New Titles from the National Academies Press | Behavioral and Social Scienceshttp://www.nap.edu/rss?topic=2772013-06-19T16:48:27-04:00Science books from the publishers for the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research CouncilPriorities for Research to Reduce the Threat of Firearm-Related Violencetag:nap.edu,2013:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=18319#prepub2013-06-05T10:49:44-04:002013-06-18T08:43:47-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
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<p>In 2010, more than 105,000 people were injured or killed in the United States as the result of a firearm-related incident. Recent, highly publicized, tragic mass shootings in Newtown, CT; Aurora, CO; Oak Creek, WI; and Tucson, AZ, have sharpened the American public's interest in protecting our children and communities from the harmful effects of firearm violence. While many Americans legally use firearms for a variety of activities, fatal and nonfatal firearm violence poses a serious threat to public safety and welfare.</p> <p><br /> In January 2013, President Barack Obama issued 23 executive orders directing federal agencies to improve knowledge of the causes of firearm violence, what might help prevent it, and how to minimize its burden on public health. One of these orders directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to, along with other federal agencies, immediately begin identifying the most pressing problems in firearm violence research. The CDC and the CDC Foundation asked the IOM, in collaboration with the National Research Council, to convene a committee tasked with developing a potential research agenda that focuses on the causes of, possible interventions to, and strategies to minimize the burden of firearm-related violence. <em>Priorities for Research to Reduce the Threat of Firearm-Related Violence</em> focuses on the characteristics of firearm violence, risk and protective factors, interventions and strategies, the impact of gun safety technology, and the influence of video games and other media.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=18319">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=306'>Law and Justice</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=288'>Health and Medicine</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=398'>Policy, Reviews and Evaluations</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/rBBVk42QjDQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=18319Assessment of Staffing Needs of Systems Specialists in Aviationtag:nap.edu,2013:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=18357#prepub2013-06-05T09:49:44-04:002013-06-05T09:49:47-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
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<p>Within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Airway Transportation System Specialists ATSS) maintain and certify the equipment in the National Airspace System (NAS).In fiscal year 2012, Technical Operations had a budget of $1.7B. Thus, Technical Operations includes approximately 19 percent of the total FAA employees and less than 12 percent of the $15.9 billion total FAA budget. Technical Operations comprises ATSS workers at five different types of Air Traffic Control (ATC) facilities: (1) Air Route Traffic Control Centers, also known as En Route Centers, track aircraft once they travel beyond the terminal airspace and reach cruising altitude; they include Service Operations Centers that coordinate work and monitor equipment. (2) Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facilities control air traffic as aircraft ascend from and descend to airports, generally covering a radius of about 40 miles around the primary airport; a TRACON facility also includes a Service Operations Center. (3) Core Airports, also called Operational Evolution Partnership airports, are the nation's busiest airports. (4) The General National Airspace System (GNAS) includes the facilities located outside the larger airport locations, including rural airports and equipment not based at any airport. (5) Operations Control Centers are the facilities that coordinate maintenance work and monitor equipment for a Service Area in the United States.</p> <p>At each facility, the ATSS execute both tasks that are scheduled and predictable and tasks that are stochastic and unpredictable in. These tasks are common across the five ATSS disciplines: (1) Communications, maintaining the systems that allow air traffic controllers and pilots to be in contact throughout the flight; (2) Surveillance and Radar, maintaining the systems that allow air traffic controllers to see the specific locations of all the aircraft in the airspace they are monitoring; (3) Automation, maintaining the systems that allow air traffic controllers to track each aircraft's current and future position, speed, and altitude; (4) Navigation, maintaining the systems that allow pilots to take off, maintain their course, approach, and land their aircraft; and (5) Environmental, maintaining the power, lighting, and heating/air conditioning systems at the ATC facilities. Because the NAS needs to be available and reliable all the time, each of the different equipment systems includes redundancy so an outage can be fixed without disrupting the NAS.</p> <p><em>Assessment of Staffing Needs of Systems Specialists in Aviation </em>reviews the available information on: (A) the duties of employees in job series 2101 (Airways Transportation Systems Specialist) in the Technical Operations service unit; (B) the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists (PASS) union of the AFL-CIO; (C) the present-day staffing models employed by the FAA; (D) any materials already produced by the FAA including a recent gap analysis on staffing requirements; (E) current research on best staffing models for safety; and (F) non-US staffing standards for employees in similar roles.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=18357">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=307'>Policy, Reviews and Evaluations</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=289'>Industry and Labor</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=407'>Workforce and Labor Issues</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/V57xAGv9DUg" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=18357Reforming Juvenile Justice: A Developmental Approachtag:nap.edu,2013:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=14685#final2013-05-22T00:00:00-04:002013-05-23T10:57:52-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
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<p>Adolescence is a distinct, yet transient, period of development between childhood and adulthood characterized by increased experimentation and risk-taking, a tendency to discount long-term consequences, and heightened sensitivity to peers and other social influences. A key function of adolescence is developing an integrated sense of self, including individualization, separation from parents, and personal identity. Experimentation and novelty-seeking behavior, such as alcohol and drug use, unsafe sex, and reckless driving, are thought to serve a number of adaptive functions despite their risks.</p> <p>Research indicates that for most youth, the period of risky experimentation does not extend beyond adolescence, ceasing as identity becomes settled with maturity. Much adolescent involvement in criminal activity is part of the normal developmental process of identity formation and most adolescents will mature out of these tendencies. Evidence of significant changes in brain structure and function during adolescence strongly suggests that these cognitive tendencies characteristic of adolescents are associated with biological immaturity of the brain and with an imbalance among developing brain systems. This imbalance model implies dual systems: one involved in cognitive and behavioral control and one involved in socio-emotional processes. Accordingly adolescents lack mature capacity for self-regulations because the brain system that influences pleasure-seeking and emotional reactivity develops more rapidly than the brain system that supports self-control. This knowledge of adolescent development has underscored important differences between adults and adolescents with direct bearing on the design and operation of the justice system, raising doubts about the core assumptions driving the criminalization of juvenile justice policy in the late decades of the 20th century.</p> <p>It was in this context that the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) asked the National Research Council to convene a committee to conduct a study of juvenile justice reform. The goal of <em>Reforming Juvenile Justice: A Developmental Approach</em> was to review recent advances in behavioral and neuroscience research and draw out the implications of this knowledge for juvenile justice reform, to assess the new generation of reform activities occurring in the United States, and to assess the performance of OJJDP in carrying out its statutory mission as well as its potential role in supporting scientifically based reform efforts.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=14685">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=306'>Law and Justice</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/0cMkpuHyaPY" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=14685A Review of the Draft 2013 National Climate Assessmenttag:nap.edu,2013:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=18322#final2013-04-15T10:47:07-04:002013-04-15T10:47:18-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>As mandated by the Global Change Research Act (GCRA), the U.S. Global Change Research Program is currently producing a "National Climate Assessment" (NCA). The NCA is a report to inform the President, the Congress, and the American people about the current state of scientific knowledge regarding climate change effects on U.S. regions and key sectors, now and in the coming decades. This document contains an evaluation of the draft NCA report, presented through consensus responses to the Panel's Task Statement questions, and through a large collection of individual Panel member comments and suggestions for specific chapters, statements, figures, etc. While focusing primarily on practical suggestions for immediately improving the current draft, the Panel also raises some broader considerations about fundamental approaches used in certain parts of the NCA report, and about the scope of USGCRP research that underlies the NCA findings. Some suggestions can be viewed as longer-term advice for future versions of NCA work.</p> <p>This NCA has been a significantly more ambitious effort than previous assessments, in terms of the scope of topics addressed and the breadth of public engagement processes involved. Some of the important new areas include the use of "traceable accounts," the articulation of needs for future research and a vision for an ongoing assessment process, the outreach efforts to help various stakeholders define their climate-related information needs, and the initial (though incomplete) effort to assess the current state of climate change response activities around the nation. Given the current state of the science and the scope of resources available, we believe the NCA did a reasonable job of fulfilling its charge overall. Although more needs to be done to fully meet the nation's needs for information and guidance, such needs cannot be met without an expanded research effort on the part of the USGCRP and future assessments.</p> <p>The Panel suggests that the NCA report would be improved by addressing the numerous specific problems and concerns and the more cross-cutting issues raised in the consensus answers to the Task Statement questions—which include, for instance, the need to:</p> <p>1. provide a clear overarching framework for the report that helps readers understand climate change as part of a complex system with interacting physical, biological, and human social/economic dimensions, and offers practical guidance on using iterative risk management strategies to make decisions in the face of large uncertainties;<br /> 2. clearly acknowledge how climate change affects and is affected by other types of major global environmental changes and other societal developments; <br /> 3. offer an explicit discussion about the uncertainties associated with the regional model projections presented in the NCA draft; <br /> 4. take full advantage of the e-book format planned for this document through strategic use of hyperlinks among different parts of the report and other innovative approaches that help guide the experience of the NCA's diverse audiences.</p> <p>As the nation continues to engage with the threats, opportunities, and surprises of climate change in its many manifestations, the 2013 NCA should prove to be a valuable resource, as a summary of the state of knowledge about climate change and its implications for the American people.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=18322">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=281'>Earth Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=331'>Climate, Weather and Meteorology</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=307'>Policy, Reviews and Evaluations</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=285'>Environment and Environmental Studies</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=367'>Climate Change</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/s7-Fyw9pvA4" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=18322National Patterns of R&D Resources: Future Directions for Content and Methods: Summary of a Workshoptag:nap.edu,2013:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=18317#prepub2013-03-25T10:46:14-04:002013-03-25T11:58:39-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
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<p>National Patterns of R&D Resources is an annual report issued by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) of the National Science Foundation, which provides a national view of current 'patterns' in funding of R&D activities in government, industry, academia, federally funded research and development centers, and non-profits. Total R&D funds are broken out at the national level by type of provider, type of recipient, and whether the R&D is basic, applied, or developmental. These patterns are compared both longitudinally versus historical R&D amounts, and internationally. </p> <p>This report series, which is based on input from several censuses and surveys, is used to formulate policies that, e.g., might increase incentives to support different types, sources, or recipients of R&D than is currently the case. To communicate these R&D patterns, each report is composed of a set of tabulations of national R&D disaggregated by type of donor, type of recipient, and type of R&D. While this satisfies many key user groups, the question was whether some modifications of the report could attract a wider user community and at the same time provide more useful information for current users.</p> <p><em>National Patterns of R&D Resources: Future Directions for Content and Methods </em>addresses the following questions: (1) what additional topics and tabulations could be presented without modifying the current portfolio of R&D censuses and surveys, (2) what additional topics and tabulations might be presented by expanding these current data collections, (3) what could be done to enhance international comparability of the tabulations, (4) since much of the information on non-profit R&D providers and recipients is estimated from 15 year-old data, what impact might this be having on the quality of the associated National Patterns tabulations, (5) what statistical models could be used to support the issuance R&D estimates at state-level and geographic regions below the national level, (6) what use could be made from the recent development of administrative sources of R&D information, and finally, (7) what graphical tools could be added to the current tabulations to enhance the communication of R&D patterns to the users of this series of publications.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=18317">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=307'>Policy, Reviews and Evaluations</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=423'>Policy for Science and Technology</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=423'>Policy for Science and Technology</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/mKKW6Uce18A" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=18317Improving Self-Escape from Underground Coal Minestag:nap.edu,2013:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=18300#prepub2013-03-14T10:45:29-04:002013-03-14T11:55:17-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
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<p>Coal mine disasters in the United States are relatively rare events; many of the roughly 50,000 miners underground will never have to evacuate a mine in an emergency during their careers. However, for those that do, the consequences have the potential to be devastating. U.S. mine safety practices have received increased attention in recent years because of the highly publicized coal mine disasters in 2006 and 2010. Investigations have centered on understanding both how to prevent or mitigate emergencies and what capabilities are needed by miners to self-escape to a place of safety successfully. This report focuses on the latter - the preparations for self-escape.</p> <p>In the wake of 2006 disasters, the U.S. Congress passed the Mine Improvement<br /> and New Emergency Response Act of 2006 (MINER Act), which was designed to strengthen existing mine safety regulations and set forth new measures aimed at improving accident preparedness and emergency response in underground coal mines. Since that time, the efforts of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) have contributed to safety improvements in the mining industry. However, the Upper Big Branch mine explosion in 2010 served as a reminder to remain ever vigilant on improving the prevention of mine disasters and preparations to help miners survive in the event of emergencies.</p> <p>This study was set in the context of human-systems integration (HSI), a systems approach that examines the interaction of people, tasks, and equipment and technology in the pursuit of a goal. It recognizes this interaction occurs within, and is influenced by, the broader environmental context. A key premise of human-systems integration is that much important information is lost when the various tasks within a system are considered individually or in isolation rather than in interaction with the whole system. <em>Improving Self-Escape from Underground Coal Mines</em>, the task of self-escape is part of the mine safety system. </p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=18300">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=289'>Industry and Labor</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=407'>Workforce and Labor Issues</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=404'>Human Factors</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/tOTmyw7p8lQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=18300U.S. Health in International Perspective: Shorter Lives, Poorer Healthtag:nap.edu,2013:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13497#final2013-03-12T00:00:00-04:002013-03-20T09:22:15-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>The United States is among the wealthiest nations in the world, but it is far from the healthiest. Although life expectancy and survival rates in the United States have improved dramatically over the past century, Americans live shorter lives and experience more injuries and illnesses than people in other high-income countries. The U.S. health disadvantage cannot be attributed solely to the adverse health status of racial or ethnic minorities or poor people: even highly advantaged Americans are in worse health than their counterparts in other, "peer" countries. </p> <p>In light of the new and growing evidence about the U.S. health disadvantage, the National Institutes of Health asked the National Research Council (NRC) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to convene a panel of experts to study the issue. The Panel on Understanding Cross-National Health Differences Among High-Income Countries examined whether the U.S. health disadvantage exists across the life span, considered potential explanations, and assessed the larger implications of the findings. </p> <p><em>U.S. Health in International Perspective</em> presents detailed evidence on the issue, explores the possible explanations for the shorter and less healthy lives of Americans than those of people in comparable countries, and recommends actions by both government and nongovernment agencies and organizations to address the U.S. health disadvantage. </p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13497">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=308'>Population and Fertility Studies</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=288'>Health and Medicine</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=399'>Public Health and Prevention</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/h3ujrUNvsDI" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13497Estimating Illegal Entries at the U.S.-Mexico Bordertag:nap.edu,2013:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13498#final2013-03-01T00:00:00-05:002013-03-01T11:12:34-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is responsible for securing and managing the nation's borders. Over the past decade, DHS has dramatically stepped up its enforcement efforts at the U.S.-Mexico border, increasing the number of U.S. Border patrol (USBP) agents, expanding the deployment of technological assets, and implementing a variety of "consequence programs" intended to deter illegal immigration. During this same period, there has also been a sharp decline in the number of unauthorized migrants apprehended at the border.</p> <p><br /> Trends in total apprehensions do not, however, by themselves speak to the effectiveness of DHS's investments in immigration enforcement. In particular, to evaluate whether heightened enforcement efforts have contributed to reducing the flow of undocumented migrants, it is critical to estimate the number of border-crossing attempts during the same period for which apprehensions data are available. With these issues in mind, DHS charged the National Research Council (NRC) with providing guidance on the use of surveys and other methodologies to estimate the number of unauthorized crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border, preferably by geographic region and on a quarterly basis. <em>Options for Estimating Illegal Entries at the U.S.-Mexico Border </em>focuses on Mexican migrants since Mexican nationals account for the vast majority (around 90 percent) of attempted unauthorized border crossings across the U.S.-Mexico border.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13498">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=305'>Human Dimensions of Global Change</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=307'>Policy, Reviews and Evaluations</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/YVz4C8NbD1o" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13498Benefits, Burdens, and Prospects of the American Community Survey: Summary of a Workshoptag:nap.edu,2013:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=18259#final2013-02-28T10:45:01-05:002013-02-28T10:45:14-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>In June 2012, the Committee on National Statistics (sponsored by the U.S. Census Bureau) convened a Workshop on the Benefits (and Burdens) of the American Community Survey (ACS)---the detailed demographic and economic survey that began full-scale data collection in 2005 and that replaced the traditional "long form" in the 2010 census. ACS data are used by numerous federal agencies to administer programs, yet the ACS only moved from abstraction to reality for most users in 2010, when the first ACS estimates for small areas (based on 5 years of collected data) were made available. Hence, the workshop marked the opportunity to develop a picture of the breadth of the nonfederal user base of the ACS---among them, the media, policy research and evaluation groups (that distill ACS results for the media and broader public), state and local agencies, businesses and economic development organizations, and local and regional planning authorities---and to gather information on users' experiences with the first full releases of ACS products.</p> <p>In addition to covering innovative uses of the information now available on a continuous basis in the ACS, the workshop gave expression to the challenges and burdens associated with the survey: the time burden places on respondents, the challenges of explaining and interpreting estimates with increased levels of variability, and the privacy and confidentiality implications of some of the ACS content. Benefits, Burdens, and Prospects of the American Community Survey: Summary of a Workshop provides a factual summary of the workshop proceedings and hints at the contours of the ACS user constituency, providing important input to the ongoing review and refinement of the ACS program.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=18259">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=307'>Policy, Reviews and Evaluations</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/SzjQnqXc-qc" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=18259Nonresponse in Social Science Surveys: A Research Agendatag:nap.edu,2013:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=18293#prepub2013-02-15T10:45:28-05:002013-06-10T08:50:15-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Prepublication Now Available</strong></p>
