Tool For Empirical Research Research Articles

Two Decades of Post-Soviet and Post-Socialist Stateness

The collapse of the socialist system prompted the former USSR countries to “re-invent” their stateness. The paper focuses on factors that impede or smooth stateness transformations in post-Soviet countries. First, the paper examines internal and external factors of state formation in selected countries. Next, it introduces empirical research tools and empirical findings that present alternative patterns of stateness and outcomes of state formation. The paper concludes with a detailed review of certain cases that may be considered prototypes of state formation for post-Soviet countries.

The interpretive approach as a research tool: inside the REDCo project

This contribution shows how the author's interpretive approach to religious education was used as a theoretical and pedagogical stimulus and an empirical research tool by researchers in the European Commission Framework 6 REDCo (religion, education, dialogue, conflict) project. The origins and development of the interpretive approach, from its roots in the ethnographic study of children from religious backgrounds, are summarised, and an account is given about how its key concepts were used to frame a checklist of questions for REDCo researchers dealing with both empirical research methodology and pedagogy. Examples and case studies are presented illustrating how the approach was used by REDCo researchers as a methodological tool for empirical research, a pedagogical tool or stimulus to pedagogical clarification and a tool for meta‐analysis and theory development.

Event studies: A methodology review

Originally developed as a statistical tool for empirical research in accounting and finance, event studies have since migrated to other disciplines as well, including economics, history, law, management, marketing, and political science. Despite the elegant simplicity of a standard event study, variations in methodology and their relative merits continue to attract attention in the literature. This paper reviews some of the fundamental topics in short-term event study methodology, with an attempt to add new perspectives to some pressing topics.

Introduction to Research Tools in Natural Resource and Environmental Economics

Significant advances have now occurred in the theoretical and in the empirical knowledge-base of researchers studying problems in natural resource and environmental economics. This has been accompanied by the utilization of many and varied research tools. These developments notwithstanding, information about how these research tools can and have been used are scattered throughout the literature and, as such, it is difficult to find a single source that will not only familiarize researchers with the most common tools that are presently being utilized in the literature but will also enable these researchers to use these tools in their own work. Therefore, following this introductory chapter, the thirteen chapters of this book first focus on the most frequently used theoretical, empirical, experimental, and interdisciplinary research tools and then they discuss how these tools are useful in shedding valuable light on a whole host of research questions in natural resource and environmental economics.

Event Studies: A Methodology Review

Originally developed as a statistical tool for empirical research in accounting and finance, event studies have since migrated to other disciplines as well, including economics, history, law, management, marketing, and political science. Despite the elegant simplicity of a standard event study, variations in methodology and their relative merits continue to attract attention in the literature. This paper reviews some of the fundamental topics in short-term event study methodology, with an attempt to add new perspectives to some pressing topics.

Insider econometrics: A roadmap with stops along the way

For the past twenty five years, economists have been building theories of the optimal management of firms. For example, economic models suggest that under some conditions, piece rate pay raises performance, and under other conditions, promotions tournaments raise performance. Some of these theories have been tested, others have not. Economists are now using new empirical research tools, that we label “insider econometrics,” to test the impact of management practices on productivity: to model how much productivity changes; to model why management practices raise productivity; and to examine which firms benefit and why from alternative management practices. The methodology we describe is “insider” because it uses inside knowledge and data from within firms. It is “econometrics” because the methodology is often the application of treatment effects methods to modeling changing management practices within firms. However, the methods and challenges of insider econometrics are unique, and we identify several key features that are important in undertaking empirical studies of workers' productivity. Now that more firms are keeping data on employees, it is time to improve our analysis of the empirical study of the productivity of workers within firms.

Coding gestural behavior with the NEUROGES-ELAN system

We present a coding system combined with an annotation tool for the analysis of gestural behavior. The NEUROGES coding system consists of three modules that progress from gesture kinetics to gesture function. Grounded on empirical neuropsychological and psychological studies, the theoretical assumption behind NEUROGES is that its main kinetic and functional movement categories are differentially associated with specific cognitive, emotional, and interactive functions. ELAN is a free, multimodal annotation tool for digital audio and video media. It supports multileveled transcription and complies with such standards as XML and Unicode. ELAN allows gesture categories to be stored with associated vocabularies that are reusable by means of template files. The combination of the NEUROGES coding system and the annotation tool ELAN creates an effective tool for empirical research on gestural behavior.

Question-order effects in social network name generators

Social network surveys are an important tool for empirical research in a variety of fields, including the study of social capital and the evaluation of educational and social policy. A growing body of methodological research sheds light on the validity and reliability of social network survey data regarding a single relation, but much less attention has been paid to the measurement of multiplex networks and the validity of comparisons among criterion relations. In this paper, we identify ways that surveys designed to collect multiplex social network data might be vulnerable to question-order effects. We then test several hypotheses using a split-ballot experiment embedded in an online multiple name generator survey of teachers’ advice networks, collected for a study of complete networks. We conclude by discussing implications for the design of multiple name generator social network surveys.

