bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Mathematical-Systems Approach To a Synthesis of Scientific Methodology
Authors: Muir Donal E.
Published: October 2007

Research methodology, in both the natural and social sciences, is conventionally presented as a set of separate techniques. Since instruments of science can, however, be treated as systems, representation by mathematical functions is generally feasible. A simplified notational system for systems representation is presented, then applied to the development of a unified systems concep tualization of basic research operations including: measurement, representation, simulation, theory construction, data searching, and h ypo thesis-testing.
Strategies of Participation in Participant Observation
Authors: Claster Daniel S. , Schwartz Howard
Published: October 2007

Participant observation is approached by considering five strategies of participation, as reflected in the writings of field workers in the social sciences. The strategies considered are: (1) gaining access to data, (2) evoking behavior, (3) identifying psychologically with the people being studied, (4) connecting concepts with indicators, and (5) formulating hypotheses. For each strategy, cases are cited to illustrate the range of participation procedures included in it, and each strategic rationale is examined critically. Evidence from the cases supports the conclusion that different modes of participation are appropriate for different aspects of scientific field work.
Standardization and Component Analysis
Authors: Althauser Robert P. , Wigler Michael
Published: October 2007

This paper reviews various procedures of standardization and component analysis which utilize vector or matrix multiplication or are based on regression analysis. Substantive examples using these techniques are drawn from demography and from previous studies of the occupational mobility and income difference of blacks and whites. Modifications of decomposition equations found in the latter studies are developed which take statistical interaction into account. Finally, Michelson's relatively unknown approach to multiple component analysis is presented, together with our own explorations of the properties of this type of analysis.
"Urbanism as a Way of Life"
Authors: Fischer Claude S.
Published: October 2007

Louis Wirth's classic description of the social and psychological effects of urbanism is organized into a model for the purpose of reviewing relevant theory and empirical research. Evidence on predicted structural effects (differentiation, formal integration and anomie) and individual effects (sensory overload, role mobility, isolation and deviance) is, at most, mixed. The best-supported predictions are of differentiation and deviance. Alternative models of urban life are explored, and, in the process of the review, research directions are suggested.
Unobtrusive Measures
Authors: Bouchard Thomas J.
Published: October 2007

The logic and advantages of unobtrusive measures are briefly reviewed. The literature on unobtrusive measures is then summarized under four large classes-physical traces, archives, simple observations, and measures gathered with hardware. A small number of methods also fall into a residual category. Each class of methods is discussed briefly and recommendations and/or problems with its use are discussed. This is followed by a listing of the measures in that category, an indication of what variable is being indexed and applicable references.
A General Consistency Check Procedure for Machine-Readable Data
Authors: Roistacher Richard C.
Published: October 2007

Several levels of data "cleaning" and editing are discussed, and a standard terminology for data-consistency checking and editing is developed. Consistency checking can occur at the level of data structure, syntax, or semantics. A consistency check either may be unconditional, depending only on the value of a single variable; or it may depend on the joint values of the members of a set of variables. The result of a consistency check may be expressed as the value of a vector whose elements indicate the consistency status of each variable in the set. The vector of return codes from a check can be managed and displayed by adding them to the set of variables, and by using them as input to a report generator or to an editing procedure.
Validation of Self-Report Measures Using Ratings By Others
Authors: Crandall Rick
Published: October 2007

A set of ratings by others was obtained in conjunction with a collection of self-report data on subjective quality of life. Respondents and two or three "relevant others" nominated by them rated the respondents' satisfaction with aspects of their life. The correlations between respondent-respondent, respondent-other, and other-other ratings provide estimates of the convergent and discriminant validity of the self-ratings and ratings by others. The results of these analyses provide evidence for the external validity of self-ratings in the quality of life area. More importantly, they illustrate the possibility of using ratings by other as a validation criterion for self-ratings in general. The validity of ratings by others who vary in their relationship with their respondents is also explored, and suggestions for further uses of ratings by others are provided
A Technique for Comparing Path Models Between Subgroups
Authors: Hotchkiss Lawrence
Published: October 2007

A standardization procedure is presented which facilitates comparisons of path coefficients or regression coefficients simultaneously between subgroups and between independent variables. It is noted that standardized path coefficients are generally appropriate when comparisons of the magnitude of effects of different independent variables within a subgroup are desired, and unstandardized path-regression coefficients are appropriate for comparisons between subgroups for a given independent variable. If both types of comparisons are desired simultaneously, however, neither type of path coefficients is satisfactory. To remedy this problem, it is suggested that data be converted to standard scores over all subgroups and that subgroup specific unstandardized coefficients be calculated on the transformed scores. The resulting coefficients are called standardized path-regression coefficients. Convenient calculating formulas which do not depend on actual manipulation of the data matrix are presented. It is shown that the new coefficients are consistent estimators and that usual hypothesis tests can be applied.
The Intersection of Social Circles
Authors: Alba Richard D. , Kadushin Charles
Published: October 2007

