Outcome measures in brain injury rehabilitation : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University

Brain injury rehabilitation services require competent measures of outcome to monitor the progress made by individuals in their care. The FIM + FAM is the measure most widely used for this purpose. However, research suggests that this measure contains a number of limitations and does not adequately assess the activity limitations and participation restrictions experienced by individuals who have suffered brain injuries. The current study examined five outcome measures (BICRO-39, MPAI-4, R-CHART, CIQ, and DRS) for their suitability as possible replacement measures at Cavit ABI in Wellington and Auckland. Ten participants with brain injuries (eight males, two females; seven with TBI, three with injuries due to stroke) were administered six different outcome measures by therapists at Cavit ABI centres in Wellington and Auckland on admission and again at six weeks into the rehabilitation programme. Outcome measures were examined in relation to a set of specified criteria, and feedback regarding the performance of each outcome measure was collected from each therapist using a staff questionnaire. The results of the study show that there does not seem to be one adequate outcome measure currently available for use within post-acute brain injury rehabilitation settings Although the FIM + FAM was found to contain a number of strengths particularly in assessing physical independence, the MPAI-4 was found to be more useful in identifying goals related to activity limitations and participation restrictions, which was the key area of focus

Mcgucken v. Pub Ocean Ltd.

This case summary details the decision in McGucken v. Pub Ocean Ltd., 42 F.4th 1149 (9th Cir. 2022), in which the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit analyzed the proper application of the fair use doctrine under the U.S. Copyright Act. The Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. §§ 101 et. seq. (1976)) seeks to further cultural advancements by protecting the exclusive rights of creators. The fair use doctrine protects the interests of those who build upon the work of creators when they use portions of previously copyrighted works. In McGucken, the Ninth Circuit reversed the sua sponte decision by U.S. District Court for the Central District of California that had favored Pub Ocean’s use of previously copyrighted photographs. Courts typically consider four factors when analyzing fair use claims: (1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes; (2) the nature of the copyrighted work; (3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and (4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work. Ultimately, the Ninth Circuit’s decision in McGucken illustrates how the analysis relative to transformativeness under the first factor can significantly influence a court’s assessment of the other three factors and potentially lead to unpredictable result

Smart Homes: The Next Fourth Amendment Frontier

Under the third-party search doctrine, an individual does not have a reasonable expectation of privacy in information he or she voluntarily discloses to third parties. “Always on” in-home technology creates recordings of unsuspecting consumers in their most intimate spaces and sends them to third party companies and their affiliates, which makes this information subject to warrantless search by law enforcement under the third- search doctrine. The third-party search doctrine is ill-suited to the digital age, where consumers are routinely required to volunteer information to third parties in order to access digital content. This Note suggests that a warrant should be required where the government attempts to search “always on” in-home technology

Scottish teachers' experiences of the effectiveness of nurture groups in supporting autistic children

Nurture groups (NGs) are recognised as an effective early practice for the development of children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties (SEBD). Early educators outline enhanced social and emotional development, academic attainment and secure attachments with peers and adults. Nevertheless, there is limited data reporting on the efficacy of this approach for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This small-scale phenomenological study reports Scottish primary teachers’ experiences of NGs in promoting wellbeing in autistic pupils. Data were gathered through an online questionnaire. Results were mixed in that they suggest some significant progress in academic attainment, with slight improvements in emotional and social functioning. After the inclusion of pupils in NGs, continued positive impact appeared to persist with both difficulties in emotional expression and in forming secure attachments with peers and adults. This indicates that for good NG practice for autistic pupils there is a need for structural modifications and curriculum adaptations to create an ‘autismfriendly’ environment

'Children in good order' : a study of constructions of child protection work of the Royal Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, in the West of Scotland, 1960-1989

