Object-Oriented Bayesian Networks for Modeling the Respondent Measurement Error

In this article, Object-Oriented Bayesian Networks (OOBN) are proposed as a tool to model measurement errors in a categorical variable due to respondent. A mixed measurement error model is presented and an OOBN implementing such a model is introduced. The insertion of evidence represented by the observed value and its propagation throughout the network yields for each unit the probability distribution of the true value given the observed. Two methods are used to predict the individual true value and their performance is evaluated via simulation.     

A practical approach for assessing the effect of grouping in hierarchical spatio-temporal models

Hierarchical spatio-temporal models allow for the consideration and estimation of many sources of variability. A general spatio-temporal model can be written as the sum of a spatio-temporal trend and a spatio-temporal random effect. When spatial locations are considered to be homogeneous with respect to some exogenous features, the groups of locations may share a common spatial domain. Differences between groups can be highlighted both in the large-scale, spatio-temporal component and in the spatio-temporal dependence structure. When these differences are not included in the model specification, model performance and spatio-temporal predictions may be weak. This paper proposes a method for evaluating and comparing models that progressively include group differences. Hierarchical modeling under a Bayesian perspective is followed, allowing flexible models and the statistical assessment of results based on posterior predictive distributions. This procedure is applied to tropospheric ozone data in the Italian Emilia–Romagna region for 2001, where 30 monitoring sites are classified according to environmental laws into two groups by their relative position with respect to traffic emissions.     

Einfluss der Mandatsdauer des Abschlussprüfers auf ergebniszielgr??enorientierte Bilanzpolitik

This study examines whether the length of auditor-client-relationship affects audit quality. It is motivated by recent calls for mandatory auditor rotation in Europe which are based on concerns that a longer auditor tenure reduces audit quality. Earnings management is used as proxy for audit quality. It is measured by the firms’ success to achieve earnings benchmark targets. A situation in which an abnormal high proportion of firms just meet the benchmark and an abnormal low proportion of firms just miss the benchmark is interpreted as earnings management. Analysed benchmark targets are the reporting of small profits (loss avoidance) and the reporting of small positive earnings increases. Multivariate analyses indicate a higher success for benchmark beating with longer auditor tenure. This result suggests that, in the current environment, mandatory limitations on the length of auditor-client-relationship could result in higher audit quality.     

Food assistance and family routines in three American Cities

The major food assistance programs in the United States—the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children—all share the fundamental goal of helping needy and vulnerable people obtain access to nutritious foods that they might not otherwise be able to afford, but the programs may also affect households’ well-being in other ways. In this study, we examine how the receipt of public and private food assistance is associated with regular family routines, using longitudinal data on low-income families with children from the Three City Study. Estimates from fixed-effects regression models indicate that WIC participation is positively associated with homework routines and consistent bed times. However, receipt of other assistance is not strongly associated with family routines.     

Human smuggling in Austria: a comparative analysis of data on smuggled migrants from former Yugoslavia and the Russian Federation

This article provides a summary of the author’s research on human smuggling in Austria comparing migrants from Former Yugoslavia and the Russian Federation. The project’s primary intent was to collect more detailed information on migrants seeking asylum in Austria and their use of smuggling services to leave their home countries, including detailed information on demographics, force or threat of force by smugglers, routes and methods of transportation, costs of smuggling, payment methods, and deeper perceptual questions regarding the flight. Another central premise of the article discusses how current distinctions between human smuggling and human trafficking are arbitrary in many regards.     

Migrant Children,Social Capital and Access to Services Post‐Migration: Transitions,Negotiations and Complex Agencies

For migrant children, moving to a new country is marked by excitement, anxiety and practical challenges in managing this significant transition. This paper draws upon the concepts of social capital and social networks to examine migrant children's access to services post‐migration. Using data from a qualitative study with Eastern European families in Scotland, we identify a range of cumulative barriers that limit children's access to services and illustrate how their experiences are shaped by ethnicity, social class and place. The study shows that migrant children are often disadvantaged post‐migration and develop their own mechanisms to mitigate the impact of migration on their lives. We argue that migrant children's own social networks are relevant and they need to be analysed through a more individualised approach.     

Occupational stress and cardiovascular reactivity in blue-collar workers

This study analyses the influence of chronic occupational stress on cardiovascular reactivity (heart rate [HR] and blood pressure [BP] elevation from baseline to maximal challenge) during a standard mental stress test (modified version of the STROOP colour word interference test). The test was applied to a sample of 190 healthy male blue-collar workers at the end of a regular working day. Our research hypothesis was based on the assumption that sustained autonomic activation due to chronic occupational stress may reduce cardiovascular responsiveness to challenge: workers defined by high level of chronic occupational stress exhibited lower maximal HR and BP elevations under challenge as compared to workers with low levels of stress. Three distinct indicators of occupational stress were derived from structured interviews: 'cumulative workload', 'worsening of job conditions', and 'high demand and low job security'. Statistical analysis, using ANOVA, showed that all main effects of chronic stress were in the expected direction (6 of 9 effects were statistically significant at the 0'05 level). These effects remained stable after adjusting for age, hypertensive status, physiological baseline level, cigarette smoking, test performance, and individual style of coping. In summary, cardiovascular reactivity under experimental challenge is modulated by an individual's experience of chronic occupational stress.     

Mikropolitisches Kompetenzmodell

The acquirement of and possessing competencies is a fundamental requirement to every executive. Micro-political competence constitutes uncharted waters. Therefore in the research project “Micro-politics and women’s career advancement competence” were, with regard to the category gender, pursued the question, whether micro-political competence are acquirable with the help of coaching, and whether it is beneficial for women’s career advancement. The outcome is the Micro-political Competence Model (MCM), which is the main topic of this paper. After an introduction in the study, the MKM is to be described theoretically and the four competence classes of Micro-political Competence will be defined. In the final empirical part benefit and practicability of the Model will be demonstrated, using the example of case studies.