The health psychology reader

Book review: Marks, D.F. (ed) The Health Psychology Reader

Mundane heterosexism: understanding incidents of the everyday

In this article, discourse analysis, combined with lesbian feminist politics, are used to explore subtle forms of heterosexism in language, a social phenomenon that I have termed "mundane heterosexism," because of its everyday nature. Drawing on feminist understandings of subtle sexism and discursive psychology I analyse three forms of mundane heterosexism derived from (predominantly) tape-recorded antiheterosexism training session data: (1) prejudice against the heterosexual, (2) nonheterosexuality as a deficit and (3) refusing diversity. Two levels for challenging mundane heterosexism are discussed. interactional counterarguments, and broader societal campaigns. I conclude by advocating the necessity of further detailed analyses of the construction of mundane heterosexism, and stress the importance of heterosexism for feminist research. © 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ethical issues in neuroimaging health research:an IPA study with research participants

Neuroimaging is increasingly used to understand conditions like stroke and epilepsy. However, there is growing recognition that neuroimaging can raise ethical issues. We used interpretative phenomenological analysis to analyse interview data pre-and post-scan to explore these ethical issues. Findings show participants can become anxious prior to scanning and the protocol for managing incidental findings is unclear. Participants lacked a frame of reference to contextualize their expectations and often drew on medical narratives. Recommendations to reduce anxiety include dialogue between researcher and participant to clarify understanding during consent and the use of a `virtual tour' of the neuroimaging experience.

Electrodeposition on magnesium alloy diecasting

Magnesium alloy diecasting AZ91CC, AZ61CC', AZ91HC and AZ71HC were electroplated using different pretreatment sequences which incorporated conventional zincate immersion processes. Satisfactory peel adhesion in excess of 7. 7 KNm -1 was achieved on AZ61CC using a sequence which was designated Canning. The comparatively low adhesion achieved on the AZ91HC was due to its poor surface quality as cast. Growth of deposits was monitored using a strip-and-analysis technique and the morphology of the various deposits were studied using scanning electron microscopy. Different pretreatment sequences resulted in different surface responses for the alloys but all alloys behaved in a similar manner in a particular sequence with regard to potential time-curves and the rate of zinc deposition. The role of fluoride in both the second stage solution and zinc immersion stages of the Canning pretreatment sequence was studied using techniques listed above and Auger electron spectroscopy. Complete coverage of the magnesium alloy surface with immersion zinc was achieved when fluoride was absent from the zincating solution. However, a zero adhesion value was indicated in both thermal cycling and peel tests. The presence of fluoride in the immersion zinc solution suppressed the rate of zinc deposition and affected the time taken to reach equilibrium during potential-time determinations. A mechanism is suggested to explain the significance of fluoride additions to the processing solutions. pH and composition of the zincating solution had a significant effect on the time taken to produce the step observed in the potential/time curves and hence equilibrium potential. Immersion zinc deposition occurred rapidly at first but then changed to a lower uniform rate at a point corresponding approximately to the step in the potential/time curve. Although the minimun levels of adhesion, using the Canning sequence, varied from 7.72 KNm-1 for alloy AZ61CC to 1.54 KNm-1 for alloy AZ91HC, all the alloys revealed ductile failure characteristics in the surface layer of the substrate after peel testing. Plated magnesium alloys exhibited good corrosion resistance when appropriately pretreated and overplated with adequate nickel chromium coatings. The immersion zinc layer was not preferentially attacked when pits penetrated to the coating/substrate interface. Hemispherical pits formed and attack on the substrate was severe. Of the pretreatment sequences investigated, the Canning one was the most premising with respect to peel adhesion and corrosion behaviour.

