Criminologists have recently begun examining Gottfredson and Hirschi's (1990) proposition that parenting is the primary influence on children's levels of self-control. The few existing studies on the subject, however, have typically been based on small, nonrandom samples. The current study examines the relationships between parental efficacy, self-control, and delinquent behavior using data from a nationally representative sample of adolescents (the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health). The results indicate that although parental efficacy is an important precursor to self-control, contrary to Gottfredson and Hirschi's proposition, self-control does not completely mediate the relationship between parental efficacy and delinquency. The implications for future research and theoretical development are discussed.
Objectives: The present study was aimed at surveying the Italian food consumption patterns in the 90s. It represented the second nationwide food intake survey that was carried out by the Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca per gli Alimenti e la Nutrizione (INRAN). Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Free-living households. Subjects: Sampled subjects: 1147 households randomly selected to be representative of the four main geographical areas (North-West, North-East, Centre, South). Analysed subjects: 1978 individuals out of 2734 initially collected in 15 Collaborative Centres strategically scattered through the national territory. Methods: A mixed 7-day based survey technique was applied in order to survey both individual and household consumption. At individual level, food intake was recorded by a self-compiled diary. At household level food data collection was by compilation of a food inventory by the dietician, a purchasedawasted foods diary and a recipes form both compiled by the person responsible for food related activities (decision of purchase, purchase, preparation of meals) in the household. All recorded data were monitored by the dieticians who visited the households participating in the study, at least three times. Household members were interviewed in order to collect socio-demographic, lifestyle and motivational information. Furthermore, ®eld-workers performed the food coding and the input of data by an ad hoc developed software. The survey design allowed an internal quantitative check of food data. Several check steps were centrally performed Results: The complex methodology caused the 46.8% response rate and afterwards a reduction of the analysed units (72% of the surveyed individuals). However, the analysed sample provided suf®ciently reliable data for outlining the most relevant aspects of dietary patterns in Italy. In order to better interpret the results, controversial aspects are also illustrated and discussed in the text. The disparity analysis found that traditional diversities among Italian regions are still alive. In general, males eat more than females. Analysis according to the age class (children: 1 ± 9 years old; adolescents: 10 ± 17; adults: 18 ± 64; elderly: b 64) showed differences especially between the group of children vs all the others, but also in the two groups of young individuals vs adults and the elderly, that could represent clues of an incorrect way of eating. Conclusions: Taking into account the different methodology, the comparison with previous results showed changes in the Italian average diet complying with an increasing attention to healthy aspects by large sectors of the population, but also opposite tendencies that should be carefully monitored. Sponsorship: Minister delle Politiche Agricole e Forestali (Mi.P.A.F.).
This article outlines the trials and tribulations encountered in negotiating institutional review board approval of ethnographic research among undercover police officers and recreational drug users in dance club settings. While Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) and ethnographic research seek to protect the participants of research, they operate on two diametrically opposed paths. Ethnographers enter the research field with the goal of observing natural behavior, and taking steps to ensure they do not influence activity; anonymity is impossible, while confidentiality essential. IRBs, on the contrary, mandate an informed consent and oversight process that can compromise confidentiality. This has greatly affected contemporary ethnographic research and has had serious consequences for both the research participants and the production of knowledge.
The movement to privatize correctional institutions has gained considerable momentum as the need to reduce the costs of incarceration to public agencies has become more critical. The empirical evidence regarding whether private prisons are more cost-effective and whether they provide a higher quality of confinement to inmates, however, is inconclusive. To help clarify this portion of the prison privatization debate, this article contains a systematic review of the evaluation literature comparing the costs and quality of confinement of public versus private prisons. In doing so, three issues are highlighted: (a) the conclusions that can be reached based on the existing literature,(b) the major methodological inconsistencies that have hindered researchers' ability to draw firm conclusions from the body of empirical studies thus far, and (c) the direction that future research in this area may take to advance a better understanding of the potential advantages and disadvantages of prison privatization.
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