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Existing Theories (existing + theory)
Selected AbstractsExisting theories do not explain sex ratio variation at birth in monomorphic roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)INTEGRATIVE ZOOLOGY (ELECTRONIC), Issue 1 2007Stefan Jacob VREUGDENHIL Abstract The phenomenon of skewed sex ratios at birth has been reported in many ungulate species. So far, no consistent trend has emerged for roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), because male-biased, female-biased and equal sex ratios at birth have all been found. Nevertheless, both the Trivers-Willard hypothesis and the theory of local resource competition have gained support. Despite the great number of studies carried out regarding the ecology of roe deer, too many aspects remain unclear, and contradictory results have been produced with respect to several crucial elements. Without further research, the discussion on which theory applies will therefore remain inconclusive. We put forward the argument that eventually the theories of Trivers-Willard and local resource competition can be considered as being not essentially different. After all, both theories explain the observed skewed sex ratios as being due to the effect of the progeny's sex on the mother's body condition and hence her reproductive success in subsequent years. Furthermore, neither theory is likely to prove to be suitable for roe deer, as several assumptions are unlikely to be met. In roe deer, skewed ratios probably only have a temporal character. As a matter of fact, several observations of skewed sex ratios in birds and mammals did not withstand the accumulation of further data, as sex ratios that were initially believed to be biased turned out to be equal in the long term. This is likely to be the case in roe deer as well. We hypothesize that roe deer, as r-strategists, will produce as many offspring as possible, regardless of sex. [source] The Influence of Takeover Protection on Earnings ManagementJOURNAL OF BUSINESS FINANCE & ACCOUNTING, Issue 3-4 2008Yijiang Zhao Abstract:, We examine the relationship between takeover protection and earnings management. Existing theories suggest two contradictory effects of takeover protection on opportunistic earnings management: entrenchment theory suggests an exacerbating effect, whereas both alignment theory and quiet life theory posit a mitigating effect. We find that takeover protection is associated with lower levels of abnormal working capital accruals, lower levels of performance-adjusted abnormal accruals and timelier recognition of losses. Further tests show that takeover protection is associated with lower firm value, which contradicts alignment theory but supports quiet life theory. The results suggest that takeover protection allows managers to enjoy the quiet life and thus mitigates earnings management. [source] The Organizational Life of an Idea: Integrating Social Network, Creativity and Decision-Making Perspectives*JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES, Issue 6 2007Bob Kijkuit abstract Existing theories on the influence of social networks on creativity focus on idea generation. Conversely, the new product development literature concentrates more on the selection of ideas and projects. In this paper we bridge this gap by developing a dynamic framework for the role of social networks from idea generation to selection. We apply findings from creativity and behavioural decision-making literature and present an in-depth understanding of the sociological processes in the front-end of the new product development process. Our framework builds on the importance of mutual understanding, sensemaking and consensus formation. The propositions focus on both network structure and content and highlight the need to have strong ties and prior related knowledge, to incorporate decision makers, and to move over time from a large, non-redundant and heterogeneous to a smaller and more cohesive network structure. We conclude with a discussion on empirical validation of the framework and possible extensions. [source] Faith in Our Neighbors: Networks and Social Order in Three Brazilian FavelasLATIN AMERICAN POLITICS AND SOCIETY, Issue 1 2004Enrique Desmond Arias ABSTRACT After nearly 20 years of democratization, residents of Rio's favelas suffer high levels of civil and human rights abuse at the hands of both police and drug traffickers. The government is generally unable to guarantee the political order necessary to protect the rights of residents in these communities. Existing theories of democratization and advocacy networks offer little to explain how the types of endemic violence that affect poor neighborhoods in the developing world can be brought under control. Based on more than two years of participant observation and interviews in Rio de Janeiro, this article examines how democratic order can be extended to favelas. It argues that networks can link favela residents to organizations in civil society, and state actors can play a critical role in reducing violence and establishing democratic order. [source] Anosognosia and the Two-factor Theory