Unweighted Sum Research Articles

The Peer Review Process Used to Evaluate Manuscripts Submitted to Academic Journals

AbstractThe purpose of the present investigation was to assess the agreement between two independent reviews of each of 278 manuscripts submitted to the Journal of Educational Psychology on an overall recommendation and on specific rating items. The single-reviewer reliability for the overall recommendation, .30, was comparable with the .34 in a previous study with the same journal and with an average value of .27 found in other research. Factor analyses and multitrait-multimethod analyses provided support for four dimensions: Research Methods, Relevance to Readers, Writing Style/Presentation Clarity, and Significance/Importance. However, idiosyncratic response biases (e.g., tendencies toward leniency or harshness in responses) were larger for the specific rating items that defined these dimensions than for the overall recommendation that was better anchored in terms of behavioral consequences. Consequently, agreement between different reviewers on each separate dimension, on the unweighted sum of these d...

Two-group classification in latent trait theory: Scores with monotone likelihood ratio

This paper deals with two-group classification when a unidimensional latent trait,ϑ, is appropriate for explaining the data,X. It is shown that ifX has monotone likelihood ratio then optimal allocation rules can be based on its magnitude when allocation must be made to one of two groups related toϑ. These groups may relate toϑ probabilistically via a non-decreasing functionp(ϑ), or may be defined by all subjects above or below a selected value onϑ. In the case where the data arise from dichotomous items, then only the assumption that the items have nondecreasing item characteristic functions is enough to ensure that the unweighted sum of responses (the number-right score or raw score) possesses this fundamental monotone likelihood ratio property.

Dominant tracking signals

The objective of this research is to find the best methods of automatically monitoring an exponentially smoothed forecast. Three conclusions are drawn. First, previously used performance measures are inadequate. As a consequence, currently available control limits can give false alarm rates that are substantially different than advertised. Second, two commonly used tracking signals can be substantially improved by choice of smoothing parameters. Finally, when measured by the new criteria proposed in this paper, the smoothed error tracking signal is substantially better than the unweighted sum of errors (CUSUM) method.

Detection of simple and complex tones in fixed and random conditions

Psychometric functions for detection of pure (220, 1100, or 3850 Hz) and complex tones in the presence of a 64 dB SPL uniformly masking noise were measured in a 21, 2AFC paradigm. The complex tone consisted of 18 equally intense components spaced about one critical band apart between 110 and 7260 Hz. In experiment 1, all levels for a single signal were presented in mixed order within a block of trials. Results for eight normal listeners show parallel psychometric functions for simple and complex tones. Thresholds are 43–44 dB SPL for the pure tones and about 37 dB SPL per tone for the complex tone. In experiment 2, all levels and signals were presented in random order within each block of trials. Results for four normal listeners show psychometric functions parallel to those in experiment 1. Thresholds are about 46 dB for the pure tones and 40.5 dB for the complex tone. These results are consistent with a multiband energy-detector model in which the decision is based on an unweighted sum of decision variables across an optimum selection of channels. [Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and NIH-NINCDS R0 1NS 18280.]

Job satisfaction and its relationship to demographics and turnover of hotel food-service workers in Hong Kong

A study designed to compare the levels of job satisfaction of hotel food-service workers in Hong Kong based upon differences in demographic variables, and to investigate the relationship between job satisfaction and labour turnover. Subjects were 373 food-service workers in 3 first-class chain hotels in Hong Kong. The Job Descriptive Index (JDI) was used for studying job satisfaction. Six months after the survey, turnover data were obtained from the 3 hotels. Thirty-nine employees who had participated in the survey voluntarily terminated their jobs. The results indicated that food-service workers were less satisfied than other types of workers. Satisfaction with certain facets of the job were found to be significantly related to some demographic variables. Over 53% of the respondents ranked pay as the most important aspect of their jobs. Except for the pay scale, stayers were significantly more satisfied than the terminators. The unweighted sum of the satisfaction scores was correlated −0.26 ( P < 0.01) with turnover.

