Current Practice of Official Population Projections in the EU

The report reviews the current practice of statistical agencies in Europe (EU-25) for defining the fertility, mortality and migration assumptions in population projections and draws preliminary conclusions from the review

SAFMEDS as an Instructional Tool and Assessment

Say-all-fast-minute-each-day-shuffled (SAFMEDS) is a precision teaching method utilized in both instruction and assessment. Existing literature illustrates support for the retrieval hypothesis and the testing effect due to repetition and active learning, thus making SAFMEDS an effective studying strategy. Differing from traditional flashcards, SAFMEDS are based on the concept of saying the vocabulary word aloud with an emphasis on speed. This study’s purpose is to analyze how the repetitive use of SAFMEDS affect test scores. Examining SAFMEDS as instructional devices and assessment tools will give insight into the effects of fluency-based techniques on retention and accuracy. I predicted a positive relationship between SAFMEDS quiz scores and exam scores. There were 173 undergraduates from an Introduction to Cognitive Psychology class at a large midwestern public research university that participated in this study and the participants came from a variety of academic programs. During in-class SAFMEDS timings, students studied for 3-5 minutes and were timed for one minute, attempting to achieve as many correct responses as possible. A partner held up the definition side of the SAFMEDS and the participants said aloud the vocabulary word. Cards were split up between correct, incorrect, and skip. For quizzes, participants were given five minutes to type the 40 vocabulary words next to the definition shown. These repeated SAFMEDS quizzes show the testing effect to varying degrees. As a retrieval practice and instructional tool, SAFMEDS are shown to be an effective study method. They lead to improved performance as compared to flashcards due to their emphasis on fluency rather than accuracy. In the future, I’d like to conduct more research into the impact of SAFMEDS on length of retention

From fade-out into spotlight: An audio-visual character analysis (ACIS) on the diversity of media representation and production culture

The article focuses on gender portrayal in audio-visual media and discusses the visibility and participation of diverse people. Based on a theoretical framework from gender media studies, we conceptualize audio-visual visibility as a dimension of intersectionality and apply this in an empirical approach. Audio-visual character analysis (ACIS) is introduced as a method to investigate media content in order to describe visibility of the represented people. Applying this method, a quantitative content analysis of a representative sample of German television from 2016 was realized to answer the research questions on the portrayal of relevant characters and on the positions behind the camera. The findings show an unequal representation of gender and an intersectional relevance of other categories of difference such as age as well as an interplay between gender of creative positions and visibility of female characters. The article discusses findings and implications for future research

Gender differences within the German-language Wikipedia

The Wikipedia project constitutes the currently most-used and most comprehensive online encyclopedia in the world (Schneider, 2008, p. 35) and is advertising itself as free and open for everyone, and in terms of an encyclopedia as diverse and balanced at all levels. But from a gender perspective there is a huge discrepancy in sex ratio within Wikipedia’s community. In 2005, researchers at University of Würzburg found that women constitute only 10 % of German-language Wikipedia authors (Schroer&Hertel, 2009, p. 104). This fact leads to the presumption, that Wikipedia’s reflection of the world mediates and interprets a mainly male conception of the world and thus displays an inequality with reference to modern society. Proceeding from the assumption that women and men have different communication behaviours as well as different perceptions and interpretations of communication in almost all aspects of social interaction including e.g. conversational strategies, conflict management and negotiation skills, we hypothesize that these different ways of communication significantly affect the motivation of female Wikipedia contributors

The diet of Saker Falcon Falco cherrug overwintering in the Mediterranean (Sicily)

The winter diet of Saker Falcon Falco cherrug in the Mediterranean basin is unknown. Thanks to satellite tracking of two individuals from Hungary to Sicily, during winters 2012-13 and 2013-14 we identified the roost and collected 40 pellets. Pellet analysis allowed identification of 124 prey belonging to 29 taxa. Saker Falcons during winter shift their alimentation to insects and birds, with respect to mammals in the breeding season, plundering from small beetles to rabbits. Insects, especially Orthoptera and Coleoptera, were the most frequent prey in both years, totalling the 66.9% of remains. Among vertebrates the Saker Falcons preyed upon birds (21.77%), mammals (5.65%) and reptiles (4.84%). The Rock Dove plus Feral Pigeons are the key-species of winter diet, representing the 45.78% of biomass ingested in the two years. Agricultural intensification and land abandonment is rapidly changing steppe-like habitats of Mediterranean, and negatively affecting most potential prey of Saker Falcons. Conservation of this globally threatened species should consider also anthropogenic pressures outside the breeding range, and implement agri-environment schemes in the more suitable wintering grounds

Population and Human Capital Growth in Egypt: Projections for Governorates to 2051

Human capital formation has been chosen as the initial focal point of this new IIASA population-development-environment case study on Egypt. With its population still likely to double and its water resources severely restricted, Egypt faces formidable population- and environment-related challenges. The government has an explicit population policy aimed at bringing the fertility rate down to replacement level by 2017. With its options for agricultural development severely limited, the future livelihood of this rapidly growing population can only be secured through rapid development in the industrial and service sectors. For both sectors, human capital development is a necessary prerequisite for success. Of course, such development needs to be complemented by the right investment and trade policies. But without a sufficiently well-educated population, Egypt will not be able to compete in the global service and industry markets. The study explores the human capital dimension at the aggregate level for the whole of Egypt and at the governorate level, distinguishing between 21 governorates and the Frontier Region. For each of the governorates a multi-state population projection model is defined that differentiates the population by age, sex, and level of education. The scenarios demonstrate the momentum of educational development: The challenges will be important for those governorates where past investments in education have been insufficient, especially for the female population, and where the working-age population will increase tremendously, such as in Fayoum, Menia, Assyout, and Suhag. The projections point to the necessity of major structural changes in the development of Egypt

Free Speech Under Pressure: The Effect of Online Harassment on Literary Writers

In the perception of writers in Germany, free speech is under strong pressure. A survey study, in which 526 literature writers took part, reveals innumerable aspects of hate speech, online harassment, and even physical assaults. Every second person has already experienced assaults on his or her person and is also aware of attacks on colleagues. Three quarters are concerned about freedom of expression in Germany and complain of an increase in threats, intimidation, and hateful reactions. The research project was developed in collaboration between the Institute for Media Research, University of Rostock, and the PEN Center Germany

Traumberuf oder Verlegenheitslösung?: Einstiegsmotivation und Arbeitssituation des wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchses in Kommunikationswissenschaft und Medienwissenschaft

Zusammenfassung: Über die Beschäftigungs- und Ausbildungsbedingungen des wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchses in Kommunikationswissenschaft und Medienwissenschaft ist bisher vergleichsweise wenig bekannt. Ziel der vorliegenden Studie ist es daher, eine erste umfassende Bestandsaufnahme des wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchses im Fach bis zur Promotion zu leisten. Hierfür wurden alle Promovierenden in Deutschland, der Schweiz und in Österreich zu ihrer Wahrnehmung und Beurteilung der eigenen beruflichen Situation und Zukunft befragt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen u. a., dass die Nachwuchswissenschaftler/innen auf der einen Seite zwar hoch intrinsisch motiviert sind, andererseits nehmen sie eine wissenschaftliche Karriere als sehr unsicher und hürdenreich wahr. Zudem lassen sich verschiedene Typen von Nachwuchskräften ausmachen: die Idealisten, die Karrieristen und die Unentschlossenen. Es zeigt sich, dass lediglich die Idealisten dem Wunschbild eines produktiven und interessierten Wissenschaftlers entsprechen. Die Ergebnisse werden vor dem Hintergrund der zukünftigen Fachentwicklung diskutier