Some considerations on the validity of evidence-based practice in social work

Summary This paper considers the validity of evidence-based practicein social work. It critically examines various underlying presuppositionsand assumptions entailed in evidence-based practice and drawsout their implications for social work. The paper is dividedinto three main parts. Following a consideration of the backgroundto the development of evidence-based practice and a discussionof its key organizing concepts, the paper goes on to examineits underlying scientific assumptions. It shows that evidence-basedpractice proposes a particular deterministic version of rationalitywhich is unsatisfactory. Evidence-based practice is derivedfrom ideas based on optimal behavior in a planned and systematicallyorganized environment. By concentrating on 'epistemic processes'involved in planning and psychological inference it is claimedthat cognitive heuristic devices are the determinants of decisionmaking and not evidence. The heuristic model suggests that decisionmaking is indeterminate, reflexive, locally optimal at bestand based on a limited rationality. It is argued that socialworkers engage in a reflexive understanding and not a determinateor certainty based decision-making process based on objectiveevidence. Complex phenomena such as decision making are notrationally determined or subject to 'control'. The paper goeson to suggest that the tendency to separate processes into 'facts'and 'values' implicit in evidence-based procedures underminesprofessional judgement and discretion in social work. The thirdpart of the paper focuses on the connection between method andideology in evidence-based practice. It examines how the evidence-basedpreoccupation with positivistic methods and determinate judgemententraps social workers within a mechanistic for of technicalrationality. This framework restricts social work to a narrowends-means rationality such that only certain forms of actionare considered legitimate. This feeds into the rhetoric of newmanagerialist strategies aimed at developing a performance cultureby further regulating and controlling individual practitioners.In the conclusion a number of critical indicators are givenwhich should be addressed by the proponents of evidence-basedpractice. It is suggested that unless these are adequately dealtwith, social work is not greatly advanced by adherence to anevidence-based approach. Moreover, the problematic epistemologicaland ideological base associated with it are to be regarded asinherently insuperable.     

Estimation of average causal effect using the restricted mean residual lifetime as effect measure

Although mean residual lifetime is often of interest in biomedical studies, restricted mean residual lifetime must be considered in order to accommodate censoring. Differences in the restricted mean residual lifetime can be used as an appropriate quantity for comparing different treatment groups with respect to their survival times. In observational studies where the factor of interest is not randomized, covariate adjustment is needed to take into account imbalances in confounding factors. In this article, we develop an estimator for the average causal treatment difference using the restricted mean residual lifetime as target parameter. We account for confounding factors using the Aalen additive hazards model. Large sample property of the proposed estimator is established and simulation studies are conducted in order to assess small sample performance of the resulting estimator. The method is also applied to an observational data set of patients after an acute myocardial infarction event.     

Semiparametric regression for restricted mean residual life under right censoring

A mean residual life function (MRLF) is the remaining life expectancy of a subject who has survived to a certain time point. In the presence of covariates, regression models are needed to study the association between the MRLFs and covariates. If the survival time tends to be too long or the tail is not observed, the restricted mean residual life must be considered. In this paper, we propose the proportional restricted mean residual life model for fitting survival data under right censoring. For inference on the model parameters, martingale estimating equations are developed, and the asymptotic properties of the proposed estimators are established. In addition, a class of goodness-of-fit test is presented to assess the adequacy of the model. The finite sample behavior of the proposed estimators is evaluated through simulation studies, and the approach is applied to a set of real life data collected from a randomized clinical trial.     

