Trends in the Socioeconomic Achievement of the University Educated: A Status Attainment Model Interpretation

The paper examines the contribution the sociologist's status attainment model makes towards comprehending reasons for the decline, since the mid 1960's, in the economic prospects of university graduates. The assumptions of the model are compared with those underlying an economist's labour market approach, in which explanations are phrased in terms of aggregate demand and supply for the university educated. Tested in the paper is the hypothesis that decline in background endowments among university graduates, a consequence of the policy commitment to democratize access to Canadian universities, accounts for some of the downward trend in the level of job obtained by graduates entering the labour market. The statistical analysis uses data from Ontario and Canada-wide surveys, and finds that changes in father's mean status explain only a small part of the drop in son's first job status. Th e mod el suggests that deterioration in univer- sity completion rates can account for more of the decline.Le travail examine la contribution que le modèle de l'accession au rang social fournit par le déclin des perspectives économiques des diplômés universitaires dès la moitié des années 60. On compare les hypothèses du modèle avac celles qui servent de base aux économistes pour l'étude du marché de travail, dans laquelle les explications sont formulées en terme d'offre et demande collective des universitaires. On test l'hypothèse selon laquelle là baisse du niveau général des universitaires, conséquence de la politique adoptée de démocratisation de l'accès aux études universitaires au Canada, explique une certaine tendance à la baisse du niveau de travail obtenu par les diplômés qui s'introduisent sur le marché de travail. L'analyse statistique emploie des données obtenues en Ontario et partout au Canada et conclut que des changements dans le statut moyen du père n 'explique qu 'en partie la baisse de niveau du premier emploi du fils. Le modèle suggère que la détérioration des études universitaires menées à bien explique davantage ce déclin

The Growth of the Canadian Education System: An Analysis of Transition Probabilities

Canada is shown, in a comparison with 23 other industrialized nations, to have distinctively low rates of school attendance from age seventeen onwards. Closely comparable data from a Canadian and an American national survey make a detailed comparison of the two nations possible. There has been a strong trend towards virtually universal completion of grade and high school in the U.S. Canada has followed this trend at the lower levels, but retains a low rate of secondary school completion. Rates of attending post-secondary and post-graduate training show little trend in either country. The "transition probability" analysis, in which each level of schooling is examined separately, is further pursued in an assessment of the effects of social background factors, called "ascription," upon progress through the system. Background factors are found to have generally weaker effects upon higher levels of education in Canada, as in the U.S. They are especially weak at the crucial point, the completion of high school, showing that social background is not a significant element in the creation of Canada's high rates of dropping out of high school. The overall effects of background seem higher in Canada, and especially so for females.Si l'on compare le Canada à vingt-trois autres pays industrialisés, on remarque que celui-ci a un taux particulièrement bas de jeunes qui fréquentent l'école après dix-sept ans. On a pu comparer de façon précise la situation du Canada et celle des États-Unis, grâce à des sondages organisés à l'échelle nationale dans les deux pays, sondages dont les données étaient très semblables. On a ainsi pu constater qu'aux Etats-Unis, il semblait de plus en plus fréquent que tous les élèves, ou presque, finissent l'école secondaire tandis qu'au Canada, cette tendance n'apparaissait qu'à un niveau inférieur, le nombre d'élèves capables d'aller jusqu'au bout de leurs études secondaires restant très faible. Quant à l'inscription dans des établissements postsecondaires ou dans des centres professionnels, elle ne semble indiquer aucune tendance particulière dans les deux pays. L'analyse de « transition-probabilité », pour laquelle on a considéré chaque niveau d'enseigne-ment séparément, est complétée ici par une évaluation des effets du milieu social, ou « ascription », sur la progression dans le système. Les facteurs sociaux semblent avoir des effets moindres dans les classes les plus élevées de l'école secondaire, au Canada comme aux Etats-Unis. Or, s'ils sont particulièrement faibles à ce moment crucial, en fin d'études secondaires, cela montre que le milieu social n'est pas un facteur qui contribue à déterminer de façon significative le taux élevé d'abandon dans les écoles secondaires du Canada. Malgré tout, le milieu semble jouer un rôle plus marqué au Canada qu'aux États-Unis, surtout pour les femmes

Chemical variation and insecticidal activity of Lippia javanica (Burm. F.) Spreng essential oil against Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky

Lippia javanica (Burm. f.) Spreng is used commercially as an herbal tea and medicinal plant in sub-Saharan Africa. Here we investigated the chemical variation and pesticidal potential of L. javanica essential oils against a major stored product pest, Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky. We identified two morphologically distinct varieties of L. javanica growing at different locations in Malawi. Perillaldehyde was the major constituent in oil of L. javanica var. javanica while myrcenone (ipsdienone) was the major compound in oils of L. javanica var. whytei. Myrcene, linalool, carvone, β-caryophyllene and germacrene D were identified as the other most significant components in oils from both varieties. The yields of oil and the chemical composition also varied significantly with time of harvest during the season in both cases. In contact toxicity tests against S. zeamais, oils from both varieties were active. However, whereas perillaldehyde, linalool and carvone, components of the oil of L. javanica var. javanica, were all toxic against adult S. zeamais, myrcenone, the main component of oil from L. javanica var. whytei, was not. The oil from L. javanica var. javanica also showed some fumigant toxicity against S. zeamais. The high efficacy of L. javanica oil against S. zeamais suggests it is suitable to be used as a botanical insecticide to control S. zeamais in stored maize. However, further research is required to optimise and standardise the variety and harvest time to be recommended and to evaluate its activity against S. zeamais and other storage insect pests under farm conditions before it can be adopted by farmers more widely

A randomised controlled trial and cost-effectiveness evaluation of "booster" interventions to sustain increases in physical activity in middle-aged adults in deprived urban neighbourhoods

Background: Systematic reviews have identified a range of brief interventions which increase physical activity in previously sedentary people. There is an absence of evidence about whether follow up beyond three months can maintain long term physical activity. This study assesses whether it is worth providing motivational interviews, three months after giving initial advice, to those who have become more active. Methods/Design: Study candidates (n = 1500) will initially be given an interactive DVD and receive two telephone follow ups at monthly intervals checking on receipt and use of the DVD. Only those that have increased their physical activity after three months (n = 600) will be randomised into the study. These participants will receive either a "mini booster" (n = 200), "full booster" (n = 200) or no booster (n = 200). The "mini booster" consists of two telephone calls one month apart to discuss physical activity and maintenance strategies. The "full booster" consists of a face-to-face meeting with the facilitator at the same intervals. The purpose of these booster sessions is to help the individual maintain their increase in physical activity. Differences in physical activity, quality of life and costs associated with the booster interventions, will be measured three and nine months from randomisation. The research will be conducted in 20 of the most deprived neighbourhoods in Sheffield, which have large, ethnically diverse populations, high levels of economic deprivation, low levels of physical activity, poorer health and shorter life expectancy. Participants will be recruited through general practices and community groups, as well as by postal invitation, to ensure the participation of minority ethnic groups and those with lower levels of literacy. Sheffield City Council and Primary Care Trust fund a range of facilities and activities to promote physical activity and variations in access to these between neighbourhoods will make it possible to examine whether the effectiveness of the intervention is modified by access to community facilities. A one-year integrated feasibility study will confirm that recruitment targets are achievable based on a 10% sample.Discussion: The choice of study population, study interventions, brief intervention preceding the study, and outcome measure are discussed

Open letter from UK based academic scientists to the secretaries of state for digital, culture, media and sport and for health and social care regarding the need for independent funding for the prevention and treatment of gambling harms

First paragraph: Dear secretaries of state, As leading academic scientists studying gambling behaviours and its harms, we are writing to express our concern about the continuing support shown for the voluntary system of funding treatment, prevention and research in Great Britain. We feel compelled to write to you following the Betting and Gaming Council’s (BGC) recent announcement (17 June 2020) that five of its operators will now allocate the long awaited increase in funding for prevention and treatment, first promised on 2 August 2019, to GambleAware rather than the charity Action Against Gambling Harms. Irrespective of which organisation funds are given to, the BGC’s announcement exemplifies the longstanding weakness of a funding system that allows the gambling industry to regulate the availability and distribution of vital funds to address gambling harms across our communities. As we outline below, the continuance of this arrangement produces several negative effects that undermine the collective effort to reduce harms from gambling. It is also our belief that funds for research into gambling harms and their reduction should primarily be distributed through recognised independent organisations, such as UK Research and Innovation. We hereby urge you, as the secretaries of state with responsibilities for addressing gambling harms, to implement a statutory levy to fund effective prevention and treatment of gambling harms that is free both from industry influence and the perception of industry influence...... [Read more in the article]Additional co-authors: Carolyn Downs, Simon Dymond, Emanuele Fino, Elizabeth Goyder, Cindy Gray, Mark Griffiths, Peter Grindrod, Lee Hogan, Alice Hoon, Richard James, Bev John, Jill Manthorpe, Jim McCambridge, David McDaid, Martin McKee, Sally McManus, Antony Moss, Caroline Norrie, David J Nutt, Jim Orford, Rob Pryce, Gerda Reith, Amanda Roberts, Emmett Roberts, Gareth Roderique-Davies, Jim Rogers, Robert D Rogers, Stephen Sharman, John Strang, Richard Tunney, John Turner, Robert West, David Zendl

