scholarly journals Permutation tests for heterogeneity comparisons in presence of categorical variables with application to university evaluation

2007 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosa Arboretti Giancristofaro ◽  
Stefano Bonnini
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Categorical Variables ◽  
Real Problem ◽  
Permutation Testing ◽  
Order Restrictions ◽  
Job Opportunities ◽  
Ordered Categorical Variables ◽  
University Evaluation ◽  
Phd Programs ◽  
Better Than

In social sciences researchers often meet the problem of determining if the distribution of a categorical variable is more concentrated in population X1 than in population X2. For example the effectiveness of two different PhD programs can be evaluated in terms of the heterogeneity of the set of job opportunities. The job opportunities are nominal categorical variables and populations X1 and X2 include all PhD holders for program 1 and program 2. We may define that a PhD program is "better than another" if it is able to offer a larger variety of job opportunities. Several other examples can be mentioned to highlight the importance of heterogeneity comparison problems in social sciences; moreover this problem occurs also very often in genetics, biology, medical studies and other sciences. The nonparametric solution of this problem has similarities to that of permutation testing for stochastic dominance on ordered categorical variables, i.e. testing under order restrictions. If ordering of probability parameters in H0 is unknown and it has to be estimated by sampling data, only approximate nonparametric solutions are possible within the permutation approach. Main properties of test solutions and some Monte Carlo simulations in order to evaluate the tests' behaviour under H0 and H1, will be presented. A real problem concerned with University evaluation is also discussed.

Is Chinese Culture Distinctive?—A Review Article

1993 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 923-936 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Nathan
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Chinese Culture ◽  
The Other ◽  
Real Problem ◽  
Methodological Issues ◽  
Asian Studies ◽  
Chinese Studies ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Two Bodies ◽  
Better Than

Anyone Who Works in the Field of Area Studies knows from experience that cultures are different. Indeed, the effort to understand the distinctiveness of cultures in comparative perspective is a central undertaking of the modern humanities and social sciences, not only in Asian studies but in studies of other parts of the world. But works on the subject seldom discuss the conceptual and methodological issues involved. What do we mean by culture in the context of comparative statements? How can a culture's distinctiveness be conceptualized? What is required to demonstrate that such distinctiveness exists, what it consists of, and what influence it has on the performance of societies? In the case of Chinese studies, how far have we come in establishing that Chinese culture is distinctive, in what ways, and with what consequences?It is helpful to discuss these issues in terms of two bodies of literature with different ways of conceptualizing culture and its distinctiveness, although I intend to blur the distinction at the end. Following Ying-shih Yü, I will label the two approaches hermeneutic and positivistic. I do not argue that one of the approaches is better than the other; each achieves goals that the other does not. The real problem is lack of clarity about the different logical statuses of the kinds of findings that typically emerge from the two approaches. This can lead to problems when insights are transposed from the hermeneutic approach into positivistic language or vice versa.

scholarly journals Risk factors in the management of antimicrobial agents in nursing

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Regina Consolação dos Santos ◽  
Juliana Dias Reis Pessalacia ◽  
Luciana Regina Ferreira da Mata
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Categorical Variables ◽  
Western Region ◽  
Education Programs ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Antimicrobial Drugs ◽  
Hospital Records ◽  
Nursing Team

Current retrospective, descriptive, document-based study identified the risk factors in the administration of antimicrobial drugs by the nursing team. The hospital records at the Hematology and Oncology clinics of patients treated with antimicrobial agents in a hospital in the center-western region of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, between January 2008 and December 2011, were analyzed. Data were investigated with IBM program, Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) 21.0 and inferential statistics. Chi-square and Fisher´s exact tests were employed to assess the differences between the categorical variables. Risk factors related to the administration of antimicrobial agents by the nursing team comprised lack of records of phlogistic infection signs; inadequate schedules for the administration of antimicrobial drugs; lack of precaution and isolation measures and of swab sampling. Continuous education programs for nurses, focusing on safe administration of antimicrobial agents, are highly relevant. 

