Gerontological social workers' perceived efficacy for influencing client outcomes

Using a sample of practitioners (n = 269) from the 2004 National Study of Licensed Social Workers, this article employs a quality assurance structure-process-outcome model to examine factors at the practitioner, workplace, and service delivery levels that influence the perceived efficacy of licensed gerontological social workers to affect client outcomes in the context of a highly challenging health care environment. A regression model accounted for 33.9% of the variance (adjusted R (2) = .291) in perceived efficacy with 3 aspects of service delivery satisfaction having significant effects: ability to address complex/chronic care, to influence the design of services, and to help clients navigate the system.     

Predicted risk perception and risk-taking behavior: The case of impaired driving

Research suggests an association between risk perception and risk-taking behavior in a variety of contexts. There is empirical evidence that perceived risk is generally biased and that perception of risk influences behavior. Perception of risk can be endogenous. It is therefore more appropriate to instrument risk perception. This article studies the perception of the risks associated with impaired driving and the relation between predicted risk perception and driving behavior. We survey a sample of license-holders, half of whom are drivers with a past conviction for impaired driving, the other half or control group without such conviction. Predicted perceptual biases are shown to influence actual driving behavior.

博彩业迅速发展后的澳门青少年价值观探析

澳门博彩业近年高速发展,对于社会的各个层面都产生深远的影响。为了探讨博彩业发展对澳门年青新一代的价值观的影响,本研究以问卷调查为主,结合访谈和文献研究进行分析。结果我们发现博彩业的发展为澳门青少年带来了更多的竞争意识,令他们承受压力的能力增强,自我增值的意识也较强。但是在博彩业发展的同时,部分澳门青少年视博彩行业只是赚钱的途径,"个人成就"等人生目标在现今特定的社会情况下变得迷惘,而高度的商业化令本来已不深的人文根基变得更加薄弱。总体而言,近年博彩业的发展已令澳门青少年的人生价值观、社会价值观和择业价值观等受到了冲击。