bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Digital Divide in East Asia
Authors: Sidorenko Alexandra , Findlay Christopher
Published: March 2003

The concept of a ‘digital divide’—inequality in access to modern information and communication technologies (ICTs) between industrialised and developing countries, and between urban and rural populations—has attracted much attention from policymakers, aid organisations, media and the general public. This paper places discussion of the digital divide in a broader economic context, linking it with the theory of economic growth and technological change. The network effects of diffusion of the Internet are related to the possibility of leap‐frogging by latecomers. This is seen as a ‘digital opportunity’ presented to developing countries by the ‘new economy’. This paper discusses the appropriate policy environment for bridging the digital divide, and concludes that the East Asian region has much to gain from the complementarities of its economies, their openness to trade in ICT products, and policy cooperation.
Crisis Vulnerability
Authors: Warr Peter
Published: March 2003

Earlier attempts to explain the East Asian crisis of 1997 have overemphasised the importance of contagion, missing the central role of vulnerability. According to conventional accounts, Thailand experienced a financial panic due to such factors as corrupt government and corporate practices, inadequately supervised banks and venal currency speculators. Confidence in the Thai currency and banking system collapsed, provoking capital flight, a float of the Thai currency and a drastic decline in its value. This undermined confidence in the prospects of other East Asian countries, also provoking crises there. This article clarifies the concept of vulnerability and demonstrates its relevance by showing the long‐term development of vulnerability in each of the three ‘IMF bail‐out’ countries: Thailand, Indonesia and Korea. By 1996 all three were vulnerable to a currency crisis. Contagion provided the short‐term trigger for the crisis but was not its underlying cause. The policy lesson is to avoid vulnerability, not to attempt to avoid contagion.
Interview Costs in the Secretary Problem
Authors: Yeo Geoffrey F.
Published: March 2003

The effect of interview costs on the optimal selection strategy and on the chance of success in secretary problems with order k selection rules, both for a finite number of applicants and in the limiting case, is examined. Probabilistic reasoning is used and numerical examples given.
Theory and Methods: Estimation of Stigmatized Characteristics of a Hidden Gang in a Finite Population
Authors: Singh Sarjinder , Horn Stephen , Chowdhury Sadeq
Published: March 2003

This paper considers the problem of estimating the size and mean value of a stigmatized quantitative character of a hidden gang in a finite population. The proposed method may be applied to solve domestic problems in a particular country or across countries: for example, a government may be interested in estimating the average income of victims or perpetrators of domestic violence. The proposed method is based on the technique introduced by Warner (1965) to estimate the proportion of a sensitive attribute in a finite population without threatening the privacy of the respondents. Expressions for the bias and variance of the proposed estimators are given, to a first order of approximation. Circumstances in which the method can be applied are studied and illustrated using a numerical example.
Applications: Optimal Experiments for Time‐Dependent Mineral Processes
Authors: Meyer Denny , Napier‐Munn Tim
Published: March 2003

Time dependence is an important characteristic of mineral processing plant data. This paper finds that the time dependence in the recovery data for an experiment at Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL) (Napier‐Munn, 1995) can be described by an autoregressive‐one process. The paper investigates the optimum form of experimental design for such data. Two intuitive approaches for the design of experiments involving time‐dependent data have been disproved recently. Cheng & Steinberg (1991) showed that in some circumstances systematic experiments are preferable to replicated randomized block designs, and Saunders & Eccleston (1992) showed that rather than sampling at a frequency which ensures independent data, in some circumstances sampling intervals should be as small as possible. A third issue, raised in this paper, concerns the use of standard statistical tests when the data are serially correlated. It is shown that the simple paired t‐test, suitably modified for time dependence, is appropriate and easily adapted to allow for a covariate and a sequential analysis. The results are illustrated using the BCL data and are already being used to design major experiments involving another mineral process.
Applications: Modelling rugby league data viabivariate negative binomial regression
Authors: Lee Alan
Published: March 2003

This paper uses a new bivariate negative binomial distribution to model scores in the 1996 Australian Rugby League competition. First, scores are modelled using the home ground advantage but ignoring the actual teams playing. Then a bivariate negative binomial regression model is introduced that takes into account the offensive and defensive capacities of each team. Finally, the 1996 season is simulated using the latter model to determine whether or not Manly did indeed deserve to win the competition.
Theory & Methods: Estimation for Type II domain of attraction based on the W statistic
Authors: Hasofer A.M. , Li S.
Published: March 2003

