Just do it?

Referring to the ongoing discussion on quality assessment and evaluative criteria in qualitative methods the article focuses especially on the grounded theory approach in the tradition of Anselm Strauss. It is argued that having its roots in the pragmatist epistemology and philosophy of science the grounded theory approach develops strategies to enhance the quality of processes and results that in some parts differ from traditional quantitative methodologies. Having elaborated on grounded theories’ pragmatist roots, the paper proceeds by presenting major strategies and techniques dedicated to quality enhancement (like dimensionalization and theoretical sampling). Subsequently, both research logic and rhetorics of evaluation criteria in grounded theory (e.g. theoretical saturation, density and groundedness) are being discussed. This leads to concluding remarks on the need for special evaluation criteria in grounded theory-based research.     

On parameter orthogonality to the mean

The existence of orthogonal parameters to the mean is characterized by a partial differential equation involving the mean, the variance and the cumulant generating function. This condition allows to explain and construct orthogonal parametrizations in several cases of interest, including higher parametric ones.     

Lie experts' beliefs about nonverbal indicators of deception

Beliefs about behavioral clues to deception were investigated in 212 people, consisting of prisoners, police detectives, patrol police officers, prison guards, customs officers, and college students. Previous studies, mainly conducted with college students as subjects, showed that people have some incorrect beliefs about behavioral clues to deception. It was hypothesized that prisoners would have the best notion about clues of deception, due to the fact that they receive the most adequate feedback about successful deception strategies. The results supported this hypothesis.     

A note on sequential ML estimates and their asymptotic covariances

A marginal and sequential maximum likelihood estimation method is described which can be used instead of full information maximum likelihood estimation if the latter method is unfeasible. It is shown that the sequential procedure yields strongly consistent and asymptotically normal estimates under relatively general regularity conditions. It is shown that the covariance matrix of the sequential ML estimator does not coincide with the inverse of the Fisher information matrix. Hence, the corrected covariance matrix is derived. The application of the sequential procedure to the multivariate probit model with dichotomous, ordered categorical, single-sided censored and double-sided censored endogenous variables is included. This research was partially supported by a dissertation grant of theStudienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes. Comments and suggestions on earlier drafts by Gerhard Arminger, Giorgio Calzolari, Bernd Kortzen and an anonymous referee are gratefully acknowledged.     

Das Weltsystem des Erdöls

This is an attempt at formulating, on a theoretical and empirical basis, construction principles and patterns of change of the “world economy of oil”. This term refers to a loose and variable configuration of nation states, multinational corporations, the “Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries” (OPEC) and a set of market regulations related to the production, distribution and consumption of oil on a worldwide scale. The main argument links together four interrelated and partially overlapping functional processes: (1) capitalism as a profit-oriented, innovative and expansive economic principle; (2) incorporation of the external oil deposits by the governments and corporations of the central industrial nations; (3) the emergence of countervailing power within the peripheral, oil-exporting countries in order to gain control over their oil resources and to change the unequal exchange relations with the capitalist centers; (4) change of the integration mode of the “world-economy of oil” based on a new balance of interests between centers and peripheries following severe economical and political crises. The analysis is concluded with a functional-cyclical model of the world economy of oil.     

Discussion on On the role of data,statistics and decisions in a pandemic

AStA Advances in Statistical Analysis - The authors make an important contribution presenting a comprehensive and thoughtful overview about the many different aspects of data, statistics and data...     

Compliance and Non-Compliance with a Superordinate Directive Document

We report a study of how a Norwegian regional health care agency directive document was complied with at the subordinate hospital level. We found tight coupling for the activity and budget requirements and loose coupling and decoupling for the other requirements in the document. Furthermore, rather than pursuing their own self- and group interests the hospital actors held an overall effectiveness logic.     

纯粹的卡里斯玛及其传导性:当代康区及果洛地区藏传佛教转世喇嘛的心景

本文旨在对当代康区及果洛地区藏传佛教在复兴背景下纯粹的卡里斯玛(genuine charisma)现象进行一种社会学的研讨,其关注的焦点是当代我国境内藏传佛教的转世喇嘛的内质及其集体功能.在理论层面上,这篇文章质疑了马克斯·韦伯(Max Weber)的观点,他仅将卡里斯玛看作个人人格魅力,并且认为它经历着一个日常化(routinization)及最终消亡(denuse)的过程.作者基于对藏族深具魅力的转世喇嘛及其与寺院制度共生关系的认识,提出了在藏文化情境中,纯粹的卡里斯玛不仅是以个体人格为中心的现象,更关键的,它还是古老宗教体系集体性的表现.这类佛教里的纯粹卡里斯玛,不仅其再生得到了藏传佛教寺院制度的支撑,甚至还可以在希望获得它的人们身上传导.