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Staff Member Biography

Daniel Wight

Daniel Wightposition: Programme Leaderprogramme: Sexual Health and Families

Contact Details

email:
phone: 0141 357 7508

Address

MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit
4 Lilybank Gardens
Glasgow G12 8RZ

Biography and Interests

Daniel studied Social Anthropology at Edinburgh University, involving four months fieldwork in rural Jamaica, and graduated in 1981. He later carried out a community study in central Scotland, focussing on working class culture, unemployment, consumption and masculinity. This became the topic of his PhD (Edinburgh University, 1987). He subsequently contributed to several applied social science projects in the fields of education, community development and nursing. In 1990 he joined the MRC Medical Sociology Unit to conduct a qualitative study of young Glaswegian men's sexual behaviour, focussing on social influences, negotiation of sexual encounters and the impact of HIV. This led to work with an inter-disciplinary team, from 1993-96, to develop a theoretically based teacher-delivered sex education programme (SHARE), in collaboration with the Health Education Board for Scotland now Health Scotland . Daniel led the evaluation of this programme, employing a randomised trial with 25 schools, complemented by a detailed process evaluation. Since 1997 Daniel has been involved in sexual behaviour research and the evaluation of a complex sexual health programme in Tanzania, in collaboration with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine . From 2001 he has led the Unit's partnership in a Department for International Development Knowledge Programme, and now a Research Consortium Programme, on HIV and sexual health in developing countries. Current research interests include young people's lifestyles, parenting, perceptions of risk, HIV/AIDS in developing countries, the development and evaluation of interventions, and developing social science research capacity in Africa.

Publications

Buston K, Parkes A, Thomson H, Wight D, Fenton C. Parenting interventions for male young offenders: a review of evidence on what works. Journal of Adolescence (in press).

Wight D, Fullerton D. A review of interventions with parents to promote the sexual health of their children. Journal of Adolescent Health (in press).

Buston K, Wight D. Young fathers in prison: helping them parent. In: Simpson C, ed. Scotland: the best place in the world to bring up children? A collection of essays about parenting in Scotland. Edinburgh: Parenting across Scotland, 2012:128-30.

Henderson M, Smith D, Elliott L, Nixon C, Wight D. Vulnerable young people in alternative education settings: their sexual health needs, experience and use of sex education and sexual health services. Glasgow: MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, Occasional Paper no. 21, 2011.

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Hunt K, Henderson M, Wight D, Sargent JD. Exposure to smoking in films and own smoking amongst Scottish adolescents: a cross-sectional study. Thorax 2011; 66:866-74.

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Nurse K, Wight D. Development assistance and research capacity strengthening: the commissioning of health research in East Africa. Journal of East African Studies 2011; 5:233-51.

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Parkes A, Henderson M, Wight D, Nixon C. Is parenting associated with teenagers’ early sexual risk-taking, autonomy and relationship with sexual partner? Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health 2011; 43:30-40.

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Parkes A, Strange V, Wight D, Bonell C, Copas A, Henderson M, Buston K, Stephenson J, Johnson A, Allen E, Hart G. Comparison of teenagers' early same-sex and heterosexual behavior: UK data from the SHARE and RIPPLE studies. Journal of Adolescent Health 2011; 48:27-35.

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Parkes A, Wight D. Growing Up in Scotland - Parenting and Children's Health; Research Findings No.3/2011. Edinburgh: Scottish Government, 2011.

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Parkes A, Wight D. Growing up in Scotland: Parenting and children's health, Technical Appendix. Edinburgh: Scottish Government, 2011.

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Parkes A, Wight D. Growing up in Scotland: Parenting and children's health. Edinburgh: Scottish Government, 2011.

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Plummer ML, Wight D. Young people's lives and sexual relationships in rural Africa. Findings from a large qualitative study in Tanzania. Lanham: Lexington Books, 2011.

