The feminization of private investigation: a sociological analysis

This dissertation outlines the occupation of private investigation and the role that females play within that profession. The difficulties women experience in male-oriented occupations remains noteworthy in sociological research today. Progress has been made, yet many barriers still exist for women. These include structural, social, and cultural factors that influence women and/or the jobs that they hold. With the completion of interviews with twenty-six female private investigators, I was able to analyze the existing structural, interactional, and gender barriers which moderate the number of women that work as private investigators. Few studies have examined this occupation and this gap may be detrimental to our understanding of this issue. I discovered that women have less difficulty getting into and succeeding in private investigation than in law enforcement. Finally, I found that based on the nature of the work, client demand, opportunity for self-employment, and limited training requirements, females have risen in the labor queue that feeds private investigation. I argue that females may be more desirable to employers and clients because of the advantages their gender provides. Exploration of this topic holds importance for a comprehensive understanding of the position of women in the occupational structure

Syntectonic deposition and paleohydrology of the spring-fed Hualapai Limestone and implications for 5-6 MA integration of the Colorado River system through Grand Canyon : evidence from sedimentology, geochemistry and detrital zircon analysis

The Hualapai Limestone, at the western edge of the Colorado Plateau, provides the best sedimentary record available for 12 to 6 Ma at the mouth of the Grand Canyon. Because it directly underlies the first Colorado River gravels, this unit is a key element for understanding the integration of the Colorado River from the Colorado Plateau to the Basin and Range province, and the early paleogeography of the Grand Canyon region. This study combines a tectonic investigation with a stratigraphic and sedimentologic analysis that includes new geochemistry, tephrochronology, and detrital zircon analysis to examine variations of the sedimentary and tectonic records from the Hualapai Limestone basins. Thickness variations, with progressively thicker deposits towards the east in two of the four basins, indicate syntectonic deposition of the unit in half grabens formed above listric faults with 5-11 km depth to detachments. A sedimentary facies analysis highlights that the Hualapai Limestone was deposited in spring-fed lake and marsh systems fed by groundwater similar in composition to modern Havasu Creek and western Colorado Plateau groundwater. Stable isotope analysis of carbon and oxygen suggests gradual increase in meteoric water input through time. Sr isotopes, though variable, show an up-section decrease in 87Sr/86Sr and confirm a freshwater origin for the Hualapai Limestone. These data, plus facies analysis, suggest that waters that fed the Hualapai Limestone contained a significant component of endogenic spring inputs. Detrital zircon data for the Grand Wash trough indicate that red siltstones that underlie and interfinger with the Hualapai Limestone, from 13 to 6 Ma, were not derived from the Colorado Plateau, but likely from the Kingman Arch to the south. Western basins contain a more diverse suite of detrital zircons, suggesting possible connections to a northern Paleo Virgin River source. Tephrochronologic analyses show a 12 Ma ash near the base of the unit, extending the basal Hualapai date. We propose that the Hualapai Limestone was a long-lived (12-6 Ma) groundwater-fed series of lake and marsh systems that were deposited in syntectonic half grabens via spring vents along faults and discharge along the dissected aquifer of the Grand Wash Cliffs

Temporal effects of maternal psychological distress on child mental health problems at ages 3, 5, 7 and 11: analysis from the UK Millennium Cohort Study

Background: Psychological distress is common among women of childbearing age, and limited longitudinal research suggests prolonged exposure to maternal distress is linked to child mental health problems. Estimating effects of maternal distress over time is difficult due to potential influences of child mental health problems on maternal distress and time-varying confounding by family circumstances. Methods: We analysed the UK Millennium Cohort Study, a nationally representative sample with data collected throughout childhood. Adopting a marginal structural modelling framework, we investigated effects of exposure to medium/high levels of maternal psychological distress (Kessler-6 score 8+) on child mental health problems (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire borderline/abnormal behaviour cut-off) using maternal and child mental health data at 3, 5, 7 and 11 years, accounting for the influence of child mental health on subsequent maternal distress, and baseline and time-varying confounding. Results: Prior and concurrent exposures to maternal distress were associated with higher levels of child mental health problems at ages 3, 5, 7 and 11 years. For example, elevated risks of child mental health problems at 11 years were associated with exposure to maternal distress from 3 years [risk ratio (RR) 1.27 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08–1.49)] to 11 years [RR 2.15 (95% CI 1.89–2.45)]. Prolonged exposure to maternal distress at ages 3, 5, 7 and 11 resulted in an almost fivefold increased risk of child mental health problems. Conclusions: Prior, concurrent and, particularly, prolonged exposure to maternal distress raises risks for child mental health problems. Greater support for mothers experiencing distress is likely to benefit the mental health of their children

