical knowledge as a basis for political, organizational, and clinical decision-making to ensure an agreed-upon level of nursing care provided to the American public.
Conducting State and Local Health Needs Assessments
Authors: Ashbaugh John W. , Hoff Maryann K. , Schneider Leonard C. , Goldstrom Ingrid D. , Manderscheid Ronald W.
Published: March 2007

A comprehensive set of five needs assessment techniques designed to facilitate informed decisions about mental health services planning at the state or local level are presented. These include: (1) estimating the size of the target population based on statistical extrapolationsftom prevalence rates or inferences from indirect indicators; (2) surveys of institution-based populations; (3) surveys of service providers; (4) client-targeted surveys; and (5) surveys of key informants. Each technique is discussed in terms of its unique design considerations, strengths and weaknesses, thephase 's association with its application, and estimated resource requirements. Mental health needs assessments can be conducted in a cost-effective manner, especially important in an era when rational decisions about the allocation of scarce resources are essential.
Dimensions of Satisfaction with Mental Health Treatment
Authors: Noll Gary A. , Dubinsky Michael
Published: March 2007

This article reports the development and underlying factor structure of a brief measure of consumer satisfaction. Four factors, accounting for 69.1% of the variance, were extracted. They appeared to measure satisfaction with the quality and outcome of treatment, satisfaction with the intake process, satisfaction with the timing of the termination of treatment, and satisfaction with the costs. Analysis of the content of responses to open-ended questions revealed that most consumer concerns had been addressed in the multiple-choice section of the questionnaire. Differences in client groups in level of satisfaction were found on one factor but not the others, supporting the conclusion that satisfaction should be considered multidimensional.
Assessment of Student Clinical Performance
Authors: Abrahamson Stephen
Published: March 2007

This article reviews assessment of student clinical performance in medical education. With reference to important components of clinical performance as a thread of continuity (knowledge, problem solving, clinical skills, and habits) the reader is reminded how each of these was assessed in the past, how those assessments have changed into present practices, and what the future might have in store. It is interesting to note that the entire evolution process seems to have occurred in the last two or three decades, with the most significant contributions coming very recently.
Setting Cutoff Scores on Credentialing Examinations
Authors: Gross Leon J.
Published: March 2007

Standard setting is one of the critical components of any test development program; in credentialing examinations it is of particular concern because the cutoff score is the ultimate criterion for determining cognitive competency. This study presents a new and refined version of the Nedelsky standard-settingprocedure that is designed to eliminate several methodological problems, and to be easily applied by subject matter experts. The validity of this new procedure is analyzed based on item and test data from the actual administration of the 3-part national credentialing examination developed by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry.
The Placebo in Psychosocial Outcome Evaluations
Authors: Dush David M.
Published: March 2007

While the study of placebo effects can be of aid in understanding and facilitating therapeutic change, the routine use of placebo control groups in outcome evaluations is of doubtful merit. Placebos are generally unstable, poorly specified, and of questionable ethical viability. Additionally, careful scrutiny of our analytical models suggests that placebo control groups fail to isolate specific treatment effects in the manner commonly assumed. Recommendations include (a) use of aggregate data from metaanalyses to provide normative estimates of expected minimal treatment effects, (b) empirical testing ofputative causal models, and (c) increased utilization of more precise experimental designs. It is suggested that aggregate estimates from existing literature of typical magnitudes of placebo effects provide potentially useful "benchmarks" against which to judge the performance of psychotherapy.
Hidden Bias in the Use of Archival Data
Authors: Dworkin Rosalind J.
Published: March 2007

Nonresponses in archival data may violate the missing-at-random assumption in ways difficult to detect. Standard methods of comparing sociodemographics of respondents and nonrespondents are inappropriate when the units of analysis are not also the individuals who maintain the archival record. Under these circumstances, the distribution of missing data may be correlated with the dependent variable and traits of the record keepers. This will distort relationships, especially when listwise deletion of missing values is used in multivariate analysis. Data are used from a large clinical chart study of mentally ill patients to demonstrate the process of identifying hidden bias and the implications of such bias.
The Internal Structure of Health-Seeking Behavior
Authors: Bausell Carole R. , Bausell R. Barker
Published: March 2007

