Rank Shift Research Articles

The Effect of Premium Payment Frequency on Life Insurance Cost Rankings

This paper examines the extent to which shifts in cost rankings occur between annual premium-based interest-adjusted cost indices and indices based on premiums payable more frequently than annually. The N.A.I.C. Model Solicitation Regulation and all published data use annual premiums as the basis for all calculations. Yet fewer than one in five purchasers of life insurance pay premiums annually. Thus, manipulation of annual premium-based cost figures is theoretically possible. The National Association of Insurance Commissioner's (N.A.I.C.) Life Insurance Solicitation Model Regulation and the laws of the states having any form of life insurance cost disclosure, require the consumer be given, on request or automatically, interest-adjusted cost and other information [ 13, pp. 545-552]. The Federal Trade Commission staff report also would require disclosure of life insurance costs, but based on the 20-year surrender index and Linton's rate of return pricing method [9, pp. 99-100, 153]. All the above require that costs be calculated using annual premiums. Moreover, all published data on life insurance costs use annual premiums as the basis for all calculations. Yet, as Table 1 shows, most purchasers of life insurance do not pay premiums on an annual basis. In fact, fewer than one in five currently pay premiums annually. Insurers differ in the assumptions they make in computing premiums payable more frequently than annually (hereafter called non-annual premiums) [3, pp. 152-154]. It is possible, therefore, for an insurer to illustrate a competitive cost based on annual premium payments but, by using conservative assumptions to compute more frequent premium payments, to have a high net cost if the policyowner chooses to pay premiums monthly, quarterly, or semi-annually. This paper examines a segment of the life insurance business to determine whether and to what extent shifts in cost rankings occur between interestadjusted cost indices calculated on an annual premium basis and cost indices

COMPARISON BETWEEN CORRECTIVE FEEDBACK AND SINGLE‐ATTEMPT METHODS OF TESTING IN A COMMUNITY COLLEGE COURSE

Ordinary testing methods offering only a single attempt to respond to an item have been criticized as being insensitive to partial knowledge and as contributing little to student motivation and learning. The corrective feedback method aims to remedy such faults by permitting as many attempts as needed to achieve the correct response, each attempt being followed by immediate feedback. The present study was undertaken to assess the applicability of corrective feedback testing to the community college classroom by comparing it in certain respects with single‐attempt testing. A group of 38 students in a community college earth sciences course were given two tests with instructions to respond by the two methods. Tests were scored in two ways: (1) giving points only for a correct first attempt, and (2) giving a variable number of points depending upon the number of attempts needed to achieve the correct response. Analysis of the scores revealed that, in comparison with single‐attempt testing, corrective feedback testing yielded (1) higher mean scores, (2) less score variability, (3) somewhat lower reliability estimates, (4) somewhat smaller standard errors of measurement, (5) very similar student rankings, and (6) fewer tied scores. Shifts in individual student ranks between the two methods showed no consistent pattern from one test to the next. It was concluded that corrective feedback testing may offer benefits that justify its application in some classroom situations.

Social Behaviour of the Jackdaw, Cor Yus Moned Ula, in Relation To Its Niche

Social Behaviour of the Jackdaw, Cor Yus Moned Ula, in Relation To Its Niche

The stability of longitudinal and cross-sectional occupational prestige rankings

The stability of occupational prestige rankings over time and among cross-sectional subgroups was demonstrated. Undergraduates from different regions, hometown sizes, and political orientations ranked occupations similarly in terms of relative prestige. Compared with other studies, the rank-order correlations of prestige were .88 with a 1925 study, .93 with a 1947 study, and .95 with a 1968 study. Changes in rankings over time were examined against functionalist and conflict theories of social stratification. Both theories were necessary to explain shifts in relative rankings since 1925, but the functionalist approach appears to more adequately define why shifts begin to occur.

HETEROSIS AND COMBINING AND MATERNAL ABILITIES IN MOUSE LITTER WEIGHT

Four inbred strains of mice (C3H/He, CBA/J, C57BL/6J and SWR/J) were mated in all possible combinations to produce inbred and F1hybrid litters contemporaneously. Each litter was divided into two groups by sex. The total weight of individuals in each group (group weight) and the number of individuals within group (group size) were recorded at birth and at 12, 25 and 45 days of age. The average weight of individuals within a group was calculated for each group. Least squares analyses of group weight, group size, and average weight were performed. The sexes differed significantly in group weight only at 25 and 45 days. The four inbred strains did not differ significantly in group weight at any age. Group weight was greater in F2hybrids than in inbreds at the four ages. Heterosis in group weight was mainly due to heterosis in average weight. Neither the general and specific combining ability effects nor the residual reciprocal effects were significant in group weight. Maternal effects on group weight differed significantly among the four strains at 12, 25 and 45 days. These differences in maternal effects were mainly due to the differences in maternal effects on group size. When group weight was adjusted for group size, a shift in ranking of strains was observed in the inbred strain and maternal effects.

On the logical and circuit design of the digital computer at T.I.F.R., Bombay

The T.I.F.R. computer is a parallel, binary, asynchronous single address machine. The arithmetic unit consists of a Memory Register, two (double rank) shift registers, the Accumulator and the M.Q. Register respectively, an Adder and a pair of True/Complement gates. A carry bypass logic is described which reduces the maximum carry delay time by a factor of 1/3. The maximum carry delay time for 40 bits is 3 μ sec. The clear and gate drivers for the Registers and the driver (+40 V/−30 V) for True/Complement gating are of self-regulating type and their design and operation are dealt with in detail. The Add-Shift sequencing unit is described as a typical example of the control logic design. Other sequencing units perform their micro operations in exactly similar fashion. Schematic diagram of the fast access ferrite core memory (access time 15μ sec.) and some of the associated circuits are described.

OBSERVATIONS ON GENOTYPE-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION IN SWINE

An experiment was carried out to evaluate the importance of genotype-environment interactions in Canadian Yorkshire swine. Two males and two females from each of four litters by each of four sires were randomly allotted to two feeding and management treatments. One male and one female from each litter were self-fed A.R. feed mixtures in a piggery and the other male and female were self-fed the same feeds on pasture. Weights were taken at 56 and 140 days of age and at 190-200 lb. live weight. Carcass measurements were taken at slaughter.Rate of gain from 56 to 140 days for pasture-fed pigs was significantly lower (P = <.01) than for those fed in the piggery. Pigs fed on pasture were also significantly shorter (P = <.01) than those fed in the piggery. Sire-treatment interaction was significant for loin area (P = <.05) and approached significance for rate of gain from 56 to 140 days (P(=).09), A.R. carcass score (P(=).13), and average backfat thickness (P(=).08). A marked shift in ranking of sires between treatments was noted for loin area, rate of gain, and A.R. carcass score. These results indicate that genotype-environment interactions may exist in Yorkshire swine.