Comment on Dowell Myers and Elizabeth Gearin's “current preferences and future demand for denser residential environments”: In praise…or at least acceptance…of ambiguity

Abstract

It is clear that attempts to discern consumer attitudes toward neighborhood form yield only ambiguity. Denser, more walkable residential environments are impossible to define in a universally applicable manner because of the unique characteristics of an individual neighborhood and its relationship to a region's climate, tradition, and heritage. Consumer preferences are likewise ambiguous and contradictory; this is simply due to many Americans’ lack of personal familiarity with compact, walkable neighborhoods.     

RECONNECTING CHILDREN WITH ABSENT PARENTS

Reconnecting a child with an absent parent is a complex process. This article describes variables influencing the reconnection and proposes a seven-stage model for supporting successful reconnections. Case examples illustrate the discussion. Ethical dilemmas for practitioners and courts involved in reconnections are outlined. Guidelines for working with reconnections and directions for future work are proposed. Experience with the model underscores the importance of maintaining a child-centered focus and timeline, understanding safety and risk issues and implementing an appropriate safety plan, the critical role of assessment and support services, and the value of consultation and teamwork.     

Self-defence, Defence and Pre-emption

Military supporters and critics often find each others' positions on war preposterous. The divergent attitudes of these two groups may derive from their view about the analogy, or lack thereof, between war and self-defence, an issue recently highlighted by the controversial question of 'pre-emption'. In general, bombing campaigns conducted abroad are better understood as pre-emptive acts of war than as literal acts of 'self-defence'. The support by governments of the weapons export trade is also difficult to reconcile with the 'self-defence' interpretation of war. Accordingly, those who reject 'pre-emptive defence' on the grounds that it exceeds the parameters of 'self-defence' should, in consistency, oppose bombing campaigns and the exportation of weapons as well.     

The Cost of Good Intentions: Thermal Discomfort in Traditional Public Housing Units With Preset Thermostats

Cold and hot housing environments are known correlates of physical and psychological health conditions, decreased productivity, and issues with quality of life. The purpose of this study is to establish whether the use of preset thermostats creates disproportionate thermal discomfort (a housing unit feeling hot or cold) for people in older housing (n = 296). In-depth qualitative interviews (n = 25) elaborate on resident experiences. Implications for evaluation, practice, and policy are discussed.     

Clinical Ethics and the Road Less Taken Mapping the Future by Tracking the Past

Although various aspects of clinical ethics consultation have been discussed in the literature, there has yet to be sustained systematic debate about the fundamental philosophical and methodological issues at stake in doing clinical ethics. Arguing that the field of clinical ethics is at ta critical crossroads, the author of this article outline the core issues that need to be addressed, debated, and resolved in order for the field to secure a meaningful future.     

PROFESSIONAL PERSPECTIVES ON COURT-CONNECTED CHILD CUSTODY MEDIATION

This article presents the initial findings of a research project in five judicial settings where there is the provision of child custody mediation within the court. A sample of judges, members of the Bar, and court mediators completed the Professional Study Questionnaire, which examined opinions regarding the efficacy of child custody mediation and requested suggestions for judicial policy and procedure in cases of custody conflicts.     

Social Justice in Our Minds,Homes, and Society: The Nature,Causes, and Consequences of Implicit Bias

Social injustice is disruptive both personally and collectively, and the ordinariness of implicit prejudice plays a role in this process. In this report, I discuss the correspondence between implicit and explicit biases, and factors that moderate their association. In addition, I differentiate between declarative and procedural definitions of implicit bias, which have implications for their nonconscious nature. To underscore their conceptual distinction, I also present evidence that points to different origins for implicit and explicit biases. Finally, actions for confronting implicit bias are prescribed.     

Big Data for Policy Analysis: The Good,The Bad,and The Ugly

Big data holds tremendous potential for public policy analysis. At the same time, its use prompts a number of issues related to statistical bias, privacy, equity, and governance, among others. Accordingly, there is a need to formulate, evaluate, and implement policies that not only mitigate the risks, but also maximize the benefits of using big data for policy analysis. This poses a number of challenges, which are highlighted in this essay.