A common methodological approach to the study of networks is to define a measure of proximity or social distance from the network data. Generally, the definition of such a measure rests on some representation of the flow of communication between individuals in the network. This paper proposes a different basis for such a measure-patterns of loyalty and affiliation-and presents and describes such an appropriate measure, based on the overlap of interpersonal environments. The new measure is intended for application to the network study of social differentiation-for example, to the study of political elites-and is illustratively applied to data concerning networks of intellectuals.
Estimation and Hypothesis Testing in Linear Models Containing Measurement Error
Authors: Long J. Scott
Published: October 2007

This paper reviews Joreskog's model for the analysis of covariance structures by first introducing the simpler case of confirmatory factor analysis. The mathematical results necessary for estimation and hypothesis testing are presented in a way which should be more accessible to sociologists than the original sources. The usefulness of Joreskog's techniques is indicated by reformulating a series of models which have been estimated by sociologists using techniques without statistical justification in the format of covariance structures. Identification is considered in this context. The argument is made that these methods can greatly extend our ability to construct structural equation models containing measurement error.
The Subculture of Violence Thesis
Authors: Erlanger Howard S. , Winsborough Halliman H.
Published: October 2007

This paper examines the subculture of violence thesis (Wolfgang, 1958) as an example of a sociological theory with a feedback process. The thesis is operationalized in a simultaneous equation model, which is solved through a technique which uses only a "canned" ordinary least squares computer program. The findings do not support the subculture of violence thesis.
A Note On Standardized Coefficients as Structural Parameters
Authors: Hargens Lowell L.
Published: October 2007

Claims that standardized coefficients, such as path coefficients, are inappropriate for assessing the invariance of a causal process across populations are critically examined. It is argued that such claims are usually based on specious reasoning and that there are instances when theoretical considerations dictate the comparison of standardized coefficients. It is more fruitful to view this issue in terms of the scales used to represent variables in structural-equation models than to view it in terms of choosing between standardized and unstandardized coefficients.
Another Look At the Clustering Perspective On Aggregation Problems
Authors: Smith Kent W.
Published: October 2007

The clustering perspective, especially in conjunctien with a linear model one, is a fruitful approach to the problems of estimating correlation and regression coefficients from aggregated data. (1) When the correlation ratios for two variables are equal, then both the within-group and aggregate correlations between the variables will equal the total correlation for microunits if either does. When the correlation ratios are not equal, then one correlation must be greater than the total correlation even if the other equals it. In either case, the typically lower within-group correlation must result in a higher aggregate correlation. (2) For regression, the effects of aggregating on the within-group covariances between the residual and independent variables can be used to determine the effect of aggregation on the regression estimates. This approach is applied to the analysis of the effects of different types of aggregation, including some not previously discussed, on estimates for models that are correctly specified with homogeneous parameters and for models that are misspecified or have different parametric values for different subsets of the population. Contrary to previous conclusions, the effect of aggregation bias can be counter to that of specification bias in some quite probable cases.
Assessing Research Methodology
Authors: McTavish Donald G. , Cleary James D. , Brent Edward E. , Perman Lauri , Knudsen Kjell R.
Published: October 2007

This paper reports the development and application of a method for evaluating the methodology of social science research. In this study, 11 social scientists rated the methodology of 126 federally sponsored, social science research projects. Written documentation from each research project was divided into three packets, representing three stages of the research process: proposal, interim report, and completed research. Each project was independently rated at each of the three stages by two different reviewers, using a comprehensive methodology review instrument created for this purpose. A series of factor analyses of the ratingsfor 75 evaluative methodological features reveals a multidimensional structure underlying the evaluations. This structure appears to become more elaborate as research progresses toward completion. The implications of the structuring of methodological assessments are discussed for research funding procedures, research monitoring, the conduct of research, and the training of social scientists.
Socioeconomic Change and Fertility
Authors: Arney William Ray
Published: October 2007

Most previous efforts to model the determinants of fertility have used cross-sectional data and various forms of regression analysis. In this paper a recursive model of fertility in terms ofsocioeconomic change is developed and the parameters of the model are estimated using time-series data.
Approaches To the Analysis of Complex Contingency Tables
Authors: Kritzer Herbert M.
Published: October 2007

