An Experiment on the Social Facilitation of Gambling Behavior

Research and theory regarding the social facilitation effect generates the expectation that the presence of other gamblers (or co-actors) in a gaming venue is likely to intensify individual gambling behavior and magnify losses. Fifty male and 66 female participants (116 total) played a computer-simulated electronic gaming machine with a fixed winning sequence, followed by an indefinite losing sequence. Measures of the intensity of gambling behavior included the final payout (a direct measure of losses), average bet-size, number of trials played, and the speed of play. Some participants received false feedback from the computer designed to suggest that other gamers in adjacent rooms were playing and sometimes winning at the same game. Persons who received both sight and sound information, including winning bells and instant messages regarding the wins of other (fake) players, placed more bets and lost more money compared to the other conditions with less information.     

Bridging the divide in urban sustainability: from human exemptionalism to the new ecological paradigm

This paper reviews the main bodies of contemporary urban sustainability theory. From this analysis, two underpinning paradigms of urban sustainability are identified: (1) The ‘Human Exemptionalism Paradigm’ (HEP), which emphasizes the ability of humans to overcome environmental problems—see Urban Sociology, Urban Ecology, Urban Geography, Urban Psychology and Political Economy; and (2) The ‘New Ecological Paradigm’ (NEP), which emphasizes the criticality of ecological limits to human progress—see Urban Metabolism, Energy/Emergy Analysis and Ecological Footprinting. Each of these approaches is critically reviewed, highlighting their main assumptions, theoretical and practical foci. It is argued in the paper that if the related issues of urban sustainability and development are to be progressed, there needs to be: (1) a greater maturation of the NEP approaches, which are ‘relative newcomers’ to the area of urban theory; and (2) greater integration and dialogue between the HEP and NEP approaches to urban sustainability than has hitherto been the case.

Bridging the gap between social work practice and community based welfare agencies

This article argues that social work in the UK needs to renegotiate its relationship with community welfare agencies. It begins by examining what we mean by local community and how welfare needs reflect complex non-linear dynamics unique to the local circumstances. It is argued that these are not always recognised in centralised policy agendas. The article broadly draws a parallel between policy issues for the European Community and for the national state. The drive for both is towards uniformity, which potentially fails to acknowledge the unique circumstances at both the national level between nations and the local level between communities.

The focus of the analysis is the lack of engagement with the subtleties of the local within the arena of social work education and practice. With the opportunity presented by the introduction of a new social work degree in the UK, the authors describe how a social work programme in Liverpool undertook a piece of research with the aim of creating an appropriate place for community welfare agencies in practice placements, the academic curriculum and, ultimately, with the next generation of social work practitioners. Eight welfare agencies within the proximity of Liverpool University, an area known as Toxteth, agreed to participate in the research to investigate what kind of placement module would enable local welfare agencies to engage meaningfully in the social work degree. Out of this process emerged a model for research based curriculum development involving local community agencies and academic institutions. More specifically for Liverpool, it placed the notion of social work's relationship with local community welfare at the heart of professional development for qualifying social workers, paving the way in this region of England for closer links between welfare agencies associated with civil society and professional social workers.     

The development of social work education in Russia since 1995

This article presents the findings of a four-year survey on the development of social work education in Russia from 1995 to the present day. Through a series of questionnaires, interviews and discussions with Russian academics, practitioners and students, the study looks at a variety of issues including the high rate of attrition. It focuses on aspects of students’ practice placements such as the type, length and quality of practice placements, the students’ workload and the supervision provided. It also looks at the contribution that international collaboration has made to the development of social work education in Russia.

The survey concludes that there is a need to enhance the overall package for social workers and raise the status of the profession in order to retain qualified personnel. Longer practice placements which start in the first year and are adequately funded and supervised are seen as the key to retaining new graduates. It concludes that although international projects have made a difference to those participating at the time, it is difficult to disseminate these benefits beyond the immediate region. Now that international funding to Russia has been reduced it is critical that any remaining funding is accurately targeted and properly coordinated.     

陈垣与抗日战争时期的北平辅仁大学

北平辅仁大学作为一所私立天主教大学,在北平沦陷之后弦歌不辍,讲诵如恒,并得以发展。学校师生与日伪周旋,抗敌不屈,延续民族文化生命,抵制日伪奴化教育,因此赢得了"抗日大本营"的赞誉。     

成人高等教育概念的诠释

文章从方法论的角度对国内四种有代表性的成人高等教育概念表述进行了分析,认为成人高等教育是指对符合规定标准的在业或非在业成年人实施的属于高等教育水平的教育,它具有对象的成人性和性质的高等性两大本质属性,其外延可分别从办学渠道、教育对象、层次规格和办学形式等不同角度进行划分。在此基础上,文章还对与成人高等教育相似相近的几个概念进行了辨析,阐明了成人高等教育与终身教育是被包含关系,与继续教育是包含关系,而与高等职业教育是交叉关系。     

林乐知和《万国公报》对中国近代教育的影响

在中国近代教育的萌生阶段,外国传教士起了较大的启蒙作用。美国传教士林乐知在中国先后举办过中西学院和中西女塾,并创办了《万国公报》。在办学和办报的活动中,他宣传自然科学和社会科学知识,宣传创办近代教育事业的意义,主张选派留学生,建议设立符合中国实际的教育体制。林乐知在华的教育活动对中国近代教育产生了较大的影响。     

加强高校青年教师思想政治工作的思考

青年教师是高等院校的未来,青年教师的思想政治状况如何,直接关系到21世纪人才培养的方向和质量。加强高等院校青年教师的思想政治工作,是高等学校的一项既重要又紧迫的战略任务。本文分析探讨了当前高等院校青年教师的思想状况和存在问题,提出了加强高等院校青年教师思想政治工作的途径。     

高校基础科学研究的制约因素分析及对策

随着我国经济快速发展和知识经济时代的到来,基础科学研究在高校科技创新中的地位和作用日益明显,发挥着越来越重要的作用。根据目前我国高校基础研究的现状,探讨了高校基础研究发展的制约因素和对策,通过对国家在经费投入取向、资源配置等方面的分析,认为高校基础研究经费不足、分配不合理等制约了高校科技创新作用的发挥。提出了优化基础科学研究经费分配结构,确立以高校为主体的基础研究模式,以政策为导向,实现科技投入的多元化,充分发挥高校在基础科学研究的优势,构建符合时代发展要求的科技创新体系等建议。     

试论普通高等学校开展艺术教育的意义

普通高等学校艺术教育是高校文化素质教育的重要内容,通过艺术教育,使学生了解我国优秀的民族艺术文化传统和外国的优秀艺术成果,提高文化艺术素质,增强爱国主义精神;培养感受美、表现美、鉴赏美的能力。陶冶情操,发展个性,启迪智慧,激发创作意识和创造能力,促进学生全面发展。