The application of decision theory to sustainable management of an upland Scottish estate

Financial, social and ecological cost and benefit criteria were used to examine the sustainability of land-use options on an upland Scottish estate. The costs and benefits of alternative land uses were examined using a psychometric modelling technique based on decision-conferencing, using an expert group of people. Three decision models based respectively on financial, social and ecological criteria were developed, compared and then integrated. The management options that emerged from the integrated model as best compromises appeared to be reasonable and feasible within the framework of facts and projections available to the group. The effects of different future scenarios, such as changes in fiscal policy, were also examined using the models. A three-dimensional model constructed from a principal components analysis of the input data produced axes that seemed to reflect certain socio-political archetypes.     

Gatekeeping in Graduate Social Work Education: Should Personality Traits be Considered?

To begin to systematically determine what qualities may be most useful for social work students and developing practitioners from a gatekeeping standpoint, this study explored the relationship between personality traits among first-year MSW students and performance in the field and classroom. Results indicated that there is a relationship between some personality traits and performance in the field and classroom. Findings from this study support previous research in allied disciplines indicating that personality traits are relevant to professional training and occupational success. They also lend support to recent literature in social work, which has recognized personal characteristics or attributes as critical to success in practice. Implications regarding gatekeeping, the US Council on Social Work Education's implicit and explicit curricula, and signature pedagogy are discussed.     

Recovering a Dialectical View of Rationality

In this article, I argue for an interpretation of Messick's (1989) theory of validity that supports a dialectical over a technical view of rationality in making validity judgments. A primary theme underlying Messick's theory is the “Singerian” approach to inquiry where one system of inquiry is observed by another in order to open "their underlying scientific and value assumptions to public scrutiny and critique"(pp. 61–62). Against Markus (this issue), who argues that a “completion” of Messick's theoretical project is necessary to support a single, best justified validity judgment for any given test use, I argue that Messick has provided a means of maintaining validity theory and the judgments it supports as ongoing accomplishments, always open to other perspectives, and critically reflexive in light of those challenges.     

The use of large-group role-play techniques in social work education

The social work student's dilemma of how to link theory to practice is explored and developed by the use of a 'large-group role play' as part of a university-based DipSW programme. This project, although challenging to deliver, has met with an enthusiastic response from DipSW students.     

Perceived Power and Physical Violence in Marital Conflict

Relations among perceived marital power, the demand/withdraw interaction pattern, and self-reports of the use of verbal aggression and physical violence were examined in a sample of 42 married couples. Couples completed several self-report questionnaires and discussed two areas of marital dissatisfaction, one identified by the wife and one identified by the husband. These interactions were rated for the use of the demand/withdraw interaction pattern. Regression analyses revealed that lower levels of perceived power by the husbands and higher levels of perceived power by the wives were associated with the use of verbal aggression and violence by husbands and wives, the husband demand/wife withdraw interaction pattern was associated with husband's use of verbal aggression, and the wife demand/husband withdraw pattern was associated with husband's verbal aggression and violence and with wife's violence.     

The Form of Children’s Political Engagement in Everyday Life

This article explores the form of children’s political engagement, considering the politicization of events, their political understanding and alignments. It draws on research into memories of childhood and social change in the latter half of the 20th century and builds on academic debates about children’s political participation. Children’s experience of policing, industrial unrest, popular dissent, social movements and party politics is discussed. Children’s political engagement involves three elements. They must navigate different political perspectives, their understanding grows through feelings of concern and empathy, and they align to groups they can relate to and feel might make a difference.     

Family involvement in decision making in child protection and care: four types of case conference

Since the early 1980s the child protection and care system of Victoria, Australia, has seen the elaboration and diversification of decision making forums, with variable levels of participation by parents and older children. This paper identifies four forums which occur at different stages of the protective process and are held under different auspices and with different membership and purposes. This paper describes and compares these mechanisms with a view to clarifying their distinctive contributions and commonalities, and elaborates issues relating to how 'family' is conceptualized, underlying tensions in protective worker-family relationships, the process of participation, and the management of multiple case planning processes. The paper discusses problems that arise as multiple mechanisms become institutionalized within the same child protection system, and some limitations of participatory case planning in producing systems change.     

An intensive reunification program for children in foster care

While the Intensive Family Preservation Services (IFPS) model is widely used in preventing out-of-home placement, its application to reunifying foster children with their families has produced mixed results. This pilot project combined elements of the IFPS model with foster care-related services that included foster parent training and support, foster parent-parent linkage, and frequent parental visiting. Of 42 participating foster children, 79% were successfully reunified. At follow-up one year after their exit from the project, 91% of reunified children were still living with their family. Reunification was significantly associated with several characteristics of the families studied.