Distinct Theories Research Articles

Optimal Distinctiveness Signals Membership Trust

According to optimal distinctiveness theory, sufficiently small minority groups are associated with greater membership trust, even among members otherwise unknown, because the groups are seen as optimally distinctive. This article elaborates on the prediction's motivational and cognitive processes and tests whether sufficiently small minorities (defined by relative size; for example, 20%) are associated with greater membership trust relative to mere minorities (45%), and whether such trust is a function of optimal distinctiveness. Two experiments, examining observers' perceptions of minority and majority groups and using minimal groups and (in Experiment 2) a trust game, revealed greater membership trust in minorities than majorities. In Experiment 2, participants also preferred joining minorities over more powerful majorities. Both effects occurred only when minorities were 20% rather than 45%. In both studies, perceptions of optimal distinctiveness mediated effects. Discussion focuses on the value of relative size and optimal distinctiveness, and when membership trust manifests.

Quantifiers Defined by Parametric Extensions

This paper develops a metaphysically flexible theory of quantification broad enough to incorporate many distinct theories of objects. Quite different, mutually incompatible conceptions of the nature of objects and of reference find representation within it. Some conceptions yield classical first-order logic; some yield weaker logics. Yet others yield notions of validity that are proper extensions of classical logic.

Kritik Nalar Hermeneutika Paul Ricoeur

Hermeneutics was born and developed in the West, specifically in response to the theological problem of Christianity, and always claimed to be an effective solution to the interpretation of Scripture. With existence of various schools, hermeneutics has also various shades and resulted different interpretations. Such as Schleiermacher, followed by Wilhelm Dilthey and Emilio Betti as initiators of hermeneutics methodology. Martin Heidegger and Gadamer followed with their ontological hermeneutics, and continued by Habermas with his critical hermeneutics. After that, the critical ontological hermeneutics initiated by either Paul Ricoeur, or Rudolf Bultman with his theological hermeneutics, and Derrida with his deconstructive hermeneutics. Among those schools, the writers interested in reviewing the hermeneutics of Paul Ricoeur which represents a distinctive theory of interpretation. His idea considered to be a bridge of the fierce debate between methodological traditions and philosophical traditions represented by Emilio Betti and Hans Georg Gadamer. The thought of Ricoeur was also claimed as a mediator between the positions of the romantic tradition of Schleiermacher and Dilthey with philosophy hermeneutic by Martin Heidegger. In another side, he was placed as a combination between the two great philosophical tradition, that’s German phenomenology and France structuralism. Furthermore, the thought of Ricoeur is a revision to the thought of Dilthey about explanation (erklaren) and understanding (verstehen). Through this paper, the writer will attempt to unravel the thought of Paul Ricoeur, and in the end, will clearly known the position of Ricoeur among other hermeneutics initiators.

Renormalization group approach for Lorentz-violating scalar field theory at all loop orders

We compute, both explicitly, at least, up to next-to-leading order and in a proof by induction for all loop levels, the critical exponents for thermal Lorentz-violating O([Formula: see text]) self-interacting scalar field theory. They are evaluated in a massless theory renormalized at arbitrary external momenta, where a reduced number of Feynman diagrams is needed. The results are presented and shown to be identical to that found previously in distinct theories renormalized at different renormalization schemes. Finally, we give both mathematical explanation and physical interpretation for them based on coordinates redefinition techniques and symmetry ideas, respectively.

Still on board configuration: SEC recommendations and the efficiency of adhering firms in Nigeria

This paper scrutinizes the effects of adherence to an encoded board configuration on firm efficiency in terms operational and financial performances using an integrated research framework that combines four distinct theories including agency, stewardship, stakeholders and resource dependency models. The research explores three main aspects of compliance outcomes; benefits accrued to conforming firms in terms of enhanced efficiency and market value, board level drivers as well as the external moderators of these benefits using a sample of 127 listed companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange covering for the period of 1999-2010. Result show that board independence, directors’ cognitive competencies as measured in terms of their educational qualifications and professional experiences are positively associated with efficient management of assets (ROA) and firm stock marketability (Tobin’s q). I find no substantive empirical evidence to suggest that either the adoption of specific leadership structure or directors’ ethnic representation affects firm performance. Moreover, country-level macroeconomic variables, especially the degree of economic openness play a significant role in determining the strength of association between board structure variables and firm performance measures.

