Stream Theory Research Articles

Contrasting between Focusing, Real-world and Significant Events in Agenda-Setting: Introducing a New Typology of “Anchor” Events

The event theory has been substantially formed by contributions of John Kingdon by offering a somewhat broader definition of through the prism of his multiple streams theory, and Thomas Birkland, who introduced better precision by listing a number of basic characteristics of (e.g. using the example of 9/11 terrorist attacks as a event, as in Birkland 2004). These major contributions notwithstanding, there still seems to be a strikingly persistent absence of clarity in defining the notion of focusing events within the agenda-setting stage of the policy process, and a lack of a general typology of related significant, or key events. Even somewhat more disturbing is that, inspired by Birkland’s notion of events, a number of subsequent scholars attempted to develop this theory, unintentionally further conflating the meaning of events. Thus, it is important not only to more clearly define but also to develop an operationalizable typology of a broader set of related anchor as applied to agenda-setting. It is precisely these two issues that form the analytical essence and contributions this paper aims to achieve. The event theory has become increasingly vital to explain a wide range of social and policy-related events, e.g. 9/11, large-scale earthquakes, major healthcare reforms in a given jurisdiction etc.

The involvement of the dorsal stream in processing implied actions between paired objects: A TMS study

Perceiving and selecting the action possibilities (affordances) provided by objects is an important challenge to human vision, and is not limited to single-object scenarios. Xu et al. (2015) identified two effects of implied actions between paired objects on response selection: an inhibitory effect on responses aligned with the passive object in the pair (e.g. a bowl) and an advantage associated with responses aligned with the active objects (e.g. a spoon). The present study investigated the neurocognitive mechanisms behind these effects by examining the involvement of the ventral (vision for perception) and the dorsal (vision for action) visual streams, as defined in Goodale and Milner's (1992) two visual stream theory. Online repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) applied to the left anterior intraparietal sulcus (aIPS) reduced both the inhibitory effect of implied actions on responses aligned with the passive objects and the advantage of those aligned with the active objects, but only when the active objects were contralateral to the stimulation. rTMS to the left lateral occipital areas (LO) did not significantly alter the influence of implied actions. The results reveal that the dorsal visual stream is crucial not only in single-object affordance processing, but also in responding to implied actions between objects.

Analysis on the service capacity of village clinics in the suburb of Beijing based on the theory of multiple stream

The theory of multiple streams, a vehicle of public policy analysis in the West, was used to analyze the policy development at Beijing's suburban village clinics.This approach can clarify the issue steams, policy streams, and political streams, as well as the links between them, as a reference for standardized and quickened development such clinics. Key words: Beijing; Multiple streams theory; Village clinics; Service capacity; Policy analysis

Rise and Fall of Decentralized School Governance—Decision-Making Practices in Georgia

<p class="apa">The current study investigates educational decision-making in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. The focus is on decisions concerning issues of school governance decentralization/recentralization in the period of 2003-2012. The research draws on in-depth interviews with over 20 top decision-makers, and an extensive review of legal documents, relevant research and media reports to gain a better understanding of decision-making practices in a newly democratized state. Two theoretical foundations are employed: the Multiple Streams model of decision-making and Electoral Connection. The research largely supports the Multiple Streams theory and expands the theory of Electoral Connection to fit the political setting of a post-soviet state. Among other findings, the research shows that decisions concerning school governance recentralization were primarily election-driven.</p>

Function of big-data over data streams

Data is defined as class of produced over text, audio and video channel in uninterrupted form. The streams are of unlimited length and may consist of ordered or unordered data. With these features, it is hard to store and process streams with simple and static strategies. The processing of stream poses four key challenges to researchers. These are countless length, concept- development, and concept-flow and feature development. Unlimited-length is because the amount of has no limits. Concept- flow is due to sluggish changes in the theory of stream. Concept-development occurs due to existence of unfamiliar classes in data. Feature- development is due to development new features and deterioration of old features. To carry out any analytics streams, the translation to knowledgeable form is important. The researcher in past have anticipated different strategies, most of the research is focused on difficulty of unlimited -length and concept-flow. The research work offered in the paper describes a well-organized string based methodology to process data and manage the challenges of unlimited length, concept-development and concept-flow. Subject areas Data mining, Machine learning.

