SCHOUTEN IN THE DARK: MISSING THE FOREST AND THE TREES

The present article is a response to a paper by Schouten in the January, 1994 issue of the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy entitled, "A Scale in Search of a Construct: Comments on Gavin and Wamboldt" (Schouten, 1994) in which he comments on our 1992 paper entitled "A Reconsideration of the Family-of-Origin Scale" (Gavin & Wamboldt, 1992). We respond to Schouten's allegations of lack of methodological rigor and "unsubstantiated claims" (Schouten, 1994, p. 59). We systematically address ways in which Schouten has taken our work out of context, missed the essence of our study, and used faulty and/or vacuous logic in an attempt to discredit our findings. Despite the appearance of rigor in Schouten's work, closer scrutiny brings into question the contribution of Schouten's article to the field of family theory or measurement.     

FURTHER VALIDATION OF THE FAMILY OF ORIGIN SCALE: A FACTOR ANALYSIS*

The present study attempted to describe the factor structure of the Family of Origin Scale (FOS) and to determine if this structure is congruent with that proposed by the test authors. The study also sought to evaluate the research merit of the FOS. Two factor analyses based upon college student responses to the FOS yielded similar factor structure and identified a salient factor which is common to other factor analyses of scales measuring perceived family environments. Discrimination studies suggest that the FOS differentiates between college students and other distinctive groups. It was concluded that, although the FOS measures dimensions that differ somewhat from those hypothesized by the test authors, it has potential valve in applied research.     

FACTOR STRUCTURE OF THE FAMILY-OF-ORIGIN SCALE: DOES THIS SCALE MEASURE WHAT ITS CREATORS SAY IT DOES?

The factor structure of the Family-of-Origin Scale (FOS) was examined. The FOS is a 40-item instrument devised to measure perceptions of health in the family of origin. Subjects were 162 gay and bisexual males. A confirmatory factor analysis was employed to examine the similarities of the factor structure obtained in the present study with those proposed theoretically by the test authors. The results supported the notion that the FOS is comprised of a single underlying construct that may be represented by bipolar items. It was concluded that the findings do not support the theoretically proposed factor structure of the FOS and that the value of the FOS is suspect.     

The validity and use of the family-of-origin scale

This study explores the Family-of-Origin Scale (FOS) with regard to its validity and potential use. Subjects included 100 adults currently in psychotherapy, 100 who were not, 32 who previously had sought treatment, and 41 college students. Between-group comparisons, correlations with both the 16PF and a scale of authoritarianism, factor analyses of both the patient and nonpatient FOS responses, and a review of patient feedback revealed several significant results. The FOS differentiates between patients and nonpatients, but it measures only one general factor and delivers little information. Therefore, it has little value as a research instrument, but it may be a useful adjunct to psychotherapy in individual cases.     

First Fruits of Freedom: The Migration of Former Slaves and Their Search for Equality in Worcester,Massachusetts, 1862–1900

This article situates the 1850–1851 cholera epidemic in the British colony of Jamaica within prevalent debates about the moral condition of Jamaicans of African descent, the economic crises of the 1840s and 1850s, and ultimately the effectiveness of emancipation. Through close readings of Scottish physician Gavin Milroy's reports, juxtaposed against correspondence between colonial officials and local public health authorities, this article argues that the cholera epidemic not only provided another venue to air critiques of Jamaica's transition from slavery to freedom, but also revealed as essential one particular solution – sanitary reform – to two major issues: cholera and the island's economic decline.     

A RECONSIDERATION OF THE FAMILY-OF-ORIGIN SCALE

Recent studies published in this journal have debated the merits of the Family-of-Origin Scale (Hovestadt, Piercy, Anderson, Cochran, & Fine, 1985), a measure designed to tap the psychological health of one's family of origin. The present study is an investigation of the psychometric properties and overall utility of this measure. Although we agree with much of the recent criticism of the FOS, we suggest that with changes, primarily in interpretation, the instrument remains useful. Taking this measure as an example, we discuss problems inherent in the use of individual self-report data as indicators of family systems constructs.     

Labour Formalisation as Selective Hegemony in Reform-era Myanmar

With the general elections of November 2010, state rule in Myanmar entered a process widely seen as a transition—if stalled—to democracy and rule of law. Such transition narratives have posited normative rule of law and arbitrary rule outside law as opposing logics, and opposing practices. A similar dichotomy is found in studies of labour informalisation in the global South, where informal labour is understood as antithetical to legally protected employment. Arguing otherwise, this article employs interview and ethnographic data to pursue an anthropology of state formation as a means of reading formality and informality as complementary, rather than conflicting, logics of state practice. Drawing on Gavin Smith's notion of selective hegemony, I hold that state actors in Myanmar have pursued varied projects of rule over a heterogeneous landscape of labour relations. In this respect, rule of law is always selective, and informality exhibits not so much an absence of state rule as an indirect modality of rule.     

