PAPER 2: What do schools want from an Educational Psychology Service? A qualitative case study of service users’ perceptions of an Educational Psychology Service in Wales?

PAPER 1 - Consultation is a widely used model of practice amongst Educational Psychology Services (EPS) in the United Kingdom (UK) as evidenced in the amount of research carried out on this practice (Leadbetter, 2006, p. 246). This paper attempts to supplement the limited evidence on how and why consultation is used. This paper provides an account of Educational Psychologists (EPs) perceptions of using consultation in a Welsh Educational Psychology Service (EPS). The study uses a thematic analysis of interviews with EPs and 3 accounts of the practice of consultation are provided as examples of how consultation is used. Data analysis revealed that EPs’ practice is dominated by the influence of Wagner’s model of consultation, which is a result of both university, and service based training and not because they feel it is necessarily the best way of working and were vague about their reasons for using this approach. Evidence emerged to suggest EPs were only aware of one model of consultation, which is the Wagner model. Evidence also emerged to suggest that EPs confused service delivery models with models of consultation and that EPs are unclear about their unique skills and role when using consultation and feel that schools do not understand the work they are trying to achieve when working in this way. EPs also considered that schools want more time with them, but burdensome bureaucracy hinders this. These findings are discussed in more detail at the end of Paper 2 where the overall findings suggest there is a systemic problem in Pantysgawn EPS, where the dominance of the EP role to provide statutory assessments prevents EPs from working in a truly consultative way. The paper ends by discussing the key element of the EP’s role, whether a consistent and rigid adherence to one practice model is practicable or desirable, and the various ways that EP services can monitor outcomes to alleviate some of the bureaucratic processes. PAPER 2 - Paper 1 of this study looked at EPs’ perceptions of using consultation. Very few studies have looked at service users experiences in consultation based EP services. Paper 2 therefore looks at schools’ perceptions of the EP service and considers the benefits and barriers to effective service delivery using a thematic analysis of interviews with staff from 5 primary and 3 secondary schools. Findings suggest that schools continue to regard the expertise of the EP as being a provider of individual assessments, but they also revealed an awareness of the wider systemic role that EPs can provide. This traditional view of the role of the EP is discussed in terms of a wider systemic pressure for schools to seek this kind of EP intervention due to the Local Authority’s (LA) focus on statutory assessments. Schools appreciated a greater continuity of EPS staff as this helped them to develop more productive working relationships and they wanted more time with the EP. The findings suggest that the level of bureaucracy and the statutory assessment requirements to gain access to targeted resources were a barrier to working more effectively with schools. The paper ends by integrating these findings with the paper 1 findings and discussing the key element of the EP’s role, whether a consistent and rigid adherence to one practice model is practicable or desirable, and the various ways that EP services can monitor outcomes to alleviate some of the bureaucratic processes

Theoretical solutions for strength-scaled unreinforced masonry for scaled soil-structure experimentation

Reduced-scale masonry testing offers advantages of lower costs and shorter schedules compared to full-scale testing, but achieving results reflective of full-scale behavior requires development and fulfilment of appropriate scaling relationships. In many model-scale experiments, geometric scaling occurs but kinematic and/or dynamic similitude is not fully satisfied. This paper describes the theoretical basis and evolution of the equations necessary to achieve kinematic similitude for soil-structure testing at one-gravity for unreinforced masonry. Critical considerations relate to preventing the soil from being overloaded. By adopting a standard linear relationship of increased soil stiffness with depth, the controlling principle becomes the application of restricted, scaled loads throughout the entirety of the structure-soil system. As such, material strength and stiffness must be scaled accordingly to respond appropriately under the reduced stress. An example is provided for an adjacent excavation experiment with related empirical verification and computational quantification.Science Foundation IrelandOther funderNational Science FoundationSchnabel Foundation CompanyThe Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaignau, ti, sp, ke - kpw16/11/1

R&D capabilities, intellectual property strength and choice of equity ownership in cross-border acquisitions: Evidence from BRICS acquirers in Europe

YesThe aim of the study is to investigate two relatively underexplored factors, namely, the R&D (research and development) capabilities of target firms and the strength of intellectual property (IP) institutions in target economies, that influences the choice of equity ownership in cross border acquisitions (CBAs) undertaken by multinational enterprises (MNEs) from BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) economies. We develop our key hypothesis on foreign market entry through CBAs by incorporating insights from transaction costs economics, the resource-based view and institutional theory to investigate the determinants of full versus partial equity ownership. Using logistic regression estimation methods to a sample of 111 CBA deals of BRICS MNEs in 22 European countries, we find that BRICS MNEs are likely to pursue full rather than partial acquisition mode when target firms have high R&D capabilities. However, the greater the degree of strength of IP institutions in target economies and higher the target firms’ R&D capabilities, the more likely it is for BRICS MNEs to undertake partial, rather than, full acquisition mode. We provide interesting theoretical insights and managerial implications that might underlie some of the key findings on CBAs by emerging market MNEs

Links of the Inklings

A brief introduction to the main Inklings and their meetings—Lewis, Tolkien, and Williams

Stability During Construction of Three Large Underground Openings in Rock

272 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1967.U of I OnlyRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETD

A study of educational psychologists' use of consultation and users' views on what a service should deliver