The paper presents an estimating equation approach to the estimation of high quantiles of a distribution in the Type II domain of attraction based on the k largest order statistics. The estimators are shown to be consistent. The method fits neatly into a general scheme for estimating high quantiles irrespective of the domain of attraction, which includes Wang’s approach to optimally choosing k.
Applications: Estimating the Relative Density of Snapper in and around a Marine Reserve Using a Log‐Linear Mixed‐Effects Model
Authors: Millar Russell B. , Willis Trevor J.
Published: March 2003

Angling from small recreational fishing boats was used as a sampling method to quantify the relative density of snapper (Pagrus auratus) in six areas within the Cape Rodney‐Okakari Point Marine Reserve (New Zealand) and four areas adjacent to the reserve. Penalized quasi‐likelihood was used to fit a log‐linear mixed‐effects model having area and date as fixed effects and boat as a random effect. Simulation and first‐order bias correction formulae were employed to assess the validity of the estimates of the area effects. The bias correction is known to be unsuitable for general use because it typically over‐estimatesbias, and this was observed here. However, it was qualitatively useful for indicating the direction of bias and for indicating when estimators were approximately unbiased. The parameter of primary interest was the ratio of snapper density in the marine reserve versus snapper density outside the reserve, and the estimator of this parameter was first‐order asymptotically unbiased. This ratio of snapper densities was estimated to be 11 (±3).
Permutation Tests for Linear Models
Authors: Anderson Marti J. , Robinson John
Published: March 2003

Several approximate permutation tests have been proposed for tests of partial regression coefficients in a linear model based on sample partial correlations. This paper begins with an explanation and notation for an exact test. It then compares the distributions of the test statistics under the various permutation methods proposed, and shows that the partial correlations under permutation are asymptotically jointly normal with means 0 and variances 1. The method of Freedman & Lane (1983) is found to have asymptotic correlation 1 with the exact test, and the other methods are found to have smaller correlations with this test. Under local alternatives the critical values of all the approximate permutation tests converge to the same constant, so they all have the same asymptotic power. Simulations demonstrate these theoretical results.
Theory & Methods: Weighted Wilcoxon Estimates for Autoregression
Authors: Terpstra Jeffrey T. , McKean Joseph W. , Naranjo Joshua D.
Published: March 2003

This paper explores the class of weighted Wilcoxon (WW) estimates in the context of autoregressive parameter estimation, giving special attention to three sub‐classes of so‐called WW‐estimates. When the weights are constant, the estimate is equivalent to using Jaeckel’s estimate with Wilcoxon scores. The paper presents asymptotic linearity properties for the three sub‐classes of WW‐estimates. These properties imply that the estimates are asymptotically normal at rate n½. Tests of hypotheses as well as standard errors for confidence interval procedures can be based on such results. Furthermore, the estimates can be computed with an L1 regression routine once the weights have been calculated. Examples and a Monte Carlo study over innovation and additive outlier models suggest that WW‐estimates can be both robust and highly efficient.
Theory & Methods: Bayesian variable selection in logistic regression: predicting company earnings direction
Authors: Gerlach Richard , Bird Ron , Hall Anthony
Published: March 2003

This paper presents a Bayesian technique for the estimation of a logistic regression model including variable selection. As in Ou & Penman (1989), the model is used to predict the direction of company earnings, one year ahead, from a large set of accounting variables from financial statements. To estimate the model, the paper presents a Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling scheme that includes the variable selection technique of Smith & Kohn (1996) and the non‐Gaussian estimation method of Mira & Tierney (2001). The technique is applied to data for companies in the United States and Australia. The results obtained compare favourably to the technique used by Ou & Penman (1989) for both regions.
Minimax Rates for Estimating the Variance and its Derivatives in Non–Parametric Regression
Authors: Munk Axel , Ruymgaart Frits
Published: March 2003

In this paper the van Trees inequality is applied to obtain lower bounds for the quadratic risk of estimators for the variance function and its derivatives in non–parametric regression models. This approach yields a much simpler proof compared to previously applied methods for minimax rates. Furthermore, the informative properties of the van Trees inequality reveal why the optimal rates for estimating the variance are not affected by the smoothness of the signal g. A Fourier series estimator is constructed which achieves the optimal rates. Finally, a second–order correction is derived which suggests that the initial estimator of g must be undersmoothed for the estimation of the variance.
A Preface to the Economic Analysis of Disease Transmission
Authors: Gersovitz Mark
Published: March 2003

