title: Ethical and practical concerns regarding the current status of sex offender risk assessment

authors: Boer, Douglas Pieter

subjects: risk assessment

abstract: Risk assessment strategies are becoming more complex and accurate, but remain problematic in terms of how such instruments are promoted and used.  Currently, many people doing risk assessments of sex offenders are using actuarial (statistical) tests developed in other countries or on unique populations, with offenders very different from the test-development sample.  This is clearly unethical and inappropriate and could result in needless prolonging of incarceration or the premature release of a dangerous individual and possible needless victimization of others.  Other measures, such as the structured clinical guidelines may provide a short-term solution to the widespread use of unguided professional judgement and the lack of population-based actuarial tests.

text: Ethical and practical concerns regarding the current status of sex offender risk assessment Risk assessment strategies are becoming more complex and accurate, but remain problematic in terms of how such instruments are promoted and used.  Currently, many people doing risk assessments of sex offenders are using actuarial (statistical) tests developed in other countries or on unique populations, with offenders very different from the test-development sample.  This is clearly unethical and inappropriate and could result in needless prolonging of incarceration or the premature release of a dangerous individual and possible needless victimization of others.  Other measures, such as the structured clinical guidelines may provide a short-term solution to the widespread use of unguided professional judgement and the lack of population-based actuarial tests.

year: 2008

title: Tipple: location-triggered mobile access to a digital library for audio books

authors: Hinze, Annika

subjects: computer science

abstract: This paper explores the role of audio as a means to access books in a digital library while being at the location referred to in the books. The books are sourced from the digital library and can either be accompanied by pre-recorded audio or synthesized using text-to-speech. The paper details the functional requirements, design and implementation of Tipple. The concept was extensively tested in three field studies.

text: Tipple: location-triggered mobile access to a digital library for audio books This paper explores the role of audio as a means to access books in a digital library while being at the location referred to in the books. The books are sourced from the digital library and can either be accompanied by pre-recorded audio or synthesized using text-to-speech. The paper details the functional requirements, design and implementation of Tipple. The concept was extensively tested in three field studies.

year: 2013

title: The science-society relationship in Aotearoa: practicing responsible innovation in the New Zealand research and innovation system

authors: Finlay-Smits, Susanna

subjects: Responsible innovation

abstract: Reports on Aotearoa New Zealand’s research, science, and innovation (RSI) system suggest the sector could improve its social responsibility and create more social value. However, researchers and innovators within the sector find this challenging. Through qualitative interviews and a national survey of RSI system participants, this study explores the current perceptions, practices enacted, and support given around responsible research and innovation practices. Findings indicate that researchers and innovators have diverse understandings of what responsible research and innovation entails, viewing anticipation and reflexivity-aligned practices as the most important aspects of responsible research and innovation. Participants feel most supported by research organisations and funding bodies to enact such aspects of responsible practice. However, they perceive a discrepancy, across all dimensions explored, between what researchers and innovators should do, and what they actually do in terms of enacting responsible practices. Thus, significant room for improvement is identified, particularly regarding practices that align with researchers’ and innovators’ obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and requirements under Vision Mātauranga.

text: The science-society relationship in Aotearoa: practicing responsible innovation in the New Zealand research and innovation system Reports on Aotearoa New Zealand’s research, science, and innovation (RSI) system suggest the sector could improve its social responsibility and create more social value. However, researchers and innovators within the sector find this challenging. Through qualitative interviews and a national survey of RSI system participants, this study explores the current perceptions, practices enacted, and support given around responsible research and innovation practices. Findings indicate that researchers and innovators have diverse understandings of what responsible research and innovation entails, viewing anticipation and reflexivity-aligned practices as the most important aspects of responsible research and innovation. Participants feel most supported by research organisations and funding bodies to enact such aspects of responsible practice. However, they perceive a discrepancy, across all dimensions explored, between what researchers and innovators should do, and what they actually do in terms of enacting responsible practices. Thus, significant room for improvement is identified, particularly regarding practices that align with researchers’ and innovators’ obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and requirements under Vision Mātauranga.

year: 2023-05-17