Using national data from the Survey of the Status of Social Studies (S4), this study examined the associations between teacher-level and school-level factors as well as testing policy, and the self-reported levels of authority and control over key classroom tasks among secondary school social studies teachers in the context of high-stakes accountability. This research sought to identify the importance of teacher authority in the classroom and how 6-12 social studies educators' professional authority is associated with teachers' professional characteristics (their degree background, teaching experience, and licensure paths), school-related factors (school types, school context, school poverty levels, and minority enrollment levels), and state testing policy. A conceptual framework was developed to guide the selection of specific predictor and control variables and to examine the three theoretically based models through hierarchical multiple regression analysis techniques. The analytic sample included grades 6-12 social studies teachers (N=6,703). Key findings from this study indicated that, as hypothesized, teacher-level characteristics significantly predicted secondary social studies teachers' classroom authority. Self-reported levels of teacher authority were maldistributed across the types of school, school context, school poverty levels, and minority enrollment levels. Greater minority and low-income student enrollments were associated with less authority and control in the classroom. Also, state testing policy significantly predicted social studies teacher authority. Specifically, middle and junior high school teachers who gave state mandated social studies tests reported significantly lower levels of authority and control than those who did not. On the other hand, high school teachers who gave state mandated social studies tests reported significantly higher levels of authority and control than those who did not. Also, teachers who believed that state test results impacted their job security reported lower levels of authority and control than those who did not feel such pressure.

The concern over test consequence has inspired research into the wider impact of language tests and testing policies, but few studies have examined this subject in the context of Taiwan. With the goal of enhancing Taiwan’s global competitiveness by upgrading manpower quality, the central government implemented a 2002 policy to develop the English proficiency of civil servants by recognizing passing marks on approved English language proficiency tests as a promotion criterion. This thesis reports on a research study that adopted a multi-method approach to assess the testing policy’s impact on test-takers and analyze the rationale and consequences of revisions to the policy that were implemented between 2002 and the 2011. A survey of 282 civil servants working in the banking, economics, and finance sectors yielded data about the participants’ self-assessment of their English proficiency and workplace need for the language, English study and test-taking experience, impressions of English proficiency tests, and assessment of the effectiveness of the testing policy. Statistical analysis of the test impression and policy effectiveness data revealed significant correlation between positive assessments of the policy’s impact and the perceived fairness of the testing policy, the policy’s influence on motivation to study English, and the participants’ intrinsic interest in improving their English. Interviews with officials involved in formulating and implementing the testing policy and a review of government documents related to the policy provided data that were incorporated into the Geelhoed-Schouwstra policy analysis framework and facilitated the identification of factors that influenced the outcomes of the testing policy. The results of this study of an English language testing policy help to clarify who the test-takers and test users are, how and why tests are being used, and what the consequences of test use are.

"The insurance industry was among the first to understand clearly the serious nature of the epidemic, as the HIV/AIDS epidemic disintegrates and destabilizes slowly the traditional extended African family system. The extended family, which traditionally constitutes a social safety net in African communities, is not able to cope with the sudden burden of HIV/AIDS orphans, since the age group 20-44 is the most hit by the epidemic. A study commissioned by the Henry Kaiser Family Foundation showed that, by the year 2005, HIV/AIDS is expected to make around one million children under the age of 15 orphans in South Africa. Besides, stigma and secrecy around the disease expose HIV/AIDS orphans to discrimination in their community and even in their extended family. As a result, a large number of HIV/AIDS orphans are abandoned and forced to seek help in the streets, begging for money, a situation that exposes them to abuse and criminality. Since 1988, most insurance companies in South Africa have had a policy of compulsory HIV testing which excludes HIV positive candidates from their scheme. The reason put forward is that they represent an 'unacceptable risk'. According to the National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NAPWA), this is a widespread problem in South Africa. The impact of discrimination in getting life insurance is catastrophic on the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS and their families. As was noted by the Supreme Court of Canada in the case of Zurich Insurance Company v Ontario, there is a fundamental tension between human rights law and insurance practice. Insurance practices, particularly, impedes on equality and privacy rights of HIV positive persons. ... Therefore, at the root of the debate on HIV/AIDS and insurance is the question on how to strike a balance between the need to ensure that insurance companies extend their coverage without being financially endangered and the human and constitutional rights of HIV positive persons. ... The study is divided into five chapters. Chapter one is the introductory chapter. Chapter two examines the principles of insurance as well as the characteristics of HIV/AIDS. It aims at understanding the arguments in favour of HIV testing and exclusion of persons living with HIV/AIDS from life insurance schemes. Chapter three analyses the problem from the perspective of persons infected with HIV. It investigates the impact of the refusal to grant them life insurance because of their HIV status. This chapter shows how the insurance business infringes the rights of HIV positive persons ot non0discriminatory treatment. Chapter four looks at the position of foreign jurisdictions in the conflict of interests and analyses how they have dealt with the human rights implications of insurance companies policy towards the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Chapter five is the concluding chapter, which puts forward redommendations." -- Introduction. / Thesis (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa)) -- University of Pretoria, 2003. / Prepared under the supervision of Adv. Annelize Nienaber at the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria / http://www.chr.up.ac.za/academic_pro/llm1/dissertations.html / Centre for Human Rights / LLM

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