Reviews

Rachael Green Clemens reviews Usage and Usability Assessment: Library Practices and Concerns, James T. Deffenbaugh reviews Metadata Fundamentals for All Librarians, and Marguerite E. Horn reviews The Accidental Systems Librarian. Serials Review 2003; 29:325–329.     

Make,buy or both? R&D strategy selection

The aim of this paper is to increase our knowledge of a firm's innovative behaviour by jointly analysing its internal resources, industry characteristics and appropriability conditions as drivers of its R&D strategy selection: make, buy and make-buy. Based on panel data (1992–2005) covering 1539 Spanish manufacturing firms, results show that firms lacking organisational resources and competing in stable markets prefer the buy strategy. Firms with a high level of technological resources that are immersed in high-tech industries are prone to selecting the make-buy strategy. Internationalised firms with high levels of appropriability prefer the make strategy.     

Gender effects on perceptions of external assets, development of resilience and academic achievement: Perpetuation theory approach

This study found that gender had an effect on external assets and resiliency among urban high school students. Significantly greater caring relations, high expectations, and opportunities for participation in meaningful activities (external assets) from parents, teachers, peers, and adults in the community were available to girls than to boys. Girls also scored higher on resiliency. It was noted that higher resiliency scores did not afford girls an edge in academic achievement nor break the barrier of stereotyping. Instead, the expectations to behave within a given range of possibilities were self-perpetuating. Higher scores in external assets and resilience and low correlations with academic achievement among girls were indicators of perpetuated values that led to complacency and conformity, not to competitiveness, creativity, and curiosity. However, lower scores in external assets and resiliency also may have explained some of the behavioral traits in boys about which researchers currently are concerned. Her research and scholarship focus on teaching and learning, multiculturalism, school policy, and urban and minority education. Her recent research focuses on external and internal assets influencing academic success among urban high school students, and on preparing teachers for students of diverse backgrounds.     

On the efficiency of regression analysis with AR(p) errors

In this paper we will consider a linear regression model with the sequence of error terms following an autoregressive stationary process. The statistical properties of the maximum likelihood and least squares estimators of the regression parameters will be summarized. Then, it will be proved that, for some typical cases of the design matrix, both methods produce asymptotically equivalent estimators. These estimators are also asymptotically efficient. Such cases include the most commonly used models to describe trend and seasonality like polynomial trends, dummy variables and trigonometric polynomials. Further, a very convenient asymptotic formula for the covariance matrix will be derived. It will be illustrated through a brief simulation study that, for the simple linear trend model, the result applies even for sample sizes as small as 20.     

‘All those in favour’: computerised trade union membership lists as sampling frames for postal surveys

The computerisation of membership lists offers considerable scope for postal surveys of trade unionists. However, faith in the new technology can give rise to the illusion of increased accuracy. Yet, the computerised data bases, while undoubtedly quicker and easier to use, may be no more accurate than their manual predecessors and samples drawn from them can result in misleading response rates. Therefore, with reference to a specific case study of a major trade union, we argue that researchers should seek to establish empirically the probable error in their lists with a view to constructing realistic ‘benchmarks’. Then, these substantial new resources can provide a solid basis for worthwhile research.     

Time allocation of one- and two-parent mothers

Using data from one- and two-parent households with two children in rural and urban areas of California, this study analyzes time allocation decisions in market work, household work, and leisure activities among single and married mothers. Results of the seemingly unrelated regression procedures indicate that family structure affects time in household work but not market work or leisure activities. Of the socio-demographic variables, only day of the week explains time allocation to household work, market work, and leisure activities among single and married mothers.This research has been supported by the United States Department of Agriculture through the Georgia Agricultural Experiment Station under Southern Regional Project S-206.Teresa Mauldin is an Assistant Professor and Carol B. Meeks is an Associate Professor in the Department of Housing and Consumer Economics, the University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602. Dr. Mauldin received her Ph.D. from The Ohio State University and is interested in time use, economic well-being of individuals and families, and family structure. Dr. Meeks also received her Ph.D. from The Ohio State University and her research interests include time use, family structure, and economic aspects of housing.