157,790 results
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2. Titles of Scientific Letters and Research Papers in Astrophysics: A Comparative Study of Some Linguistic Aspects and Their Relationship with Collaboration Issues
- Author
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Méndez, David I. and Alcaraz, M. Ángeles
- Abstract
In this study we compare the titles of scientific letters and those of research papers published in the field of astrophysics in order to identify the possible differences and/or similarities between both genres in terms of several linguistic and extra-linguistic variables (length, lexical density, number of prepositions, number of compound groups, number of authors and number of countries mentioned in the paper bylines). We also carry out a cross-genre and cross-journal analysis of the referred six variables. Our main findings may be summarized as follows: (1) When compared to research paper titles, scientific letter titles are usually shorter, they have a lower lexical density, they include a higher number of prepositions per number of words and a lower number of compound groups per number of words, although they have more up to 4-word compound groups, i.e. the simplest ones. As a consequence, scientific letter titles include less information, which is also less condensed, than research paper titles. (2) The predominance of compound adjectives over compound nouns in the titles of both genres highlights the scientificity of astrophysical discourse. (3) In general terms, our data show a positive correlation between title length and the number of countries mentioned in the bylines for both genres. The positive correlation between title length and number of authors is only met in the case of research papers. In light of these findings, it may be concluded that scientific letters are a clear example of a timeliness and more "immediate" science, whereas research papers are connected to a more timeless and "elaborate" science. It may also be concluded that two different collaboration scenarios are intertwining on the basis of three separate geographic and linguistic publication contexts (Mainland Europe, The United Kingdom and The United States of North America).
- Published
- 2017
3. Libraries: Learning Places of Choice. The Response of the Library and Information Commission [to]'The Learning Age: A Renaissance for a New Britain.' Policy Paper.
- Author
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Library and Information Commission, London (England).
- Abstract
The Library and Information Commission believes that libraries can make a unique contribution to making the vision of lifelong learning a reality in the United Kingdom. Libraries and information services are intimately related to learner needs and already serve as gateways to learning by providing learners with learning materials and personal support and by championing learners in developing individual competence. Libraries should be positioned at the heart of the learning age and supported by evidence-based approaches to show libraries as catalysts for learning. The commission is well placed to help the government develop the policies and programs required for the United Kingdom to play a leading role in the global information economy. The commission supports the following key themes from recent policy consultation papers: libraries must be seen more widely as part of the mosaic of local and national provision; public libraries complement formal educational provision by providing a resource base and a platform for people of all ages to participate in lifelong learning; public libraries have a key role to play in stimulating a personal thirst for learning and self-improvement and helping to create an informed and information technology-literate society; and libraries can play a major role in widening access to essential services. (MN)
- Published
- 1999
4. Culture and Tourism in the Learning Age: A Discussion Paper.
- Abstract
Cultural services and tourism are among the United Kingdom's fastest growing sectors in terms of employment and consumer demand. Cultural services and tourism bring the following elements to lifelong learning: active rather than passive learning; a means of interpreting the world around us; exposure to cultures other than one's own; confidence and interpersonal skills; innovative uses of new technology; team-building skills; an expanding sector that values training and development; an accessible and inclusive environment; buildings and spaces that cost nothing to enter; a powerful means of communicating ideas; the experience of risk in a controlled environment; an opportunity to test the body and the mind; introduction to the natural world and the world of our ancestors; flexibility; opportunities for independent learners; options for learners to determine their own level of engagement; and fun. The cultural services and tourism sectors should promote their contribution and be represented in Early Years and Learning Partnerships. The forthcoming Learning and Skills Council should seek to establish links with cultural services and tourism. The Best Value initiative and new duty to promote economic, social, and environmental well-being will present local authorities with opportunities to take a holistic approach to strategic planning in the areas of education, lifelong learning, culture, and tourism. (Seven case studies are included.) (MN)
- Published
- 2000
5. Position Paper: Should the Scottish National Party Support Scotland to Legalize, Decriminalize, or Prohibit Cannabis?
- Author
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Jhaveri, Sujata
- Abstract
The UK has the highest rate of cannabis use among young people worldwide. Dr. Alan Leshner, Director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse reports, "Every year more than 100,000 people, most of them adolescents, seek treatment for their inability to control their marijuana use." According to the Scottish Drug Misuse Statistics in Scotland 2002, 51% of individuals under 20 years have used cannabis. Cannabis use is not limited to youth; it is also the single-most used illicit drug among adults. Because of their widespread negative impact, illicit drugs have become a focus of the agenda of the English Parliament and there is ongoing debate on how to combat this problem. As the research assistant of Michael Matheson (MSP), the author compiled this report to gather information on cannabis and to assess approaches that would form the most effective cannabis policy. This research explores whether or not the recent change toward decriminalization is adequate, or if it needs further revising.
- Published
- 2005
6. Developing a data repository to support interdisciplinary research into childhood stunting: a UKRI GCRF Action Against Stunting Hub protocol paper.
- Author
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Conway-Moore K, Tetsa Tata D, Wood P, Katerinchuk V, Yadav DMD, Augustine LF, Munikumar M, Diop A, Tairou F, Jobarteh ML, Kulkarni B, Faye B, Haggarty P, and Heffernan C
- Subjects
- Humans, Child, United Kingdom epidemiology, Databases, Factual, Child, Preschool, Growth Disorders epidemiology, Growth Disorders prevention & control, Interdisciplinary Research
- Abstract
Introduction: As a topic of inquiry in its own right, data management for interdisciplinary research projects is in its infancy. Key issues include the inability of researchers to effectively query diverse data outputs and to identify potentially important synergies between discipline-specific data. Equally problematic, few semantic ontologies exist to better support data organisation and discovery. Finally, while interdisciplinary research is widely regarded as beneficial to unpacking complex problems, non-researchers such as policy-makers and planners often struggle to use and interrogate the related datasets. To address these issues, the following article details the design and development of the UKRI GCRF Action Against Stunting Hub (AASH)'s All-Hub Data Repository (AHDR)., Methods and Analysis: The AHDR is a single application, single authentication web-based platform comprising a data warehouse to store data from across the AASH's three study countries and to support data querying. Four novel components of the AHDR are described in the following article: (1) a unique data discovery tool; (2) a metadata catalogue that provides researchers with an interface to explore the AASH's data outputs and engage with a new semantic ontology related to child stunting; (3) an interdisciplinary aid to support a directed approach to identifying synergies and interactions between AASH data and (4) a decision support tool that will support non-researchers in engaging with the wider evidence-based outputs of the AASH., Ethics and Dissemination: Ethical approval for this study was granted by institutional ethics committees in the UK, India, Indonesia and Senegal. Results will be disseminated via publications in peer-reviewed journals; presentations at international conferences and community-level public engagement events; key stakeholder meetings; and in public repositories with appropriate Creative Commons licences allowing for the widest possible use., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.)
- Published
- 2024
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7. Time to put our money where your mouth is: Economist Impact launch white paper on inequalities in oral health.
- Author
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Chapple I, West N, Kebschull M, and Pitts N
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- Humans, United Kingdom, Healthcare Disparities, Oral Health
- Published
- 2024
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8. The 'Reasonable Patient' of 2027: A Vision Paper.
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Dowie J and Kaltoft MK
- Subjects
- United Kingdom, Humans, Informed Consent, Malpractice, Patient-Centered Care
- Abstract
The verdict of the UK Supreme Court in the case of Bellman versus Boojum-Snark Integrated Care Trust (2027) will have profound implications for medical practice, medical education, and medical research, as well as the regulation of medicine and allied healthcare fields. Major changes will result from the definition of person-centred care built into the expanded definition of informed and preference-based consent central to the judgment made in favour of Bellman's negligence claim. (For the avoidance of doubt this is a vision paper.).
