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Assessment Procedures (assessment + procedure)
Selected AbstractsIMMIGRANTS FLEEING A DYING INDUSTRY: APPLYING RAPID ETHNOGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES TO THE STUDY OF TOBACCO FARMWORKERSANNALS OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL PRACTICE, Issue 1 2009David GriffithArticle first published online: 13 JUL 200 Recent assaults on the tobacco industry have led to a decline in tobacco production across North Carolina, the largest tobacco producing state in the nation. Although a great deal of attention has been focused on tobacco farmers, considerably less work has been aimed at determining the effects of these changes on tobacco farmworkers, many of whom are Latinos. In this article, I discuss Rapid Ethnographic Assessment Procedures used to estimate the impact of changes in the tobacco industry on tobacco farmworkers. I find that the tobacco farm labor force is highly complex and that the effects of the economic downturns have had fewer effects on Latino farmworkers than on tobacco farm owners, in part because of the Latinization of the rural South. [source] Intra-individual variability in infancy: Structure, stability, and nutritional correlatesDEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2008Theodore D. Wachs Abstract Intra-individual variability (IIV) refers to relatively stable differences between individuals in the degree to which they show behavioral fluctuations over relatively short time periods. Using temperament as a conceptual framework the structure, stability, and biological roots of IIV were assessed over the first year of life. Biological roots were defined by maternal and infant nutrition. The sample was 249 Peruvian neonates, followed from the second trimester of pregnancy through the first 12 months of life. Maternal anthropometry, diet, iron status, and fetal growth were assessed prenatally. Neonatal anthropometry and iron status were assessed at birth. Degree of exclusive breastfeeding was assessed at 3 and 6 months, infant anthropometry was assessed at 3, 6, and 12 months, infant dietary intake was assessed at 6 and 12 months and infant iron status was tested at 12 months. Individual differences in IIV at 3, 6, and 12 months were derived from a residual standard deviation score based on infant behaviors measured using the Louisville Temperament Assessment Procedure. Principal components analysis indicated that individual differences in IIV were defined by two components at 3, 6, and 12 months. There was modest stability between IIV components assessed at 3 and 12 months. Reduced levels of IIV at 3 months were predicted by higher maternal weight and higher fetal weight gains in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy. Higher levels of IIV at 3 months were predicted by higher levels of maternal hemoglobin during pregnancy and higher levels of neonatal ferritin. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 50: 217,231, 2008. [source] Dementia Care Mapping reconsidered: exploring the reliability and validity of the observational toolINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 8 2004A. Thornton Abstract Background Dementia Care Mapping (DCM) is a widely used observational method for evaluating the service quality provided to people with dementia. However, there is little evidence concerning its reliability and validity when used by routine care staff for whom it was designed. Method The study evaluated levels of inter-observer agreement; The ability of the five-minute time frame to reflect the ,actual passing of time'; And the nature of the relationship between individual Well/Ill-Being values (WIB) and dependency levels. Data collected using DCM and continuous time sampling (CTS) were compared. The methods were used in parallel where the CTS coder and the DCM mapper(s) observed the same participants. Observations were carried out with 64 people with dementia within a day hospital and a continuing care ward. Inter-observer agreement was calculated across 20 participants. Dependency levels were measured using the Clifton Assessment Procedure for the Elderly (CAPE) (Pattie and Gilleard, 1979). Results Low levels of inter-observer agreement were found where 11 of the 25 Behaviour Category codes and all six Well/Ill-being Codes produced unacceptable kappas (<0.6). The Behaviour coding frame provided a meaningful picture of activities participants engaged in, but significantly underestimated participant levels of inactivity. A strong relationship was demonstrated between participants' WIB score and levels of dependency, thus DCM was unable to measure well-/ill-being as a separate construct from participants' levels of dependency. Conclusions Questions were raised regarding the reliability and validity of DCM as used by routine care staff. Possible reasons for this, and suggestions for amendments are made. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The Impact of Formal Assessment Procedures on Teaching and Learning in Art and Design in Secondary SchoolsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ART & DESIGN EDUCATION, Issue 2 2006Rachel Mason Assessment is widely considered to be the most significant issue affecting art and design practice at secondary level. The article begins with an historical overview of developments in and critiques of assessment procedures in England, Wales and Northern Ireland since the inception of GCSE examination. This is followed by a report of an attempt to carry out a systematic review of research on the impact of assessment on the art and design curriculum in secondary schools. Author conclusions and findings from eight studies subjected to in-depth analysis are discussed together with the implications of the review exercise for art education policy, practice and research. [source] Mothers who were severely abused during childhood and their children talk about emotions: Co-construction of narratives in light of maternal traumaINFANT MENTAL HEALTH JOURNAL, Issue 4 2004Nina Koren-Karie The article focuses on detailed examination of the co-construction of emotion dialogues between mothers and their 6-year-old