scholarly journals A critical evaluation of the index of patch quality

2021 ◽  
Vol 288 (1951) ◽  
pp. 20210459
Author(s):  
Annette L. Fayet ◽  
Alasdair I. Houston
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Critical Evaluation ◽  
Empirical Validation ◽  
Habitat Assessment ◽  
Patch Quality ◽  
Gain Function ◽  
New Model ◽  
Validation Methods ◽  
Inverse Optimality

The inverse optimality approach can allow us to learn about an animal's environment by assuming their behaviour is optimal. This approach has been applied to animals diving underwater for food to produce the index of patch quality (IPQ), which aims to provide a proxy for prey abundance or quality in a foraging patch based on the animal's diving behaviour. The IPQ has been used in several empirical studies but has never been evaluated theoretically. Here, we discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the IPQ approach from a theoretical angle and review the empirical evidence supporting its use. We highlight several potential issues, in particular with the gain function—the function describing the energetic gain of an animal during a dive—used to calculate the IPQ. We investigate an alternative gain function which is appropriate in some cases, provide a new model based on this function, and discuss differences between the IPQ model and ours. We also find that there is little supporting empirical evidence justifying the general use of the IPQ and suggest future empirical validation methods which could help strengthen the case for the IPQ. Our findings have implications for the field of diving ecology and habitat assessment.

Spotting a liar by looking for microexpressions: Challenges and Opportunities

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xunbing Shen
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Deception Detection ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
High Stake ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Cues To Deception ◽  
The Relationship

Microexpressions do exist, and they are regarded as valid cues to deception by many researchers, furthermore, there is a lot of empirical evidence which substantiates this claim. However, some researchers don’t think the microexpression can be a way to catch a liar. The author elucidates the theories predicting that looking for microexpressions can be a way to catch a liar, and notes that some data can support for the utilization of microexpressions as a good way to detect deception. In addition, the author thinks that the mixed results in the area of investigating microexpressions and deception detection may be moderated by the stake. More empirical studies which employ high-stake lies to explore the relationship between microexpressions and deception detection are needed.

Acquiring “Knowledge”—An Alternative Model

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Avner Baz
Keyword(s):  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Alternative Model ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
First Language ◽  
Analytic Philosophy ◽  
Empirical Science ◽  
First Language Acquisition ◽  
Method Of Cases ◽  
Striking Fact

The chapter argues that empirical studies of first-language acquisition lend support to the Wittgensteinian-Merleau-Pontian conception of language as against the prevailing conception that underwrites the method of cases in either its armchair or experimental version. It offers a non-representationalist model, inspired by the work of Michael Tomasello, for the acquisition of “knowledge,” with the aim of showing that we could fully account for the acquisition of this and other philosophically troublesome words without positing independently existing “items” to which these words refer. The chapter also aims at bringing out and underscoring the striking fact that, whereas many in contemporary analytic philosophy regard and present themselves as open and attentive to empirical science, they have often relied on a conception of language that has been supported by no empirical evidence.

The Relationship Between Proof and Certainty in Mathematical Practice

2022 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-84
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Doctoral Students ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Mathematical Practice ◽  
Advanced Mathematics ◽  
Mathematics Educators ◽  
The Relationship

Many mathematics educators believe a goal of instruction is for students to obtain conviction and certainty in mathematical statements using the same types of evidence that mathematicians do. However, few empirical studies have examined how mathematicians use proofs to obtain conviction and certainty. We report on a study in which 16 advanced mathematics doctoral students were given a task-based interview in which they were presented with various sources of evidence in support of a specific mathematical claim and were asked how convinced they were that the claim was true after reviewing this evidence. In particular, we explore why our participants retained doubts about our claim after reading its proof and how they used empirical evidence to reduce those doubts.

scholarly journals Diversity–disturbance relationships: frequency and intensity interact

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 768-771 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex R. Hall ◽  
Adam D. Miller ◽  
Helen C. Leggett ◽  
Stephen H. Roxburgh ◽  
Angus Buckling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Ecological Theory ◽  
Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis ◽  
Intermediate Disturbance ◽  
Disturbance Frequency ◽  
Theoretical Predictions ◽  
Experimental Populations ◽  
Disturbance Hypothesis

An influential ecological theory, the intermediate disturbance hypothesis (IDH), predicts that intermediate levels of disturbance will maximize species diversity. Empirical studies, however, have described a wide variety of diversity–disturbance relationships (DDRs). Using experimental populations of microbes, we show that the form of the DDR depends on an interaction between disturbance frequency and intensity. We find that diversity shows a monotonically increasing, unimodal or flat relationship with disturbance, depending on the values of the disturbance aspects considered. These results confirm recent theoretical predictions, and potentially reconcile the conflicting body of empirical evidence on DDRs.

