bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Doing a Double Take
Authors: Finn Adam
Published: April 2007

Service managers require precise enough measures of service performance to make particular decisions. Generalizability theory (G-theory) has begun to be used to design service assessment studies for decision making. However, initial applications address a limited range of decisions and may underestimate the amount of data needed for decision making if the variance due to the hidden-occasions (time-of-observation) facet is substantial. This study uses test-retest mystery shopping data to investigate the variance due to the main and interaction effects of test occasions and the consequences of ignoring them for different managerial decisions. Accounting for the hidden-occasions facet reveals a need to collect more than twice as many data when benchmarking services and over 10 times as many data to segment service assessors on the basis of their evaluative responses. Thus, accounting for variation due to occasions is crucial for G-theory applications to deliver assessment data of the required quality.
Competitive advantage and management development in small hospitality firms: The need for an imaginative approach
Authors: Beaver Graham , Lashley Conrad
Published: April 2007

The significance of small firms in delivering a substantial part of the total output of hospi tality goods and services is a long-established feature of the hospitality industry. Indeed the very origins of the industry in domestic settings — providing accommodation, food and drink — suggests that hospitality is a small scale, interpersonal activity. That said, the growth of a small number of hunge national and inter national organisations which control dispro portionately large sections of lodging, restaurant and public house markets, is a remarkable feature of the current hospitality industry.

In theory, the small hospitality enterprise, located close to its market and in personal contact with its customers, has considerable advantage in being able to respond quickly to customer needs and demands. These firms, owned and managed by individuals intimately ittvolved in creating the hospitality experience with customers, should enjoy considerable competitive advantage over larger organisa tions, that perhaps as a consequence of their organisational formality, have more remote and less personal relationships with customers. There are many small hospitality firms which do successfully compete in their local market, yet small firms in general are losing market share to the bigger operators. Some commenta tors go so far as dismiss the future existence of the small firm in hospitality provision! While the economic might of large firms to establish brands and operate at lower costs because of scale advantages goes some way to explain the loss of market share to small firms, the level of skills and talents together with the limited aims and objectives of those who own and manage small hospitality firms are also signifi cant factors.
Skål International: The development of a tourism interest group
Authors: Busby Graham D.
Published: April 2007

This paper reviews definitions of tourism organisations and interest groups in an attempt to categorise the Skål movement; it considers the origins of Skål International from European roots in the 1930s to the worldwide membership base of today and then details key aspects of the organisational struc ture. Analysis of data from a comparative sur vey of UK and US clubs is provided, identifying membership by sector, club numbers and changes over one and five years. The views of Skål club secretaries are dis cussed followed by an assessment of current issues relevant to the movement.
Economic impact of the 1996 Oldsmobile Classic golf tournament in the Greater Lansing area
Authors: La Lopa Joseph M. , Chen Kuan-Chou , Nelson Kevin
Published: April 2007

The purpose of this study was to assess the economic impact of a Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tournament in the Greater Lansing area of Michigan. This is the first study that has been conducted to esti mate the economic impact of an LPGA event in the United States. Spending data were collected from those who attended (fans, pros, caddies) and hosted/sponsored (Oldsmobile Classic, Walnut Hills Country Club, ESPN, tournament sponsors) the 1996 Old smobile Classic. The economic impact was evaluated by estimating the multiplier effect of the spending by those who attended and hosted/sponsored the tournament on the generation of total income and jobs in the Greater Lansing area. The spending by those who attended and hosted/sponsored the 1996 Oldsmobile Classic resulted in a total eco nomic impact of $4,930,484 which helped to create a total of 81 direct and 132 indirect jobs (which may be full or part-time) in the Greater Lansing area.
Emergency Conflict-related Psychosocial Interventions in Sierra Leone and Uganda
Authors: De Jong Kaz , Kleber Rolf J.
Published: April 2007

Médecins Sans Frontières has been involved in emergency mental health or psychosocial programmes since 1990. In this article the intervention model developed for emergency settings is shared. Psychosocial programmes distinguish two elements. The `psycho'-component facilitates the reconnection of the affected individual to his environment. The `socio'-element aims to create an environment that facilitates the individual to re-integrate. The nature of mental health and psychosocial programmes requires a multidisciplinary approach. Emotional support can also be provided by regular medical staff and does not always require a specialist. The years ahead of us are important for the development of psychosocial interventions. Fundamental issues such as programme evaluation need systematic research.
Survey of Unsatisfactory Levels of Airborne Bacteria in Air-conditioned Offices
Authors: Hui P.S. , Wong L.T. , Mui K.W. , Law K.Y.
Published: April 2007

