Classical Theory Research Articles

OMEGA-CATEGORICAL PSEUDOFINITE GROUPS

Abstract We explore the interplay between $\omega $ -categoricity and pseudofiniteness for groups, and we conjecture that $\omega $ -categorical pseudofinite groups are finite-by-abelian-by-finite. We show that the conjecture reduces to nilpotent p-groups of class 2, and give a proof that several of the known examples of $\omega $ -categorical p-groups satisfy the conjecture. In particular, we show by a direct counting argument that for any odd prime p the ( $\omega $ -categorical) model companion of the theory of nilpotent class 2 exponent p groups, constructed by Saracino and Wood, is not pseudofinite, and that an $\omega $ -categorical group constructed by Baudisch with supersimple rank 1 theory is not pseudofinite. We also survey some scattered literature on $\omega $ -categorical groups over 50 years.

Learning with computer simulations: a case study on reservoir temperatures in carnot cycles

Computer simulations have played a significant role in the development of physics, and in physics education as well. Researchers have addressed whether simulations promote learning, but few studies have investigated how simulations actually participate in learning processes. This study seeks to describe how simulations participate in conceptual learning. A case study is carried out using videotaped interviews with three groups of undergraduate students as they address a problem-solving task on thermodynamics (Carnot cycles). Students use a specifically developed simulation for support. The analysis is based on Coordination Class Theory (CCT). Results indicate that students not only use the simulation to think; it is actually a part of what they think. Students were found to engage in three different interaction dynamics with the simulation. Attuned with CCT, these were coded as either Extractive/Inferential/Articulative interactions. In each case, the substance of how these interactions input conceptual learning is described. Implications for future research and for teaching are given.

On affine multicolor urns grown under multiple drawing

Abstract Early investigation of Pólya urns considered drawing balls one at a time. In the last two decades, several authors have considered multiple drawing in each step, but mostly for schemes involving two colors. In this manuscript, we consider multiple drawing from urns of balls of multiple colors, formulating asymptotic theory for specific urn classes and addressing more applications. The class we consider is affine and tenable, built around a ‘core’ square matrix. We examine cases where the urn is irreducible and demonstrate its relationship to matrix irreducibility for its core matrix, with examples provided. An index for the drawing schema is derived from the eigenvalues of the core. We identify three regimes: small, critical, and large index. In the small-index regime, we find an asymptotic Gaussian law. In the critical-index regime, we also find an asymptotic Gaussian law, albeit with a difference in the scale factor, which involves logarithmic terms. In both of these regimes, we have explicit forms for the structure of the mean and the covariance matrix of the composition vector (both exact and asymptotic). In all three regimes we have strong laws.

Model Diplomacy Classroom Simulation: Three-Way Prisoners’ Dilemma

This study examines collective decisions by applying game theory in undergraduate diplomacy classes where simulations are used to promote active learning. Facing the fateful decision of whether or not to invade a disputed territory, students are given the opportunity to maximize their scores by trusting the decisions of others. A three-player prisoners' dilemma is used to test the impact of uncertainty in a crisis situation. Variables analyzed in this study include level of education (lower-division, upper-division), gender (male, female), decision setting (integrated, isolated) and international agreement (drafted, not drafted). The findings reveal that all four variables have a significant impact on the outcome of the simulation.

Sport, Choice and Social Class: Reading Indian Female Sports Life Writings

Sports form a continuous part of any culture, created and sustained for entertainment, pleasure, competition and bonding; founded on certain standards, interests, requirements, and resources of the sports community. Yet, the classification of some sports as ‘elite’ goes unrecognised simply because it appears to be natural and moreover it is always ‘how things are’. Traditional theories of class indicate that economic differentiation is the reason for various choices in the society. On the other hand Bourdieu has suggested that economic capital is not the only element influencing one’s choice and there are other multiple non-economic criteria too. Taking into account Bourdieu’s class concepts we seek to identify the non-economic factors that have led sportspersons in India to their choice of sport. Narrative analysis is performed for autobiographies of two female sportspersons, Saina Nehwal and Mary Kom, to highlight the different parameters that have influenced their choice of sport. The identification of such non-economic factors like a person’s mental strength, level of angst, resilience, emotional and financial well-being, and others, provide insight into the stratifications that impact sports culture in India.

Critical Reflections on Economy and Politics in India: A Class Theory Perspective, written by Das, Raju. J.

Critical Reflections on Economy and Politics in India: A Class Theory Perspective, written by Das, Raju. J.