Deliberate Self-Harm in Female Patients With Affective Disorders

This study investigated psychodynamically relevant dimensions in female depressive patients with and without deliberate self-harm (DSH). DSH is often observed in depressive patients and frequently shows a correlation with personality disorders. Forty female depressive patients with and without DSH were investigated after recovery from acute depressive pathology by means of "operationalized psychodynamic diagnostics" (OPD). Patients with DSH had a significantly lower level of integration in the OPD dimension "structure," and their "interpersonal relationships" showed dysfunctional interaction patterns. They also had a significantly higher rate of personality disorders. These results underline the significance of aspects of personality structure in female depressive patients with DSH, and enable a deeper understanding of their dysfunctional defense strategies, the connections with underlying disturbed affect regulation, and vicious circles in the therapeutic transference-countertransference relationship. OPD has been shown to be a useful tool for empirical research into therapeutically relevant dimensions of personality.

Formalization as a Tool for Empirical Research

Author(s): Kronenfeld, David B | Abstract: Introduction to the Special Issue on Formalization as a tool for empirical research: what it buys us and what it doesn't.”

Non-participative Observation in Political Research: The ‘Poor’ Relation?

Non-participative observation, a data-gathering tool where the researcher assumes the role of observer while minimising participation, has a relatively low profile in empirical political research. This article begins with some introductory comments on the status of non-participative observation in political research. It then sets out the particular attributes of non-participative observation, focusing on the practical application and utilisation of non-participative observation in empirical political research. I show that non-participative observation can make a valuable, if particular, contribution as a data-gathering tool in empirical political research.

Event studies with a contaminated estimation period

Event studies are an important tool for empirical research in Finance. Since the seminal contribution of Fama et al. [Fama, E., Fisher, L., Jensen, M., Roll, R., 1969. The adjustment of stock prices to new information. International Economic Review 10, 1–21], there have been many enhancements to the classical test methodology. Somewhat surprisingly, the estimation period has attracted less interest. It is usually routinely determined as a fixed window prior to the event announcement day. In this study, we propose a test that reduces the impact of potentially unrelated events during the estimation period. Our proposition is based on a two-state version of the classical market model as a return-generating process. We present standard specification and power analyses. The results highlight the importance of explicitly controlling for unrelated events occurring during the estimation window, especially in the presence of event-induced increase in return volatility.

THE SOURCES OF GROWTH AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT

Cross‐country growth regressions have become an increasingly common tool in empirical development research. But these regressions typically do not attempt to distinguish among countries in different stages of development. Three empirical methods are used to test for such differences. Several of the factors known to affect economic growth are shown to operate differently for countries in different portions of the global income distribution. The results have implications for the role of financial markets, openness and factor accumulation in promoting growth. (JEL O150, O160, O400)

Lottery Games as a Tool for Empirical Basic Income Research

Lottery Games as a Tool for Empirical Basic Income Research

An Analysis of Non-Linear Stock Price Dynamics with Point & Figure Charts

Chart-based technical analysis is primarily concerned with the recognition of non-linear patterns in the time series of past prices. Financial economists have traditionally regarded pattern recognition a highly subjective task, and, therefore, not subjected this area of finance to their usual scrutiny. We propose the use of point and figure charts to study the non-linear dynamics of stock prices. Pattern recognition in point and figure charts is an objective task, and it only requires algorithms of low (i.e. linear) computational complexity. An application of this technique to the 1962-2003 CRSP daily stock files yields a number of interesting findings. First, certain well-known chart patterns are shown to be indeed useful in predicting future stock returns. Shares whose stock prices completed 'buy-signals' systematically outperform shares that completed 'sell-signals' over subsequent holding periods of three to twelve months. Second, this effect appears to be attributable exclusively to chart patterns that we classify as 'trend-confirming'. 'Trend-reversing' chart patterns appear to be less reliable and contain little useful information. This finding provides some empirical support for the popular notion that stock prices tend to move in trends. Finally, an investigation of stock returns immediately following the completion of various chart patterns suggest that some investors are aware of the above findings, and that their trading activities affect stock prices at least in the short run. Overall, our study suggests that point and figure charts may be a useful tool for empirical research in the areas of market efficiency and behavioral finance.

Anonymized Firm Data under Test: Evidence from a Replication Study

Summary This paper contributes to the literature on the use of anonymized firm level data by reporting results from a replication study. To test for the practical usefulness of anonymized data I selected two of my published papers based on different cross sections of firm data. The data used there were anonymized by micro aggregation. I replicated the analyses reported in the papers with the anonymized data, and then compared the results to those produced with the original data. Frequently, the reported levels of statistical significance differ. Furthermore, statistically significant coefficients sometimes differ by order of magnitude. Therefore, at least for the moderate sample sizes used here micro-aggregated firm data should not be considered as a tool for empirical research.