Interest, Trade and ‘Character and Circumstances': John Campbell's (1708–1775) Earlier Work

SUMMARYJohn Campbell's (1708-1775) commercial theory in his early work demonstrates that he held more sophisticated views on British colonialism than previously thought. Campbell draws upon complex influences, which include Charles Davenant's notion of free trade and his ‘Old Whig’ arguments against corruption; Daniel Defoe's ‘new Whig’ arguments for progress and John Locke's arguments on industry and property; and Bolingbroke's Tory arguments for emphasizing common interest. By blending these ideas, Campbell offers a distinctive commercial theory that prioritizes the recognition of the interest and circumstances of all nations and peoples within an unconstrained and reciprocal exchange of commodities in order for the home nation simultaneously to resist corruption and flourish.

Implicit Theories of Creative Ideas: How Culture Guides Creativity Assessments

The current studies provide evidence of two distinct implicit theories of creative ideas and so help to resolve the debate over differences in creativity assessments between Chinese and American sa...

The studies of granitoids from the Sobótka region in light of theories of the origin of colour in minerals

AbstractThe article presents the results of the studies of 19 feldspar-quartz raw materials samples, coming from deposits located in the Sobótka region, in light of four distinct physical theories explaining mechanisms for creating the colour of minerals. This is a successive stage of research carried out by the author on reasons for colour variation of samples after firing at 1200°C. This step encompassed a detailed chemical analysis for main and trace elements contents of all the investigated samples as well as Mössbauer studies of two of them. The chemical analysis reveals that the darkest samples are characterised by the highest contents of the following colouring compounds and elements: Fe2O3, MnO, Th, U, Ce, Nd, and V, accompanied by a relatively low amount of TiO2. The Mössbauer studies demonstrated the quantitative predominance of Fe2+over Fe3+in the sample of a relatively darker hue with a high Fe2O3content, while its spectra parameters suggest that Fe2+is located in octahedral coordination that can result in a cold blue tint. Cations Fe3+(located probably in the tetrahedral position) prevail in the other analysed sample that contain less Fe2O3and a relatively high content of TiO2, Ce, and Nd. This probably causes a warm, reddish shade of the sample. The above-mentioned observations and examinations lead to the finding that, at this stage of the investigations, the crystal field theory could be the best suited for the interpretation of colour of the studied samples. This formalism associates the colour origin with ions of the transition elements, some REE and actinides located in the structure of minerals, and their ability to selectively absorb visible light.

How to Teach Kampo Medicine in the Age of Internationalization?

Given the universal prevalence of complementary and alternative medicines, as well as integrative medicine, the usage of traditional medicine has been gaining in popularity worldwide. Japanese Kampo medicine and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are both derived from ancient medicines used in East Asia in the 5th-7th centuries, and have developed independently since the 14th century. Now Kampo medicine and TCM have different theories for the diagnosis and use of crude drugs. Unfortunately, Kampo medicine is not well known in Europe and the Americas; as a matter of practice, TCM is the international standard for traditional medicines derived from ancient East Asia. In the teaching of Kampo medicines to undergraduate students in a school of pharmacy, the author considers that a minimum requirement is to explain the differences between TCM and Kampo medicine. For graduate students of pharmaceutical science, the students must know the distinct medical theories of both TCM and Kampo medicine, and furthermore, must be able to read and write articles in English about traditional medicines, in order to help put Kampo medicine on the world map.

