Developing a self-report measure to assess disclosure strategies in adult male prisoners and its association with personality

Purpose – The current study aims to report on the development of a self-report measure of disclosure strategies in adult male prisoners (violent and acquisitive offences) and its association with personality and self-esteem. Design/methodology/approach – The study employed an adapted version of the Delphi technique to develop initial items for inclusion in the new disclosure measure (Disclosure Management Questionnaire: DMQ). This element of the study utilised an “expert sample” of forensic psychologists. A total of 94 prisoners then completed the developed measure. Factor analysis was utilised to explore the structure of the measure, which subsequently allowed associations between disclosure strategies, personality and self-esteem to be identified. Findings – Analysis revealed a measure of disclosure (the DMQ) comprising four subscales: Exploratory Engagement, Placatory/Evasive Engagement, Passive Resistance and Active Resistance. Significant correlations were identified between the personality trait Neuroticism and higher levels of Placatory/Evasive Engagement and Active Resistance of forensic clients during the disclosure process. Self-esteem was also found to correlate with disclosure, in that high trait self-esteem was found to be associated with higher exploratory engagement, whereas low trait self-esteem was associated with higher levels of active resistance of the disclosure process. Originality/value – Developing an understanding of the nature and function of disclosure and how these relate to individual factors such as personality (including trait self-esteem) provides valuable knowledge and alternative ways of supporting forensic clients in discussing difficult issues related to their offending

HAWAII PUBLIC OPINION ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS DERIVED FROM GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISM (GMO) TECHNOLOGY

This article studied Hawaii public opinion on agricultural products and processes using GMO technology. We used telephone to interview the people in each island of Hawaii. We found out that the favorability rating toward the attributes of GMO technological application differ based on the nature of GMO benefits. And sociodemographic variables played a significant difference in the preference of using GMO technology on producing agricultural products and process. Most significant associations were gender and island of residence. Age, education and ethnic background significantly also influenced the attitude of respondents toward some of GMO attributes. The fewest significant associations were heard of GMO and income.Consumer/Household Economics, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

A Critical Analysis of the Implementation of Depth of Knowledge and Preliminary Findings Regarding Its Effectiveness in Language Arts Achievement

Mississippi implemented its new curriculum standards with depth of knowledge (DOK) goals in 2007, but successful educational reform requires effective professional development that prepares teachers to make the needed instructional changes. This study evaluated whether there were statistically significant relationships among professional development duration, frequency, type of training, utilization of training in instruction and assessment, and teachers’ perceptions of instructional and assessment implementation practices and language arts achievement for third, fourth, and fifth graders as measured by the MCT2 language arts assessment. The study also evaluated teacher perceptions of the implementation of depth of knowledge in instruction and assessment and how these perceptions relate to student achievement. The project was conducted in 3 months and involved third, fourth, and fifth grade teachers in 63 elementary schools in 31 districts throughout the state of Mississippi. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify statistically significant relationships among dimensions of professional development and language arts achievement in the specified grades. The study showed that the factor most closely associated with student achievement was the student’s socioeconomic status, but the study also indicated a statistically significant relationships between student achievement and the duration of training, the amount of training received by teacher, the level of teacher accountability, and teachers’ perceptions of adapting assessment practices that require DOK levels. This study did not yield a statistically significant relationship with student achievement among the variables of implementation practices, teacher perception of implementation of new strategies during instruction and assessment, and teacher perception of the use of cognitive levels of DOK when designing assessment practice

Guangzhou Buyers Preference for Premium Hawaiian Grown Product Gift Baskets

Guangzhou buyers' preference for premium Hawaiian grown product gift baskets with conjoint analysis was examined. Relative importance of three gift basket attributes: container type, products origin, and price were examined. Expenditure equivalent index to evaluate how much more each of the gift basket attributes is worth to the buyer was estimated. Main conclusions are: products have to be 'made in Hawaii' to receive the premium price; business buyers are generally less willing to pay a high price; and individual buyers are more willing to pay the higher priced Koa gift basket.Chinese survey data, conjoint analysis, buyer preference, Hawaii gift baskets, Demand and Price Analysis,

To Follow Up or Not? A new model of supportive care for early breast cancer: Interim Results

To Follow Up or Not? A New Model of Supportive Care for Early Breast Cancer Background: Routine follow-up after curative treatment for early breast cancer exists to monitor for local recurrence and provide support for patients. Hospital visits can be stressful for patients and evidence indicates most recurrences are first identified by the patient. The value of resource-intense clinical follow-up is constantly being questioned. Many believe that time spent seeing essentially well-women is not clinically beneficial or an efficient use of time. Methods: This pilot study tested the feasibility and acceptability of a new supportive model of follow-up using quality-of-life (QOL) questionnaires plus qualitative diary evaluations. All patients attended four half day patient education workshops with course evaluations, followed by randomised to open access (OA) or hospital follow up (HFU). QOL including Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score (HADS), EORTC QLQ-C30 and BR23 were performed at baseline and 6 months, with further results awaited for 12, 18 and 24 months. Results: 106 women were recruited to the pilot study. 53 were randomised to HFU and 53 to OA. Multivariate analyses of covariance (MANCOVA) tests were conducted on all QOL data. Age was included as a covariate. Follow-up ANCOVAs on individual function and symptom outcomes were also conducted. The MANCOVA analyses indicated no statistically significant differences in change scores between HFU and OA groups, or between patients of different ages, on any of the three questionnaires. In all cases the effect of group had a greater effect on change (baseline-6 months) scores than the effect of age. Univariate ANCOVA tests and descriptive analyses showed performance improvement in many of the individual function and symptom scales in the OA group. Conclusions: While open access patients showed greater mean improvements in more scales than patients seen in clinic, follow-up method does not appear to significantly affect overall outcomes on any of the three questionnaires. As an influencing factor, the patients' age is less significant than the assigned group. This new model is feasible and acceptable. It is being adopted as standard across the Yorkshire Cancer Network

What Is Oahu's Open Space Worth?

The majority of Oahu residents surveyed want to keep at least half of the vacated sugarcane lands in open space. Oahu residents were willing to pay more than $21 million, or an average of$81 per household, to keep these lands in open-space uses