Using Evidence to Inform Policy is a unique examination of how evidence can be used to improve policymaking, especially in challenging economic times. There is a need for transparency in government and policy decisions. Research and evidence can help to provide this transparency, and Using Evidence to Inform Policy outlines how. However, the book also demonstrates the complexity of the relationship between evidence and policy, arguing that in most cases good policy cannot be determined by evidence alone. Using Evidence to Inform Policy demonstrates the breadth and value of the contribution that evidence can make to policy. It presents eleven studies drawn from recent Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) research projects, illustrating different aspects of the relationship between evidence and policy, and how these vary by policy area. Using examples, the book demonstrates how national and international research can be used to good effect in policymaking. The theme of how evidence can influence policy is examined with reference to Ireland and the international experience and in a wide range of areas, including the economy, public infrastructure, innovation, competition, the labour market, financial regulation, healthcare, housing, education, government spending, public services and earnings. Each chapter tackles a question that's relevant to policymaking now, for example, how to protect consumers of financial services; what is the public's perception of public services and their implications for public sector reform?; how to explain changes in earnings and labour costs during the recession; what is the evidence for providing economic security through competition and regulatory policy?; do active labour market policies activate?; how to boost innovation and productivity in enterprises. The book is relevant to all those taking courses in economics, sociology, political science, governance, social policy and Irish Studies at postgraduate and undergraduate level, as well as civil servants, politicians, policymakers, researchers and analysts in the public sector.
An explosive look at the NFL Draft from the inside out that exposes the multilayered feeding frenzy that swarms around America's top college players. The Draft follows a handful of NFL hopefuls through the ups and downs of the 2004 college football season and the predraft process, culminating with the 2005 draft. Among the prospects are Virginia defensive end Chris Canty, who overcomes a devastating early-season knee injury to reestablish himself as a top draft hopeful, only to suffer a detached retina in a nightclub skirmish; and Fred Gibson, a talented but rail-thin Georgia wide receiver who struggles to put on the weight needed to go over the middle in the NFL. It's a complex environment, with college coaches attempting to protect their "student-athletes" from exploitation (while fully aware that they can only remain competitive if they attract NFL-caliber players to their schools), along with sports agents and NFL scouts trying to stay a step ahead of their competition. These parties provide a multi-angled view of the world of emerging NFL talent. The reader follows the season through the eyes of a host of power players and scouts, from veteran agent Pat Dye Jr. to Jerry Maguire clone Jack Scharf, to the coaching divisions of Florida State University and the University of Virginia--headed by longtime Bill Parcells disciple Al Groh. Also central to the narrative are the Atlanta Falcons and former executives Rich McKay and Tim Ruskell, who use a character-based evaluation system to set their draft board. These parallel stories weave together, culminating in draft weekend, to create a gripping and fascinating look at a world few see from the inside.
The hereditary retinopathy, retinitis pigmentosa (RP), which affects 1 in 3,500 people worldwide, is the most common cause of registered visual handicap among those of the working age in developed countries. RP is a highly variable disorder where patients may develop symptomatic visual loss in early childhood, while others may remain asymptomatic until mid-adulthood. Most cases of RP segregate in autosomal dominant, recessive or X-linked recessive modes, with approximately 41 genes being implicated in disease pathology to date (RetNet). The extensive genetic heterogeneity associated with autosomal dominant RP (adRP) is an undisputed hindrance to the development of genetically based therapeutics.
