Marital dissolution among the 1958 British birth cohort: The role of cohabitation

This paper investigates the effect of previous cohabitation on marital stability among the 1958 British birth cohort. Prospective data from the National Child Development Study are used to investigate the way in which family background factors and early lifecourse experiences, including cohabitation, affect the risk of first marriage dissolution by age 33. Discrete time logistic regression hazards models are used to analyse the risk of separation in the first eight years of marriage. Many socio-economic and family background factors are found to act through more intermediate determinants, such as age at marriage and the timing of childbearing, to affect the risk of separation. Previous cohabitation with another partner and premarital cohabitation are both associated with higher rates of marital breakdown. The effect of premarital cohabitation is attenuated but remains significant once the characteristics of cohabitors are controlled, and cannot be explained by the longer time spent in a partnership.     

Dynamics of precarity among ‘new migrants’: exploring the worker–capital relation through mobilities and mobility power

ABSTRACT

This article conceptualises the role of mobilities within precarious working and living conditions, drawing on qualitative analysis of interviews (n = 52) and a policy seminar (n = 50) in North-East England. It focuses on refugees, asylum seekers, and Eastern European EU migrants, as policy-constructed groups that have been identified as disproportionately concentrated in precarious work. The article develops three ‘dynamics of precarity’, defined as ‘surplus’, ‘rooted’, and ‘hyper-flexible’, to conceptualise distinct ways of moving that represent significant variations in the form that precarity takes. The article concludes that understanding precarity through mobilities can identify points of connection among today’s increasingly heterogeneous working class.     

Experiencing menopause in the UK: The interrelated narratives of normality,distress, and transformation

ABSTRACT

We investigated the experience and perspectives of menopause among 48 UK mothers through qualitative in-depth interviews. Interviews were analyzed thematically then explored using social science theories. Three interdependent narratives emerged: menopause as a normal, biological process, distinct from self and social transitions; menopause as struggle, an “idiom of distress” expressing upset, identity loss, shame, and social upheaval; and menopause as transformative and liberating, arising from biopsychic and relational changes. Some women followed a predictable “rite of passage” trajectory with transformation emerging from distress, but not all: Menopause arises from a complex interplay of personal predicament, somatic change, and sociocultural context.     

英国教育问责制度的历史、实践及评价

20世纪70年代,鉴于问责制在公共管理领域取得的巨大成绩,英国政府开始逐步将其应用到教育领域,希望能够提升教育绩效。英国教育问责的发展经历了兴起、发展和改进三个阶段,经历了一条由注重教育资源利用到提升教育绩效再到关注教育公平的发展轨迹。英国教育问责范围广泛,对学校、学生和教师的评估是问责的重点,其问责注重群体性、自主性和公开性。通过问责实践活动的开展,教育质量有了很大提升。问责已经成为英国教育领域不可或缺的重要体制。     

英国养老保险签出制度的运行及对中国的借鉴

英国养老保险签出制度从1978年引入到现在经历了不断的改革,这一制度在减轻政府财政压力的同时,为民众提供了多样选择,鼓励民众为退休储蓄.经过了30年的发展,签出制度已经成为英国养老保险制度的重要组成部分.签出制度在给民众带来自由选择权的同时,也使整个养老制度复杂化,阻碍了退休储蓄,加剧了退休收益的不均等.我国可以借鉴英国的做法,设计"政府附加养老保险金",由地方政府负责实施,以体现不同地区因经济发展水平不同而产生不同的养老金需求水平.     

Technology selection in the absence of standardised materials and processes: a survey in the UK composite materials supply chain

Composite materials is an industry where technology selection has major consequences as there is not a standard manufacturing process, nor are there standardised materials with defined or proscribed properties for companies to select as multiple solutions are technically viable. This research aims to identify key factors for manufacturing technology selection in the UK composite materials supply chain. Literature review and managers’ opinions were used to identify 18 factors affecting manufacturing technology selection. This was followed by a survey comprising the multi-tier supply chain of the composite materials industry. The results of the survey show ‘on time deliveries/service level to customers’, ‘improve quality’ and ‘reduce cycle time’ received the highest average ratings. In this study a correlation analysis was performed to identify the underlying dependencies between the factors investigated. The identification and use of underlying dependencies rather than highest average provided a more comprehensive picture of the factors that affect technology selection in the composite materials industry. For this study, experts in composite materials were asked to comment on the findings of the survey and their value to the industry. The results presented may assist companies in the composite materials industry with technology selection decision-making processes.     

英国高等教育教学质量评估与监控制度研究

本文阐述了英国高等教育质量保证体系如何在国家/大学、大学/院系和教学模块三个层面上保证高校的教学质量,以及在提高高校教学质量方面给予我们的一些启示.     

SEEKING UNMEDIATED POLITICAL INFORMATION IN A MEDIATED ENVIRONMENT: The uses and gratifications of political parties' e-newsletters

Political parties are increasingly attempting to communicate to sections of the electorate directly, in order to relay targeted messages. E-newsletters are one key communication mode that facilitates this strategy, and previous research indicates that these, like many communications using information and communication technology, offer much potential for the sender. This research focuses on the receiver, explicitly taking a uses and gratifications approach to understanding the function of e-newsletters for the UK electorate. Our findings suggest that the majority of receivers are committed party members who desire to receive information directly from the party that will help them in their campaigning and activist roles. There is, however, a minority of less-active, politically interested, subscribers who also use e-newsletters to aid their voter choice. The data suggest that e-newsletters are able to encourage subscribers to develop and build relationships with a political party, possibly becoming more active in their support than simply offering a vote at election times.     

Using the 2001 census to study human capital movements affecting Britain's larger cities: insights and issues

Summary.  Human capital is increasingly being recognized as crucial to the sustained growth of British cities, and the population census is unrivalled as a source of data on the characteristics of people moving to and from cities. Taking advantage of new features in the 2001 census, the paper examines how successful 27 of Britain's largest cities and their regions are in maintaining their labour force complement, giving particular attention to young adults and people working in high level occupations. Considerable variation is apparent between city regions, but the interpretation of results is somewhat hampered by limitations in the census data, prompting recommendations for future data collection.     

英国师范教育的演变、特点及其对我国的启示

英国师范教育自 17世纪末正式产生至今 ,已有 30 0多年的历史。在经历了无数次的变革后 ,逐步形成了自己的办学特色。借鉴英国师范教育发展的经验和教训 ,我国师范教育改革应做到 :打破单一的师范教育体制 ,鼓励多渠道和多形式培养师资 ;改革教师在职进修制度 ;鼓励和吸引中小学积极参与师资培养的过程 ;加强师范生的教育实践活动