Infectious diseases are transmitted from person to person or from vectors such as mosquitos to people. The uninfected take precautions against these diseases and the infected try to mitigate their symptoms and to get cured. In doing so, people may weigh the costs of illness, prevention and therapy. They may also (altruistically) weigh the costs of people whom their own behavior puts at risk, for instance their sexual partners, or they may act entirely selfishly. Some of these behaviours may therefore lead to externalities and a corresponding rationale for government interventions. A recent literature uses economics to investigate the implications of rational choice by individuals about their response to infectious diseases. It analyzes decisions about prevention, vaccination, testing, therapies and government intervention. This paper reviews this literature with an emphasis on examples from the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Treaties and Intergovernmental Relations in Australia: Political Implications of the Toonen Case
Authors: Gelber Katharine
Published: March 2003

This article explores the political implications of the Toonen case for studies of Australian federalism. The case involved a finding by the United Nations Human Rights Committee that Tasmania’s anti‐gay laws breached Australia’s human rights obligations, and the subsequent passing of the Human Rights (Sexual Conduct) Act 1994 (Cth) designed to override sections of Tasmania’s criminal law.

The Commonwealth’s use of the external affairs power to ratify international treaties is outlined, and some questions regarding Commonwealth and state responsibilities and areas of concern flowing from treaty ratification are examined. The Privacy Act is discussed, and the character of intergovernmental relations and cooperation in this instance analysed.

The case raises the question of whether the Commonwealth’s capacity to use and expand its powers is subject to effective checks and balances, or is limiting or eroding the powers of the states to the extent that the division and sharing of powers no longer represents that of a federal system. The article concludes that Australian federalism is dynamic and flexible, and reaffirms that a differentiation between the process and outcome of intergovernmental relations will enhance our understanding of its machinations.
Liability, Responsibility and Blame: British Ransom Victims in the Mediterranean Periphery, 1860–81
Authors: Blinkhorn Martin
Published: March 2003

Between 1865 and 1881 there occurred in southern Europe and the Balkans several cases of kidnapping in which British subjects were seized and held to ransom by brigands. Most ended peacefully (though expensively) with the negotiation and handing over of a substantial ransom, usually in gold, and the subsequent freeing of the hostage(s); one case, that of the so‐called ‘Marathon murders’ of 1870 in Greece, ended in tragedy. Quite apart from the problems these incidents created for the victims and their families, some kidnappings also raised important questions for the governments involved, notably who was to blame for such incidents, who was formally responsible for them, and — crucially — who was ultimately liable for the cost involved? These questions and the responses of British governments to them, culminating in 1881 with the enunciation by Gladstone's administration of a clear policy on such matters, form the core of this article.
Government Enterprises & Industrial Relations in Late Qing China
Authors: Pong David
Published: March 2003

This study examines the development of labour organisation and industrial action among workers in government enterprises in the late Qing (1860‐1912). Because these were the largest industrial enterprises using the most advanced machinery, one expects that the workers in them would play the leading role in labour organisation. Further, during the centuries‐long gestation period, the period of embryonic capitalism, workers in traditional enterprises had already developed a tradition of industrial action. Yet this tradition of protest did not appear to have contributed much to labour activism in the modern government works. Quite the contrary, it was in private industries, whether Chinese‐ or foreign‐owned, that we find a higher level of labour organisation and activism. This is an unexpected discovery, for which an explanation is attempted.
Judicial Interaction on the Latham Court: A Quantitative Study of Voting Patterns on the High Court 1935‐1950
Authors: Smyth Russell
Published: March 2003

This article examines voting patterns in two sub‐periods of the Latham Court (1935‐1940 and 1940‐1950), where voting is defined as a decision (and associated judgements) by the Justices participating in the disposition of a particular case. There are two main findings. First, from 1935 to 1940 there was a clear four‐Justice core consisting of Justices Sir George Rich, Sir Owen Dixon, Herbert Vere Evatt and Sir Edward McTiernan. Over this period, both Chief Justice Sir John Latham and Justice Sir Hayden Starke were outside the core. Second, with the retirement of Justice Evatt, and appointment of Justice Sir Dudley Williams in 1940, the decision‐making structure of the Court changed. From 1940 to 1950 there was a loose five‐Justice core consisting of Chief Justice Latham, Justices Rich, Dixon, McTiernan and Williams with Justice Starke on the outside. The article argues that observed voting patterns can be explained in terms of personal relationships and ideological differences between the Justices.
The Politics of Regulation: A Comparative‐Historical Study of Occupational Health and Safety Regulation in Australia and the United States
Authors: Clark Lindie
Published: March 2003