Asymptotic Theory for a General Class of Short-Range Interaction Functionals

Asymptotic Theory for a General Class of Short-Range Interaction Functionals

How social class shapes breast cancer risk perspectives and prevention practices of Australian midlife women: a qualitative study using the concept of ‘breast cancer candidacy’

BackgroundThe increasing incidence of breast cancer and disease burden is a significant public health concern. While 30% of breast cancers could be prevented through addressing modifiable risk factors, misconceptions among women about breast cancer risks hamper primary prevention. In the absence of primary prevention, secondary prevention such as mammography increases the early detection of breast cancer and improves health outcomes. However, current population-level screening rates indicate secondary prevention is suboptimal. More effective public health efforts to improve breast cancer prevention are required. Given breast cancer is socially patterned, this work explores how social class impacts women’s breast cancer prevention practices. This study uses the concepts of lay epidemiology and candidacy as a mechanism to understand women’s breast cancer risk perspectives. It engages Bourdieu’s relational social class theory to unpack how women’s social, cultural, and structured life contexts shape these perspectives and their considerations regarding primary and secondary prevention.MethodsIn this qualitative study 43 Australian midlife women (aged 45–64 years), were interviewed to explore their understandings of breast cancer risks, how they perceived their own risk, and how this shaped their prevention behaviours. A theory-informed thematic analysis applying Bourdieu’s concepts of habitus, capital, and fields to understand how women’s social class positions shapes risk perspectives and prevention practices was conducted.ResultsThis social class analysis showed differences in how women engage in breast cancer discourse, consider risks, and participate in breast cancer prevention. Middle-class women prioritise health promoting practices and were more likely than working-class and affluent women to attend mammography screening. Working-class women experience structural factors, like low income, stress and difficult life circumstances, which hamper primary prevention practices and for some screening is not considered or prioritised, and their decisions not to screen are less active. Affluent women often do not consider themselves at-risk due to their healthier ‘lifestyles. ’They suggest that this, and their knowledge of screening benefits and harms allows them to make informed decisions not to screen.ConclusionsWomen interpret and understand breast cancer risks differently and enact prevention practices within the parameters afforded by their social class positions. These findings are useful to inform improved public health approaches regarding both modifiable breast cancer risks and increasing mammography screening. To improve equity in breast cancer prevention efforts, such approaches must respond to limitations based on social class and address structural factors that impact prevention practices.

Conceptualizing precarious employment through the lens of social reproduction: Potential implications for health research and action

Research on the health and well-being impact of precarious employment (PE) commonly conceptualizes employment as a relation of power between workers and employers, a perspective informed by power relations and relational social class theories. Social reproduction theory is a less common but complementary conceptual lens that can be used to investigate PE and health, in which the nature of work has relevance for the quality of employment. Social reproduction theory points to relations between groups of workers who are valued differently based on the capacity of their work to generate profit. Attending to relations between workers based on value, in addition to the well-established power relation between workers and employers, may point to consequences for health and well-being that are worth exploring empirically, and could serve as another tool to spur collective action around PE and its health effects. We provide an illustration and discuss the potential implications of this theoretical approach using data from in-depth interviews conducted in 2022 among precariously employed food workers in New York City.

An idea that refuses to die. Rise, fall and resurgence of “housing class”

In 1967, John Rex and Robert Moore published an influential book on ethnic housing inequality in Birmingham, titled Race, Community and Conflict. The book presented a theory about classes formed in the housing market, inspired by a particular reading of Max Weber’s ideas about class. The basic idea of the housing class is that people’s relation to the means of housing is a class-forming factor that is not reducible to their relation to the means of production. This paper presents the original housing class theory and its revision by Peter Saunders, property class theory, and criticisms of the two theories. Since the 1980s, both theories have disappeared from housing research. In the 2020s, the basic idea of the housing class was revived in Lisa Adkins’ and her co-authors’ asset class theory. This paper discusses the history of the idea of the housing class and its contemporary relevance. It also raises questions about the conceptualization of class and housing inequality.

Modularity of the Schur index, modular differential equations, and high-temperature asymptotics

In this paper we analytically explore the modularity of the flavored Schur index of 4d N=2 superconformal field theories. We focus on the A1 theories of class-S and N=4 theories with SU(N) gauge group. We work out the modular orbit of the flavored index and defect index, compute the dimension of the space spanned by the orbit, and provide complete basis for computing modular transformation matrices. The dimension obtained from the flavored analysis predicts the minimal order of the unflavored modular differential equation satisfied by the unflavored Schur index. With the help of modularity, we also study analytically the high temperature asymptotics of the Schur index. In the high temperature limit τ→+i0, we identified the (defect) Schur index of the genus-zero A1 theories of class S with the S3 partition function of the SU(2)×U(1)n star-shaped quiver (with Wilson line insertion). In the identification, we observe an interesting relation between the linear-independence of defect indices and the convergence of the Wilson line partition functions. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Conquerors of poverty – a case study of Colombo slum dwellers

