The Sociology of Death

The understanding of death, dying and bereavement in relation to society is indebted to a number of disciplines – anthropology, history, psychology and sociology are surveyed. Theories and methods used by sociologists of death, dying and bereavement are briefly outlined, followed by a number of key debates and challenges: denial, taboo and sequestration; death and the media; how to integrate scholarship in collective memory and Holocaust studies; theorising contemporary rites of passage; the lack of comparative research; and the need to focus on the meaning and organisation of death for those who encounter it most directly; namely, the poor, displaced and elderly. A brief discussion of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching is followed by the conclusion that any promise of a general sociology conducted in the light of mortality has been eclipsed by yet another specialism, the sociology of death.     

Toward a capabilities perspective of the small firm

This paper attempts to explain the competitive advantages of the small firm in the capabilities perspective. It begins by identifying the kinds of strategic assets possessed by small firms. It argues that entrepreneurship and a simple capital structure are the sources of dynamism for small firms. The relationship between the small firm's resources and its capabilities are then critically examined. In particular, the analysis focuses on the influences of strategic assets on the organizational flexibility – a significant source of competitive advantage enjoyed by small firms. The competitive attributes of small firms are further discussed in terms of firm's internal and external capabilities. Finally, the relationship between the small firm's capabilities and the choice of technology strategies is examined.     

Canadian Biotechnology Start-Ups, 1991–1997: The Role of Incumbents'' Patents and Strategic Alliances in Controlling Competition

Fligstein (1996) contends that organizations act to exploit the institutional context in which they are embedded so as to stabilize the competition they face. Drawing on Fligstein's theoretical analysis, we conceptualize incumbent biotechnology firms' patenting and alliance-building activities as attempts to stabilize and control potential competition and analyze how these activities shape rates of founding in the Canadian biotechnology industry. We find that increases in the level and concentration of incumbents' patenting discourage founding, particularly in human application sectors of the industry where development and approval processes are more costly and time consuming. Incumbents' horizontal alliances depress start-ups; vertical alliances stimulate start-ups. Our findings highlight how technology appropriation and strategic alliances structure the competitive dynamics and evolution of high-technology, knowledge-intensive industries.     

AUSTRALIAN ATTITUDES TO UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE

Social security policy towards unemployed people in Australia has become increasingly conditional on their demonstrating ever greater job search effort. The evidence from attitudinal survey data on whether this policy shift accords with public opinion is ambiguous. Although, by international standards, Australians take a relatively hard line on the responsibilities of unemployed people lo actively seek work, there is little information about views on the detail of activity testing. While a majority oppose greater public expenditure on unemployment, they still see an important role, for government in addressing unemployment and supporting unemployed people.     

审美·治理·自由

本文的目的不是要扩大文学的"自由效果",而是要探讨使批评、自由与文学之间的关系变得易于理解的那些历史的以及推论的条件。20世纪对康德提出的自由与文化的关系有两种完全不同的"反应":第一种将文化与工人阶级的自我解放相联系;第二种将文化刻写为治理的一种机制,它通过自我调节手段运作并使之成为可能。这两种反应紧密相连:英国成人教育与文学教育发展之间的关系史表明前者是如何紧密地仿照作为自由表达空间的后者的。要理解这两种情况,就必须考虑构成审美的原初决定性特质的无用性是如何被重新界定的,以便它能够被用作治理的工具。在文化治理中,恰恰是通过与社会隔离开来,审美文化才作为一种能够从治理上作用于它的有益手段而被提出来。审美实践被变成了可以利用的东西。正是以这种方式,审美、治理与自由在自由治理的诸种机制之内刻写了某种特有的张力。     

A review of generalization methods used in empirical social work literature

This article reviews methods currently used for generalization of findings, based on a review of a representative sample of empirical research studies drawn from three major social work research journals: Social Work Research , Journal of Social Service Research , and Research on Social Work Practice , over a 10-year period (1996–2005). Findings revealed a greater discussion of generalizability limitations in comparison with the past, and other types of generalization methods such as conceptual generalizations and qualitative comparisons of study results with those of other studies. Relatively low usage of quantitative comparisons of sample to population and replication procedures was detected. Implications of these trends are discussed and approaches for improvements are explored.     

A review of generalization methods used in empirical social work literature

This article reviews methods currently used for generalization of findings, based on a review of a representative sample of empirical research studies drawn from three major social work research journals: Social Work Research , Journal of Social Service Research , and Research on Social Work Practice , over a 10-year period (1996–2005). Findings revealed a greater discussion of generalizability limitations in comparison with the past, and other types of generalization methods such as conceptual generalizations and qualitative comparisons of study results with those of other studies. Relatively low usage of quantitative comparisons of sample to population and replication procedures was detected. Implications of these trends are discussed and approaches for improvements are explored.     

Positive youth development initiatives in Chicago

Chicago has put in place a number of interwoven structures supporting young people during out-of-school hours, emphasizing alignment between community-based organizations and public entities.