of DelusionsMIND & LANGUAGE, Issue 2 2005Martin Davies Existing theories of anosognosia for hemiplegia appeal to impaired feedback from the paralysed side of the body and to cognitive impairments. We show how cases of anosognosia for hemiplegia can be brought within the scope of a generic two-factor theory about the aetiology of monothematic delusions of neuropsychological origin. [source] Problems in the Theorisation of Global Civil SocietyPOLITICAL STUDIES, Issue 5 2002Gideon Baker Existing theories of global civil society are problematical for two reasons. First, they assume that transnational organisations can assist world-wide democratisation without questioning either the representativeness of such organisations, or their accountability, or the potentially negative ramifications of their actions for international political equality. Second, despite placing new emphasis on political agency outside of the state, many accounts of global civil society ultimately reproduce statist discourse by reducing action in global civil society to a struggle for rights. This misrepresents global civil society since arguments for rights are, inter alia, arguments for the state, whereas the agency of global civil society immanently questions the legitimacy of the state. [source] Party Government and the "Cohesive Power of Public Plunder"AMERICAN JOURNAL OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, Issue 1 2010Royce Carroll We argue that party government in the U.S. House of Representatives rests on two pillars: the pursuit of policy goals and the disbursement of particularistic benefits. Existing theories of party government argue that the majority party in the House is often successful in biasing policy outcomes in its favor. In the process, it creates "policy losers" among its own members who nevertheless support their party on procedural votes. We posit that the majority party creates an incentive for even the policy losers to support a procedural coalition through judicious distribution of particularistic benefits that compensates policy losers at a rate commensurate with the policy losses that they suffer. We evaluate our theory empirically using the concept of "roll rates" in conjunction with federal domestic outlays data for the period 1983,96. We find that, within the majority party, policy losers are favored in the distribution of "pork barrel" spending throughout this period. [source] Effect of doping on carriers of conducting polymers with degenerate ground statesPHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI (B) BASIC SOLID STATE PHYSICS, Issue 4 2004F. Jiang Abstract Existing theory in the literature states that, in conjugated polymers with degenerate ground states, the energy of a polaron is larger than that of a soliton but smaller than that of a soliton-antisoliton pair. However, in real polymers, doping not only provides charge transfer but also affects hopping near a dopant. Our study shows that when the hopping effect is included, the energy of a s, pair can be lower than that of single polaron. This effect is able to account for the experimental results observed for polymers with low concentration doping. (© 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Generic personality and emotion simulation for conversational agentsCOMPUTER ANIMATION AND VIRTUAL WORLDS (PREV: JNL OF VISUALISATION & COMPUTER ANIMATION), Issue 1 2004Arjan Egges Abstract This paper describes a generic model for personality, mood and emotion simulation for conversational virtual humans. We present a generic model for updating the parameters related to emotional behaviour, as well as a linear implementation of the generic update mechanisms. We explore how existing theories for appraisal can be integrated into the framework. Then we describe a prototype system that uses the described models in combination with a dialogue system and a talking head with synchronized speech and facial expressions. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Defending Byzantine Spain: frontiers and diplomacyEARLY MEDIEVAL EUROPE, Issue 3 2010Jamie Wood The centrality of the Reconquista in the historiography of medieval Spain has meant that there has been little examination of the evidence for interaction on and across political boundaries in pre-Islamic Spain. This article re-examines existing theories about the defence of the Byzantine province of Spania that had been established by Justinian in the 550s and was taken by the Visigoths in 625. The two existing and opposing models for the extent, defence, and , therefore , the importance of the province to the empire do not explain the evidence convincingly. Rather, a fluid zone of interaction was established in which diplomacy and ,propaganda' was the primary means by which opposition was articulated. [source] Sources of distinctiveness: position, difference and separateness in the identities of Anglican parish priestsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 6 2002Vivian L. Vignoles We investigated the implications of three sources of distinctiveness,position, difference and separateness,for identity and subjective well-being in a survey of 149 Anglican parish priests. Distinctiveness was examined within parish and clergy comparative contexts. Each source contributed substantially and uniquely to ratings of the distinctiveness associated with identity elements in each context. Parish-context position was emphasised within identity and was positive for affect, while parish-context separateness was negative for affect. Distinctiveness in the clergy context was not emphasised within identity and was unrelated to affect. This shows that distinctiveness is not a unitary construct: extending existing theories (Breakwell, 1993; Brewer, 1991; Triandis, 1995), we argue that different forms of distinctiveness will have different implications for identity and well-being according to culture and context. