Comparing leadership internationally: challenges and reflections

This paper is a co-written paper by five MA Education students at the University of Northampton and James Underwood, Principal Lecturer at the University of Northampton and a PhD student at the University of Cambridge. We are all currently engaged in research that involves comparing aspects of education in the UK with another nation. The research that we are each personally undertaking addresses a range of topics. These all relate to an aspect of education leadership ranging from student leadership to school and university management. There is one common underlying research question which underpins all the studies which is: in what ways has comparison between nations been a valid approach to understanding education and leadership? This question is addressed successively via our individual stories in this paper. This paper is linked to a paper presented in May 2015 at the University of Cambridge entitled: “Breaking boundaries as writers, researchers and me-searchers, the challenges and rewards of completing an MA as a community of practice.” In which we discussed in depth our experience as a research community. This paper has therefore also been informed by a distinct perspective on the nature of Masters’ level study

Breaking boundaries as writers and researchers, the challenges and rewards of completing an MA as a community of practice

This paper is a co-written paper by five postgraduate students at the University of Northampton and one lecturer who is also a PhD student at the University of Cambridge. In it we discuss how as a group of students we broke down barriers between ourselves as individuals to create a community of practice rather than a class. All of us are currently engaged in research that involves comparing aspects of education in the UK with another nation. In the case of five of the writers this is with the nation in which we grew up. We deliberately chose areas of study that were intertwined and negotiated our thesis titles with each other to ensure that the research would be mutually supportive. It has been this method of collective writing and of reflective data collection that has been particularly innovative and that we will be presenting in this paper. Although the individual dissertations will be submitted separately, this approach has enabled us to build emotional resilience, and to generate work of a greater depth than would otherwise have been possible. In this way this paper fits with the conference theme ‘many paths, same goal’. The paper opens with an extended metaphor linking research to cricket and specifically to the great West Indian cricket captain Clive Lloyd. Metaphors can open up new ways of thinking as this one did for us

Ultrasonography Comparison of Diaphragm Morphological Structure and Function in Young and Middle-Aged Subjects with and without Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain: A Case-Control Study

Background. It is reported that impaired postural control in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain (NCLBP) was associated with “core” trunk muscle incoordination. However, as the diaphragm is an important component of the “core” deep trunk muscle group, we still know little about the potential relationship between diaphragm dysfunction and NCLBP. Objectives. This case-control study is intended to investigate the changes of diaphragm morphological structure and function in young and middle-aged subjects with and without NCLBP by ultrasound evaluation and its possible validity in predicating the occurrence of NCLBP. Methods. 31 subjects with NCLBP (NCLBP group) and 32 matched healthy controls (HC group) were enrolled in this study. The diaphragm thickness at the end of inspiration (Tins) or expiration (Texp) during deep breathing was measured through B-mode ultrasound, and the diaphragm excursion (Texc) was estimated at deep breathing through M-mode ultrasound. The diaphragm thickness change rate (Trate) was calculated by the formula: Trate=Tins−Texp/Texp×100%. Results. Compared with the HC group, the NCLBP group had a significant smaller degree of Tins (t = −3.90, P<0.001), Texp (Z = −2.79, P=0.005), and Trate (t = −2.03, P=0.047). However, there was no statistical difference in Texc between the two groups (t = −1.42, P=0.161). The binary logistic regression analysis indicated that Trate (OR = 16.038, P=0.014) and Texp (OR = 7.714, P=0.004) were potential risk factors for the occurrence of NCLBP. Conclusions. The diaphragm morphological structure and function were changed in young and middle-aged subjects with NCLBP, while the diaphragm thickness change rate (Trate) and diaphragm thickness at the end of expiration (Texp) may be conductive to the occurrence of NCLBP. Furthermore, these findings may suggest that abnormal diaphragm reeducation is necessary for the rehabilitation of patients with NCLBP