Literacy in statistics for the public discourse

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Walter J. Radermacher
Keyword(s):  
Political Communication ◽  
Public Discourse ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Conceptual Approach ◽  
Secondary Importance ◽  
The Public ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Fit For Purpose ◽  
And Training

If one assesses the quality of statistics according to whether they are fit for purpose, one must put the question of this very purpose at the beginning, not only for the production of statistics, but also for their use and the literacy required. In this contribution, public discourse, political communication and decision-making processes are placed at the beginning of the argument. Official statistics work with a conceptual approach in which very much emphasis is placed on standardisation of products and processes, thus ensuring comparability of facts in regional and temporal terms. Only in this way can statistics be used as a common language to objectify conflicting issues. It is not about everyone being able to create his or her own statistical model of reality, quite the opposite. In this sense, public statistics are an infrastructure, comparable to rail transport. Moreover, statistical processes today are highly rationalised and industrialised, comparable to a factory. So, when approaching the question of what literacy is needed in this particular application area of statistics, the education and training of professional statisticians has accordingly specific requirements, which are in many ways comparable to what professions in other industries or in the operation of the railways should have as a basic qualification. For the citizen, the entrepreneur, the teacher, the student, etc., who wants to understand and apply the indicators of the public statistical sources, technical skills are of secondary importance. Rather, it is necessary to understand enough about the product and its properties to be able to judge its quality in the light of personal application goals and questions. This indeed already presupposes a lot of knowledge and experience in dealing with quantitative information. Such competencies do not necessarily belong to the field of mathematics but demand practice in interpreting indicators in their context, an assessment of the reliability of sources and processes, experience with graphical representations of statistics (including the flaws that may appear in them) and practice in assessing uncertainties, etc. One needs to know a certain amount about the data sources, the preparation processes, quality standards, etc., but not at the level that would be required if one were to carry out this work oneself.

Die Reformen des Wahlrechts zum Deutschen Bundestag 2011 und 2013 im öffentlichen Diskurs

2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 844-864
Author(s):  
Eric Linhart ◽  
Oke Bahnsen
Keyword(s):  
Political Institutions ◽  
Public Discourse ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Public Debate ◽  
The Public ◽  
Electoral Law ◽  
German Newspapers

The German electoral law to the federal parliament was reformed in 2011 and in 2013 . While political scientists have extensively evaluated consequences of these reforms, the role of the public discourse has been largely neglected . We analyze articles from three leading German newspapers (FAZ, SZ, Welt) on this topic and find the debate around the reforms to be dominated by parties and political institutions . Scientists, interest groups, and journalists have only played minor roles . Regarding content, the discourse largely focused on surplus seats, reform speed, and a proposal by the CDU/CSU‑FDP coalition government in 2011 . A broad public debate in which multiple social groups could participate has not taken place . From a normative perspective this is problematic since the lack of a public debate might have contributed to the poor quality of the reform’s result .

Auditors’ Use of Brainstorming in the Consideration of Fraud: Reports from the Field

2010 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
pp. 1273-1301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph F. Brazel ◽  
Tina D. Carpenter ◽  
J. Gregory Jenkins
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Risk Assessments ◽  
High Quality ◽  
The Public ◽  
Fraud Risk ◽  
Public Company ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Fraud Risk Assessments ◽  
Audit Standards

ABSTRACT: Audit standards require auditors to conduct fraud brainstorming sessions on every audit. The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board has raised concerns about auditors’ fraud judgments and the quality of their brainstorming sessions. We develop a measure of brainstorming quality to examine how it affects auditors’ fraud decision-making processes. We test our measure using field survey data of auditors’ actual brainstorming sessions for 179 audit engagements. Respondents report considerable variation in the quality of brainstorming in practice. We find some evidence that high-quality brainstorming improves the relations between fraud risk factors and fraud risk assessments. We also determine that brainstorming quality positively moderates the relations between fraud risk assessments and fraud-related testing. Our results suggest that the benefits of brainstorming do not apply uniformly, because low-quality sessions likely incur the costs of such interactions without receiving the attendant benefits. By documenting best practices from high-quality brainstorming sessions, our findings can inform auditors on how to improve their consideration of fraud.

