'Working at it': context, relationality and moral reasoning in narratives of fathering beyond couplehood

This thesis supports earlier research suggesting that new contexts of fathering can bring 'transformative' experiences of care. At the same time, however, it also demonstrates the persistent 'pull' of a gendered model of parenting, which can normalise different and unequal levels of caring responsibility without disrupting a sense of the equal moral status of fathers and mothers. The research involved a qualitative study of previously resident, biological fathers' accounts of fathering after divorce or separation, focusing on 23 fathers who have maintained contact with their children over time and across households. The study entailed in depth interviews with fathers who were fathering in a range of contexts with a variety of caring arrangements in place. Taking a feminist perspective, the thesis presents post-couple fathering as a complex moral and relational process shaped deeply, though not straightforwardly, by gendered patterns of caring for children. It also makes particular use of the feminist ethics of care as an analytic framework and argues that this, together with the concept of relationality, can be used to think about autonomy, responsibility, gender and power in productive and insightful ways. The analysis showed that fathers perceive fathering beyond couplehood to occur in connection with others, and that it is particularly interconnected with mothers. It also revealed that the experience of post-couple fathering can produce an intensified focus on the quality of relationships and a heightened perception of the ongoing processes of moral and relational work involved. Further to this, three broader theoretical implications are raised: that a concept of fairness is in play during the relational and moral work of co-parenting; that a gendered moral space exists in which such work takes place, and that gendered patterns of care continue to act as a powerful framework in the process of renegotiating parental roles

Raising Student Achievement Through Programmatic Initiatives and Instructional Improvement

This dissertation consists of a program evaluation, a change leadership plan, and a policy advocacy proposal. The program evaluation studies the impact of initiatives implemented at an elementary school near a large city in Illinois using a case study methodology. The school was required to restructure during the 2013-2014 school year as a result of the performance mandates outlined in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. To compare the post-restructuring status of the school with the pre-restructuring status, student growth data for multiple grade levels and for each federal subgroup was collected. In addition, the staff’s perceptions about the successfulness of the school were gathered to measure the impact of the restructuring initiatives. An analysis of both the achievement and survey data revealed a significant increase in the academic success of students and the perceived effectiveness of the school. The change leadership paper outlines a plan to transform a building of teachers to a collaborative group of high functioning professionals who significantly impact student achievement. The plan integrates the evaluation system, professional development process, and teaching strategies to increase each teacher’s instructional capacity. The Every Child a Whole Child policy outlines a school improvement process stemming from a whole child philosophy. One that believes the academic and social/emotional needs of students should drive improvement efforts rather than test scores. The policy maintains that this approach will produce greater overall success than efforts aimed solely at raising achievement. The Every Child a Whole Child policy addresses many of the identified problems of the No Child Left Behind act and provides Illinois K-8 superintendents an immediate roadmap to improve schools during uncertain times

Attitudes of intravenous drug users in London towards the provision of drug consumption rooms

Aims: The study investigated the attitudes of intravenous drug users (IDUs) towards the provision of drug consumption rooms (DCRs) in the UK and their willingness to use DCRs. Methods: Participants were 90 methadone-maintained outpatients recruited from a London clinic. A questionnaire asked about their willingness to use a DCR, their views on various rules commonly-implemented by DCRs, and how they believed DCRs might impact on the drug-taking behaviours of drug users and their peers. Findings: A large majority (89%) expressed willingness to use a DCR and accepted the need for rules such as no drug sharing (84.3%), no assistance with injecting (81.8%), compulsory supervision (76.7%) and compulsory hand washing (92.1%). However, the IDUs were split over whether injection in the neck or groin should be disallowed and whether certain categories of IDUs (e.g. juveniles, pregnant women) should be excluded from DCRs. Majorities thought it unlikely that DCRs would encourage users to try risker drug preparations (76.6%), or encourage non injectors to inject for the first time (74.5%). Conclusions: In a country where DCRs are not available, the study highlights the willingness of IDUs to use a DCR and accept its rules, even for a sample most of whom were not homeless

Factors Influencing the Surface Functionalization of Citrate Stabilized Gold Nanoparticles with Cysteamine, 3-Mercaptopropionic Acid or l -Selenocystine for Sensor Applications

Thiols and selenides bind to the surface of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and thus provide suitable platforms for the fabrication of sensors. However, the co-existence of adsorbed citrate on the surface of the nanoparticles can influence their functionalization behavior and potentially their sensing performance measured by the extent of particle aggregation. In this study, the functionalization of purchased (7.3 ± 1.2 nm) and in-house prepared AuNPs (13.8 ± 1.2 nm), under the same experimental conditions with either cysteamine (Cys), 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA), or l-selenocystine (SeCyst) was investigated. 1H-NMR measurements showed distinct citrate signatures on the in-house synthesized citrate-stabilized AuNPs, while no citrate signals were detected on the purchased AuNPs other than evidence of the presence of α-ketoglutaric acid. Carboxylate-containing species attributed to either citrate or α-ketoglutaric acid were identified in all functionalized AuNPs. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the functionalization of AuNPs with Cys and 3-MPA, and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy measurements suggested the formation of SeCyst functionalized AuNPs. Co-adsorption rather than displacement by the functionalizing agents and carboxylate-containing molecules was indicated, which for Cys and SeCyst functionalized AuNPs was also the aggregation limiting factor. In contrast, the behavior of 3-MPA functionalized AuNPs could be attributed to electrostatic repulsions between the functionalized groups

Caring Dads Independent Evaluation Report

This is the full report for the commissioned evaluation of the Caring Dads programme in Blackburn with Darwen. The evaluation was commissioned by Lancashire Constabulary Violence Reduction Network. The evaluation was a 10 month project involving qualitative and quantitative data collection and a longitudinal/prospective element

Thinking critically about rapport and collusion in feminist research: relationships, contexts and ethical practice

This is an introductory paper to the WSIF Special Issue on 'Rapport and collusion in feminist research' by the co-editors, Dr Georgia Philip and Dr Linda Bell