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Scientific Research (scientific + research)
Selected AbstractsUNDERSTANDING THE OTHER/UNDERSTANDING OURSELVES: TOWARD A CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE ABOUT "PRINCIPLES' IN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCHEDUCATIONAL THEORY, Issue 3 2005Pamela A. Moss The recent federal interest in advancing "scientifically based research," along with the National Research Council's 2002 report Scientific Research in Education (SRE), have provided space and impetus for a more general dialogue across discourse boundaries within the field of educational research. The goal of this article is to develop and illustrate principles for an educative dialogue across research discourses. I have turned to Gadamer's philosophical hermeneutics and the critical dialogue that surrounds it to seek guidance about how we might better understand one another's perspectives and learn more about ourselves through the encounter. To illustrate these principles, I consider the dialogue between SRE authors and critics that was published in Educational Researcher shortly after the release of the report. I focus in particular on one of the many issues about which misunderstandings seem to arise , the nature, status, and role of generalizations , and point to some instructive challenges that each of the articles seems to raise for the others. Finally, I propose what I argue is a more prudent aspiration for general principles in educational research: developing the principles through which open critique and debate across differences might occur and through which sound decisions about particular programs for research might be made. [source] Contribution to Promoting Cancer Epidemiology in Japan and to the Activities of the UICC and Others in Cancer Epidemiology and PreventionCANCER SCIENCE, Issue 7 2001Kunio Aoki On the occasion of being awarding the 5th Nagayo Mataro Prize for contributions to promoting cancer epidemiology and international involvement in the UICC (International Union against Cancer), the Monbusho Overseas Field Research (International Scientific Research)-Special Cancer Study and others, it is my pleasure to give a concise description of activities in which I have played a role. My achievements in administration and management are only a small part of the whole of what has been accomplished in cancer epidemiology and prevention, but I hope that a comprehensive coverage of the projects in which it has been my good fortune to participate may provide orientation and suggest priorities for research in the coming decades. I have taken part in many meetings that stimulated the interest of young scientists and physicians in epidemiology and prevention. It can be said that efficient administration and management are indispensable for modern scientific research in order to promote information collection and exchange. I, therefore, humbly hope that my experience may be illuminating. [source] Grids challenged by a Web 2.0 and multicore sandwichCONCURRENCY AND COMPUTATION: PRACTICE & EXPERIENCE, Issue 3 2009Geoffrey Fox Abstract We discuss the application of Web 2.0 to support scientific research (e-Science) and related ,e-more or less anything' applications. Web 2.0 offers interesting technical approaches (protocols, message formats, and programming tools) to build core e-infrastructure (cyberinfrastructure) as well as many interesting services (Facebook, YouTube, Amazon S3/EC2, and Google maps) that can add value to e-infrastructure projects. We discuss why some of the original Grid goals of linking the world's computer systems may not be so relevant today and that interoperability is needed at the data and not always at the infrastructure level. Web 2.0 may also support Parallel Programming 2.0,a better parallel computing software environment motivated by the need to run commodity applications on multicore chips. A ,Grid on the chip' will be a common use of future chips with tens or hundreds of cores. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Botanical Extracts Used in the Treatment of CelluliteDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 2005Doris Hexsel MD Background. Cellulite is defined as skin relief alterations that give the skin an orange peel or mattress appearance. The lesions tend to be asymptomatic and may be considered the anatomic expressions of the structures in the affected area, such as the fat and subcutaneous septa. Objective. The present article reviews the most important botanical extracts used as active ingredients in the treatment of cellulite, as well as the steps to obtain these botanicals as raw material and their standardization and quality control, which are important to guarantee their therapeutic action. Methods. The current literature was reviewed, and we also obtained information from the manufacturers of the prducts that contained botanicals because of the few publications about this subject. Conclusions. The reduction in fat deposits through the continuous use of anticellulite products depends on the availability of the active ingredient at the action site, the concentration of the ingredient in the formulation, and the physiochemical characteristics particular to each active ingredient. The botanicals used in topical products must have standardized extracts, which would permit each phytomedicine to have the same effect anywhere in the world. New scientific research is necessary to verify the efficacy and ideal concentrations of such substances. DORIS HEXSEL, MD, CECILIA ORLANDI, MD, AND DEBORA ZECHMEISTER DO