Is Latin America starting to retreat from early and universal childbearing?

The 2000 censuses show that the proportion of women below age 30 who are mothers has dropped substantially in most Latin America countries, suggesting that the social imperative of early motherhood, which has long prevailed in the region, is weakening. Surveys conducted in 14 Latin American countries in 2006 also show a strong link between childlessness and higher education across several cohorts. We discuss whether the recent increase in childlessness among young women reflects a shift towards later childbearing, a novel trend in the Latin American context, and also whether it may signal an emerging retreat from universal childbearing in the region.childlessness, fertility, first birth, Latin America

Maternidades y fronteras: la fecundidad de las mujeres inmigrantes en España

Este artículo tiene como objetivo examinar los patrones reproductivos de la población inmigrante y evaluar en qué medida difieren de los de la población española, utilizando las biografías migratorias y reproductivas de la Encuesta Nacional de Inmigrantes 2007. Los resultados muestran que la fecundidad de las mujeres inmigrantes difiere poco en su nivel —aunque bastante en su calendario— de la de las españolas, excepto en el caso de las africanas (3,5 hijos por mujer en 2004-2006). Su contribución conjunta al Índice Sintético de Fecundidad de España es de 6,6%. El artículo también analiza las complejas interrelaciones entre migración y fecundidad, poniendo a prueba algunas de las hipótesis más comunes en la literatura. Las mujeres africanas tienen un pico de elevada fecundidad recién llegadas a España, sobre todo si migraron por razones familiares o ya estaban casadas antes de migrar. El resto de los colectivos muestra una fecundidad excepcionalmente baja en el año previo a la migración y, una vez en España, mantienen las tasas de fecundidad moderadamente bajas que ya tenían en la sociedad de origen. Las mujeres que migraron por razones laborales y las que ya tenían hijos en el país de origen tienen una fecundidad significativamente menor en sus primeros años en España que el resto de mujeres inmigrantes.Peer reviewe

Methods to Counter Self-Selection Bias in Estimations of the Distribution Function and Quantiles

Many surveys are performed using non-probability methods such as web surveys, social networks surveys, or opt-in panels. The estimates made from these data sources are usually biased and must be adjusted to make them representative of the target population. Techniques to mitigate this selection bias in non-probability samples often involve calibration, propensity score adjustment, or statistical matching. In this article, we consider the problem of estimating the finite population distribution function in the context of non-probability surveys and show how some methodologies formulated for linear parameters can be adapted to this functional parameter, both theoretically and empirically, thus enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of the estimates made.Spanish Government PID2019-106861RB-I00IMAG-Maria de Maeztu CEX2020-001105-M/AEI/10.13039/501100011033FEDER/Junta de Andalucia-Consejeria de Transformacion Economica, Industria, Conocimiento y Universidades FQM170-UGR2

El papel de la comunicación interna en la gestión del teletrabajo durante la crisis de la COVID-19

Among the changes brought about by the COVID-19 crisis, many of them affect the management of organizations. This is the case of the sudden implementation of teleworking policies, which, together with social distancing measures and periods of confinement, became widespread in the worst period of the pandemic. This research studies the role of internal communication in the management of telework during the Covid-19 crisis through document review and expert interviews. The results indicate that internal communication is a very important element for these policies and that during the pandemic its relevance in keeping employees aligned with the interests of the brands has been highlighted. To execute these policies, organizations have developed new channels, enhanced team cohesion, and fostered empathy from leaders and the separation of work and personal life. Communication with employees is the cornerstone of these telework policies, which require the implementation of strategies and tools to facilitate the well-being and happiness of remote workforces. This paper also incorporates recommendations for internal communication management concerning the new organizational needs arising during this period.Among the changes brought about by the COVID-19 crisis, many affect the management of organisations. This is the case of the sudden implementation of teleworking policies, which, together with social distancing measures and periods of confinement, became widespread in the worst period of the pandemic. This research studies the role of internal communication in the management of telework during the Covid-19 crisis through document review and expert interviews. The results indicate that internal communication is a very important element for these policies and that during the pandemic its relevance in keeping employees aligned with the interests of the brands has been highlighted. To execute these policies, organisations have developed new channels, enhanced team cohesion and fostered empathy from leaders and the separation of work and personal life. Communication with employees is the cornerstone of these telework policies, which require the implementation of strategies and tools to facilitate the well-being and happiness of remote workforces. This paper also incorporates recommendations for internal communication management in relation to the new organisational needs arising during this period.Entre los cambios que ha traído consigo la crisis de la COVID-19 muchos afectan a la gestión de las organizaciones. Es el caso de la repentina implantación de las políticas de teletrabajo, que con las medidas de distanciamiento social y los periodos de confinamiento se generalizaron en el periodo más crudo de la pandemia. Esta investigación estudia el papel de la comunicación interna en la gestión del teletrabajo durante la crisis de la Covid-19 a través de la revisión documental y de entrevistas a expertos. Los resultados indican que la comunicación interna es un elemento de gran importancia para estas políticas y que durante la pandemia se ha puesto de manifiesto su relevancia para mantener alineados a los trabajadores con los intereses de las marcas. Para ejecutarlas, las organizaciones han desarrollado nuevos canales, potenciado la cohesión de los equipos y fomentado la empatía de los líderes y la separación del tiempo laboral y la vida personal. La comunicación con los empleados resulta la piedra angular de estas políticas de teletrabajo, que requieren de la implementación de estrategias y herramientas para facilitar el bienestar y la felicidad de las plantillas que trabajan en remoto. Este trabajo también incorpora recomendaciones para la gestión de la comunicación interna en relación a las nuevas necesidades organizativas surgidas durante este periodo