Preparing a Future Graduate Workforce for Work

2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-103
Author(s):  
Salah Al-Ali
Keyword(s):  
Direct Contact ◽  
Public Authority ◽  
Department Heads ◽  
Direct Impact ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
The Public ◽  
Applied Education ◽  
Business Requirements ◽  
And Training

This paper reports on a study that examined factors which had a direct impact on the quality of graduates from the Public Authority of Applied Education and Training (PAAE&T) in Kuwait. The study also examined the extent to which the graduates met the requirements of local employers. It consisted of a review of the literature; a questionnaire given to a sample of students in selected departments; interviews with department heads at the PAAE&T; Deans of related colleges and institutions; Deans of industrial liaison offices in the selected sample of the PAAE&T; supervisors in industry who had direct contact with prospective PAAE&T graduates; and employed graduates. The findings indicate that there is a need to develop a proper labour strategy to ensure that graduates from PAAE&T are equipped with the required knowledge, skills and attitudes to meet industry and business requirements.

Implications of the Audit Oversight Board: External Auditors’ Perspective

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Mazlina Mustapha ◽  
Foong Sook Hwa
Keyword(s):  
Internal Audit ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Internal Auditors ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
External Auditors ◽  
The Public ◽  
Training Costs ◽  
Audit Firms ◽  
And Training

The purpose of Audit Oversight Board (AOB) is to oversee the external auditors who audit the listed companies. Its establishment is expected to improve the quality of the audited financial statements and to increase the confidence of the public on the quality of the services provided by the auditors. This study explores how the establishment of audit oversight board affects the auditors in Malaysia. As the study is exploratory in nature with limited studies being carried out on AOB, face-to-face interviews were conducted with the external auditors. The findings show that the establishment of AOB affects the job of external auditors, especially on the documentation and training costs, which vary across audit firms of different sizes. There are opinions that the increased pressure on the external auditors is not solely due to the establishment of AOB, but it is also due to the revised accounting standards and other regulations. The study also finds that the external auditors’ reliance on the internal auditors is not affected by the establishment of AOB. In addition, regardless of whether the internal audit department is in-house or outsourced, it will not affect the reliance of external auditors on the internal auditors work.

FROM COMPUTER LITERACY TO DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF EDUCATION

2019 ◽  
pp. 5-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Yu. Uvarov
Keyword(s):  
Digital Literacy ◽  
Computer Literacy ◽  
Digital Economy ◽  
Digital Transformation ◽  
Digital Environment ◽  
The Public ◽  
Virtual Laboratories ◽  
Simulation And Training ◽  
And Training

The publishing of the 300th issue of the INFO magazine coincided with the approval of the Passport of the National Digital Economy Program. One of the Program' task is the development of the promising Digital Educational and Methodological Complexes (DEMC) that should transform the informatics’ classes at the public school. This event is considered as a step to the digital transformation of the Russian school. Digital transformation is considered as harnessing digital technologies to increase the productivity and value of an enterprise. Digital transformation of education is considered as the controlled and/or spontaneous process of the transformation of the content, methods and organizational forms of educational activities, which is aimed at improving the quality of schools in a rapidly developing digital environment to meet the requirements of the digital economy. The development of Digital Educational and Methodological Complexes, smart simulation and training apps and virtual laboratories provided by the Passport of the National Digital Economy Program for the implementation of general secondary and vocational education programs for areas of “Mathematics”, “Informatics” and “Technology” is аn important step towards the digital transformation of education. The DEMC for informatics curriculum that will be created under the Digital Economy Program has to predetermine the formation of digital literacy of the younger generation in the next decade. The features of the promising DEMC for informatics, which the author would like to see in it, are discussed.

Using God-Talk in a Secular Society: Time for a New Conversation on Public Issues?

