The value and purpose of the traditional qualitative literature review

Both meta-analysis and traditional literature or narrative reviews strive to compile a great deal of information in an accessible and succinct manner. In recent years, social work researchers have been turning toward meta-analysis to identify issues in large areas of research. In order for meta-analysis to be a rigorous and objective source of information there are a certain set of assumptions that must be met about how to carry out the process of including and excluding various studies. However, when these assumptions are not met, the information provided can be misleading. Traditional literature reviews continue to offer a valid and important way to identify existing patterns and gaps in social work research. In fact, because they draw not only on quantitative (as does meta-analysis) but also qualitative studies their reach may often be broader. This paper examines the strengths, weaknesses and utility of both practices in social work research today.     

The Contextual Impact of Nonprofit Board Composition and Structure on Organizational Performance: Agency and Resource Dependence Perspectives

We study the relation between stability of the nonprofit organization’s environment and its board structure and the impact of this relation on organizational performance from the perspectives of both Agency Theory and Resource Dependence (Boundary Spanning) Theory. The impact of board characteristics on organizational performance is contextual. Specifically, we predict and show for a sample of U.S. nonprofits that board mechanisms related to monitoring are more likely to be effective for stable organizations, whereas board mechanisms related to boundary spanning are more effective for less stable organizations. We find that the two theories are complementary and address different aspects of nonprofit performance, but the results are statistically stronger and more often consistent with resource dependence than with agency theory. Overall, this study supports Miller-Millesen’s (Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 32: 521–547 2003) contention that, because the nonprofit environment is often more complex and heterogeneous than the for-profit world, no one theory describes all tasks of nonprofit boards.     

新经济的若干问题

为消除人们对新经济概念的误解,本文通过分析美国经济状况,讨论了四大经济问题：美国经济扩张、良性通胀、生产力恢复以及其他国家的新经济特征。     

Neoliberal subjectivities and the behavioural focus on income management

This paper specifically addresses the behavioural focus of the income management regime, arguing that through its use of market logic and the reduction of social and political complexity, the regime is a technology of neoliberal governmentality. This paper finds that income management, whether compulsory or voluntary, blanket or Community based, regards the individual as the site of dysfunction, depoliticising and dehumanising broader socio economic historical factors in the process. Further, the focus on behavioural change creates the illusion that the market logic of income management will produce responsible citizens, which in turn obscures the possibility of redressing poverty and inequality.     

Computer-Aided Process Structuring Via Mixed Integer Programming

Systems development managers today are working with increasingly complex systems, revealing a need for computer-aided techniques in software system definition, design, and construction. The ultimate task of the software engineer is the development of tools and procedures which reduce the effort involved in production of effective software. To be effective, software must possess characteristics of correctness, reliability, efficiency, documentation, and flexibility. This paper develops a measure for software effectiveness and a computer aid for determining process structure in program module specification. The proposed method uses various criteria and a mixed integer program to decompose a system graph into program modules.     

Exploring the Organisational Collage of Memetic Paradigms for (a) Change — A Research Note

Exploring organisations is the prerequisite for any intentional attempt to strategic change. Yet, what is it that we observe when we observe organisations? The argument chooses a narrative approach to exploring organisations. With Niklas Luhmann we look at the operations of organising which makes the organisation an organisation. The paper suggests the organisational collage (I.) of stories as a starting point of the exploration. The specific focus is on meaning-creation and sense-making as the genuine act of organisational self-observation. The disciplinary matrix (II.) reflects on how stories and narratives crystallise and rule the organisation in a paradigmatic way. Along Thomas Kuhn's understanding of paradigms (III.) management is referenced as an activity of a community of practice based on a disciplinary matrix of models, methods and instruments. Giorgio Agamben's conceptualisation of paradigms as reference giving examples allows the opening up of the implicit side of organisational culture. Memetics (V.) approaching reference giving examples as memes and culture as a meme-complex enable the observation of dynamics and cultural evolution over time. Concluding we come to understand the organisational implications (V.) of the conservative nature of organisational development and the systemic sensitivity that allows for management, learning and change. And as always, advances in research come at the price of new questions.     

Testing of mean interval for interval-valued data

Abstract

A new parametric hypothesis test of mean interval for interval-valued data set, which can deal with massive information contained in nowadays massive data “Big data” sets, is proposed. An approach using an orthogonal transformation is introduced to obtain an equivalent hypothesis test of mean interval in terms of the mid-point and mid-range of the interval-valued variable. The new test is very efficient in small interval-valued sample scenarios. Some simulation studies are conducted for the investigation of the sample size and the power of test. The performance of the proposed test is illustrated with two real-life examples.     

A new preventive intervention for children of substance‐abusing parents: Results of a randomized controlled trial

Children of substance‐abusing parents (COS) are at risk for developing psychosocial problems. We evaluated the effectiveness of the manualized, 9‐session psycho‐educational preventive intervention “TRAMPOLINE” (PE) for 8–12‐year‐old COS compared with a non‐educational “fun and play” group (NE) of equal length delivered by social workers in 27 German counselling centres. A randomized controlled trial was conducted to compare PE (n = 130) and NE (n = 88) outcomes at baseline, post intervention, and 6‐month follow‐up. Primary outcomes were related to stress and coping; secondary were also examined. Analyses were conducted using baseline‐adjusted repeated measures linear mixed models. Five outcomes revealed improvements both in PE and NE, four of which were more pronounced in PE, and one more pronounced in NE. Small but significant group differences in favour of PE were found in “social isolation” and “addiction‐related knowledge.” Children from both groups reported reduced mental distress, reduced avoidance in coping with family stress, improved self‐perceived autonomy, and a better parent–child relationship. No changes were observed in self‐efficacy, physical stress symptoms, and in other health‐related quality of life aspects. TRAMPOLINE can instill positive changes in COS by reducing mental distress and social isolation.     

Comparative Human Health Impact Assessment of Engineered Nanomaterials in the Framework of Life Cycle Assessment

For safe innovation, knowledge on potential human health impacts is essential. Ideally, these impacts are considered within a larger life‐cycle‐based context to support sustainable development of new applications and products. A methodological framework that accounts for human health impacts caused by inhalation of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) in an indoor air environment has been previously developed. The objectives of this study are as follows: (i) evaluate the feasibility of applying the CF framework for NP exposure in the workplace based on currently available data; and (ii) supplement any resulting knowledge gaps with methods and data from the li fe c ycle a pproach and human r isk a ssessment (LICARA) project to develop a modified case‐specific version of the framework that will enable near‐term inclusion of NP human health impacts in life cycle assessment (LCA) using a case study involving nanoscale titanium dioxide (nanoTiO₂). The intent is to enhance typical LCA with elements of regulatory risk assessment, including its more detailed measure of uncertainty. The proof‐of‐principle demonstration of the framework highlighted the lack of available data for both the workplace emissions and human health effects of ENMs that is needed to calculate generalizable characterization factors using common human health impact assessment practices in LCA. The alternative approach of using intake fractions derived from workplace air concentration measurements and effect factors based on best‐available toxicity data supported the current case‐by‐case approach for assessing the human health life cycle impacts of ENMs. Ultimately, the proposed framework and calculations demonstrate the potential utility of integrating elements of risk assessment with LCA for ENMs once the data are available.