Richardson et al.’s respected and seminal Policy Styles in Western Europe (1982) shed valuable light on how countries tend to establish long-term and distinctive ways to make policies that transcend short-term imperatives and issues. This follow-up volume updates those arguments and significantly expands the coverage, consisting of 16 carefully selected country-level case studies from around the world. Furthermore, it includes different types of political regimes and developmental levels to test more widely the robustness of the patterns and variables highlighted in the original book. The case studies – covering countries from the United States, Canada, Germany and the UK to Russia, Togo and Vietnam – follow a uniform structure, combining theoretical considerations and the presentation of empirical material to reveal how the distinct cultural and institutional features of modern states continue to have implications for the making and implementation of public policy decisions within them. The book is essential reading for students and scholars of public policy, public administration, comparative politics and development studies.

This book is an introduction to the mathematical theory of design for articulated mechanical systems known as linkages. The focus is on sizing mechanical constraints that guide the movement of a work piece, or end-effector, of the system. The function of the device is prescribed as a set of positions to be reachable by the end-effector; and the mechanical constraints are formed by joints that limit relative movement. The goal is to find all the devices that can achieve a specific task. Formulated in this way the design problem is purely geometric in character. Robot manipulators, walking machines, and mechanical hands are examples of articulated mechanical systems that rely on simple mechanical constraints to provide a complex workspace for the end- effector. The principles presented in this book form the foundation for a design theory for these devices. The emphasis, however, is on articulated systems with fewer degrees of freedom than that of the typical robotic system, and therefore, less complexity. This book will be useful to mathematics, engineering and computer science departments teaching courses on mathematical modeling of robotics and other articulated mechanical systems. This new edition includes research results of the past decade on the synthesis of multi loop planar and spherical linkages, and the use of homotopy methods and Clifford algebras in the synthesis of spatial serial chains. One new chapter on the synthesis of spatial serial chains introduces numerical homotopy and the linear product decomposition of polynomial systems. The second new chapter introduces the Clifford algebra formulation of the kinematics equations of serial chain robots. Examples are use throughout to demonstrate the theory.

