The Relative Effectiveness of Selected Active Labour Market Programmes and the Common Support Problem

For Germany, we analyse the (relative) effects of participation in several active labour market programmes on the employment prospects of participants. First, our results show that different matching algorithms result in different severe problems of common support. Second, we obtain favourable effects of participation in training programmes, which is not true for job creation schemes. Third, while lock-in effects are smaller for shorter programmes, long retraining shows mainly positive effects compared to shorter training at the end of the observation period. Fourth, participants in job creation schemes are too different from participants in training programmes to conduct a reliable comparison.evaluation of active labour market programmes, propensity score matching, common support problem

A pairwise comparison of the effectiveness of selected active labour market programmes in Germany

"For Germany, our study estimates average effects of further vocational training, short training and job creation schemes on the employment prospects of participants. We compare participation in each programme with non-participation as well as with participation in one of the other programmes. Outcome variables are cumulated days spent in regular employment during the 3.5 years after programme start as well as the share in regular employment at the end of the observation period. First, our results show rather favourable effects of participation in further vocational training programmes and in short firm-internal training - but not of participation in job creation schemes - on the employment prospects of participants. Second, as a result of shorter lock-in effects, shorter programmes perform mostly better when estimating programme effects on days in cumulated employment. However, regarding shares in regular employment at the end of the observation period, in particular long retraining shows positive effects compared to shorter programmes." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))arbeitsmarktpolitische Maßnahme - Erfolgskontrolle, Weiterbildung, Trainingsmaßnahme, Arbeitsbeschaffungsmaßnahme, Umschulung, Arbeitsmarktchancen, Teilnehmer, Beschäftigungsdauer, arbeitsmarktpolitische Maßnahme - Dauer

Acceptance and commitment therapy for autism spectrum disorder : evaluation of feasibility, effectiveness, and validity of a novel contextual behavioral treatment

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is neurodevelopmental condition, characterized by challenges in reciprocal social behavior, restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests, and sensory hyper- and hyposensitivity. ASD is associated with executive dysfunction, perceived stress, and psychiatric symptoms, reducing quality of life and adaptive functioning. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) has been proven effective for complex and chronic conditions, although not evaluated in ASD. ACT-consistent instruments, such as Action and Acceptance Questionnaire (AAQ) and Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire (CFQ), measuring psychological inflexibility and cognitive fusion, have not been assessed in autistic individuals. Hence, evaluating ACT and the psychometric properties of AAQ and CFQ in autistic individuals is paramount. Aims: The overarching aim was to evaluate the feasibility, preliminary effectiveness, and validity of ACT adapted to ASD. Specifically, the aims were to evaluate (1) the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of group-delivered ACT for autistic adolescents and young adults in a special school setting (Study I), (2) the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of group-delivered ACT for autistic adults in a psychiatric outpatient setting (Study II and III), and (3) the psychometric properties of AAQ and CFQ in autistic adults (Study IV). Methods: An adapted ACT protocol (NeuroACT) was evaluated in a quasi-experimental randomized trial (Study I), an open pilot trial (Study II), and a randomized controlled trial (Study III). Study I included 28 ASD adolescents and young adults (13-21 years) utilizing wait-list controls having school classes as usual. Assessments were done at pre, post, and two months follow-up, evaluating self- and teacher-rated stress, self-perceived depression, anxiety, anger, hyperactivity/inattention, prosociality, and conduct and peer problems, analyzed using rmANOV A. Study II included 10 ASD adults (25-65 years), assessing treatment credibility, self- perceived stress and quality of life (primary outcomes), symptoms of depression and anxiety, disability (social; vocational; family), psychological inflexibility, and cognitive fusion at pre, post, and three months follow-up. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests. Study III included 39 ASD adults (21-72 years) randomized to NeuroACT or treatment as usual (TAU), evaluating treatment credibility, self-perceived stress and quality of life (primary outcomes), symptoms of depression and anxiety, sleep problems, disability (social; vocational; family), cognitive and behavioral avoidance, psychological inflexibility, cognitive fusion, autistic core challenges, and executive dysfunction, at pre, post, and six months follow-up, compared to TAU. Data were analyzed using rmANOVA and clinically significant change. Study IV evaluated the construct (convergent and divergent) validity and reliability of AAQ and CFQ in 54 autistic adults (21-72 years) in a psychiatric outpatient setting, using explorative factor analysis and Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results: In Study I, all participants completed NeuroACT, and treatment satisfaction was high. Overall (pre-post-2-month) statistically significant improvements were found in self- and teacher-rated stress, overall psychiatric symptoms, anger, prosocial behavior, and hyperactivity/inattention (d = 0.70-0.81, 95% CI), and a statistical trend for depression (d = 0.67, 95% CI), in NeuroACT compared to wait-list. No statistically significant interaction effect or statistical trend was found in conduct problems, peer relation problems, or anxiety symptoms. In Study II, 90 % completed NeuroACT, and treatment credibility was high (M=7.7/10, SD = .8). Statistically significant improvements or statistical trends were found (pre-post or pre-3-month) in perceived stress and quality of life (primary outcomes), depressive symptoms, social disability, psychological inflexibility, and cognitive fusion (d = 0.27-0.92, 95% CI). Anxiety or work and family-related disability were not statistically significantly improved. In Study III, 85 % completed NeuroACT and treatment credibility was high (M=7.3/10, SD = 2.5). Overall (pre-post-6-month follow-up) statistically significant improvements or statistical trends were observed in perceived stress and quality of life (primary outcomes), depressive symptoms, sleep quality, cognitive and behavioral avoidance, psychological inflexibility, cognitive fusion, and autistic core challenges related to autistic mannerism (i.e., cognitive and behavioral inflexibility) and social motivation (d = 0.57-1.24, 95% CI) in NeuroACT compared to TAU. Between group clinically significant changes were in favor of NeuroACT. No statistically between group significant change or statistical trends were found in breathing problems, fatigue during daytime, awakening difficulties, social, work, or family-related disability, social awareness, social cognition, communication, or executive dysfunction. Dropout rates were higher in NeuroACT compared to TAU. In study IV, parallel analysis indicated a one-factor solution for AAQ and CFQ. Both instruments showed one-facor solion, eplaining 64% of AAQ ariance ( = .92) and 67% of CFQ ariance ( = .93). Statistically significant positive correlations were found between AAQ and CFQ, and measures of psychiatric symptoms and autistic traits, except social awareness, supporting convergent validity. Statistically significant negative correlations were observed between the AAQ and the CFQ, and quality of life, supporting divergent validity. Conclusion: ACT adapted to autism is feasible in autistic adolescents and adults and appears to improve stress and mental health. Also, it may help overcome aspects of autistic core challenges. Common instruments to assess ACT are preliminarily valid and reliable for autistic adults. However, more extensive research is needed to further evaluate ACT in ASD. This thesis adds to the growing awareness and empirical support of contextual behavioral models for autistic individuals

