bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How Do Nations Increase Workforce Skills? Factors Influencing the Success of the Singapore Skills Development System
Authors: Kuruvilla Sarosh , Chua Rodney
Published: March 2007

This article contributes to the partial resolution of the debate regarding the role of governments in leading national upskilling efforts through a descriptive case study of the Singapore system of skills development. The article identifies the major reasons behind Singapore's remarkable success in upgrading workforce skills in a relatively short period of 40 years. First, a general linkage between economic development needs and skill formation and development has been facilitated by an institutional structure that places the Economic Development Board (EDB) at the centre of the effort with responsibility for both areas. We argue that this general linkage is a necessary but insufficient condition for rapid skills upgradation. Second, the EDB's model of technology transfer, which over a period of time brought about the integration of three crucial aspects, that is, linking foreign direct investment to skills development and joint government-private sector operation for skills training, was crucial in the ability of the economy to meet its short- and medium-term skills development needs. Third, educational reform for long-term skills development, fourth, a levy/grant scheme (the Skills Development Funds) that induced private sector firms to invest in upskilling, and fi nally, the institutional linkages across different skills-development institutions and initiatives which further ensured the effectiveness and relevance of upskilling programmes, that is, the interconnectedness of the various parts of the system, were crucial elements in the success of the Singapore effort. In sum, Singapore's system is consistent with the notion of a concerted national effort. Given that several nations have indicated their desire to copy selected aspects of the Singapore system (for example, Skills Development Funds) this essay cautions that it is important to understand that each component works because of the institutional context, and so cannot be transplanted independently to a different institutional context and be expected to provide the same results.
The Dumping Issue
Authors: Debroy Bibek , Banik Nilanjan
Published: March 2007

The anti-dumping agreement is a major agreement in the rules segment of the Uruguay Round package, although some versions of the anti-dumping code precede the Uruguay Round. Dumping is defined as exporting a product at lower than its 'normal value', interpreted as exporting below the sales price in the domestic market, below the sales price in a third market, or below cost of production plus mark-ups. An act of dumping can lead to imposition of anti-dumping duties provided that dumping leads to injury to domestic industry and the causal link is established. Although the Uruguay Round anti-dumping agreement is an improvement on earlier versions, there continue to be problems with interpretation, and anti-dumping duties legitimize protectionism with attendant welfare losses. While the anti-dumping agreement can be improved, this paper argues that if competition policy issues (including predatory intent) are properly addressed, the anti-dumping agreement can be scrapped.
Forecast of Indian Readymade Garments Exports Using the ARIMA Model
Authors: Chawla Deepak , Behl Ramesh
Published: March 2007

In this article, an attempt is made to build an ARIMA model to forecast exports of Indian readymade garments. The monthly data on readymade garments exports for the period April 1991 to December 2000 is used to build the model. The forecasts are obtained for the period January 2001 to December 2001 by using the ARIMA model. The accuracy of ex-post forecast is also tested. The forecasts indicate a slow down in the growth of exports in January to March 2001 as compared to the same months in the year 2000. The article concludes by suggesting a review of government policy towards this industry.
Cross-cultural Comparisons of HRM Styles: Based on Japanese Companies, Japanese Subsidiaries in Bangladesh and Bangladesh Companies1
Authors: Khasro Miah Md , Wakabayashi Mitsuru , Takeuchi Norihiko
Published: March 2007

This study presents empirical research findings of the impact of national and corporate cultures on managerial beliefs about employees and on company styles of treating its employees (HRM styles), measured in terms of an autocratic-participative dimension, and based on managers from three different manufacturing entities: Japanese companies in Japan (JC; n=104), Japanese subsidiaries in Bangladesh (JBC; n=102), and Bangladeshi companies (BC; n=114). As hypothesized, BC managers were found to have stronger negative ('work- avoidance') beliefs about employees and to perceive their company's HRM style as more autocratic relative to JBC and JC managers. On the other hand, a positive ('self-motivation') belief about employees was highest among JC managers, followed by JBC and BC colleagues. The participative HRM style was found correlating negatively with the work-avoidance belief across all managers as hypothesized. However, the participative HRM style correlated positively with the self-motivation belief only among JC managers, but negatively among BC managers. National and cultural differences have been discussed to explain this contradiction among BC managers.
Convergence in the ERM and Declining Numbers of Common Stochastic Trends
Authors: Rangvid Jesper , Sørensen Carsten
Published: March 2007

