Conflict or consensus: An investigation of stakeholder concerns during the participation process of major infrastructure and construction projects in Hong Kong

Public participation in the planning and design of major public infrastructure and construction (PIC) projects is crucial to their success, as the interests of different stakeholders can be systematically captured and built into the finalised scheme. However, public participation may not always yield a mutually acceptable solution, especially when the interests of stakeholders are diverse and conflicting. Confrontations and disputes can arise unless the concerns or needs of the community are carefully analysed and addressed. The aim of the paper is to propose a systematic method of analysing stakeholder concerns relating to PIC projects by examining the degree of consensus and/or conflict involved. The results of a questionnaire survey and a series of interviews with different entities are provided, which indicate the existence of a significant divergence of views among stakeholder groups and that conflicts arise when there is a mismatch between peoples’ perception concerning money and happiness on the one hand and development and damages on the other. Policy and decision-makers should strive to resolve at least the majority of conflicts that arise throughout the lifecycle of major PIC projects so as to maximise their chance of success.     

THE SOCIAL GROUP WORK METHOD

No abstract available for this article.     

Male Bisexualities

Abstract

Data from 18–30 year-old behaviorally bisexual men were cluster analyzed using variables derived from the triad model of sexuality. Individuals were grouped based on the three dimensions: (a) sexual-orientation self-identity, (b) orientation of erotic fantasies, and (c) sexual experience and relationship history. Significant differences were found among the eight clusters that emerged for many important features, including demographic, psychosocial, and mental-health variables, as well as HIV-risk behavior with men and women. Although the clusters could be collapsed to conform to the trichotomous social construct of sexual orientation (gay, bisexual, and straight), grouping the men into eight clusters allowed relatively small subtypes with extreme characteristics. Cluster membership accounted for the variance in the criterion variables above and beyond the contribution of any single dimension from the triad model, providing further support for the usefulness of the clusters.     

The Development and Initial Validation of the COPLAG Scale: Measuring the Concerns of Parents of Lesbians and Gays

This article discusses the development and initial validation of a scale designed to assess parents’ concerns upon their learning about their children's gay or lesbian sexual orientations. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of the scale's items resulted in a three-factor solution distinguishing among parental concerns about (1) their children's physical, psychological, and social well-being, (2) themselves as parents of gay or lesbian children, and (3) being rejected by loved ones.     

浅析杜甫夔州时期的社会关怀

以杜甫寓居夔州时期社会关怀为研究对象 ,阐释了杜甫社会关怀的忧国意识和忧民意识 ,认为其忧国意识表现为对国家前途和李唐政权命运的关心以及对外敌侵逼和盗贼蜂起的严重焦虑 ;其忧生意识表现为反对李唐王朝诛求政策和对饱受战乱摧残不能自存的社会弱势群体的深切同情。在此基础上 ,指出杜甫夔州时期社会关怀的特征是以夔州而知天下 ,居夔州而悯天下。     

Ratio-Scale Measurement with Intransitivity or Incompleteness: The Homogeneous Case

In the homogeneous case of one-dimensional objects, we show that any relation that is positive and homothetic can be represented by a ratio-scale and a unique and constant biasing factor. This factor may favor or disfavor the preference for an object over another. In the first case, preferences are complete but not transitive and an object may be preferred even when its value is lower. In the second case, preferences are asymmetric and transitive but not negatively transitive and it may not be sufficient for an object to have a greater value to be preferred. In this manner, the biasing factor reflects the extent to which preferences may depart from a maximization process.     

Eliciting and Classifying Concerns: A Methodological Critique

Two methodological steps in the study of peoples'concerns are elicitation and classification. Elicitation of concerns through analytical methods such as surveys can be supplemented with techniques that perform more diversively. We present two examples of how this can be accomplished: one in the expert community and one in the lay community. A classification taxonomy is a subjective choice of the researcher and it can only be evaluated against the stated objectives of the research. We present a classification schema that is explicitly oriented toward diagnosing the substantive needs of public discourses about risk decision making. To illustrate how concerns can be elicited in a social setting and how this classification tool can be applied, we report on a public participation exercise in New Jersey where citizens discussed the impacts of land application of sewage sludge at an experimental farm.     

模糊需求下考虑公平关切的收益共享契约与协调

针对供应链收益分配过程中零售商往往表现出公平关切行为,研究了模糊需求环境下两级供应链的收益共享契约与协调问题。在给出模糊市场需求环境下的收益共享契约基本模型的基础上,构建了考虑零售商公平关切的收益共享契约模型,并通过模型推导及数值实验分析了零售商公平关切对收益共享契约协调供应链的影响。研究结果表明,模糊需求下考虑零售商公平关切的收益共享契约仍然可以实现供应链协调,然而零售商的公平关切行为对收益共享契约的协调策略会产生影响。本文的研究成果可为供应链成员优化收益共享契约提供参考价值。     

民法的人文关怀

比照近代民法以财产法为中心,现代民法强化了人文关怀,主要表现为从以财产法为中心到人法地位的提升,并广泛体现于民法中主体制度的发展、人格权的勃兴、合同制度的发展、物权法的发展、侵权法的发展、婚姻家庭法的发展等各个方面。中国未来的民法典应当以人文关怀构建价值理念,注重对人的自由和尊严的充分保障以及对弱势群体的特殊关爱。基于这一理念,在中国未来民法典中有必要增加人格权法和侵权责任法编。在中国民法的适用等方面更应强化人文关怀。     

Is failure to raise concerns about misconduct a breach of integrity? Researchers’ reflections on reporting misconduct

This article describes and discusses the views of researchers on the significance of raising concerns about scientific misconduct in their work environment and the reasons or circumstances that might deter them from doing so. In this exploratory qualitative research study, we conducted in-depth interviews with 33 researchers working in life sciences and medicine. They represent three seniority levels and five universities across Switzerland. A large majority of respondents in this research study argued that failure to raise concerns about scientific misconduct compromises research integrity. This is an encouraging result demonstrating that researchers try to adhere to high ethical standards. However, further interaction with respondents highlighted that this correct ethical assessment does not lead researchers to take the consequent action of raising concerns. The factors that discourage researchers from raising concerns need to be addressed at the level of research groups, institutions, and by setting a positive precedent which helps them to believe in the system’s ability to investigate concerns raised in a timely and professional manner. Training of researchers in research integrity related issues will have limited utility unless it is coupled with the creation of research culture where raising concerns is a standard practice of scientific and research activities.