title: A theory of change driven approach to evaluating a multi-agency stalking intervention programme

authors: Belur, Jyoti

subjects: multi-agency partnership

abstract: Purpose: Multi-agency initiatives as a response to complex crimes, such as stalking, pose conceptual and operational challenges for practitioners and evaluators. This study addresses these challenges, by combining a theory of change driven approach with the realist-inspired EMMIE evaluation framework to present findings from a pilot multi agency stalking intervention partnership in England and Wales. Methods: The study uses a mixed methods approach based on analysis of police data and semi-structured interviews with stakeholders to present a process and effect evaluation of a complex social intervention. Results: Findings based on a small sample and limited follow up period show nonsignificant results in terms of reducing the harmful effects of stalking, but which are encouragingly in the right direction. The case study demonstrates the importance of a theory driven approach to multi-agency evaluation and identifies essential factors necessary for ensuring implementation success. Conclusions: A theory of change driven approach and an EMMIE-inspired evaluation can help identify whether interventions work, how they work, for whom they work, and under what conditions. It demonstrates the importance of data collection and provision for long term evaluation plans, especially for complex social interventions. The paper makes a significant methodological and empirical contribution to evaluation literature.

text: A theory of change driven approach to evaluating a multi-agency stalking intervention programme Purpose: Multi-agency initiatives as a response to complex crimes, such as stalking, pose conceptual and operational challenges for practitioners and evaluators. This study addresses these challenges, by combining a theory of change driven approach with the realist-inspired EMMIE evaluation framework to present findings from a pilot multi agency stalking intervention partnership in England and Wales. Methods: The study uses a mixed methods approach based on analysis of police data and semi-structured interviews with stakeholders to present a process and effect evaluation of a complex social intervention. Results: Findings based on a small sample and limited follow up period show nonsignificant results in terms of reducing the harmful effects of stalking, but which are encouragingly in the right direction. The case study demonstrates the importance of a theory driven approach to multi-agency evaluation and identifies essential factors necessary for ensuring implementation success. Conclusions: A theory of change driven approach and an EMMIE-inspired evaluation can help identify whether interventions work, how they work, for whom they work, and under what conditions. It demonstrates the importance of data collection and provision for long term evaluation plans, especially for complex social interventions. The paper makes a significant methodological and empirical contribution to evaluation literature.

year: 2024

title: Using Wikipedia for language learning

authors: Wu, Shaoqun

subjects: collocations

abstract: Differentiating between words like look, see and watch, injury and wound, or broad and wide presents great challenges to language learners because it is the collocates of these words that reveal their different shades of meaning, rather than their dictionary definitions. This paper describes a system called FlaxCLS that overcomes the restrictions and limitations of the existing tools used for collocation learning. FlaxCLS automatically extracts useful syntactic-based word from three millions Wikipedia article and provides a simple interface through which learners seek collocations of any words, or search for combinations of multiple words. The system also retrieves semantically related words and collocations of the query term by consulting Wikipedia. FlaxCLS has been used as language support for many Masters and PhD students in a New Zealand university. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the interface it provides is easy to use and students have found it helpful in improving their written English.

text: Using Wikipedia for language learning Differentiating between words like look, see and watch, injury and wound, or broad and wide presents great challenges to language learners because it is the collocates of these words that reveal their different shades of meaning, rather than their dictionary definitions. This paper describes a system called FlaxCLS that overcomes the restrictions and limitations of the existing tools used for collocation learning. FlaxCLS automatically extracts useful syntactic-based word from three millions Wikipedia article and provides a simple interface through which learners seek collocations of any words, or search for combinations of multiple words. The system also retrieves semantically related words and collocations of the query term by consulting Wikipedia. FlaxCLS has been used as language support for many Masters and PhD students in a New Zealand university. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the interface it provides is easy to use and students have found it helpful in improving their written English.

year: 2015

title: Renewal and resistance: Moko in contemporary New Zealand

authors: Nikora, Linda Waimarie

subjects: maori

abstract: Moko is still here, contrary to the widely held belief that the art and custom of moko-Maori skin adornment-had vanished from New Zealand communities. Over the last two decades an increasingly visible number of Maori have revived and renewed the practice, taking colour into their skin. As an indigenous people, re-taking moko confronts and refutes the myth of a 'dying race'. It calls on Maori to recommit to strong Maori identities, customs and traditions and challenges the viewer to re-examine their social representations of moko and moko wearers. This paper reports the resistance strategies of a group of 83 moko wearers. Strategies include (1) educating, representing and reconstructing; (2) invalidating and minimizing representations; (3) building and enhancing social networks; and (4) securing cultural identity and pride. They reflect the celebration of cultural resilience.

text: Renewal and resistance: Moko in contemporary New Zealand Moko is still here, contrary to the widely held belief that the art and custom of moko-Maori skin adornment-had vanished from New Zealand communities. Over the last two decades an increasingly visible number of Maori have revived and renewed the practice, taking colour into their skin. As an indigenous people, re-taking moko confronts and refutes the myth of a 'dying race'. It calls on Maori to recommit to strong Maori identities, customs and traditions and challenges the viewer to re-examine their social representations of moko and moko wearers. This paper reports the resistance strategies of a group of 83 moko wearers. Strategies include (1) educating, representing and reconstructing; (2) invalidating and minimizing representations; (3) building and enhancing social networks; and (4) securing cultural identity and pride. They reflect the celebration of cultural resilience.

year: 2007