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This paper explores and theorises education-based workshops delivered in secondary schools in support of a relationships and sex education curriculum that aims to bring forth more positive understandings and experiences of gender and sexuality. We cast this work as a form of sexual health activism, with our paper deepening understanding of how the motivations of those engaged in this form of activism interface with the decision to invest time in this work. Based on interviews with 40 workshop facilitators in England and Wales we argue that this form of sexual health activism is motivated by facilitators' life experiences as well as the desire to make the world a better place. As such, this form of work can function as a means of 'caring for' both past selves and future generations, thus functioning simultaneously as a form of self-care and a form of 'societal care work'. Ultimately, these activities may be understood as a form of 'extra-clinical' healthcare practice, with leading gender and sexual health workshops serving as an important means of solidifying health students' identities as both healthcare providers and activists for social change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protection and mitigation of biodiversity are essential within land-use planning; highlighted by the increased importance of nature during the global pandemic and the fight against climate change. Currently, the character of both the land and decision-makers can influence the weight biodiversity is ascribed within planning processes. Through analysis of semi-structured interviews, with various actors within the Northamptonshire planning system, this research explored the opportunities and challenges around promoting biodiversity across brownfield sites; the motivations for conservation by different planning actors; and what this means for the future of urban habitats on previously developed land. This research found that brownfield sites continue to be undervalued for their biodiversity potential, predominantly due to the downplaying of ecological expertise in decision-making. With England's proposed planning reforms, this paper argues that tensions between brownfield redevelopment and biodiversity conservation stand to be further exacerbated as the government intends to "scythe through red tape" (Johnson 2020b). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers a comprehensive account of Irish teachers' perspectives on life inside schools in England, as reported in empirical studies. The research literature shows that Irish teachers report experiencing intense pressure from the inspectorate, but also internally as a consequence of the demands placed on English schools. Within these low-trust environments they experience what they feel to be unsustainable and time-consuming workloads which compound and perpetuate the pressure and stress they feel. Of most significance are Irish teachers' views on the motives of English schools, which they interpret and perceive to be dictated by and for the inspectorate as opposed to serving the best interests of students. Overall, Irish teachers' experiences in English schools are shaped by the overarching and inescapable pressures of high-stakes accountability and are far from positive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to investigate students' perceptions of work-based training and examination-based learning as it relates to the professional competence of auditors. The paper takes as its motivation the fall in the number of accountants registering as qualified auditors in the UK following fundamental changes in the audit environment. Legislation aimed at reducing red tape has resulted in a large number of UK companies taking advantage of an audit exemption, and most of these are clients of small audit firms. This legislative change has had significant pedagogic implications on the experiential learning of audit trainees and the availability of training opportunities for them. The contribution of the paper is to explain the perceived relevance and importance of training opportunities to trainees seeking to obtain audit qualifications. Using data from an on-line questionnaire and focus groups, the study reports that trainees in smaller firms lack opportunities to obtain sufficient audit experience, and there is a lack of synchronization between limited practical experience and classroom tuition provided before taking auditing examinations. The implications are that effective audit training will become restricted to large audit firms the trainees in which often choose different career paths to auditing, thereby limiting the number of qualified auditors in the UK in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Performance-based management is a recurring and controversial strategy for education reform. This paper examines a nineteenth-century English experiment in paying schools by results and uses concepts from personnel and behavioural economics to understand its decline. Like many recent education reforms, payment-by-results sought to bring schools and teachers under the ‘laws of supply and demand’. The unintended outcomes of the policy, which ultimately led to its end, included narrowing of the curriculum, cheating and manipulation by schoolteachers and managers, and increased risk and uncertainty in the teaching profession. The paper begins by exploring the role of economics principles in the drafting of the policy. It continues to explore how the programme unravelled, with special attention to issues of perverse incentives, teacher motivation, risk, and uncertainty. Building on recent studies of analogous modern experiments in performance-based management, this paper finds important parallels to current policy concerns. The lessons learned address the fundamental relationship between incentives and teacher motivation and the role of economic theory in education policy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Heavy-end drug use is a widely studied and discussed topic, however much of the research within the field considers the phenomenon of use from perspectives of individual or social pathology, devoid of any pleasure or meaning-making potential for the user. This paper seeks to offer an alternative perspective to understanding heavy-end drug use, with specific reference to crack cocaine, to that of the 'powerless addict' typically present in the hegemonic discourse. By applying Stephen Lyng's concept of edgework to this high-risk activity, this article will seek to demonstrate the purposeful nature of crack cocaine user for the user. The paper argues that users involve themselves