COMPARISON OF THREE NON-PARAMETRIC TESTS FOR BIVARIATE INTERCHANGEABILITY1

Given a random sample(X₁, Y₁), …,(X_n, Y_n) from a bivariate (BV) absolutely continuous c.d.f. H (x, y), we consider rank tests for the null hypothesis of interchangeability H₀: H(x, y). Three linear rank test statistics, Wilcoxon (W_N), sum of squared ranks (SSR_N) and Savage (S_N), are described in Section 1. In Section 2, asymptotic relative efficiency (ARE) comparisons of the three types of tests are made for Morgenstern (Plackett, 1965) and Moran (1969)BV alternatives with marginal distributions satisfying G(x) = F(x/θ) for some θ≠ 1. Both gamma and lognormal marginal distributions are used.     

Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea: The development of tourism in Cuba

The Cubans are relying upon tourism to revive their ailing fortunes.They also wish to preserve their environment and cultural identity.Through the use of Partnerships, they may benefit by others'past experiences, avoid the negative effects of tourism sufferedby many other locations, and achieve the development of sustainabletourism.     

On the asymptotic distribution of max and mex

A form of the asymptotic joint distribution of the maximum and of the minimal excludent of a sample of sizen from a discrete distribution with exponential tails is derived. A strong law is given followed by an application to an inconsistent Bayes procedure.     

Pathways to productivity improvement

A study of productivity in the Machine Tool industry has just been published by the Engineering Employers Federation (EEF). As a member of the Productivity Steering Group, information was available to one of the authors, in an unusually detailed and validated form for the twenty or so individual companies, (though they remain anonymous). It was thought worthwhile to apply methods developed in the Economics and Statistics Department of British Aerospace to this data in order to give pointers to the factors explaining productivity differences. The particular methods referred to were those of the Diagnostic Chart, though considerably simplified to match the data available, and multiple regression analysis. Particular care is necessary in applying the latter technique in productivity analysis if spurious results are to be excluded. The conclusions were as follows: the most favoured path to improved productivity is via increased turnover; changes in productivity are reflected mainly in changes in the ‘profit’ element of value added rather than in the labour cost element; the major factor distinguishing low from high productivity companies is an excess of the manual work force in relation to turnover; increased fixed assets favours increased labour productivity; increased commitment to R & D favours increased labour productivity; these conclusions are, of course, deduced from a study of the machine tool industry in particular, but may well be of applicability to other industries.     

Effects of Remittance Behavior on the Lives of Recent Immigrants to Canada from the Philippines: A Population-Based Longitudinal Study

Remittances, money sent by immigrants to family members in their countries of origin, were studied. Research goals were to (1) describe remittance behavior over time and (2) understand effects of sending remittances on the lives of remitters living in Canada. Data were obtained from three waves of the Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Canada (2000–2004) for a national sample of Canadian Filipino immigrants. Multivariate regression analyses were used to assess the effects of remittances on health, housing and living conditions of the study population. Results showed that over time respondents’ own health was not affected by remitting. In contrast housing and living conditions were affected: Remitters were less likely to own their homes and more likely to rent than non-remitters when the effects of age, sex, family income and immigration class were controlled. The researchers make suggestions for practice and future research dealing with housing and living conditions of recent immigrants to Canada.     

How social workers reflect in action and when and why they don’t: the possibilities and limits to reflective practice in social work

The need for professionals to use reflection to learn about and develop their practice is now a universally stated goal. In social work however there has been little research into whether and how reflection in action actually occurs and this paper explores the possibilities and limits to reflective practice by drawing on research that observed encounters between social workers and children and families as the work was being conducted in real time. The findings show that practitioners often do reflect in action by elevating their minds above the interactions they are having so that they can think critically about and adjust what they are doing. But there are times when reflection is either limited or non-existent because practitioners defend themselves against the sensory and emotional impact of the work and the high anxiety they are experiencing. Drawing on psychoanalysis and social theories of the body and senses, the paper argues for a revision of the concept of reflective practice to take account of how the self is defended. The limits to reflection must be fully recognised while seeking ways to develop the capacity of practitioners to think clearly and critically so that vital insights about service users and the helping process can occur.