bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Self-Transcendence and Activities of Daily Living
Authors: Upchurch Sandra
Published: March 2007

The number of older adults in our population is steadily increasing. Many older adults continue to remain active and care for themselves. However, differences exist in older adults’ ability to perform activities of daily living. The purpose of the study was to explore relationships among self-transcendence (ST), health status (SHS), and ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL) in noninstitutionalized older adults. The 88 participants were primarily widowed, White women, 65 years of age and older (M = 73.4), who perceived their health positively, and had 12 years or more of education. Findings included statistically significant relationships between ST and ADL and SHS and ADL. Twenty-two percent of the variance in ability to perform ADL was explained by SHS, and an additional 6% was explained by ST. Nurses are encouraged to explore factors that contribute to older adults’ ability to remain independent.
A Health and Demographic Profile of Noninstitutionalized Older Americans Residing in Environments with Home Modifications
Authors: Tabbarah Melissa , Silverstein Merril , Seeman Teresa
Published: March 2007

Objectives:In this analysis the authors investigate the demographic characteristics, the health conditions/events, and the disabilities of community-dwelling Americans 70 years of age and older that are associated with residing in environments with specific home modifications. Methods:Data from a large population-based study of the elderly are used to estimate logistic regression equations that reveal profiles of older individuals who are likely to have distinct home modifications. Results:Having diseases such as diabetes and stroke, having experienced a hip fracture, a fall or a joint replacement, and having greater limitations with activities of daily living raise the likelihood of having home modifications. Lowincome, Hispanic, and African American elderly appear underrepresented among those with modifications. Discussion: The authors conclude that specialized housing alternatives will be an increasingly important issue in the future as individuals aim to achieve and maintain the delicate balance between their functional ability and their living environment.
Effects of Hearing Impairment on Use of Health Services Among the Elderly
Authors: Green Carla A. , Pope Clyde R.
Published: March 2007

Objectives:To assess the effects of hearing impairment on health-service use in an elderly population, controlling for factors associated with hearing difficulties known to affect utilization. Methods:Diagnoses of hearing impairment, depression, and chronic illnesses were used in hierarchical regression procedures to predict the volume and probability of any service use among 1,436 randomly selected 65-year-old health maintenance organization members. Results:Hearing impairment substantially increased the likelihood of making at least one visit to a health care provider (OR = 3.31, 95%; CI = 1.55-7.06). Among those who made such visits, however, hearing impairment did not lead to use of additional services despite expectations to the contrary. Discussion:Further research should explore whether underutilization of services exists, and, if so, whether it stems from clinician or patient attitudes about the seriousness of hearing impairment, from a paucity of available treatment strategies, or from some combination of these and other factors.
Prevalence and Correlates of Disruptive Behavior in the Nursing Home
Authors: Jackson Mary E. , Drugovich Margaret L. , Fretwell Marsha D. , Spector William D. , Sternberg Josef , Rosenstein Rebecca B.
Published: March 2007

Estimates of the prevalence of disruptive behavior in the nursing home are presented based upon a representative sample of nursing home residents from intermediate care and skilled nursing facilities (ICF and SNF) in Rhode Island. Results indicate that 26.4% of residents had engaged in some form of disruptive behavior within two weeks prior to assessment. Abusiveness (physical and verbal) and noisiness were identified as the most prevalent behavior types (11.6% and 10.2%, respectively). Given the similarity of Rhode Island nursing home residents to nursing home residents nationally, these estimates may be considered as estimates for the national nursing home population. Older residents and those with greater physical and cognitive impairments were more likely to exhibit behavior problems. Although disruptive behavior seems to be associated with the dementing process, cognitively intact residents also demonstrated these behaviors. These findings suggest that an etiology of disruptive behavior should include both physiological as well as social and psychological factors.
Associations among Health Perceptions and Health Status within Three Age Groups
Authors: Rakowski William , Cryan Cynthia D.
Published: March 2007

Using data from the 1984 Supplement on Aging to the National Health Interview Survey, the associations among five health perceptions and two indices of functional health status were investigated within each of three age groups (55-64, 65-79, 80+). Greater functional impairment was associated with less favorable health perceptions in all three age groups. However, the strength of association was not consistent for the five indices, leaving room for conflicting assessments of one's health. Efficacy at taking care of health and perceived control over health showed lower strengths of association with functional impairment, raising the possibility that the resilience of some perceptions may be studied in greater detail. Results for persons aged 80 and older were similar in some ways to those for persons aged 55-64; however, there was some evidence of stronger negative association with increasing functional limitation among persons aged 55-64, suggesting a possibly stronger impact of health problems in this group. Future research might usefully examine intraindividual consistency of health perceptions and behavior, in addition to looking for normative interindividual trends.
Age Group Differences in the Use of Breast Cancer Screening Tests
Authors: Burg Mary Ann , Lane Dorothy S. , Polednak Anthony P.
Published: March 2007