in risk-taking behaviours in order to create meaning in an otherwise meaningless life. Within this context, meaning-making is achieved by honing skills and developing specialist knowledge which enables them to negotiate the 'edge' inherent in heavy-end crack cocaine use and control the uncontrollable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is an account of a small scale exploratory study about the use and value of football metaphor as a device for facilitating therapeutic work. It is based on an evaluation which used a range of qualitative and quantitative approaches. In this paper, we selectively draw on the qualitative data to provide examples to inform our discussion. We illustrate various ways in which football metaphor can support therapeutic change: by aiding initial engagement, facilitating mutual support, enabling self-understanding and motivating change. We relate our analysis to the literature about the therapeutic value of metaphor and highlight the salience of using football metaphor in a group-based setting for men who are often seen as ‘hard to engage’ in therapeutic support. With some caveats, we argue that football metaphor offers a potentially rich and flexible therapeutic resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper draws on findings from an analysis of interviews with young people aged 14–18 years, to explore the peer influences in young people's informal social networks which can affect their access to sexual health services. The research focuses on the social meanings of a C-Card condom distribution scheme in North East England. Such schemes are widespread in the UK as a way of providing access to condoms and sexual health advice for young people in health and community settings. Focusing on one aspect of a broader study, the paper outlines the important social, emotional and practical resources provided by young people's chosen friendship groups in the process of acquiring a C-Card, which offers a route to accessing sex and relationships advice and condoms. Informal peer networks inform attitudes and expectations which can influence gendered patterns of behaviour. Through a focus on the educational possibilities of the C-Card scheme, the study suggests a need to revisit the dynamics of young people's peer relationships and harness their potential to influence sexual attitudes and behaviour in positive ways, rather than simply seeing these always as a source of negative pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Good Lives Model (GLM) is a strengths-based approach that conceptualises sexually harmful behaviour as an individual's inappropriate means to meet their core personal and social needs. It promotes managing potential risk through acknowledging the individual's needs, goals and aspirations and working towards meeting these in safe and positive ways. As a specialist organisation working with adolescents who sexually harm, G-map has adapted the GLM for its client group and employs it as a framework for problem formulation and intervention planning. Using a single case-study design, this paper illustrates how the GLM can be used as a framework for therapeutic practice. The case study involves an adolescent male who sexually assaulted an adult female. G-map's experience of the clinical utility and strengths of the Good Lives Model are discussed, alongside an acknowledgement that the dearth of outcome research relating to this model is a limitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A limited Child Sexual Offender Disclosure Scheme was launched in England and Wales in 2009–10. Drawing upon data from an evaluation of the pilot scheme, this paper explores the views of applicants seeking a disclosure. In particular, the paper considers issues around the low take-up, perceptions of satisfaction and more broadly the role of the scheme in providing reassurance to the public about child sexual offenders in the community. Interestingly, while perceptions of satisfaction with the scheme were high, anxieties about child sexual offenders were not necessarily alleviated by the scheme, and in many instances were heightened. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper examines the leisure narratives of three individual women who attended pole dancing classes once a week in a city in the North of England. The research was based on participant observation of pole dancing classes and individual interviews with 15 women, nine of whom were students and six were teachers. This paper uses the pole exercise classes as a departure point for an examination of how the women negotiated the time and cost, and how they motivated themselves to continue attending despite various difficulties which they faced such as childcare, pressures of work, unsupportive partners, or just general lethargy. A key part of the overall experience was the sense of achievement that they managed to attend at all. What added to the enjoyment of the experience was the sense of triumph that, yet again, they had overcome the odds and managed to attend, illustrating that for the women who somehow endeavour to find a way to attend, 'finding a way' is itself part of the pleasure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Teacher Education is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Theories of offender motivation for treatment have proposed that external factors may be as important as internal factors in creating a state of readiness for treatment. This paper reports an exploratory study of the barriers to treatment for incarcerated sexual offenders. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of interview and questionnaire data from treatment refusers and accepters suggested that refusers were less aware of the effectiveness of treatment, reported seeing negative side effects of treatment in others and felt they had a higher social status in prison which could be damaged by attending treatment. While this study does not demonstrate a causal link between these experiences and the decision to refuse treatment, it seems reasonable to suggest that take-up of treatment could be increased by more sustained efforts to build relationships with treatment refusers and by the provision of accessible information about treatment and its potential benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers how 'health behaviours' are imagined and practised in contemporary society, considering the combination of commercial products such as over the counter (OTC) statins and functional foods with more established 'healthy behaviours' in everyday life. Using data from users of low dose statins licensed for OTC sale in the UK and functional foods, we consider policy