The monetary value of time: why traditional accounting systems make customers wait

Introduction Net Present Value: Just the Tip of the Iceberg Velocity Improves Productivity and Working Capital Measuring Lead Time Measuring Velocity Case Study: Velocity Impact on Results Product Cost The End and the Means: Why Do We Cost Products? Absorption versus Variable Costing Standard Cost Activity-Based Costing: Is It Really as Easy as ABC? Lean Accounting and Value Streams Theory of Constraints and Throughput Accounting Time-Based Accounting (TBA) Absorbing Costs on a Macro Level Eliminates Allocations What Does GAAP Have to Do with It? What GAAP really requires (and it's not standard cost) Variation, or Stuff Happens Variation Fallacy of Scheduling Models in Enterprise Resource Planning Mathematics Can Provide Useful Insights Modeling Your Value Stream Labor: Direct or Indirect? Cross-Trained or Specialized? Simplified Time-Based Accounting Make or Buy Decisions Cell Contribution Sample Contribution Financial Statement Presentation Incremental Contribution Pricing Strategies under High Mix/Low Volume Why Gross Profit Is a Poor Predictor of Profit Contribution? Why Margins Are Poor Predictors of Results? Contribution Pricing? Setup Cost, Batch Sizes, and Volume Discounts Is Inventory a Liability or an Asset? More on Simplified Time-Based Accounting Stop Absorbing Overhead and Eliminate Standard Cost Variance Reporting Feedback Loops Replace Variance Analysis with Improvement Activities Simplify Bills of Material Simplify Material Simplify Labor Simplify Overhead Sample Inventory Entries Time-Based Metrics What Is Wrong with Utilization? What Is Wrong with Efficiency? How about Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)? Metrics for Time-Based Systems Time-Based Cost Justifications Spare Capacity Planning for Equipment Spare Capacity Planning for People Time-Based Justification Template Time-Based Justification Examples A Road Map for Implementing Time-Based Accounting Making Customers Wait References Index

Priority Setting Meets Multiple Streams: A Match to Be Further Examined? Comment on "Introducing New Priority Setting and Resource Allocation Processes in a Canadian Healthcare Organization: A Case Study Analysis Informed by Multiple Streams Theory.

With demand for health services continuing to grow as populations age and new technologies emerge to meet health needs, healthcare policy-makers are under constant pressure to set priorities, ie, to make choices about the health services that can and cannot be funded within available resources. In a recent paper, Smith et al apply an influential policy studies framework - Kingdon's multiple streams approach (MSA) - to explore the factors that explain why one health service delivery organization adopted a formal priority setting framework (in the form of programme budgeting and marginal analysis [PBMA]) to assist it in making priority setting decisions. MSA is a theory of agenda-setting, ie, how it is that different issues do or do not reach a decision-making point. In this paper, I reflect on the use of the MSA framework to explore priority setting processes and how the framework might be applied to similar cases in future.

The Health Policy Process in Vietnam: Going Beyond Kingdon's Multiple Streams TheoryComment on "Shaping the Health Policy Agenda: The Case of Safe Motherhood Policy in Vietnam".

This commentary reflects upon the article along three broad lines. It reflects on the theoretical choices and omissions, particularly highlighting why it is important to adapt the multiple streams framework (MSF) when applying it in a socio-political context like Vietnam's. The commentary also reflects upon the analytical threads tackled by Ha et al; for instance, it highlights the opportunities offered by, and raises questions about the centrality of the Policy Entrepreneur in getting the policy onto the political agenda and in pushing it through. The commentary also dwells on the implications of the article for development aid policies and practices. Throughout, the commentary signposts possible themes for Ha et al to consider for further analysis, and more generally, for future research using Kingdon's multiple streams theory.

Applying Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Over the Dorsal Visual Pathway Induces Schizophrenia-like Disruption of Perceptual Closure.

Perceptual closure ability is postulated to depend upon rapid transmission of magnocellular information to prefrontal cortex via the dorsal stream. In contrast, illusory contour processing requires only local interactions within primary and ventral stream visual regions, such as lateral occipital complex. Schizophrenia is associated with deficits in perceptual closure versus illusory contours processing that is hypothesized to reflect impaired magnocellular/dorsal stream. Perceptual closure and illusory contours performance was evaluated in separate groups of 12 healthy volunteers during no TMS, and during repetitive 10Hz rTMS stimulation over dorsal stream or vertex (TMS-vertex). Perceptual closure and illusory contours were performed in 11 schizophrenia patients, no TMS was applied in these patients. TMS effects were evaluated with repeated measures ANOVA across treatments. rTMS significantly increased perceptual closure identification thresholds, with significant difference between TMS-dorsal stream and no TMS. TMS-dorsal stream also significantly reduced perceptual closure but not illusory contours accuracy. Schizophrenia patients showed increased perceptual closure identification thresholds relative to controls in the no TMS condition, but similar to controls in the TMS-dorsal stream condition. Conclusions of this study are that magnocellular/dorsal stream input is critical for perceptual closure but not illusory contours performance, supporting both trickledown theories of normal perceptual closure function, and magnocellular/dorsal stream theories of visual dysfunction in schizophrenia.