- Published
- 2024
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9. Evaluation of Dried Blood and Cerebrospinal Fluid Filter Paper Spots for Storing and Transporting Clinical Material for the Molecular Diagnosis of Invasive Meningococcal Disease.
- Author
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Kwambana-Adams, Brenda A., Clark, Stephen A., Tay, Nicole, Agbla, Schadrac, Chaguza, Chrispin, Kagucia, Eunice W., Borrow, Ray, and Heyderman, Robert S.
- Subjects
- *
MENINGOCOCCAL infections , *FILTER paper , *MOLECULAR diagnosis , *CEREBROSPINAL fluid examination , *CEREBROSPINAL fluid , *NEISSERIA meningitidis , *NUCLEOTIDE sequencing , *WHOLE genome sequencing - Abstract
To improve the storage and transport of clinical specimens for the diagnosis of Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) infections in resource-limited settings, we have evaluated the performance of dried blood spot (DBS) and dried cerebrospinal fluid spot (DCS) assays. DBS and DCS were prepared on filter paper from liquid specimens previously tested for Nm in the United Kingdom. Nm was detected and genogrouped by real-time PCR performed on crude genomic DNA extracted from the DBS (n = 226) and DCS (n = 226) specimens. Targeted whole-genome sequencing was performed on a subset of specimens, DBS (n = 4) and DCS (n = 6). The overall agreement between the analysis of liquid and dried specimens was (94.2%; 95% CI 90.8–96.7) for blood and (96.4%; 95% CI 93.5–98.0) for cerebrospinal fluid. Relative to liquid specimens as the reference, the DBS and DCS assays had sensitivities of (89.1%; 95% CI 82.7–93.8) and (94.2%; 95% CI 88.9–97.5), respectively, and both assays had specificities above 98%. A genogroup was identified by dried specimen analysis for 81.9% of the confirmed meningococcal infections. Near full-length Nm genome sequences (>86%) were obtained for all ten specimens tested which allowed determination of the sequence type, clonal complex, presence of antimicrobial resistance and other meningococcal genotyping. Dried blood and CSF filter spot assays offer a practical alternative to liquid specimens for the molecular and genomic characterisation of invasive meningococcal diseases in low-resource settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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10. Simultaneous and Comparable Numerical Indicators of International, National and Local Collaboration Practices in English-Medium Astrophysics Research Papers
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Méndez, David I. and Alcaraz, M. Ángeles
- Abstract
Introduction: We report an investigation on collaboration practices in research papers published in the most prestigious English-medium astrophysics journals. Method: We propose an evaluation method based on three numerical indicators to study and compare, in absolute terms, three different types of collaboration (international, national and local) and authors' mobility on the basis of co-authorship. Analysis: We analysed 300 randomly selected research papers in three different time periods and used the student's t-test to determine whether the paired two-sample differences observed were statistically significant or not. Results: International collaboration is more common than national and local collaboration. International, national and local authors' mobility and intra-national collaboration do not seriously affect the indicators of the principal levels of collaboration. International collaboration and authors' mobility are more relevant for authors publishing in European journals, whereas national and intra-national collaboration and national mobility are more important for authors publishing in US journals. Conclusions: We explain the observed differences and patterns in terms of the specific scope of each journal and the socio-economic and political situation in both geographic contexts (Europe and the USA). Our study provides a global picture of collaboration practices in astrophysics and its possible application to many other sciences and fields would undoubtedly help bring into focus the really big issues for overall research management and policy.
- Published
- 2016
11. Educational Psychologists in Further Education. FEDA Paper.
- Author
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Further Education Development Agency, London (England). and Mitchell, Carole
- Abstract
This report, which maps the range of educational psychology services provided by educational psychologists in British further education (FE) colleges, examines the following topics: qualifications of educational psychologists and their role in the postschool sector; current issues for educational psychology services in FE (the legislative framework of educational psychology services, funding provision for students at FE colleges, and service level agreements and funding issues); the need for educational psychology services in FE colleges and the five levels of educational psychology services in FE colleges (work with individual students and groups of students; work with college staff, families, and caregivers; staff development; institutional systems work; and cross-organizational work); procedures in place at three FE colleges for evaluating educational psychology services; issues arising from inclusive learning (collaboration, management of teaching and learning, assessment, and funding); additional issues (local education authority-based services; participation, retention, achievement, and value added; and challenging behavior in FE); and strategies for promoting good practice. Appended are the following: descriptions of the educational psychology services available at three FE colleges; sample educational psychology service agreement; and Association of Educational Psychologists' position statement on educational psychologists in further education. The bibliography lists 12 references. (MN)
- Published
- 1997
12. COVID-19 and ENT SLT Services, Workforce and Research in the UK: A Discussion Paper
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Patterson, Joanne M., Govender, Roganie, Roe, Justin, Clunie, Gemma, Murphy, Jennifer, Brady, Grainne, Haines, Jemma, White, Anna, and Carding, Paul
- Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and the UK government's subsequent coronavirus action plan have fundamentally impacted on every aspect of healthcare. One area that is severely affected is ear, nose and throat (ENT)/laryngology where speech and language therapists (SLTs) engage in a diverse range of practice with patients with a range of conditions, including voice disorders, airway problems, and head and neck cancers (HNCs). A large majority of these patients are in high-risk categories, and many specialized clinical practices are vulnerable. In addition, workforce and research issues are challenged in both the immediate context and the future. Aims: To discuss the threats and opportunities from the COVID-19 pandemic for SLTs in ENT/laryngology with specific reference to clinical practice, workforce and research leadership. Methods & Procedures: The relevant sections of the World Health Organisation's (WHO) health systems building blocks framework (2007) were used to structure the study. Expert agreement was determined by an iterative process of multiple-group discussions, the use of all recent relevant policy documentation, and other literature and shared documentation/writing. The final paper was verified and agreed by all authors. Main Contribution: The main threats to ENT/laryngology SLT clinical services include increased patient complexity related to COVID-19 voice and airway problems, delayed HNC diagnosis, reduced access to instrumental procedures and inequitable care provision. The main clinical opportunities include the potential for new modes of service delivery and collaborations, and harnessing SLT expertise in non-instrumental assessment. There are several workforce issues, including redeployment (and impact on current services), training implications and psychological impact on staff. Workforce opportunities exist for service innovation and potential extended ENT/SLT practice roles. Research is threatened by a reduction in immediate funding calls and high competition. Current research is affected by very limited access to participants and the ability to conduct face-to-face and instrumental assessments. However, research opportunities may result in greater collaboration, and changes in service delivery necessitate robust investigation and evaluation. A new national set of research priorities is likely to emerge. Conclusions & Implications: The immediate impact of the pandemic has resulted in major disruption to all aspects of clinical delivery, workforce and research for ENT/laryngology SLT. It is unclear when any of these areas will resume operations and whether permanent changes to clinical practice, professional remits and research priorities will follow. However, significant opportunity exists in the post-COVID era to re-evaluate current practice, embrace opportunities and evaluate new ways of working.
- Published
- 2020
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13. Nutrition Tea Club; Engaging Students in Reading Scientific Papers
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Cameron, E., Hamdi, R., Idowu, A., and Mulrooney, H. M.