Data were collected from a national sample of 1,254 subjects regarding their compliance with 21 health-seeking behaviors, each of which possessed a documented link with mortality or morbidity. The survey was replicated exactly one year later employing identical behaviors and sampling methodology. Factor analyses performed on the two data sets revealedfive replicating, but sparsely populated, independent dimensions. Examination of the intercorrelations among the behaviors revealed 74 relationships that reached statistical significance in both data sets, however, and the internal consistencies of the two resulting composite scores averaged .59. Although these data corroborate previousfindings documenting the relative independence of individual preventive acts, they do not preclude the utility of employing a single measure of health-seeking behaviorfor certain empirical purposes.
Assessing the Quality of Evaluations of Adolescent Pregnancy Care Programs
Authors: DuCette Joseph P. , Stahler Gerald J. , McBride Dennis
Published: March 2007

This article reviews and analyzes the evaluations of the Adolescent Family Life Act demonstration care programs. The purpose of the study was to assess the quality of evaluations conducted by 45 of the individual demonstration care projects funded under theAdolescent Family Life Act. This legislation mandated that a minimum of 1% and a maximum of 5% of the budget for each program must be spent on evaluation, and that each program must develop a collaborative arrangement with a local college or university to provide the technical expertise for the evaluation. Despite the good intentions of those whoproposed theAct, it was discovered in this article that the evaluations generally were not of sufficient quality to adequately evaluate the programs. Several implications of thesefindingsforfuture model service delivery programs are presented, along with suggestions on how to improve both the design and implementation of evaluations in this area.
The Use of Aggregate Scoring for a Recertifying Examination
Authors: Norcini John J. , Shea Judy A. , Day Susan C.
Published: March 2007

Aggregate scoring derives weights for the responses to test questions that are the proportion of a criterion group of experts; examinees' test scores are simply the sum of the weights of the responses they choose. This study applied aggregate scoring to a recertifying examination where it is particularly useful. It is an efficient means of generating an answer key, it ensures that the answer key reflects differences in practice, and examinees may find it reassuring to be judged against the performance of their peers. Results indicated considerable agreement between the traditional answer key and the aggregate answer key. Although the scores produced by the two answer keys were similar, aggregate scoring slightly favored individuals out of training longer. Generalizability analyses (Brennan, 1983) produced the expected results. The use of several experts in aggregate scoring made a sizeable contribution to reduction in measurement error. The choice of either completely crossed designs or nested designs for collecting the responses of experts depends on the resources available.
Scoring and Standard Setting with Standardized Patients
Authors: Norcini John J. , Stillman Paula L. , Sutnick Alton I. , Regan Mary Beth , Haley Heather L. , Williams Reed G. , Friedman Miriam
Published: March 2007

The purpose of this study was to compare the continuous method of scoring a performance test composed of standardized patients with a derivative method that assigned each examinee a dichotomous score and to explore the use of Ang off 's method at the case level with these two scoring methods. Both scoring systems produced reasonable means and distributions of scores. The continuous scores were somewhat more reproducible than the dichotomous scores although neither was very relay?ducible. Pass rates for both scoring systems were appropriately very high and thus the reproducibility of the pass/fail decisions was also high. Regardless of the scoring system, the application of Angoff's method reported in this article has the advantages of efficiency and enhanced credibility to the experts.
Using Qualitative Methods to Evaluate Health Service Delivery in Three Rural Colorado Communities
Authors: Halvorson Holly W. , Pike Donna K. , Reed Frank M. , McClatchey Maureen W. , Gosseuink Carol A.
Published: March 2007

Qualitative and quantitative methods can be used simulaneously for hypothesis generation and testing. A pilot study was conducted in 1991 in three rural Colorado communities to carfy health service delivery problems related to canwer. The analysis focused on the perceptions of three types of respondents in each community related to whether cancer was a major problem, whether health services were adequate in their community and what perceived solutions could be implemented Respondents included community influentiaLs, health care providers, and cancer patients or family members. Semistructured phone interviews were used to collect perceptions of these community members. Transcripts from the three communities were combined, coded, and tallied. Several distinct themes emerged from the analysis. These included: cancer was a major problem; public and provider education was needed; community systems and support to identify and solve health problems were lacking; medical networking needed to be expanded; transportation was a problem for remote communities; inability to pay for services was a problem for rural communities. Most respondents identified the problems as relevant to other chronic and acute diseases as well as cancer This method identified the critical problems for the majority of the people without losing sight of the outlier responses.
The Role of the Phlebotomy Technician
Authors: Fidler James R.
Published: March 2007

