Эффективность производства в крестьянских (фермерских) хозяйствах Крыма

Автор статьи исследует динамику развития крестьянских (фермерских) хозяйств в Крыму в период 1991 по 2004 года. Дается сравнительный анализ эффективности производства в крестьянских (фермерских) хозяйствах и сельскохозяйственных предприятиях. В работе значительное внимание уделено вкладу крестьянских (фермерских) хозяйств в развитии АПК Крыма

Priors & prejudice : using existing knowledge in social science research

Researchers in the social sciences usually start their research with the formulation of research goals and questions, which, together with studying the existing literature, lead to the formulation of hypotheses. Next, data is collected using experiments or questionnaires and is subsequently analyzed. Finally, conclusions are drawn based on the research findings. Although this procedure is a logical one, more scientific knowledge can be gained by starting a research project with a sharper focus. In this dissertation a sharper focus is established by formulating and analyzing informative hypotheses. Informative hypotheses contain information that is known beforehand, i.e., they contain existing knowledge. Such hypotheses are usually formulated in words in the introduction of a scientific article, but they are hardly ever analyzed. In order to adequately analyze informative hypotheses stated in words, they need to be translated into statistical hypotheses. This can be done by placing (in)equality signs (, =) between the parameters of interest (e.g., means or regression coefficients). These so called inequality constrained hypotheses can be used in statistical analyses. This dissertation offers researchers in the social sciences instruments, tools and analysis strategies to help them get better answers to their research questions by using informative hypotheses. The following points are addressed: 1) Are researchers willing to use new research methods? 2) How can informative hypotheses be formulated? And what existing knowledge should be included? 3) How can informative hypotheses be analyzed using classical and Bayesian statistics? and 4) What are the advantages and disadvantages of these analysis techniques? Furthermore, an example concerning a study on therapy effect for girls exposed to a single rape is given. From this dissertation it can be concluded that usage of informative hypotheses is an elegant way of including existing knowledge in current research. Reasons for using informative hypotheses are: 1) Existing customs with concern to conducting research do not have to change much; 2) More attention is paid to scientific knowledge that was previously gained; 3) Existing knowledge is incorporated in a formal and transparent manner; and 4) Research questions get more accurate answer

Towards a method for synthesizing diverse evidence using hypotheses as common language

Combining the findings obtained by different research methods in mixed-research synthesis could potentially contribute to a broader, more diverse evidence base for interventions. In this article we focus on the methodological challenges involved in synthesizing various types of research findings. We propose a method that uses hypotheses to facilitate the comparison and integration of such different findings. The method consists of four steps: (1) synthesizing findings per source of evidence, (2) formulating a mono-method hypothesis for each source, (3) integrating the monomethod hypotheses into one overall hypothesis, and (4) evaluating, using empirical data, whether the overall hypothesis better fits the data than each of the mono-method hypotheses. Using quantitative studies, qualitative studies and experts’ views in the substantive case of children and trauma, we will illustrate the proposed method. We conclude that the method provides a viable perspective for constructing an elaborate model that captures the knowledge from complementary sources

Using qualitative evidence to optimize child PTSD treatment guidelines.

The importance of patients’ perspectives in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is increasingly emphasized in recent years. However, qualitative evidence regarding these perspectives, is not systematically included in treatment guidelines. The possibilities of adding systematically aggregated recipients’ views are examined in this paper, with a focus on children and adolescents. We reanalyzed a qualitative synthesis of the experiences of traumatized youth in order to derive recommendations for treatment. These recommendations were juxtaposed to 3 leading international sets of guidelines for children’s treatment that stem from a quantitatively dominated evidence base. We found congruence between the 2 evidence bases regarding the broad impact of trauma, the importance of routines, and the involvement of parents in therapy. The yield of the qualitative synthesis comprised children’s feeling of being both normal and different, their need for a vigorous posttrauma identity, the importance of building relationships with significant others, and the importance of providing children with something to “hold on to.” The inclusion of both quantitative and qualitative sources of evidence holds the promise of better tailoring treatment to recipients’ needs. (aut. ref.

Use of hypotheses for analysis of variance models: challenging the current practice

In social science research, hypotheses about group means are commonly tested using analysis of variance. While deemed to be formulated as specifically as possible to test social science theory, they are often defined in general terms. In this article we use two studies to explore the current practice concerning group mean hypotheses. The first study consists of a content analysis of published articles where the reconstructed reality of hypotheses use is explored. The second study is a qualitative interview study with researchers, adding information about daily practice. We argue that, at present, hypotheses are not used to their utmost potential and that progress can be made by using informative hypotheses instead of the current non-informative hypotheses. Informative hypotheses capitalize on knowledge that researchers already possess and enable them to focus in their proceeding projects. The substantive focus of our work is the case of applied psychology

The Contribution of Mixed Methods Research to the Field of Childhood Trauma: A Narrative Review focused on Data Integration

In mixed methods research (MMR), integrating the quantitative and the qualitative components of a study is assumed to result in additional knowledge (or "yield"). This narrative review examines the extent to which MMR is used in the field of childhood trauma and provides directions for improving mixed methods studies in this field. A systematic literature search resulted in 13 studies that were achieving four different research objectives: (a) measures and meaning, (b) intervention evaluation, (c) theory building, and (d) measurement instrument development and validation. Although some studies produced yield by integrating the components, there is room for improvement and better use of MMR's potential. We conclude by presenting recommendations for improving the application and dissemination of MMR in childhood trauma. © The Author(s) 2013

Use of hypotheses for analysis of variance Models: Challenging the current practice

In social science research, hypotheses about group means are commonly tested using analysis of variance. While deemed to be formulated as specifically as possible to test social science theory, they are often defined in general terms. In this article we use two studies to explore the current practice concerning group mean hypotheses. The first study consists of a content analysis of published articles where the reconstructed reality of hypotheses use is explored. The second study is a qualitative interview study with researchers, adding information about daily practice. We argue that, at present, hypotheses are not used to their utmost potential and that progress can be made by using informative hypotheses instead of the current non-informative hypotheses. Informative hypotheses capitalize on knowledge that researchers already possess and enable them to focus in their proceeding projects. The substantive focus of our work is the case of applied psychology. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V