Search Results

Developing Conceptual Foundations for Randomized Controlled Trials

Phyllis Solomon, Mary M. Cavanaugh, and Jeffrey Draine

in Randomized Controlled Trials: Design and Implementation for Community-Based Psychosocial Interventions

Chapter 4 reviews the central role of conceptual frameworks in RCTs. The purpose of the conceptual framework in an RCT is to provide a system of ideas for understanding how an intervention is ... More

Chapter 4 reviews the central role of conceptual frameworks in RCTs. The purpose of the conceptual framework in an RCT is to provide a system of ideas for understanding how an intervention is believed to lead to the outcomes. The conceptual framework defines the potential effectiveness of the intervention in terms of activities that are thought to produce change, in what context, and toward what outcome. Theory provides guidance in shaping hypotheses and formulating research questions. Theories may help define mediator and/or moderator effects among concepts, and can enrich the contribution of RCT research to social science. Overall, the rigor and strength of any empirical research is based on the quality of the conceptual framework and its applicability to the service setting.Less

Understanding Risk and Protective Factors

David P. Farrington and Brandon C. Welsh

in Saving Children from a Life of Crime: Early Risk Factors and Effective Interventions

This chapter provides definitions of risk factors and protective factors against delinquency and later offending and discusses some key issues arising in risk factor research, particularly regarding ... More

This chapter provides definitions of risk factors and protective factors against delinquency and later offending and discusses some key issues arising in risk factor research, particularly regarding the meaning of mediators and moderators and the problem of establishing causes. It explains that risk factors predict an increased probability of later offending while protective factors either predict a decreased probability of later offending or tend to nullify the effects of risk factors in interaction with them. It highlights the importance of identifying the risk factors that have causal effect, using either experimental or quasi-experimental analyses.Less

Distinguishing Between Prediction and Influence: Multiple Processes Underlying Attitude-Behavior Consistency

Leandre R. Fabrigar, Duane T. Wegener, and Tara K. MacDonald

in Then A Miracle Occurs: Focusing on Behavior in Social Psychological Theory and Research

The authors present a general framework for organizing the moderators of the attitude-behavior relationships suggested in the literature, focusing on several central distinctions. First, they ... More

The authors present a general framework for organizing the moderators of the attitude-behavior relationships suggested in the literature, focusing on several central distinctions. First, they distinguish between predictions of behavior and mechanisms that might actually mediate the underlying attitude-behavior link. The first category of moderators includes the kinds of measurement issues postulated by Fishbein and his colleagues—issues that are potentially germane to efforts to predict behavior from any individual difference variable. The chapter distinguishes mediational mechanisms further along lines suggested by dual-processing theory, into those involving low-deliberation behaviors and those involving high deliberation behaviors. The former includes perceptual and behavioral cuing effects that could implicate habitual or nonconscious processes similar to those described in Chapters 5 and 6. The latter arguably encompasses both higher-level propositional reasoning and biased information processing.Less

Belief in a Just World, Perceived Fairness, and Justification of the Status Quo

Carolyn L. Hafer and Becky L. Choma

in Social and Psychological Bases of Ideology and System Justification

This chapter focuses primarily on the system justifying properties of a belief in a just world (BJW); that is, a belief that people get what they deserve. The chapter presents a review of research on ... More

This chapter focuses primarily on the system justifying properties of a belief in a just world (BJW); that is, a belief that people get what they deserve. The chapter presents a review of research on the relation between individual differences in the strength of BJW and attributions and attitudes that justify the status quo by increasing one’s sense that outcomes are fair or deserved. One implication of the system justifying properties of a strong BJW is examined; namely, that a strong BJW is related to less perceived discrimination. The chapter presents original research suggesting that a strong BJW might lead to less perceived discrimination directed at one personally when the presence of that discrimination is relatively ambiguous. System justifying beliefs are more generally examined by discussing moderators and mediators of the relation between these various beliefs (including a BJW) and justification of the status quo.Less