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Investigation of electrical conduction mechanism in double-layered polymeric systemJOURNAL OF APPLIED POLYMER SCIENCE, Issue 1 2009Prashant Shukla Abstract The electrical conduction in solution-grown polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) and PMMA-PVDF double-layered samples in the sandwich configuration (metal-polymer-metal) was investigated at different fields in the range 100,120 kV/cm as a function of temperature in the range 293,423 K for samples of constant thickness of about 50 ,m. Certain effects which lead to a large burst of current immediately after the application of field were observed in double-layered samples. An attempt was made to identify the nature of the current by comparing the observed dependence on electric field, electrode material and temperature with the respective characteristic features of the existing theories on electrical conduction. The observed linear I-V characteristics show that the electrical conduction follows Pool-Frenkel mechanism in PMMA and PVDF samples. Whereas, the non-linear behavior of current-voltage measurements in PMMA-PVDF double-layered samples have been interpreted on the basis of space charge limited conduction (SCLC) mechanism. The conductivity of the polymer films increased on formation of their double-layer laminates. The polymer-polymer interface act as charge carrier trapping centres and provides links between the polymer molecules in the amorphous region. The interfacial phenomenon in polymer-polymer heterogeneous system has been interpreted in terms of Maxwell-Wagner model. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009 [source] Interdisciplinary team leadership: a revisionist approach for an old problem?JOURNAL OF NURSING MANAGEMENT, Issue 6 2003Antoinette McCallin BA, MA (Hons) Understanding of interdisciplinary teamwork is evolving. During health care restructuring, leaders across organizations have challenging responsibilities when work groups must integrate changing organizational values with new modes of service delivery. In this environment, a well-functioning interdisciplinary team in which clinicians work as member-leaders has the potential to further organizational change and foster improvements in patient outcomes. In this paper it is argued that the term interdisciplinary team leadership should be embraced cautiously as it may be a revisionist approach to an old problem, namely a means to modify existing theories of leadership that have been vague and continue to be poorly understood despite considerable effort to explicate knowledge over several decades. Preliminary research suggests that interdisciplinary team leadership is a model of shared leadership that requires more development if it is to become the cornerstone of interdisciplinary team practice in a radically reforming health sector. Stewardship is proposed as a potential philosophy for interdisciplinary team leadership, and a new, shared leadership role of practice leader is suggested. [source] assessment: Influences of deep learning, need for cognition and preparation time on open- and closed-book test performanceMEDICAL EDUCATION, Issue 9 2010Marjolein Heijne-Penninga Medical Education 2010: 44: 884,891 Objectives, The ability to master discipline-specific knowledge is one of the competencies medical students must acquire. In this context, ,mastering' means being able to recall and apply knowledge. A way to assess this competency is to use both open- and closed-book tests. Student performance on both tests can be influenced by the way the student processes information. Deep information processing is expected to influence performance positively. The personal preferences of students in relation to how they process information in general (i.e. their level of need for cognition) may also be of importance. In this study, we examined the inter-relatedness of deep learning, need for cognition and preparation time, and scores on open- and closed-book tests. Methods, This study was conducted at the University Medical Centre Groningen. Participants were Year 2 students (n = 423). They were asked to complete a questionnaire on deep information processing, a scale for need for cognition on a questionnaire on intellectualism and, additionally, to write down the time they spent on test preparation. We related these measures to the students' scores on