bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Strategies for performance improvement in the Chinese chemical industry
Authors: Cheng Jeremy , Bennett David
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper sets out to explore the proposition that building competences is more effective than privatisation and restructuring to improve performance in the Chinese chemical industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Case study research has been undertaken in the Chinese chemical industry. The two case companies provide representative data on the factors under investigation. The case investigations that are described were complemented by a survey, the results of which have been reported elsewhere.

Findings

Results obtained from the research show that privatisation of Chinese state‐owned enterprises is not always an effective strategy to improve performance. In the case study companies, the development of core competences was more effective in enhancing performance.

Research limitations/implications

The research results are limited by the scope of the study, which was carried out in the Chinese chemical industry. They are also based on in‐depth case investigations in only two companies, but are supported by a large‐scale survey reported elsewhere. The results have implications for academic researchers interested in China's privatisation programme.

Practical implications

The research has practical implications for companies outside China that are considering collaborative operations with Chinese companies or investing in joint ventures. It also has implications for suppliers or customers of Chinese companies.

Originality/value

The paper is based on original case study investigations carried out in Chinese enterprises and is supported by a survey of representative companies in China's chemical sector. Value is derived from understanding the basis of improved performance in the companies studied.
Examining the appropriateness and effectiveness of technology transfer in China
Authors: Li‐Hua Richard
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper seeks to address the appropriateness and effectiveness of technology transfer based on the extant literature reviews and the structured survey data in Jiangsu, Henan and Xinjiang, China.

Design/methodology/approach

Structured survey followed by a correlation analysis with the CORREL function in Excel.

Findings

This paper describes a structured survey undertaken in Jiangsu Province, Henan Province and Xinjiang Autonomous Region, PRC, which examines a particular aspect of technology transfer within Sino‐foreign joint ventures. The findings suggested important implications for the relationship between technology transfer and economic development. Moreover, the identification of the peculiarities of both technology transfer and knowledge transfer has led to the thorough examination of appropriateness and effectiveness of technology transfer. This study is thought‐provoking in establishing the blockage of tacit knowledge transfer and suggests means by which tacit knowledge transfer could be improved. In addition, it also leads the way for the introduction of systematic processes that could be specifically incorporated into World Bank projects that involve international technology transfer as a major feature.

Originality/value

This paper addresses the appropriateness and effectiveness of technology transfer. The study identifies that, without knowledge transfer, technology transfer does not take place, as knowledge is the key to control technology as a whole. Hence, knowledge transfer is crucial in the process of technology transfer. Furthermore, the study identifies that technology transfer is not obtainable if there is too big a gap in terms of economic development between transferor and transferee. This has important implications for the economists in addressing economic problems both at macro and micro levels and the government policy‐makers in addressing the existing deficiencies in the process of technology transfer and assisting in development of more appropriate arrangements for the transfer of management knowledge.
Anatomy of a currency crisis: Turkey 2000‐2001
Authors: Ghoshal Animesh
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To examine in depth one of the currency crises proliferating in emerging markets during the last decade.

Design/methodology/approach

Three “generations” of currency crisis models are used to identify vulnerabilities facing the Turkish economy in the period 1999‐2000, leading up to the crisis. The IMF‐backed stabilization program, which attempted to use an active crawling peg as an inflation anchor, is reviewed critically. The specific events triggering the onset of the two crises in 2000 and 2001 are analyzed.

Findings

The crisis is seen to be a consequence of capital inflows, real currency appreciation, increasing external vulnerability, and the rapid exit of capital.

Research limitations/implications

It is concluded that it is a mistake for emerging economies to liberalize the financial system before implementing adequate supervisory measures, and to adopt a crawling peg which is not supported by fiscal reform.

Originality/value

The paper adds to the extensive examination of currency crises, and integrates macroeconomic and microeconomic approaches. The Turkish crisis can be viewed as a learning experience that policy makers in other developing nations could avoid by following the guidelines and conclusions given.
Corporate (and stakeholder) responsibility in Central and Eastern Europe
Authors: Elms Heather
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), offering a characterization, explanation, and critique. A recent European Commission conference on “CSR in an Enlarged Europe” suggests European interest in such an understanding, and other developments in the paper suggest a broader interest.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper utilizes local observations and analyses of secondary materials available from multinational and local companies in the region. Throughout, it offers examples of and perspectives on corporate and stakeholder responsibility in CEE. The paper suggests that CSR should be understood as corporate responsibility to stakeholders, rather than as corporate philanthropy, public relations, or marketing, and that limitations associated with corporate responsibility in CEE are associated with limitations in stakeholder responsibility. It proposes that in a market in which stakeholders place value on ethical behavior, corporate responsibility becomes endogenous. It identifies reasons for the lack of such stakeholder activism in CEE.