Social scientists have available a wide array of techniques for the analysis of complex contingency tables. This paper discusses the factors which should be considered in choosing which of the various techniques to use. The theme emphasized here is that the analyst should evaluate the techniques within the context of the substantive questions he seeks to answer. The specific factors discussed are categorized into three groups: representation of the dependent variable, independent variable models, and estimation procedures.
Data Analysis in Factorial Ecology
Authors: Jackson David J. , Borgatta Edgar F. , Goldsmith Harold F.
Published: October 2007

The methodology of factorial ecology is examined with regard to its main objective, to discover stable patterns of covariation for census tract variables across cities and over time.
Pluralism in Indian medicine
Authors: Sujatha V.
Published: October 2007

When engaging in cross-cultural comparisons, medical anthropology has often tended to employ dichotomous typologies. This results in a reductionist analysis that obliterates the complexities within medical cultures and assimilates them into one homogenous type. This article makes a case for studying the different sources of medical knowledge within the category of ‘Indian medicine’ as they emerge from the differing ontological positions yet intersecting practices of laymen and experts. It goes on to explore the epistemological implications of this pluralism. The article explores the multiple genres of medical knowledge prevalent among people in a region in central Tamil Nadu to examine the relationship between professional, folk and lay practitioners. This analysis shows the complexity of medical knowledge and highlights the inadequacy of established dichotomies.
Increasing consumption, decreasing support
Authors: Vera-Sanso Penny
Published: October 2007

This article looks at intergenerational relations in two Chakkliyar neighbourhoods in rural Tamil Nadu. Post-1991 economic changes, together with longer-term changes in the rural economy and state policies, have significantly widened the customary ‘needs gap’ between younger and older generations by expanding the needs and aspirations of younger generations both absolutely and in comparison to the perceived needs of older people, whilst not providing them with the means to meet those needs. The declining demand for agricultural labour has not only constrained sons’ capacities to meet the needs of both their conjugal and natal families, but also severely undermined older people's livelihoods as they compete with younger people for agricultural work. The cause of the elderly Chakkliyars’ tenuous subsistence lies not with negligent sons but with the way their vulnerabilities are built into the structure of the economy, society and polity.
New Perspectives On Communication and Development
Authors: Rogers Everett M.
Published: October 2007

This introductory essay describes how our conceptualizations of development have recently shifted from a dominant model to alternative paradigms, thus implying new and different roles for communication in development.
The Diffusion of Innovations and the Issue of Equity in Rural Development
Authors: Röling Niels G. , Ascroft Joseph , Chege Fred Wa
Published: October 2007

Diffusion strategies, as currently practiced by most change agencies, often lead to increased inequity and therefore migh t be used as guides for devising revised strategies which avoid what currently practiced strategies predict. This view implies that those who seek more equitable development programs should not carry out further surveys of current diffusion practice, but rather experiment to develop and test new alternatives to such usual diffusion programs. One such field experiment in rural Kenya shows that diffusion programs can reach successfully the noninnovative "laggards." Not only did this project obtain 100% adoption among those reached directly, but it also had an immediate three-to-one diffusion effect for each farmer directly reached.
The Communication Effects Gap
Authors: Shingi Prakash M. , Mody Bella
Published: October 2007

The medium of television in the context of organized teleclubs with carefully designed content may actually be effective in leveling previous inequities and thus reduce the gap between larger and smaller farmers. The present research is unique in several respects: (1) it examines television for one of the first times in relation to the communication effects gap; (2) its results run contrary to many previous studies; (3) the study was conducted under field conditions in India on an extremely low budget, demonstrating a necessary resourcefulness ; (4) survey research methods are combined with content analysis; and (5) the results are crucially relevant to the Indian government's policy and to the recently initiated Satellite Instructional Television Experiment (SITE), in which the A TS-6 satellite broadcasts television programs to schoolchildren and adults in almost 2,400 villages in six different Indian states.
How Does Communication Interface With Change?
Authors: Whiting Gordon C.
Published: October 2007

This article questions certain of the underlying assumptions about the role of communication in effecting change. For instance, change may occur without communication and vice versa. But in many situations, communication may play a key role in effecting human behavior change, including the behavior that is part of development. The author closes this theoretic work by suggesting ways in which communication theory and research can effect change.
Adolescents' TV Relations
Authors: Rosengren Karl Erik , Windahl Swen , Hakansson Per-Arne , Johnsson-Smaragdi Ulla
Published: October 2007

