title: Using professional colleagues as interviewers in action research: Possibilities and pitfalls.

authors: Hume, Anne Christine

subjects: action research

abstract: In this study of her university teaching practice in science education, an action researcher sought the collaboration of a colleague to address research design issues related to researcher bias. The colleague worked in another field of study (mathematics education) but was experienced in qualitative research, notably interviewing. Acting as an outside interviewer, the colleague used her skills related to the dynamics of interviewing and her knowledge of the content of the study to elicit pertinent information from interviewees about the effectiveness of the first author's teaching. The additional expertise enhanced the quality of the study considerably and highlighted how "two heads can work better than one". In the process both researchers gained appreciable professional knowledge from each other. The first author gained a greater understanding of the interview process while the second author acquired an appreciation of how pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) is viewed within the context of science, raising the possibility that there are some differences in the way that PCK is conceived within science versus mathematics. The collaboration also raised some unforseen issues that may have impacted on the nature of the findings. This paper discusses the positive outcomes of using a colleague as an interviewer in an action research project as well as some of the pitfalls that can also accompany such teamwork. Consideration is given to the issue of balancing the costs and benefits of this approach to data gathering.

text: Using professional colleagues as interviewers in action research: Possibilities and pitfalls. In this study of her university teaching practice in science education, an action researcher sought the collaboration of a colleague to address research design issues related to researcher bias. The colleague worked in another field of study (mathematics education) but was experienced in qualitative research, notably interviewing. Acting as an outside interviewer, the colleague used her skills related to the dynamics of interviewing and her knowledge of the content of the study to elicit pertinent information from interviewees about the effectiveness of the first author's teaching. The additional expertise enhanced the quality of the study considerably and highlighted how "two heads can work better than one". In the process both researchers gained appreciable professional knowledge from each other. The first author gained a greater understanding of the interview process while the second author acquired an appreciation of how pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) is viewed within the context of science, raising the possibility that there are some differences in the way that PCK is conceived within science versus mathematics. The collaboration also raised some unforseen issues that may have impacted on the nature of the findings. This paper discusses the positive outcomes of using a colleague as an interviewer in an action research project as well as some of the pitfalls that can also accompany such teamwork. Consideration is given to the issue of balancing the costs and benefits of this approach to data gathering.

year: 2011

title: Efficient Model Selection in Linear and Non-Linear Quantile Regression by Cross-Validation

authors: Jung, Yoonsuh

subjects: cross-validation

abstract: Check loss function is used to define quantile regression. In the prospect of cross validation, it is also employed as a validation function when underlying truth is unknown. However, our empirical study indicates that the validation with check loss often leads to choosing an over estimated fits. In this work, we suggest a modified or L2-adjusted check loss which rounds the sharp corner in the middle of check loss. It has a large effect of guarding against over fitted model in some extent. Through various simulation settings of linear and non-linear regressions, the improvement of check loss by L2 adjustment is empirically examined. This adjustment is devised to shrink to zero as sample size grows.

text: Efficient Model Selection in Linear and Non-Linear Quantile Regression by Cross-Validation Check loss function is used to define quantile regression. In the prospect of cross validation, it is also employed as a validation function when underlying truth is unknown. However, our empirical study indicates that the validation with check loss often leads to choosing an over estimated fits. In this work, we suggest a modified or L2-adjusted check loss which rounds the sharp corner in the middle of check loss. It has a large effect of guarding against over fitted model in some extent. Through various simulation settings of linear and non-linear regressions, the improvement of check loss by L2 adjustment is empirically examined. This adjustment is devised to shrink to zero as sample size grows.

year: 2016-04-19

title: Me tangi ki te hunga whakamomori?

authors: Roa, Raukura

subjects: Mate whakamomori

abstract: I runga o Tūrangawaewae Marae i te 19 Akuhata, 2011 i te rā kawe mate o te koroneihana o Kīngi Tuheitia, i whakatakotohia e Professor Pou Temara te urupounamu ‘ko te hunga whakamomori me tangi me aha rānei?’ Ko taku whakapae, ko te whakaaro pea o roto o tēnei pātai, e aro ana ki te hunga whakamomori. Heoi, ko te aronga kē pea o te kaupapa, ko tēnei mea te tangihanga. He whakapono nō te ao Māori, ko te tangihanga, he whakarangatira i te tūpāpaku me ngā mahi i oti i a ia i te wā o te ora. Heoi, ko tāku e uaparetia ana, ko te kawenga matua o te tangihanga, ko te aroha o te tangata ki te tangata. Ko ngā kaupapa o te tangihanga, tuatahi he tuku i te wairua ki te wāhi ngaro. Tuarua, he huarahi e tīngia ai e te Māori ngā panonitanga o te mate. Tuatoru, he hui e whai oranga ai te hunga ora. Nō reira ko taku paremata ki te pakirēhua a Professor Pou Temara, ae me tangi ki te hunga whakamomori ka tika. Ko te aronga o tēnei pepa he wānanga i ngā tuhituhinga kua puta kē ki te ao mā te wetewete i ngā kōrero mō te tangihanga, te mate, te rerenga o te wairua, te whakahaeretanga o te tangihanga, te whakamomori, me ngā whakapono o iwi kē mō te whakamomori.

text: Me tangi ki te hunga whakamomori? I runga o Tūrangawaewae Marae i te 19 Akuhata, 2011 i te rā kawe mate o te koroneihana o Kīngi Tuheitia, i whakatakotohia e Professor Pou Temara te urupounamu ‘ko te hunga whakamomori me tangi me aha rānei?’ Ko taku whakapae, ko te whakaaro pea o roto o tēnei pātai, e aro ana ki te hunga whakamomori. Heoi, ko te aronga kē pea o te kaupapa, ko tēnei mea te tangihanga. He whakapono nō te ao Māori, ko te tangihanga, he whakarangatira i te tūpāpaku me ngā mahi i oti i a ia i te wā o te ora. Heoi, ko tāku e uaparetia ana, ko te kawenga matua o te tangihanga, ko te aroha o te tangata ki te tangata. Ko ngā kaupapa o te tangihanga, tuatahi he tuku i te wairua ki te wāhi ngaro. Tuarua, he huarahi e tīngia ai e te Māori ngā panonitanga o te mate. Tuatoru, he hui e whai oranga ai te hunga ora. Nō reira ko taku paremata ki te pakirēhua a Professor Pou Temara, ae me tangi ki te hunga whakamomori ka tika. Ko te aronga o tēnei pepa he wānanga i ngā tuhituhinga kua puta kē ki te ao mā te wetewete i ngā kōrero mō te tangihanga, te mate, te rerenga o te wairua, te whakahaeretanga o te tangihanga, te whakamomori, me ngā whakapono o iwi kē mō te whakamomori.

year: 2012-05