Optimal two treatment repeated measurement designs for three periods

Repeated Measurement Designs, with two treatments, n (experimental) units and p periods are examined, the two treatments are denoted A and B. The model with independent observations within and between treatment sequences is used. Optimal designs are derived for: (i) the difference of direct treatment effects and the difference of residual effects, (ii) the difference of direct treatment effects, and (iii) the difference of residual effects. We prove that for three periods when n is odd the optimal design in the three cases (i), (ii), and (iii) is determined by taking the sequences BAA and ABB in numbers differing by one. If n is even, the optimal design in cases (i), (ii), and (iii) is again the same, by taking the sequences ABB and BAA in equal numbers. In case (i), for n even or odd, in the optimal design there is no correlation between the two estimated parameters. For n even, case (i) was solved by Cheng and Wu in 1980. The above imply that with two treatments in practice are preferable to use three periods instead of two.     

Extension and necessity of Cheng and Wu conditions

Repeated Measurement Designs, with two treatments, n (experimental) units and p periods are examined. The model examined is with uncorrelated observations following a continuous distribution with constant variance and the parameters of interest are (i) the difference of direct effects and (ii) the difference of residual effects. In this paper (a) the difference of Universal optimality and Φ-optimality is clarified and (b) the sufficient conditions of Cheng and Wu (1980) are extended to include the case n=2 mod 4, p even, (c) also it is shown that these conditions are also necessary for Φ-optimality for estimating direct as well as residual effects, and (d) a method is proposed to construct Φ-optimal designs and examples are given when n even and p=3, n=0 mod 4 and p=4, n=2 mod 4 and p=4. In the last case the estimated parameters in the optimal design are correlated.     

An approach of the moral disengagement through the moral content judgment

ABSTRACT

The goal of the present study was the best understanding of the development of mechanisms of moral disengagement. Participants were 281 athletes (males, n = 133, and females, n = 148) all involved in competitive sport (teams and individuals). Their ages ranged from 13 to 23 years (M = 15.01, SD = 2.29), while their experience ranged from 1 to15 years (M = 5.42, SD = 3.13). The participants filled out two questionnaires: the Moral Disengagement in Sport Scale (MDSS) and the Moral Content Judgment in Sport Questionnaire (MCJSQ). Results revealed significant differences in gender and a negative correlation between the three mechanisms of moral disengagement (advantageous comparison, non-responsibility, and attribution of blame) with age. Findings also revealed that the mechanisms of moral disengagement relationship with elements of moral content judgment was positive with egoistic utilitarianism/consequences and negative with fairness.     

Managing International Migration: Rethinking Transaction Costs,Red Tape,and Their Impact

The debate on migration is bound to be tough and uneasy, and yet it is necessary to ask the difficult questions and listen to arguments that we may not like. Only in this way, it will be possible to have a solid and healthy discussion on the prospect of an efficient global governance regime. This Special Section addresses this imperative by exploring the prospect of turning away from ad hoc migration management towards holistic global migration governance. Migration defies any moral judgment and imposes moral obligations on those more fortunate. Tools and, so, policies are needed to follow this moral imperative of serving without harming. Transaction costs and red tape are nevertheless central in the debate. This Special Section sheds some light on it.