Helping Homeless Veterans Find Employment and Pay Child Support: A Program Evaluation of a Pilot Collaboration

Objective: This research evaluates the effectiveness of a pilot collaboration in Georgia (USA) designed to help homeless veterans, with open child support cases,locate employment, find permanent housing, resolve legal issues, and begin making child support payments. Method: The study employed a single group pretest posttest research design (n= 45). Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from all 45 participants enrolled in the study. Results: Between baseline and posttest,mean monthly child support payments increased 47% ($55 to$81). While child support payments improved, they remained well below the $396 mean monthly amount owed. Sixty-nine percent of the sample remained unemployed at posttest and presented with major barriers to employment. Half of focus group respondents reported improved housing conditions over the course of the study. While a few veterans reported progress on resolving legal issues, the majority had extant legal issues at the end of the study. Conclusions: While a majority of focus group participants felt their lives had improved, stronger interventions tailored to help participants overcome multiple, complex barriers to employment will be necessary to help homeless veterans secure living wage employment and make substantial child support payments

The 6dF Galaxy Survey: Dependence of halo occupation on stellar mass

In this paper we study the stellar-mass dependence of galaxy clustering in the 6dF Galaxy Survey. The near-infrared selection of 6dFGS allows more reliable stellar mass estimates compared to optical bands used in other galaxy surveys. Using the Halo Occupation Distribution (HOD) model, we investigate the trend of dark matter halo mass and satellite fraction with stellar mass by measuring the projected correlation function, $w_p(r_p)$. We find that the typical halo mass ($M_1$) as well as the satellite power law index ($\alpha$) increase with stellar mass. This indicates, (1) that galaxies with higher stellar mass sit in more massive dark matter halos and (2) that these more massive dark matter halos accumulate satellites faster with growing mass compared to halos occupied by low stellar mass galaxies. Furthermore we find a relation between $M_1$ and the minimum dark matter halo mass ($M_{\rm min}$) of $M_1 \approx 22\,M_{\rm min}$, in agreement with similar findings for SDSS galaxies. The satellite fraction of 6dFGS galaxies declines with increasing stellar mass from 21% at $M_{\rm stellar} = 2.6\times10^{10}h^{-2}\,M_{\odot}$ to 12% at $M_{\rm stellar} = 5.4\times10^{10}h^{-2}\,M_{\odot}$ indicating that high stellar mass galaxies are more likely to be central galaxies. We compare our results to two different semi-analytic models derived from the Millennium Simulation, finding some disagreement. Our results can be used for placing new constraints on semi-analytic models in the future, particularly the behaviour of luminous red satellites. Finally we compare our results to studies of halo occupation using galaxy-galaxy weak lensing. We find good overall agreement, representing a valuable crosscheck for these two different tools of studying the matter distribution in the Universe.Comment: 17 pages, 11 figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1104.2447 by other author

ICIS 2008 Panel Report: IS Has Outgrown the Need for Reference Discipline Theories, or Has It?

We view the current belief in reference discipline theories and their value in MIS research as exhibiting dominance in our field. This article is based on the panel discussion at the 2008 International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS) held in Paris, France. It examines why this dominance has the potential to harm the future prospects of our intellectual endeavors. In counterpoint, we present the argument that the use of reference disciplines should continue. Aside from the fact that the belief in the value of reference discipline is continued, there are benefits derived from anchoring research initiatives in reference discipline theories which should be acknowledged. Under certain situations such use should be encouraged and broadened. Additionally, we will present arguments for viable alternatives to relying on reference disciplines in theory building. The alternatives are aimed at building and expanding indigenous IS theory

IS Has Outgrown the Need for Reference Discipline Theories, Or Has It?

We view the current state of reference discipline theory dominance in the MIS field as constituting a hegemony. This panel discussion will examine why this has potential harm. In counterpoint, we will present the argument that reference discipline theory use should continue. Aside from the fact that reference discipline theory is used, there are benefits derived from it which should be acknowledged and, perhaps such use should be encouraged and broadened. Additionally, we will present perspectives regarding alternatives to reference discipline theory aimed at building and expanding indigenous IS theory

Mainstreaming coastally just and equitable marine spatial planning:Planner and stakeholder experiences and perspectives on participation in Latvia

Community participation and influence are vitally important for meeting the multidimensional sustainability aims of marine spatial planning (MSP) and more specifically for procedural and distributive justice. While participation has received substantial research interest, we identify a need to: 1) develop equity-based principles for coastal community participation that can be used to assess and reform MSP practices; 2) generate rich empirical accounts of coastal community participation and representation linked to real-world MSP practices. Here we present the results of a study that synthesizes critical MSP and blue justice scholarship to develop principles and indicators of coastally equitable and just planning. Drawing on interviews with planners and stakeholders and analysis of planning and legal documents, these principles are used to assess participatory processes linked to Latvian MSP practices in the period 2015 to 2019. Our analysis shows that equitable and just MSP needs to be based on participation that is timely, inclusive, supportive & localized, collaborative, methodical and impactful. When applied to the Latvian case these six principles provide a comprehensive and versatile heuristic approach to assess participation in MSP. In the context of Latvian MSP practices, we revealed a fundamental challenge of maintaining inclusive and localized participation throughout the full planning cycle. To counteract the successive narrowing/hardening of participatory space our results indicate a need for continuously promoting diversity of voices and perspectives, opportunities for collaborative sense making, visioning and critique. This will help to bridge diverse MSP divides (e.g., between land and sea, between local, national, and global values and priorities, between science and local knowledge, and between blue growth, conservation, and justice goals). If applied more generally in research and as part of MSP evaluation an equity-based approach can promote the mainstreaming of coastally just and equitable MSP practices. Finally, considering contextual factors (e.g., history, culture, power, legislation) that shape participation and representation is crucial when applying the equity principles to a particular MSP setting to acknowledge and accommodate its particular characteristics and challenges