In this article, we use recursive and rolling cointegration methods to test for a system ofseveral exchange rates being within the process of convergence. We use the methods to analyse how the convergence of five exchange rates within the (European) Exchange Rate Mechanism has developed during the ERM period. We find that the number of cointegration vectors in the system of ERM exchange rates increases as the sample period is extended, and interpret this as a sign of increased convergence of ERM exchange rates. In particular, we find no evidence of convergence in the first years of the ERM and strong evidence of convergence in the last years of the ERM. In the analyses we acknowledge that managed exchange rates, such as exchange rates in ERM target zones, can be misaligned at their observed values as compared to their fundamental free-float values. For this reason, we also study convergence of filtered shadow exchange rates. We use two filters to extract the shadow exchange rates: a linear filter and a non-linear filter.
The Cross-Sectional Determinants of Returns: Evidence from Emerging Markets' Stocks
Authors: Serra Ana Paula
Published: March 2007

This article looks at the cross section of stock returns for the particular case of emerging markets. For each of the 21 emerging markets, I investigate the role of a set of a priori specified factors in the cross section of returns and subsequently assess whether the important factors are common. I use data on emerging markets' individual stocks from the Emerging Markets Data Base (IFC). My results indicate that the most important pricing factors are common to the emerging markets in my sample and that these factors are similar to those identified for mature markets. Among the top six factors are technical factors and price level attributes. The pay-offs to these factors are not correlated, suggesting that even if investors across markets elect similar factors to price assets, premia are local.
Do Foreign Investors Cause Noise in an Emerging Stock Market?
Authors: Nam Doowoo
Published: March 2007

The problematic point of the noise trader model is the difficulty of measuring noise and testing theories based on noise trading. We investigate the relationship between the trading volume and the stock returns, using the Granger-causality type of methodology, as a means of testing the noise trader model. Taking four variables into consideration-three variables ofbuying, selling and netpurchases by foreign investors for the trading volume, and one variable of returns on an index for the stock returns-we examine whether foreign investors have played roles as noise traders in the Korean stock market during the recent financial turmoil, and conclude that they have transacted informed trading. The conclusion is sharply contrasted with some criticism that foreign investors, acting like noise traders, caused the stock market crash, which exacerbated the financial crisis of Korea.
OCCUPATIONAL COMMITMENT AND INTENT TO LEAVE THE COACHING PROFESSION
Authors: Cunningham George B. , Sagas Michael , Ashley Frank B.
Published: March 2007

Despite the predominance of Black athletes in much of collegiate athletics today, Black coaches constitute a small proportion of the total coaching population. To this end, we posited that the deficiency could be attributed to the notion that Black coaches leave the profession sooner than do White coaches. In taking an institutional theory perspective, the purpose of this study was to examine possible differences between Black and White assistant coaches for affective occupational commitment and intent to leave the coaching profession. Results of multiple hierarchical regression analyses indicate that normative isomorphic pressures are significant predictors of professional socialization, which in turn predicts commitment to the profession. Finally, there is an inverse relationship between affective occupational commitment and intent to leave the profession. Findings from the study supported the theory to explain the paucity of Black coaches in the NCAA by demonstrating that the deficit could be attributed to the fact that more Black coaches intend to leave the profession than do White coaches. This is true regardless of the fact that Black coaches perceived greater professional socialization than Whites and similar feelings of affective commitment. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.
DIFFERENCES IN CHARACTERISTICS BETWEEN JAPANESE WALKERS AND SPORT PARTICIPANTS
Authors: Takamine Osamu
Published: March 2007

The purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics of Japanese walkers through a comparison with sports participants' individual factors and demographics. A survey was conducted by questionnaires mailed out to 1535 Japanese adults, of whom 1047 persons replied, and 649 were used in the analysis. The results of a logistic regression analysis showed that the model chi-square was 242.92 (d.f.= 12, p<0.001), and that the individual factors and demographics included in this study classified 86.1 percent of the subjects correctly. The odds ratios of `attitude toward physical education', `sport experience in adulthood', `motives for sport', `sex', and `age group' were significant. It is shown that people who have been regarded as not participating in sport, such as those with a negative attitude toward physical education, people inactive in adulthood, females and the elderly, have begun to walk for exercise. This tendency seems to be related to the specific characteristics of walking, which do not restrain an inactive person's participation in physical activity, and to be promoted by a health-oriented awareness.
A Comparison of Selected ‘Serious’ and ‘Popular’ British, Canadian, and United States Newspaper Coverage of Female and Male Athletes Competing in the Centennial Olympic Games
Authors: Vincent John , Imwold Charles , Masemann Vandra , Johnson James T.
Published: March 2007