Interviews with 50 guitar players you've no doubt heard but may not know by name Guitar players from pop to jazz to heavy metal and folk, from the 1960s to the present day An insider's look behind the scenes of some of the greatest music ever recorded
The acclaimed classic on the statistical analysis of baseball records in order to evaluate players and win more games. Long before Moneyball became a sensation or Nate Silver turned the knowledge he’d honed on baseball into electoral gold, John Thorn and Pete Palmer were using statistics to shake the foundations of the game. First published in 1984, The Hidden Game of Baseball ushered in the sabermetric revolution by demonstrating that we were thinking about baseball stats—and thus the game itself—all wrong. Instead of praising sluggers for gaudy RBI totals or pitchers for wins, Thorn and Palmer argued in favor of more subtle measurements that correlated much more closely to the ultimate goal: winning baseball games. The new gospel promulgated by Thorn and Palmer opened the door for a flood of new questions, such as how a ballpark’s layout helps or hinders offense or whether a strikeout really is worse than another kind of out. Taking questions like these seriously—and backing up the answers with data—launched a new era, showing fans, journalists, scouts, executives, and even players themselves a new, better way to look at the game. This brand-new edition retains the body of the original, with its rich, accessible analysis rooted in a deep love of baseball, while adding a new introduction by the authors tracing the book’s influence over the years. A foreword by ESPN’s lead baseball analyst, Keith Law, details The Hidden Game’s central role in the transformation of baseball coverage and team management and shows how teams continue to reap the benefits of Thorn and Palmer’s insights today. Thirty years after its original publication, The Hidden Game is still bringing the high heat—a true classic of baseball literature. Praise for The Hidden Game “As grateful as I was for the publication of The Hidden Game of Baseball when it first showed up on my bookshelf, I’m even more grateful now. It’s as insightful today as it was then. And it’s a reminder that we haven’t applauded Thorn and Palmer nearly loudly enough for their incredible contributions to the use and understanding of the awesome numbers of baseball.” —Jayson Stark, senior baseball writer, ESPN.com “Just as one cannot know the great American novel without Twain and Hemingway, one cannot know modern baseball analysis without Thorn and Palmer.” —Rob Neyer, FOX Sports
In To Be a Better Coach: A Guide for the Youth Sport Coach and Coach Developer, Pete Van Mullem and Lori Gano-Overway combine hands-on experience and comprehensive research to offer coaches and coach developers concrete, practical suggestions to improve coaching performance in youth sports. To Be a Better Coach shares common and best practices in coaching, such as providing a safe sport environment, engaging in ethical practices, creating a positive and inclusive environment, building relationships with all stakeholders, and developing leadership and motivational skills. Each chapter explains the skills and guidelines needed to develop as a youth coach in that specific area, followed by examples of real-world scenarios from practicing coaches. In addition, each chapter includes useful resources and practical strategies for the development of coaches. With the continued rise in youth sports, the need for trained and qualified coaches is growing. Using an applied approach, To Be a Better Coach is a needed guide for youth sport coaches and coach developers working in community youth sport programs, interscholastic sport, and private youth sport organizations.
Cambridge International AS Level History is a suite of three books that offer complete coverage of the Cambridge International AS Level History syllabus (code 9389). Written in clear and accessible language, this title covers the History of the USA from the period of 1840-1941. Features include key questions, timelines, definitions of key terms, profile of key figures, notes to highlight significant points and formative questions to consolidate learning. Each chapter reinforces knowledge and builds skills using detailed study of primary and secondary sources to help students achieve their best. Exam support is offered in a final Examination Skills chapter offering advice on exam technique and how to approach source investigation and structured essay questions.
The definitive biography of British dance band leader and theatrical impresario Jack Hylton, tracing his life from the industrial North of England to London's glittering West End.
White Masculinity in Crisis in Hollywood’s Fin de Millennium Cinema claims that Hollywood cinema had a significant relationship with the millennial crisis of masculinity. From Fight Club (Fincher, 1999) and American Psycho (Harron, 2000), to Office Space (Judge, 1999), The Matrix (Wachowski’s, 1999) and American Beauty (Mendes, 1999), Pete Deakin attests that alongside the emergent “crisis” came a definitive body of some twenty-five Hollywood “crisis” titles; each film with a representational concern for the apparent “masculine malaise”. Asking whether Hollywood helped create, propel or sooth the very notion of the crisis-of-masculinity at this time, Deakin engages with some important cultural questions: how discursive—or even authentic—was it, and more vitally, whose actual crisis was this? To this end, scholars of film studies, media studies, gender studies, history, and sociology will find this book particularly useful.
Indiana boasts a rich baseball tradition, with 10 native sons enshrined in Cooperstown. This biographical dictionary provides a close look at the lives of all 364 Hoosier big leaguers, who include New York City's first baseball superstar; the first rookie pitcher to win three games in a World Series; the man who caught most of Cy Young's record 511 career wins; one of the game's first star relievers; the player who held the record for consecutive games played before Lou Gehrig; an obscure infielder mentioned in Charles Schulz's Peanuts comic strip; baseball's only one-legged pitcher; Indiana's first Mr. Basketball, who became one of baseball's greatest pinch-hitters; the first African American to play for the Cincinnati Reds; the only pitcher to throw a perfect game in the World Series; the skipper of the 1969 "Miracle Mets"; the pitcher for whom a ground-breaking surgical procedure is named; and the only two men to have played in both the World Series and the Final Four of the NCAA Basketball Tournament.
In Faster Road Racing: 5K to Half Marathon, renowned running authority Pete Pfitzinger and Running Times senior writer Philip Latter present training plans for the most popular race distances as well as advice on recovery, cross-training, nutrition, tapering, and masters running.
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