In earlier research into the relationships between the adult TV viewer and the TV content consumed by him, three relationships have been mentioned as especially interesting: para-social interaction (imaginary interaction but not identification with the personae of the screen), capture (both interaction and identification with the personae of the screen), and long-term identification (possibly an effect of capture). This paper, mainly methodological in its approach, presents three scales measuring these relationships with respect to school-children's TV use. The scales are tested for validity by means of the multitrait-multimethod technique. In connection with the validity tests the scales are shown to behave differentially when related to different TV content viewed by the respondent. This finding casts some doubt on the current practice of asking respondents about use of and attitudes towards TV in general. Finally, the scales are related to several social characteristics of the respondents. It turns out that adolescents-in contrast to adults-do not seem to use para-social interaction with TV personae as a functional alternative to real interaction.
Mass Media Use in the Family During War and Peace
Authors: Dotan Judith , Cohen Akiba A.
Published: October 2007

Based on the "uses and gratifications" approach to the mass media, a two-wave panel study during and following the October 1973 Middle East War was conducted to determine the relative contribution of television, radio, and newspapers in fulfilling cognitive, affective, social-integrative, and escapist needs of a sample of housewives. The findings indicate that (a) cognitive needs were most important and escapist and affective needs were least important in both periods, (b) there was more exposure to the electronic media in war-time but no difference for newspapers, and (c) television and radio were generally more helpful in fulfilling most of the media-related needs in war-time compared with peace-time, whereas newspapers generally were less beneficial in fulfilling most of the needs in war-time compared to peace-time.
The Distribution and Exchange of Information in Problem-Solving Dyads
Authors: Johnson David W.
Published: October 2007

The effects on the outcomes of problem-solving of homogeneous and heterogeneous distribution of information and the use of perspective-taking and egocentric-presentation processes of information exchange within problem-solving dyads were examined. Subjects were given incomplete information relevant to solving a complex problem and were instructed to engage in perspective-taking or egocentric-presentation behaviors while discussing the problem with a confederate. The confederate presented either similar or different information and engaged in either perspective-taking or egocentric-presentation behaviors, depending upon the condition. The results indicate that perspective-taking as a process of information exchange affects the quality of problem-solving, perceptions of the extent to which problem solvers value and attempt to understand and consider each other's information, interpersonal trust, and attitudes toward fellow problem-solvers and the problem-solving experience. Heterogeneity of information did not affect problem-solving outcomes when perspective-taking was being used, but had negative effects when egocentric-presentation was being used
Relationship Between Public Opinion and Supreme Court Decisions
Authors: Gaziano Cecilie
Published: October 2007

The role and function of public sentiment and sanction in democratic theory assumes that there is a relationship between the law as expressed in Supreme Court decisions and public opinion. Aspects for support for this hypothesis are: (1) when fewer than four in ten members of the public approved of a broad guarantee of free speech the court restricted the First Amendment; (2) when fewer than four in ten members of the public supported the First Amendment. the court's decisions were much more likely to be close ones in either direction but especially when rulings were adverse to free speech; and (3) when a low level of public favor for free speech rights of extremists was rising, the Court was more likely to render decisions upholding the First Amendment even though less than 50% of the public supported free speech for political extremists.
Cognitive Development and Television Comprehension
Authors: Desmond Roger Jon
Published: October 2007

The objective of this study was to determine whether several key concepts related to child development could be extended to existing theory and research concerning the comprehension of television by kindergartners and early primary school children. Much of the current research in the effects tradition has concentrated on the role of television in eliciting aggressive behavior. A neglected area is the function of television as a teacher of such things as appropriate social behavior, the ways by which characters resolve problems and the motives of individuals. During a one-year period several groups of young children were observed to determine how information from television programs was incorporated into their play, and to what extent developmental predictors such as role-taking, narrative recall, and liking for programs mediated the process of learning. For a more rigorous investigation, ninety children of three grade levels were given several cognitive developmental tasks to assess the specific instances of problem resolutions and motive content extracted from a popular television program. Results indicate that role-taking and program-liking are significant predictors of program comprehension, but narrative recall is not. Overall analysis of results suggests that individual differences among children partially explain the amount and kind of social learning from the medium, while chronological age is the most accurate index of content-learning.
Explaining State Food Stamp Caseload Variance
Authors: Tschoepe Gary J. , Hindera John J.
Published: October 2007