This study compares how selected ‘serious’ and ‘popular’ newspapers from three countries covered female and male athletes during the Centennial Olympic Games, 1996. From Canada, the Globe and Mailand Toronto Star; from Great Britain, The Timesand the Daily Mail; and from the United States, the New York Timesand USA Todaywere examined. Content analysis was used to compare all the articles and photographs of female and male athletes on the front pages and the sports sections of all six newspapers. Although differences were found, generally the results showed that, compared to their respective participation rates, female and male athletes competing in the Centennial Olympic Games received an equitable amount of coverage. Qualitative analyses indicated that female athletes received a comparable coverage with their male peers in article descriptors of their ‘physical appearance/attire’, ‘strength/athleticism’, ‘psychological characteristics’, and ‘family role’, and in ‘competing’, ‘non-competing’, ‘active’, and ‘posed’ photographs. This study confirmed that female athletes receive more newspaper coverage when they compete in major international competitions such as the Olympic Games. Reasons for the reasonably equitable amount of newspaper coverage of female athletes are outlined, with suggestions for improvement of newspaper coverage of female athletes.
A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF YOUTH SPORT PARTICIPATION AND ADHERENCE TO SPORT IN ADULTHOOD
Authors: Vanreusel Bart , Renson Roland , Beunen Gaston , Claessens Albrecht L. , Lefevre Johan , Lysens Roeland , Eynde Bart Vanden
Published: March 2007

Youth sport programmes are often legitimized on their assumed contribution to continued sport involvement in adulthood. A longitudinal analysis was made of the sport involvement pattern of a sample ( N = 236) of male subjects from 13 to 35 years of age, from a perspective of continued socialization into sport. The results of the quantitative analysis show that the continuation of sport participation from youth into adulthood is different according to the type of youth sport career. Tracking of sport participation patterns is moderate to high during youth, and low to moderate from youth to adulthood. Methodological issues are raised. It is concluded that youth sport programmes should be critically examined with regard to their contribution to continued sport participation in adulthood.
`INSIDE SPORT' OR `ON THE MARGINS'?
Authors: Lenskyj Helen Jefferson
Published: March 2007

This article analyses the contradictory constructions of gender relations in the popular Australian sport magazine Inside Sport. The investigation shows that, while overt sexual exploitation of women is still present, particularly in the pictorial content, more complex marginalizing practices are also in evidence. Furthermore, it will be argued that the juxtaposition of critical text and exploitative graphics is organized to convey a sense of `balanced' coverage and representation. The magazine's formula of men's sports/women's bodies reflects, constructs and perpetuates beliefs about hegemonic masculinity and emphasized femininity in Australian society.
UP FRONT AND BEYOND THE CENTRE LINE
Authors: Hallinan Christopher J. , Bruce Toni , Coram Stella
Published: March 2007

Although there has been a substantial growth in the number of Aboriginal players in the Australian Football League over the past decade, issues of structural and institutional racism have not been explored. This investigation of the assignment of players by position revealed marked patterns of difference, which tend to reflect stereotypes about Aboriginal athletes. The results are similar to research conducted in the USA and the UK but suggest even stronger patterns of differentiation.
MINORITIES IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL 1952-1987
Authors: Brown Jill , Bear Gordon
Published: March 2007

We inspected over 4000 baseball cards every fifth season from 1952 through 1987. We found that among whites, pitchers and catchers were overrepresented and fielders were underrepresented, whereas the opposite pattern occurred among blacks. Among Latinos, pitchers were under-represented (a new finding) and shortstops were overrepresented. Contrary to claims that segregation by playing position changed during the years we studied, these patterns were stable.
Thinking not a Usual: Adding the Intercultural Perspective
Authors: Yershova Yelena , DeJaeghere Joan , Mestenhauser Josef
Published: March 2007

The purpose of this article is to fill the gap between the emphasis in higher education on subject matter content and the acquisition of intellectual competencies. The authors suggest that these intellectual competencies are subject to triple conceptual reductionism, manifested in the following assumptions: (1) these skills are acquired through the content of established academic disciplines; (2) once learned, they transfer to other domains; and (3) they are "culture-free" and thus universally applicable. Contrary to these assumptions, the article attempts to demonstrate that these intellectual skills and their components are not learned automatically in traditional disciplines or by osmosis, and that they are influenced by the cultures in which they are practiced and taught. The authors selected three such competencies for review and examination: intercultural competence; critical thinking; and comparative thinking. Their analysis indicates that teaching of intercultural competence continues to be dominated by the "fix the problem" paradigm, which considers cultural differences an obstacle to be over-come. They applaud the emerging emphasis on the developmental approach to intercultural competence. Critical thinking, the second skill discussed, is the best known and is the one most commonly referred to in the literature as a universal skill. The authors dispute its universality by calling attention to specific areas of critical thinking that are influenced by culture, and by suggesting ways of expanding the concept to be more relevant to intercultural interactions. Comparative thinking, the third intellectual skill, seems to be the most neglected and yet is the most pervasively used, being practiced every time individuals explain themselves to others. Although these skills are treated separately for the purpose of analysis, they are interconnected and interdependent. The authors conclude that not only does the literature about these competencies fail to examine the role of culture in their development, but also international education literature is equally devoid of serious discussion about them. They hope that this article will begin a discussion about expanding the understanding of these intellectual skills.
The International Exchange Experience and the Social Construction of Meaning
Authors: McNamee Stephen J. , Faulkner Gary L.
Published: March 2007