Those involved in property management are under pressure to alleviate the risk of disease spread through buildings, especially via the Heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) system. To aid this, the level of indoor bacteria can be used as a referent to identify the performance of the HVAC system. Epistemic assessment of an AC office requires prior knowledge of the probable failure rate of offices in a region, which may be obtained by extensive measurements. This study proposes a statistical model to obtain a rapid estimation of the office probable failure rate over a region, that is, that fraction of offices with an average bacteria level above certain action levels. The model was based on transformation of small sample data to a geometric distribution using two analytical unbiased estimators: the weighted average and corrected sample variance of bacteria levels. These estimators could improve the accuracy of the estimates due to uncertainties of small sample sizes. Model parameters were determined from a dataset of levels in 290 Hong Kong offices (average 703 cfu m— 3 and 95% range 204—2418 cfu m— 3), using Monte Carlo simulations. The model was validated with another district survey of 109 offices in nine major Hong Kong commercial districts (average indoor bacteria level 297 cfu m—3 and 95% range was 69—1266 cfu m—3). The observed office failure rate of each district was compared with the corresponding model estimate and consistent results were found.
Respiratory Problems in Tannery Workers in Istanbul
Authors: Işsever Halim , Özdilli Kürşat , Özyildirim Bedia Ayhan , Hapçioglu Bilge , ince Nurhan , ince Haluk , Isik Erol , Akçay Erdem , Yeğenoğlu Yildiz , Erelel Mustafa , Çalak Berrin , Ağbaş Nihal
Published: April 2007

Tannery workers are exposed to many chemical and physical hazards. The current study involved 730 workers from 23 leather factories located in the Tuzla Organized Industry Region, Istanbul. Participants were interviewed and underwent clinical examination. After the basic physical examination, respiratory functions were measured by spirometer and the workers questioned about asthma. Health problems included gastrointestinal complaints (7.30%), bronchitis (3.11%) and asthma (3.0%). Signs of bronchial obstruction — wheeze and rhonchus — were detected in 71 (9.72%) workers. A deficit in the values of FVC%, FEV 1%, FEV1/FVC%, PEF%, FEF25— 75% was set nominally at 80% of the respiratory function test parameters. Decreased pulmonary function results were found for FVC% in 36 (4.93%) workers, FEV1 in 71 (9.72%), FEV1/FVC in 18 (2.59%), PEF in 183 (25.1%) and FEF25—75% in 204 (27.94%). The number of those with respiratory obstruction detected by spirometry was 294 cases (40.27%), more than the number of cases, 263 (36.02%), who claimed res- piratory problems in the questionnaire. This study was a contribution towards efforts to improve the factory envi- ronment and control workplace risks. Together with med- ical examinations before and during employment and provision of continuous health services and training will reduce the risk of occupational disease to a minimum. Introduction Leather production is one of the world's oldest trades, consisting of a chemical process that turns animal hides into the much less perishable material, leather. As part of this process, after the removal of the epidermis and subcu- taneous tissue, the dermal collagen fibres are stabilized by means of chemical treatment known generically as tanning [1]. Employees who work in tanneries are liable to be affected by their exposure to lots of hazardous materials and processes during tanning. These hazards can be grouped into four categories: biological, physical and chemical hazards and work accidents.
A Survey on the Thermal Conditions Experienced by a Surgical Team
Authors: Mazzacane Sante , Giaconia Carlo , Costanzo Silvia , Cusumano Alessia
Published: April 2007

The complex environment of the operating theatre is shared by a group of people having highly different needs: on one side, there is a surgical team whose work may last many hours and, on the other, an anaesthetized patient often subject to liquid infusion. Up to now, little consideration has been given to the different needs of the surgical team who may be affected according to their positions with respect to the scialytic lamp and their particular task. Clothing influences the comfort of the surgical team to a considerable degree: in fact, in some surgery (orthopaedics, neurosurgery and so on), surgeons and assistants must wear paper overalls beneath non-breathable plastic overalls and protective masks and caps; then, if X-rays are needed during surgery, the second surgeon and the assistants must also wear lead overalls and lead thyroid collars and gloves while the anaesthetists and nurses will keep on wearing non-breathable paper overalls. In consequence, the thermal resistance of the clothing of the surgical staff involved in the same surgical operation could be very different.

The purpose of the present work is to report investigations carried out at the SS. Annunziata Hospital in Cento (Ferrara, Italy) and present some of the data obtained. The article describes experimental and theoretical research activities, both ongoing and proposed, inherent to the thermo-hygrometric comfort problems of medical personnel. This study falls within a larger research programme, concerning the microbiological, chemical and physical pollution phenomena and the patient's hypothermia problems in an operating theatre.
Carboxyhaemoglobin Levels of Car Occupants Commuting in an Urban Commercial/Residential Area
Authors: Abi Esber L. , El-Fadel M.
Published: April 2007

