Asymptotic Variance of Semiparametric Estimators With Generated Regressors

We study the asymptotic distribution of three‐step estimators of a finite‐dimensional parameter vector where the second step consists of one or more nonparametric regressions on a regressor that is estimated in the first step. The first‐step estimator is either parametric or nonparametric. Using Newey's (1994) path‐derivative method, we derive the contribution of the first‐step estimator to the influence function. In this derivation, it is important to account for the dual role that the first‐step estimator plays in the second‐step nonparametric regression, that is, that of conditioning variable and that of argument.     

The impact of respondents and interviewers on interview speed in face-to-face interviews

In surveys carried out by interviewers trained according to the key principle of standardized interviewing it is assumed that the interviewer has only limited impact on the time a respondent needs to answer questions. In the paper the effects of interviewers and respondent characteristics on interview speed are analyzed simultaneously by means of a three-level random coefficient model. Data from the fifth round of the European Social Survey (ESS) are used. In twelve participating countries (CAPI) timers were implemented at several places in the questionnaire. Based on this time information the interview speed (number of questions asked per minute) was measured for each respondent during five modules of the questionnaire. The results support most of the expectations concerning the effects of the respondent characteristics. However, the results also indicate that, for all countries, interviewers strongly determine the interview speed and that interview length is not a simple linear function of the number of questions in a questionnaire.     

Visiting borders in education: A creative approach with children in primary education

This study engages with children sharing experiences of belonging at school, of receiving access and of exploring complex relationalities along shifting borders in educational spaces. Their understandings offer a magnifying glass on normativity, difference and social positions in school spaces. Through ‘flattening and folding’ with material and theoretical concepts, the authors map how qualitative data images made by children and theory constitute one another to make sense of complex relationalities discussed by children. The project desires to make sense of blurry borders that exclude children in educational contexts and to push borders in methods and ethics in research with children.     

Teamworking and organizational performance: A review of survey‐based research

This paper presents a review of recent survey‐based research looking at the contribution of teamwork to organizational performance. In particular, it focuses on empirical studies in which both teamwork and performance are directly measured in a quantitative way. The paper begins by identifying four interrelated dimensions of teamwork effectiveness: attitudinal, behavioural, operational and financial. The first two represent transmission mechanisms by which organizational performance can be improved. The latter two provide direct measures of organizational outcomes. The review shows that teamworking has a positive impact on all four dimensions of performance. It also reveals that, when teamwork is combined with structural change, performance can be further enhanced. The paper concludes by highlighting some important research gaps that future studies could address.     

Transformation of non positive semidefinite correlation matrices

In multivariate statistics, estimation of the covariance or correlation matrix is of crucial importance. Computational and other arguments often lead to the use of coordinate-dependent estimators, yielding matrices that are symmetric but not positive semidefinite. We briefly discuss existing methods, based on shrinking, for transforming such matrices into positive semidefinite matrices, A simple method based on eigenvalues is also considered. Taking into account the geometric structure of correlation matrices, a new method is proposed which uses techniques similar to those of multidimensional scaling.     

Choosing Whether to Buy or Make: The Contracting Out of Employment Reintegration Services by Dutch Municipalities

The Western welfare states are under reform. An important part of these reforms is the introduction of market type mechanisms for the deliverance of public services. Over the years, many countries have chosen to contract out employment reintegration services. The underlying notion of contracting out is the belief that the introduction of market elements in the production of public services increases effectiveness and efficiency. In addition to the cost benefit argument for contracting out public services, ideology is often brought forward as an important factor explaining why public services are provided in‐house. In this article, we analyze to what extent cost benefit arguments and ideology affect the make or buy decision of Dutch municipalities. The Dutch employment reintegration market poses an interesting case in point since Dutch municipalities have the option to either provide employment reintegration services themselves or to buy services on the market. Our analysis shows that cost benefit arguments do not play a role in the make or buy decision of Dutch municipalities. Ideology, however, does. Municipalities that adhere to the principles of New Public Management more often opt to buy employment reintegration services on the market. Also the outcomes of municipal elections have been found to be of importance – left‐wing municipalities more often choose in‐house service provision.     

On the right track? Islamic schools in the Netherlands after an era of turmoil

The Netherlands currently has 43 Islamic primary schools. Each is fully subsidised by the government. Yet since the first school was established in 1988 Islamic schools have been confronted with obstacles by the Ministry of Education, bad press and increasingly strict state supervision. Under pressure to improve their image, since 2008 Dutch Islamic primary schools have turned their attention away from expanding their numbers and instead focussed on improving school quality. In this article we describe the various developments and draw upon large scale empirical research to demonstrate the present state of affairs both in terms of cognitive and non-cognitive pupil achievements. We argue that the present results offer reasons to be cautiously optimistic.     

Performance Effects of Using the Balanced Scorecard: A Note on the Dutch Experience

This article aims to contribute to understanding how to use the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) effectively. The BSC lends itself to various interpretations. This article explores how the way in which the BSC is used affects performance. Empirical evidence from Dutch firms suggests BSC use will not automatically improve company performance, but that the manner of its use matters: BSC use that complements corporate strategy positively influences company performance, while BSC use that is not related to the strategy may decrease it. We discuss the findings and offer managers guidance for optimal use of the BSC.     

The professional role of social work in a market environment

One argument often heard in garnering support for the reorganisation of the welfare state in the Netherlands is that the safety net which it was intended to form has become something of a hammock, whereas a genuine safety net ought to act more like a trampoline. Nowadays sometimes also known as the activating welfare state, it aims to reduce apathetic response and increase the participation of its citizens in society. More and more, social workers are enlisted to help achieve these goals. Activation, however, is also associated with the introduction of a market environment in the social sector.

In 1992, the management of the social work organisation in The Hague concluded a controversial agreement with the municipal social services. Under this contract, clients referred to the social work organisation by the municipal social services would be made eligible for regular jobs on the labour market. The clients who were referred had obligations of their own: their benefits would be reduced if they did not cooperate. The social work organisation guaranteed contractually a success rate of 60% within a pre-determined period. For this ‘product’, the municipal social services paid a fixed amount of money each year.

The article describes the professional manner in which the social workers in The Hague dealt with the contract.     

Sequential Monte Carlo for counting vertex covers in general graphs

In this paper we describe a sequential importance sampling (SIS) procedure for counting the number of vertex covers in general graphs. The optimal SIS proposal distribution is the uniform over a suitably restricted set, but is not implementable. We will consider two proposal distributions as approximations to the optimal. Both proposals are based on randomization techniques. The first randomization is the classic probability model of random graphs, and in fact, the resulting SIS algorithm shows polynomial complexity for random graphs. The second randomization introduces a probabilistic relaxation technique that uses Dynamic Programming. The numerical experiments show that the resulting SIS algorithm enjoys excellent practical performance in comparison with existing methods. In particular the method is compared with cachet—an exact model counter, and the state of the art SampleSearch, which is based on Belief Networks and importance sampling.