中国的零基预算改革:来自某财力紧张省份的调查

根据零基预算在我国中部某财力紧张省份的实施情况,该文发现,2000年以来在地方政府开始推行的零基预算并没有发展成为一种基本的预算框架,基本的预算框架是一种控制预算。在控制预算的框架内,零基预算主要被运用于专项经费的决策。即使在该领域,由于财力紧张、政治体制的制约等因素,零基预算并没有改变预算过程和结果。     

Sample Size Requirements and Study Duration for Testing Main Effects and Interactions in Completely Randomized Factorial Designs When Time to Event is the Outcome

In this paper, we develop the methodology for designing clinical trials with any factorial arrangement when the primary outcome is time to event. We provide a matrix formulation for calculating the sample size and study duration necessary to test any effect with a prespecified type I error rate and power. Assuming that a time to event follows an exponential distribution, we describe the relationships between the effect size, the power, and the sample size. We present examples for illustration purposes. We provide a simulation study to verify the numerical calculations of the expected number of events and the duration of the trial. The change in the power produced by a reduced number of observations or by accruing no patients to certain factorial combinations is also described.     

Two-step jackknife bias reduction for logistic regression mles

Maximum likelihood estimates (MLEs) for logistic regression coefficients are known to be biased in finite samples and consequently may produce misleading inferences. Bias adjusted estimates can be calculated using the first-order asymptotic bias derived from a Taylor series expansion of the log likelihood. Jackknifing can also be used to obtain bias corrected estimates, but the approach is computationally intensive, requiring an additional series of iterations (steps) for each observation in the dataset.Although the one-step jackknife has been shown to be useful in logistic regression diagnostics and i the estimation of classification error rates, it does not effectively reduce bias. The two-step jackknife, however, can reduce computation in moderate-sized samples, provide estimates of dispersion and classification error, and appears to be effective in bias reduction. Another alternative, a two-step closed-form approximation, is found to be similar to the Taylo series method in certain circumstances. Monte Carlo simulations indicate that all the procedures, but particularly the multi-step jackknife, may tend to over-correct in very small samples. Comparison of the various bias correction proceduresin an example from the medical literature illustrates that bias correction can have a considerable impact on inference     

地方政府公司化的运作逻辑与后果

地方政府公司化是我国地方政府行为的形象解释。地方政府公司化面临经济资源配置不当、政府职能承担越位与缺位并存,从而加剧民众对社会矛盾、官员腐败、环境恶化等社会问题的批评。本文在探讨地方政府公司化运作逻辑的基础上,综合归纳对地方政府公司化的主要批评类型,并对批评的合理性进行再审视。     

Narrative reasoning and coherent alignment in field placement

ABSTRACT

In social work, field placement is considered an essential component to prepare students for professional practice. A significant degree of disjunction between academic and practical learning also is asserted. The present study aims to explore how students develop their professional competence in field placement and relate their learning outcomes across the university setting and the field. Data from students’ learning contracts and placement reports and a focus-group interview are analysed. Concrete practical experiences and the complexity of problems in specific contexts seem to provide inputs on the development of students’ knowledge, skills and personal competence outside the university setting. Although the students were asked to account for these three dimensions separately, the findings demonstrate their ability to connect and integrate them in the narrative reasoning that characterises students’ reflections on their learning from placement. Moreover, our findings show that all three dimensions are developed in both the university setting and in field placement. Preparing students properly for placement training and calling for specific reports on learning outcomes allow access to meaningful connections that are created and developed between the university setting and field placement.     

