The use of traditional and modern methods of fertility control in Kinshasa, Zaire

Abstract The practice of post-partum abstinence has been a long-standing tradition in many societies of tropical Africa, yet recent research suggests an erosion of the taboo on post-partum sexual relations as a means of fertility control. The current study among women in the lower income groups in Kinshasa, Zaire, provides evidence of this. There is strong motivation toward child-spacing, as shown by 80 per cent of the women who reported to be currently practising some means of fertility control: 73 per cent with traditional methods, only 7 per cent with modern contraceptives. There appears to be some carry-over of traditional practice, in that abstinence is related to the age and nursing status of the last born child. However, the most widely practised method is withdrawal. This suggests a desire on the part of this population for alternatives to abstinence, an issue with important implications for future family planning programs in Zaire.     

Fertility differences between the family of orientation and the family or procreation in Barbados

Data from an island-wide probability sample of 4119 Barbadian females aged 16-50 were used to study whether there has been an intergenerational fertility decline between the respondents and their mothers. The fertility of the respondents, all from the low or lower middle class, was significantly lower than that of their mothers. However, the size of the family of procreation was seen to be positively related to the size of the family of orientation; i.e., those from large families tended to have large families and vice versa. There was, however, a regression to the mean. There were no differences between women from small and large families as to fertility norms, age at 1st use of contraceptives, or actual practice of contraception. Women from small families did tend to enter sexual relationships and get pregnant at a later age. The women from small families were better educated, earned higher incomes, and had higher status occupations, all factors which might have influenced their fertility. Women from larger families cited higher numbers for both small and large families than did the women from small families. This indicates a perceptual difference which was, in turn, related to fertility differences.     

通过谈判争取成功砝码

回想你上次面临新的领导机遇时,出现了什么情况？不管你是受命领导团队、部门还是整个企业,你很可能通过谈判争取该职位的薪水和待遇,比如：头衔、假期及奖金,但你是否争取过在该职位上取得成功的条件呢?     

文与悟：“良知即是易”的意本论解读

王阳明易学思想文本内容不多,目前学界已有论文对文本的运用重复率较高。鉴于有学者指出笔者1998年的论文没有把“良知即是易”加以深入的哲学分析,所以此文从意本论的角度,从“文”（文本）与“悟”（境界）两方面深入研讨“良知”与“易”的关系。本文基于《周易明意》意哲学的角度研讨阳明易学相关材料,力图穿透学界之前对阳明易学的文本诠释,并借助《周易明意》意本论哲学境界来领“悟”阳明易学材料与其心学哲学的内在关系,从而从意本论角度深入剖析和建构阳明心学“良知”与其易学哲学的关系。总之,本文从意本论哲学的角度,围绕文本与境界之间的张力,继承和发展学界之前从体用论角度研讨“良知”与“易”的既有成果,深入分析与阐释阳明“良知”与其易学哲学思想。以此为例,本文试图从“中国哲学”理论的角度推动“中国哲学史”相关问题研究。     

战略决策过程:批判性回顾与未来研究展望

本文在对以往文献进行回顾的基础上,构建了一个战略决策过程的整合框架。该框架将决策过程特征的前置因素(环境因素、组织因素和决策专有因素)及其过程结果和经济结果整合在一起。依据该框架,本文对重要的实证研究文献进行了综述,指出了主要的研究模式以及研究成果中的矛盾之处。在综述的基础上,文章还探讨了本研究对于理论构建、研究方法和管理实践的启示,并指出了未来研究的一些方向。