In Theory

This short story by Tina Pahnke tells the story of Lisa and her family, challenging the reader’s perception of memory and reality through interjections from the first-person narrator

The demise of a model? The state of collective bargaining and worker representation in Germany.

This article investigates collective bargaining trends in the German private sector since 2000. Using data from the IAB Establishment Panel and the German Establishment History Panel, it provides both cross-sectional and longitudinal evidence on these developments. It confirms that the hemorrhaging of sectoral bargaining, first observed in the 1980s and 1990s, is ongoing. Furthermore, works councils are also in decline, so that the dual system also displays erosion. For their part, any increases in collective bargaining at firm level have been minimal in recent years, while the behavior of newly-founded and closing establishments does not seem to lie at the root of a burgeoning collective bargaining free sector. Although there are few obvious signs of an organic reversal of the process, some revitalization of the bargaining system from above is implied by the labor policies of the new coalition government

Health Science Faculty Retention At Small And Mid-Sized Sized Private Universities

Health science faculty shortages are one factor limiting the ability of institutions of higher education (IHE) to meet healthcare workforce demands. To address this problem IHE leaders must not only recruit, but also retain faculty. Given this problem, the purpose and question of this research study was to identify personal and workplace factors that contribute to health science faculty retention at small and mid-sized private Midwestern IHEs. To explore this question, a descriptive and exploratory quantitative survey research design was used. This design specifically sought to identify incentives for continued employment, as well as disincentives that cause a faculty member to consider leaving their academic position. A total of 158 of 889 (17.8%) nursing, occupational therapy, physician assistant and physical therapy faculty at small to mid-sized (\u3c9,999) private Midwestern IHE responded to the survey request. The Incentives and Disincentives for Employment Survey (IDES) was used for data collection. The IDES asked respondents to select factors important for retention from a list of previously validated incentives and disincentives for employment. Respondents were also asked to complete two qualitative questions asking which factors were most important for retention. Results of this research study revealed faculty were predominantly female (84.8%), nearly half were primary caregivers (47.5%), a low percentage were tenured (26.3%), a high percentage worked on a 12 month annual contract (57%), and the sample had limited teaching experience (M=10.7, SD=9.8). This research study found that key factors that incentivize continued employment parallel factors that when absent, would cause a faculty member to consider leaving. Manageable workloads, flexibility in the workplace, a collegial atmosphere, and a supportive direct supervisor were most frequently reported as important for health science faculty retention. In addition, salary is an emerging factor for some faculty. These findings revealed health science faculty needs do not fully align with established job satisfaction theory. To improve health science faculty retention, it is recommended that IHE leaders 1) assess and address workload issues, 2) utilize the inherent flexibility of academic work, 3) lead through an understanding of individual needs, 4) develop collegiality through collective responsibility and 5) regularly benchmark salary to academic and practice environments

Summary of Edington v. Edington, 119 Nev. Adv. Rep. 62

Appeal from a district court order denying a motion to modify a divorce decree and denying a motion for attorney fees

A Note on the Determinants and Consequences of Outsourcing Using German Data

Using German data from the Institute for Employment Research Establishment Panel, this paper constructs two main measures of outsourcing and examines their determinants and consequences for employment. There are some commonalities in the correlates of the two measures of outsourcing, as well as agreement on the absence of adverse employment effects across all industries. For one specification, however, some negative effects are reported for manufacturing industry, balanced by positive effects for the services sector for another. But there are no indications of survival bias. This is because the association between outsourcing and plant closings is predominantly negative, albeit poorly determined.outsourcing, organizational change, employment change, plant closings, value added

A Note on the Determinants and Consequences of Outsourcing Using German Data

Using German data from the Institute for Employment Research Establishment Panel, this paper constructs two main measures of outsourcing and examines their determinants and consequences for employment. There are some commonalities in the correlates of the two measures of outsourcing, as well as agreement on the absence of adverse employment effects across all industries. For one specification, however, some negative effects are reported for manufacturing industry, balanced by positive effects for the services sector for another. But there are no indications of survival bias. This is because the association between outsourcing and plant closings is predominantly negative, albeit poorly determined.outsourcing, organizational change, employment change, plant closings, value added