Paper 1 - Consultation is a widely used model of practice amongst Educational Psychology Services (EPS) in the United Kingdom (UK) as evidenced in the amount of research carried out on this practice (Leadbetter, 2006, p. 246). This paper attempts to supplement the limited evidence on how and why consultation is used. This paper provides an account of Educational Psychologists (EPs) perceptions of using consultation in a Welsh Educational Psychology Service (EPS). The study uses a thematic analysis of interviews with EPs and 3 accounts of the practice of consultation are provided as examples of how consultation is used. Data analysis revealed that EPs’ practice is dominated by the influence of Wagner’s model of consultation, which is a result of both university, and service based training and not because they feel it is necessarily the best way of working and were vague about their reasons for using this approach. Evidence emerged to suggest EPs were only aware of one model of consultation, which is the Wagner model. Evidence also emerged to suggest that EPs confused service delivery models with models of consultation and that EPs are unclear about their unique skills and role when using consultation and feel that schools do not understand the work they are trying to achieve when working in this way. EPs also considered that schools want more time with them, but burdensome bureaucracy hinders this. These findings are discussed in more detail at the end of Paper 2 where the overall findings suggest there is a systemic problem in Pantysgawn EPS, where the dominance of the EP role to provide statutory assessments prevents EPs from working in a truly consultative way. The paper ends by discussing the key element of the EP’s role, whether a consistent and rigid adherence to one practice model is practicable or desirable, and the various ways that EP services can monitor outcomes to alleviate some of the bureaucratic processes. Paper 2 - Paper 1 of this study looked at EPs’ perceptions of using consultation. Very few studies have looked at service users experiences in consultation based EP services. Paper 2 therefore looks at schools’ perceptions of the EP service and considers the benefits and barriers to effective service delivery using a thematic analysis of interviews with staff from 5 primary and 3 secondary schools. Findings suggest that schools continue to regard the expertise of the EP as being a provider of individual assessments, but they also revealed an awareness of the wider systemic role that EPs can provide. This traditional view of the role of the EP is discussed in terms of a wider systemic pressure for schools to seek this kind of EP intervention due to the Local Authority’s (LA) focus on statutory assessments. Schools appreciated a greater continuity of EPS staff as this helped them to develop more productive working relationships and they wanted more time with the EP. The findings suggest that the level of bureaucracy and the statutory assessment requirements to gain access to targeted resources were a barrier to working more effectively with schools. The paper ends by integrating these findings with the paper 1 findings and discussing the key element of the EP’s role, whether a consistent and rigid adherence to one practice model is practicable or desirable, and the various ways that EP services can monitor outcomes to alleviate some of the bureaucratic processes.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Predicting reinforced concrete frame response to excavation induced settlement

In many tunneling and excavation projects, free-field vertical ground movements have been used to predict subsidence and empirical limits have been employed to evaluate risk. Validity of such approaches given the reality of two-dimensional ground movements and the influence of adjacent applied loads has been largely unknown. This paper employed analytical and large-scale experimental efforts to quantify these issues, in the case of a reinforced concrete frame structure adjacent to an excavation. Nearly half of all soil and building movements occurred prior to installation of the first tie-back, even when conservative practices were applied. Free-field data generated a trough half the size of that recorded near the building frames. Empirically based relative gradient limits generally matched the extent and distribution of the damage. Application of various structural limits also generally reflected global experimental response but did not fully identify local damage distribution. Fully free-field data or failure to include accurate two-dimensional soil displacements under-predicted building response by as much as 50% for low-rise concrete frames without grade beams.Science Foundation IrelandNDRCNeed to link to publisher version at: http://cedb.asce.org/cgi/WWWdisplay.cgi?170891. DG 02/07/10 ti au SB. 22/7/1

Assessment of excavation-induced building damage

Paper presented at the ER2010, Earth Retention Conference 3, August 1-4, 2010, Bellevue, WashingtonGround movements during excavation have the potential for major impact on nearby buildings, utilities and streets. Increasingly ground movements are controlled at the source. They are assessed by linking the ground loss at the excavation wall to the volume change and displacements in the soil mass, and then to the lateral strains and angular distortion in structural bays or units, and are related to damage using a damage criterion based on the state of strain at a point. Numerical and physical models of excavation-induced building damage were used to vary parameters and develop procedures for assessing distortion and damage. Examples of building distortion and damage are presented for brick bearing wall structures of the 1800’s and early 1900’s, as well as later frame structures, that illustrate how geometry, era of construction, stiffness, and condition influence building response to ground movement.Other funderNational Science FoundationSchnabel Foundation Companyau, sp, - kpw6/12/1

Manufacturing, assembly, and testing of scaled, historic masonry for one-gravity, pseudo-static, soil-structure experiments

In many model-scale experiments, geometric scaling is upheld but kinematic and/or dynamic similitude is not because of the difficulty in manufacturing and assembling small models. This paper describes scaling, manufacturing, assembly, and testing of 1/10th scaled historic masonry materials for one-gravity, pseudo-static, soil-structure testing. Prototype selection, manufacturing limitations, constructibility constraints, and testing decisions are presented, alongside details related to model construction. Compressive, tensile, and shear capacities of one-tenth scale prototype values, as well as failure mechanisms, were achieved by adopting traditional brick extrusion and firing methods, in conjunction with modifying mortar products developed for historic restoration. When scaled-masonry structures were subjected to adjacent excavation, damage levels and patterns and levels were consistent with full-scale, field observations.Science Foundation IrelandNational Science Foundationke, - kpw17/11/1