Distinctiveness of Saudi Arabian EFL Learners

In view of the increasing concern among English language teachers dealing with students from Saudi Arabia, as it manifests in TESOL community discussions, about the uniqueness of Saudi Arabian EFL learners, this paper attempts to document the outcome of a study of their distinctiveness from the perspective of expatriate teachers working for PYPs (Preparatory Year Programs) in Saudi Arabia. This study examines the distinctiveness with regard to the learning attitudes of Saudi students that are often cultivated by the culture and academic environment in their homeland. Employing an emic approach for collecting the required data an analysis was carried out in light of the other studies on ‘education’ in Saudi Arabia that have particular reference to the factors that can positively influence student motivation, student success and the academic environment. The findings were used in constructing the rationale behind such distinctiveness. Assuming that the outcome of the discussion on the findings of this exploration can be helpful for teachers in adapting their teaching methodology and improving their teacher efficacy in dealing with students both from the kingdom and in the kingdom, some recommendations are made. Keywords: China Distinctiveness, Saudi Arabian University context, Expatriate teachers’ perspective, Distinctiveness Theory

Demographic dissimilarity, value congruence, and workplace attachment

Purpose– Relying on relational demography and person-organization fit perspectives, the purpose of this paper is to explore the interactive effect of demographic dissimilarity and value congruence on workplace attachment outcomes – affective and normative organizational commitment and turnover intentions. Based on optimal distinctiveness theory, asymmetrical effects across gender and race/ethnicity are also examined.Design/methodology/approach– A diverse sample of 278 restaurant workers in 30 different work units is used to test the hypotheses using hierarchical OLS regression.Findings– The results partially support the idea that perceived and objective value congruence moderate the relationship of race/ethnic and gender dissimilarity on workplace attachment. Tests for asymmetrical demographic group effects showed that value congruence had a stronger moderating effect for whites than for people of color, and for men than for women.Research limitations/implications– The results suggest that value congruence can ameliorate the adverse diversity effects on workplace attachment, but that a complete substitution effect may not be present. Women and minorities may still be sensitive to demographic representation even when their value congruence is high. This implies that a simultaneous pursuit of fit and diversity is an adequate diversity management strategy to stimulate the inclusion and workplace attachment of all social groups.Originality/value– This study joins a limited number of studies addressing the interaction of value congruence and demographic dissimilarity, and presents empirical evidence from a work setting. Also, this is the first study to show gender and race/ethnic differences in this interaction.

The Identity Conditions of Prime Matter According to William of Ockham

This paper is dedicated to William of Ockham’s metaphysics of matter. Its aim is to examine how William of Ockham accounted for the identity conditions of prime matter. The problem we will examine runs like this: if matter can be found in everything which can come into being and pass away, hence in you and me, how can I account that my matter is not yours? This problem is quite independent of the question of the ontological status of matter, one of the main focuses of recent studies on prime matter in later medieval Aristotelianism. The medieval metaphysics of individuation has been the object of extensive studies. It is often highlighted that this metaphysics is centered on substances and accidents. The interest of the paper lies in the fact that it deals with another aspect of the metaphysics of individuation: how can we account for the individuation of stuff in medieval metaphysics? I will argue that Ockham switched from his well known view that individuality is intrinsic and irreducible to a version of the Leibnizian view that individuality reduces to uniqueness of properties, because Ockham’s standard theory of identity and distinction cannot account for the identity conditions of stuff.

Form, essence and matter in Aquinas’ early work De ente et essentia. Notes to the metaphysical foundation of Aquinas’ psychology

The article analyzes the role of matter (materia prima) in the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas, from both the systematic and historical-philosophical aspect. It shows that Arab tradition (Avicenna and Averroes) and its interpreters from the first half of the 13ᵗʰ century played an important and very complex role in his reception of philosophical tools derived from Aristotle. The article also presents the process by which Aquinas was able to unite hylomorphism with the metaphysical theory of real distinction esse/essentia, which paved the way for a non-dualistic conception of man.