PRADO, PHARM, HAVE INDICATED NO SIGNIFICANT INTEREST WITH COMMERCIAL SUPPORTERS. [source] Peer review , still the well-functioning quality control and enhancer in scientific researchACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 3 2005Matti Isohanni No abstract is available for this article. [source] The alcohol industry and public interest scienceADDICTION, Issue 2 2010Kerstin Stenius ABSTRACT Aims This report argues that the growing involvement of the alcohol industry in scientific research needs to be acknowledged and addressed. It suggests a set of principles to guide ethical decision-making in the future. Methods We review relevant issues with regard to relationships between the alcohol industry and the international academic community, especially alcohol research scientists. The guiding principles proposed are modelled after expert committee statements, and describe the responsibilities of governmental agencies, the alcohol industry, journal editors and the academic community. These are followed by recommendations designed to inform individuals and institutions about current ,best practices' that are consistent with the principles. Findings and conclusions Growing evidence from the tobacco, pharmaceutical and medical fields suggests that financial interests of researchers may compromise their professional judgement and lead to research results that are biased in favour of commercial interests. It is recommended that the integrity of alcohol science is best served if all financial relationships with the alcoholic beverage industry are avoided. In cases where research funding, consulting, writing assignments and other activities are initiated, institutions, individuals and the alcoholic beverage industry itself are urged to follow appropriate guidelines that will increase the transparency and ethicality of such relationships. [source] Conceptualizing Teaching as Science: John Dewey in Dialogue with the National Research CouncilEDUCATIONAL THEORY, Issue 1 2004Greg Seals John Dewey and the National Research Council (NRC) both discuss the problem of translating scientific research into contexts of schooling, but differ about the proper solution to the problem. The NRC would solve it by empirical investigation. Dewey finds value in that approach, but also wants educational theorists to construct general heuristics to guide scientists in creating research agendas of intrinsic interest to education practitioners. Dewey's plan faces an apparently insurmountable difficulty. General heuristics of the sort Dewey needs are not widely recognized to exist. In light of the presumed fact of education's inability to articulate a general framework to guide teaching practice, the NRC plan becomes preferred by default. I propose that Experience and Education provides a frame of reference from which pedagogical practice appears as a field of scientific endeavor in its own right. Conceptualizing teaching as a science suggests ways to rework the NRC plan. [source] Alcohol research and the alcoholic beverage industry: issues, concerns and conflicts of interestADDICTION, Issue 2009Thomas F. Babor ABSTRACT Aims Using terms of justification such as ,corporate social responsibility' and ,partnerships with the public health community', the alcoholic beverage industry (mainly large producers, trade associations and ,social aspects' organizations) funds a variety of scientific activities that involve or overlap with the work of independent scientists. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the ethical, professional and scientific challenges that have emerged from industry involvement in alcohol science. Method Source material came from an extensive review of organizational websites, newspaper articles, journal papers, letters to the editor, editorials, books, book chapters and unpublished documents. Results Industry involvement in alcohol science was identified in seven areas: (i) sponsorship of research funding organizations; (ii) direct financing of university-based scientists and centers; (iii) studies conducted through contract research organizations; (iv) research conducted by trade organizations and social aspects/public relations organizations; (v) efforts to influence public perceptions of research, research findings and alcohol policies; (vi) publication of scientific documents and support of scientific journals; and (vii) sponsorship of scientific conferences and presentations at conferences. Conclusion While industry involvement in research activities is increasing, it constitutes currently a rather small direct investment in scientific research, one that is unlikely to contribute to alcohol science, lead to scientific breakthroughs or reduce the burden of alcohol-related illness. At best, the scientific activities funded by the alcoholic beverage industry provide financial support and small consulting fees for basic and behavioral scientists engaged in alcohol research; at worst, the industry's scientific activities confuse public discussion of health issues and policy options, raise questions about the objectivity of industry-supported alcohol scientists and provide industry with a convenient way to demonstrate ,corporate responsibility' in its attempts to avoid taxation and regulation. [source] Towards an ecology of eating disorders: Creating sustainability through the integration of scientific research and clinical practiceEUROPEAN EATING DISORDERS REVIEW, Issue 1 2010David Clinton The field of eating disorders is currently at a crossroads and faces important challenges of sustainability. These challenges include