Australia and the United States adopt radically different approaches to occupational health and safety regulation, even though their ultimate objectives in this policy area are effectively the same. The US regulatory style is more centralised, legalistic and adversarial, in contrast to Australia’s state‐based and more consensual approach. This difference in regulatory approach dates from the 1970s: for the 100 years prior to that, workplace health and safety regulation in both countries took a similar legal, institutional and administrative form. The reasons for the contemporary regulatory divergence lie in the distinct national configurations of state and societal institutions in the two countries and the different constellation of political actors involved in regulatory design and reform.
Partnership and Politicisation: New Relations for Senior Executives in the NT
Authors: Hawkes David
Published: March 2003

Despite substantial evidence to the contrary, claims that the increasing emphasis on performance‐based contracts and other changes in tenure arrangements for Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and other senior executives will inevitably lead to ‘politicisation’ of the public sector persist. Those claims were particularly shrill during discussions of the new Commonwealth Public Services Bill in 1997 and have resurfaced in more recent commentaries. This paper argues that the claims have not been substantiated after more than a decade of experience in other jurisdictions; and that, in fact, the relationship between governments and their senior employees is more robust and honest, and therefore more appropriate to the times, than the critics would have us believe. While the argument is based on the Northern Territory experience, its application in other jurisdictions is also addressed.
A New ‘New Liberalism’? – Directions in Government and Public Policy in Britain
Authors: Smith R. F. I.
Published: March 2003

Books reviewed in this article:

David Marquand and Anthony Seldon (eds.), The Ideas that Shaped Post‐War Britain

Geoff Mulgan (ed.), Life After Politics – New Thinking for the Twenty‐first Century
Clarifying the Status of Policy
Authors: Edwards Geoff
Published: March 2003

This essay examines ‘What is a policy?’ from the viewpoint of a public servant trying to make sense of the maze of official statements, procedures, guidelines and various other expressions of intra‐governmental opinion that might bear upon a discretionary decision. It seeks to clarify the meaning and status of policy, to explain how to determine cases which are not covered by explicit statements of policy, and to decide how much relative weight to accord to various policy documents and circumstances. Although it does not set out to rehash the old debate about the distinction between politics and administration (often misunderstood as a distinction between policy and administration), it finds Woodrow Wilson's 1886 aphorism on this subject a good place to start.
Federalism and Social Policy: The Case of Domestic Violence
Authors: Chappell Louise
Published: March 2003

This paper challenges long standing critiques of federalism that suggest it stymies the development of progressive social policies. Through a case study of national domestic violence policies in Australia, this paper argues that not only can the curses of federalism – especially conservatism, duplication and overlap – be surmounted, but even more positively, under the right condition, federalism can enhance opportunities for the development of progressive social policy. While the Howard government has adopted a conservative approach to domestic violence, federal structures have made it possible to maintain an alternative discourse at the state level. Moreover, national policy coordination machinery has opened the path for policy learning and innovation between governments in this social policy area.
Officially Compulsory Advice — A New Policy Option?
Authors: Reddaway Lawrence
Published: March 2003

This paper presents a new concept in how some aspects of government policy can be delivered and the author is unaware of it having been utilised anywhere before. The author, whose field of competence is building regulation, has named it ‘Officially Compulsory Advice’ and he sees building legislation as a first possible arena for its use. This paper also explores the factors that may make it attractive in two other possible arenas and, therefore, Officially Compulsory Advice may be a useful technique in extending the efficacy of policy implementation. Specialists in other arenas may well discover further possible uses for the concept. Is Officially Compulsory Advice a tautology? Yes, no and maybe. The concept combines elements from these three words: Advice is something that the recipient is free to accept or reject; Compulsory means that the recipient is obliged to receive the advice; and Officially means that legislation has required certain defined classes of people to receive certain advice. This paper also demonstrates how these apparently disparate elements are combined to create a concept that is cohesive, viable, practical and potentially useful in the real world.
Probity Auditing: Keeping the Bureaucrats Honest?
Authors: Shead Bob
Published: March 2003

The use of probity audits has flourished in the public sector in recent years. This growth has been accompanied by the development of probity guidelines by a number of central agencies and infrastructure providers across Australia. However, these guidelines tend to focus on competitive procurement processes and ignore broader factors applying to other processes in which probity audits are also used. Further, as there are no professional standards governing a probity audit (unlike most other types of audit), it is important that agencies have a clear understanding of their benefits and limitations and of the skills and experience required of a probity auditor before they commission one.
Value, Obligation and the Asymmetry Question
Authors: Tooley Michael
Published: March 2003

