Powerful Leverage Research Articles

Psychometric Properties of the Elementary School Success Profile for Children

The Elementary School Success Profile (ESSP) is a multidimensional instrument for school based practitioners that assesses the social environmental domains of neighborhood, school, friends, and family, as well as the well-being, behavior, and school performance of students in the third, fourth, and fifth grade. This article presents the psychometric properties of the computerized child self-report component of the ESSP--the ESSP for Children. Previously, extensive cognitive testing with children established that children's ESSP responses mean what the instrument's developers intended. In the present study, results of analyses of factor characteristics, internal consistency reliability, standard error of measurement/percentage of error, criterion-related validity, construct validity, and test-retest reliability indicate that the child questionnaire contains 12 factors in five domains with adequate to excellent psychometric qualities. Triangulated with data collected from the ESSP for Parents and the ESSP for Teachers, the data from the ESSP for Children provide information that is directly applicable to intervention planning by school staff. KEY WORDS: assessment; elementary school; scale development; social environment ********** This article presents the psychometric properties of the child self-report component of a new ecological assessment instrument, the Elementary School Success Profile (ESSP).The ESSP was developed in response to a critical lack of instruments for assessing the social environmental factors that contribute to the well-being and performance of elementary school children. The literature is replete with examples of how critical the social environment is to child development in such perspectives as ecological theory (Bronfenbrenner, 1992), developmental contextualism (Lerner & Sinai, 2000), risk and resilience (Rutter, 2001; Sameroff, 2000), and developmental psychopathology (Sroufe, 1997). Empirical support for considering the role of the social environment in children's development is also evident. Studies guided by ecological, developmental, and transactional models of development consistently indicate the importance of family, school, neighborhood, and peer influences on outcomes (for example, Bowen & Bowen, 1999; Laird, Jordan, Dodge, Pettit, & Bates, 2001; Simons et al., 2002).The growing number of interventions endorsed as effective and evidence-based that focus on aspects of the social environment also indicates that the social environment offers powerful leverage points for effecting change (Hill, Howell, Hawkins, & Battin-Pearson, 1999; McDonald et al., 1997; Olweus, Limber, & Mihalic, 1999). Despite the ongoing theoretical, empirical, and intervention support for ecological models of development, a predominant assumption in mental health practice is that reside primarily in the individual and that the individual is the appropriate target of interventions (Sroufe, 1997). Consistent with this assumption, many of the most commonly used mental health assessments for children primarily aim to document the nature and severity of the behaviors or symptoms that children display. Books that review existing instruments (Corcoran & Fischer, 2000; Merrell, 2003), and a series of articles in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry that review rating scales (Myers & Winters, 2002, for example) demonstrate this focus. Little or no information is gathered with these instruments related to the environmental circumstances or interactions that bear on the individual child's behavior. The emphasis in existing instruments on describing problematic behavior is consistent with certain goals of assessment, such as problem clarification, diagnosis, [or] classification (Merrell, 2003, p. 10), and monitoring change in outcomes over time (Corcoran & Fischer, 2000). However, Merrell also listed intervention planning as a goal of assessment and suggested that ideally the end result of assessment is to gather information that may be used to help solve specific problems (p. …

Competition Policy in Network Industries: An Introduction

We discuss issues of the application of antitrust law and regulatory rules to network industries. In assessing the application of antitrust in network industries, we analyze a number of relevant features of network industries and the way in which antitrust law and regulatory rules can affect them. These relevant features include (among others) network effects, market structure, market share and profits inequality, choice of technical standards, relationship between the number of active firms and social benefits, existence of market power, leveraging of market power in complementary markets, and innovation races. We find that there are often significant differences on the effects of application of antitrust law in network and non-network industries.

Testing the Regulatory Model: The Expansion of Stansted Airport

AbstractThis paper examines the application of price‐cap regulation to the UK airport industry, with particular reference to the expansion of London‐Stansted. This expansion is relevant to the debate concerning investment incentives inherent in the RPI–X approach and whether the UK style of regulation encourages the ‘sweating of assets’ at the expense of new investment. Stansted's expansion also suggests a willingness of the authorities to accept the leveraging of market power in pursuit of perceived public‐interest goals; it provides an insight into the behaviour of economic agents when capital market disciplines are mute; and it illustrates some unintended consequences that can follow from market intervention.

Integrative physiology and functional genomics of epithelial function in a genetic model organism.

