 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Phone +44(0) 141-649-9387 |
Recent Projects (selection)
1. A study of the feasibility of undertaking a longitudinal international cohort study of seafarers' health and safety (funded by ITF Seafarers' trust and SIRC).Existing information on seafarers' health and safety is fragmentary. However seafarers are known to suffer from a number of health disadvantages - high rates of fatal accidents, exposure to hazardous and carcinogenic substances, high rates of infections and contagious diseases and high suicide rates. This study is of the feasibility of a prospective study of morbidity and mortality which would go beyond national studies to look at international and cross-national patterns, to look for structural patterns for ill health and possible managerial and regulatory solutions. This identifies suitable sample frames, identification of existing health datasets, suitable health outcomes, examines likely effect sizes and attrition rates, possible sample stratification according to a number of structural factors (nationality and type of vessel) and the timing of data collection sweeps.Completed. 2. The effect of class size in 5-7 year olds on progress and relation to classroom processes (funded by Dfee).This project follows progress in both reception and in the following year of a large national cohort study of children (with a subsequent cohort a year later being also examined). The study includes baseline and end of year assessments on both literacy and mathematics, questionnaires to teachers on classroom activities, including detailed information on class size and grouping practices, teacher and head teacher attitudes and pupil behaviour ratings. Analyses model in some detail the relation between measures of class size and pupil progress through conditional multilevel models, examining the effects of classroom contextual factors, teacher educational practices (including grouping, curriculum time division) and school structural factors.Completed. 3. The relationship of hearing loss to age and noise levels (funded by MRC)Funded by the MRC this project (with Prof. Adrian Davis and Dr Vicky Owen of MRC Hearing Research Unit) examines a range of model for hearing loss as a function mainly of noise exposure and age. Differential skewness of the distribution of hearing loss by age requires that a three parameter log normal distributional family is fitted (See Bowater, 1996, Appl Stats, Aitkin, 1986, Appl. Stata). Particular interest lies in the explanation of hearing loss amongst those with above average hearing loss. Further modelling of multivariate outcomes and of longitudinal data is being undertaken using MlwiN. Completed. 4. Scottish Cot Deaths StudyAnalysis of this 1996-1999 case-control data on deaths in Scotland from SIDS with up to 2 controls for each case from adjacent births in same hospital. Analysis of risk factors following previous paper (Brooke et al, 1997, BMJ) from 1992-5 data. Examines, in particular, effects of old mattress, sleeping position and co-sleeping. Random effects models used fitted by STATA statistical software. Continuing |