two tests, both consisting of open- and closed-book components and used structural equation modelling to analyse the data. Results, Both questionnaires were completed by 239 students (57%). The results showed that need for cognition positively influenced both open- and closed-book test scores (,-coefficients 0.05 and 0.11, respectively). Furthermore, study outcomes measured by open-book tests predicted closed-book test results better than the other way around (,-coefficients 0.72 and 0.11, respectively). Conclusions, Students with a high need for cognition performed better on open- as well as closed-book tests. Deep learning did not influence their performance. Adding open-book tests to the regularly used closed-book tests seems to improve the recall of knowledge that has to be known by heart. Need for cognition may provide a valuable addition to existing theories on learning. [source] A Social Psychological Approach to Enduring RivalriesPOLITICAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 4 2001Cameron G. Thies The recent scholarly work on the concept of enduring rivalries offers a promising way to examine strategic interaction among dyads of states over extended periods of time. A focus on rivalry, and on the mechanisms that provide for such interaction, may offer a way to bridge existing theories of international relations that rely exclusively on structure or process. Unfortunately, the potential for theory-building has not been fully realized because research into rivalry has tended to be inductive. This paper seeks to rectify that problem by situating the rivalry concept within a social psychological approach to international relations. The rivalry concept is appropriately located in a theoretical approach that views the international system as a social system where actors are conditioned by mechanisms of competition and socialization. [source] LIBERALIZATION AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR: THE PRE-EMINENT ROLE OF GOVERNMENTS IN THE ,SALE' OF HIGHER EDUCATION ABROADPUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, Issue 2 2009ANNELIESE DODDS Much recent scholarship concerning liberalization has emphasized the role of regulatees, rather than governments, in promoting liberalization. This article examines such scholarship in the light of an important development in the British and French public sectors,the creation of new agencies (the Education Counselling Service and EduFrance) to ,sell' British and French higher education to potential international students. The new agencies attempted to induce two things: competition amongst higher education institutions for the recruitment of international students from developed and emerging economy countries, and the commodification of these students. This article shows that, contrary to existing theories of liberalization, governments were pre-eminent in pushing forward this liberalization, while higher education institutions attempted to hold it back. [source] University Commercialization Strategies in the Development of Regional Bioclusters,THE JOURNAL OF PRODUCT INNOVATION MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2008Shiri M. Breznitz To analyze university contribution to economic development, the present study examines universities' technology transfer policies and their associated economic development impact. The article examines how a university defines itself as part of a region as well as what activities, if any, do university commercialization strategies in context of their regional environment affect spin-off activity. Furthermore, this study explores the ways universities contribute to regional economic development by examining existing theories and analyzing universities' relationships with both government and industry in two regions. This study draws from Roberts and Malone's (1996) selectivity,support typology and highlights this article's argument by comparing the commercialization strategies of world-class universities strategies in the development of regional biotechnology clusters in Massachusetts and in Connecticut. This article investigates the notion of whether universities can differently influence the economic development processes of the while still having successful commercial outcomes. These findings build on previous research (Clarysse et al., 2005; Degroof and Roberts, 2004; Powers and McDougall, 2005), which argues that low support,low selectivity policies may be more suitable to entrepreneurially developed environments, whereas high support,high selectivity policies are more efficient in entrepreneurially underdeveloped environments. Masachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is located in a strong technopole region, whereby many of its support structures for spin-off formation are provided by the regional infrastructure of the Cambridge,Boston region. In contrast, Yale University, which has an underdeveloped entrepreneurial context, has had to take a more proactive role in providing incubation capabilities to their spin-off projects. This finding supports a contingent based perspective of academic entrepreneurship, whereby low support,low selectivity