Wagering on Pragmatic Encroachment

Lately, there has been an explosion of literature exploring the the relationship between one’s practical situation and one’s knowledge. Some involved in this discussion have suggested that facts about a person’s practical situation might affect whether or not a person knows in that situation, holding fixed all the things standardly associated with knowledge (like evidence, the reliability of one’s cognitive faculties, and so on). According to these “pragmatic encroachment” views, then, one’s practical situation encroaches on one’s knowledge. Though we won’t endorse pragmatic encroachment here, we find the view intriguing, and it’s popularity warrants carefully considering it’s implications. One potential avenue of exploration concerns religious epistemology, in particular, whether pragmatic encroachment has consequences concerning the epistemic requirements of atheism. We begin the journey down that avenue by connecting Pascal’s Wager to pragmatic encroachment in order to defend this conditional: If there is pragmatic encroachment, then it is ceteris paribus more difficult to know that atheism is true (if it is) than it is to know that God exists (if God does exist)

Effects of Compensation Systems on Job Search Decisions: An Application of Person-Organization Fit

Past research has demonstrated the importance of pay level in job search and choice processes. Compensation policies other than pay level may have important effects on applicant attraction, yet there has been little research examining this possibility. The role of person-organization fit in job search and job choice decisions has also been supported. Because pay systems define an organization\u27s expectations and culture, they may be an important organizational attribute for individuals to compare with their needs and values; thus the corresponding level of fit between compensation policies and individuals\u27 dispositions may affect subsequent job search and choice decisions. Using several research methods and a sample of individuals currently involved in the interviewing process, this stugy examines both the main and interactive effects of various pay system attributes on job search. Resulting analyses primarily supported the hypotheses, suggesting that many facets of pay systems may have important effects on individuals\u27 job search and choice decisions

The Role of Person-Organization Fit in Organizational Selection Decisions

This paper presents and tests a theoretical model of person-organization fit and organizational selection decisions using data from 35 organizations making hiring decisions. Results suggested that (a) interviewers were able to assess applicants\u27 values with above-chance levels of accuracy, (b) interviewers compare their perceptions of applicants\u27 values with their organizations\u27 values to assess person-organization fit, and (c) it is perceived values congruence and not actual values congruence between applicants and organizations that predicted interviewers\u27 person-organization fit perceptions. Results also suggested that interviewers\u27 person-organization fit assessments had the largest effect on their hiring recommendations even after controlling for competing applicant characteristics (e.g., demographics, human capital), and that interviewers\u27 hiring recommendations had large and significant effects on organizations\u27 hiring decisions (e.g., job offers)

The Feasibility of Reclaiming Shell Material from Investment Casting

This report examines the feasibility of investment shell component reclamation. Shell material components and their compositions are investigated with an industry survey, a study of the available literature, and analysis of specimen shell materials. physical properties and factors related to the reclamation and reuse of shell materials are described. Well known mineral processing methods are capable of producing concentrates of the various shell components. The theory and techniques of some applicable processes are discussed to assist with the development of reclamation operations. The recommended methods are; comminution by roll crushing, component concentration by screening, gravity settling or heavy medium separation. Aluminosilicate stucco (a major component of many investment shells) can be recovered in a form suitable for reuse as backup stucco. Zircon (a minor component in many shell compositions) -can be concentrated in an impure form, and subsequent caustic liberation treatments can remove the intermixed silica phases. Reuse of such zircon in investment casting may be possible but will require careful qualification testing. Fused and crystalline silica (major components of most shell compositions) are not reusable for investment casting. The feasibility of reclamation will be influenced by individual foundry choices of materials, composition and shell practice.HWRIC Project No. RRT-10NTIS PB92-16219

On the Correlation Between the Spin-Independent and Spin-Dependent Direct Detection of Dark Matter

We study the correlation between spin-independent and spin-dependent scattering in the context of MSSM neutralino dark matter for both thermal and non-thermal histories. We explore the generality of this relationship with reference to other models. We discuss why either fine-tuning or numerical coincidences are necessary for the correlation to break down. We derive upper bounds on spin-dependent scattering mediated by a Z boson.Comment: 31 pages, 6 figures, 3 appendices; v2: refs added, minor typos corrected, journal versio