225 research outputs found

    A comparison of walk-in counselling and the wait list model for delivering counselling services

    Get PDF
    Background: Walk-in counselling has been used to reduce wait times but there are few controlled studies to compare outcomes between walk-in and the traditional model of service delivery. Aims: To compare change in psychological distress by clients receiving services from two models of service delivery, a walk-in counselling model and a traditional counselling model involving a wait list Method: Mixed methods sequential explanatory design including quantitative comparison of groups with one pre-test and two follow ups, and qualitative analysis of interviews with a subsample. 524 participants 16 years and older were recruited from two Family Counselling Agencies; the General Health Questionnaire assessed change in psychological distress; prior use of other mental health and instrumental services was also reported. Results: Hierarchical linear modelling revealed clients of the walk-in model improved faster and were less distressed at the 4-week follow-up compared to the traditional service delivery model. At the 10-week follow-up, both groups had improved and were similar. Participants receiving instrumental services prior to baseline improved more slowly. Qualitative interviews confirmed participants valued the accessibility of the walk-in model. Conclusions: This study improves methodologically on previous studies of walk-in counselling, an approach to service delivery that is not conducive to randomized controlled trials

    Fading of artists' pigments due to atmospheric ozone

    Get PDF
    Recently, it has been shown that several artists' pigments will fade in the absence of light if exposed to atmospheric ozone at the levels found in Los Angeles photochemical smog. In the present study, a large number of artists' organic watercolors have been examined to further assess the scope of this fading hazard to works of art. Twenty-seven organic watercolors were exposed to 0.31 ± 0.12 ppm 0_3 at 46 ± 6% relative humidity for 90 days. It was found that all of the watercolors containing alizarin derived pigments (1, 2-dihydroxyanthraquinone lakes) are susceptible to fading in the presence of ozone. A number of pigment blends containing at least one ozone fugitive chemical component were found to change their apparent color after exposure to ozone. Several organic red pigments that are much more ozone resistant than the alizarin lakes, including quinacridone reds and BON arylamide reds were identified. This information may aid artists in selecting more durable substitutes for the ozone fugitive alizarin lakes

    Experimental progress in positronium laser physics

    Get PDF

    Saturation in qualitative research: exploring its conceptualization and operationalization

    Get PDF
    Deposited on 20 October 2017 in Keele University Repository at: http://eprints.keele.ac.uk/4122/Saturation has attained widespread acceptance as a methodological principle in qualitative research. It is commonly taken to indicate that, on the basis of the data that have been collected or analysed hitherto, further data collection and/or analysis are unnecessary. However, there appears to be uncertainty as to how saturation should be conceptualized, and inconsistencies in its use. In this paper, we look to clarify the nature, purposes and uses of saturation, and in doing so add to theoretical debate on the role of saturation across different methodologies.Weidentify four distinct approaches to saturation, which differ in terms of the extent to which an inductive or a deductive logic is adopted, and the relative emphasis on data collection, data analysis, and theorizing. We explore the purposes saturation might serve in relation to these different approaches, and the implications for how and when saturation will be sought. In examining these issues, we highlight the uncertain logic underlying saturation- as essentially a predictive statement about the unobserved based on the observed, a judgement that, we argue, results in equivocation, and may in part explain the confusion surrounding its use.Weconclude that saturation should be operationalized in a way that is consistent with the research question(s), and the theoretical position and analytic framework adopted, but also that there should be some limit to its scope, so as not to risk saturation losing its coherence and potency if its conceptualization and uses are stretched too widely.sch_die52pub5265pub

    Pathways of SME Internationalization: a bibliometric and systematic review

    Get PDF
    Business is dynamic and rapidly changing. Global markets were previously the playing field of multinational corporations (MNCs), while small and medium enterprises (SMEs) were local; however, the removal of imposed barriers, and recent technological advances in manufacturing, transportation and communications have indorsed SMEs and international entrepreneurs (IE) global access. SMEs and IEs are increasingly fueling economic growth and innovation and these trends are presenting both opportunities and challenges to both MNCs and SMEs in the global arena. This review systematically examines comparative SME and IE research, analyzing (after fine tuning) 762 articles published in leading journals from 1992 to September 2018. Our bibliometric and systematic review classifies SME and IE research findings into three echelons: (i) subjects; (ii) theories; and (iii) methods
    corecore