蒙古族自然观对现代环境保护的启示

蒙古族先民们在长期的游牧生活中创造了辉煌的草原文化。蒙古族草原文化中的自然观是一种内在的回归自然、追求朴素的生态伦理观。也正是在这种自然观的引导下,草原自然环境长期以来得以保持其原貌——蓝天、碧草、清水、净土。蒙古族草原文化的自然观既符合当代人热爱优美环境,渴望实现人与自然和谐发展的美好愿望,又对治理和保护目前日益恶化的人类生存环境具有重要的启示作用。     

Veiling in Fear or in Faith? Meanings of the Hijab to Practicing Muslim Wives and Husbands in USA

This article examines the Muslim practice of wearing the hijab—the veiling and covering of a woman’s head and body. More specifically, this study aims to present insiders’ perspectives regarding the personal understandings of the hijab among 20 wives and 20 husbands (n?=?40) in religious Shia and Sunni Muslim families living in USA. Qualitative analysis yielded three emergent themes: (1) The hijab as a symbol of religious commitment; (2) the hijab as a tool of protection, rather than oppression, for women and families; and (3) two different views of Muslims’ reasoning behind the hijab. These data suggest that, as perceived by “insider” participants, the hijab has perceived benefits for religious Muslim families, although counterexamples and concerns are also expressed.     

将精读教学与口语教学穿插进行

针对目前公共英语教学中口语教学的不足,笔者在授课过程中发现,以学生为中心,重视语言综合应用能力和学生自学能力的培养为特色的<新编大学英语>教材,成功地将精读教学和口语教学结合起来.教师采用让学生复述故事、上台表演、看图说话和讨论等方式,在精读课上进行口语练习.这种将两者穿插进行的方式,不失为解决口语教学不足的一个良策.     

The Dyadic Effects of Controlling Emotional Abuse on Subjective Emotional Experience in Iranian Older Married Couples

This randomised control trial study examines the impact of an emotional‐focused intervention on emotional abuse and subjective emotional experience in Iranian older married couples. In the study, 57 older couples were randomly assigned into control and experimental groups with the latter taking part in an intervention program over 4 weeks, twice a week, with sessions lasting 90 minutes. In the experimental group, significant improvements were found for reducing emotional abuse behaviours and increasing subjective emotional experience. Dyadic analysis revealed that a partner's ability to control their own emotional abuse significantly effects both his/her subjective emotional experience and that of their spouse.     

Meta-analysis,pretest, and shrinkage estimation of kurtosis parameters

An asymptotic theory for the improved estimation of kurtosis parameter vector is developed for multi-sample case using uncertain prior information (UPI) that several kurtosis parameters are the same. Meta-analysis is performed to obtain pooled estimator, as it is a statistical methodology for pooling quantitative evidence. Pooled estimator is a good choice when assumption of homogeneity holds but it becomes inconsistent as assumption violates, therefore pretest and Stein-type shrinkage estimators are proposed as they combine sample and nonsample information in a superior way. Asymptotic properties of suggested estimators are discussed and their risk comparisons are also mentioned.     

Productivity,performance and project management in the scientific instrument industry

Scientific instruments have short product lifecycles and a lengthening of the time between design and application has serious financial implications. This paper reports on research aimed at obtaining a greater understanding of the factors which influence this interface. Interviews were conducted at 32 companies in two countries, the United Kingdom (UK) and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG). The study showed that there are statistically significant differences between the two countries and that in the FRG there are also differences between projects led by people with different qualifications and background experience. These differences are analysed and discussed and factors identified which influence productivity and performance in the scientific instrument industry.     

New Statistic to Increase Correctness in Simulation Factor Screening Using Frequency Domain Method

Simulation models often include a large number of input factors, many of them may be unimportant to the output; justifying the use of factor screening experiments to eliminate unimportant input factors from consideration in later stages of analysis. With a large number of factors, the challenge is designing experiments so that total number of runs and consequently the required time and cost decrease while achieving a satisfactory detection rate. This article employs frequency domain method (FDM) which is applicable in discrete-event simulation models to propose a new statistic defined as the ratio of estimated signal spectrum to maximum estimated noise spectrum. The proposed method not only has the FDM advantages compared to classic screening approaches but also helps to reduce the error of associated with distinguishing important effects from unimportant ones. Furthermore, as an alternative to the existing statistics, it is shown that not only the proposed statistic does not deteriorate the power of the screening test but in some instances it helps to improve it.