The Determinants of Parenthood: Power and Responsibility

The conception of parental adaptation in termsof the complexity of the balance between the parent'sresponsibility and the infant's power is presented. Amethod based on this conception is proposed as a way to describe and assess parentaladaptation. The adaptational view is compared with theclinical approach to parenthood, and its advantages forthe detection of parental vulnerability and earlyintervention in the parent infant relationship isillustrated. In addition, the conception of parentalresponsibility, in terms of the parent's evaluation ofthe balance between his/her responsibility and theinfant's power, is compared with the conception of thelegal approach which views parental responsibility interms of accountability and the parent's duties andrights. The evolving change in the societal view of parental responsibility, brought about bythe Children Act, requires a shift in theconceptualization of parenthood such as the one proposedby the adaptational conception. This could constitute abridge between the helping professions and the legalapproaches.     

Description and evaluation of a nested cube experimental design

An incomplete factorial design based on an extension of the Fawiliar 2^kfactorial called a nested cube is proposed for use in response surface investigationso The simplicity and general efficiency of the nested cube suggest its suitability to many areas of research, especially that repeated at many locations orconductea over a long period. Comparisons to potentially competing designs are provided for bias in response estination due to fitting an ioappropriate model and for profiles of variance. merits of the nested cube are (1) a level of relative bias and variance judged to be favorable though not optimal, (2) an ability to utilize a minimum blag estimator not available to competing designs, and (3) a simplicity associated with use of equal spacing

and nearly equal replication on the margin for each factor level.     

Least circular distance regression for directional data

Least-squares regression is not appropriate when the response variable is circular, and can lead to erroneous results. The reason for this is that the squared difference is not an appropriate measure of distance on the circle. In this paper, a circular analog to least-squares regression is presented for predicting a circular response variable by another circular variable and a set of linear covariates. An alternative maximum-likelihood formulation yields the same regression parameter estimates. Under the maximum-likelihood model, asymptotic standard errors of the parameter estimates are obtained. As an example, the regression model is used to model data from a marine biology study.     

Assessment Made Visible: Individual and Collective Practices

In this article I argue that by connecting assessment to learning and instruction and by enacting assessment as a collective practice we can see new opportunities for learning. The concept of mediated action and the notion of a collective zone of proximal development are used to theorize assessment. Two cases are included to support and make empirically visible the conceptual argument. The first case involves student teachers who assess exam papers in an online environment. The second case involves peer-group assessment among learners in an upper secondary school. Through the conceptual argument and the supporting cases assessment emerges as a practice involving process as well as product and a practice in which learning, teaching, and assessment are mutually constitutive of learners' development. Finally, some implications for practice are discussed, including some challenges related to the tension between individual and collective approaches.     

Unmet needs at the end of life: perceptions of hospice social workers

Among persons at the end of life, it is important to understand whether the needs of patients are being adequately addressed. In particular, in hospice settings where the emphasis is on comfort care and quality of life, we know little about the presence of unmet needs. The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of hospice social workers in working with hospice patients who had unmet needs at the end of life. Surveys were mailed to hospice social workers (N = 212) in two Southeastern states with a response rate of 36%. Results revealed that hospice social workers perceived patients to experience a wide variety of unmet needs-more commonly at the time of admission than during subsequent patient interactions. The most common unmet need reported at both times was a decreased ability to participate in activities that make life enjoyable. In situations where unmet needs exist, social workers reported that the most common perceived reasons were patient- related psychosocial issues and family conflict/issues. Additionally, a variety of interventions were used to address unmet needs, but a large number of barriers appear to impact outcomes in the cases. Results suggest that hospice patients experience a number of unmet needs, many of which are potentially treatable problems and concerns. Hospice professionals must continue to seek ways to assess and intervene effectively with patients who have unmet needs.