children in light of mothers' experiences of being sexually, physically, and emotionally abused during childhood. We present examples from dialogues between 3 mothers and their children about emotional events experienced by the children and illustrate emotionally mismatched co-construction processes. To better understand these difficulties, the article also provides vignettes from interviews with mothers about children's inner worlds and show how examining the interviews may help explain the unfolding of the dialogues and particularly points of difficulty. The dialogues between the mothers and their children were assessed using the Autobiographical Emotional Events Dialogue procedure (Koren-Karie, Oppenheim, Chaimovich, & Etzion-Carasso, 2000). The maternal interviews were obtained using the Insightfulness Assessment procedure (Oppenheim & Koren-Karie, 2002). The discussion focuses on the significance of mother,child dialogues in shaping children's inner world, and points to the importance of providing intervention for adults who experienced childhood traumas that address not only their own personal issues but also their functioning as parents. [source] Response simulation and seismic assessment of highway overcrossingsEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 9 2010Anastasios Kotsoglou Abstract Interaction of bridge structures with the adjacent embankment fills and pile foundations is generally responsible for response modification of the system to strong ground excitations, to a degree that depends on soil compliance, support conditions, and soil mass mobilized in dynamic response. This paper presents a general modeling and assessment procedure specifically targeted for simulation of the dynamic response of short bridges such as highway overcrossings, where the embankment soil,structure interaction is the most prevalent. From previous studies it has been shown that in this type of interaction, seismic displacement demands are magnified in the critical bridge components such as the central piers. This issue is of particular relevance not only in new design but also in the assessment of the existing infrastructure. Among a wide range of issues relevant to soil,structure interaction, typical highway overcrossings that have flexible abutments supported on earth embankments were investigated extensively in the paper. Simulation procedures are proposed for consideration of bridge-embankment interaction effects in practical analysis of these structures for estimation of their seismic performance. Results are extrapolated after extensive parametric studies and are used to extract ready-to-use, general, and parameterized capacity curves for a wide range of possible material properties and geometric characteristics of the bridge-embankment assembly. Using two instrumented highway overpasses as benchmark examples, the capacity curves estimated using the proposed practical procedures are correlated successfully with the results of explicit incremental dynamic analysis, verifying the applicability of the simple tools developed herein, in seismic assessment of existing short bridges. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Water pipeline failure due to water hammer effectsFATIGUE & FRACTURE OF ENGINEERING MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES, Issue 12 2006C. SCHMITT ABSTRACT A numerical model has been established in order to simulate the propagation of pressure waves in water networks. The present model formulation is based on a system of partial hyperbolic differential equations. This system has been solved via the characteristics method. The current model provides the necessary data and the necessary damping of water hammer waves, taking into account the structure of the pipe network and the pressure loss. The numerical algorithm estimates the maximum pressure values resulting from the water hammer when closing valves in the network and consequently, the maximum stresses in the pipes have been calculated. In the case of simultaneous closing of several valves, the over pressure can exceed the admissible pressure. In this case, the severity of a defect such as a corrosion crater (pit) has been estimated by computing a safety factor for the stress distribution at the defect tip. This allows the applied notch stress intensity factor to be obtained. To investigate the defect geometry effects, semi-spherical and semi-elliptical defects are deemed to exist in up to one-half of the thickness of the pipe wall. The outcomes have been introduced into the structural integrity assessment procedure (SINTAP) failure diagram assessment (FAD) in order to obtain the safety factor value. Conventionally, it is considered that a failure hazard exists if this safety factor is less than two. [source] Group decision and distributed technical supportINTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS IN OPERATIONAL RESEARCH, Issue 4 2004M.F. Norese Abstract A group of 45 decision-makers (local authorities and representatives from the communities) worked together for 16 months, with a facilitator group, to identify relevant criteria to analyze the consequences of a plant location. Two multi-criteria models, one for an incinerator and the other for a waste disposal plant, were elaborated and an ELECTRE method was used to compare sites and rank them, with the aim of selecting the best sites for which an environmental impact assessment procedure will be activated. A virtual team, from different organizations, supported this work from a technical point of view. This kind of ,distributed support' to a multi-criteria decision required actions of coordination and knowledge filtering and interpreting. The paper proposes an analysis of this participatory decision process and synthesizes the difficulties and results of the multi-criteria decision aid intervention. [source] Validity of portfolio assessment: which qualities determine ratings?MEDICAL EDUCATION, Issue 9 2006Erik W Driessen Context, The portfolio is becoming increasingly accepted as a valuable tool for learning and assessment. The validity of portfolio assessment, however, may suffer from bias due to irrelevant qualities, such as