- Abstract
Many students do not engage with reading the scientific literature, which is a core skill in undergraduate students. The learning environment has an important impact upon learning. It was postulated that taking reading out of the formal learning environment might impact upon students' willingness to engage with the literature, and confidence in doing so. A staff-student research partnership initiative funded by Kingston University allowed this hypothesis to be tested. Three Tea Club sessions, informal drop-in reading sessions were offered in a student-owned space within the Students' Union. Refreshments were supplied, aiming for a 'coffee house' feel. Although the numbers of students who engaged with the Tea Club were small, evaluations were positive. In particular students valued the opportunity for peer learning. However the chosen environment was too noisy. Future sessions will be offered within a different, less noisy environment with facilities for refreshments, and will be offered throughout the academic year to facilitate student engagement.
- Published
- 2016
14. No Strings Attached: Using 2D Paper Dolls and 3D Toy Puppets to Promote Young Children's Positive Responses towards Immigrants
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Jones, Siân E., Dalnoki, Laura, Kaliff, Alicia, Muir, William, Uusitalo, Kiia, and Uytman, Clare
- Abstract
Previous research indicates that imagining contact with someone who is an immigrant can reduce prejudice and promote positive friendship intentions. Much less is known about the optimal ways of effecting imagined contact. The reported research used an experimental design, where the status of a target-child toy puppet (immigrant versus refugee versus control) and the type of imagined contact (2D or 3D figures) was changed. Children aged 4-10 years, were tested for their responses towards immigrants and refugees, before and after a three-minute interactive play session with 2D or 3D toy puppet figures. Children were asked to show in the session how they would 'have a really good time' with the target-child toy puppet. Measures of children's direct contact with immigrants were also taken. The results suggest that 3D figures have a similar positive impact as 2-D figures on friendship intentions following imagined play. It was in the 2D experimental conditions only that children's friendship intentions were more positive with greater anxiety reduction.
- Published
- 2020
15. Implementation of major trauma app: usability and data completeness.
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Butler, Miss Joanna, Arneil, Clare, Whitelaw, Alan S., Thomson, Kevin, Gordon, Malcolm W. G., Thorburn, Josh, Shiels, Darren, and Lowe, David J.
- Subjects
DIGITAL transformation ,ELECTRONIC paper ,TIMESTAMPS ,ELECTRONIC records ,ACQUISITION of data ,TRAUMA centers - Abstract
Background : The current UK standard for major trauma patients is to record notes in a paper trauma booklet. Through an innovative collaboration between a major trauma centre and a digital transformation industry partner, a TraumaApp was developed. Electronic notes have been shown to have fewer errors, granular data collection and enable time stamped contemporaneous record keeping. Implementation of digital clinical records presents a challenge within the context of trauma multidisciplinary trauma resuscitation. Data can be easily accessible and shared for quality improvement, audit and research purposes. This study compared paper and electronic notes for completeness and for acceptability data following the implementation of the TraumaApp. Methods: Trauma team members who performed scribe function attended training for the newly launched TraumaApp. Two staff members acted as scribe, using either the paper trauma booklet or TraumaApp, and attended major trauma calls. A framework for comparison of paper and electronic notes was created and used for a retrospective review of major trauma patients' notes. Statistical analysis was performed using a two-tailed t-test. Staff using the TraumaApp completed a System Usability Score questionnaire. Results: There was a total of 37 data points for collection per case. The mean numbers collected were paper notes 24.1 of 37 (65.1%) and electronic notes, 25.7 of 37 (69.5%). There was no statistical significance between the completeness of paper and electronic notes. The mean System Usability Score was 68.4. Discussion: Recording accurate patient information during a major trauma call can be challenging and the role of the scribe to accurately record events is critical for immediate and future care. There was no statistically significant difference in completeness of paper and electronic notes, however the mean System Usability Score was 68.4, which is greater than the internationally validated standard of acceptable usability. Conclusion: It is feasible to introduce digital data collection tools enabling accurate record keeping during trauma resuscitation and improve information sharing between clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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16. Response To: Professor Neil Humphrey's Paper 'Are the Kids Alright? Examining the Intersection between Education and Mental Health'
- Author
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Nash, Poppy
- Abstract
Professor Neil Humphrey's paper provides a timely, helpful, and compelling opportunity to reflect on the mental wellbeing of children and young people today, in terms of research, policy, and practice. It offers a means of 'taking stock' of what we do and do not know so far in understanding the intersection between education and mental health. In his paper, Humphrey covers a wide range of key factors which need to be taken into account in addressing the urgent question 'Are the kids alright?' In response to Humphrey's paper, Poppy Nash addresses each of the following six key questions in turn, with particular attention to the first three questions: (1) What do we mean when we talk about mental health?; (2) Are mental health difficulties among children and young people increasing? Is their wellbeing decreasing?; (3) Is there a crisis in child and adolescent mental health?; (4) Why have schools become a central focus in this area?; (5) Is evidence-based practice the answer?; and (6) Is this just the 'child panic' for a new generation? [For "Are the Kids Alright? Examining the Intersection between Education and Mental Health," see EJ1247696.]
- Published
- 2018
17. Macroeconomic Benefits of Vocational Education and Training. Research Paper No 40
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Cedefop - European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training
- Abstract
Improvements in workforce skills are essential for European countries to attain higher economic growth and to compete effectively on product markets. Literature indicates a positive relationship between levels of education and productivity growth. This report builds on and expands this body of research in two ways: (1) It investigates the differential impact of various skill types--higher (academic), upper-intermediate vocational, lower-intermediate vocational, lower-intermediate general, and low--on labour productivity; and (2) It accounts for the stock of uncertified skills (i.e. those built through training). The analysis is carried out in six European Union Member States--Denmark, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom--representing different modes of vocational education and training (VET) and those for which data were available. The analysis suggests that general and vocational skills complement each other and that the effect of certified skills on productivity is stronger when certified skills are reinforced by training. This study underlines that learning in the workplace, both in initial and continuing VET, makes a fundamental contribution to productivity, and comes to support policy efforts to develop apprenticeship and adult learning. The following annex is included: (1) Overview of research methods used in the study. [This publication is the result of a team effort reflecting the work of a research consortium of Geoff Mason, Dawn Holland, Iana Liadze, Rebecca Riley, Ana Rincon-Aznar, and Mary O'Mahony, and their aids Tatiana Fic, Rachel Whitworth, Yasheng Maimaiti, and Fei Peng. This work was carried out under contract number 2009-0216/AO/RPA/GUTCHPDE/VET-Macroeconomic-benefits/010/0.]
- Published
- 2014
18. The Reading Lives of 8 to 11-Year-Olds 2005-2013: An Evidence Paper for the Read On. Get On. Coalition
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National Literacy Trust (England) and Clark, Christina
- Abstract
This report focuses on children aged 8 to 11 and their enjoyment of reading, reading behaviour, and attitudes toward reading. It synthesises information from surveys that have been conducted since 2005, but most heavily exploits data from the fourth annual literacy survey conducted in November/December 2013 in which 10,946 8 to 11-year-olds participated. In addition, this report explores the link between reading, gender, and socio-economic background (assessed by free school meal uptake) for this age group and how certain subgroups of pupils are potentially doubly disadvantaged. Some general findings in this report include: (1) Nearly two-thirds (65.8%) of 8 to 11-year-olds enjoy reading either very much (34.4%) or quite a lot (31.4%); (2) Nearly three-quarters (72.8%) of 8 to 11-year-olds have a favourite book or story; (3) 84.6% of children aged 8 to 11 say that they have a book of their own at home; (4) Two-fifths (40.7%) read daily outside class, while over a third (34.7%) read a few times a week; (5) Nearly a quarter (22.8%) of 8 to 11-year-olds read for up to 10 minutes at a time, while another quarter (25.3%) read for up to 20 minutes; (6) When asked what types of materials they read outside class, most 8 to 11-year-olds say that they read text messages (56.4%), followed by magazines (51.6%) and fiction (50.5%); (7) A lot of 8 to 11-year-olds are avid readers of books; (8) Nearly 9 in 10 (87.0%) 8 to 11-year-olds have been given a book as a present, while 9 in 10 (92.7%) have also been to a library; and (9) Most 8 to 11-year-olds have positive attitudes toward reading. [The research for this report has informed the publication "How reading can help children escape poverty" produced by the Read On. Get On. coalition.]