problems with the current diagnostic classification of eating disorders and the divide between scientific research and clinical practice. If not addressed, there is a danger that the field will fail to evolve adaptively, risking increased stagnation and reduced relevance. To meet these challenges, researchers and clinicians must work toward a more holistic ecology of eating disorders based on the interaction of theory, research and practice. The present paper proposes six steps towards increased sustainability based on developing clinically relevant diagnosis, using systematic quality assurance, expanding the scope of treatment research and the definition of evidence, promoting therapist development, as well as stimulating diversity and discourse. If we rise to the occasion and face these challenges, then we will be better equipped to meet the evolving needs of clinicians, researchers, and most importantly patients. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association. [source] IS EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY STRATEGIC SCIENCE?EVOLUTION, Issue 1 2007Thomas R. Meagher There is a profound need for the scientific community to be better aware of the policy context in which it operates. To address this need, Evolution has established a new Outlook feature section to include papers that explore the interface between society and evolutionary biology. This first paper in the series considers the strategic relevance of evolutionary biology. Support for scientific research in general is based on governmental or institutional expenditure that is an investment, and such investment is based on strategies designed to achieve particular outcomes, such as advance in particular areas of basic science or application. The scientific community can engage in the development of scientific strategies on a variety of levels, including workshops to explicitly develop research priorities and targeted funding initiatives to help define emerging scientific areas. Better understanding and communication of the scientific achievements of evolutionary biology, emphasizing immediate and potential societal relevance, are effective counters to challenges presented by the creationist agenda. Future papers in the Outlook feature section should assist the evolutionary biology community in achieving a better collective understanding of the societal relevance of their field. [source] Research Ethics: Ethical Issues of Data Reporting and the Quest for AuthenticityACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 6 2000Catherine A. Marco MD Abstract. The search for truth and its unbiased reporting are ultimate goals of conducting scientific research. Ideally, the reporting of research data ought to be an objective task. In practice, however, it is fraught with numerous statistical and ethical pitfalls, seldom addressed in formal emergency medicine training. The lure of academic celebrity and related influences may persuade researchers to report results in ways that make data appear more interesting, or worthy of publication. Several examples of potentially misleading data reporting are illustrated, including using inappropriate statistical tests, neglecting negative results, omitting missing data points, failing to report actual numbers of eligible subjects, using inappropriate graph labels or terminology, data dredging, and others. Although potentially inaccurate or inflated methods of data reporting may not constitute overt scientific misconduct, the intentional misrepresentation of data is a form of fraud or deception. Publicly funded academic inquiry is a privilege and honor enjoyed by a trusted few. Regardless of outcome, every effort should be made to report data in the most scientifically accurate method. To this end, the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Code of Conduct and American College of Emergency Physicians Code of Ethics provide important guidance toward the accurate, compassionate, competent, impartial, and honest conduct of scientific research. Accuracy and authenticity in data reporting are first and foremost a matter of individual integrity, and are crucial to the preservation of academic credibility, the protection of future patients, and the public's trust in the medical research enterprise. [source] Mobile Methodologies: Theory, Technology and PracticeGEOGRAPHY COMPASS (ELECTRONIC), Issue 5 2008Jane Ricketts Hein This article reviews developments in ,mobile methodologies', looking at the theory, technologies and practice of mobile methods. We focus specifically on methods where the research subject and researcher are in motion in the ,field', and seek to understand what difference mobile methods can make to research. Drawing on the broader mobilities paradigm, we identify the key tenets of mobile methodologies, and then discuss the role that technologies such as geographical information systems can play in opening up this new approach to research. The article reviews past and present work that has utilised mobile methods, highlighting key opportunities and challenges. We consider current attempts to use geographical information systems to rigorously investigate the effect that walking has on an interview process, and conclude by summarising the potential for mobile methods to inform social scientific research. [source] Biliary physiology and disease: Reflections of a physician-scientist,HEPATOLOGY, Issue 4 2010Gustav Paumgartner A review is presented of Gustav Paumgartner's five decades of research and practice in hepatology focusing on biliary physiology and disease. It begins with