Classically, biologists try to understand their complex systems by simplifying them to a level where the problem is tractable, typically moving from whole animal and organ-level biology to the immensely powerful "cellular" and "molecular" approaches. However, the limitations of this reductionist approach are becoming apparent, leading to calls for a new, "integrative" physiology. Rather than use the term as a rallying cry for classical organismal physiology, we have defined it as the study of how gene products integrate into the function of whole tissues and intact organisms. From this viewpoint, the convergence between integrative physiology and functional genomics becomes clear; both seek to understand gene function in an organismal context, and both draw heavily on transgenics and genetics in genetic models to achieve their goal. This convergence between historically divergent fields provides powerful leverage to those physiologists who can phrase their research questions in a particular way. In particular, the use of appropriate genetic model organisms provides a wealth of technologies (of which microarrays and knock-outs are but two) that allow a new precision in physiological analysis. We illustrate this approach with an epithelial model system, the Malpighian (renal) tubule of Drosophila melanogaster. With the use of the beautiful genetic tools and extensive genomic resources characteristic of this genetic model, it has been possible to gain unique insights into the structure, function, and control of epithelia.

Challenging pharmaceutical industry political power in Maine and Vermont.

A comparison of the Vermont and Maine cases of attempting to control pharmaceutical prices in the year 2000 shows that the Maine legislators were more successful in challenging pharmaceutical industry political power. This comparison shows that challenging the industry was aided by (1) mobilizing public support through grassroots organizations, (2) including independent pharmacists in negotiations over the legislation, and (3) developing state purchasing power leverage.

Regulation and the Leverage of Local Market Power in the California Electricity Market

Author(s): Bushnell, James; Wolak, Frank A. | Abstract: Regulators of electricity markets around the world continue to struggle with the problem of incentivizing generators whose output, due to their location in the grid, has no viable substitutes. Such generators possess 'local' market power. Since these generators also compete in broader regional markets, the actions taken to exploit their local market power can also effect market outcomes over larger areas. In California, a contract structure known as the reliability must-run (RMR) contract was developed to address the problem of local market power. However, the contract form that was in place during 1998 created serious incentive problems. We find that, during the months of June through September 1998, RMR contracts had the effect of raising overall supply bid prices from most producers, thereby leading to higher energy prices in the California regional market.

‘No Problem Here’: action research against racism in a mainly white area

AbstractThe paper outlines the result of a one‐year project of action research into the prevalence and nature of racism in two primary schools and the implementation of multi‐cultural and anti‐racist guidelines in Scotland. Two schools are examined with respect to these factors by teachers. The conclusion is that the action research, although not officially supported by funding, except for a small amount from the University of Stirling, is nevertheless important. It has enabled teachers to examine a marginalised educational area related to social justice, and generate local and personal knowledge that can be translated into the leverage of power. The paper challenges assumptions about racism existing only ‘regionally’ in the UK.

Review: Security: The Leverage of Sea Power

Review: Security: The Leverage of Sea Power

Socio‐Economics Revisited

Parsons' Marshall Lectures were an important and still are a relevant contribution to the critique of the utilitarian, rationalist, radically individualist paradigm which still dominates scholarship, especially economics, today. Parsons advised economists to stop ignoring the broader societal context of which the economy is only a sub‐system; economic actors are not impersonal, fully independent individuals but should be viewed as people with internalized moral and social values, values which cannot be accounted for as mere external, environmental constraints. Parsons, however, paid little attention to the role of power in the market. Socio‐economics incorporates issues addressed in the Marshall Lectures, treats the leverage of interventionist power (large corporations and labor unions) as significant, and seeks to grow as a coherent alternative to the neoclassical paradigm.

Carbonate Sequence Stratigraphy and Controls on Carbonate Platform Development--Case Study from Permian of West Texas-New Mexico: ABSTRACT