Findings

The paper's main conclusion is that without stakeholder responsibility, corporate responsibility will not develop in CEE. However, it also suggests and describes multiple examples of developments in the region that will contribute to both.

Originality/value

CEE provides an excellent arena in which to examine the development of both corporate and stakeholder responsibility. That examination provides insights on CSR elsewhere in the world. Additionally, CEE has been identified as a potential laboratory for excellence in CSR, but the paper identifies issues that must be addressed for responsibility to become a reality in the region.
Young consumers' perceptions of multinational firms and their acculturation channels towards western products in transition economies
Authors: Lee Jung‐Wan , Tai Simon
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This research aims to focus on the understanding of how young consumers (generation Y) in transition economies perceive western multinational firms, what factors influence their consumption preferences of western products, and what are communication channels that affect their purchasing intensions of western products and brands.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected by interviews of consumer focus groups for qualitative implications, and survey questionnaires were developed to obtain quantitative data for statistical analyses to provide additional insights during the period from September to November 2004 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Findings

The findings suggest that due to the influence of increased contacts with western cultures, people, and products through mass media (mainly TV) and marketing campaigns by multinational companies, most of the young consumers in transition economies have favorable attitudes towards western products and things, and they have high appreciation especially for global brands. However, product attributes could mean different things in different cultures.

Research limitations/implications

The results of this study are exploratory in nature and should be tested and reviewed with further studies. Because this study was conducted within a single segment, validation of these findings in other segments will require additional research. Different sample groups can be tested for validation purposes. Finally, this study was limited to the cogitative responses of consumers with limited investigation of actual consumer purchasing behavior.

Practical implications

The researchers suggest that marketing managers should seek to communicate and promote their brands and products as symbols of global consumer culture, and if possible, utilizing celebrity advertisements as marketing communication tools, especially to young consumers in transition economies. The objective would be to have consumers identify their brand and product as a sign of membership in the status‐seeking, achievement‐oriented and hedonic segment markets.

Originality/value

Few studies of generation Y consumers in transition economies have been carried out. In particular, the choice of Central Asia and the role of multinational companies are especially important.
Day‐of‐the‐week and other market anomalies in the Indian stock market
Authors: Raj Mahendra , Kumari Damini
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This paper attempts to investigate the presence of seasonal effects in the Indian stock market.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper tests the efficiency of the Indian stock market through a number of hypotheses. Week day effects, day‐of‐the‐week, weekend, January and April effects are examined by applying a variety of statistical techniques.

Findings

The results are interesting and contradict some of the findings found elsewhere. The negative Monday effect and the positive January effects are not found in India. Instead the Monday returns are positive while Tuesday returns are negative.

Research limitations/implications

The seasonal effects in the Indian market have been examined by the two major indices, the Bombay Stock Exchange Index and the National Stock Exchange Index. However, it must be remembered that the Indian economy became deregulated from 1991 and this may have had an impact on the markets.

Practical implications

This study indicates that the Indian stock market does not exhibit the usual seasonal anomalies such as Monday and January effect. The absence of Monday effect could be due to the settlement period in Indian market. That the tax year ends in March and December has no special significance may explain the non‐existence of January

Originality/value

Most of the studies on anomalies have dealt with the developed markets. The Indian market has its unique Badla financing, settlement period duration and trading regulations. The presence/absence of the anomalies may provide support to some of the hypotheses used to explain them.
Catch up of semiconductor latecomers in China
Authors: Chao Chen Der , Toyama Ryoko
Published: July 2006

Purpose

This study aims to discuss the development of the semiconductor industry in China and analyzes it through current studies about the catch up of latecomers in newly industrialized countries (NICs).

Design/methodology/approach

Use the case study approach to explore and discuss the development track of the Chinese semiconductor industry and the catch up experience of Huang Hong NEC in China.

Findings

The experience of NICs can explain the catch up of semiconductor latecomers in China. However, the role of government has changed along with the whole development of the China semiconductor industry; external pressure may influence the pace of development and the span of control of the China Government for future catch ups.

Research limitations/implications

The study focuses on one single case, which may not reflect the individual differences appeared in different firms in China.

Originality/value

This study contributes to our knowledge about the catch up of latecomer firms in an emerging market and verifies classical arguments about the experience of NICs through the experience of China's semiconductor industry.
A classification of export marketing problems of small and medium sized manufacturing firms in developing countries
Authors: Tesfom Goitom , Lutz Clemens
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The objective of the study is to derive a classification of export problems of SMEs from developing countries on the basis of a comprehensive literature study.

