Artifact in client satisfaction assessment: experience in community mental health settings

Artifact in client satisfaction assessment is discussed and the results of a study of three factors thought to mediate client satisfaction ratings; (a) general life satisfaction, (b) mode of administration, and (c) psychological symptomatology, are reported. A standard client satisfaction questionnaire (CSQ) was modified to yield parallel forms and was administered orally and in writing to 92 clients in two mental health day treatment programs. Satisfaction ratings obtained from these clients were quite similar to out-patient ratings obtained in previous studies conducted in this setting and using the same measures. Oral administration of the CSQ produced 10% higher satisfaction ratings than written administration (p less than .05) and less missing data (p less than .01). Satisfaction ratings were also obtained using a simple graphic instrument. Graphic ratings were comparable to CSQ ratings. Satisfaction with life in general and level of psychiatric symptoms together accounted for 25% of CSQ variance. The implication of these findings for future client satisfaction research is discussed.     

The effects of psychiatric symptoms on quality of life assessments among the chronic mentally ill

This study of chronically mentally disabled persons in community residences examined the discriminant validity of subjective quality of life indicators and self-report mental health indices to determine the potential confounding effects of psychopathology on the assessment of quality of life (QOL). Factor analyses and difference-score reliabilities identified a general QOL construct and a general mental health construct with 27% common variance. However, psychiatric symptoms did not significantly (p less than .05) alter the bivariate and multivariate relationships among the QOL ratings, except in the health domain in which the correlations of health-related QOL indicators with global QOL were significantly (p less than .05) attenuated after removing the effects of psychopathology. The results suggest that psychopathology does not introduce bias into the overall structure of QOL data, but they also indicate the importance of controlling for mental health effects in the assessment of patients' self-rated health and satisfaction with health care.     

The validity of indices for rural health manpower needs assessment

Population-to-practitioner ratios have long been the primary index in the designation of health manpower shortage areas. This paper documents that application of the widely used population-to-dentist index results in understatement of the need for dental health manpower in rural areas. Through the analysis of utilization data collected from a statewide health screening program in Colorado, the practice of sole reliance on the population-to-dentist indices as an indicator of need was tested. Another measure, the area-(square miles) to-dentist ratio was formulated, examined, and found to be a more useful referent of the need for additional health manpower in rural areas. Utilization of dental services in sparsely settled rural counties of Colorado was unrelated to population-to-dentist ratios. A strong, statistically significant association of utilization with land area-to-dentist ratios was found. The findings of this analysis suggest a need for reevaluation of needs assessment methodologies used in the designation of health manpower shortage areas. Indices more sensitive to consumer circumstance than to the number of health care providers available must be considered.     

Behavioral evaluation of a state program of deinstitutionalization of the developmentally disabled

The purpose of this study was to evaluate one phase of a statewide program of deinstitutionalizing developmentally disabled individuals. Forty adults who had spent a minimum of six months in community placements were evaluated with respect to changes in behavior associated with movement out of state institutions and into community settings such as group homes and day activity centers. Pre- and post-deinstitutionalization measures were taken with the Behavior Development Survey. Post-deinstitutionalization measures on Cataldo and Risley's Resident Activity Manifest were compared to the same measures obtained on 159 developmentally disabled individuals scheduled for deinstitutionalization. A consistent pattern of positive changes on both instruments favored deinstitutionalization, but changes could not be unequivocally attributed to movement out of the institutions per se.     

Evaluating employee assistance programs. A review of methods, outcomes, and future directions

Renewed interest in assisting troubled employees has led to an upsurge in the development of employee assistance programs, coupled with demands for demonstrable effectiveness. This review examines the nature and scope of these programs, their administrative and methodological context, and the types and outcomes of evaluation studies conducted thus far. Proposals for improving future investigations through a number of different approaches and strategies are then made.     

讲学与传道: 马一浮与国立浙江大学

抗日战争期间,国立浙江大学被迫西迁,马一浮应浙大校长竺可桢之请为浙江大学师生开设国学讲座,为浙大创制校歌,这段历史成为浙大校史上光辉的一页。但相关文献和档案却显示,马一浮与浙江大学的交往充满各种误会与纠结,浙大险些因此错过这位“士林宗仰”的国学大师;而走过国立浙大的马一浮亦在他唯一任教的大学里,利用各种机会引导学生摒弃实用主义的现代工业观,回归对文化根本的关注,尽管讲学效果与其预想相距甚远。马一浮在浙大讲学并传道,结集而成的《宜山泰和会语》是马一浮一生讲阐六艺国学最集中的部分,由此完成了更为高迈、通贯的学术思想和学术人格的构建,并以一场场思想与精神的盛宴,寄予浙大很深的希望。     

西南联大时期的许宝騄与戴世光

许宝騄、戴世光是我国近现代数理统计和社会经济统计领域的两面旗帜。他们二位在上世纪30年代分别留学英国和美国，获得统计学博士和硕士学位。抗日战争爆发后，分别在1940年、1938年回到昆明，任教西南联大。在极其困难的条件下，他们不仅在算学系、经济学系系统讲授数理统计和社会经济统计等课程，而且作出了有重大国际影响的研究成果。艰苦而乐观的生活趣事既反映了当时特殊的时代背景，更彰显出他们高尚的人格品德。     

Business reform outcomes: Why so different?

Post-crisis policy making increasingly focuses on doing business reforms. We argue that the effects of those reforms will be different across countries. To understand the reasons for the reform outcome divergence, we advance a novel firm-size distribution (FSDs) argument. At the center of the argument is the fact that FSDs are different across countries and stable over time. Then, if a given doing business reform induces firms of different size to grow differently, this will produce a variety of reform outcomes across countries. To advance the argument, we set up a tractable general equilibrium (GE) model and study how firms of different size grow after a doing business reform. The model predicts that larger firms will grow faster than smaller firms after the reform. The model predictions are tested on the Enterprise Surveys (ES) data, merged with the Doing Business indicators. We confirm that firms of different size grow differently after a Doing Business reform. Thus, based on the notable differences of firm size distributions across countries, identical reforms to start, operate and close a business will produce a variety of reform outcomes across countries.