Is there a prima facie obligation to produce additional individuals whose lives would be worth living? In his paper ‘Is it Good to Make Happy People?’, Stuart Rachels argues not only that there is, but, also, that precisely as much weight should be assigned to the quality of life that would be enjoyed by such potential persons, if they were to be actualized, as to the quality of life enjoyed by actually existing persons. In response, I shall argue, first, that Rachels’ view is exposed to very serious objections, and secondly, that his arguments in support of his position involve a crucial assumption, which cannot be sustained, concerning the relation between, on the one hand, propositions about good‐making and bad‐making properties, and, on the other, propositions about right‐making and wrong‐making ones. I shall then argue that there is a very plausible position concerning the conditions under which an action can be morally wrong which entails the following asymmetry: there is a prima facie obligation not to bring into existence individuals whose lives are not worth living, but there is no corresponding obligation to create additional individuals whose lives would be worth living.
Is There a Case in Favour of Predictive Genetic Testing in Young Children?
Authors: Robertson Stephen , Savulescu Julian
Published: March 2003

Genetic testing technology has brought the ability to predict the onset of diseases many years before symptoms appear and the use of such predictive testing is now widespread. The medical fraternity has met the application of this practice to children with caution. The justification for their predominantly prohibitive stance has revolved around the lack of a readily identifiable medical benefit in the face of potential psychological harms to the child. We argue that predictive testing can have important psychosocial benefits and that the interests of the child have been construed too narrowly. Proponents of a prohibitive stance also argue that testing in childhood breaches the child's future right to make the same decision as an autonomous adult and to maintain this information as confidential. We argue that predictive genetic testing of children is not necessarily a violation of the child's future autonomy. Indeed, in some cases, such testing may facilitate the development of autonomy in the maturing child. We argue that parents are generally best placed to judge what is in their own child's overall interests, and that a parental request for testing after appropriate genetic counselling should be respected unless there is clear evidence that the child will be harmed in an overall sense as a result of testing.
Equipose and International Human‐Subjects Research
Authors: London Alex John
Published: March 2003

This paper examines the role of equipoise in evaluating international research. It distinguishes two possible formulations of the equipoise requirement that license very different evaluations of international research proposals. The interpretation that adopts a narrow criterion of similarity between clinical contexts has played an important role in one recent controversy, but it suffers from a number of problems. An alternative interpretation that adopts a broader criterion of similarity does a better job of avoiding both exploitation of the brute fact of social deprivation and the exploitation of needy populations for the benefit of more well‐off populations. It also holds out the promise of reconciling the need to find interventions that can be employed in developing world contexts with the cluster of moral values that must constrain the way such research is carried out.
Ethical and Legal Issues in Xenotransplantation
Authors: Melo Helena , Brandão Cristina , Rego Guilhermina , Nunes Rui
Published: March 2003

In most western countries, there is a ‘human organ shortage’ with waiting lists for the performance of transplantation. In a recent report of the UNOS Ethics Committee it is stated that there are approximately 31,000 potential recipients on waiting lists, but only one fourth of potential donors gave their specific consent.

Xenotransplantation – defined as the transplantation of animal cells, tissues or organs into human beings – is associated with particular ethical dilemmas, namely the problems of efficiency and safety of this medical procedure. The objective of this study is to analyse the ethical dilemmas in xenotransplantation with the background of a personal view of moral life. Also, xenotransplantation will be evaluated as far as the legal regulation of transplantation is concerned. In particular, we will consider patients rights in accordance with existing laws on organ and tissue transplantation, animal research and clinical trials.
Focus on Practice: ‘It Would Have Been Bad’: The Development of Historical Imagination and Empathy in a Group of Secondary Aged Pupils with Severe Learning Difficulties
Authors: Turner Andrew
Published: March 2003

Andrew Turner, who teaches in a school for pupils with severe learning difficulties, considers the teaching of history by teachers of such pupils and suggests that the skills of imaginative reconstruction and empathy are relatively neglected areas, particularly when dealing with distant historical periods. Recent research with mainstream primary pupils illustrates the possible parallels and the article gives details of a small‐scale study of one group of Key Stage 3 pupils.
The Gulliford lecture: Special needs in the twenty‐first century: where we’ve been and where we’re going
Authors: Dyson Alan
Published: March 2003

Alan Dyson, who last year gave the Gulliford lecture on which this article is based, takes a critical look at the relationship between ‘inclusion’ and ‘social inclusion’. He bases his analysis on a review of the history of special needs education and on some of the thinking which emerges from his work on a current research project, Understanding and developing inclusive practices in schools. This project is funded by ESRC (L 1392 51005) as part of the Teaching and Learning Research Programme and has been undertaken in collaboration with colleagues at Newcastle, Christchurch University College Canterbury and the University of Manchester. The later parts of this article refer to this project, although the views expressed are Alan Dyson's rather than those of the research team as a whole.
The Use and Effectiveness of Palmtop Computers in Education
Authors: Robertson S. , Calder J. , Fung P. , Jones A. , O’Shea T.
Published: March 2003