The age-related decline in the use of breast cancer screening tests, specifically periodic mammography and physical breast examinations by a doctor, is especially problematic given that breast cancer risk increases with age. Survey data (N = 3,507) from the Awareness of Breast Cancer Project are used to compare the effects of socioeconomic variables and usual health care use variables on recent use of breast cancer screening tests in women 50 to 75 years of age on Long Island, New York. Having annual checkups and seeing an obstetrician/gynecologist for routine health care are the best predictors of recent mammography and breast physical exams for all women. Income level and education are not independent predictors of recent screening for women over 65. The implications of the effect of primary care practioners on periodic breast cancer screening in older women are discussed.
Age-by-Race Differences in the Health and Functioning of Elderly Persons
Authors: Gibson Rose C.
Published: March 2007

A review of health data identified four major trends in the elderly population: (a) a younger Black group that was more morbid than an older Black group, (b) an alternating pattern of Black morbid and robust age groups, (c) a Black disadvantage in health and functioning that was greater in race comparisons involving the Black morbid and less in comparisons involving the Black robust age groups, and (d) a Black health detriment that seemed to narrow at age 85. The trends suggest that age and health are more strongly related in the White elderly than in the Black elderly population. The trends also are compatible with the more rapid growth of Blacks aged 85 and over than any other group of the elderly, adverse mortality selection processes, and the racial mortality crossover. Issues for new research that will explain these four trends are discussed.
The Relationship of Antipsychotic Drug Use, Behavior, and Diagnoses among Nursing Home Residents
Authors: Spore Diana L. , Horgas Ann L. , Smyer Michael A. , Marks Lori N.
Published: March 2007

Nursing homes have been criticized for frequent use and possible misuse of psycho-active agents. These issues are of clinical concern and policy relevance, especially since the passage of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1987. Using a sample of 419 residents, the authors examined the relationships among antipsychotic drug (AP) use, behavior, and mental health diagnoses. Only 23.2% of the residents were administered APs on a routine and/or "as-needed" basis. Based on the Multidimensional Observation Scale for Elderly Subjects (MOSES) ratings, AP users were more irritable, disoriented, and withdrawn than were nonusers. Also, AP users demonstrated agitated behaviors more frequently. Notably, AP users and nonusers differed significantly in terms of documented mental health diagnoses. Among AP users, 70.1% had documented dementia, 8.3% were psychotic or had other psychiatric disorders, and 21.6% had no mental health diagnoses. In contrast, the majority of nonusers had no mental health disorders. Logistic regression revealed that diagnostic factors, frequency of agitation, level of withdrawal, and marital status were significant predictors of AP use.
Problems Eliciting Elders' Reports of Functional Status
Authors: Keller Donald M. , Kovar Mary Grace , Jobe Jared B. , Branch Laurence G.
Published: March 2007

Intensive interviews were conducted with 36 older people, using think aloud and cognitive probes, to study response errors in measuring functional status in health surveys. Consistent with the original hypothesis, words or phrases, such as "aids," "help from another person," and "difficulty," were not interpreted by respondents to have the same meaning as intended. Similarly, evidence was obtained indicating that the subjects did not recall all the kinds of help they received, nor report their health as the basis for needing assistance. Moreover, replies to a variety of functional status items were often conditional upon the circumstances. Recommendations for questionnaire design and further research are discussed.
Investigating Patterns of Service Use by Families Providing Care for Dependent Elders
Authors: Kosloski Karl , Montgomery Rhonda J.V.
Published: March 2007

The behavioral model developed by Andersen in 1968 was used to investigate patterns of support service use by families caring for dependent elders. It was hypothesized that differences in background or predisposing factors that serve to define caregivers (e.g., spouse vs. adult-child) would interact with need factors to influence the use of "discretionary" support services (e.g., adult day care), but not influence the use of nondiscretionaryy" services (e.g., hospitalization). Information was obtained on the use of eight different support services from a sample of 503 caregiving dyads. Caregivers were either spouses or adult children of the dependent elder. The results supported the hypotheses derived from the behavioral model and indicate that, among caregiving families, it is important to consider not only the type of service, but who is assessing the need for that service.
An Epidemiologic Analysis of Pain in the Elderly
Authors: Mobily Paula R. , Herr Keela A. , Clark M. Kathleen , Wallace Robert B.
Published: March 2007

