Attitudes towards lesbians and gay men and support for lesbian and gay human rights among psychology students

A questionnaire comprising two scales, the short form of the Attitudes Towards Lesbians and Gay Men Scale (ATLG-S; Herek, 1984) and the newly devised Support for Lesbian and Gay Human Rights Scale (SLGHR) were administered to 226 students taking undergraduate psychology courses at universities in the United Kingdom, to assess their attitudes towards lesbians and gay men, and their level of support for lesbian and gay human rights. The results indicated that whilst only a small percentage of respondents expressed negative attitudes towards lesbians and gay men on the ATLG-S, the sample as a whole did not overwhelmingly support lesbian and gay human rights. The lack of support for lesbian and gay human rights is discussed in relation to its implications for psychology students as future practitioners and policy makers. </p

A study of radiation environment in space and its biological effects

Biological effects on man in space resulting from galactic and solar cosmic radiation are discussed. Importance of secondary ions which contribute to galactic cosmic radiation hazards is analyzed. Mathematical model to show rate of production of secondary ions of given atomic number at various points in absorber is presented

Galactic cosmic ray heavy primary secondary doses

Results of a calculation which estimates the heavy primary secondary doses from cosmic ray interaction data are reported. The incident galactic cosmic ray heavy primary spectrum is represented as the sum of helium, nitrogen, magnesium, and iron components. The incident iron nuclei are allowed to fragment into lesser Z secondaries, which are assumed to travel in the same direction and start with the same energy per nucleon as the interacting primary. The total emergent particle energy spectra and dose are then presented for the galactic heavy primary spectrum incident on aluminum and tissue slabs. The importance of the fragmentation parameters assumed is also evaluated. The total dose from the heavy primaries and their secondaries is found to be reduced by only a factor of two in 20 g/sq cm of shielding

Performingcare: emotion work and 'dignity work' - a joint autoethnography of caring for our mum at the end of life

In this paper we, twin sisters, present a joint autoethnographic account of providing end of life care for our mum who had terminal cancer. Using the theoretical framing of performance from Goffman's theory of Dramaturgy, we present the findings from a joint autoethnography, focusing on two key themes: performing emotion work and performing what we conceptualise as ‘dignity work’. This paper's contributions are twofold. First, conceptually, this paper offers an important contribution to literature concerned with the sociology of illness, by critically engaging with Goffman's notion of frontstage and backstage performance, applied to the context of home care provided by family carers. The second contribution of this paper is methodological; we promote the under‐utilised approach of a joint autoethnography and argue for its usefulness in the context of end of life care. We contend that the process of writing this paper was emotionally challenging, yet arriving at the final paper, which serves as a legacy of our mum, was cathartic. We argue for the usefulness of written diaries as a backstage arena through which other informal carers can think through, and come to terms with, experiences of death and dying

Researching drinking “with” young people: a palette of methods

The purpose of this paper is to outline a study characterised by “pockets” of co-production and argue for the benefits of offering young people a palette of interdisciplinary methods to “opt into”, giving participants the opportunity to discuss their drinking practices and experiences “on their own terms”. Design/methodology/approach: In total, 40 young people, aged 15-24 years, from the suburban case study locations of Chorlton and Wythenshawe, Manchester, UK, were recruited for multi-stage qualitative research. The participants were presented with a suite of both long-standing and innovative methods that they could “opt into”, including: interviews, peer interviews, diaries, mobile phone interviews, text messaging and participant observation. Findings: This paper shows that both long-standing and innovative methods have their own individual strengths for researching into young people’s alcohol consumption practices and experiences. Yet, each of the methods utilised in this study also had specific drawbacks for researching substance use. Offering a palette of methods for participants to “opt into” was thus beneficial in: offsetting the weaknesses of other methods; triangulating the study findings; and enabling participants to communicate with the researcher in culturally credible ways. Originality/value: By offering an honest account about the successes and failures of deploying a range of methods when exploring young people’s drinking practices and experiences, this paper is valuable for researchers in, and beyond, the field of substance use, seeking to broaden their methodological toolkit

Study of radiation hazards to man on extended missions

Radiation hazards on extended manned space flight

Towards a research emphasis on (un)hairiness and health

In this short paper we argue for an advancement of qualitative research in health to focus on the absence of hair. Hair loss is related to an abundance of health conditions. For instance, hair can be lost through alopecia or by cancer patients through chemotherapy treatment. Further, hair thinning can be attributed to thyroid disease and other autoimmune conditions. Given the prevalence of hair loss for both men and women with a diverse range of health conditions, exploring the social and emotional, including identity-based, experiences of living with the absence of hair is an important area for researchers to focus their attention. In this paper we argue the significant link between hair and identity, but note a relative absence of qualitative research considering the identity-based lived experiences of those without hair

Principles of Participatory Research

This chapter details the participatory approach to research, with an emphasis on active participation. The authors recognise the charm of participatory research as a process of mutual learning, whereby researchers become co-learners in children and young people’s everyday lifeworlds, and children and young people become knowledgeable about social research methods, thereby developing their capacity and competence. Despite the benefits of participatory research, including claims that it is a more fair and equitable approach to research, the authors remain critical of the unresolved challenge of creating research equity. In particular, the authors are mindful of power structures in participatory research between adult researchers and children/young people participants, which are difficult to negotiate. This leads the authors to argue that participatory research should not be considered a cure-all for adult-dominated research processes. The concerns documented throughout this chapter do not devalue the important role a participatory approach can play in knowledge exchange and action. Rather, they emphasise that implementation should not be without careful implementation

All about that place: Tuning in to community radio - Listener diary accounts

Book chapte

Study of radiation hazards to man on extended near earth missions

Radiation hazards to man on extended near earth mission