Ethnographic mosaic approach for health and rehabilitation practitioners: an ethno-radiographic perspective.

This methodological commentary focuses on the use of ethnography for health and rehabilitation practitioners. In recent years, ethnography has become a methodology of choice amongst diagnostic radiography researchers at uncovering phenomena pertinent to the clinical setting. This paper adds to the evidence base by providing not only a methodology account from two experienced researchers, but also offers a paradigmatic approach to ethnography that incorporates qualitative and quantitative approaches. It details an alternate ideological discourse in alignment with the role of a diagnostic radiographer, which can be replicated in other disciplines and thus offering an array of empirical opportunity for prospective health and rehabilitation practitioners.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONThis paper provides an introduction into the use of ethnography for health and rehabilitation practitioners.The authors reflect on the value of ethnography in order to satisfy a researcher's aims and objectives.The authors provide an "umbrella strategy" that can be used by other prospective health and rehabilitation researchers.It is argued here that this methodology offers an alternate strategy of uncovering new ideas and research data.

The Use of Digital Side Markers (DSMs) and Cropping in Digital Radiography.

INTRODUCTION: This article explores two phenomena in the general radiography environment-the increasing use of digital side markers (DSMs) by radiographers and the possibility for radiographers to "crop" radiographs post-exposure. This article offers originality by identifying the rationales of radiographers when using digital equipment. METHODS: This study formed part of a larger ethnographic study undertaken in the United Kingdom (UK). Participant observation and semi-structured interviews were used. Overt participant observation identified cropping and DSM placement within the X-ray room. Semi-structured interviews later supported and/or refuted the rationale for DSMs and cropping clinically. RESULTS: Two themes are discussed. First, radiographers support the use of DSMs by suggesting that mistakes will happen regardless of using an ASM and/or DSM. Furthermore, it is proposed that ASMs and DSMs can be interchangeably used in practice. Second, radiographers acknowledge the use of cropping ensuring their radiographs resemble "a textbook image." This leads to question the optimum use of collimation in the clinical environment and how it may go unnoticed. CONCLUSION: This article concludes by recognizing some challenges digital radiography currently provides. The rationale and continuing use of DSMs and cropping of radiographs by radiographers highlights alternate complexities with digital technology in the clinical environment and how we may best overcome such challenges that influence the profession.

Influencing Republicans' and Democrats' attitudes toward Obamacare: Effects of imagined vicarious cognitive dissonance on political attitudes.

The field of experimental social psychology is appropriately interested in using novel theoretical approaches to implement change in the social world. In the current study, we extended cognitive dissonance theory by creating a new framework of social influence: imagined vicarious dissonance. We used the framework to influence attitudes on an important and controversial political attitude: U.S. citizens' support for the Affordable Care Act (ACA). 36 Republicans and 84 Democrats were asked to imagine fellow Republicans and Democrats, respectively, making attitude discrepant statements under high and low choice conditions about support for the ACA. The data showed that vicarious dissonance, established by imagining a group member make a counterattitudinal speech under high-choice conditions (as compared to low-choice conditions), resulted in greater support for the Act by Republicans and marginally diminished support by Democrats. The results suggest a promising role for the application of vicarious dissonance theory to relevant societal issues and for further understanding the relationship of dissonance and people's identification with their social groups.

From niche to stigma-Headshops to prison: Exploring the rise and fall of synthetic cannabinoid use among young adults.

The aim of this paper will be to consider the rise and subsequent fall in NPS use at national and local level with a focus on synthetic cannabinoid products in Kent. We will examine the local practice and policy responses by Kent's Young Persons' Drug and Alcohol Service towards a possible change in patterns of NPS drug consumption. The county has seen an expansion in the number of Headshops and we present local media coverage on NPS, and the Trading Standards and Kent Police intervention Operation Lantern to regulate Headshops. Through quantitative and qualitative data sets on socially vulnerable young people and prison populations we explore young adults' perception of pleasure and harm in the use of NPS. Emergent data suggests young adults are now assessing the differences between NPS and more traditional illicit drugs, with this impacting on decision-making about the substances being used. When 'legal highs' first appeared they were associated with a more niche middle class demographic, 'psychonauts' and experimental users interested in pursuing recreational drug diversity. We examine macro and micro data to suggest that populations most likely to become involved in NPS use are those with degrees of stigma linked to socially vulnerable young adults suggesting that Spice is no longer a feature of middle class recreational drug use.