<p>For many household surveys in the United States, responses rates have been steadily declining for at least the past two decades. A similar decline in survey response can be observed in all wealthy countries. Efforts to raise response rates have used such strategies as monetary incentives or repeated attempts to contact sample members and obtain completed interviews, but these strategies increase the costs of surveys. This review addresses the core issues regarding survey nonresponse. It considers why response rates are declining and what that means for the accuracy of survey results. These trends are of particular concern for the social science community, which is heavily invested in obtaining information from household surveys. The evidence to date makes it apparent that current trends in nonresponse, if not arrested, threaten to undermine the potential of household surveys to elicit information that assists in understanding social and economic issues. The trends also threaten to weaken the validity of inferences drawn from estimates based on those surveys. High nonresponse rates create the potential or risk for bias in estimates and affect survey design, data collection, estimation, and analysis.</p> <p>The survey community is painfully aware of these trends and has responded aggressively to these threats. The interview modes employed by surveys in the public and private sectors have proliferated as new technologies and methods have emerged and matured. To the traditional trio of mail, telephone, and face-to-face surveys have been added interactive voice response (IVR), audio computer-assisted self-interviewing (ACASI), web surveys, and a number of hybrid methods. Similarly, a growing research agenda has emerged in the past decade or so focused on seeking solutions to various aspects of the problem of survey nonresponse; the potential solutions that have been considered range from better training and deployment of interviewers to more use of incentives, better use of the information collected in the data collection, and increased use of auxiliary information from other sources in survey design and data collection. <em>Nonresponse in Social Science Surveys: A Research Agenda</em> also documents the increased use of information collected in the survey process in nonresponse adjustment.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=18293">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=307'>Policy, Reviews and Evaluations</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=308'>Population and Fertility Studies</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/aqiZpxrRRFw" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=18293Measuring What We Spend: Toward a New Consumer Expenditure Surveytag:nap.edu,2013:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13520#final2013-02-15T00:00:00-05:002013-02-19T13:28:34-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>The Consumer Expenditure (CE) surveys are the only source of information on the complete range of consumers' expenditures and incomes in the United States, as well as the characteristics of those consumers. The CE consists of two separate surveys: (1) a national sample of households interviewed five times at three-month intervals; and (2) a separate national sample of households that complete two consecutive one-week expenditure diaries. For more than 40 years, these surveys, the responsibility of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), have been the principal source of knowledge about changing patterns of consumer spending in the U.S. population.</p> <p>In February 2009, BLS initiated the Gemini Project, the aim of which is to redesign the CE surveys to improve data quality through a verifiable reduction in measurement error with a particular focus on underreporting. The Gemini Project initiated a series of information-gathering meetings, conference sessions, forums, and workshops to identify appropriate strategies for improving CE data quality. As part of this effort, BLS requested the National Research Council's Committee on National Statistics (CNSTAT) to convene an expert panel to build on the Gemini Project by conducting further investigations and proposing redesign options for the CE surveys.</p> <p>The charge to the Panel on Redesigning the BLS Consumer Expenditure Surveys includes reviewing the output of a Gemini-convened data user needs forum and methods workshop and convening its own household survey producers workshop to obtain further input. In addition, the panel was tasked to commission options from contractors for consideration in recommending possible redesigns. The panel was further asked by BLS to create potential redesigns that would put a greater emphasis on proactive data collection to improve the measurement of consumer expenditures. <em>Measuring What We Spend</em> summarizes the deliberations and activities of the panel, discusses the conclusions about the uses of the CE surveys and why a redesign is needed, as well as recommendations for the future.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13520">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=289'>Industry and Labor</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=304'>Economics</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=307'>Policy, Reviews and Evaluations</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/9e62AVBd0FE" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13520Climate and Social Stress: Implications for Security Analysistag:nap.edu,2013:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=14682#final2013-01-14T00:00:00-05:002013-01-16T13:44:08-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
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<p>Climate change can reasonably be expected to increase the frequency and intensity of a variety of potentially disruptive environmental events--slowly at first, but then more quickly. It is prudent to expect to be surprised by the way in which these events may cascade, or have far-reaching effects. During the coming decade, certain climate-related events will produce consequences that exceed the capacity of the affected societies or global systems to manage; these may have global security implications. Although focused on events outside the United States, <em>Climate and Social Stress: Implications for Security Analysis</em> recommends a range of research and policy actions to create a whole-of-government approach to increasing understanding of complex and contingent connections between climate and security, and to inform choices about adapting to and reducing vulnerability to climate change.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=14682">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=285'>Environment and Environmental Studies</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=367'>Climate Change</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=305'>Human Dimensions of Global Change</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=424'>Defense and Security</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=281'>Earth Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=331'>Climate, Weather and Meteorology</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=280'>Conflict and Security Issues</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=327'>Policy, Reviews and Evaluations</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/BVdv3ZofceQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=14682Medical Care Economic Risk: Measuring Financial Vulnerability from Spending on Medical Caretag:nap.edu,2013:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13525#final2013-01-10T00:00:00-05:002013-01-12T14:10:32-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
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<p>The United States has seen major advances in medical care during the past decades, but access to care at an affordable cost is not universal. Many Americans lack health care insurance of any kind, and many others with insurance are nonetheless exposed to financial risk because of high premiums, deductibles, co-pays, limits on insurance payments, and uncovered services. One might expect that the U.S. poverty measure would capture these financial effects and trends in them over time. Yet the current official poverty measure developed in the early 1960s does not take into account significant increases and variations in medical care costs, insurance coverage, out-of-pocket spending, and the financial burden imposed on families and individuals. Although medical costs consume a growing share of family and national income and studies regularly document high rates of medical financial stress and debt, the current poverty measure does not capture the consequences for families' economic security or their income available for other basic needs.</p> <p>In 1995, a panel of the National Research Council (NRC) recommended a new poverty measure, which compares families' disposable income to poverty thresholds based on current spending for food, clothing, shelter, utilities, and a little more. The panel's recommendations stimulated extensive collaborative research involving several government agencies on experimental poverty measures that led to a new research Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM), which the U.S. Census Bureau first published in November 2011 and will update annually. Analyses of the effects of including and excluding certain factors from the new SPM showed that, were it not for the cost that families incurred for premiums and other medical expenses not covered by health insurance, 10 million fewer people would have been poor according to the SPM.</p> <p>The implementation of the patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) provides a strong impetus to think rigorously about ways to measure medical care economic burden and risk, which is the basis for <em>Medical Care Economic Risk</em>. As new policies - whether part of the ACA or other policies - are implemented that seek to expand and improve health insurance coverage and to protect against the high costs of medical care relative to income, such measures will be important to assess the effects of policy changes in both the short and long term on the extent of financial burden and risk for the population, which are explained in this report.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13525">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=288'></a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=392'>Healthcare and Quality</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=289'></a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=304'>Economics</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'></a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=307'>Policy, Reviews and Evaluations</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/5lBJPXSnbfU" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13525Aging and the Macroeconomy: Long-Term Implications of an Older Populationtag:nap.edu,2012:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13465#final2012-12-10T00:00:00-05:002012-12-17T11:38:35-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
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<p>The United States is in the midst of a major demographic shift. In the coming decades, people aged 65 and over will make up an increasingly large percentage of the population: The ratio of people aged 65+ to people aged 20-64 will rise by 80%. This shift is happening for two reasons: people are living longer, and many couples are choosing to have fewer children and to have those children somewhat later in life. The resulting demographic shift will present the nation with economic challenges, both to absorb the costs and to leverage the benefits of an aging population.</p> <p><em>Aging and the Macroeconomy: Long-Term Implications of an Older Population </em>presents the fundamental factors driving the aging of the U.S. population, as well as its societal implications and likely long-term macroeconomic effects in a global context. The report finds that, while population aging does not pose an insurmountable challenge to the nation, it is imperative that sensible policies are implemented soon to allow companies and households to respond. It offers four practical approaches for preparing resources to support the future consumption of households and for adapting to the new economic landscape.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13465">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=302'>Aging</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=288'>Health and Medicine</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=385'>Aging</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=289'>Industry and Labor</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=304'>Economics</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=305'>Human Dimensions of Global Change</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/GPIqE4-fF0w" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13465Human Performance Modification: Review of Worldwide Research with a View to the Futuretag:nap.edu,2012:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13480#final2012-11-19T13:45:01-05:002013-01-08T11:18:15-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>The development of technologies to modify natural human physical and cognitive performance is one of increasing interest and concern, especially among military services that may be called on to defeat foreign powers with enhanced warfighter capabilities. Human performance modification (HPM) is a general term that can encompass actions ranging from the use of "natural" materials, such as caffeine or khat as a stimulant, to the application of nanotechnology as a drug delivery mechanism or in an invasive brain implant. Although the literature on HPM typically addresses methods that enhance performance, another possible focus is methods that degrade performance or negatively affect a military force's ability to fight.<br /> </p> <p>Advances in medicine, biology, electronics, and computation have enabled an increasingly sophisticated ability to modify the human body, and such innovations will undoubtedly be adopted by military forces, with potential consequences for both sides of the battle lines. Although some innovations may be developed for purely military applications, they are increasingly unlikely to remain exclusively in that sphere because of the globalization and internationalization of the commercial research base.</p> <p><br /> Based on its review of the literature, the presentations it received and on its own expertise, the Committee on Assessing Foreign Technology Development in Human Performance Modification chose to focus on three general areas of HPM: human cognitive modification as a computational problem, human performance modification as a biological problem, and human performance modification as a function of the brain-computer interface. <em>Human Performance Modification: Review of Worldwide Research with a View to the Future </em>summarizes these findings.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13480">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=280'>Conflict and Security Issues</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=326'>Military and Defense Studies</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=424'>Defense and Security</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/0TT1H9DgVhU" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13480Using Science as Evidence in Public Policytag:nap.edu,2012:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13460#final2012-10-31T00:00:00-04:002012-11-07T13:22:35-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
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<p><em>Using Science as Evidence in Public Policy</em> encourages scientists to think differently about the use of scientific evidence in policy making. This report investigates why scientific evidence is important to policy making and argues that an extensive body of research on knowledge utilization has not led to any widely accepted explanation of what it means to use science in public policy.<em> Using Science as Evidence in Public Policy</em> identifies the gaps in our understanding and develops a framework for a new field of research to fill those gaps.<br /> <br /> For social scientists in a number of specialized fields, whether established scholars or Ph.D. students, <em>Using Science as Evidence in Public Policy</em> shows how to bring their expertise to bear on the study of using science to inform public policy. More generally, this report will be of special interest to scientists who want to see their research used in policy making, offering guidance on what is required beyond producing quality research, beyond translating results into more understandable terms, and beyond brokering the results through intermediaries, such as think tanks, lobbyists, and advocacy groups. For administrators and faculty in public policy programs and schools, <em>Using Science as Evidence in Public Policy</em> identifies critical elements of instruction that will better equip graduates to promote the use of science in policy making.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13460">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=307'>Policy, Reviews and Evaluations</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=282'>Education</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=348'>Higher Education</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/_aqWFrRgrfI" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13460Using American Community Survey Data to Expand Access to the School Meals Programstag:nap.edu,2012:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13409#final2012-10-18T00:00:00-04:002012-10-18T15:13:12-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>The National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, administered by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), are key components of the nation's food security safety net, providing free or low-cost meals to millions of schoolchildren each day. To qualify their children each year for free or reduced-price meals, many families must submit applications that school officials distribute and review. To reduce this burden on families and schools and to encourage more children to partake of nutritious meals, USDA regulations allow school districts to operate their meals programs under special provisions that eliminate the application process and other administrative procedures in exchange for providing free meals to all students enrolled in one or more school in a district.</p> <p> <br /> FNS asked the National Academies' Committee on National Statistics and Food and Nutrition Board to convene a panel of experts to investigate the technical and operational feasibility of using data from the continuous American Community Survey (ACS) to estimate students eligible for free and reduced-price meals for schools and school districts. The ACS eligibility estimates would be used to develop "claiming percentages" that, if sufficiently accurate, would determine the USDA reimbursements to districts for schools that provided free meals to all students under a new special provision that eliminated the ongoing base-year requirements of current provisions. <br /> </p> <p><em>Using American Community Survey Data to Expand Access to the School Meals Program</em> was conducted in two phases. It first issued an interim report (National Research Council, 2010), describing its planned approach for assessing the utility of ACS-based estimates for a special provision to expand access to free school meals. This report is the final phase which presents the panel's findings and recommendations.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13409">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=307'>Policy, Reviews and Evaluations</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=303'>Children, Youth and Families</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=287'>Food and Nutrition</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=382'>Policy, Reviews and Evaluations</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/RFQIMtDz-MA" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13409Blueprint for the Future: Framing the Issues of Women in Science in a Global Context: Summary of a Workshoptag:nap.edu,2012:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13306#final2012-10-17T10:45:01-04:002012-10-17T10:45:06-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
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<p>The scientific work of women is often viewed through a national or regional lens, but given the growing worldwide connectivity of most, if not all, scientific disciplines, there needs to be recognition of how different social, political, and economic mechanisms impact women's participation in the global scientific enterprise. Although these complex sociocultural factors often operate in different ways in various countries and regions, studies within and across nations consistently show inverse correlations between levels in the scientific and technical career hierarchy and the number of women in science: the higher the positions, the fewer the number of women. Understanding these complex patterns requires interdisciplinary and international approaches. In April 2011, a committee overseen by the National Academies' standing Committee on Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine (CWSEM) convened a workshop entitled, "Blueprint for the Future: Framing the Issues of Women in Science in a Global Context" in Washington, D.C.</p> <p><br /> CWSEM's goals are to coordinate, monitor, and advocate action to increase the participation of women in science, engineering, and medicine. The scope of the workshop was limited to women's participation in three scientific disciplines: chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and statistics. The workshop presentations came from a group of scholars and professionals who have been working for several years on documenting, analyzing, and interpreting the status of women in selected technical fields around the world. Examination of the three disciplines-chemistry, computer science, and mathematics and statistics-can be considered a first foray into collecting and analyzing information that can be replicated in other fields.</p> <p><br /> The complexity of studying science internationally cannot be underestimated, and the presentations demonstrate some of the evidentiary and epistemological challenges that scholars and professionals face in collecting and analyzing data from many different countries and regions. <em>Blueprint for the Future: Framing the Issues of Women in Science in a Global Context</em> summarizes the workshop presentations, which provided an opportunity for dialogue about the issues that the authors have been pursuing in their work to date.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13306">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=423'>Policy for Science and Technology</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=423'>Policy for Science and Technology</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=309'>Women and Minorities</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=289'>Industry and Labor</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=407'>Workforce and Labor Issues</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/pJc5YPT7gqU" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13306The Subjective Well-Being Module of the American Time Use Survey: Assessment for Its Continuationtag:nap.edu,2012:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13535#final2012-10-05T10:45:14-04:002012-11-28T10:18:38-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>The American Time Use Survey (ATUS), conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, included a subjective well-being (SWB) module in 2010 and 2012. The module, funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), is being considered for inclusion in the ATUS for 2013. The National Research Council was asked to evaluate measures of self-reported well-being and offer guidance about their adoption in official government surveys. The charge for the study included an interim report to consider the usefulness of the ATUS SWB module, specifically the value of continuing it for at least one more wave. Among the key points raised in this report are the value, methodological benefits, and cost and effects on the ATUS and new opportunities.<br /> </p> <p>Research on subjective or self-reported well-being has been ongoing for several decades, with the past few years seeing an increased interest by some countries in using SWB measures to evaluate government policies and provide a broader assessment of the health of a society than is provided by such standard economic measures as gross domestic product. NIA asked the panel to prepare an interim report on the usefulness of the SWB module of the ATUS, with a view as to the utility of continuing the module in 2013.</p> <p><br /> <em>The Subjective Well-Being Module of the American Time Use Survey </em>is intended to fulfill only one narrow aspect of the panel's broader task. It provides an overview of the ATUS and the SWB module, a brief discussion of research applications to date, and a preliminary assessment of the value of SWB module data. The panel's final report will address issues of whether research has advanced to the point that SWB measures-and which kinds of measures-should be regularly included in major surveys of official statistical agencies to help inform government economic and social policies.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13535">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=308'>Population and Fertility Studies</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=307'>Policy, Reviews and Evaluations</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=289'>Industry and Labor</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=304'>Economics</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/6FK488BUT28" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13535The Continuing Epidemiological Transition in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Workshop Summarytag:nap.edu,2012:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13533#final2012-10-01T10:45:21-04:002012-10-01T10:56:56-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>Among the poorest and least developed regions in the world, sub-Saharan Africa has long faced a heavy burden of disease, with malaria, tuberculosis, and, more recently, HIV being among the most prominent contributors to that burden. Yet in most parts of Africa-and especially in those areas with the greatest health care needs-the data available to health planners to better understand and address these problems are extremely limited. The vast majority of Africans are born and will die without being recorded in any document or spearing in official statistics. With few exceptions, African countries have no civil registration systems in place and hence are unable to continuously generate vital statistics or to provide systematic information on patterns of cause of death, relying instead on periodic household-level surveys or intense and continuous monitoring of small demographic surveillance sites to provide a partial epidemiological and demographic profile of the population.</p> <p>In 1991 the Committee on Population of the National Academy of Sciences organized a workshop on the epidemiological transition in developing countries. The workshop brought together medical experts, epidemiologists, demographers, and other social scientists involved in research on the epidemiological transition in developing countries to discuss the nature of the ongoing transition, identify the most important contributors to the overall burden of disease, and discuss how such information could be used to assist policy makers in those countries to establish priorities with respect to the prevention and management of the main causes of ill health.</p> <p>This report summarizes the presentations and discussions from a workshop convened in October 2011 that featured invited speakers on the topic of epidemiological transition in sub-Saharan Africa. The workshop was organized by a National Research Council panel of experts in various aspects of the study of epidemiological transition and of sub-Saharan data sources. <em>The Continuing Epidemiological Transition in Sub-Saharan Africa</em> serves as a factual summary of what occurred at the workshop in October 2011.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13533">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=308'>Population and Fertility Studies</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=288'>Health and Medicine</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=390'>Global Health</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=288'>Health and Medicine</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=388'>Diseases - Other</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/988vYN0LqQc" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13533From Neurons to Neighborhoods: An Update: Workshop Summarytag:nap.edu,2012:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13119#final2012-09-07T08:45:02-04:002012-09-07T08:45:13-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p><em>From Neurons to Neighborhoods: An Update: Workshop Summary</em> is based on the original study<em> From Neurons to Neighborhoods: Early Childhood Development</em>, which released in October of 2000. From the time of the original publication's release, much has occurred to cause a fundamental reexamination of the nation's response to the needs of young children and families, drawing upon a wealth of scientific knowledge that has emerged in recent decades. The study shaped policy agendas and intervention efforts at national, state, and local levels. It captured a gratifying level of attention in the United States and around the world and has helped to foster a highly dynamic and increasingly visible science of early childhood development. It contributed to a growing public understanding of the foundational importance of the early childhood years and has stimulated a global conversation about the unmet needs of millions of young children.</p> <p><br /> Ten years later, the Board on Children, Youth, and Families of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the National Research Council (NRC) held a 2-day workshop in Washington, D.C., to review and commemorate a decade of advances related to the mission of the report. The workshop began with a series of highly interactive breakout sessions in which experts in early childhood development examined the four organizing themes of the original report and identified both measurable progress and remaining challenges. The second day of the workshop, speakers chosen for their diverse perspectives on early childhood research and policy issues discussed how to build on the accomplishments of the past decade and to launch the next era in early childhood science, policy, and practice.</p> <p><br /> <em>From Neurons to Neighborhoods: An Update: Workshop Summar</em><em>y</em> emphasizes that there is a single, integrated science of early childhood development despite the extent to which it is carved up and divided among a diversity of professional disciplines, policy sectors, and service delivery systems. While much work still remains to be done to reach this goal, the 2010 workshop demonstrated both the promise of this integrated science and the rich diversity of contributions to that science. </p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13119">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=303'>Children, Youth and Families</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=282'>Education</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=344'>Early Childhood Education</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=282'>Education</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=345'>Education Research and Theory</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/ykOlhAUmW28" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13119Perspectives on the Future of the Sociology of Agingtag:nap.edu,2012:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13473#prepub2012-08-02T10:45:39-04:002012-08-02T10:46:10-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Prepublication Now Available</strong></p>