This paper reports how palmtop computers were used in an English secondary school over the course of a year. In particular, it concentrates on the perceived effectiveness of such computers in an educational setting, and on how teachers’ and students’ knowledge and use of “content‐free” applications increased over that time. The benefits and potential problems with this new technology are discussed along with the consequences it has for classroom and school organisation.
Flexibility as a Key Construct in European Training: Experiences from the TeleScopia Project
Authors: Collis Betty , Moonen Jef , Vingerhoets Jolanda
Published: March 2003

Increasing the options available to the learner as to when, how, where, with what materials, and what he or she learns is becoming increasingly important, not only for personal and educational reasons but also for economic motivations. Increasing the flexibility of training for persons already in the work force is seen as particularly appropriate, and telematics applications are expected to have particular value in facilitating more‐flexible course delivery in training and workplace contexts. In this analysis we consider the concept “flexibility of training” in more detail, decomposing it into a series of, sometimes incompatible, dimensions and presenting some propositions as to likelihood of the different flexibility dimensions becoming implemented in practice. The study of flexibility relative to trans‐national tele‐learning is illustrated through its central role in the research component of the TeleScopia Project, sponsored by the Commission of the European Community.
Information Handling Skills, Cognition and New Technologies
Authors: Chambers Phil
Published: March 2003

Few would dispute the efficacy of multimedia technology and the world wide web in promoting declarative knowledge or the acquisition of facts. It is the argument of this paper however that, apart from assisting a learner in “knowing that”, these technologies are underestimated in their capacity to facilitate intellectual skills—procedural knowledge or “knowing how”. Via examples from children employing information handling skills with a CD‐ROM, this paper attempts to illustrate the ways in which new technologies support and enhance a range of skills associated with deep level processing and meaningful learning such as metacognition, problem solving and critical thinking.
Distance education via the Internet: the student experience
Authors: Carswell Linda , Thomas Pete , Petre Marian , Price Blaine , Richards Mike
Published: March 2003

This is the second in a series of papers that describes the use of the Internet on a distance‐taught undergraduate Computer Science course (Thomas et al., 1998). This paper examines students' experience of a large‐scale trial in which students were taught using electronic communication exclusively. The paper compares the constitution and experiences of a group of Internet students to those of conventional distance learning students on the same course. Learning styles, background questionnaires, and learning outcomes were used in the comparison of the two groups. The study reveals comparable learning outcomes with no discrimination in grade as the result of using different communication media. The student experience is reported, highlighting the main gains and issues of using the Internet as a communication medium in distance education. This paper also shows that using the Internet in this context can provide students with a worthwhile experience.
Matching/mismatching revisited: an empirical study of learning and teaching styles
Authors: Ford Nigel , Chen Sherry Y
Published: March 2003

This paper presents results of a research project that explored the relationship between matching and mismatching instructional presentation style (breadth‐first and depth‐first) with students' cognitive style (field‐dependence/‐independence) in a computer‐based learning environment. 73 postgraduate students were asked to create Web pages using HTML, using instructional materials that were either matched or mismatched with their cognitive styles. Significant differences in performance on a multiple choice test of conceptual knowledge were found for students learning in matched and mismatched conditions. Performance in matched conditions was significantly superior to that in mismatched conditions. However, significant effects were found for gender, matching mainly affecting male students. Performance on a practical test of Web page creation was not linked to matching or mismatching, but was linked to an interaction between gender and instructional presentation style. The findings provide support for the notion that matching and mismatching can have significant effects on learning outcomes. The paper concludes with suggestions for further research.
A modern and interactive approach to learning engineering mathematics
Authors: Croft Anthony , Ward Joe
Published: March 2003

The challenges facing those charged with teaching mathematics to engineers are enormous. Faced with large groups of students possessing a considerable range of abilities, prior experiences, and motivations, it is incumbent upon the developers and deliverers of mathematics programmes to engineers to ensure that such programmes are as inclusive as possible and take into account the particular and often individual needs of the student. Often a mathematics lecturer is caught between the demands of an engineering department expecting students to know and apply advanced techniques, and the needs of groups of students who lack confidence, have serious gaps in their knowledge and sometimes lack ability in mathematics. This paper describes an innovative approach to these challenges which involves a mix of traditional and modern technologies and which has been used with some effect at Loughborough University, for the teaching of mathematics to first year undergraduate engineering students.
“Have I learnt it?” Evaluating skills for resource‐based study using electronic resources
Authors: Macdonald Janet , Heap Nick , Mason Robin
Published: March 2003