lay-out and writing style. We examined the possible effects of such qualities in a portfolio programme aimed at stimulating Year 1 medical students to reflect on their professional and personal development. In later curricular years, this portfolio is also used to judge clinical competence. Methods, We developed an instrument, the Portfolio Analysis Scoring Inventory, to examine the impact of form and content aspects on portfolio assessment. The Inventory consists of 15 items derived from interviews with experienced mentors, the literature, and the criteria for reflective competence used in the regular portfolio assessment procedure. Forty portfolios, selected from 231 portfolios for which ratings from the regular assessment procedure were available, were rated by 2 researchers, independently, using the Inventory. Regression analysis was used to estimate the correlation between the ratings from the regular assessment and those resulting from the Inventory items. Results, Inter-rater agreement ranged from 0.46 to 0.87. The strongest predictor of the variance in the regular ratings was ,quality of reflection' (R 0.80; R2 66%). No further items accounted for a significant proportion of variance. Irrelevant items, such as writing style and lay-out, had negligible effects. Conclusions, The absence of an impact of irrelevant criteria appears to support the validity of the portfolio assessment procedure. Further studies should examine the portfolio's validity for the assessment of clinical competence. [source] Competence in the musculoskeletal system: assessing the progression of knowledge through an undergraduate medical courseMEDICAL EDUCATION, Issue 12 2004Subhashis Basu Background, Professional bodies have expressed concerns that medical students lack appropriate knowledge in musculoskeletal medicine despite its high prevalence of use within the community. Changes in curriculum and teaching strategies may be contributing factors to this. There is little evidence to evaluate the degree to which these concerns are justified. Objectives, To design and evaluate an assessment procedure that tests the progress of medical students in achieving a core level of knowledge in musculoskeletal medicine during the course. Participants and Setting, A stratified sample of 136 volunteer students from all 5 years of the medical course at Sheffield University. Methods, The progress test concept was adapted to provide a cross-sectional view of student knowledge gain during each year of the course. A test was devised which aimed to provide an assessment of competence set at the standard required of the newly qualified doctor in understanding basic and clinical sciences relevant to musculoskeletal medicine. The test was blueprinted against internal and external guidelines. It comprised 40 multiple-choice and extended matching questions administered by computer. Six musculoskeletal practitioners set the standard using a modified Angoff procedure. Results, Test reliability was 0.6 (Cronbach's ,). Mean scores of students increased from 41% in Year 1 to 84% by the final year. Data suggest that, from a baseline score in Year 1, there is a disparate experience of learning in Year 2 that evens out in Year 3, with knowledge progression becoming more consistent thereafter. All final year participants scored above the standard predicted by the Angoff procedure. Conclusions, This short computer-based test was a feasible method of estimating student knowledge acquisition in musculoskeletal medicine across the undergraduate curriculum. Tested students appear to have acquired a satisfactory knowledge base by the end of the course. Knowledge gain seemed relatively independent of specialty-specific clinical training. Proposals from specialty bodies to include long periods of disciplinary teaching may be unnecessary. [source] Australian occupational therapy practice in acute care settingsOCCUPATIONAL THERAPY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2001Dr Susan D. Griffin Lecturer, Faculty of Health Sciences Abstract A national sample of occupational therapists was surveyed to explore the nature of Australian occupational therapy practice in acute care settings. Self-care was the major client need that therapists reported they addressed, with an initial interview being the most common assessment procedure. Client education was the most frequently used intervention. The most important skills therapists reported for effective practice in acute care were time management, quick clinical reasoning and lateral thinking. Important workplace characteristics included a cooperative health-care team and early referral. Therapists reported that their most important resources were supportive senior therapists and a well-resourced equipment pool. Three attitudinal factors emerged. Therapists in interdisciplinary teams and those with more experience had more positive attitudes. Younger therapists experienced more concern about not being able to do more for their patients. Results suggest a need for graduates to be better prepared in some skill areas and to have more realistic expectations of practice in this area. Department managers need to ensure younger therapists receive adequate support from senior therapists. Further research is needed to determine how best to provide this support and to further examine the influence of the education experience on practice expectations. Copyright © 2001 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] Conservation Status as a Biodiversity Trend Indicator: Recommendations from a Decade of Listing Species at Risk in British ColumbiaCONSERVATION BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2005JAMES F. QUAYLE especies amenazadas; especies en peligro; estado del ambiente Abstract:,Species conservation status is commonly used as a broad-scale indicator of the state of biological diversity. To learn about its value for tracking trends, we examined provincial lists of terrestrial vertebrate species and subspecies at risk in British Columbia, Canada, for 1992 and 2002 to see whether changes in these lists reflected changes in the status of the taxa they represent. Examination of the case histories