高职《汽车市场营销》项目化教学课程改革研究

深化"工学结合"的高职教育人才培养模式的改革,其主要任务就是高职课程的改革。文章就《汽车市场营销》课程基于工学结合教学模式下的项目化教学改革进行了研究和探析。     

Sexuality in Marriage,Dating, and Other Relationships: A Decade Review

In this article, we review the major research advances made during the 1990s in the study of sexuality in marriage and other close relationships. More specifically, we provide a critical review of the empirical findings from the last decade on such sexual phenomena as sexual behavior, sexual satisfaction, and sexual attitudes within the context of marriage, dating, and other committed relationships. After highlighting the major theoretical and methodological advances of the 1990s, we focus on the research literatures of: (1) frequency and correlates of sexual activity in marriage; (2) sexual satisfaction, including its association with general relationship satisfaction; (3) sexuality in gay and lesbian committed relationships; (4) trends in sexual behavior and attitudes in dating relationships; and (5) the role of sexuality in dating relationships. We also incorporate brief reviews of the past decade's research on sexual assault and coercion in marriage and dating and on extramarital sex. We end our decade review with recommendations for the study of sexuality into the next decade.     

Fathers at Work: A Ghost in the Organizational Machine

This article first provides a review of fatherhood in the gender and organization literature on work and family, and the body and (in)visibility. It observes how organizational assumptions which frame fathers as breadwinners, ignoring their paternal role, remain extraordinarily persistent because policies (no matter how long established) do not necessarily change social attitudes and behaviours. The article then draws upon original qualitative data to demonstrate how while male workers may feel valued as employees, they often feel invisible at work in their paternal role. Fathers perceive that, while family‐friendly policies might in theory be available to ‘parents’ these are in practice targeted at working mothers. The article considers why working men's paternity is so often ignored, as though fathers are a ghost in the organizational machine. A recommendation for the establishment of a fatherhood and motherhood passport is made.     

A children, teachers and designers as evaluators of usability of educational software

This article sets out to discuss the results of evaluations of usability made by children, teachers and designers through methods targeted on their profiles and contexts of use. Based on a survey of methods for evaluating usability, a field study was conducted in which such users--stakeholders--explored the educational software called "Mundo da Crian?a" ("Child's World"). The focus of this study was the analysis of this system and principally of the appropriateness of methods as to the avenues they suggest such users and contexts might explore.     

A Man of His Time and Place: A Selective Appraisal of S. M. Lipset's Comparative Sociology

This article reviews S. M. Lipset's major works of comparative sociology, specifying their problematic assumptions and appraising their contribution to the cross-national study of political and social systems. It is made clear that Lipset's perspective has shifted over the years. The second part of the paper focuses on the changes that his views have undergone, and explains such alterations by examining certain aspects of Lipset's intellectual and professional life experiences.     

A tale of three marketplaces: Chinese commodities,European fairs,Vietnamese entrepreneurs

This article is based on ethnographic research undertaken over the course of a year (2017) in three wholesale marketplaces situated in Warsaw (Poland), Odessa (Ukraine) and Yiwu (China). Daily transactions in these wholesale fairs span different continents, linking East Asia to Eastern Europe. Key in assembling such far‐reaching trading networks are Chinese‐made commodities, Vietnamese diasporas and European trade regulations. In this article, I pay particular attention to entrepreneurial Vietnamese as they sojourned to Eastern Europe, originally as part of exchanges that sought to create a ‘socialist ecumene’.     

A Glimpse Within: An Exploratory Study of Child Welfare Agencies’ Practices With LGBTQ Youth

This article presents findings from a national survey of agency members of the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) with respect to organizational culture and service delivery for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. Sixty-seven study participants provided quantitative and qualitative data via an Internet questionnaire. Overall, agencies fall short of fully subscribing to recommendations made by the CWLA. They could improve their support for providing an inclusive environment, creating supportive policies, and selecting childcare providers regardless of sexual orientation/gender identity. In addition, agencies varied with respect to the relative emphasis that services geared specifically for LGBTQ should occur. Although some progress has been made, much work remains for child welfare agencies to fully address the needs of LGBTQ youth.     

Book reviews

Book reviewed in this article: Introduction to the Sociology of Developing Societies Hamza Alavi and Teodor Shanin (eds) Sub-Saharan Africa Chris Allen and Gavin Williams (eds) T.S. Kuhn and Social Science, Barry Barnes. Art Worlds Howard S. Becker Black Youth in Crisis Ernest Cashmore and Barry Troyna (eds) English Country Houses and Landed Estates Heather A. Clemenson In the Active Voice Mary Douglas The Civilized Body P. E. S. Freund Classes, Power and Conflict: Classical and Contemporary Debates Anthony Giddens and David Held (eds) Sport, Culture and Ideology J. Hargreaves (ed.) Social Mobility Anthony Heath Social Mobility: a Study of Social Control and Insatiability Earl Hopper Social Relations and Human Attributes P. Hirst and P. Woolley The Development of Underdevelopment in China: A Symposium Philip C. C. Huang (ed.) A Third World Proletariat? Peter Lloyd The Politics of the Second Electorate: Women and Public Participation J. Lovenduski and J. Hills (eds) Max Weber and Karl Marx Karl Löwith Old Mistresses: Women, Art and Ideology, Rozsika Parker and Griselda Pollock Work and Retirement Stanley Parker The Transition from School to Work Michael West and Peggy Newton (eds)     

SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTAL RISK AND PROTECTION: A TYPOLOGY WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Social environmental assessments can play a critical role in prevention planning in schools. The purpose of this study was to describe the importance of conducting social environmental assessments, demonstrate that complex social environmental data can be simplified into a useful and valid typology, and illustrate how the typology can guide prevention planning in schools. Data collected from 532 3(rd) through 5(th) graders using the Elementary School Success Profile were analyzed in the study. A latent profile analysis based on eight child-report social environmental dimensions identified five patterns of social environmental risk and protection. The classes were labeled High Protection, Moderate Protection, Moderate Protection/Peer Risk, Little Protection/Family Risk, and No Protection//School Risk. Class membership was significantly associated with measures of well-being, social behavior and academic performance. The article illustrates how the typology can be used to guide decisions about who to target in school-based preventions, which features of the social environment to target, and how much change to seek. Information is provided about online resources for selecting prevention strategies once these decisions are made.     

Parental Divorce: A Protection from Later Delinquency for Maltreated Children

Family structure and maltreatment (abuse and neglect) have been identified as predictors of youth delinquency, although the relationship is not clear. This article furthers this research by studying a sample of maltreated children (n = 250) in one Midwest county, and through a multiple regression analysis of many risk factors, the study identified only one significant delinquency variable that made delinquency less likely—children who experience parental divorce. Some established risk factors were surprisingly found not to be predictive of later delinquency: minority race, one-parent families, youth substance abuse, recurrent maltreatment, and youth behind in academic grade level. Implications for the family studies and juvenile justice fields are set forth.     

A message-focused measurement of the communication dimension of social capital: Revealing shared meaning in a network of relationships

This study integrates two theoretically driven methods—network analysis and fantasy theme analysis—to present a message-focused operationalization for the communication dimension of social capital. The results find empirical support for scholars’ theorizing that public relations-facilitated messages cultivate shared meaning and foster social capital. The relationship between shared meaning and social capital was especially evident in network subgroups (cliques). This article contributes to social capital theory building by focusing on the meaning making process that strengthens social capital in networks. Public relations practitioners’ communicative roles in social capital cultivation are made evident with a message-focused measurement.     

Sociology of Terrorism and Counterterrorism: A Social Science Understanding of Terrorist Threat

The purpose of this article is to outline a social science understanding of terrorist threat, with special reference to political violence of new terrorist groups, fundamentalist movements and extremist organisations such as Al-Qaeda. Four main terrorism topics will be examined: (i) Definition of terrorism . We will make explicit the political and moral implications of the word 'terrorism' by tracing a brief history of terrorism; at the same time, a definition of terrorism will be proposed based on an overview of terrorism studies. (ii) Typology of terrorism . The topic to be addressed here concerns the classification of terrorist groups, paying special attention to contemporary fundamentalist movements and extremist organisations (particularly after World War II). (iii) Explanation of terrorism. Criticism will be made of psychological explanations of terrorism that try to trace political violence back to specific personal traits or psychopathological profiles of terrorists. We will offer an alternative explanation, focusing on specific social, cultural and religious factors to be considered the root causes of terrorism. Suicide terrorism will be used as a case study. (iv) C ounterterrorism policy . Here, we will discuss some of the limitations and counterproductive effects of the counterterrorism measures adopted by governments after 9/11, including new antiterrorism legislation, the case of special detention at Guantanamo Bay, and the Iraq invasion. Most of such limitations are due to a misunderstanding of the political culture and ideology of Islamic extremism and fundamentalism (Islamism). Some concluding remarks will summarise the findings of the article and underline the most important suggestions for a future research agenda in the sociology of terrorism and counterterrorism.     

How to Reverse the Italian Brain Drain: A Master Class from Australia

This article discusses the limits of Italian immigration policies and their effects on the Italian market of highly skilled individuals. Italian statutory provisions aimed at regulating immigration focus on limiting immigration without a reasoned distinction being made between skilled and unskilled immigrants. The first part of the article argues that a combination of historical and sociological factors makes Italy uncompetitive in the global market of highly skilled individuals. The second part suggests two pilot schemes for policies that might help in addressing the issue. First, the introduction of a medium‐/long‐term visa for highly skilled individuals, and second, the establishment of private multinational universities modelled on the European Institute (EI) in Florence. These new institutions would open up the academic job market to overseas researchers and, at the same time, would provide a more solid base for the retrieval of Italian academics working abroad.