Research Skills Among Undergraduate Students: Case Studies from the Humanities and Sciences at Dublin City University (Francoise Blin and Sheelagh Wickham); (24) Untying the Accountancy Knot: The Design, Development and Implementation of Interactive Animations and Simulations to Support Underperforming 1st Year Accountancy Students, Including Those with Dyslexia (Frances Boylan, Pauline Rooney, Fionnghuala Kelly, Jennifer McConnell, Alice Luby, Elaine Mooney, Rebecca Maughan, Dan Shanahan, Daniel King and Tony Kiely); (25) Using Prediction Markets to Create an Active Learning Environment in Large Groups (Patrick Buckley and John Garvey); (26) Crossing Borders through Cyberspace: A Social Work Education Electronic Exchange Project across the Atlantic (Janet Carter Anand and Kris Clarke); (27) Enhancing Rural Development through Graduate Programmes--An Ethiopian Case Study (Nick Chisholm, Mike FitzGibbon, Una Murray, Stephen Thornhill, Tsega Gebrakirstos, Anteneh Belachew); (28) Integrative Learning: Learners Design and Reflect on their "Economic" Behaviour to Coursework Assessment (John Considine); (29) Supporting Therapists' Engagement in Evidence Based Practice through an Interprofessional Post-Qualification Master's Programme (Janice Crausaz, Gill Chard and Clare O'Sullivan); (30) Problem Based Learning in Graduate Nursing Education (Caroline Dalton, Elaine Drummond, Lynne Marsh and Maria Caples); (31) Fostering Interpersonal Skill Development in Online Programmes (Kay Dennis); (32) A National Doctoral Programme for Structured PhD Training (Oonagh Dwane and Martina Prendergast); (33) Cognitive Level of First Year University Science Students (Odilla E. Finlayson, Lorraine McCormack and Thomas J.J. McCloughlin); (34) Multi-Disciplinary Graduate Education at Tyndall (Jim Greer and Orla Slattery); (35) How We Use Values-Exchange in NUI Galway (Barbara L. Griffin, Martin Power and Jane Sixsmith); (36) A Blended Learning Enquiry Based Module: Best Practice of Evaluation Skills in Health Promotion (Barbara L. Griffin, Verna McKenna and Lisa Pursell); (37) Formal PhD Training Experienced by National University of Ireland Maynooth Geography Students (Adrienne Hobbs, Elaine Burroughs and Jackie S. McGloughlin); (38) The Implementation and Evaluation of Peer Learning Programmes in Third Level Science Modules (Jennifer Johnston and Maeve Liston); (39) Focus on Patient Safety: How Lifelong Learning begins between Pharmacy and Medical Students at UCC (Aislinn Joy and Laura Sahm); (40) Nursing Students Design "Glossy" Magazine (Jacinta Kelly); (41) Teaching Historical Research--A Thing of the Past (Jacinta Kelly); (42) DCU Business School Next Generation Management (Theo Lynn, John Connolly, Gerry Conyngham, Aoife McDermott and Caroline McMullan); (43) Preparing Students for Postgraduate Research? Techniques for Improving the Quality of the Undergraduate Dissertation (Kay McKeogh and Proinnsias Breathnach); (44) Promoting Integrative Learning through Student Assignments (Kevin McCarthy); (45) Teaching and Learning Education for Sustainable Development (Amanda McCloat and Helen Maguire); (46) Research Awareness and Readiness Evaluation (RARE) of Undergraduate Chemistry Students at DIT (Claire McDonnell, Christine O'Connor, Sarah Rawe, Michael Seery and David Kett);(47) An Assessment of Ultrasound Scanning Competencies of Radiology Residents: Is There a Role for Improved Sonography Training? (Claire Moran, Patrick C. Brennan, Dermot Malone and Louise A. Rainford); (48) Post Graduate Students Experience Thematic Review (Anne Morrissey, Joseph Stokes and Gary Murphy); (49) Development of a Structured MD Research Curriculum (Shanthi Muttukrishna, Geraldine Boylan and Ray Noble); (50) A Focus Group Investigation of the Learning Opportunities Available in a 1:1 and a 2:1 Model of Clinical Education (Aileen O'Brien and Anne O'Connor); (51) Development of an Online Data Handling Module for Postgraduate Life Science Students (Sandra O'Brien, John Kelly, Ambrose O'Halloran, Fiona Concannon); (52) Enhancing Student Learning on Placement through the Implementation of a Case Based Interprofessional Model of Education: Perspectives of Students, Therapists and Regional Placement Facilitators (Marie O'Donnell, Alison Warren, Mairead Cahill and Olive Gowen);(53) Student Research Skills Development on a Level 9 Taught Programme in Engineering: Experiences and Reflections (Aidan O'Dwyer);(54) The Transfer of the Seven Principles of Universal Design to Diverse Domains (Ciaran O'Leary, Damian Gordon and Deirdre Lawless); (55) Ranking Graduate Competences: Perspectives from Employers and Academia (Catherine O'Mahony); (56) Supporting the Supervisors of Research Students in Higher Education (Catherine O'Mahony, Alan Kelly, Niall Smith, Pat Morgan, Carol O'Sullivan and Willie Donnelly); (57) Professional Attitudes among Final Medical Students in Cork: An International Comparison (Eoin O'Sullivan and Anthony Ryan); and (58) Application of the Teaching for Understanding Framework in Topographical Anatomy (Deniz Yilmazer-Hanke). Individual papers contain tables, figures, references and appendices.

Click ′Additional Materials′ to read the foreword by Jerald Hage As straightforward as its title, How to Build Social Science Theories sidesteps the well-traveled road of theoretical examination by demonstrating how new theories originate and how they are elaborated. Essential reading for students of social science research, this book traces theories from their most rudimentary building blocks (terminology and definitions) through multivariable theoretical statements, models, the role of creativity in theory building, and how theories are used and evaluated. Authors Pamela J. Shoemaker, James William Tankard, Jr., and Dominic L. Lasorsa intend to improve research in many areas of the social sciences by making research more theory-based and theory-oriented. The book begins with a discussion of concepts and their theoretical and operational definitions. It then proceeds to theoretical statements, including hypotheses, assumptions, and propositions. Theoretical statements need theoretical linkages and operational linkages; this discussion begins with bivariate relationships, as well as three-variable, four-variable, and further multivariate relationships. The authors also devote chapters to the creative component of theory-building and how to evaluate theories. How to Build Social Science Theories is a sophisticated yet readable analysis presented by internationally known experts in social science methodology. It is designed primarily as a core text for graduate and advanced undergraduate courses in communication theory. It will also be a perfect addition to any course dealing with theory and research methodology across the social sciences. Additionally, professional researchers will find it an indispensable guide to the genesis, dissemination, and evaluation of social science theories.