Developing a public health policy-research nexus: An evaluation of Nurse Practitioner models in aged care

A frustration often expressed by researchers and policy-makers in public health is an apparent mismatch between respective priorities and expectations for research. Academics bemoan an oversimplification of their work, a reticence for independent critique and the constant pressure to pursue evaluation funding. Meanwhile, policy-makers look for research reports written in plain language with clear application, which are attuned to current policy settings and produced quickly. In a context where there are calls in western nations for evidence based policy with stronger links to academic research, such a mismatch can present significant challenges to policy program evaluation. The purpose of this paper is to present one attempt to overcome these challenges. Specifically, the paper describes the development of a conceptual framework for a large-scale, multifaceted evaluation of an Australian Government health initiative to expand Nurse Practitioner models of practice in aged care service delivery. In doing so, the paper provides a brief review of key points for the facilitation of a strong research-policy nexus in public health evaluations, as well as describes how this particular evaluation embodies these key points. As such, the paper presents an evaluation approach which may be adopted and adapted by others undertaking public health policy program evaluations.     

Employee perceptions of reputation: An ethnographic study

The ability of organizational members to identify and analyse stakeholder opinion is critical to the management of corporate reputation. In spite of the significance of these abilities to corporate reputation management, there has been little effort to document and describe internal organizational influences on such capacities. This ethnographic study conducted in Red Cross Queensland explores how cultural knowledge structures derived from shared values and assumptions among organizational members influence their conceptualisations of organizational reputation. Specifically, this study explores how a central attribute of organizational culture – the property of cultural selection – influences perceptions of organizational reputation held by organizational members. We argue that these perceptions are the result of collective processes that synthesise (with varying degrees of consensus) member conceptualisations, interpretations, and representations of environmental realities in which their organization operates. Findings and implications for organizational action suggest that while external indicators of organizational reputation are acknowledged by members as significant, the internal influence of organizational culture is a far stronger influence on organizational action.     

现状与当为:我国指定辩护制度的完善

指定辩护制度是以主权在民、正当程序和控辩平衡等理论为依据,其适用范围取决于权利保障与政府公共资源的平衡结果,是社会保障体系的一个组成部分。我国指定辩护制度存在缺乏对公共资源进行量变考量的法律调整、列举范围相对狭窄、指定辩护阶段滞后、对＂无力＂情形照顾不周等问题。因此,应从科学界定＂应当＂指定辩护的适用范围入手,将基于职权和基于申请而产生的指定辩护情形规范化,规定指定辩护制度适用于审查起诉阶段。     

Perceived professional standards and roles of public relations in China: Through the lens of Chinese public relations practitioners

As the first quantitative examination of perceived public relations professional standards in China using an online survey, this study was designed based on the standards of professional standards inventory Cameron, Sallot, & Lariscy (1996) constructed and tested among practitioners in the U.S. The survey results suggest six dimensions of perceived standards of professional performance: (1) role and function in organizational strategic planning, (2) sufficiency in professional training and preparedness, (3) gender and racial equity, (4) situational constraints, (5) licensing and organizational support, and (6) participation in the organizational decision-making team. Four dimensions of public relations roles were also identified by the survey participants: (1) brand promotion facilitator, (2) public information specialist, (3) media relations counsel, and (4) conflict management expert. Primary practice area was found to affect how Chinese practitioners perceive the six clusters of professional standards and the four identified public relations roles. These findings provide insights for both practitioners and researchers on how Chinese public relations practitioners view public relations as a profession and how the profession currently holds its professional standards in China.     

Beyond the CPI: An Augmented Cost-of-Living Index

This note examines an augmented cost-of-living index (ACOLI) for the purpose of accounting for “augmented consumption” in real-income measures. Well-being includes not only conventional consumer purchases but also goods and services provided by employers, by mandated social regulations, and by tax-financed public goods. Because augmented consumption is often provided in ways that raise prices but not market incomes, deflating with conventional price indexes may understate real income growth. An exploratory application of the ACOLI approach to the United States during the 1960–1997 period suggests that the Consumer Price Index has grown about 19% faster than the ACOLI. This correction would reduce the estimated cost-of-living increase by .47% per year over the last 37 years.     

新疆公共危机教育状况问卷调查报告

本研究在问卷调查的基础上，对新疆的公共危机教育状况进行初步描述分析，发现新疆的公共危机教育工作还存在一些严重影响公共危机教育的现实效果的问题。政府应从管理系统、法制建设、机构设置、教育内容和方法以及监督机制等方面，全方位着力改进，把公共危机教育落到实处。     

Multimedia Interactive Training Development–Journey: Discovering Social Services CD-ROM

SUMMARY

This article describes a multimedia 9-module training program which uses text, graphics, animation, narration, and video as well as a planned approach to the use of color, pace, tone, setting, and instructional activities to achieve its goal of orienting new workers to the complexity of a public social service agency.     

Tweeting democracy? Examining Twitter as an online public relations strategy for congressional campaigns’

Considering the integral relationship between public relations and democracy (Martinelli, 2011) coupled with the growing use of social media for democratic aims (Smith, 2011) the current study examines the effectiveness of Twitter as a public relations communications tool for congressional campaigns. Specifically, as a means of testing Twitter's effectiveness in informing and engaging voters, congressional candidate and political party Twitter use for all 435 U.S. House of Representatives races (N = 1284) are compared with 2010 election outcomes. Results indicate that candidates’ Twitter use significantly increased their odds of winning, controlling for incumbency and Party ID. Additionally, significant differences between incumbents’ and challengers’ Twitter use during the election cycle emerged, which has important implications for public relations practices aimed at achieving democratic outcomes.     

双重的约束：女性科技人才成长的制约因素分析

近年来，我国的科技事业发展迅速。然而，科技人才队伍中的女性科技人才却发展较为缓慢，原因在于女性科技人才的发展受到了公私领域的双重约束即私人领域的家庭劳动、家庭决策、家庭教育投资以及公共领域的科技人才准入、培育和评价机制制约了女性科技人才的发展。在这种双重约束下，女性科技人才只能在具有性别排斥的科技领域中充当幕后支撑力量，相反，男性则在科技人才发展中占主导优势，成为主要的受惠群体。     

经典公共领域的重塑及建构——以网络媒介兴起后的网络公共领域为例

新时期,由网络媒介技术迅猛发展带来了经典公共领域范畴的重塑或新生。因此,在此探讨经典公共领域的重塑主要特指网络公共领域,广义上还应包含因网络媒介影响的其它生活场域。本文力求运用解释学方法阐释新时期网络媒介的兴起带来了经典公共领域的重塑,并尝试提出中国理想网络公共领域的构建建议。