fears that such products would dilute efforts at healthy living. In line with sociological literature, we encountered resistance to pill-taking and accounts of health behaviour that show this to be a complex category that may involve functional or mundane foods, and supplements, may be highly targeted at heart health, or more defuse goals, or involve a degree of vagueness as to what is being used and why. Thinking about these practices as a form of 'DIY' provides a useful supplement to sociological interest in lay rationality, drawing attention to the objects rather than knowledges enrolled, and the provisional nature of health practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the findings of an investigation of student teachers' changing perceptions of educational practice following a teaching placement in France, Germany, Spain and Italy. Up to 900 primary languages, student teachers annually have spent a 4-week teaching placement in a partner country as an integral part of their initial teacher education programme. The aims of the bilateral experience were to improve students' subject knowledge as well as to offer opportunities to enhance their professional understanding through comparing practice in two distinct cultural settings. This study draws from both qualitative and quantitative data gathered from 122 postgraduate certificate in education student teachers who were following the primary language route at Canterbury Christ Church University and Liverpool Hope University. The findings show that through reflection and analysis of the differences and commonalties in the diverse cultural contexts, students develop a greater understanding of their professional role and a deeper insight into their own values and beliefs about pedagogy. Their acceptance of taken-for-granted norms is challenged during the bilateral placement, as they encounter new approaches to differentiated learning, teaching and learning strategies and teacher/pupil relationships, thus enhancing their levels of critical engagement with educational practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the question of benefits of education from a life course perspective. Using data from a study of 1600 students (response rate 48%) on an open access program at a London University college, it explores educational activity within the framework of a transitions model. In addition to the quantitative evidence, the article uses material from interviews to illustrate how different aspects of educational activity help individuals cope with transitions. This approach, while clearly not covering all possible education contexts, offers a way of adding to our understanding of the benefits of study in mid- and later-life. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

New medicines represent exciting possibilities to individual patients for improved futures through reduced morbidity, as well as the potential for disappointment where promised outcomes are not forthcoming. For healthcare systems these technologies can enable enhanced effectiveness as well as spiralling costs, depending on value-for-money offered. Amidst uncertainty over efficacy and pricing, institutions such as the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence have been set up to regulate the cost-effectiveness of new products. The increased transparency of this new regulation, combined with inescapable uncertainties, leads to the heightened politicisation of decision-making and an insidious subjectivity beneath a veneer of rational-bureaucracy. This paper develops a theoretical framework for understanding the influence of hope within such contexts. Conceptualised here as ideological, affective and prone to lapsing into trust, hope is considered to shape the lifeworld-background of regulatory decisions and mask uncertainty around effectiveness. These processes challenge regulator legitimacy and effectiveness within polycentric regimes, through the distortion of communication and the manipulation of blame. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific-bureaucratic medicine (SBM) has been the dominant discourse on evidence-based medicine in the English National Health System (NHS). It has being claimed that SBM has led to new forms of medical professionalism with an emphasis on organisational values and the control of autonomy. This paper explores the medical professions' response to SBM, where SBM is manifested in the form of National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines. Seventy-four face-to-face informal interviews were carried out with clinicians and managers between 2007 and 2009. Three major themes emerged from the analysis each of which was linked to doctors' receptiveness to NICE guidelines implementation. The first emphasised organisational values, which accounted for conditional acceptance of NICE guidelines. The second was proactive professionalism or entrepreneurial professionalism, which was linked to the rejection of NICE guidelines and the emergence of alternative forms of introducing new ideas for the expansion of their clinical practice. The third was related to the prominence of clinical autonomy linked with doctors' resistance to the use of NICE guidelines. It is argued that this evidence does not reflect a significant emergence of new forms of professionalism but the development of multiple occupational identities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews recent research that has questioned the efficacy of using what has been defined as 'policy with regards to student motivation' to enhance retention and achievement among vocational students. This research examined the contradictions between GNVQ and AVCE policy and the student perceptions of these courses at two schools and a college in the south east of England. It identified a conceptual framework for estimating Advanced GNVQ and AVCE students' expectancies, values and self-regulated learning and demonstrated the value of using psychological theory and methodology to test policy assumptions regarding the motivation of students. The research identified tensions between the vocational policy discourse and end-users perceptions and may provide important lessons for policymakers who appear to be adopting the same approach to policy with regards to student motivation in the rhetoric, design and function of the Level 3 Diploma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The theoretical understanding of firesetting behaviour has predominantly been developed with men in prisons or psychiatric hospitals without neurodevelopmental disabilities. Consequently, there is a lack of evidence regarding the validity of current theory when applied to