Electronic information resources are increasingly in use for courses at all levels of Higher Education. They may be employed as reference material when researching particular topics for assignments, as part of a conventionally structured course, or alternatively their use may be a central part of resource based course philosophy. Whilst the use of these resources may offer many advantages in terms of developing more independent learners, there are also information handling skills which students must acquire. This paper discusses the relevance of these skills and the factors influencing their acquisition for students on two networked resource based courses at the UK Open University
Virtual education in universities: a technological imperative
Authors: O'Donoghue John , Singh Gurmak , Dorward Lisa
Published: March 2003

Many educational journals have debated the issue of the “virtual university”. As technology is improving and evolving, such “virtuality” becomes a reality. The forecasts are that, in the not too distant future, it will be possible for courses to be completed solely by the use of the World Wide Web or Internet. These “virtual classrooms” will take the place of the solid buildings where students currently attend lectures, at set times in set rooms. The information will be gathered at the student's convenience and assignments will be handed in via this medium. There is potentially an advantage for everyone involved, from the reduced building resource costs to the availability of teaching support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Whilst many of these studies identify the benefits of technology in education there are dissenting voices from many other quarters. However there are also arguments identifying the disadvantages to the technology based delivery systems proposed. Either way, there are going to be radical changes in the methods which students will use to tackle the workload involved in studying towards a degree. This paper will explore both sides of the argument. The main contention of this paper is that technology undoubtedly will offer many benefits for the learner, however, the pitfalls need careful consideration in the design of the learning environment. This paper uses examples from educational institutions across different cultures.
Faculty and administrative strategies for the effective implementation of distance education
Authors: Milheim William
Published: March 2003

Over the past several decades, professionals in the field of instructional technology have witnessed a progression of varying “technologies” that can be utilized for the presentation of educational materials to students in a variety of environments. These technologies have included 16mm films, educational filmstrips, 35mm slides, instructional videotapes, computers, and computer‐based instruction, to name a few. While the specific hardware and software varied significantly over time, these systems generally focused on the delivery of educational materials to students within traditional institutions learning through group‐based or individualized instruction.

Within the past several years, however, there has been a re‐birth of one type of education—distance education—specifically designed for students who choose to learn at some distance from a formal institution. While there are a variety of options available within this educational format, it typically allows students to study at their own pace, at their own chosen time, and using materials that are specifically designed for learning at a distance from formal teachers, instructors, and classrooms. This type of learning was originally provided primarily through correspondence study (with the written materials sent back and forth between instructor and students), while current materials are generally now provided via computer, video, or the World Wide Web.

The purpose of the present article is to describe relevant issues in this field as well as various related strategies which may be utilized by faculty and academic administrators to support the appropriate use of this educational format. The discussion of these strategies is particularly relevant at this time given the increasing availability of many new technologies, the mounting pressure on educational institutions to be cost effective in their delivery of instruction, and the growing interest in providing quality education to students who are not easily able to travel to a traditional campus or school location.
SIDE‐VIEW: Evaluation of a system to develop team players and improve productivity in Internet collaborative learning groups
Authors: Lea Martin , Rogers Paul , Postmes Tom
Published: March 2003

This paper briefly summarizes the initial development of a computer‐supported collaborative learning environment and evaluates its effects in relation to the productivity of CSCL groups. The design of the SIDE‐VIEW system is driven by the social identity approach to understanding group behaviour and is premised upon the need to establish congruity between the self‐definition of group members and their collaborative learning tasks. We begin by outlining the rationale for the system in relation to productivity and the emergence of team players within collaborative learning groups. We then describe aspects of the design that are intended to enhance both, and report on a field trial of the initial prototype on international groups of higher education students. The preliminary results of the field study indicate that aspects of the design encourage the emergence and influence of team players within groups, with consequential improvements to the quality of the group output. The role of team players in CSCL groups is contrasted with that of group leaders.
The ambiguous embrace: twenty years of IT (ICT) in UK primary schools
Authors: Robertson John
Published: March 2003

School inspection reports, at the end of the 20th Century, in both Scottish and English primary schools, clearly identify the use of ICT as the weakest aspect of professional practice. On this evidence, despite initial certainty of political purpose and considerable optimism regarding its effects on teaching and learning, ICT remains, after twenty years, a marginal force in the education of 5–12 year–olds. Though numerous research studies in the 1980’s and 1990’s seemed to have identified the conditions for the effective transfer of ICT into primary schools and repeated governmental initiatives invested heavily in both infrastructure and training, teachers have not embraced ICT within their core practice. This paper suggests that the adoption of exclusively rational, perhaps hyper–rational, methodologies, by researchers working in the mainstream of schools and teacher education institutions has resulted in a failure to understand the complex cultural, psychological and political characteristics of schools. Alternative avenues for research are proposed.
SPARK, a confidential web–based template for self and peer assessment of student teamwork: benefits of evaluating across different subjects
Authors: Freeman Mark , McKenzie Jo
Published: March 2003