Despite acknowledgment that pain is likely to be a major problem for many older adults, it is difficult to accurately estimate the frequency of pain problems for this population because of the lack of systematic epidemiological investigation. This article reports a study of the prevalence and nature of pain in a population of 3,097 rural persons 65 years and older (the Iowa 65+ Rural Health Study). Of the subjects, 86% reported pain of some type in the year prior to the interview, and 59% reported multiple pain complaints. Joint pain was the most prevalent site of pain reported, followed by night leg pain, back pain, and leg pain while walking. As reported severity of pain increased, there was a corresponding increase in impact on daily activities.
Symptom Consultation in Lay Networks in an Elderly Population
Authors: Edwardson Sandra R. , Dean Kathryn J. , Brauer Donna J.
Published: March 2007

Although lay referrals are known to be important as factors affecting the use of professional services, less is known about how individuals use lay consultation in evaluating symptoms. The amount and type of advice given by persons in the social network is especially important with respect to self care of symptoms that never reach the attention of professional caregivers. This article provides information on how often and from whom elderly citizens seek and receive consultation, such as family and friends, when they experience common symptoms. Findings suggest that female relatives are important sources of advice but that neither gender nor living arrangements are closely related to the tendency to seek lay advice for common symptoms. Subjects who consulted lay advisers about arthritic symptoms also were more likely to seek professional consultation.
The Impact of a Spouse-Caregiver Support Group on Care Recipient Health Care Costs
Authors: Peak Terry , Toseland Ronald W. , Banks Steven M.
Published: March 2007

Frail elderly veterans who received care at a Department of Veterans Affairs medical center and whose spouse-caregivers participated in support groups to which they had been randomly assigned had lower health care costs over a 1-year period than did control participants. The greatest impact was observed for participants perceived by their spouse-caregivers to be in the poorest health. What is important to consider about this result in terms of health care policymaking is that support groups targeted for spouse-caregivers of elderly veterans in poor health produced significant outpatient, inpatient, and total cost savings for the care recipients, and were cost effective.
The Use of Psychoactive Medications and Cognitive Function in Older Adults
Authors: Berg Stig , Dellasega Cheryl
Published: March 2007

This study examined the relationship between cognitive function and psychotropic medication use in a population sample ( n = 743) of elderly persons. Approximately one third of subjects received such agents, which consisted primarily of anxiolytics, hypnotics, and antidepressants. Subjects received a battery of cognitive tests at three time points: when they were 70, 75, and 79 years of age. Data on medication use revealed that the use of psychoactive agents increased with age, and was greater for females. A cross-sectional analysis showed that those using psychoactive medicines had lower cognitive test scores compared with those who did not receive such drugs. Repeated measures analysis of variance demonstrated that psychotropics had a negative and cumulative effect on cognition, with the function of subjects who received psychoactive agents consistently poorer than those who did not. The magnitude of this effect is relatively small and for several cognitive tests subjects who received these drugs averaged only a few points lower than individuals not using psychoactive medicines.
SES Differentials in Health by Age and Alternative Indicators of SES
Authors: Robert Stephanie , House James S.
Published: March 2007

Despite the general persistence and even increase of strong socioeconomic status (SES) differentials in health in the United States, research suggests that SES differentials in health may diminish or become nonexistent at older ages. However, most research has used only limited measures of SES (e.g. education, income), and has not thoroughly investigated intra-elderly age differences in this trend. The current study investigates how SES differentials in health vary by age in the United States, using fairly detailed age categories (through ages 85+), and 2 alternative indicators (home ownership and liquid assets) of a major additional dimension of SES, financial assets, which may be especially important at older ages. We address (a) how strongly financial assets are associated with health, considered both alone and net of education and income; (b) if the health effects of financial assets vary by age; and, more specifically, (c) if their effects are especially pronounced in older age, again considered both alone and net of or relative to education and income. Results show that financial assets, especially liquid assets, considered both alone and net of education and income, are associated with health throughout adulthood and old age, at least until ages 85+. Furthermore, financial assets remain associated with health until quite late in life and become more important relative to education and income at older ages for some measures of health.
Efficiency of Home Care
Authors: Bishop Christine E.
Published: March 2007

Home-delivered health-related services are not valued for themselves but are, rather, highly customized inputs that can be used in the production of several alternative “commodities” ultimately demanded by consumers. These valued commodities are the restoration, improvement, or maintenance of health and functional status that can be produced by home-delivered care (and by alternative services) and the everyday support of daily functioning at home. If we can describe how inputs into the production of these two commodities are allocated, it may be possible to make judgments about whether home-delivered care and other services would produce more value if they were allocated differently.
Called to Service: The Changing Institutional Identities of American Denominations
Authors: Wittberg Patricia
Published: March 2007

