Getting out of the European Paradox trap: Making European research agile and challenge driven

The ‘European Paradox’ encapsulates concerns that although European research institutions play a leading role in terms of top-level scientific output, they lag behind in their ability to convert this strength into successful innovations in the market. This paradox and the related intriguing problematic aspects of European research institutions have inspired a significant number of research papers, reports and studies by academics, innovation think tanks and the European Commission itself. In this position paper, we review the literature on the European paradox, identify gaps and contradictions in the understanding of the actual situation and discuss possible ways of moving forward towards a European research and innovation system that taps into diversity and complementarity of resources as a competitive innovation advantage.     

One new policy: A variety of applications—The implementation processes of a new mental health policy in Sweden

The increase in mental ill health at a global level is widely acknowledged. This trend has led to the development of new policy frameworks that focus on public mental health. This study aimed to explore the implementation process regarding regional and local responses to national policy, proposing a substantially enhanced understanding of mental health within the Swedish welfare system. To explore the implementation process, a multiple case study was conducted using snowball sampling. In all, 18 key informants were interviewed. The results revealed that the informants adopted an experimental implementation process in which policy learning could take place. Contextual factors were essential for how a broad policy approach could be translated into practice. The broad policy not only made it possible for local needs to be addressed, but it also allowed for variations in focus position within the country as a whole. There seemed to be no consensus among the informants as to the origin or solution to the problem. Essentially, the question of whether public mental health issues should be dealt with at a structural or individual level remained unresolved. The Swedish case could be understood as an illustrative example of how one country attempts to handle a major problem despite insufficient information to direct the initiative towards a certain direction.     

Some results about bivariate discrete distributions through the vector of aging intensities

In this paper bivariate vectors of discrete aging and alternative aging intensities are introduced. Using these vector-valued functions we present some results about bivariate discrete distributions.     

Keeping Mum: Characteristics and Family Dynamics of Mothers Who Are Liable to Pay Child Support in Australia

In recent decades, changes in post‐separation parenting arrangements in Australia have led to an increase in the small but significant group of mothers liable to pay child support to fathers. The present study uses data from the Child Support Reform Study, a national random sample of separated parents in Australia registered with the Child Support Agency (CSA) in 2008. In total, 185 mothers with a child support liability were identified. Drawing on reports from separated mothers and fathers liable to pay child support in 2008, the study found that 43% of liable mothers had shared or more time. Few liable mothers reported spending no time with their child in the previous 12 months. Unlike liable fathers, mothers with a child support liability tended to be more ‘fearful’ of their former partner; have a resident child in their household; work fewer hours in paid employment; and have older children. Liable mothers were also more likely than other separated mothers to describe the relationship with their former partner as ‘fearful.’ Gendered expectations of parenting mean that liable mothers and liable fathers may adopt different behavioural responses to their roles. The implications of these findings for family therapists are briefly discussed.     

Blocking the solution: Social representations of threats and (non)dialogue with alternative representations in Greek‐Cypriot newspapers during peace negotiations

This paper first identifies representations of threats in Greek‐Cypriot newspapers related to the negotiations for a Cyprus settlement. Then, it identifies how alternative representations to these core representations of threats are managed through the use of a number of semantic barriers. Therefore, it problematizes the role (function) that such representations of threats play in undermining the potential for transformative dialogue in a post‐conflict and divided country in need of conflict transformation. Focus is on the editorials of two newspapers during a four‐month period before the collapse of the July 2017 Cyprus peace talks. Both were suspicious and polemic vis‐à‐vis the said negotiations but used different strategies to oppose them. Simerini convened recurrently threats such as Turkification, state dissolution and threats against Hellenism. Phileleftheros focused on the issue of security drawing red lines on various dossiers under discussion in the negotiations. The paper contributes to the theoretical debate of the relationship between social representations and identities and the role of threats and historical narratives in undermining transformative dialogue through the use of semantic barriers.     

Exploration of the Research Circle Methodology for User Involvement in Research on Home and Health Dynamics in Old Age

The aim of this study was to explore the usefulness of research circle methodology in the later stages of the research process. In an active collaboration with the researchers, participants, that is, users of research, discussed and prioritized research on home and health dynamics. Reflections, comments, and evaluations from both leaders and users were analyzed, applying content analysis. The usefulness of the research circle methodology from the users´ perspective reflected the importance of the content, form for research presentations, leadership methods, and the mix of participants. Research leaders reflect on the role as challenging and demanding, where the composition of users plays an important role for the usefulness of the methodology, as well as for practicalities, form, and content of the research presentations. Research circle methodology offers opportunities for knowledge translation; however, it is demanding and presents a range of challenges, such as the heterogeneity of the group, that needs further exploration.     

The Efficacy of Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy and Behavioral Couples Therapy: A Meta‐Analysis

Behavioral couple therapy (BCT) and emotionally focused couples therapy (EFCT) are well‐established treatments to reduce couple distress. This meta‐analysis summarizes the current state of knowledge on the efficacy of these two therapy methods by focusing on randomized controlled trials only. A literature search revealed 33 suitable primary studies (2,730 participants in total), all of them measuring relationship satisfaction. Robust‐variance random‐effects meta‐analysis revealed medium effect sizes at post‐test (overall: g = 0.60; BCT: g = 0.53; EFCT: g = 0.73) and small effect sizes of 6 months after treatment (overall: g = 0.44; BCT: g = 0.35; EFCT: g = 0.66), but these gains were not maintained after 12 months (BCT only: g = 0.06). Between the two therapy methods, no significant effect size differences could be found. Results have to be interpreted with caution due to potential publication bias.     

Big Data Analytics Capabilities and Innovation: The Mediating Role of Dynamic Capabilities and Moderating Effect of the Environment

With big data analytics growing rapidly in popularity, academics and practitioners have been considering the means through which they can incorporate the shifts these technologies bring into their competitive strategies. Drawing on the resource‐based view, the dynamic capabilities view, and on recent literature on big data analytics, this study examines the indirect relationship between a big data analytics capability (BDAC) and two types of innovation capabilities: incremental and radical. The study extends existing research by proposing that BDACs enable firms to generate insight that can help strengthen their dynamic capabilities, which in turn positively impact incremental and radical innovation capabilities. To test their proposed research model, the authors used survey data from 175 chief information officers and IT managers working in Greek firms. By means of partial least squares structural equation modelling, the results confirm the authors’ assumptions regarding the indirect effect that BDACs have on innovation capabilities. Specifically, they find that dynamic capabilities fully mediate the effect on both incremental and radical innovation capabilities. In addition, under conditions of high environmental heterogeneity, the impact of BDACs on dynamic capabilities and, in sequence, incremental innovation capability is enhanced, while under conditions of high environmental dynamism the effect of dynamic capabilities on incremental innovation capabilities is amplified.