Remainder term estimates in a conditional central limit theorem for integer-valued random variables

AbstractA Berry-Esseen type result is given for the conditional distribution of a weighted sum of i.i.d. integer-valued r.v.'s given that their unweighted sum equals its expectation. The examples include the case of sampling without replacement from a finite population.

A psychometric investigation of the content of the structured interview

The responses of 92 British males to the questions of the Structured Interview (SI) were content analysed. The consistency of the content in measuring a single concept was investigated by means of item and factor analyses. A simple, unweighted sum of the content ratings was then compared with the scores achieved on the three prospectively validated Type A measures—the Jenkins Activity Survey, the Framingham Scale and the SI. The results from the analyses suggest that the content of the SI has many similarities with the questionnaire assessments of Type A behaviour and is a poor predictor of SI assessment. It is argued that the added dimension of style of response that is considered in the SI is the reason for different assessments being made by the SI and the questionnaire measures of Type A behaviour. The implications for the measurement of Type A behaviour are discussed.

The billing cycle and weather variables in models of electricity sales

Because utilities bill their residential and commercial customers by cycle on each working day of the month, the calculation of weather variables to associate with monthly sales data is complicated. We examined three different methods of calculating weather variables. 1. (1) For a utility that bills monthly, the most appropriate method is to calculate daily weather measures, then take a weighted sum of these daily measures over the current and previous month, with the weights for each day being proportional to the number of customers whose consumption on that day is billed in the current month. When weather variables are calculated in this way, accurate econometric models of electricity sales can be estimated. 2. (2) If data on the number of customers in each cycle are unavailable, the first procedure can be applied under an assumption concerning the number of customers consuming on each day. For the three utilities in the study, using these approximate weights reduced the model accuracy noticeably but not substantially, implying: if data on the number of customers in each cycle can be retrieved, the effort expended in doing so will be rewarded with more accurate models; however, if such data are impossible to obtain, fairly accurate models can still be estimated. 3. (3) The easiest method for calculating weather variables is to ignore the billing cycle phenomenon and take an unweighted sum of daily weather measures over days in the previous or current, or both, months. Our estimation results indicate that these simple measures decrease the accuracy of the models substantially, implying that the additional effort required to calculate weather variables that reflect the billing cycle phenomenon is clearly worthwhile in terms of increased model accuracy.

A class of modified stein estimators with easily computable risk functions

Abstract Consider the problem of estimating the mean of a p (≥3)-variate multi-normal distribution with identity variance-covariance matrix and with unweighted sum of squared error loss. A class of minimax, noncomparable (i.e. no estimate in the class dominates any other estimate in the class) estimates is proposed; the class contains rules dominating the simple James-Stein estimates. The estimates are essentially smoothed versions of the scaled, truncated James-Stein estimates studied by Efron and Morris. Explicit and analytically tractable expressions for their risks are obtained and are used to give guidelines for selecting estimates within the class.

Interpretation of quasi-elastic light scattering data for flexible chains: model dependence

The autocorrelation functions and corresponding relaxation times obtained from the forward depolarized quasi-elastic light scattering experiment are exhibited for two quite similar models of flexible polymer chains in solution. A very small change in the chain dynamics is found to be sufficient to change the relaxation time from a relatively short time independent of chain length, with an autocorrelation function suggestive of an unweighted sum of contributions from all the relaxation times in the spectrum of chain motion, to a long time with an autocorrelation function identical with that for the end-to-end vector, strongly dependent upon chain length and dominated by the longest relaxation time in the spectrum. These results raise the question whether widely-used models in which information about short-range chain structure and motion is deliberately omitted can be expected to be appropriate for the interpretation of depolarized scattering experiments.