Biological carbon monoxide (CO) monitoring is a direct approach to assess CO exposure and associated potential health impacts. Exhaled breath CO concentrations and corresponding carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) level of car occupants were measured before and after 45-min in-vehicle commutes along a congested road in a typical commercial/residential area using various ventilation modes. The effects of longer commutes were examined by fitting the measured in-vehicle mean CO levels with the Peterson and Stewart model for COHb level prediction. The increase in COHb level after a trip varied from 0 to 57% for a non-smoker passenger. Predicted COHb levels indicate that potential health outcomes can be manifested for trips lasting more than 70 min and characterized with low in-vehicle air exchange.
Communicating a feeling
Authors: Barnes Rebecca , Moss Duncan
Published: April 2007

This article examines the design and situated employment of reported `private thoughts' in both everyday and institutional interaction. By reported `private thoughts' we mean the `active voicing' (Wooffitt, 1992) of utterances characterized as `private thought' done in the first place for the speaker-feeler, rather than the listener. Examples are drawn from a large UK collection of over 240 instances from domestic telephone calls, interview talk, therapy sessions, and patient—provider interactions. Instead of treating reported `private thoughts' as neutral and transparent descriptions of the inner mind, we focus on their `brought off ' nature. Drawing on the cumulative resources of conversation analysis and discursive psychology, we focus on lexical and non-lexical features of their design and its similarity to direct reported speech. We go on to illustrate the flexibilities of positioning reporting `private thoughts' affords, that is, how they can be done for the self as a `one-off ', as generalized or hypothetical and how they can be done for others. Our analyses draw attention to how `private thoughts' might be considered as a speaker's resource for handling everyday rational accountability in reporting and explaining actions and events.
Being dead and being there
Authors: Griffin Christine
Published: April 2007

Qualitative research in psychology has tended to draw on a relatively narrow range of research methods, and the recent shift towards the analysis of material involving `naturally occurring talk' in some areas of psychology has reinforced this trend. This article discusses the implications of a preference for the analysis of `naturally occurring talk' or `naturalistic records' across the full range of qualitative psychology research. In particular, I focus on how researchers are positioned in debates over the advantages and limitations of analysing `naturally occurring data' and research interviews. Drawing on examples from a current project concerned with the meanings of consumption for young people, I interrogate the assumptions associated with a preference for analysing `naturalistic records' and consider some of the benefits as well as the problems involved in using research practices that involve a degree of direct engagement between the researcher and other participants. This article is therefore discussing the origins as well as the implications of the preference for analysing `naturally occurring data'.
Multimodal resources for turn-taking
Authors: Mondada Lorenza
Published: April 2007

The article investigates a multimodal practice for self-selecting observed in a video-taped corpus of work meetings: the use of pointing gestures predicting possible turn completions and projecting the emergence of possible next speakers. This practice is analyzed in various sequential positions, namely at turn beginnings and at pre-beginnings. It displays recipients' practical online turn parsing, and their orientation to transition spaces, and to TCU, completions in a visible, recognizable, public way. It shows the emergent and progressive establishment of speakership, exploiting both systematic features of turn-taking and specific features of the interactional space. The article explores the emic, locally situated and contingent definition of speakership by considering not only where pointing gestures begin but also where they end: pointing does not only end in pre-completion positions, projecting turn end, but can also persist through sequences, showing speaker's orientations to her turn's sequential implicativeness. Thus, by observing a particular multimodal practice within a specific interactional setting, the article explores participants' orientations to the rights and obligations associated with talk-related categories such as `non current speaker', `possible next speaker', `incipient speaker' and `current speaker'.
Life is out there
Authors: Potter Jonathan , Hepburn Alexa
Published: April 2007

Open-ended interviews remain the default data generation technique for qualitative psychology and sociology. This commentary raises questions with Griffin's understanding of naturalistic materials and the emic/ etic distinction. It reiterates problems in the use of open-ended interviews, and repeats the case for more considered support for their use.
Lies, rebukes and social norms
Authors: Vincent Diane , Laforest Marty , Bergeron Annie
Published: April 2007

Reflecting upon the lies that are tied to rebukes is a fundamental step in the analysis of interactions between health-care professionals and their clients. Our research focuses on questions that incite people to lie, namely, those for which a lying response avoids a rebuke or a judgment based on some type of behaviour. Our objectives are: 1) to characterize the `question/response' exchange that is interpreted as a `potential rebuke/ lie' exchange, and the questions that may induce lying; 2) to identify the strategies that health-care professionals implement in order to obtain the information they seek when questioning their clients; and 3) to identify themes that refer to behavioural norms that clients might be inclined to lie about. The results are based on the assumption that there are ties between behaviour and speech acts, in this case between the transgression of behavioural norms and lying.
Upward turning points and positive rapport-development across time in researcher—participant relationships
Authors: Pitts Margaret Jane , Miller-Day Michelle
Published: April 2007