adults with intellectual disabilities and/or autism. Thirteen adults in England with intellectual and other developmental disabilities were interviewed about the affective, cognitive, behavioural, and contextual factors leading up to and surrounding a recorded firesetting incident. Interviews were analysed using a Grounded Theory approach. The resulting model consists of four phases: (1) background, (2) early adulthood, (3) pre-offence period, and (4) offence, and post offence period. The model accounts for unique precursors to firesetting including mental health deterioration, poor problem solving, and new motivations for firesetting. Unlike other offence chain theories, the significance of post-offence behaviour and cognitions are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-monitoring may represent a mechanism to enhance physical activity among people with multiple sclerosis. To optimise activity monitoring as a behavioural tool to increase physical activity, user experience must be understood. This study evaluated user experience of the Yamax SW-200 Digi-walker pedometer in a group of people with MS. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 adults who participated in a 12-week pedometer-supported behavioural change intervention, the iStep-MS trial. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed using the Framework Method. An overarching theme Pedometers, the frustrating motivators captures the complex and often contradictory experience of the pedometer. Sub-themes include: Increasing activity awareness, which describes the pedometer's utility in raising activity consciousness; Numeric motivation provides insight into dual motivating and demotivating experiences of using an objective feedback device; (Un) usability focuses on practical concerns encountered in the day-to-day use of the monitor. The Yamax SW-200 Digi-walker raised awareness and enhanced participant motivation to engage in physical activity. Accuracy and usability concerns highlighted warrant consideration in the selection of this pedometer within a population with multiple sclerosis. Changing physical activity behaviour in people with MS: the iStep-MS trial; ISRCTN15343862; Use of self-monitoring tools such as pedometers can enhance physical activity awareness. Objective, numeric step count feedback is an effective motivational tool for physical activity. Accuracy and usability concerns may limit the value of the Yamax SW-200 Digiwalker for people with MS. Identification of individualised, reliable, usable and acceptable tools is important to ensure engagement with self-monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Running is a popular and convenient form of leisure-time physical activity, with participation levels increasing in the United Kingdom in low physical activity groups such as women and overweight individuals, following the introduction of schemes such as Couch to 5km (C25 K). However, despite the popularity of these programmes, there is little research into the social and psychological processes involved in effective engagement and long-term behaviour changes. Therefore, the aim of the study was to explore the impact of participation in a 10-week group-led beginners running programme on participant motivation, attendance and well-being using Self-Determination Theory (STD) as a theoretical framework. Participants (N = 124; Mage = 40.74) were recruited from a beginners' running programme based in the North West of England and self-completed questionnaires during weeks 2, 6 and 10. Future intentions to run were also assessed at 3- and 6-month follow up. Results demonstrated the positive impact an adapted C25 K model can have upon elements of self-perceptions (particularly perceived competence) and future intentions to run. The path analysis, which looked at average values over time, demonstrated that leader autonomy support positively impacted upon participants' basic needs satisfaction, which led to the development of more self-determined motivation, and in turn led to higher levels of attendance and mental well-being. Critically for drop-out, results from multiple regression analysis indicated that individuals with a higher BMI rated leader autonomy support as lower and felt less competent during the programme. A number of research and practical recommendations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new form of narrative counselling for adolescents at risk of exclusion was piloted in 3 schools with 11 students between the ages of 13–14 years over a 6–7-week period. The intervention took into consideration that compared to adults, adolescents are more susceptible to being influenced by their immediate surroundings of home and school. A measure of progress on a student engagement scale showed an improvement in educational engagement, particularly in students' behavioural engagement in class. The process of narrative counselling adolescents at school is described and the issues addressed in the narrative counselling sessions are discussed. Finally, the inclusive ethos of the secondary schools that the counsellors worked in are considered, as they facilitated or hindered the counselling intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of a project funded by the Wellcome Trust, we held a one-day symposium, bringing together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, to discuss priorities for research on relationships and sex education (RSE) in a world where young people increasingly live, experience, and augment their relationships (whether sexual or not) within digital spaces. The introduction of statutory RSE in schools in England highlights the need to focus on improving understandings of young people and digital intimacies for its own sake, and to inform the development of learning resources. We call for more research that puts young people at its centre; foregrounds inclusivity; and allows a nuanced discussion of pleasures, harms, risks, and rewards, which can be used by those working with young people and those developing policy. Generating such research is likely to be facilitated by participation, collaboration, and communication with beneficiaries, between disciplines and across sectors. Taking such an approach, academic researchers, practitioners, and policymakers agree that we need a better understanding of RSE's place in lifelong learning, which seeks to understand the needs of particular groups, is concerned with non-sexual relationships, and does not see digital intimacies as disconnected from offline everyday 'reality'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new qualification benchmark, the Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF) Diploma