of individual species and subspecies showed that 65% of additions and deletions to the British Columbia Red List were the result of improvement in knowledge of species status, changes in assessment procedures, and refinements in taxonomy rather than actual changes in a species' status. Comparison to an alternate set of rank scores provided by NatureServe for taxa that appeared on both 1992 and 2002 British Columbia Red Lists revealed changes in status that were not reflected by movement from the list. Estimates of historical conservation status for species on the 1992 British Columbia Red List demonstrated ambiguity around the natural baseline with regard to tracking changes in list composition over time. We discourage the continued use of indicators based solely on conservation status as a means of tracking biodiversity. Instead we recommend advancing strategic indicators around species at risk based on long-term monitoring data, deliberate and explicitly stated baselines, and consistent methods of conservation ranking. Resumen:,El estatus de conservación de las especies comúnmente es utilizado como un indicador de escala amplia del estado de la diversidad biológica. En un esfuerzo por aprender sobre su valor para el seguimiento de tendencias, examinamos listas provinciales, para 1992 y 2002, de especies y subespecies de vertebrados terrestres en riesgo en Columbia Británica, Canadá, para ver si los cambios en estas listas reflejaban cambios en el estatus de los taxa que representan. El examen de la historia del caso de especies y subespecies individuales mostró que 65% de las adiciones y supresiones en la Lista Roja de Columbia Británica fueron el resultado de avances en el conocimiento del estatus de la especie, de cambios en los procedimientos de evaluación y de refinamientos en la taxonomía y no de cambios en el estatus de una especie. La comparación con un conjunto alternativo de valores de clasificación proporcionado por NatureServe para taxa que aparecieron tanto en la Lista Roja de Columbia Británica de 1992 como de 2002 reveló cambios en el estatus que no se reflejaron en movimientos en la lista. Estimaciones del estatus de conservación histórico de especies en la Lista Roja de Columbia Británica de 1992 demostraron ambigüedad alrededor de la línea de base natural en relación con el seguimiento de cambios en el tiempo en la composición de la lista. Desalentamos el uso continuo de indicadores basados solamente en el estatus de conservación como un medio para el seguimiento de biodiversidad. En cambio, recomendamos avanzar con indicadores estratégicos en torno a especies en riesgo con base en datos de monitoreo de largo plazo, en líneas básicas puestas de manifiesto deliberada y explícitamente y en métodos consistentes para la clasificación de la conservación. [source] Psychology brings justice: the science of forensic psychology,CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR AND MENTAL HEALTH, Issue 3 2003Gisli H. Gudjonsson Professor of Forensic Psychology In this paper the focus is on one aspect of forensic psychology: the development of psychological instruments, a social psychological model and assessment procedures for evaluating the credibility of witnesses and police detainees during interviewing. Clinically grounded case work and research has impacted on police interviewing and practice, the admissibility of expert psychological testimony and the outcome of cases of miscarriage of justice. After describing the research that laid the foundations for advancement of scientific knowledge in this area, a brief review is presented of 22 high-profile murder cases where convictions based on confession evidence have been quashed on appeal between 1989 and 2001, often primarily on the basis of psychological evidence. The review of the cases demonstrates that psychological research and expert testimony in cases of disputed confessions have had a profound influence on the practice and ruling of the Court of Appeal for England and Wales and the British House of Lords. The cases presented in this paper show that it is wrong to assume that only persons with learning disability or those who are mentally ill make unreliable or false confessions. Personality factors, such as suggestibility, compliance, high trait anxiety and antisocial personality traits, are often important in rendering a confession unreliable. Future research needs to focus more on the role of personality factors in rendering the evidence of witnesses and suspects potentially unreliable. Copyright © 2003 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] Predictors of word-level literacy amongst Grade 3 children in five diverse languagesDYSLEXIA, Issue 3 2008Ian Smythe Abstract Groups of Grade 3 children were tested on measures of word-level literacy and undertook tasks that required the ability to associate sounds with letter sequences and that involved visual, auditory and phonological-processing skills. These groups came from different language backgrounds in which the language of instruction was Arabic, Chinese, English, Hungarian or Portuguese. Similar measures were used across the groups, with tests being adapted to be appropriate for the language of the children. Findings indicated that measures of decoding and phonological-processing skills were good predictors of word reading and spelling among Arabic- and English-speaking children, but were less able to predict variability in these same early literacy skills among Chinese- and Hungarian-speaking children, and were better at predicting variability in Portuguese word reading than spelling. Results were discussed with reference to the relative transparency of the script and issues of dyslexia assessment across languages. Overall, the findings argue for the need to take account of features of the orthography used to represent a language when developing assessment procedures for a particular language and that assessment of word-level literacy skills and a phonological perspective of dyslexia may not be universally applicable across all language contexts. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Merits of a more integrated approach to environmental assessmentsENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND GOVERNANCE, Issue 1 2010Elke Weingarten Abstract Under the maxim of ,better regulation', the European Commission is aiming to simplify and improve the European regulatory framework in order to reduce bureaucracy and to foster economic growth. Against this background, the integration of requirements presents one option for responding to the challenge of carrying out various environmental assessments stipulated by a number of European environmental directives. Although integrative, cross-sectional approaches have been established by some European directives, such as the Directive on Environmental Impact Assessment, the member states currently make little use of these options when implementing the directives into national law. Based on a review of European directives as well as related German regulations, this article outlines an approach for an integrative environmental assessment that aims to enhance the integrative effects and reduce duplication resulting from different environmental assessments. The investigation shows that the different assessment procedures as outlined by European and German legislation can be successfully integrated without necessarily lowering the standards set by these regulations. Given that the relevant directives are binding for all member states, the proposed assessment structure can easily be applied to other member states and, where necessary, modified to suit national requirements. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] Factors affecting the degradation of pharmaceuticals in agricultural soils,ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 12 2009Sara C. Monteiro Abstract Pharmaceuticals may be released to the soil environment through the application of biosolids to land. To understand those factors affecting the persistence of pharmaceuticals in the soil environment, the present study was performed to assess the effects of soil type, the presence of biosolids, and the impact of chemical mixture interactions on the degradation of three pharmaceuticals: naproxen, carbamazepine, and fluoxetine. Single-compound studies showed that naproxen degraded in a range of soils with half-lives ranging from 3.1 to 6.9 d and in biosolids with a half-life of 10.2 d. No relationships were observed between degradation rate and soil physicochemical properties and soil bioactivity. For naproxen, addition of biosolids to soils reduced the degradation rate observed in the soil-only studies, with half-lives in the soil-biosolid systems ranging from 3.9 to 15.1 d. Carbamazepine and fluoxetine were found to be persistent in soils, biosolids, and soil-biosolid mixtures. When degradation was assessed using a mixture of the three study compounds and the sulfonamide antibiotic sulfamethazine, the degradation behavior of fluoxetine and carbamazepine was similar to that observed in the single compound studies (i.e., no degradation). However, the degradation rate of naproxen in soils, biosolids, and soil-biosolid systems spiked with the mixture was significantly slower than in the single-compound studies. As degradation studies for risk assessment purposes are performed using single substances in soil-only studies, it is possible that current risk assessment procedures will underestimate environmental impacts. Further work is therefore warranted on a larger range of substances, soils, biosolid types, and chemical mixtures to better understand the fate of pharmaceuticals in terrestrial systems. [source] Development and field validation of a biotic ligand model predicting chronic copper toxicity to Daphnia magnaENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 6 2004Karel A.C. De Schamphelaere Abstract In this study, we developed a toxicity model predicting the long-term effects of copper on the reproduction of the cladoceran Daphnia magna that is based on previously reported toxicity tests in 35 exposure media with different water chemistries. First, it was demonstrated that the acute copper biotic ligand model (BLM) for D. magna could not serve as a reliable basis for predicting chronic copper toxicity. Consequently, BLM constants for chronic exposures were derived by multiple regression analysis of 21-d median effective concentrations (EC50s; expressed as Cu2+ activity) versus physicochemistry from a large toxicity dataset and the results of an additional experiment in which the individual effect of sodium on copper toxicity was investigated. The effect of sodium on chronic toxicity (log KNaBL = 2.91) seemed to be similar to its effect on acute toxicity (log KNaBL = 3.19). However, in contrast to the acute BLM, no significant calcium, magnesium, or combined competition effect was observed, and an increase in proton competition and bioavailability of CuOH+ and CuCO3 complexes was noted. Some indirect evidence was also found for some limited toxicity of complexes of copper with two of three tested types of dissolved organic matter. Because the latter was only a minor effect, this factor was not included in the chronic Cu BLM. The newly developed model performed well in predicting 21-d EC50s and no-observed-effect concentrations in natural water samples: 79% of the toxicity threshold values were predicted within a factor of two of the observed values. It is clear, however, that more research is needed to provide information on the exact mechanisms that have resulted in different BLM constants for chronic exposures (as opposed to acute exposures). It is suggested that the developed model can contribute to the improvement of risk assessment procedures of copper by incorporating bioavailability of copper in these regulatory exercises. [source] A new method for assessing high-temperature crack growthFATIGUE & FRACTURE OF ENGINEERING MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES, Issue 9 2005A. J. FOOKES ABSTRACT Experimental creep crack growth (CCG) test data are obtained by following standards that characterize CCG rates using the C* parameter. Such data are then used in high-temperature failure assessment procedures. An alternative approach to defect assessment at high-temperature failure is an extension