Whistleblowing Paradigms

Operationalizing whistleblowing in a valid paradigm is an important yet challenging endeavor. In the present article, we review four categories of whistleblowing paradigms—scenario studies, autobiographical recalls, immersive behavioral paradigms, and economic games—and discuss how they capture the definitory features of whistleblowing. Moreover, we evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each paradigm along selected psychometric criteria. Our review suggests that each of these paradigms comes with individual strength and weaknesses regarding the robustness against socially desirable responding, their efficiency, and whether or not they avoid using deception. We call for future research to conduct multi-method studies combining the four categories of whistleblowing paradigms within the same sample in order to test their convergence empirically

The impact of digitalization in the public sector: A systematic literature review

The digitalization of public administration is increasingly moving forward. This systematic literature review analyzes empirical studies that explore the impacts of digitalization projects (n=93) in the public sector. Bibliometrically, only a few authors have published several times on this topic so far. Most studies focusing on impact come from the US or China, and are related to Computer Science. In terms of content, the majority of examined articles studies services to citizens, and therefore consider them when measuring impact. A classification of the investigated effects by dimensions of public value shows that the analysis of utilitarian-instrumental values, such as efficiency or performance, is prevalent. More interdisciplinary cooperation is needed to research the impact of digitalization in the public sector. The different dimensions of impact should be linked more closely. In addition, research should focus more on the effects of digitalization within administration.Die Digitalisierung der öffentlichen Verwaltung schreitet zunehmend voran. Dieser systematische Literaturüberblick analysiert empirische Studien, die sich auf Auswirkungen von Digitalisierungsprojekten konzentrieren (n=93). Dabei wird aus bibliometrischer Sicht deutlich, dass bisher nur wenige Autor:innen mehrfach zu diesem Thema publiziert haben. Die meisten Studien mit dem Schwerpunkt Wirkung stammen aus den USA oder China und sind disziplinär größtenteils der Informatik zuzuordnen. Inhaltlich fokussiert der Großteil der untersuchten Artikel auf Dienstleistungen für Bürger:innen und nimmt daher diese auch in der Wirkungsmessung in den Blick. Die Einordnung der untersuchten Auswirkungen in Dimensionen von public value zeigt, dass die meisten Studien sich auf die Analyse utilitaristisch-instrumenteller Werte konzentrieren, wie etwa Effizienz oder Performanz. Unsere Ergebnisse weisen darauf hin, dass eine stärkere interdisziplinäre Zusammenarbeit bei der Erforschung der Wirkungen von Digitalisierung im öffentlichen Sektor nötig ist. Hier sollten stärker auch unterschiedliche Wirkungsdimensionen miteinander verknüpft werden. Zudem sollte sich die Forschung intensiver mit Auswirkungen von Digitalisierung innerhalb der Verwaltung auseinandersetzen

Using Differential Item Functioning to Analyze the Domain Generality of a Common Scientific Reasoning Test

A significant problem that assessments of scientific reasoning face at the level of higher education is the question of domain generality, that is, whether a test will produce biased results for students from different domains. This study applied three recently developed methods of analyzing differential item functioning (DIF) to evaluate the domain generality assumption of a common scientific reasoning test. Additionally, we evaluated the usefulness of these new, tree- and lasso-based, methods to analyze DIF and compared them with methods based on classical test theory. We gave the scientific reasoning test to 507 university students majoring in physics, biology, or medicine. All three DIF analysis methods indicated a domain bias present in about one-third of the items, mostly benefiting biology students. We did not find this bias by using methods based on classical test theory. Those methods indicated instead that all items were easier for physics students compared to biology students. Thus, the tree- and lasso-based methods provide a clear added value to test evaluation. Taken together, our analyses indicate that the scientific reasoning test is neither entirely domain-general, nor entirely domain-specific. We advise against using it in high-stakes situations involving domain comparisons

On the Sensitivity of Halo Shape Measurements

Shape measurements of galaxies and galaxy clusters are widespread in the analysis of cosmological simulations. But the limitations of those measurements have been poorly investigated. In this paper, we explain why the quality of the shape measurement does not only depend on the numerical resolution, but also on the density gradient. In particular, this can limit the quality of measurements in the central regions of haloes. We propose a criterion to estimate the sensitivity of the measured shapes based on the density gradient of the halo and apply it to cosmological simulations of collisionless and self-interacting dark matter. By this, we demonstrate where reliable measurements of the halo shape are possible and how cored density profiles limit their applicability.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures + appendices, submitted to A&