An improved two stage randomized response strategy

Mangat and Singh (1990) have suggested a two stage randomized response technique to estimate the proportion of population possessing a sensitive attribute. The procedure was shown to be more efficient than the procedure due to Warner (1965). Recently, Tracy and Osahan (1993) have suggested a modification to the Mangat and Singh (1990) procedure which results in a more efficient strategy in practice. In this paper we propose a modification to the Tracy and Osahan (1993) procedure. The modified procedure is a generalization of Tracy and Osahan (1993) and is always more efficient than their strategy. An empirical study has also been undertaken to find the extent of relative efficiency.     

Immigrant and native ethnic enterprises in Mexican American neighborhoods: differing perceptions of Mexican immigrant workers

This study uses original data from a large sample of businesses located in Mexican ethnic neighborhoods (barrios) in Texas and California to analyze how perceptions of the economic roles of Mexican immigrant workers differ among 3 employer groups: native ethnic, immigrant ethnic, and non-ethnic. It was found that the immigrant ethnic employer group depends more on Mexican immigrants as workers and as consumers than does the native ethnic group, which tends in many ways to be more like the non-ethnic group. Differences between results for localities on the border with Mexico and those for non-border localities are also discussed.     

The organization of automated computation of data from the 1989 all-Union population census

The authors describe preparations for the automatic processing of data from the 1989 census of the Soviet Union. Topics covered include the preparation of census data for automatic processing, the inclusion of data on magnetic tape, and data processing. Consideration is given to the preparation of published results and of data for further analysis.     

Depression, marital satisfaction, and marital and personality measures of sex roles*

The present study examined the relationship between depression, marital satisfaction, and marital and personality measures of sex roles. Subjects included 50 couples in which the woman was clinically depressed (and of which 26 were maritally distressed), and 24 nondepressed, nondistressed control couples. Results indicated that compared to nondepressed couples, husbands and wives in relationships in which the wife was depressed showed greater inequality in decision making and dissatisfaction with the distribution of decision making and household tasks; wives additionally indicated greater dissatisfaction with distribution of childrearing responsibilities. The relationship between marital roles and depression was largely mediated by the impact of marital distress in the clinic couples. In addition, depressed wives were less masculine than nondepressed wives, and women with high levels of masculinity reported less depression than women with low levels.     

The validity and use of the family-of-origin scale

This study explores the Family-of-Origin Scale (FOS) with regard to its validity and potential use. Subjects included 100 adults currently in psychotherapy, 100 who were not, 32 who previously had sought treatment, and 41 college students. Between-group comparisons, correlations with both the 16PF and a scale of authoritarianism, factor analyses of both the patient and nonpatient FOS responses, and a review of patient feedback revealed several significant results. The FOS differentiates between patients and nonpatients, but it measures only one general factor and delivers little information. Therefore, it has little value as a research instrument, but it may be a useful adjunct to psychotherapy in individual cases.     

Physician and nonphysician managers as decision makers: are the differences justified or just an illusion?

If the cost of health care is to be curtailed, it is necessary to understand physician behavior and decision making. Not only is physician decision making critical from a clinical perspective, but, as the number of physician executives increases, they must be able to integrate their clinical expertise and management skills into the business context. This article explores differences in decision making methods between physician and nonphysician managers.     

Why we cannot agree on the direction of health reform: an exploration of American values

Most of the articles in this series examine historical forces that have shaped American health care policy. This article will ask the reader to step back from the swirl of events that have led to a health care system that provides excellent care to many and minimal services to a substantial minority. The purpose of this article is to place often contradictory health policies within their philosophical context. Such an analysis can lead to an understanding of the reasons for the simultaneous appearance of both competitive and regulatory features in the American health care system.     

The high point of efforts to improve access to health care by "documentation"

The set of articles of which this article is a part has documented the tension between the advocates and the opponents of government intervention in the American health care system. This article will focus on a chapter of American health care history that is almost forgotten and has still never been told in its entirety. The story of the Committee on the Costs of Medical Care (CCMC), which existed from 1927 to 1933, represents the apogee of the factual approach effort to changing health care delivery in America.