I'm a Radio 4 kinda guy.
This is hardly a revelation as I'm always pushing their output in your direction.
However, yesterday morning whilst working at home I heard an episode of Victoria Derbyshire's Radio 5 programme, and I'm very glad I did too. Amongst all the usual travel updates and news there was a long report on the development of Multi-agency Safeguarding Hubs (MASH makes such a good acronym in this case) which I'd read a little about, but didn't really know how it was supposed to work.
The programme sat in with a unit and looked at how it was created to improve communication between all the different social agencies and departments. Because it's on iplayer the programme will disappear in 6 days, but you can always download it to keep it for longer.
You can listen or download from here.
Tuesday 22 January 2013
A book to help you understand journal articles
I spend quite a lot of my working week looking for books to buy for you. This can be a trawl at times because authors rarely write books on exactly the subject I'm after on your behalf. Authors are like that. They rarely do what I tell them.
But occasionally the right book gets written and I'm able to tell you about it. This is one of those occasions. If you're a first or second year (or even a final year student who should seriously know better!) who occasionally struggles with journal articles this is the book for you. It's called 'How to Read Journal articles in the Social Sciences' and may be exactly what you're looking for.
It's simply written (tick), is quite short (tick), tells you how to analyse abstracts and method sections (big tick) and has some nice tips on how to avoid going word blind when confronted with too much material. Chapters 4 and 5 are particularly useful and suggests a coding system to record what you read.
I'm even going to tell you where it is in the library; go to the 3rd floor and find shelf 300 CHO (the author is called Chong).
What are you waiting for? Go get one...
But occasionally the right book gets written and I'm able to tell you about it. This is one of those occasions. If you're a first or second year (or even a final year student who should seriously know better!) who occasionally struggles with journal articles this is the book for you. It's called 'How to Read Journal articles in the Social Sciences' and may be exactly what you're looking for.
It's simply written (tick), is quite short (tick), tells you how to analyse abstracts and method sections (big tick) and has some nice tips on how to avoid going word blind when confronted with too much material. Chapters 4 and 5 are particularly useful and suggests a coding system to record what you read.
I'm even going to tell you where it is in the library; go to the 3rd floor and find shelf 300 CHO (the author is called Chong).
What are you waiting for? Go get one...
Tuesday 15 January 2013
The newly published report on Jimmy Savile
I must be honest with you. I've written two or three posts already about the unfolding Jimmy Savile story and didn't post any of them. This was because the whole situation has made me so angry I couldn't even pretend to be dispassionate and subjective. I just find the misuse of power to exploit vulnerable people in society the most vile of crimes.
The reason I'm writing this post now is due to the publishing of the NSPCC/Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) report into Savile's crimes called 'Giving Victims a Voice'. A major finding of which is the damning claim that the victims who spoke out at the time were simply not believed. The report makes clear that Savile used his fame to 'coerce or control' his victims, but goes on to suggest that things have improved in the reporting of such incidents. That said, the report, which you can find in full by clicking here, clearly states that there is absolutely no room for complacency.
One more related point.
I've bought many books for the LRC in the last few years on Safeguarding and Child Protection.
However, with the 'E-books on Demand' project currently running, there's nothing to stop you having a look on Dawsonera and seeing what e-books you can add to what we already have.
The reason I'm writing this post now is due to the publishing of the NSPCC/Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) report into Savile's crimes called 'Giving Victims a Voice'. A major finding of which is the damning claim that the victims who spoke out at the time were simply not believed. The report makes clear that Savile used his fame to 'coerce or control' his victims, but goes on to suggest that things have improved in the reporting of such incidents. That said, the report, which you can find in full by clicking here, clearly states that there is absolutely no room for complacency.
One more related point.
I've bought many books for the LRC in the last few years on Safeguarding and Child Protection.
However, with the 'E-books on Demand' project currently running, there's nothing to stop you having a look on Dawsonera and seeing what e-books you can add to what we already have.
Are you working on your dissertation?
Do you know you can order journal articles for your dissertation to which the LRC doesn't have full-text access?
Do you want to know how to do it?
Of course you do.
Here goes...
There's two parts to the process; the first bit is downloading the software from the British Library (BL) to your home PC/laptop which you can find here.
The second bit is the online form which is here.
You do need to read the terms and conditions bit too which explains how you can save it. This is important because there are some restrictions as to what you can do with the article.
The other important point is that you can order 5 articles at undergrad level and 15 articles at postgrad level, so read the abstracts carefully before ordering anything. This isn't M&S - if you don't like what you've ordered you can't swap it for another.
If you need any help with this you know where I am.
Do you want to know how to do it?
Of course you do.
Here goes...
There's two parts to the process; the first bit is downloading the software from the British Library (BL) to your home PC/laptop which you can find here.
The second bit is the online form which is here.
You do need to read the terms and conditions bit too which explains how you can save it. This is important because there are some restrictions as to what you can do with the article.
The other important point is that you can order 5 articles at undergrad level and 15 articles at postgrad level, so read the abstracts carefully before ordering anything. This isn't M&S - if you don't like what you've ordered you can't swap it for another.
If you need any help with this you know where I am.
Tuesday 8 January 2013
The library that never sleeps.
The library will be open from now until July. Without shutting.
This is in response to repeated requests from students for longer opening hours, so we've gone the whole hog and decided to never close. Well until July anyway. Then we'll review things again.