The food stamp program has been more closely controlled by the federal government than most other public assistance programs. However, states have retained a degree of discretionary decision-making authority via administration of the food stamp program. Using a multiple-regression model, this study examines the influence of state administrative actions upon state food stamp caseloads. Both access to food stamp application offices and the use of joint applications (simultaneous application for Aid to Families with Dependent Children and food stamps) are found to be determinants of variance in state food stamp caseloads. Thus, devolution of public assistance policy to state governments could result in unequal treatment of individuals who are eligible for public assistance benefits.
Bitten by the Celtic Tiger: Immigrant Workers and Industrial Relations in the New `Glocalized' Ireland
Authors: Dundon Tony , González-Pérez María-Alejandra , McDonough Terrence
Published: October 2007

The growth of global economic activity has resulted in a worldwide increase in migration. Despite the growing interest in migratory labour flows, there remains little detailed empirical research about the labour relations practices experienced by immigrant workers. In this article, three general areas are examined from data collected in the Republic of Ireland: (1) what are the experiences of non-Irish national workers employed in different sectors of the economy; (2) do trade unions facilitate the integration of migrant workers in the Irish labour market; and (3) what are the strategies undertaken by trade unions in response to the challenges of immigration? Ethnographic and qualitative research methods were employed to address these broad research objectives. The evidence shows that many immigrant workers have experienced a system of near-serfdom that perpetuates social, economic and cultural exclusion on a large scale. The conclusion argues that an emerging `glocalization' of the world economy creates a labour market dynamic underpinned by neoliberal policies of the nation-state. The evidence suggests that traditional views of migration and industrial relations theory are found wanting when seeking to explain the concerns of migrant workers. A number of implications arising from this are then discussed.
The New Politics of Technology in the British Civil Service
Authors: Fisher Michael
Published: October 2007

This article examines why and how management of a department of the British civil service (`the Agency') has sought to use new information and communication technologies (ICTs) to change the organization of a complex form of administrative casework. In contrast to optimistic Information Age arguments that new workplace technologies will tend to benefit workers as well as employers, it is shown that Agency management have sought to use the new ICTs to increase their control over staff. This has involved the reorganization of some telephone work into a call centre for the first time. It is shown that the aim of increasing control has been not only to intensify work, but also to establish a technical basis for a broader restructuring of terms and conditions of employment that it was hoped would involve a reduction in the costs and place-bound nature of Agency labour. The article identifies a number of political and technical factors that have constrained managers from realizing the control they originally sought, so compelling them to preserve a complex form of call working and related employment conditions that they had originally intended to radically change. The article concludes with a discussion of how the new technical systems within the Agency have altered power relations between managers and staff, how government is hoping to use such technologies to cut costs across all civil service departments, and where resistance to such change may come from.
Team Membership and Experiences of Work in the Finnish Context
Authors: Niemelä Jukka , Kalliola Satu
Published: October 2007

The article aims to shed light on teamwork in Finland, where many institutional factors mould employees' experiences of it. Representative survey data from Finnish workplaces are analysed from the frameworks of contextual, positive and critical accounts on teamwork. A qualitative analysis of the role of centralized income agreements and the quality of the industrial relations gives evidence to support the contextual accounts. The results of the survey tell how the experiences of effective teamwork are related to the degree of autonomy of the teams, employees' discretion, the possibility to utilize one's skills and the quality of social relations within the team, and thus support positive accounts. On the other hand, the results of the survey relate the team members' experiences of working harder than non-members, supporting critical accounts.
Work Organization and `the Scandinavian Model'
Authors: Gustavsen Bjørn
Published: October 2007

Comparative studies of work organization indicate that learning-oriented forms are more widely applied in the Scandinavian countries than is generally the case in Europe. This is often ascribed to the cooperation between the labour market parties and the national political authorities, and the corresponding modification of market forces through welfare and employment policies. It can be argued that this interpretation is too general. An issue like work organization is not affected by the macro-political order of society alone, but also by what more specific initiatives are taken to promote organization development at the workplace level. In this article a number of bi- and tripartite efforts to promote learning-oriented forms of work organization are presented and discussed from the perspective of the question: Is there a Scandinavian model for workplace development and what are its characteristics? It is seen that while the various efforts differ widely in terms of strategy they have some elements in common, in particular the function of building trust between management and workers on the local level.
Linear Versus Models in Item Response Theory
Authors: McDonald Roderick P.
Published: October 2007

A broad framework for examining the class of unidimensional and multidimensional models for item responses is provided by nonlinear factor analysis, with a classification of models as strictly linear, linear in their coefficients, or strictly nonlinear. These groups of models are compared and constrasted with respect to the associated problems of estimation, testing fit, and scoring an examinee. The invariance of item parameters is related to the congruence of common factors in linear theory.
Some Applications of Logistic Latent Trait Models with Linear Constraints on the Parameters
Authors: Fischer Gerhard H. , Formann Anton K.
Published: October 2007