Juggling Multiple Networks in Multiple Streams

This paper suggests a new conceptual gaze at theorizing the policy process. Alternating between practical, empirical, and theoretical perspectives, we describe how the hybridization of Multiple Streams, Policy Network, and Frame theories leads to a juggling metaphor to describe the process. From the initiation of this research program, we found that the information our research yielded was vastly more complex and dynamic than what is generally reported in similar research. In particular we discovered that dynamic interactions between actors in the different (policy, problem, and politics) streams, when appraised through a policy network lens, produce different network configurations in each stream. We also found that Kingdon's “Policy entrepreneurs” are likely to engage more in shaping the problem stream network configuration (through the process Kingdon labels “alternative specification”—which requires great perspicacity with words) than in the other streams. We therefore postulate that hybridization of policy network theory with Multiple Streams theory would create a more powerful conceptual toolbox. This toolbox can be enhanced further by insights from network management conceptualisations and frame theory. Finally, we have embraced the criticism that has been voiced of the stages heuristic and proposes that a more useful metaphor for policy processes is juggling: those processes may appear chaotic, but keen discipline, coordination, and acuity are required for policy students and operators to keep all balls in the air.

Study on the Mathematical Model of Dielectric Recovery Characteristics in High Voltage SF6 Circuit Breaker**supported by Science and Technology Project of State Grid Corporation of China (No. GY17201200063), National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51277123), Basic Research Project of Liaoning Key Laboratory of Education Department (LZ2015055)

According to the stream theory, this paper proposes a mathematical model of the dielectric recovery characteristic based on the two-temperature ionization equilibrium equation. Taking the dynamic variation of charged particle's ionization and attachment into account, this model can be used in collaboration with the Coulomb collision model, which gives the relationship of the heavy particle temperature and electron temperature to calculate the electron density and temperature under different pressure and electric field conditions, so as to deliver the breakdown electric field strength under different pressure conditions. Meanwhile an experiment loop of the circuit breaker has been built to measure the breakdown voltage. It is shown that calculated results are in conformity with experiment results on the whole while results based on the stream criterion are larger than experiment results. This indicates that the mathematical model proposed here is more accurate for calculating the dielectric recovery characteristic, it is derived from the stream model with some improvement and refinement and has great significance for increasing the simulation accuracy of circuit breaker's interruption characteristic.

To what Extent do Australian Health Policy Documents address Social Determinants of Health and Health Equity?

AbstractEvidence on social determinants of health and health equity (SDH/HE) is abundant but often not translated into effective policy action by governments. Governments’ health policies have continued to privilege medical care and individualised behaviour-change strategies. In the light of these limitations, the 2008 Commission on the Social Determinants of Health called on health agencies to adopt a stewardship role; to take action themselves and engage other government sectors in addressing SDH/HE. This article reports on research using analysis of health policy documents – published by nine Australian national or regional governments – to examine the extent to which the Australian health sector has taken up such a role.We found policies across all jurisdictions commonly recognised evidence on SDH/HE and expressed goals to improve health equity. However, these goals were predominantly operationalised in health care and other individualised strategies. Relatively few strategies addressed SDH/HE outside of access to health care, and often they were limited in scope. National policies on Aboriginal health did most to systemically address SDH/HE.We used Kingdon's (2011) multiple streams theory to examine how problems, policies and politics combine to enable, partially allow, or prevent action on SDH/HE in Australian health policy.