This article examines the notion of applying the social construction of meaning to the experience of an international faculty exchange. Specifically, the article analyzes challenges and changes in the three major sources that people draw on to provide meaning in life: (a) social relationships, (b) work and leisure activities, and (c) convictions to idea systems. It is argued that separation from one’s home culture in an exchange produces discomfort and adjustment burdens resulting from the discrepancy between the new cultural setting and these three sources of meaning. Strategies are suggested for coping with sources of potential meaning uncertainty related to the exchange experience within the context of existing relationships, activities, and idea systems.
Teaching in an International Environment
Authors: de Wit Hans
Published: March 2007

In most studies, internationalization is primarily related to mobility of students, inward (foreign students) and/or outward (study abroad). Less attention is given to the international dimension of the curriculum itself. Three recent studies analyze different aspects of the internationalization of teaching. The first publication reviewed deals with the broad theme of internationalizing the curriculum in higher education. In the second publication, the relationship between area studies and study abroad is the central theme. And in the third publication, the interesting phenomenon of the bilingual university is the topic. All three combine analyses with case studies and practices: the first from Sheffield Hallam University in the United Kingdom, the second from the United States, and the third from Europe, Canada, and Puerto Rico. In its own way, each study makes a valuable contribution to our knowledge of the international dimension of teaching.
The Time and the Trouble: Mobility Obstacles for Incoming Students from Outside Europe
Authors: van Aken Daniël
Published: March 2007

The present study attempts to ascertain whether the Netherlands places more obstacles than other countries in the path of incoming students from outside the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA). A comparison is made with the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Denmark. For each of the five host countries, descriptions are given of the procedures for obtaining entry and a residence permit, the problems students experience as they go through the procedures, the quality of the information explaining those procedures, and the government initiatives being taken to remove obstacles to mobility. It is fair to conclude from the study that the mobility of foreign students is hampered by problems in all five of the host countries to differing degrees. But compared with the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, the Dutch government is doing relatively little to remove obstacles to mobility. The conclusion of this study is that the Netherlands places obstacles in the path of incoming foreign students, despite desiring their presence. These obstacles are equal to or greater than those experienced by foreign students in the other countries examined.
How International Experience Affects Teaching
Authors: Sandgren David , Elig Nick , Hovde Peter , Krejci Mark , Rice Mary
Published: March 2007

This paper explicates the causal linkages between short-term study abroad experiences of college faculty and the global content of their classroom teaching. Information for the study comes from self-report and extensive interviews with faculty who traveled to locations in Central America, South America, Southern Africa and India. Earlier research by the authors shows that these study abroad experiences have a positive impact on `globalizing' "the participants' teaching. However, the process leading to this effect needs clarification. After describing the context for the present research and the methods used for the qualitative analysis, connections evident in the experiences of the travel seminar participants are used to construct a causal process theory. This theory explicates the linkage between travel and teaching by stating that experience abroad enhances social and self awareness of participants which in turn leads to changes in their teaching (i. e., increased global content). Key examples found in the statements of the participants are used to elucidate this theory. The paper concludes with a discussion of the results and their implications for people who design and participate in faculty study abroad programs.
Elster's Tocqueville
Authors: PELS DICK
Published: March 2007

Three major claims advanced by Elster are subjected to critical review. First, the strict Elsterian type of methodological individualism seems absent from Tocqueville's writings. Second, Elster's separation between Tocqueville's formal structures of reasoning and the substantive content of his sociohistorical explanations look artificial and strained. Third, Elster misreads Tocqueville as a simple defender of democracy, while he rather provides a more detached and more topically relevant account of the contradictoriness or duality of democracy.
The Price of Influence in an Interest-Group Economy
Authors: CRAIN W. MARK , TOLLISON ROBERT D. , DEATON THOMAS H.
Published: March 2007

The size and number of political interest groups is analyzed using the firm-industry framework of standard microeconomic theory. The model allows for the entry and exit of interest groups in the interest-group industry, as well as adjustments in the size of individual interest groups. The structural characteristics of the market for legislation (i.e., the costs of procuring influence) drives these adjustments in political coalitions and interest groups. Empirical evidence on the relationship of coalition adjustments to changes in various characteristics of legislatures is provided using data on U.S. states.
On the Stability of Occupational Rankings
Authors: WEISS YORAM , FERSHTMAN CHAIM
Published: March 2007

