NUI Maynooth Eprint Archive
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The importance of apology to mediation: A mixed-methods study of role, effectiveness and implications for practice
No full textThis paper explores the role of apology in the resolution of conflict through
mediation. The paper outlines the distinctive features of mediation that
contribute to its unique potential to help restore relationships, with apology
forming a potentially transformative aspect to this.
However, not all apologies are the same and not all apologies are effective.
Working from the literature, this article seeks to clarify the characteristics of
apology that are likely to make it effective in mediation. A review of the
literature also reveals a range of moderating factors that can further impact the
effectiveness of apology. Particular attention will be paid to these moderators
in considering what contributes to a template of apology effectiveness in the
context of mediation.
In this study, the first of its kind in an Irish context, empirical data from an
online survey of 97 practicing mediators along with in-depth interviews with a
sample of 24 organisational mediators is analysed, in relation to five core
questions aimed at determining the fundamental nature of apology in
mediation. While the mediators who were interviewed operate in the
‘organisational’ context, the mediators we surveyed practice across a range of
mediation contexts, including civil, workplace, and family. Therefore the context, in this case, was not controlled. Nonetheless, the analysis yields
insights that support the view found in the literature that an apology can, in
certain circumstances, be an effective means of transforming the mediation
process.
A summary of these findings indicates that:
(a) Practicing mediators confirm that apology is a prominent feature of
mediation, and that the process represents fertile soil for apology. This
represents a challenge to the mediator where apology is not forthcoming.
(b) Where an apology is forthcoming but hesitant, skilled mediators can act
as a conduit of apology between parties.
(c) The data also suggests that a high-quality apology, issued spontaneously,
can have a transformative effect on the dispute, particularly where the
relationship is on-going.
The main contribution of this paper lies in its potential to inform mediation
practice, by illustrating the potential impact of apology and by offering role
guidance to practitioners who wish to facilitate such potential where
circumstances allow. The paper also contributes to the literature through
insights offered by the research respondents which shed new light on existing themes.
Ultimately this research argues that mediation can accommodate apology as a
potent means of repairing relationships, and that the mediator can play a key
role in this. The paper will make the case for a nuanced, yet structured
approach to apology, one that needs to be reflected in mediator training and
practice. The case for further research is presented at the end
MDS coding is better than replication for job completion times
No full textIf queue-states are unknown to a dispatcher, a replication strategy has been proposed where jobcopies are sent randomly to servers. When the service of any copy is completed, redundant copies areremoved. For jobs that can be algebraically manipulated and have linear servers, to get the response-time performance of sendingdcopies ofnjobs via the replication strategy, with Maximum DistanceSeparable (MDS) codes we show thatn+djobs suffice. That is, while replication is multiplicative,MDS is linear
Oral presentation at EUI workshop: Territorial Changes and livelihood transformations: Market integration, livelihood mobility, land use changes
No full textWhile there is extensive research on the effects of climatic and other forms of change on pastoralism in Africa, less is known about how recent policy responses and interventions in the name of climate change and drylands development are shaped by certain discourses and narratives and by political interests. This is important because the simplifications that frequently characterise environmental policy narratives can fail to acknowledge the politicised nature of many environmental problems in local contexts. The pastoral drylands are no exception. This presentation sets out some insights from a recently completed Doctoral research project that examines the discourses and narratives found in contemporary climate change and national development policy in Ethiopia and Kenya, the actors shaping those policy narratives, and ultimately, their consequences for pastoralist livelihoods. Research findings support the claim that climate-change arguments – combined with the drive for transformation and modernisation of pastoral areas – are being used by the state and other powerful actors as tools in contestations over land and other resources. The resultant policy prescriptions and investments are in turn leading to new patterns of social differentiation and vulnerability among pastoralists. While providing some level of climate-risk preparedness, climate adaptation and resilience-building interventions on their own are insufficient to meet the needs of pastoralist communities. The extent and nature of dynamic change in dryland areas of the HoA calls for political responses that address social inequities and power imbalances, that safeguard pastoralist resource rights, and that allow for more inclusive forms of pastoral area governance
Metacognition in action as a possible explanation for stock-flow failure
No full textThis study aims at examining the role of metacognition, which refers to one's ability to control and regulate their own thinking process through various activities in assessing dynamics of stocks and flows. The first research question focuses on the metacognitive activities used by individuals who solved such tasks correctly and who did not. The second question focuses on how successfully participants organized their thinking processes to arrive at a correct answer when prompted and permitted to retry. Forty undergraduate students were involved in the study, and concurrent think-aloud protocol was used to examine their thinking when performing two stock-flow tasks. The findings revealed that participants tend to have difficulties in reading, planning, monitoring, and checking activities. The effectiveness of metacognitive activities employed by the participants is likely to decrease from reading to checking, respectively. The study contributes to our understanding of metacognitive deficiencies in stock-flow failure and provides further research suggestions
Trauma, PTSD, and complex PTSD in the Republic of Ireland: prevalence, service use, comorbidity, and risk factors
No full textPurpose: This study represents the first assessment of the prevalence of trauma exposure, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD (CPTSD), ever conducted in the general population of the Republic of Ireland. Additionally, prevalence of past-year mental health service use, comorbidity with major depression and generalized anxiety, and risk factors associated with PTSD and CPTSD were assessed.