Some of the first, and potentially most important, steps that researchers must take in the field are those related to rapport development with their participants. Both novice and experienced field researchers negotiate the difficulties and mysteries of establishing and maintaining this rapport. In this research, it was our intention to disentangle the often puzzling rapport-building process. We contacted 16 field researchers with varying degrees of experience and asked them to detail their relational turning points with select participants. Using the Retrospective Interview Technique (RIT) as a narrative prompt we uncovered a pattern of rapport-building that took the shape of five semipermeable phases of researcher—participant rapport: Other-Orientation, Self-in-Relation to Other, Self-and-Other Linking, Interpersonal Connection, and Partnership. In this article we propose a preliminary stage model of rapport-building trajectories, and offer implications such a model might have for field researchers.
Any port in a storm: fieldwork difficulties in dangerous and crisis-ridden settings
Authors: Belousov Konstantin , Horlick-Jones Tom , Bloor Michael , Gilinskiy Yakov , Golbert Valentin , Kostikovsky Yakov , Levi Michael , Pentsov Dmitri
Published: April 2007

This article draws on the experience of conducting fieldwork in Russia, as part of an international comparative examination of health and safety regulatory enforcement in the shipping industry. We discuss the difficulties faced by fieldworkers in ensuring personal safety and maintaining rapport with research respondents in conditions characterized by danger and crisis; a situation made worse by the murder of one of our key gatekeepers. We develop a provisional conceptual framework which draws distinctions between the `frontier'-like nature of settings associated with some research areas, the challenges posed by researching institutions faced by various kinds of crisis, and the sensitivity of the specific research topic in question. We argue that a combination of these dimensions produce particular social spaces, which we term `risksaturated', which are especially corrosive of relations with respondents, and which may pose very real physical threats to field workers.
Collecting data from elites and ultra elites: telephone and face-to-face interviews with macroeconomists
Authors: Stephens Neil
Published: April 2007

This article explores the author's experiences of conducting both face-to-face and telephone interviews with elite and ultra-elite respondents. It draws upon the author's PhD research that uses a Sociology of Scientific Knowledge perspective to understand the social construction of macroeconomics. The article demonstrates how this perspective, and contributions from broader methodological texts, shaped the evolving research practice. The author reflects upon the distance between themselves as a relatively novice researcher and the high status position of the elite and ultra-elite respondents. This is followed with a discussion of several practical issues that arose from the research experience that would usefully inform the work of any researcher considering utilising telephone interviews. The article concludes that telephone interviewing with elite and ultra-elite respondents is both a productive and valid research option.
`Doing boy/girl' and global/local elements in 10—12 year olds' drawings and written texts
Authors: O'Connor Pat
Published: April 2007

This article explores the relevance of global/local to understanding ways of `doing boy/girl' (Butler, 1999; Connell, 2005; Haywood and Mac an Ghiall, 2003) and the contribution that visual sociology can make to this. Using quantitative and qualitative methods to analyse 10—12 year olds' texts and drawings, the article concludes that despite the highly globalized and rapidly changing nature of the society, Ireland is still very far away from a situation where: `What gender identity is, and how it is expressed, has become itself a matter of multiple options' (Giddens, 1991: 81). It suggests that globalization supports hegemonic ways of `doing boy' and that global elements can be used to extend the repertoire of ways of `doing girl'. It also suggests that drawings can provide insights into the way in which global idioms become part of young people's perception of each other and their world.
Twenty-five Years of Marxist Biblical Criticism
Authors: Boer Roland
Published: April 2007

In the context of a renewed interest in Marxism outside biblical studies, this article surveys and critiques the background and current status of a similar renewal in biblical studies. It begins with a consideration of the background of current studies in liberation, materialist and political theologies, and moves on to note the division between literary and social scientific uses of Marxist theories. While those who used Marxist literary methods were initially inspired by Terry Eagleton and Fredric Jameson, more recent work has begun to make use of a whole tradition of Marxist literary criticism largely ignored in biblical studies. More consistent work, however, has taken place in the social sciences in both Hebrew Bible and New Testament studies. In Hebrew Bible studies, debates focus on the question of mode of production, especially the domestic or household mode of production, while in New Testament studies, the concerns have been with reconstructing the context of the Jesus movement and, more recently, the Pauline correspondence. I close with a number of questions concerning the division into different areas of what is really a holistic approach to texts and history.
The Unity of Luke—Acts: A Four-Bolted Hermeneutical Hinge
Authors: Spencer Patrick E.
Published: April 2007

Nearly every scholarly investigation of Luke—Acts today must address the question of unity. It is a hermeneutical hinge and the answer to the question has wide-ranging interpretive implications. The call to dissolve the unity of Luke and Acts—and the `hyphen' Cadbury inserted—focuses on four `bolts': (1) genre, (2) narrative, (3) theology, and (4) reception history. Despite far-reaching argument over the past twenty years favoring removal of the four `bolts', the hinge remains securely fastened. In addition, there is significant coalescence around certain issues such as the presence of an intermixing of genre types in Acts and an intertwining of the narrative and theological themes in Luke and Acts. And questions about unity have led to new avenues of exploration and the identification of trajectories that crisscross both volumes and tie them together.
Apocalypses and Apocalypticism in Antiquity
Authors: DiTommaso Lorenzo
Published: April 2007