<p>The population of the United States is growing inexorably older. With birth rates historically low and life expectancy continuing to rise, the age distribution of the population in the United States is growing steadily older. This demographic shift is occurring at a time of major economic and social changes, which have important implications for the growing elderly population. Other changes, such as the move away from defined-benefit toward defined-contribution retirement plans, changes in some corporate and municipal pension plans as a result of market pressures, and the 2008 financial crisis precipitated by the crash of the housing market, all have economic implications for older people. They are also likely to make it more difficult for certain groups of future retirees to find their retirements at the level that they had planned and would like.</p> <p>To deal effectively with the challenges created by population aging, it is vital to first understand these demographic, economic, and social changes and, to the extent possible, their causes, consequences, and implications. Sociology offers a knowledge base, a number of useful analytic approaches and tools, and unique theoretical perspectives that can be important aids to this task.</p> <p>The Panel on New Directions in Social Demography, Social Epidemiology, and the Sociology of Aging was established in August 2010 under the auspices of the Committee on Population of the National Research Council to prepare a report that evaluates the recent contributions of social demography, social epidemiology, and sociology to the study of aging and seeks to identify promising new research in these fields. <em>Perspectives on the Future of the Sociology of Aging </em>provides candid and critical comments that will assist the institution in making the final published volume as sound as possible and to ensure that the volume meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13473">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=302'>Aging</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=307'>Policy, Reviews and Evaluations</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/HFsxhNMXZy4" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13473Aging in Asia: Findings from New and Emerging Data Initiativestag:nap.edu,2012:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13361#final2012-07-31T00:00:00-04:002012-08-01T13:32:37-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>The population of Asia is growing both larger and older. Demographically the most important continent on the world, Asia's population, currently estimated to be 4.2 billion, is expected to increase to about 5.9 billion by 2050. Rapid declines in fertility, together with rising life expectancy, are altering the age structure of the population so that in 2050, for the first time in history, there will be roughly as many people in Asia over the age of 65 as under the age of 15.</p> <p>It is against this backdrop that the Division of Behavioral and Social Research at the U.S. National Institute on Aging (NIA) asked the National Research Council (NRC), through the Committee on Population, to undertake a project on advancing behavioral and social research on aging in Asia.</p> <p><em>Aging in Asia: Findings from New and Emerging Data Initiatives</em> is a peer-reviewed collection of papers from China, India, Indonesia, Japan, and Thailand that were presented at two conferences organized in conjunction with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Indian National Science Academy, Indonesian Academy of Sciences, and Science Council of Japan; the first conference was hosted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, and the second conference was hosted by the Indian National Science Academy in New Delhi. The papers in the volume highlight the contributions from new and emerging data initiatives in the region and cover subject areas such as economic growth, labor markets, and consumption; family roles and responsibilities; and labor markets and consumption.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13361">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'></a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=302'>Aging</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'></a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=305'>Human Dimensions of Global Change</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'></a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=308'>Population and Fertility Studies</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/lddYnMF4dvI" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13361Improving the Decision Making Abilities of Small Unit Leaderstag:nap.edu,2012:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13188#final2012-07-06T00:00:00-04:002012-07-10T11:28:55-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>For the past decade, the U.S. Marine Corps and its sister services have been engaged in what has been termed "hybrid warfare," which ranges from active combat to civilian support. Hybrid warfare typically occurs in environments where all modes of war are employed, such as conventional weapons, irregular tactics, terrorism, disruptive technologies, and criminality to destabilize an existing order.</p> <p><br /> In August 2010, the National Research Council established the Committee on Improving the Decision Making Abilities of Small Unit Leaders to produce Improving the Decision Making Abilities of Small Unit Leaders. This report examines the operational environment, existing abilities, and gap to include data, technology, skill sets, training, and measures of effectiveness for small unit leaders in conducting enhanced company operations (ECOs) in hybrid engagement, complex environments. <em>Improving the Decision Making Abilities of Small Unit Leaders </em>also determines how to understand the decision making calculus and indicators of adversaries.</p> <p><br /> <em>Improving the Decision Making Abilities of Small Unit Leaders</em> recommends operational and technical approaches for improving the decision making abilities of small unit leaders, including any acquisition and experimentation efforts that can be undertaken by the Marine Corps and/or by other stakeholders aimed specifically at improving the decision making of small unit leaders. This report recommends ways to ease the burden on small unit leaders and to better prepare the small unit leader for success. <em>Improving the Decision Making Abilities of Small Unit Leaders</em> also indentifies a responsible organization to ensure that training and education programs are properly developed, staffed, operated, evaluated, and expanded.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13188">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=280'>Conflict and Security Issues</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=326'>Military and Defense Studies</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=424'>Defense and Security</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/Ly4CuxOrXpo" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13188Child Maltreatment Research, Policy, and Practice for the Next Decade: Workshop Summarytag:nap.edu,2012:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13368#final2012-06-15T00:00:00-04:002012-06-18T10:44:08-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>In 1993 the National Research Council released its landmark report <em>Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect</em> (NRC, 1993). That report identified child maltreatment as a devastating social problem in American society. Nearly 20 years later, on January 30-31, 2012, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and NRC's Board on Children, Youth and Families help a workshop,<em> Child Maltreatment Research, Policy, and Practice for the Next Generation</em>, to review the accomplishments of the past two decades of research related to child maltreatment and the remaining gaps. "There have been many exciting research discoveries since the '93 report, but we also want people to be thinking about what is missing," said Anne Petersen, research professor at the Center for Human Growth and Development at the University of Michigan and chair of the panel that produced the report.</p> <p><br /> <em>Child Maltreatment Research, Policy, and Practice for the Next Decade: Workshop Summary</em> covers the workshop that brought together many leading U.S. child maltreatment researchers for a day and a half of presentations and discussions. Presenters reviewed research accomplishments, identified gaps that remain in knowledge, and consider potential research priorities. <em>Child Maltreatment Research, Policy, and Practice for the Next Decade: Workshop Summary</em> also covers participant suggestions for future research priorities, policy actions, and practices that would enhance understanding of child maltreatment and efforts to reduce and respond to it. A background paper highlighting major research advances since the publication of the 1993 NRC report was prepared by an independent consultant to inform the workshop discussions.</p> <p><br /> This summary is an essential resource for any workshop attendees, policy makers, researchers, educators, healthcare providers, parents, and advocacy groups.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13368">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=288'>Health and Medicine</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=386'>Children's Health</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=303'>Children, Youth and Families</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/0DEVlpPUlS4" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13368Small Populations, Large Effects: Improving the Measurement of the Group Quarters Population in the American Community Surveytag:nap.edu,2012:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13387#final2012-06-12T00:00:00-04:002012-06-12T17:18:58-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>In the early 1990s, the Census Bureau proposed a program of continuous measurement as a possible alternative to the gathering of detailed social, economic, and housing data from a sample of the U.S. population as part of the decennial census. The American Community Survey (ACS) became a reality in 2005, and has included group quarters (GQ)-such places as correctional facilities for adults, student housing, nursing facilities, inpatient hospice facilities, and military barracks-since 2006, primarily to more closely replicate the design and data products of the census long-form sample.</p> <p>The decision to include group quarters in the ACS enables the Census Bureau to provide a comprehensive benchmark of the total U.S. population (not just those living in households). However, the fact that the ACS must rely on a sample of what is a small and very diverse population, combined with limited funding available for survey operations, makes the ACS GQ sampling, data collection, weighting, and estimation procedures more complex and the estimates more susceptible to problems stemming from these limitations. The concerns are magnified in small areas, particularly in terms of detrimental effects on the total population estimates produced for small areas.</p> <p><em>Small Populations, Large Effects</em> provides an in-depth review of the statistical methodology for measuring the GQ population in the ACS. This report addresses difficulties associated with measuring the GQ population and the rationale for including GQs in the ACS. Considering user needs for ACS data and of operational feasibility and compatibility with the treatment of the household population in the ACS, the report recommends alternatives to the survey design and other methodological features that can make the ACS more useful for users of small-area data.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13387">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'></a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=307'>Policy, Reviews and Evaluations</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'></a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=308'>Population and Fertility Studies</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/nCGTy3Z6e2A" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13387Deterrence and the Death Penaltytag:nap.edu,2012:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13363#final2012-04-26T00:00:00-04:002013-06-17T10:03:09-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>Many studies during the past few decades have sought to determine whether the death penalty has any deterrent effect on homicide rates. Researchers have reached widely varying, even contradictory, conclusions. Some studies have concluded that the threat of capital punishment deters murders, saving large numbers of lives; other studies have concluded that executions actually increase homicides; still others, that executions have no effect on murder rates. Commentary among researchers, advocates, and policymakers on the scientific validity of the findings has sometimes been acrimonious.</p> <p>Against this backdrop, the National Research Council report <em>Deterrence and the Death Penalty</em> assesses whether the available evidence provides a scientific basis for answering questions of if and how the death penalty affects homicide rates. This new report from the Committee on Law and Justice concludes that research to date on the effect of capital punishment on homicide rates is not useful in determining whether the death penalty increases, decreases, or has no effect on these rates. The key question is whether capital punishment is less or more effective as a deterrent than alternative punishments, such as a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Yet none of the research that has been done accounted for the possible effect of noncapital punishments on homicide rates. The report recommends new avenues of research that may provide broader insight into any deterrent effects from both capital and noncapital punishments.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13363">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=306'>Law and Justice</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=307'>Policy, Reviews and Evaluations</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/SXqAb5yJbIU" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13363Review of Disability and Rehabilitation Research: NIDRR Grantmaking Processes and Productstag:nap.edu,2012:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13285#final2012-02-27T00:00:00-05:002012-04-12T13:44:48-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) is the principal federal agency supporting applied research, training, and development to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities. NIDRR's mission is to generate new knowledge and promote its effective use in improving the ability of persons with disabilities to perform activities of their choice in the community, as well as to expand society's capacity to provide full opportunities and accommodations for its citizens with disabilities.</p> <p>NIDRR prides itself on being proactive in establishing program performance measures and developing accountability data systems to track the progress of its grantees. An electronic annual reporting system is used to collect data from grantees on many aspects of grant operation and outputs. Various formative and summative evaluation approaches have been used to assess the quality of the performance and results of the agency's research portfolio and its grantees. Prompted by the need to provide more data on its program results, in 2009 NIDRR requested that the National Research Council (NRC) conduct an external evaluation of some of the agency's key processes and assess the quality of outputs produced by NIDRR grantees (National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, 2009a). Review of Disability and Rehabilitation Research presents the results of that evaluation.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13285">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=288'>Health and Medicine</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=398'>Policy, Reviews and Evaluations</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=404'>Human Factors</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/ySXNebGHF8M" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13285The Early Childhood Care and Education Workforce: Challenges and Opportunities: A Workshop Reporttag:nap.edu,2012:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13238#final2012-02-10T00:00:00-05:002012-02-22T14:25:59-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>Early childhood care and education (ECCE) settings offer an opportunity to provide children with a solid beginning in all areas of their development. The quality and efficacy of these settings depend largely on the individuals within the ECCE workforce. Policy makers need a complete picture of ECCE teachers and caregivers in order to tackle the persistent challenges facing this workforce. The IOM and the National Research Council hosted a workshop to describe the ECCE workforce and outline its parameters. Speakers explored issues in defining and describing the workforce, the marketplace of ECCE, the effects of the workforce on children, the contextual factors that shape the workforce, and opportunities for strengthening ECCE as a profession.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13238">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=288'></a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=386'>Children's Health</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/yLwZdnLTysY" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13238Budgeting for Immigration Enforcement: A Path to Better Performancetag:nap.edu,2011:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13271#final2011-12-22T00:00:00-05:002011-12-23T10:12:03-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>Immigration enforcement is carried out by a complex legal and administrative system, operating under frequently changing legislative mandates and policy guidance, with authority and funding spread across several agencies in two executive departments and the courts. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is responsible for conducting immigration enforcement both at the border and in the United States; the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is responsible for conducting immigration removal procedures and criminal trials and for prosecuting people charged with immigration-related crimes. DOJ confronts at least five technical challenges to modeling its resource needs for immigration enforcement that are specific to the immigration enforcement system. Despite the inherent limitations, budgeting for immigration enforcement can be improved by changing the method for budgeting.</p> <p><i>Budgeting for Immigration Enforcement</i> addresses how to improve budgeting for the federal immigration enforcement system, specifically focusing on the parts of that system that are operated and funded by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The report recommends that DOJ establish policy-level procedures to plan and coordinate policy planning and implementation to improve performance of the immigration enforcement system. The report also recommends that DOJ and DHS accelerate their design of an integrated capacity to track cases and project immigration enforcement activity. Policy makers and others who are interested in how the nation's immigration enforcement system is organized and operates also will find it useful.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13271">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=306'>Law and Justice</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=308'>Population and Fertility Studies</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/zvHk6Gi1OeA" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13271Review of the National Defense Intelligence College's Master's Degree in Science and Technology Intelligencetag:nap.edu,2011:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13260#final2011-10-14T00:00:00-04:002011-09-30T10:55:05-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>The National Research Council (NRC) was asked by the National Defense Intelligence College (NDIC) to convene a committee to review the curriculum and syllabi for their proposed master of science degree in science and technology intelligence. The NRC was asked to review the material provided by the NDIC and offer advice and recommendations regarding the program's structure and goals of the Master of Science and Technology Intelligence (MS&TI) program.</p> <p>The Committee for the Review of the Master's Degree Program for Science and Technology Professionals convened in May 2011, received extensive briefings and material from the NDIC faculty and administrators, and commenced a detailed review of the material. This letter report contains the findings and recommendations of the committee.</p> <p><i>Review of the National Defense Intelligence College's Master's Degree in Science and Technology Intelligence</i> centers on two general areas. First, the committee found that the biological sciences and systems engineering were underrepresented in the existing program structure. Secondly, the committee recommends that the NDIC faculty restructure the program and course learning objectives to focus more specifically on science and technology, with particular emphasis on the empirical measurement of student achievement. Given the dynamic and ever-changing nature of science and technology, the syllabi should continue to evolve as change occurs.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13260">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=282'>Education</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=348'>Higher Education</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=424'>Defense and Security</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/ptNPbgEqev8" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13260The Effects of Commuting on Pilot Fatiguetag:nap.edu,2011:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13201#final2011-09-30T00:00:00-04:002011-10-04T09:33:08-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>Nearly everyone experiences fatigue, but some professions--such as aviation, medicine and the military--demand alert, precise, rapid, and well-informed decision making and communication with little margin for error. The potential for fatigue to negatively affect human performance is well established. Concern about this potential in the aviation context extends back decades, with both airlines and pilots agreeing that fatigue is a safety concern. A more recent consideration is whether and how pilot commuting, conducted in a pilot's off-duty time, may affect fatigue during flight duty. <br /> <br /> In summer 2010 the U.S. Congress directed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to update the federal regulations that govern pilot flight and duty time, taking into account recent research related to sleep and fatigue. As part of their directive, Congress also instructed FAA to have the National Academy of Sciences conduct a study on the effects of commuting on pilot fatigue. <em>The Effects of Commuting on Pilot Fatigue</em> reviews research and other information related to the prevalence and characteristics of commuting; to the science of sleep, fatigue, and circadian rhythms; to airline and regulatory oversight policies; and to pilot and airline practices. </p> <p><em>The Effects of Commuting on Pilot Fatigue</em> discusses the policy, economic, and regulatory issues that affect pilot commuting, and outlines potential next steps, including recommendations for regulatory or administrative actions, or further research by the FAA.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13201">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=294'>Transportation</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=462'>Safety and Human Factors</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=404'>Human Factors</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/OeR4Y7K-Caw" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13201Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence: Third Editiontag:nap.edu,2011:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13163#final2011-09-28T09:45:42-04:002011-11-02T14:33:07-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p><i>The Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence, Third Edition</i>, assists judges in managing cases involving complex scientific and technical evidence by describing the basic tenets of key scientific fields from which legal evidence is typically derived and by providing examples of cases in which that evidence has been used.</p> <p>First published in 1994 by the Federal Judicial Center, the <i>Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence</i> has been relied upon in the legal and academic communities and is often cited by various courts and others. Judges faced with disputes over the admissibility of scientific and technical evidence refer to the manual to help them better understand and evaluate the relevance, reliability and usefulness of the evidence being proffered. The manual is not intended to tell judges what is good science and what is not. Instead, it serves to help judges identify issues on which experts are likely to differ and to guide the inquiry of the court in seeking an informed resolution of the conflict.</p> <p>The core of the manual consists of a series of chapters (reference guides) on various scientific topics, each authored by an expert in that field. The topics have been chosen by an oversight committee because of their complexity and frequency in litigation. Each chapter is intended to provide a general overview of the topic in lay terms, identifying issues that will be useful to judges and others in the legal profession. They are written for a non-technical audience and are not intended as exhaustive presentations of the topic. Rather, the chapters seek to provide judges with the basic information in an area of science, to allow them to have an informed conversation with the experts and attorneys.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13163">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=423'>Policy for Science and Technology</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=423'>Policy for Science and Technology</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=278'>Biology and Life Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=315'>Genetics</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=306'>Law and Justice</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/yUlJrnAZhKg" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13163The Future of Federal Household Surveys: A Workshop Summarytag:nap.edu,2011:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13174#final2011-07-21T00:00:00-04:002011-07-22T10:52:49-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