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-158
Author(s):  
Andrew Bradstock
Keyword(s):  
Public Discourse ◽  
Religious Language ◽  
Policy Outcomes ◽  
Public Issues ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Square ◽  
Current State ◽  
The Right ◽  
Michael Sandel

Abstract The role that religious language should play in the ‘public square’ has long been a matter of debate. As Rawls, Rorty, Audi and others have long argued, albeit with subtle variations, discussion on public issues must be truly ‘public’ and therefore employ vocabulary, principles and reasoning which are intelligible to any reasonable person and based on public canons of validity. But does this argument do justice to religious voices? Can the growing number of such voices clamouring for the right to be heard continue to be ignored? Does excluding conviction-based language from public debate lessen the quality of that debate and the potential to find effective solutions to policy challenges? Drawing upon recent work by Jonathan Chaplin, Rowan Williams, Roger Trigg and Michael Sandel, this article examines the current state of scholarship on the question of language in public discourse, and concludes that the case for ‘confessional candour’ to be accepted in such discourse is overwhelming and could have a positive effect on policy outcomes. A prerequisite to this, however—at least within the context of New Zealand—will be a fresh debate about the meaning and scope of the term ‘secularism’.

scholarly journals Romania’s Anti-Corruption Policy: Results, Prospects and Experience for Ukraine

2021 ◽  
pp. 144-158
Author(s):  
Iuliia Myndresku
Keyword(s):  
Public Discourse ◽  
Quantitative Result ◽  
Chain Model ◽  
Activity System ◽  
Government Programs ◽  
Legal Decisions ◽  
The Public ◽  
Effectiveness And Efficiency ◽  
Quantitative Indicators

The article analyzes the results and prospects of anti-corruption policy in Romania. Using the method of a logical chain model for evaluating government programs and projects made it possible to prove that two competing approaches have emerged in Romania regarding the appropriateness of the forms and methods of this process: the first of them is focused on the quantitative result of anti-corruption policy, which is achieved despite numerous procedural violations of the legal procedure; the second emphasizes the need and importance of ensuring and strict observance of procedural guarantees and legal decisions focused on the quality of the results of anti-corruption activities of special anti-corruption structures. It was found that the growth of the institutional and organizational potential of anti-corruption structures in Romania led to a quantitative increase in the effectiveness of anti-corruption policy, while reducing its qualitative indicators, reflected in the procedural characteristics of the implementation of anti-corruption policy. Such a ratio of quantitative and qualitative results of anti-corruption policy indicates a certain imbalance in the activities of the structures of the anti-corruption activity system and requires a political adjustment of anti-corruption policy. It has been substantiated that the most important aspect of anti-corruption practices that can be used in Ukraine is the public consensus on the ratio of quantitative and qualitative indicators of the effectiveness and efficiency of the implementation of anti-corruption policy. It is noted that the pursuit of quantitative indicators, however, as well as neglect of them, will inevitably form a public discourse about the organizational necessity / importance of the national system of anti-corruption institutions and the principles of anti-corruption policy.

scholarly journals Sistema de gestión de la productividad del sector servicio en el municipio San Cristóbal del estado Táchira, Venezuela // Productivity management system for the service sector in the San Cristóbal municipality of Táchira state, Venezuela

Ciencia Unemi ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (26) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
Maritza Sierra-Parada ◽  
Delia Madriz-Rodríguez ◽  
María Castillo-Pedraza
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Service ◽  
Financial Management ◽  
Service Sector ◽  
Banking Sector ◽  
Performance Evaluations ◽  
The Public ◽  
Fundamental Process ◽  
And Training ◽  
Productivity System