The linear logistic test model (LLTM), a Rasch model with linear constraints on the item parameters, is described. Three methods of parameter estimation are dealt with, giving special consideration to the conditional maximum likelihood approach, which provides a basis for the testing of structural hypotheses regarding item difficulty. Standard areas of application of the LLTM are surveyed, including many references to empirical studies in item analysis, item bias, and test construction; and a novel type of application to response-contingent dynamic processes is presented. Finally, the linear logistic model with relaxed assumptions (LLRA) for measuring change is introduced as a special case of an LLTM; it allows the characterization of individuals in a multidimensional latent space and the testing of hypotheses regarding effects of treatments.
A Nonparametric Approach to the Analysis of Dichotomous Item Responses
Authors: Mokkan Robert J. , Lewis Charles
Published: October 2007

An item response theory is discussed which is based on purely ordinal assumptions about the probabilities that people respond positively to items. It is considered as a natural generalization of both Guttman scaling and classical test theory. A distinction is drawn between construction and evaluation of a test (or scale) on the one hand and the use of a test to measure and make decisions about persons' abilities on the other. Techniques to deal with each of these aspects are described and illustrated with examples.
Latent Trait Models and Ability Parameter Estimation
Authors: Andersen Erling B.
Published: October 2007

In recent years several authors have viewed latent trait models for binary data as special models for contingency tables. This connection to contingency table analysis is used as the basis for a survey of various latent trait models. This article discusses estimation of item parameters by conditional, direct, and marginal maximum likelihood methods, and estimation of individual latent parameters as opposed to an estimation of the parameters of a latent population density. Various methods for testing the goodness of fit of the model are also described. Several of the estimators and tests are applied to a data set concerning consumer complaint behavior.
Standard Error of an Equating by Item Response Theory
Authors: Lord Frederic M.
Published: October 2007

A formula is derived for the asymptotic standard error of a true-score equating by item response theory. The equating method is applicable when th two tests to be equated are administered to different groups along with an anchor test. Numerical standard errors are shown for an actual equating (1) comparing the standard errors of IRT, linear, e and equipercentile methods and (2) illustrating the effect of the length of the anchor test on the standard error of the equating.
A Portrait in Four Encounters: William Alonso
Authors: Isserman Andrew M. , Era Koichi M , Rey Sergio J. , Waters Mary C.
Published: October 2007

William Alonso was awarded the first Ph.D. in regional science. The book based on his dissertation is often credited with launching the field of urban economics and remains probably the most cited work by far in regional science. Saltonstall Professor of Population Policy at Harvard, Alonso also made numerous major contributions to the study of migration, regional development, and the politics of numbers. His work ranged from meticulous mathematical theory to far-ranging think pieces. This portrait of the scholar and his research is a collage of four reminiscences describing various stages of Professor Alonso’s career.
Alonso’s Systemic Model: A Review and Representation
Authors: Hua Chang-I
Published: October 2007

This article reviews the development of Alonso’s systemic model and presents a seemingly meaningful new departure. It first traces the evolution of Alonso’s own views of the model and then surveys the various efforts of estimating the model and interpretations by other researchers. Issues and problems are identified. A model representing the observed data in terms of the variables in the systemic model is proposed. It is shown that the model is identifiable, interpretable without ambiguity, and can be used for predictive use as well. Further extensions and research issues are discussed.
Paradox, Defense and Attachment: Accessing and Working with Emotions and Relations Underlying Organizational Change
Authors: Vince Russ , Broussine Michael
Published: October 2007

Our intention in this article is to add to the different ways of looking at and working with change in organizations. We suggest a set of working propositions that move away from problem-solving or planning-based approaches to change, towards a method which focuses primarily on organizational members' emotions and relations, and on forces of uncertainty and defensiveness. We attempt both to highlight the dynamic nature of change, and to point towards some key issues, often avoided, for engaging with aspects of change. We then describe a participative research process we have employed to access and act on organizational members' emotional responses to change. In this instance, drawings were used with managers in six public service organizations as the catalyst to enable managers to bring out often paradoxical emotions, and to work with these as part of the process of the management of change. While our research is set in the context of enormous changes in U.K. public services, we feel that our methodology is applicable to any organizational setting which is characterized by uncertainty and defensiveness.
Organizations as Structures of Domination
Authors: Leflaive Xavier
Published: October 2007