Examining the role of integration in marine spatial planning: towards an analytical framework to understand challenges in diverse settings

Marine spatial planning (MSP) as a means of marine governance has been given more prominence recently in response to the problems of fragmentation of marine regulation, environmental protection from increasing pressures upon the seas and the emergence of new maritime industries (Douvere and Ehler, 2009). Therefore enhancing multiple aspects of the way that marine authorities, sectors and stakeholders interact and engage with each other is integral to MSP's role and function and seen as a key means to address fragmented and isolated decision-making in marine space (Portman, 2016). While the function and processes of enhancing integration should not be seen as ends in themselves, they aim to create institutionalised platforms that support multi-level and multi-sectoral governance interaction to achieve 'sustainable use' of marine space (Gilek et al., 2016; Ritchie and Ellis, 2010; Varjopuro et al., 2015). Here, integration mostly plays an instrumental role in realising multiple and divergent political ends (e.g. blue growth, sustainable use, legitimate decision-making) related to ‘integrated spatialized outcomes' that seek to reflect a balance of competing goals (Flannery et al., 2016; Flannery et al., 2018; Jones et al., 2016; Olsen et al., 2014a). Integration is also seen to be important to foster greater connectivity over borders, beneficial for conservation, shipping and fishing (Jay et al., 2016). While claims of the benefits of more integration are intuitively appealing, whether and how these are actually delivered through integration practices remains under-examined in MSP practice; as are empirical insights on the multiplicity of roles that integration plays in MSP. So, while integration has been universally adopted as a policy principle where it is believed that more integration is seen to be closely related to successful planning in numerous ways, there is confusion about what it means, how to do it and what it implies in different MSP contexts. In response, the key aim of this article is to develop an analytical framework useful for examining integration in MSP across a diversity of contexts and processes. Given the central role of integration in MSP, it is vitally important to better understand the linkages between ideas of integration and their practical application in MSP. To examine the role of integration across multiple MSP contexts, we first describe the approach taken in this study. This is followed by a review of relevant MSP and integration related literature to develop an analytical framework. We draw on this framework to illustrate important expressions of integration challenges and responses in our cases. The experiences from the multiple cases are then discussed to generate insights into the various roles that integration plays in MSP and how problems arise and have been addressed. In closing, we underline key findings and reflect on the usefulness and adaptability of the integration approach developed in this article

The 6dF Galaxy Survey

The 6dF Galaxy Survey (6dFGS) is a spectroscopic survey of the entire southern sky with $|b|>10\deg$, based on the 2MASS near infrared galaxy catalog. It is conducted with the 6dF multi-fiber spectrograph attached to the 1.2-m UK Schmidt Telescope. The survey will produce redshifts for some 170,000 galaxies, and peculiar velocities for about 15,000 and is expected to be complete by June 2005.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, IAU 8th Asian-Pacific Regional Mettin

Enhancing Classroom Interaction in Distance Education Utilizing the World Wide Web

study utilized the World Wide Web and a Class Page to evaluate interaction strategies in a distance education setting. Participants were primarily elementary school teachers (n= 47 graduate students) who completed survey instruments concerning their participation on the Class Page , interactions with both the instructor and other students, and utilization of linked Web resources. An initial survey regarding students’ computer literacy skills and usage proficiencies was followed by seven additional surveys which focused upon Page ” use and interaction patterns. Among the findings were: student views regarding the value of getting to know fellow classmates shifted from zero percent (Week 2) to 88 percent (Week 15); students judging they were able freely to express their views went from 11 percent (Week 2) to 91 percent (Week 15). Increases were also noted concerning student out-of-class participation, enjoyment using the Internet, use of e-mail, and appreciation of the distance environment tools for encouraging involvement and interaction. Although many students questioned the usefulness of the Page at the beginning of the semester, the final survey found all students viewed the Page as beneficial. Analysis of the data found both interaction and class involvement were greatly enhanced through the Class Page and the Web based tools which supported the “Page” in this distance education environment

Student Perspectives: Responses to Internet Opportunities in a Distance Learning Environment

This qualitative study examined student responses toward an interactive Internet site supplementing a multimedia graduate level distance learning course at Ball State University. The course, Elementary School Curriculum, was taught in a studio classroom and transmitted to five distant sites in Indiana. Technology included two-way audio signals and one-way video signals for in-class interaction and an Internet World Wide Web site for out-of-class interaction. Qualitative evidence collection techniques included focus group interviews, telephone interviews, and eight survey instruments. Analysis of students’ responses to the Internet site focused on coping strategies developed by students to manage the stresses and benefits of their computer involvement. Students reported strategies for managing personal resources, the computer environment, self, and others. Predominant themes in student reactions included concerns associated with communication issues, with computer involvement, and with computer and Internet access. Benefits most frequently identified were the sense of empowerment and the satisfaction of sharing a space with fellow classmates. Implications drawn include the value of moderator leadership, the importance of a face-to-face encounter, the challenge of the on-line text-based medium, the influence of learning and temperament styles, and the development of computer-supported collaborative learning opportunities