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<p>Federal household surveys today face several significant challenges including: increasing costs of data collection, declining response rates, perceptions of increasing response burden, inadequate timeliness of estimates, discrepant estimates of key indicators, inefficient and considerable duplication of some survey content, and instances of gaps in needed research and analysis. The Workshop on the Future of Federal Household Surveys, held at the request of the U.S. Census Bureau, was designed to address the increasing concern among many members of the federal statistical system that federal household data collections in their current form are unsustainable. The workshop brought together leaders in the statistical community to discuss opportunities for enhancing the relevance, quality, and cost-effectiveness of household surveys sponsored by the federal statistical system.</p> <p><em>The Future of Federal Household Surveys</em> is a factual summary of the presentations and related discussions that transpired during the workshop. This summary includes a number of solutions that range from methodological approaches, such as the use of administrative data, to emphasis on interagency cooperative efforts.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13174">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=307'>Policy, Reviews and Evaluations</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=308'>Population and Fertility Studies</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/rG97_eBreKE" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13174Consumer Health Information Technology in the Home: A Guide for Human Factors Design Considerationstag:nap.edu,2011:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13205#final2011-07-18T10:45:19-04:002011-07-18T10:45:26-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>Every day, in households across the country, people engage in behavior to improve their current health, recover from disease and injury, or cope with chronic, debilitating conditions. Innovative computer and information systems may help these people manage health concerns, monitor important indicators of their health, and communicate with their formal and informal caregivers. Human factors is an engineering science dedicated to understanding and improving the way people use technology and other things in the environment.</p> <p><em>Consumer Health Information Technology in the Home</em> introduces designers and developers to the practical realities and complexities of managing health at home. It provides guidance and human factors design considerations that will help designers and developers create consumer health IT applications that are useful resources to achieve better health.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13205">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=404'>Human Factors</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=288'>Health and Medicine</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=393'>Medical Technologies and Treatments</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/xGlxbQ2mpn4" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13205Health Care Comes Home: The Human Factorstag:nap.edu,2011:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13149#final2011-07-18T10:45:02-04:002011-07-18T10:45:19-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>In the United States, health care devices, technologies, and practices are rapidly moving into the home. The factors driving this migration include the costs of health care, the growing numbers of older adults, the increasing prevalence of chronic conditions and diseases and improved survival rates for people with those conditions and diseases, and a wide range of technological innovations. The health care that results varies considerably in its safety, effectiveness, and efficiency, as well as in its quality and cost. </p> <p><em>Health Care Comes Home</em> reviews the state of current knowledge and practice about many aspects of health care in residential settings and explores the short- and long-term effects of emerging trends and technologies. By evaluating existing systems, the book identifies design problems and imbalances between technological system demands and the capabilities of users. <em>Health Care Comes Home</em> recommends critical steps to improve health care in the home. The book's recommendations cover the regulation of health care technologies, proper training and preparation for people who provide in-home care, and how existing housing can be modified and new accessible housing can be better designed for residential health care. The book also identifies knowledge gaps in the field and how these can be addressed through research and development initiatives. </p> <p><em>Health Care Comes Home</em> lays the foundation for the integration of human health factors with the design and implementation of home health care devices, technologies, and practices. The book describes ways in which the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and federal housing agencies can collaborate to improve the quality of health care at home. It is also a valuable resource for residential health care providers and caregivers.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13149">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=288'>Health and Medicine</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=392'>Healthcare and Quality</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=302'>Aging</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=404'>Human Factors</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/rme1IH2x4XE" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13149External Evaluation of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research and Its Grantees Letter Reporttag:nap.edu,2011:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13203#final2011-07-12T10:45:01-04:002011-07-12T10:45:10-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research funds applied research and development to improve the lives and functioning of persons with disabilities. At the request of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) within the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U.S. Department of Education, the Board on Human-Systems Integration of the National Research Council (NRC) convened a committee to conduct an evaluation of aspects of NIDRR's program. Specifically, the committee was charged to assess the NIDRR priority-setting, peer review, and grant management processes, and to develop an overall framework and evaluation design for the review of grantee outputs for a sample of 30 grantees. <br /> <br /> <em>External Evaluation of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research and Its Grantees Letter Report</em> discusses the procedures the committee used in its output evaluation, its assessment of those procedures, and recommendations for future evaluations. This report works to improve future evaluation practices and ensure that evaluation results optimally inform NIDRR's efforts to maximize the impact of its research grants. Additionally, it offers conclusions, recommendations, and suggestions on defining evaluation objectives, strengthening the output assessment, and using NIDRR's Annual Performance Reports system to capture data for future evaluations.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13203">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=307'>Policy, Reviews and Evaluations</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=404'>Human Factors</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/5rtigPHUsqc" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13203Explaining Divergent Levels of Longevity in High-Income Countriestag:nap.edu,2011:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13089#final2011-06-27T00:00:00-04:002011-06-28T11:56:11-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>During the last 25 years, life expectancy at age 50 in the United States has been rising, but at a slower pace than in many other high-income countries, such as Japan and Australia. This difference is particularly notable given that the United States spends more on health care than any other nation. Concerned about this divergence, the National Institute on Aging asked the National Research Council to examine evidence on its possible causes. <br /> <br /> According to <i>Explaining Divergent Levels of Longevity in High-Income Countries</i>, the nation's history of heavy smoking is a major reason why lifespans in the United States fall short of those in many other high-income nations. Evidence suggests that current obesity levels play a substantial part as well. The book reports that lack of universal access to health care in the U.S. also has increased mortality and reduced life expectancy, though this is a less significant factor for those over age 65 because of Medicare access. For the main causes of death at older ages -- cancer and cardiovascular disease -- available indicators do not suggest that the U.S. health care system is failing to prevent deaths that would be averted elsewhere. In fact, cancer detection and survival appear to be better in the U.S. than in most other high-income nations, and survival rates following a heart attack also are favorable.<br /> <br /> <i>Explaining Divergent Levels of Longevity in High-Income Countries</i> identifies many gaps in research. For instance, while lung cancer deaths are a reliable marker of the damage from smoking, no clear-cut marker exists for obesity, physical inactivity, social integration, or other risks considered in this book. Moreover, evaluation of these risk factors is based on observational studies, which -- unlike randomized controlled trials -- are subject to many biases.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13089">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=308'>Population and Fertility Studies</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=288'>Health and Medicine</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=399'>Public Health and Prevention</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/Q7P8GIJ5BY4" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13089Change and the 2020 Census: Not Whether But Howtag:nap.edu,2011:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13135#final2011-06-08T00:00:00-04:002011-06-10T15:54:35-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>Sponsored by the Census Bureau and charged to evaluate the 2010 U.S. census with an eye toward suggesting research and development for the 2020 census, the Panel to Review the 2010 Census uses this first interim report to suggest general priorities for 2020 research. Although the Census Bureau has taken some useful organizational and administrative steps to prepare for 2020, the panel offers three core recommendations, and suggests the Census Bureau take and assertive, aggressive approach to 2020 planning rather than casting possibilities purely as hypothetical.</p> <p>The first recommendation on research and development suggests four broad topic areas for research early in the decade. Second, the report suggest that the Bureau take an aggressive, assertive posture toward research in these priority areas. Third, it identifies the setting of bold goals as essential to underscoring the need for serious reengineering and building commitment to change.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13135">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=308'>Population and Fertility Studies</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=305'>Human Dimensions of Global Change</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/8O2lRvXoey4" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13135Assessing the Impact of Severe Economic Recession on the Elderly: Summary of a Workshoptag:nap.edu,2011:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13118#final2011-05-16T00:00:00-04:002011-05-16T17:11:45-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>The economic crisis that began in 2008 has had a significant impact on the well-being of certain segments of the population and its disruptive effects can be expected to last well into the future. The National Institute on Aging (NIA), which is concerned with this issue as it affects the older population in the United States, asked the National Research Council to review existing and ongoing research and to delineate the nature and dimensions of potential scientific inquiry in this area.</p> <p>The Committee on Population thus established the Steering Committee on the Challenges of Assessing the Impact of Severe Economic Recession the Elderly to convene a meeting of experts to discuss these issues. The primary purpose of the workshop was to help NIA gain insight into the kinds of questions that it should be asking, the research that it should be supporting, and the data that it should be collecting. Attendees included invited experts in the fields of economics, sociology, and epidemiology; staff from NIA and the Social Security Administration (SSA); and staff from the National Academies.</p> <p>This report highlights the major issues that were raised in the workshop presentations and discussion.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13118">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=302'>Aging</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=288'>Health and Medicine</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=385'>Aging</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/pNnCsDmwQ-Q" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13118Threatening Communications and Behavior: Perspectives on the Pursuit of Public Figurestag:nap.edu,2011:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13091#final2011-03-25T10:45:43-04:002011-03-25T10:50:27-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>Today's world of rapid social, technological, and behavioral change provides new opportunities for communications with few limitations of time and space. Through these communications, people leave behind an ever-growing collection of traces of their daily activities, including digital footprints provided by text, voice, and other modes of communication. Meanwhile, new techniques for aggregating and evaluating diverse and multimodal information sources are available to security services that must reliably identify communications indicating a high likelihood of future violence.</p> <p>In the context of this changed and changing world of communications and behavior, the Board on Behavioral, Cognitive, and Sensory Sciences of the National Research Council presents this volume of three papers as one portion of the vast subject of threatening communications and behavior. The papers review the behavioral and social sciences research on the likelihood that someone who engages in abnormal and/or threatening communications will actually then try to do harm. The focus is on how the scientific knowledge can inform and advance future research on threat assessments, in part by considering the approaches and techniques used to analyze communications and behavior in the dynamic context of today's world.</p> <p>The papers in the collection were written within the context of protecting high-profile public figures from potential attach or harm. The research, however, is broadly applicable to U.S. national security including potential applications for analysis of communications from leaders of hostile nations and public threats from terrorist groups. This work highlights the complex psychology of threatening communications and behavior, and it offers knowledge and perspectives from multiple domains that contribute to a deeper understanding of the value of communications in predicting and preventing violent behaviors.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13091">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=279'>Computers and Information Technology</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=320'>Information Security and Privacy</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=424'>Defense and Security</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/zLky-G6Jx20" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13091Toward an Integrated Science of Research on Families: Workshop Reporttag:nap.edu,2011:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13085#final2011-03-18T08:45:01-04:002011-05-24T15:23:35-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>Demographic changes, immigration, economic upheavals, and changing societal mores are creating new and altered structures, processes, and relationships in American families today. As families undergo rapid change, family science is at the brink of a new and exciting integration across methods, disciplines, and epistemological perspectives.<br /> <br /> The purpose of The Science of Research on Families: A Workshop, held in Washington, DC, on July 13-14, 2010, was to examine the broad array of methodologies used to understand the impact of families on children's health and development. It sought to explore individual disciplinary contributions and the ways in which different methodologies and disciplinary perspectives could be combined in the study of families. <em>Toward an Integrated Science of Research on Families</em> documents the information presented in the workshop presentations and discussions. The report explores the idea of family research as being both basic and applied, offering opportunities for learning as well as intervention. It discusses research as being most useful when organized around particular problems, such as obesity or injury prevention. <br /> <em><br /> Toward an Integrated Science of Research on Families</em> offers a problem-oriented approach that can guide a broad-based research program that extends across funders, institutions, and scientific disciplines.<br /> </p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13085">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=303'>Children, Youth and Families</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=288'>Health and Medicine</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=386'>Children's Health</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/vzanDGmxFOk" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13085The Importance of Common Metrics for Advancing Social Science Theory and Research: A Workshop Summarytag:nap.edu,2011:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13034#final2011-03-17T00:00:00-04:002011-03-21T09:18:53-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>In February 2010, the National Research Council convened a workshop to investigate the feasibility of developing well-grounded common metrics to advance behavioral and social science research, both in terms of advancing the development of theory and increasing the utility of research for policy and practice.</p> <p>The Workshop on <i>Advancing Social Science Theory: The Importance of Common Metrics</i> had three goals:</p> <ul> <li>To examine the benefits and costs involved in moving from metric diversity to greater standardization, both in terms of advancing the development of theory and increasing the utility of research for policy and practice.</li> <li>To consider whether a set of criteria can be developed for understanding when the measurement of a particular construct is ready to be standardized.</li> <li>To explore how the research community can foster a move toward standardization when it appears warranted.</li> </ul> <p>This book is a summary of the two days of presentations and discussions that took place during the workshop.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13034">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=307'>Policy, Reviews and Evaluations</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=309'>Women and Minorities</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/yicrm_eXSLE" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13034Intelligence Analysis: Behavioral and Social Scientific Foundationstag:nap.edu,2011:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13062#final2011-03-16T10:45:13-04:002011-03-16T10:45:37-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>The U.S. intelligence community (IC) is a complex human enterprise whose success depends on how well the people in it perform their work. Although often aided by sophisticated technologies, these people ultimately rely on their own intellect to identify, synthesize, and communicate the information on which the nation's security depends. The IC's success depends on having trained, motivated, and thoughtful people working within organizations able to understand, value, and coordinate their capabilities.<br /> <br /> <em>Intelligence Analysis</em> provides up-to-date scientific guidance for the intelligence community (IC) so that it might improve individual and group judgments, communication between analysts, and analytic processes. The papers in this volume provide the detailed evidentiary base for the National Research Council's report, <em>Intelligence Analysis for Tomorrow: Advances from the Behavioral and Social Sciences</em>. The opening chapter focuses on the structure, missions, operations, and characteristics of the IC while the following 12 papers provide in-depth reviews of key topics in three areas: analytic methods, analysts, and organizations.<br /> <br /> Informed by the IC's unique missions and constraints, each paper documents the latest advancements of the relevant science and is a stand-alone resource for the IC's leadership and workforce. The collection allows readers to focus on one area of interest (analytic methods, analysts, or organizations) or even one particular aspect of a category. As a collection, the volume provides a broad perspective of the issues involved in making difficult decisions, which is at the heart of intelligence analysis.<br /> <br /> </p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13062">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=424'>Defense and Security</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=280'>Conflict and Security Issues</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=328'>Prevention, Security and Response</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/q7iua5WyP6c" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13062Intelligence Analysis for Tomorrow: Advances from the Behavioral and Social Sciencestag:nap.edu,2011:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13040#final2011-03-16T10:45:01-04:002011-03-16T10:45:13-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>The intelligence community (IC) plays an essential role in the national security of the United States. Decision makers rely on IC analyses and predictions to reduce uncertainty and to provide warnings about everything from international diplomatic relations to overseas conflicts. In today's complex and rapidly changing world, it is more important than ever that analytic products be accurate and timely. Recognizing that need, the IC has been actively seeking ways to improve its performance and expand its capabilities.<br /> <br /> In 2008, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) asked the National Research Council (NRC) to establish a committee to synthesize and assess evidence from the behavioral and social sciences relevant to analytic methods and their potential application for the U.S. intelligence community. In <em>Intelligence Analysis for Tomorrow: Advances from the Behavioral and Social Sciences</em>, the NRC offers the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) recommendations to address many of the IC's challenges.<br /> <em><br /> Intelligence Analysis for Tomorrow</em> asserts that one of the most important things that the IC can learn from the behavioral and social sciences is how to characterize and evaluate its analytic assumptions, methods, technologies, and management practices. Behavioral and social scientific knowledge can help the IC to understand and improve all phases of the analytic cycle: how to recruit, select, train, and motivate analysts; how to master and deploy the most suitable analytic methods; how to organize the day-to-day work of analysts, as individuals and teams; and how to communicate with its customers. <br /> <br /> The report makes five broad recommendations which offer practical ways to apply the behavioral and social sciences, which will bring the IC substantial immediate and longer-term benefits with modest costs and minimal disruption.