Level 6 in Career Guidance and Development was established in the UK in 2011. This study was conducted to ascertain whether a theoretical nexus is necessary for practice and how this could contribute to the professionalisation of the adult careers sector in England. The study was undertaken with practitioners, all of whom had trained either through the work-based competency route or the academic route. Practitioners were asked to consider their theoretical modalities and how this influenced the embedding of theory within their professional practice. Analysis of survey and case study data revealed that degrees of exposure to theory during initial training affect capacities for theoretical integration during ongoing practice and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:Factors influencing engagement with self-managed rehabilitation are not well understood, but evidence suggests they may change over time. Despite increasing digitalisation of self-managed interventions, little is known about the role of internet-based interventions in patients’ experiences of self-directed rehabilitation. This longitudinal qualitative study investigated individuals’ ongoing experiences of internet-guided, self-managed rehabilitation within the context of rehabilitation for dizziness. Methods:Eighteen adults aged fifty and over who experienced dizziness used the ‘Balance Retraining’ internet intervention for six weeks. Participants took part in semi-structured telephone interviews at two-week intervals to explore their experiences. Data were inductively thematically analysed. Results:The internet intervention was reported to facilitate engagement with rehabilitation exercises, providing motivation to continue through symptom reduction and simple but helpful strategies. It was perceived as informative, reassuring, visually pleasing and easy to use. Barriers to engagement included practicalities, symptoms and doubts about exercise efficacy. Participants’ perceptions did not always remain consistent over time. Conclusion:The internet intervention may be a feasible method of supporting self-managed vestibular rehabilitation. More generally, longitudinal findings suggest that appearance-related perceptions of online interventions may be especially important for initial engagement. Furthermore, intervention features targeting self-efficacy seem important in overcoming barriers to engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this essay, I use autoethnographic sketching (Rambo, 2007) to explore the experience of arriving at and withdrawing from the London School of Economics and its impact on my life and work. I especially draw on the importance of close relationships with family, which helped me cope with and overcome limitations associated with my physical disability, cerebral palsy, as I work toward personal and professional fulfillment. It is my hope that these words will motivate others to better cope with and overcome challenges in pursuit of their goals. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: People with psychosis often have difficulty leaving their homes to perform tasks of daily living, which also limits their access to clinic-based interventions to support recovery. Home-based psychological therapy may offer a solution. Aim: To examine service user and therapist perspectives on (i) houseboundness in psychosis and (ii) the value of home-based psychological interventions, as a first step towards a systematic evaluation. Method: Semistructured interviews with 10 service users and 12 therapists from a large inner city mental health NHS Foundation Trust were thematically analysed. Results: Houseboundness most commonly resulted from anxiety, paranoia and amotivation, indicating the potential usefulness of targeted psychological therapies. Home-based therapy was offered unsystematically, with variable goals. Although beneficial for engagement and assessment, little gain was reported from undertaking a full course of therapy at home. Conclusion: Home visits could be offered by psychological therapists to engage and assess housebound service users, but home-based therapy may be best offered on a short-term basis, targeting paranoia, anxiety and amotivation to increase access to other resources. Given the increased cost associated with home-based psychological interventions, a systematic evaluation of their impact is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative study explored patients’ experiences of nurse support for an Internet-delivered weight management intervention. Eighteen patients who had received either basic or regular nurse support (three or seven contacts, respectively) for the Internet intervention were interviewed. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings suggest that more regular support for Internet interventions may have the potential to inhibit the development of autonomous motivation for weight loss, which might lead to problems in sustaining losses after support ends. Further research is now needed to confirm whether motivation is influenced by frequency of nurse support in Internet interventions in order to inform the development of optimal support which promotes sustained weight loss. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study draws on religious orientation theory, as proposed by Allport and Ross and extended by Batson and Ventis to profile the motivational style of 266 participants attending the Sunday services at Southwark Cathedral who completed the New Indices of Religious Orientation. Compared with data gathered from three other cathedrals published by Francis and Williams, participants at Southwark Cathedral recorded higher levels of quest-style motivation. The implications of these findings are discussed for the development of cathedral ministry. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: To investigate what goals influence the decisions of people with a traumatic brain injury to disclose (or not to disclose) information about their brain injury. Method: Ten people with a traumatic brain injury were interviewed about disclosing information about their injury to others. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: The report focuses on disclosure to people other than immediate family and close friends. Reasons for not disclosing included concern about negative reactions from others, feelings of shame about the injury, wanting to avoid getting distressed, wanting to fit in, lack of interest from others and the perception that the stress associated with the act of disclosing outweighed the benefits. Reasons for disclosing included obtaining emotional and practical support from others, the emotional release obtained from disclosure, the need to explain their behaviour to others and giving others the benefit of their experience. Experience of negative and stigmatizing reactions from others was common. Participants varied in their willingness to disclose. Conclusion: Disclosure can have important advantages and disadvantages. Some people with a TBI may need support in making optimal decisions about disclosure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social entrepreneurs present a contradiction if one accepts that economic motivation is premised on personal gain alone. The economic activity of social entrepreneurs is presumed altruistic, their actions intending to primarily benefit others. The theoretical and actual motivations, social networks and values of these actors are compared in this article. A series of semi-structured interviews of prominent social entrepreneurs in the west of England form the basis of analysis. Subjects were selected through a nomination-referral technique that allows targeting for interview those who are considered prominent in the sector within the chosen location. Two types of analysis are attempted: a narrative exploration of their motivations and a semantic networks analysis of their statements. There is evidence of a conceptual association between those actors’ success, entrepreneurship, motivation and social relations that indicate profitable avenues for future research. Some policy recommendations are offered in the conclusion. The multiple roles of social entrepreneurs and the multiple audiences they address indicate multidimensional agency. The development of the sector depends on comprehending conflict inherent in their multiple agendas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regional Alcohol Managers (RAMs) were employed in the nine English health regions over 2008-2011. Their mission was to impact on the 'hard target' of Alcohol-Related Hospital Admissions (AHRAs) through the 'soft methods' of persuasion and influence: working with local partners on evidence-based interventions. Drawing on a qualitative evaluation, this article shows how a central government policy imperative (ARHAs) led to 'government at a distance' responses, including the introduction of RAMs. The processes involved in shaping and delivering this function bore the hallmarks of a complex, interactive policy network model, involving individuals whose bearings and roles were flexible and sometimes ambiguous. While there were overlaps and blurring of boundaries, there were three levels of policy network: central government, regional and local. As the 'network in the middle', the RAMs were pulled in both directions by conflicting agendas but were also able to have an impact on central and local policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately half of sexual offenders in prison and community settings refuse to participate in sex offender treatment programmes; however, the reasons for this remain largely unexplored. This pilot study used the previously untested Treatment Refusal Scale—Sexual Offender Version in an English prison, with 72 adult males (63 treatment accepters and nine treatment refusers) imprisoned for sexual or sexually motivated offences. Principal factors analysis revealed three factors within the scale: “pressured to take part in programmes”; “fear of negative effects”; and “programme is not relevant to/appropriate for me”. Treatment refusers scored more highly than treatment accepters on the first and last components, while there was no statistically significant difference in the scores of the two groups on the “fear of negative effects” component. Suggestions for further development of the scale are discussed, along with the practice implications of these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article discusses changes in the English Higher Education (HE) sector. Topics discussed include the concept of disruptive innovation and the ways this concept applies to the HE sector, an argument that the HE sector in England needs to be distinctive and focus on its strengths, and the use of university mission as a driver of organizational motivation.

Efforts to discourage excessive alcohol use among young people can only be effective if the target audience is exposed to, attends to, and comprehends key messages. The aim of this study was to examine age and sex differences in drinking motives to better inform development of targeted interventions to reduce alcohol-related harm. Thirty individual interviews and 12 group interviews were conducted with English 13–25 year olds. Interviewees gave multiple motivations for drinking – especially those related to image and reputation, and played down the health implications of heavy drinking. Negative aspects of drinking – caring for drunk friends, being cared for when drunk and suffering through hangovers with friends – were considered to offer opportunities for closer interpersonal bonding than other social activities. Respondents distanced themselves from ‘problem’ drinkers, but disapproved of others’ problematic drinking or antisocial behaviour. Narrative messages demonstrating the social consequences of excessive consumption were preferred to single, static messages emphasising risk or harm. Interviewees noted that interventions must use an engaging tone or pitch: they considered many campaigns to be patronising or preaching. A lack of consensus between age and sex groups highlighted a need for multifaceted, multi-modal approaches that utilise mobile technologies and new media. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Although the vast majority of individuals with a mental disorder do not commit sexual offences, sexual offenders are a significant group within forensic psychiatric populations and command a high level of healthcare resources. Despite this, there is little published research focusing on the offence-specific cognitive styles (e.g. cognitive distortions and implicit theories) of these individuals, limiting understanding of their assessment and treatment needs. The current study aimed to establish whether evidence for the implicit theories identified by researchers of non-mentally disordered child sexual offenders would also be present among a population of high secure psychiatric male sexual offenders. Analysis of interviews with 12 such individuals indicated that the majority of the cognitive distortions articulated by these men could be categorised within existing implicit theory descriptions. The findings are discussed in relation to clinical practice and suggestions for future research with this specific population are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coach-created