bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development of a Thurstone Scale for Measuring Attitudes Toward Adult Education
Authors: Blunt Adrian 
Published: March 2007

This study reports the development of a Thurstone Scale to measure attitudes toward adult education. Fifty-four expert judges assigned ratings to 116 items in an item pool. Forty items met the criteria for inclusion in the scale and the method of successive intervals was used to calculate the scale item values. The validity of the scale was assessed against five criterion variables in a study in which 28 of the scale items were used with a sample of 263 adult patients in the medical practice of a family physician. Scores on the attitude scale were correlated with years of schooling, social participation, socio-economic status, internal-external locus of control and participation in adult learning activities. Although small in magnitude the correlation coefficients obtained were all in the anticipated direction and were statistically significant beyond the .01 level supporting the concurrent validity of the scale in the study. The homogeneity of the 40 scale items was tested by factor analysis of responses from 338 adult education participants. The analysis yielded nine factors accounting for 75.1 per cent of the variance and indicated that attitudes toward adult education, as quantified by the scale, are multifactorial. Second order factor analysis revealed three underlying factors with one dominant factor emerging.
Reframing and Grounding Nonhuman Agency
Authors: CASPER MONICA J. 
Published: March 2007

Agency: The power of actors to operate independently of the determining constraints of social structure. The term is intended to convey the volitional, purposive nature of human activity as opposed to its constrained, determined aspects. — Harper Collins Dictionary of Sociology, 1991 The concept that the fetus is a patient, an individual whose maladies are a proper subject for medical treatment as well as scientific observation, is alarmingly modern. It was not until the last half of this century that the prying eye of the ultrasonographer rendered the once opaque womb transparent, letting the light of scientific observation fall on the shy and secretive fetus. —M. R. Harrison “The Fetus as a Patient: Historical Perspective”
Sociology of Work at the Crossroad
Authors: Castillo Juan José 
Published: March 2007

In the author's opinion, the `big question' now facing sociologists derives from the evident contrast between, on the one hand, work situations and the problems found there (e.g. poor working conditions), and on the other, the way in which research programmes focus on very similar issues in countries with very different social, economic and cultural situations. Researchers appear to be obsessed with what are mistakenly seen as cosmopolitan issues.The author identifies a number of different perspectives from which one can explore the possible future of the sociology of work: the organization of the profession, its academic-scientific structure, and trends in work and in social demand for the discipline.The author argues that to ensure a positive future for both the sociology of work and the societies in which it is practised, sociology must regain its role in the definition of sociological problems and so prevent the conscious ideological trivialization of the discipline. He also argues the case for continual theoretical reconstruction and epistemological vigilance so that sociology can define its theoretical field and identify possible paths towards a greater social role for the discipline.
Correlation of the Scores on Barron's Ego Strength Scale With the Scores on the Bender-Gestalt Test
Authors: Martin John D. , Blair Garland E. , Grah Charles R. , Shoaff Jane E. 
Published: March 2007

The purpose of the present project was to ascertain the degree of relationship between the scores on the Barron Ego Strength Scale and the scores on the Bender-Gestalt Test for a sample of college students from Adolescent Psychology classes. The subjects participating were 40 white females, 9 white males, and 11 black females. The ages ranged from 18 to 47, with a mean age of 24. A comparison of the Barron and Bender measures for the 40 white females resulted in a correlation coeflicient of -.32, which was significant at the .05 level. A comparison of the Barron and Bender scores for the total group of 60 resulted in a correlation coefficient of -.26, which attained significance at the .05 level. No sex differences were found on the Barron or on the Bender. There was, however, a racial difference observed on the Bender. In mean scores both white males and white females differed significantly at the .01 level from black females.
Some Results on Reliability for the Longitudinal Measurement of Change: Implications for the Design of Studies of Individual Growth
Authors: Willett John B. 
Published: March 2007

When changes in educational or psychological status are being measured, every subject in the sample must be observed on several chronologically successive occasions. In the pursuit of such longitudinal data, traditional researchers have been content to administer only a pre-test and a post-test (thus collecting two waves of data on each subject). More recently, however, methodologists have argued that multiwave data (i.e., more than two waves) must be collected for the effective measurement of change. Multi-wave data allows a suitable mathematical model to be fitted to each of the individual growth records as a way of summarizing the growth of each subject. Subsequent investigations of between-individual differences in growth can then be based on the results of these fits. In this article, individual growth-modeling permits the reliability of change measurement to be examined. This reliability is shown to depend upon three factors: the magnitude of the inter-individual heterogeneity in true growth, the size of the measurement-error variance, and the number of waves of data that have been collected. The paper demonstrates that dramatic increases in the reliability of change measurement can be achieved by collecting relatively few additional waves of data, a finding that has considerable import for the informed design of longitudinal studies of individual change.
Yielding in Unidirectional Composites Under External Loads and Temperature Changes*
Authors: Dvorak George J. , Rao M.S.M. , Tarn J.Q. 
Published: March 2007

