Computational Social Choice: Prospects and Challenges

AbstractHow should we aggregate the individual views of the members of a group so as to arrive at an adequate representation of the collective view of that group? This is a fundamental question of deep philosophical, economic, and political significance that, around the middle of 20th century, has given rise to the field of Social Choice Theory. More recently, a research trend known as Computational Social Choice has emerged, which studies this question from the perspective of Computer Science. This “computational turn” is fuelled both by the fact that questions of social choice have turned out to be central to a range of application areas, notably in the domain of Information and Communication Technologies, and by the insight that many concepts and techniques originating in Computer Science can be used to solve (or provide a new angle on) problems in Social Choice Theory. In this paper, I give a brief introduction to Computational Social Choice and discuss some of the prospects and challenges for this fast growing area of research

The Evolution of an Industrial Sector with a Varying Degree of Roundaboutness of Production

The evolutionary model presented in this paper depicts an industrial sector with a varying degree of economic roundaboutness, i.e. vertical division of labour between producers and users of different types of intermediate products that are ultimately used for the production of a single final product. To include this vertical aspect of industrial dynamics, the model adds the concept of production trees to the evolutionary models of Schumpeterian competition. The specification of this concept suggests the use of the notions of graph theory and the related algorithms of computer science in the treatment of industrial novelty, including structural innovations. Although the model is developed within the Nelson and Winter tradition, the introduction of the 'Austrian' issue of roundaboutness implies a major extension of the research agenda, including production- structure innovations, the emergence and functioning of markets for intermediate products, ways of coping with the instability of upstream markets, the spread of the effects of an upstream innovation, and the measurement of the degree of roundaboutness and of overall productivity. The model reflects a Schumpeterian version of the Böhm-Bawerkian vision of the emergence of increased long-term roundaboutness of production. The Schumpeterian approach implies an innovation- and entrepreneur-driven process of vertical disintegration and reintegration.Roundaboutness, production graphs, evolutionary economic modelling, Nelson and Winter

The Comprehensive Content Seminar, a Pedagogical Experience for Education in Agronomical Engineering

In preparation for the introduction of Curriculum E in all the degrees, the Department of Marxism-Leninism has conceived the Comprehensive Content Seminar, a type of lesson whose main purpose is to integrate the contents (knowledge and skills) of subjects Socio-Political Theory and Social Problems of Science and Technology, within the Marxism-Leninism discipline. These will contribute to second-year student training in the Agronomical Engineering Degree, as a way to improve management of farming system processes within the update of the Cuban social and economic model, according to the requirements of the Model of the Professionals. This teaching activity comprises various tasks based on inter and intra-disciplinary relations and the theory-practice dependence, from which student motivation levels were raised. Further improvements included consolidation, integration, and generalization of contents; the acquisition of scientific-technical information use skills, computer skills, and written and verbal communication, as well as proper interpretation of the association Science-Technology-Society-Politics, as part of the scope of an agronomical engineer

The Comprehensive Content Seminar, a Pedagogical Experience for Education in Agronomical Engineering

In preparation for the introduction of Curriculum E in all the degrees, the Department of Marxism-Leninism has conceived the Comprehensive Content Seminar, a type of lesson whose main purpose is to integrate the contents (knowledge and skills) of subjects Socio-Political Theory and Social Problems of Science and Technology, within the Marxism-Leninism discipline. These will contribute to second-year student training in the Agronomical Engineering Degree, as a way to improve management of farming system processes within the update of the Cuban social and economic model, according to the requirements of the Model of the Professionals. This teaching activity comprises various tasks based on inter and intra-disciplinary relations and the theory-practice dependence, from which student motivation levels were raised. Further improvements included consolidation, integration, and generalization of contents; the acquisition of scientific-technical information use skills, computer skills, and written and verbal communication, as well as proper interpretation of the association Science-Technology-Society-Politics, as part of the scope of an agronomical engineer

The Comprehensive Content Seminar, a Pedagogical Experience for Education in Agronomical Engineering

In preparation for the introduction of Curriculum E in all the degrees, the Department of Marxism-Leninism has conceived the Comprehensive Content Seminar, a type of lesson whose main purpose is to integrate the contents (knowledge and skills) of subjects Socio-Political Theory and Social Problems of Science and Technology, within the Marxism-Leninism discipline. These will contribute to second-year student training in the Agronomical Engineering Degree, as a way to improve management of farming system processes within the update of the Cuban social and economic model, according to the requirements of the Model of the Professionals. This teaching activity comprises various tasks based on inter and intra-disciplinary relations and the theory-practice dependence, from which student motivation levels were raised. Further improvements included consolidation, integration, and generalization of contents; the acquisition of scientific-technical information use skills, computer skills, and written and verbal communication, as well as proper interpretation of the association Science-Technology-Society-Politics, as part of the scope of an agronomical engineer