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13040">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=424'>Defense and Security</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=280'>Conflict and Security Issues</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=328'>Prevention, Security and Response</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/lsp7jzo4FIs" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13040Sociocultural Data to Accomplish Department of Defense Missions: Toward a Unified Social Framework: Workshop Summarytag:nap.edu,2011:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13077#final2011-02-09T10:45:01-05:002011-02-09T10:45:14-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p><em>Sociocultural Data to Accomplish Department of Defense Missions: Toward a Unified Social Framework</em> summarizes presentations and discussions that took place on August 16-17, 2010, at a National Research Council public workshop sponsored by the Office of Naval Research. The workshop addressed the variables and complex interaction of social and cultural factors that influence human behavior, focusing on potential applications to the full spectrum of military operations. <br /> <br /> The workshop's keynote address by Major General Michael T. Flynn, U.S. Army, provided critical context about the cultural situation and needs of the military operating in Afghanistan. Additional presentations were divided into four panels to address the diverse missions encountered by the U.S. military worldwide. The workshop concluded with a final panel to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of different methods of acquiring and using relevant data and knowledge to accomplish these missions. The panel topics and presenters are listed below:</p> <ol> <li>Conflict Is Local: Mapping the Sociocultural Terrain David Kennedy, Hsinchun Chen, and Kerry Patton</li> <li>Bridging Sociocultural Gaps in Cooperative Relationships Robert Rubinstein, Alan Fiske, and Donal Carbaugh</li> <li>Building Partner Capacity with Sociocultural Awareness Jeffrey Sanchez-Burks and Shinobu Kitayama</li> <li>The Art of Sociocultural Persuasion Jeanne Brett, James Dillard, and Brant R. Burleson</li> <li>Tools, Methods, Frameworks, and Models Mark Bevir, Laura A. McNamara, Robert G. Sargent, and Jessica Glicken Turnley</li> </ol> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13077">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=280'>Conflict and Security Issues</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=328'>Prevention, Security and Response</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=424'>Defense and Security</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=404'>Human Factors</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/h6FVMpPH9Ko" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13077Issues in Commuting and Pilot Fatigue: Interim Reporttag:nap.edu,2011:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13097#final2011-02-04T00:00:00-05:002011-02-08T12:53:55-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>The potential for fatigue to negatively affect human performance is well established. Concern about this potential in the aviation context extends back decades, with both airlines and pilots agreeing that fatigue is a safety concern. A more recent consideration is whether and how pilot commuting, conducted in a pilot's off-duty time, may affect fatigue. <br /> <br /> The National Academy of Sciences was asked to review available information related to the prevalence and characteristics of pilot commuting; sleep, fatigue, and circadian rhythms; airline and regulatory oversight policies; and pilot and airline practices. <br /> <br /> This interim report summarizes the committee's review to date of the available information. The final report will present a final review, along with the committee's conclusions and recommendations based on the information available during its deliberations.</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=293'>Space and Aeronautics</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=416'>Aircraft and Flight</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=404'>Human Factors</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=294'>Transportation</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=462'>Safety and Human Factors</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/UmiRpxBUgBE" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13097International Differences in Mortality at Older Ages: Dimensions and Sourcestag:nap.edu,2011:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12945#final2011-01-27T00:00:00-05:002011-01-28T13:58:53-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>In 1950 men and women in the United States had a combined life expectancy of 68.9 years, the 12th highest life expectancy at birth in the world. Today, life expectancy is up to 79.2 years, yet the country is now 28th on the list, behind the United Kingdom, Korea, Canada, and France, among others. The United States does have higher rates of infant mortality and violent deaths than in other developed countries, but these factors do not fully account for the country's relatively poor ranking in life expectancy. </p> <p><em>International Differences in Mortality at Older Ages: Dimensions and Sources </em>examines patterns in international differences in life expectancy above age 50 and assesses the evidence and arguments that have been advanced to explain the poor position of the United States relative to other countries. The papers in this deeply researched volume identify gaps in measurement, data, theory, and research design and pinpoint areas for future high-priority research in this area. </p> <p>In addition to examining the differences in mortality around the world, the papers in <em>International Differences in Mortality at Older Ages</em> look at health factors and life-style choices commonly believed to contribute to the observed international differences in life expectancy. They also identify strategic opportunities for health-related interventions. This book offers a wide variety of disciplinary and scholarly perspectives to the study of mortality, and it offers in-depth analyses that can serve health professionals, policy makers, statisticians, and researchers. <br /> </p> <p> </p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12945">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=302'>Aging</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=308'>Population and Fertility Studies</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/Ma6pMAfakx0" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12945The Science of Adolescent Risk-Taking: Workshop Reporttag:nap.edu,2011:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12961#final2011-01-25T00:00:00-05:002011-01-25T17:27:38-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>Adolescence is a time when youth make decisions, both good and bad, that have consequences for the rest of their lives. Some of these decisions put them at risk of lifelong health problems, injury, or death. The Institute of Medicine held three public workshops between 2008 and 2009 to provide a venue for researchers, health care providers, and community leaders to discuss strategies to improve adolescent health.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12961">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=303'>Children, Youth and Families</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=288'>Health and Medicine</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=399'>Public Health and Prevention</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=288'>Health and Medicine</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=386'>Children's Health</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/nMKKCJIgoJE" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12961Preparing for the Challenges of Population Aging in Asia: Strengthening the Scientific Basis of Policy Developmenttag:nap.edu,2011:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12977#final2011-01-11T15:24:58-05:002011-01-11T15:25:02-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p><i>Preparing for the Challenges of Population Aging in Asia</i> discusses the challenges posed by a rapidly aging population and identifies needed research to help policymakers better respond to them. While the percentage of elderly people in nearly every nation is growing, this aging trend is particularly stark in parts of Asia. Projections indicate that the portion of the population age 65 and older will more than triple in China, India, and Indonesia and more than double in Japan between 2000 and 2050, based on data from the United Nations. Moreover, this demographic shift is coinciding with dramatic economic and social changes in Asia, including changing family structures and large-scale migrations from rural to urban areas. <br /> <br /> These trends raise critical questions about how nations can develop policies that best support health and economic well-being in large and growing populations at older ages. Governments in Asia still have time to determine the best ways to respond to the unfolding demographic transformation, but taking advantage of this window of opportunity will require new research to shed light on the status and needs of the aging population. Currently the research base on aging in this region is relatively underdeveloped. This book identifies several key topics for research to inform public policy, including changing roles in the family; labor force participation, income, and savings; and health and well-being of the public.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12977">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=308'>Population and Fertility Studies</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/5ItkaCSef_A" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12977Measuring the Group Quarters Population in the American Community Survey: Interim Reporttag:nap.edu,2010:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13075#final2010-12-29T00:00:00-05:002010-12-30T14:53:07-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>Following several years of testing and evaluation, the American Community Survey (ACS) was launched in 2005 as a replacement for the census "long form," used to collect detailed social, economic, and housing data from a sample of the U.S. population as part of the decennial census. During the first year of the ACS implementation, the Census Bureau collected data only from households. In 2006 a sample of group quarters (GQs) -- such as correctional facilities, nursing homes, and college dorms -- was added to more closely mirror the design of the census long-form sample. <br /> <br /> The design of the ACS relies on monthly samples that are cumulated to produce multiyear estimates based on 1, 3, and 5 years of data. The data published by the Census Bureau for a geographic area depend on the area's size. The multiyear averaging approach enables the Census Bureau to produce estimates that are intended to be robust enough to release for small areas, such as the smallest governmental units and census block groups. However, the sparseness of the GQ representation in the monthly samples affects the quality of the estimates in many small areas that have large GQ populations relative to the total population. The Census Bureau asked the National Research Council to review and evaluate the statistical methods used for measuring the GQ population. <br /> <br /> This book presents recommendations addressing improvements in the sample design, sample allocation, weighting, and estimation procedures to assist the Census Bureau's work in the very near term, while further research is conducted to address the underlying question of the relative importance and costs of the GQ data collection in the context of the overall ACS design.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13075">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=308'>Population and Fertility Studies</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=307'>Policy, Reviews and Evaluations</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/n5jwmEZIWoA" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13075The Role of Human Factors in Home Health Care: Workshop Summarytag:nap.edu,2010:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12927#final2010-10-29T10:45:01-04:002010-10-29T10:45:21-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>The rapid growth of home health care has raised many unsolved issues and will have consequences that are far too broad for any one group to analyze in their entirety. Yet a major influence on the safety, quality, and effectiveness of home health care will be the set of issues encompassed by the field of human factors research--the discipline of applying what is known about human capabilities and limitations to the design of products, processes, systems, and work environments.</p> <p>To address these challenges, the National Research Council began a multidisciplinary study to examine a diverse range of behavioral and human factors issues resulting from the increasing migration of medical devices, technologies, and care practices into the home. Its goal is to lay the groundwork for a thorough integration of human factors research with the design and implementation of home health care devices, technologies, and practices.</p> <p>On October 1 and 2, 2009, a group of human factors and other experts met to consider a diverse range of behavioral and human factors issues associated with the increasing migration of medical devices, technologies, and care practices into the home. This book is a summary of that workshop, representing the culmination of the first phase of the study.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12927">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=288'>Health and Medicine</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=392'>Healthcare and Quality</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=302'>Aging</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=288'>Health and Medicine</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=385'>Aging</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=404'>Human Factors</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/IzGykDgtJsE" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12927Strengthening the National Institute of Justicetag:nap.edu,2010:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12929#final2010-10-14T00:00:00-04:002010-10-15T13:33:25-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is the nation's primary resource for advancing scientific research, development, and evaluation on crime and crime control and the administration of justice in the United States. Headed by a presidentially appointed director, it is one of the major units in the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) of the U.S. Department of Justice. Under its authorizing legislation, NIJ awards grants and contracts to a variety of public and private organizations and individuals.<br /> <br /> At the request of NIJ, <i>Strengthening the National Institute of Justice</i> assesses the operations and quality of the full range of its programs. These include social science research, science and technology research and development, capacity building, and technology assistance. <br /> <br /> The book concludes that a federal research institute such as NIJ is vital to the nation's continuing efforts to control crime and administer justice. No other federal, state, local, or private organization can do what NIJ was created to do. Forty years ago, Congress envisioned a science agency dedicated to building knowledge to support crime prevention and control by developing a wide range of techniques for dealing with individual offenders, identifying injustices and biases in the administration of justice, and supporting more basic and operational research on crime and the criminal justice system and the involvement of the community in crime control efforts. As the embodiment of that vision, NIJ has accomplished a great deal. It has succeeded in developing a body of knowledge on such important topics as hot spots policing, violence against women, the role of firearms and drugs in crime, drug courts, and forensic DNA analysis. It has helped build the crime and justice research infrastructure. It has also widely disseminated the results of its research programs to help guide practice and policy. But its efforts have been severely hampered by a lack of independence, authority, and discretionary resources to carry out its mission.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12929">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=306'>Law and Justice</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=423'>Policy for Science and Technology</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=423'>Policy for Science and Technology</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/MVlPLICshqk" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12929Understanding the Demand for Illegal Drugstag:nap.edu,2010:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12976#final2010-10-12T10:45:02-04:002010-10-12T10:45:13-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>Despite efforts to reduce drug consumption in the United States over the past 35 years, drugs are just as cheap and available as they have ever been. Cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamines continue to cause great harm in the country, particularly in minority communities in the major cities. Marijuana use remains a part of adolescent development for about half of the country's young people, although there is controversy about the extent of its harm.<br /> <br /> Given the persistence of drug demand in the face of lengthy and expensive efforts to control the markets, the National Institute of Justice asked the National Research Council to undertake a study of current research on the demand for drugs in order to help better focus national efforts to reduce that demand. <br /> <br /> This study complements the 2003 book, <em>Informing America's Policy on Illegal Drugs</em> by giving more attention to the sources of demand and assessing the potential of demand-side interventions to make a substantial difference to the nation's drug problems. <em>Understanding the Demand for Illegal Drugs</em> therefore focuses tightly on demand models in the field of economics and evaluates the data needs for advancing this relatively undeveloped area of investigation.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12976">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=306'>Law and Justice</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=288'>Health and Medicine</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=395'>Mental Health and Behavior</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/VIyuDrEjRKQ" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12976Children's Health, the Nation's Wealth: Assessing and Improving Child Healthtag:nap.edu,2010:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=10886#final2010-10-04T10:58:51-04:001969-12-31T19:00:00-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>Children's health has clearly improved over the past several decades. Significant and positive gains have been made in lowering rates of infant mortality and morbidity from infectious diseases and accidental causes, improved access to health care, and reduction in the effects of environmental contaminants such as lead. Yet major questions still remain about how to assess the status of children's health, what factors should be monitored, and the appropriate measurement tools that should be used.</P> <P><i>Children's Health, the Nation's Wealth: Assessing and Improving Child Health</i> provides a detailed examination of the information about children's health that is needed to help policy makers and program providers at the federal, state, and local levels. In order to improve children's health -- and, thus, the health of future generations -- it is critical to have data that can be used to assess both current conditions and possible future threats to children's health. This compelling book describes what is known about the health of children and what is needed to expand the knowledge. By strategically improving the health of children, we ensure healthier future generations to come. </P> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=10886">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=303'>Children, Youth and Families</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=288'>Health and Medicine</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=386'>Children's Health</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/75m92KiGrOU" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=10886Minority Students in Special and Gifted Educationtag:nap.edu,2010:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=10128#final2010-10-04T10:58:51-04:001969-12-31T19:00:00-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
Special education and gifted and talented programs were designed for children whose educational needs are not well met in regular classrooms. From their inceptions, these programs have had disproportionate representation of racial and ethnic minority students. What causes this disproportion? Is it a problem?<br><br> <b>Minority Students in Special and Gifted Education</b> considers possible contributors to that disparity, including early biological and environmental influences and inequities in opportunities for preschool and K-12 education, as well as the possibilities of bias in the referral and assessment system that leads to placement in special programs. It examines the data on early childhood experience, on differences in educational opportunity, and on referral and placement. The book also considers whether disproportionate representation should be considered a problem. Do special education programs provide valuable educational services, or do they set students off on a path of lower educational expectations? Would students not now placed in gifted and talented programs benefit from raised expectations, more rigorous classes, and the gifted label, or would they suffer failure in classes for which they are unprepared? <br><br> By examining this important problem in U.S. education and making recommendations for early intervention and general education, as well as for changes in referral and assessment processes, <b>Minority Students in Special and Gifted Education</b> will be an indispensable resource to educators throughout the nation, as well as to policy makers at all levels, from schools and school districts to the state and federal governments. <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=10128">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=309'>Women and Minorities</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=282'>Education</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=349'>K-12 Education</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/MeZfOrJ-vCg" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=10128The Future of Air Traffic Control: Human Operators and Automationtag:nap.edu,2010:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=6018#final2010-10-04T10:58:51-04:001969-12-31T19:00:00-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
Automation in air traffic control may increase efficiency, but it also raises questions about adequate human control over automated systems. Following on the panel's first volume on air traffic control automation, <I>Flight to the Future</I> (NRC, 1997), this book focuses on the interaction of pilots and air traffic controllers, with a growing network of automated functions in the airspace system.<br>The panel offers recommendations for development of human-centered automation, addressing key areas such as providing levels of automation that are appropriate to levels of risk, examining procedures for recovery from emergencies, free flight versus ground-based authority, and more.<br>The book explores ways in which technology can build on human strengths and compensate for human vulnerabilities, minimizing both mistrust of automation and complacency about its abilities. The panel presents an overview of emerging technologies and trends toward automation within the national airspace system--in areas such as global positioning and other aspects of surveillance, flight information provided to pilots an controllers, collision avoidance, strategic long-term planning, and systems for training and maintenance.<br>The book examines how to achieve better integration of research and development, including the importance of user involvement in air traffic control. It also discusses how to harmonize the wide range of functions in the national airspace system, with a detailed review of the free flight initiative.<br> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=6018">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=281'>Earth Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=331'>Climate, Weather and Meteorology</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=294'>Transportation</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=425'>Aviation</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=404'>Human Factors</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/9pxXSFpCJNY" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=6018Flight to the Future: Human Factors in Air Traffic Controltag:nap.edu,2010:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=5493#final2010-10-04T10:58:51-04:001969-12-31T19:00:00-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
This volume provides a baseline of knowledge about the capabilities and limitations of humans relative to the functions performed in air traffic control. It focuses on balancing safety with the expeditious flow of air traffic, identifying lessons from past air accidents. The book discusses the function of the national airspace system; procedures for hiring, training, and evaluating controllers; factors in controllers' performance; and more.<br> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=5493">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=294'>Transportation</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=422'>Policy</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=281'>Earth Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=331'>Climate, Weather and Meteorology</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=404'>Human Factors</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/3kbI0dLK_2g" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=5493Emerging Cognitive Neuroscience and Related Technologiestag:nap.edu,2010:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12177#final2010-10-04T10:58:51-04:001969-12-31T19:00:00-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<i>Emerging Cognitive Neuroscience and Related Technologies</i>, from the National Research Council, identifies and explores several specific research areas that have implications for U.S. national security, and should therefore be monitored consistently by the intelligence community. These areas include: <ol><li>neurophysiological advances in detecting and measuring indicators of psychological states and intentions of individuals</li> <li>the development of drugs or technologies that can alter human physical or cognitive abilities</li> <li>advances in real-time brain imaging</li> <li>breakthroughs in high-performance computing and neuronal modeling that could allow researchers to develop systems which mimic functions of the human brain, particularly the ability to organize disparate forms of data.</li></ol> <p>As these fields continue to grow, it will be imperative that the intelligence community be able to identify scientific advances relevant to national security when they occur. To do so will require adequate funding, intelligence analysts with advanced training in science and technology, and increased collaboration with the scientific community, particularly academia.</p> <p>A key tool for the intelligence community, this book will also be a useful resource for the health industry, the military, and others with a vested interest in technologies such as brain imaging and cognitive or physical enhancers.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12177">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=288'>Health and Medicine</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=396'>Military and Veterans</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=302'>Aging</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/URuSgeP0EI4" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12177Genes, Behavior, and the Social Environment: Moving Beyond the Nature/Nurture Debatetag:nap.edu,2010:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11693#final2010-10-04T10:58:51-04:001969-12-31T19:00:00-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
