title: Beyond ‘what works’: why systematisation matters and what more it can do for the criminal justice evidence base

authors: Tompson, Lisa

abstract: That a convenience sample cannot safely be generalised from is a trite truism in research. Yet in the criminal justice field, unrepresentative samples of studies routinely inform policy, practice, and theory. Novel or familiar findings often carry disproportionate weight, and selective reading can generate unwarranted certainty about what we think we know. Systematic reviews offer a solution to this problem. By requiring transparent and reproducible methods, they constrain overinterpretation of partial evidence and can promote sound reasoning. Despite their centrality to evidence-based criminal justice, systematic reviews are often narrowly understood as tools for answering ‘what works’ questions. This paper argues that the same logic of systematisation can support a much broader range of knowledge needs, including theory development, mechanism and context synthesis, measurement refinement, and futures-oriented evidence mapping. Thus, systematic reviews are not simply a tool for judging intervention effectiveness, but a family of methods for building cumulative, policy-relevant knowledge.

text: Beyond ‘what works’: why systematisation matters and what more it can do for the criminal justice evidence base That a convenience sample cannot safely be generalised from is a trite truism in research. Yet in the criminal justice field, unrepresentative samples of studies routinely inform policy, practice, and theory. Novel or familiar findings often carry disproportionate weight, and selective reading can generate unwarranted certainty about what we think we know. Systematic reviews offer a solution to this problem. By requiring transparent and reproducible methods, they constrain overinterpretation of partial evidence and can promote sound reasoning. Despite their centrality to evidence-based criminal justice, systematic reviews are often narrowly understood as tools for answering ‘what works’ questions. This paper argues that the same logic of systematisation can support a much broader range of knowledge needs, including theory development, mechanism and context synthesis, measurement refinement, and futures-oriented evidence mapping. Thus, systematic reviews are not simply a tool for judging intervention effectiveness, but a family of methods for building cumulative, policy-relevant knowledge.

year: 2026-01-09

title: Modelling Energy Balance and Storage in the Design of Smart Microgrids

authors: Apperley, Mark

subjects: Science & Technology

abstract: This paper introduces and demonstrates appropriate and realistic modelling approaches for smart microgrids, with a focus on local energy balance. There is an increasing interest in microgrids, as the nature of large-scale electricity generation and distribution changes, with a conscious shift to more sustainable and renewable energy sources. However, the modelling and design techniques traditionally used have tended to be based on economics and design criteria more suited to the top-down planning for power generation and distribution typical of legacy grids, than to bottom-up energy balance incorporating localised distributed generation and storage, significant characteristics of these new systems. Several aspects of microgrid design and specification are modelled using an example based on an installation incorporating solar photovoltaic panels and battery storage. Important features of each of the models shown are the associated visualisations, which lead to improved understanding of design implications, compromises, and consequences, and the true context of a renewable-energy based microgrid.

text: Modelling Energy Balance and Storage in the Design of Smart Microgrids This paper introduces and demonstrates appropriate and realistic modelling approaches for smart microgrids, with a focus on local energy balance. There is an increasing interest in microgrids, as the nature of large-scale electricity generation and distribution changes, with a conscious shift to more sustainable and renewable energy sources. However, the modelling and design techniques traditionally used have tended to be based on economics and design criteria more suited to the top-down planning for power generation and distribution typical of legacy grids, than to bottom-up energy balance incorporating localised distributed generation and storage, significant characteristics of these new systems. Several aspects of microgrid design and specification are modelled using an example based on an installation incorporating solar photovoltaic panels and battery storage. Important features of each of the models shown are the associated visualisations, which lead to improved understanding of design implications, compromises, and consequences, and the true context of a renewable-energy based microgrid.

year: 2017

title: Bicultural challenges for educational professionals in Aotearoa

authors: Glynn, Ted

abstract: As educational professionals in New Zealand at the approach of the twenty-first century, some 158 years after the Treaty of Waitangi, we face some major challenges in examining our bicultural goals and achievements. In this paper I explore some of these goals and achievements which I believe must be addressed in our pedagogical practice and in our educational research.

text: Bicultural challenges for educational professionals in Aotearoa As educational professionals in New Zealand at the approach of the twenty-first century, some 158 years after the Treaty of Waitangi, we face some major challenges in examining our bicultural goals and achievements. In this paper I explore some of these goals and achievements which I believe must be addressed in our pedagogical practice and in our educational research.

year: 2015