Convergence of non-linear functionals of smoothed empirical processes and kernel density estimates

We consider regularizations by convolution of the empirical process and study the asymptotic behaviour of non-linear functionals of this process. Using a result for the same type of non-linear functionals of the Brownian bridge, shown in a previous paper [4], and a strong approximation theorem, we prove several results for the p-deviation in estimation of the derivatives of the density. We also study the asymptotic behaviour of the number of crossings of the smoothed empirical process defined by Yukich [17] and of a modified version of the Kullback deviation.     

Strengthening kinship families: scoping the provision of respite care in Australia

Kinship care is the fastest growing form of out‐of‐home care in Australia, as it is in many other countries. The Victorian Government's response has been to establish 18 programmes across the state to provide support to kinship families. The scoping project described here, based on interviews with key programme staff, explores the experiences of the new programmes in providing support, specifically respite care, to kinship families. It has produced a picture, based on qualitative and quantitative data, of how respite care is understood, the perceived respite needs of kinship families, how services are organized and provided, identified barriers to families accessing support, the effect of respite provision and what constitutes optimal practice. The findings establish a basis for a best practice model of service provision for this increasingly significant family type.     

The prevention of child abuse

An apparent practice oriented consensus that child abuse can and should be prevented covers over considerable conflict in ideology, interest and conceptual understanding. Three current approaches to the prevention of child abuse are reviewed: clinical health led risk assessment models, broader social reform strategies and criminal justice youth victimisation models. Sources of contradiction are explored through the definitions of child abuse underpinning different strategies. The paper proposes a change in the language of child protection, away from child abuse towards specified avoidable harm. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Detection of structurally homogeneous subsets in graphs

The analysis of complex networks is a rapidly growing topic with many applications in different domains. The analysis of large graphs is often made via unsupervised classification of vertices of the graph. Community detection is the main way to divide a large graph into smaller ones that can be studied separately. However another definition of a cluster is possible, which is based on the structural distance between vertices. This definition includes the case of community clusters but is more general in the sense that two vertices may be in the same group even if they are not connected. Methods for detecting communities in undirected graphs have been recently reviewed by Fortunato. In this paper we expand Fortunato’s work and make a review of methods and algorithms for detecting essentially structurally homogeneous subsets of vertices in binary or weighted and directed and undirected graphs.     

Children as Witnesses: Understanding Their Capacities,Needs, and Experiences

Historically the law regarded children as inherently unreliable and made it difficult for them to testify. Since 1975 awareness of child abuse has increased and research has established that children can be reliable witnesses. Governments began to recognize the needs and capacities of children and enacted legal reforms to facilitate prosecutions for child abuse. This paper reports on a survey of victim witness workers and other justice system professionals which reveals some of the continuedfailings of that system in dealing with children. Althoughrelatively rare, there are cases of false allegations of abuse, usually a result of investigations by poorly trained professionals. Further legal reforms and better human supports are required to ensure that the needs of children are met and their capacities as witnesses are fully appreciated.     

Anglo and Latino Differences in Willingness to Pay for Urban Public Services*

Objective. This research explores Anglo and Latino differences in willingness to pay for urban public services, assuming differences will impact service delivery in local government as the Latino population increases and becomes more visible. Methods. Survey data from a probability sample of Phoenix residents, now the nation's fifth largest city, are analyzed across 28 city services using multiple mechanisms that included a logit multivariate model. Results. Latinos are substantially more likely than Anglos to report willingness to pay for urban public services. These differences cut across services and are not mitigated by Latino income levels. Conclusions. Latinos are prepared to be full partners in improving service delivery in local government, even at the expense of out‐of‐pocket payment for services. Moreover, while increases in the Latino population will carry greater demand for more and high‐quality city services by Latinos, it is unlikely to alter the menu of preferred services along class or race/ethnic lines. The fact that Latinos seem generally more willing to pay for services also raises the possibility that Latinos are interested in investing in their communities, seeking more opportunities, and perhaps remaining in those communities.     

Book reviews

Abstract

Social Policy, Public Policy Meredith Edwards, Cosmo Howard, Robin Miller (2001), Allen & Unwin, Sydney ISBN 1 86448 9480 $35.00 RRP.

Spirituality in social work practice: Narratives for professional helping Sonia Abels (Ed) (2000), Love Publishing Company, Denver, Colorado 131 pp. $56.90 (paperback)

Family — centered policies and practices: International implications Katharine Briar-Lawson, Hal A. Lawson, Charles B. Hennon and Alan R. Jones, Columbia University Press, New York Chichester, West Sussex ISBN 0 231 12106 7 462 pp. (soft cover)

Lookin' after our own: Supporting Aboriginal families through the hospital experience Angela Clarke, Shawana Andrews and Neville Austin (2000), A report sponsored by the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation

Making stepfamilies work A course for couples Irene Gerrard & Margaret Howden (1998), Stepfamily Association of Victoria Inc. ISBN 0 646 3622 4 (spiral bound)

The empowerment approach to social work practice: Building the beloved community Judith AS Lee (2001), Columbia University Press, New York, ISBN 0 231 11548 2 517 pp. (hardback)     

The Crucial Role of Nomothetic and Idiographic Conceptions of Time: Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Nuclear Waste Management

The disposal of nuclear waste involves extensive time scales. Technical experts consider up to 1 million years for the disposal of spent fuel and high‐level waste in their safety assessment. Yet nuclear waste is not only a technical but also a so‐called sociotechnical problem and, therefore, requires interdisciplinary collaboration between technical, natural, social sciences, and the humanities in its management. Given that these disciplines differ in their language, epistemics, and interests, such collaboration might be problematic. Based on evidence from cognitive psychology, we suggest that, in particular, a concept like time is presumably critical and can be understood differently. This study explores how different scientific disciplines understand extensive time scales in general and then focuses on nuclear waste. Eighteen qualitative exploratory interviews were conducted with experts for time‐related phenomena of different disciplines, among them experts working in nuclear waste management. Analyses revealed two distinct conceptions of time corresponding to idiographic and nomothetic research approaches: scientists from the humanities and social sciences tend to have a more open, undetermined conception of time, whereas natural scientists tend to focus on a more determined conception that includes some undetermined aspects. Our analyses lead to reflections on potential difficulties for interdisciplinary teams in nuclear waste management. We focus on the understanding of the safety assessment, on potential implications for communication between experts from different disciplines (e.g., between experts from the humanities and engineering for risk assessment and risk communication), and we reflect on the roles of different disciplines in nuclear waste management.