Initial yield surfaces were constructed for the boron-aluminum com posite under arbitrary combinations of applied composite stresses and tem perature changes, by means of a finite element analysis of a regular hexa gonal array model. The results suggest that with regard to initial yielding, the macroscopic transverse isotropy of the composite is approximately retained on the microscale. Therefore, the general isothermal yield surface can be con structed as a function of four composite stresses. Yielding in the transverse plane is controlled mainly by matrix properties, whereas yielding under normal composite stresses applied in the fiber direction is controlled by the ratio Ef/Em of the Young's moduli of the constituents. In general, high magnitudes of this ratio, as well as higher fiber volume fractions make yielding more difficult. It was found that yielding takes place both under hydrostatic composite stresses, and as a consequence of uniform temperature changes. Therefore, these effects must be accounted for in macroscopic yield criteria and flow rules for composites. It is shown that a uniform temperature increase causes an approximate translation of the yield surfaces in the negative hydrostatic stress direction. Relatively small temperature changes can cause yielding in most composite systems. The typical values were found in the interval of 50° to 100°F, when the tensile yield stress of the matrix was taken as Y = 10,000 psi, and were proportional to Y.
Edge Effects in Angle-Ply Composite Laminates*
Authors: Hsu Peter W. , Herakovich Carl T. 
Published: March 2007

This paper presents the results of a zeroth-order solution for edge effects in angle-ply composite laminates obtained using perturbation tech niques and a limiting free body approach. The general solution for [±θ] laminates is applied to the special case of a [±45]s graphite/epoxy lamin ate. Interlaminar stress distributions are obtained as a function of the laminate thickness-to-width ratio h/b and compared to finite difference results. The solution predicts stable, continuous stress distributions, determines finite maximum tensile interlaminar normal stress σz, and provides mathe matical evidence for singular interlaminar shear stresses τ xz and τyz in [±45] graphite/epoxy laminates.
The Himalayan Connection
Authors: Lane David Christopher 
Published: March 2007

A major problem facing the study of unidentified flying object sighting reports is the lack of an accurate and comprehensive classification system. What are subsumed under the term "U.F.O.'s" are not merely extra-terrestial space crafts but a whole array of psychological, sociological, and even religious phenomena. In order to alleviate the "category errors" inherent in such a diverse field, I have employed the discoveries of Pandit Faqir Chand (on the nature of religious visions) and the work of Ken Wilber (in transpersonal psychology) to propose a paradigm from which U.F.O. reports will be studied under three distinct divisions: translative (re: empirical); transformative (re: mental-subtle); and transfusive (re: the fusion of empirical and mental-subtle modes of knowledge). With such a tripartite classification system we can begin to view reports of unidentified flying objects in a non-reductionistic and more understandable light. First, we can distinguish natural occurrences from transmundane apparitions, without damaging the intrinsic quality of the experience itself. Second, though we may continue to search for authentic translative encounters from life forms outside of our own solar system, our main emphasis (in light of transformation) will be to develop a state-of-consciousness-specific understanding of U.F.O.'s. And thirdly, with transfusive experiences-where transformation and translation intersect-our investigation will no longer be hampered by the apparent "confusion" of such incidents, but will be able to examine the close link between experiential modes of knowing and empirical-sensory data.
Infallibility Is So Damn Appealing
Authors: Schneider Kirk J. 
Published: March 2007

This article is a reply to Ken Wilber's (1989b), "God Is So Damn Boring' and an elaboration upon my original article, "The Deified Self: A 'Centaur' Response to Wilber and the Transpersonal Movement" (Schneider, 1987). The focus of this article is on Wilber's increasing use of pragmatism to justify his metaphysical claims, in particular, "ultimate" claims. This inclination is misguided on several grounds: (a) "'Ultimate" claims cannot be defined in terms that transcend the existential level; (b) "ultimate" functioning cannot be reconciled with concrete (fallible) functioning; (c) "ultimate" awareness cannot be validated scientifically (e.g., phenomenologically or hermeneutically), despite Wilber's efforts to show otherwise; (d) historical sages cannot be clearly differentiated from the psychologically dysfunctional; and (e) motivation still cannot be reconciled with consummate functioning. One always pays dearly and terribly when religions... insist on having their own sovereign way, when they themselves want to be ultimate ends and not means among other means. - Friedrich Nietzsche, 1966, p. 74
Some Correlates of Staff Ideology in the Prison
Authors: Kassebaum Gene G. , Ward David A. , Wilner Daniel M. 
Published: March 2007

