Structural equation modeling of political discussion networks

This study conducts structural equation modeling (SEM) of political discussion networks. It examines multiple relationships between political discussion networks—network size and non-kin composition, political efficacy, and neighborhood conversation. Based on a two-step approach, it first analyzes and revises the measurement model and then analyzes and revises the structural model given the revised measurement model. The proposed SEM model includes ordered categorical variables as factor indicators in the confirmatory analysis and outcome variables in the structural regressions. Traditional estimation and regression methods need to be adjusted accordingly. This study uses WLS estimation and adopts a latent variable approach to study the categorical outcome variables in the SEM. The results show that the hypothesized SEM model is fully supported. Neighborhood conversation positively and directly contributes to political discussion network size as well as the non-kin composition of the networks. It also indirectly affects network size through political efficacy. Political efficacy also has a direct effect on network size.Statistic

Towards a comprehensive model of managers wellbeing: The role of self-determination theory

The present study extends the testing of dimensions from self determination theory (SDT) to include the three facilitators (global aspirations, mindfulness and global motivation), the three needs satisfaction (autonomy, competence and relatedness), and perceived autonomous support (PAS) towards the wellbeing of 386 New Zealand managers. The theory suggests that individuals with higher SDT dimensions will achieve greater motivation and wellbeing, although few studies test more than one dimension. Findings showed that global aspirations reduced negative affect, while mindfulness, global motivations and PAS increased life satisfaction, positive affect, and subjective wellbeing, and reduced negative effect. Of the three needs satisfaction, autonomy increased life satisfaction and subjective wellbeing, while competence increased positive affect and subjective wellbeing, and reduced negative effect. In addition, PAS was tested as a moderator of facilitators and needs satisfaction and a number of significant interactions were found, generally providing support for PAS enhancing the beneficial nature of the SDT dimensions. Overall, the study provides evidence of superior wellbeing outcomes for organizations and employees encompassing SDT dimensions, including the interaction effects of PAS

Bakhtin\u27s Dialogism and the Corrective Rhetoric of the Johannine Misunderstanding Dialogue: Exposing Seven Crises in the Johannine Situation (Chapter

One of the most fascinating thinkers and literary theorists within the last century is the late Russian form critic Mikhail Bakhtin, whose theory of dialogism seeks to account for several levels of dialectical tension and interplay in great literature. On one level, Bakhtin observes the “heteroglossic” character of language. Between its centrifugal uses in popularistic culture and the centripetal actions of philologists and grammarians attempting to standardize meanings and associations, living language is always in a state of flux. On another level, Bakhtin suggests that discourse is always “polyphonic.” Because meanings reverberate against each other upon their utterance, transmission, and reception, the making of meaning is itself a dialogical reality. On a third level, when ironic misunderstanding is used in novelistic prose, Bakhtin asserts this feature is always rhetorical

Computer-mediated knowledge communication

New communication technologies enable an array of new working and learning scenarios in which knowledge is being communicated. This article deals with the question to what extent these technologies can impede or facilitate knowledge communication. First, the various computer-based communication technologies will be classified. Second, effects of the medium on knowledge communication will be discussed based on results of studies of the current special priority program "Net-based Knowledge Communication in Groups". Third and last, computer-based possibilities to facilitate computer-mediated knowledge communication will be reviewNeue Kommunikationstechnologien ermöglichen eine Reihe neuer Arbeits- und Lernszenarien in denen Wissen kommuniziert wird. Dieser Beitrag beschäftigt sich damit, inwiefern diese Technologien Wissenskommunikation einschränken oder fördern können. Dazu werden in einem ersten Schritt die verschiedenen computerbasierten Kommunikationstechnologien untergliedert. In einem zweiten Schritt werden Wirkungen des Mediums auf die Wissenskommunikation diskutiert. Dazu werden u. a. die Ergebnisse von Studien des aktuellen Forschungsschwerpunkts "Netzbasierte Wissenskommunikation in Gruppen" berichtet. In einem dritten und letzten Schritt werden computerbasierte Möglichkeiten zusammengefasst, computervermittelte Wissenskommunikation zu förd

The Members Speak: A Summary of the ARES Membership Survey Report

Most respondents to the survey indicated a high level of satisfaction with the current activities of ARES, while some members offered suggestions to improve the organization. Much of the data and other comments produced by the survey have been incorporated into various parts of the current Strategic Plan.

Conspiratorial beliefs observed through entropy principles

We propose a novel approach framed in terms of information theory and entropy to tackle the issue of conspiracy theories propagation. We start with the report of an event (such as 9/11 terroristic attack) represented as a series of individual strings of information denoted respectively by two-state variable Ei=+/-1, i=1,..., N. Assigning Ei value to all strings, the initial order parameter and entropy are determined. Conspiracy theorists comment on the report, focusing repeatedly on several strings Ek and changing their meaning (from -1 to +1). The reading of the event is turned fuzzy with an increased entropy value. Beyond some threshold value of entropy, chosen by simplicity to its maximum value, meaning N/2 variables with Ei=1, doubt prevails in the reading of the event and the chance is created that an alternative theory might prevail. Therefore, the evolution of the associated entropy is a way to measure the degree of penetration of a conspiracy theory. Our general framework relies on online content made voluntarily available by crowds of people, in response to some news or blog articles published by official news agencies. We apply different aggregation levels (comment, person, discussion thread) and discuss the associated patterns of entropy change.Comment: 21 page, 14 figure

Are Moral Judgements Adaptations? Three Reasons Why It Is so Difficult to Tell

An increasing number of scholars argue that moral judgements are adaptations, i.e., that they have been shaped by natural selection. Is this hypothesis true? In this paper I shall not attempt to answer this important question. Rather, I pursue the more modest aim of pointing out three difficulties that anybody who sets out to determine the adaptedness of moral judgments should be aware of (though some so far have not been aware of). First, the hypothesis that moral judgements are adaptations has been advocated in various different specificities and scopes, and on various different levels. Second, the three kinds of evidence that have most often been appealed to by discussants of this hypothesis require additional arguments. And third, there is significant reasonable disagreement about what moral judgements essentially are

Introduction to nonlinearities, business cycles, and forecasting

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