Research Integrity and Hidden Value Conflicts

Research integrity is a well-established term used to talk and write about ethical issues in research. Part of its success might be its broad applicability. In this paper, we suggest that this might also be its Achilles heel, since it has the potential to conceal important value conflicts. We identify three broad domains upon which research integrity is applied in the literature: (1) the researcher (or research group), (2) research, and (3) research-related institutions and systems. Integrity in relation to researchers concerns character, although it remains to specify precisely what character traits are the desirable ones in this context and what values researchers should endorse. Integrity in relation to research concerns correct and sufficient description of the research process, data, results, and overall ‘research record’. Hence, it concerns the quality of research. However, whether or not this notion of research integrity covers all ethical aspects of research depends on whether one endorses a wider or a narrower interpretation of the ‘research process’. Integrity in relation to research-related institutions and systems leaves open whether they should be understood as agents in their own right or merely as means to research integrity. Besides the potential lack of clarity that our analysis reveals, we point to how this variety in uses might lead to concealment of value conflicts and propose an open discussion of central values.

Twisted moments of GL(3) ×GL(2) L-functions

We compute an asymptotic formula for the twisted moment of [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]-functions and their derivatives. As an application, we prove that symmetric-square lifts of [Formula: see text] Maass forms are uniquely determined by the central values of the derivatives of [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]-functions.

Older People’s Perceptions of what is Needed to Experience Dignity and Well-being at Residential Care Facilities

Dignity and well-being are central values in care of older people living in residential care facilities. In addition, care of older people living in residential care facilities should be person-centred. Dignity and well-being can according to the person-centred practice framework be interpreted as person-centred outcomes. Despite this older people living in residential care facilities have described that they not fully experience dignity and well-being and improvements are needed. To improve care it is important to know what to target. The aim of this qualitative study was therefore to describe residents’ perceptions and experiences of what is needed to live with dignity and a sense of well-being. Interviews were carried out with older people living at residential care facilities (n=20). Inductive content analysis was used to analyse data and one overarching theme and three categories emerged. The result revealed the importance of, and that staff and the care environment supported, to manage daily life by oneself, to be shown respect and to belong to a social context. For older people to experience the person-centred outcomes dignity and well-being managers at residential care facilities need to develop and support the staff prerequisites related to knowledge, skills and attitudes and to improve the care environment. According to the person-centred practice framework, the staff prerequisites and the care environment must be taken into account to achieve the person-centred outcomes dignity and well-being.

Bureaucracy, Democracy and Westminster: The Quest for Political Control

<p>This thesis argues that a Weberian process of bureaucratisation poses a serious threat in itself to the central values and ideals of liberal democracy. Such a threat arises not only from the bureaucratic pathology of 'goal displacement' of substantive ends by instrumental means, but also, because of this pathology, its tendency to mask and embed ideological challenges to liberal democracy. An effective liberal political constitution is therefore necessary to maintain the democratic control of bureaucracy while exploiting the efficiency benefits of bureaucratic administration. Such a political constitution is in fact contained in the Westminster tradition of liberal constitutionalism, based on the principles of parliamentary sovereignty, ministerial responsibility and political neutrality. Through this theoretical lens, the thesis proceeds to examine the trajectory of public sector reforms against the changing political contexts in New Zealand over the past 20 years and its constitutional implications. The NPM reforms in New Zealand, whether intended or unintended, displaced the political and constitutional safeguards implicit in the traditional model of public service with managerial norms which simultaneously serve to embed the neoliberal ideology. Despite the claim of NPM reformers to control bureaucracy, the paradoxical effects of the reform have been to accelerate the process of bureaucratisation and attenuate democratic control. Recent initiatives aimed to address some apparent weaknesses of NPM, have not changed the fundamentals of the managerial system, and thus fail to reverse this trend of declining democratic control of bureaucratic power. A reassertion of the fundamental norms of the Westminster system is recommended to arrest this decline of liberal democracy.</p>

Bureaucracy, Democracy and Westminster: The Quest for Political Control

<p>This thesis argues that a Weberian process of bureaucratisation poses a serious threat in itself to the central values and ideals of liberal democracy. Such a threat arises not only from the bureaucratic pathology of 'goal displacement' of substantive ends by instrumental means, but also, because of this pathology, its tendency to mask and embed ideological challenges to liberal democracy. An effective liberal political constitution is therefore necessary to maintain the democratic control of bureaucracy while exploiting the efficiency benefits of bureaucratic administration. Such a political constitution is in fact contained in the Westminster tradition of liberal constitutionalism, based on the principles of parliamentary sovereignty, ministerial responsibility and political neutrality. Through this theoretical lens, the thesis proceeds to examine the trajectory of public sector reforms against the changing political contexts in New Zealand over the past 20 years and its constitutional implications. The NPM reforms in New Zealand, whether intended or unintended, displaced the political and constitutional safeguards implicit in the traditional model of public service with managerial norms which simultaneously serve to embed the neoliberal ideology. Despite the claim of NPM reformers to control bureaucracy, the paradoxical effects of the reform have been to accelerate the process of bureaucratisation and attenuate democratic control. Recent initiatives aimed to address some apparent weaknesses of NPM, have not changed the fundamentals of the managerial system, and thus fail to reverse this trend of declining democratic control of bureaucratic power. A reassertion of the fundamental norms of the Westminster system is recommended to arrest this decline of liberal democracy.</p>