The Figure of the Child in the Novels of Thomas Hardy

This study looks at the figure of the child in the novels of Thomas Hardy. It argues that Hardy, in his various presentations of the child, draws on mythologies generated by the figure of the child in the nineteenth century. The introduction describes the existence and proliferation of these mythologies during the time in which Hardy was writing. It summarizes representations of the child in history, science and literature, and reviews existing critical literature on the topic. The study comprises six chapters. The first looks at babies and young children, the second at Jude the Obscure, the third at Tess of the D’Urbervilles, the fourth at pregnant women and the fifth at the child within the family unit. The final chapter uses close reading to provide a re-evaluation of two of Hardy’s ‘minor’ novels. Each chapter draws on specific historical contexts to reveal different aspects of the child myth. The study as a whole looks at the different ways in which Hardy uses the myth. At times he participates in it, or appears to, while at others he exposes it, or employs it to expose class and gender divisions in nineteenth century society. Ultimately, Hardy acknowledges the power of the child myth in literature and in society, while simultaneously recognising it as a fallacy that is both inaccurate and dangerous

The Dynamics and Correlates of Religious Service Attendance in Adolescence

This study examines changes in religious service attendance over time for a contemporary cohort of adolescents moving from middle to late adolescence. We use two waves of a nationally representative panel survey of youth from the National Study of Youth and Religion (NSYR) to examine the dynamics of religious involvement during adolescence. We then follow with an analysis of how demographic characteristics, family background, and life course transitions relate to changes in religious service attendance during adolescence. Our findings suggest that, on average, adolescent religious service attendance declines over time, related to major life course transitions such as becoming employed, leaving home, and initiating sexual activity. Parents’ affiliation and attendance, on the other hand, are protective factors against decreasing attendance

Visual variability affects early verb learning

Research demonstrates that within-category visual variability facilitates noun learning; however, the effect of visual variability on verb learning is unknown. We habituated 24-month-old children to a novel verb paired with an animated star-shaped actor. Across multiple trials, children saw either a single action from an action category (identical actions condition, for example, travelling while repeatedly changing into a circle shape) or multiple actions from that action category (variable actions condition, for example, travelling while changing into a circle shape, then a square shape, then a triangle shape). Four test trials followed habituation. One paired the habituated verb with a new action from the habituated category (e.g., ‘dacking’ + pentagon shape) and one with a completely novel action (e.g., ‘dacking’ + leg movement). The others paired a new verb with a new same-category action (e.g., ‘keefing’ + pentagon shape), or a completely novel category action (e.g., ‘keefing’ + leg movement). Although all children discriminated novel verb/action pairs, children in the identical actions condition discriminated trials that included the completely novel verb, while children in the variable actions condition discriminated the out-of-category action. These data suggest that – as in noun learning – visual variability affects verb learning and children's ability to form action categories

Perceptions and experiences of laws and regulations governing access to opioids in South, Southeast, East and Central Asia: A systematic review, critical interpretative synthesis and development of a conceptual framework

© The Author(s) 2020. Background: Opioids are essential medicines. Despite international and national laws permitting availability, opioid access remains inadequate, particularly in South, Southeast, East and Central Asia. Aim: To review evidence of perceptions and experiences of regulatory enablers and barriers to opioid access in South, Southeast, East and Central Asia. Design: Systematic review of post-2000 research according to PRISMA guidelines. Data were subjected to critical interpretive synthesis. International, national and sub-national barriers were organised developing a conceptual framework of opioid availability. Data sources: PsycINFO, Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library. CINAHL, Complete and ASSIA from 2000 until 20th May 2019. Results: 21/14097 studies included: quantitative n = 15, qualitative n = 3 and mixed-methods n = 3. Four barrier/enabler themes were developed: Legal, regulatory, socio-political; lack of laws explicitly enabling opioid access, restrictive international controls and clinician prescribing concerns. Opioid availability; limited availability, poor policymaker and clinician education regarding opioid benefits, poor continuity of supply. Opioid Accessibility; medicine costs, distance to prescribing centres. Prescribing; extensive bureaucratic barriers, lack of human resources for prescribing. We present a novel framework of a self-perpetuating model of inadequate opioid provision. The Single Convention on Narcotics provides the context of restrictive laws and negative attitudes amongst policymakers. A consequent lack of prescribers and clinicians’ negative attitudes at sub-national levels, results in inadequate access to and use of opioids. Data of inadequate consumption informs annual requirement estimates used by the International Narcotics Control Board to determine future opioid availability. Conclusions: Regulatory and socio-political actions unintentionally limit opioid access. International and national laws explicitly enabling opioid access are required, to assuage concerns, promote training and appropriate prescribing

Care of the dying : a qualitative exploration of foundation year doctors’ experiences

