A cross-national study of a method for researching non-profit organisational effectiveness

Are there criteria that define non-profit organisation effectiveness? If the criteria can be identified, is it possible to use them in a comparative study to assess whether and in what way the use of the criteria may vary between nations? This study addresses both questions. The study uses the factorial survey method and is based on the social constructionist conception that effectiveness is created as an ongoing and sometimes contested outcome of a social judgement process. We illustrate the method with samples from the US and UK and compare the results. The results establish the value of the factorial survey method. Analyses show that both US and UK respondents use percentage expenditures on fund-raising, advocacy emphasis, change in financial surplus and unit cost of services as effectiveness criteria. There is evidence that voluntarism is a more important criterion in the US and that advocacy is more important in the UK.     

Handlungserklärung und die zwei Rationalitäten?

The question is being scrutinized how to integrate into a general theory of action the two types of rational action distinguished by Max Weber based on value rationality and instrumental rationality. Three proposals recently made by Raymond Boudon, Siegwart Lindenberg and Hartmut Esser are considered. These authors agree in conceiving rationality as based on reasons. But, unlike Boudon, Lindenberg and Esser hold that rationality should be essentially considered as consequential and that it is possible to reconstruct value-rational action in this framework, although Weber’s formulation of this type of action clearly excludes a reference to consequences. According to Lindenberg and Esser, this reconstruction of value-rational action can be accomplished by the theory of subjective expected utility supplemented by a concept of framing. In their opinion this kind of model also offers the opportunity to construct a conception superior to a mere typology of action orientations, because it enables us to specify under what conditions which type of action prevails. The article provides evidence that the proposals made by both authors still fall short of offering an adequate model for understanding the difference between both types of action. Lindenberg’s proposal does not sufficiently allow for explaining the difference between traditional and value-rational action and the claim for justification associated with value-rational action. Esser’s conception meets these two criteria but it remains unsettled whether his model already specifies sufficient conditions for value-rational action. The article concludes in considering the general question whether it is conceivable to derive both types of action from a common notion of rationality.     

Current Directions in Risk Research: New Developments in Psychology and Sociology

This article reviews the main approaches to risk in psychology and sociology and considers recent developments. It shows that research continues from a wide range of perspectives. Some developments in psychological thinking have recently acknowledged the importance of the cultural framing of risk perceptions and responses and the positive power of emotions to manage uncertainties, while some streams of work in sociology have moved toward more individualist approaches. These converging processes open opportunities for cross-fertilization and for using insights from both disciplines in the development of research.     

Gemeinschaftliche Formen der Sicherheitsgewährleistung zur Ergänzung staatlicher Kontrollpolitik

Motivated by the debate on ‘broken-windows’ politicians discovered the safety of communities as suitable for participation. The article deals with this connection between a former pure state task and civil engagement. The empirical focus aims at different organisational forms of community-watch projects. All of them cause different forms of participation. The more civic engagement is related to community-networks the better social control of urban communities can be provided by citizens.     

论文明的发展趋势——生态文明

从属于地球共同体的人类文明走过了原始文明、农业文明,又演绎出今天的现代全球文明。现代文明的缺陷引起地球共同体终结的危机。因此人类文明需要进入新的发展过程,而走向生态文明就是人类和地球共同体的未来,这需要克服实证科学语言所具有的单一性,以东方占优势的类比思维来弥补西方实证科学逻辑思维的不足。无论是东方文明还是西方文明,都有着相互的关联。西方的逻辑、东方的关联和类比,都是走向生态文明的必须。     

Generalized Linear Latent Variable Modeling for Multi-Group Studies

ABSTRACT

Latent variable modeling is commonly used in behavioral, social, and medical science research. The models used in such analysis relate all observed variables to latent common factors. In many applications, the observations are highly non normal or discrete, e.g., polytomous responses or counts. The existing approaches for non normal observations can be considered lacking in several aspects, especially for multi-group samples situations. We propose a generalized linear model approach for multi-sample latent variable analysis that can handle a broad class of non normal and discrete observations, and that furnishes meaningful interpretation and inference in multi-group studies through maximum likelihood analysis. A Monte Carlo EM algorithm is proposed for parameter estimation. The convergence assessment and standard error estimation is addressed. Simulation studies are reported to show the usefulness of the our approach. An example from a substance abuse prevention study is also presented.