Methods: A nationally representative sample of non-institutionalized Irish adults (N = 1020) completed self-report measures of trauma history, trauma-related psychopathology, mental health service use, and concurrent mental health problems.
Results: Lifetime exposure to one or more traumatic events was 82.3%, and 67.8% reported experiencing two or more traumatic events. Males and females significantly differed in their frequency of exposure to eight of 16 traumatic events. The past-month prevalence for PTSD was 5.0% (95% CI 3.7%, 6.3%) and 7.7% (95% CI 6.1%, 9.4%) for CPTSD. Of those who screened positive for PTSD or CPTSD, 48.6% accessed mental health care in the past year. Comorbidity with major depression and generalized anxiety was high, especially among those with CPTSD. Several unique and shared risk factors for PTSD and CPTSD were identified.
Conclusion: Approximately one-in-eight Irish adults met diagnostic requirements for PTSD or CPTSD, and comorbidity with other disorders was high. History of interpersonal trauma and exposure to multiple types of trauma in different developmental periods were associated with CPTSD. Many individuals did not access mental health care revealing a substantial mental health treatment gap
How can I enhance my collaborative practice to value the voice of a parent and her child with Down syndrome in the development of a Student Support Plan?
No full textThis project was established as an action research journey, enhancing my collaborative practice to value the voice of a parent and her child with Down syndrome in the Student Support Plan. Government legislation and educational policies recognise the parents as the primary educators and central participants in a child’s education. Additionally pupil participation, where possible, is also recommended in planning for a child with Special Educational Needs. This project emphasises the policies and documents that reinforce a collaborative approach to planning, inclusive of all stakeholders intersecting around the needs of the child. Therefore, strategies were developed to establish and nurture meaningful collaborative practice with the parent and child participants in the research. When working with children it is crucial that ethical standards are adhered to at all times and this is particularly heightened when working with a child with Down syndrome. Furthermore, protecting the wellbeing of both the parent and child was a central consideration throughout the study.
Prior to embarking on this study, an overall review of the literature associated with collaboration and the voice of the parent and child, offered an insight into the benefits and constraints found in practice. Notably, there appeared to be a lack of specific procedures in attaining and sustaining this meaningful level of collaboration. Consequently, using a self-study action research approach enabled a deep enquiry into my own practice. This focused on enhancing my understanding and knowledge of a shared and inclusive approach, valuing the voice of the parent and child within my role as a Special Education Teacher. Moreover, the project entailed several interventions that
created opportunities to promote, include and value the voice of the parent and child. Furthermore, it explored the unique perspectives and insights offered by the parent and child when determining targets, strategies and subsequent review, accruing to a dynamic and effective planning document.
Utilising this unique approach to collaborative practice unearthed and solidified my values of care and collaboration within my lived practice, as I connected to the vital parental insights of a child with Down syndrome in addition to the child’s own integral input in their learning. The emergent themes from the research identified successful Froebelian approaches evident throughout my collaborative practice. Consequently, the resulting findings increased my own understanding and knowledge of a child-centred Froebelian collaborative practice.
Engaging in self-study action research has determined that a continuous, investigative journey of educational and professional development offers significant and transformative potential, enhancing my practice through the multiple perspectives of others. Using my own living standards of judgement fostered an accountability of my overall research generating my authentic claim to knowledge at the end of the project. This intimate journey of self-study and self-enquiry is now thoroughly outlined beginning with the first chapter, the Introduction
The role of expectations and future-oriented cognitions in quality of life of people with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review
No full textPurpose
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a highly variable condition characterised by uncertainty of disease course which can make formation of expectations about the future difficult. This systematic review aimed to examine associations between expectations, or Future Oriented Cognitions (FOCs), and Quality of Life (QOL) in people with MS (PwMS).
