Industrial relations problems—OR's contribution

This paper considers the contribution which OR (Operational Research) can make to solving some of the problems in the industrial relations field. It first discusses the characteristics of industrial relations problems, categorising them according to the degree of conflict involved. The kinds of contribution OR can make are then discussed, first in a general way and then for each category in turn. The paper draws particular attention to the need for OR work in much of the industrial relations field to take account of the existence of conflict and of the game-like nature of the negotiating process. Some of the problems this presents to the OR worker are mentioned. Directions for future developments in the field are proposed. Finally there is a brief discussion about whether the issues raised in the paper are relevant to OR's contribution in fields other than industrial relations.     

Aiming for the discursive high ground: Monsanto and the biotechnology controversy

The past several years have seen the publication of a great deal of exciting theoretical work on ideology and discourse. There has, however, been much less empirical work in the area. In this essay, we undertake a study of a specific set of discursive products developed by Monsanto Corporation in its efforts to shape public opinion and the terms of debate in the controversy over the development of biotechnology. Drawing on existing work, we suggest that relationships between signifiers and signifieds are not natural, but social creations, and that the creation of signs is often the product of social struggles. We show how Monsanto has drawn on discursive elements with historical resonance to create an image of biotechnology that the company hopes will lead to public support for the technology or, at the very least, will stifle opposition.     

Inner Wellbeing: Concept and Validation of a New Approach to Subjective Perceptions of Wellbeing—India

This paper describes the conceptual development of a multi-domain, psychosocial model of ‘Inner Wellbeing’ (IWB) and assesses the construct validity of the scale designed to measure it. IWB expresses what people think and feel they are able to be and do. Drawing together scholarship in wellbeing and international development it is grounded in field research in marginalised, rural communities in the global South. Results from research in India at two points in time (2011 and 2013) are reported. At Time 1 (n = 287), we were unable to confirm an eight-factor, correlated model as distinct yet interrelated domains. However, at Time 2 (n = 335), we were able to confirm a revised, seven-factor correlated model with economic confidence, agency and participation, social connections, close relationships, physical and mental health, competence and self-worth, and values and meaning (five items per domain) as distinct yet interrelated domains. In particular, at Time 2, a seven-factor, correlated model provided a significantly better fit to the data than did a one-factor model.     

Who's Minding the Kids? Pollucion,Public Schools,and Environmental Justice in Los Angeles

Objective . Although previous environmental justice research has focused on analysis of the disproportionate burden of environmental hazards on minority residents, few studies have examined demographic inequities in health risks among children. This article evaluates the demographic distribution of potentially hazardous facilities and health risks associated with ambient air toxics exposures among public schoolchildren in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Methods . We combine Geographic Information System analysis with multivariate statistics to compare enrollment and demographic information for students who attend district schools with the spatial pattern of land use, locations of toxic emissions and facilities, and calculated indices of estimated lifetime cancer risk and respiratory hazards associated with exposures to toxic air emissions. Results . District schools are more likely to be located in census tracts containing potentially hazardous facilities; however, these tracts actually have slightly lower cancer and respiratory health risks associated with air toxics when compared to other tracts in the district. Demographic comparisons among school sites indicate that minority students, especially Latinos, are more likely to attend schools near hazardous facilities and face higher health risks associated with outdoor air toxics exposure. Conclusions . These patterns of hazard exposure and health risk should be considered both in the process of siting new schools to house the rapidly growing regional student population and in remediation efforts at existing schools.     

Color-Line as Fault-Line: Teaching Interethnic Relations in California in the 21st Century

In this article, I describe an undergraduate course on interethnic relations that I taught at a small, predominantly White, liberal arts college during the 1990s. First, I present the intellectual heart of the course (similarities and differences between Allport's [1954/1979] mainstream perspective and Du Bois' [1903/1969] oft-neglected, alternative perspective on race relations). Subsequently, I discuss the course background and a precipitating incident (verbal conflict between a White male student and a Black female student) that transformed the class. Finally, I reflect on my experiences, as well as individual and institutional factors (gender, institutional racism) that probably affected students' and faculty members' responses. Policy implications for courses on prejudice (and for teachers of such courses) are discussed .     

Publication Productivity of Bsw Faculty

Abstract

This article examines the publication productivity of BSW faculty, using self-reported data on journal articles, books, book chapters, and published conference proceedings. The authors analyze areas such as prevalent types of publications, topics addressed, journals in which articles appear, distribution of publications among respondents, and comparisons of productivity with various independent variables. Variables found to be related to productivity include size of both the institution and the social work program, faculty rank, public versus private auspices of the institution, administrative structure of the program, and institutional requirements for productivity. The article concludes by noting the parallel increases in demand for undergraduate faculty productivity and production of all types of publications, and by suggesting topics for further research.     

Family Factors,Theft, Vandalism,and Major Deviance Among a Multiracial/Multiethnic Sample of Adolescent Girls

This article reports on a study of 503 African-American, Hispanic, and White non-Hispanic adolescent girls attending public schools in Miami, Florida. The primary objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence of 13 self-reported delinquent behaviors in the sample, to compare these rates among the three groups of students, and to explore the predictive influences of several family factors that correlate with delinquency. It was found that 37.5% of the sample engaged in one or more acts of serious delinquency, with African-Americans reporting they had engaged in significantly more of these behaviors. The best predictors of theft/vandalism were low family pride and family substance abuse for Hispanics, low family communication for African-Americans, and low family pride for White non-Hispanics. The findings indicate that traditional family factors that have been used repeatedly to understand delinquency by male adolescents were not strong predictors of delinquency among the adolescent girls in the sample.     

Active Listening in Peer Interviews: The Influence of Message Paraphrasing on Perceptions of Listening Skill

Perhaps no communication skill is identified as regularly as active listening in training programs across a variety of disciplines and activities. Yet little empirical research has examined specific elements of active listening responses in terms of their effectiveness in achieving desired interpersonal outcomes. This study reports an experiment designed to test the influence of a specific element of active listening responses, namely, the message paraphrase. One hundred and eighty undergraduate students participated in peer interviews in which they received either a paraphrased reflection or a simple acknowledgement in response to their expressed opinions regarding comprehensive examinations. The results of data analysis indicated that message paraphrases were associated with the social attractiveness of the listener but were not associated with participants' conversational satisfaction or perceptions of feeling understood by the listener.