Planning for job creation

It is generally accepted that the future is uncertain and consequently structure plans must be monitored and revised, as necessary, to take account of changing cirsumstances. But the perspective taken both to the initial Plan, in its survey of the current scene and its likely trends, and to monitoring, is crucial. The present study presupposes that structure planning tends to be backward looking and gives insufficient attention to the potential changes in technology and society that could begin to develop during the plan period.     

Dietetics majors' weight-reduction beliefs, behaviors, and information sources

One hundred twenty-eight female dietetics majors aspiring to be registered dietitians were surveyed to identify and assess their reasons for wanting to lose weight and the weight-loss techniques and information sources they used and would recommend to clients. Fisher's exact tests were used to analyze behavioral data, and binomial tests to determine whether proportions of students achieving their desired weight-loss outcomes were significantly greater than 50%. Most dieters wanted to lose weight to improve their appearance and increase their self-esteem. Sound weight-loss techniques that were used and recommended include increased exercise, low-fat foods and snacks, and portion control. Accurate information sources used and recommended included food labels and college nutrition courses. Unsound weight-loss techniques and potentially inaccurate information sources were also used and would be recommended by a few students. Findings suggest a need for more learning opportunities focusing on enhancement of self-esteem and weight management.     

Studying the New Media

Studies of the impact of the media on people have not produced stable results, because they operate with an unrealistic view of audience members as an inert mass of passive recipients of what is aimed at them. Observation of television viewers in France, and the examples of amateur photography and pornography, show the importance of a more realistic view, taking account of the active participation of people in the creation of communication works and the worlds of arts that are not conventionally studied.