research in practice

Described by the World Health Organisation's International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition:

Conduct disorders are characterised by a repetitive and persistent pattern of dissocial, aggressive or defiant conduct. Such behaviour should amount to major violations of age-appropriate social expectations. It should therefore be more severe than ordinary childish mischief or adolescent rebilliousness and should imply an enduring pattern of behaviour (six months or longer). Features of conduct disorder can also be symptomatic of other psychiatric conditions, in which case the underlying diagnosis should be preferred.

Examples of the behaviours on which the diagnosis is based include excessive levels of fighting or bullying, cruelty to other people or animals, severe destructiveness to property, fire-setting, stealing, repeated lying, truancy from school and running away from home, unusually frequent and severe temper tantrums, and disobedience. Any one of these behaviours, if marked, is sufficient for the diagnosis, but isolated dissocial acts are not.

A method that combines the results of several studies to determine the overall effect of the relationship between variables. This is usually done through statistical analysis to produce overall average effect sizes. The method allows for an objective appraisal of the evidence on a particular research issue. However, problems with the individual studies included will affect the results.

Partnerships for Schools is responsible for delivering the government's secondary school renewal programme, Building Schools for the Future (BSF)

In 2006 PfS also took on responsibility for delivering the Academies programme.

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