Is that all there is? The concept of care and the dialectic of critique

Recognition of the usefulness of critical social analysis for gerontology has been increasing just as a range of new problems, ranging from globalization to the anti-aging movement, are posing fresh questions about ideology, legitimation and inequality for the study of aging. Such problems and questions represent the negative moment of critique in the theory–practice dialectic. As is generally true of critical theory, in critical gerontology it is rare to find research that reflects a positive movement toward emancipatory change. Yet gerontology is one of the fields that offers special opportunities for critiquing the status quo of aging and elders in society, envisioning new possibilities for aging and developing practices that produce positive change. This paper describes the movement of our own thinking and work, away from a primary focus on analysis and critique and toward an embrace of the possibilities of generating and sustaining change in organizational care settings. We argue that principles of critical developmental and social theory can be used to reframe the concept of care, and we describe briefly how the methodology of action research can be applied in efforts to create new opportunities and possibilities in the everyday experience of elders in long-term care. In our work, we are learning how a constructive theory–practice dialectic can be initiated when critical principles are applied to a practical and urgent domain — the domain of interpersonal care within long-term care institutions for elders.     

EMPIRICAL STUDIES OF DEPRECIATION

This paper surveys empirical research on depreciation based on an econometric model of asset prices introduced by Hall in 1971 and shows how Hall's model provides a vehicle for unifying research on constant quality price indices and depreciation. An additional objective of the paper is to illustrate the use of this research in constructing an integrated system of income, product, and wealth accounts. A system of vintage accounts, like that originated by Christensen and Jorgenson in 1973, is the key to successful integration.     

Transnational Corporate Investment and Food the Third World: A Cross-National Analysis1

Abstract World-system theory, dependency theory, and other critical perspectives indicate that activities of transnational corporations (TNCs) promote hunger in the Third World. However, cross-national research on effects of dependence has largely ignored this fundamental manifestation of underdevelopment. This study examines the impact of transnational corporate investment on food consumption in 60 countries. Per capita consumption of calories and protein from 1970 to 1985 is regressed on 1967 transnational corporate investment penetration (investment stocks), 1967 consumption, and appropriate controls. The results strongly support perspectives critical of TNCs. Transnational corporate penetration has a substantial detrimental effect on food consumption which grows with the length of the lag between penetration and the dependent variables. This finding is confirmed by robust regression analysis. Over the 1967–1985 period, countries with minimal transnational corporate penetration are estimated to have gained approximately 700 more calories and 20 more grams of protein consumption per person per day than countries with maximal transnational corporate penetration.     

Production control systems for small group production

Experience with small group production systems has shown that mere change of layout and introduction of groups on the shop floor do not achieve the main objectives and possible advantages of groups, unless they are accompanied by certain changes in supporting services. Probably the most important changes are those required in production control. It is absolutely vital that the requirements and characteristics of the manufacturing system are taken into account when designing the production control system and vice versa. This paper outlines the problems and important factors affecting production control in a Group Technology (GT) environment, together with case studies which describe the operation of production planning and control systems used in two different organisations.     

Project CHOICE: Validity of Interest and Ability Measures for Student Choice of Vocational Program

This project sought to determine whether interest and ability measures can help high school students identify vocational education programs in which they may experience satisfaction and success. Interest measures (6) and ability measures (15) were administered to 2,101 seniors in 19 area vocational-technical schools. About 80% of the satisfied/successful seniors would have been referred, by a computer-based score interpretation, to the job cluster containing the vocational program they completed. Generally, score profiles were congruent with program content. Results indicate that computer-based interpretations can effectively and efficiently link interest and ability scores to vocational-technical program options.     

Human Interindividual Variability–A Major Source of Uncertainty in Assessing Risks for Noncancer Health Effects

For noncancer effects, the degree of human interindividual variability plays a central role in determining the risk that can be expected at low exposures. This discussion reviews available data on observations of interindividual variability in (a) breathing rates, based on observations in British coal miners; (b) systemic pharmacokinetic parameters, based on studies of a number of drugs; (c) susceptibility to neurological effects from fetal exposure to methyl mercury, based on observations of the incidence of effects in relation to hair mercury levels; and (d) chronic lung function changes in relation to long-term exposure to cigarette smoke. The quantitative ranges of predictions that follow from uncertainties in estimates of interindividual variability in susceptibility are illustrated.     

Further Evidence for the Use of Career Subtypes in Defining Career Status

Four groups of career-decided students differentiated by the level of comfort they reported with their career choices (Uncomfortable, Somewhat Comfortable, Moderately Comfortable, Very Comfortable) and two groups of career-undecided students differentiated by the level of the problem they perceived their indecision to be (Not Serious, Serious) were compared using three measures of career status and two measures of anxiety. Generally, the results seriously challenge the use of decided versus undecided groupings in defining career status and suggest that many career-decided students may benefit from career intervention. Further investigation of career subtypes, examining both quantitative and qualitative dimensions of career status, is recommended.