Inference in Targeted Group‐Sequential Covariate‐Adjusted Randomized Clinical Trials

This article is devoted to the construction and asymptotic study of adaptive, group‐sequential, covariate‐adjusted randomized clinical trials analysed through the prism of the semiparametric methodology of targeted maximum likelihood estimation. We show how to build, as the data accrue group‐sequentially, a sampling design that targets a user‐supplied optimal covariate‐adjusted design. We also show how to carry out sound statistical inference based on such an adaptive sampling scheme (therefore extending some results known in the independent and identically distributed setting only so far), and how group‐sequential testing applies on top of it. The procedure is robust (i.e. consistent even if the working model is mis‐specified). A simulation study confirms the theoretical results and validates the conjecture that the procedure may also be efficient.     

The Effects of Participation Rate on the Internal Reliability of Peer Nomination Measures

Although low participation rates have historically been considered problematic in peer nomination research, some researchers have recently argued that small proportions of participants can, in fact, provide adequate sociometric data. The current study used a classical measurement perspective to investigate the internal reliability (Cronbach's α) of peer nomination measures of acceptance, popularity, friendship, prosocial behavior, and overt aggression. Data from 642 participants attending 10 schools were resampled at different participation rates ranging from 5 percent to 100 percent of the original samples. Results indicated that (1) the association between participation rate and Cronbach's α was curvilinear across schools and variables; (2) collecting more data for a given variable (by using unlimited vs. limited nominations, or two vs. one items) was significantly related to higher internal reliability; and (3) certain variables (overt aggression, popularity) were more reliable than others (acceptance, friendship). Implications for future research were discussed.     

Intersubjectivity: Towards a Dialogical Analysis

Intersubjectivity refers to the variety of possible relations between perspectives. It is indispensable for understanding human social behaviour. While theoretical work on intersubjectivity is relatively sophisticated, methodological approaches to studying intersubjectivity lag behind. Most methodologies assume that individuals are the unit of analysis. In order to research intersubjectivity, however, methodologies are needed that take relationships as the unit of analysis. The first aim of this article is to review existing methodologies for studying intersubjectivity. Four methodological approaches are reviewed: comparative self-report, observing behaviour, analysing talk and ethnographic engagement. The second aim of the article is to introduce and contribute to the development of a dialogical method of analysis. The dialogical approach enables the study of intersubjectivity at different levels, as both implicit and explicit, and both within and between individuals and groups. The article concludes with suggestions for using the proposed method for researching intersubjectivity both within individuals and between individuals and groups.     

A Methodology for Seismic Risk Analysis of Nuclear Power Plants

This methodology begins by quantifying the fragility of all key components and structures in the plant. By means of the logic encoded in the plant event trees and fault trees, the component fragilities are combined to form fragilities for the occurrence of plant damage states or release categories. Combining these, in turn, with the seismicity curves yields the frequencies of those states or releases. Uncertainty is explicitly included at each step of the process.     

关于充实“软件工程”课程内容的探讨

本文阐述了充实“软件工程”课程内容的必要性、具体方法与措施。     

比较文学学科“永恒危机”的逾越——兼及巴斯奈特与米勒的“比较文学危机论”

从20世纪中期到今天一直存在比较文学"危机论",笔者结合英国学者巴斯奈特与美国学者米勒的观点剖析了这一历史现象.认为这种危机论有合理的一面,也存在不足之处.认为比较文学学科的研究对象与方法有缺陷,但是通过辩证的比较思维可以使得比较文学的研究对象与方法得到明确.同时对于一些片面理解比较文学研究对象与方法的论点进行了批评,提出了新的比较文学学科对象论、比较文学定义与系统的方法论.     

“以庄解庄”方法论浅析

正确理解<庄子>意蕴的关键在于解读方法的选择.历代读庄皆有不同的方法."以庄解庄"突破传统"以它平它"的理论,反拨将<庄子>现代化,消解将<庄子>原点化和读者化."以庄解庄"方法论将开显庄子研究的新气象.     

实践性·具体性·系统性--全面贯彻"三个代表"重要思想的方法论原则探论

要使"三个代表"重要思想真正成为全党在实际工作中长期坚持的指导思想,就必须正确解决实现"三个代表"重要思想的科学方法论问题,切实按照马克思主义的实践性、具体性、系统性原则的要求,在贯彻"三个代表"重要思想过程中,始终做到"务实"与"务虚"、"共性"与"个性"、"部分"与"整体"的有机统一.     

比较教育与批判

批判法在比较教育研究中有着重要的方法论地位。这种地位不仅体现在比较教育的学科发展中 ,也体现在比较教育的具体研究中。笔者以哲学批判思想为依托 ,提出了一般的比较教育研究批判模式 ,其核心成分有四 :比较教育的对象批判模式 ,立足点批判模式 ,过程批判模式和结果批判模式     

Sexual Involvement and Social Research in a Fat Civil Rights Organization

Sex between researchers and informants in the field represents a kind of dirty little secret among ethnographers: It frequently occurs but is hardly ever discussed in print. Recently, anthropologists have begun violating that taboo, but sociologists remain silent on the subject. The author argues that this is a mistake, that sexual intimacy raises a number of methodological and ethical issues that demand discussion.