Some Empirical Evidence on the Non-Normality of Cost Variances on Defense Contracts

This study tested the hypothesis that defense cost variances reported on the Cost Performance Report are normally distributed. The DOD requires that all defense cost variances which breech a pre-specified threshold be investigated. The present variance investigation model has been criticized because it can prompt frivolous investigations. In theory, statistical models could reduce the number of frivolous investigations, but they are not used because they require too much information about the cost variance, including its distributional form. Often such models assume a normal distribution, but researchers have shown that the models do not work properly if the assumption is fallacious. Two prior studies have investigated the normality of cost variances with mixed results, and neither investigated defense cost variances. Here, fifty series of cost variances from two defense contracts were extracted from Cost Performance Reports and evaluated using four popular tests of normality (Bowman-Shenton, Shapiro-Wilk, Kolmogorov-Smirnov, and Chi-square). The results show that the vast majority of the series of cost variances were not normally distributed. These results were insensitive to the normality test used and to the effects of inflation. The statistical variance investigation models may still be used, but normality should not be assumed

Incentives and the Effects of Publication Lags on Life Cycle Research Productivity in Economics

We investigate how increases in publication delays have affected the life-cycle of publications of recent Ph.D. graduates in economics. We construct a panel dataset of 14,271 individuals who were awarded Ph.D.s between 1986 and 2000 in US and Canadian economics departments. For this population of scholars, we amass complete records of publications in peer reviewed journals listed in the JEL (a total of 368,672 observations). We find evidence of significantly diminished productivity in recent relative to earlier cohorts when productivity of an individual is measured by the number of AER equivalent publications. Diminished productivity is less evident when number of AER equivalent pages is used instead. Our findings are consistent with earlier empirical findings of increasing editorial delays, decreasing acceptance rates at journals, and a trend toward longer manuscripts. This decline in productivity is evident in both graduates of top thirty and non-top thirty ranked economics departments and may have important implications for what should constitute a tenurable record. We also find that the research rankings of the faculty do not line up with the research quality of their students in many cases.

Dr. Robert T. Conley interview (1) conducted on February 21, 1985 about the Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University

This is the first in a series of three interviews with Dr. Robert T. Conley, first Dean of Science and Engineering at Wright State University, Co-Director of the Planning Team which authored the first School of Medicine planning study, and first Vice-President for Health Affairs Planning at Wright State University. In the first part of the interview Dr. Conley discusses his background prior to coming to Wright State University and his early service with the institution while it was a branch campus of Ohio State University and Miami University. Dr. Conley then turns to his involvement with the initial discussions concerning the concept of bringing a School of Medicine to Wright State University. The role of Dr. Richard DeWall and the first feasibility studies for health education at Wright State are examined in detail. The development of proposals for health education at Wright State University is the topic as discussions with Dr. Conley continue. The recruiting of Dr. Edward Spanier and his subsequent role in the development of the School of Medicine proposal is focused upon. As the interview continues, Dr. Conley discusses the climate in the Ohio Board of Regents, the state legislature, and the Dayton area for the development of the School of Medicine. His interactions with the Ohio Board of Regents are detailed. Dr. Conley discusses the fight to win approval of the School of Medicine in the Ohio Legislature. In the final part of this interview, Dr. Conley looks at the tenure of Wright State University President Brage Golding and his contribution to the effort of initiating health education planning. Dr. Conley also compares and contrasts the tenures of President Golding and the subsequent tenure of Wright State University President Robert J. Kegerreis in terms of their respective functions as chief executive officer of the institution

Dr. Robert T. Conley interview (3) conducted on April 19, 1985 about the Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University

In this third and final interview, Dr. Robert T. Conley completes his discussion of his involvement in the planning for and development of the Wright State University School of Medicine. Dr. Conley begins the interview with his move from the deanship of the College of Science and Engineering to an appointment as the first Vice-President of Health Affairs Planning at Wright State University. He discusses his responsibilities as Vice-President and his role in the development of other health education programs at Wright State University. Dr. Conley then moves into an analysis of his interactions with the Ohio Board of Regents during the period of his work on gaining approval for Wright State University\u27s plans to develop the School of Medicine. In particular, Dr. Conley focuses on the development process of the School of Medicine\u27s physical plant and how the Ohio Board of Regents impacted that development. The next portion of the interview focuses on the search for the first Dean of the School of Medicine. Dr. Conley discusses his responsibilities as Chairer [sic] of the Search Committee, the method used by the Committee to determine the finalists for the position, and the determination of Dr. John Beljan as the first Dean. Dr. Conley then discusses the gradual turn-over of his responsibilities for development of the School of Medicine to the new Dean, and Dr. Conley\u27 s subsequent appointment as Vice-President for Planning and Development at Wright State University. Dr. Conley concludes this final interview with his thoughts on the place of development of the School of Medicine within the overall context of his career

Dr. Robert T. Conley interview (1) conducted on February 21, 1985 about the Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University

This is the first in a series of three interviews with Dr. Robert T. Conley, first Dean of Science and Engineering at Wright State University, Co-Director of the Planning Team which authored the first School of Medicine planning study, and first Vice-President for Health Affairs Planning at Wright State University. In the first part of the interview Dr. Conley discusses his background prior to coming to Wright State University and his early service with the institution while it was a branch campus of Ohio State University and Miami University. Dr. Conley then turns to his involvement with the initial discussions concerning the concept of bringing a School of Medicine to Wright State University. The role of Dr. Richard DeWall and the first feasibility studies for health education at Wright State are examined in detail. The development of proposals for health education at Wright State University is the topic as discussions with Dr. Conley continue. The recruiting of Dr. Edward Spanier and his subsequent role in the development of the School of Medicine proposal is focused upon. As the interview continues, Dr. Conley discusses the climate in the Ohio Board of Regents, the state legislature, and the Dayton area for the development of the School of Medicine. His interactions with the Ohio Board of Regents are detailed. Dr. Conley discusses the fight to win approval of the School of Medicine in the Ohio Legislature. In the final part of this interview, Dr. Conley looks at the tenure of Wright State University President Brage Golding and his contribution to the effort of initiating health education planning. Dr. Conley also compares and contrasts the tenures of President Golding and the subsequent tenure of Wright State University President Robert J. Kegerreis in terms of their respective functions as chief executive officer of the institution