A previous paper (Sharp, 2001) presented evidence to suggest that men and women working in outdoor education tend to adopt different styles of leadership. It was reasoned that if this is true, then courses designed to train leaders in outdoor activities should reflect these differences if they are to be properly effective. The present study examined this hypothesis through a postal survey to over 800 people involving course providers, leaders and aspirant leaders in mountain, paddle and snow sports. There was dear support for the perceived existence of variations in leadership style, but whilst many thought this was gender-based, others considered that variations were accounted for better by variables such as age and experience. There was a clear view that these differences should not be reflected in single-sex leadership courses, but there was support for changes in the way that courses are marketed and publicised; National Governing Bodies should examine especially the general image portrayed to the public through literature, advertising resources and role models.
The Scottish Accident Prevention Council is responsible for promoting water safety in Scotland. It has long expressed concern that the number of reported drownings in Scotland underestimates the actual figures. The key aims of this study were to establish a valid database of water-based incidents in Scotland and test the under-reporting proposition. A survey involving interviews and correspondence was undertaken to establish the sources of information on drownings. Once identified, a database was established and data for a 7-year period acquired. The study identified the organizations essential to the establishment of a complete database. It also established protocols for gaining annual information. Data analysis confirmed a significant under-reporting of accident data and signalled a number of areas of concern with regard to those most at risk. The study produced, for the first time, a mechanism for recording complete details of drownings in Scotland.
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