of the R6 failure assessment diagram (FAD). At high temperature, creep toughness, Kcmat, can be estimated from CCG tests and replaces low-temperature toughness in R6. This approach has the advantage that it is not necessary to establish a creep fracture regime, such as small-scale, primary or widespread creep. Also, a new strain-based FAD has been developed, potentially allowing variations of stress and temperature to be accommodated. In this paper, the results of a series of crack growth tests performed on ex-service 316H stainless steel at 550 °C are examined in the light of the limitations imposed by ASTM for CCG testing. The results are then explored in terms of toughness and presented in FADs. [source] Older patients and delayed discharge from hospitalHEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY, Issue 6 2000Christina R. Victor BA M Phil PhD Hon MFPHM Abstract Older people (those aged 65 years and over) are the major users of health care services, especially acute hospital beds. Since the creation of the NHS there has been concern that older people inappropriately occupy acute hospital beds when their needs would be best served by other forms of care. Many factors have been associated with delayed discharge (age, sex, multiple pathology, dependency and administrative inefficiencies). However, many of these factors are interrelated (or confounded) and few studies have taken this into account. Using data from a large study of assessment of older patients upon discharge from hospital in England, this paper examines the extent of delayed discharge, and analyses the factors associated with such delays using a conceptual model of individual and organisational factors. Specifically, this paper evaluates the relative contribution of the following factors to the delayed discharge of older people from hospital: predisposing factors (such as age), enabling factors (availability of a family carer), vulnerability factors (dependency and multiple pathology), and organisational/administrative factors (referral for services, type of team undertaking assessments). The study was a retrospective patient case note review in three hospitals in England and included four hundred and fifty-six patients aged 75 years and over admitted from their own homes, and discharged from specialist elderly care wards. Of the 456 patients in the sample, 27% had a recorded delay in their discharge from hospital of three plus days. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed that three factors independently predicted delay in discharge: absence of a family carer, entry to a nursing/residential home, and discharge assessment team staffing. Delayed discharge was not related to the hypothesised vulnerability factors (multiple dependency and multiple pathology) nor to predisposing factors (such as age or whether the older person lived alone). The delayed discharge of older people from hospital is a topic of considerable policy relevance. Our study indicated that delay was independently related to two organisational issues. First, entry into long-term care entailed lengthy assessment procedures, uncertainty over who pays for this care, and waiting lists. Second, the nature of the team assessing people for discharge was associated with delay (the nurse-coordinated team made the fewest referrals for multidisciplinary assessments and had the longest delays). Additionally, the absence of a family carer was implicated in delay, which underlines the importance of family and friends in providing posthospital care and in maintaining older people in the community. Our study suggests that considerable delay in discharging older people from hospital originates from administrative/organisational issues; these were compounded by social services resource constraints. There is still much to be done therefore to improve coordination of care in order to provide a truly ,seamless service'. [source] Towards Culturally Appropriate Assessment?HIGHER EDUCATION QUARTERLY, Issue 3 2010A Contribution to the Debates Culturally appropriate assessment in higher educational is premised on factors that do not benefit minority groups, because they have no control over the processes governing such factors. Significantly, practices to account for students from different ethnic/minority/indigenous backgrounds are the inclusion of elements like their language, knowledge and culture into the curriculum. However, assessment procedures are often seen to be ,a-cultural', but are political activities that benefit the interests of some groups over others, as ,a-cultural' approaches tend to be bound within the cultural capital of the dominant group. This article examines the international discussions relating to culturally appropriate assessment through generic themes, assessment practices, cultural inclusions and cultural appropriateness. It argues that there are two distinct approaches to addressing inclusion: ,centric' and ,friendly', respectively, that result in different priorities and outcomes. Assessment however, is a political struggle between dominant and minority interests, which this article also recognises and explores. [source] A Systemic Approach to Culturally Responsive Assessment Practices and EvaluationHIGHER EDUCATION QUARTERLY, Issue 3 2010June Slee In an earlier paper, Slee and Keenan demonstrated that it was possible for tertiary education institutions to design culturally responsive assessment procedures that complied with standardised assessment policy. The authors' paper described Growing Our Own, an initiative between Charles Darwin University and Northern Territory Catholic Education, which in 2009 began preparing in situ Indigenous teacher assistants for teacher qualification in very remote schools in the Northern Territory, Australia. The paper demonstrated that the university assessment policy accommodated Indigenous learning, reflecting students' culture, remote learning context, world experience, primary language, family and community values and entry-level competencies. This article is a systemic response to recommendations arising from a recent external evaluation of Growing Our Own and seeks to demonstrate how the project's