The Aftermath of Suicide: A Review of Empirical Evidence

1990 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan van der Wal
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Causes Of Death ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Prolonged Grief ◽  
Unnatural Death ◽  
Survivors Of Suicide ◽  
Self Image ◽  
Grief Process ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Theoretical Considerations

The empirical studies on mourning after suicide were evaluated systematically with the aid of a descriptive model of grief. The starting point in the formulation of this model is the assumption that the bereaved are active in their processing of the loss. The current stages and component theories are rejected on the grounds of empirical contra-evidence and theoretical considerations. Instead, a framework of tasks of bereavement is presented in which the essential tasks confronting survivors in their adaption to the loss are formulated: detachment of the deceased, preserving a satisfactory self-image, and keeping in contact with people who can be of support during the grief process. An examination is made of what is known about the situation of survivors of suicide in this respect. Grief after suicide appears to differ on a number of qualitative aspects from grief after other causes of death. These differences probably do not, however, lead to an atypical mourning process. Generally speaking, the grief process seems to show the same course and main features as those occurring after other types of death, especially after sudden unnatural death. It can be concluded from the literature reviewed that there is no empirical evidence to support the popular notion that survivors of suicide show more pathological reactions, a more complicated and prolonged grief process, than other survivor groups.

scholarly journals Distinctive Capabilities and Performance: Empirical Evidence from Malaysian SMEs

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohd Khairuddin Hashim
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Manufacturing Sector ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
General Notion ◽  
Research Issue ◽  
Significant Positive Relationship ◽  
Strategic Variable ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Functional Areas

Despite the general notion that distinctive capabilities are crucial to the success affirms, empirical studies that focused on this strategic variable in SMEs remains limited. This study seeks to address this research issue by empirically investigating 100 SMEs in the Malaysian manufacturing sector. The findings of the study suggest that the SMEs studied established capabilities in several business functional areas. In addition, the results of the correlations indicate statistically significant positive relationship between distinctive capabilities and the performance of the SMEs in this study.  

scholarly journals Exploring market failures in open innovation

2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nola Hewitt-Dundas ◽  
Stephen Roper
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Open Innovation ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Optimal Level ◽  
Average Level ◽  
Market Failures ◽  
Policy Initiatives ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
And Performance

There is now considerable empirical evidence demonstrating the innovation and performance benefits that accrue to firms engaging in open innovation (OI). Here, we use novel data on micro-businesses to show that the average level of engagement in OI falls well below the optimal level, a finding that reflects that of other empirical studies. We identify and examine three market failures which may help to explain this result. These relate to a lack of understanding of the potential benefits of OI by firms, a lack of information about the capabilities of potential partners and a lack of information about the trustworthiness of potential partners. Our findings provide evidence that policy initiatives designed to offset these information failures are likely to increase the range of partners with which firms engage with significant benefits for innovation.

Demographics and Food Consumption: Empirical Evidence

2011 ◽  
pp. 746-769 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Miguel Albisu ◽  
Azucena Gracia ◽  
Ana Isabel Sanjuán
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Health Food ◽  
Emerging Trends ◽  
Safety And Health

This article reviews only those empirical works that report results on the influence of sociodemographic factors on food consumption. It highlights those recent papers that can be helpful to the interested reader as a base from which to explore further aspects of demographics and food consumption. Reviewed empirical studies analyze the influence of demographics on food consumption following the two different approaches. This article presents the main demographic trends in developed countries. It gathers empirical evidence about the effect of demographic factors on food consumers' preferences for different food attributes, classified for pedagogical purposes in the following categories: ethics (organics, fair trade, and animal welfare), food safety and health (food safety, healthy diets, genetic modification, and irradiation), local and typical produce, ethnicity, and convenience. Finally, it concludes with some remarks and comments about emerging trends for future research.

Conclusion, 11 Concluding Remarks on the Theoretical, Legal, and Practical Challenges of European Antitrust Criminalization

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Whelan Peter
Keyword(s):  
Risk Aversion ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Cultural Sensitivity ◽  
Information Exchange ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Deterrence Theory ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Rationality Assumption

This concluding chapter provides final remarks on the theoretical, legal, and practical challenges of European antitrust criminalization. It also determines five different research questions that should be addressed by future researchers. First, more detailed, reliable empirical evidence on the motivations of cartelists and whether or not they act in accordance with the rationality assumption of deterrence theory is required. Second, detailed qualitative and quantitative research concerning the usefulness of information exchange within the European Competition Network (ECN) would also be useful. Third, empirical evidence should be generated concerning whether consumers actually assume that their suppliers are not engaged in cartel activity with their competitors. Fourth, empirical studies on the extent to which risk aversion is a characteristic of corporate entities need to be pursued. Finally, empirical evidence on the cultural sensitivity of perceptions of cartel activity among the citizens of the different EU Member States would be welcome.

Self-Control as a Coordination Problem

2020 ◽  
pp. 65-80
Author(s):  
Asael Y. Sklar ◽  
Kentaro Fujita
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Conceptual Frameworks ◽  
Alternative Account ◽  
Coordination Problem ◽  
New Model ◽  
The Mind

This chapter presents an analysis of self-control from a motivational perspective, modeling it as the resolution of a conflict between proximal and distal concerns. It briefly reviews “divided-mind” models that suggest that self-control entails competition between opposing elements of the mind, and discusses some of the empirical and conceptual challenges to these conceptual frameworks. The authors then propose an alternative account that addresses these challenges, suggesting that coordination of (rather than competition between) elements of the mind is key to self-control. They review empirical evidence for the new model, and then conclude by outlining some of its implications for future research and theory.

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