The Experts below are selected from a list of 125376 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Daniel T. L. Shek - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Promotion of Thriving Among Hong Kong Chinese Adolescents: Evidence From Eight-Wave Data
Research on Social Work Practice, 2020Co-Authors: Daniel T. L. Shek, Xiaoqin ZhuAbstract:Objectives:This study evaluated the longitudinal effect of a positive youth development (PYD) program entitled “Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programmes” (Project P.A.T.H.S.)...
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A stakeholder-collaborative evaluation of intervention for students with greater psychoSocial needs.
International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 2012Co-Authors: Daniel T. L. ShekAbstract:The Tier 2 Program of Project P.A.T.H.S. (Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programmes) in Hong Kong was designed and implemented by school Social workers targeting adolescents with greater psychoSocial needs. Based on the responses of 237 participants, 48 program implementers wrote down five conclusions on the program effectiveness in their reports submitted to the funding body. Based on a stakeholder-collaborative approach involving secondary data analyses, results showed that most conclusions were positive regarding participants' perceptions of the program, instructors and their perceived program effectiveness, although there were also conclusions reflecting difficulties encountered and suggestions for improvements. In conjunction with the previous evaluation findings, the present study suggests that the Tier 2 Program was well received by the stakeholders and the program was beneficial to the development of the program participants.
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prevention of adolescent problem behavior longitudinal impact of the project p a t h s in hong kong
The Scientific World Journal, 2011Co-Authors: Daniel T. L. ShekAbstract:The present study attempts to examine the longitudinal impact of a curriculum-based positive youth development program, entitled the Project P.A.T.H.S. (Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programmes), on adolescent problem behavior in Hong Kong. Using a longitudinal randomized group design, six waves of data were collected from 19 experimental schools (n = 3,797 at Wave 1) in which students participated in the Project P.A.T.H.S. and 24 control schools (n = 4,049 at Wave 1). At each wave, students responded to questions asking about their current problem behaviors, including delinquency and use of different types of drugs, and their intentions of engaging in such behaviors in the future. Results based on individual growth curve modeling generally showed that the participants displayed lower levels of substance abuse and delinquent behavior than did the control students. Participants who regarded the program to be helpful also showed lower levels of problem behavior than did the control students. The present findings suggest that the Project P.A.T.H.S. is effective in preventing adolescent problem behavior in the junior secondary school years.
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Longitudinal Data Analyses Using Linear Mixed Models in SPSS: Concepts, Procedures and Illustrations
The Scientific World Journal, 2011Co-Authors: Daniel T. L. Shek, Cecilia M. S.Abstract:Although different methods are available for the analyses of longitudinal data, analyses based on generalized linear models (GLM) are criticized as violating the assumption of independence of observations. Alternatively, linear mixed models (LMM) are commonly used to understand changes in human behavior over time. In this paper, the basic concepts surrounding LMM (or hierarchical linear models) are outlined. Although SPSS is a statistical analyses package commonly used by researchers, documentation on LMM procedures in SPSS is not thorough or user friendly. With reference to this limitation, the related procedures for performing analyses based on LMM in SPSS are described. To demonstrate the application of LMM analyses in SPSS, findings based on six waves of data collected in the Project P.A.T.H.S. (Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programmes) in Hong Kong are presented.
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Subjective outcome evaluation findings: factors related to the perceived effectiveness of the tier 2 program of the project P.A.T.H.S.
The Scientific World Journal, 2010Co-Authors: Daniel T. L. Shek, Cecilia M. S.Abstract:After completion of the Tier 2 Program of the Project P.A.T.H.S. (Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programmes), 8,489 participants in 196 schools responded to the Subjective Outcome Evaluation Form (Form C) to assess their views of the program, program workers, and perceived effectiveness of the program. Four major program elements were identified, including programs based on the adventure-based counseling approach (n = 48), programs concentrated on volunteer training and services (n = 44), programs with both the adventure-based counseling approach and volunteer training activities (n = 63), and other programs with different foci (n = 41). Descriptive statistics showed that the respondents had positive perceptions of the program, workers, and benefits of the program. Perceived qualities of the program and the program workers were positively associated with perceived effectiveness of the program. Multiple regression analysis revealed that perceived qualities of the program, but not the program workers, predicted perceived effectiveness of the program. The theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.
Alex Waddan - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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The Universal Decline of Universality? Social Policy Change in Canada, Denmark, Sweden and the UK
Social Policy & Administration, 2014Co-Authors: Daniel Béland, Paula Blomqvist, Jørgen Goul Andersen, Joakim Palme, Alex WaddanAbstract:The debate about the future of universal Social Programmes has been raging for years, both in Social-democratic and in liberal welfare states. The objective of this article is to contribute to the literature on universality by analyzing the evolution of universal Social Programmes in two Social-democratic and two liberal countries: Denmark, Sweden, Canada and the UK. This choice of countries provides the opportunity to investigate whether the principle and practice of universality has fared differently both within and between countries. The analysis focuses primarily on the national level while exploring three policy areas: pensions, healthcare and family policy, specifically child benefits and day care. The main conclusion of our comparative analysis is clear: among our two liberal and two Social-democratic countries, the institutional strength of universality varies greatly from one policy area and one country to another. Considering this, there is no such a thing as a universal decline of universality.
