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Specific Experiences (specific + experience)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Humanities and Social Sciences	80%

Selected Abstracts

Resource and environmental management: connecting the academy with practice

THE CANADIAN GEOGRAPHER/LE GEOGRAPHE CANADIEN, Issue 2 2008
BRUCE MITCHELL
politique publique; recherche fondamentale et appliquée; évaluation et développement de politiques et de plans; gestion intégrée des ressources en eau; renforcement des capacités The rewards and challenges related to a research program that involves interactions between basic and applied research are shared. Specific experience is examined regarding integrated water resource management, capacity enhancement in developing countries and writing textbooks. Key lessons include the manner in which applied research and practice inform and enhance basic research, the role of theoretical and conceptual frameworks in guiding applied research, the need to understand the distinction between multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary models and the importance of facilitating evolution from visions, strategies and plans to action. La gestion des ressources et de l'environnement : établir des liens entre l'université et la pratique Cet article examine les récompenses et défis entourant un programme de recherche fondé sur l'interaction entre des éléments de recherche fondamentale et de recherche appliquée. Des expériences particulières en matière de gestion intégrée des ressources en eau, de renforcement des capacités dans les pays en voie de développement, et de rédaction de manuels sont abordées. Les principales leçons que l'on peut tirer comprennent notamment la manière dont la recherche appliquée et la pratique inspirent et mettent en valeur la recherche fondamentale, comment les cadres théoriques et conceptuels éclairent la recherche appliquée, la nécessité de comprendre les différences entre les modèles multidisciplinaires et interdisciplinaires, et l'importance de faciliter la progression des visions, stratégies et plans vers l'action. [source]

Impact of experience on maintenance skills

JOURNAL OF SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE AND EVOLUTION: RESEARCH AND PRACTICE, Issue 2 2002
Magne Jørgensen
Abstract This study reports results from an empirical study of 54 software maintainers in the software maintenance department of a Norwegian company. The study addresses the relationship between amount of experience and maintenance skills. The findings were, amongst others, as follows. (1) While there may have been a reduction in the frequency of major unexpected problems from tasks solved by very inexperienced to medium experienced maintainers, additional years of general software maintenance experience did not lead to further reduction. More application specific experience, however, further reduced the frequency of major unexpected problems. (2) The most experienced maintainers did not predict maintenance problems better than maintainers with little or medium experience. (3) A simple one-variable model outperformed the maintainers' predictions of maintenance problems, i.e. the average prediction performance of the maintainers seems poor. An important reason for the weak correlation between length of experience and ability to predict maintenance problems may be the lack of meaningful feedback on the predictions. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Gender relations and grass-roots urban movements

INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 177 2003
François Hainard
This article, based on the work of a network of seven teams from countries of the South and countries in transition, presents research findings on the themes of the environment, cities, and social relationships between men and women. The research is predicated on the view that a crosswise look at these three topics brings a useful new perspective to bear on each of these issues as such. It starts from the twofold observation that women and men are not involved in the same way in the urban environment, and that innovative approaches often emanate from women's movements concerned to change the environmental situation in cities as well as women's place and role in the decision-making process. However, research on urban issues, apart from recent research on employment and the labour market, has turned a blind eye to distinctions between men's and women's needs. The urban environment and gender relations bring into play several variables: the environment, the urban dimension, and gender. While the intermeshing of these approaches undoubtedly constitutes a large part of the originality of the work, it does not make the task any the less complex, for its impact is evident neither in methodological nor in conceptual terms. The personal motivation necessarily built into any research-action presupposes that the analysis is founded on specific experiences and not upon strictly theoretical principles, though the need for conceptual concordance between the different research teams should not be overlooked. We shall here focus on the governance of which women may be the agents or actors in cities, a focus that brings into play the different approaches to empowerment and gender relations in the context of social change, the analysis of grass-roots organisations and of men's and women's identities and roles, and the changing balance of power between men and women, whether in the domestic or the public arena. [source]

,This is like my comfort zone': Senses of place and belonging within Oru,mo/Beachhaven, New Zealand

NEW ZEALAND GEOGRAPHER, Issue 3 2006
Tim McCreanor
Abstract:, This paper examines the culturally specific experiences of belonging within Oru,mo/Beachhaven, a suburb in North Shore City. In-depth interviews with 32 caregivers of young children expose the fact that the ethnic groups represented , M,ori, Samoan and P,keh,, vary in their uses and understandings of, as well as feelings for, residential neighbourhood. Examination of the themes of natural environment, social relations, continuity of residence, facilities, organisations and place transformation reveal that, while representatives of all groups had views on these matters, there was a variable degree of engagement with and priority afforded to these concerns. [source]

,I was running away from death', the pre-flight experiences of unaccompanied asylum seeking children in the UK

CHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 2 2004
S. Thomas
Abstract Objective To collect information about the pre-flight experiences of unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC) in the UK to increase the understanding of support needed on arrival in the UK. Methods Retrospective social services case file and legal statement review and semi-structured in-depth interviews with 100 UASC. Results Nearly half of all UASC have experienced separation from or loss of parents and/or family members (47%), and a further 41% had personally experienced or witnessed violence. Sexual violence (such as rape) was reported by 24% of African girls. Many children reported complex journeys to the UK. Conclusions UASC arrive in the UK with a variety of potentially traumatic experiences. Whilst research is starting to identify some of the experiences of UASC, further culturally appropriate research is needed to identify their health and social needs after arrival. Further research will help to identify the specific experiences of UASC, indicating where services should be improved to deal with their complex and diverse needs. [source]