Prediksi Kenaikan atau Penurunan Indeks Pasar Keuangan Indonesia dengan Menggunakan Bayesian Network

Investasi saham pada pasar keuangan dilakukan untuk meningkatkan aset pada masa depan. Dalam melakukan investasi harus mempertimbangkan hasil yang akan didapatkan atau biasa disebut return. Setiap investor akan berusaha mendapatkan return semaksimal mungkin dari investasi yang dilakukannya. Oleh karena itu, perlu dilakukan prediksi perubahan kenaikan atau penurunan pada pasar saham. Beberapa metode untuk membuat prediksi adalah Bayesian Network dan Algoritma Naive Bayes. Pada Tugas Akhir ini, dilakukan pemodelan jaringan sektor-sektor pasar keuangan Indonesia dengan menggunakan Bayesian Network, lalu melakukan prediksi berdasarkan kenaikan atau penurunan harga penutupan dari tiap sektor. Metode yang digunakan adalah menggunakan Algoritma Naive Bayes Diskrit dan Kontinu. Setelah itu, menentukan metode yang terbaik untuk perhitungan prediksi dengan melihat tingkat akurasi dari setiap metode dengan confusion matrix. Sektor pasar keuangan yang digunakan yaitu nilai tukar USD/IDR, IHSG, dan Obligasi. Perhitungan dilakukan berdasarkan ketergantungan antara nilai tukar USD/IDR terhadap IHSG, dan nilai tukar USD/IDR terhadap Obligasi. Metode Naive Bayes Diskrit menunjukan hasil yang lebih akurat dengan akurasi sebesar 84% untuk IHSG dan 76% untuk Obligasi. Sedangkan perhitungan dengan metode Naive Bayes Kontinu memiliki akurasi sebesar 52% untuk IHSG dan 48% untuk Obligasi. Sektor nilai tukar USD/IDR lebih mempengaruhi IHSG, karena tingkat akurasi yang diperoleh IHSG lebih tinggi dibandingkan dengan Obligasi

Différences dans la mobilité professionnelle des francophones et des anglophones

Les études antérieures des différences entre anglophones et francophones au Canada quant à la mobilité indiquent que quoiqu'elles existent toujours, celles-ci tendent à s'amenuiser. La présente étude compare les francophones du Québec aux anglophones de l'ensemble du Canada, à la fois dans leur ensemble et par cohortes. Deux méthodes sont utilisées, soit l'analyse log-linéaire et la régression. Les deux méthodes révèlent que quoique les différences entre les deux groupes subsistent, elles sont beaucoup plus faibles chez les cohortes les plus récentes. Ceci suggère que le modèle traditionnel de stratification linguistique au Canada est peut-être en train de disparaître.Previous studies of French-English differences in mobility in Canada have suggested that although these existed, there was some tendency towards their lessening. This study compares French in Quebec and English throughout Canada. The two groups are compared in whole and using cohort analysis. Two methods are used, log-linear aniJysis, and regression. We find with both methods that while differences between the two groups remain, they are much smaller with more recent cohorts. This suggests that the traditional pattern of linguistic stratification in Canada may be disappearing.Los estudios anteriores de las diferencias entre anglophones y francophones en Canadá en cuanto a la mobilidad indican que aún cuando ellas siguen existiendo, tienden a disminuir. El presente estudio compara los francophones de Quebec a los anglophones del conjunto del Canada, a la vez en su conjunto y por cohortes. Dos métodos son utilizados, o sea el análisis logarítmico-líneal y la regression. Los dos métodos revalan que, aunque las diferencias entre los dos grupos subsisten, estas son mucho más débiles en los cohortes los más recientes. Esto sugiere que el modelo tradicional de estratificación lingüistica en Canadá esta quizás en vías de desaparecer

Recruitment for a panel study of Australian retirees: Issues in recruiting from rare and nonenumerated populations

Studies of change flowing from important life-course transitions such as retirement are best conducted using panel designs that allowchange to be tracked at an individual level. However, for many life-course transitions, sample recruitment is especially difficult because no sampling frames exist for what are relatively rare and nonenumerated populations. This article outlines the difficulties encountered and strategies adopted in obtaining a sample of older Australianworkers who were about to retire. It explores the fieldwork problems encountered and the effectiveness of alternative recruitment strategies in meeting core sampling goals. Recruitment strategies are evaluated in terms of their cost, efficiency, impact on data quality, and ability to recruit difficult-to-find subtypes of retirees. The experience of this research team is provided to offer guidance and information for other teams as they seek to recruit samples for retirement studies or for other studies of rare and nonenumerated populations