Referenzsemantik in der Partnermodellierung

How can we explain that an assertion on something perceived can be understood in the same manner by somebody who cannot perceive that scene? This problem bases the interest in computational linguistics in how listener modeling could possibly be harmonized with reference semantics. Mental images substituting real perception appear as a way out. The architecture of the listener model has to be adapted to the creation and use of such pictorial data structures. Furthermore, the relation between the latter and a verbal (i. e., propositional) representation must be understood. The resulting architecture of a listener model with reference semantics can be employed to solve communicational problems from three general classes in a better way, as is demonstrated by an example implementation.     

The EPPI family therapy outcome study

Information was evaluated from 1014 families seen in an eight-year period by therapists connected with the Department of Family Psychiatry at Eastern Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute in Philadelphia. Statistical analysis revealed several factors that had some predictive value in relation to outcome of therapy; these were race, past psychiatric hospitalization, type of presenting family problem, and number of sessions held. There was a rather good chance of improvement being noted by the therapist if the family stayed in treatment for eight or more sessions. About 90% of the cases were seen for less than 20 interviews. Only about 3% were seen for longer than 35 interviews. The vast majority of EPPI cases were short-term. Black families tended to present different problems from white, and therapy was terminated with blacks sooner than for whites. About 35% of families terminated after one to two interviews, and another 30% after three to seven sessions. Since families tended to benefit most after eight or more sessions, the need for better methods or techniques to engage families is highlighted.The research was supported in part by a Career Development Award from the University of California, San Francisco, to the first author.     

Engagement and recruitment for family therapy research in community settings

Based on the recruitment experience in a family therapy research project with heroin addicts, this paper explores the difficulties of researcher networking with other social service agencies. Concepts from contextual family therapy are used to explore four general areas that contribute to successful intra-agency relationships: 1) Evaluating the nature of larger system relationships; 2) identifying the resources and needs of a clinic; 3) joining with the counseling staff; and 4) addressing the impact of public policy and ideology on clinic life. A case of engaging one clinic is presented and nine guidelines for engaging large community settings for participation in family therapy research are offered. These areas are considered in light of the relational dynamics that arise when working with multiple social service systems.An earlier version of this paper was presented at the American Family Therapy Association conference in Washington, DC, June 1986. The authors are grateful to the recruitment staff of the Intergenerational Family Therapy Project: Guillermo Lopez, Bart Rubin, Sharara Godfry, and Armando Chenyek. This research was supported in part by a grant to Guillermo Bernal from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA03543).