A major puzzle for sociologists is how it can be that societies that differ vastly in their culture and economic circumstances maintain a similar ranking of occupations. Economists have identified a similar stability in the wage structure. The difference in pay of skilled and unskilled workers has been stable over time and is surprisingly similar in developed and undeveloped countries. This article contends that these two phenomena reflect the same basic principle: If workers are free to choose their occupation and level of skill, then differences in culture and in the state of development will mainly affect the number of workers in different activities but not their rewards. In the language of economists, free mobility generates highly elastic supply into different occupations and skills. Therefore, occupational rewards are largely independent of demand.
Individual, Collective, and Systems Rationality in Work Groups
Authors: PETERSEN TROND
Published: March 2007

In work teams, two situations often arise. In the first, one can observe only the output of the work group, not the contributions of each member. In the second, the output of each member depends not only on one's own effort but on the efforts of other workers. The problem that arises in both situations is how to construct reward schemes. Group piece-rate schemes are often suggested as a solution. However, these are susceptible to free rider problems. One classic and non-market-based solution relies on a supervisor who keeps free riders in line. Another solution to the free rider problem retains the market-type character of the piece rate scheme but the relationship between output and reward is highly nonlinear. This article discusses three alternative and non-market-based solutions to the free rider problem: social rewards, altruistic preferences, and moral commitments.
Comment on “An Economic Argument for Affirmative Action”
Authors: Friedman David D.
Published: March 2007

The Forum consists of comments on previously published papers and responses by authors. Unlike the Comment section in many other academic journals, the Forum includes solicited as well as unsolicited contributions. We encourage debates by actively seeking points of view contrary to those expressed in articles published in the journal. The Forum is intended to promote an open and critical debate that contributes to the intellectual vitality and further development of rational-choice-based theory and research.

Forum contributions should follow the form used by Rationality and Society and should not exceed five double-spaced pages.
We Are Smarter than We Think
Authors: HERNES GUDMUND
Published: March 2007

Rational choice theory is not a conceptual system to be verified but a family of “sometimes-true theories” that are applicable in certain situations. Even the most heroic family members (i.e., those based on omniscient maximizers) may yield astounding insights, as may those theories based on less potent members (e.g., models based on result-controlled purposive behavior). These assertions are illustrated by Weber's analysis of the transition to capitalism and Marx's depiction of learning by doing.
Inscrutable Markets
Authors: GAMBETTA DIEGO
Published: March 2007

Unlike markets that are subject to asymmetric information, in inscrutable markets—such as religions and psychotherapies—not just buyers but sellers too do not know much about the quality of their products. Because buyers cannot discern which products are of good quality and sellers cannot construct “honest” signals to guide them, rational choice theory predicts their failure. Yet these markets emerge. The hypothesis of this article is that suppliers pursue two general strategies that rely on symbols (trademarks, logos, languages, styles). First, they try to engender associations between the inscrutable commodity and symbols that are easier to rank than it; second, because these markets attract pirates, to protect their property rights, they seek imitation-resistant symbols. The solution is unlikely to come from any one symbol, but from a string of interrelated symbols that are costly to imitate. It consists of gaining a distinctive identity that pirates find hard to imitate regardless of external enforcement. Examples from the mafia are presented.
Experiments with Social Traps IV
Authors: Rapoport Anatol , Diekmann Andreas , Franzen Axel
Published: March 2007

In a long sequence of iterated Prisoner's Dilemma played by a pair of subjects, "lock-in " effects are frequently observed both on the CC and on the DD outcome. That is, in the course of the sequence either CC or DD becomes predominant sometimes persisting to the end. A lock-in on CC can be explained by a deterrence effect: The subjects learn that defection to D, although immediately advantageous if the co-player continues with C, is likely to be followed by retaliation. A lock-in on DD can be explained by the inhibition of unilateral C (the "peace initiative"), which is associated with the sucker's payoff In the present experiment, subjects played repeated round robin sequences of Prisoner's Dilemma with other subjects in their experimental group. Prominent lock-in effects were observed when the subjects were informed on each play how their current co-players chose when paired with other subjects but not when no such information was given.
Trust and Strategic Rationality
Authors: Lahno Bernd
Published: March 2007

