Theoretical versus pragmatic design in qualitative research

For many years, discussions of the relative merits of generic and theoretical approaches to qualitative research have divided researchers while overshadowing the need to focus on addressing clinical questions. Drawing on the challenges of designing a study that explored parents’ experiences of living with children with hydrocephalus, the authors of this paper argue that over-adherence to, and deliberations about, the philosophical origins of qualitative methods is undermining the contributions qualitative research could make to evidence-based health care and suggest qualitative methods should stand alone

The rank of reduced dispersion matrices

Statistical Methods

Defragmentation measures and the increase of a local European badger (Meles meles) population at Eindegooi, the Netherlands

Ontsnipperingsmaatregelen en de groei van de lokale dassenpopulatie (Meles meles) op Eindegooi . Vanaf 1984 zijn gegevens verzameld op het landgoed Eindegoed en omgeving. De das koloniseerde nieuwe terreinen. In dezelfde periode zijn vele ontsnipperende maatregelen bij wegen getroffen

Die implikasies van artikel 2 (1 ) (a) van die wet op die nasionale onderwysbeleid, 1967

Op 31 Maart 1967 is die veelbesproke Wet op die Nasionale Onderwysbeleid, 1967 gepromulgeer. Daar is ’n raamwerk van tien beginsels neergelê wat onder meer handel oor sake soos Christelike karakter, nasionale karakter, moedertaalonderwys, die plek van die ouergemeenskap, vry onderwys, koordinasie op nasionale grondslag van leerplanne en kursusse, ens

Game (wildlife) meat safety: understanding the game meat supply chain and the roles of role-players in a multifaceted control environment

Moderator: Lyle Renecker.Presented at the 8th international congress for wildlife and livelihoods on private and communal lands: livestock, tourism, and spirit, that was held on September 7-12, 2014 in Estes Park, Colorado.As in other parts of the world, the South African game industry is expanding and game meat is finding its way in the local and international food supply chain. In order to do effective game meat control, one must have an understanding of the game meat supply chain and the stakeholders therein. The term 'food supply chain' refers to the total supply process from agricultural production, harvest / slaughter, through processing and handling of a food and its ingredients, storage and distribution up to consumption. In the case of game meat, the supply chain will include the relevant food and meat control authorities, primary producers (farmers), suppliers of feed and veterinary drugs to farmers, hunters, abattoirs, small and large scale processors, wholesale and retail, suppliers of processing materials, import and export agencies, transport and the consumer. From this it is clear that several role-players are involved, which leads to a multifaceted and fragmented food control environment. It was necessary to determine the control points essential for meat safety and the responsibilities of the role-players for the execution of these control points along the game meat supply chain. Information regarding the study was obtained through a desk top study and analysis of questionnaire responses from game farmers, hunters and national, provincial and municipal control authorities. Game meat is often entering the supply chain in an uncontrolled manner while there is a lack of a single formal framework for its operation amongst the stakeholders. To address this issue, the research looked for insight into the game meat supply chain; the differences between the game meat supply chain and the conventional meat supply chain; the respective role-players in the supply chain; and the essential meat safety control points along the supply chain. The crucial meat safety link between the supply chain and the roles of stakeholders in ensuring that safe meat is supplied to the consumer is often vague. The introduction of a mechanism to reduce the indistinctness is essential for this growing industry. The mechanism suggested relates to the establishment of a game meat safety forum whereby all role-players are involved

Start-up incentives the Netherlands

Generally, there are three different types of start-up incentive for unemployed and inactive people in the Netherlands. The first is a set of incentives for potential entrepreneurs receiving Unemployment Benefits (UB) (Werloosheidwet - WW). Such incentives have existed since 2006 and were adjusted in 2013. Second, as of 2004 there are specific incentives for people who receive social assistance (Wet werk en inkomen - WWB). Third, there are incentives for people who are ill or who have a work disability and receive benefits related to their work incapacity (Wet werk en inkomen naar arbeidsvermogen – WIA for work disability; Ziektewet for illness; or Wajong for young disabled). These incentives are all aimed at stimulating unemployed people to leave benefits by starting-up a business. They also appear to be cost-effective, as often the incentive consists of guidance for the new entrepreneur and the temporary abolishment of the obligation to apply for a job