Skin coloured targets: an examination of the effects of the use of targets in the Police, in ‘Black, Minority and Ethnic’ (BME) candidate selection and recruitment

This research aimed to examine the effects of the use of Targets in the Policing context, for the purposes of selecting and recruiting Black, Minority and Ethnic candidates (BME). From previous evidence within the field of research, the use of targets has been proven to impact negatively upon workplace motivation and create a selection of unintended consequences, yet there was no located research that aimed to understand their use within the recruitment of BME officers within the Police. The research adopted a qualitative approach to investigation and interviews with 17 frontline officers were carried out. The aim of the interviews was to collect rich data relating to their personal experience of the use of targets, and their subsequent effect in the workplace. The participants were asked two open-ended questions that sought to evaluate their feelings towards the use of targets, and their impact upon the wider workforce. The research found a selection of common themes that appeared throughout many of the interviews, including disengagement, mistrust of organisational process, the disadvantaging of those meant to benefit from the targets, and a lack of organisational communication. These were persistent, and without delving into underlying sociological causes, they illustrate issues with the perceived effects of management intervention in recruitment and selection. The key implications for police organisations are in relation to the greater understanding of the processes that they choose to implement. Although numerical targets may be seen to direct activity towards a numerical goal, the real effects on frontline workers can be far more sinister and ultimately, do more harm than good

Addressing the Crisis in Fundamental Physics

I present the case for fundamental physics experiments in space playing an important role in addressing the current "dark energy'' crisis. If cosmological observations continue to favor a value of the dark energy equation of state parameter w=-1, with no change over cosmic time, then we will have difficulty understanding this new fundamental physics. We will then face a very real risk of stagnation unless we detect some other experimental anomaly. The advantages of space-based experiments could prove invaluable in the search for the a more complete understanding of dark energy. This talk was delivered at the start of the Fundamental Physics Research in Space Workshop in May 2006.Comment: 11 pages, Opening talk presented at the 2006 Workshop on Fundamental Physics in Space. Submitted to Int'l Journal of Modern Physics,

Embeddedness within Police recruitment: how social networks and relationships influence the hiring of new police recruits

Studies of police diversity in England and Wales have focused upon both the proportion of Police Officers from under-represented groups when compared with the community that they serve, and the cultural behaviours highlighted in critical inquiries such as the Macpherson and Scarman Reports. There has been no ‘step change’ in the recruitment of diverse police officers in the UK over the last decade, although Home Office figures illustrate a steady growth of under-represented candidates across the wider police workforce. These two main areas of diversity based research fail to examine the underlying social interactions, and the value and function of social networks, that underpin the process of police recruitment. Utilising the theory of embeddedness proposed by Granovetter, this thesis provides a thematic analysis of new police officer’s perspectives on the police recruitment process. This theory posits that processes usually discussed within the economic frame of reference are enmeshed with mundane social interaction and supported through agency and structures inherent within established social networks. Based on 26 semi-structured, in-depth interviews of recruits in a mixed rural and urban police force, this thesis presents a framework of ideas to inform on the concept of embeddedness within police recruitment. The analysis illustrates significant levels of embeddedness between existing social relationships and the police recruitment process within the researched constabulary. The interviews illustrate that existing police based social relationships facilitate an exchange of information between serving officers and candidates. These interactions are both instructional and pastoral. The analysis also demonstrates that pastoral family and partner based support was seen to be more important to candidates than instructional support with regards to the recruitment process. Finally, the nature of the information passed through social ties, is different to that passed through positive action initiatives. In order to improve diversity in policing, these findings suggest constabulary’s recruitment processes need to prioritise pastoral support and building community relations over providing instructional support through existing positive action initiatives

Design considerations for attaining 200-knot test velocities at the aircraft landing loads and traction facility

Design studies are presented which consider the important parameters in providing 200 knot test velocities at the landing loads and traction facility. Two major components of this facility, the hydraulic jet catapult and the test carriage structure, are considered. Suitable factors are determined to correlate analytical data for characteristics of the hydraulic jet catapult with data measured from the existing catapult system. The resulting equations are used to calculate test velocities for a range of jet nozzle diameters and carriage masses with both the current 122 m and an increased 183 m catapult stroke. Using the catapult characteristics, a target design point is selected and a carriage structure is sized to meet the target point strength requirements

Experimental studies of perceptual processes, section four Progress report, Jan. 1 - Nov. 30, 1965

Effects of neurochemical drug on behavior and ribonucleic acid measurement

Behavior of aircraft antiskid braking systems on dry and wet runway surfaces. A slip-velocity-controlled, pressure-bias-modulated system

The braking and cornering response of a slip velocity controlled, pressure bias modulated aircraft antiskid braking system is investigated. The investigation, conducted on dry and wet runway surfaces, utilized one main gear wheel, brake, and tire assembly of a McDonnell Douglas DC 9 series 10 airplane. The landing gear strut was replaced by a dynamometer. The parameters, which were varied, included the carriage speed, tire loading, yaw angle, tire tread condition, brake system operating pressure, and runway wetness conditions. The effects of each of these parameters on the behavior of the skid control system is presented. Comparisons between data obtained with the skid control system and data obtained from single cycle braking tests without antiskid protection are examined

Behavior of aircraft antiskid braking systems on dry and wet runway surfaces: Hydromechanically controlled system

The investigation utilized one main gear wheel, brake, and tire assembly of a McDonnell Douglas DC-9 series 10 airplane. The landing-gear strut was replaced by a dynamometer. During maximum braking, average braking behavior indexes based upon brake pressure, brake torque, and drag-force friction coefficient developed by the antiskid system were generally higher on dry surfaces than on wet surfaces. The three braking behavior indexes gave similar results but should not be used interchangeably as a measure of the braking of this antiskid sytem. During the transition from a dry to a flooded surface under heavy braking, the wheel entered into a deep skid but the antiskid system reacted quickly by reducing brake pressure and performed normally during the remainder of the run on the flooded surface. The brake-pressure recovery following transition from a flooded to a dry surface was shown to be a function of the antiskid modulating orifice

Dynamics of aircraft antiskid braking systems

A computer study was performed to assess the accuracy of three brake pressure-torque mathematical models. The investigation utilized one main gear wheel, brake, and tire assembly of a McDonnell Douglas DC-9 series 10 airplane. The investigation indicates that the performance of aircraft antiskid braking systems is strongly influenced by tire characteristics, dynamic response of the antiskid control valve, and pressure-torque response of the brake. The computer study employed an average torque error criterion to assess the accuracy of the models. The results indicate that a variable nonlinear spring with hysteresis memory function models the pressure-torque response of the brake more accurately than currently used models

Choosing treatment for localised prostate cancer: A patient-conducted-interview study

Objectives: Treatment choice can be particularly difficult in localised prostate cancer because of the uncertainty involved. Indeed, some men prefer maintaining their masculine identity and quality of life to potentially securing longer-term survival through surgery or radiotherapy. UK health services are now obliged to leave the choice of treatment to the patient and the aim of this study is to improve understanding of patients’ experiences of choosing treatment. Methods: A one-day participative workshop where men of six months post-diagnosis design and conduct audio and video interviews on each other about their experiences of choosing treatment. Results: The findings show that treatment choice is a complex process combining emotional and rational elements. Information gathering and delegation to professional expertise were two key themes that emerged. Conclusions: The findings emphasise that treatment choice for localised prostate cancer is little like the traditional notions of consumerism from which it is derived. Importantly, the results illustrate, from a patient perspective, how health professionals can engage in their roles as information providers and as experts