A researcher's dilemma- philosphical and methodological pluralism

In many research textbooks the distinction between qualitative and quantitative research is inadvertently linked with philosophical perspectives. This in essence creates a mutually exclusive relationship between method and philosophy. Initially researchers are led to believe, from these textbooks, that research is neatly divided into mutually exclusive categories, these being quantitative and qualitative research and ‘never the twain shall meet’. This divide is further strengthened with the inference that the relationship extends further; associating deduction with quantitative methods and similarly induction with qualitative methods. What happens in most texts is that qualitative research methods and quantitative research methods are set against each other as polar opposites (Crotty 1998, p19). This paper argues that methodological pluralism is acceptable but what is not acceptable is philosophical pluralism. By naively linking methods and approaches to specific philosophy researchers and students may miss out on potentially innovative or creative data collection methods. Alternatively and more importantly by feeling tied or constrained by their philosophical stance to particular methods and approaches, associated with them by textbooks, they may in fact reduce the credibility, validity, and or significance of the research. There maybe an elective affinity between certain philosophies and methods but this should not necessarily constrain the methods chosen

The various and conflicting notions of information

There are identified within the discourse a number of notions regarding the term information. This paper sets out to explore these sometimes-conflicting notions of information. The reason why conflicting notions occur is the result of different perspectives and understanding of the term information. Within the discourse two camps are identified, firstly, those who identify information as a resource and those who identify information as a processual approach enacted by individuals. The former is not uncommon within the business environment given the relationship seen between information and technology; this view simplifies information as merely structured data. The latter approach requires the involvement of individuals or more succinctly human understanding and interpretation. By viewing information as a processual process enacted by humans one is identifying an alternative view of how information is created, managed, used and developed. The aim is to discuss both views to gain clarity and understanding in terms of why the various and conflicting notions of information impact on its use within organisations. What is highlighted within this paper is that information is a complex and ambiguous term. There is no easy ‘off-the shelf’ solution to managing information. One potentially successful approach is to view information from an epistemological perspective. This requires those having to deal with this complex and ambiguous term a starting point from which to build and gain both an individual and an organisational understanding in terms of the use of information. This allows individuals to set direction, decide where to focus their effort and ultimately how to gain some control over this vital and important issue of ‘information’

Quantitative sensitivity analysis of surface attached optical fiber strain sensor

Optical fiber strain sensors, in particular, the fiber Bragg grating (FBG) type, are widely applied in different applications. The most common installation method is surface-attached. In principle, the optical fiber strain sensor with adequate sampling and signal processing techniques is usually more accurate than electrical resistive strain gauge. However, the strain of the surface of structure may not transfer to the sensing element perfectly. The ratio between the measured and actual strain can be correlated by a strain transfer factor (STF). However, it depends on the material and geometrical properties of the optical fiber and adhesive. It is noneconomical and impractical to measure the STF for every installed sensor. It is desirable to identify the most of the sensitive parameters on the variation of the STF so that the quality control and assurance procedure can be performed more efficiently. In this paper, a quantitative global sensitivity analysis, called extended Fourier amplitude sensitivity test will be performed to compute the first-order and total sensitivity indexes based on a well-established semi-analytical/empirical mechanical model of three material and five geometrical parameters of both integral and optical FBG type optical fiber strain sensor with two different kinds of polymeric coating under three types of strain field in 16 different configurations. From the detail analysis, the most of the sensitive parameters on the STF are bond length, the thickness of adhesive beneath the optical fiber and the deviation of grating position, which are related to workmanship instead of the material properties of the optical fiber and adhesive

The impact of financial inclusion interventions on the economy of Calderdale – final technical report

This study quantifies the wider effects of financial inclusion interventions in Calderdale on both the local and regional economy

Research into financial exclusion in Rochdale - final technical report

This report presents the findings and recommendations of research conducted on the extent and nature of financial exclusion in Rochdale

A trajectory mechanics approach for the study of wave propagation in an anisotropic elastic medium

We derive equations describing the path and traveltime of a coherent elastic wave propagating in an anisotropic medium, generalizing expressions from conventional high-frequency asymptotic ray theory. The methodology is valid across a broad range of frequencies and allows for subwavelength variations in the material properties of the medium. The primary difference from current ray methods is the retention of a term that is neglected in the derivation of the eikonal equation. The additional term contains spatial derivatives of the properties of the medium and of the amplitude field, and its presence couples the equations governing the evolution of the amplitude and phase along the trajectory. The magnitude of this term provides a measure of the validity of expressions based upon high-frequency asymptotic methods, such as the eikonal equation, when modelling wave propagation dominated by a band of frequencies. In calculations involving a layer with gradational boundaries, we find that asymptotic estimates do deviate from those of our frequency-dependent approach when the width of the layer boundaries become sufficiently narrow. For example, for a layer with boundaries that vary over tens of meters, the term neglected by a high-frequency asymptotic approximation is significant for frequencies around 10 Hz. The visible differences in the paths of the rays that traverse the layer substantiate this conclusion. For a velocity model derived from an observed well log, the majority of the trajectories calculated using the extended approach, accounting for the frequency-dependence of the rays, are noticeably different from those produced by the eikonal equation. A suite of paths from a source to a specified receiver, calculated for a range of frequencies between 10 and 100 Hz, define a region of sensitivity to velocity variations and may be used for an augmented form of tomographic imaging

Dynamic Programming for General Linear Quadratic Optimal Stochastic Control with Random Coefficients

We are concerned with the linear-quadratic optimal stochastic control problem with random coefficients. Under suitable conditions, we prove that the value field $V(t,x,\omega), (t,x,\omega)\in [0,T]\times R^n\times \Omega$, is quadratic in $x$, and has the following form: $V(t,x)=\langle K_tx, x\rangle$ where $K$ is an essentially bounded nonnegative symmetric matrix-valued adapted processes. Using the dynamic programming principle (DPP), we prove that $K$ is a continuous semi-martingale of the form $$K_t=K_0+\int_0^t \, dk_s+\sum_{i=1}^d\int_0^tL_s^i\, dW_s^i, \quad t\in [0,T]$$ with $k$ being a continuous process of bounded variation and $$E\left[\left(\int_0^T|L_s|^2\, ds\right)^p\right] <\infty, \quad \forall p\ge 2;$$ and that $(K, L)$ with $L:=(L^1, \cdots, L^d)$ is a solution to the associated backward stochastic Riccati equation (BSRE), whose generator is highly nonlinear in the unknown pair of processes. The uniqueness is also proved via a localized completion of squares in a self-contained manner for a general BSRE. The existence and uniqueness of adapted solution to a general BSRE was initially proposed by the French mathematician J. M. Bismut (1976, 1978). It had been solved by the author (2003) via the stochastic maximum principle with a viewpoint of stochastic flow for the associated stochastic Hamiltonian system. The present paper is its companion, and gives the {\it second but more comprehensive} adapted solution to a general BSRE via the DDP. Further extensions to the jump-diffusion control system and to the general nonlinear control system are possible.Comment: 16 page

Proof of concept - Community Land Trusts

This ‘proof of concept’ report seeks to examine and quantify the progress made by Community Land Trusts (CLTs) now that there are a significant number of homes on the ground. Through the evidence of the case studies it will also look at the lessons learnt