The extent to which trust prevails can be measured by the subjective probability with which an agent expects another one to act in desired ways. An agent's trust in other agents forms during repeated social interactions that typically have the structure of an elementary game of trust. The process of trust formation in such interactions can be described by a reputation function. It is argued that in view of real-world processes of trust formation, any adequate reputation function must satisfy certain conditions. A simple model conforming to these conditions is presented. Analyzing this example, it is shown that there is a cooperative Nash equilibrium in a trust supergame, which is in accordance with the basic conditions of realistic trust formation. However, it is also proved that no process of trust formation, can be reasonably similar to real-world mechanisms and at the same time lead to subgame perfect equilibria in a trust supergame.
MARRIAGE PARADOXES
Authors: Frey Bruno S. , Eichenberger Reiner
Published: March 2007

Empirical research reveals that marriage decisions systematically deviate from the predictions based upon the conventional neo-classical approach in four respects: (1) people search surprisingly little for available marriage partners; (2) the characteristics of a potential partner are evaluated in a strongly biased way; (3) individuals take little advice for their marriage decision; and (4) the likelihood of one's own marriage ending in a divorce is strongly underestimated. These marriage paradoxes can be integrated into the rational-choice approach: individuals are aware of the possibility of falling prey to such paradoxes, and therefore take precautions at individual and institutional levels.
RATIONAL CHOICE, PUBLIC POLICY AND AIDS
Authors: Heckathorn Douglas D. , Broadhead Robert S.
Published: March 2007

Rational choice theory is a controversial basis for institutional design. Dire warnings have been issued about its potential effects. This paper examines in detail a single example of rational-choice-based institutional design in light of these warnings. The conclusions are that these warnings are ill-founded because they are based on an inaccurate or incomplete understanding of rational choice analysis, that rational choice can serve as a basis for effective and humane institutional design, and that rational choice has features that make it suitable for policy analysis.
Cherokee Self-Reliance
Authors: Lowe John
Published: March 2007

This qualitative study was conducted using ethnography to identify how (a) self-reliance is conceptualized by the Cherokee; (b) the adult male Cherokee perceives, achieves, and demonstrates self-reliance; and (c) nurses can incorporate the Cherokee concept of self-reliance into health care of the Cherokee. The goal of self-reliance was included in the following mission statement of the 1976 Cherokee Nation constitution: “The mission of the government of the Cherokee Nation is to promote and sustain the self-reliance of its members” (Resolution No. 28-85, 1976). The conceptualization and perspective of self-reliance by the Cherokee must be understood to assist effectively in the development and promotion of self-reliance in the Cherokee, especially the male Cherokee. The cultural domain of self-reliance that emerged from the data is a composite of three categories that include being responsible, being disciplined, and being confident. Cutting across all three categories are the two themes of being true to oneself and being connected.
Transcultural Nursing Concepts and Experiences in Nursing Curricula
Authors: Ryan Marilyn , Carlton Kay Hodson , Ali Nagia
Published: March 2007

Future trends in the convergence of a multicultural world continue to intensify the need to educate nurses to deliver culturally focused care. A descriptive survey was conducted to examine curricular trends related to the teaching of transcultural nursing (TCN) in nursing curricula of baccalaureate and higher degree schools of nursing in the United States. Faculty development and qualifications to teach transcultural nursing were identified as well as methods for collaboration between schools of nursing. Although TCN concepts are incorporated into most curricula, wide variation exists as to content, depth, and level of integration. Implications call for collaboration with accrediting agencies, including state boards of nursing, to strengthen expected outcomes related to culture, curricular reviews of nursing courses regarding the incorporation of TCN concepts and experiences, collaboration on culturally focused field experiences, faculty development, and networking across schools to expand available resources.
The Meaning of Hope and Generic Caring Practices to Nurture Hope in a Rural Village in the Dominican Republic
Authors: Holt Jeanie , Reeves Joan S.
Published: March 2007

The purpose of this study was to explore the meaning of hope and generic caring practices to nurture hope among people of a rural village in the Dominican Republic. Ethnonursing methods were used to gather and analyze data from which a definition of hope for this group of people was developed: “Hope is an essential but dynamic life force that grows out of faith in God, is supported by relationships, resources and work, and results in the energy necessary to work for a desired future. Hope gives meaning and happiness.” The information obtained also demonstrated that hope interacts with nearly all domains in the Sunrise Model. Generic care practices discovered among this population included working together, advising each other to work hard, and sharing hope itself. Implications for further research are discussed.
Developing a Transcultural Patient Care Web Site
Authors: de Ruiter Hans-Peter , Larsen Karen E.
Published: March 2007

The development of a transcultural Web site created by a multidiscplinary committee in a large medical center is described. The purpose of this Web site is to give direct patient caregivers immediate, around-the-clock access to various types of transcultural information that can serve as an aid in the provision of culturally competent care. This article outlines the steps to developing the Web site and provides a description of the types of informational resources available on it.
The Significance of Cultural Concepts in Nursing
Authors: Leininger Madeleine
Published: March 2007

