2,762 research outputs found
Explanation in the Social Sciences with particular reference to economics
The aim of this thesis is to discuss the nature of
social phenomena, and to determine (with particular reference to
economics) the appropriate way to explain them. Many of the
contentions advanced rest largely upon the fact that social phenomena
can be investigated only by methods which respect their distinctive
character and status as social phenomena.
In chapter I it is argued that the most important
difference between the social and the natural sciences is that the
former have to employ intentional criteria to identify their
explananda-phenomena. Because human and societal phenomena are
intrinsically meaningful, the type of causation which prevails in
the social realm is fundamentally different from that which prevails
in the physical.
In chapter II the claim of Popper and Hayek that the
task of the social sciences is to trace the unintended consequences
of human actions is critically examined. Two examples of economic
explanation are given in order to show the importance of unintended
consequences, and to illustrate the general form explanations of
social phenomena (apart from those of single actions) should adopt.
In chapter III the contention that the social sciences
deal with inherently complex phenomena is examined and defended,
and the main implications of this contention for social analysis
are drawn. The extent to which social phenomena are in principle
predictable is discussed.
In chapter IV the structural properties of formal
scientific theories are briefly characterised, and then Friedman's
famous argument on the testability of economic theories is analysed
and rejected. The role within a scientific theory of statements
formulated with reference to idealisations of the phenomena being
studied, and the role within a social explanation of the 'principle
of rationality', are discussed.
In chapter V the central questions behind the
methodological individualism/methodological holism controversy are
brought to light. Provided that methodological individualism is
not construed as a reductionist or mechanistic principle, it can
successfully avoid the main objections of its detractors. It is
argued that the method of functional analysis in sociology (in
the form developed by Merton) is consistent with methodological
individualism. Finally, it is claimed that (apart from a few
minor exceptions) the principle of methodological individualism
does indeed recommend the appropriate way to explain societal
phenomena.
In chapter VI, the various strands of thought running
through the five preceding chapters are drawn together in a brief
summary of the most important points raised by this thesis
No evidence for associations between men's salivary testosterone and responses on the Intrasexual Competitiveness Scale
Objectives:
Many previous studies have investigated relationships between men’s competitiveness and testosterone. For example, the extent of changes in men’s testosterone levels following a competitive task predicts the likelihood of them choosing to compete again. Recent work investigating whether individual differences in men’s testosterone levels predict individual differences in their competitiveness have produced mixed results.
Methods:
In light of the above, we investigated whether men’s (N = 59) scores on the Intrasexual Competitiveness Scale were related to either within-subject changes or between-subject differences in men’s salivary testosterone levels.
Results:
Men’s responses on the Intrasexual Competitiveness Scale did not appear to track within-subject changes in testosterone. By contrast with one recent study, men’s Intrasexual Competitiveness Scale also did not appear to be related to individual differences in testosterone.
Conclusions:
Our results present no evidence for associations between men’s testosterone and their responses on the Intrasexual Competitiveness Scale
The relative contributions of facial shape and surface information to perceptions of attractiveness and dominance
Although many studies have investigated the facial characteristics that influence perceptions of others’ attractiveness and dominance, the majority of these studies have focused on either the effects of shape information or surface information alone. Consequently, the relative contributions of facial shape and surface characteristics to attractiveness and dominance perceptions are unclear. To address this issue, we investigated the relationships between ratings of original versions of faces and ratings of versions in which either surface information had been standardized (i.e., shape-only versions) or shape information had been standardized (i.e., surface-only versions). For attractiveness and dominance judgments of both male and female faces, ratings of shape-only and surface-only versions independently predicted ratings of the original versions of faces. The correlations between ratings of original and shape-only versions and between ratings of original and surface-only versions differed only in two instances. For male attractiveness, ratings of original versions were more strongly related to ratings of surface-only than shape-only versions, suggesting that surface information is particularly important for men’s facial attractiveness. The opposite was true for female physical dominance, suggesting that shape information is particularly important for women’s facial physical dominance. In summary, our results indicate that both facial shape and surface information contribute to judgments of others’ attractiveness and dominance, suggesting that it may be important to consider both sources of information in research on these topics
Superconductor-to-Spin-Density-Wave Transition in Quasi-One-Dimensional Metals with Ising Anisotropy
We study a mechanism for superconductivity in quasi-one-dimensional materials
with Ising anisotropy. In an isolated chain Ising anisotropy opens a spin gap;
if inter-chain coupling is sufficiently weak, single particle hopping is
suppressed and the physics of coupled chains is controlled by a competition
between pair hopping and exchange interaction. Spin density wave and triplet
superconductivity phases are found separated by a first order phase transition.