Over the past century, we have made great strides in reducing rates of disease and enhancing people's general health. Public health measures such as sanitation, improved hygiene, and vaccines; reduced hazards in the workplace; new drugs and clinical procedures; and, more recently, a growing understanding of the human genome have each played a role in extending the duration and raising the quality of human life. But research conducted over the past few decades shows us that this progress, much of which was based on investigating one causative factor at a time—often, through a single discipline or by a narrow range of practitioners—can only go so far. <i>Genes, Behavior, and the Social Environment</i> examines a number of well-described gene-environment interactions, reviews the state of the science in researching such interactions, and recommends priorities not only for research itself but also for its workforce, resource, and infrastructural needs. <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11693">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=302'>Aging</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=278'>Biology and Life Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=315'>Genetics</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/Vg7dOW39d9A" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11693Measuring Poverty: A New Approachtag:nap.edu,2010:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=4759#final2010-10-04T10:58:51-04:001969-12-31T19:00:00-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
Each year's poverty figures are anxiously awaited by policymakers, analysts, and the media. Yet questions are increasing about the 30-year-old measure as social and economic conditions change.<br>In <B>Measuring Poverty</B> a distinguished panel provides policymakers with an up-to-date evaluation of<br><ul><li>Concepts and procedures for deriving the poverty threshold, including adjustments for different family circumstances.<br><li>Definitions of family resources.<br><li>Procedures for annual updates of poverty measures.<br></ul>The volume explores specific issues underlying the poverty measure, analyzes the likely effects of any changes on poverty rates, and discusses the impact on eligibility for public benefits. In supporting its recommendations the panel provides insightful recognition of the political and social dimensions of this key economic indicator.<br><B>Measuring Poverty</B> will be important to government officials, policy analysts, statisticians, economists, researchers, and others involved in virtually all poverty and social welfare issues.<br><br> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=4759">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=289'>Industry and Labor</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=304'>Economics</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=288'>Health and Medicine</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=392'>Healthcare and Quality</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=307'>Policy, Reviews and Evaluations</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/iOv-85Bn4Fg" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=4759Health and Safety Needs of Older Workerstag:nap.edu,2010:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=10884#final2010-10-04T10:58:51-04:001969-12-31T19:00:00-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>Mirroring a worldwide phenomenon in industrialized nations, the U.S. is experiencing a change in its demographic structure known as population aging. Concern about the aging population tends to focus on the adequacy of Medicare and Social Security, retirement of older Americans, and the need to identify policies, programs, and strategies that address the health and safety needs of older workers.</P> <p> Older workers differ from their younger counterparts in a variety of physical, psychological, and social factors. Evaluating the extent, causes, and effects of these factors and improving the research and data systems necessary to address the health and safety needs of older workers may significantly impact both their ability to remain in the workforce and their well being in retirement.</P> <p> <i>Health and Safety Needs of Older Workers</i> provides an image of what is currently known about the health and safety needs of older workers and the research needed to encourage social polices that guarantee older workers a meaningful share of the nation s work opportunities.</P> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=10884">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=302'>Aging</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=289'>Industry and Labor</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=407'>Workforce and Labor Issues</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/Y8NUJnwOspY" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=10884Gender Differences at Critical Transitions in the Careers of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Facultytag:nap.edu,2010:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12062#final2010-10-04T10:58:51-04:001969-12-31T19:00:00-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p><i>Gender Differences at Critical Transitions in the Careers of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Faculty</i> presents new and surprising findings about career differences between female and male full-time, tenure-track, and tenured faculty in science, engineering, and mathematics at the nation's top research universities. Much of this congressionally mandated book is based on two unique surveys of faculty and departments at major U.S. research universities in six fields: biology, chemistry, civil engineering, electrical engineering, mathematics, and physics. A departmental survey collected information on departmental policies, recent tenure and promotion cases, and recent hires in almost 500 departments. A faculty survey gathered information from a stratified, random sample of about 1,800 faculty on demographic characteristics, employment experiences, the allocation of institutional resources such as laboratory space, professional activities, and scholarly productivity.</p> <p>This book paints a timely picture of the status of female faculty at top universities, clarifies whether male and female faculty have similar opportunities to advance and succeed in academia, challenges some commonly held views, and poses several questions still in need of answers. This book will be of special interest to university administrators and faculty, graduate students, policy makers, professional and academic societies, federal funding agencies, and others concerned with the vitality of the U.S. research base and economy.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12062">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=309'>Women and Minorities</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=282'>Education</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=347'>Engineering Education</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=284'>Engineering and Technology</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=362'>Engineering Education</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=289'>Industry and Labor</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=407'>Workforce and Labor Issues</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=282'>Education</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=348'>Higher Education</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=282'>Education</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=350'>Math and Science Education</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/3zmqiQty490" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12062Developing and Evaluating Methods for Using American Community Survey Data to Support the School Meals Program: Interim Reporttag:nap.edu,2010:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12917#final2010-09-10T00:00:00-04:002010-09-14T11:02:41-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>The National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program, administered by the Food and Nutrition Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), are key components of the nation's food security safety net, providing free or low-cost meals to millions of school-age children each day. <br /> <br /> Under the most commonly adopted provisions, USDA reimburses districts for meals served on the basis of data collected in a "base year," during which applications are taken. After 3 or 4 years, applications must be taken again to establish new base-year data, unless the district provides evidence that local conditions have not changed. <br /> <br /> A special provision that does not require applications to be taken every few years would reduce burden, be more attractive to school districts, and potentially increase student participation by expanding access to free meals. To support the development of such a provision, the Food and Nutrition Service asked the National Academies to study the technical and operational issues that arise in using data from the American Community Survey (ACS)--a new continuous survey replacing the long-form survey of the decennial census--to obtain estimates of students who are eligible for free and reduced-price meals for schools and school districts. Such estimates would be used to develop "claiming percentages" that, if sufficiently accurate, would determine federal reimbursements to districts for the schools that provide free meals to all students under a new special provision that eliminates the base-year requirements of current provisions.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12917">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=287'>Food and Nutrition</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=382'>Policy, Reviews and Evaluations</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=303'>Children, Youth and Families</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/VWpRI_1xXTA" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12917Envisioning the 2020 Censustag:nap.edu,2010:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12865#final2010-06-29T00:00:00-04:002010-02-22T10:45:49-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>Planning for the 2020 census is already beginning. This book from the National Research Council examines several aspects of census planning, including questionnaire design, address updating, non-response follow-up, coverage follow-up, de-duplication of housing units and residents, editing and imputation procedures, and several other census operations. <br /> <br /> This book recommends that the Census Bureau overhaul its approach to research and development. The report urges the Bureau to set cost and quality goals for the 2020 and future censuses, improving efficiency by taking advantage of new technologies.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12865">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=308'>Population and Fertility Studies</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=307'>Policy, Reviews and Evaluations</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/8DWK8qm2q34" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12865Student Mobility: Exploring the Impact of Frequent Moves on Achievement: Summary of a Workshoptag:nap.edu,2010:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12853#final2010-04-16T10:45:02-04:002010-04-16T10:45:02-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>Many low-income families struggle with stable housing and frequently have to move due to foreclosures, rent increases, or other financial setbacks. Children in these families can experience lasting negative effects, especially those who are young and still developing basic learning and social skills. A joint NRC-IOM committee held a workshop in June 2009 to examine these issues, highlight patterns in current research, and discuss how to develop a support system for at-risk children.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12853">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=303'>Children, Youth and Families</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=288'>Health and Medicine</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=386'>Children's Health</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/MO94FNq9nKM" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12853Field Evaluation in the Intelligence and Counterintelligence Context: Workshop Summarytag:nap.edu,2010:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12854#final2010-03-25T10:45:02-04:002010-03-25T10:45:02-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>On September 22-23, 2009, the National Research Council held a workshop on the field evaluation of behavioral and cognitive sciences--based methods and tools for use in the areas of intelligence and counterintelligence. Broadly speaking, the purpose of the workshop was to discuss the best ways to take methods and tools from behavioral science and apply them to work in intelligence operations. More specifically, the workshop focused on the issue of field evaluation--the testing of these methods and tools in the context in which they will be used in order to determine if they are effective in real-world settings. <br /> <br /> This book is a summary and synthesis of the two days of presentations and discussions that took place during the workshop. The workshop participants included invited speakers and experts from a number of areas related to the behavioral sciences and the intelligence community. The discussions covered such ground as the obstacles to field evaluation of behavioral science tools and methods, the importance of field evaluation, and various lessons learned from experience with field evaluation in other areas.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12854">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=424'>Defense and Security</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=280'>Conflict and Security Issues</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=328'>Prevention, Security and Response</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/t5VAXZzrKVs" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12854The Rise of Games and High Performance Computing for Modeling and Simulationtag:nap.edu,2010:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12816#final2010-03-15T00:00:00-04:002010-01-26T10:45:08-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>The technical and cultural boundaries between modeling, simulation, and games are increasingly blurring, providing broader access to capabilities in modeling and simulation and further credibility to game-based applications. The purpose of this study is to provide a technical assessment of Modeling, Simulation, and Games (MS&G) research and development worldwide and to identify future applications of this technology and its potential impacts on government and society. Further, this study identifies feasible applications of gaming and simulation for military systems; associated vulnerabilities of, risks to, and impacts on critical defense capabilities; and other significant indicators and warnings that can help prevent or mitigate surprises related to technology applications by those with hostile intent. Finally, this book recommends priorities for future action by appropriate departments of the intelligence community, the Department of Defense research community, and other government entities.<br /> <br /> <i> The Rise of Games and High Performance Computing for Modeling and Simulation</i> will serve as a useful tutorial and reference document for this particular era in the evolution of MS&G. The book also highlights a number of rising capabilities facilitated by MS&G to watch for in the coming years.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12816">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=279'>Computers and Information Technology</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=322'>Internet and Networking</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=279'>Computers and Information Technology</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=319'>Computers</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=424'>Defense and Security</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/O3UB75-9SG4" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12816Grand Challenges of Our Aging Society: Workshop Summarytag:nap.edu,2010:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12852#final2010-03-11T10:45:01-05:002010-03-11T10:45:01-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>Aging populations are generating both challenges and opportunities for societies around the globe. Increases in longevity and improvements in health raise many questions. What steps can be taken to optimize physical and cognitive health and productivity across the life span? How will older people finance their retirement and health care? What will be the macroeconomic implications of an aging population? How will communities be shaped by the shift in age structure? What global interconnections will affect how each society handles the aging of its population?<br /> <br /> To address these questions, the National Academies organized a symposium, summarized in the present volume, to determine how best to contribute to an evidence-based dialogue on population aging that will shape policies and programs. Presentations in the fields of biology, public health, medicine, informatics, macroeconomics, finance, urban planning, and engineering approached the challenges of aging from many different angles. The presenters reviewed the current state of knowledge in their respective fields, identifying areas of consensus and controversy and delineating the priority questions for further research and policy development.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12852">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=302'>Aging</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=308'>Population and Fertility Studies</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/MWG4_F_i_2k" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12852Improving State Voter Registration Databases: Final Reporttag:nap.edu,2010:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12788#final2010-01-26T00:00:00-05:002009-10-21T10:45:01-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p><i>Improving State Voter Registration Databases</i> outlines several actions that are needed to help make voter registration databases capable of sharing information within state agencies and across state lines. These include short-term changes to improve education, dissemination of information, and administrative processes, and long-term changes to make improvements in data collection and entry, matching procedures, and ensure privacy and security.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12788">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=423'>Policy for Science and Technology</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=423'>Policy for Science and Technology</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=289'>Industry and Labor</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=304'>Economics</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=308'>Population and Fertility Studies</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/msxFTTiHCls" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12788Choosing the Nation's Fiscal Futuretag:nap.edu,2010:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12808#final2010-01-13T10:03:00-05:002010-01-13T10:03:00-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>A mismatch between the federal government's revenues and spending, now and in the foreseeable future, requires heavy borrowing, leading to a large and increasing federal debt. That increasing debt raises a serious challenge to all of the goals that various people expect their government to pursue. It also raises questions about the nation's future wealth and whether too much debt could lead to higher interest rates and even to loss of confidence in the nation's long-term ability and commitment to honor its obligations. Many analysts have concluded that the trajectory of the federal budget set by current policies cannot be sustained.<br /> <br /> In light of these projections, <i>Choosing the Nation's Fiscal Future</i> assesses the options and possibilities for a sustainable federal budget. This comprehensive book considers a range of policy changes that could help put the budget on a sustainable path: reforms to reduce the rate of growth in spending for Medicare and Medicaid; options to reduce the growth rate of Social Security benefits or raise payroll taxes; and changes in many other government spending programs and tax policies. The book also examines how the federal budget process could be revised to be more far sighted and to hold leaders accountable for responsible stewardship of the nation's fiscal future.<br /> <br /> <i>Choosing the Nation's Fiscal Future</i> will provide readers with a practical framework to assess budget proposals for their consistency with long-term fiscal stability. It will help them assess what policy changes they want, consistent with their own values and their views of the proper role of the government and within the constraints of a responsible national budget. It will show how the perhaps difficult but possible policy changes could be combined to produce a wide range of budget scenarios to bring revenues and spending into alignment for the long term. This book will be uniquely valuable to everyone concerned about the current and projected fiscal health of the nation.<span trebuchet="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span trebuchet="" style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p> </p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12808">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=289'>Industry and Labor</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=304'>Economics</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=302'>Aging</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/VHxIaON_ITk" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12808Strengthening Benefit-Cost Analysis for Early Childhood Interventions: Workshop Summarytag:nap.edu,2009:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12777#final2009-12-02T10:45:02-05:002009-12-02T10:45:02-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>The deficiencies that many children experience from birth to school age--in health care, nutrition, emotional support, and intellectual stimulation, for example--play a major role in academic achievement gaps that persist for years, as well as in behavior and other problems. There are many intervention programs designed to strengthen families, provide disadvantaged children with the critical elements of healthy development, and prevent adverse experiences that can have lasting negative effects. <br /> <br /> In a climate of economic uncertainty and tight budgets, hard evidence not only that such interventions provide lasting benefits for children, their families, and society, but also that the benefits translate into savings that outweigh the costs is an extremely important asset in policy discussions. Convincing analysis of benefits and costs would provide a guide to the best ways to spend scarce resources for early childhood programs. <br /> <br /> <i>Benefit-Cost Analysis for Early Childhood Interventions</i> summarizes a workshop that was held to explore ways to strengthen benefit-cost analysis so it can be used to support effective policy decisions. This book describes the information and analysis that were presented at the workshop and the discussions that ensued.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12777">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=282'>Education</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=344'>Early Childhood Education</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=303'>Children, Youth and Families</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/gCMc06xc1l0" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12777Improving the Measurement of Late-Life Disability in Population Surveys: Beyond ADLs and IADLs: Summary of a Workshoptag:nap.edu,2009:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12740#final2009-11-06T10:45:01-05:002009-11-06T10:45:01-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p><i>Improving the Measurement of Late-Life Disability in Population Surveys</i> summarizes a workshop organized to draw upon recent advances to improve the measurement of physical and cognitive disability in population surveys of the elderly population. The book questions whether or not the measures of activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living used in many population surveys are sufficient as the primary survey-based indicators of late-life disability. If not, should they be refined or should they be supplemented by other measures of disability in surveys? If yes, in what ways should disability measures be changed or modified to produce population estimates of late-life disability and to monitor trends? The book also discusses what further research is needed to advance this effort.