Brush plating of bearing alloys on aluminium alloy shells

The turbocharging of diesel engines has led to increase in temperature, load and corrosive attack of plain bearings. To meet these requirements, overlay plated aluminium alloys are now preferred. Currently, lead-tin alloys are deposited using a zincate layer and nickel strike, as intermediate stages in the process. The nickel has undesirable seizure characteristics and the zincate can given rise to corrosion problems. Consequently, brush plating allows the possible elimination of these stages and a decrease in process together with greater automation. The effect of mode application, on the formation of zincate films, using film growth weight measurements, potential-time studies, peel adhesion testing and Scanning Electron Microscopy was studied, for both SIC and AS15 aluminium alloys. The direct plating of aluminium was also successfully achieved. The results obtained indicate that generally, although lower adhesion resulted when a brush technique was used, satisfactory adhesion for fatigue testing was achieved. Both lead-tin and tin-cobalt overlays were examined and a study of the parameters governing brush plating were carried out using various electrolytes. An experimentally developed small scale rig, was used to produce overlay plated bearings that were fatigue tested until failure. The bearings were then examined and an analysis of the failure mechanisms undertaken. The results indicated that both alloy systems are of the regular codeposition type. Tin-cobalt overlays were superior to conventional lead-tin overlays and remained in good condition, although the lining (substrate) failed. Brush plated lead-tin was unsatisfactory. Sufficient understanding has now been gained, to enable a larger scale automated plant to be produced. This will allow a further study of the technique to be carried out, on equipment that more closely resembles that of a full scale production process.

Qualitative psychology at M level: a dialogue between learner and teacher

There are now more postgraduate programmes that include qualitative methods in psychology than ever before. This poses problems for teaching qualitative methods at M level because we still lack consistency in what qualitative methods are taught at the undergraduate level. Although the British Psychological Society requires accredited undergraduate programmes to include qualitative methods, we hear very different stories from colleagues across the UK about provision and quality. In this article, we present a dialogue between learner and teacher about our own experiences of qualitative methods in psychology at M level. We report our own learning experiences of qualitative methods at the undergraduate level, reflect on current methods of teaching at M level, and consider ways of moving forward. As well as focusing specifically on current practice at our institution, our discussions also branch out into wider issues around the fundamental characteristics of qualitative methods, pragmatically and philosophically, as well as our own accounts of what we enjoy most about using qualitative methods in psychology.

Mapping the mind for the modern market researcher

Purpose - To describe the utility of three of the main cognitive neuroscientific techniques currently in use within the neuroscience community, and how they can be applied to the emerging field of neuromarket research. Design/methodology/approach - A brief development of functional magnetic resonance imaging, magnetoencephalography and transcranial magnetic stimulation are described, as the core principles are behind their respective use. Examples of actual data from each of the brain imaging techniques are provided to assist the neuromarketer with subsequent data for interpretation. Finally, to ensure the neuromarketer has an understanding of the experience of neuroimaging, qualitative data from a questionnaire exploring attitudes about neuroimaging techniques are included which summarize participants' experiences of having a brain scan. Findings - Cognitive neuroscientific techniques have great utility in market research and can provide more "honest" indicators of consumer preference where traditional methods such as focus groups can be unreliable. These techniques come with complementary strengths which allow the market researcher to converge onto a specific research question. In general, participants considered brain imaging techniques to be relatively safe. However, care is urged to ensure that participants are positioned correctly in the scanner as incorrect positioning is a stressful factor during an imaging procedure that can impact data quality. Originality/value - This paper is an important and comprehensive resource to the market researcher who wishes to use cognitive neuroscientific techniques.

Influence of pretreatment on corrosion behaviour of duplex zinc/polymer coatings on steel substrates

An investigation has been undertaken to determine the major factors influencing the corrosion resistance of duplex-zinc coatings on steel substrates.Premature failure of these systems has been attributed to the presence of defects such as craters and pinholes in the polymer film and debonding of the polymer film from the zinc substrate.Defects found on commercially produced samples have been carefully characterised using metallographic and scanning electron microscopy techniques. The influence of zinc substrate surface roughness, polymer film thickness and degassing of conversion coatings films on the incidence of defects has been determined.Pretreatments of the chromate, chromate-phosphate, non chromate, and alkali-oxide types were applied and the conversion coatings produced characterised with respect to their nature and composition. The effect of degassing on the properties of the films was also investigated. Electrochemical investigations were carried out to determine the effect of the presence of the eta or zeta phase as the outermost layer of the galvanized coating.Flow characteristics of polyester on zinc electroplated hot-dip continuous and batch galvanized and zinc sprayed samples were investigated using hot-stage microscopy. The effects of different pretreatments and degassing after conversion coating formation on flow characteristics were determined.Duplex coatings were subjected to the acetic acid salt spray test. The effect on adhesion was determined using an indentation debonding test and the results compared with those obtained using cross-cut/peel and pull-off tests. The locus of failure was determined using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques.