Assessing Bias and Variations in Effects

Julia H. Littell, Jacqueline Corcoran, and Vijayan Pillai

in Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis

There are several ways to detect publication bias and assess its influence in a meta-analysis. This chapter identifies out-dated methods and describes current approaches. It discusses cumulative ... More

There are several ways to detect publication bias and assess its influence in a meta-analysis. This chapter identifies out-dated methods and describes current approaches. It discusses cumulative meta-analysis and subgroup analysis. Moderator analysis and meta-regression are used to explore variations in effect sizes due to methodological features and other variables in the primary studies. Sensitivity analysis is used to discover the extent to which results of meta-analysis are robust for outliers, and for decisions and assumptions made during the analysis. Finally, statistical power analysis is an important tool for planning and evaluating meta-analyses.Less

Religion

Fergus Campbell

in The Irish Establishment 1879-1914

This chapter begins by discussing the shifting power of the Catholic and Protestant churches during the post‐Famine period and shows that Catholic power over the state and nationalist politics was ... More

This chapter begins by discussing the shifting power of the Catholic and Protestant churches during the post‐Famine period and shows that Catholic power over the state and nationalist politics was greatly increasing while Protestant power and influence over the state was in serious decline. The chapter then looks at the social background of Catholic bishops, Church of Ireland bishops and Presbyterian Moderators and finds that the Church of Ireland bishops were often from landed or prestigious business backgrounds; that Presbyterian Moderators were often from small town business and tenant farm backgrounds in Ulster; and Catholic bishops tended to emerge from the new rising Catholic middle class of tenant farmers, shopkeepers, and professionals in the Irish provinces.Less

Focus Groups

Cindy Dell Clark

in In A Younger Voice: Doing Child-Centered Qualitative Research

A method attributed to Robert Merton, focus groups first disseminated in applied, commercial inquiry. In recent decades, focus groups have also infiltrated academic circles, including for ... More

A method attributed to Robert Merton, focus groups first disseminated in applied, commercial inquiry. In recent decades, focus groups have also infiltrated academic circles, including for child-centered research across disciplines. Drawing from both applied and academic experience, the chapter provides know-how for conducting a focus group study, including: 1) Inviting the children, 2) Choosing the setting, 3) A moderator’s craft, and 4) Special applications (such as for brainstorming). Featured tools include a questionnaire for recruiting participants, a spoken introduction used at the session’s outset, and tried and true approaches for stimulating discussion. Using a facilitator who is open, empathic, tenacious, good at play, accepting, and responsibly humble, and who can improvise non-verbal, concrete, age-appropriate activities, is advisable.Less

Moderator of the General Assembly

Paul C. Gutjahr

in Charles Hodge: Guardian of American Orthodoxy

Chapter thirty-five recounts Hodge’s time as Moderator of the General Assembly in 1846. While Moderator, the Assembly addressed the key issues of slavery and Presbyterian Parochial Schools. In 1847, ... More

Chapter thirty-five recounts Hodge’s time as Moderator of the General Assembly in 1846. While Moderator, the Assembly addressed the key issues of slavery and Presbyterian Parochial Schools. In 1847, as the outgoing moderator, Hodge preached on the need for a denominational Sustenation Fund.Less

Damper Pedal

Donna Louise Gunn

in Discoveries from the Fortepiano: A Manual for Beginners and Seasoned Performers

The chapter explores the role of the knee-operated pedal in eighteenth-century pianos, particularly the Walter fortepiano. Various uses such as changing timbre, sustaining the bass, changing affekt, ... More

The chapter explores the role of the knee-operated pedal in eighteenth-century pianos, particularly the Walter fortepiano. Various uses such as changing timbre, sustaining the bass, changing affekt, implementing dynamic contrasts, and intentionally blurring for effect are examined. Practical approaches in executing the pedal in this style on the modern piano are suggested using well-known piano sonatas by Beethoven, Haydn, and Mozart as models.The Moderator is introduced. Recorded samples are presented with specific instructions to offer means to reconcile characteristics of the moderator on the modern piano.Less