Design/methodology/approach

The study performed a comprehensive and systematic literature review of 40 articles published over a period of 25 years (1980‐2004). The export problems are classified into company barriers, product barriers, industry barriers, export market barriers and macro environment barriers.

Findings

The study provides a modified qualitative model that can be used by future researchers to further their research endeavour in export problems of firms from developing countries. It also identifies the similarities and differences of export problems in developed and developing countries.

Research limitations/implications

The lack of extensive research on export problems limited the number of articles reviewed in this study. Thus, the results of this paper should be considered as a stepping stone for future research.

Practical implications

The export problems identified in this study can be used to develop a questionnaire for a regional or global survey of SME's exporters from developing countries.

Originality/value

The paper provides an important reference for researchers who intend to study export problems in developing countries. Moreover, policy makers in developing countries can use it to identify export problems that firms face and provide timely and effective assistance to SMEs.
Combination resonance characteristics of laminated composite plates subjected to non‐uniform harmonic edge loading
Authors: Udar Ratnakar S. , Datta P. K.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To predict the occurrence of the combination resonances in parametrically excited, simply supported laminated composite plates in contrast to the simple resonances by using first‐order shear deformation lamination theory considering the effects of shear deformation and rotary inertia.

Design/methodology/approach

Finite element technique is applied to obtain the equilibrium equation of a plate. Modal transformation is applied to transform the equilibrium equation into a suitable form for the application of the method of multiple scales (MMS). The MMS is applied to obtain the boundaries of the simple and combination resonances.

Findings

The combination resonance zones contribute a considerable amount to the local instability region and the widths of combination resonance zones are comparable to those of the simple resonance zones for the loading of the small bandwidth at one end or for the concentrated edge loading.

Practical implications

Aircrafts, spacecrafts and many other structures such as ships, bridges, vehicles and offshore structures use the plate type elements, which are susceptible to dynamic instability.

Originality/value

It will assist the researchers of stability behavior of elastic systems.
Non‐equilibrium molecular dynamics simulation of the thermal conductivity of crystals film
Authors: Shao Baodong , Sun Zhaowei
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To give a new method to calculate the thermal conductivity of thin films which thickness is less than micro‐nanometer when non‐Fourier effect will appear in heat conduction and Fourier law is not applicable for calculating the thermal conductivity.

Design/methodology/approach

The Cattaneo equation based on the heat flow relaxation time approximation is used to calculate the thermal conductivity.

Findings

The results show that the thermal conductivity is not the thermophysical properties of material, but is the non‐linear function of temperature and film thickness when the dimension of film is less than micro‐nanometer.

Research limitations/implications

The application of this method is limited by little experimental data of heat flow relaxation time for materials other than Ar crystals.

Originality/value

The paper demonstrates how the thermal conductivity of Ar crystals film can be calculated by NEMD algorithm and considers the non‐Fourier effect in the simulation.
A study of solar‐powered, high‐altitude unmanned aerial vehicles
Authors: Baldock N. , Mokhtarzadeh‐Dehghan M.R.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Aims to present a methodology for analysing a solar‐electric, high‐altitude, long‐endurance, unmanned aircraft.

Design/methodology/approach

The study focuses on the aerodynamics, flight performance and power requirements of a heavier‐than‐air, solar‐electric, HALE UAV. The methodology is founded on using an analytical approach to determine the power required to undertake various flight manoeuvres. An analytical approach is also undertaken in determining the intensity of the solar radiation available to the aircraft. Finally to demonstrate the methodology, a HALE concept was generated and evaluated.

Findings

When using estimates of current solar‐electric propulsion and energy conversion efficiencies, the HALE concept was only able to sustain year round, level flight up to latitudes of 10°N.

Research limitations/implications

Further analysis needs to be undertaken into the effect of altitude on the intensity of solar radiation, which could be as much as 25 per cent higher at an altitude of 21.3 km (70,000 ft). Further study into this subject area may provide proof that sustained flight is possible at more northerly latitudes.

Originality/value

This paper provides a simple methodology for persons wishing to undertake an initial feasibility study of a solar‐electric HALE concept.
Free vibration analysis of a rotating Timoshenko beam by differential transform method
Authors: Kaya Metin O.
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To perform the flapwise bending vibration analysis of a rotating cantilever Timoshenko beam.

Design/methodology/approach

Kinetic and potential energy expressions are derived step by step. Hamiltonian approach is used to obtain the governing equations of motion. Differential transform method (DTM) is applied to solve these equations.

Findings

It is observed that the ρIΩ2θ term which is ignored by many researchers and which becomes more important as the rotational speed parameter increases must be included in the formulation.

