Using an action research approach to involving service users in the assessment of professional competence

This paper reports on a piece of action research that has involved people who use mental health services in systematically providing feedback from a user perspective on participants’ assessed work completed for one module of a masters’ training programme in mental health. In an attempt to improve professional practice and include people who were accessing mental health services in so doing, it outlines how users were trained to provide feedback and the training methods employed. The findings summarise the kind of issues users raised in their feedback to participants about the evidence professionals provided to demonstrate their learning from the training programme. A focus group interview with professionals provides a contrasting insight into the participants’ experience of having their work commented upon from a user perspective. The paper draws on the experience of a five-year external evaluation of an interdisciplinary programme in community mental health at Birmingham University in the UK which has highlighted the involvement of people who use mental health services as a particular innovation in the design, delivery and evaluation of the curriculum.     

微小經濟體旅遊業的宏觀經濟分析及其對澳門的啟示(英文)

一個地區旅遊業是否成功一般是用旅客到達數目和旅遊業毛收入來衡量,而通常忽略了旅遊業發展的潛在成本及其對該地區的不良經濟社會影響。在宏觀經濟理論的框架下,結合一些旅遊業主導的微小經濟體的相關統計數字,本文指出旅遊業對於地區的經濟影響和分配效應。希望相關的政策制定者關注旅遊業實際的而不是單純的賬面利潤,以制定出更全面、更有經濟效益的旅遊策略。     

中国人类发展指标体系构建及各地人类发展水平比较研究

本文在UNDP创建的HDI三个维度基础上,根据中国人类发展的特点,增加脱贫和公平维度,构建中国人类发展指数(CHDI),并运用中国各省区市2003、2005和2008年相关统计数据,计算出中国各省区市人类发展指数(CHDI)值,揭示各省区市人类发展水平现状,对各省区市人类发展水平、趋势进行判断;在此基础上,重点对中国各省区市人类发展水平进行聚类划分,为科学分析中国人类发展指数影响因子,揭示中国各省区市人类发展规律,制定正确的经济社会政策提供依据。     

Advances in Librarianship,Vol. 28

Abstract

This quarter’s column reports on sessions from the Charleston Conference, held in Charleston, SC, November 6–10, 2017.     

The Benefits of Equine-Assisted Activities: An Exploratory Study

This study explores the benefits of equine-assisted-activities (EAA) to adolescents with emotional, behavioural or learning difficulties, expanding on previous anecdotal evidence by employing quantitative measures and a control activity. Ten adolescent males and one adolescent female attended a racehorse rehabilitation centre, interacting with both live and model horses. Interaction frequency, self-report anxiety and self-esteem were measured. A significant reduction in trait anxiety was found over the course of the programme, however, no changes in self-esteem were reported. Such programmes could reduce anxiety in at risk populations. Further research could deconstruct the study and elucidate the relationships between EAA and psychological well-being.     

Using regulatory fit theory to examine how the communication context of compliance-gaining interactions influences compliance

Compliance-gaining research focuses mainly on how message variations differentially affect compliance; however, few studies have examined how framing the compliance-gaining goal (i.e., promotion/prevention) and providing a means to achieve the goal function concurrently to influence compliance. The current study uses regulatory fit theory to examine how a fit between goals and means of compliance-gaining messages affects compliance. A field experiment was conducted in which subjects were presented with a compliance-gaining request in which goals and means were varied. Results indicated that compliance rates and donation amounts were higher under conditions of fit between the regulatory orientation of goals and means rather than non-fit. Findings are discussed in light of their implications for compliance-gaining research and regulatory fit theory.     

Socially Engaged Art and Social Work: Reflecting on an Interdisciplinary Course Development Journey

This article shares key questions guiding our process of building interdisciplinary bridges between social work and art to contribute to social justice-oriented education. Through a focus on socially engaged art, we discuss the purpose and forms that these practices take and the role of the audience/participants when working for social change with communities. We then present a proposed course outline that brings social work and socially engaged art together. Our hope is that this discussion will guide others interested in working through interdisciplinary collaborations, as can be seen by the growing interest in the mix of art and social work in practice and education.