Important as it is both to risk of re-offending and to cognitive behavioural treatment, violent cognition is seldom measured in rehabilitation programmes, and even more rarely linked to measures of violence risk. Most often, researchers measure violent cognition by having offenders complete transparent self-report questionnaires. This approach may be flawed both by socially desirable responding and by theoretical speculation that stronger links exist between automatic rather than explicit, consciously deliberated cognition and violent behaviour. We measured violent cognition in several ways; collecting data with two self-report scales, along with two Implicit Association Tests (IATs) from men commencing and completing an intensive cognitive-behavioural rehabilitation programme for high-risk violent prisoners. We addressed the questions of whether these two forms of assessment-explicit and implicit-are related, and which is most strongly linked to estimates of violence, based on the Violence Risk Scale. Explicit and implicit tests were not related to each other, although both self-report scales, and one of the IATs elicited significantly more pro-social responses following treatment. Further, the Aggression Questionnaire (AQ) scores were significantly correlated with dynamic risk both pre-and post-programme, while post-programme, scores on one of the two IATs was significantly correlated with dynamic and static risk, as measured pre-and postprogramme. These findings suggest that implicit and explicit measures may be assessing different aspects of cognition, and only some are related to violence risk.

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Background: The Midwifery First Year of Practice programme (MFYP) is a fully governmentfunded programme aimed at supporting newly qualified midwives in their first year of practice. This formalised programme provides mentor support, professional continuing education and quality assessment and reflection. Aim: This research was designed to assess and explore the MFYP programme and identify which components New Zealand midwifery graduates considered important and supported them to develop confidence as a midwifery practitioner in their first year of practice. Method: A survey of graduate midwives who participated in the MFYP programme from 2007 to 2010 was undertaken. A survey tool was developed which was designed to explore each element of the programme. Likert scales were provided for the majority of questions with comment boxes also provided so that answers could be contextualised. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS 21 with descriptive statistics provided to demonstrate responses. Findings: Between the years 2007 and 2010, there were 415 new graduate midwives who participated in the MFYP programme, of which 180 responded to the survey (43.4% response rate). The demographics of the respondents were reflective of the total cohort of MFYP programme participants. In their first year of practice, respondents were almost evenly split between self-employed midwives in case loading practice (47.5%) and midwives employed by a maternity facility (45.5%). Support from the mentor and the financial support for education were considered important contributors to developing professional confidence for these new graduates. The majority of respondents reported feeling supported when attending women during labour and birth (92.2%), and at other times during clinical practice (93.9%). Main sources of support were midwives employed within the facility, midwifery practice partners, and midwife mentors from the MFYP programme. Conclusion: Each element of the programme was considered important by new graduates and this was regardless of their practice setting. The MFYP programme is flexible, meets the needs of New Zealand graduates and helps them to increase confidence in their first year of practice as a registered midwife.

Violent offenders often articulate offense-supportive cognitions during rehabilitation, yet these statements have received little theoretical attention, and intervention approaches have targeted each type of statement individually, as if they were unrelated. An implicit theory approach to cognitions has proved fruitful for research and intervention. The authors apply it to violent offenders. The first study presents a grounded theory investigation of offense-supportive cognition in prisoners attending an intensive rehabilitation program for violent offenders. Analysis of offense transcripts enabled the identification of several implicit theories. These results were refined with a second sample and trialed in the rehabilitation program. Findings suggest that several implicit theories held by violent offenders are linked to each other through the widespread normalization of violence. Few offenders experienced their violent behavior as abnormal, or completely outside of their control, once initiated. The authors make suggestions for enhancing the empirical status of this research domain, particularly through experimental investigations.

This research explored the midwifery graduate's perspective of the MFYP programme to identify which elements were important and supported them in their transition to confident practitioner. Method: Survey methodology was used to explore the views of the MFYP programme participants for the years 2007 to 2010. This paper provides the qualitative analysis of the open text responses in the survey and explores the support needs of graduate midwives during their first year of practice. Findings: A total of 180 midwives responded to the survey, with the majority also providing text responses to enable more in-depth understanding of their views. Graduate midwife participants were supported to consolidate practice skills and decision making, and to develop networks within the midwifery and wider health communities. An unexpected finding was that this support was provided by the whole midwifery community for all graduates, whether they were employed or self-employed. The mentoring relationship was also considered an important source of support. Conclusion: Graduate midwives are gaining wrap-around support from the whole midwifery community. This research, unlike any previous international or national research, demonstrates that midwives in New Zealand have taken on collective responsibility for supporting graduates. This suggests that this national programme has successfully fostered a culture of nurturing midwife graduates into their professional role.