approaches meet university assessment rules yet fit within a culturally valid framework. [source] The Impact of Formal Assessment Procedures on Teaching and Learning in Art and Design in Secondary SchoolsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ART & DESIGN EDUCATION, Issue 2 2006Rachel Mason Assessment is widely considered to be the most significant issue affecting art and design practice at secondary level. The article begins with an historical overview of developments in and critiques of assessment procedures in England, Wales and Northern Ireland since the inception of GCSE examination. This is followed by a report of an attempt to carry out a systematic review of research on the impact of assessment on the art and design curriculum in secondary schools. Author conclusions and findings from eight studies subjected to in-depth analysis are discussed together with the implications of the review exercise for art education policy, practice and research. [source] Some Things in Moderation: A Case Study of Internal AuditINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AUDITING, Issue 1 2000A.J. Berry Abstract The development of a system of moderation of assessment procedures in a new University is examined in this case study. Internal and external moderation are equated with internal and external audit and the relationship between the audit of content and the audit of procedures (Power, 1994) is examined in the light of differing modes of accountability (Sinclair, 1995). [source] A Need for a Taxonomy for Profound Intellectual and Multiple DisabilitiesJOURNAL OF POLICY AND PRACTICE IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, Issue 2 2007H. Nakken Abstract, There is extensive discussion on the quality of education and support for individuals with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) in relation to inclusion and full citizenship. The discussions are complicated because of differences or lack of clarity in the description of the variations and types of PIMD. A description of the core group is offered, but it is also argued that there cannot be an absolute separation of this specific target group from other adjoining groups. The authors propose a multi-axial model-based taxonomy that distinguishes visual and/or auditory impairments, other physical impairments, and mental health problems, in addition to the two key defining characteristics (limited intellect and compromised physical functions). The authors also propose that assessment of people with PIMD be structured toward ascertainment of diagnostic objectives (e.g., confirming or disconfirming the person's level of intellectual disability) and the determination of a starting point and direction for support of the individual. They conclude that, to prevent misunderstanding in comparison of results of educational programs and interventions, it is recommended that workers describe individuals (or subgroups) with PIMD in publications in detail,using operational definitions. In addition, they propose that an international effort be undertaken to develop and use generally agreed assessment procedures. [source] Participation in trauma research: Is there evidence of harm?JOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS, Issue 3 2003Michael G. Griffin Abstract Few studies have examined the impact of trauma research participation upon trauma survivors. Empirical data regarding reactions to research participation would be very useful to address the question of whether it is harmful for trauma survivors to participate in trauma studies. We examined participant reactions to different trauma assessment procedures in domestic violence (N = 260), rape (N = 108), and physical assault (N = 62) samples. Results indicated that participation was very well tolerated by the vast majority of the trauma survivors. Participants generally found that the assessment experience was not distressing and was, in fact, viewed as an interesting and valuable experience. The findings suggest that trauma survivors are not too fragile to participate in trauma research even in the acute aftermath of a traumatic experience. [source] A Method of Assessing Leadership EffectivenessPERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT QUARTERLY, Issue 1 2006A. Olu Oyinlade Assessing the effectiveness of a leader is often a difficult exercise for many organizations. This is usually because most assessment procedures are influenced by organizational politics, they are not standard based, and the items on which a leader is assessed are undefined or poorly defined. This study presents the Essential Behavioral Leadership Qualities (EBLQ) approach for assessing leadership effectiveness as an alternative method to commonly used assessment procedures. Among other assumptions, the EBLQ method is built on the assumptions that a leader should be evaluated on clearly defined behavioral qualities and his/her effectiveness rating should be standard based. Hence, the EBLQ method measures the effectiveness of a leader against the essentiality levels of behaviors deemed necessary for effective leadership. Leadership effectiveness is determined for each leadership behavior and for overall leadership performance. The EBLQ method was demonstrated in the assessment of the leadership effectiveness of the principals of schools for students who are blind or visually impaired. [source] Sensitivity analyses for four pesticide leaching modelsPEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE (FORMERLY: PESTICIDE SCIENCE), Issue 9 2003Igor G Dubus Abstract Sensitivity analyses using a one-at-a-time approach were carried out for leaching models which have been widely used for pesticide registration in Europe (PELMO, PRZM, PESTLA and MACRO). Four scenarios were considered for simulation of the leaching of two theoretical pesticides in a sandy loam and a clay loam soil, each with a broad distribution across Europe. Input parameters were varied within bounds reflecting their uncertainty and the influence of these variations on model predictions was investigated for accumulated percolation at 1-m depth and pesticide loading in leachate. Predictions for the base-case