This article outlines the ways that religious schools, hospitals, and social service institutions have affected their sponsoring denomination or church group in the past. Three basic channels of influence are described. The institutions impacted the sponsor’s very identity and purpose, they defined the requisites of holy activity, and they served as a channel for membership recruitment and leadership development. Implications for denominations and other religious groups of the current attenuation of ties with their former institutions are then explored.
The Racial Wealth Gap: Origins and Implications for Philanthropy in the African American Community
Authors: Conley Dalton
Published: March 2007

In this article, the author argues that any consideration of race and formal philanthropic activity must consider the issue of wealth differences; it is in the area of wealth that the greatest degree of racial in equality exists, with Black families owning about one eighth the assets of White families. In addition to this empirical rationale for investigating the role of net worth in accounting for Black-White differences in philanthropic activity, the author provides a theoretical argument, distinguishing between the role of income and that of wealth in giving. The author concludes by arguing for a new research agenda that links the burgeoning literature on race and wealth to that on race and philanthropy.
Nonprofit History’s New Numbers (and the Need for More)
Authors: Burke Colin B.
Published: March 2007

This article describes the section on nonprofit statistics that will be in the forthcoming edition of Historical Statistics of the United States. The article provides a few examples of the use of long-term statistical series to gain perspective on the contemporary nonprofit sector and of the use of such series in evaluating standard liberal interpretations of American history in general. The historical examples in the article (such as the decline in American generosity since the 1960s) are as much suggestive as definitive but all point to valuable questions to be explored through more detailed studies.
The U.S. Nonprofit Human Service Sector: A Creeping Revolution
Authors: Grønbjerg Kirsten A.
Published: March 2007

In this article, the author examines a slow but profound revolution in U.S. human services over the past 50 years. The author provides a general overview of the human service field, its current size and composition, and the role of nonprofit organizations; examines broad trends in these dimensions and the role of government policies; and reviews why and how these developments constitute significant changes in human services and how they compare with those in other fields. The article concludes with a look at the future role of nonprofit organizations in human services and at major developments in the funding and management of nonprofit human service organizations.
Stipended Volunteers: Their Goals, Experiences, Satisfaction, and Likelihood of Future Service
Authors: Tschirhart Mary , Mesch Debra J. , Perry James L. , Miller Theodore K. , Lee Geunjoo
Published: March 2007

Goal setting theory predicts that the initial needs, interests, and aspirations that volunteers bring to organizations are guiding forces in their work behaviors. Other theorists argue that environmental constraints and conditioned responses to positive or negative reinforcement of earlier behaviors are better predictors of subsequent behaviors than initial goals. In this study, the relationship of initial goals to subsequent service outcomes, satisfaction, and intention to volunteer was empirically investigated. Among a sample of 362 AmeriCorps members, the goals that stipended volunteers brought to their service were found to influence outcomes related to those goals 1 year later. Self-esteem was an important moderator of the relationship between goals and outcomes. The overall match of goal importance to goal achievement predicted both satisfaction and likelihood of future volunteering. The results have implications for research on volunteers and volunteer management.
Development of Trust in Rural Nonprofit Collaborations
Authors: Snavely Keith , Tracy Martin B.
Published: March 2007

Development of trust among organization leaders and staff is important to the formation of successful organizational collaborations. Nonprofit leaders in two rural regions of southern Illinois and the Mississippi Delta demonstrate an awareness of the importance of trust among participants in the collaborations they engage in. Several environmental factors both encourage and constrain the ability of nonprofits in the two regions to form collaborations and build trust among partners. One of these, rural location, is largely considered a positive influence, making it easier for nonprofit leaders to get to know each other and work cooperatively. In addition, other factors such as race relations, government policies and mandates, nonprofit leadership, and organization financial and political resources have powerful effects on creation of collaborations and development of trust.
Assessing the Community Economic Impact of Nongovernmental Development Organizations
Authors: Woller Gary , Parsons Robert
Published: March 2007

Nongovernmental development organizations (NGDOs) ultimately measure their success by the impact they have on their beneficiaries, their families, and the communities in which they live. One potentially important piece to the NGDO impact puzzle, yet to be addressed in the literature, is the so-called community economic impact, defined here as the direct and induced impact of the NGDO on local economic activity. This article demonstrates how a community economic impact might be estimated using a program of Project Hope—an international health care NGDO—in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Integral to estimating a community economic impact is the calculation of the relevant regional income multiplier. This article also demonstrates how a regional income multiplier might be estimated for Santo Domingo using the minimum requirements approach developed by Ullman and Dacey. It is hoped that this article will encourage and help other researchers incorporate community economic impact into future analyses of NGDO programs.
The Field of Nonprofit and Voluntary Action Research: Then and Now
Authors: Smith David Horton
Published: March 2007