policies are more fitted to entrepreneurially developed environments, whereas high support,high selectivity policies are more efficient in entrepreneurially underdeveloped environments. [source] Specialization, Context of Production, and Alienation in the Production Process: Comments and AfterthoughtsARCHEOLOGICAL PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, Issue 1 2007Yung-ti Li The study of craft specialization has gone through several stages since the pioneering work of Childe, each with changing foci and emphases. The current volume marks yet another development in the field that demonstrates both discontents with existing theories and efforts to enhance and strengthen the discourse. Acting as a commentator to facilitate further discussion, the first half of my chapter addresses specific issues in individual chapters, while the second half explores another dimension of production by looking at bronze and pottery production in ancient and premodern China. Whereas some contributors examine alienability in the social role of the objects and the rights over alienation of the product, this discussion examines another form of alienation that can be considered in the study of craft production, one that is both salient and tangible in archaeological data: alienation of the manufacturing process, that is, alienation of the craft producers from their own skills. The work of Ursula Franklin on Shang bronze production is reviewed, and new studies on porcelain production at Jingdezhen and stoneware production at Yixing are incorporated to further develop Franklin's model. I argue that through examining the material patterns of the production process and the type range of finished products, alienation in the workplace can be detected archaeologically. [source] Toward a Theory of Entertainment Persuasion: Explaining the Persuasive Effects of Entertainment-Education MessagesCOMMUNICATION THEORY, Issue 3 2008Emily Moyer-Gusé A growing body of research indicates that entertainment-education programming can be an effective way to deliver prosocial and health messages. Some have even speculated that entertainment-education may be more effective than overtly persuasive messages in certain circumstances. Despite empirical advances in this area, more work is needed to understand fully what makes entertainment-education unique from a message-processing standpoint. To this end, the present article has three objectives. First, the article examines the involvement with narrative storylines and characters that is fostered by entertainment programming. This includes a much-needed explication and separation of several related constructs, such as identification, parasocial interaction, similarity, and others. Second, the article reviews and synthesizes existing theories that have addressed entertainment-education message processing. Third, the article builds on these theories, presenting an expanded theoretical framework. A set of propositions is advanced and directions for future research are discussed. In total, the article offers a clarification of existing concepts that are critical to the study of entertainment-education, a synthesis of relevant theory, and a set of propositions to guide future research in entertainment-education message effects. Résumé Pour une théorie de la persuasion spectacle : Une explication des effets persuasifs des messages ludoéducatifs Un nombre croissant d,études indiquent que la programmation ludoéducative peut être une façon efficace de transmettre des messages à caractère social et sanitaire. Certaines ont même supposé que dans certaines circonstances, les messages ludoéducatifs pouvaient être plus efficaces que les messages ouvertement persuasifs. Malgré des avancées empiriques dans ce domaine, plus de travaux sont nécessaires pour bien comprendre ce qui rend les messages ludoéducatifs uniques du point de vue de leur traitement. À cette fin, cet article a trois objectifs. Premièrement, il examine l'engagement envers l,intrigue narrative et les personnages qui est généré par la programmation ludique. Cela inclut une explication et une séparation, fortement nécessaires, de plusieurs construits liés, comme l'identification, l,interaction parasociale et la similarité, entre autres. Deuxièmement, l'article passe en revue et synthétise les théories existantes qui ont abordé le traitement des messages ludoéducatifs. Troisièmement, l,article met à profit ces théories pour présenter un cadre théorique élargi. Un ensemble de propositions sont soumises et des éléments de recherche future sont commentés. Dans l'ensemble, l,article clarifie les concepts cruciaux pour l'étude des messages ludoéducatifs. Il offre également une synthèse des théories pertinentes ainsi qu,un ensemble de propositions pouvant guider la recherche future sur les effets des messages ludoéducatifs. Abstract Zu einer Theorie unterhaltender Persuasion. Die Erklärung persuasiver Effekte von Entertainment-Education Botschaften Immer mehr Studien zeigen, dass Entertainment-Education Programme ein effektiver Weg sein können, prosoziale und gesundheitsrelevante Botschaften zu vermitteln. Dabei wird sogar spekuliert, dass