Occupational health psychology

Abstract

An individual's beliefs in relation to stress are likely to affect their perceptions, and hence their work-related actions (such as absenteeism). In this paper, lay representations of work stress were investigated utilising semi-structured interviews with 45 individuals from a range of occupations. The meaning of occupational stress, its antecedents and outcomes, and ways by which it may be managed were examined. Dominant factors were established through the use of thematic content analysis. Similarities and differences were found between lay and professional discourses on work stress. Results indicate that lay representations of occupational stress are multi-faceted. Little consensus was found in how participants interpreted the concept: a diverse range of personal, environmental, and societal factors was highlighted. A different (and arguably more complex) range of definitions of job stress and the manner in which it impacts on individuals was revealed than has been reported in previous studies. The causes of stress at work were perceived as being predominantly organisational, but the impact of stress on the employee was more salient than organisational outcomes. Paradoxically, secondary and tertiary stress management techniques were thought to be more effective than interventions designed to prevent stress at work. Interviewees with line management responsibility were more likely to emphasise individual responsibility for managing stress, most others maintained that the individual and the organisation are equally responsible. The potential value of examining lay representations of job stress to the discipline of Occupational Health Psychology is discussed and suggestions for future research are made.     

Teaching pedagogies enhancing social work students’ perceptions and attitudes toward older age in an undergraduate course on working with older people

Approximately threefold increases in older age population groups (+65 years) are projected in the next 15 years. Demographic changes in society will mean greater numbers of older adults in proportion to the younger generation. In the current policy on older age groups, emphasis is placed on healthy aging warranting a multidisciplinary workforce to work with older people. Despite this need and increased demand in the aged care sector, a fewer social work students are willing to undertake aged care placements or to choose it as a career option.

An innovative teaching and learning pedagogy was used in designing the course curriculum titled ‘Social Work with Older People’, including the input of invited specialist guest speakers, an on-campus interactive workshop with older guests, and an assessment designed to evaluate the learning related to the workshop content. The paper reports changes in the attitudes of students studying gerontological social work after the course delivery, evaluated through an online survey with the purpose of improving the learning outcomes in the course and to gauge students’ interest, experiences, attitudes and motivation to work in the aged care sector. The paper contributes to building knowledge in addressing the needs of the changing social demographic.     

The Relevance of Psychoanalytic Ideas to Crisis Work

The therapeutic aim of crisis work typically has been to help the patient regain a pre-morbid state of functioning with an almost exclusive focus on the amelioration of immediate symptomatology. Drawing on our experience in a crisis team of a major metropolitan hospital with a large Hispanic and African-American population, we contend that crisis work ought not to focus myopically on symptom removal and must include, to the highest degree possible, an exploration of the multiple meanings contained in what is possibly a turning point in the patient’s life. Toward this aim, we describe three psychoanalytic principles believed to be particularly relevant to crisis work that have, nonetheless, traditionally been deemed inappropriatefor this treatment modality. These principles are historicity, neutrality, and fantasy. Discussion of the principles are presented within the context of case material.     

Game-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (GB-CBT) Group Program for Children Who Have Experienced Sexual Abuse: A Three-Month Follow-Up Investigation

This study examined the efficacy of a game-based cognitive-behavioral group therapy program for addressing problems typically found among elementary school-aged victims of child sexual abuse immediately after treatment and at three months following treatment. It was hypothesized that positive gains would be observed among the following domains: (a) internalizing symptoms (e.g., anxiety, depression, and trauma); (b) externalizing behaviors (e.g., oppositional behavior, disobedience, and conduct disordered behavior); and (c) sexually inappropriate behaviors. Improved knowledge of abuse and personal safety skills was also predicted. Results indicated that game-based cognitive-behavioral group therapy resulted in improvements in internalizing symptoms, externalizing behavioral problems, total behavioral problems, and personal safety skills both immediately after treatment and at three-month follow-up.     

Impact of Computerized Rapid Assessment Instruments on Counselors and Client Outcome

Abstract

The effect of the availability of Rapid Assessment Instrument (RAI) (1) computer scoring, and (2) computer administration on: (3) counselor behavior, and (4) client outcome was inspected. Counselors without computer assistance employed fewest RAIs with their clients; those with computer scoring available employed more RAIs, and those with computer administration available employed RAIs most frequently. When more RAis were employed, clients improved more in counseling, terminated against medical advice less frequently, and were also more satisfied with their counseling experience.