scenarios differed between chromatographic models and the preferential flow model MACRO for which large but transient pesticide losses were predicted in the clay loam. Volumes of percolated water predicted by the four models were affected by a small number of input parameters and to a small extent only, suggesting that meteorological variables will be the main drivers of water balance predictions. In contrast to percolation, predictions for pesticide loss were found to be sensitive to a large number of input parameters and to a much greater extent. Parameters which had the largest influence on the prediction of pesticide loss were generally those related to chemical sorption (Freundlich exponent nf and distribution coefficient Kf) and degradation (either degradation rates or DT50, QTEN value). Nevertheless, a significant influence of soil properties (field capacity, bulk density or parameters defining the boundary between flow domains in MACRO) was also noted in at least one scenario for all models. Large sensitivities were reported for all models, especially PELMO and PRZM, and sensitivity was greater where only limited leaching was simulated. Uncertainty should be addressed in risk assessment procedures for crop-protection products. Copyright © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Effectiveness of the Takeda Three Colors Combination Test as a screening test for dementiaPSYCHOGERIATRICS, Issue 1 2009Shinya TAKEDA Abstract Background:, The aged population is increasing worldwide and it is expected that dementia, for which aging is a risk factor, will increase as well. A critical issue then becomes a community's capacity for the early detection of dementia among its senior citizens. In the present paper, we report on the development and potential use of a screening test for dementia that can be administered and assessed easily in a short period of time by non-specialist clinicians and represents no burden for those undergoing the screening. Methods:, Three hundred and sixty senior citizens, over 60 years of age, participated in the study. Of these, 126 had Alzheimer's disease (AD), 60 had vascular dementia (VaD), 41 had mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 133 were healthy volunteers (control group). A screening test for dementia, which consisted of a colored cards configuration memory task (the Takeda Three Colors Combination Test; TTCC) was examined for sensitivity, specificity, reliability and criterion-related validity. Results:, Sufficient sensitivity and specificity were demonstrated for each clinical group (AD, VaD) and the control group. The sensitivity of the TTCC was 0.94, 0.82, and 0.71 for the AD, VaD, and MCI groups, respectively; specificity was 0.83. In addition, sufficient reliability and validity were established. Administration of the TTCCand assessment procedures required only 1 or 2 min. Conclusion:, Satisfactory sensitivity and specificity were indicated for both the AD and VaD groups, with sufficient reliability and validity also indicated. Thus, the TTCC is an effective dementia screening test. [source] Considerations in the identification, assessment, and intervention process for deaf and hard of hearing students with reading difficultiesPSYCHOLOGY IN THE SCHOOLS, Issue 2 2008Donna Gilbertson Problematic assessment and intervention issues present substantial challenges when making educational decisions for deaf or hard of hearing (D/HH) students who are experiencing reading difficulties. These students present a diverse set of language acquisition skills, hearing ability, and orientation to early school learning activities that are different from the hearing student population. Given the importance of selecting assessment approaches that lead to effective interventions for D/HH students, three assessment procedures for identification of at-risk children and learning disabilities within the D/HH population are examined. Assessments reviewed are teacher referral, norm-referenced testing, and student response to intervention. Challenges to each process and the need for additional assessment and empirically validated treatment options are discussed. Finally, a case example is presented to illustrate a framework that may help school psychologists promote early identification of learning problems and outline interventions that meets a D/HH child's unique needs by focusing on reading outcomes in the curriculum. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Social maladjustment and students with behavioral and emotional disorders: Revisiting basic assumptions and assessment issuesPSYCHOLOGY IN THE SCHOOLS, Issue 8 2004Daniel Olympia While much of the current focus in special education remains on reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1997, disparities in the identification of children with serious emotional disorders continue to plague special educators and school psychologists. Several years after the issue of social maladjustment and its relationship to serious emotional disturbance was discussed and debated, little appears to have changed. Children, adolescents, and families are subjected to widely varying philosophies, assessment procedures, and services based on questionable criteria used to determine whether a student "qualifies" for services under the Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) designation. In this paper, we address how this issue has significantly affected access to services for students with serious emotional disturbances. Faulty assumptions regarding the relationship of social maladjustment to emotional disturbance in children/adolescents are identified and the implications of these assumptions for children are described. The lack of research supporting specific tools developed to assess social maladjustment in the context of a serious emotional disorder and the impact of this current practice on children is addressed from a practical and ethical standpoint. The role of the school psychologist as gatekeeper is contrasted to that of the more positive role as facilitator. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 41: 835,847, 2004. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||