São Paulo 1965–1971 and Montevideo 1963–1973

Anthony James Joes

in Urban Guerrilla Warfare

When the armed forces took control of Brazil in 1964, they assumed a “moderator role,” allowing them to perform constitutional functions similar to the US Supreme Court. After the army removed the ... More

When the armed forces took control of Brazil in 1964, they assumed a “moderator role,” allowing them to perform constitutional functions similar to the US Supreme Court. After the army removed the politically inept “Jango” Goulart from the presidency, the National Liberation Action (ALN) felt that the military wielded too much power and decided to wage an armed revolt against it in the city. Unable to gain mass support, the urban guerrillas fell to the military through the use of informants, interrogations, and other counterinsurgency techniques. By 1972, the leaders of the insurgency had either been arrested or killed, effectively ending the revolt. Meanwhile, the revolutionary movement in Uruguay was not borne out of a repressive regime but a general discontent about the country's economic difficulties. This environment gave rise to the Tupamaros, which aimed to duplicate the success of Fidel Castro in Cuba. The Tupamaros were able to penetrate the civil service, the police, and even the army, and this allowed them to rob banks, raid military facilities, and avoid capture. In 1971, Uruguay launched a series of anti-Tupamaro activities that led to the capture of their supreme leader the following year, eventually leading to their defeat. Although the Tupamaros were defeated, their actions managed to affect much-needed reforms in the country's traditional democratic system.Less

The Company of Pastors

Scott M. Manetsch

in Calvin's Company of Pastors: Pastoral Care and the Emerging Reformed Church, 1536-1609

Chapter 2 describes John Calvin’s initial efforts to recruit a competent pastoral company for Geneva’s churches, and offers quantitative evidence as to the geographical origins, social location, and ... More

Chapter 2 describes John Calvin’s initial efforts to recruit a competent pastoral company for Geneva’s churches, and offers quantitative evidence as to the geographical origins, social location, and educational backgrounds of these ministers. Special attention will be paid to key foreign- and native-born ministers, including Theodore Beza, Jean Trembley, Simon Goulart, Charles Perrot, Lambert Daneau, Antoine de Chandieu, Jean Diodati, and Theodore Tronchin. The final section of the chapter explores how leadership of the Company of Pastors (specifically the office of moderator) was constructed and sometimes contested during the generations immediately following Calvin’s death.Less

The Predebate Debate

Alan Schroeder

in Presidential Debates: Risky Business on the Campaign Trail

A look at the pros and cons of participation by presidential candidate in debates, plus a survey of the pre-debate negotiations that take place each election cycle over such matters as scheduling, ... More

A look at the pros and cons of participation by presidential candidate in debates, plus a survey of the pre-debate negotiations that take place each election cycle over such matters as scheduling, format, production details, and selection of moderators.Less

The Questioners

Alan Schroeder

in Presidential Debates: Risky Business on the Campaign Trail

A look at the role of questioners in presidential debates, and how they have shaped perceptions about the candidates.

Online Intergroup Contact

Béatrice S. Hasler and Yair Amichai-Hamburger

in The Social Net: Understanding our online behavior

This chapter examines the literature on intergroup contact as a means of reducing bias among rival groups in conflict. The basis is the Contact Hypothesis, the leading theory in the field, which ... More

This chapter examines the literature on intergroup contact as a means of reducing bias among rival groups in conflict. The basis is the Contact Hypothesis, the leading theory in the field, which specifies the conditions for successful intergroup contact in face-to-face settings. The chapter describes how these conditions can be set out in online intergroup meetings, and goes on to discuss moderators and mediators of intergroup contact effects, and explain how these variables operate in online interactions. The chapter demonstrates how the specific characteristics of computer-mediated communication, ranging from disembodied, text-based interaction to (re)embodied, avatar-based interaction, can be used as a strategic tool to enhance intergroup contact. Based on this theoretical framework, the structure and evaluation results of organized online intergroup encounters in conflict regions are considered. The chapter concludes with an agenda for empirical studies on online intergroup contact to guide further research in this area.Less

