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Objective Manner (objective + manner)
Selected AbstractsComponents of Relationship Quality in ChimpanzeesETHOLOGY, Issue 9 2008Orlaith N. Fraser A novel approach to studying social relationships in captive adult chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) was taken by using principal components analysis (PCA) to extract three key components of relationship quality from nine behavioural variables. Based on the loadings of the behavioural variables, the components appeared to match previously hypothesized critical aspects of social relationships and were therefore labelled Value, Compatibility and Security. The effects of kinship, sex combination, age difference and time spent together on each of the relationship quality components were analysed. As expected, kin were found to have more valuable, compatible and secure relationships than non-kin. Female,female dyads were found to be more compatible than male,male or mixed-sex dyads, whereas the latter were found to be most secure. Partners of a similar age were found to have more secure and more valuable relationships than those with a larger age gap. Individuals that were together in the group for longer were more valuable and more compatible, but their relationships were found to be less secure than individuals that were together in the group for a shorter time. Although some of the results may be unexpected based on chimpanzee socio-ecology, they fit well overall with the history and social dynamics of the study group. The methods used confer a significant advantage in producing quantitative composite measures of each component of relationship quality, obtained in an objective manner. These findings therefore promote the use of such measures in future studies requiring an assessment of the qualities of dyadic social relationships. [source] The New Role of the Internal Auditor: Implications for Internal Auditor ObjectivityINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AUDITING, Issue 2 2000Richard G. Brody The role of the internal auditor continues to evolve. The recent emphasis on consulting activities has brought new questions and concerns regarding the ability of internal auditors to function in an independent and objective manner. The purpose of this research is to explore whether internal auditors view their consulting role as one in which they are to provide objective feedback to management or one in which they are to provide solutions that they believe are in the best interests of their company. Specifically, we examine whether the internal auditors' judgments are dependent on their company's role (buyer or seller) in an acquisition. Results revealed that the role of the company in the negotiation process did influence judgments. This suggests that internal auditors are likely to assume the position that is in the best interests of their employer. Implications of these results are discussed as are suggested areas for future research. [source] Content Validation of Parental Role Conflict in the Neonatal Intensive Care UnitINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING TERMINOLOGIES AND CLASSIFICATION, Issue 1 2006Elenice Valentim Carmona MN PURPOSE.,To validate the content of the nursing diagnosis parental role conflict made by neonatal intensive care (NICU) nurses and researchers in the field and to identify the related major and minor defining characteristics. METHOD.,Fehring's Diagnostic Content Validation model using 59 neonatal specialists. FINDINGS.,Nineteen defining characteristics were validated for use in NICUs: four were considered major and 15 as minor. There was no correlation between nurse profiles and defining characteristic scores. CONCLUSIONS.,In this study, parental role conflict was validated for use in neonatal units but defining characteristics must be described in a clearer and more objective manner. NURSING IMPLICATIONS.,Validation studies in different healthcare settings are required so that the specificities of each clientele are met. NANDA diagnoses must be tested and validated at neonatal units, because this setting has developed few studies and their use in practice is a potential way to improve nursing care. [source] Annotation: The use of psychotropic medications in children: a British viewTHE JOURNAL OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY AND ALLIED DISCIPLINES, Issue 2 2003David Bramble Background: Prescribing practices relating to the use of psychotropic medication with mentally disordered children have changed significantly in Britain over recent years. Methods: I conducted a review of the modest body of empirical data available relating to the prescribing practices of child psychiatrists, paediatricians and general practitioners (primary care physicians). The data were obtained primarily from postal questionnaire studies but also from British drug studies and a government-sponsored evaluation of the efficacy of stimulant medication. Postgraduate training guidelines for the three principal clinical disciplines are also discussed. Results: Systematic evaluation of prescribing practices has a relatively short history. All the studies reviewed demonstrated consistent methodological weaknesses, the most important of which was reliance upon retrospective reports of prescribing practices from clinicians with no analysis of actual prescription data. No studies relating to the general use of psychotropic medication by paediatricians were found. Child psychiatrists and general practitioners appear to be using a range of drugs for a range of conditions; however, there was evidence of intra- and interdisciplinary variations in practice. It was also evident from the general practitioner data that drug treatments were frequently used for conditions best managed with behavioural methods (e.g., common sleep problems and enuresis). Government prescription data relating to methylphenidate use in ADHD reveal a dramatic rise over the past ten years. Currently, most child psychiatrists use this treatment compared to approximately half the profession only seven years ago. The use of newer antipsychotic agents as well as the SSRI antidepressants appears to be growing in child psychiatric practice. A majority of clinicians surveyed believed that medication was an important treatment modality but also felt that they were relatively unskilled in the field and requested further training. Conclusions: Overall, a picture of both a growing and better informed use of psychotropic medication is emerging in Britain despite shortcomings in postgraduate training. Future research needs to evaluate prescribing practice in a more objective manner in order to improve training and also service developments in the field. [source] Habitat diversity relative to wave action on rocky shores: implications for the selection of marine protected areasAQUATIC CONSERVATION: MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS, Issue 6 2009Laura K. Blamey Abstract 1.Current selection of marine protected areas in South Africa is based on objective criteria including biogeographic representation and habitat heterogeneity. This paper specifically examines rocky shores on the west coast of South Africa to determine whether they are divisible into discrete ,habitats' that need independent conservation. 2.Seventeen rocky shores spanning the full spectrum of wave exposure were compared in terms of maximum wave forces, biomass, species richness and diversity among zones and sites. Three biotic assemblages were identified, characterizing sheltered, semi-exposed to exposed, and very exposed habitats. Differences among these were clear-cut low on the shore but disappeared at the top of the shore where wave action was attenuated and desiccation uniformly intense. 3.The recognition of three discrete biologically-defined habitats means that rocky shores cannot be regarded as a uniform habitat for conservation purposes. All three components need protection if the full spectrum of rocky-shore communities is to be conserved. 4.It is argued that this approach allows habitats to be defined in an objective manner, and that once this has been done, habitat heterogeneity constitutes a better measure of conservation value of an area than a ,hotspot' approach based on species richness and endemism. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Open evaluation of science: can we simply say "no, thank you?"ACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2008G STEFANO In today's world of information doubling at faster rates because of rapid technological and biomedical advances nations must pay closer attention to the productivity and creativity that can be obtained from their universities. A professor's intellectual property may have important patent consequences. Thus, universities must foster lines of communication that aid the professor in making critical decisions not only about the advance but its potential to generate a revenue stream. In the same light, universities must also be able to evaluate the contribution and the potential of a lab to make future contributions in an objective manner since all laboratories and projects cannot be funded in a nation/university due to the high cost of doing so. In the past, this evaluation has taken the form of a grant, which depends on peer evaluations. Now however, due to ever increasing flow of information, which generates new technologies, additional evaluation processes must be in place so the funding can be prioritized and revenue not wasted. This calls for a rapid evaluation process, taking advantage of the increase in informational flow. This process must be as objective as possible, providing documentation of the ability to generate successful projects without damaging continuing research and hurting the ability of high risk projects to reach fruition. [source] | |||||||||||||