- Published
- 2014
19. Literacy and ICT: A Discussion Paper. Working Papers on Literacy No. 4
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Centre for Literacy and Abbott, Chris
- Abstract
This is the fourth paper published by The Centre for Literacy in its Working Papers in Literacy series, which present new perspectives on literacy-related issues relevant to researchers, to practitioners, and to policy-makers. This paper was written in 1998 as an advisory document to the UK Qualifications and Curriculum Agency (QCA) which manages all aspects of the National Curriculum for schools and for vocational training. In this paper, the author has touched on some of the major issues relating to information and communications technology (ICT) and literacy which have until now been treated as separate subjects. He argues for a convergence of the two and recommends that government agencies coordinate their visions instead of sending contradictory messages to teachers and students. His focus was the first three key stages of the literacy strategy, touching ages 5-14, but the concerns he raises are familiar to anyone working in adult basic skills as well and are relevant beyond the UK. A glossary of acronyms and terms used is included.
- Published
- 1998
20. Object Personification in Autism: This Paper Will Be Very Sad if You Don't Read It
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White, Rebekah C. and Remington, Anna
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Object personification is the attribution of human characteristics to non-human agents. In online forums, autistic individuals commonly report experiencing this phenomenon. Given that approximately half of all autistic individuals experience difficulties identifying their own emotions, the suggestion that object personification may be a feature of autism seems almost paradoxical. Why would a person experience sympathy for objects, when they struggle to understand and verbalise the emotions of other people as well as their own? An online survey was used to assess tendency for personification in 87 autistic and 263 non-autistic adults. Together, our results indicate that object personification occurs commonly among autistic individuals, and perhaps more often (and later in life) than in the general population. Given that in many cases, autistic people report their personification experiences as distressing, it is important to consider the reasons for the increased personification and identify structures for support.
- Published
- 2019
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21. Co-operation and Collaboration and the Emergence of a Seamless Education Sector. AIR 1999 Annual Forum Paper.
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Wood, V.
- Abstract
This paper examines trends toward cooperation and collaboration between colleges of further education and universities in the United Kingdom especially increasing political pressures for wider access to postsecondary education. It notes that the trend toward a single postsecondary sector within which students can move freely from one level to another is not accompanied with commensurate increases in resources provided to institutions of higher education. The paper reports on an analysis of retention, success, and failure rates of students (N=1329) who had either transferred from a further education college (N=465) or entered the university as first-year students over the period 1994-1998. Students were working at either regular or honors degree levels in accounting, commerce, and business studies. Overall, the students transferring from further education colleges were significantly more likely than first-year entry students to achieve the Degree or Honours Degree qualification. Results suggest that institutions in both sectors can increase student intake without prejudicing program quality or students' learning experience. However, this paper raises concerns about how the new "Advanced Higher" qualification will relate to accreditation requirements of professional bodies and governmental policy. (Contains 12 references.) (DB)
- Published
- 1999
22. Higher Education and Management: Discourse and Discord. ASHE Annual Meeting Paper.
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Thorne, Marie L. and Cuthbert, Rob
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This paper examines the relationship between the study of management and the study of higher education (HE) management in the United Kingdom, focusing on the nature of the discourse between academics in the two fields. The paper has three parts. The first part defines the nature of discourse and a context for the discussion, looking at recent changes in HE and its management in the United Kingdom. This is followed by an analogous overview of British research into HE management and a review of the complex issues facing business and management research and the discord that exists in defining its rigor and relevance. The second part of the paper considers the nature of academic discourses; how disciplines, fields, faculties, and cultures are developed; and how they interact or not interact with each other. The third part explores the relationship between theory and practice in HE management and the extent to which management academics engage with the study of management in their own work context. A model is developed to express the inter-relationship between management research, HE management research, and HE management practice. The paper concludes by questioning how far the divisions articulated between the two fields are simply part of an inevitable language game between the disciplines. (Contains 104 references.) (MDM)
- Published
- 1998
23. Judging Research Papers for Research Excellence
- Author
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Tymms, Peter and Higgins, Steve
- Abstract
The United Kingdom's (UK's) Research Excellence Framework of 2014 was an expensive high stakes evaluation which had a range of impacts on higher education institutions across the country. One component was an assessment of the quality of research outputs where a major feature was a series of panels organised to read and rate the outputs of their peers. Quality control was strengthened after the Research Assessment Exercise of 2008, but questions still remain about how fair it is to rate all papers on the same scale by raters who may vary in both their reliability and their severity/leniency. This paper takes data from a large department in which 23 senior staff rated the outputs from 42 academics. In total, 710 ratings were recorded. The analyses, using the Rasch model, showed that: a single scale described the data well; most raters were reliable although two were idiosyncratic; there was, however, a noticeable variation in the severity/leniency of the raters, which should be taken into account in the overall assessment. Suggestions for future exercises include a pre-appointment procedure for panel members and statistical adjustments for the severity/leniency of raters.
- Published
- 2018
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24. Developing a disease-specific patient reported outcome measure to enhance understanding of the lived experiences of ANCA associated vasculitis: A protocol paper.
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Floyd, Lauren, Dhaygude, Ajay, Mitra, Sandip, and Rowland, Christine
- Subjects
- *
PATIENT reported outcome measures , *PATIENT experience , *RENAL replacement therapy , *ANTINEUTROPHIL cytoplasmic antibodies , *PATIENTS' attitudes - Abstract
Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis (AAV) is a chronic, relapsing-remitting condition associated with increased morbidity. Previous research has shown patients with AAV report high levels of fatigue, pain, depression and anxiety. Over recent years successful work has been carried out to improve clinical outcomes, resulting in reduced mortality and end stage kidney disease (ESKD). Despite this, little work has been done to better understand the role of the patient within this condition. The prevalence of AAV is increasing and to date, there is a shortage of specific tools that assess and measure key features relating to patient reported outcomes (PROs). This protocol details how we can better understand the lived experiences of those with AAV through the development of a disease specific, patient reported outcome measure (PROM), to be used in clinic practice. This will allow us to recognise and validate PROs and the impact the disease and its treatment has on patients' health related quality of life (HRQoL). In addition, we aim to identify potential differences in PRO's between demographics, organ involvement and treatment subgroups in AAV as well as outcomes relating to the patient experience. Patients from a single centre in the UK will be recruited to take part in the exploratory qualitative study which will include focus groups and semi-structured interviews. The inclusion criteria comprise anyone with a diagnosis of AAV and willing to participate, including those who have active or relapsing disease, those are economically active, unemployed, retired and patients receiving renal replacement therapy. The aim of the project is to identify key issues patients experience in relation to their disease and its management and how these can be better assessed in a new PROM developed for use in the clinic setting. This will enable better delivery of individualised care and inform shared decision making, while also serving as a platform for future research looking at PROs in other glomerulonephritides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