The author assesses the development of research on voluntary associations and nonprofit organizations in the twenty years since he founded the Association for Voluntary Action Scholars and the Journal of Voluntary Action Research, predecessors of the current Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action and the Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly. The discussion pays particular attention to the growth of research centers, the publication of seminal books reviewing the field, and the expansion of research money available to scholars.
Service Learning and Commitment to Community: Exploring the Implications of Honors Students' Perceptions of the Process 2 Years Later
Authors: Gibboney Robyn
Published: March 2007

This article discusses an investigation involving 13 students who enrolled in a senior honors seminar designed as a service-learning course. The purpose was to explore how the participants perceived the course and their role in the community 2 years later. In keeping with the grounded theory techniques used to analyze the data, the study focused on discovering a grounded substantive theory (Glaser & Strauss, 1967) that described the processes involved in service learning for this particular group rather than on measuring outcomes. Using this approach led to the realization that there is a discrepancy between how many educators and researchers have conceptualized service and how participants in this study perceive their commitment to community 2 years after completing a service-learning course. Elements related to this new orientation that merit further exploration include the types and extent of commitment to community, participants' perceptions of the social context for their commitment to community, and variables other than the service-learning experience, such as background, fit, and current life circumstances that may influence the way service learning affects participants' commitment to community. These elements may have consequences for service-learning design, evaluation, and further research.
A Model and Typology of Government-NGO Relationships
Authors: Coston Jennifer M.
Published: March 2007

This article develops a model and typology of government-nongovernmental organization (NGO) relationships to enable both a rapid appraisal of government-NGO relationships in a particular context and to identify the characteristics and possible structure of alternative relationship types. Building on the literature on the subject, the model defines eight possible relationship types based on several dimensions: government's resistance or acceptance of institutional pluralism, the relative balance of power in the relationship, and the degree of formality and—by extension—the level of government linkage. The model and typology are designed to assist governments, NGOs, donors, and other development practitioners to identify and promote the most productive government-NGO relationship for a particular context.
Strategic Choices for Nonprofit Advocates
Authors: Rees Susan
Published: March 2007

A survey of Congressional and selected administration offices, conducted in summer 1997, identified 12 national nonprofit organizations that were named most frequently as having influence on policy in six areas, including the federal budget, environmental issues, and health care policy. The bulk of the study examined organizational characteristics of the organizations and the techniques used in their public policy work. The budgets of the 12 nonprofit organizations ranged from the Concord Coalition’s $3 million to the American Association of Retired Person’s (AARP) $500 million. Three fourths are membership based, and most employ frequent membership surveys and various deliberative processes to set policy priorities. They educate their members, not only on substantive policy matters but on governmental and political processes, making sure they are notified of how their representatives vote. Computer communications have greatly expanded their ability to mobilize members and extend their reach. Their communications with Congress stress analyses of how a proposal would alter the status quo.
The World Bank's View of Early Childhood
Authors: PENN HELEN
Published: March 2007

This article explores the World Bank's view of early childhood as an example of the globalization of childhood. It argues that the Bank pursues neoliberal economic policies that exacerbate the gap between rich and poor nations and between the rich and poor within countries. These policies affect children's lives adversely, but they are legitimized by the Bank in a variety of ways. The Bank claims to have children's interests at heart, and identifies early childhood as a fruitful site for interventions. It draws on traditional Anglo-American notions of family, community and childhood in its justification for these interventions. The article explores the inherent contradictions in these policies towards young children.
Research with Children
Authors: PUNCH SAMANTHA
Published: March 2007

This article explores seven methodological issues in some detail to illustrate the ways in which aspects of the research process usually considered to be the same for both adults and children can pose particular dilemmas for adult researchers working with children. It argues that research with children is potentially different from research with adults mainly because of adult perceptions of children and children's marginalized position in adult society but least often because children are inherently different. Drawing on classroom-based research carried out in rural Bolivia, the advantages and disadvantages of using five task-based methods (drawings, photographs, PRA [participatory rural appraisal] techniques, diaries and worksheets) are highlighted in order to illustrate how such research techniques often thought to be suitable for use with children can be problematic as well as beneficial.
Teen Series Reception
Authors: PASQUIER DOMINIQUE
Published: March 2007

