Estimating customer utility of energy efficiency standards for refrigerators

A frequent argument against efficiency standards is that they prohibit products that represent optimal choices for customers and thus lead to reduced customer utility. In this paper we propose and test a method to estimate such losses. Conjoint analysis is used to estimate utility functions for individuals that have recently bought a refrigerator. The utility functions are used to calculate the individuals' utility of all the refrigerators available in the market. Revealed utility losses due to non-optimal choices by the customers seem consistent with other data on customer behaviour. The same utility estimates are used to find losses due to energy efficiency standards that remove products from the market. Contrary to previous claims, we find that efficiency standards can lead to increased utility for the average customer. This is possible because customers do not make perfect choices in the first place.     

新教学模式下教师作用的转换

21世纪对外语人才的需求将呈不断上升趋势。中国加入世贸,大批懂得游戏规则、熟悉我国国情和具有扎实英语功底的人才成为时代的宠儿。作为培养跨世纪人才的高等学校,英语教学也应适应社会需求,探索新教学模式,充分发挥英语教师的作用。多出人才,出好人才。     

道德知行冲突的原因分析

道德建设是社会主义精神文明建设的重要组成部分 ,道德知行冲突是道德建设中存在的突出问题。通过调查分析引起道德知行冲突的原因 ,可以为解决道德知行冲突问题提供依据     

我国高校行政人员组织公民行为结构维度研究

关于组织公民行为的维度研究,学者大多是以企业或公共部门作为研究对象,而鲜有对高校组织的研究。为了对高校行政人员进行组织公民行为研究,先后对7所高校的550名行政人员进行组织公民行为问卷调查。通过因素分析表明,中国背景下高校行政人员的组织公民行为由组织忠诚、协助同事、组织参与、工作尽职、自我发展五个维度组成。     

The sensitivity of estimates of the change in population behaviour to realistic changes in bias in repeated surveys

Summary.  The first British National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (NATSAL) was conducted in 1990–1991 and the second in 1999–2001. When surveys are repeated, the changes in population parameters are of interest and are generally estimated from a comparison of the data between surveys. However, since all surveys may be subject to bias, such comparisons may partly reflect a change in bias. Typically limited external data are available to estimate the change in bias directly. However, one approach, which is often possible, is to define in each survey a sample of participants who are eligible for both surveys, and then to compare the reporting of selected events that occurred before the earlier survey time point. A difference in reporting suggests a change in overall survey bias between time points, although other explanations are possible. In NATSAL, changes in bias are likely to be similar for groups of sexual experiences. The grouping of experiences allows the information that is derived from the selected events to be incorporated into inference concerning population changes in other sexual experiences. We use generalized estimating equations, which incorporate weighting for differential probabilities of sampling and non-response in a relatively straightforward manner. The results, combined with estimates of the change in reporting, are used to derive minimum established population changes, based on NATSAL data. For some key population parameters, the change in reporting is seen to be consistent with a change in bias alone. Recommendations are made for the design of future surveys.     

Consistency of the beta kernel density function estimator

The authors give the exact asymptotic behaviour of the expected average absolute error of a beta kernel density estimator proposed by Chen (1999). They also prove the uniform weak consistency of this estimator for the class of continuous densities.     

论教学活动中的非言语行为

以心理学、教育学的理论观，点及作者的教学实践为基础，论述教师在教学活动中的非言语行为，指出教师的非言语行为是教学活动的重要部分，自觉地重视非言语行为是优化教学结构的有效手段。     

The role of impulsivity,cognitive bias,and reasoned action in understanding college student gambling

Factors related to gambling behavior among college students in the USA are examined by applying the theory of reasoned action (TRA) and incorporating the concepts of impulsivity and cognitive bias. This study uses a broader approach to analyze gambling behavior by including financial behavior variables using ordinary least squares (OLS) and logistic regressions. The survey data were collected through a self-administered online questionnaire of college students from 19 colleges and universities in the fall of 2010. With a sample of 5024 college students, a majority of the respondents (84.45%) in this study report that they did not gamble in the last 30 days. The results of multivariate analysis indicate that gambling is related to attitudes toward gambling, cognitive bias toward gambling, subjective norms of family members regarding financial behavior, and impulsivity. Underestimation of financial behavior (cognitive bias toward financial behavior) was found to be associated with only gambling frequency but not gambling propensity.     

‘It’s not my problem’: exploring lecturers’ distancing behaviour towards students with disabilities

While conducting a qualitative study on the e-learning needs of students with disabilities at a South African university, the responses from some of the lecturers indicated that they distanced themselves from the responsibility of providing learner support to students with disabilities. These participants displayed a lack of involvement with the students and tended to transfer their responsibilities to support services on campus, such as the Unit for Students with Disabilities. In essence, this means that the creation of an inclusive learning environment at this campus remains elusive, thus frustrating the learning of students with disabilities in particular. Although the necessity of institutional policies is not refuted, we argue that personal responsibility is essential in bringing about inclusive campuses. Factors contributing to the shifting of responsibility will consequently be explored and ways in which lecturers can be supported to provide enriching learning experiences for all students will be suggested.     

近代土匪变态行为浅析

土匪行为的基本特征就是暴力,各种文献资料大量地记载了土匪的暴行。对这些暴行分析后发现,有些是土匪出于满足生存需要而采取的属于这一群体特有的正常犯罪行为,有些则属于有悖人伦道德的变态行为。变态行为在土匪的日常生活中也时有所见。