Situated Experiments in Organizations: Transplanting the Lab to the Field

Both laboratory and field experiments have limitations that likely account for the recent decline in their usage among organizational researchers. In this article, we introduce situated experiments as an experimental approach that optimizes the strengths of both laboratory and field experiments in organizational research while mitigating the weaknesses of each. We highlight four recently published studies using situated experiments. Drawing on these examples, we illustrate how the proper use of situated experiments can minimize threats to internal validity and ensure the ethical treatment of research participants.     

THE PRIVATE AND FISCAL RETURNS TO SCHOOLING IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

We present estimates of the private and fiscal returns to schooling in 14 European Union countries. Estimates of the private returns to post‐compulsory formal education take into account the effects of schooling on wages and employment probabilities and allow for academic failure rates, the direct and opportunity costs of education, and the impact of personal taxes, social security contributions, and unemployment and pension benefits on lifetime earnings. Estimates of fiscal returns capture the long‐term effects of a marginal increase in average educational attainment on public finances under conditions that approximate general equilibrium. (JEL: I20, J31, H60).     

Peacebuilding as a Gendered Process

Peacebuilding is frequently viewed in terms of post-conflict societal reconstruction without consideration of cultural context and gender. Using a feminist participatory methodology, this study investigated South African women's understandings of peacebuilding and how these are mediated by gender and context. Sixteen women engaged in dialogue over 2 days. Thematic analysis of the recorded dialogue provided insight into how the 16 South African women leaders understand their efforts to build a more peaceful society. The findings pointed to gender- and context-specific aspects of peacebuilding. Most of participants' peacebuilding activities occurred outside of the aegis of national governmental institutions and their peacebuilding priorities focused less upon structural rebuilding and more on processes, people, and relationships. One of the important priorities was the prevention of violence toward women. Whether these findings are gender-specific and contextually unique are topics for future research.     

论利率变动对股市的影响

利率的变动对股价的涨落、投资的调节、上市公司的业绩 ,以及居民储蓄额的增减 ,都有着复杂的、多方面的影响     

规范解释的创新何以艰难——兼论我国规范法学研究的创新问题

本文在三个方面分析了规范解释的创新何以艰难的原因 ,即 :实在法 (规范法学的研究对象)自身的理性特征使得规范解释的创新是对理性的实在法的再创造 ,其创新之艰难可想而知 ;规范解释不可避免地和现实政治的关联使它的创新会受到来自政治的干扰乃至法学家自身“心魔”的影响 ;规范法学的强制实践品格也不太倡导过分浪漫化的创新。但规范法学的创新是必要的 ,这不论对法学的独立而言 ,还是对法治的保障而言都是如此。特别在我国 ,规范解释的创新尤为必要。在此基础上 ,文章检讨了我国规范解释研究的现状以及规范解释创新的对策     

论非语言性语境的功能及其在话语理解中的作用

本文概括地介绍了语境的定义及分类,详细分析了非语言性语境的解释、设计及转换三种主要功能,并以实例说明了非语言性语境在话语理解中的重要作用.     

Risk Management and the Business Environment in South Africa

Risk management involves tracking market and non-market long-range risks, understanding their adverse impact on the business environment, and managerial responses to reduce risk exposure. As an emerging market, South Africa poses a challenging array of long-term political, economic, financial and operational risks to investors. Risks such as concerns about increased costs, lack of transparency, limited capacity to enforce the rule of law, government intervention, a volatile currency, regional contagion and the HIV/Aids pandemic heighten uncertainty about the business environment. Managerial responses to anticipate and mitigate risks include matching mode of entry with risk tolerance, superior intelligence and lobbying, maintaining low tolerance for corruption, selecting appropriate financial instruments and balancing shareholder and stakeholder interests.The risk management framework presented, consisting of three elements: type of risk, impact of risks and managerial response to counter adverse risk impacts, may be refined and expanded for potential application to other emerging markets.     

Sleep and behavioral correlates of napping among young adults: a survey of first-year university students in Madrid, Spain

Objective: Between November 2002 and March 2003, the authors assessed the prevalence and correlates of napping among Spanish university students. Participants: The sample comprised 1,276 first-year university students; the mean age was 18.74 +/- 1.24 years, and 35.45% were men. Methods: The study was cross-sectional, and the students completed self-report, anonymous questionnaires provided during an in-class survey. Results: Almost half (44%) of the sample reported napping (90% did so after lunch for longer than 1 hour). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that experiencing an irregular sleep-wakefulness pattern, having a morning school schedule, and being male were significant predictor variables of napping. Further significant outcome variables related to napping were having excessive daytime sleepiness, missing classes because of tiredness, better ability to concentrate later in the afternoon, and a perception of deeper nighttime sleep. Conclusions: Habitual napping is common among Spanish university students and associated with an irregular sleep-wakefulness pattern. Taking long postlunch naps seems to be used by students to cope with insufficient sleep and daytime sleepiness.