Television teen series have become a social phenomenon in France among young viewers. Drawing on a survey, observations, interviews and an analysis of fan mail sent to the actors, this study shows how series are used as a way of defining gender identity for children and adolescents. The construction of meanings of characters and plots vary by the age, the gender and the social background of viewers. The relationship to series relies on individual emotional links and on collective negotiations through interactions within peer groups and family. Discussions about the programmes are a way to explore moral values and the ethic of relationships.
Psychosocial Risk Characteristics of Children in Welfare Programmes in Holland
Authors: SCHOLTE EVERT M.
Published: March 2007

To select an optimum kind of welfare service for children `at risk', mental health workers need to adequately assess the psychosocial problems of children. This article presents a multiple risk model with which the psychosocial needs of troubled children can easily be assessed in a uniform way. In a Dutch national sample of 275 children placed in welfare programmes the model proved to be sufficiently reliable. The model is used to describe the mean risk profiles of children in five major welfare programmes for children in Holland. The way in which such risk profiles can support the practitioners' selection of welfare programmes for individual children `at risk' is discussed.
Portuguese Child Labour
Authors: EATON MARTIN , DA SILVA CARLOS PEREIRA
Published: March 2007

The prevalence of working children in Portugal is a controversial issue, with more than 24,700 under-14s in employment. The phenomenon is most visible in the textile, clothing and footwear industries (TCF) of the northwest around Oporto. This article presents an overview of the role of Portuguese child labourers. In particular, it focuses upon the TCF sectors, and outlines the causes. It evaluates the reactions to the problem and assesses the likelihood of short-term solutions being successful. In the longer term, it is argued that positive outcomes will be based upon improved education, an alteration in the views of the factory owners, parents and their children, and greater knowledge of innovative working practices among key companies.
Children Affected by Aids in Brazil
Authors: FONTES MIGUEL B. , HILLIS JANETTE , WASEK GLENN K.
Published: March 2007

This study has the main objective of estimating the number of children under 14 in Brazil whose mothers are (1) HIV positive, (2) living with AIDS and (3) dead due to AIDS. In September 1997 there were an estimated 15,900 children whose mothers had died of AIDS; 57,600 children whose mothers had AIDS; and 136,650 children whose mothers were HIV positive. Of the total 210,150 children, 17,600 were HIV positive themselves. The number of children whose mothers have died of AIDS is estimated to increase to 27,000 by the year 2002. There is likely to be a mass displacement of children in Brazil. To increase the longevity of the person with AIDS and decrease the likelihood of children displacement and severe deterioration of the family, new programs are essential.
Parenthood in the 1990s
Authors: HESTBÆK ANNE-DORTHE
Published: March 2007

Have traditional patterns of parenting disappeared with modernity? This is one of the research questions of a qualitative study of Danish dualearner parents with different sociocultural backgrounds. The article focuses on tradition and modernity concerning four aspects of parenting: values of upbringing, the relation between parental roles and work roles, potential for action and negotiations. The findings suggest that, even in the age of modernity, parenthood in some families is strongly marked by traditional patterns of attitudes and behaviour. Further, the sociocultural background of the parents influences the extent to which their parenting is marked by either tradition or modernity. The findings have empirical, as well as theoretical and methodological implications.
Some Observations on States, World Orders, and the Politics of Sustainability
Authors: Buttel Frederick H.
Published: March 2007

This article is intended to initiate a dialogue on strategies for understanding the roles of states in relation to sustainability. The contributions and shortcomings of the two most influential and provocative approaches-nomothetic theories of states stressing the tendencies of capitalist states to exacerbate environmental destruction and embedded autonomy! state-society synergy theories of the conditions under which state-civil society partnerships can lead to sustainability innovations-are discussed. It is suggested that neither of these traditions can satisfactorily address the central contradictions of states and sustainability-that states are simultaneously a foundational force underlying environmental destruction and the principal agent of sustainability reforms. It is suggested that this contradiction can best be addressed through a modified world-order perspective based on global regimes of development and accumulation. The limits of state policy making and sustainability are currently being defined by the attempt to construct a neoliberal-globalization order and its attendant international policy regimes. The author concludes with some speculative thoughts about the role that market-oriented environmental tax institutions could play in the evolving world order.
Party Size Baselines Imposed by Institutional Constraints
Authors: Taagepera Rein
Published: March 2007

This theory specifies the party sizes expected on the basis of constraints imposed by simple electoral rules. Duverger's law and hypothesis states that under the single-member plurality rule third parties tend to be eliminated, while proportional representation in multi-seat districts enables more than two parties to thrive. Expanding on Duverger' statements, the seat and vote shares of parties at all size ranks are calculated here, using nothing but two institutional inputs (district magnitude and assembly size) plus the number of voters. These are the baseline values expected if (and only if) institutional constraints were the only factor, with other factors balancing themselves out. The theory is complete in the sense of leading to complete party size structure. Among the relatively simple electoral systems the institutional baselines do reflect the long-term averages in New Zealand, while the residuals indicate the imbalance of inputs by other factors in the case of The Netherlands and Finland, and especially in the case of the UK.
Structure and Social Action in Stein Rokkan's Work
Authors: Berntzen Einar , Selle Per
Published: March 2007

