Maximum likelihood estimation in the presence of outiliers

This paper deals with the maximum likelihood estimation of parameters when the sample (x₁…x_n ) may heve k spuriously generated observations from another distribution, say G≠F, where F is the distribution of the target population. If G is stochastically larger than F, then these k observations may give rise to k extreme observations or ‘outliers’. This situation is often described by a so-called ‘k-outlier model’ in which in addition to the parameters involved in F and G, the set ν={ν₁,…,ν_k} of indices, for which x_νj , j=1,…,k, come from G, is also unknow.     

Field Placements in For-Profit Organizations

The recent explosion of proprietary social services suggests that growing numbers of social work students may be placed for field work in organizations whose primary goal is the realization of profits. Information on the extent to which social work programs collaborate with proprietary agencies for field education purposes is unavailable. This article describes the results of a national survey to determine the use patterns and policies of master of social work programs regarding field placements in for-profit settings. Findings indicate that social work education is incorporating proprietary sites for field training at an unparalleled rate. Proprietary sites used most often are hospitals, nursing homes, and outpatient health care agencies. Furthermore, the study links different policy positions on for-profit placements to geographical location. The author suggests, among other recommendations, that programs provide positive role models to help students apply professional values and ethics to problems resulting from proprietary influence upon practice.     

Participatory action research and researcher’s responsibilities: an experience with an Indigenous community

This paper seeks to explore the relational participatory action research (PAR) frameworks that have been developed to allow non-Indigenous researchers, along with Indigenous co-researcher participants, to learn and honour Indigenous stories. Specifically, in the context of PAR research in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh, we outline: (a) potential challenges between Indigenous research paradigms and Western research paradigms, (b) the situation of the non-Indigenous researcher in relation to the Indigenous community, (c) challenges associated with the non-Indigenous researcher’s selection of a research site, (d) collaboration throughout the research process and (e) the processes of developing and maintaining responsibilities. The aim is not to offer simple answers to such challenges, but to highlight the manner in which such processes can be addressed. This research may provide practical insight for future non-Indigenous researchers working with Indigenous communities through a participatory sharing process with Indigenous co-researcher participants, Elders, leaders, knowledge-holders and youths.     

Epistemological inclusiveness in researching the African American community

Abstract

African American communities have experienced negative effects from a history of medical abuse, lack of proper research procedures, and misinterpretations of study findings because of racism. These past injustices have led to a mistrust of research and researchers. This paper focuses on how some methodological challenges, in a study funded by a National Institutes of Health grant on two low-income African American communities in Kentucky, were mediated through the collaboration of a multi-racial/ethnic team of researchers engaged in cross-disciplinary research. The information for this paper is based on the reflections of key members of the research team. The reflections show that having researchers with different epistemologies resulted in a culturally aware and sensitive study in which emic and etic research approaches were adopted. The inclusion of race-based epistemologies and close community ties were found to be particularly useful in building trust and getting the support of the two communities. However, these outcomes were only possible because research team members provided each other latitude for intellectual freedom and leadership.     

An interpretive review of women's experiences of gestational diabetes mellitus: Proposing a framework to enhance midwifery assessment

BackgroundGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects almost 5% of pregnancies in Australia, and within 15 years, 25% of affected women will go on to develop Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). The adoption of preventive health behaviours may be influenced by women's experiences of GDM.QuestionThis review sought to understand women's beliefs, values, perceptions and experiences following diagnosis of GDM.MethodsPeer reviewed and professional journals were searched for primary research, published between January 1991 and December 2011 that explored the beliefs, values, perceptions and experiences of peripartum or postpartum women with a diagnosis or history of GDM.FindingsNineteen studies met the inclusion criteria and the majority of these studies were qualitative (n = 15). Each study was reviewed and synthesis revealed three emergent themes and core concepts related to each theme: Responses (initial reaction to GDM diagnosis, negative thoughts following diagnosis, struggle to manage GDM, feelings of ‘loss of control’, changes to identity and adapting to change), Focus of Concern (concern for baby's health, mother's concern for her own health, perceived seriousness of GDM, perceived fear of T2DM) and Influencing Factors (cultural roles and beliefs, social stigmas, social support, professional support, adequate and appropriate information, social roles and barriers to self-care).ConclusionThe experiences of women with GDM are unique and personal however this review highlights common experiences evident in the existing research. The proposed framework may be used by midwives in clinical assessment and care of women diagnosed with GDM.     