studies of the excretory function of the liver including hepatic uptake of indocyanine green, bilirubin, and bile acids. The implications of these studies for diagnosis and understanding of liver diseases are pointed out. From there, the path of scientific research leads to investigations of hepatobiliary bile acid transport and the major mechanisms of bile formation. The therapeutic effects of the hydrophilic bile acid, ursodeoxycholic acid, have greatly stimulated these studies. Although ursodeoxycholic acid therapy for dissolution of cholesterol gallstones and some other nonsurgical treatments of gallstones were largely superseded by surgical techniques, ursodeoxycholic acid is currently considered the mainstay of therapy of some chronic cholestatic liver diseases, such as primary biliary cirrhosis. The major mechanisms of action of ursodeoxycholic acid therapy in cholestatic liver diseases are discussed. An attempt is made to illustrate how scientific research can lead to advances in medical practice that help patients. (HEPATOLOGY 2010:51:1095,1106.) [source] Hydrology as a policy-relevant scienceHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 16 2004Kuniyoshi Takeuchi Abstract Water is now a global political agenda and water science is part of it. The United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000, the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002, the 3rd World Water Forum and Ministerial Conference in Kyoto in 2003 and the G8 Summit in Evian in 2003 were all concerned about urgent global water issues and call for international scientific research collaboration. Hydrology is responding to such political commitments with various scientific initiatives that include the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS) Predictions in Ungauged Basins (PUB), the Global Energy and Water Circulation Experiments (GEWEX) Coordinated Enhanced Observation Period (CEOP), and the Global Water Systems Project (GWSP). These initiatives will play key roles in the implementation of the new intergovernmental project, Global Earth Observing System of Systems, under preparation by Global Observation Summits from 2003 to 2005. In order to achieve the MDGs, hydrological science has to play a major role supporting policy makers by overcoming methodological obstacles and providing the necessary information. This paper emphasizes that: the availability of ground measurements is a limiting factor that prevents the full use of scientific knowledge; hydrology has to integrate and downscale the various global information into local-scale information useful for river basin management; as the availability of professional personnel is in critical short supply, in addition to funds needed, to achieve the MDGs any scientific research should always accompany capacity-building programmes to close the science divide between developed and developing nations. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Epicureanism and the poetics of consumptionINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CONSUMER STUDIES, Issue 4 2010Dawn Wood Abstract Consumption, ,to use up, to destroy', is a dirty word. It conjures piles of rubbish; it suggests an extravagant attitude. We, each one of us hoping to be a unique, careful individual, can feel offended at being referred to as ,the consumer'. Yet, ,to consume' is not only a human activity, it is one of the fundamental processes of nature, a natural aspect of the creative process. In this paper, I will emphasize connections between the creative research process, poetics and consumerism. I suggest that research can be envisioned as a cycle of consumption and renewal. Our tools in such a natural philosophy are the contemplation of natural events, and the insights that a poetic understanding of language can give us. To this end, I draw on the ancient Epicurean philosophy, as demonstrated in De rerum natura, written by the Roman poet, Lucretius, in the first century BCE. Lucretius gave a scientific explanation of the universe, in poetry, to demonstrate that natural laws can be derived by reason, contemplation and by the use of the senses. Further, Lucretius' use of language, as a creative medium, modelled the actions of the universe. This insight provides a link between poetry, science and research, one which is still relevant to twenty-first-century scientific research generally. In this paper, I will suggest that it is also specifically relevant to the design and practice of consumer research. For instance, both research and creativity are aspects of that urge to move beyond subjectivity, towards knowledge that is whole and shared. In Epicureanism, subjective engagement provides access to that which is universal. We can conceive of consumerism, and of consumer research, in the same terms, as a striving for completion, and as a poetic, natural and reciprocal act, involving the transformation of the consumer, and that which is consumed. [source] Policy utilisation of research results in Cameroon*INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 179 2004Charly Gabriel Mbock Using knowledge by taking account of the results of scientific research is a preoccupation of the scientific community on which this article proposes to shed light by considering the case of Cameroon. Within the theoretical framework of actionism, the study is based on a questionnaire survey administered to a sample of 200 researchers, decision-makers, and research-commissioning bodies, complemented by interviews. The data cover commissioning, evaluation and utilisation practices over the period 