A Theory of Justice Fifty Years Later

John Rawls's A Theory of Justice has reshaped liberal political theory, but what fruitful arguments does it generate today, fifty years after its publication? To show Theory's productive contemporary lives, I outline its key concepts and commitments, focusing on Rawls’ goal to uncover a consensus among reasonable persons. I highlight arguments in global justice and animal rights in which Theory's concept of the basic structure was fruitfully employed. Moreover, I argue that Rawls envisioned consensus as agreement only on very broad terms. Perhaps more than he realized, he left it to citizens to deal with everyday questions about justice, in which identities and power are central. I suggest that to extend Theory to such questions, theorists can combine its central values, such as those of self-respect and autonomy, with independent conceptions of power, so long as these treat arguments as irreducible to power relations.

Correlation of theoretical uncertainties in PDF fits and theoretical uncertainties in predictions

We show how to account for correlations between theoretical uncertainties incorporated in parton distribution function (PDF) fits, and the theoretical uncertainties in the predictions made using these PDFs. We demonstrate by explicit calculations, both analytical and numerical, that these correlations can lead to corrections to the central values of the predictions, and reductions in both the PDF uncertainties and the theoretical uncertainties in the prediction. We illustrate our results with predictions for top production rapidity distributions and the Higgs total cross-section at the LHC, using the NLO NNPDF3.1 PDF set which incorporates missing higher order uncertainties. We conclude that the inclusion of correlations can increase both the accuracy and precision of predictions involving PDFs, particularly for processes with data already included in the PDF fit.

Elementary School Students' Character Conditions During Online Learning

Online learning today was said to be unsuccessful and far from expected. It had a less good impact on the formation of characters where children depend heavily on parents and less interaction with others. This was one reason for research aimed at analyzing the implementation of character value in online learning. This type of research is qualitatively discrete. Data was collected from the principal, two teachers who have been certified who have taught for 15 years after the local content teacher. Data collection methods include interviews and observations. The data analysis used was triangulation. The research results stated that implementing the main character values, namely religion, nationalism, media, teamwork, and integrity, is not carried out in the implementation and evaluation stages because learning is done online. So, in online learning, the central values of religion, nationalism, media, teamwork, and integrity are not done, to overcome this can be done by conducting supervision programs.

GUS DUR’S MULTICULTURAL DA’WAH AND ITS RELEVANCE TO MODERN SOCIETY

This research aimed to describe and identify the concept of Gus Dur's multicultural da’wah, the efforts and relevance to modern society. It used qualitative research methods with a descriptive approach. The data were collected through observation and documentation. The findings suggested three main concepts of Gus Dur's multicultural da'wah: Gus Dur's central values, his Islamic ideas, and his struggle for the indigenization of Islam. The da'wah covered three domains: cognitive, affective and psychomotor. The domains were then framed into various activities, such as lectures/speeches, writings, forums, and social actions. Besides, it affirmed the need of wisdom that da'wah is relevant to the conditions of modern society. The relevance of da’wah can lead to the effective and efficient interaction process.Penelitian ini membahas mengenai dakwah multikultural Gus Dur dan relevansinya bagi masyarakat modern. Adapun tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mendeskripsikan, dan mengenali konsep dakwah multikultural Gus Dur, upaya-upaya dakwah multikultural Gus Dur dan relevansinya bagi masyarakat modern. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode penelitian kualitatif dengan pendekatan deskriptif. Teknik pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah obeservasi dan dokumentasi. Hasilnya menunjukkan bahwa dakwah multikultural Gus Dur mengacu pada tiga konsep utama, yakni nilai-nilai utama, gagasan keislaman, dan perjuangan pribumisasi Islam Gus Dur. Upaya-upaya dakwah multikultural Gus Dur ini mencakup tiga ranah, yakni ranah kognitif, afektif, dan psikomotorik. Upaya-upaya melalui tiga ranah tersebut kemudian dibingkai dalam berbagai kegiatan seperti ceramah/pidato, menulis, forum diskusi, dan aksi-aksi sosial. Dengan demikian, dibutuhkan kearifan agar dakwah relevan dengan kondisi masyarakat modern, sehingga pelaku dan penerima dakwah tersebut bisa memberi makna yang sama. Dalam hal ini, apa yang diidentifikasi oleh masyarakat modern bisa memasuki proses interaksi yang efektif dan efisien.