Bentham or Nash? On the Acceptable Form of Social Welfare Functions*

The acceptability of the Nash Social Welfare Function is questioned because a minute (perhaps hardy perceivable) welfare change of someone with a very low welfare level might overwhelm enormous welfare changes of others. The axiomatic derivation of the Nash SWF by Kaneko and Nakamura is analyzed. Arguments for and against social welfare as separable in, linear in, and an unweighted sum of individual welfares are critically discussed. Separability follows from the individualistic ethics (Fleming, Sugden and Weale). Linearity follows from the ‘logic’ of rational choice in the face of risk (Harsanyi). (Diamond's counter‐example is rejected.) Unweighted sum follows from either (i) informational restriction precluding interpersonal comparison of welfare levels (D'Aspremont and Gevers, Maskin); or (ii) with finite sensibility, equation of just‐perceivable increments of welfare across persons (Edgeworth) or the Weak Majority Preference Criterion (Ng).

Toward eudaimonology: notes on a quantitative framework for the study of happiness

After noting factors (concern for others, ignorance, irrationality) accounting for the divergences between preference and happiness, the question of representing the preference of an individual by a utility function is discussed, taking account of lexicographic ordering, imperfect discrimination and the corresponding concepts of semiorder and sub-semiorder. Methods to improve upon the interpersonal comparability of measures of happiness such as pinning down the dividing line of zero happiness and the use of a just perceivable increment of happiness are discussed. The relation of social welfare to individual welfare (i.e. happiness) is then considered. Some reasonable set of axioms ensuring that social welfare is a separable function of and indeed an unweighted sum of individual welfares are reviewed. Finally, happiness is regarded as a function of objective, institutional and subjective factors; an interdisciplinary approach is needed even for an incomplete analysis.

Examination of Blood Clobazam Levels and Several Pupillary Measures in Humans

The State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory was administered to 15 subjects before initiation of the experiment. Three subgroups of five subjects were defined by computing the unweighted sum of the state and trait anxiety scores. A 40‐mg dose of clobazam, a 1,5‐benzodiazepine, was administered to each subject and repeated with two additional dosage forms following a 2‐week washout period. Blood samples were withdrawn, and blood levels were determined by fluorometric analysis. Additionally, pupillary measures of critical flicker fusion, constriction, and dilation in response to a cognitive task were obtained at 0, 2, 4, and 6hr. A repeated measures analysis of variance revealed that blood levels were, as expected, statistically different over time and dosage form. The pupillary constriction mirrored the blood levels in statistical patterns. The pupillary measure of cognition related to the anxiety state after the performance effects of the cognitive task were statistically removed. The results suggest that clobazam has less immediate human effect than does diazepam.

A simple method of estimating the minor loop hysteresis loss in thin laminations

A simple and practical method of correcting the hysteresis loss in a thin lamination for the effects of minor loops is described. The necessary correction is applied to the losses that would occur under conditions of sinusoidal flux density and the required empirical factor is derived using a broad range of loss measurement data. It is shown that the correction, to a very good approximation, varies linearly with the unweighted algebraic sum of the flux density reversals in the driving waveforms. Used together with a similar factor that corrects the eddy current component of loss for the effects of flux density harmonics, the total loss can be easily estimated to an accuracy of less than 5%.

Testing for ordered alternatives by combining independent distribution-free block statistics

A class of distribution-free tests for ordered alternatives in a block design is presented. On each block a distribution-free statistic is selected, and a weighted sum of these statistics is then formed. A procedure for selecting the weighting constants which maximize the asymptotic relative efficiency is presented. The improvement in the efficiency of the weighted sum of block statistics over the unweighted sum is considered and proves interesting. Some attention is also given to the idea of using different types of statistics on different blocks.

Seriousness Weights in an Index of Crime

The national of crime published annually by the FBI is one of the most commonly used social indicators. Many authors have criticized the FBI's index, an unweighted sum of the reported index for failing to account for the differing seriousness of the heterogeneous crimes in the index. Sellin and Wolfgang (1962) provide a procedure for developing crime-seriousness weights. An intense public debate has raged over which of these is correct. This paper compares the FBI and the SellinWolfgang indexes for reported crimes in the U.S. over the 1960-72 period, and finds that the two have been almost perfectly linearly related. Thus, the Sellin-Wolfgang index, even though conceptually correct and of value for other purposes, contributes no significant information to a national crime index. Other crime indexes are explored, and conclusions generalized for other social indicators.