One Fanboy to Rule Them All: Fanboy Auteurs, Fantrepreneurs, and the Politics of Professionalization

Suzanne Scott

in Fake Geek Girls: Fandom, Gender, and the Convergence Culture Industry

Chapter 5 discusses how professionalization runs apace differently for fanboys and fangirls within the convergence culture industry. Through an analysis of emergent authorial archetypes like the ... More

Chapter 5 discusses how professionalization runs apace differently for fanboys and fangirls within the convergence culture industry. Through an analysis of emergent authorial archetypes like the “fanboy auteur” and the “fantrepreneur” and how they model fannish consumption, this chapter considers who can more or less easily trade on their fan identities for professional gain. Specifically, this chapter theorizes the industrial and fannish appeal of these figures as “moderators” for the evolving relationship between industry and audience, and their perceived ability to speak fans’ “language.”Less

How Does Leadership Work?

Julian Barling

in The Science of Leadership: Lessons from Research for Organizational Leaders

Even the best leadership does not simply have immediate, direct effects on individual, team and organizational outcomes. Instead, high quality leadership works by first changing how individuals feel ... More

Even the best leadership does not simply have immediate, direct effects on individual, team and organizational outcomes. Instead, high quality leadership works by first changing how individuals feel about themselves (e.g., self-efficacy, mood), their work (e.g., meaningfulness at work, team cohesion, organizational commitment), and their relationships with their leaders(e.g., trust in the leader, identification with the leader). In turn, these feeling about oneself, one’s work, and the relationship with one’s leader influence individual, team and organizational outcomes. Leadership also works better in some contexts than others, for example in periods of environmental uncertainty.Thus, leadership effects are invariably indirect, and delayed.Less

Divorce and Health Outcomes: From Social Epidemiology to Social Psychophysiology

David A. Sbarra, Widyasita Nojopranoto, and Karen Hasselmo

in Interpersonal Relationships and Health: Social and Clinical Psychological Mechanisms

This chapter reviews research on divorce and physical health outcomes across multiple levels of analyses. The chapter begins with a focus on (macro-level) research in the area of social epidemiology ... More

This chapter reviews research on divorce and physical health outcomes across multiple levels of analyses. The chapter begins with a focus on (macro-level) research in the area of social epidemiology and reports on studies demonstrating that marital separation and divorce are associated with increased risk for all-cause morbidity and mortality. The chapter then focuses on (micro-level) research in the area of social psychophysiology and reports on studies that investigate the plausible mechanisms through which the health risks of marital separation may be conveyed. The chapter concludes with an outline of how future research can integrate the strengths of these broad areas of study and how these strengths can be leveraged to better understand precisely why marital separation and divorce are associated with ill health.Less

“Big Picture” Aspects of Design and Analysis in Substance Use Research

Audrey L. Begun and TOM Gregoire

in Conducting Substance Use Research

Social work investigators need to approach substance use research with a solid understanding of the means for turning practice, epidemiology, and etiology questions into well-conceptualized research ... More

Social work investigators need to approach substance use research with a solid understanding of the means for turning practice, epidemiology, and etiology questions into well-conceptualized research questions and research questions into strong study designs. Substance use science includes the full array of quantitative, qualitative, mixed-method, meta-analytic, and systematic review approaches. This chapter begins with resources for becoming familiar with empirical literature on substance-related topics. The chapter then identifies several major, pivotal studies and major databases in substance use and addictions that might prove useful to social work researchers. This chapter concludes with an examination of various study design options, analyses that may be indicated by these study designs, and a range of study variables that are relevant in substance-related studies.Less