25. Centenary Paper: Down But Not Out: Fighting to Maintain Federico García Lorca in UK Higher Education.
- Author
-
BASTIANES, MARÍA
- Subjects
- *
UNIVERSITIES & colleges , *RHETORIC , *HUMANITIES , *MODERN languages - Abstract
Over the last decade, British universities have become increasingly reliant on an instrumentalist rhetoric to defend the ongoing relevance of research and teaching in the Humanities. This has resulted in a new chapter in the long-running saga concerning the crisis (purported or real) of Modern Languages alongside the study of literature. The very flexibility condemning traditional Modern Languages curricula to the past nevertheless offers new opportunities for literary study when used for the development of new skills. In this article, I employ my experience of a research-led undergraduate project on the UK stage legacy of Federico García Lorca as a case study to suggest ways in which the study of literature and theatre might be revamped. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
26. Who Takes a Gap Year and Why? Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth. Briefing Paper 28
- Author
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National Centre for Vocational Education Research, Lumsden, Marilyn, and Stanwick, John
- Abstract
Taking a gap year--a break between high school and university--is becoming increasingly popular with Australian students. In terms of length and purpose, the traditional notion of a gap year being a year off between school and university has expanded considerably over time. For the purposes of the analysis reported in this paper, a person who takes a gap year is defined as "an individual who commenced university one to two years after completing Year 12. This includes those who accept and defer their university placement for one to two years" (Curtis, Mlotkowski & Lumsden 2012). Highlights of this report include: (1) In Australia the incidence of taking a gap year has increased from 10% in the period 1999-2000 to 24% in 2009-10; (2) The top four primary activities undertaken by gap students in 2009-10 were work (51%), full-time study leading to a non-university qualification (10%), other study (6%), and travel (6%); (3) Characteristics of gap-takers include: (a) being academically less inclined than non-gap-takers; (b) living in regional locations when at school; (c) having English speaking backgrounds; (d) being employed when in Year 12 at school; and (e) being less likely to receive Youth Allowance payments while at school; (4) In their first year of university, gap-takers are more likely to study in the areas of education and creative arts; and (5) Those who don't take a gap year are substantially more likely at age 24 to be employed full-time and to work in professional occupations than gap-takers. Much of this difference can be attributed to the fact that, in terms of their careers, gap-takers are a year or two behind those who don't take a gap year. The data do not allow the authors to measure the longer-term outcomes of both groups because the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) stops at age 25. Appended are: (1) Gap year definitions; and (2) LSAY cohorts sample sizes and durations. (Contains 13 tables.) [For "Bridging the Gap: Who Takes a Gap Year and Why? Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth. Research Report," see ED533077.]
- Published
- 2012
27. "The Will to Survive": The Lives of Young People with "No Papers" in the United Kingdom.
- Author
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Deveci, Yeṣim
- Subjects
- *
YOUNG adults , *WELL-being , *RESEARCH personnel - Abstract
This article considers how undocumented youth in the UK survive and construct their everyday lives in precarious circumstances. Drawing on multiple in-depth narrative interviews with (n = 7) undocumented youth, I illustrate how these young people focus on the future and engage in purposeful activities as a way of enduring the everyday challenges of living with no papers. I reflect on the relationships, which young people draw on to enable them to endure adversity and rebuild their everyday lives. I conclude that the presence of love and community is critical for young people's survival, safety and wellbeing, and I suggest how practitioners and researchers might make use of these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
28. Management of Impacted Fetal Head at Caesarean Birth: Scientific Impact Paper No. 73 (June 2023).
- Author
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Cornthwaite, Katie, Bahl, Rachna, Winter, Cathy, Wright, Alison, Kingdom, John, Walker, Kate F., Tydeman, Graham, Briley, Annette, Schmidt‐Hansen, Mia, and Draycott, Tim
- Subjects
- *
BRAIN injuries , *PENILE prostheses , *INFANTS , *CLINICAL prediction rules , *PELVIS , *UTERUS - Abstract
Plain language summary: Over one‐quarter of women in the UK have a caesarean birth (CB). More than one in 20 of these births occurs near the end of labour, when the cervix is fully dilated (second stage). In these circumstances, and when labour has been prolonged, the baby's head can become lodged deep in the maternal pelvis making it challenging to deliver the baby. During the caesarean birth, difficulty in delivery of the baby's head may result – this emergency is known as impacted fetal head (IFH). These are technically challenging births that pose significant risks to both the woman and baby. Complications for the woman include tears in the womb, serious bleeding and longer hospital stay. Babies are at increased risk of injury including damage to the head and face, lack of oxygen to the brain, nerve damage, and in rare cases, the baby may die from these complications. Maternity staff are increasingly encountering IFH at CB, and reports of associated injuries have risen dramatically in recent years. The latest UK studies suggest that IFH may complicate as many as one in 10 unplanned CBs (1.5% of all births) and that two in 100 babies affected by IFH die or are seriously injured. Moreover, there has been a sharp increase in reports of babies having brain injuries when their birth was complicated by IFH. When an IFH occurs, the maternity team can use different approaches to help deliver the baby's head at CB. These include: an assistant (another obstetrician or midwife) pushing the head up from the vagina; delivering the baby feet first; using a specially designed inflatable balloon device to elevate the baby's head and/or giving the mother a medicine to relax the womb. However, there is currently no consensus for how best to manage these births. This has resulted in a lack of confidence among maternity staff, variable practice and potentially avoidable harm in some circumstances. This paper reviews the current evidence regarding the prediction, prevention and management of IFH at CB, integrating findings from a systematic review commissioned from the National Guideline Alliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
29. Loans for Vocational Education and Training in Europe. Research Paper. Number 20
- Author
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Cedefop - European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training
- Abstract
This report reviews the use of loans for learning in 33 European countries and analyses the schemes in eight selected Member States: France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Finland, Sweden and the UK. The analysis shows that loan schemes vary considerably across Europe in terms of types and levels of learning covered, conditions of access, repayment and governance. Some loans aim to increase participation in learning in general, while others are designed to promote equity. The report attempts to assess the selected loans and discusses their strengths and weaknesses and determinants of performance, while considering if a given scheme operates on a large scale or targets niche groups. The evaluation results provide a basis for identifying good practice principles for designing and implementing loans. Policy recommendations are formulated based on these findings. Annexed are: (1) Methodology; (2) Key terms and definitions; (3) Information on countries/schemes selected for in-depth analysis; (4) Proposed typologies of VET loan schemes; (5) Tables and figures; (6) Tosmana truth tables; (7) Questionnaires; (8) Basic characteristics of non-European loan schemes. (Contains 37 tables, 5 figures, 20 boxes and 33 footnotes.)
- Published
- 2012
30. Creativity, Culture, Education, and the Workforce. Art, Culture & the National Agenda Issue Paper.
- Author
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Galligan, Ann M.