In 1962, a group of U.C.L.A. sociologists conducted a survey of staff members of the California Department of Corrections. Data were gathered on staff attitudes in relation to job and insti tutional variation. Factor analytic reduction of 28 items measur ing authoritarian orientation, preference on severity of penalties, optimism or pessimism regarding treatment outcome, and pre ferred social distance vis-à-vis parolees, resulted in measures of authoritarianism, pessimism, social distance, and recommenda tions regarding treatment programs when security is affected. Cross tabulations of the factoral measures with the respondent's job and education were consistent with the hypothesis that cus todial jobs were more traditional in outlook than treatment positions. It was expected that differences in institutional setting would have an influence on staff views of management of inmates and probable outcome of treatment. To test this assumption, eight prisons were ranked on selected characteristics of their inmate populations according to age, criminal history, and prison be havior. Four types of prisons were delineated based on various combinations of these characteristics. It was hypothesized that staffs from institutions housing a rela tively large proportion of inmates involved in serious prison in cidents would be more authoritarian, pessimistic and distant to ward inmates than staffs at institutions with less volatile inmates. Also, the staffs at institutions holding older inmates with histories of prior commitments and parole violations would be more tra ditional in outlook than staffs at other institutions. Mean values of scores, combining all jobs, were averaged for each pair of prisons representing the four types of prisons. The results only partially confirm the hypothesis. All four scores showed significant differences by institution when tabulated sep arately. Pessimism is highest in prisons housing younger inmates with little prior confinement and few incidents. Readiness to withhold treatment is highest among prisons for younger (not older) men with incident rates. However, authoritarianism and social distance scores varied as predicted. Within prisons, jobs continue to differ significantly in expressed attitudes. The finding that pessimism is characteristic of prisons with young offenders and few incidents indicates a need for further study of institutional contexts, beyond the scope of this survey.
Cluster Analysis in a Parolee Sample
Authors: Fildes Robert , Gottfredson Don M. 
Published: March 2007

This study extends earlier work concerned with the classification of individuals. The method used, called Association Analysis, has received widespread attention since its first use by Williams and Lambert.1 Ordinarily, in Association Analysis, use has been made of the statistic Chi-square (or of the Phi coefficient) to measure the associations among attributes. This report discusses the use of two different statistics (Cramér's Statistic ϕ' and the multiple correlation coefficient) for the purpose of classification according to a hierarchical subdivision process like that previously used. Although the procedure is strictly one of classification, not necessarily for purposes of prediction, the attributes by which an individual is classified are those often found associated with parole outcomes and used in the Uniform Parole Reports.2 To explore the use of this technique in parole prediction, a pooling procedure was applied to the subgroups obtained, resulting in groups of paroled prisoners, each with significantly different parole out comes.
Some Explorations in the Scaling of Penalties
Authors: Sebba Leslie 
Published: March 2007

Quantification techniques in criminology have been applied extensively to the measurement of the seriousness of offenses, but the question of the relative severity of different penalities has been neglected. Which, for example, is the more severe penalty, a heavy fine, a long period of probation, or a short term of imprisonment? Is a $1,000 fine twice as severe a penalty as a $500 fine? This topic is not only of theoretical interest in itself It also has immediate practical implications for research on sentencing practices, on the seriousness of offenses, and on deterrence, as well as for the implementation of prevailing notions of proportionality in sentencing policy and for certain other juris prudential problems. Attempts have occasionally been made to meet the requirements of research in this area by selecting an arbitrary measure of severity, such as imprison ment rates. Other researchers have assigned arbitrary weights to the various penalties. What is required, however, is the development of an empirically based scale, deriving from respondents' perceptions of the relative severity of various penalties. The methodology employed in measuring the seriousness of offenses may be adapted for this purpose. Tentative findings of an exploratory study are considered.
Determinants of Juvenile Postadjudication Dispositions
Authors: Kowalski Gregory S. , Rickicki John P. 
Published: March 2007

