Mindfulness and other Buddhist-derived interventions in correctional settings: a systematic review

Background: Throughout the last decade, there has been a growth of interest into the rehabilitative utility of Buddhist-derived interventions (BDIs) for incarcerated populations. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the evidence for BDIs in correctional settings. Method: MEDLINE, Science Direct, ISI Web of Knowledge, PsychInfo, and Google Scholar electronic databases were systematically searched. Reference lists of retrieved articles and review papers were also examined for any further studies. Controlled intervention studies of BDIs that utilised incarcerated samples were included. Jaded scoring was used to evaluate methodological quality. PRISMA (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis) guidelines were followed. Results: The initial comprehensive literature search yielded 85 papers but only eight studies met all the inclusion criteria. The eight eligible studies comprised two mindfulness studies, four vipassana meditation studies, and two studies utilizing other BDIs. Intervention participants demonstrated significant improvements across five key criminogenic variables: (i) negative affective, (ii) substance use (and related attitudes), (iii) anger and hostility, (iv) relaxation capacity, and (v) self-esteem and optimism. There were a number of major quality issues. Conclusion: It is concluded that BDIs may be feasible and effective rehabilitative interventions for incarcerated populations. However, if the potential suitability and efficacy of BDIs for prisoner populations is to be evaluated in earnest, it is essential that methodological rigour is substantially improved. Studies that can overcome the ethical issues relating to randomisation in correctional settings and employ robust randomised controlled trial designs are favoured

Letter from W. Slade to James B. Finley

A six person committee invites Finley to speak in Lancaster at an event celebrating their Sons of Temperance divisions -- Lancaster Division and Ark of Safety Division. Abstract Number - 1187https://digitalcommons.owu.edu/finley-letters/2167/thumbnail.jp

A study of the interprofessional relations of social workers with physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists and clergymen.

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston Universit

Aristotelian Liberal Virtues

I analyze the potentially self-destructive tension inherent in liberalism between conceptions of negative liberty and positive liberty. In doing so, I utilize Aristotle’s theory of virtue to show that virtue is the best method of resolving this tension. In addition, I demonstrate that liberal virtues are best construed as virtues of intellect to be exercised in the public sphere. In particular, I show the importance of not construing liberal virtues as virtues of character (often referred to as moral virtues), because advocating such virtues is, in fact, contrary to the central tenets of liberalism. That is, I argue that it is illiberal to ask liberal citizens to develop a certain moral character, and that it is, instead, essential for said citizens to develop intellectual virtues as a method of resolving this tension within liberalism between the virtues needed to sustain liberalism and liberalism’s resistance towards promoting those virtues

Responses to the Religion Singularity: A Rejoinder

Since the publication of Kenneth Howard’s 2017 article, “The Religion Singularity: A Demographic Crisis Destabilizing and Transforming Institutional Christianity,” there has been an increasing demand to understand the root causes and historical foundations for why institutional Christianity is in a state of de-institutionalization. In response to Howard’s research, a number of authors have sought to provide a contextual explanation for why the religion singularity is currently happening, including studies in epistemology, church history, psychology, anthropology, and church ministry. The purpose of this article is to offer a brief survey and response to these interactions with Howard’s research, identifying the overall implications of each researcher’s perspective for understanding the religion singularity phenomenon. It explores factors relating to denominational switching in Jeshua Branch’s research, social memory in John Lingelbach’s essay, religious politics in Kevin Seybold’s survey, scientific reductionism in Jack David Eller’s position paper, and institutional moral failure in Brian McLaren’s article

Preliminary comparison of 3.5-cm and 12.6-cm wavelength continuous wave observations of Mars

Radar observations of Mars at Goldstone in 1990 were conducted by transmitting pure sinusoidal signals at 3.5-cm wavelengths and receiving the Doppler-spread echoes from Mars at Earth. Radar transmissions were circularly polarized and the echoes recorded in two senses: depolarized and polarized. Latitudes of the subradar points are between 3.5 deg and 11.1 deg S; longitude coverage is discontinuous. The observed depolarized and polarized echo total cross-sections and their ratios for two wavelengths were compared and discussed

Wide-band variable transversal phase-shifter

We present a novel broadband phase-shifter based on a transversal filter configuration. This approach allows flexible control of the amplitude response while providing continuous variation of a linear phase slope. Numerical examples, both ideal and using practical RF components are presented and practical challenges in realising the phase-shifter are identified

Eliciting students' preferences for the use of their data for learning analytics. A crowdsourcing approach.

Research on student perspectives of learning analytics suggests that students are generally unaware of the collection and use of their data by their learning institutions, and they are often not involved in decisions about whether and how their data are used. To determine the influence of risks and benefits awareness on students’ data use preferences for learning analytics, we designed two interventions: one describing the possible privacy risks of data use for learning analytics and the second describing the possible benefits. These interventions were distributed amongst 447 participants recruited using a crowdsourcing platform. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three experimental groups – risks, benefits, and risks and benefits – and received the corresponding intervention(s). Participants in the control group received a learning analytics dashboard (as did participants in the experimental conditions). Participants’ indicated the motivation for their data use preferences. Chapter 11 will discuss the implications of our findings in relation to how to better support learning institutions in being more transparent with students about the practice of learning analytics

Eliciting students' preferences for the use of their data for learning analytics. A crowdsourcing approach.

Research on student perspectives of learning analytics suggests that students are generally unaware of the collection and use of their data by their learning institutions, and they are often not involved in decisions about whether and how their data are used. To determine the influence of risks and benefits awareness on students’ data use preferences for learning analytics, we designed two interventions: one describing the possible privacy risks of data use for learning analytics and the second describing the possible benefits. These interventions were distributed amongst 447 participants recruited using a crowdsourcing platform. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three experimental groups – risks, benefits, and risks and benefits – and received the corresponding intervention(s). Participants in the control group received a learning analytics dashboard (as did participants in the experimental conditions). Participants’ indicated the motivation for their data use preferences. Chapter 11 will discuss the implications of our findings in relation to how to better support learning institutions in being more transparent with students about the practice of learning analytics