Originality/value

Kinetic and potential energy expressions for rotating Timoshenko beams are derived clearly step by step. It is the first time, for the best of author's knowledge, that DTM has been applied to the blade type rotating Timoshenko beams.
A feature‐assisted matching algorithm for lunar rover
Authors: Hou Jian , Qi Naiming , Zhang Hong
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To present a stereo matching algorithm which satisfies the need of visual navigation on outdoor natural terrain for lunar rover or other mobile robots.

Design/methodology/approach

A feature‐assisted matching algorithm is presented to generate dense and accurate disparity map of natural terrain. Multi‐feature matching strategy produces reliable matching results for edge points. Disparity monotony constraint is derived and other geometrical constraints are introduced. With these constraints the edge‐matching results are used to limit the search region in area‐matching. As a result the algorithm produces dense disparity maps with fairly high accuracy and demonstrates advantages over straightforward area‐matching algorithm in improving matching accuracy.

Findings

With the help of several constraints, the feature‐assisted matching algorithm performs well in the matching of stereo image pairs of natural terrain.

Research limitations/implications

The algorithm focus on improving the accuracy of stereo image pairs matching of natural terrain and computation complexity is not an important designing factor. Only with the assistance of special hardware or other technique can the algorithm be used for real‐time navigation.

Practical implications

The algorithm is able to produce dense disparity map of natural terrain with rather high accuracy and can be used for the navigation of lunar rover or other outdoor mobile robots.

Originality/value

The paper provides a new approach to produce accurate and dense disparity map of natural terrain.
Enhanced method for single‐antenna GPS‐based attitude determination
Authors: Park Sungmin , Kee Changdon
Published: July 2006

Purpose

To make the single‐antenna attitude method more useful as a back‐up or fault diagnostic system than was targeted originally.

Design/methodology/approach

The enhancement incorporates information from the GPS satellite constellation and aircraft dynamic model. The visibility of GPS satellites affects the accuracy of the aircraft's volocity that is the main source of single‐antenna attitude. In addition, to use the aircraft dynamic model is natural because single‐antenna attitude is for exclusive use of aircraft. These are considered and implemented as a covariance matrix or process model of Kalman filters. The enhanced performances are verified by an aircraft nonlinear simulation.

Findings

The proposed method estimates more accurate volocity and unpiased single‐antenna attitude by using satellite constellation information and the aircraft dynamics. Moreover, the implemented system has a structure that combines other navigation sensors easily.

Research limitations/implications

It would be more desirable to perform further researches; sensor integration, stability against wind disturbance, and aircraft model uncertainty, etc.

Practical implications

A useful attitude sensor for a back‐up attitude system at low cost on manned aircraft or a main attitude system on unmanned aircraft that are sensitive to the mass or size of payload.

Originality/value

This paper has been the first to promote the potential of single‐antenna attitude and with only information that can be easily obtained.
Customer relationship management: Barnard's foundations
Authors: Novicevic Milorad , Sloan Hugh , Duke Allison , Holmes Erin , Breland Jacob
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to delve into Barnard's works to construct foundations of customer relationship management (CRM).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper identifies Barnard's insights on customer participation using a post‐analytic method and uses them as inputs to the analysis of current CRM practices.

Findings

As an outcome of the analysis, the paper identifies the practices that are likely to lead to more effective participatory behavior of customers.

Research limitations/implications

Examining CRM from a historical perspective can open promising avenues for future research.

Practical implications

CRM programs should incorporate the practice of customer relations management in order to provide managers with the knowledge base required for appropriate decision making.

Originality/value

By placing contemporary discussions of CRM in its seminal historical context, scholars can draw upon a wealth of historical inputs to advance the study of how collaborations with customers can be nurtured effectively.
The impact of institutions on management accounting changes at the Hudson's Bay Company, 1670 to 2005
Authors: Spraakman Gary
Published: July 2006

Purpose

Aims to examine the four different management accounting systems or sets that existed at the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) during the 1670‐2005 period with Burns and Scapens' institution‐based framework of management accounting change.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study was used with comprehensive archival evidence coming mainly from the Hudson's Bay Company Archives (HBCA) and the HBC's private archive for 1670‐1970 and from interviews with retired and existing senior managers at the HBC for 1970‐2005.

Findings

The findings indicated that Burns and Scapens' framework was helpful. Institutions did prevent management accounting changes, even when seriously needed. Under certain conditions, institutions do not resist management accounting changes. Six suggestions are provided for extending and refining Burns and Scapens framework.

Research limitations/implications

Although the 325 years of evidence was uniquely rich, it was still a case study of a single firm.

Practical implications

Management accounting is slow to change because of institutions.

