Social media and public policy

Introduction: Government and public service delivery is taking place in a changed world. A significant level of social, economic and political activity is now happening on the internet.As people buy and sell goods, search for information, browse the web and share their day–to–day experiences with colleagues, friends and family through social networks, they produce an enormous amount of data.The use of this data to develop insights is growing rapidly. In the private sector it is being used to enhance decision making, understand customer behaviour, improve operational efficiency and identify new markets.The new information environment also obliges government to develop new capabilities to understand the information available and to compete for attention and influence within it.Part of the challenge in embracing the digital age is that, in the midst of rapid change, it’s very difficult to know where to place your bets. We do not yet know exactly what access to large volumes of social data will mean for our society. It certainly will not present a panacea for long–standing social problems; but it can add another dimension to our understanding of them.This report considers whether social media data can improve the quality and timeliness of the evidence base that informs public policy. Can the myriad of human connections and interactions on the web provide insight to enable government to develop better policy, understand its subsequent impact and inform the many different organisations that deliver public services?The report is based on an evaluation of available literature and interviews with 25 experts from a number of disciplines. Given that developments in this field are at such an early stage, it aims to provide helpful signposts rather than definitive answers

Depression and the medicalization of sadness: conceptualization and recommended help-seeking

Critiques of the validity of the DSM diagnostic criteria for depressive disorder argue that it fails to differentiate between abnormal sadness due to internal dysfunction or depression (sadness without an identifiable cause), and normal sadness (sadness with a clear cause)

Integration of sexual trauma in a religious narrative: transformation, resolution and growth among contemplative nuns

The psychological consequences of sexual abuse are generally serious and enduring, particularly when the perpetrator is known and trusted by the survivor. This paper explores the experiences of five contemplative nuns who were sexually abused by priests and the spiritual journeys that followed. In the context of an ethnographic study of contemplative practice, participant observation and in-depth interviews were used to examine the ways that the nuns sought to make sense of their experiences through a long process of solitary introspection. The pursuit of meaning was shaped by religious beliefs relating to forgiveness, sacrifice, and salvation. Thus, trauma was transformed into a symbolic religious narrative that shaped their sense of identity. They were able to restructure core beliefs and to manage their current relationships with priests more securely. They described regaining their spiritual well-being in ways that suggest a form of posttraumatic spiritual growth. We conclude by discussing the findings in the light of the existing literature on the interaction of trauma and spirituality

Length sensing and control for Einstein Telescope Low Frequency

In this paper we describe a feasible length sensing and control scheme for the low frequency interferometers of the Einstein Telescope (ET-LF) along with the techniques used to optimise several optical parameters, including the length of the recycling cavities and the modulation frequencies, using two numerical interferometer simulation packages: Optickle and Finesse. The investigations have suggested the use of certain combinations of sidebands to obtain independent information about the different degrees of freedom

Social media presents a growing body of evidence that can inform social and economic policy.

Social media offers exciting data resources for researchers. But if this body of complex data and its subsequent analysis are going to positively impact public policy and services, governments may have to take a leading role in managing access and determining boundaries. Jason Leavey presents the findings of a new report investigating how feasible and useful evidence from social media could be at shaping public policy

Solvent and ligand substitution effects on electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 with [Mo(CO)4(x,xʹ-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine)] (x = 4-6) enhanced at a gold cathodic surface

A series of molybdenum tetracarbonyl complexes with dimethyl‐substituted 2,2′‐bipyridine (dmbipy) ligands were investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) combined with infra‐red spectroelectrochemistry (IR‐SEC) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) and N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP) to explore their potential in a reduced state to trigger electrocatalytic CO2 reduction to CO. Addressed is their ability to take advantage of a low‐energy, CO‐dissociation two‐electron ECE pathway available only at an Au cathode. A comparison is made with the reference complex bearing unsubstituted 2,2ʹ‐bipyridine (bipy). The methyl substitution in the 6,6ʹ‐positions has a large positive impact on the catalytic efficiency. This behaviour is ascribed to the advantageous positioning of the steric bulk of the methyl groups, which further facilitates CO dissociation from the 1e‐ reduced parent radical anion. In the contrary, the substitution in the 4,4′‐positions appears to have a negative impact on the catalytic performance, exerting a strong stabilizing effect on the π‐accepting CO ligands and, in THF, preventing exploitation of the low‐energy dissociative pathway

Caring for relatives with agitation at home: a qualitative study of positive coping strategies

Background Trials of psychological interventions for reducing agitation in people with dementia living at home have been unsuccessful. Aims To inform future interventions by identifying successful strategies of family carers with relatives with dementia and agitation living at home. Method Qualitative in-depth individual interviews were performed with 18 family carers. We used thematic analysis to identify emerging themes. Results Carers described initial surprise and then acceptance that agitation is a dementia symptom and learned to respond flexibly. Their strategies encompassed: prevention of agitation by familiar routine; reduction of agitation by addressing underlying causes and using distraction; prevention of escalation by risk enablement, not arguing; and control of their emotional responses by ensuring their relative’s safety then walking away, carving out some time for themselves and using family and services for emotional and practical help. Conclusions These strategies can be manualised and tested in future randomised controlled trials for clinical effectiveness in reducing agitation in people with dementia living at home

The failure of suicide prevention in primary care: family and GP perspectives - a qualitative study

Background Although Primary care is crucial for suicide prevention, clinicians tend to report completed suicides in their care as non-preventable. We aimed to examine systemic inadequacies in suicide prevention from the perspectives of bereaved family members and GPs.Methods Qualitative study of 72 relatives or close friends bereaved by suicide and 19 General Practitioners who have experienced the suicide of patients.Results Relatives highlight failures in detecting symptoms and behavioral changes and the inability of GPs to understand the needs of patients and their social contexts. A perceived overreliance on anti-depressant treatment is a major source of criticism by family members. GPs tend to lack confidence in the recognition and management of suicidal patients, and report structural inadequacies in service provision.Conclusions Mental health and primary care services must find innovative and ethical ways to involve families in the decision-making process for patients at risk of suicide