This article was originally published in Minnesota League for Nursing, Vol. 10, No. 3, 3-12, in 1966, and in the Journal of Nursing Education (1967). It was reprinted in Transcultural nursing: Concepts, theories, and practices (1978) p. 121-134. It is one of the first transcultural nursing articles. It is held as a historical classic in transcultural nursing, and is frequently requested by nurses and other readers. The article has been slightly edited to improve readability.
A Transcultural Nurse's Adventures in Costa Rica: Using Leininger's Sunrise Model for Transcultural Nursing Discoveries
Authors: Finn Julianna M.
Published: March 2007

This paper is a descriptive report of a transcultural nurse's experiences as an Earthwatch volunteer working with Leatherback sea turtles in Costa Rica. While in Costa Rica the author had an opportunity to observe and experience the culture and lifeways of the people of Costa Rica. The author attempted to discover and understand aspects of the Costa Rican social structure and world view and relate these insights to Leininger's (1991) Sunrise Model and the role of transcultural nurses. Leininger's (1991) Sunrise Model depicted the relationships inherent in her theory and included: culture, world view, and social structure dimensions. The social structure dimensions included: technological, religious and philosophical, kinship and social, cultural values and lifeways, political and legal, economic, and educational factors. The insights and understandings learned through application of Leininger's (1991) Sunrise Model were applied to transcultural nurses'role in meeting the care needs of clients from various cultures.
Hearing Our Voices: Assessing HIV Prevention Needs among Asian and Pacific Islander Women
Authors: Jemmott Loretta Sweet , Maula Erme C. , Bush Elizabeth
Published: March 2007

The purpose of this study was to (a) assess the impact of HIV/AIDS on the Asian-Pacific Islander (API) community and changes in their behavior due to AIDS, (b) identify perception of risk, HIV risk behaviors, factors contributing to those behaviors, barriers to HIV prevention, and the types of prevention programs that would benefit their community, and (c) describe culturally appropriate considerations when designing HIV prevention strategies for API women. Thirty API adults participated in three different groups. Focus group interviewing methods were used, guided by the Health Belief Model. The women had numerous concerns about HIV that placed them at risk for infection, such as their inability to talk with their sexual partners about condom use due to the cultural and taboo nature of sexual topics. All groups concluded that for HIV prevention interventions to be successful, they must be tailored to the cultural and specific needs of API women.
A Grounded Theory Study of the Experience of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in First Nations Adults in Canada
Authors: Hernandez Cheri Ann , Antone Irwin , Cornelius Ida
Published: March 2007

Diabetes among First Nations peoples has reached epidemic proportions, and diabetes prevalence, complications, and mortality rates are higher than in Whites. The purpose of this grounded theory study was to investigate the experience of Type 2 diabetes in First Nations adults. Ten individuals living in one reserve community, in southwestern Ontario, participated in this research. Participants were interviewed on two occasions by a First Nations nurse. All interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. A three-phase process of integration emerged, similar to the process of integration discovered in prior research with Type 1 diabetic Whites. However, there were some important differences in the characteristics of these three phases. In addition, there were surprising findings related to beliefs about the type of diabetes educator desired by these First Nations clients.
Interpreters: A Double-Edged Sword in Nursing Practice
Authors: Maltby Hendrika J.
Published: March 2007

The provision of health services for all Australians is based on equality of access to health care services, regardless of cultural origin or linguistic skill, and on the responsibility of the health system to respond appropriately. Lack of fluency in the English language and lack of bilingual or multilingual nurses are major sources of miscommunication, even with the use of interpreters and translated health information. Many immigrant women find the use of interpreters unacceptable. Nurses are concerned with legal issues. These two viewpoints make the use of interpreters a double-edged sword in practice. The findings of recent research and the literature in relation to language skills and the use of interpreters and translations in the Australian context are explored. Potential resolutions for transcultural nursing practice are provided.
Black Females in Law Enforcement
Authors: GREENE HELEN TAYLOR
Published: March 2007

Like their White counterparts, Black females were initially employed as social workers, matrons, and school crossing guards in police agencies. More recently, they have assumed positions as officers, middle managers, and chief executives. Several factors, including Black political empowerment and the quest for representative bureaucracy, have contributed to increases in the number of Black female sworn officers in urban police agencies. Yet they remain underrepresented, due in part to cultural and organizational barriers. There is a dearth of qualitative and quantitative studies that focus specifically on Black female police officers. Future research should consider the effect of social, economic, political, organizational, and demographic factors on Black female officers' representation and experiences.
The New York Times' Coverage of Executions
Authors: Reichel Philip L. , Munden Lisa
Published: March 2007