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12740">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=308'>Population and Fertility Studies</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=290'>Math, Chemistry and Physics</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=410'>Math and Statistics</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/gTXId8_tzTk" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12740Vital Statistics: Summary of a Workshoptag:nap.edu,2009:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12714#final2009-10-08T10:45:01-04:002009-10-08T10:45:01-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>Vital statistics, the records of birth and death, are a critical national information resource for understanding public health. Over the past few decades, the specific program that gathers the data has evolved into a complex cooperative program between the federal and state governments for social measurement. The Vital Statistics Cooperative Program (VSCP) is currently maintained by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). <br /> <br /> The U.S. vital statistics system relies on the original information reported by myriad individuals, channeled through varying state and local information systems, and coordinated and processed by a federal statistical agency that has experienced relatively flat funding for many years. The challenges facing the vital statistics system and the continuing importance of the resulting data make it an important topic for examination. <br /> <br /> A workshop, held by the National Academies and summarized in this volume, considered the importance of adequate vital statistics. In particular, the workshop assessed both current and emerging uses of the data, considered the methodological and organizational features of compiling vital data, and identified possible visions for the vital statistics program.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12714">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=290'>Math, Chemistry and Physics</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=410'>Math and Statistics</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=423'>Policy for Science and Technology</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=423'>Policy for Science and Technology</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=308'>Population and Fertility Studies</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/roIohYdRgX8" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12714Depression in Parents, Parenting, and Children: Opportunities to Improve Identification, Treatment, and Preventiontag:nap.edu,2009:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12565#final2009-09-28T00:00:00-04:002009-06-10T12:45:01-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>Depression is a widespread condition affecting approximately 7.5 million parents in the U.S. each year and may be putting at least 15 million children at risk for adverse health outcomes. Based on evidentiary studies, major depression in either parent can interfere with parenting quality and increase the risk of children developing mental, behavioral and social problems. <em>Depression in Parents, Parenting, and Children</em> highlights disparities in the prevalence, identification, treatment, and prevention of parental depression among different sociodemographic populations. It also outlines strategies for effective intervention and identifies the need for a more interdisciplinary approach that takes biological, psychological, behavioral, interpersonal, and social contexts into consideration. </p> <p>A major challenge to the effective management of parental depression is developing a treatment and prevention strategy that can be introduced within a two-generation framework, conducive for parents and their children. Thus far, both the federal and state response to the problem has been fragmented, poorly funded, and lacking proper oversight. This study examines options for widespread implementation of best practices as well as strategies that can be effective in diverse service settings for diverse populations of children and their families.</p> <p>The delivery of adequate screening and successful detection and treatment of a depressive illness and prevention of its effects on parenting and the health of children is a formidable challenge to modern health care systems. This study offers seven solid recommendations designed to increase awareness about and remove barriers to care for both the depressed adult and prevention of effects in the child. The report will be of particular interest to federal health officers, mental and behavioral health providers in diverse parts of health care delivery systems, health policy staff, state legislators, and the general public.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12565">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=288'>Health and Medicine</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=395'>Mental Health and Behavior</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=303'>Children, Youth and Families</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/p1LVpGSJ7fc" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12565Focusing on Children's Health: Community Approaches to Addressing Health Disparities: Workshop Summarytag:nap.edu,2009:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12637#final2009-09-02T08:45:01-04:002009-09-02T08:45:01-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>Socioeconomic conditions are known to be major determinants of health at all stages of life, from pregnancy through childhood and adulthood. "Life-course epidemiology" has added a further dimension to the understanding of the social determinants of health by showing an association between early-life socioeconomic conditions and adult health-related behaviors, morbidity, and mortality. Sensitive and critical periods of development, such as the prenatal period and early childhood, present significant opportunities to influence lifelong health. Yet simply intervening in the health system is insufficient to influence health early in the life course. Community-level approaches to affect key determinants of health are also critical. <br /> <br /> Many of these issues were raised in the 1995 National Academies book, <a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=10886">Children's Health, the Nation's Wealth.</a> The present volume builds upon this earlier book with presentations and examples from the field. <i>Focusing on Children's Health</i> describes the evidence linking early childhood life conditions and adult health; discusses the contribution of the early life course to observed racial and ethnic disparities in health; and highlights successful models that engage both community factors and health care to affect life course development.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12637">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=288'>Health and Medicine</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=386'>Children's Health</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=303'>Children, Youth and Families</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/E7XbhwKdev0" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12637Ensuring the Quality, Credibility, and Relevance of U.S. Justice Statisticstag:nap.edu,2009:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12671#final2009-09-02T00:00:00-04:002009-07-10T10:45:02-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) of the U.S. Department of Justice is one of the smallest of the U.S. principal statistical agencies but shoulders one of the most expansive and detailed legal mandates among those agencies. Ensuring the Quality, Credibility, and Relevance of U.S. Justice Statistics examines the full range of BJS programs and suggests priorities for data collection.<br /> <br /> BJS's data collection portfolio is a solid body of work, well justified by public information needs or legal requirements and a commendable effort to meet its broad mandate given less-than-commensurate fiscal resources. The book identifies some major gaps in the substantive coverage of BJS data, but notes that filling those gaps would require increased and sustained support in terms of staff and fiscal resources.<br /> <br /> In suggesting strategic goals for BJS, the book argues that the bureau's foremost goal should be to establish and maintain a strong position of independence. To avoid structural or political interference in BJS work, the report suggests changing the administrative placement of BJS within the Justice Department and making the BJS directorship a fixed-term appointment.<br /> <br /> In its thirtieth year, BJS can look back on a solid body of accomplishment; this book suggests further directions for improvement to give the nation the justice statistics--and the BJS--that it deserves.<br /> <br /> </p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12671">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=423'>Policy for Science and Technology</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=423'>Policy for Science and Technology</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=306'>Law and Justice</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=308'>Population and Fertility Studies</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/Xna0LmzOjdY" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12671Preventing Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Disorders Among Young People: Progress and Possibilitiestag:nap.edu,2009:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12480#final2009-08-26T00:00:00-04:002009-02-13T10:45:01-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>Mental health and substance use disorders among children, youth, and young adults are major threats to the health and well-being of younger populations which often carryover into adulthood. The costs of treatment for mental health and addictive disorders, which create an enormous burden on the affected individuals, their families, and society, have stimulated increasing interest in prevention practices that can impede the onset or reduce the severity of the disorders.</p> <p>Prevention practices have emerged in a variety of settings, including programs for selected at-risk populations (such as children and youth in the child welfare system), school-based interventions, interventions in primary care settings, and community services designed to address a broad array of mental health needs and populations.</p> <p><em>Preventing Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Disorders Among Young People </em>updates a 1994 Institute of Medicine book, <em>Reducing Risks for Mental Disorders</em>, focusing special attention on the research base and program experience with younger populations that have emerged since that time.</p> <p>Researchers, such as those involved in prevention science, mental health, education, substance abuse, juvenile justice, health, child and youth development, as well as policy makers involved in state and local mental health, substance abuse, welfare, education, and justice will depend on this updated information on the status of research and suggested directions for the field of mental health and prevention of disorders.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12480">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=288'>Health and Medicine</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=395'>Mental Health and Behavior</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=303'>Children, Youth and Families</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=288'>Health and Medicine</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=386'>Children's Health</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/xZ9y5Crke14" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12480Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forwardtag:nap.edu,2009:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12589#final2009-07-29T15:47:32-04:002009-07-29T15:47:32-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>Scores of talented and dedicated people serve the forensic science community, performing vitally important work. However, they are often constrained by lack of adequate resources, sound policies, and national support. It is clear that change and advancements, both systematic and scientific, are needed in a number of forensic science disciplines to ensure the reliability of work, establish enforceable standards, and promote best practices with consistent application. <em>Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward</em> provides a detailed plan for addressing these needs and suggests the creation of a new government entity, the National Institute of Forensic Science, to establish and enforce standards within the forensic science community.<br /> <br /> The benefits of improving and regulating the forensic science disciplines are clear: assisting law enforcement officials, enhancing homeland security, and reducing the risk of wrongful conviction and exoneration. <em>Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States</em> gives a full account of what is needed to advance the forensic science disciplines, including upgrading of systems and organizational structures, better training, widespread adoption of uniform and enforceable best practices, and mandatory certification and accreditation programs. <br /> <br /> While this book provides an essential call-to-action for congress and policy makers, it also serves as a vital tool for law enforcement agencies, criminal prosecutors and attorneys, and forensic science educators. </p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12589">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=306'>Law and Justice</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=423'>Policy for Science and Technology</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=423'>Policy for Science and Technology</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/N0MfUOpxzWE" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12589Applications of Social Network Analysis for Building Community Disaster Resilience: Workshop Summarytag:nap.edu,2009:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12706#final2009-07-23T00:00:00-04:002009-07-21T09:45:02-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>Social Network Analysis (SNA) is the identification of the relationships and attributes of members, key actors, and groups that social networks comprise. The National Research Council, at the request of the Department of Homeland Security, held a two-day workshop on the use of SNA for the purpose of building community disaster resilience. The workshop, summarized in this volume, was designed to provide guidance to the DHS on a potential research agenda that would increase the effectiveness of SNA for improving community disaster resilience. <br /> The workshop explored the state of the art in SNA and its applications in the identification, construction, and strengthening of networks within U.S. communities. Workshop participants discussed current work in SNA focused on characterizing networks; the theories, principles and research applicable to the design or strengthening of networks; the gaps in knowledge that prevent the application of SNA to the construction of networks; and research areas that could fill those gaps. Elements of a research agenda to support the design, development, and implementation of social networks for the specific purpose of strengthening community resilience against natural and human-made disasters were discussed.<br /> <br /> <br /> </p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12706">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=280'>Conflict and Security Issues</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=328'>Prevention, Security and Response</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=309'>Women and Minorities</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/4loYoOC90rE" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12706Opportunities in Neuroscience for Future Army Applicationstag:nap.edu,2009:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12500#final2009-06-16T00:00:00-04:002009-05-11T10:45:01-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>Advances and major investments in the field of neuroscience can enhance traditional behavioral science approaches to training, learning, and other applications of value to the Army. Neural-behavioral indicators offer new ways to evaluate how well an individual trainee has assimilated mission critical knowledge and skills, and can also be used to provide feedback on the readiness of soldiers for combat. Current methods for matching individual capabilities with the requirements for performing high-value Army assignments do not include neuropsychological, psychophysiological, neurochemical or neurogenetic components; simple neuropsychological testing could greatly improve training success rates for these assignments.<br /> <em>Opportunities in Neuroscience for Future Army Applications</em> makes 17 recommendations that focus on utilizing current scientific research and development initiatives to improve performance and efficiency, collaborating with pharmaceutical companies to employ neuropharmaceuticals for general sustainment or enhancement of soldier performance, and improving cognitive and behavioral performance using interdisciplinary approaches and technological investments. An essential guide for the Army, this book will also be of interest to other branches of military, national security and intelligence agencies, academic and commercial researchers, pharmaceutical companies, and others interested in applying the rapid advances in neuroscience to the performance of individual and group tasks. </p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12500">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=302'>Aging</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=288'>Health and Medicine</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=396'>Military and Veterans</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/PkkoFwCTzXE" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12500On Being a Scientist: A Guide to Responsible Conduct in Research: Third Editiontag:nap.edu,2009:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12192#final2009-03-27T10:45:01-04:002009-03-27T10:45:01-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>The scientific research enterprise is built on a foundation of trust. Scientists trust that the results reported by others are valid. Society trusts that the results of research reflect an honest attempt by scientists to describe the world accurately and without bias. But this trust will endure only if the scientific community devotes itself to exemplifying and transmitting the values associated with ethical scientific conduct.<br /> <br /> <i>On Being a Scientist</i> was designed to supplement the informal lessons in ethics provided by research supervisors and mentors. The book describes the ethical foundations of scientific practices and some of the personal and professional issues that researchers encounter in their work. It applies to all forms of research--whether in academic, industrial, or governmental settings-and to all scientific disciplines. <br /> <br /> This third edition of <i>On Being a Scientist</i> reflects developments since the publication of the original edition in 1989 and a second edition in 1995. A continuing feature of this edition is the inclusion of a number of hypothetical scenarios offering guidance in thinking about and discussing these scenarios.<br /> <br /> <i>On Being a Scientist</i> is aimed primarily at graduate students and beginning researchers, but its lessons apply to all scientists at all stages of their scientific careers.<br /> </p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12192">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=282'>Education</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=348'>Higher Education</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=307'>Policy, Reviews and Evaluations</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=423'>Policy for Science and Technology</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=471'>Research and Data</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id='></a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=286'>Explore Science</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/lebDU3De6so" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12192Coverage Measurement in the 2010 Censustag:nap.edu,2009:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12524#final2009-01-08T00:00:00-05:002008-10-29T10:45:02-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>The census coverage measurement programs have historically addressed three primary objectives: (1) to inform users about the quality of the census counts; (2) to help identify sources of error to improve census taking, and (3) to provide alternative counts based on information from the coverage measurement program. <br /> In planning the 1990 and 2000 censuses, the main objective was to produce alternative counts based on the measurement of net coverage error. For the 2010 census coverage measurement program, the Census Bureau will deemphasize that goal, and is instead planning to focus on the second goal of improving census processes.</p> <p><br /> This book, which details the findings of the National Research Council's Panel on Coverage Evaluation and Correlation Bias, strongly supports the Census Bureau's change in goal. However, the panel finds that the current plans for data collection, data analysis, and data products are still too oriented towards measurement of net coverage error to fully exploit this new focus. Although the Census Bureau has taken several important steps to revise data collection and analysis procedures and data products, this book recommends further steps to enhance the value of coverage measurement for the improvement of future census processes.<br /> </p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12524">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=305'>Human Dimensions of Global Change</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=308'>Population and Fertility Studies</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/ah2y6b9CPUk" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12524Understanding Crime Trends: Workshop Reporttag:nap.edu,2009:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12472#final2009-01-05T00:00:00-05:002008-11-10T10:45:34-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>Changes over time in the levels and patterns of crime have significant consequences that affect not only the criminal justice system but also other critical policy sectors. Yet compared with such areas as health status, housing, and employment, the nation lacks timely information and comprehensive research on crime trends.<br /> Descriptive information and explanatory research on crime trends across the nation that are not only accurate, but also timely, are pressing needs in the nation's crime-control efforts. <br /> <br /> In April 2007, the National Research Council held a two-day workshop to address key substantive and methodological issues underlying the study of crime trends and to lay the groundwork for a proposed multiyear NRC panel study of these issues. Six papers were commissioned from leading researchers and discussed at the workshop by experts in sociology, criminology, law, economics, and statistics. The authors revised their papers based on the discussants' comments, and the papers were then reviewed again externally. The six final workshop papers are the basis of this volume, which represents some of the most serious thinking and research on crime trends currently available.<br /> </p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12472">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=306'>Law and Justice</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=309'>Women and Minorities</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/vFffNZGiumY" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12472Early Childhood Assessment: Why, What, and Howtag:nap.edu,2008:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12446#final2008-11-21T00:00:00-05:002008-08-04T09:45:01-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
The assessment of young children's development and learning has recently taken on new importance. Private and government organizations are developing programs to enhance the school readiness of all young children, especially children from economically disadvantaged homes and communities and children with special needs. <p>Well-planned and effective assessment can inform teaching and program improvement, and contribute to better outcomes for children. This book affirms that assessments can make crucial contributions to the improvement of children's well-being, but only if they are well designed, implemented effectively, developed in the context of systematic planning, and are interpreted and used appropriately. Otherwise, assessment of children and programs can have negative consequences for both. The value of assessments therefore requires fundamental attention to their purpose and the design of the larger systems in which they are used.</p> <p><i>Early Childhood Assessment</i> addresses these issues by identifying the important outcomes for children from birth to age 5 and the quality and purposes of different techniques and instruments for developmental assessments.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12446">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=303'>Children, Youth and Families</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=282'>Education</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=344'>Early Childhood Education</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/JP3GX2HIW94" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12446Protecting Individual Privacy in the Struggle Against Terrorists: A Framework for Program Assessmenttag:nap.edu,2008:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12452#final2008-10-07T12:15:01-04:002008-10-07T12:15:01-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>All U.S. agencies with counterterrorism programs that collect or "mine" personal data -- such as phone records or Web sites visited -- should be required to evaluate the programs' effectiveness, lawfulness, and impacts on privacy. A framework is offered that agencies can use to evaluate such information-based programs, both classified and unclassified. The book urges Congress to re-examine existing privacy law to assess how privacy can be protected in current and future programs and recommends that any individuals harmed by violations of privacy be given a meaningful form of redress. </p> <p>Two specific technologies are examined: data mining and behavioral surveillance. Regarding data mining, the book concludes that although these methods have been useful in the private sector for spotting consumer fraud, they are less helpful for counterterrorism because so little is known about what patterns indicate terrorist activity. Regarding behavioral surveillance in a counterterrorist context, the book concludes that although research and development on certain aspects of this topic are warranted, there is no scientific consensus on whether these techniques are ready for operational use at all in counterterrorism.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12452">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=279'>Computers and Information Technology</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=320'>Information Security and Privacy</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=306'>Law and Justice</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=280'>Conflict and Security Issues</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=328'>Prevention, Security and Response</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/P96zsnLOg3M" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12452Ballistic Imagingtag:nap.edu,2008:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12162#final2008-09-11T08:25:58-04:002008-09-11T08:25:58-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