Wight D. The effectiveness of school based sex education: What do rigorous evaluations in Britain tell us? Education and Health 2011; 29:67-73.

Buston K, Wight D. Self-reported STI testing behaviour amongst incarcerated young male offenders: findings from a qualitative study. Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care 2010; 36:7-11.

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Henderson M, Wight D, Nixon C, Hart G. Retaining young people in a longitudinal sexual health survey: a randomised controlled trial of strategies to maintain participation. BMC Medical Research Methodology 2010; 10:9.

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Parkes A, Wight D, Henderson M, West P. Does early sexual debut reduce teenagers' participation in tertiary education? Evidence from the SHARE longitudinal study. Journal of Adolescence 2010; 33:741-54 .

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Phase Two Programme Evaluation Team, External Evaluation Team (Including Henderson M. & Wight D & Nixon C). The Final Report of Healthy Respect Phase 2. Edinburgh: NHS Health Scotland, 2010.

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Plummer ML, Wamoyi J, Shigongo ZS, Mshana G, Obasi AN, Ross DA, Wight D. “Seek any means, and keep it your secret”: Young women’s attempts to control their reproduction through contraceptive and fertility practices in rural Tanzania. Tanzania Journal of Health Research 2010; 12:178-93.

Remes P, Renju J, Nyalali K, Benedict J, Medard L, Kimaryo M, Changalucha J, Obasi A, Wight D. Dusty discos & dangerous desires: community perceptions of adolescent sexual and reproductive health risks and the potential role of parents in interventions in rural Mwanza, Tanzania. Culture, Health and Sexuality 2010; 12:279-92.

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Wamoyi J, Wight D, Plummer M, Mshana G, Ross D. Transactional sex amongst young people in rural northern Tanzania: an ethnography of young women's motivations and negotiation. Reproductive Health 2010; 7:2.

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Bond L, Leyland AH, Macintyre S, Wight D. Evaluation of a youth development programme demonstrates the need for the randomised roll-out of community interventions (rapid response). British Medical Journal 2009:July 16th.

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Parkes A, Wight D, Henderson M, Stephenson J, Strange V. Contraceptive method at first sexual intercourse and subsequent pregnancy risk: findings from a secondary analysis of sixteen year-old girls from the RIPPLE and SHARE studies. Journal of Adolescent Health 2009; 44:55-63.

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Prost A, Griffiths CJ, Anderson J, Wight D, Hart GJ. Feasibility and acceptability of offering rapid HIV tests to patients registering with primary care in London (UK): a pilot study. Sexually Transmitted Infections 2009; 85:326-9.

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Williamson LM, Parkes A, Wight D, Petticrew M, Hart GJ. Limits to modern contraceptive use among young women in developing countries: a systematic review of qualitative research. Reproductive Health 2009; 6:3.

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Henderson M, Butcher I, Wight D, Williamson L, Raab G. What explains between-school differences in rates of sexual experience? BMC Public Health 2008; 8:53.
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Henderson M, Ecob R, Wight D, Abraham C. What explains between-school differences in rates of smoking? BMC Public Health 2008:8;218.
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Phase Two Programme Evaluation Team and External Evaluation Team (Including Henderson M. & Wight D & Nixon C. & Parkes A. Evaluation of Healthy Respect Phase 2: Interim Report. Edinburgh: NHS Health Scotland, 2008.

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Phase Two Programme Evaluation Team, External Evaluation Team (Including Henderson M, Wight D, Nixon C). Evaluation of Healthy Respect phase 2: Interim report, executive summary. Edinburgh: NHS Health Scotland, 2008.
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Plummer M, Wamoyi J, Nyalali K, Mshana G, Shigongo ZS, Ross D, Wight D. Aborting and suspending pregnancy in rural Tanzania:  An ethnography of young people’s beliefs and practices. Studies in Family Planning 2008; 39:281-92.