El objetivo de la presente investigación es diseñar un sistema de diagnóstico, medición y mejoramiento de la productividad dirigido a la calidad de servicio. El nivel es descriptivo, diseño de campo, se utilizó como instrumento un cuestionario para conocer la gestión de la productividad y el uso del Servqual para conocer la percepción de calidad de los clientes. Se encontraron algunas deficiencias entre las que destacan: no todas las empresas toman acciones para mejorar la productividad, 50,23% no monitorean los planes de mejoramiento continuo; más del 50% no realizan evaluaciones de desempeño; 30,6% no otorgan recompensas adicionales al salario; en cuanto a la calidad del servicio prestado, la dimensión seguridad presenta la mayor brecha entre las expectativas y las percepciones con un puntaje de (-15,59); las dimensiones restantes presentan también deficiencias, dado que no cumplen con las expectativas de los clientes. Por lo tanto, se pone de manifiesto, que las empresas se enfoquen en su personal tanto en su  recompensa y capacitación, ya que esto conlleva a la satisfacción del cliente; también es importante señalar que dependiendo del rubro se hace énfasis en la productividad de sus procesos principales; siendo el mantenimiento el proceso medular del rubro transporte, la calidad de servicio es el sector público, debido a que prestan un servicio social, y en el sector bancario es vital velar por una eficiente gestión financiera. Lo anterior justifica el diseño de un sistema de productividad, dirigido a la calidad del servicio, conformado por entradas, procesos y salidas del sistema; se formularon indicadores con el propósito de medir la productividad y la calidad del servicio en estas empresas. AbstractThe objective of this research is to design a system for diagnosis, measurement and improvement of productivity aimed at quality of service. The level is descriptive, field design; a questionnaire was used as a tool for knowing the management of the productivity and the use of the Servqual for knowing the quality perception of the clients. Some deficiencies were found among which are: not all the companies take actions to improve productivity, 50.23% do not monitor the plans for continuous improvement; more than 50% do not conduct performance evaluations; 30,6% do not grant additional rewards to the salary; the security dimension presents the major gap between expectations and perceptions with a score of (-15.59), in terms of the quality of the service provided; the remaining dimensions also have deficiencies, because they do not meet the expectations of customers. Therefore, it is clear that companies focus on their staff in both their reward and training, as this leads to customer satisfaction; It is also important to point out that depending on the item, emphasis is done on the productivity of its main processes; being the maintenance and quality of service the fundamental process of the transport item in the public sector, because they provide a social service, and in the banking sector it is vital to ensure an efficient financial management. This justifies the design of a productivity system, aimed at the quality of service, consisting of inputs, processes and outputs of the system; indicators were formulated with the purpose of measuring productivity and quality of service in these companies.

Public Intentions for Private Spaces: Exploring Architects’ Tactics to Shape Shared Space in Private-Led Residential Development

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saul Manuel Golden ◽  
Ian Montgomery ◽  
Taina M. Rikala
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Decisions ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
The Public ◽  
Exchange Value ◽  
Professional Norms ◽  
Shared Space ◽  
City Space ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
The Individual

From the late 20th into the 21st centuries, the private market increasingly gained control from public authorities over strategic decisions affecting the quality of, and accessibility to, new urban development. This paper argues for architects to act more explicitly to promote greater open-ness and use-value, rather than more objectified and controlled exchange-value approaches to the public domain in private-led development. The paper analyses two London-based residential case studies and interviews with the architects about perceptions of, and approaches to, private-led development decision-making processes. It compares the individual practitioner’s experiences of architecture practice with explicit intentions to influence better quality shared city space, examining professional norms vis-à-vis commercial clients and wider society. The paper concludes that greater awareness of architects’ knowledge, skills, and a range of tactics to influence future shared environments can contribute to improved professional practice frameworks for more effective engagement in an increasingly globalised and privatised urban society.

scholarly journals New Educational Discourse: The Well-Being of Schoolchildren

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 26-34
Author(s):  
K.N. Polivanova
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
School Environment ◽  
Public Discourse ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Public ◽  
Education And Health ◽  
Logical Sequence ◽  
Wide Scale

The article traces the logical sequence of the emergence of the constructs “quality of life” and “well-being” in the public discourse. It is shown that gradually since the end of the 60s of the XX century, the socio-economic and public sphere is turning to invest in education and health, indicators of well-being are being developed. Within the framework of the economy of well-being, it is shown that contributions to the quality of life enhance economic development. The analysis of the wide-scale PISA project shows an increasing body of data on the well-being of schoolchildren. It is shown that over the course of six successive waves of the PISA project, research interest has expanded from recording academic achievements in different countries to indicators of the quality of the educational environment and then to discussing the well-being of schoolchildren. Initially, the characteristics of the school environment were analyzed as factors that contribute to improving academic achievement. Since 2015, well-being has been studied as such, recognizing the importance of a student's well-being and experiences outside of their relationship to achievement. The well-being of schoolchildren is described as a set of its components such as cognitive, psychological, social, physical, and material. The article states that this turn indicates a significant change in the “education” construct itself: it is now considered not only as a preparation for the future life through the achievement of educational results by the student, but also as a part of the life cycle, valuable in itself.

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