This paper, in two parts, discusses the significant scholarship on apocalypses and apocalypticism in antiquity published since Mysteries and Revelations: Apocalyptic Studies since the Uppsala Conference (Collins and Charlesworth [eds.] 1991). Part II contains the second half of the section on (4) origins and influences, here the prophetic and sapiential traditions of Israel. This is followed by sections on (5) apocalyptic historiography and (6) the development of apocalypticism in antiquity and late antiquity, plus (7) a brief conclusion. The bibliographies are partspecific, but their entries are integrated.
Recent Eastern Orthodox Interpretation of the New Testament
Authors: Clark Timothy
Published: April 2007

Interpretation of the Bible in the Eastern orthodox Church has until recently been largely determined by the dogmatic imperatives of the ecclesial institution. in the “last several decades, however, a variety of Orthodox scholars have launched significant investigations of the Bible and particularly of the New Testament using methododolgy modeled on that of the Western scholarly academy, while in some cases continuing to search for a specifically 'Orthodox' approach to biblical study. This article concentrates primarily on developments in New Testament interpretation among orthodox biblical scholars in North america over the last three decades, focusing on the contributions of a generation of researchers responsible for the first significant expansion of Orthodox biblical study into modern academia and looking forward to newer voices and research directions in the orthodox world.
Visualizing Personal Networks: Working with Participant-aided Sociograms
Authors: Hogan Bernie , Carrasco Juan Antonio , Wellman Barry
Published: April 2007

We describe an interview-based data-collection procedure for social network analysis designed to aid gathering information about the people known by a respondent and reduce problems with data integrity and respondent burden. This procedure, a participant-aided network diagram (sociogram), is an extension of traditional name generators. Although such a diagram can be produced through computer-assisted programs for interviewing (CAPIs) and low technology (i.e., paper), we demonstrate both practical and methodological reasons for keeping high technology in the lab and low technology in the field. We provide some general heuristics that can reduce the time needed to complete a name generator. We present findings from our Connected Lives field study to illustrate this procedure and compare to an alternative method for gathering network data.
Partisanship, Independence, and the Partisan Identification Question
Authors: Valentine David C. , Van Wingen John R.
Published: April 2007

The partisan identification index has come under increasing criticism. Many of the difficulties in interpreting the index disappear once one realizes that the partisan identifi cation question is a bidimensional measure of partisanship and independence. As a consequence of this bidimensionality, partisan independents are neither more nor less partisan than weak partisans but are instead more independent. This relationship between the weak partisans and partisan independents explains the oft-observed transitivities, intransitivities, and nontransitivities that have appeared in the index.
Desegregating Urban Schools
Authors: Morgan David R. , Fitzgerald Michael R.
Published: April 2007

Two models of desegregation change between 1968 and 1974 for a number of U.S. urban school districts are tested using a block-recursive technique incorporating the effects of community environment, the school system, and federal influence. The models can explain a considerable amount of change in the North but much less in the South. In both regions, federal intervention is a dominant influence, although for one model in the North, the earlier year level of desegregation is the most powerful effect.
The Constitution as Symbol
Authors: Baas Larry R.
Published: April 2007

The purpose of this article is to examine the symbolic meaning of the Constitution. To accomplish this, 324 subjects were administered a 60-item Q-sort consisting of state ments of opinion about the Constitution. The data were correlated and factor analyzed, resulting in three factors. The first factor represents the predominating viewpoint that the Constitution is a masterpiece and should always be kept sacred. However, persons with this viewpoint see that the Constitution contains some loopholes which have allowed it to be interpreted to suit the needs of a few. The second factordescribes the Constitution as deprivational and to persons with this viewpoint the Constitution represents most of what is bad about America. The third factor represents a "realist" viewpoint which recognizes the deprivational potential of the Constitution but sees the functional value of the document as well. The results indicate that the symbolic potential of the Consti tution is probably still intact.
The abuse of older people in residential and nursing homes
Authors: Clough Roger
Published: April 2007

There is limited information on the scale and cause of abuse of older people in residential care and nursing homes. It is reasonable to assume a significant level of abuse, given the regularity of proven abuse and investigation. This paper stresses the need for an agreement on the definition of 'abuse' so that future studies allow for comparison. Concern is expressed that the proper wish to minimise abuse may lead to procedures which discourage warm and personal care. Reference is made to the developing literature on organisational systems which encourage staff to express concerns, rather than to be afraid to report on others.
Participant observation in a secure unit: Care, conflict and control
Authors: Clarke Liam
Published: April 2007

