26 research outputs found
Developing theory in motivational interviewing: academic and practitioner perspectives from MICBT integration
Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) are both
evidence based psychosocial interventions. Motivational interviewing has not
sought to develop its own comprehensive theory (Miller & Rollnick, 2012)
although it has developed hypotheses on why MI works. This project has looks
at what an integration of these two approaches can tell us about motivational
interviewing’s theory, hypothesised mechanisms of action and efficacy. It has set
out to examine and explore existing theory through qualitative research. This
included Semi structured interviews with researchers and practitioners who are
experts in the integration of MI and CBT (MICBT). Their views and existing
literature were used develop understanding about MI efficacy. A critical realist
philosophical framework and Theoretical Thematic analysis was used to explore
and test MI theory. A number of themes around hypothesised mechanisms and
MI theory emerged from both sets of participants. These included psychological
safety, alliance, responding to resistance, acceptance, compassion and positive
emotion. A relational rather than a technical practice was emphasised and the
theory relating to that observed. Theory around Power, its negative and positive
operation in people’s lives arose frequently; as did hypothesised mechanisms
relating to power differentials and MI as a ‘power yielding’ approach. Building on
insights from evolutionary theory, links were made to a more detailed
consideration of the effects of social context on research, practice and the ability
of individuals to make change. This project challenges a narrow-individualised
approach to research and intervention, emphasising the need to take into account
the effects of social inequality and individual social circumstances.
The project has illustrated some of the reality of translating theory into real-world
practice and suggests expanding MI theory so that it is more contextualised. The
centrality of understanding power and power structures may be a useful addition
to an understanding of why MI works. An increased awareness of social context
and its impacts raise questions about how individual and societal level
interventions could work together to improve health behaviour change. Finally, a
number of suggestions for future research are made, including that individualised
interventions need to be evaluated in real-world services, with direct consultation
of and involvement of service users
Comparing measured and modelled PFOS concentrations in a UK freshwater catchment and estimating emission rates
The lifecycle, sources and fate of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) continue to generate scientific and political interest, particularly since PFOS was listed by the Stockholm Convention and largely restricted in Europe. It continues to be detected in aquatic environments, with only limited studies into the on-going sources. This paper explores PFOS emissions discharged by the general population into a small catchment comprising two rivers in the UK. A sampling campaign was undertaken to improve our understanding of population-derived PFOS sources from sewage treatment plants (STPs) and in rivers. A corresponding modelling exercise allowed an emission estimate of 13 μg/day/per capita to be derived for the Aire and Calder rivers. PFOS emission was linked to STP discharges bylinear regression of measured and modelled concntrations (R2 = 0.49–0.85). The model was able to accurately estimate the spatial trends of PFOS in the rivers, while predicted concentrations were within a factor of three based on per capita emission values taken from the literature. Measured PFOS concentrations in rivers suggested that emissions from STPs are partially dependent on treatment type, where plants with secondary or tertiary treatment such as activated sludge processes emit less PFOS, possibly due to increased partitioning and retention. With refinements based on the type of treatment at each STP, predictions were further improved. The total PFOS mass discharged annually via rivers from the UK has been estimated to be between 215 and 310 kg, based on the per capita emission range derived in this study
Fluid-bicontinuous gels stabilized by interfacial colloids: low and high molecular weight fluids
Carefully tuned composite materials can have properties wholly unlike their
separate constituents. We review the development of one example:
colloid-stabilized emulsions with bicontinuous liquid domains. These
non-equilibrium structures resemble the sponge mesophase of surfactants;
however, in the colloid-stabilized case the interface separating the liquid
domains is itself semi-solid. The arrangement of domains is created by
arresting liquid-liquid phase separation via spinodal decomposition. Dispersed
colloids exhibiting partial wettability become trapped on the newly created
interface and jam together as the domains coarsen. Similar structures have been
created in polymer blends stabilized using either interfacial nanoparticles or
clay platelets. Here it has been possible to create the domain arrangement
either by phase separation or by direct mixing of the melt. The low
molecular-weight liquid and polymer based structures have been developed
independently and much can be learnt by comparing the two.Comment: Topical Review, 17 pages, 10 figure
The Impact of the Scottish Parliament in Amending Executive Legislation
This paper provides the first systematic attempt to investigate the legislative impact of the Scottish Parliament on Executive legislation, by analysing the fate of all amendments to Executive bills from the Parliament's first session (1999-2003). Initial findings on the success of bill amendments show that the balance of power inclines strongly in favour of ministers. However, when we account for the type of amendment and initial authorship we find evidence that the Parliament (both coalition and opposition MSPs) actually makes more of an impact, particularly in terms of the level of success of substantive amendments to Executive bills. Our findings have implications for much of the current literature that is sceptical of the existence of power sharing between the Executive and the Parliament and within the Parliament