PurposeWhile extensive research has explored poverty in various dimensions, there remains a notable dearth of studies focusing on success stories of slum dwellers overcoming adversity. This research seeks to address this gap by investigating the strategies employed by individuals to transcend poverty. Moreover, it evaluates the practicality and effectiveness of existing theories in real-world contexts through careful interpretation.Design/methodology/approachData were gathered from two distinct cases through comprehensive, in-depth interviews. These narratives were subjected to scrutiny employing the Description Analysis Interpretation method. Subsequent interpretation and theoretical exploration were guided by Bourdieu’s class theory. The overarching goal was to shed light on the remarkable journeys of specific slum residents who surpassed the constraints of poverty. This endeavor not only highlighted the practical efficacy of these theories but also underscored their relevance in illuminating real-world scenarios through interpretation.FindingsThe findings underscore the capacity of slum dwellers to rise above poverty, thereby emphasizing the practical utility of specific theories aimed at poverty alleviation in elucidating their experiences. Notably, social capital, a cornerstone of Bourdieu’s class theory, emerges as equally pivotal as economic capital in shaping individuals' trajectories.Research limitations/implicationsThe study’s scope is confined to narratives within the Colombo slums, offering a platform for future researchers to extend their investigations beyond this context. By employing alternative methodologies and exploring diverse geographical regions, scholars can broaden their understanding of poverty alleviation strategies and their applicability across varied socioeconomic landscapes. This calls for wider research for comprehensive exploration and comprehension of poverty dynamics beyond singular locales.Practical implicationsThe study provides invaluable insights for policymakers, governmental bodies and nongovernmental organizations, urging them to reconsider and reformulate policies, educational strategies and community development programs tailored to the needs of slum dwellers and their children. These insights offer a pathway toward more effective interventions aimed at fostering sustainable upliftment within these marginalized communities.Originality/valueThis research fills a critical gap in poverty literature by exploring success stories of slum dwellers overcoming adversity, an area often overlooked. It uniquely investigates the strategies these individuals employ to transcend poverty, offering fresh insights into the practical application of poverty alleviation theories. Utilizing Bourdieu’s class theory, the study highlights the importance of both social and economic capital in these success narratives. By focusing on real-life experiences, it underscores the relevance and utility of these theories in real-world contexts, enriching the theoretical discourse and providing valuable perspectives for policymakers and practitioners.

Beyond the precariat: Trajectories of precarious work and its determinants in South Korea

AbstractThis study examines the evolving patterns of precarious work in South Korea over a 20‐year period, challenging conventional understandings of labour market segmentation and class formation. Using group‐based trajectory modelling on Korean Labour and Income Panel Study data (2002–2021), we identify five distinct trajectories of labour market experiences. Our findings reveal that 34.4% of the sample, categorised into persistently high precariousness and persistent precariousness groups, provides evidence for an emerging, heterogeneous precariat class. This new class formation transcends traditional occupational boundaries and challenges existing class theories. Multinomial logistic regression shows that low‐skilled service workers and women are more likely to belong to precarious groups. Our study contributes by (1) providing empirical evidence for a diverse precariat class, (2) demonstrating the need for a multidimensional approach to precarious work, and (3) highlighting the dynamic nature of precarious work over time. We argue for bringing class discussion back into labour market inequality analysis through a new theoretical framework that synthesises traditional class theory with contemporary precariat discourse, offering insights for policy and theoretical development in understanding modern labour markets.

Theoretical Perspectives on Parental Involvement in Children's ESL Learning: A Systematic Literature Review

This systematic literature review (SLR) aimed to explore the theoretical frameworks used to comprehend parental involvement in ESL children's learning. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, the review analysed relevant articles published within the last five years (2019-2023) by utilising the SCOPUS database for electronic data searching. The findings revealed that Vygotsky's sociocultural theory emerged as the most frequently employed framework. Moreover, several other theories such as Hoover-Dempsey and Sandler's model of parental involvement, Walker et al.'s model, Bourdieu's social class theory, asset-based framework, and Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory were also employed in some of the reviewed articles. On the other hand, some other studies did not use any theories and they drew upon relevant concepts related to parental involvement. The absence of explicit theoretical frameworks hindered the depth of understanding and interpretation of research findings, limiting the ability to provide comprehensive explanations and insights into parental involvement in ESL children's learning. The implications of the findings suggest that a strong theoretical foundation is crucial in understanding parental involvement in children's ESL learning. This understanding can inform the design and implementation of effective interventions and strategies to enhance parental involvement in ESL education, ultimately leading to improved outcomes for ESL children.