A participant observation study was carried out at a secure (forensic) unit called Delphi. This unit was one of several set up throughout Britain following the Report of the Butler Committee1. This particular unit announced in a series of statements that it now functioned as a therapeutic community of the kind described by Rapaport2. Given that conflict had always attended the relative weighting of custody and care within psychiatric institutions, it was decided to examine the veracity of their claim. It was anticipated that such a therapeutic undertaking would induce struggle and conflict among the staff. A feature of this study is its entrée strategy and style of observations: these were designed to minimise subjects' perceptions of the vigour of the research as well as to attain as uncontaminated a picture of the unit as possible. The ethics of this strategy are reviewed. Observational data were supported by interviews plus a small panel of independent verifiers. Consistent with ethnographic studies generally, results are presented as verbal statements of the participants. The discussion identifies some problems associated with qualitative research generally and suggests that further studies in this area be more specific and systematic.
Applying psychometric principles to the development of a training needs analysis questionnaire for use with health visitors, district and practice nurses
Authors: Hicks Carolyn , Hennessy Deborah
Published: April 2007

Much health service research relies on the use of questionnaires, some of which are poorly constructed and therefore have the potential for yielding unreliable databases1 . The application of the formal principles of psychometrics to questionnaire design can eliminate many of these problems. This paper reports the development of a training needs analysis tool following some of these essential parameters. The overall aim of the exercise was to identify the nature and extent of the training and education required by health visitors, practice and district nurses in a range of occupational areas, but with specific reference to research competencies. The results demonstrated that within the domain of post-basic training needs, there is a need to employ data collection techniques which go beyond the standard wish-list approach typically adopted, and to use, instead, questionnaires which embrace some of the guiding principles of psychometric science. In this way, educational provision can be more reliably informed and limited budgets more systematically targeted.
Cognitive mapping: An approach to qualitative data analysis
Authors: Northcott Nigel
Published: April 2007

The use of qualitative research methods generates large bodies of evidence that require analysis. This paper invites nurses to consider using 'cognitive mapping' as an expeditieus method of handling such evidence. The material draws upon personal experience of using cognitive mapping to handle the evidence from a case study that generated a large amount of audio-recorded interview evidence. An example of a 'cognitive map' is presented, along with instructions on how the technique was used.
Reflections on appraisal
Authors: Northcott Nigel
Published: April 2007

The value of appraisal for nurses was the subject of this naturalistic inquiry. The case study was conducted in one health district, at the time that the NHS was in the middle of the drives towards efficiency and effectiveness that accompanied the introduction of the government's White Paper, Working for Patients1 . The findings of the research are presented as eight reflections that are offered for consideration to anyone involved in the appraisal process. These reflections emphasise the value and need for appraisal for nurses, and offer a number of key pointers to ensuring success in the enterprise.
Survey methodology and the issue of response rate: The case example of a community mental health nursing census
Authors: White Edward , Brooker Charles
Published: April 2007

A contemporary national census of community mental health nurses is used as a case example to illustrate the notions, prevention and cure of non-response to postal questionnaires. An argument for large-scale survey methodology is made and briefly explored in relation to other methodological approaches, which also have both their utility and limitations acknowledged.
Action research in health-care practice: Nature, present concerns and future possibilities
Authors: Meyer Julienne , Batehup Lynn
Published: April 2007

This paper begins by defining what is meant by action research and locates it as a form of a new paradigm of research. Next it describes some present-day concerns about its use in health-care practice and then goes on to describe a vision of research policy and practice which suggests that action research may have a greater role to play in the next millennium. In conclusion, a cautious and pragmatic approach to the use of action research is advocated which is based on rigorous, systematic and visible methods of data collection, analysis and verification of findings.
Social therapy: A developing model of care for people with personality disorders
Authors: Storey Les , Dale Colin , Martin Eileen
Published: April 2007

Social therapy is an emerging model of care for people with a personality disorder but current professional education programmes for health-care staff fail to meet the needs of both staff and patients. A project at Ashworth Hospital, in collaboration with the University of Central Lancashire, is attempting to address this issue through the development of a framework of professional occupational standards from which it is hoped academic and voational accreditation will be possible.
Proceedings of the NTResearch Symposium for Evidence-Based Nursing Manchester, October 22-23, 1997
Authors: Brooker Charlie
Published: April 2007

The papers that follow from Jenifer Wilson Barnett, Nicky Cullum and Alan Pearson are edited versions of the keynote addresses given at the symposium. Also included is a write-up from Charles Normand of the workshop sessions. First, however, Charlie Brooker, in his guest ledure, talks about nursing's relationship to R&D and his vision for the future on the development of research in nursing.
Progress with a strategy for developing research in practice
Authors: Martin Colin R. , Bowman Gerald S. , Knight Steve , Thompson David R.
Published: April 2007

This paper reports progress with a strategy for developing research in practice. Since the original paper (Knight et al., 1997), which outlined the strategy, a research development facilitator has been appointed, a proposal has been put forward for a centre for nursing research, and the partnership between an acute hospital trust and a university has been consolidated. The paper also addresses the issues raised in a Commentary (Bartlett, 1997) that accompanied the publication of the original paper. The strategy is planned to be evolutionary, and aims to focus on research related to practice, taking into account also organisational and external factors.
Measuring conceptual knowledge organisation among student nurses using a word association technique
Authors: Colgan Aine , McGuinness Carol
Published: April 2007