An inventory of competencies considered representative of the entry-level phlebotomy technician's role was developed and validated. A national sample of certified phlebotomy technicians received through the mail a questionnaire delineating 44 specific task or knowledge areas and nine higher order work areas. Respondents rated the specific areas along importance and extent-of-performance dimensions and rated the higher order areas in terms of importance and time spent. The importance ratings obtained (which were also scaled by employing the Rasch measurement model) indiated that knowledge reflected in the inventory was considered important for successful practice. Approximately 33% of the questionnaires (175/530) were returned. The results presented here may be considered by allied healthcredentialing agencies, employers, curriculum developers, and educators in defining the phlebotomy technician's work role.
Comparing Claims Data and Self-Reported Data with the Medical Record for Pap Smear Rates
Authors: Fowles Jinnet B. , Fowler Elizabeth , Craft Cheryl , McCoy Charles E.
Published: March 2007

The objective of this study was to assess and compare the relative accuracy of claims data and patient self-reported information with medical records for Pap smear rates. A retrospective analysis of information obtainedfrom administrative claims files, patient medical records, and a telephone survey was performed of 400 women age 19 through 75years who were randomly selectedfor participation in the study. The data were obtained from a large multispecialty group practice in Minneapolis, Minnesota for the study years 1991 through 1993. Information from administrative claims regarding Pap smear status corresponded highly with information in the medical record (sensitivity 95% or higher; specificity 95% or higher; kappa 0.896 or better). Self-reported information from the telephone survey did not correspond well with medical record information nor with results in administrative claims.
Generic versus Disease-Specific Health Status Measures
Authors: Wolinsky Fredric D. , Wyrwich Kathleen W. , Nienaber Nancy A. , Tierney William M.
Published: March 2007

The objectives of this study were to evaluate and compare the psychometric properties of a generic health status measure, the Medical Outcomes Study SF-36, and a disease-specific health status measure, a modified version of the Chronic Heart Failure Questionnaire (CHQ), among outpatients known to have coronary artery disease (CAD) and/or congestive heart failure (CHF). A cross-sectional analysis of baseline data obtained from 670 outpatients participating in a randomized controlled clinical trial in the general medicine clinics of a major academic medical center was performed. The SF-36 was more comprehensive in its coverage of different health status domains. In contrast, the CHQ had fewer problems with floor and ceiling effects, was more internally consistent, had better dimensional reproducibility, and exhibited less factorial complexity. Although both instruments are appropriate for use among outpatients known to have CAD and/or CHF the CHQ has significantly better psychometric properties than does the SF-36.
Improving the Appropriateness of Red Blood Cell Transfusions in Patients Undergoing Orthopedic Surgery
Authors: Audet Anne-Marie , Andrzejewski Chester , Popovsky Mark
Published: March 2007

Othopedic surgery is a common procedure among the elderly, and patients are at risk of receiving unnecessaryblood transfusions. The goals of this project were to analyze current transfusion practices, identify opportunities for improvement, implement hospital-based quality improvement programs, and measure their impact on transfusion practices. Our aims were to decrease unnecessary transfusions and overall exposure to blood products. Data were abstractedfrom medical records, at baseline and postintervention. The results demonstrated significant improvements: a 55% decrease in avoidable transfusion events (from 42% to 19%o, p < .001) and a decrease in the pre-transfusion hematocritfrom a baseline of 29% to 26.9% in the postintervention period (p <.01). The percentage of single unit transfusion events increased from 71.9% to 77.2% (p = .05). These results suggest that the interventions had a significant impact on the use of blood. In the long term, these results should translate into cost savings and improved patient outcomes.
Promoting a labor perspective in the American mass media: unions and radio in the CIO era, 1936-56
Authors: Fones-Wolf Elizabeth
Published: March 2007

Corporate interests have dominated American radio since the late 1920s, using a commercialized medium to sell business products and ideology. For several decades, organized labor challenged business control of the radio. Unable to compete with business in other areas of the mass media, radio, with its potential for reaching a large audience, held promise for a labor movement hoping to contest business domination of political discourse. This article explores the relationship between organized labor and radio broadcasting from the 1930s to the mid-1950s. During the early part of this period, unions engaged in a fierce struggle for access to radio and began challenging the coverage of labor in the mass media. In the post-Second World War era, organized labor launched an aggressive campaign to utilize radio to promote a working-class political perspective. By the early 1950s, labor's voice was more widely heard on the airwaves than ever before. Organized labor offered at least a modest check on corporate America's command of the mass media.
`The biggest show in the world': race and the global popularity of The Cosby Show
Authors: Havens Timothy
Published: March 2007

