Predictors of Heterosexual Siblings’ Acceptance of Their Lesbian Sister or Gay Brother

Research has shown that lesbian and gay (LG) individuals are coming out not only to their parents, but also to their siblings. Eighty percent of individuals in the United States are raised with one or more siblings; however, researchers have frequently underestimated the importance of the sibling bond. This study examined potential correlates of heterosexual siblings’ acceptance of their LG sister or brother using an online survey format (N = 189). In addition, psychometric properties for the Acceptance of Sibling Sexual Orientation Scale are provided. Results revealed that greater sibling relationship quality in adulthood, more contact with LG individuals, greater knowledge of LG communities, more support for LG civil rights, and various demographics (being female, having higher educational levels, not having an orthodox/fundamentalist religious orientation, less church attendance, and more liberal political ideology) are related to heterosexual siblings’ acceptance of their LG sister or brother. However, when these variables were examined together in a regression model, only sibling relationship in adulthood, contact with LG individuals, support for LG civil rights, and religious attendance were significant unique predictors of acceptance.     

An Improved Boxplot for Univariate Data

The boxplot is an effective data-visualization tool useful in diverse applications and disciplines. Although more sophisticated graphical methods exist, the boxplot remains relevant due to its simplicity, interpretability, and usefulness, even in the age of big data. This article highlights the origins and developments of the boxplot that is now widely viewed as an industry standard as well as its inherent limitations when dealing with data from skewed distributions, particularly when detecting outliers. The proposed Ratio-Skewed boxplot is shown to be practical and suitable for outlier labeling across several parametric distributions.     

Differences in allocation of family time spent on household tasks among single-parent,one-earner,and two-earner families

The purpose of this study is to use analysis of covariance to examine variations in time use among single-parent, one-earner, and two-earner families and to assess the effects of two covariates, Age of the Younger Child and Hours of Employment of the Homemaker, on total family time spent on household tasks. Data were collected from 81 single-parent and 210 two-parent California households using a questionnaire, time chart, and personal interviews. The greatest discrepancy between single-parent and two-parent families is that single-parent families spend significantly less time than two-parent families on Maintenance of the home and yard and on Nonphysical Care (social interaction with family members). One-earner families spend almost as much time as two-earner families on Nonphysical Care, but only when Secondary Time is included. Two household activities, Clothing Care and Management, are not affected by either family type or the covariates.This study utilized data from USDA Regional Research Project NE-113, An Urban-Rural Comparison of Families' Time Use.Jeanne M. Hilton is an Assistant Professor of Family Economics and Management, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557. She received her Ph.D. from Oregon State University. Her current research interests include work and family issues within the context of family structure.     

Asymptotic Expansions for i.i.d. Sums Via Lower-order Convolutions

In this article, we introduce new asymptotic expansions for probability functions of sums of independent and identically distributed random variables. Results are obtained by efficiently employing information provided by lower-order convolutions. In comparison with Edgeworth-type theorems, advantages include improved asymptotic results in the case of symmetric random variables and ease of computation of main error terms and asymptotic crossing points. The first-order estimate can perform quite well against the corresponding renormalized saddlepoint approximation and, pointwise, requires evaluation of only a single convolution integral. While the new expansions are fairly straightforward, the implications are fortuitous and may spur further related work.     

Child Protection and Self‐Regulation in the Internet Industry: The UK Experience

In the United Kingdom (UK), the number of convictions for offences related to child abuse images fell back following the police investigation dubbed ‘Operation Ore’, but have still continued at levels unimaginable only 10 years ago. However, while government and the internet industry deserve credit for the steps they have taken to reduce the traffic in child abuse images online in the UK, the fact that a number of Internet Service Providers appear to be reluctant to act to block access to it calls into question the effectiveness of the self‐regulatory principle: the idea which has been central to the UK’s overall approach to internet policy since 1996.     

Engaging Parents in Parentline Plus’ Time to Talk Community Programme as Part of England’s Teenage Pregnancy Strategy: Lessons for Policy and Practice

Based on 65 interviews with professionals and parents conducted during 2007–2008, this 16‐month, mainly qualitative evaluation of Parentline Plus’ Time to Talk Community Programme (a preventative initiative within England’s teenage pregnancy strategy) found that a community development approach and an ethos of partnership with parents and professionals facilitated engagement. Respectful and realistic implementation involved skilled workers building relationships of trust. By consulting with other professionals and parents it was possible to establish local need and to build on existing provision. Initially, insufficient prior local consultation and negotiation created perceptions of an imposed initiative, led by outsiders, resulting in wary local parents and professionals. The engagement and evaluation processes are considered in relation to the short‐term nature of the initiative and potential conflicts between responding flexibly to the needs of parents and delivering targeted programmes.     

DECISION FLEXIBILITY AND PERCEIVED INFORMATION VALUE*

This paper reports the results of an experiment that examined the effects of information evaluators' perceptions of decision flexibility as a determinant of information value. This study suggests that subjects fall into relatively distinct groups that are differentiated by the group members' perceptions of the directionality as well as the magnitude of the effect of decision flexibility on information value. Moreover, subjects' misperceptions of information value reflect individualistic models of information evaluation.