Methods
Following PRISMA guidelines, literature up to October 2019 was searched using Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO and Web of Science. Quantitative studies that investigated relationships between FOCs and QOL in PwMS (assessed using a standardised QOL assessment) were considered for inclusion. After data extraction, results were analysed using narrative synthesis, focusing on the valence of FOCs (positive, negative, unvalenced). Quality appraisal was conducted using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). All stages of the review were patient-led by a person with MS.
Results
A total of 13 studies met the review inclusion criteria, with a combined sample size of 4,179. Of these studies, 11 involved measures of positive FOCs, most commonly self-efficacy, one measured a negative FOC, with one FOC unclassified. Nine studies found significant associations between QOL and self-efficacy. Although other positively valenced constructs were less frequently reported, significant associations with higher QOL were also evidenced.
Conclusions
Identifying ways to foster positive FOCs, particularly self-efficacy, may have beneficial effects on QOL. More research is needed to understand the impacts of negative FOCs on QOL to determine whether these processes could be meaningfully targeted in interventions
A systematic literature review of factor analytic and mixture models of ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD using the International Trauma Questionnaire
No full textThe 11th version of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11; WHO, 2018) describes two distinct
trauma related disorders, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Complex PTSD (CPTSD). This review aims to
summarise and synthesize evidence from factor analytic and mixture modelling studies that have investigated the
latent structure of the International Trauma Questionnaire. A systematic search of PsycInfo, Web of Science,
Scopus and Pubmed databases was conducted to identify relevant articles. Thirty-three studies met the inclusion
criteria for this systematic review. The latent structure of the ITQ was best represented by two models; a
correlated six-factor model (Re-experiencing, Avoidance, Threat, Affect Dysregulation, Negative Self Concept,
and Disturbed Relationships) and a two-factor second-order model (PTSD and Disturbances in Self-Organization).
Mixture model studies consistently identified distinct classes representing those displaying PTSD and CPTSD
symptoms. Numerous studies demonstrated support for the factorial and discriminant validity of PTSD and
CPTSD when analysed in conjunction with other variables. Overall, support was found for the conceptual
coherence of PTSD and CPTSD as empirically distinguishable disorders, as measured by the ITQ. The available
evidence demonstrates that the ITQ is a valid measure of ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD. Recommendations for future
research are included
A longitudinal assessment of depression and anxiety in the Republic of Ireland before and during the COVID-19 pandemic
No full textFew studies have examined changes in mental health before and after the outbreak of COVID-19. We examined changes in the prevalence of major depression and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) between February 2019 and March-April 2020; if there were changes in major depression and GAD during six weeks of nationwide lockdown; and we identified factors that predicted major depression and GAD across the six-week lockdown period. Nationally representative samples of Irish adults were gathered using identical methods in February 2019 (N = 1020) and March-April 2020 (N = 1041). The latter was reassessed six weeks later. Significantly more people screened positive for depression in February 2019 (29.8% 95% CI = 27.0, 32.6) than in March-April 2020 (22.8% 95% CI = 20.2, 25.3), and there was no change in GAD. There were no significant changes in depression and GAD during the lockdown. Major depression was predicted by younger age, non-city dwelling, lower resilience, higher loneliness, and higher somatic problems. GAD was predicted by a broader set of variables including several COVID-19 specific variables. These findings indicate that the prevalence of major depression and GAD did not increase as a result of, or during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland
Psychometric Properties and Correlates of Precarious Manhood Beliefs in 62 Nations
No full textPrecarious manhood beliefs portray manhood, relative to womanhood, as a social status that is hard to earn, easy to lose, and proven via public action. Here, we present cross-cultural data on a brief measure of precarious manhood beliefs (the Precarious Manhood Beliefs scale [PMB]) that covaries meaningfully with other cross-culturally validated gender ideologies and with country-level indices of gender equality and human development. Using data from university samples in 62 countries across 13 world regions ( N = 33,417), we demonstrate: (1) the psychometric isomorphism of the PMB (i.e., its comparability in meaning and statistical properties across the individual and country levels); (2) the PMB’s distinctness from, and associations with, ambivalent sexism and ambivalence toward men; and (3) associations of the PMB with nation-level gender equality and human development. Findings are discussed in terms of their statistical and theoretical implications for understanding widely-held beliefs about the precariousness of the male gender role