Originality/value

Management accounting change is very much path‐dependent. Changes occur in management accounting because of major external changes such as competition and modernization. Also, management accounting changes come from the introduction of taken‐for‐granted external techniques such as budgeting, capital budgeting, and planning.
The interaction amongst reform drivers in governmental accounting changes
Authors: Marwata  , Alam Manzurul
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the process of accounting change in Indonesian local government. It sets to explore how various reform drivers with different interests and preferences compete and cooperate in the process of governmental accounting reform policy formulation in a developing country context.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts a qualitative case study research involving semi‐structured interviews with the key informants within the institutional environment under which the local government organizations operate. This paper looks at the introduction of new accounting systems as a result of public sector reform in Indonesia local government by focusing on how the policy of reform was formulated. A review of related documents and regulations, as well as interviews with key informants, was conducted to gather information on accounting change.

Findings

The process of governmental accounting reform is characterized by rivalries and alliances amongst reform drivers. This confirms the political nature of the process of accounting policy formulation found in the extant literature of accounting policy setting.

Research limitations/implications

This is a case study research within the institutional settings of Indonesian government bureaucracy. Any generalization of the conclusions from this study should undertaken with care even though there are similarities between Indonesian and other developing countries as institutions operate differently in different countries.

Originality/value

As the vast majority of studies in the extant literature have focused, mainly, on accounting reform in the context of developed countries, this paper makes important contribution by highlighting accounting changes in Indonesian local government.
Performance evaluation of three small firms' financing schemes in Tanzania
Authors: Satta Tadeo Andrew
Published: July 2006

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to shed light on performance evaluation of small firms' financing schemes with a view to assessing their potential for improving small firms' access to finance.

Design/methodology/approach

An integrated methodology based on five commonly used methodologies is formulated to evaluate the performance of the three small firms financing schemes. This integrated methodology makes use of a number of selected performance indicators.

Findings

The findings reveal strong performance in favour of Kilimanjaro Cooperative Bank (KCB) compared to the other two schemes. Furthermore, KCB financing scheme is demonstrated to be an important actor in the financial sector particularly rural parts of the country where mainstream financial services are generally not available.

Research limitations/implications

Further research on performance evaluation of small firms' financing schemes could considerably extend the stock of knowledge in this area. It would be interesting for example to know what might be the findings if more financing schemes are included in a replication study given the ongoing growth in the number of these schemes in Tanzania. Coverage of a longer period, which allows for the use of more data for the same three financing schemes, might also produce a more robust set of results. Future research may also wish to focus on the development of a methodology that contains fewer shortcomings in assessing the performance of small firms financing schemes.

Practical implications

The findings reported provide evidence on the possibility of improving small firms' access to finance in Tanzania through replication of KCB scheme/approach to other areas of the country where the environment is similar to Kilimanjaro region. The same might be applicable in other parts of Sub‐Saharan Africa.

Originality/value

The findings reported on in this paper consolidate the stock of knowledge on performance evaluation of small firms' financing schemes. The possibility that replication of a scheme could improve small firms' access to finance, provide policy makers with a new dimension towards poverty reduction. Finally the use of accounting and organisational/institutional indicators as a measure of performance evaluation strengthens the role accounting could play in the future in developing a standardised methodology for assessing the performance of small firms' financing schemes.
Children and Poverty: Issues in Contemporary Research
Authors: Huston Aletha C. , McLoyd Vonnie C. , Coll Cynthia Garcia
Published: July 2006

The state‐of‐the‐art research in this volume is based on complex, multidimensional conceptions of poverty. Current research goes beyond description to emphasize analysis of processes by which effects occur and variations in effects associated with race, gender, and ethnicity. Child care, school, neighborhood, and community are studied as well as family contexts. The child outcomes investigated include both intellectual development and socioemotional functioning. It is multidisciplinary, using a broad range of analytic frameworks and research methods from economics, sociology, health, psychology, and other disciplines. In this introduction, the overall research trends are described, and new questions for future research are identified.
Some Practical Guidelines for Measuring Youth's Race/Ethnicity and Socioeconomic Status
Authors: Entwislea Doris R. , Astone Nan Marie
Published: July 2006

This short paper provides some guidelines to help researchers in child and adolescent development procure the racial/ethnic and socioeconomic information that will best determine how to assign youngsters to ethnic or SES groups. These guidelines are necessarily general. They will need to be adapted thoughtfully by each investigator because, as is generally true, how to define a measure depends intimately on the nature of the research problem. In preparing these guidelines, we have taken into account current practice at the Bureau of the Census, research traditions developed by sociologists who have mainly been concerned with adults, and challenges posed by the changing character of the U.S. population and its family forms. We are extremely grateful to the many social scientists listed below who have contributed so generously to our thinking, but especially to Robert Hauser. Naturally, any errors or opacities that remain are our responsibility.
Children: Ethnic and Political Violence
Authors: Ladd Gary W. , Cairns Ed
Published: July 2006

