Child abuse and neglect: Training needs of student teachers

Increasing awareness of child abuse and neglect (CAN) raises questions about how well teachers are prepared for their role in child protection. This paper assesses and differentiates training needs of first-year students (n = 216) in Northern Ireland. Multiplechoice tests were used to assess knowledge of CAN statistics; recognising and reporting; policies, procedures, and legislative frameworks; and direct work with children. Considerable gaps in knowledge were found. Results between student groups varied and provide evidence of the need to develop pre-service child protection training. The importance of differentiation between student groups in terms of training content is emphasised.

Using the internet to give children a voice: An Online Survey of 10- and 11-Year-Old Children in Northern Ireland

Over the years, researchers from different disciplines have used a wide variety of research methods to assess the views of children. Qualitative methods such as focus groups and small group discussions are particularly common. Much rarer are large-scale quantitative surveys that are a valuable way of comparing data from across different age groups and countries and over time. To test the feasibility of carrying out large-scale quantitative research with children, the authors undertook a pilot survey in Northern Ireland in June 2008. There were two notable innovations: First, it was a survey of all Primary 7 children (age 10 and 11 years); second, it used the Internet to gather the information, which has not been done on this scale before. This article discusses the methodology used to implement the pilot study and evaluates the use of the Internet for carrying out survey research with children.

A survey of formalisms for representing and reasoning with scientific knowledge

With the rapid growth in the quantity and complexity of scientific knowledge available for scientists, and allied professionals, the problems associated with harnessing this knowledge are well recognized. Some of these problems are a result of the uncertainties and inconsistencies that arise in this knowledge. Other problems arise from heterogeneous and informal formats for this knowledge. To address these problems, developments in the application of knowledge representation and reasoning technologies can allow scientific knowledge to be captured in logic-based formalisms. Using such formalisms, we can undertake reasoning with the uncertainty and inconsistency to allow automated techniques to be used for querying and combining of scientific knowledge. Furthermore, by harnessing background knowledge, the querying and combining tasks can be carried out more intelligently. In this paper, we review some of the significant proposals for formalisms for representing and reasoning with scientific knowledge.

A survey of sewer rehabilitation in Malaysia: application of trenchless technologies

This work presents a review of applicable sewer rehabilitation options using trenchless technology in Malaysia. The typical problems faced in wastewater collection systems are analysed and factors that determine the selection method are outlined. This study also highlights the necessary steps to be taken prior to the rehabilitation work. The trenchless technology reviewed here comprises repair, renovation and replacement options. The cost-effectiveness of different rehabilitation methods was identified to assess the economic viability of various options in the Malaysian context. This study reveals that not all the trenchless technologies available in the market are suitable for use in Malaysia, mainly due to incompatibility of the rehabilitation materials used. Furthermore, as trenchless rehabilitation generally involves higher capital outlay than open-cut methods, the choice of rehabilitation method has to be made on a case-to-case basis.