1990,2001. The results show considerable differences in judgement between researchers, decision-makers, and commissioning bodies with regard to existing practices and desirable usage. The differences reflect the lack of connection between properly academic concerns and policy prospects, as well as a research funding structure in Cameroon that separates problem definition from solution implementation. Given inadequate utilisation of scientific research data in public policy, the article proposes renewed institutional forms that might encourage academicism to take account of the practical requirements of social engineering. [source] Layout modeling and construction procedure for the arrangement of exhibition spaces in a fairINTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS IN OPERATIONAL RESEARCH, Issue 4 2003P. Schneuwly Abstract This paper tackles a subset of layout problems that is not a subject of the scientific research to date: the arrangement of the exhibition spaces in a fair. A fair is a large-scale exhibition for goods and services; for example a trade fair or a regional fair. The layout problem of fairs consists in finding an acceptable layout for both the exhibitors, the visitors, and the organizer of the fair. A model for representing the layout of fairs is presented: the adjacency model. Based on the adjacency model, a construction procedure is developed that leads to the generation of alternative layout solutions. Numerical results for the layout of a real fair are reported. [source] Short restraint time does not influence markers of serum oxidative stress in homing pigeons (Columba livia)JOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 1 2010D. Costantini Summary Restraint in a confined space, such as a cage or a box, may be perceived by birds as a stressful condition. Some concern has been expressed about restraining homing pigeons (Columba livia) in transport crates for sport or for scientific research. Therefore, this study sought to test whether short restraint time in a transport crate for 1, 2 or 18 (overnight) h causes oxidative stress in homing pigeons and whether it is more stressful than flying. To isolate the effect of crowding from that of transport per se, the pigeons were kept in an immobile crate, that is, without any movement. To quantify oxidative stress, we measured serum levels of oxidative damage (ROMs) and of antioxidant capacity (OXY). We found that pigeons restrained in transport crates showed no significant variation for both markers of oxidative stress, regardless of the duration of restraint. Conversely, pigeons which had flown around 200 km had increased levels of oxidative damage and decreased levels of serum OXY, both clear manifestations of oxidative stress. These results suggest that maintaining homing pigeons in transport crates for a short time (i.e. 1,18 h) does not cause oxidative stress. [source] The Venturesome Economy: How Innovation Sustains Prosperity in a More Connected World,JOURNAL OF APPLIED CORPORATE FINANCE, Issue 1 2009Amar Bhidé Many observers have warned that the next stage of globalization,the offshoring of research and development to China and India,threatens the foundations of Western prosperity. But in this article, the author explains why the doomsayers are likely to be wrong. Using extensive field studies on venture capital-backed businesses to examine how technology is really used to create value in modern economies, this article explains how and why scientific advances abroad generally contribute to prosperity at home, and why trying to maintain the U.S. lead by subsidizing more research or training more scientists is likely to do more harm than good. When breakthrough ideas have no borders, a nation's capacity to exploit cutting-edge research regardless of where it originates is the key to its economic competitiveness. "Venturesome consumption",that is, the willingness and ability of businesses and consumers to use products and technologies derived from scientific research in the most effective ways,is far more important than having a share of the research. And for this reason, well-developed and "venturesome" economies like the U.S. benefit disproportionately from scientific innovations abroad. To cite just one example discussed at length in this article, the success of Apple's iPod owes much to technologies that were developed largely in Asia and Europe. The proven ability of the United States to remain at the forefront of the global "innovation game" reflects the contributions of many players,not just a few brilliant scientists and engineers, but literally millions of U.S. entrepreneurs, managers, financiers, salespersons, and, to a very large degree, U.S. consumers. As long as their venturesome spirit remains alive and well, advances abroad should not be feared but welcomed. [source] Identification of Acipenseriformes species in tradeJOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 2008A. Ludwig Summary Sturgeons and paddlefishes (Acipenseridae) are highly endangered freshwater fishes. Their eggs (sold as caviar) are one of the most valuable wildlife products in international trade. Concerns of overharvesting and the conservation status of many of the 27 extant species of Acipenseriformes led to all species being included on the CITES Appendices in 1998. Since then international trade in all products and parts from sturgeon and paddlefish has been regulated. However, despite the controls on trade, unsustainable harvesting continues to threaten many populations. Illegal fishing and trade continues to be a threat to the management of