Theory Trimming

This paper attempts to show that the “Theory Trimming” technique makes little contribution to theory in sociology. A brief history of the technique is given, and several key assertions of its proponents are abstracted. These assertions are shown to be highly questionable. The general alternative to Theory Trimming is shown, and the relationship between Theory Trimming and more general orientations to research is discussed.     

Sex similarities in occupational status attainment: Are the results due to the restriction of the sample to employed women?

Research on sex differences in occupational attainment suggests that working men and working women attain essentially the same mean level of occupational attainment and do so through quite similar processes. A possible explanation for these similarities is that the sample of working women contains an overrepresentation of successful women, since women who can afford not to work will stay out of the labor force unless they find a job commensurate with their education. This we define as a censoring problem. By extending a technique developed by Heckman, we can estimate the structural parameters for all women, regardless of current employment status. This procedure allows us to assess the impact of the censoring problem on women's occupational attainment equations.     

Size and duration of empires growth-decline curves, 3000 to 600 b.c.

Area changes of about 30 best known empires and states are compiled and tabulated. Superimposed and juxtaposed graphs (size versus time) help to visualize the relative size and location in time of these empires. Size-time integral, maximum stable size, adulthood date, and duration are defined operationally and are listed for 20 empires. A criterion is given for distinctness of successive empires. The size-time integral is a direct measure of an empire's impact on history insofar as that impact depends on sheer size and duration. The integral is largest for the Chinese Hsia-Shang, Egyptian New, Old, and Middle, Assyrian New, and Hittite empires. A world-wide territorial concentration index is tabulated. It increases during the period considered from 0.08 to 1.4% of the world dry land area.     

Estimating chance reproducibility in Guttman Scaling

A definition of reproducibility in Guttman Scaling and two chance measures of reproducibility are suggested. The first measure assumes that the items are independent. The second method assumes nonindependent items and fits respondent and item margins by an iterative method used in fitting log-linear models. Chance reproducibility is conceptualized in terms of assumptions about respondent variability.     

认知图式理论在翻译建构中的意义及其具体运用

图式是指已有的知识经验在大脑中形成的“框图”,即知识结构。翻译中通过联想、搜索译入语中有关图式,进行套用、模仿、迁移和重构,有助于发挥译入语的优势,实现双语符号的成功转换。按照认知心理学观点,运用图式进行传译可包括三个方面,即运用原型匹配、运用模板匹配、运用“自上而下”搜索。     

东晋南朝出土墓志若干问题探析

东晋南朝墓志的渊源、摆放位置、纪时格式及"一志多方"现象等若干问题,是前人相关研究中有所涉及,却仍有待深入的重要方面。东晋墓志出现的内在原因,是受西晋已经形成的使用墓志的风习的影响,源自西晋;而其所呈现出的外在特征,却又受到南方使用志墓砖铭的丧葬习俗,以及东晋时期特殊的政治环境与社会背景等多种因素的影响。与东晋至南朝墓志发展、定型的过程相吻合的是,墓志的摆放位置、纪时格式也同样经历了从不稳定到稳定的变化过程。东晋、南朝墓志中的"一志多方"现象,虽然比较特殊,但大多具有很强的随意性与偶然性,且出现的时间也不稳定。     

不动产物权登记的权利限制功能

一般认为,登记是不动产物权变动的一般公示方法,其功能主要在于公示。但是,不动产物权登记是一种带有行政色彩的民事法律行为,在其公示功能的背后,还有权利限制功能。它通过私法和公法两个途径加以实现。其私法途径包括通过对物权变动的不同影响体现其功能;登记协助不动产他物权实现对所有权的限制。其公法途径一是产籍管理,二是通过登记对不动产的流转进行审查监督。     

浅析经济新闻的民生视角

随着我国市场经济的迅猛发展并趋于成熟,经济新闻越来越为人们所关注、重视。目前中国政府提出"改善民生",为"民生视角"的新闻报道提供了大量素材和广泛受众。大势所趋,媒体应以"民生视角"来报道经济新闻。电视民生新闻的崛起为"民生视角"的广播报道提供了借鉴。而"小角度"报道、"百姓立场"关注、"零距离"解读和"大容量"覆盖则是可行的方式。     

现行费税体制下开征物业税不具有法律正当性

包括物业税在内的任何征税,都是对公民合法私有财产权的强制性剥夺。只有具备法律上的正当性的征税行为,才不至于异化为对公民私有财产权的侵犯。我国拟议中的物业税立法层级太低,隐含了对债务征收财产税的悖论,在内容上有重复征税的重大嫌疑。在未改革现行房地产税费体制下匆忙开征物业税,缺少法律上的正当性。