The article discusses Stein Rokkan's research strategy, i.e. that of retrospectively explaining structural variations, in the light of the crucial problem of modern social science, namely: how to reconcile the sociology of structures and the sociology of action. The authors' hypothesis is that Rokkan, who takes as his point of departure how contexts influence and guide human action does not succeed in his efforts to combine these levels of analysis. Through an analysis of the role played by the `counter cultures' in Rokkan's analyses of Norwegian political development the authors argue that Rokkan's lack of success in this respect is a logical consequence of his structural functional models combined with his retrospective method. Even though Rokkan attributes decisive weight to goal-oriented actions of social groups, their intentions and meaning are introduced post festum, and Rokkan never undertakes any real analysis of the ideologies, resources and strategic choices of political groups.
The Effect of Fines on Regulated Industries
Authors: Tsebelis George
Published: March 2007

A series of papers on regulation and fines utilizes formal analysis to conclude that a firm's compliance with regulation increases when the fines for violation are increased. The common denominator of these papers is the modelling of the firm as a decision-maker under risk: the firm's goal is to minimize expected losses given some probability that it may get caught violating certain regulations. A better approach is to derive these probabilities given that the regulatory agency endeavors to maximize its own gains. Therefore, the agency-firm interaction must be modelled explicitly as a game. If such an approach is adopted, the size of the fine or the level of standards has no impact upon the behavior of the firm under a wide range of conditions. On the contrary, an increase in the fine or a lowering of the standards reduces the frequency with which the agency enforces the law.
Local Government Equality: Why Should Disparities be Accepted?
Authors: Sørensen Rune J.
Published: March 2007

The article discusses the justification for disparities in the local government supply. Equality can be defined as equality in the individual's `terms of trade' in respect of the municipality (benefit/effort equation), and the distribution of specific local government services. There are four normative considerations which may determine the degree of inequality: (a) the residents of municipalities may have different preferences for various municipal services, (b) the value of local democracy, (c) the incentives which result in an effective use of society's resources, and (d) the limitations in the capacity of the central authorities to control a large public sector.
Hierarchical and Contractual Approaches to Budgetary Reform
Authors: Christensen Jørgen Grønnegård
Published: March 2007

Based on a review of recent reforms of the budgetary systems used in the Danish public sector, the article argues that such reforms have not been effective instruments for public sector resource management. The reason for this lack of effectivity is found in the principles of hierarchical governance on which these reforms are based. The systems provide only weak incentives for respecting spending targets decided at superior levels, while, simultaneously, budget-holders are tempted to exceed these targets. Alternatively, the article argues for a contractual approach to budgetary reform where micro-level incentives are brought into operation.
Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Cycle? Evidence from 36 Elections
Authors: Feld Scott L. , Grofman Bernard
Published: March 2007

We analyze 36 elections held by professional associations, unions, and non-profit organizations in England and Ireland. We show that these elections manifest a remarkably high degree of transitivity, with a Condorcet (majority) winner always found. Moreover, ordering alternatives according to their Borda score provides a transitive majority ordering in nearly all instances.
Political Transaction-Cost Manipulation
Authors: Twight Charlotte
Published: March 2007

This article shows linkages between a broadened transaction-cost theory of politics and prior studies analyzing governmental behavior such as agenda control, strategic use of information, cost concealment and cost dispersion. It develops a model of government manipulation of politically relevant transaction costs in order to facilitate both more comprehensive specification of the determinants of such political behavior and more accurate assessment of the likelihood and consequences of institutional change. The article presents a taxonomy that classifies conceptually various observed and potential forms of governmental transaction-cost manipulation.
Police Patrol versus Self-Policing
Authors: Brehm John , Niou Emerson M. S.
Published: March 2007

The policing systems used in the former Soviet Union and Communist China are prototypes of control systems found in many political systems. The system in the former Soviet Union is a variant on the `police patrol', while the system in Communist China is a self-policing system calling upon citizens to report not only their own behavior, but the behavior of others. Our paper applies both game-theoretic and learning models to explore the relative effectiveness of the two systems.
Explorations into the Visualization of Policy Networks
Authors: Brandes Ulrik , Kenis Patrick , Raab Jörg , Schneider Volker , Wagner Dorothea
Published: March 2007

Visualization is an important aspect of both exploration and communication of categorical as well as relational data. Graphical displays of policy networks are particularly attractive, since they enable authors to display in a compact way the relevant actors in a network, how they are related to each other, and what the overall structure looks like. Sociograms were early companions of social network analysis, but have received surprisingly little attention during the following decades. Only in the last few years has easy accessibility to quality computing and graphic equipment revived a now rapidly growing interest.