- Abstract
Education in the arts and humanities has always been important to the United States' arts and culture and to its competitiveness in a global economy. Providing all students with a complete education in the arts and humanities can help them cope with, and master, the fast-paced technological advances, forces of globalization, and major demographic and societal shifts that characterize today's world. In the United States and elsewhere, growth of arts, cultural, and intellectual property sectors is outpacing that of the economy as a whole. Other nations are forging education and workforce policies based on this fact. Research has provided evidence that K-12 arts education can help the United States achieve the following national objectives: (1) achieve school standards; (2) reach all learners; and (3) help youth develop positively. Education policy and action in general--and arts education policy and programs in particular--require the commitment and engagement of a multiplicity of stakeholders at the federal, state, and local levels. The United States needs a comprehensive strategy linking education--including education in the arts and humanities--with workforce development as the principal cornerstone for strengthening the country's social capital and developing the skills needed for U.S. workers to remain competitive in the 21st century. (Forty-six endnotes are included. The bibliography lists 22 references.) (MN)
- Published
- 2001
31. High stakes. Commentary on the 2023 United Kingdom government white paper on gambling reform.
- Author
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Rogers J, Roberts A, Sharman S, Dymond S, Ludvig EA, and Tunney RJ
- Subjects
- Humans, Government, Advertising, United Kingdom, Gambling
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
32. Sleight of Hand: Job Myths, Literacy and Social Capital. CRLRA Discussion Paper.
- Author
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Tasmania Univ., Launceston (Australia). Centre for Learning & Research in Regional Australia. and Falk, Ian
- Abstract
The relationships existing among human capital theory, Australian public policy, literacy education, and the plight of Australia's long-term unemployed were examined. The following topics were considered: human capital theory-based public policies and literacy education; social capital and learning; building and using social capital; the "social justice" and "social coalition" approaches to policy; and the notion of "mutual obligation" in social welfare policies. Next, a case study of the effects of policy changes on the long-term unemployed was discussed. The findings of the study, which involved interviews with 23 people (including 15 long-term unemployed individuals who had been or were currently enrolled in adult literacy courses) were shown to support the following conclusions: (1) to be successful, welfare policy related to unemployed persons must address both human and social capital elements; (2) although the skills associated with human capital are important in accessing and controlling the kinds of social factors that come with globalization, they are not enough to prepare individuals to cope with the knowledge explosion accompanying globalization; and (3) adults requiring the "second chance" learning provided in adult literacy and communication education need help in developing the networks, social norms, and trust that is included in the concept of building social capital. (Contains 29 references.) (MN)
- Published
- 2001
33. Stimulating Demand for Learning: An Ideas Paper on Attracting New Learners. LSDA Comments. Second Edition.
- Author
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Learning and Skills Development Agency, London (England). and Howard, Ursula
- Abstract
This "think piece" on ways to increase demand for learning in the United Kingdom is designed to stimulate debate among policy makers and managers in the new learning and skills sector. Section 1, on context, addresses these issues: low skill levels; delivering skills to employers; low adult participation; and negative attitudes. Section 2 identifies groups educators need to focus on to stimulate demand: captive audiences; boys and young men; young people leaving care; prisoners; and those with basic skill needs. Section 3 looks at these strategies to attract new learners: starting points (what learners want, communities, interest groups, existing knowledge and skills, and people's habits and desires); joining up the present system; media; marketing; engaging employers (developing a better system of vocational education, overcoming employers' reluctance to commit to employees' learning, carrots and sticks, and small and medium-sized enterprises); engaging employees (employee development programs, trade unions, guarantees, study in paid time, corporate university); financing learning (transport, loans, fees, individual learning accounts, incidental costs of learning, saving to learn, funding following learners, learning from others, financial barriers, and course support); reforming the supply side (initial education, promoting vocational education, and dealing with jargon); qualifications; and quality of teaching and learning. Section 4 lists actions for stakeholders. Appendixes include a glossary and 36 references. (YLB)
- Published
- 2001
34. Some Have Credit Cards and Others Have Giro Cheques: A Study of New Labour's 'Individuals' and 'People' as Lifelong Learners in Late Modernity. Occasional Papers.
- Author
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Southampton Univ. (England). Centre for Language Education. and Piper, Alison
- Abstract
The linguistic behavior of individuals and people in the official literature on lifelong learning (LL) was examined and interpreted in light of the theories of individualization in late modern culture and society, particularly the theories of Ulrich Beck and Anthony Giddens. The analysis was performed to shed light on that literature's ideological stance toward participants in the "learning society" and to demonstrate that the analysis of language is crucial to social and cultural inquiry. A 900,000-word corpus of recent government and academic publications on LL was used to perform a concordance-based analysis of the collocations of "individuals" as members of institutionalized collectives, agents, rational citizens, and consumers and to compare them with "people". The 1 million word British National Corpus was used as a reference corpus. The LL corpus contained 1,775 instances of forms of the word "individual" and 1,450 instances of "people," whereas the British National Corpus contained 22,264 instances of forms of the word "individual" and 123,427 instances of "people." By demonstrating that "individual" occurs more frequently with societal institutions in the LL discourse than in general usage, that individuals and people are different, and that people is a far more frequent word in the whole language than it is in policy-making, the researcher concluded that the different usage of "individuals" and "people" show that the discourse of LL has close affinities with contemporary sociocultural models of individualization, consumption, production, and the risk society. (The bibliography lists 41 references. A list of 30 documents in the lifelong learning corpus is appended.) (Author/MN)
- Published
- 2000
35. Managing Contract Change. Mendip Papers.
- Author
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Staff Coll., Bristol (England)., Kedney, Bob, and Ulas, T
- Abstract
Colleges in the United Kingdom are currently undergoing significant shifts in how staff and faculty contracts are restructured and this paper takes a close look at why this process is going on, its legal ramifications, and how administrators can manage it. An introduction describes the background to the current trends and explores various ways of organizing and categorizing administrator levels and responsibilities. The next section looks at why a college might decide to change contracts and the following section explores how some college administrators have achieved contract change by offering significant improvements or by capitalizing on retirements, resignations, or promotions. A section on future possibilities suggests ways that faculty pay rates may be more directly related to their duties. The following section, on legal questions, reviews central features of a college employment contract, specific issues (such as contract variations), explicit variation with consent of all parties, termination of the contract, key features of the contract change process, imposed contract change through dismissal and re-engagement, and two phases of imposed contract change. A section on the administrator's role explores effective delivery of new terms and conditions, staff responses and relations, and a checklist of 14 key areas that administrators should address. An appendix lists 14 options for gradual change. (Contains 15 references.) (JB)
- Published
- 1995
36. Use of filter paper to measure alcohol biomarkers among opioid-dependent patients on agonist maintenance treatment: A community-based study.
- Author
-
Quraishi, Rizwana, Varshney, Mohit, Singh, Amit, Singh, Dharamveer, Kumar, Mukesh, Rao, Ravindra, Jain, Raka, and Ambekar, Atul
- Subjects
- *
FILTER paper , *BIOMARKERS , *INTRACLASS correlation , *ALCOHOL drinking , *ALANINE aminotransferase , *DRUG abstinence - Abstract
Background: Harmful Alcohol use is frequent among opioid dependents patients undergoing agonist maintenance treatment. The objective assessment of harmful alcohol use can be done using laboratory measures of serum biomarkers. For community-based patients, there is often a requirement of an alternative method due to lack of onsite laboratory services. The aim of the study was to examine filter paper as a matrix to measure serum biomarkers of harmful alcohol use. Methods: The initial phase involved standardization of the filter-paper-based assay. Conditions were optimised for extraction and estimation of alcohol biomarkers (Aspartate Aminotransferase; AST, Alanine Aminotransferase; ALT, Gamma Glutamyl transferase; GGT and Carbohydrate Deficient Transferrin; CDT) from the filter paper. For clinical validation, serum samples were collected from community clinics. Biomarker levels obtained from both the methods were correlated using linear regression analysis. Limits of agreement between the two methods was estimated using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). Results: The extraction of enzymes (AST, ALT and GGT) from filter paper was carried out using the substrate buffer available with the reagent kit (Randox, UK). CDT was readily extracted from filter paper using deionised water. Serum biomarker levels measured from samples collected from community clinics correlated well with filter paper extracted levels (ICC 0.97-0.99). More than 90% of alcohol biomarker levels were recovered from the filter paper matrix using this method. Conclusion: Filter paper has the potential to be used as a matrix to objectively measure alcohol biomarkers among opioid-dependent patients from community settings lacking onsite laboratory facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
37. Effectiveness of Tutorials for Promoting Educational Integrity: A Synthesis Paper
- Author
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Stoesz, Brenda M. and Yudintseva, Anastassiya
- Abstract
The prevalence of plagiarism, cheating, and other acts of academic dishonesty may be as high as 80% in populations of high school and post-secondary students. Various educational interventions have been developed and implemented in an effort to educate students about academic integrity and to prevent academic misconduct. We reviewed the peer-reviewed research literature describing face-to-face workshops, e-learning tutorials, or blended approaches for promoting academic integrity and the effectiveness of these approaches. In general, the educational interventions were described as effective in terms of satisfaction with the intervention, and changes in students' attitudes and knowledge of academic integrity. Few studies provided evidence that the educational interventions changed student behaviour or outcomes outside the context of the intervention. Future research should explore how participation in educational interventions to promote academic integrity are linked to long-term student outcomes, such as graduate school admission, alumni career success, service to society, and personal stability.
