The Ovulation Method of Contraception

The ovulation method of contraception is based on an interpretation of the patient's vaginal mucus discharge. The only major trial of it shows a failure rate of at least 25.4 pregnancies per 100 woman years: from these figures about 25 per cent of women using it in any one year would become pregnant. Despite this failure rate, the ovulation method continues to receive considerable government support.     

The Problems with Social Indicators—A Commentary

Whilst continued interest in social indicators is praised, it is noted that little progress appears to have been made in overcoming methodological and political problems with their use.     

What Parents Think—A Commentary

The previous article on child rearing is discussed, with particular reference to sampling limitations and the validity of the Hereford Parent Attitude Survey. Some explanations for the reported attitude differences between socioeconomic groups are advanced.     

时间的俯视 写在《鸟瞰青岛》——张岩航拍作品集出版之际

正时间以上帝的视角俯视,俯视这座蓝色大城。从1996年到2013年,时间让一个青年走到了中年,一片废墟站起了城市,一湾沧海变成了桑田。自由在高处。梦想在高处。从1996年到2013年,这个叫张岩的青年人或这个叫张岩的中年人,扛着沉重的摄影器材,穿风而行,披霞高飞,一次次完成了航拍,他记录变迁,他见证生长,他幸运地在高处对这座城市投注最深情地俯视。他看见——红瓦湮湮,绿树层层。海,展开,展开;有时停满大货轮,有时漂满小白帆。人     

The Development of the Law of Matrimonial Property—A Historical Perspective

This article outlines briefly the development of matrimonial property law from earliest times to the present day. The issue of central concern throughout is the changing status of women and the bearing that this has had on development of the law. A historical, social and economic perspective is adopted in an effort to explain why particular developments occurred when they did. Finally, attention is drawn to the inadequacies of legal solutions to what is perceived as basically an economic issue.     

CHANGING DRIVING BEHAVIOUR — A CULTURAL APPROACH

The problems being experienced on the roads, of continued fatalities, serious injury and infringements, are currently being evaluated through a cognitive approach which focuses on the individual. The paper outlines the main features of this approach and argues for an alternative approach which investigates driving as a culture and which offers a method of dealing with the appropriateness of the attitudes, beliefs and expectations embodied within that culture. A cultural approach involves looking at how driving as a culture is constructed and maintained, It thus represents a focus which is much more socially oriented and aimed at influencing the culture of driving rather than merely punishing the individual driver.     

The Determination of Social Need—A Model of Need Statements in Social Administration

It is suggested that much of the confusion around the use of the concept of social need in social administration is that need has been conceptualized primarily within a positivist paradigm, with the implication that it is objectively measurable. An alternative model is proposed, which is a model of need statements rather than need per se, so that the focus of study is the definition of need and the person or group making that judgment. This model incorporates the experience of the need definer, and the data base on which the need judgment is made.     

Energy Conservation—A Case Study in Campaign Evaluation

This study demonstrates the considerations involved in evaluation research into the effectiveness of campaigns designed to influence social change. It is an examination of the results of applying aspects of the attitude change studies to the subject of environmental issues. A case study was made of the Smallternatives energy conservation campaign which originated in 1976 in Brisbane, at a time of little recognition of an energy 'crisis' for Australia or the need for energy conservation. Results indicated that levels of concern for environmental issues were present throughout the sample; that one group (who requested Smallternatives information) were more concerned about energy and environmental issues than groups who had not requested it; and that the booklet, when issued without request, had little or no effect on desired attitudes towards energy conservation. These results are discussed with respect to the dilemma of attitude-behaviour consistency, and the impact of information input when it is sent to, rather than requested by, the individual.     

Psychological Malpractice and the Anti-Cult Battle—A Response

The operation of some cults and the ‘deprogramming’ of cult members are both held to be suspect. An examination of the broad characteristics, motivations and backgrounds of cult members reveals links with the authoritarian justifications of their ‘rescuers‘.—Ed.     

Beyond Community of Properly — A Plea for Equity

The recent changes in the nature of marriage, and the popularity of alternative relationships, diminish the ‘special’ status of marriage. Existing and proposed methods of allocating property upon divorce fail to take into account structural gender inequalities. The laws relating to property distribution should be recast and limited to an accounting procedure which assesses the effect of the incidence of dependency on future earning capacity and seeks to allocate compensation aimed at long-term equity. Courts should base awards on lifetime earning capacities and on the effect of the marriage or relationships on these.