Cindy Olivier and Catherine Burton
The transition from school to higher education is a complex process. Peer mentoring is often used by institutions to facilitate this process. The purpose of this research, which…
Abstract
Purpose
The transition from school to higher education is a complex process. Peer mentoring is often used by institutions to facilitate this process. The purpose of this research, which was conducted at a South African university, was to determine whether a peer mentoring programme, which involved a large number of students and a limited number of mentors, could successfully assist students to adapt to the academic and psychosocial demands of university life.
Design/methodology/approach
A sequential explanatory mixed method design was implemented. In the first phase, a questionnaire was used to collect data to establish participants' experience of the programme. The findings from the questionnaire were used to inform the qualitative phase, in which the participants' perceptions of the benefits of the mentor programme were further explored by means of group interviews. The qualitative data were analysed using inductive qualitative content analysis.
Findings
The results indicate that a structured peer mentoring programme, in which a mentor works with up to 70 mentees in a group setting, can be a useful tool to assist with students' transition to university. The research found that the peer mentoring programme contributed to the students' academic, social and personal integration into the higher education environment.
Research limitations/implications
The perspectives of mentors and faculty were not included. No comparative study with students who did not participate in the programme was conducted.
Practical implications
This research illustrates that it is possible to mentor large groups of disadvantaged and vulnerable students notwithstanding limited resources.
Originality/value
In contrast to the existing literature on peer mentoring in higher education, which focuses on one-on-one or small-group mentoring, this research suggests that peer mentoring of larger groups can also play an important role in assisting students to transition to higher education. The description of the programme and the benefits students derived from it offer other institutions with limited resources some ideas about how a peer mentoring programme can be implemented.
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Catherine Mullan, Darren Johnson and Jennifer Tomlinson
Although support exists for the effectiveness of treatment for personality disordered offenders there is limited knowledge about the processes underlying the therapeutic change…
Abstract
Purpose
Although support exists for the effectiveness of treatment for personality disordered offenders there is limited knowledge about the processes underlying the therapeutic change. The purpose of this paper is to explore the treatment experiences of six male psychopathic offenders who attended a social skills treatment component implemented within a high-secure personality disorder treatment service.
Design/methodology/approach
Interview transcripts were analysed by the lead researcher (first author) using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) who compared and contrasted findings to develop superordinate themes across the group. External auditing analysis was conducted by the second author.
Findings
Several themes were identified that may indicate the unique ways this client group experienced treatment. These related to the importance of “group cohesion” with treatment progression and shared learning experiences, the significance of “therapeutic alliance” with treatment providers and perceived effectiveness of treatment, and the conflict participants experienced when acquiring and applying skills from their engagement in treatment. Participants identified aspects of the treatment component that facilitated the effectiveness of treatment and were effective in meeting their needs and some that would benefit from improvement.
Practical implications
Positive group dynamics are important. Operational staff inclusion within the facilitation team is beneficial. Attentiveness to participants’ specific responsivity needs is required. Supporting skill application post-treatment is important.
Originality/value
These findings add to the evidence base in relation to factors that support personality disordered offenders’ engagement within treatment. Areas that validate treatment delivery are highlighted, as are suggestions for change to maximise treatment gain for psychopathic and personality disordered offenders.
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Vicki Catherine Waye, Collette Snowden, Jane Knowler, Paula Zito, Jack Burton and Joe McIntyre
The purpose of this paper is to examine whether mandatory disclosure of information accompanying the sale of real estate achieves its aim of informed purchasers.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine whether mandatory disclosure of information accompanying the sale of real estate achieves its aim of informed purchasers.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a case study approach focused on mandatory disclosure in South Australia data was collected from interviews and focus groups with key personnel in the property industry involved in the production of information required to fulfil vendors’ disclosure obligations.
Findings
The authors found that purchasers are ill-served by a long and complex form of mandatory disclosure with a short time frame that prevents the use of the information provided. Without good form design and increased digital affordances provided by the cadastral and conveyancing systems, mandatory disclosure is insufficient to ensure minimisation of information asymmetry between vendor and purchaser.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first Australian qualitative study that examines the utility of mandatory vendor disclosure in real estate sales and the first to consider the impact of the digitalisation of cadastral and conveyancing systems upon the efficacy of mandatory disclosure regimes.
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Having provided a feasible framework for the use of big data and a learning health system (LHS) in addressing disparities in access to palliative care, this chapter seeks to…
Abstract
Having provided a feasible framework for the use of big data and a learning health system (LHS) in addressing disparities in access to palliative care, this chapter seeks to substantiate the ethical underpinning of that framework, drawing from well-regarded existing sources. The author will also address issues which will likely arise from a successful transition to LHSs such as the nature of informed consent, the impact it will have on medical decision-making in general, and the transformative effect big data and implementation of LHSs will have on existing data sources.
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This chapter discusses the steps taken to access and use the ACS five-year data. The format of the data is discussed pointing out the fact that there is no requirement that an ACS…
Abstract
This chapter discusses the steps taken to access and use the ACS five-year data. The format of the data is discussed pointing out the fact that there is no requirement that an ACS five-year variable holds data for the same field year to year. The development of a cross-reference table is discussed allowing the data to be accessed by a common label.