This paper deals with concepts of power and domination in organization studies. It suggests that a sociologically informed organization theory must underline domination as the process whereby organizations and their members achieve the status of agents and the ability to act. Domination, then, is not just a negative concept: it is the very condition whereby organizations are reproduced as social systems. The text proposes possible directions to examine the constitution of organizations along such lines.
Organizational identity and Space of Action
Authors: Holmer-Nadesan Majia
Published: October 2007

Post-Structuralism has been criticized for reducing individuals to subject positions. This essay responds to this criticism by illustrating how individuals positioned as subjects reflect upon and challenge their socially ascribed identities. More specifically, it examines how a group of women 'service workers' employed by a public university respond to patriarchical, bureaucratic and capitalist articulations of their identity. The essay argues that the women's experiences of the contradictions and antagonisms that rupture these discourses generate a sense of 'lack' that has the effect of opening up alternative possibilities for action and self-understanding. However, these alternatives are not autonomously generated but are always/already specific to the individual's existential situation.
Research Note: 'Contradictory Couplings': Culture and the Synchronization of Opponents
Authors: Grieco Margaret , Lilja Kari
Published: October 2007

Building upon recent discussions in the literature on the inherent duality of social and organizational existence, this research note approaches organizational culture through the theoretical construct of the synchronization of opponents. Where opponents are constrained to exist within the same territory, there is a functional requirement for such opponents to synchronize in order to avoid those collisions which are destructive of the energies and resources of both parties without generating benefit for either. This research note explores some of the mechanisms by which, and the conditions under which, such synchronization of opponents takes place.
Micro-Macro Linkages in High-Performance Employment Systems
Authors: Brown Clair , Reich Michael
Published: October 2007

This paper draws upon data from an investigation of U.S. and Japanese employment and pay systems. Most studies of high-performance workplace organizations have been concerned with 'internal fit', focusing on organizational practices within the firm. In this contribution, the emphasis is upon the 'external fit' between high-performance organizations and their wider environments. The conclusion is that the effectiveness of an organizational system critically depends upon the macroeconomic and institutional contexts within which it is located.
High-Performance Manufacturing: Evidence from the Automotive Components Industry
Authors: Lowe James , Oliver Nick
Published: October 2007

This paper examines the manufacturing performance and management practices of 71 automotive components suppliers located in Europe, Japan and North America. The research reports on the extent to which these plants have adopted 'lean production' practices and tests the proposition that such techniques are linked with high manufacturing performance. The results support the contention that tight process control and closely integrated operations are more productive. However, the data do not support the notion that the work organization and human resource policies associated with the lean production model represent a universal 'best way' for achieving high manufacturing performance. Rather, our findings emphasize the importance of context, specific plant characteristics and choice for understanding the performance of manufacturing organizations.
Army of Whiteness? Colonel Reb and the Sporting South's Cultural and Corporate Symbolic
Authors: Newman Joshua I.
Published: October 2007

This article contributes to an already vibrant discussion on the politics of race and ethnicity as mobilized through the semiotic embodiments of sporting mascots. Grounded in a poststructuralist theoretical framework, guided by the political thrust of cultural studies, and informed by a range of qualitative modes of inquiry, this study more specifically mediates on how the University of Mississippi's (“Ole Miss”) sporting mascot, Colonel Rebel, constitutes an important discursive space through which (a) the corporatized academic institution accumulates sign-valued capital and (b) the power/knowledge relationships formed under a localized spectator/fan subjectivity—constructed out of a parochial, conservative, “Old South” Whiteness—become incontrovertibly bound to the symbolic territories of a localized sporting neo-Confederacy.
The Decolonizing National Imaginary
Authors: Falcous Mark
Published: October 2007

This article explores the representational politics of postcolonial national identity in New Zealand/Aotearoa. Specifically, it interrogates the promotional media surrounding the 2005 British and Irish Lions rugby tour as a site in which narratives of nation were enacted. Symptomatic of the emergence of “corporate nationalisms” advertising emerged as a space in which a selective “national imaginary” was constructed. This sought to reconcile the challenges of the sociopolitical moment by positing a unified decolonized “kiwi” culture invoking several interlocking discourses. These included foregrounded representations of indigenous Māori culture as a central symbol of national essence. These representations simultaneously interlock those grounded in a longstanding discourse of Māori as primordial, spiritual, ignoble warrior. Furthermore, symptomatic of an ongoing “ethnogenesis,” active constructions of White settler—Pākehā—identities asserted a unique tie to Aotearoa/New Zealand and distinction from “the British.” Critically, these discourses operate to account for postcolonial challenges and shifts in reasserting a hegemonic national imaginary.
Entrepreneurship Education
Authors: Pittaway Luke , Cope Jason
Published: October 2007