these fish. To enforce the regulation of legal trade and prevention of illegal trade, the development of a uniform identification system for parts and derivates of Acipenseriformes has been identified as an urgent requirement. Ideally this system should be suitable for (i) identification at the species-level of caviar and other products from Acipenseriformes; (ii) population identification; (iii) source identification (wild vs aquaculture); and (iv) determining the age of caviar because strict timeframes govern its international trade. This paper reviews the techniques currently available and their potential to be used in an identification system for Acipenseriformes species and their products in trade. A review of all available identification techniques has shown that there is not a single method that can meet all requirements (see i,iv), and it does not appear to be feasible to develop such a method in the near future therefore the most appropriate methods need to be developed for each. Considering the advantages and disadvantages of all techniques reviewed in this document, the following conclusions can be drawn: (i) for the identification of species, approaches are recommended that target mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences (RFLP, nested PCR or direct sequencing). However, they show limitations for the detection of hybrids (although natural hybrids are rare, the number of artificially produced hybrids in aquaculture is increasing) and for the differentiation of the following closely related species complexes: Acipenser gueldenstaedti,Acipenser baerii,Acipenser persicus,Acipenser naccarii; Acipenser medirostris,Acipenser mikadoi; and Scaphirhynchus albus,Scaphirhynchus plathorhynchus,Scaphirhynchus suttkusi; (ii) the identification of different populations of the same species is currently not feasible because genetic data are incomplete for most populations, and stocking and release programmes, which have become more and more common, often result in a mixture of phenotypes and genotypes, thereby impeding the creation and application of such a population identification system; (iii) source identification based on genetic approaches can be excluded at present because there are no genetic differences between wild and hatchery-raised fish. This is the result of the continuing restocking of natural populations with captive fish and vice versa. However, because rearing (i.e. environmental) conditions are different, methods focusing on differences in water quality or food seem to be more appropriate (for example differences in fatty acid composition). So far, very few studies have been conducted and therefore, source identification methods merit further exploration; and (iv) the age of a product in trade cannot be detected by DNA-based methods and protein profiling is undoubtedly impractical due to hard-to-perform, labour-and cost-intensive methods, which are highly susceptible to protein degradation. Arising from the limits discussed above, the next steps in the development of a uniform sturgeon identification system are proposed to be the following: (i) designation of qualified reference laboratories at national levels in (re-) exporting and importing countries. These should be approved through a standardized testing procedure, for instance a ring test on blind samples. Registered laboratories should be published and disseminated and their accreditations should be subject to certain guarantees regarding quality, economic independence and scientific rigour. Operational procedures have to be determined and standardized among reference laboratories; (ii) establishment of reference collections that are accessible to the reference laboratories containing DNA analyses results and information on the location and availability of tissue samples. This is highly recommended as an important step towards a population identification system and indispensable for a general species identification system; (iii) creation of a website access to the reference collections containing the reference database information about genetic samples, comparable to NCBI, which provides background data: sample location; population information; citation; available genetic data; location of archival storage; currently treated and distributed caviar and status of analysis. This website should also be a forum for the exchange of knowledge on and experiences with identification systems, species and population status information, relevant scientific research, etc.; and (iv) the outcome of the trade identification tests should be made available to the reference laboratories for future reference. The universal caviar labelling system could incorporate an indication of the verification of the consignment. In view of the lack of knowledge and the great need to develop a uniform identification system for Acipenseriformes with regard to the importance of the international caviar trade, further scientific guidance and appropriate research is strongly recommended. Progress should be assessed and exchanged on a regular basis. [source] Novel tools and resources for evidence-based practice in psychologyJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 7 2007Barbara B. Walker Given the vast proliferation of scientific research in the behavioral and social sciences, there is a growing need for psychologists to be able to access the most current, clinically relevant research quickly and efficiently and integrate this information into patient care. In response to a similar need within the field of medicine, evidence-based medicine took hold in the early 1990s to provide both a framework and set of skills for translating research into practice. Since then, this method has been adopted by every major health care profession including psychology, and is now widely known as evidence-based practice (EBP). In this article, the authors present a general overview of the skills required for EBP along with an introduction to some of the tools and resources that have been developed in other health care professions to support EBP. Using a case example, we illustrate how these tools and resources can be applied in psychological settings. