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Practical Action (practical + action)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Humanities and Social Sciences28%

Selected Abstracts

Overcoming the Glass Barriers: Reflection and Action in the ,Women to the Top' Programme

GENDER, WORK & ORGANISATION, Issue 2 2008
Ulla Eriksson-Zetterquist
Numerous equality programmes have been launched with the aim of promoting a more gender equal work life, yet little substantial action has been reported. This article presents a study of the Women to the Top programme in Sweden, supported by the European Union (EU) and aimed at promoting more women into top management positions. The research suggests that large-scale projects assembling such heterogeneous actors as industry representatives, politicians and scholars tend to generate further reflection and discussion rather than promoting adequate and highly needed action. Drawing upon Brunsson's distinction between action rationality and decision rationality, the relatively modest effects of large-scale equality programmes are examined, not in terms of a lack of commitment or competence on the part of the participants but as a matter of the disjunction between reflection and action. Reconciling reflection and action, that is, emphasizing not only reflection on gender inequality but also privileging various forms of practical action (such as new policies, the appointment of female managers, restructuring gendered wage inequalities or new recruitment procedures), is therefore a top priority for policymakers desiring more substantial changes in the gendered outline of industry. [source]

Cyberbullying: its nature and impact in secondary school pupils

THE JOURNAL OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY AND ALLIED DISCIPLINES, Issue 4 2008
Peter K. Smith
Background:, Cyberbullying describes bullying using mobile phones and the internet. Most previous studies have focused on the prevalence of text message and email bullying. Methods:, Two surveys with pupils aged 11,16 years: (1) 92 pupils from 14 schools, supplemented by focus groups; (2) 533 pupils from 5 schools, to assess the generalisability of findings from the first study, and investigate relationships of cyberbullying to general internet use. Both studies differentiated cyberbullying inside and outside of school, and 7 media of cyberbullying. Results:, Both studies found cyberbullying less frequent than traditional bullying, but appreciable, and reported more outside of school than inside. Phone call and text message bullying were most prevalent, with instant messaging bullying in the second study; their impact was perceived as comparable to traditional bullying. Mobile phone/video clip bullying, while rarer, was perceived to have more negative impact. Age and gender differences varied between the two studies. Study 1 found that most cyberbullying was done by one or a few students, usually from the same year group. It often just lasted about a week, but sometimes much longer. The second study found that being a cybervictim, but not a cyberbully, correlated with internet use; many cybervictims were traditional ,bully-victims'. Pupils recommended blocking/avoiding messages, and telling someone, as the best coping strategies; but many cybervictims had told nobody about it. Conclusions:, Cyberbullying is an important new kind of bullying, with some different characteristics from traditional bullying. Much happens outside school. Implications for research and practical action are discussed. [source]

Disastrous Rites: Liminality and Communitas in a Flood Crisis

ANTHROPOLOGY & HUMANISM, Issue 1 2001
Linda Jencson
A sense of communitas, well noted by social scientists, occurs in human societies during times of natural disaster. Using the Red River Valley Flood of 1997 as a case example, it is found that disaster communitas has similarities to ritual communitas specifically because people consciously ritualize and mythologize their actions during disaster. While this sacralization of practical action serves to optimize disaster response, it also creates an expanded sense of self, community, and purpose that can leave many survivors of disaster with a sense that they have undergone a profoundly meaningful peak experience. [source]

An exploratory comparison of genetic counselling protocols for HNPCC predictive testing

CLINICAL GENETICS, Issue 3 2005
K Brain
Most UK genetics centres offering predictive testing for hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) use an extended counselling protocol originally developed for Huntington's disease. Shortened counselling may be more appropriate in the context of treatable genetic conditions such as HNPCC. Twenty-six high-risk individuals were randomized to extended genetic counselling (two sessions of education and reflection held 1 month apart) or shortened genetic counselling (a single educational session) prior to HNPCC testing. Prospective questionnaires, interviews and transcripts of counselling sessions were analysed. Participants were unsure what to expect prior to genetic counselling and had already decided to undergo genetic testing. There was no evidence of psychological harm caused by shortened genetic counselling, with a high level of satisfaction with the counselling received in both groups. Reflective counselling occurred in both groups but was framed in terms of practical action and information. Participants expressed differing preferences for the level of information received. This exploratory study indicates that shortened genetic counselling may be an appropriate means of supporting decisions already made by individuals about HNPCC testing. However, participants would benefit from preparatory information to help them reflect on issues not previously considered, which can then be explored more fully as part of a tailored counselling approach. [source]

Client-Situated Architectural Practice: Implications for Architectural Education

JOURNAL OF ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION, Issue 1 2001
Brian Schermer
The rising proportion of architects who work as in-house employees of large client organizations represents an important shift in the pattern of architectural employment. Client-situated practice presents new challenges for architects that they do not otherwise face in more traditional work settings. This research attempts to provide, through a case study of one group of in-house architects, a fuller understanding of the nature of this form of work. The study uses a community of practice perspective to shed light on how the architects fit within the client's organizational structure and hierarchy, the practical actions and strategies of the architects and others who are involved in building design, and the material and social context in which the architectural work is situated. After comparison with traditional practice, this article offers suggestions for preparing students for this growing form of architectural employment. [source]

Reduction of asthma burden is possible through National Asthma Plans

ALLERGY, Issue 4 2010
M. Kupczyk
To cite this article: Kupczyk M, Haahtela T, Cruz AA, Kuna P. Reduction of asthma burden is possible through National Asthma. Allergy 2010; 65: 415,419. Abstract Despite increase in understanding of asthma patomechanisms the practical actions to lessen asthma burden in the communities are far behind of scientific knowledge. There are still reports of uderdiagnosis and poor treatment leading to repeated severe exacerbations, often demanding emergency care and hospitalisation, which cause most of the economic burden both for families and society. From the public health perspective, the key issue is to implement the best standards of care in every-day practice. The problems are different in high income compared to low- and middle-income countries, and the solutions have to be tailored to each country needs and resources. We present here examples from Finland, Poland and Brazil, to show that asthma burden can be reduced using varied strategies in quite different societal, economical and health care environments. The experience from those interventions confirms that regardless of the health care system and its coverage, a major change for the better can be achieved by local efforts, systematic planning and networking to implement the best asthma practice. [source]

A voice crying in the wilderness: Legislative oversight agencies' efforts to achieve utilization

NEW DIRECTIONS FOR EVALUATION, Issue 112 2006
Gary R. VanLandingham
Although evaluation utilization literature has identified a wide range of practical actions that evaluators can take to maximize use of their work by policymakers, an emphasis on organizational independence can limit use of these strategies. This can restrict evaluators' role to that of a voice crying in the wilderness rather than speaking truth to power. [source]