This paper describes six variables-two legal variables (number of past of fenses, committing offense), two extralegal variables (age, race), and two Diagnostic and Evaluation (D&E) Center variables (behavior rating, IQ)- thought to affect the postadjudication disposition of juveniles, in particular, their placement in either a group home or an institutional setting. The data used in this study were gathered from completed case histories on 133 random ly sampled male juveniles processed over a six-month period by a department of youth services (DYS) facility in a southern state. Regression analysis demonstrates that D&E behavior rating, number of past offenses, age, and committing offense were significant determinants of postadjudication disposition. The variables race and IQ, while having a signifi cant simple correlation with type of disposition, are found to be nonsignificant when the other independent factors are controlled. It is also shown through an interaction analysis that the multiplicative term of number of past offenses x committing offense was an important factor in the juvenile's disposition. It appears that the D&E Center avoided allowing race, an extralegal fac tor, to influence dispositions following adjudication. The primary determinants are similar to those found in the literature concerning other stages of disposi tion. If race as an extralegal variable does influence the treatment of an adoles cent in the juvenile justice system, it does so in the earlier stages of the process.
Reading-Writing Connections in E.a.P. Classes: a Content Analysis of Written Summaries Produced Under Three Mediating Conditions
Authors: Allison Desmond , Berry Vivien , Lewkowicz JO 
Published: March 2007

A recent study by the authors has proposed a rationale for investigating the effects of mediating tasks upon a summary writing activity for tertiary-level students using English as an educational medium. The tasks in the study involved a group discussion or a reading comprehension exercise, with a third condition providing for immediate access to the text and summary instructions with no mediating activity. Following a brief review of the experimental design and procedures, the authors now present an original comparative analysis of the content of summaries written by students under the three different task conditions (approximately 30 students in each group). The content analysis examines the selection of topics, their sequential development and especially their relative prominence in these summaries. The discussion of implications for teaching assesses the merits of mediating tasks as language activities and also comments on their probable effects upon final written outcomes.
Replacement of Professors in Theological Colleges and Faculties
Authors: Hoffner Joseph 
Published: March 2007

En Allemagne, le manque de recrues nouvelles dans les diverses disciplines de la théologie catholique devient alarmant. Une action d'envergure qui ne soit pas seu lement commandée par les propres nécessités de chaque diocèse devient urgente. Or, dans les choix de la nou velle génération, la qualification scientifique entre autant en ligne de compte que l'aspect proprement sacerdotal. Aussi importe-t-il que les évêques et les professeurs s'entendent quant à la formation des générations mon tantes qui sc trouvent aux études.
Pratique religieuse et appartenance sociale
Authors: Laloux J. 
Published: March 2007

Can the fact of 'belonging' to different groups be gathered from religious practice or religious absenteism? Or, in other words, is the fact that one goes to church on sunday, a criterion which permits us to distinguish different forms of behaviour in different spheres of life? Research carried out in Seraing, Belgium, indicates that it is easy to place too much reliance on the discriminating value of this criterion. In the spheres in which the hypothesis has been tested, the fact of going or not going to church is not linked to different forms of behaviour. This is especially true where spontaneous social behaviour is concerned. As far as participation in social organisations is concerned, which, in Belgium, are often opposed on the basis of a double philosophical political religi ous system, the situation is slightly different. But even in these cases another criterion seems to be more discernible: i.e. being very active in voluntary christian or non christian organisations. This characteristic distinguishes those engaged from those not engaged, if they go to church or not. On the other hand, on certain points militant christians and militant non christians are more opposed than church goers and non church goers.
Influence du milieu familial, des relations, du milieu scolaire et de la culture sur la foi des jeunes des grandes villes Conclusions d'une enquête
Authors: Wilemski Edmund 
Published: March 2007

The study was carried out in Poland during the years 1957 to 1965. The particular concern of the enquiry was young boys and girls aged between 15 and 20 years. 2694 young people were questioned in Warsaw, Lodz, Cracow, Wroclaw and Gdansk. The method adopted made use of both subjective and empirical procedures. Individual questionnaires and interviews allowed regulation of the enquiry as a whole. Moreover, both teachers and parents were consulted. The article gives the conclusions of the enquiry. The influence of family environment is most evident among girls and in the majority of cases this influence is positive (= attaining its object): believing girls are more subject to these positive influences than are those who do not believe; believing boys, however, are more subject to negative influences than those who do not believe. The enquiry further observes the influence of relations among young people, especially the influence of discussions and example. A third part has as its conclusion the central importance of the influence of the school. Finally, the influence of cultural factors (study, entertainment) is established as important and capable of killing the religious sense by means of the doubt and denial spread by the culture. This baleful influence is verified in 1869 cases out of the 2694.