Pinky Chandra - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Do Social Programmes contribute to mental well-being? The long-term impact of unemployment on depression in the United States
International journal of epidemiology, 2001Co-Authors: Eunice Rodriguez, Edward A. Frongillo, Pinky ChandraAbstract:Background Important evidence about the mental health effects of unemployment exist; however, little is known about the possible protective effects of various Social interventions or about their long-term impact. This study examines the longterm consequences that different types of Social Programmes, i.e. entitlement and means-tested benefits, might have as regards ameliorating a negative mental health impact of unemployment among women and men. Methods Multiple regression models were used to analyse panel data collected in the National Survey of Families and Households in 1987 and 1992. In all 8029 individuals interviewed in both 1987 and 1992 were included in the analysis. A depression index was created from the responses to 15 items from the Center for Epidemiological Studies’ Depression Scale-D (CES-D) which were included in the survey. Results The receipt of government entitlement benefits by unemployed women is associated with a reduction of depression symptoms in the long term. Men and women not working and receiving means-tested or welfare benefits are more likely to report depression in both the short and long term. Conclusions The study underscores the need for monitoring the impact of welfare reform on mental health.
H. A. Heathfield - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Evaluating clinical systems: the Social programme perspective
Health Informatics Journal, 2001Co-Authors: H. A. HeathfieldAbstract:Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) are seen as the ‘gold standard’ for the evaluation of mature clinical systems. The author contests this viewpoint and argues for an alternative approach derived from the evaluation of Social Programmes. RCTs assume the experimental system is a black box, the emphasis being to establish the presence of a causal link between the intervention and outcome, but not to understand the mechanism by which the outcome occurs. Conversely, the Social programme perspective recognizes explicitly that for changes in outcome to occur, a mechanism and sustaining context is needed, and that both of these can, and should be, studied in detail. This perspective causes a subtle shift in the emphasis and experimental approach of an evaluation, and can provide valuable information to assist a major goal in medical informatics; to engineer useful and useable systems and devise strategies to ensure they are successfully deployed into routine clinical practice.
Alice Sampson - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Aspiring to evidence-based policy and practice; but what type of evidence is useful?
2013Co-Authors: Alice SampsonAbstract:Over the last twenty years or so policymakers, commissioners, and those delivering Social Programmes have been encouraged to make decisions on the basis of evidence. But evidence-based policy is not as simple as often presented and dominant research methods do not necessarily enhance our ability to predict whether a policy or Social programme will be effective. In practice, parts of East London remain some of the most economically and Socially disadvantaged, despite a succession of urban policies; and, Social Programmes can be effective in some places but not in others, for example, Sure Start, Youth Inclusion Programme and New Deal for Communities. Using findings from an evaluation of a successful programme to increase the potential of young people and to rehabilitate young offenders, this presentation explores what types of information are relevant to predict the effectiveness of policies and Social interventions. It is argued that policymaking is conjecture, and information about how Social problems are characterised creates strong theories about how policies and Programmes are expected to work. Thus, the young people’s project is successful because of the way in which it characterises problems experienced by young people living in violence prone areas, and from this conceptualisation has developed strong hypotheses about how to respond. These theories inform the values of the organisation, and its activities, and generate a change process that alters young people’s attitudes and behaviour. The information collected and collated annually by the organisation has enabled it to expand and to implement Programmes in various locations in different countries by transferring practice principles. This transfer of principles to other community organisations gives insights into thinking about what types of information are relevant to making reliable policy decisions.
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Developing Robust Approaches to Evaluating Social Programmes
Evaluation, 2007Co-Authors: Alice SampsonAbstract:Using ‘evidence’ to falsify rather than verify patterns in data and searching for alternative explanations enables a better understanding of the circumstances that explain why and how a Social programme works or does not work. An analysis of the extent to which a programme is meeting its aims and objectives to find out if it provides a solution to the policy problem, is more rigorous. The roles researchers adopt influence the quality of an evaluation; facilitating a better understanding of the theories embodied in Programmes enhances an evaluation while being a ‘broker of compromise’ can limit access to information. Researchers have a valuable role in promoting learning. A robust evaluation framework integrates strategies for generalizing at the outset and identifying mechanisms of change or causal mechanism is a way forward. Examples are taken from recent evaluations conducted by the author and colleagues to illustrate the arguments.