Explaining the non-economic behaviour of farm foresters: The effect of productivist and lifestyle motivations

working paperCurrently rates of planting lag far behind levels that would be expected from a comparison of the returns from farm forestry with competing agricultural alternatives. Previous research has focused on the role of economic factors such as government subsidies, returns from competing agricultural alternatives and structural farm factors in explaining the decision to afforest. By examining the role of farming attitudes and motivations, the aim of this paper is to provide a framework for better understanding farmers’ behaviour in relation to the decision to enter into forestry. The results provide rare quantitative evidence that strong lifestyle and productivist motivations significantly affect farmers’ behaviour. Environmental values and perceptions regarding the extent to which forestry is seen as a component of a natural landscape were two further factors found to affect the probability of participation. We conclude that the design of policies aimed at encouraging changes in farm activities ought to be guided by a better understanding of the motivations and attitudes of farm operators

Relative age effect on elite tennis strategy for players born before and after 1st January 1985

Relative age influences participation in professional tennis. The purpose of the current investigation was to compare the %net points played between players born in the first 6 months of the calendar year (H1 players) and players born in the second 6 months (H2 players). There were 116 players included in the current investigation because net statistics were provided for at least 6 of their matches in the 2011 to 2013 US Opens and the 2012 to 2014 Australian Opens. Players were also classified by generation; born before 1st January 1985 or after due to the introduction of surface grading in 2002. The %net points for male players was significantly influenced by generation (p = 0.041) and the interaction of generation and half year of birth (p = 0.040). The 17 H1 male players born in 1985 or later played 12.1±2.5% net points compared with 10.4±2.8% for the 16 H2 male players born in 1985 or later. The H1 players may have developed a greater tendency to go to the net as junior players with a relative age advantage. These players have continued to play more net points as seniors even though they no longer have a relative age advantage

Score-line effect on work-rate in English FA Premier League soccer

This paper investigates the effect of score-line on work-rate in English FA Premier League soccer. Player movement data from 110 matches where a goal was scored between 15 minutes and the end of the first half were captured by the ProzoneTM player tracking system. The number of V-cut path changes performed per minute declined more after the first goal in matches that were won by one of the sides than in drawn matches (p < 0.017). V-cut path changes involve players changing direction more than 135o to the left or the right. There was also a significant interaction of match type (won, drawn or lost by the team scoring first), period of the match (before and after the first goal), venue and the relative quality of the teams on the total number of path changes performed (p < 0.05). Players from the scoring and conceding teams spent significantly less time in the middle third of the pitch after the first goal then before (p < 0.017). This suggests that variability in work-rate is influenced by a combination of factors. The results suggest that the first goal has an influence on teams’ tactics and work-rate. However, the study did not find any differences in work-rate between teams achieving different outcomes having scored first

Relative age effect in netball: a qualitative investigation

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the experiences of international netball players born in different parts of the school year. A total of thirteen international netball players aged 24 to 52 were interviewed (six born in the first half of the school year and seven born in the second half). A qualitative analysis of the interview data was performed using a combination of deductive and inductive analyses. The analysis focussed on five broad themes: participation motives, attrition motives, age issues, support and location issues. The two groups of players experienced similar participation motives and support from coaches, family, friends and peers. Age issues were experienced by both groups of players. Location effects and the need to balance netball with other commitments were also experienced by both groups of players. There were two differences between the two groups with all seven of the players born in the second half of the school year experiencing performance and social attrition motives. These were experienced by 3 and 4 of the 6 players born in the first half of the school year respectively. Coaches and national governing bodies need to be aware of the attrition motives experienced by players, especially those who live some distance from main netball centres. An understanding of the performance attrition motives experienced specifically by players born in the second half of the school year could help coaches to nurture talented players