Mapping Priority Setting in Health in 17 Countries Across Asia, Latin America, and sub-Saharan Africa

—As more low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) commit to universal health coverage (UHC), there is a growing need for rational priority setting using health technology assessment (HTA) and other policy tools. We describe an approach for rapidly mapping LMICs' capacity and needs for rational priority setting, aimed at identifying candidate countries where technical assistance would be most viable, and present our findings from applying this approach to three continents.Drawing on the multiple streams theory and a conceptual model of HTA in health systems, we developed qualitative and quantitative indicators for political commitment, current position along UHC journey, institutional and technical capacity, health system financing characteristics, and potential economies of scale in rational priority setting and associated data collection tools. We additionally defined criteria for shortlisting countries, emphasizing feasibility of technical assistance. We purposively sampled 17 countries and gathered data up to May 2014 from various sources and applied the shortlisting criteria to these countries.The four shortlisted countries (Indonesia, Myanmar, South Africa, Ghana) had varying capacities for rational priority setting and shared clear demand for rational priority setting as a means of achieving UHC. Indonesia was the strongest candidate for technical assistance, given the potential scale of impact on its large population and potential lessons for LMICs transitioning from aid. We conducted additional in-country scoping, and technical assistance to support HTA development in Indonesia is now underway.Our approach is of potential value to development funders and initiatives seeking to maximize the impact of their aid investments in support of UHC.

The non-shock of PIAAC – Tracing the discursive effects of PIAAC in Denmark

The results of the first PIAAC survey were published in October 2013. In the case of Denmark, the survey showed that Denmark is below the OECD average when it comes to reading skills, above average with regards to numeracy and on average with regards to IT skills. In this paper we analyse how the PIAAC results were covered by the media and how different stakeholders within the field of adult literacy took PIAAC as an opportunity to try to influence how the problem of adult literacy in Denmark should be represented. The analysis is based on Bacchi’s What’s the problem represented to be? approach to policy analysis (2009) and Kingdon (1984), and Zahariadis’ (2003) multiple streams theory. The analysis shows that PIAAC did not provoke the same kind of national ‘shock’ as PISA and that adult literacy is low on the political agenda compared to basic schooling.

Interpreting information security culture: An organizational transformation case study

When two companies merge, technical infrastructures change, formal security policies get rewritten, and normative structures clash. The resultant changes typically disrupt the prevalent security culture, thus making the new organization highly vulnerable. Literature in this area has been rather scant, and there is a lack of empirical studies. In this paper, we use Hall's (1959) theory of cultural message streams to evaluate disruptions in security culture following a merger. We carry out an extensive case study of a telecom firm. Data were collected whilst the merger was taking place, which allowed us to evaluate the changing structures in real time. Findings from our analysis will be beneficial for researchers and practitioners alike. For researchers, it provides an opportunity to theorize about security culture formulation during a merger. At a practical level, decision makers will find this analysis useful for engaging in strategic security planning.

Introducing New Priority Setting and Resource Allocation Processes in a Canadian Healthcare Organization: A Case Study Analysis Informed by Multiple Streams Theory.

In this article, we analyze one case instance of how proposals for change to the priority setting and resource allocation (PSRA) processes at a Canadian healthcare institution reached the decision agenda of the organization's senior leadership. We adopt key concepts from an established policy studies framework - Kingdon's multiple streams theory - to inform our analysis. Twenty-six individual interviews were conducted at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, NS, Canada. Participants were asked to reflect upon the reasons leading up to the implementation of a formal priority setting process - Program Budgeting and Marginal Analysis (PBMA) - in the 2012/2013 fiscal year. Responses were analyzed qualitatively using Kingdon's model as a template. The introduction of PBMA can be understood as the opening of a policy window. A problem stream - defined as lack of broad engagement and information sharing across service lines in past practice - converged with a known policy solution, PBMA, which addressed the identified problems and was perceived as easy to use and with an evidence-base from past applications across Canada and elsewhere. Conditions in the political realm allowed for this intervention to proceed, but also constrained its potential outcomes. Understanding in a theoretically-informed way how change occurs in healthcare management practices can provide useful lessons to researchers and decision-makers whose aim is to help health systems achieve the most effective use of available financial resources.

The Ultrastructural Localization of Type II, IV, and VI Collagens at the Vitreoretinal Interface.