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 63: 633,642, 2007. [source] Intellectual Property in the Context of e-ScienceJOURNAL OF COMPUTER-MEDIATED COMMUNICATION, Issue 2 2007Dan L. Burk E-science promises to allow globally-distributed collaboration and access to scientific research via computer networks, but e-science development is already encountering difficulty over the intellectual property rights associated with data and networked collaborative activity. The proprietary nature of intellectual property is generally problematic in the practice of science, but such difficulties are likely to be exacerbated in the context of e-science collaboration where the development and use of intellectual resources will likely be distributed among many researchers in a variety of physical locations, often spanning national boundaries. While a potential solution to such problems may reside in the mechanism of "open source" licenses, the organizational structure of scientific research may not map cleanly onto the open source model. Consequently, a firm understanding of not only the technical structure but of the social and communicative structure of e-science will be necessary in order to adapt licensing solutions to the practice of e-science. [source] Systematic reviews to support evidence-based psychiatry: what about schizophrenia?JOURNAL OF EVALUATION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 6 2009Massimo Morlino MD Abstract Objective, To assess whether systematic reviews (SRs), the gold standard for scientific research, can offer valuable support in evidence-based psychiatry in the treatment of schizophrenia. Methods, We used three database services (Ovid, PubMed and Cochrane) to identify SRs related to schizophrenia, found 163 reviews and grouped them by topic. We then evaluated each study's conclusions and divided them into three groups based on results (ranging from certain to null conclusions). Results, SRs of pharmacological treatments represented 59% of the studies sampled, only 23% of which had reached certain conclusions. Other clinical topics were less frequently represented and had achieved lower degrees of certainty. Conclusions, Only 40 SRs (22 studies investigating pharmacological treatment) provided clear-cut answers to clinical questions examined. Results therefore showed that SRs provide a certain but rather limited contribution to scientific evidence in the field of schizophrenia. [source] EVALUATION OF IDEAL WINE AND CHEESE PAIRS USING A DEVIATION-FROM-IDEAL SCALE WITH FOOD AND WINE EXPERTSJOURNAL OF FOOD QUALITY, Issue 3 2005MARJORIE KING ABSTRACT Most information regarding the suitability of wine and cheese pairs is anecdotal information. The objective of this research was to provide recommendations based on scientific research for the most desirable "wine & cheese pairs" using nine award-winning Canadian cheeses and 18 BC wines (six white, six red and six specialty wines). Twenty-seven wine and food professionals rated the wine and cheese pairs using a bipolar structured line scale (12 cm). The "ideal pair," scored at the midpoint of the scale, was defined as a wine and cheese combination where neither the wine nor the cheese dominated. For each cheese, mean deviation-from-ideal scores were determined and evaluated by analysis of variance. Scores closest to six were considered "ideal," while higher or lower scores represented pairs where the "wine" or the "cheese" dominated, respectively. In general, white wines had mean scores closer to six ("ideal") than either the red or specialty wines. The late harvest, ice and port-type wines were more difficult to pair . Judges varied considerably in their individual assessments reflecting a high degree of personal expectation and preference. [source] Sharing our Experiences with Writing-for-Learning Techniques in a Large Introductory Course: The Popular Press CritiqueJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE EDUCATION, Issue 2 2002S.J. Schmidt ABSTRACT: The Popular Press Critique was a 2-page, out of class writing-for-learning assignment. The purpose of the assignment was to help students learn how to analyze and critically evaluate the validity of published popular press articles in the context of accurate scientific research versus the demands of the mass media. The assignment included a peer evaluation component that provided feedback to the students and exposed them to the perspectives and writing styles of others. Overall, we observed that the assignment helped the students become more critical readers of popular press food science and nutrition news. The peer evaluation component encouraged the students to reflect on and improve their thinking and writing skills. The majority of students reported that they felt the assignment helped them learn how to appropriately interpret popular press articles. [source] Comments and recommendations regarding the hypothesis testing controversyJOURNAL OF ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR, Issue 6 2007Douglas G. Bonett Hypothesis tests are routinely misinterpreted in scientific research. Specifically, the failure to reject a null hypothesis is often interpreted as support for the null hypothesis while the rejection of a null hypothesis is often interpreted as evidence of an important finding. Many of the most frequently used hypothesis tests are "non-informative" because the null hypothesis is known to be false prior to hypothesis testing. We discuss the limitations of non-informative hypothesis tests and explain why confidence intervals should be used in their place. Several examples illustrate the use and interpretation of confidence intervals. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Foetal and neonatal autopsy rates and use of tissue for research: The influence of ,organ retention' controversy and new consent processJOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 6 2006TY Khong Aim: To examine whether the ,organ retention' controversy and new autopsy consent process had any effect on foetal and neonatal autopsy rates and on permitting the use of tissue for scientific research and education. Methods: An audit of perinatal autopsy rates in a tertiary hospital prior to (1999,2001) and subsequent to the ,organ retention' controversy (2001,2002), and the introduction of a new consenting process (2002,2004). Rates were compared also with those a decade earlier (1990,1993). Results: Overall autopsy rates have been falling significantly between the three study periods (1999,2001 71.7%; 2001,2002 61.5%; 2003,2004 50.5%). Autopsy rates have fallen significantly between 1990,1993 and 1999,2001 (P < 0.00005) and between 1990,1993 and 1999,2004 (P < 0.0000001). The autopsy rates for stillbirths and neonatal deaths have fallen significantly further since the ,organ retention' controversy but not significantly so following the new consenting process. Significantly fewer autopsies are performed on foetuses less than 20 weeks gestation in recent years than a decade ago (P < 0.0000001). There were more external or limited autopsies in later years (P = 0.015). Permission for the use of tissue for education and research is less frequent following the ,organ retention' controversy and particularly following the introduction of the new consenting process. Conclusion: Perinatal autopsy rates have fallen over the past 10 years. Fewer autopsies are being performed following the ,organ retention' controversy and use of tissue for research and education is permitted even less frequently following the introduction of the new consenting process. [source] The Tidal Commitments: extending the value base of mental health recoveryJOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC & MENTAL HEALTH NURSING, Issue 2 2008P. BUCHANAN-BARKER The emerging concept of recovery in mental health is often only loosely defined, but appears to be influenced more by specific human values and beliefs, than scientific research and ,evidence'. As a contribution to the further development of the philosophical basis of the concept of recovery, this paper reviews the discrete assumptions of the Tidal Model, describes the development of the Model's value base , the 10 Commitments , and illustrates the 20 Tidal Competencies, which aim to generate practice-based evidence for the process of recovery. [source] Advocacy to Action: Addressing Coordinated School Health Program Issues with School BoardsJOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH, Issue 1 2005(former trustee, David C. Wiley PhD, FASHA, Hays CISD, Tex.) Professor ABSTRACT: As the need for Coordinated School Health Programs (CSHP) increases, so does recognition of the importance for advocating with local school boards for their support. Identifying the diversified make up of school board members and implementing effective strategies to advocate for coordinated school health can help facilitate the successful inclusion of such a program. With increasing emphasis placed on standardized testing and the "basic" curriculum, school board members need to become aware of specific benefits a CSHP can provide their district. With the relationship between health status and academic achievement confirmed in scientific research, school boards may begin paying more attention to providing high-quality health services and health instruction for students. This article presents items to consider and steps to take before, during, and after addressing a local school board for their support in implementing a CSHP. [source] Bisexuality: A Contemporary Paradox for WomenJOURNAL OF SOCIAL ISSUES, Issue 2 2000Paula C. Rodríguez Rust The cultural construction of ,lesbian' and ,heterosexual' women in late-nineteenth-century European cultures created both the possibility of conceiving the "bisexual" woman and the belief that bisexuality cannot exist. Social scientists have suggested several alternatives to dichotomous constructions of sexuality to facilitate the conceptualization of, and therefore empirical research on, bisexuality. This article reviews these alternatives and summarizes the current state of researchon bisexuality, including research on ,situational homosexuality' (behavioral bisexuality), recent national probability studies on sexual behaviors and identities in the United States, the meanings of bisexual self-identities among women, masculinist biases in methods of assessing and theorizing sexual self-identities, and prejudice against bisexuals. The article concludes with suggestions for future social scientific research on bisexuality. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||