Does it make a difference? Evaluation of a Canadian poverty reduction initiative

Program evaluation is an important aspect of any organization. The ability to reflect on past performance and plan for the future is essential to an organization’s health and future growth. This exploratory study is part of a larger program evaluation initiative that examined the efficacy of a regionally based organization that provided funding to community groups to alleviate poverty. The purpose of the study was to explore testimonials provided by participants of the organization’s funded programs, to determine if the participants were satisfied with the programs and the extent to which participants’ perceptions are congruent with the goals of the organization. Content analysis was used to examine 3494 testimonials from 77 different agencies. Three overall themes were determined from the analysis: 1 Developing Social Networks, 2 Learning Comes in Various Forms, and 3 Developing Self-Efficacy. Findings from the testimonials suggest that the benefits of the programs are highly social and that connections with others are important, but also provide rich opportunities for learning new skills and knowledge, as well as gaining confidence and a sense of control. The findings from this analysis support one goal of the organization which is to engage people living in poverty in meaningful ways.     

论国内外校企合作模式对我国实施“卓越计划”的启示

教育部提出的＂卓越工程师教育培养计划＂是我国工程教育改革的重大举措,在未来相当长时期内将指导我国普通本科院校的人才培养。通过借鉴国内外校企合作的成果经验,提出我国普通高校＂卓越计划＂的实施,应通过建立政府保障机制、企业需求机制和完善学校培养机制,并注意处理好院校关系、理论与实践关系、受教育者双重身份等问题来推进。     

新加坡第三语文教学与汉语拼音

通过对定位为新加坡非华裔学生"第三语文"的"华文特别课程"推出过程、学生背景、课堂教学的局限和困难及汉语拼音在"三语"教学中的作用的探讨,探析<汉语拼音方案>对海外的非华裔学生华文教学的重要意义;"华文特别课程"的推出实质上是新加坡政府对华文进行地位规划和习得规划的结果.     

经理股票期权制的基础和效用分析

现代西方资本主义为了解决由于所有权和经营权分离而产生的代理成本问题,发展多种约束和激励措施,对职业经理人行为加以控制。采取的主要措施之一就是目前流行的经理股票期权制。本文试就这一现象作一初步的探讨,主要包括其产生的理论与现实基础,以及对企业发展的作用与影响分析。引证的论据重点放在美国的经验与教训上,主要是考虑到经理期权制度在美国运用最为普遍。     

计算主义纲领与机器博弈的认知意蕴

在第二代认知科学的潮涌中,计算主义纲领虽然面临心灵实在论、行为主义、联结主义的挑战,但仍然引导着传统认知领域和新兴认知分支的发展。机器博弈是认知科学与博弈论互动的产物,在计算主义纲领启发下,理性人之间的博弈被视为人-机智能体间的策略性互动,互动认知、博弈学习、演化博弈等理论成为智能体感知环境、处理信息、控制行为、交流互动的分析基础。自动机在重复博弈中显示出的长远眼光、威胁和承诺能力,提供了解决计算主义纲领主要难题——意向性之谜的思路:意向性并不是孤独的心灵与外部世界的关系,而是通过智能体互动实现的自我指涉。     

浅析二战初期德国《绿色方案》未实施的原因

《绿色方案》是1937年6月24日纳粹德国针对捷克斯洛伐克制定的进攻行动代号,准备从政治、军事和宣传方面落实进攻捷克斯洛伐克的方案,但实质上是一个以武力征服为主的军事方案。纳粹德国征服了奥地利后,入侵捷克斯洛伐克的计划很快被提上了日程。但由于德国自身实力不足,加上德国高层的反对,《绿色方案》最终没能成功实施,可还是利用了英法的绥靖政策,采取分裂、瓦解的手段侵占了捷克斯洛伐克。本文拟对《绿色方案》未实施的原因展开分析。     

Using concept mapping to identify opportunities for HPV vaccination efforts: Perspectives from the Midwest and West Coast

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection significantly contributes to the burden of cancer in the United States, despite the existence of a highly effective vaccine. While numerous interventions to address vaccination uptake exist, vaccination rates remain low. We conducted a concept mapping exercise to solicit perspectives on barriers and facilitators to HPV vaccination from state-level stakeholders in five states in the Midwest and West Coast of the U.S. We identified 10 clusters of barriers and facilitators based on participants’ statements. For rural areas specifically, clusters rated as most important included education and provider influence; those rated as most feasible were education and coordinated/consistent messaging. Our results suggest that a combination of important (but potentially more difficult to implement) strategies, combined with those rated as most feasible (but potentially less impactful) may be beneficial. Our findings highlight similarities across diverse states, suggesting that states can learn from each other and work together to improve HPV vaccination rates. Using concept mapping proved to be an efficient way to collect information from diverse, stakeholders in different locations, and is a methodology that could be used for program planning in areas beyond HPV vaccination.     

Investigating feasibility and fidelity of the Parenting Young Children program in Sweden

Specific aimsThis study explored feasibility and fidelity of an education program for parents with intellectual disability. The Australian Parenting Young Children intervention was translated and adapted for support workers in the Swedish social services.MethodFidelity was examined using implementation diaries tracking frequency of implementation of program activities and teaching approaches ((over 14 months, completed by 27 support workers from 15 municipalities). Eighteen of these support workers and their managers (n = 12) completed questionnaires examining feasibility using Roger’s concepts of program compatibility and complexity.FindingsResults showed that implementation of Parenting Young Children was feasible, with overall positive attitudes to Evidence Based Practice, good program compatibility, low perceived program complexity, and high satisfaction with implementation support. The fidelity measures suggest problems in how the program is used by some support workers: parents received less than the recommended number of sessions and activities such as observation of parents and follow up, were infrequently used by support workers.DiscussionThe findings raise questions about how program support and education should be provided. Difficulties in defining fidelity within the flexibility of the Parenting Young Children program are also discussed.     

Missing Structure: A Critical Content Analysis of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program

School bullying is dominantly understood as an individualistic phenomenon, overlooking the sociostructural environment that creates and maintains it. A critical content analysis reveals that the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is similarly lacking. The programme labels students as bullies and victims, ascribes these groups’ particular character traits, sidelines issues of bias and at times reproduces norms that foster bullying. The programme hyperfocuses on real‐time manifestations of bullying incidents, attempting to end bullying through universal monitoring of students and student compliance with anti‐bullying rules. It is argued that efforts to reduce school bullying should address both its individualistic and structural determinants.     

Treatment Effects With Heterogeneous Externalities

Abstract

This article proposes a new method for estimating heterogeneous externalities in policy analysis when social interactions take the linear-in-means form. We establish that the parameters of interest can be identified and consistently estimated using specific functions of the share of the eligible population. We also study the finite sample performance of the proposed estimators using Monte Carlo simulations. The method is illustrated using data on the PROGRESA program. We find that more than 50% of the effects of the program on schooling attendance are due to externalities, which are heterogeneous within and between poor and nonpoor households.