Qualitative assessment of women's experiences with ECV

For women with unsuccessful ECV, discussions about their mode of delivery should include the benefits and risks of a planned caesarean or vaginal breech birth. However, most obstetric units continue to offer only planned caesarean births when ECVs are unsuccessful despite the proven safety of vaginal breech births in selected patients. Such unit policies can be at variance with a woman's desire and preference for vaginal birth. Thus, a conflict situation arises that could have varying medical, emotional and cultural implications.AimTo provide a consumer perspective on ECV from women who had an unsuccessful procedure.MethodologyA qualitative study involving focus group discussions with women who had unsuccessful ECV at secondary obstetric facility in Melbourne, Australia.ResultsEmergent themes from the focus group discussions were related to emotions associated with the inevitability of a caesarean section for breech, consequences of an unsuccessful ECV and the various activities undertaken by women to induce spontaneous version.ConclusionA medicalized approach to ECV fell short of women's expectations of care. There is a need to develop strategies that will help women deal with any conflicts occasioned by an unsuccessful ECV.     

Reference compensation: a transfer of reference price theory to human resource management

The topics of compensation in human resource management and pricing in marketing theory both involve a monetary component that is important for companies to manage. While the role that price perceptions play for consumers is the subject of the well-established reference price theory, human resource management theory lacks any related concept for the compensation perceptions held by employees. This paper transfers reference price theory to HR management in the form of reference compensation, conceptualized as an individual’s compensation norm, including normative and predictive compensation expectations. Possible measures to influence employees’ reference compensation are suggested and avenues for further establishing the concepts in research and practice are developed. As a first empirical attempt to support the relevance of the concept, we present results of an exploratory study among 88 part-time students. We show that employees apply references when judging compensation, and that the applied references vary with different employment situations.     

以学校体育为依托推动全民健身的发展

采用文献综述的方法,论述了学校体育与全民健身的相互关系。并由此提出,学校体育是全民健身活动的基础,加强学校体育的改革与发展、促进学校体育的建设,是实现学校体育向社会化发展的有效途径。     

荒野城市：隐喻体验研究

对于城市的很多隐喻性解释,都可能阐明我们如何描述城市的特征。文章所探索的荒野隐喻是一个黑暗隐喻。同时,在描述城市的特征时,荒野所表示的并非中性的对象,而是文化构建的对象。探讨荒野意味着什么、它如何发挥作用,会告诉我们使用它的文化的一些东西以及对于城市体验的评论。一般来说,在这种语境中探讨荒野,也会告诉我们隐喻的本质和功能。文章从三个方向探索了荒野观。     

Communicating Asset Risk: How Name Recognition and the Format of Historic Volatility Information Affect Risk Perception and Investment Decisions

An experiment examined how the type and presentation format of information about investment options affected investors' expectations about asset risk, returns, and volatility and how these expectations related to asset choice. Respondents were provided with the names of 16 domestic and foreign investment options, with 10-year historical return information for these options, or with both. Historical returns were presented either as a bar graph of returns per year or as a continuous density distribution. Provision of asset names allowed for the investigation of the mechanisms underlying the home bias in investment choice and other asset familiarity effects. Respondents provided their expectations of future returns, volatility, and expected risk, and indicated the options they would choose to invest in. Expected returns closely resembled historical expected values. Risk and volatility perceptions both varied significantly as a function of the type and format of information, but in different ways. Expected returns and perceived risk, not predicted volatility, predicted portfolio decisions.