So if (and I do use the word 'if' with some trepidation...) you want to come to the LRC and start writing your assignment at 3am you can.
But don't expect me to be in the building to help you. I'll be at home. Sleeping. Or more likely playing Minecraft on Xbox live.
If you want to see who will be in the building look here for some more details of how it'll work.
The serious point is if any of you do start using the library at night time feel free to email me and say why it works for you. We are interested in how and why students will use the extra hours on offer. As I often say, none of you are just students; you have many other roles to juggle alongside the not inconsequential task of striving for a degree. So if these extra hours make it easier for you to fit everything in that's clearly a good thing. But try not to become purely nocturnal as keeping something back for the lectures and seminars isn't a bad plan either...
This is in response to repeated requests from students for longer opening hours, so we've gone the whole hog and decided to never close. Well until July anyway. Then we'll review things again.
So if (and I do use the word 'if' with some trepidation...) you want to come to the LRC and start writing your assignment at 3am you can.
But don't expect me to be in the building to help you. I'll be at home. Sleeping. Or more likely playing Minecraft on Xbox live.
If you want to see who will be in the building look here for some more details of how it'll work.
Important News: E-Books on demand is now live
It is good to be able to tell you about new developments, especially when I know it's going to potentially make a lot of people happy.
Well this is one of those occasions, so forgive me if that sound you can hear in the distance is the library blowing its own trumpet.
We've given you, dear student, a load of book money to use as YOU see fit.
Here's how it works; for a limited period (basically this means until the money runs out...) you'll see e-books on Dawsonera that you can rent, alongside the e-books that we've already bought. The screenshot below shows you how it will look.
The books that have the purple 'Request Rental' tab are the books you can rent for 7 days. The thing is, if 3 people rent the same book it automatically gets bought. Forever. Which is nice. I'm going to be visiting as many lectures as possible to promote this over the next few weeks and show you exactly how to access what's on offer, because I want you to get as much benefit as possible from the service.
That's it really. If you have any questions about E-books on Demand at this stage just ask.
Well this is one of those occasions, so forgive me if that sound you can hear in the distance is the library blowing its own trumpet.
We've given you, dear student, a load of book money to use as YOU see fit.
Here's how it works; for a limited period (basically this means until the money runs out...) you'll see e-books on Dawsonera that you can rent, alongside the e-books that we've already bought. The screenshot below shows you how it will look.
The books that have the purple 'Request Rental' tab are the books you can rent for 7 days. The thing is, if 3 people rent the same book it automatically gets bought. Forever. Which is nice. I'm going to be visiting as many lectures as possible to promote this over the next few weeks and show you exactly how to access what's on offer, because I want you to get as much benefit as possible from the service.
That's it really. If you have any questions about E-books on Demand at this stage just ask.
Friday 4 January 2013
Intoxication programme on radio 4
I've mentioned 'Thinking Allowed' before, the show on Radio 4 about sociology. In part because UoB broadcast the show a couple of years ago.
Well a show first broadcast on Boxing Day (oh the timing...) is an 'Intoxication special' covering binge drinking and illegal drugs. Entertaining is probably the wrong word, but it's a very illuminating and lively show covering all aspects of why and people take drugs.
The show can be heard here and I'd very much welcome your thoughts on the subject. Naturally, all communication would remain confidential.
Well a show first broadcast on Boxing Day (oh the timing...) is an 'Intoxication special' covering binge drinking and illegal drugs. Entertaining is probably the wrong word, but it's a very illuminating and lively show covering all aspects of why and people take drugs.The show can be heard here and I'd very much welcome your thoughts on the subject. Naturally, all communication would remain confidential.
Thursday 3 January 2013
New printers in the library.
I rarely do general library updates, but this is worth it as a quick advance note.
The library has updated its printers so from Monday you'll notice a few minor changes which will improve things. The new machines are all printers/photocopiers/scanners in one. Which is nice.
The usual help will be available if you have any questions about how they work, but I was given a quick demo this morning and it all looked pretty straightforward.
The library has updated its printers so from Monday you'll notice a few minor changes which will improve things. The new machines are all printers/photocopiers/scanners in one. Which is nice.
The usual help will be available if you have any questions about how they work, but I was given a quick demo this morning and it all looked pretty straightforward.
Wednesday 2 January 2013
Radio programme on Evidence Based Practice
Firstly, happy new year. I hope 2013 is kind and gentle and holds the door open for you now and again.
I've a few things to blog about over the next few days, but Ben Goldacre's radio programme about Evidence Based Practice (EBP) and social policy comes first. I've mentioned Goldacre before on here; he's a doctor who writes about the importance of reliable research and good reporting of 'the facts'.
For any of you unsure of what EBP is then this show would be a great introduction. Equally, for those of you that have already studied some EBP then rest assured there's enough detail here to give you some new things to think about.
Anyway, the show is available from here on BBC radio i-player for another 5 days, so don't wait too long to take a listen.
I've a few things to blog about over the next few days, but Ben Goldacre's radio programme about Evidence Based Practice (EBP) and social policy comes first. I've mentioned Goldacre before on here; he's a doctor who writes about the importance of reliable research and good reporting of 'the facts'.
For any of you unsure of what EBP is then this show would be a great introduction. Equally, for those of you that have already studied some EBP then rest assured there's enough detail here to give you some new things to think about.
Anyway, the show is available from here on BBC radio i-player for another 5 days, so don't wait too long to take a listen.
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