Autosegmental Representation of Epenthesis in the Spoken French of Ijebu Undergraduate French Learners in Selected Universities in South-West of Nigeria

Insertion of vowels and consonants is a phonological process in language. Existing studies have examined vowel insertion in several languages and dialects with little attention paid to the spoken French of Ijebu Undergraduates. Therefore, this paper examined vowel insertion in the spoken French of 50 Ijebu Undergraduate French Learners (IUFLs) in Selected Universities in South West of Nigeria. The data collection for this study was through tape-recording of participants’ production of 30 sentences containing both French vowel and consonant sounds while Goldsmith’s Autosegmental phonology blended with distinctive feature theory was used to analyse instances of insertion in the data collected such as i-epenthetic and u-epenthetic at the initial, medial and final positions in the spoken French of IUFLs.Keywords: IUFLs, Epenthensis, Ijebu dialect, Autosegmental phonology

Modeling spatio-temporal layout with Lie Algebrized Gaussians for action recognition

We propose a novel approach to model spatio-temporal distribution of local features for action recognition in videos. The proposed approach is based on the Lie Algebrized Gaussians (LAG) which is a feature aggregation approach and yields high-dimensional video signature. In the framework of LAG, local features extracted from a video are aggregated to train a video-specific Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM). Then the video-specific GMM is encoded as a vector based on Lie group theory and this step is also referred to as GMM vectorization. As the video-specific GMM gives a soft partition of the feature space, for each cell of the feature space (i.e. each Gaussian component), we use a GMM to model the spatio-temporal locations of the local features assigned to the Gaussian component. The location GMMs are encoded as vectors just like the local feature GMM. We term those vectors of location GMMs spatio-temporal LAG (STLAG). In addition, although the LAG and the popular Fisher Vector (FV) are derived from distinct theory perspectives, we find that they are closely related. Hence the power and l2 normalization proposed for the FV are also beneficial to the LAG. Experimental results show that STLAG is very effective to model spatio-temporal layout compared with other techniques such as spatio-temporal pyramid and feature augmentation. Using the state-of-the-art dense trajectory features, our approach achieves state-of-the-art performance on two challenging datasets: Hollywood2 and HMDB51.

African American Consumers' Evaluations of Ethnically Primed Advertisements

This study is a conceptual replication of Appiah and Liu (2009). Distinctiveness theory and social identity theory are used to study the effect of embedding African American cultural ethnic primes beyond the use of ethnic minority models in ads on ad attitude, brand attitude, and purchase intentions. Empirical results show that African American consumers respond significantly different when viewing a high African American cultural ethnic primed ad compared to a low and high white cultural ethnic primed ad (i.e., high, low = high, low levels of African American cultural ethnic primes found embedded in the ad). No significant responses from African American consumers were found when exposed to a high African American cultural ethnic primed ad versus a low African American cultural ethnic primed ad. This indicates it is not enough to include cultural ethnic primes beyond ethnic minority models to influence significantly different responses. This study recommends that situational and psychological factors (e.g., strength of ethnic identification, ethnic self-awareness, usage rate of cultural ethnic primes in media and geographic location of target audience, levels of ethnocentrism, and proportion of minority group to overall population in geographic location of target audience) need to be considered by marketers to increase ad effectiveness.

Kant on Religious Moral Education

AbstractWhile scholars are slowly coming to realize that Kant’s moral philosophy has a distinctive theory of moral education, the import of religion in such education is generally neglected or even denied. This essay argues that Kant’s reflections on religion in parts II and III of Religion within the Boundaries of Mere Reason interpret religion specifically as one aspect of moral education, namely moral ascetics. After first clearly distinguishing between a cognitive and a conative aspect of moral education, I show how certain historical religious practices serve to provide the conative aspect of moral education. Kant defines this aspect of moral education as practices that render the human agent ‘valiant and cheerful in fulfilling his duties’ (MS, 6: 484). By this it is meant that certain practices can inspire moral interests either by justifying rational hope in living up to a certain standard of moral perfection (Christology) or by endeavouring to unite human beings in a universal, invisible ethical community that inspires cooperation rather than adversity (ecclesiology).