Entertainment-Education unter bestimmten Umständen möglicherweise effektiver als offensichtlich persuasive Botschaften ist. Trotz der empirischen Fortschritte auf dem Gebiet braucht es mehr Forschung, um zu verstehen, was Entertainment-Education bezogen auf die Verarbeitung der Botschaft so einzigartig macht. Dieser Artikel hat daher drei Ziele: Erstens untersucht dieser Artikel das Involvement mit narrativen Storylines und Figuren, das durch unterhaltende Programme befördert wird; dazu gehört die Explikation und Abgrenzung verschiedener verwandter Konstrukte wie Identifikation, parasoziale Interaktion, Ähnlichkeit und anderen. Zweitens bewertet und erläutert dieser Artikel bestehende Theorien, welche die Verarbeitung von Entertainment-Education Botschaften betrachten. Aufbauend auf diese Theorien präsentiert dieser Artikel drittens einen erweiterten theoretischen Rahmen. Eine Reihe von Propositionen wird fortgeschrieben und zukünftige Forschungsrichtungen werden diskutiert. Zusammengefasst bietet dieser Artikel die Klärung bestehender Konzepte, welche zentral für die Untersuchung von Entertainment-Education sind und eine Synthese relevanter Theorien und Propositionen, die forschungsleitend für die Untersuchung von Entertainment-Education Botschaftseffekten sind. Resumen Hacia una Teoría del Entretenimiento Persuasivo: Explicando los Efectos Persuasivos de los Mensajes de Entretenimiento Educativo Un cuerpo de investigaciones creciente indica que la programación de entretenimiento educativo puede ser una manera efectiva de enviar mensajes pro-sociales y de salud. Algunos han especulado que el entretenimiento educativo puede ser más efectivo en ciertas circunstancias que los mensajes abiertamente persuasivos. A pesar de los avances empíricos en esta área, se necesita más trabajo para comprender totalmente qué hace al entretenimiento educativo único desde el punto de vista del procesamiento del mensaje. Con ese objeto, el artículo presente tiene tres objetivos. Primero, el ensayo examina la implicación emocional de los guiones narrativos y los personajes que es fomentada por la programación de entretenimiento. Este incluye una explicación muy necesaria y la separación de varios constructos relacionados, tales como identificación, interacción para social, similitud, y otras. Segundo, este ensayo revisa y sintetiza las teorías existentes que tratan el procesamiento de los mensajes de entretenimiento educativo. Tercero, el artículo se construye sobre esas teorías, presentando un marco teórico ampliado. Un grupo de proposiciones es promovido y direcciones para la investigación futura son discutidas. En total, este ensayo ofrece una clarificación de los conceptos existentes que son críticos para el estudio del entretenimiento educativo, una síntesis de la teoría relevante, y un grupo de proposiciones para guiar la investigación futura sobre los efectos de los mensajes de entretenimiento educativo. ZhaiYao Yo yak [source] The Unacknowledged Role of Emotion in Theories of Close Relationships: How Do Theories Feel+COMMUNICATION THEORY, Issue 1 2003Sally Planalp Emotion clearly plays a leading role in close relationships and may even direct their development, durability, and dissolution. In theories of close relationships, however, emotion is often given only a supporting role. Recent research in the study of emotion suggests several ways in which existing theories might be enriched by letting emotion into the limelight: Social exchange theory could become more intuitively appealing by incorporating recent research on the role of emotion in decision making. Dialectical theories could be enriched by incorporating emotions that provide feelings of dialectical tension and drive movement between poles. Stage theories of relational development could be elaborated by including how feelings change as relationships develop and deteriorate. [source] The Business of Caring: Women's Self-Employment and the Marketization of CareGENDER, WORK & ORGANISATION, Issue 4 2010Nickela Anderson Our goal in this article is to contribute to a differentiated analysis of paid caring work by considering whether and how women's experiences of such work is shaped by their employment status (for example, self-employed versus employee) and the nature of care provided (direct or indirect). Self-employed care workers have not been widely studied compared with other types of care workers, such as employees providing domestic or childcare in private firms or private homes. Yet their experiences may be quite distinct. Existing research suggests that self-employed workers earn less than employees and are often excluded from employment protection. Nonetheless, they often report greater autonomy and job satisfaction in their day-to-day work. Understanding more about the experiences of self-employed caregivers is thus important for enriching existing theory, research and policy on the marketization of care. Addressing this gap, our article explores the working conditions, pay and levels of satisfaction of care workers who are self-employed. We draw on interviews from a small-scale study of Canadian women engaged in providing direct care (for