motivational climate is a key determinant of athletes' welfare and degree of optimal functioning when taking part in sport. The purpose of this study, grounded in a self-determination theory and achievement goal theory-integrated framework, was to investigate to what extent the differences in the objective motivational climate created by the coaches involved in the European-wide “Promoting Adolescent Physical Activity” project were a function of their country affiliation (i.e. England, Greece and France). Fifty-seven coaches (55 men and 2 women) from England, Greece and France were selected to take part in the study. Each coach was videotaped during one complete training session using a digital camcorder and microphone. The recently developed Multidimensional Motivational Climate Observation System was used to code the coach-created motivational climate in terms of need-supportive and need-thwarting environmental dimensions. Results showed that (1) coaches were observed to emphasise on a more need-supportive environment than a need-thwarting one (i.e. 69.9% and 30.1% of the whole behaviours coded, respectively) and (2) although coaches' interpersonal styles varied significantly across countries, the general pattern of the coach-created environment observed in the three countries had a similar profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Expectations of the latest manifestation of GP- led commissioning, in delivering cost-savings and improved services, are considerable. However, previous models suggest clinical engagement and other factors may hinder its success. It is timely to explore the views of the newest generation of GPs about involvement in commissioning, to inform plans for preparing the future workforce. Aim To explore the views of recently qualified GPs about their future role in commissioning health services. Design and setting A qualitative study with GPs qualifying with Severn Deanery between 2007 and 2010. Method Semi-structured interviews with 18 GPs between November 2011 and April 2012. Results These GPs lack understanding of roles and skills required for commissioning. Readiness is related to experience as a GP and of how services are financed and run, making timeliness for becoming involved important. Not all GPs feel motivated for commissioning and readiness is further hindered by feelings of conflict and uncertainty about how commissioning will work. There is optimism around working differently and better representing patients, but caution around risks and for some, cynicism about motives, will need addressing. Conclusion While there is some optimism among these GPs about representing patients, leading reform and working differently with colleagues, there are concerns. GPs need to better understand the processes involved, experience and skills needed, and roles they can take. They can be helped through education and mentoring by established GPs to be ready for a role in commissioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to examine patients’ and health professionals’ perspectives on lifestyle behaviour change and to inform the development of a lifestyle behaviour change intervention to be used in primary care. Design Focus groups were conducted with seven patients and 13 health professionals where they were asked to discuss lifestyle behaviour change in relation to the design and development phase of a tailored lifestyle behaviour change intervention package. Results An inductive thematic analysis of transcripts suggested a range of issues that are relevant to the development and implementation of lifestyle change interventions such as time, lack of resources and starting interventions too late, as well as personal circumstances and the continuous effort that behaviour change requires. They were interpreted as two superordinate themes of ‘internal and external influences on behaviour change’ and ‘behaviour change initiation and maintenance’. The results are discussed in relation to the implications they may have for researchers and health service commissioners designing interventions and practitioners implementing lifestyle change interventions in primary care. Conclusion Many factors are involved in patients’ and health care professionals’ understanding of interventions and lifestyle behaviour change. These should be taken into consideration when designing interventions based on behaviour change theories. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

It is generally assumed that empathy acts to disinhibit behaviour that could be perceived as detrimental to others, and as a result is a common feature of offender treatment programmes. The present research hypothesised that empathy in all populations is both a situational and a selective process that is ultimately governed by self-interest, and further, that it is the nature of the self-interest that distinguishes individuals rather than a general empathy deficit per se. Empathic processes were observed in a non-offending population in a personal situation normally regarded as evocative of empathy: infidelity. Thematic analysis of data from individuals who reported being faithful or unfaithful to their partners revealed five dominant themes: vulnerable predisposition, emotional motivators, rational emotive decision making, avoiding cognitive dissonance and lack of remorse. The themes all revealed how individuals employed cognitive strategies, which were managed by self-interest that functioned to create cognitive states devoid of empathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This contribution examines the relationship between women's labor force participation (LFP) and fertility in three industrial towns of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century England from a feminist economic perspective. The study augments existing statistical approaches to demographic history by discussing women's motivations. Women's LFP influenced their likelihood of family limitation (via effects on both age at marriage and marital fertility). Where women were most likely to be in paid work, they were most likely to limit family size. It is further argued that the diversity of LFP patterns is the principal explanation for the varied patterns of fertility decline in different parts of Britain. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article presents findings on pupil attitudes towards learning foreign languages in Key Stage 2 (ages 7–11) in primary schools in England. As a consequence of the National Languages Strategy, the University of Warwick was commissioned by the then Department for Education and Skills to undertake an evaluation between 2003 and 2005 of 19 Pathfinder local authorities which were piloting language learning at Key Stage 2. As part of this investigation of developing primary language practice, a total of 319 pupils in 41 case study schools were interviewed. Findings indicate that, despite the majority of children interviewed being positive about their initial language learning experience, as time went on the need for differentiation and challenge emerged. Furthermore, a number of pupils would have welcomed feedback about their own progress. These are all aspects of early language learning which continue to merit attention, as shown by more recent studies such as by C. Cable and colleagues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary objective: To examine clients' perspectives on residential rehabilitation for acquired brain injury (ABI). Research design: Qualitative semi-structured interviews. Method: Seven individuals who resided in a single residential rehabilitation unit for ABI were interviewed and thematic analysis was used to identify themes in their responses. Main outcomes and results: The analysis identified four themes: rebuilding self-belief, reflecting participants' sense of independence and confidence in their ability; recognition of personal identity, including a number of personal traits; acceptance and change, incorporating coming to terms with their ABI and identifying change; and a sense of community atmosphere, reflecting clients' perception of their own role and relationships with others. Conclusion: The results provide in-depth qualitative understanding of how clients' perceived their experience within a residential rehabilitation unit for ABI. Implications of the results are discussed, including the identification of potential beneficial talking therapies for clients within this setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Little is known about medical students' perceptions of the factors that influence their academic performance. Aim: To detect factors medical students, in the final years of their undergraduate medical studies, believe affect their academic performance. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with high-achieving and re-sitting students in the final two years of their studies in a London medical school. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. Thematic content analysis was conducted. Similarities and differences in factors perceived to affect the academic performance of high-achieving and re-sitting students were identified. Results: Eight re-sitting and ten high-achieving students were interviewed. Three core themes were identified: engagement with learning; reflections on learning methods and experiences and the application of learning to future practice. High-achieving students showed a greater awareness of what worked in terms of their approaches to learning and coping with difficulty than re-sitting students. There were also differences in the degree of positive engagement with peers, suggesting the positive contribution of socialising with other medical students. Conclusions: This exploratory qualitative study identified attitudes, behaviours and motivations that appeared to contribute to success or failure at medical school. Our findings suggest ways to improve appraisal, remediation and support mechanisms for students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study set out to profile an Anglican congregation in the south of England in terms of religious orientation, assessed by the New Indices of Religious Orientation, and in terms of psychological type, assessed by the Francis Psychological Type Scales, in order to test the hypothesis that motivation for church attendance (religious orientation) is related to personality (psychological type). The data demonstrated that this congregation (N = 65) displayed clear preferences for judging (72%) over perceiving (28%) and for sensing (62%) over intuition (39%), slight preference for extraversion (54%) over introversion (46%) and a fairly close balance between feeling (51%) and thinking (49%), and included attenders who reflected all three religious orientations: intrinsic, extrinsic, and quest. Moreover, extraverts recorded significantly higher scores than introverts on the measure of extrinsic religiosity, while introverts recorded significantly higher scores than extraverts on the measure of intrinsic religiosity, demonstrating a link between psychological type and religious orientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The professional status of further education lecturers has been widely debated and contested within the published literature. This article presents the results of a series of semi-structured interviews undertaken with a small sample of college lecturers working within a partner college network in south-west England. Regardless of the level of the higher/further education teaching the lecturers identities remain strongly rooted in their role as teachers and commitment to supporting learners attain their educational ambitions. The lecturers' identities were in a state of flux due to the dual demands of their employer (the college) and collaborating institution (the university). Their shifting identities may only be mediated through wider recognition being afforded to the role of a higher education lecturer working in a further education college from their managers, universities and supporting bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globalization has motivated managers and scholars in the tourism industry to focus more attention on the problems and characteristics of the cross-cultural service encounter. During these interactions, differing cultural norms and values often create misunderstanding and conflict, which can result in an unhappy customer, a frustrated service provider and lost business. Therefore, the focus of this study was to analyze the effect of intercultural sensitivity on tourism employee performance in cross-cultural service encounters in three similar, but distinct service-dependent markets: the Hawaiian Islands, Greater London (UK) and the state of Florida. The results indicate that tourism employees with high intercultural sensitivity generally scored significantly (p < 0.05) higher than employees with low intercultural sensitivity in terms of service attentiveness, revenue contribution, interpersonal skills, job satisfaction and social satisfaction as they relate to cross-cultural encounters. There was no significant difference in results for motivation to work, tenure (years at present organization) and primary rewards (compensation, recognition, etc.). Implications of the findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]