Momentum in US Open men’s singles tennis

Most of the research in racket sports has focussed on point outcomes rather than point sequences and other events that may trigger positive or negative momentum. Therefore, the purpose of the current investigation was to determine if point outcome in US Open men’s singles tennis matches is associated with (a) the outcomes of the previous one, two or three points and (b) events within previous points such as aces, double faults, winners and errors. A further purpose was to investigate whether the outcomes of service games were significantly associated with the outcomes of the receiving and next serving games that followed. Ninety player performances from 45 US Open men’s singles matches were analysed as a sample and individually. The outcomes of the previous 1 to 3 points within service games had no significant influence on the outcome of the current point (p > 0.291). Where breaks of serve had been achieved despite the server having game points, the player breaking serve was significantly more likely to hold serve in the next game (100% v 74%, p < 0.001). The investigation suggests that momentum effects different players in different ways which has implications for coaching and psychological support for tennis players

The effect of dismissals on work-rate in English FA Premier League soccer

The current paper studies the effect of dismissals on work-rate in English FA Premier League soccer. The study included 28 matches where a team had a player dismissed while they were winning by a single goal or the score was level. Two types of match were compared; matches where the team reduced to 10 players maintained the drawing or winning score-line until the end of the match and matches where they failed to do so. Similar reductions in work-rate variables were observed for teams reduced to 10 players and for their opponents after the dismissal irrespective of the outcome of the match. A significant interaction effect of team (the team reduced to 10 players v the team that played with 11 players throughout the match), match period (before v after the dismissal) and type of match was found on the percentage of time spent in the defending and attacking thirds (p < 0.05). The teams reduced to 10 players tended to spend more time in the defending third and less time in the attacking third after the dismissal. This pattern was observed to a greater extent in matches where the 10 players successfully maintained or improved the score between the dismissal and the end of the match. This suggests that outnumbered teams played strategically to defend the match status, rationing their efforts after the dismissal

Morphometric and cladistic analyses of the phylogeny of Macropodinium (Ciliophora : Litostomatea : Macropodiniidae)

Phylogenetic studies of the genus Macropodinium were conducted using two methods; phenetics and cladistics. The phenetic study of morphometrics suggested that the genus could be divided into 3 groups attributable mostly to cell size and shape. The cladistic study also split the genus into 3 groups related to cell size but groups were further distinguished by patterns of ornamentation. Reconciliation of both approaches revealed considerable congruence, however, it also suggested the existence of convergences in the phenetic study and a lack of resolution in the cladistic study. The morphological diversity of Macropodinium is probably due to evolutionary trends such as increasing body size, allometry and polymerisation of structures. None of these trends, however, was uniformly directional and differential effects were observed in different regions of the phylogenetic tree. Comparison of the phylogeny of Macropodinium to a consensus phylogeny of the macropodids revealed limited incongruence between the 2 trees. The ciliate groups could be related to 2 host groups; the wallaby genera and the kangaroo and wallaroo subgenera. The association with these host groups may be the result of phyletic codescent, ecological resource tracking or a combination of both. Further studies of both host and ciliate phylogeny are necessary to resolve these effects

Comparing Thirty30 Tennis with Traditional Tennis

Thirty30 is a shorter format of tennis where games start at 30-30. This means that a greater proportion of points are game points or break points than would be the case in traditional tennis. The purpose of the current paper is to compare the probability of players of different abilities winning games, sets and matches between Thirty30 tennis and traditional tennis. This is done using probabilistic models of each format of tennis. The results show that there is reduced dominance of the serve and a greater probability of upsets in Thirty30 tennis than in traditional tennis. The models are also experimented with, adjusting the probability of winning points where the point is a game point or a break point. The paper shows that such scoreline effects have a greater impact in Thirty30 tennis than they do in traditional tennis. This has implications for player preparation for Thirty30 tennis

Reviews

Alan Clarke, Designing Computer‐Based Learning Materials, Aldershot: Gower, 2001. ISBN: 0–566–08320–5. Hardback, xviii+196 pages, £45.00