Comparability of special distributions

In the note comparability criteria are stated for distributions belonging to the Weibull, Gamma and Lognormal class. This results complete the corresponding results from the monograph by Stoyan. As an example an upper bound is stated for the mean waiting time in a queueing system Gamma/Gamma/s.     

On the procedure of hodges and lehmann for testing composite hypotheses of the mean of a normal distribution with unknown variance

In 1954 Hodges and Lehmann gave a test procedure for testing the hypothesis that the mean of an identically independently normally distributed random sample with unknown variance is contained within a certain interval [μ1, μ2]. The test is similar on the boundary of the zero-hypothesis and superior in power to the composite t-test usually applied to this problem. However Hodges and Lehmann could prove the unbiasedness of their test only for the special case that the sample consists of two elements. From numerical computations they guessed that unbiasedness would be valid for arbitrary sample sizes. This question is discussed here and partially answered.     

Für Einen Moderaten Relativismus in der Wissenschaftssoziologie

The new sociology of science makes the relativist claim that social factors influence the generation and evaluation even of valid scientific knowledge, and mainly for its relativism it is sharply criticized by philosophers. The central objections of the critics concern the philosophical presuppositions and consequences of relativism. It is thus objected, on the one hand, that the relativism of the sociology of science is based on wrong philosophical assumptions about science; and, on the other hand, that the reflexivity of this relativism leads to unresolvable problems. The article provides a critical examination of the arguments given for these objections, especially of Popper’s rejection of relativism. A differentiation of two forms of relativism is proposed, and it is argued that the objections raised against relativism in general are justified for only one variety of relativism. While extreme relativism, holding that the evaluation of scientific knowledge is solely dependent on social factors, is indeed untenable, moderate relativism, holding that social factors are co-determinants of evaluation, has plausible epistemological presuppositions and allows the reflexive turn of relativism. Since moderate relativism is coherent with the research programme of the new sociology of science and the philosophical point of view, sociology of science should opt for this form of relativism.     

Rehabilitation Initiatives by Disability Self-help Groups: A Comparative Study

As part of its programme of activities for the triennium 1996-98, the ISSA proposed that a comparative country study be conducted on the social relevance of self-help groups and their integration into the rehabilitation process.A pilot study was conducted to assess the situation in five European countries at comparable stages of social development. Increasingly, since the Second World War, people with a chronic illness or a disability in these countries have joined together in self-help groups and organizations in order to overcome their condition together and work for better integration into society. The situation at present is that the self-help movement is no longer seen as an alternative to the regular social security system, as it used to be: instead, both the self-help groups and organizations and the institutions and facilities responsible for rehabilitation are seeking an increase in cooperation.     

Decentralization of contracts with interim side-contracting

This article gives a new explanation for the phenomenon of subcontracting. A model in which a principal contracts two agents who work in a sequence on a project, have soft information and can collude is considered. Side-contracts between agents can be signed at any stage of the game. It is shown that in this setting both a decentralized contracting structure, in which contracting of the agents at the initial production stage is delegated to the agent at the final production stage, and a centralized structure, in which the principal directly contracts both agents, can be superior for the principal. The article derives the conditions under which this holds. The results give an explanation for recently observed tendencies in public procurement of design and construction activities.     

Individual Differences in Infants' Recognition of Briefly Presented Visual Stimuli

Infants' recognition memory has been shown to be related to individual differences in look duration and level of heart period variability. This study examined the effect of individual differences in these 2 measures on infants' recognition of briefly presented visual stimuli using a paired‐comparison recognition‐memory paradigm. A sample of 35 full‐term infants was studied longitudinally at 14, 20, and 26 weeks of age. Recognition memory for briefly presented stimuli was tested in 6 experimental conditions, with delays corresponding to different heart‐rate‐defined phases of attention. The 20‐and 26‐week‐old infants, and infants with high levels of heart period variability, generally showed more evidence of recognition memory for briefly presented visual stimuli. Greater evidence of recognition memory was observed when stimuli were presented during sustained attention. Infants with more mature baseline physiological responses show greater evidence of recognition memory, and stimulus and procedural factors may be more important for the study of individual differences in infant visual attention than has previously been suggested.     

Recruitment and Retention of Referees in Nonprofit Sport Organizations: The Trickle-Down Effect of Role Models

The recruitment and retention of voluntary referees is challenging for nonprofit sport organizations. This study examines the trickle-down effect of role models on the retention of already active referees and the recruitment of new referees in German football (soccer). Secondary panel data on the number of referees and role models (i.e., referees promoted to the status of a Bundesliga or FIFA referee) were collected for the 21 regional football associations. The regression results show that the presence of role models has a statistically significant and positive effect on the number of existing referees. The number of new referees is positively affected by referees who were promoted to the status of a first Bundesliga referee, but not by those promoted to the status of a FIFA referee. The findings suggest that nonprofit sport organizations should capitalize on the effect of role models to a greater extent.     

Adolescent Fathers' Parenting Stress,Social Support,and Involvement with Infants

The present study examined the relationship between concurrent measures of adolescent fathers' parenting stress, social support, and fathers' care‐giving involvement with the 3‐month‐old infant, controlling for fathers' prenatal involvement. The study sample consisted of 50 teenage father–mother dyads. Findings from multivariate regression revealed that fathers' parenting stress was significantly and negatively related to fathers' care giving as perceived by both fathers and mothers. The relationship between support for father involvement provided by the young man's parents and father reported care‐giving involvement approached significance. Social support from both teenagers' parents buffered the negative influence of parenting stress on fathers' involvement with the baby. Policy and intervention implications are discussed.     

Poverty and poverty alleviation programmes in the urban areas of Mozambique

The first part of this paper provides an analysis of poverty and destitution in the cities of Mozambique. The second part summarises the existing programmes for poverty alleviation and the social safety net. The last part describes in some detail the only organisation and programme which has had significant impact in terms of alleviating poverty and destitution: the Gabinete de Apoio a População Vulnerável (GAPVU) Cash Transfer Scheme.A poverty profile of Mozambique's urban centres shows that over half of all households are living in poverty. It distinguishes between absolutely poor and destitute households. The latter have expenditures less than two thirds of the poverty line, are at risk of malnutrition, high child mortality and low life expectancy and comprise nearly a third of the population. A distinction is made between structural and conjunctural causes of poverty and used as a basis for classifying households in different situations, in order to identify appropriate types of intervention. Existing policies and programmes to reduce poverty and alleviate destitution are reviewed and their strengths and weaknesses identified. The cash transfer scheme designed and operated by the GAPVU is described in more detail, and its effectiveness in reaching destitute households assessed. Finally, its administrative efficiency and financial and institutional sustainability are evaluated. It is shown to be a well designed programme which succeeds in reaching increasing numbers of vulnerable households because of its use of decentralised health and community administrative structures, and strong political and institutional backing.