Cybernetics, Fuzziness and Scientific Revolutions

Settimo Termini ​pioneered along with Aldo de Luca the concept of fuzziness measures in the sixties. Today he is a Full Professor of Theoretical Computer Science at the University of Palermo and an affiliated researcher at the European Center for Soft Computing, Mieres (Asturias), Spain. He has directed from 2002 to 2009 the Istituto di Cibernetica "Eduardo Caianiello" of CNR (National Research Council) in Italy. Among his scientific interests, the introduction and formal development of the theory of (entropy) measures of fuzziness; an analysis in innovative terms of the notion of vague predicate as it appears and is used in Information Sciences, Cybernetics and AI. Recently he has been interested also in the connections between scientific research and economic development and the conceptual foundations of Fuzzy Sets and Soft Computing. He is Fellow of the International Fuzzy Systems Association and of the Accademia Nazionale di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti of Palermo. In 2015 he will be 70, and we want to celebrate his birthday with the Soft Computing community with this interview where he discusses history of Cybernetics. The interview was conducted in Italian and translated by the authors

Account at the wide virtual

Розглянуто проблему спрощеного підходу до проблем облікової теорії, які вимагають ґрунтовного опрацювання. На підставі аналізу видань зарубіжних авторів і вітчизняних публікацій доведено безпідставність приписування першим віртуальних найменувань, які легковажно підхоплюються окремими з іншими як мотивація заміни назви бухгалтерський облік з метою доведення, нібито таким полегшеним способом можна позбутися цих проблем. Наголошено на ілюзорності подібних сподівань і необхідності поглиблення наукових досліджень облікової проблематики, а не тиражування утопій, нібито головною проблемою є його перейменування.The problem of the simplified approach to the problems of accounting theory, which requires a thorough examination, is considered. On the basis of the analysis of publications by foreign authors and domestic publications, it is necessary to groundlessly attribute the first virtual names, which are frivolously taken up by some of the others as a motivation for replacing the name of accounting in order to prove that such a lightened way can be eliminated from these problems. Emphasizes the illusory nature of such expectations and emphasizes the need to deepen scientific research accounting issues, rather than replicating utopias, allegedly the main problem is its renaming. After all, juggling names replaces scientific developments in the theory of accounting by their simulation. And with the fact that the link between accounting and management can not be avoided, this does not mean rejecting planning, forecasting, etc. as a result of the introduction of the ephemeris „strategic accountin“, which is proposed to embrace almost all applied economic sciences from computer science, cybernetics, strategic management, Forecasting of economic phenomena and processes to information systems and technologies and other sciences exclusively. For foreign authors, whose works became the basis of this storm in a glass of water, emphasize that in reality it is a question of calculations in strategic management, or a little more concretely – managerial planning calculations in the context of the business strategy implemented by the organization

The Comprehensive Content Seminar, a Pedagogical Experience for Education in Agronomical Engineering

In preparation for the introduction of Curriculum E in all the degrees, the Department of Marxism-Leninism has conceived the Comprehensive Content Seminar, a type of lesson whose main purpose is to integrate the contents (knowledge and skills) of subjects Socio-Political Theory and Social Problems of Science and Technology, within the Marxism-Leninism discipline. These will contribute to second-year student training in the Agronomical Engineering Degree, as a way to improve management of farming system processes within the update of the Cuban social and economic model, according to the requirements of the Model of the Professionals. This teaching activity comprises various tasks based on inter and intra-disciplinary relations and the theory-practice dependence, from which student motivation levels were raised. Further improvements included consolidation, integration, and generalization of contents; the acquisition of scientific-technical information use skills, computer skills, and written and verbal communication, as well as proper interpretation of the association Science-Technology-Society-Politics, as part of the scope of an agronomical engineer

