Flexible modelling of simultaneously interval censored and truncated time‐to‐event data

This paper deals with the analysis of data from a HET‐CAM^VT experiment. From a statistical perspective, such data yield many challenges. First of all, the data are typically time‐to‐event like data, which are at the same time interval censored and right truncated. In addition, one has to cope with overdispersion as well as clustering. Traditional analysis approaches ignore overdispersion and clustering and summarize the data into a continuous score that can be analysed using simple linear models. In this paper, a novel combined frailty model is developed that simultaneously captures all of the aforementioned statistical challenges posed by the data. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Model free audit methodology for bias evaluation of tumour progression in oncology

Many oncology studies incorporate a blinded independent central review (BICR) to make an assessment of the integrity of the primary endpoint, progression free survival. Recently, it has been suggested that, in order to assess the potential for bias amongst investigators, a BICR amongst only a sample of patients could be performed; if evidence of bias is detected, according to a predefined threshold, the BICR is then assessed in all patients, otherwise, it is concluded that the sample was sufficient to rule out meaningful levels of bias. In this paper, we present an approach that adapts a method originally created for defining futility bounds in group sequential designs. The hazard ratio ratio, the ratio of the hazard ratio (HR) for the treatment effect estimated from the BICR to the corresponding HR for the investigator assessments, is used as the metric to define bias. The approach is simple to implement and ensures a high probability that a substantial true bias will be detected. In the absence of bias, there is a high probability of accepting the accuracy of local evaluations based on the sample, in which case an expensive BICR of all patients is avoided. The properties of the approach are demonstrated by retrospective application to a completed Phase III trial in colorectal cancer. The same approach could easily be adapted for other disease settings, and for test statistics other than the hazard ratio. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Role of Father Involvement and Mother Involvement in Adolescents' Psychological Well-being

to Eirini Flouri, Department of Social Policy and Social Work, University of Oxford, Barnett House, 32 Wellington Square, Oxford OX1 2ER, UK. E-mail: eirini.flouri{at}socres.ox.ac.uk Summary This study of 2,722 British adolescents aged 14–18 yearsexplored whether paternal involvement can protect against lowlevels of well-being even when maternal involvement and riskand protective factors are controlled for. Results showed thatalthough both father and mother involvement contributed significantlyand independently to offspring happiness, father involvementhad a stronger effect. Furthermore, the association betweenfather involvement and happiness was not stronger for sons thanfor daughters. There was no evidence suggesting that familydisruption weakens the association between father involvementand happiness, or that father involvement is more strongly relatedto offspring happiness when mother involvement is low ratherthan high.     

Producing Contradictory Masculine Subject Positions: Narratives of Threat, Homophobia and Bullying in 11–14 Year Old Boys

This paper reports a qualitative analysis of data from a study of masculinity in 11–14 year old boys attending twelve London schools. Forty-five group discussions ( N = 245) and two individual interviews ( N = 78) were conducted. The findings indicate that boys' experiences of school led them to assume that interviews would expose them to ridicule and so threaten their masculinity. Boys were generally more serious and willing to reveal emotions in individual than in group interviews. A key theme in boys' accounts was the importance of being able to present themselves as properly masculine in order to avoid being bullied by other boys by being labeled "gay." The ways in which boys were racialized affected their experiences of school.     

Four Motives for Community Involvement

A conceptual analysis is offered that differentiates four types of motivation for community involvement: egoism, altruism, collectivism, and principlism. Differentiation is based on identification of a unique ultimate goal for each motive. For egoism, the ultimate goal is to increase one's own welfare; for altruism, it is to increase the welfare of another individual or individuals; for collectivism, to increase the welfare of a group; and for principlism, to uphold one or more moral principles. As sources of community involvement, each of these four forms of motivation has its strengths; each also has its weaknesses. More effective efforts to stimulate community involvement may come from strategies that orchestrate motives so that the strengths of one motive can overcome weaknesses of another. Among the various possibilities, strategies that combine appeals to either altruism or collectivism with appeals to principle may be especially promising.