Opinions of the workers in the hotel kitchens of Cappadocia region on kitchen hygiene situations

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 67-78
Author(s):  
Mahir Kurt ◽  
Fulya Sarper
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Categorical Variables ◽  
Evaluation Form ◽  
Level Of Knowledge ◽  
Production Areas ◽  
Cappadocia Region

This research was carried out to learn the opinions of workers in the hotel kitchens of Cappadocia region on kitchen hygiene situations. In the scope of the research, 234 kitchen staff from Cappadocia region were surveyed and 28 hotel kitchens were evaluated. Statistical Package for Social Sciences 22 was used to evaluate the obtained data and to prepare tables. The data obtained from the scale used to measure the level of knowledge of kitchen staff are presented as mean and standard deviation. For the presentation of categorical variables, frequency and percentage values are used. The hotel kitchens operating in the Cappadocia region were evaluated according to the hygiene evaluation form consisting of six different sections and hygiene levels were expressed as a percentage of 1,000 points. The result shows that it is absolutely necessary for hotels to apply the HACCP programme and to increase the supervision in the production areas. Keywords: Hotel, hygiene, sanitation, food security.

scholarly journals Determinants of quality in home-based management of malaria by community health volunteers in rural Kenya

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (07) ◽  
pp. 897-903
Author(s):  
Enock Oburi Marita ◽  
Richard Gichuki ◽  
Elda Watulo ◽  
Sylla Thiam ◽  
Sarah Karanja
Keyword(s):  
Community Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
Categorical Variables ◽  
Quality Of Services ◽  
Community Case Management ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Community Health Volunteers ◽  
Better Than

Introduction: Kenya adopted the World Health Organization’s recommendation of community case management of malaria (CCMM) in 2012. Trained community health volunteers (CHVs) provide CCMM but information on quality of services is limited. This study aimed to establish determinants of quality of service of CCMM conducted by CHVs. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in November 2016 in Bungoma County, Kenya. Data were collected through observing CHVs perform routine CCMM and through interviews of CHVs using structured questionnaires. A ≥ 75% score was considered as quality provision. Descriptive statistics were performed to describe basic characteristics of the study, followed by Chi-Square test and binary logistic regression to examine the differences and associations between the categorical variables. Results: A total of 147 CHVs participated; 62% of CHVs offered quality services. There was a direct association between quality of services and stock-outs of artemether-lumefantrine (AL), stock-outs of malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) and support supervision. CHVs who were supervised during the year preceding the assessment were four times more likely to perform better than those not supervised (uOR 4.2, 95% CI: 1.38-12.85). CHVs with reliable supplies of AL and RDT kits performed three times better than those who experienced stock outs (uOR = 3.2, 95% CI: 1.03-10.03 and 3.3, 95% CI: 1.63-6.59 respectively). Biosafety and documentation were the most poorly performed. Conclusions: The majority of CHVs offered quality CCMM services despite safety gaps. Safety, continuous supplies of RDT, AL and supervision are essential for quality performance by CHV in delivering CCMM.

scholarly journals Emerging Research Areas in Social Sciences Due to Covid-19

2020 ◽  
pp. 01-04 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Farooq
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Mobile Learning ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Research Paper ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
The People ◽  
New Research ◽  
Better Than

Covid-19 has impacted all of the walks of life. It has changed the behavior of humans. Due to lockdown, people had the opportunity to rethink several perspectives of life. On ends of Lockdown, it is expected that, the customers will no more be the same, rushing towards product and reacting to every marketing advertisement. The Pandemic and Lockdown has taught the people to live with less. It also taught us, that technology development should be towards making humans life better. The term “Customer is king” has become more valuable in pandemic days. No matter, how many airlines one firm has, how much advance one economy is, if the health of humans is on danger, everything discontinues. This pandemic has taught us to focus more on creating the product, which improves humans’ life, do marketing and advertising that are customer centric. In education, more focus is required on mobile learning. The transportation dynamics have also change. The requirement of self-deriving cars has increased. The pandemic reiterated strongly that prevention is better than cure. Public awareness can sever more people than doctors' services in times of crisis. All these learning are will create new research areas in social sciences. This research paper highlights research areas for post- COVID developments.

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