How did the Royal Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children protect children in post war Glasgow? The analysis in this study of the 'construction' of child protection is centred upon three questions relating to the practice of the RSSPCC: What forms did intervention take? Who was the focus of practice? How and why did practice change during the 30 year period, 1960-1990, of this study? The period 1960-1990 witnessed rapid political, economic and social changes which contributed to the recognition by the state of social problems which affected families. The RSSPCC (founded in 1884) was established by the beginning of the twentieth century as the principal arm of the state in the investigation and prosecution of child abuse and neglect throughout Scotland. The Society sustained this key role up to the middle of the 1970s and then lost it completely in 1992. This study is not a history of the RSSPCC. However an historical perspective was adopted to further understanding of the organisation's role in Scottish society and in the lives of families whose standards of parenting were causing concern. The sources of that concern were found often within the family. Many mothers (less often fathers) sought assistance from the RSSPCC only to find themselves subjects of intense scrutiny and intervention. The analysis and conclusions of this study are derived from: the RSSPCC case records of intervention in the lives of 1,500 families, the records of 120 prosecutions of parents for cruelty and or neglect, a selection of Annual Reports from 1889 to 1993, and interviews with 51 RSSPCC staff. A theoretical framework which brought historical sociology, post structuralist models of power and feminism together with the concept of 'Adocentrism' (the unswerving allegiance to adult values) was developed to illuminate the puzzles, paradoxes and complexities of the changing constructions of child protection. This study concludes that the 'construction' of child protection developed and changed in response to a number of factors. However, the power to define and negotiate the subjects and boundaries of intervention was invariably retained by the professionals and furthermore the focus of that intervention was predominantly with and between adults

Downsizing and the deinstitutionalization of permanent employment in Japan

This study examines the process by which the Japanese permanent employment system was increasingly deinstitutionalized and replaced by downsizing among publicly listed companies in Japan between 1990 and 1997. We found that although economic pressure triggered downsizing, social and institutional pressures shaped the pace and process by which downsizing spread. The greater a firm's legitimacy and visibility, and the more it depended on organizations and institutions that supported the institution of permanent employment, the more hesitant it was to abandon that practice, even when it had much to lose financially. Specifically, large, old, and high-reputation firms were resistant to downsizing at first, as were firms with high levels of human capital, as reflected by high wages. In contrast, firms with high levels of foreign ownership were more likely to downsize. We found that these social and institutional pressures, however, diminished as downsizing spread across the population. We argue that this is due to a "safety in numbers" effect. As downsizing became more prominent, the actions of any single firm were less likely to be noticed and criticized

Stakeholder decision making in Passivhaus design

The design and construction of a building is inherently complex and a myriad of decisions must be made during the design and planning process. No single stakeholder (architect, client, building physicist) has complete knowledge and visibility of the consequences of each decision and each stakeholder group is driven by different objectives. Those aspiring to construct low-energy buildings, and Passivhaus in particular, are subject to numerous constraints, relating to building performance, site restrictions and planning policy (amongst others) and seemingly innocuous small changes to the design can divert decision- makers from their aims. Multi-criteria decision making provides a method of attempting to satisfy numerous, often conflicting objectives, in order to reach the ‘optimum’ solution, and therefore provides a means to combine these varied goals. Existing research in the sphere of building performance simulation often focuses on its application to quantitative criteria. This paper proposes incorporating stakeholder preference modelling in multi-criteria decision making by first analysing stakeholder goals, to gain a greater understanding of their motivation and decision paths, within the context of Passivhaus construction in the UK

Investigating the potential impact of stakeholder preferences in Passivhaus design

Low-energy buildings have a major role to play in achieving carbon emission reduction targets. The Passivhaus standard is driven by improved thermal comfort and has stringent targets for limiting energy consumption. Such constraints can be difficult to achieve with aesthetically pleasing results. In early stage building design, decisions are often made based on preferences, without assessing their impact on energy performance. Multi-criteria decision-making provides a technique of evaluating competing criteria using a robust framework. However, existing research in building performance focusses on quantitative measures, leaving a research gap in the subjective area of design preferences. This paper applies a modelling technique that incorporates user preferences, alongside quantitative building performance measures, by applying multi-criteria decision-making to a Passivhaus case study. Potential building forms are evaluated using dynamic simulation, then the impact of stakeholder preferences is assessed