Students often enjoy learning in teams and developing teamwork skills, but criticise team assessment as unfair if there is equal reward for unequal contributions. This paper describes the design, implementation and evaluation in four subjects of the Self and Peer Assessment Resource Kit (SPARK), a web–based template which aims to improve learning from team assessment tasks and make the assessment fairer for students. Students benefit because the web–based template improves confidentiality and the potential for accurate assessment of relative contributions. Academics benefit through the potential for improving student learning from teamwork tasks, and saving time by automating the process of calculating self and peer adjustments of assessment grades, especially attractive for large enrolments. Benefits accrue to the institution and wider academic community because the template suits a range of group assessment situations. Based on experiences gained over five years of developing, evaluating and implementing SPARK, this paper aims to illustrate the potential benefits of the template to potential users and more critically, to use what was learned from implementing the template across a range of subjects to alert others to key issues for evaluating and disseminating educational technology innovations.
Institutional Resilience in a Changing World Economy? The Case of the German Bankking and Chemical Industries
Authors: Muller Michael
Published: March 2003

This paper examines whether there has been a transformation towards company‐specific and unitarist industrial relations in Germany. On the basis of 25 case studies of employment practices in German and foreign‐owned banks and chemical firms as well as industry data, the research found that the German system has so far remained relatively stable. Companies in the two industries studied generally still comply with the labour market institutions of multi‐employer collective bargaining, workplace representation and initial vocational training. Pressures have been accommodated by changes within the system rather than by a radical change of the system.
Discipline, Dismissals and Complaints to Employment Tribunals
Authors: Knight K.G. , Latreille Paul
Published: March 2003

Using the 1998 Workplace Employee Relations Survey, we investigate the rates of disciplinary sanctions and dismissals, and the incidence of unfair dismissal complaints to employment tribunals in the UK. Workplace rates of disciplinary sanctions and dismissals vary with age, gender, ethnic and occupational work‐force composition and workplace size, and, notably, are lower where trade union density is higher. Workplace practices reflecting a high‐commitment management style have limited impact on all three of our dependent variables, while the existence of formal discipline and dismissal procedures exerts no influence on whether any unfair dismissal claims are brought at the workplace.
Partnership at Work: Mutuality and the Balance of Advantage
Authors: Guest David E. , Peccei Riccardo
Published: March 2003

A framework for the analysis of partnership at work is presented, emphasizing the principles, practices and outcomes of partnership. A survey using matched samples of 54 UK management and employee representatives found a link between partnership principles and practices, between practices and ratings of employee attitudes and behaviour, between these and estimates of positive employment relations and quality and productivity, finally between productivity and sales and profitability. The findings support a mutual gains model but show that the balance of advantage is skewed towards management and reflects generally low management trust in employee representatives.
Public‐sector Employment Relations Reform under Labour: Muddling Through on Modernization?
Authors: Bach Stephen
Published: March 2003

The year 2001 in the UK was dominated by the difficulties the Labour government confronted in developing a coherent programme of public‐sector modernization. This review examines recent developments in the public sector, focusing on government attempts to involve the private sector and its continuing reforms of pay determination arrangements. It highlights the tensions that this programme of reform aroused as the government struggled to respond to recruitment and retention problems and widespread perceptions of public‐sector ‘crisis’.
Why Do Non–union Employees Want to Unionize? Evidence from Britain
Authors: Charlwood Andy
Published: March 2003

This paper assesses the determinants of the level of support for union membership among non–union employees. Using data from a representative sample of non–union employees in Great Britain, the research confirms the importance of job dissatisfaction, left–wing views and perceived union instrumentality as predictors of willingness to join a trade union, union instrumentality being the most significant.
Theorizing Managerial Work: a Pragmatic Pluralist Approach to Interdisciplinary Research
Authors: Watson Tony J.
Published: March 2003

Management research is especially open to the benefits of using insights from a variety of social science disciplines but it should not use these indiscriminately. A strategy of pragmatic pluralism is proposed as a way of ensuring that concepts taken from different social science paradigms or disciplines are drawn together into a single coherent perspective to shape the particular study to which they relate. This is illustrated with reference to an ethnographic study of managerial work carried out by the author.