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For decades, debates over medical curriculum reform have centred on the role of science in medical education, but the meaning of 'science' in this domain is vague and the persistence of the debate has not been explained. Following Bourdieu, this paper examines struggles over legitimate knowledge and the forms of capital associated with science in contemporary UK medical education. Data are presented from a study of two UK medical schools, one with a traditional, science-oriented curriculum, another with an integrated curriculum. Constructions of legitimate knowledge were explored at both schools through six months participant observation, interviews with faculty members (n=15) and students (n=37) and documentary analysis. Findings show that medical schools compete for both scientific and clinical capital, but ultimately science has greater legitimacy. 'Science' is defined in accordance with the structure of the traditional curriculum and has become a symbolic resource - a mark of distinction for both medical schools and medical students - which is equated with clinical competence. The significance of science is circumscribed by the medical education field, yet the struggles for scientific capital there have ramifications beyond medical education itself. It is argued that Bourdieu's concepts are particularly useful tools for studying the meanings that science takes on outside of the scientific field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To better understand the characteristics of patients who returned to thaw their frozen eggs to attempt conception and their outcomes. Methods: A retrospective analysis of clinical records for all own egg thaw patients in two UK fertility clinics across 10 years, 2008–2017. Results: There were 129 patients who returned to thaw their eggs, of which 46 had originally frozen their eggs for social reasons and 83 for a variety of clinical, incidental, and ethical reasons (which we have called "non-social"). Women who had frozen their eggs for social reasons were single at time of freeze, with an average age of 37.7. They kept their eggs in storage for just under 5 years, returning to use them at the average age of 42.5. 43.5% were single at time of thaw, and 47.8% used donor sperm to fertilise their eggs. Women whose eggs were frozen for non-social reasons were almost all (97.6%) in a relationship at both time of freeze and thaw. They had an average age of 37.2 at first freeze and 37.6 at thaw, having kept their eggs in storage for an average of 0.4 years. Overall, there was a 20.9% success rate among women attempting conception with frozen-thawed eggs. Conclusions: Despite widespread assumptions, many women attempting conception with thawed eggs had not initially frozen them for social reasons. Women who froze their eggs for social reasons presented distinctly and statistically different characteristics at both time of freeze and thaw to women whose eggs were frozen for non-social reasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a commentary on a paper by Robert A. Stebbins in a previous issue of The American Sociologist which provided an account of professional and amateur sociology in the U.S. The British organization, Mass Observation existed in a relatively nonintrusive society with (as compared to the U.S.) greater concern for one's own and other people's privacy. Canada and Great Britain may in this respect have more built-in defenses against the risks of some kinds of amateur sociology that the U.S. would have. However, according to the commenter, Stebbins already anticipates this objection by requiring amateurs to be supervised and to start with a certain amount of instruction and proper cautionary comments. By engaging primarily in the use of unobtrusive measures and observations, the amateur will avoid the risks of harm to which Stebbins is already sensitive. The commenter relates that one of the public areas in which he has encouraged such unobtrusive observations is in churches, where the observer in outward appearance is similar to the congregation and hence not seen as an intruder. According to him, he has had a fair amount of experience with undergraduate amateurs of the sort described.

The article presents news items related to "American Sociological Association (ASA)." A conference to discuss cross-national research on community decision-making was held in Milan, Italy, from July 1 to July 3, 1969, organized by the Scuola di Formasione in Sociologia in Milan and the Committee for Comparability in Community Research of the International Sociological Association. The British Sociological Association has instituted a non voting category of overseas associate membership, the chief benefit of which is the receipt of the Association's journal, "Sociology." The Science Information Exchange of the Smithsonian Institute has recently adopted a nominal charge system for its services. At the same time, services which were previously reserved for federal agencies are now being made available to all users of SIE. "Social Science Research Council" will administer several programs in the coming year. Research Training Fellowships will be offered only for supplementary training that is outside the scope of the usual doctoral program in one's major discipline. These fellowships are tenable at a pre or post doctoral stage and preference will be given to innovative proposals by candidates who have demonstrated unusual aptitude for research.

The article focuses on various awards offered by and developments in several learned institutions. American Association for the Advancement of Science will award an annual prize of $ 1,000 for an essay in socio-psychological inquiry that furthers understanding of the psychological-social-cultural behavior of human beings. The Edward L. Bernays Foundation is offering a £ 5,000 award for a program to improve understanding between the people of Great Britain and the United States. Anyone is eligible to enter the competition by submitting a manuscript of 5,000 words or less. The Duke University Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development announces a two year research training program. The focus of the program will be upon independent work in behavioral science and psychophysiology in close collaboration with faculty members. The American Educational Research Association announces the election of W. W. Charters, Jr. as member at large of the Executive Board and Association Council. Dr. Charters is professor of education and research associate.