Comparison of two human-machine-interfaces for cooperative maneuver-based driving

In the project "Conduct-by-Wire" which is founded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) cooperative maneuver based driving is examined. In this paper two different input devices (gesture recognition and tactile touch display) are compared in a simulator study with 29 participants. It shows that the major advantage of the gesture recognition is that there is no need for the driver to take his gaze off the road. In contrast, the number of gazes at the tactile touch display is significantly higher. The major advantage of the tactile touch display is that no input errors occurred during the test drives. Conversely, the gesture recognition was significantly worse. Nevertheless, further work is needed to decide which input device is the best.     

Does Country Matter for Subjective Well-Being?

It is known that characteristics of individuals explain only a part of the variations in Subjective Well-Being (SWB) between people. The country of origin of an individual accounts for a significant part of these differences. We study what drives the variations in SWB between countries after taking individual characteristics into account. We base our analysis on data from the four waves of the World Values Survey. 64% of the variations between the countries in the sample (64 countries) are explained by the natality rate, life expectancy, the level of corruption and a Muslim culture. This adds to the discussion on the link between economic conditions and SWB. The economic situation is not an explanatory variable in a direct way but indirectly affects SWB through some of the significant variables. Corruption has detrimental effects on SWB beyond its economic consequences.     

Sequential estimation for a family of counting processes in the nuisance parameter case

The paper deals with the problem of sequential estimation for stochastic processes in the presence of a nuisance parameter. Using the approach to estimation through estimating equations, optimum estimating functions based on a random observation time are investigated in some models for processes appearing in reliability systems theory.     

文化间哲学语境中的文化中心主义与宽容

哲学的目标从根本上说是尝试弄清楚那些与基本的实体论、认识论和标准化问题有关的见解,并充分表达这些见解。通过一种主体间方式,这些见解易于接近和论证。在轴心时代,技术意义上的哲学既不是希腊或欧洲唯一的遗产,也不是在其他社会文化中都能找到的。现代化和全球化的进程产生了促进或至少是发展共同思想观念的必要性。在这种情况之下,哲学的基本问题在对“系统哲学是否可能”这一疑问的需要中产生。系统哲学预设在每一种哲学思想中都有不同的文化创新,这可能会影响到以下各层面的反思和论证 :(1)哲学的文化性困境;(2)不同类型的文化中心主义;(3)文化宽容与文化超越。从文化中心主义、宽容与超越的视角看,文化宽容需要不同文化相互感兴趣,且要不断努力在需要理性的地方激发理性,建立人们对某种文化的信任感,并对此持宽容和超越的态度,这可能是当前一项主要的哲学任务。     

Reasons for Wage Rigidity in Germany

Abstract. This study investigates institutional and economic reasons for downward wage rigidity regarding three occupational skill groups. Based on a survey of 801 firms in Germany and an econometric analysis, we find strong support for explanations based on the effects of labour union contracts and efficiency wages that differ between skill groups. Survey respondents indicate that labour union contracts and implicit contracts are important reasons for wage rigidity for the (less) skilled. Specific human capital and negative signals for new hires are causes of the stickiness of wages for the highly skilled. Compared with US evidence, German firms seem to attach more importance to labour union contracts and specific human capital.     

Predictors of behavioural and emotional problems of children placed in children's homes in Croatia

Since children's homes in Croatia and elsewhere nowadays deal with children who have more problems than in the past, there is a need to identify predictors of the children's behavioural and emotional problems in order to provide adequate interventions and an appropriate developmental environment. This research was carried out in all children's homes in Croatia. The sample consisted of 263 children aged 10–14. Standardized instruments (Youth Self‐Report and Child Behaviour Check‐List) were used as outcome measures of children's psychosocial functioning. The results showed significantly more behavioural and emotional problems in children in children's homes than in the comparison group of children living with their families. Child care‐workers assessed fewer behavioural and emotional problems than did the children themselves. Multiple regression analyses were used to determine predictors for well‐being scores. The level of everyday stress in children's homes, coping strategies, perception of social support and school achievements proved to be the most significant predictors. Since those variables belong to mediating variables within the suggested model of research, it is argued that positive changes in these areas can facilitate a better psychosocial functioning of the children in children's homes.     

Kooperationsnetzwerke und Karrieren an deutschen Hochschulen

From a life-course theoretical perspective, university careers may not only depend on performance and productivity, but also on characteristics of cooperation and professional networks. Building on an extensive archive analysis we investigated university careers of four cohorts of German psychologists, who obtained their doctoral degree in the years 1980–81 and 1985–86 (N=579). Data were obtained from public reference archives (e.g. PSYCHLit), a German yearbook of psychologists (Hogrefe publishers), and the internet. In addition to university positions and characteristics of institutes, we generated information on the size, density, and productivity of cooperation networks. Findings indicate that attainment of a professor position depends on individual productivity as well as on cooperation networks. In particular, the size of university institutes (at the time when finishing the dissertation work) and the density of coauthor networks proved as strongest predictors of tenured professorship. The findings strongly underscore the important role of network management in the course of professional careers.