The Approved Social Worker -- Reflections on Origins

Correspondence to Pauline M. Prior, Department of Social Policy and Social Work, University of York, Heslington, York YO1 5DD. Summary The aim of this paper is to examine the role of social workersunder current mental health law, in order to see if the adventof the Approved Social Worker (ASW) represents any more thanthe re-appearance of old concepts in a new guise. It is arguedthat it is impossible for the ASW to be anything more than anupdated version of the Relieving Officer of the last century,in view of the fact that the Mental Health Act 1983 does notprovide a clear mandate for an effective professional advocateon behalf of mentally ill people.     

Public Attitudes to Problem Definition and Problem Solving: A Pilot Study

Summary An attempt is made to discover how people define their problemsand on what basis they decide when, and from where, to seekhelp. The focus is upon legal problems since the study formspart of a wider project concerned with the provision of legalservices. Ignorance and misinformation concerning the availabilityof both social and legal services, combined with apathy andresignation on the part of many who need help, are importantfactors determining the non-use of services. Nor can people'sneeds be neatly categorized as social or legal. The overlappingnature of their problems exists at a structural as well as anindividual level; many of the legal problems experienced byindividuals arise from inequalities in the social and economicstructure of society.     

Social Work Ideologies in the Probation Service

Summary The research described in this paper was an attempt to exploresome aspects of social work ideology in the probation service.We were particularly interested to identify the extent to whichprobation officers subscribed to certain ‘treatment model’assumptions about criminal behaviour. The project was designedas a small-scale study in depth of probation officers' socialinquiry practices. The data-collection methods used for thiswere a combination of depth interviews with probation officerswho also completed self-administered questionnaires. We foundthat some probation officers appeared to subscribe to ‘treatmentmodel‘ ideals more than others, but that all probationofficers were treatment orientated towards some of their casesand not to others. Their treatment preferences seems to relateto the seriousness of the offender's criminal history and personalproblems and the recommendation that was being made. Some ofthe implications of these findings for social work practicewere discussed.     

The Death of a Child

Summary The death of a child is an intrinsically tragic event for theparents of that child. What might appear as abnormal grief inbereaved parents can often be understood in the context of thepreceding circumstances of their lives and that of the child.This paper examines guilt and anger as experienced by a bereavedcouple in relation to the sudden death of their mongol son;the inability of another couple to detach themselves from theirbaby who had suffered a cot death; and the effects on bereavedparents of the denial of death in modern society.     

Long-term Mortality Patterns in Chinese History: Evidence from a Recorded Clan Population

This paper addresses the emerging interest in the relationship between homeostatic models and demographic transition theory. Firstly, it considers the nature of fertility measurement and concepts. The paper then goes on to examine evidence from pre-transitional societies in which demographic regimes have been most thoroughly studied, summarizing what is known about their character. The nature and current status of homeostatic theories in demography and the institutional supports of pre-transitional regimes are considered. The implications of the findings on pre-transitional populations for transition theory are then discussed. The paper concludes with suggestions for ways in which studies of transition within a framework of homeostatic regimes could be developed.     

THE AUCTION MARKET FOR MODERN PRINTS: CONFIRMATIONS, CONTRADICTIONS, AND NEW PUZZLES

Using a large data set with 80,214 repeat sales, we find that the real return on a diversified portfolio of modern prints sold at auctions worldwide averaged a modest 1.51% during the period 1977–2004. We address several issues regarding the performance of modern prints as investments: the selection bias arising from the self-interest of auction houses; the impact of an ever-expanding universe of auction houses on investment returns; the "masterpiece" effect, or whether more expensive works of art outperform the market as a whole; and the differences in returns that arise due to random fluctuations in collector tastes. ( JEL Z11, G11, G14)     

A Reconviction Predictor for Probationers

Correspondence to Ken Pease, Professor of Criminology, University of Manchester, Faculty of Economic and Social Studies, Manchester M13 9PL. Summary This paper reports the development of a predictor of reconvictionsuitable for use with probationers. The predictor, based onthe Burgess method of prediction, was developed using a sampleof 750 probation cases and a prediction period of three years.Its predictive power is substantial, being of the same orderas that of the parole predictor (see Nuttall et al., 1977; Ward,1988). Despite the increasing emphasis on offence-focused work in theprobation service, the work of the service is not routinelyor comprehensively measured in terms of its alteration of criminalcareers. By detailing the development of the predictor, andwelcoming experimentation with it amongst individual area probationservices, it is hoped that this paper will encourage a morefocused consideration of the effect of probation supervisionon offending behaviour, and therein facilitate the incorporationof broader service quality issues within performance evaluation.     

INFORMATION AND THE LIFE CYCLE CONSUMPTION OF HAZARDOUS GOODS

Safety is a major area of public concern. The fact that people take risky occupations, smoke or fail to use seat belts often provokes a regulatory response designed to either protect people from the risks directly or to provide them with more information on the hazards involved. Such policy is often based on the view that risk-taking behavior is irrational or ill-advised. This paper develops life cycle models of the decision to consume hazardous goods. A particular focus of the analysis is to consider the rational response to information about hazards. Rational consumption of a hazardous good is shown to depend on such factors as the nature of the hazard, age, life expectancy, age at which information on the hazard was received and, of course, the underlying value of the good itself.     

Some Answers About the Reverse Tariff: A Reply to Paley and Leeves

Summary Paley and Leeves have recently offered a critique of PaulineHardiker's work on the recommendations made by probation officersin Social Enquiry Reports. They maintain she neglects significantfactors which have a direct bearing on the recommendations,that her model is insufficiently dynamic and that it confusesoutcomes with processes. However, on inspection it is foundthat neither the empirical material introduced by Paley andLeeves, nor their theoretical challenge, is of sufficient weightto be able to sustain their criticism.