How do Social Workers use Evidence in Practice?

Aims of the research: Scotland's 21st Century Review of Social Work, 'Changing Lives', told us that, 'If we are serious about developing social work as a profession and having practitioners able to practise safely and innovatively, then we need to both develop and use evidence to inform practice' (Scottish Executive, 2006: 55). This research investigates how social work practitioners make use of research, inquiry, and other forms of knowledge evidence to inform their practice. The study uses a 'critical best practice' approach (Ferguson, 2003) to learn from the analysis of detailed examples of how social workers use knowledge in their day to day practice with service users and carers. A best practice approach offers an opportunity to move away from the 'climate of negativity' experienced by social work in the UK (Jones et al., 2008:1), and to celebrate some of the achievements of skilled social work practitioners. At the same time taking a critical lens to practice offers potential to gain a better understanding what such practice actually 'looks like' as it happens, promoting positive learning about social work and, ultimately, better outcomes for service users and carers (Jones et al., 2008: 15). This research has been conducted under the umbrella of the Critical Best Practice social work research group at the Open University, and has benefited from the discussions and contributions of other members of this group. Its findings are intended to complement a small but growing literature about critical best practice in the UK. The study also aims to contribute to current debates about how social work practitioners understand and use knowledge evidence, an area of research in which the perspectives of social worker practitioners themselves have received remarkably little attention (Trevethick, 2008). The subject is highly topical, both in Scotland, which is currently consulting on both its Research and Development and Knowledge Management Strategies (IRISS, 2008; IRISS/NES, 2009), as well as in the health and social care sector in the UK as a whole. It is also hoped that findings of the research will be able to make a helpful contribution to social work and other practicebased education through more tangible outputs, such as learning materials for students and practitioners. </br

Leadership in Darkness and Light: Gender Considerations

When certain leadership styles are assigned by gender, both men and women are stifled and shortchanged. Susanne Dumbleton examines the pitfalls of the traditional characteristics and types of actions that have been prescribed for each gender, especially for women. She defines politics as “the use and abuse of power,” and when women try to ignore politics, “passive complicity, irresponsible withdrawal, sacrifice [of their] destiny, and active complicity” can result. Each is explained in detail. Effective servant leaders of any gender must have a realistic view of human nature and maintain their faith in it despite its many negative aspects. They must be able to motivate others to action and take the light and dark sides of human behavior into account when forming long-term solutions to social ills. Vaclav Havel and Nelson Mandela are cited as successful servant leaders who have done this

Social privacy: perceptions of veillance, relationships, and space with online social networking services

A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)This research seeks to examine the experience of social privacy around online social networking services. In particular, it examines how individuals experience social privacy through the perception of veillance, relationships and space. It highlights that individuals need varying types of veillance and relationships in order to experience the social privacy they desire. It also highlights that individuals used the perception of space to indicate acceptable convention within that space; seeking spaces, both real and metaphorical, that they perceived to afford them the experience of social privacy. Through the application of phenomenological methods drawn from ethnography this study explores how the experience of social privacy is perceived. It does this through examining the perception of veillance, relationships and space in separation, though notes that the individual perceives all three simultaneously. It argues that the varying conditions of these perceptions afford the individuals the experience of social privacy. Social privacy is, therefore, perceived as a socially afforded emotional experience

The Edinburgh/Durham Southern Galaxy Catalogue: an investigation into the large-scale structure of the Universe

This thesis describes the construction and application of the Edinburgh/Durham Southern Galaxy Catalogue, which is a database of information on ~ 1-5 million galaxies, covering ~ 2000 deg2 of the South Galactic Cap. This catalogue is based on objective image detection and classification techniques, rather than the visual searches of photographic plates used in previous galaxy catalogues. The raw data for this project are digitised scans of 60 ESO/SERC Atlas plates using the COSMOS high-speed plate measuring machine. The quality controls employed during the production of the ESO/SERCAtlas, ensures that it is deeper and more uniform than set of plates used previously to construct a galaxy catalogue. The COSMOS machine objectively detects and parameterises ~ 2 X 105 images on each photographic plate. Image deblending software has been introduced to ensure the accurate detection and parameterisation of images in the crowded regions of compact clusters.Star-galaxy classification and photometric calibration techniques have been investigated and optimised to reduce and quantify any systematic variations that could introduce spurious structure. A classification algorithm has been used to automatically classify images over the whole range of magnitudes in the survey. Accurate intra-plate pho­tometry is possible for galaxies, because a COSMOS magnitude can be defined which is linearly related to the object magnitude. Inter-plate calibration is carried out using CCD galaxy sequences for every second field in the catalogue. Unlike global calibration techniques used previously, this arrangement of CCD’s prevents propagation of calibration errors. Statistics are given to show that the final catalogue of galaxies will be > 95% complete for bj 18-75. The variation in the amplitude of the counts across the survey cannot be accounted for by systematic variations in limiting magnitude and so is probably due large-scale clustering of galaxies. The two-point correlation functions calculated for this 35-plate mosaic confirm a break from power-law, though at larger scales (~ 20h-1 Mpc ) than previously estimated. In the context of current theories of galaxy formation, models involving standard cold dark matter with extra large-scale power would still seem to be excluded

Undergraduate Program in Eastern Africa for Adults Serving the Poor

Susanne Dumbleton explains what Vincentian universities in general can do to accomplish poverty reduction. Graduates should be prepared for careers that would enable them to influence government and the private sector to adopt the best solutions for poverty reduction. Students already in leadership positions should be empowered with skills and knowledge to increase their projects’ success. Poor persons’ access to education should be increased. Research should be conducted on poverty and poverty reduction. Dumbleton’s specific focus is on the undergraduate program at Tangaza College in Nairobi and its partnership with DePaul University. At the time she was writing, the program was geared toward helping Catholic religious and laypersons alleviate poverty and suffering on an individual level. Dumbleton explores how the program might be broadened so that graduates’ service careers could still help individuals while also being directed toward macro-level poverty reduction. Some of the ways education and small-scale social service exacerbates poverty are examined, with suggestions for avoiding such problems

Forage Brassica use in New Zealand and Australia Farming Systems

Forage brassica, genus Brassica, are annual feed crops grown on farming enterprises throughout New Zealand and Australia. These crops provide a source of high-yielding, high-quality feed, which is particularly useful to complement pasture production during periods when pasture growth is reduced. There are six forage brassica species and subspecies of agricultural importance including bulb turnip, swede, kale, forage rape, leafy turnip, and raphanobrassica. All of these, as well as interspecific crosses and individual cultivars, offer a range of characteristics to fit various environmental and livestock production challenges. Consumption of forage brassica crops in ruminant animals may reduce methane emissions compared to traditional feed sources. Furthermore, recent technological developments using seed mutagenesis in breeding new forage brassica provide increased herbicide control of weed species. As with all feed sources, specific management, crop husbandry and animal health considerations apply. Overall, the use of forage brassica enables increased resilience in typical pasture-based farm systems