The purpose of this article is to explore different themes within entrepreneurship education via the use of a systematic literature review (SLR). Systematic literature reviews are recognized methods for conducting evidence-based policy. The particular approach to the SLR used in this study is explained and the article explores the findings outlining a thematic framework drawn from narrative coding. The findings support the conclusion that entrepreneurship education has had an impact on student propensity and intentionality. What is unclear is the extent to which such education impacts on the level of graduate entrepreneurship or whether it enables graduates to become more effective entrepreneurs. The findings also highlight a lack of consensus on what entrepreneurship or enterprise education actually `is' when implemented in practice.
Control, Autonomy and Collaboration in the Fast Food Industry
Authors: Paik Yongsun , Choi David Y.
Published: October 2007

This article examines the similarities and differences between domestic (US) and international franchises in the amount of control exerted by their US franchisors and the degree of autonomy accorded to franchisees. Based on in-depth interviews with franchisor representatives and franchisees from McDonald's, Subway, Papa John's, and Domino's, exploratory research is conducted to compare and contrast the franchisor-franchisee relationship in the fast food industry between the USA and Iceland, Ireland, the UK, Belgium, and the Netherlands.The interviews suggest that international franchisees tend to have more autonomy than their US counterparts, especially in decisions involving local market adaptation and in situations in which they experience strong performance or are master franchisees. On the other hand, experienced international franchisees are less likely to demand autonomy, while experienced US franchisees seek more autonomy. Interestingly, international franchisors and franchisees under hardship tend to seek collaboration rather than compete for control or autonomy.
Health Sector Reforms and Health Information in Ghana
Authors: Adjei Emmanuel
Published: October 2007

The health care system in Ghana is undergoing organizational and structural changes, creating the need for timely and reliable information for policy development and health planning. Over the years attempts at strengthening health management information systems have been ad hoc and focused on review of reporting systems. The concern for the health sector in this era of reform is the need for the development of an information system in which there is focus on aggregation of information for review and monitoring of service performance at all levels in the health care delivery system. This article documents the organizational and structural changes taking place in the health sector in Ghana and reviews attempts being made by the Ministry of Health to strengthen information to meet the demands of the changing health system.
Use and Application of ICTs in Education and Information Provision in Africa: a gateway to quality resources
Authors: Taole Nthabiseng
Published: October 2007

The success of a new Internet gateway on information and communication technologies in Africa depends on how well it will be used, and this requires users that are information literate.
Malaysia: The Development of Library Services
Authors: Wijasuriya D.E.K.
Published: October 2007

This paper was delivered at the Library Association Conference in Brighton in September 1984. It is reproduced here with the permission of Library Association Publishing, who will publish the complete conference proceedings in 1985. A number of tables of background data which were included in the original have been omitted here with the permission of the author.
'A Wider Knowledge of Britain': the Anglo-Brazilian Information Service
Authors: Salter John
Published: October 2007

The Anglo-Brazilian Information Service is operated jointly by the British Council and the Sociedade de Cultura Inglesa de São Paulo. It comprises a general reference library, educational and scientific enquiries services, an English language teaching collection and administrative offices and workroom. Methods of promoting the service and the subject breakdown of educational enquiries and online searches are described.
The British Council's Global Cataloguing Service
Authors: Magalhães Rodrigo , Nogueira Madalena Sá
Published: October 2007

The Global Cataloguing Service of the British Council was initiated in 1980 with the aim of reducing duplication of effort in cataloguing the same titles in different Council libraries around the world. Cataloguing of all books acquired by Council libraries abroad is done centrally at British Council headquarters in London. Records for titles not already in the Global Cataloguing Service database are downloaded from the UKMARC database or catalogued as Extra-MARC material. Each of the fifty-six Council libraries participating in the system receives lists of new accessions and an updated microfiche catalogue of its holdings at regular intervals. In a country like Portugal, the system provides a model to be studied by local librarians.
Multilingual Information and the Computer
Authors: Simsova Sylva
Published: October 2007

The computerized storage and processing of text in non-roman scripts creates problems. Characters which are not available in standard fonts may be created by using a plotter instead of a printer. A pilot project to devise a program for the computerization of classical Tibetan script, initiated at the Polytechnic of North London in 1983, is described. Problems of transliteration and international actions to promote the computerization of non-roman scripts are summarized.