- Published
- 2018
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
38. The Learning Imperative. National Education and Training Targets and Adult Learners. A NIACE Policy Discussion Paper.
- Author
-
National Inst. of Adult Continuing Education, Leicester (England).
- Abstract
This paper promotes the adoption of the lifetime learning targets that form part of National Education and Training Targets (NETTS) for Lifetime Learning in the United Kingdom. Section 1 defines NETTs as goals for levels of participation in education and training. Section 2 considers the characteristics and current profile of adult learners. Section 3 identifies challenges to be overcome if there is to be a greater commitment to education and training, if individuals are to undertake more learning, and if current nonparticipants are to be attracted into education and training during adulthood. Employment issues considered include the priority given to training and development, investment in training for older workers, core and peripheral workers, and the self-employed. Issues are identified that affect participation in education and training of significant groups presently underrepresented in programs. The section concludes by identifying structural challenges relating to the provision of education and training: curricular/sectoral boundaries, student support, access to guidance, the qualifications jungle, access to assessment, and appropriately skilled staff. Section 4 describes current initiatives that seek to overcome the educational concerns and other difficulties in expanding learning activity. Section 5 outlines 10 steps for achievement of NETTs. Section 6 refines the issues identified into a set of general recommendations and a set of key short-term actions which should be taken by particular players. Contains 69 references. (YLB)
- Published
- 1993
39. Why Are Child Poverty Rates Higher in Britain Than in Germany? A Longitudinal Perspective. Working Paper.
- Author
-
Essex Univ., Colchester (England). Inst. for Social and Economic Research., Jenkins, Stephen P., and Schluter, Christian
- Abstract
This study analyzed why child poverty rates were so much higher in Great Britain than in Western Germany during the 1990s, focusing on why child poverty exit rates were lower and child poverty entry rates were higher in Great Britain. Researchers used a form of decomposition analysis comparing cross-nationally the prevalence of events that triggered poverty (changes in household composition, household labor market attachment, and labor earnings) and the chances of making a poverty transition conditional on experiencing a trigger event. Results found that the latter type of difference was the most important for both poverty exits and poverty entries. The findings reflected differences between the German and British welfare states, with the German one providing a greater cushion against adverse events and better reinforcement of positive events. Differences in the prevalence rates of trigger events also played a role. A notable example was the greater risk of job loss in Great Britain compared to Western Germany. (Contains 29 references.) (SM)
- Published
- 2001
40. Abuse of Children in Residential Establishments. SENNAC Discussion Paper.
- Author
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Special Educational Needs National Advisory Council, Liverpool (England). and Cross, John
- Abstract
This discussion paper, which addresses the abuse of children in residential establishments, is presented in outline form and includes comments and contributions from a wide range of professionals working in various settings. An introduction notes the reported increase in sexual abuse of children in institutions, a variety of proposed monitoring and inspection requirements, and the need to integrate this issue with others concerning severely disabled children in institutions. The second section identifies particular concerns with independent and private institutions. Principles of inspection and monitoring are briefly considered next, followed by problems in the distribution of resources resulting from overreaction to the possibility of sexual abuse. A section on response to the issue of abuse stresses that child care must be emphasized equally with child protection and workers must not be intimidated from developing close, caring relationships with children. Considered next are assessments of institutionalized children (especially those deeply emotionally deprived or disturbed) and referrals to residential establishments. A concluding section offers general recommendations in the areas of assessment and referral, training for residential workers, consultancy and counseling, and research. (DB)
- Published
- 1990
41. Assessment of Research Quality. AIR 1995 Annual Forum Paper.
- Author
-
Patrick, William J. and Stanley, Elizabeth C.
- Abstract
The British experience of nationwide research quality assessments and new measures to improve accountability are described. Consequences for the higher education system and for individual institutions are examined. Three national assessments of the quality of research in the United Kingdom (U.K.) in 1986, 1989, and 1992 have provided a standard rating of research programs in order to increase selectivity in allocating funds. In each assessment institutions prepared information for assessment by central panels, which judged the usefulness of certain statistics as indicators of research quality. Comprehensive peer review of research quality has demonstrated the usefulness of certain performance indicators. Information which is collected about faculty researchers is identified, including number of publications produced and number of research assistants. Issues related to quality ratings of departments are addressed. Efforts of the University of Glasgow (Scotland) to maintain and enhance its research quality ratings are discussed. Comparisons are made of U.K. research assessment approaches and U.S. research doctorate program assessment using measures of the National Academy of Sciences. Implications of U.K. approaches to assessment for U.S. institutional researchers are addressed. Generally, the British results give support to the use of some quantitative measures of research outputs and inputs as indicators of overall research quality; however the system would be unlikely to transfer successfully into a new setting if the underlying purpose diverges in any way from the British experience. (Contains 16 references.) (SW)
- Published
- 1995
42. New Technology and Its Impact on Conventional and Distance Education. Papers on Information Technology No. 237.
- Author
-
Open Univ., Walton, Bletchley, Bucks (England). Inst. of Educational Technology. and Bates, A. W.
- Abstract
This position paper explores the potential of new technology to radically alter both distance education and conventional higher education. It hypothesizes that technological developments could even lead to the demise of the conventional campus-based higher education institution by the year 2000. Instead, people of all ages would be able to study at any period of their life through a mixture of home learning, study at work, and occasional visits to "old" campuses, whose primary function by then would be research and curriculum development. It is predicted that the determining factors for the materialization of this scenario will be political and institutional, not technological or even financial. The following sections are discussed in the context of this hypothesis: Print, Television and Culture; New Communications Technologies (Cable Television and Video-Cassettes, Computer Conferencing, and Computer-Based Audio-Graphic Systems); New Institutional Models; and Political and Institutional Barriers. (THC)