The design of a methodology to measure the level of conceptual knowledge among student nurses is described. The paper examines how the data- gathering technique of word association used in cognitive psychology to study the organisation of conceptual knowledge can be applied in a manner that will elicit concepts inherent within the subject of nursing and integral to professional practice. Results show that such a technique can reveal useful information about the level of conceptual structure among student nurses and that there is potential for further research into the cognitive organisation underlying 'novice' and 'expert' performance among student nurses.
The Care Programme Approach: A patient perspective
Authors: McDermott Gerry
Published: April 2007

The Care Programme Approach (CPA) for patients in contact with the specialist mental health services represents a significant change in care delivery for both patients and clinicians involved with mental health services. This study explores the attitudes and experiences of one group of patients on the CPA living in an outer London borough. One hundred and three patients were asked for their views and opinions; there was a response rate of 50%. The main findings of the study indicated that patients found the CPA process difficult to understand, and that there was an over-emphasis on administering the system. There was evidence to suggest that patients were unfamiliar with their treatment programmes, and that they lacked knowledge regarding their care. The study concluded that further research to examine patient attitudes to the CPA would be beneficial, since it was not possible to make precise conclusions based on the data available here.
The chance to fight nursing's corner at the Department
Authors: Garbett Rob
Published: April 2007

David Thompson has recently taken up a new, part-time post at the Department of Health as professor of nursing research. Rob Garbett asks him what is on the agenda
Psychological concerns in questionnaire research
Authors: Kirk-Smith Michael , McKenna Hugh
Published: April 2007

The questionnaire survey is a common and important tool in nursing research. However, there are many psychologically related issues and limitations which may not always be considered. This paper brings these issues together under four headings: theory-building; validity of self-report; measurement and analysis — that is, spanning the formulation of the research, the collection and analysis of data through to the interpretation of the results. In planning questionnaire research the explanatory limitations must be recognised, the aims must be linked directly to the measures, other methods should be considered as checks, and, most importantly, professional advice should be sought during the planning.
The health environment: A definition and conceptual framework for research and practice
Authors: Brocklehurst Neil , Allan Helen
Published: April 2007

This paper explores the history of the concept of health environment in nursing discourse. The prompt to investigating the subject followed the national research and development (R&D) initiative set up through the Royal College of Nursing and the Centre for Policy in Nursing Research. Subsequent developments in national healthcare policy, particularly in relation to primary care-based commissioning and public health highlight the timeliness of such a debate. A conceptual framework for the health environment is suggested which is dynamic and practice-oriented. It is hoped that this will appeal both to academics and practitioners in order to build a base of research and practice around the health environment within and beyond the nursing professions.
The 'black nurse': Ever an endangered species?
Authors: Iganski Paul , Mason David , Humphreys Ann , Walkins Mary
Published: April 2007

In the late 1980s it was feared that black nurses in Britain were a dying species. There was a belief that young people of minority ethnic descent were being deterred from choosing nursing as a career owing to the discrimination, disadvantage and harassment experienced by their parents as health service workers. The demise of the black nurse by the year 2000 was even predicted unless remedial recruitment initiatives were taken. Anecdotal evidence and limited statistical evidence suggested that the number of black applicants to pre-registration training in nursing and midwifery was lower than would be expected when compared with the representation of the minority ethnic groups in the population as a whole. Nevertheless, the evidential base has, to date, been limited. Using the most comprehensive data set available to date, this paper presents an analysis of the national pattern of applications from members of minority ethnic groups to pre-registration nursing and midwifery training, which indicates rather more complex patterns of under- and, in some cases, over-representation of the black and Asian minority ethnic groups.
Evaluation: Drawing comparisons or achieving consensus?
Authors: Redfern Sally
Published: April 2007

This paper looks at evaluation: what it is, how it has developed, its status in research and the questions it is expected to answer. Evaluation has had an eventful history, with evaluators from different disciplines taking different approaches and arguing strongly from the standpoint of different epistemologies. The need for evaluation continues to grow given that allocation of scarce resources to the most worthwhile high utility health and social programmes is a priority.

I draw from models described by scholars who argue from quite different positions on what the focus for evaluation should be, ranging from experimental through judgemental, pragmatic, responsive constructivist, pluralist to realistic evaluation approaches. At one extreme, responsive constructivist evaluation argues that an alternative form of disciplined inquiry to conventional experimental evaluation is needed. Others are also critical of the experimental approach but reject an exclusively naturalistic model in favour of evaluation which incorporates elements of other approaches and puts context and process as well as outcome high on the agenda.