Actividad física y autoconcepto en centros bilingües y no bilingües: Un análisis mediante ecuaciones estructurales

The aim of this study is to analyse, define and contrast a model that explains the concept of self-awareness and teenagers’ attitudes towards Physical Education (P.E.). Using multi-group structural equations, the study also delves deeper into the links between the concept of self and attitudes of learners toward the physical education teacher according to the type of school (bilingual or non-bilingual). The total sample was made up of 2,388 teenage students aged between 11 and 17 (1,151 bilingual and 1,237 non-bilingual). The students responded to a socio-demographic questionnaire, a self-concept test, and a test dealing with Attitude toward Physical Education, to analyse the level of teaching of the foreign language in addition to aspects pertaining to the subject of physical education and the degree of concept of self or self-awareness. The results indicate higher levels of influence of the academic aspect in PE training in bilingual schools, whereas in non-bilingual contexts, it is the physical dimension that is rated more positively. Similarly, the data points to a positive and direct link between the overall concept of self in teenagers, with sense of empathy toward the teacher and value placed on the subject of physical education in students attending bilingual schools.El presente estudio tiene como objetivos analizar, definir y contrastar un modelo explicativo sobre el autoconcepto y la actitud hacia la educación física en adolescentes. Utilizando análisis de ecuaciones estructurales multigrupo, el estudio también analiza las relaciones existentes entre el autoconcepto y la actitud hacia el profesor de educación física en base al tipo de centro en donde estudian los adolescentes (bilingüe o no). La muestra está formada por 2.388 adolescentes de entre 11 y 17 años (1.151 bilingües y 1.237 de centros no bilingües). Se aplicó un cuestionario de tipo sociodemográfico, el test de autoconcepto y un cuestionario de actitud hacia la Educación Física con el fin de analizar el nivel de enseñanza de lengua extranjera, aspectos relacionados con la asignatura de educación física y el nivel de autoconcepto. Los resultados depararon una alta influencia del aspecto académico de los adolescentes en los centros bilingües, mientras que, en el caso de los no bilingües, es la dimensión física la más valorada. Asimismo, los datos establecen una asociación positiva y directa entre el autoconcepto general de los adolescentes, la empatía con el profesor y la valoración hacia la asignatura de educación física en los alumnos que estudian en centros educativos bilingües

Actividad física y autoconcepto en centros bilingües y no bilingües: Un análisis mediante ecuaciones estructurales