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Weiss HA, Plummer M, Changalucha J, Mshana G, Shigongo ZS, Todd J, Wight D, Hayes RJ, Ross D. Circumcision among adolescent boys in rural northwestern Tanzania. Tropical Medicine & International Health 2008; 13:1054-61.

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Wight D, Parkes A, Strange V, Allen E, Bonell C, Henderson M. The quality of young people’s heterosexual relationships: a longitudinal analysis of factors shaping subjective experience. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health 2008; 40:226-37.

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Wight D. 'Most of our social scientists are not institution based… they are there for hire.’ Research consultancies and social science capacity for health research in East Africa. Social Science & Medicine 2008; 66:110-6.

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Wight D. Theoretical bases for teacher- and peer-delivered sexual health promotion. Health Education 2008; 108:10-28.

Henderson M, Wight D, Raab G, Abraham C, Parkes A, Scott S, Hart G. The impact of a theoretically based sex education programme (SHARE) delivered by teachers on NHS registered conceptions and terminations: final results of cluster randomised trial. British Medical Journal 2007; 334:133-135.

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Parkes A, Wight D, Henderson M, Hart G. Explaining associations between adolescent substance use and condom use. Journal of Adolescent Health 2007; 40:180e1-18.

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Plummer M, Wight D, Obasi A, Wamoyi J, Mshana G, Todd J, Mazige B, Makokha M, Hayes R, Ross D. A process evaluation of a school-based adolescent sexual health intervention in rural Tanzania: The MEMA kwa Vijana programme. Health Education Research: Theory and Practice 2007; 22:500-512.

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Plummer M, Wight D, Wamoyi J, Nyalali K, Ingall K, Mshana G, Shigongo Z, Obasi A. Are schools a good setting for adolescent sexual health promotion in rural Africa? A qualitative assessment from Tanzania. Health Education Research: Theory and Practice 2007; 22:483-499.

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Ross DA, Changalucha J, Obasi AIN, Todd J, Plummer ML, Cleophas-Mazige B, Anemona A, Everett D, Weiss HA, Mabey DC, Grosskurth H, Hayes RJ, Balira R, Wight D, Gavyole A, Makokha M, Mosha F, Terris-Prestholt F, Parry J. Biological and behavioural impact of an adolescent sexual health intervention in Tanzania: a community-randomised trial. AIDS 2007; 21:1943-55.
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Wight D, Stephenson J. School-based sex education: evaluating teacher-delivered (SHARE) and peer-delivered (RIPPLE) programmes. In: Baker P, Guthrie K, Hutchinson C, Kane R, Wellings K, eds. Teenage Pregnancy and Reproductive Health. London: RCOG Press, 2007:263-274.

Buston K, Wight D. The salience and utility of school sex education to young men. Sex Education 2006; 6:135-150.

Mshana G, Plummer M, Wamoyi J, Salamba Z, Ross D, Wight D. "She was bewitched and caught an illness similar to AIDS": AIDS and sexually transmitted infection causation beliefs in rural Mwanza, Tanzania. Culture, Health and Sexuality 2006; 8:45-58.

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Obasi A, Cleophas BF, Ross DA, Chima KL, Mmassey G, Gavyole A, Plummer M, Makokha M, Mujaya B, Todd J, Wight D, Grosskurth H, Mabey DC, Hayes R. Rationale and design of the MEMA kwa Vijana adolescent and reproductive health intervention in Mwanza Region, Tanzania. AIDS Care 2006; 18:311-322.

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Plummer M, Mshana G, Wamoyi J, Salamba Z, Hayes R, Ross D, Wight D. "The man who believed he had AIDS was cured": AIDS and sexually-transmitted infection treatment-seeking behaviour in rural Mwanza, Tanzania. AIDS Care 2006; 18:460-466.

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Plummer M, Wight D, Wamoyi J, Mshana G, Hayes R, Ross D. "Farming with your hoe in a sack": Condom attitudes, access and use in rural Tanzania. Studies in Family Planning 2006; 37:29-40.

