Qualitative Leverage and the Epistemology of Expert Opinion

We discuss the motivation for integrating qualitative informationin statistical models of complex, partially observable causalmechanisms and suggest ways to minimize the dangers posed byBraumoeller and Kirpichevsky. We stress the importance of linkingour statistical estimators to underlying theories of the datagenerating process, qualitative or otherwise.     

Evaluating the Comprehensibility of Jury Instructions: A Method and an Example

Methodological problems in jury simulation research involve issues of sampling, choice of stimulus materials, appropriate unit of analysis, appropriate dependent variable, corroborative data, and problems of role playing. Despite these issues, comprehension of jury instructions may be suitable for examination by jury simulation techniques--if certain of these methodological concerns can be satisfied. In a series of 5 experiments using typical Canadian legal instructions on criminal conspiracy and the coconspirator exception to the hearsay rule, this study attempted to validate a simple and inexpensive technique for testing the incomprehensibility of a given set of jury instructions by requiring participants to apply those legal instructions to a set of facts. The results demonstrate the utility of an application test, and suggest that for assessing the comprehensibility of jury instructions, it may be acceptable to use undergraduate students as participants, to use individual participants without group deliberation, and to employ written stimulus materials.     

Experiences with dating aggression and sexual coercion among Polish college students

Dating aggression and sexual coercion were studied in Polish college women (n = 100) and men ( n = 101) using the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales (Straus, Hamby, Boney-McCoy, & Sugarman, 1996). Rates of psychological and physical aggression, sexual coercion, and injury were compared for men and women. Rates of physical aggression, sexual coercion, and injury were compared with preliminary data from 31 universities and 16 countries from the International Dating Violence Study (IDVS; Straus, 2003, 2004). Rates of psychological aggression, physical aggression, and sexual coercion were high with respective rates of 77%, 36%, and 42% for men and 89%, 48%, and 40% for women. Relative to the IDVS samples, Polish men and women had high levels of physical aggression and sexual coercion. Relative to the IDVS samples, women, but not men, had high levels of causing injury to their partner and using threats or actual physical force to obtain oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse. The possible influences of high levels of domestic violence in Polish society and rapid changes in women's roles are discussed.     

Central Asian Ethnicity Compared: Evaluating the Contemporary Social Salience of Uzbek Identity in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

In this article, I utilise a contextual understanding of ethnicity and unique data to demonstrate that the ethnic Uzbek identity category is both widely available and frequently a useful means of making sense of the world in both Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. While Uzbek ethnicity is generally salient in both states, the context in which it becomes so varies across space. In particular, there are significant urban–rural distinctions that affect when Uzbek ethnicity is utilised to interpret the world. In addition, compared to others, rural Tajikistani Uzbeks perceive that the boundary between Uzbeks and the titular groups is particularly permeable.     

Scholarship—the new dimension to equity issues for academic women

Over the last 25 years, Canadian women have made significant inroads to the academy as students, faculty, and administrators. Their contribution is reflected in curriculum that now addresses women and through the development of undergraduate and graduate programs in women's studies. Above all, certain aspects of women's work in the academy have challenged masculinist notions of research methodology and pedagogy. In spite of these gains and contributions, women largely remain in the “A” ranks in academe—assistant, associate, acting. This article argues, and demonstrates through personal accounts, that current definitions of scholarship, widely held in the academy, prevent the advancement of women precisely because some feminist models of research and pedagogy present a challenge to academic hierarchy. Hence, the new equity challenge facing academic women is found in definitions of scholarship used for evaluation in tenure and promotion cases.     

Women as Political Leaders: a Bibliometric Analysis of the Literature

The research of female leaders in politics indicates the important changes in global politics, which started in 1970s and continues slowly. As more women are occupying positions of power, the academic interest in women’s style of leadership grows. Our study, based on bibliometric analysis, reflects the publications development on this issue from 1967 to 2017.     

Integrating public affairs information strategy with organizational practices in healthcare delivery organizations

To develop and implement policy, lawmakers rely on the input from external experts and stakeholders. Public affairs professionals are responsible for monitoring the sociopolitical environment and responding to public policy proposals on behalf of firms and organizations. However, how public affairs operate intraorganizationally and develop information strategies is not clear nor consistent in the literature. The purpose was to explore how public affairs engage with internal stakeholders to leverage their knowledge for information strategies in responding to policymakers. Knowledge transfer served as a theoretical framework through a qualitative multiple case study of 3 not-for-profit healthcare delivery organizations. Primary data were collected using semistructured interviews from public affairs (n = 11) and healthcare professionals (n = 18) along with a review of organizational documents and public records. Patterns and themes emerged through cross-case synthesis, presented as a process-based model and theory. Public affairs structures and decision-making processes varied across cases indicating no coherent approach by practitioners. Intraorganizational engagement and knowledge transfer processes were managed both consistently and ad hoc, through informal and formal methods. Practitioner strategies and tactics were identified to facilitate internal interaction such as filtering policy issues and effective communication methods. Common institutional barriers were identified that made stakeholder engagement a challenge. This study provides insight into understanding how public affairs practice internally and supports the fundamental importance of linking knowledge into public policymaking.