The explanationist argument for moral realism

In this paper I argue that the explanationist argument in favour of moral realism fails. According to this argument, the ability of putative moral properties to feature in good explanations provides strong evidence for, or entails, the metaphysical claims of moral realism. Some have rejected this argument by denying that moral explanations are ever good explanations. My criticism is different. I argue that even if we accept that moral explanations are (sometimes) good explanations the metaphysical claims of realism do not follow

Re-evaluating work-based learning pedagogy

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine work-based learning (WBL) pedagogy within higher education (HE) related to the use of the ‘field of study’ concept. Design/methodology/approach This paper reviews WBL literature to discuss the original context of the concept and relates this to current pedagogic approaches through qualitative interviews and written explanations. Findings WBL pedagogy continues to use the concepts from field of study WBL but the study also indicates that academic practitioners are developing pedagogy to meet the needs of current workplace and educational policy. Research limitations/implications This paper is limited in its scope due to the small number of respondents but there are potential implications about emerging directions for this pedagogic range. Practical implications The paper argues that field of study WBL is still relevant to existing practice but further engagement and research surrounding WBL pedagogy is needed to examine this range of HE. Originality/value The added value is the evidence of evolving WBL pedagogy that can inform issues of flexibility within HE provision

Physical Electronics

Contains a report on a research project

Physical Electronics

Contains research objectives

Physical Electronics

Contains reports on two research projects

Physical Electronics

Contains research objectives

Physical Electronics

Contains a report on a research project

The mediating roles of disgust sensitivity and danger expectancy in relation to hand washing behaviour

Copyright © 2010 British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive PsychotherapiesBackground: Recent interest in the role of vulnerability factors in obsessional washing has suggested that disgust sensitivity, danger expectancy and health anxiety may be of interest. Aims: This study explores the differential impact of these factors on both behavioural and cognitive measures of washing behaviour and is based on a replication of the Jones and Menzies (1997) experiment, during which participants immersed their hands in a noxious compound while rating themselves on a range of measures: the time they subsequently took to wash their hands was measured and danger expectancies were found to be the best predictor of this. Method: The present study added measures of disgust sensitivity and health anxiety to this experimental methodology while removing factors they found to be of little import to compulsive washing. Thirty non-clinical participants took part. Results: Results confirmed that disgust sensitivity was related to the behavioural measure of washing time, but that this relationship was almost entirely mediated by the danger expectancy concerning judgements of severity of consequent disease. However, a different pattern emerged when the outcome measure was questionnaire based: danger expectancy was not at all related to this. Disgust sensitivity mediated the relationship between health anxiety and scores on a questionnaire measure of washing compulsions. Interestingly, these scores were not related to the behavioural measure of washing time. Conclusions: The implications of these relationships to the further development of subtypes of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are discussed

Demanding the impossible: a strike zine

A co-authored and co-curated series of reflections on the 2018 UCU strikes in British Universities, protesting against proposed pension reforms