This study aimed to identify subgroups of pregnant women at imminent (1 year) risk for major depressive episodes. Participants were 84 low-income, predominantly Mexican women using public sector obstetrics services who participated in monthly interviews during pregnancy and up to 6 months postpartum. Participants were designated a priori as "more…

Educational discourse in Australia has been dramatically altered in recent decades as neoliberal choice policies favouring an increasingly marketized, tiered educational landscape have witnessed a burgeoning of private sector schooling. In this climate, many perceive private sector schooling as providing moral, social and academic benefits beyond…

New Labour promised to introduce dramatic reforms to the education system when it came to power in 1997 and one of the key strategies it employed in the pursuit of educational improvement was the utilisation of the methods of the private sector. Arguably its most controversial policy was its effective privatisation of the functions of "failing"…

This paper presents the findings from a research study of one large public sector organisation's strategy to promote gender equality and family friendliness. An examination was made of the organisation's policy documentation in this area and a questionnaire survey containing both closed and open-ended questions was undertaken across all staff in…

Ensuring that every child grows up with a strong education is a deeply rooted American value. Over time, however, the basic preparation that American students need to succeed in the world has changed. Now, with a competitive global economy and the importance of technology in the fields of health, energy, and engineering, the United States must…

Pay for performance is a popular public education reform, and millions of dollars are currently being targeted for pay for performance programs. These reforms are popular because economic and management theories suggest that well-designed incentive pay programs could improve teacher effectiveness. There is little evidence about the characteristics…

The text of a hearing on successful efforts to prevent child abuse and strengthen families is presented in this document. After an opening statement by chairwoman Representative Patricia Schroeder, statements are presented by Representatives Robert E. "Bud" Cramer, Jr., Neil Abercrombie, Blackwell, Gerry Sikorski, Matthew Martinez, Frank…

Since 1989, when it became legally possible for private higher education to operate in New Zealand, the sector has grown to become a significant part of the country's higher education system. We explore the private penetration, trace the changes that have occurred in private higher education, and evaluate the sector's position in New Zealand…

Life review interviews with 54 midlife and older women discussed their volunteer activities. In general, highly public activities were associated with formal volunteering and low-agency/private activities with informal volunteering. Even formal activities with limited public exposure helped network people who would otherwise not have made contact.…

Many features of organizational environments discourage high-skill workplaces and training investments. Both public and private sectors can improve measurement of investment in people by identifying reliable and valid indicators, using benchmarks, and promoting certification of high-skilled workers. (SK)

Analyzed two programs in a public agency: Investors in Management (a British government initiative) and employee-led development. Found that both programs exposed tensions between individual growth and traditional values constraining growth. Concluded that effective organizational learning in the public sector must be collective and aware of…

Examines factors that have contributed to the development of measures that can determine the impact of library services, including evaluation approaches, demands for public sector accountability, and government activities aimed at determining service outcomes. Discusses impacts of community information services based on a study by the Institute of…

Uses Karl Weick's view of organizing and traditional rhetorical theory to explore (1) how private organizations need public space within them; (2) how organizations affect the public sphere and are affected by that sense of the public; and (3) how organizational and rhetorical theorists might join in understanding the "privatizing" of…

Responses from 325 senior state government employees showed that pressure for change was linked to stress, dissatisfaction, and intention to leave. Psychological hardiness had a negative impact on stress and a positive impact on satisfaction. Hardiness may serve as a significant counterforce to the effects of pressure. (SK)

Responses from 96 of 105 employees in 2 public, 2 nonprofit, and 2 private organizations suggest that, if public sector motivation (higher need for public service, lower need for financial rewards) exists, it is difficult to quantify and its effect on employee behavior, attitudes, and goals is negligible. (SK)