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.     

“江郎才尽”新解

“颠覆阅读”的“难以为继”,在文学史上的印证就是“江郎才尽”。对“江郎才尽”,文学史上有多种解释,此处认为,江淹是以“颠覆阅读”的手段来使自己的诗歌达到一种独特性,故意用一种怪诞或隐晦的文风,用一种奇哨怪仄的意境或修辞手段,来实现自己诗歌的新鲜感甚或冲击力,以震撼人们视觉、听觉,但这种文风难以为继,文学史告诉我们,“颠覆阅读”也是需要创新的。     

金融资产收益跳跃行为的微观机制

文章发展了一个均衡模型,从微观机理角度解释了为什么资产价格会发生不频繁的跳跃行为.在该模型中,投资者学习不可直接观测的、真实的经济系统状态并为此支付成本的行为诱发了资产价格的跳跃行为.而投资者是否选择学习的行为则取决于投资者的偏好参数和收入的条件波动率.     

孙悟空的名号与《西游记》的主旨

《西游记》中,孙悟空的名号有一个美猴王-孙悟空-弼马温-齐天大圣-孙行者-斗战胜佛的变化,亦可称之为心与魔之间相交的变化。二者相交反映着孙悟空的心路历程,即求心-束心-放心-收心-正心的过程,而这也正是小说的主旨。且心魔相交之说在《西游记》主旨探求过程中始终是一条重要支脉而延绵不断,这与晚明大行其道的心学思潮有着紧密关联。     

聚焦中国英语课堂:影响学生参与讨论的因素—— 一次采用定性分析法进行本土化研究的尝试

通过课堂观察及课后的学生采访,本文采用定性研究法考察了决定英语课堂上中国学生讨论情况的因素。　　本文的主要发现是：（１） 中国文化推崇的谦虚美德明显地妨碍了学生们抒发己见;（２） 学生推理能力和英语表达能力之间的鸿沟是引起表达焦虑的主要原因;（３） 教师的角色左右学生讨论中表现。基于上述发现,本文认为,课堂学习由民族性格、教育体制、口语习得心理以及教师角色所决定。因此建议,今后要注意研究课堂学习和其他影响因素之间的关系     

Tests of statistical hypotheses and their use in studies of natural phenomena

Contrary to ideas suggested by the title of the conference at which the present paper was presented, the author is not aware of a conceptual difference between a “test of a statistical hypothesis” and a “test of significance” and uses these terms interchangeably. A study of any serious substantive problem involves a sequence of incidents at which one is forced to pause and consider what to do next. In an effort to reduce the frequency of misdirected activities one uses statistical tests. The procedure is illustrated on two examples: (i) Le Cam’s (and associates’) study of immunotherapy of cancer and (ii) a socio-economic experiment relating to low-income homeownership problems.     

Estimation of Laspeyres Price Indexes Using the Prediction Approach for Finite Population Sampling

Estimators of chain and fixed-base Laspeyres price indexes are studied using the prediction approach to finite population sampling. The estimators include some that are based on those used in several U.S. government index programs and others derived from prediction models. Biases and variances of the estimators are studied for a case in which the reference period index weights are unknown for nonsample items. Under a model for a one-period price change in which items have common within-stratum means, unbiased estimators can be constructed, but under a more general regression model, special sample balance conditions are needed for unbiasedness of those estimators. The theory for the estimators of fixed-base indexes is illustrated in an empirical study using a population of items priced for the U.S. Consumer Price Index.     

Invariance of linearity of regression and related characterizations of some classical discrete distributions

Rao (1963) introduced what we call an additive damage model. In this model, original observation is subjected to damage according to a specified probability law by the survival distribution. In this paper, we consider a bivariate observation with second component subjected to damage. Using the invariance of linearity of regression of the first component on the second under the transition of the second component from the original to the damaged state, we obtain the characterizations of the Poisson, binomial and negative binomial distributions within the framework of the additive damage model.     

The Joint Distribution of the Sum and the Maximum of IID Exponential Random Variables

The authors establish the joint distribution of the sum X and the maximum Y of IID exponential random variables. They derive exact formuli describing the random vector (X, Y), including its joint PDF, CDF, and other characteristics; marginal and conditional distributions; moments and related parameters; and stochastic representations leading to further properties of infinite divisibility and self-decomposability. The authors also discuss parameter estimation and include an example from climatology that illustrates the modeling potential of this new bivariate model.