In this paper, we analyze the problem of visualizing policy networks. We first argue why network visualization is important and non-trivial. Then we show that current methods are somewhat ad hoc in their attempt to convey information contained in a network.

Our main contribution is a systematic approach to network visualization, closely following the general principles of information visualization. It provides a generic formalization which may serve as a guideline for further developments.
Some low-income housing delivery subsystems in Bangkok, Thailand
Authors: Sheng Yap Kioe
Published: March 2007

Some low-income housing delivery subsystems in Bangkok, Thailand considers the diverse ways in which the poor find accommodation. Some 11 subsystems are identified and living conditions and relative importance are considered for a selected group. The paper also describes how and why land use changes occur in Bangkok and their impact on housing submarkets used by poorer groups.
The Chipko Andolan: forest conservation based on people's power
Authors: Bhatt Chandi Prasad
Published: March 2007

The Chipko Andolan: forest conservation based on people's power describes the origins of the Chipko Andolan movement which has become famous for its work in preventing the destruction of forests in India. The movement began in the Uttarakhand region of the central Himalayas and has been active throughout the 1970s and 1980s. The paper discusses the background to the movement, its development and work with other other community groups in the region.
Participation: a case study of how invaders organize, negotiate and interact with government in Lima, Peru
Authors: Peattle Lisa
Published: March 2007

Participation: a case study of how invaders organize, negotiate and interact with government in Lima, Peru considers what is meant by "citizen participation", especially the different meanings that the term has for the different actors involved. The discussion is illustrated by the story of a land invasion in Lima in 1971 and the compromise negotiated between the invaders and the government which led to the formation of a new settlement, Villa El Salvador. The paper outlines the changing view of participation within government between 1971 to 1980 and how this affected Villa El Salvador.
Community organization
Authors: Murphy Denis
Published: March 2007

Community Organization in Asia draws on the work of the Asian Committee for People's Organization to set out some lessons about how a community organizer should work. It describes the Asian Committee for People's Organization and its philosophy, and identifies the different steps in the process whereby a community organizer comes to work in low-income settlements with organizations formed by their inhabitants. The paper includes a summary of the Tagisan Statement produced by representatives from over 85 organizing groups in the Philippines in 1985. A final section draws on the author's 20 years working with community organizations to consider their strengths and the difficulties they face.
Women in local government: towards a future South Africa
Authors: Gwagwa Nolulamo N.
Published: March 2007

Women in local government - towards a future South Africa considers how best to integrate into local government the principles of the African National Congress for a new South Africa unity, democracy, non-racialism and non-sexism. Special attention is given to removing gender oppression. The paper considers the current role of local government in South Africa and its failure to meet any of the four principles. Later sections describe the importance to women of local government. The final section explores how best to implement the commitment to removing gender oppression within local govern ment.
Hawking as a survival strategy for the urban poor in Nairobi: the case of women
Authors: Mitullah Winnie
Published: March 2007

Hawking as a survival strategy for the urban poor in Nairobi.: the case of women examines the role of hawking in the survival strategy of low-income women and their families. The author gives information about hawkers including the hours worked, income and the problems they encounter including harassment by the public authorities. Later sections identify policy implications and recommendations.
Street children and aids: Is postponement of sexual involvement a realistic alternative to the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases?
Authors: Bond Lydia S.
Published: March 2007

Street children and aids: Is postponement of sexual activity a realistic alternative to the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases? considers the special risks faced by street children in contracting Aids or other sexually transmitted diseases. It examines the health risks to which street children are exposed and the reasons why these are not being addressed. New approaches to informing street children about the risks they face and equipping them with the knowledge and motivation to reduce such risks are outlined.
The need for new approaches to disaster management; the floods in Lusaka, Zambia
Authors: Mulwanda Mpanjilwa
Published: March 2007

The need for new approaches to disaster management; the floods in Lusaka, Zambia considers the inadequacies in the official response to floods in Zambia in 1989, especially for those living in squatter settlements in Lusaka, and the failure to take action prior to the floods to mitigate their impacts. The author also describes how relief operations generally fail to address the priorities of those most affected by disasters and argues for the integration of mitigation and reconstruction activities into development programmes.