For particular parameter values a second order transition described by SO(4)
symmetry is found.Comment: 18 pages, 1 figur
Jet heat transfer in the vicinity of a rotating grinding wheel
Abstract: Impinging jets are known as a method of achieving high convective heat transfer coefficients. One potential application of impinging jet heat transfer is the air jet cooling of a grinding process. A grinding process generates heat that must be dissipated to avoid thermal damage. To date, this has been achieved using flood cooling with a traditional coolant such as an oil and water mixture; however, using a jet of air in its place has obvious environmental and economic benefits. For a range of grinding test configurations, results are presented of the convective heat transfer from the workpiece, along the notional plane of cut, and of the air flow velocity in a two-dimensional plane perpendicular to the workpiece. It has been shown that a boundary layer that develops around the rotating grinding wheel has the effect of displacing a peak in the distribution of the local heat transfer coefficient from the notional arc of cut. To effectively cool the grinding zone, therefore, it is necessary to penetrate this boundary layer and this can only be achieved when the jet velocity is substantially greater than the tangential velocity of the wheel
From band insulator to Mott insulator in one dimension
We derive the phase diagram for the one-dimensional model of a ferroelectric
perovskite recently introduced by Egami, Ishihara and Tachiki [Science, {\bf
261}, 1307 (1993)]. We show that the interplay between covalency, ionicity and
strong correlations results in a spontaneously dimerized phase which separates
the weak-coupling band insulator from the strong-coupling Mott insulator. The
transition from the band insulator to the dimerized phase is identified as an
Ising critical point. The charge gap vanishes at this single point with the
optical conductivity diverging as . The spin
excitations are gapless above the second transition to the Mott insulator
phase.Comment: 4 pages LaTex (RevTex) and 1 postscript figure included by eps
Phase diagram of the Hubbard chain with two atoms per cell
We obtain the quantum phase diagram of the Hubbard chain with alternating
on-site energy at half filling. The model is relevant for the ferroelectric
perovskites and organic mixed-stack donor-acceptor crystals. For any values of
the parameters, the band insulator is separated from the Mott insulator by a
dimer phase. The boundaries are determined accurately by crossing of excited
levels with particular discrete symmetries. We show that these crossings
coincide with jumps of charge and spin Berry phases with a clear geometrical
meaning.Comment: 5 pages including 2 figures To be published in Phys. Rev. B (Rapid
Communications
Análise da estrutura fatorial dos Testes de Torrance em estudantes portugueses
In order to verify the factorial structures of the Torrance verbal and figural tests, two activities of each instrument were applied with 193 students from the 10th and 12th years of education in Portugal. We tried to demonstrate that the collinearity of the fluency and flexibility variables could create methodological artifacts that hinder the understanding of the internal structure underlying the test. The principal component analysis without control of collinearity indicated a solution composed of four basic factors that separeted activities. Controlling for collinearity, we found a new solution, which also contained four factors that, unlike the previous result, grouped variables with similar processes but of different activities. The verbal and figural content is also an important element in the factor structure. This new arrangement makes more sense with the theory that underlies the instruments separating the different processes and content which are being measured by the activities.Com a finalidade de verificar a estrutura fatorial dos testes de Torrance, duas atividades verbais e duas figurais foram aplicadas em 193
estudantes do 10º e 12º ano do ensino secundário de Portugal. Tentou-se demonstrar que a colinearidade das variáveis fluência e flexibilidade
podem criar artefatos metodológicos que dificultam o entendimento da estrutura interna subjacente ao teste. A análise fatorial dos
componentes principais, sem controle da colinearidade, indicou uma solução composta por quatro fatores que separam basicamente as
atividades. Controlando-se a colinearidade, encontrou-se uma nova solução, também composta por quatro fatores, que, diferentemente
da anterior, organizou variáveis com processos semelhantes, mas de diferentes atividades. O tipo de conteúdo, verbal e figural, mostrou-se
ainda um importante elemento na organização dos fatores. Esse novo arranjo fez mais sentido diante da teoria que embasa os instrumentos,
ao separar os diferentes processos e conteúdos por eles avaliados
Formality and informality in the summative assessment of motor vehicle apprentices: a case study
This article explores the interaction of formal and informal attributes of competence‐based assessment. Specifically, it presents evidence from a small qualitative case study of summative assessment practices for competence‐based qualifications within apprenticeships in the motor industry in England. The data are analysed through applying an adaptation of a framework for exploring the interplay of formality and informality in learning. This analysis reveals informal mentoring as a significant element which influences not only the process of assessment, but also its outcomes. We offer different possible interpretations of the data and their analysis, and conclude that, whichever interpretation is adopted, there appears to be a need for greater capacity‐building for assessors at a local level. This could acknowledge a more holistic role for assessors; recognise the importance of assessors’ informal practices in the formal retention and achievement of apprentices; and enhance awareness of inequalities that may be reinforced by both informal and formal attributes of assessment practices
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