Ballistic Imaging assesses the state of computer-based imaging technology in forensic firearms identification. The book evaluates the current law enforcement database of images of crime-related cartridge cases and bullets and recommends ways to improve the usefulness of the technology for suggesting leads in criminal investigations. It also advises against the construction of a national reference database that would include images from test-fires of every newly manufactured or imported firearm in the United States. The book also suggests further research on an alternate method for generating an investigative lead to the location where a gun was first sold: "microstamping," the direct imprinting of unique identifiers on firearm parts or ammunition. <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12162">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=280'>Conflict and Security Issues</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=328'>Prevention, Security and Response</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=306'>Law and Justice</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/nmlan5STRVU" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12162Science and Technology and the Future Development of Societies: International Workshop Proceedingstag:nap.edu,2008:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12185#final2008-07-16T10:45:02-04:002008-07-16T10:45:02-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
In June 2006, seventeen scientists and educators selected by the National Academies, the Academy of Sciences of Iran, and the Académie des Sciences of France held a workshop at the estate of the Fondation des Treilles in Toutour, France, to discuss issues concerning the role of science in the development of modern societies. <p> <i>Science and Technology and the Future Development of Societies</i> includes the presentations made at the workshop and summarizes the discussions that followed the presentations. Topics of the workshop included science and society issues, the role of science and engineering in development; obstacles and opportunities in the application of science and technology to development; scientific thinking of decision makers; management and utilization of scientific knowledge; and science, society, and education. This book also provides useful background for the further development of interactions of Western scientists and educators with Iranian specialists. </p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12185">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id='></a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=286'>Explore Science</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=305'>Human Dimensions of Global Change</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=307'>Policy, Reviews and Evaluations</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=423'>Policy for Science and Technology</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=423'>Policy for Science and Technology</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/paesfNNZ_oc" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12185The National Children's Study Research Plan: A Reviewtag:nap.edu,2008:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12211#final2008-07-16T00:00:00-04:002008-05-22T10:45:01-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
The National Children's Study (NCS) is planned to be the largest long-term study of environmental and genetic effects on children's health ever conducted in the United States. It proposes to examine the effects of environmental influences on the health and development of approximately 100,000 children across the United States, following them from before birth until age 21. By archiving all of the data collected, the NCS is intended to provide a valuable resource for analyses conducted many years into the future. <p>This book evaluates the research plan for the NCS, by assessing the scientific rigor of the study and the extent to which it is being carried out with methods, measures, and collection of data and specimens to maximize the scientific yield of the study.</p> <p>The book concludes that if the NCS is conducted as proposed, the database derived from the study should be valuable for investigating hypotheses described in the research plan as well as additional hypotheses that will evolve. Nevertheless, there are important weaknesses and shortcomings in the research plan that diminish the study's expected value below what it might be. <p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12211">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=303'>Children, Youth and Families</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=288'>Health and Medicine</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=386'>Children's Health</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=290'>Math, Chemistry and Physics</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=410'>Math and Statistics</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/a3hyqq9at-s" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12211Behavioral Modeling and Simulation: From Individuals to Societiestag:nap.edu,2008:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12169#final2008-06-04T00:00:00-04:002008-02-28T09:45:02-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
Today's military missions have shifted away from fighting nation states using conventional weapons toward combating insurgents and terrorist networks in a battlespace in which the attitudes and behaviors of civilian noncombatants may be the primary effects of military actions. To support these new missions, the military services are increasingly interested in using models of the behavior of humans, as individuals and in groups of various kinds and sizes. Behavioral Modeling and Simulation reviews relevant individual, organizational, and societal (IOS) modeling research programs, evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of the programs and their methodologies, determines which have the greatest potential for military use, and provides guidance for the design of a research program to effectively foster the development of IOS models useful to the military. This book will be of interest to model developers, operational military users of the models and their managers, and government personnel making funding decisions regarding model development. <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12169">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=424'>Defense and Security</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=280'>Conflict and Security Issues</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=326'>Military and Defense Studies</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/NGK_CyAc2Vw" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12169Surveying Victims: Options for Conducting the National Crime Victimization Surveytag:nap.edu,2008:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12090#final2008-05-19T00:00:00-04:002008-01-08T09:45:01-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>It is easy to underestimate how little was known about crimes and victims before the findings of the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) became common wisdom. In the late 1960s, knowledge of crimes and their victims came largely from reports filed by local police agencies as part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) system, as well as from studies of the files held by individual police departments. Criminologists understood that there existed a "dark figure" of crime consisting of events not reported to the police. However, over the course of the last decade, the effectiveness of the NCVS has been undermined by the demands of conducting an increasingly expensive survey in an effectively flat-line budgetary environment. <br /> <br /> <em>Surveying Victims: Options for Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey</em>, reviews the programs of the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS.) Specifically, it explores alternative options for conducting the NCVS, which is the largest BJS program. This book describes various design possibilities and their implications relative to three basic goals; flexibility, in terms of both content and analysis; utility for gathering information on crimes that are not well reported to police; and small-domain estimation, including providing information on states or localities. <br /> <br /> This book finds that, as currently configured and funded, the NCVS is not achieving and cannot achieve BJS's mandated goal to "collect and analyze data that will serve as a continuous indication of the incidence and attributes of crime." Accordingly, <em>Surveying Victims</em> recommends that BJS be afforded the budgetary resources necessary to generate accurate measure of victimization.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12090">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=306'>Law and Justice</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=308'>Population and Fertility Studies</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/4Oyof6MU3G0" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12090State Voter Registration Databases: Immediate Actions and Future Improvements, Interim Reporttag:nap.edu,2008:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12173#final2008-04-17T00:00:00-04:002008-04-08T09:45:01-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
The Help America Vote Act of 2002 requires the states to develop a single, computerized voter registration data base (VRD) that is defined, maintained, and administered at the state level. To help the states with this task, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission asked the NRC to organize a series of workshops and prepare an interim report addressing the challenges in implementing and maintaining state VRDs. The EAC also asked the NRC to advise the states on how to evolve and maintain the databases so that they can share information with each other. This report provides an examination of various challenges to the deployment of state VRDs and describes potential solutions to these challenges. This interim report's primary focus is on shorter-term recommendations although a number of long-range recommendations are presented. The final report will elaborate on the long-range questions and address considerations about interstate interoperability of the VRDs. <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12173">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=289'>Industry and Labor</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=304'>Economics</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=308'>Population and Fertility Studies</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=279'>Computers and Information Technology</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=323'>Policy, Reviews and Evaluations</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/AcP8cmcjaps" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12173Research on Future Skill Demands: A Workshop Summarytag:nap.edu,2008:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12066#final2008-02-05T09:45:01-05:002008-02-05T09:45:01-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>Over the past five years, business and education groups have issued a series of reports indicating that the skill demands of work are rising, due to rapid technological change and increasing global competition. Researchers have begun to study changing workplace skill demands. Some economists have found that technological change is "skill-biased," increasing demand for highly skilled workers and contributing to the growing gap in wages between college-educated workers and those with less education. However, other studies of workplace skill demands have reached different conclusions. These differences result partly from differences in disciplinary perspective, research methods, and datasets. <br /> <br /> The findings of all of these strands of research on changing skill demands are limited by available methods and data sources. Because case study research focuses on individual work sites or occupations, its results may not be representative of larger industry or national trends. At a more basic level, there is some disagreement in the literature about how to define "skill". In part because of such disagreements, researchers have used a variety of measures of skill, making it difficult to compare findings from different studies or to accumulate knowledge of skill trends over time. <br /> <br /> In the context of this increasing discussion, the National Research Council held a workshop to explore the available research evidence related to two important guiding questions: What are the strengths and weaknesses of different research methods and data sources for providing insights about current and future changes in skill demands? What support does the available evidence (given the strengths and weaknesses of the methods and data sources) provide for the proposition that the skills required for the 21st century workplace will be meaningfully different from earlier eras and will require corresponding changes in educational preparation?</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12066">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=305'>Human Dimensions of Global Change</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=282'>Education</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=345'>Education Research and Theory</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=289'>Industry and Labor</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=407'>Workforce and Labor Issues</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/Sdu7H8Mbi-U" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12066Violence Prevention in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Finding a Place on the Global Agenda, Workshop Summarytag:nap.edu,2008:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12016#final2008-01-25T08:45:01-05:002008-01-25T08:45:01-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>The current state of science in violence prevention reveals progress, promise, and a number of remaining challenges. In order to fully examine the issue of global violence prevention, the Institute of Medicine in collaboration with Global Violence Prevention Advocacy, convened a workshop and released the workshop summary entitled, <i>Violence Prevention in Low-and Middle-Income Countries</i>.</p> <p><span>The workshop brought together participants with a wide array of expertise in fields related to health, criminal justice, public policy, and economic development, to study and articulate specific opportunities for the U.S. government and other leaders with resources to more effectively support programming for prevention of the many types of violence. Participants highlighted the need for the timely development of an integrated, science-based approach and agenda to support research, clinical practice, program development, policy analysis, and advocacy for violence prevention.</span></p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12016">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=309'>Women and Minorities</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=288'>Health and Medicine</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=390'>Global Health</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/Ap0KHuXeWXA" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12016Experimentation and Evaluation Plans for the 2010 Census: Interim Reporttag:nap.edu,2008:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12080#final2008-01-24T00:00:00-05:002007-12-07T10:04:34-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>For the past 50 years, the Census Bureau has conducted experiments and evaluations with every decennial census involving field data collection during which alternatives to current census processes are assessed for a subset of the population. An "evaluation" is usually a post hoc analysis of data collected as part of the decennial census processing to determine whether individual steps in the census operated as expected. The 2010 Program for Evaluations and Experiments, known as CPEX, has enormous potential to reduce costs and increase effectiveness of the 2020 census by reducing the initial list of potential research topics from 52 to 6. The panel identified three priority experiments for inclusion in the 2010 census to assist 2020 census planning: (1) an experiment on the use of the Internet for data collection; (2) an experiment on the use of administrative records for various census purposes; and (3) an experiment (or set of experiments) on features of the census questionnaire. They also came up with 11 recommendations to improve efficiency and quality of data collection including allowing use of the Internet for data submission and including one or more alternate questionnaire experiments to examine things such as the representation of race and ethnicity.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12080">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=307'>Policy, Reviews and Evaluations</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=308'>Population and Fertility Studies</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/F8sNVM0FenU" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12080International Collaborations in Behavioral and Social Sciences Research: Report of a Workshoptag:nap.edu,2008:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12053#final2008-01-11T09:45:01-05:002008-01-11T09:45:01-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
Based on the outcomes of a workshop convened by the U.S. National Committee for Psychological Science and informed by a survey of social scientists who have led cross-national projects, this National Science Foundation-funded report addresses the multiple benefits of research extending across national boundaries and describes factors common among successful collaborations. Workshop participants identified the obstacles frequently encountered and suggested ways of dealing with these challenges to enhance international collaborative research in the behavioral and social sciences. Several dimensions of collaborative processes, such as research planning, methodological issues, organizational concerns, varied training approaches, and funding needs receive critical attention in this book. <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12053">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=307'>Policy, Reviews and Evaluations</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/QqWP4PXbbI0" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12053Human Behavior in Military Contextstag:nap.edu,2008:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12023#final2008-01-03T00:00:00-05:001969-12-31T19:00:00-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>Human behavior forms the nucleus of military effectiveness. Humans operating in the complex military system must possess the knowledge, skills, abilities, aptitudes, and temperament to perform their roles effectively in a reliable and predictable manner, and effective military management requires understanding of how these qualities can be best provided and assessed. Scientific research in this area is critical to understanding leadership, training and other personnel issues, social interactions and organizational structures within the military.</p> <p>The U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences (ARI) asked the National Research Council to provide an agenda for basic behavioral and social research focused on applications in both the short and long-term. The committee responded by recommending six areas of research on the basis of their relevance, potential impact, and timeliness for military needs: intercultural competence; teams in complex environments; technology-based training; nonverbal behavior; emotion; and behavioral neurophysiology. The committee suggests doubling the current budget for basic research for the behavioral and social sciences across U.S. military research agencies. The additional funds can support approximately 40 new projects per year across the committee's recommended research areas.</p> <p> </p> <p><em>Human Behavior in Military Contexts</em> includes committee reports and papers that demonstrate areas of stimulating, ongoing research in the behavioral and social sciences that can enrich the military's ability to recruit, train, and enhance the performance of its personnel, both organizationally and in its many roles in other cultures.</p> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12023">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=424'>Defense and Security</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=280'>Conflict and Security Issues</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=326'>Military and Defense Studies</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/Ei8zl2qA-20" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12023Biosocial Surveystag:nap.edu,2007:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11939#final2007-12-06T00:00:00-05:001969-12-31T19:00:00-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<i>Biosocial Surveys</i> analyzes the latest research on the increasing number of multipurpose household surveys that collect biological data along with the more familiar interviewer respondent information. This book serves as a follow-up to the 2003 volume, <i>Cells and Surveys: Should Biological Measures Be Included in Social Science Research?</i> and asks these questions: What have the social sciences, especially demography, learned from those efforts and the greater interdisciplinary communication that has resulted from them? Which biological or genetic information has proven most useful to researchers? How can better models be developed to help integrate biological and social science information in ways that can broaden scientific understanding? This volume contains a collection of 17 papers by distinguished experts in demography, biology, economics, epidemiology, and survey methodology. It is an invaluable sourcebook for social and behavioral science researchers who are working with biosocial data. <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11939">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=308'>Population and Fertility Studies</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/Fl--41kFlo0" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11939Parole, Desistance from Crime, and Community Integrationtag:nap.edu,2007:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11988#final2007-11-26T00:00:00-05:001969-12-31T19:00:00-05:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
<p>Every day, about 1,600 people are released from prisons in the United States. Of these 600,000 new releasees every year, about 480,000 are subject to parole or some other kind of postrelease supervision. Prison releasees represent a challenge, both to themselves and to the communities to which they return. Will the releasees see parole as an opportunity to be reintegrated into society, with jobs and homes and supportive families and friends? Or will they commit new crimes or violate the terms of their parole contracts? If so, will they be returned to prison or placed under more stringent community supervision? Will the communities to which they return see them as people to be reintegrated or people to be avoided? And, the institution of parole itself is challenged with three different functions: to facilitate reintegration for parolees who are ready for rehabilitation; to deter crime; and to apprehend those parolees who commit new crimes and return them to prison.</p> <p> </p> <div>In recent decades, policy makers, researchers, and program administrators have focused almost exclusively on "recidivism," which is essentially the failure of releasees to refrain from crime or stay out of prison. In contrast, for this study the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) of the U.S. Department of Justice asked the National Research Council to focus on "desistance," which broadly covers continued absence of criminal activity and requires reintegration into society. Specifically, the committee was asked (1) to consider the current state of parole practices, new and emerging models of community supervision, and what is necessary for successful reentry and (2) to provide a research agenda on the effects of community supervision on desistance from criminal activity, adherence to conditions of parole, and successful reentry into the community. To carry out its charge, the committee organized and held a workshop focused on traditional and new models of community supervision, the empirical underpinnings of such models, and the infrastructure necessary to support successful reentry. <em>Parole, Desistance from Crime, and Community Integration</em> also reviews the literature on desistance from crime, community supervision, and the evaluation research on selected types of intervention.</div> <p>[<a href="http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11988">Read the full report</a>]</p> <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=306'>Law and Justice</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/oUHplByQjGE" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11988State and Local Government Statistics at a Crossroadstag:nap.edu,2007:http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12000#final2007-10-22T00:00:00-04:002013-03-15T15:50:28-04:00The National Academies Presshttp://www.nap.edu
<p><strong>Final Book Now Available</strong></p>
Since the early days of the nation, the federal government has collected information on the revenues, expenditures, and other features of state and local jurisdictions and their operations. Today, these data are collected primarily by the Governments Division of the U.S. Census Bureau, which has conducted a census of governments every 5 years since 1957. The division also manages a program of related annual and quarterly surveys, as well as a comprehensive directory of state and local governments. All of this work is now taking place in an environment of constrained resources, and there have been cutbacks in the availability and dissemination of the data. <p> In this context, <i>State and Local Government Statistics at a Crossroads</i> documents the uses of the state and local data and assesses the quality of the data for those uses. This book provides in-depth consideration of the efficiency of the surveys; the user base; and the timeliness, relevance, and quality of the data series. It also provides valuable background information and analysis and offers suggestions for program improvements. This information will be valuable to policy makers, state and local government workers, government contractors, budget analysts, economists, demographers, and others who rely on these data on government at the state and local levels and have a stake in ensuring that limited resources do not compromise the quality of the data on which they rely. <p><strong>Topics:</strong> <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=277'>Behavioral and Social Sciences</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=307'>Policy, Reviews and Evaluations</a> | <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=290'>Math, Chemistry and Physics</a> » <a href='http://www.nap.edu/topics.php?id=410'>Math and Statistics</a></p><br />
<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/nap/new/topic/277/~4/KHbe6F0UyW0" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12000