example, childcare) and indirect care (for example, cleaning). [source] Information-Seeking Strategies, Uncertainty, and Computer-Mediated CommunicationHUMAN COMMUNICATION RESEARCH, Issue 2 2002Toward a Conceptual Model This article argues that existing theory and research on computer-mediated communication (CMC) provide a limited view of information-seeking behavior and proposes a conceptual model for its examination via CMC and new media. Although most CMC environments eliminate or severely reduce nonverbal and contextual information available to address uncertainty, form impressions, and develop relationships, such environments offer alternative mechanisms for acquiring social information about others. The article discusses strategies for seeking social information and identifies factors influencing their selection from alternatives, incorporating them into a conceptual model. Finally, 2 promising approaches for examining the effects and effectiveness of social information seeking in CMC are described, with an emphasis on how the proposed conceptual model can aid in the development of each. [source] Wrapped input selection using multilayer perceptrons for repeat-purchase modeling in direct marketingINTELLIGENT SYSTEMS IN ACCOUNTING, FINANCE & MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2001Stijn Viaene In this paper, we try to validate existing theory on and develop additional insight into repeat-purchase behavior in a direct marketing setting by means of an illuminating case study. The case involves the detection and qualification of the most relevant RFM (Recency, Frequency and Monetary) variables, using a neural network wrapper as our input pruning method. Results indicate that elimination of redundant and/or irrelevant inputs by means of the discussed input selection method allows us to significantly reduce model complexity without degrading the predictive generalization ability. It is precisely this issue that will enable us to infer some interesting marketing conclusions concerning the relative importance of the RFM predictor categories and their operationalizations. The empirical findings highlight the importance of a combined use of RFM variables in predicting repeat-purchase behavior. However, the study also reveals the dominant role of the frequency category. Results indicate that a model including only frequency variables still yields satisfactory classification accuracy compared to the optimally reduced model. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Clients' perceptions of support received from health visitors during home visitsJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 7 2005Caroline Plews BA Aims and objectives., The current study sought to identify how many mothers from 149 visits carried out by seven health visitors identified support as a feature of the visit, whether this type of support was unique to the health visitor and what support meant to them. These responses were then compared with the taxonomies of social support from the social support literature. Background., Some studies of client perceptions describe support as an element of home visits by health visitors. However, the importance, relevance and impact on the client of this support are not described in detail. Social support theory suggests that there are tangible benefits to people's well-being and their ability to cope with various challenges that may arise from individuals' perceptions of receiving support. Design., Qualitative study using semistructured interviews. Methods., Seven volunteer health visitors recruited 149 women into the study. These clients were interviewed by the researcher, usually within one week of the home visit by their health visitor. The discussions were audio-taped and the resulting transcripts analysed using content analysis. Findings., Thirty-seven women identified receiving support which they said was only available from the health visitor. The relevance of this support to the mother and the impact on her well-being varied within the group suggesting differing perceptions of support by clients according to their personal situation. There was a correspondence between the descriptions of support given by the women and the taxonomies of social support from the social support literature. Conclusion., For some interactions between clients and their health visitors the existing theory of social support may provide an explanation of how health visitors contribute to clients' perceived ability to cope and well-being. Relevance to clinical practice., Social support may be defined as a possible outcome of health visiting. This concept will have use within educational programmes to demonstrate to students how health visiting can have an impact on clients' well-being. Similarly, the concept could be used to investigate and record health visiting practice. [source] The relationship between pain tolerance and trait aggression: effects of sex and gender roleAGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR, Issue 5 2009Dennis E. Reidy Abstract The literature on pain and aggression has indicated that pain elicits aggression. However, research has generally examined pain as a situational variable and focused less on the dispositional ability of an individual to tolerate pain. The dearth of research on pain tolerance and aggression appears to contradict the existing theory on the aggression-eliciting effect of pain, in that studies have found a positive relationship between pain tolerance and aggression. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the relationship between pain tolerance and aggression is moderated by sex and whether the positive relationship could be explained by masculine gender role conformity. A sample of 195 collegiate men and women completed trait measures and a laboratory assessment of pain tolerance. Results indicated that correlations between pain tolerance and trait aggression were significant and positive for men but not women. However, when men's conformity to masculine gender role was controlled for, the relationship between pain tolerance and trait aggression was nil and nonsignificant. Results are discussed in reference to socialization and maintenance of masculine status. Aggr. Behav. 35:422,429, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Evolution of the Labor Market in a Regional City: The Changing Economic Performance of Emigrants from Mexico City,JOURNAL OF REGIONAL SCIENCE, Issue 3 2005Ricardo Sabates Using labor-income trajectories of emigrants from Mexico City, the paper analyzes how the labor market in a regional city, Leon, evolves. Results from the econometric model suggest that migrants' labor-income trajectories differ between the large agglomeration and the regional city in an early stage of the evolution of the labor market, but converge in a later stage. Specifically, the slope of the earning function for recent migrants is steeper and statistically different from the slope for early migrants. The findings presented in this paper enrich the existing theory by providing microfoundations to a typically macroeconomic area of research and enable policy makers to better understand the processes underpinning the evolution of regional labor markets. [source] A sociological view of costs of price adjustment: contributions from grounded theory methodsMANAGERIAL AND DECISION ECONOMICS, Issue 6 2007Mark J. ZbarackiArticle first published online: 20 JUN 200 Economic theory and data sometimes pose problems that cannot be addressed with existing econometric methods. For example, theories of price adjustment costs rely on variables that cannot or have not been observed. In principle, such costs can be measured, but there is little reason to expect they can be measured with existing econometric methods. I argue that the grounded theory methods developed by sociologists can be used to demonstrate the validity of price adjustment costs and to address deeper questions about how firms adjust prices. Properly matched to economic problems, grounded theory may help economists to develop better theory and better test existing theory. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A review of quality of life issues and people with autism spectrum disordersBRITISH JOURNAL OF LEARNING DISABILITIES, Issue 4 2007Lynn A. Plimley Summary This article draws on existing theory and research findings in the field of quality of life (QoL) and those with learning/intellectual disability and extrapolates current thinking in terms of measurable domains of QoL. The condition of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is becoming increasingly prevalent in the sector of supported living and adult residential care. The author examines the core features of ASD and applies known characteristics to ways in which QoL domains and assessment tools can be adapted to people with ASD. [source] Management and Business Ethics: A Critique and Integration of Ethical Decision-making ModelsBRITISH JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2003Dean Bartlett This paper critically reviews the literature relating to the management of ethics within organizations and identifies, in line with other authors, a gap between theory and practice in the area. It highlights the role of management (both as an academic discipline and from a practitioner perspective) in bridging this gap and views managers, with their sense of individual ethical agency, as a key locus of ethics within organizations. The paper aims to address the theory,practice gap by surveying the business ethics literature in order to identify, draw together and integrate existing theory and research, with a particular emphasis upon models of ethical decision-making and their relationship to work values. Such an endeavour is necessary, not only because of the relative neglect of management practice by business ethics researchers, but also because of the current lack of integration in the field of business ethics itself. The paper outlines some of the main methodological challenges in the area and suggests how some of these may be overcome. Finally, it concludes with a number of suggestions as to how the theory,practice gap can be addressed through the development of a research agenda, based upon the previous work reviewed. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||