Integration of seismic stratigraphic concepts with detailed field studies and geohistory analysis provides powerful interpretation leverage for deciphering the complex geologic history of carbonate platform-basin areas. Changes in carbonate productivity as well as platform growth and the resultant facies distribution are controlled most importantly by changes in relative sea level. The structural history of the Permian basin during the Permian shows two subsidence cycles of 10-20 m.y. duration. These subsidence cycles were major factors in the long-term (106 - 107 m.y.) development of the Permian carbonate platforms. During periods of relatively rapid subsidence, aggradation was dominant; during periods of slow subsidence, major platform progradation occurred. Superimposed on the long-term tectonic cycles is a series of third-order eustatic cycles (0.5-3 m.y.), which controlled development of 27 depositional sequences. Each sequence is composed of three depositional systems tracts: (1) a lower basin-restricted wedge interpreted to have been deposited during a relative fall and lowstand of sea level, (2) a transgressive systems tract of variable thickness, and (3) an upper, relatively thick, aggradational-to-progradational carbonate platform system, which includes significant allochthonous deposition in the basin and is interpreted to have been deposited during a relative highstand in sea level. The lowstand systems tracts are composed dominantly of quartz sandstone, commonly intercalated with carbonate debris beds at the toe of the slope. S quence boundaries display erosional truncation (subaerial on platform or at platform margin, subaqueous on slope) and/or subaerial exposure. Erosion and debris deposition occurs both within and outside submarine-canyon feeder systems. Two highstand depositional styles are differentiated here: (1) a keep-up system, which represents a relatively rapid rate of accumulation able to keep pace with periodic rises in sea level and displays a mounded-oblique stratal geometry at the platform margin, and (2) a catch-up system, which represents a relatively slow rate of accumulation and displays a sigmoid profile at the platform margin. Individual strata units of the platform margin and slope area of the catch-up carbonate system have a much longer sea-floor residence time and display significantly greater amounts of early submarine cement. The underlying transgressive systems tract tends to have a keep-up or give-up (i.e., thin, drowned) depositional style. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1522------------

Tectono-Eustatic Controls on Carbonate Platform Development, Permian Basin Outcrop-Subsurface: ABSTRACT

Integration of seismic stratigraphic concepts, detailed field studies, and geohistory analysis provides powerful interpretation leverage for deciphering the geologic history of the Permian carbonate platform complexes. The structural history of the Permian basin during the Permian shows two subsidence cycles of 10 to 20 m.y. duration. These subsidence cycles played a major role in the long-term (millions to tens of millions of years) development of the Permian carbonate platforms. During periods of relatively rapid subsidence, aggradation was dominant; during times of slow subsidence, major basinward platform progradation occurred. Superimposed on the long-term tectonic cycles are a series of third-order eustatic cycles (0.5-3 m.y.) which controlled development of 23 depositional sequences. Each sequence is composed of three depositional systems tracts: (1) a lower basin-restricted wedge interpreted to have been deposited during a relative fall and lowstand of sea level; (2) a transgressive systems tract of variable thickness; and (3) an upper aggradational to progradational carbonate platform system interpreted to have been deposited during a relative highstand in sea level. The lowstand systems tracts are composed dominantly of quartz sandstone, commonly intercalated with carbonate debris beds at the toe-of-slope. Two highstand depositional styles are differentiated here: (1) a keep-up system which maintainsmore » pace with periodic rises in relative sea level and displays a mounded-oblique stratal geometry at the platform margin and (2) a catch-up system which represents a relatively slow rate of accumulation and displays a sigmoid profile at the platform margin. Sequence boundaries display erosional truncation (subaerial on shelf or at shelf edge; subaqueous on slope) and/or subaerial exposure.« less

Market Power, Profitability and Financial Leverage

The Journal of FinanceVolume 29, Issue 5 p. 1407-1414 Article MARKET POWER, PROFITABILITY AND FINANCIAL LEVERAGE Timothy G. Sullivan, Timothy G. Sullivan Baruch College. This paper presents the results of a doctoral dissertation of the same title completed at Michigan State University. The assistance of Professors Alan Grunewald, Richard Walter and Bruce Allen of that institution is gratefully acknowledged. Search for more papers by this author Timothy G. Sullivan, Timothy G. Sullivan Baruch College. This paper presents the results of a doctoral dissertation of the same title completed at Michigan State University. The assistance of Professors Alan Grunewald, Richard Walter and Bruce Allen of that institution is gratefully acknowledged. Search for more papers by this author First published: December 1974 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6261.1974.tb03123.xCitations: 15 Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume29, Issue5December 1974Pages 1407-1414 RelatedInformation

MARKET POWER, PROFITABILITY AND FINANCIAL LEVERAGE

The Journal of FinanceVolume 29, Issue 5 p. 1407-1414 Article MARKET POWER, PROFITABILITY AND FINANCIAL LEVERAGE Timothy G. Sullivan, Timothy G. Sullivan Baruch College. This paper presents the results of a doctoral dissertation of the same title completed at Michigan State University. The assistance of Professors Alan Grunewald, Richard Walter and Bruce Allen of that institution is gratefully acknowledged. Search for more papers by this author Timothy G. Sullivan, Timothy G. Sullivan Baruch College. This paper presents the results of a doctoral dissertation of the same title completed at Michigan State University. The assistance of Professors Alan Grunewald, Richard Walter and Bruce Allen of that institution is gratefully acknowledged. Search for more papers by this author First published: December 1974 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6261.1974.tb03123.xCitations: 15 Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume29, Issue5December 1974Pages 1407-1414 RelatedInformation