Gender differences in self-regulation patterns and attitudes toward driving among older adults

The automobile is essential for many older adults to fulfill their daily needs, especially since many live where they lack access to public transit or other acceptable modes of transportation. Increased self-regulation is one way older drivers continue to drive safely and maintain mobility. This research considers whether self-regulation attitudes and patterns differ by gender. Results indicate that women and men report distinct patterns of self-regulation behaviors. Age, health status, and household status also interact with gender, influencing the extent of self-regulation. The results also show that women report lower levels of confidence in their driving skills than men, although the difference varies based on whether or not a woman lives alone. Implications of these results are considered for an aging population--particularly women--that over the coming decades will be more reliant on the automobile for transportation than ever before.     

The feminine style,the male influence,and the paradox of gendered political blogspace

This article explores gender differences in political communication among blogging politicians. The article sets out to explore two baseline questions: (1) Are distinct gendered ‘blogstyles’ to be found among political representatives? and (2) How do gender and gendered blogstyles interplay and affect the impact of political blogs? The empirical study draws on a survey targeting blogging politicians in Sweden (N?=?523). The analysis identifies substantial differences in how female and male politicians communicate in the blogosphere as well as the outcomes in terms of feedback and impact. Female politicians, to a greater degree than their male counterparts, utilize blogging for the purpose of fostering a stronger connection with their readers as well as to enquire about ideas and policy perspectives. This strategy seems to be successful for fostering qualitative feedback from readers; yet, female bloggers have far less impact than their male colleges. We discuss two potential understandings of these results: relating to gender stereotypes and the network power structure of the blogosphere.     

Eine integrative Theorie des Problemlösens in Gruppen II: Kognitive Grundoperationen und die Bearbeitung aufgabenbezogener Teilprobleme

This paper is the second paper in a three-part article series presenting an integrative theory of problem solving in groups on the basis of theory and research on group processes, problem solving and decision making. In the first paper of the series (Stempfle, 2004) basic recommendations for structuring problem solving processes in groups were established taking into account situational constraints. The focus was on aspects of group organization. Goal of the present paper is to discuss problem solving strategies in the work task area. A problem typology for work task sub-problems is proposed, wherein routine tasks, problems, puzzles and crisis situations are differentiated. It is hypothesized that the problem solving process of groups concerning arbitrary types of sub-problems can be described in terms of a complex sequence of five basic cognitive operations, namely information gathering, solution seeking, analysis, evaluation and decision. For the various sub-problems proposed, ideal problem solving strategies are proposed taking into account the need for action with regard to the sub-problem at hand and the resources available to the group. Problem solving strategies are stated in terms of sequences of the proposed basic cognitive operations.     

U.S. unionism and R&D investment: Evidence from a simple cross-country test

This paper implements Freeman’s suggestion that insights into the effect of U.S. unionism on R&D investment may be obtained by correlating U.S. union density by industry with R&D investment by industry in another country, here Germany.     

Introduction

Social Indicators Research -     

Do service-oriented IT architectures facilitate business process outsourcing?

How does a firm’s IT architecture affect its potential to outsource business processes? As Information Technology (IT) has become many firms’ essential operational infrastructure or “backbone”, we are interested in scrutinizing to what extent the kind of IT architecture affects a firm’s boundaries or the plasticity of its boundaries. Focusing on the particular concept of service-oriented architectures (SOA), we concretely ask: How does SOA affect business process outsourcing potentials? Since SOA is widely expected to modularize the IT implementation of business processes, it should increase business process outsourcing (BPO) in terms of buying in the provision of single business functionalities. We develop and empirically evaluate a theoretical model that conceptualizes the relationship between SOA and BPO. Questionnaire data from 115 firms give first evidence that SOA facilitates BPO. By increasing IT modularity, SOA supports BPO by increasing sourcing flexibility and, in particular, operational benefits, while at the same time lowering financial risks and strategic risks, such as lock-in. Overall, however, firms see SOA-based BPO mainly in an operational context with low hidden costs and little strategic benefits.