Changing Britain through the frame of snooker

This paper considers snooker’s rise to popularity, and its relative decline, through the frame of recent British social history. The paper situates an ostensible decline in snooker spectatorship and a demonstrable decline in participation across the UK, against a backdrop of shifts in economic activity, class structure, cultures of masculinity and urban space. Drawing on theories of gender, class, subculture, media and critical urbanism, the paper argues that a sociological frame lends a lot to understanding snooker in the UK. At the same time, it argues that the frame of snooker might also lend a lot to a sociological understanding of industrial, and later, post-industrial Britain.

Determining the Best Work Behaviour of the Laboratory Head Using The Technique For Order Of Preference By Similarity To The Ideal Solution

Vocational education is in high demand because it prepares students to be job-ready. In learning, it is more about work practices, internships, and in the laboratory than theory in class. Therefore, the existence of laboratories is essential in vocational schools. The research was conducted at the maritime school of SMK Putera Samodra, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, using the quantitative approach of the TOPSIS method to determine the best work behaviour performance from the head of the laboratory. Work behaviour assessment criteria include service orientation, integrity, commitment, discipline, and cooperation. According to the assessment results by the principal and 31 colleagues, the best work behaviour is that of the head of the merchant ship engineering laboratory. Overall, the best work behaviour analysis results can have a positive impact, such as recognition, improved leadership practices, and enhanced performance in all laboratories in vocational schools. Other potential implications of work behaviour research results for schools can be developing leadership with the best strategies, identifying areas for improvement, allocating more resources to laboratories, and the positive effects of leadership qualities on vocational schools.

The social class of orthopedic rehabilitation patients: Are there differences in subjective health, return to work motivation, and participation in aftercare interventions?

This longitudinal quasi-experimental study examines the relationship between social class, subjective health, motivation to return to work (RTW) following medical rehabilitation, and participation in aftercare interventions, utilizing the Social Cognitive Theory of Social Class. To do so, a prospective multicentric study was conducted. The analysis was based on data from N = 1044 orthopedic rehabilitation patients in three clinics in Germany. Latent growth curve models, fixed-effect linear regression models, and multilevel binomial logistic regression were employed for data analysis. As hypothesized, the findings demonstrate that lower social class is associated with poorer subjective health, while higher social class is linked to increased solipsistic motives, characterized by pursuing personal goals in the context of RTW. Conversely, individuals from lower social classes exhibit contextualist motives, which indicate a focus on social and environmental threats influencing their motivation to RTW. Surprisingly, social class does not significantly impact participation in aftercare interventions, probably due to low variance and potentially the successful inclusion within the German healthcare system. These findings emphasize the importance of considering diverse motivation profiles derived from the Social Cognitive Theory of Social Class. The study contributes to our understanding of the social determinants of health and has implications for reducing health disparities by highlighting the motivational aspects, including solipsistic and contextualist motives, associated with social class.

Transnational Capitalist Class Theory: An Assessment

Transnational Capitalist Class Theory: An Assessment

QUALITY WORK LIFE BALANCE OF SELF-FINANCING COLLEGE TEACHERS IN PALAKKAD DISTRICT IN PERSPECTIVE OF TOILING CLASS THEORY

Kerala’s performance in the area of higher education is widely recognized. Self-financing college have played relevant role in educational sector . Teachers from self-financing colleges faced different problems to balance their work and family life together. The schedules are busier than ever before. They should impart all types of qualities for doing their job. When they satisfied and doing, they are given a skilled society or world. According to the KM Mani Theory of the toiling class, there is a group included farmers, teachers, labours, and those belong to working class who survive not merely on labour power alone but marginal ownership of production-management, entrepreneurship and tradeable skills and they jointly ensure their rights. By the way qualified teachers of self-financing college are not getting adequate mental and financial support from the superiors of the institutions, definitely lead to job dissatisfaction. For the successful running of the self-financing college is possible only by retaining satisfied teachers. In this study an attempt to throw light on work-life stress issues of 50 self-financing college teachers in Palakkad district.

Class versus climate? Transformation conflicts in the automotive industry

ABSTRACT Major ecological threats such as climate change affect everyone, but do not level out social inequalities. The neglect of class in ecological politics means that measures against global warming often encounter social barriers and the social-ecological transformation becomes conflict-ridden. Based on in-depth empirical research at two German car manufacturers, the article shows how management and labour in a carbon industry deal with the transformation. With the help of concepts from class theory, the car plants analysed are described as class societies in miniature. They constitute social fields in which the transformation changes the rules of the game by which the company actors act. Company interest groups and trade union structures, as well as external veto players (climate movements, the far right) have a significant impact on conflict dynamics. In each case, it can be seen that institutionally contained class conflicts in co-determined companies are increasingly turning into social-ecological transformation conflicts. These are multi-level conflicts in which ownership-based decision-making power plays a central role. No ecological class is emerging beyond production. Instead, a transformation corporatism is asserting itself, which is coming up against class-specific limits in the decision-making monopoly over business models.