Asking about the future: methodological insights from energy biographies

Temporality is fundamental to qualitative longitudinal (QLL) research, inherent in the design of returning to participants over time, often to explore moments of change. Previous research has indicated that talking about the future can be difficult, yet there has been insufficient discussion of methodological developments to address these challenges. This paper presents insights from the Energy Biographies project, which has taken a QLL and multimodal approach to investigating how everyday energy use can be understood in relation to biographical pasts and imagined futures. In particular, we detail innovative techniques developed within the project (e.g. SMS photograph activities) to elicit data on anticipated futures, in ways that engender thinking about participants’ own biographical futures and wider societal changes. We conclude by considering some of the significant benefits and challenges such techniques present. These methodological insights have a wider relevance beyond the substantive topic for those interested in eliciting data about futures in qualitative research.     

Arenas of comfort and conflict: peer relationship events and young people's educational attainment

Previous research suggests that developments in young people's peer relationships may either compound or alleviate the adverse impacts of other major life changes during adolescence. We explored this proposition with respect to young people's educational attainment upon leaving high school, using longitudinal data from a large cohort of Australian secondary school students (n?=?1612) who have taken part in the Our Lives research study between the ages of 12/13 and 19/20 years. Our analysis focused on the role of peer relationship events such bullying, friendship problems, falling in love, and breaking up with someone. Bullying and romantic involvement were associated with lower odds of receiving a competitive tertiary entrance rank at the end of high school. However, close, resilient friendships – in which status and identity conflicts may be more easily tolerated and resolved – may help to offset the role of these other events. As well as reviewing the consequences of our findings for young people's educational and occupational trajectories in the longer-term, we highlight their implications for future research and policy in this area.     

Good personal finances or a strong social capital—on different life conditions of importance for an active life when becoming alone in old age

Becoming alone in old age can be a decisive life event that brings major changes depending on various causes as health status, financial resources, family situation, and available welfare services. This article discusses the situation of older people in Sweden who have transitioned from a two-person to single-person household in recent years and what impact this might have on their everyday lives. Through in-depth interviews with 18 older people, age 67–90, their experiences about life conditions and opportunities were examined. Findings showed large differences between the men and women. They all tried to live as they always had done and they used the same personal life strategies that they always had. But the men could live as before on their own financial merits, while the women needed assistance from children, grandchildren and the welfare system. Transportation options were central and clearly related to both private economy and social services available. Shortcomings in the welfare state's way of caring for the elderly were clearly uncovered. The gap between social policy promises of opportunities for autonomy and independence to live an active life in old age and the everyday reality for older people still seems to be wide.     

Male gamblers – suicide victims and living controls: comparison of adversity over the life course

The objective of this research is to investigate the possible difference in accumulation of adversity over the life course among decedent gamblers and living control gamblers in the province of Quebec, Canada. A sample of 90 adult men, 41 living participants and 49 suicide decedents, met the criteria for at-risk and problem gambling over the last five years. Data were obtained from informants in the case of suicide and directly from living controls during semi-structured face-to-face interviews using SCID I and II, SOGS, Module K and a recount of life trajectories methodology. The results showed a high level of adversity throughout the life trajectories of both groups. However, the living gamblers faced more difficulties during their lifespan than the suicide victims. In the last six months before their death, suicide victims had a significantly higher number of mental health disorders, especially co-morbid mental health disorders and anxiety, compared to the living controls. We also observed a rapid escalation of difficulties, more life events and more psychological distress in the last six months of their lives among the suicide decedents. Suicidal behaviour needs to be carefully investigated by medical staff and mental health practitioners, especially when gamblers demonstrate evidence of mental health disorders or financial difficulties.     

析体育生活对大学生社会化发展的影响

文章分析了处于青春期的大学生在社会化过程中的个体心理和社会心理的需要以及社会对大学生发展的要求,指出大学生的社会化发展是个体内在需要和社会环境影响辩证统一发展的结果.体育生活是大学生社会化发展所需的重要的社会环境和主要内容,对大学生的社会化发展有着非常重要的意义.     

孔子育人思想的价值目标——"君子"(论纲)

孔子毕生致力于塑造一个“君子”的形象,他“述而不作”,是通过自己全部的言论和行为来完成的。从“君子”一词的来历、诸多内涵的构成、整个形象的特色和相关问题,结合孔子的言行进行系列的探讨,以解读孔子留给后人的“君子”形象。     

董事会特征与盈余管理关系研究

近年一些上市公司会计信息严重失真,盈余管理现象十分严重。董事会作为公司治理机制的重要组成部分,无疑会对公司盈余管理产生很大的影响。文章从实证角度分析了董事会特征与盈余管理之间的关系,发现董事会规模和盈余管理的程度之间存在U型曲线关系;独立董事比例与盈余管理成反比,但t检验不具有显著性;董事会持股和审计委员会与盈余管理的大小都呈反比。根据以上结论进而提出了相应的政策建议。     

转型经济下民营企业家个体特质、情境对公司创业的驱动机制 ——基于QCA的探索性研究

在中国经济转型的大市场环境下,企业如何将公司创业的意愿成功付诸于创业行动,是学术界广泛讨论的话题。文章利用全国私营企业调查问卷表数据,以102家私营企业作为案例样本,通过模糊集定性比较分析(QCA)方法将企业家个体特质与情境两个层面整合,同时从这两个层面进一步细分,去探讨组态效应对公司创业的多重并发影响机制。经过数据分析可以获知,企业家的社群式身份是高公司创业活跃度的必要条件,且导致高公司创业活跃度有四条组态(路径);导致非高公司创业活跃度的有一条组态(路径),两者之间存在非对称关系。     

人口变动的生态经济效应分析

人口数量的增长、人口生活质量的提高、人口增长分布的不均都有可能导致生态环境的恶化。按照现行的衡量标准,生活质量的提高在某种程度上对生态环境的影响更大。控制住人口不仅能提高我们的生活质量,而且能为我们提供一个适宜的生存环境。生活质量的提高不仅仅体现在GDP的增加上,更应体现在生态环境的优化上。     

传承拓展与深化--张爱玲与王安忆都市小说创作比较一隅

张爱玲与王安忆是中国现当代文学史上两位重要的女作家,其都市小说创作有一定的相似性。从她们对都市女性生存境遇的刻画、对市民日常生活的描写及共有的怀旧意识三方面比较她们的异同,指出王安忆的都市小说创作在一定程度上传承了张爱玲的笔法,并拓展深化了都市小说的内涵,具有深远的意义。