The Cosby Show changed the face of international television distribution as profoundly as it altered American television culture. However, while many scholars have addressed the show's domestic popularity, its international acceptance remains a virtual mystery. This article investigates the various economic, textual and audience practices that led to The Cosby Show's international success, and that continue to make middle-class African American sitcoms lucrative international fare. The Cosby Show set the representational and marketing standards that continue to determine what types of African American shows are sold internationally, and where those shows are sold. While the international syndication industry learned many lessons from The Cosby Show, including the global appeal of domestic sitcoms, this article suggests that deeper revelations regarding the importance of televisual representations of race in global programming remain unrecognized.
Programming philosophies and the rationalization of music radio
Authors: Ahlkvist Jarl A.
Published: March 2007

Deregulation and ownership concentration have been accompanied by increased rationalization of programming strategies in commercial music radio in many industrial nations. However, understanding of the impact of these trends on music programming is incomplete because little research has examined music radio's `culture of production'. This article addresses this deficit by exploring the knowledge frameworks that radio programmers draw on to transform records into music programming. Interviews with music programmers working at radio stations in the USA reveal fundamental variation in how culture production is managed in this industry. I account for this variation by distinguishing four programming philosophies that guide and legitimate programmers' choice of programming strategies. Finally, I describe the integration of these philosophies into programmers' knowledge frameworks by considering their impact on music programming, and the structural factors that accommodate and constrain each philosophy.
Inside the image factory: stock photography and cultural production
Authors: Frosh Paul
Published: March 2007

A substantial share of the photographs that are used in advertisements, product packaging, corporate marketing and website design are supplied by the stock photography business. Nevertheless, this global, billion-dollar industry, dominated by a handful of transnational corporations, remains largely invisible to consumers and has been almost totally neglected by cultural analysts. This article attempts to redress that neglect and lift the veil on a powerful force in contemporary visual culture. First it places stock photography in social and historical context, examining the consolidation of the business in its modern form in the 1970s and 1980s and setting out its core practices and discourses in the broader context of commercial culture and advertising. Next it employs the key industry terms `success' and `meaning' to offer an integrated analysis of stock photography both as a system of cultural production and as a mode of representation.
Céline Dion, national unity and the English-language press in Canada
Authors: Young David
Published: March 2007

The national unity crisis in Canada deepened during the 1990s; it became increasingly likely that the French-speaking province of Quebec might separate from the rest of the country. This article examines how press coverage of Céline Dion, the popular francophone singer from Quebec, has intersected with the national unity debate. After providing some background on the debate and Dion, the article explores the linkages between them in Canada's English-language press. The analysis suggests the existence of a pro-unity frame in coverage of Dion. It also identifies how news stories about Dion have been shaped by binary oppositions, quoting practices and other journalistic techniques. The article concludes by noting some similarities and differences between coverage of political events in the national unity debate (such as referendums or constitutional accords) and coverage of Dion which is associated with the debate.
Cultural studies: a Latin American narrative
Authors: Escosteguy Ana Carolina
Published: March 2007

This commentary attempts to build up a narrative about Latin American cultural studies from a particular point of view which sees the mass media as a fragment within the broad scope proposed by the project of cultural studies. The main focus is to identify the emergence of this field, its position in relation to other academic disciplines, and its objects of study, mainly the reception studies. Although there are features of Latin American cultural studies that are unique to this region, the author concludes that the present situation reveals that Latin American cultural studies is tied to the broad current movement of this field of study.
Globalization and policy choice: television and audiovisual services policies in India
Authors: McDowell Stephen D.
Published: March 2007

Policies shaping the production and distribution of electronic broadcasting or audiovisual services in India have undergone tremendous changes from the 1980s to the 1990s. The number of channels and programming carried by Doordarshan, the state broadcaster, has grown. Private companies both from within and outside India now produce television programming and distribute it through direct broadcast satellites or cable television systems. The dominant account of the liberalization of audiovisual services policies in India focuses almost solely on the role of global economic forces and technical change. While policy choices have been constrained, many of these limitations arose from Indian decisions made about the role of broadcasting in the 1970 and 1980s, and from social and economic developments within India in the 1990s.
The role of multimedia conglomerates in American trade book publishing
Authors: Moran Joe
Published: March 2007

This article examines the consequences of the increasing control of the American book publishing industry by international media conglomerates with interests in many other, usually more profitable, areas of the mass media. It argues that publishers use the opportunities for corporate synergy, or cross-subsidization between different areas of the media, to arrange appearances by authors on mainstream television, influence the publication and placement of book reviews and exploit film, television, magazine serialization, book club and foreign rights. The varying amounts spent on publicity for different books have allowed the major publishing houses to wield significant influence in determining which authors and books receive the most public attention. However, recent technological developments in mass media, particularly the growth of interactive multimedia, may also encourage publishers to develop forms of promotion which locate different types of readership more exactly.