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Ross D, Wight D, Dowsett G, Buve' A, Obasi A. Assessing evidence on the effectiveness of HIV prevention interventions: A methodological approach. Geneva: World Health Organisation, 2006.

Ross DA, Wight D, Dowsett G, Buvé A, Obasi AIN. The weight of evidence: a method for assessing the strength of evidence on the effectiveness of HIV prevention interventions among young people. Preventing HIV/AIDS in Young People: a systematic review of the evidence from developing countries: WHO Technical Report Series 938, 2006:79-102.

Wight D, Plummer M, Mshana G, Wamoyi J, Shigongo Z, Ross D. Contradictory sexual norms and expectations for young people in rural northern Tanzania. Social Science and Medicine 2006; 62:987-997.

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Wight D, Williamson L, Henderson M. Parental influences on young people's sexual behaviour: a longitudinal analysis. Journal of Adolescence 2006; 29:473-494.

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Wimbush E, Harper H, Wight D, Gruer L, Lowther M, Fraser S, Gordon J. Evidence, policy and practice: developing collaborative approaches in Scotland. In: Killoran A, Swann C, Kelly M, eds. Public Health Evidence: Tackling Health Inequalities. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006:201-16.

Hayes R, Changalucha J, Ross D, Gavyole A, Todd J, Obasi A, Plummer M, Wight D, Mabey D, Grosskurth H. The MEMA Kwa Vijana project: Design of a community randomised trial of an innovative adolescent sexual health intervention in rural Tanzania. Contemporary Clinical Trials 2005; 26:430-442.

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Parkes A, Henderson M, Wight D. Do sexual health services encourage teenagers to use condoms? A longitudinal study. Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care 2005; 31:271-280.

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Lees S, Wight D, Allen C, Desmond N, Chiduo B, Vallely A, Der G, Knight L, Hayes R, Ross D. The reliability of coital diaries in collecting sexual behaviour data in a microbicides trial feasibility study in Mwanza, Tanzania. HIV/AIDS and STI News 2005; 9:3-4.
Wight D. Impediments to developing social science research capacity in East Africa. Glasgow: MRC Social & Public Health Sciences Unit, Occasional Paper 14, 2005.
Wight D. Peer-led sex education did not reduce the proportion of pupils having unprotected first intercourse before age 16: A review. Evidence-based Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2005; 7:72-73.
Wimbush E, Harper H, Wight D, Gruer L, Lowther M, Fraser S, Gordon J. Evidence, policy and practice: Developing collaborative approaches in Scotland. Evidence & Policy 2005; 1:391-407.

Buston K, Wight D. Pupils' participation in sex education lessons: Understanding variation across classes'. Sex Education: Sexuality, Society and Learning 2004; 4:285-301.

Parkes A, Wight D, Henderson M. Teenagers' use of sexual health services: perceived need, knowledge and ability to access. Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care 2004; 30:217-224.

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Plummer M, Ross D, Wight D, Changalucha J, Mshana G, Wamoyi J, Tood J, Anemona A, Mosha F, Obasi A, Hayes R. 'A bit more truthful': The validity of adolescent sexual behaviour data collected in rurual northern Tanzania using five methods. Sexually Transmitted Infections 2004; 80:49-56.

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Plummer M, Wight D, Ross D, Balira R, Anemona A, Todd J, Salamba Z, Obasi A, Grosskurth H, Changalucha J, Hayes R. 'Asking semi-literate adolescents about sexual behaviour: The validity of assisted self-completion questionnaire (ASCQ) data in rural Tanzania'. Tropical Medicine and International Health 2004; 9:737-754.

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Wight D, Dixon H. 'SHARE: The rationale, principles and content of a research-based teacher-led sex education programme. Education and Health 2004; 22:3-7.

Wight D, Henderson M. The diversity of young people's heterosexual behaviour. In: Duffy M, Burtney E, eds. Young People and Sexual Health: social, political, and Individual contexts. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004:15-33.