Violence stemming from ethnic and political tensions is a problem of increasing proportions throughout the world, and many indicators show that large numbers of children are directly or indirectly exposed to war, political repression, torture, and terrorism. There is growing evidence to suggest that children are at risk under these conditions, and that the consequences of growing up amid danger, chaos, and deprivation can be severe. The articles contained in this special section were assembled to foster greater awareness of this important topic among the readers of Child Development and, hopefully, stimulate new research on ethnic and political violence in many of the disciplines that are represented within the Society for Research in Child Development.
L.A. Stories: Aggression in Preschoolers' Spontaneous Narratives after the Riots of 1992
Authors: Farver Jo Ann M. , Frosch Dominick L.
Published: July 2006

64 inner‐city preschoolers' spontaneous story narratives that were examined directly after the Los Angeles riots of 1992 were compared with narratives told by a matched comparison group of 128 children living in other U.S. cities who had no direct exposure to the riots. Narratives were coded for length, complexity, overall thematic content, character behavior in the stories, number of aggressive words, and story outcome. Children were given language and pre‐academic skill assessments, their classroom behavior was observed, and teachers rated children's social competence. Results indicated that there were significant group differences in the story narratives. Children who were directly exposed to the riots told more narratives with aggressive thematic content, aggressive words, unfriendly figures who engaged in physical aggression, and mastery of situations with aggression than did the comparison group of children who had no direct exposure to the riots. The findings suggest that children's narratives reflected their exposure to the violence and their expression of that experience.
Not Just “Ghosts in the Nursery”:1 Contemporaneous Intergenerational Relationships and Parenting in Young African‐American Families
Authors: Wakschlag Lauren S. , Chase‐Lansdale P. Lindsay , Brooks‐Gunn Jeanne
Published: July 2006

The association of the mother‐grandmother relationship with parenting of preschoolers was examined in a sample of 96 African‐American multigenerational families. Mother‐grandmother and parent‐child interactions were assessed at home with videotaped problem‐solving tasks. The Scale of Intergenerational Relationship Quality (SIRQ), a global observational coding system, was developed to assess the quality of the mother‐grandmother relationship via observational ratings of mothers' and grandmothers' discussion of conflict. It yielded 4 factors: Emotional Closeness (connectedness), Positive Affect (upbeat tone), Grandmother Directness (demandingness and clarity), and Individuation (balance of autonomy and mutuality). Regression analyses controlling for socioeco‐nomic background variables showed that SIRQ factors, particularly Individuation, were consistently related to mothers' parenting. Relationship effects varied when interacted with age and coresidence. The importance of a multigenerational, contextual perspective for research and intervention with young African‐American mothers is discussed.
Adult Perception of Emotion Intensity in Human Infant Cries: Effects of Infant Age and Cry Acoustics
Authors: Leger Daniel W. , Thompson Ross A. , Merritt Jacquelyn A. , Benz Joseph J.
Published: July 2006

The relation between adult perception of emotion intensity in the cries of 1‐ and 6‐month‐old infants and the acoustic characteristics of the cries was examined. In the first study, adults who were inexperienced in child care rated 40 cries on 3 emotion intensity scales: anger, fear, and distress. The cries of 6‐month‐olds were rated as being significantly more intense. Different acoustic variables accounted for emotion intensity ratings for the 2 infant ages. Peak amplitude and noisiness of the cry predicted adult judgments of intensity ratings of 1‐month‐olds' cries; a measure of amplitude ratio (in 2 frequency bands) was the best predictor of intensity ratings of 6‐month‐olds' cries. In the second study, parents of infants rated the same cries on the same scales. They also rated the older infants' cries as being more intense. The 2 adult groups did not differ on their ratings, and a regression equation derived from one adult group predicted the other adult group's rating of the same infant age better than it predicted its own ratings for the other infant age. Infant age, and its associated acoustic features, seems to be a more important determinant of adults' perception of emotion intensity than are such adult characteristics as gender or infant‐care experience.
Recognition of the Mother's Face by Six‐Month‐Old Infants: A Neurobehavioral Study
Authors: de Haan Michelle , Nelson Charles A.
Published: July 2006