Computer Self-Efficacy of GED Examinees and GED Test Results

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether relationships existed between the degree of computer self-efficacy of examinees and their performance on the computer-based 2014 General Equivalency Diploma (GED) exam. Recommendations for both research and practice were made that addressed potential challenges. The study was developed based on the concerns from the GED community regarding computer-based testing and how it may effect student performance. The study was conducted at two technical colleges in Georgia and used a convenience sampling process to gather 100 surveys and 15 interviews from first time computer-based GED examinees. Data were collected using the Computer Self-Efficacy Survey for Adults, created by James H. Brown, and interviews conducted by the researcher. Descriptive statistics, an analysis of variance (ANOVA), factorial analysis of variance tests, and interviews were used for data analysis. Social Learning Theory, created by Albert Bandura (1971), was used for the research study’s conceptual framework to explain an individual’s perception of his or her ability to use a computer. Overall findings from the statistical analysis of this study indicated that examinees who had a higher sense of computer self-efficacy scored higher on the Reasoning Through Language Arts and Science sections of the GED exam. Significant relationships were also found to have existed when comparing the examinees’ age and socio-economic status. Younger examinees had higher GED exam scores and reported a higher sense of computer self-efficacy than did the older population on the Reasoning Through Language Arts and Science sections of the exam. For the same sections, individuals who reported a higher annual household income also scored higher on the exams and had a higher sense of computer self-efficacy. Overall males scored higher on Reasoning Through Language Arts and Science, but there was not a significant difference in the scores. Interviewees felt comfortable taking the exam on computer, did not experience anxiety or uneasiness, felt confident in their abilities to use a computer, and did not feel they needed to become familiar with the computer prior to taking the exam.I. INTRODUCTION | Introduction 1 | Conceptual Framework 6 | Statement of Problem .7 | Purpose of the Study 7 | Research Questions 7 | Significance of Study .8 | Limitations of the Study.9 | Definition of Key Terms 10 | Summary 12 | II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE | Introduction 13 | History of Computer-Based Testing14 | Historical Background of the GED..15 | Theoretical Foundation of Self Efficacy18 | Triadic Reciprocal Determinism..19 | Self-Efficacy Judgments 21 | Development of Computer Self-Efficacy.. 22 | The Digital Divide .28 | Measurements of Computer Self-Efficacy.30 | Murphy Computer Self-Efficacy Scale... .31 | Compeau and Higgins Computer Self-Efficacy Scale.. .32 | Computer Self-Efficacy Scale for Adults ..34 | Summary ..35 | III. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY | GED Examination Process .36 | Research Questions 37 | Description of the Population . 37 | Sample..41 | Research Method and Design 42 | Independent Variables. 43 | Dependent Variable. 44 Data Collection Procedures. .44 | Instrumentation. .45 | Analysis of Data .48 | Guided Interview Protocol .50 | Summary. .51 | IV. DATA ANALYSIS AND RESULTS | Introduction 52 | Representativeness of Sample53 | Computer Self-Efficacy Survey for Adults and GED Exam Results . .57 | Inferential Findings 59 | Detection of Outliers 59 | Assumptions .60 | Relationship Between CSESA and GED Exam Results . .61 | Findings From Factorial Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) .71 | Assumptions. .71 | Relationship Between Demographics, CSESA, and GED Scores. .72 | Perceived Challenges of Test Participants .98 | Summary of Findings 103 | V. CONCLUSIONS, DISCUSSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS | Introduction 107 | Overview of the Study .108 | Description of Sample..108 | Procedures 109 | Conclusions 110 | Discussion .112 | Limitations. .117 | Recommendations .117 | REFERENCES ..122 | APPENDICES | APPENDIX A. Computer Self-Efficacy Scale for Adults (CSESA) .130 | APPENDIX B. Author’s permission to use CSESA 137 | APPENDIX C. Administrative Guidelines for Using CSESA .139 | APPENDIX D. Interview Form 141 | APPENDIX E. GED Test Candidate Rules Agreement .144 | APPENDIX F: Permission to use material from MIS Quarterly in | Dissertation Research.147 |Martinez, Reynaldo L. JrEllis, IrisDowney, Steven E.Ed.D.Educatio

Complex Systems: A Survey

A complex system is a system composed of many interacting parts, often called agents, which displays collective behavior that does not follow trivially from the behaviors of the individual parts. Examples include condensed matter systems, ecosystems, stock markets and economies, biological evolution, and indeed the whole of human society. Substantial progress has been made in the quantitative understanding of complex systems, particularly since the 1980s, using a combination of basic theory, much of it derived from physics, and computer simulation. The subject is a broad one, drawing on techniques and ideas from a wide range of areas. Here I give a survey of the main themes and methods of complex systems science and an annotated bibliography of resources, ranging from classic papers to recent books and reviews.Comment: 10 page