Henderson M, Wight D, Raab G. Methodology for balanced randomisation: the SHARE trial. Glasgow: MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, Working Paper 11, 2003.

Ross D, Wight D. What is the role of randomised trials in assessing sexual health interventions: developing countries perspective. In: Stephenson J, Imrie J, Bonell C, eds. Effective Sexual Health Interventions: issues in experimental evaluation. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003:35-48.

Wight D, Buston K. Meeting needs but not changing goals: evaluation of inservice teacher training for sex education. Oxford Review of Education 2003; 29:521-543.

Wight D, Obasi A. Unpacking the Black Box: the importance of process data to explain outcomes. In: Stephenson J, Imrie J, Bonell C, eds. Effective Sexual Health Interventions: Issues in Experimental Evaluation. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003:151-166.

Abraham C, Buston K, Hart G, Henderson M, Wight D, Raab G, Scott S. Overview from SHARE sex education project: Health Education Board for Scotland, 2002.

Buston K, Wight D, Hart G, Scott S. Implementation of a teacher-delivered sex education programme: obstacles and facilitating factors. Health Education Research Theory and Practice 2002; 17:59-72.

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Buston K, Wight D, Hart G. Inside the sex education classroom: the importance of context in engaging pupils. Culture, Health and Sexuality 2002; 4:317-335.

Buston K, Wight D. The salience and utility of school sex education to young women. Sex Education 2002; 2:233-250.

Henderson M, Wight D, Raab G, Abraham C, Buston K, Hart G, Scott S. Heterosexual risk behaviour among young teenagers in Scotland. Journal of Adolescence 2002; 25:483-494.

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Wight D, Raab G, Henderson M, Abraham C, Buston K, Hart G, Scott S. The limits of teacher-delivered sex education: interim behavioural outcomes from a randomised trial. British Medical Journal 2002; 324:1430-1433.

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Wight D. Sex Education in Schools. Health and Community Care, 2002; 3:44.

Buston K, Wight D, Scott S. Difficulty and diversity: the context and practice of sex education. British Journal of Sociology of Education 2001; 22:353-368.

Abraham C, Wight D, Scott S. Developing the SHARE sex education programme: from theory to classroom implementation. In: Rutter D, Quine L, eds. Changing Health Behaviour: Research and Practice with Social Cognition Models. Buckingham: Open University Press, 2001:1-35.
Mshana G, Wamoyi J, Plummer M, Wight D, Ross D. Sexual health-related traditional beliefs among young people in Northwestern Tanzania. International Journal of STD & AIDS 2001; 12 (Supplement 2):177.
Wamoyi J, Mshana G, Plummer M, Wight D, Ross D. Sexual acts among young people in Northwestern Tanzania. International Journal of STDs & AIDS 2001; 12:178-179.

Wight D, Henderson M, Raab G, Abraham C, Buston K, Scott S, Hart G. Regretted sexual intercourse among young teenagers in Scotland: a cross-sectional survey. British Medical Journal 2000; 320:1243-1244.

