The True Cost-of-Living Index With Changing Preferences

This article investigates the theoretical and empirical properties of a true cost-of-living index under conditions of changing preferences. A family of true indexes is defined based on the notion of the current utility function. A particular index, based on the previous period's utility level, is then defined. Given this definition, a true cost-of-living index is computed based on a quadratic expenditure system estimated with quarterly data from 1960–1981. For empirical purposes, changes in preferences are represented by the linear habit formation hypothesis. This index is then compared with Paasche and Laspeyres indexes. The true cost-of-living index grows somewhat faster than either the Paasche or Laspeyres index. It also displays considerably more variability.     

What's green about the 1996 award-winning school districts: A comparison of Indiana's districts containing Blue Ribbon winners with 30 randomly selected Indiana school districts

The relationship between spending on education and equal opportunity has been a subject of debate for several decades. This study aims to shed light on this debate by examining correlations between the distribution of Blue Ribbon awards to Indiana middle and high schools and per pupil expenditure. Based on criteria that include curricula, instruction, school climate, leadership, community support, goal setting and attainment, success with all students, skill development, and character education, Blue Ribbon School awards are a recognition of outstanding achievement given by the federal government. Using total federal, state, and local expenditures as the basis for comparison, we found that the federal government did not select more wealthy schools than poor schools for the Indiana Blue Ribbon School awards. However, there was a large difference in the expenditures per pupil in the Indiana districts with Blue Ribbon schools vs. the 30 randomly selected Indiana districts without Blue Ribbon schools. Total local sources were significantly greater in Blue Ribbon school districts than in non-Blue Ribbon school districts. A discussion of items related to the power, prestige, and wealth of the award-winning schools is included.     

RELIGION AND ROLE-IDENTITY:

This article presents a reconceptualization of individual religiosity based largely on a structural variant of symbolic interactionism and incorporating "religious salience," the importance of religion to an individual. The reconceptualization links the Glock-Stark multidimensional conceptualization of religiosity to the concept of role-identity as used by Stryker and other identity theorists. Two components of religiosity are proposed: (1) religious norm adherence , the quality of one's religious role performance (the focus of the Glock-Stark model); and (2) religious identity salience , the importance of a person's religious identity relative to that person's other identities. Procedures for measuring religious identity salience are considered. It is proposed, based on structural symbolic interactionism and cognitive behaviorism, that the degree and dimensional structure of norm adherence are strongly influenced by identity salience, contingent on costs and rewards associated with each normative behavior.     

A multiple model discrimination procedure

The case of selecting between a set of fixed models is considered. The true model is assumed to be contained in the set of proposed models and errors are taken to be normally distributed. A sequential procedure which yeilds probabilities of incorrect selections is proposed. The procedure is shown to have optimal properties and is extended to the estimated model case by a bootstrap procedure.     

系统化逻辑的基本概念

逻辑是对于推理的结构特性的研究。本文着重讨论和辨析了现代逻辑系统的一些基本概念，如演绎有效性，真与可靠性，逻辑系统的句法，逻辑系统的语义，逻辑系统的元逻辑，等等。     

Variability in Physical Constant Parameter Values from Standard Data Sources and the Implication of This Variability for Risk Analysis

Physical property values are used in environmental risk assessments to estimate media and risk-based concentrations. However, considerable variability has recently been reported with such values. To evaluate potential variability in physical parameter values supporting a variety of regulatory programs, eight data sources were chosen for evaluation, and chemicals appearing in at least four sources were selected. There were 755 chemicals chosen. In addition, chemicals in seven environmentally important subgroups were also identified for evaluation. Nine parameters were selected for analysis-molecular weight (MolWt), melting point (MeltPt), boiling point (BoilPt), vapor pressure (VP), water solubility (AqSOL), Henry's law constant (HLC), octanol-water partition coefficient (Kow), and diffusion coefficients in air (Dair) and water (Dwater). Results show that while 71% of constituents had equal MolWts across data sources, <3% of the constituents had equivalent parameter values across data sources for AqSOL, VP, or HLC. Considerable dissimilarity between certain sources was also observed. Furthermore, measures of dispersion showed considerable variation in data sets for Kow, VP, AqSOL, and HLC compared to measures for MolWt, MeltPt, BoilPt, or Dwater. The magnitude of the observed variability was also noteworthy. For example, the 95th percentile ratio of maximum/minimum parameter values ranged from 1.0 for MolWt to well over 1.0E + 06 for VP, and HLC. Risk and exposure metrics also varied by similar magnitudes. Results with environmentally important subgroups were similar. These results show that there is considerable variability in physical parameter values from standard sources, and that the observed variability could affect potential risk estimates and perhaps risk management decisions.     

Career Planning Validity of Self‐Estimates and Test Estimates of Work‐Relevant Abilities

This study sought to determine whether self‐estimates of work‐relevant abilities can improve upon the validity of test estimates (scores). Validity for career planning applications was the focus. The study (final sample of 1,620 college students) used 9 self‐estimates and test estimates to predict certainty‐screened occupational choices grouped by J. L. Holland (1997) types. The addition of ability self‐estimates to test estimates substantially improved upon the validity of test estimates alone. Study results (together with previous research) suggest that ability self‐estimates can provide efficient additions or alternatives to test estimates during career planning, while substantially broadening the range of abilities under consideration.