This article addresses two general questions: 1) Is the news media consistent regarding the coverage given executions? and 2) Does the content of news reports on executions provide information relevant to fairness/ unfairness issues associated with the death penalty? With the New York Times as the single data source, researchers used the total words written for each execution, and the story's presence or absence on the front page, as dependent variables. The authors argue that the prestige andinfluence of the Times makes it an acceptable sole data source and provides areasonable basis for drawing initial conclusions about newspaper coverage of executions. Theonly variable found to influence New YorkTimes' coverage ofexecutions was the number of days passed since the U.S. Supreme Court upheld death penalty statutes. Specifically, the more recent the execution, the fewer words written. Also, news coverage was not found to contain information which could be used to draw conclusion about the fairness/ unfairness of the death penalty.
Re-Thinking Neighborhood Policing
Authors: Findley Kenneth W. , Taylor Robert W.
Published: March 2007

One of the hottest issues in police management today is the implementation of community or neighborhood policing. Numerous agencies have departed from traditional police methods and embarked on a journey involving the radical restructuring of the police organization and society's perception of "what" police do. This paper focuses on the problems associated with community policing.
Private Prison Management: A Study in Economic Efficiency
Authors: Crants Doctor R.
Published: March 2007

The American correctional system is beset by a number of serious difficulties. Dramatic increases in prison popu lations over the past decade have produced serious prison crowding and enormous increases in the cost of operating the correctional system. This paper examines the value of the private sector in meeting correctional needs in a cost- efficient fashion. Data are presented which indicate that private sector involvement in corrections can result in significant cost savings.
Community Service As an Alternative Sentence
Authors: Davis James R.
Published: March 2007

Community service as a sentencing alternative is the product of the last three decades. It is used widely in the United States and in other countries. There are many benefits as well as problems associated with it. This paper explores the history, development, theoretical perspectives, and advantages and disadvantages of community service. Several empirical studies are analyzed, and the results of these studies show positive results for the offender, the community, and the criminal justice system.
The Efficacy of Electronically Monitored Home Confinement As a Case Management Device
Authors: Quinn James F. , Holman John E.
Published: March 2007

This paper examines the efficacy of electronically monitored home confinement as a case management tool for probation and parole departments. Itcompares the frequency of success among offenders who would otherwise have had their liberty revoked with others who have more successfully adapted to community control. Data are drawn from community correctional populations in two metropolitan areas of a southwestern state in which electronically monitored home confinement is used almost exclusively as a sanction for offenders who evidence difficulty in complying with the conditions of theirrelease to the community. Analysis of these data indicate that electronic monitoring is an effective method of reducing revocations in community correctional populations.
Aftermath of Seeking Domestic Violence Protective Orders: The Victim's Perspective
Authors: Kaci Judy Hails
Published: March 2007

This study followed 137 victims of domestic violence who sought assistance with filing protective orders from a legal aid clinic in southern California. All of those returning the one-month questionnaire obtained temporary restraining orders but only 42% obtained permanent orders; even lower rates were indicated on the four-month questionnaires. Physical abuse continued after seeking the temporary order for one in eight respondents; no one indicated that the abuse escalated after the temporary order was sought. Leaving the abuser was rated as the most effective method used to stop the violence except for filing for a protective order. Other strategies receiving positive ratings included, in descending order, the victim going to counseling regarding domestic violence, asking family for help, filing for divorce, having the defendant arrested and asking friends for help. Unfortunately, all of these items also appeared, albeit less frequently, on the list of things other respondents indicated made the situation worse. Asking religious practitioners for help was rated as effective by 15 % of respondents and no one indicated that it increased the violence.
The Social Organization of Organized Crime in Chicago
Authors: Lombardo Robert M.
Published: March 2007

Based upon the analysis of interview data, this research argues that neither the bureaucratic nor the patrimonial models of complex organizations adequately explains traditional organized crime as found in Chicago today. This paper suggests that the open systems perspective, and in particular the contingency model, better explains the true nature of organized crime. In addition, this research describes the organizational structure of the Outfit, the traditional organized crime group in Chicago, and argues that positions exist within the Outfit for made guys, Outfit Guys, and connected members. In addition, this research argues that the Outfit has an organized public made up of gamblers, thieves, and wanna-be's who provide support for the activities of the organization and recruits for the Outfit itself.
Drug Use History and Shock Incarceration Outcome
Authors: Anderson James F. , Carson Gary , Dyson Laronistine
Published: March 2007

The Alabama boot camp, like many other programs, have specifically targeted offenders with a history of drug abuse. However, evidence has emerged that indicates there is no significant difference between the completion rate of drug users and non-users. Perhaps the ability for drug users to complete the program lies within the Twelve steps that are intertwined in the Alabama program.