The aim of this study is to analyse, define and contrast a model that explains the concept of self-awareness and teenagers’ attitudes towards Physical Education (P.E.). Using multi-group structural equations, the study also delves deeper into the links between the concept of self and attitudes of learners toward the physical education teacher according to the type of school (bilingual or non-bilingual). The total sample was made up of 2,388 teenage students aged between 11 and 17 (1,151 bilingual and 1,237 non-bilingual). The students responded to a socio-demographic questionnaire, a self-concept test, and a test dealing with Attitude toward Physical Education, to analyse the level of teaching of the foreign language in addition to aspects pertaining to the subject of physical education and the degree of concept of self or self-awareness. The results indicate higher levels of influence of the academic aspect in PE training in bilingual schools, whereas in non-bilingual contexts, it is the physical dimension that is rated more positively. Similarly, the data points to a positive and direct link between the overall concept of self in teenagers, with sense of empathy toward the teacher and value placed on the subject of physical education in students attending bilingual schools.El presente estudio tiene como objetivos analizar, definir y contrastar un modelo explicativo sobre el autoconcepto y la actitud hacia la educación física en adolescentes. Utilizando análisis de ecuaciones estructurales multigrupo, el estudio también analiza las relaciones existentes entre el autoconcepto y la actitud hacia el profesor de educación física en base al tipo de centro en donde estudian los adolescentes (bilingüe o no). La muestra está formada por 2.388 adolescentes de entre 11 y 17 años (1.151 bilingües y 1.237 de centros no bilingües). Se aplicó un cuestionario de tipo sociodemográfico, el test de autoconcepto y un cuestionario de actitud hacia la Educación Física con el fin de analizar el nivel de enseñanza de lengua extranjera, aspectos relacionados con la asignatura de educación física y el nivel de autoconcepto. Los resultados depararon una alta influencia del aspecto académico de los adolescentes en los centros bilingües, mientras que, en el caso de los no bilingües, es la dimensión física la más valorada. Asimismo, los datos establecen una asociación positiva y directa entre el autoconcepto general de los adolescentes, la empatía con el profesor y la valoración hacia la asignatura de educación física en los alumnos que estudian en centros educativos bilingües

Inference from Non-Probability Surveys with Statistical Matching and Propensity Score Adjustment Using Modern Prediction Techniques

We would like to thank the anonymous referees for their remarks and comments that have improved the presentation and the contents of the paper.Online surveys are increasingly common in social and health studies, as they provide fast and inexpensive results in comparison to traditional ones. However, these surveys often work with biased samples, as the data collection is often non-probabilistic because of the lack of internet coverage in certain population groups and the self-selection procedure that many online surveys rely on. Some procedures have been proposed to mitigate the bias, such as propensity score adjustment (PSA) and statistical matching. In PSA, propensity to participate in a nonprobability survey is estimated using a probability reference survey, and then used to obtain weighted estimates. In statistical matching, the nonprobability sample is used to train models to predict the values of the target variable, and the predictions of the models for the probability sample can be used to estimate population values. In this study, both methods are compared using three datasets to simulate pseudopopulations from which nonprobability and probability samples are drawn and used to estimate population parameters. In addition, the study compares the use of linear models and Machine Learning prediction algorithms in propensity estimation in PSA and predictive modeling in Statistical Matching. The results show that statistical matching outperforms PSA in terms of bias reduction and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), and that simpler prediction models, such as linear and k-Nearest Neighbors, provide better outcomes than bagging algorithms.Ministerio de Economia, Industria y Competitividad, Spain MTM2015-63609-RMinisterio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades, Spain FPU17/0217

Estimating General Parameters from Non-Probability Surveys Using Propensity Score Adjustment

This study introduces a general framework on inference for a general parameter using nonprobability survey data when a probability sample with auxiliary variables, common to both samples, is available. The proposed framework covers parameters from inequality measures and distribution function estimates but the scope of the paper is broader. We develop a rigorous framework for general parameter estimation by solving survey weighted estimating equations which involve propensity score estimation for units in the non-probability sample. This development includes the expression of the variance estimator, as well as some alternatives which are discussed under the proposed framework. We carried a simulation study using data from a real-world survey, on which the application of the estimation methods showed the effectiveness of the proposed design-based inference on several general parameters.Spanish Government MTM2015-63609-RInstituto de Salud Carlos III Spanish Government PID2019-106861RB-I00-AEI-10.13039/50110001103

Evaluating Machine Learning methods for estimation in online surveys with superpopulation modeling

Online surveys, despite their cost and effort advantages, are particularly prone to selection bias due to the differences between target population and potentially covered population (online population). This leads to the unreliability of estimates coming from online samples unless further adjustments are applied. Some techniques have arisen in the last years regarding this issue, among which superpopulation modeling can be useful in Big Data context where censuses are accessible. This technique uses the sample to train a model capturing the behavior of a target variable which is to be estimated, and applies it to the nonsampled individuals to obtain population-level estimates. The modeling step has been usually done with linear regression or LASSO models, but machine learning (ML) algorithms have been pointed out as promising alternatives. In this study we examine the use of these algorithms in the online survey context, in order to evaluate and compare their performance and adequacy to the problem. A simulation study shows that ML algorithms can effectively volunteering bias to a greater extent than traditional methods in several scenarios.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, SpainMinisterio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Spai