29 research outputs found
In bed with the arts...
In the same way that an embryo is formed, exciting and creative new things can
evolve by a synergy of two things coming together. However, with new things, there
is always a process of adaptation and growing pains, as the new being takes shape
and form. This article will address some of the issues that arise through the
synthesis and innovative nature of collaboration between visual methodologies and
social research. It will draw specifically on examples from a recent research project
that looked at the sex and relationship needs of young people with learning
disabilities (hereafter referred to as the Sex and Relationships project), where drama
was used as a research tool. It will highlight the way in which the young people in
the study had their voices heard by producing a play based around their experiences
and views. The article will draw the discussion together by considering the
contested nature of visual methods and I will reflect on my own personal response
to being a researcher on the Sex and Relationships project. Finally, I will attempt to
answer the question, ‘…but is it really research?
‘Do we all get a PhD?' Attempting emancipatory research relating to disability in an academic environment. Relating to disability in an academic environment
Within the model of emancipatory research, the researcher is situated as one member of a
team. They are often conceptualised as providing methodological tools and skills to others
involved in the research project but the definition of topic, data analysis and dissemination is
presented as a joint enterprise. This model of research (deliberately) contradicts with the
view of the expert researcher prevalent within higher education establishments and
particularly with the individualised construction of research degrees such as PhDs which
requires a thesis to be the exclusive product of one individual. The paper discusses attempts
which have been made to reconcile the tensions inherent in adopting an emancipatory model
within an academic environment including our own experiences of researching and
supervising a doctoral thesis on citizenship and disability. The project is led by an advisory
panel of disabled people who are involved in the preparation, selection and analysis of the
interviews and pragmatic aspects of attempting such an emancipatory model of research from
the viewpoint of the entire research team. It raises the question as to whether such models
can only be completely adhered to in particular, probably non-academic settings
Disability and citizenship: an emancipatory study of professionals' attitudes to disabled people
The research described in this thesis had two main aims. First, to examine the concept of citizenship and to develop it in relation to the experiences of disabled people. Secondly, and of equal importance, to test an emancipatory methodology within an academic doctoral context. The empirical work supporting the first aim consisted of 30 interviews with 'professionals' to assess their attitudes towards disabled people. The analysis of these interviews showed how professionals' views were linked to concepts of citizenship, specifically those of moral rights, attitudes, difference, consumerism and risk.The emancipatory model within which the research was conducted involved an Advisory Group of disabled people who contributed to the planning and guiding of the research and the analysis of the data. A significant part of the thesis discusses the ethical and methodological issues of'ownership' of the research in terms of the tension between the writer of the thesis gaining an academic qualification (PhD) and the use of emancipatory methods in research. It also shows how the development of the concepts relating to citizenship arising from the analytical process was influenced by the input of the Advisory Group. One additional outcome of carrying out research in this paradigm was the production of an accessible report, with suggested points for action, to provide a product of relevance to those who took part in the research (see appendix). The conclusions to the thesis assess the extent to which the methodology was of an emancipatory nature and propose a development of the citizenship model
The Paradox of Compacts: final report to the Home Office on monitoring the impact of Compacts
The Compact is an important building block in achieving a better relationship between
Government and the voluntary and community sector. We are fully committed to partnership
working with the sector and increasing their role in civil society and in the delivery of public
s e rvices. The Compact helps us to work better together, so that we can better meet the
needs of communities
Is glycaemic control associated with dietary patterns independent of weight change in people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes?:Prospective analysis of the Early-ACTivity-In-Diabetes trial.
BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether diet affects glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes (T2D), over and above its effects on bodyweight. We aimed to assess whether changes in dietary patterns altered glycaemic control independently of effects on bodyweight in newly diagnosed T2D. METHODS: We used data from 4-day food diaries, HbA1c and potential confounders in participants of the Early-ACTivity-In-Diabetes trial measured at 0, 6 and 12 months. At baseline, a ‘carb/fat balance’ dietary pattern and an ‘obesogenic’ dietary pattern were derived using reduced-rank regression, based on hypothesised nutrient-mediated mechanisms linking dietary intake to glycaemia directly or via obesity. Relationships between 0 and 6 month change in dietary pattern scores and baseline-adjusted HbA1c at 6 months (n = 242; primary outcome) were assessed using multivariable linear regression. Models were repeated for periods 6–12 months and 0–12 months (n = 194 and n = 214 respectively; secondary outcomes). RESULTS: Reductions over 0–6 months were observed in mean bodyweight (− 2.3 (95% CI: − 2.7, − 1.8) kg), body mass index (− 0.8 (− 0.9, − 0.6) kg/m(2)), energy intake (− 788 (− 953, − 624) kJ/day), and HbA1c (− 1.6 (− 2.6, -0.6) mmol/mol). Weight loss strongly associated with lower HbA1c at 0–6 months (β = − 0.70 [95% CI − 0.95, − 0.45] mmol/mol/kg lost). Average fat and carbohydrate intakes changed to be more in-line with UK healthy eating guidelines between 0 and 6 months. Dietary patterns shifting carbohydrate intakes higher and fat intakes lower were characterised by greater consumption of fresh fruit, low-fat milk and boiled/baked potatoes and eating less of higher-fat processed meats, butter/animal fats and red meat. Increases in standardised ‘carb/fat balance’ dietary pattern score associated with improvements in HbA1c at 6 months independent of weight loss (β = − 1.54 [− 2.96, − 0.13] mmol/mol/SD). No evidence of association with HbA1c was found for this dietary pattern at other time-periods. Decreases in ‘obesogenic’ dietary pattern score were associated with weight loss (β = − 0.77 [− 1.31, − 0.23] kg/SD) but not independently with HbA1c during any period. CONCLUSIONS: Promoting weight loss should remain the primary nutritional strategy for improving glycaemic control in early T2D. However, improving dietary patterns to bring carbohydrate and fat intakes closer to UK guidelines may provide small, additional improvements in glycaemic control. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN92162869. Retrospectively registered on 25 July 2005 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12916-022-02358-5
Glastir Monitoring & Evaluation Programme. First year annual report
The Welsh Government has commissioned a comprehensive new ecosystem monitoring and evaluation programme to monitor the effects of Glastir, its new land management scheme, and to monitor progress towards a range of international biodiversity and environmental targets. A random sample of 1 km squares stratified by landcover types will be used both to monitor change at a national level in the wider countryside and to provide a backdrop against which intervention measures are assessed using a second sample of 1 km squares located in areas eligible for enhanced payments for advanced interventions. Modelling in the first year has forecast change based on current understanding, whilst a rolling national monitoring programme based on an ecosystem approach will provide an evidence-base for on-going, adaptive development of the scheme by Welsh Government. To our knowledge, this will constitute the largest and most in-depth ecosystem monitoring and evaluation programme of any member state of the European Union
Sex and Relationships for People with Learning Disabilities: A Challenge for Parents and Professionals
This paper considers some of the issues around sex and relationships for people with learning disabilities. It is essentially a discussion paper, highlighting previous research, and information about the rights of people with learning disabilities to have sex and relationships. It particularly focuses on concerns for parents and some implications for professional practice that have arisen from a research project that is trying to find out more about the issues. The main messages coming from parents within the research project is that there is a need for clear, concise information about sex and relationships for young people with learning disabilities and there is also a need for professionals to give parents more support