Event‐related potentials (ERPs) were recorded from 6‐month‐olds as each watched pictures of the mother's face and a stranger's face. The ERPs differed for the 2 faces, but the pattern of neural activity elicited depended on whether the mother and stranger looked different (Experiment I,n= 22) or alike (Experiment 3,n= 22). In contrast, when different 6‐month‐olds were each shown 1 of these 44 pairs, of face their ERPs did not differ between the 2 faces (Experiment 2,n= 22, and Experiment4,n= 22). In a visual preference test of recognition, infants showed no evidence of recognizing the mother's face (Experiment 5,n= 32). Together, these results suggest that infants are able to recognize their mothers' faces but (1) the neural processes accompanying recognition depend on the difficulty with which mother can be discriminated from stranger and (2) under the conditions investigated in this study, FRPs are a more sensitive measure of recognition than is looking time.
Marital Conflict and Adolescent Distress: The Role of Adolescent Awareness
Authors: Harold Gordon T. , Conger Rand D.
Published: July 2006

The present longitudinal study (1989–1991) of seventh‐grade adolescents (173 boys, 197 girls; M age = 12.7 in 1989) living in the rural Midwest examined the influence of children's awareness of marital conflict and reported level of parental hostility on symptoms of adolescent distress. The theoretical model guiding the research indirectly linked marital conflict to adolescent perceptions of parents' hostility through the mediating effects of parents and observers' report of hostility toward the adolescent and through adolescent awareness of the frequency of interparental conflict. Controlling for earlier levels of psychological distress, we hypothesized a direct path between adolescent report of parent hostility and adolescent maladjustment. Maximum likelihood estimation of the proposed model showed that marital conflict was significantly related to parents' and observers' reports of parent hostility toward the adolescent and to adolescent awareness of conflict frequency. Both parent hostility and adolescent awareness of the frequency of marital conflicts were significantly related to adolescent perceptions of parent hostility. When controlled for earlier distress, adolescent report of parent hostility significantly predicted the later internalizing and externalizing symptoms of these teenagers. The model predicted externalizing problems for boys but not girls. Otherwise, there were no gender differences in the postulated causal processes.
The Academic Achievement of Adolescents from Immigrant Families: The Role of Family Background, Attitudes, and Behavior
Authors: Fuligni Andrew J.
Published: July 2006

The goal of this study was to determine the relative impact of family background, parental attitudes, peer support, and adolescents' won attitudes and behaviors on the academic achievement of students from immigrant families. Approximately 1,100 adolescents with Latino, East Asian, Filipino, and European backgrounds reported on their own academic attitudes and behaviors as well as those of their parents and peers. In addition, students' course grades were obtained from their official school records. Results indicated that first and second generation students received higher grades in mathematics and English than their peers from native families. Only a small portion of their success could be attributed to their socioeconomic background; a more significant correlate of their achievement was a strong emphasis on education that was shared by the students, their parents, and their peers. These demographic and psychosocial factors were also important in understanding the variation in academic performance among the immigrant students themselves.
Developmental Growth Curves of Preschool Children with Vision Impairments.
Authors: Hatton Deborah D. , Bailey Donald B. , Burchinaland Margaret R. , Ferrell Kay Alicyn
Published: July 2006

In this study, we used growth curve analysis based on 566 assessments with the Battelle Developmental Inventory (BDI) to describe the development of 186 children (ages 12–73 months) with vision impairments. Developmental patterns varied markedly among the children, with part of that variability related to co‐occurring disabilities and amount of functional vision. Children with co‐occurring disabilities—in this case, mental retardation or developmental delay (MR/DD)‐ had lower developmental age scores overall and slower rates of growth. Visual function of 20/800 or worse was associated with significantly lower developmental ages across time on all domains measured by the BDI (personal ‐social, adaptive, motor, cognition, and communication) and with slower rates of growth in the personal‐social and motor domains. Amount of functional vision and MR/DD did not interact, indicating that these 2 factors had additive, not multiplicative, effects on development during early childhood.
Chinese and Canadian Children's Evaluations of Lying and Truth Telling: Similarities and Dfferences in the Context of pro‐and Antisocial Behaviors
Authors: Lee Kang , Cameron Catherine Ann , Xu Fen , And Genyao Fu , Board Julie
Published: July 2006

The present study compared Chinese and Canadian children's moral evaluations of lie and truth telling in situations involving pro‐ and antisocial behaviors. Seven‐, 9‐, and 11‐year‐old Chinese and canadian children were presented 4 brief stories. Two stories involved a child who intentionally carried out a good deed, and the other2 stories involved a child who intentionally carried out a bad deed. When story characters were questioned by a teacher as to who had committed the deed, they either lied or told the truth. Children were asked to evaluate the story characters' deeds and their verbal statements. Overall, Chinese children rated truth telling less positively and lie telling more positively in prosocial settings than Canadian children, indicating that the emphasis on self‐effacement and modesty in Chinese culture overrides Chinese children's evaluations of lying in some situations. Both Chinese and canadian children rated trugh telling positively and lie telling negatively in antisocial situations, reflecting the emphasis in both cultures on the distinction between misdeed and truth/lie telling. The findings of the present study suggest that, in the realm of lying and truth telling, a close relation between sociocultural practices and moral judgment exists. Specific social and cultural norms have an impact on children's developing moral judgments, which in turn, are modified by age and experience in a particular culture.
Preschoolers' Understanding of the Link between Thinking and Feeling: Cognitive Cuing and Emotional Change
Authors: Lagattuta Kristin Hansen , Wellman Henry M. , Flavell John H.
Published: July 2006

