Counting the cost of difference: a reply to Sullivan

ABSTRACT

Counting the Cost of Difference’ replies to Alice Sullivan’s piece on gender auditing in the UK Census. While Sullivan argues that the proposed changes to audit gender identity will dilute the meaning of ‘sex’ and thus the needs of women, I suggest that auditing on self-declared gender in Census 2021 signals a move towards the further recognition that gender is fluidly and diversely experienced and practiced in contemporary society. This should, I suggest, be welcomed rather than feared by feminist thinkers.     

Sex and the census: why surveys should not conflate sex and gender identity

ABSTRACT

The UK census authorities have proposed guidance for the 2021 census indicating that the sex question may be answered according to subjective gender identity. This raises issues about the measurement of sex and gender identity which other data collection exercises are also contending with. This paper addresses the questions that have arisen regarding the census, before going on to explain how these questions have emerged more widely. Finally, I address the difficulties of discussing the collection of data on sex in a climate of policy capture and silencing.     

Should trans people be postmodernist in the streets but positivist in the spreadsheets? A reply to Sullivan

ABSTRACT

Accurate census data is essential for a variety of government planning functions and plays an important methodological role in social science. This article responds to issues raised by Alice Sullivan concerning how the UK 2021 census will ask about sex and gender. The two-centuries-old question about male/female sex is not ideal, even with the new guidance proposed; however, I will argue that the proposed changes are unlikely to cause harm. The new open-ended census question on gender identity is welcome and will yield important data. I also respond to Sullivan‘s worries that “queer postmodernists” are “coming for” questionnaires and threaten the sanctity of scientific fact. Sullivan misrepresents trans-inclusive gender theories and how scientific research explaining sex/gender differences is carried out. Finally, I discuss how questioning the ontological reality of trans gender identities leads to transphobic harassment and worse.     

Can we study the family environment through census data? A comparison of households,dwellings, and domestic units in rural Mali

Are ‘statistical households’, as defined in national censuses, able to describe the family environment in Africa? Do they correspond to the family units that individuals identify with? To address this issue, we build on a follow-up survey in south-east Mali, which links national censuses with local censuses at the individual level (N?≈?28,000 census observations). Three cross-sectional snapshots of family arrangements are compared: households recorded in national censuses, and family economic units and residential units recorded by local censuses. The national census household data appear poorly suited to documenting family living arrangements. They do not account for family economic units or residential units, but are highly conditioned by a normative representation centred on the nuclear family. Therefore, they fail to describe the complexity and diversity of people’s living spaces, making particular types of living arrangements invisible and increasing the likelihood of omitting individuals who do not fit into a nuclear model.     

论证人证言规则

两个证据规定的颁布,使得一系列旨在规范证人证言审查判断活动的证据规则得到确立。而2012年3月14日通过的刑诉法修正案,又对证人出庭作证问题确立了程序保障规则。由此,对证言笔录证据能力的限制、对非法证言的排除规则、对证人出庭作证的明确要求,以及对证言印证规则的接受,构成了中国证人证言规则体系的有机组成部分。但是,证人证言规则要得到有效的实施,还需要克服一些来自司法体制、诉讼程序和证据制度方面的困难和挑战。     

On simulation of weak records

In the present paper, we discuss algorithms of generation of weak records. These generation algorithms are based on two different methods. In the case, when the inverse function for the underlying distribution function can be obtained explicitly, the corresponding generation algorithms are built on the inverse-transform method. In the case, when the inverse function cannot be obtained explicitly, the algorithms are based on the rejection method. Generation algorithms of our paper are supplied with illustrative examples.     

Digital voice recorders – A conceptual intervention to facilitate contemporaneous record keeping in midwifery practice

BackgroundThe first responder, faced with any obstetric incident, frequently finds themselves within a dichotomy of multi-tasking activities. One challenge for the midwife, is to keep accurate and contemporaneous medical records, whilst simultaneously providing immediate clinical care.AimThis paper aims to propose an innovative conceptualisation and a practical solution for maternity services, which strive to uphold best practice in creating contemporaneous and accurate medical records. The feasibility of introducing the use of voice recorders within maternity services will be explored, and offered as a mechanism to facilitate record keeping and simultaneous clinical care.MethodsA synthesised narrative review of the literature is conducted. This review academically tests the conceptual hypothesis that the implementation of voice recorders within maternity services may augment the midwife's ability to generate contemporaneous medical records. A background literature review will also explore the key drivers for this particular innovation, and the challenges facing healthcare leaders in service improvement.FindingsThis paper builds upon previous suggestions that digital voice recorders may be an effective solution to enhance overall obstetric outcomes, and focuses upon conceptual processes for implementation.ConclusionsThis paper offers the principal conclusion that the integration of voice recorders into midwifery practice for the purpose of supporting contemporaneous record keeping may be feasible within the current healthcare climate.     

Obtaining data linkage consent for children: factors influencing outcomes and potential biases

Understanding factors associated with consent for data linkage has largely focussed on adults, but parents or guardians can also be asked to consent on behalf of children for whom they are responsible. A framework for consent decision is presented, and is tested using a large nationally representative survey asking mothers to consent for both themselves and their children for two sets of records. Nearly all mothers give the same consent outcome for all their children. Consent rates are higher for education records than for health records and higher for mothers than children. Multivariate analyses suggest that minorities are generally less likely to consent, while more trust increases chances of consent. Several survey environment factors are important, with harder-to-contact respondents less likely to consent, while the presence of others and higher interviewer-respondent rapport lead to a higher chance of consent. These findings suggest potential methodologies to improve consent rates and possibly minimise bias. This is important given significant demographic differences between children across consent outcomes. However, data from a survey of 10–15 year olds in the study shows fewer differences for several important behaviours and attitudes across consent outcomes.     

Current records and record range with some applications

In a sequence of independent and identically distributed (iid) random variables, the upper (lower) current records and record range are studied. We derive general recurrence relations between the single and product moments for the upper and lower current records based on Weibull and positive Weibull distributions, as well as Pareto and negative Pareto distributions, respectively. Moreover, some asymptotic results for general current records are established. In addition, a recurrence relation and an explicit formula for the moments of record range based on the exponential distribution are given. Finally, numerical examples are presented to illustrate and corroborate theoretical results.     

高职英语专业学生英语自主学习能力培养的实证研究——以咸宁职业技术学院英语专业为例

以咸宁职业技术学院英语专业2个班级为研究对象,通过实验前后对控制班和试验班的自主学习能力、学习策略的使用情况进行问卷调查和测试分析,研究高职英语专业学生英语自主学习能力培养。结果表明：对学生进行策略训练可以提高学生对学生策略的使用,有利于学生自主学习能力和学生学习成绩的提高。进一步进行相关性分析,发现各项学习策略与自主学习能力和学业成绩,以及自主学习与测试成绩之间均呈显著的正相关。