- Published
- 1984
43. The UK Gambling White Paper: comments on implementation and timing.
- Author
-
Chamberlain SR, Ioannidis K, and Bowden-Jones H
- Subjects
- Humans, United Kingdom epidemiology, Gambling diagnosis, Gambling epidemiology
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
44. A Framework for Quality Management. Mendip Papers, MP 070.
- Author
-
Staff Coll., Bristol (England). and Sallis, Edward
- Abstract
This paper outlines a framework for analyzing existing quality initiatives and for planning and implementing new ones particularly designed for colleges in Great Britain in their new status as independent, incorporated entities. It is designed to assist colleges in managing quality and in using quality management as a means of institutional development. The framework's starting premise is that each institution must find its own route to quality and that externally prescribed approaches are usually the least effective. Following a discussion of the purpose of a quality framework and of the difference between procedural and transformational notions of quality, the following framework components are listed: (1) leadership and strategy, (2) teamwork, (3) customer requirements, and (4) systems and procedures. Each of these is then discussed in detail with the use of a diagram that shows the relations between different elements and specific types of tasks. A section on evaluation looks at immediate, short-term and long-term evaluation. An exploration of the management of quality compares a quality college with a college managed along traditional lines and describes the quality college as having a flatter structure with strong, integrating horizontal links. A conclusion reviews linking the framework in this paper with the European Quality Award. (Contains 24 references.) (JB)
- Published
- 1994
45. Opportunity Analysis and Selection: 50 or More Ways To Reduce Costs. Mendip Papers.
- Author
-
Staff Coll., Bristol (England)., Kedney, Bob, and Davies, Trefor
- Abstract
This paper discusses activity analysis and the identification of options as the first two stages of a structured approach to achieving budget savings at postsecondary institutions, focusing on schools and practices in the United Kingdom. It presents five checklists of opportunities for reducing spending and controlling costs. The checklists cover: (1) management staff costs; (2) other staff costs (including staff changes, resignations and dismissals, new appointments, and contractual changes); (3) capital assets costs; (4) non-staff recurrent costs (including security, insurance, utilities, catering services, professional services, finance and contract management, purchasing, examinations and validation, publicity and marketing, staff development, expense accounts, and hospitality); and (5) costing and pricing. The paper concludes that postsecondary institutions can eliminate waste and better utilize their limited resources through an analysis of their activities that focuses on the identification of possible budget savings. (MDM)
- Published
- 1993
46. Coping with Incapability. Mendip Papers.
- Author
-
Staff Coll., Bristol (England)., Kedney, Bob, and Saunders, Bob
- Abstract
This paper examines methods that postsecondary institutions can use to cope with faculty and staff incapability, focusing on schools and practices in the United Kingdom. It first discusses the nature and scale of faculty/staff incapability in the United Kingdom, reviewing relevant court decisions. It then examines administration responses to incapability that may result from incompetence, short-term sickness, and long-term illness. The paper suggests that administration responses to incapability need to address the purpose of action, coverage, stages, time limits, appeals, sanctions, and records. It also discusses the conduct of review panels, investigations, and hearings, as well as the relevance of communication, training, and collective bargaining agreements. Appendices offer guidelines and procedures for decision-making in determining incapability. (Contains 15 references.) (MDM)
- Published
- 1993
47. Prison Education's Role in Challenging Offending Behaviour. Mendip Papers MP 047.
- Author
-
Staff Coll., Bristol (England). and Ripley, Paul
- Abstract
Prison education can play a positive role in challenging offending behavior of prisoners. A drop in recidivism rates can be achieved by education that works toward attitudinal change, according to programs being implemented in the United Kingdom. To ensure that staff in prison education understand the implications of working toward the reduction of offending behavior, they need to be aware of general theories of crime and have an understanding of criminology. Education should provide help for prisoners who have inadequate social skills, provide opportunities for prisoners to develop artistic and other skills to gain self-respect, to help prisoners to acquire family life skills, and to help prisoners to understand the emotions and needs of the opposite sex. In order to meet these needs, the correctional education system will have to work toward a more balanced system, stressing both academic content and attitudinal change. Moral education needs to be stressed, as well as thinking and problem-solving skills. In the future, educational programs in prisons should have three distinctive features: basic education, vocational education, and cognitive skills development. New or revamped programs should be evaluated, using such criteria as thoroughness and intensity, research base, well-trained staff, inmates selected according to risk potential, relevance to the outside world, and multifaceted approach. (Contains 11 references.) (KC)
- Published
- 1993
48. Does Inequality in Skills Explain Inequality of Earnings across Advanced Countries? NBER Working Paper Series.
- Author
-
National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, MA., Devroye, Dan, and Freeman, Richard
- Abstract
The question of whether inequality in skills explains inequality of earnings across advanced countries was examined through a review of data from the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS), which examined the prose, document, and quantitative literacy skills of adults in 12 member countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. In all countries, jobless individuals tended to have lower skill levels than workers. The distribution of earnings and the distribution of skills varied widely among advanced countries, with the major English-speaking countries, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, having much greater inequality in both earnings and skills than continental European Union countries. According to data from the IALS, skill inequality explains only approximately 7% of the cross-country difference in earnings inequality. The dispersion of earnings in the United States was found to be larger in narrowly defined skill groups than was the dispersion of earnings for European workers overall. In the United States, IALS test scores rose substantially with movement up the income scale, with the increase in scores averaging 17 points per income quintile. The bulk of cross-country differences in earnings inequality were found to occur within skill groups rather than between them. (The bibliography contains 20 references. Twelve tables/figures are included.) (MN)
- Published
- 2001
49. A Statistical Portrait of Working at Home in the U.K.: Evidence from the Labour Force Survey. Working Paper.
- Author
-
Felstead, Alan, Jewson, Nick, Phizacklea, Annie, and Walters, Sally
- Abstract
The patterns, extent, and problems of working at home in the United Kingdom were examined through a multivariate analysis of data from the Labour Force Survey, which has questioned respondents about the location of their workplace since 1992. The numbers of people working "mainly" at home increased from 345,920 (1.5%) in 1981 to 680,612 (2.5%) in 1998. Those working from home at least 1 day per week accounted for 3.5% of the employed workforce, with those working from home "sometimes" accounting for a further 22%. Higher occupational groups were overrepresented among those working mainly or sometimes at home. Three of five of those who work at home at least 1 day per week relied on computers and telecommunications to keep in touch with clients and colleagues. Approximately three-fourths of manual workers who work at home received low pay versus one-fifth of their conventionally located counterparts. Women accounted for 69% of those working mainly at home. Except in certain categories (which did not include manual work), ethnic minorities were underrepresented among those working at home. Women who worked mainly at home were more likely to report having dependent children. (The bibliography lists 51 references. Eight tables are included. Information on data availability and descriptions of variables are appended.) (MN)
- Published
- 2000
50. Monitoring Student Attendance. FEDA Paper.
- Author
-
Further Education Development Agency, London (England)., Barwuah, Adjei, and Walkley, Phill
- Abstract
The Further Education Development Agency conducted two research studies of issues related to recording student attendance and responding to student absence. In the first study, absenteeism in five further education (FE) colleges in Britain was examined to determine the main causes of student absenteeism and administrative systems/procedures to address the problem. The second study evaluated the systems used to record student attendance at eight FE colleges representing a broad geographical, size, and structural mix. The findings of both studies were analyzed, and the following conclusions/recommendations were formulated: (1) although electronic systems of recording attendance can underpin FE colleges' response to absenteeism, such systems are still in an early stage of development and must therefore be used with caution; (2) FE managers must produce a comprehensive strategic plan for dealing with student absence; (3) if an electronic monitoring system is chosen to monitor attendance, all staff should be involved at the procurement stage, staff should be trained in using the system, and the system should be reviewed/evaluated continuously (including by obtaining input from teachers and students); and (4) FE colleges should review the causes of absence and establish clear statements on attendance policy for staff and students. (MN)
- Published
- 1997
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