In 3 studies we investigated 3‐ through 6‐year‐olds' knowledge of thinking and feeling by examining their understanding of how emotions can change when memories of past sad events are cued by objects in the current environment. In Study 1, 48 4‐, 5‐, and 6‐year‐olds were presented with 4 illustrated stories in which focal characters experience minor sad events. Later, each story character encounters a visual cue that is related to one of his or her previous sad experiences. Children were told that the character felt sad and they were asked to explain why. Study 1 suggested considerable competence as well as substantial development in the years between 4 and 6 in the understandings of the influence of mental activity on emotions. Studies 2 and 3 more systematically explored preschoolers' understanding of cognitive cuing and emotional change with different types of situations and cues. Across these 2 studies, 108 3‐, 4‐, and 5‐year‐olds listened to illustrated stories that featured story characters who each experienced a sad event and who were later exposed to a related cue. Children were not only asked to explain why the characters suddenly felt sad, but in some stories, they were also asked to predict and explain how another character, who was never at the past sad event, would feel. Results of studies 2 and 3 showed an initial understanding of cognitive cuing and emotion in some children as young as 3, replicated and extended the evidence for significant developmental changes in that understanding during the preschool years, and revealed that the strength and consistency of preschoolers' knowledge of cognitive cuing and emotion was affected by whether cues were the same, or only similar to, parts of the earlier events.
Classroom Peer Acceptance, Friendship, and Victimization: Destinct Relation Systems That Contribute Uniquely to Children's School Adjustment?
Authors: Ladd Gary W. , Kochenderfer Becky J. , Coleman Cynthia C.
Published: July 2006

The proposition that relationships make differential (i.e., unique, redundant, contingent) contributions to adjustment was examined by investigating the linkages between children's participation in different types of peer relationships (i.e., friendship, peer acceptance, peer victimazation) and their adjustment to school. Relationship measure were gathered for 5‐to 6‐ year‐old children(105 males, 95 females) twice during kindergaten (i.e., fall and spring) nad were correlated with adjustment indicators at each time of assessment and used to predict changes in school adjstment over time. Examination of the relative associations between the relationship measures and children's adjustment revealed of both unshared (i.e., unique) and shared (i.e., redundant) linkages, depending on the form of adjustment examined.These findings suggest that adjustment may be influenced by the diverse experiences (i.e., provisions) that children encounter in different forms of relationship, and that certain types of relationships may have greater or lesser adaptive significance depending on the adjustment outcome examined
Sensitivity and Attachment: A Meta‐Analysis on Parental Antecedents of Infant Attachment
Authors: De Wolff Marianne S. , van Ijzendoorn Marinus H.
Published: July 2006

This meta‐analysis included 66 studies (N= 4, 176) on parental antecedents of attachment security. The question addressed was whether maternal sensitivity is associated with infant attachment security, and what the strength of this relation is. It was hypothesized that studies more similar to Ainsworth's Baltimore study (Ainsworth, Blehar, Waters, & Wall, 1978) would show stronger associations than studies diverging from this pioneering study. To create conceptually homogeneous sets of studies, experts divided the studies into 9 groups with similar constructs and measures of parenting. For each domain, a meta‐analysis was performed to describe the central tendency, variability, and relevant moderators. After correction for attenuation, the 21 studies (N= 1,099) in which the Strange Situation procedure in nonclinical samples was used, as well as preceeding or concurrent observational criteria, the association is moderately strong. It is concluded that in normal settings sensitivity is an important but not exclusive condition of attachment security. Several other dimensions of parenting are identified as playing an equally important role. In attachment theory, a move to the contextual level is required to interpret the complex transactions between context and sensitivity in less stable and more stressful settings, and to pay more attention to nonshared environmental influences.
Sensitivity and Attachment: Next Steps for Developmentalists
Authors: van den Boom Dymphna C.
Published: July 2006

This commentary focuses on rethinking the definition of sensitivity and addresses the issue of developmental change in sensitivity. Both topics will be discussed with regard to the clinical implications of attachment.