The changing sociological construct of the family

Recent attempts to announce the death of the family as a useful analytical category for sociologists are rebutted as being premature. The tendency to view household relations as family relations or, indeed, couple or gender relations as family relations seems to have arisen in the early 1970s. Earlier attempts to construct an empirically grounded analysis of family relationships have been curiously neglected. An account of one family on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent provides some illustrative ethnography on both the positive uses of family members-particularly siblings - and on the way the social boundaries of this family are constructed by its members. It is argued that the family is best understood as a system of relationships that change over time. There is a curious lack of systematic ethnography of contemporary family relationships so that what is taught to students as the sociology of the family may be widely at variance with their own personal experience. This may be partly a result of relying too much on random surveys of households at the expense of detailed explorations of existing patterns of social relationships and social meanings. Developing theoretical arguments on the basis of inadequate or inappropriate ethnography is evidently a dangerous and misleading exercise.     

Integer programming formulations of statistical classification problems

A series of approaches is presented to formulate statistical classification problems using integer programming. The formulations attempt to maximize the number of observations that can be properly classified and utilize single function, multiple function and hierarchical multiple function approaches to the problems. The formulations are tested using standard software on a sample problem and new approaches are compared to those of other authors. As the solution of such problems gives rise to various awkward features in an integer programming framework, it is demonstrated that new approaches to formulation will not be completely successful in avoiding the difficulties of existing methods, but demonstrate certain gains.     

EXAMINATION OF REGRESSION RESIDUALS

This article briefly reviews current literature on techniques for the examination of residuals in linear and nonlinear (including Time Series) models. Concentration is on graphical techniques and statistical test procedures (references involving a "routine" examination, computational aspects and discussion of model adequacy having not been included).     

Substance use and social identity in the lesbian community

Although the study results report discrepancies in the rates of substance abuse in the lesbian community, the general consensus in the field of gay and lesbian studies is that these individuals, as a whole, have a higher rate of substance use. For this study, data were collected via the Internet on the use of drugs and alcohol, level of self-esteem, and degree of social identity in the lesbian community. A correlation analysis was used to determine if negative social identity within the lesbian community leads to low self-esteem that is reflected in higher rates of substance abuse. Though a positive relationship between social identity and self-esteem was determined, no significant correlation between negative social identity, low self-esteem, and substance use was determined. However, it is important to consider that respondents with higher levels of self-esteem reported more frequent use of specific drugs. That outcome in itself is an implication for further investigation.     

Impact of an infusion model on social work students' aging knowledge, attitudes, and interests

This study sought to provide data regarding the use of infusion of gerontological materials throughout curriculums to enhance students' attitudes toward older adults, their knowledge of aging-related issues, and their perceptions of gerontological social work. A quasi-experimental design was used to compare outcomes for graduate social work students who were and those who were not exposed to gerontological infusion. Results indicated that exposed students experienced a greater improvement in their view of aging-related career opportunities and in their belief in the importance of gerontological social work. Treatment group students also showed greater gains in self-rated aging knowledge. Both treatment and control group students had significant gains in a test of aging-related knowledge. Pedagogical implications are discussed.     

Modified ridge analyses under nonstandard

A well-known procedure for the optimization of a second-degree response function over a spherical region of interest is that of ridge analysis. Khuri and Myers (1979) introduced a modification of this procedure by incorporating a certain constraint on the prediction variance. Both procedures, however, assume that the response variable has a constant variance throughtout the experimental region. In the present article, we consider two extensions to Khuri and Myers modifioed ridge analysis. The first extension relaxes the constant variance assumption. In the second extension. generalised linear models are used instead of the trasitional linear model. which are commenly used in responce variables that are not necessaily continusly distribution, including these have discreate distributions, Two examples are presented to illustrate the implementation of the proposed extensions.     

ENVIRONMENTALISM,STIMULUS, AND INEQUALITY REDUCTION THROUGH INDUSTRIAL POLICY: DID CASH FOR CLUNKERS ACHIEVE THE TRIFECTA?

The 2009 American Cash for Clunkers program, which subsidized consumers who scrapped old vehicles and purchased new vehicles, was promoted by appealing to multiple constituencies. We evaluate the policy and alternatives according to its stated goals: emissions reductions, economic stimulus, and reducing inequality. We calibrate a dynamic partial equilibrium portfolio model to match consumer expenditure data from 1998 to 2011 focusing on heterogeneity across cars and trucks. We find the program generated $0.17 in environmental benefits, $0.28 in consumer surplus, and $0.31 in net discounted additional spending per subsidy dollar. Since subsidies largely went to middle-income infra-marginal consumers, the program exacerbated consumption inequality. We evaluate alternative policy designs and find no policy which simultaneously improves all outcomes. (JEL H23, L52, L92, D63)