By way of illustration I apply the models to an evaluation project currently in progress in an attempt to identify the advantages and disadvantages of each approach and to answer the question posed by the title. The models are interrogated with four questions in mind: whether, why, for whom and under what circumstances a pragramme/treatment/intervention works. The conclusion reached is that realistic evaluation has the greatest capacity to answer these questions when applied to complex health and social care organisations.
Synthesis of Wholly Aromatic Polymers Possessing Tetra-aryl-substituted Vinylene Units by Palladium-catalyzed Three-component Coupling Polymerization
Authors: Nakagawa Kojiro , Tomita Ikuyoshi
Published: April 2007

The synthesis of novel wholly aromatic poly(arylenevinylene)s containing tetra-aryl-substituted olefin units in the main chain by the three-component coupling polymerization of aryl dihalides, aryl diboronic acids, and acetylene derivatives is described. For instance, a polymer (Mn = 2600, Mw/Mn = 1.6) was obtained in a 76% yield by the polymerization of 1,4-diiodobenzene, diphenylacetylene, and 1,4-phenylenediboronic acid in DMF/H2O at 100 °C for 24 h in the presence of PdCl2(PhCN)2 (1 mol %) and KHCO3. The obtained polymer is soluble in organic solvents such as CHCl3, THF, and toluene, although it does not have any soft lateral segments.
Facile Synthesis of (−)-Ascochlorin Using Palladium-catalyzed Three Component Coupling Reaction
Authors: Aoki Makoto , Kawashima Kenji , Fujihara Hirohisa , Shimizu Isao
Published: April 2007

(−)-Ascochlorin was synthesized using palladium-catalyzed three component coupling reaction. Reaction of the aryl iodide 3, isoprene, and sodium p-toluenesulfinate in the presence of Pd2(dba)3CHCl3 catalyst and NaHCO3 gave the 4-aryl-2-methyl-2-butenylsulfone 5 selectively in 68% yield. The allylic sulfone 5 was converted into the useful intermediate 2 in 5 steps, which was subjected to Julia olefination with the aldehyde 4 and deprotection gave (−)-ascochlorin.
Stereochemistry of Decarboxylation of Arylmalonate Catalyzed by Mutant Enzymes
Authors: Miyamoto Kenji , Tsutsumi Tomomi , Terao Yosuke , Ohta Hiromichi
Published: April 2007

The enantiotopos differentiating selectivity of the mutant arylmalonate decarboxylase (S36N/G74C/C188S), which catalyzes asymmetric decarboxylation of arylmethylmalonates to give the corresponding arylpropionates, was revealed to be the same as that of the wild type enzyme, in spite of the fact that two enzymes gave the opposite enantiomer with each other.
Efficient Method for Dehydration Condensation Using Pyridine-3-carboxylic Anhydride (3-PCA): Synthesis of Carboxamides from Nearly Equimolar Amounts of Carboxylic Acids and Amines
Authors: Funasaka Setsuo , Mukaiyama Teruaki
Published: April 2007

A highly useful method for the preparation of carboxamides from various carboxylic acids and amines is established by using pyridine-3-carboxylic anhydride (3-PCA) in the presence of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP). This reaction proceeds smoothly under mild conditions by simple experimental procedure.
Adsorption of Manganese Porphyrin on Metal Oxides and Its Enhanced Catalytic Activity on Epoxidation Reaction
Authors: Hitomi Yutaka , Mukai Hidefumi , Ohyama Junya , Shinagawa Masashi , Shishido Tetsuya , Tanaka Tsunehiro
Published: April 2007

Simple mixing of manganese(III) complex of α,α,α,α-tetrakis(o-aminophenyl)porphyrin (Mn-1) with metal oxides afforded monomeric adsorption of Mn-1 on the metal oxide, where the porphyrin plane faces parallel to the solid surface. The styrene conversion with iodosylbenzene catalyzed by Mn-1 was greatly improved by immobilization on basic metal oxides, not only due to high dispersion but also due to the interactions with the support.
Thia- and Selenasilaboriranes and 1,3,2,4-Dioxasilaboretane from a Stable Silaborene
Authors: Nakata Norio , Sekiguchi Akira
Published: April 2007

Silaborene (1), R2Si=B(tmp) (R = SiMetBu2, tmp = 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine), reacted with elemental sulfur and selenium in THF to give the novel three-membered ring products, thia- (2) and selenasilaborirane (3). In contrast, the oxidation of 1 under an O2 atmosphere produced the corresponding four-membered ring, 1,3,2,4-dioxasilaboretane (4).
An Axial Subphthalocyanine as Ratiometric Fluoride Ion Sensor
Authors: Li Yang , Xu Sheng , Li Xin , Chen Kongchang , Tian He
Published: April 2007

A subphthalocyanine derivative (SubPc 1) with a naphthalimide fluorophore at the axial position was designed and synthesized for fluoride ion selective and sensitive sensing. The obvious changes in UV–vis and fluorescence spectra could be observed by naked eyes.