Fundamental mechanisms affecting service performance of electroplated plastics

Ten grades of ABS and four grades of polypropylene have been plated with various copper + nickel + chromium coatings and subjected to a variety of tests. In corrosion studies the pre-electroplating sequence and plastics type have been shown to influence performance. One ABS pre-electroplating sequence was consistently associated with better corrosion performance; two factors were responsible for this, namely the more severe nature of the etch and the relatively more noble electroless nickel. Statistical analysis has indicated that order of severity of the corrosion tests was static-mobile-CASS, the latter being the least severe. In mechanical tests two properties of ABS and polypropJylene, ductility and impact strength, have been shown to be adversely affected when electrodeposited layers were applied. The cause of this is due to a complex of factors, the most important of which is the notch sensitivity of the plastics. Peel adhesion has been studied on flat panels and also on ones which had a ridge and a valley moulded into one face. High adhesion peaks occurred on the flat face at regions associated with the ridge and valley. The local moulding conditions induced by the features were responsible for this phenonemon. In the main programme the thermal cycling test was shown to be more likely than the peel adhesion test to give an indication of the service performance of electroplated plastics.

Electrodeposition on aluminium and its alloys

Aluminium alloys S1C, NS4, HE9, LM25 and the 'difficult' zinc containing U.S. specification alloy used for automobile bumpers (X-7046), have been successfully electroplated using pretreatments which utilized either conventional immersion, elevated temperature or electrolytic modified alloy zincate (M.A.Z.) deposits. Satisfactory adhesion in excess of 7•5 KN m -I was only achieved on X-7046 using an electrolytic M.A.Z. pretreatment. The limitations of simple zincate solutions were demonstrated. Growth of deposits ~as monitored using a weight loss technique and the morphology of the various deposits studied using scanning electron microscopy. The characteristics of a specific alloy and processing sequence selected had a significant influence on the growth and morphology of the N.A.Z. deposi t. These all affected subsequent adhesion of electrodeposited nickel. The advantages of double-dip sequences were confirmed. Superior adhesion was associated with a uniform, thin, fine grained M.A.Z. deposit which exhibited rapid and complete surface coverage of the aluminium alloy. The presence of this preferred type deposit did not guarantee adhesion because a certain degree of etching was essential. For a satisfactory combination of alloy and M.A.Z. pretreatment, there was a specific optimum film weight per unit area which resulted in maximum adhesion. An ideal film weight of 0•06 :!: 0•01 mg cm-2was determined for S1C. Different film weights were required for the other alloys due to variations in surface topography caused by pretreatment. S1C was the easiest alloy on which to achieve high bond strength. Peel adhesion was not directly related to tensile strength of the alloy. The highest adhesion value was obtained on S1C which had the lowest strength of the alloys studied. The characteristics of the failure surfaces after peeling depended on alloy type, adhesion level and pretreatment employed. Plated aluminium alloys exhibited excellent corrosion resistance when appropriately pretreated. The M.A.Z. layer was not preferentially attacked. There was a threshold value of adhesion below which corrosion performance ~a8 poor. Alloy type, pretreatment and coating system influenced corrosion performance. Microporous chromium gave better corrosion protection than decorative chromium.

“Seismic cultural change?”: British media representations of same-sex ‘marriage’

The legal recognition of same-sex relationships is a contested terrain that has been hotly debated by feminists. This article provides a social constructionist analysis of the UK newspaper media coverage around the time of the introduction of the Civil Partnership Act (2004). In examining the 348 national newspaper coverage over a three month period (November 2005–January 2006) we highlight three prevalent, and conflicting, themes: ‘same-sex marriage becomes legal under the Civil Partnership Act’; ‘couples will not get full legal status’ and ‘marriage is a heterosexual business’. We discuss these media representations and argue that the heteronormativity of the coverage provided little space for more radical constructions of same-sex relationship recognition.