BackgroundThe vitreoretinal interface is the border of the cortical vitreous and the inner surface of the retina. The adhesion of the cortical vitreous to the ILM, namely vitreoretinal adhesion, involves a series of complex molecular adhesion mechanisms and has been considered as an important pathogenic factor in many vitreoretinal diseases. The presence of type VI collagen at the vitreoretinal interface and its possible interaction with collagens and glycoproteins indicates that type VI collagen may contribute to the vitreoretinal adhesion.PurposeTo clarify the ultrastructural location of type VI collagen and its relationship to type II and IV collagens at the vitreoretinal interface.MethodsThe ultrastructural localization of type II, IV and VI collagens in the adult human vitreoretinal interface of five donor eyes was evaluated by transmission electron microscopy using immunogold labeling.ResultsIn the pre-equatorial region, we observed densely packed vitreous lamellae with a partly intraretinal course containing type II and VI collagens, reticular structures containing type IV and VI collagens and a thin inner limiting membrane (ILM) containing type IV and VI collagens in a linear distribution pattern. From the anterior to the posterior retina, the linear pattern of type IV and VI collagen labeling gradually became more diffusely present throughout the entire thickness of the ILM.ConclusionsThe presence of type VI collagen in vitreous lamellae penetrating the ILM into the superficial retina suggests that type VI collagen may be involved in the organization of vitreous fibers into lamellae and in the adhesion of the vitreous fibers to the retina. The close relation of type VI to type IV collagen in the ILM suggests that type VI collagen is an important collagen type in the ILM. The topographic variations of type IV and VI collagens in the different regions of the ILM suggest a regional heterogeneity of the ILM. The reticular labeling pattern of type IV and VI collagens observed in the anterior vitreous are highly similar to labeling patterns of blood vessel walls. In the anterior vitreous, they may represent remnants of the regressed embryonic hyaloid blood vessel system. Their presence is in support of the theory on interactive remodeling of the developing vitreous as opposed to the main stream theory of displacement and compression of the primary by the secondary vitreous.

Is economics an empirical science? If not, can it become one?

Today’s mainstream economics, embodied in Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) models, cannot be considered an empirical science in the modern sense of the term: it is not based on empirical data, is not descriptive of the real-world economy, and has little forecasting power. In this paper, I begin with a review of the weaknesses of neoclassical economic theory and argue for a truly scientific theory based on data, the sine qua non of bringing economics into the realm of an empirical science. But I suggest that, before embarking on this endeavor, we first need to analyze the epistemological problems of economics to understand what research questions we can reasonably ask our theory to address.. I then discuss new approaches which hold the promise of bringing economics closer to being an empirical science. Among the approaches discussed are the study of economies as complex systems, econometrics and econophysics, artificial economics made up of multiple interacting agents as well as attempts being made inside present main stream theory to more closely align the theory with the real world

Public health policy and walking in England-analysis of the 2008 'policy window'.

BackgroundAlthough the government in England has a long-standing interest in walking promotion, this has not been accompanied by a coherent strategic plan or investment to support physical activity behaviour change. However, in 2008 the government announced its intention to invest £7 million into walking promotion. This article utilises Kingdon’s Multiple Streams framework as an organising principle through which to interrogate the reasons behind the increased emphasis on walking promotion as part of the public health policy agenda in England.MethodsThe research adopted a case study design. Data were obtained through document analysis of relevant policies and semi-structured interviews with experts in the walking sector, including both government and non-government representatives.ResultsKingdon’s Multiple Streams theory proposes that at certain points in time, ‘policy windows’ are created through the convergence of a problem, an appropriate solution, and a receptive political environment, and this policy window presents an opportunity for major policy change. The findings of this research suggest that the success of London in securing the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games was the primary trigger in the creation of a policy window for walking promotion in recent years.ConclusionsDespite previous interest in walking promotion from the health and transport sectors, it was the recent alignment with the sports agenda that led to increased political commitment. This raises concerns that the research evidence on the health benefits of physical activity and rising levels of inactivity in England, are insufficient to secure government support and investment, and that multi-sector lobbying and joined-up political action may be critical in advancing this agenda.

Understanding Policy Reform in Colorado's Domestic Violence Offender Treatment Standards

AbstractThis study examines the perceived conditions leading to Colorado adopting revised Standards for treating domestic violence offenders from the perspective of Kingdon's multiple streams theory. A within‐case analysis of ten semi‐structured interviews explores the Domestic Violence Offender Management Board in Colorado's process for revising Colorado's 2001 Treatment Standards. Findings suggest a benign political stream, supported by technically feasible and value‐accepted policy ideas, feedback and indicators of the problem, promoted a favourable setting for change. At least two policy entrepreneurs championed the decision‐making process. Agenda setting and policy formulation depended on three elements: feedback from existing programmes, indicators of continued difficulty in effectively treating offenders, and the existence of a suitable policy alternative. This study contributes a rare application of multiple streams theory to a criminal justice context in a sub‐national government. Future research should explore whether the presence of a benign political stream influences the development and revision of domestic violence policy in other policy environments.