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Wight D, Abraham C. From psycho-social theory to sustainable classroom practice: developing a research-based teacher-delivered sex education programme. Health Education Research: Theory and Practice 2000; 15:25-38.
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Wight D, West P. Poor recall, misunderstandings and embarrassment: interpreting discrepancies in young men's reported heterosexual behaviour. Culture, Health and Sexuality 1999; 1:55-78.
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Wight D. Cultural factors in young heterosexual men's perception of HIV risk. Sociology of Health and Illness 1999; 21:735-758.
Wight D. Limits to empowerment-based sex education. Health Education 1999; 6:233-243.
Abraham C, Sheeran P, Wight D. Designing research-based materials to promote safer sex amongst young people. Psychology, Health and Medicine 1998; 3:127-131.
Wight D, Abraham C, Scott S. Towards a Psycho-Social Theoretical Framework for Sexual Health Promotion. Health Education Research: Theory and Practice 1998; 13:317-330.
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Wight D, Buston K, Henderson M. The SHARE Project: A rigorous evaluation of teacher-led sex education. Sex Education Matters, 1998; 16:10-11.
Wight D. Unhealthy Societies. Journal of Applied and Community Social Psychology 1998; 8.
Wight D. Does sex education make a difference? Health Education 1997:52-56.
Wight D. School-based sex education: Vancouver Conference Review. AIDS Care 1997; 9:66-69.
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Abraham C, Wight D. Developing HIV-preventive behavioural interventions for young people in Scotland. International Journal of STD and AIDS 1996; 7:39-42.
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Dixon H, Wight D, Abraham C, Scott S. Share: Sexual Health and Relationships - Safe, Happy and Responsible. Edinburgh: Health Education Board for Scotland, 1996.
Hart GJ, Wight D. Ethical issues in setting up a randomised controlled trial of health education for children: the case of teacher-led sex education in Scotland. In: Oakley A, Roberts H, eds. Evaluating Social Interventions. London: Barnardos, 1996:66-81.
Wight D, Scott S, Abraham C, Raab G, Hart GJ. Does sex education affect behaviour? The AIDS Letter 1996; 54.
Wight D, Scott S. The development and piloting of SHARE, a teacher-led sex education programme for S3 and S4: Health Education Board for Scotland, 1996.
Wight D. Beyond the predatory male: the diversity of young Glaswegian men's discourses to describe heterosexual relationships. In: Adkins L, Merchant V, eds. Sexualising the Social: Power and the Organisation of Sexuality. London: MacMillan, 1996.
Wight D. Does sex education make a difference? MRC News, 1996; 70:29-32.
Wight D. Tempering ideology with pragmatism: research-based sex education. Venereology 1996; 9:158-161.
Green G, Kitzinger J, Macaulay L, Wight D. Desperately seeking sperm: informal screening procedures. British Journal of Midwifery 1995; 3:646-659.
Macaulay L, Kitzinger J, Green G, Wight D. Unconventional conceptions and HIV. AIDS Care 1995; 7:261-276.
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Wight D. Young People, Health and Family Life. Sociology of Health and Illness 1995; 17.
Wight D, Scott S. Mandates and constraints on sex education in the East of Scotland: Report to Health Education Board for Scotland, 1994.
Wight D. Assimilating 'safer sex': young heterosexual men's understanding of 'safer sex'. In: Aggleton P, Davies P, Hart GJ, eds. AIDS: Foundations for the Future. London: Falmer Press, 1994:97-109.
Wight D. Boys' thoughts and talk about sex in a working class locality of Glasgow. Sociological Review 1994; 42:703-737.
Gilloran A, McGlew T, McKee K, Robertson A, Wight D. Measuring the quality of care in psychogeriatric wards. Journal of Advanced Nursing Vol. 1993.
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Wight D, Barnard MA. The limits to participant observation in HIV/AIDS research. Practising Anthropology 1993; 15:66-69.
Wight D. Workers not Wasters: Masculine Respectability, Consumption and Unemployment in Central Scotland. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1993.
Wight D. A re-assessment of health education on HIV/AIDS for young heterosexuals. Health Education Research: Theory and Practice 1993; 8:473-483.
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Wight D. Constraints or Cognition? Young men and safer heterosexual sex. In: Aggleton P, Davies P, Hart GJ, eds. AIDS: The Second Decade. London: Falmer Press, 1993:41-60.
Wight D. Impediments to safer heterosexual sex: a review of research with young people. AIDS Care 1992; 4:11-21.
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McMichael P, Lynch B, Wight D. Building bridges into work: the role of the community worker. Harlow: Longman, 1990.
Wight D. The impact of HIV/AIDS on young people's heterosexual behaviour in Britain: a literature review. Glasgow: MRC Medical Sociology Unit, Working Paper 20, 1990.