Context Foundation Year doctors (FYs), who are newly qualified, are expected to provide care for dying patients. Experiences at this early mandatory stage of training may form the foundation for future encounters, but little is documented about what these experiences involve. The aim of this research was to explore the experiences of FYs in caring for the dying, using the recently published ‘Priorities for Care of the Dying Person’1 as a conceptual framework, to identify areas for improvement in education and clinical practice. Methods Semi-structured group and individual interviews were conducted to explore the experiences of FYs and how these relate to the five aspects of Priorities for Care of the Dying Person: ‘recognise’, ‘communicate’, ‘involve’, ‘support’ and ‘plan and do’. All FYs in the North Yorkshire and East Coast Foundation School (n=335) were invited to participate and 47 FYs were recruited from five sites through convenience sampling and snowballing. Recordings were transcribed verbatim and a framework analysis approach was used with the published Priorities for Care of the Dying Person guidelines as a conceptual framework. Results Five main themes and 13 subthemes emerged from the data. The five main themes, which mapped to the conceptual framework, were: recognition that the patient is dying; communication with the patient, family and other staff; involvement of the patient and family in their care; support for the dying person and their family; and planning and carrying out good care of the dying. Examples of when things are done poorly or done well were shared, giving context to experience.ConclusionsAreas for improvement were identified around all five main themes. These will be useful for informing those involved in undergraduate and foundation training on how to improve the experiences of Foundation Year doctors and thereby improve patient care

Associations between mental health competence and indicators of physical health and cognitive development in eleven year olds: findings from the UK Millennium Cohort Study

Background: Positive mental health may support healthy development in childhood, although few studies have investigated this at a population level. We aimed to construct a measure of mental health competence (MHC), a skills-based assessment of positive mental health, using existing survey items in a representative sample of UK children, and to investigate its overlap with mental health difficulties (MHD), socio-demographic patterning, and relationships with physical health and cognitive development. Methods: We analysed the UK Millennium Cohort Study (MCS) when children were aged 11 years. Maternal (n = 12,082) and teacher (n = 6739) reports of prosocial behaviours (PS) and learning skills (LS) were entered into latent class models to create MHC measures. Using descriptive statistics, we examined relationships between MHC and MHD, and the socio-demographic patterning of MHC. Associations between MHC and physical health and cognitive development were examined with relative risk ratios [RRR] (from multinomial models): BMI status (healthy weight, overweight, obesity); unintentional injuries since age 7 (none, 1, 2+); asthma symptoms (none, 1, 2+); and tertiles of test scores for verbal ability, spatial working memory and risk-taking. Models were adjusted for potential confounding. Results: Four MHC classes were identified [percentages for maternal and teacher reports, respectively]: high MHC (high PS, high LS) [37%; 39%], high-moderate MHC (high PS, moderate LS) [36%; 26%]; moderate MHC (moderate PS, moderate LS) [19%; 19%]; low MHC (moderate PS, low LS) [8%; 16%]. Higher MHC was less common in socially disadvantaged children. While MHC and MHD were associated, there was sufficient separation to indicate that MHC captures more than the absence of MHD. Compared to children with high MHC, those in other MHC classes tended to have poorer physical health and cognitive development, particularly those with low MHC or high-moderate MHC. For example, children with maternal-report Low MHC were more likely to have experienced 2+ unintentional injuries (RRR: 1.5 [1.1–2.1]) and to have lower verbal ability scores (RRR: 2.5 [1.9–3.2]). Patterns of results were similar for maternal- and teacher-report MHC. Conclusion: MHC is not simply the inverse of MHD, and high MHC is associated with better physical health and cognitive development. Findings suggest that interventions to improve MHC may support healthy development, although they require replication

Teaching and evaluating graduate attributes in multimedia science based assessment tasks

New media literacy is an important employability skill for the future workforce and particularly important for graduates in the Health and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Digital story telling is a widely recognised strategy to engage student learning. This project evaluated student perspectives of the value digital story telling in the context of graduate skills development, digital media capability and leading areas of concern. Forth-year Pharmacy students (n=92) from the University of South Australia and 2nd year Health Science Students (n=83) from Griffith University were surveyed. Overwhelmingly, students reported the assessment was fun and they enjoyed working creatively and in teams. They also reported the development of graduate qualities including problem solving (85%), critical thinking (82%), oral (91%) communication, team work (95%) and time management (90%). For educators interested in this form of assessment, key considerations include mindfulness of level of anxiety this new form of activity may place on students, in particular their “need” for instruction and access to software and hardware. Students reporting anxiety or apprehension were most concerned about technical skill (87%) and the time required to complete the task (83%) that was linked to lower levels of computing ability (55% vs. 90% reporting as good/expert)