Towards Alternative Model(s) of Local Innovation

This paper introduces a Special Topic on social innovation in the governance of urban communities. It also seeks to widen the debate on the meaning of social innovation both in social science theory and as a tool for empirical research on socioeconomic development and governance at the local level. This debate is organised around ALMOLIN-i.e. alternative models for local innovation as utilised in the SINGOCOM (social innovation in governance in (local) communities) research. The first section explains the role of social innovation in neighbourhood development and how it is best addressed from theoretical, historical and experience-oriented viewpoints. The second section provides a survey of the definitions of social innovation in a variety of social science fields, while the third section mobilises various strands of literature that will be of use for the analytical refinement of ALMOLIN. Section four illustrates how ALMOLIN is used as an analytical tool for empirical research. The final section shows some avenues for future research on social innovation.

End-of-Life Care: Issues Relevant to the Geriatric Psychiatrist

Most deaths in the United States occur in the context of chronic diseases in later life and are too often accompanied by potentially remediable emotional or physical suffering. Geriatric psychiatrists and other mental health professionals can contribute meaningfully to the provision of optimal care during the final phases of life. This review provides an overview of end-of-life care, focusing on issues most relevant to the geriatric psychiatrist. The author examined palliative care textbooks and review papers to determine the topics to be included in this article, and searched computerized literature databases on these topics. Many of the recommendations provided herein stem from experts’ clinical experience; however empirical evidence is also incorporated and critiqued. Topics covered include conversations with patients and families about end-of-life care; the evaluation and treatment of suffering, including pain, depression, suicidality, anxiety, and delirium; the role of individual and family therapies in caring for dying patients; capacity determination; advance care planning; withholding life-sustaining treatments; and “last resort” (and, in some cases, quite controversial) options, such as terminal sedation, assisted suicide, and euthanasia. The author also notes the relevance of such end-of-life-care considerations to patients with dementia. Geriatric psychiatrists’ skills across these multiple domains are of particular usefulness. Through such clinical skills and the application of empirical research tools to the many unanswered questions in the care of dying patients, geriatric psychiatry can make increasingly valuable and visible contributions to improving quality of life for people suffering from life-threatening illnesses.

End-of-life care: issues relevant to the geriatric psychiatrist.

Most deaths in the United States occur in the context of chronic diseases in later life and are too often accompanied by potentially remediable emotional or physical suffering. Geriatric psychiatrists and other mental health professionals can contribute meaningfully to the provision of optimal care during the final phases of life. This review provides an overview of end-of-life care, focusing on issues most relevant to the geriatric psychiatrist. The author examined palliative care textbooks and review papers to determine the topics to be included in this article, and searched computerized literature databases on these topics. Many of the recommendations provided herein stem from experts' clinical experience; however empirical evidence is also incorporated and critiqued. Topics covered include conversations with patients and families about end-of-life care; the evaluation and treatment of suffering, including pain, depression, suicidality, anxiety, and delirium; the role of individual and family therapies in caring for dying patients; capacity determination; advance care planning; withholding life-sustaining treatments; and "last resort" (and, in some cases, quite controversial) options, such as terminal sedation, assisted suicide, and euthanasia. The author also notes the relevance of such end-of-life-care considerations to patients with dementia. Geriatric psychiatrists' skills across these multiple domains are of particular usefulness. Through such clinical skills and the application of empirical research tools to the many unanswered questions in the care of dying patients, geriatric psychiatry can make increasingly valuable and visible contributions to improving quality of life for people suffering from life-threatening illnesses.

Event Study Under Noisy Estimation Period

Since the contribution of Fama, Fisher, Jensen and Roll (1969), event studies have become an important reference tool for empirical research in finance. The original methodology has been improved in order to tackle numerous problems such as event-date uncertainty, event clustering, event-induced variance phenomena.... Somewhat surprisingly, the determination of the estimation period has attracted less interest. It remains most frequently routinely determined as a fixed window prior to the event announcement day, during which it is supposed that no other significant events have happened. In practice, in large sample studies, validation of this assumption on a case-by-case basis is out of reach, despite the fact that it is known to be violated for some specific corporate events. The case of merger and acquisitions, in particular the behavior of bidders who make repetitive acquisitions (and acquisition attempts), is a typical example. In this work we propose an adaptation of the basic methodology by taking explicitly into account the likely existence of firm-specific events during the estimation period. We first realize a standard specification and power analysis, following the Brown and Warner (1980, 1985) scheme. We then show that the proposed method changes significantly the inferences realized on a sample of around 580 merger and acquisition operations concerning the bidders' abnormal returns.