Theory development with agent-based models

Many social phenomena do not result solely from intentional actions by isolated individuals, but rather emerge as the result of repeated interactions among multiple individuals over time. However, such phenomena are often poorly captured by traditional empirical techniques. Moreover, complex adaptive systems are insufficiently described by verbal models. In this paper, we discuss how organizational psychologists and group dynamics researchers may benefit from the adoption of formal modeling, particularly agent-based modeling, for developing and testing richer theories. Agent-based modeling is well suited to capture multilevel dynamic processes and offers superior precision to verbal models. As an example, we present a model of social identity dynamics used to test the predictions of Brewer’s (1991) optimal distinctiveness theory, and discuss how the model extends the theory and produces novel research questions. We close with a general discussion on theory development using agent-based models.

On the global structure of deformed Yang-Mills theory and QCD(adj) on ℝ 3 × S 1 $$ {\mathrm{\mathbb{R}}}^3\times {\mathbb{S}}^1 $$

Spatial compactification on $$ {\mathrm{\mathbb{R}}}^3\times {\mathbb{S}}_L^1 $$ at small $$ {\mathbb{S}}^1 $$ -size L often leads to a calculable vacuum structure, where various “topological molecules” are responsible for confinement and the realization of the center and discrete chiral symmetries. Within this semiclassically calculable framework, we study how distinct theories with the same $$ \mathrm{S}\mathrm{U}\left({N}_c\right)/{\mathrm{\mathbb{Z}}}_k $$ gauge group (labeled by “discrete θ-angles”) arise upon gauging of appropriate $$ {\mathrm{\mathbb{Z}}}_k $$ subgroups of the one-form global center symmetry of an SU(N c ) gauge theory. We determine the possible $$ {\mathrm{\mathbb{Z}}}_k $$ actions on the local electric and magnetic effective degrees of freedom, find the ground states, and use domain walls and confining strings to give a physical picture of the vacuum structure of the different $$ \mathrm{S}\mathrm{U}\left({N}_c\right)/{\mathrm{\mathbb{Z}}}_k $$ theories. Some of our results reproduce ones from earlier supersymmetric studies, but most are new and do not invoke supersymmetry. We also study a further finite-temperature compactification to $$ {\mathrm{\mathbb{R}}}^2\times {\mathbb{S}}_{\beta}^1\times {\mathbb{S}}_L^1 $$ . We argue that, in deformed Yang-Mills theory, the effective theory near the deconfinement temperature β c ≫ L exhibits an emergent Kramers-Wannier duality and that it exchanges high- and low-temperature theories with different global structure, sharing features with both the Ising model and S-duality in $$ \mathcal{N}=4 $$ supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory.

He did it! She did it! No, she did not! Multiple causal explanations and the continued influence of misinformation

Two types of misinformation effects are discussed in the literature—the post-event misinformation effect and the continued influence effect. The former refers to the distorting memorial effects of misleading information that is presented after valid event encoding; the latter refers to information that is initially presented as true but subsequently turns out to be false and continues to affect memory and reasoning despite the correction. In two experiments, using a paradigm that merges elements from both traditions, we investigated the role of presentation order and recency when two competing causal explanations for an event are presented and one is subsequently retracted. Theoretical accounts of misinformation effects make diverging predictions regarding the roles of presentation order and recency. A recency account—derived from time-based models of memory and reading comprehension research suggesting efficient situation model updating—predicts that the more recently presented cause should have a stronger influence on memory and reasoning. By contrast, a primacy account—derived from primacy effects in impression formation and story recall as well as findings of inadequate memory updating—predicts that the initially presented cause should be dominant irrespective of temporal factors. Results indicated that (1) a cause’s recency, rather than its position (i.e., whether it was presented first or last) determined the emphasis that people place on it in their later reasoning, with more recent explanations being preferred; and (2) a retraction was equally effective whether it invalidated the first or the second cause, as long as the cause’s recency was held constant. This provides evidence against the primacy account and supports time-based models of memory such as temporal distinctiveness theory.