Widespread Disagreement Research Articles

Modes survey results

Though user-interface researchers and designers give similar definitions for the concept of modes in interactive systems and devices, informal evidence suggests that they don't always agree on whether or not particular interfaces are moded. A survey was conducted to determine the extent to which this is true. The results show that there is widespread disagreement among UI designers and researchers about what modes are, independent of the issue of how modes affect users.

Biological markers in borderline personality disorders: an overview.

The state of knowledge in the area of suggested biological markers that may delineate subpopulations of patients with borderline personality disorders (BPD) is reviewed. There is widespread disagreement as to the specificity of these markers. The clinical implications of Axis I--Axis II, state vs. trait, acute vs. chronic, and definite vs. probable diagnoses, all seem to contribute to the confusion in this area. Some patients with BPD and with schizotypal personality disorders (SPD) share neuroendocrine abnormalities with affective disorders (AD) and schizophrenic (SCH) patients respectively. This interface and/or potential overlap between personality disorders (PD) and the major mental disorders is discussed with special reference to the DST, TRH/TSH test, and REM latency which have already been established as valuable biological markers for certain subtypes of depression. In contrast, biologic abnormalities observed in chronic schizophrenia are also present in some SPD patients. Current data are supportive of the hypothesis that some PD patients are independent whereas others are genetically related to the major mental disorders.

Applying a Feminist Critique to Environmental Education

One thing about which there is widespread consensus is that the earth and its inhabitants are in social and environmental peril. This is where the consensus ends, however, for there is equally widespread disagreement as to the nature and causes of the problems (more social or more environmental), the severity of the problems (for whom are they recognised and felt as problems), and the most appropriate and effective solutions necessary to deal with them. This paper argues for the adoption of a critical, feminist perspective in examining the area of Environmental Education (EE) as an ‘appropriate response’ to this globally perceived socio-environmental crisis.Historically, environmental education emerged out of the early 1970's during the time when the environmental movement was gaining momentum and vitality on a worldwide scale (Disinger, 1983; Robottom, 1985a; Stapp, 1970). It was envisioned by the international participants at the three major UNESCO-UNEP Environment Conferences held that decade, that EE was the most appropriate and hopeful educational response to the crisis situation of the deterioration of quality of life and the environment (Fensham, 1978).The aims of EE that emerged from the UN conference in Tbilisi, USSR in 1977 were particularly ambitious in that they transcended a concern with the roles, objectives and guiding principles of EE and spelled out the need for an understanding of: … the epistemological and institutional structures that affect consideration of environmental demands” … and …. “the obstacles (epistemological, cultural or social) restricting access to educational messages and their utilization” (Robottom, 1985b).

The Problem of "Enlightened Absolutism" and the German States

Among early modern historians few controversies have endured so long and resolved so little as the ongoing debate over enlightened absolutism. Over the past century there has been widespread disagreement over both the motivation and sincerity of those later eighteenth-century rulers who professed to be converts to Enlightenment thought. At the same time, many scholars have questioned the compatibility of Enlightenment ideals with any form of authoritarian government, especially one that places limits on the freedom of the individual. For these reasons, there is still no consensus on whether enlightened despotism can stand as a conceptually meaningful political classification distinct from the forms of absolutism prevalent during the age of Louis XIV. In examining and analyzing the judgments of those scholars who have dealt with this phenomenon, it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that the task of reaching a consensus has been complicated by an underlyiIlg clash of national cultural and historical perspectivesS a cleavage that has pitted German historians against the majority of their colleagues from France, Great Britain, and the United States. It would appear that progress

The shear design of in situ reinforced concrete beam–column joints subjected to monotonic loading

Synopsis Research into in situ reinforced concrete joints has been almost exclusively restricted to the study of their behaviour under seismic loading. Different research workers in different parts of the world have used widely differing cyclic loading patterns and this has led to inconsistencies in the proposals put forward for the design of a joint for shear. Even for single-cycle (static or monotonic) loading, there is widespread disagreement on how a joint should be designed. In this paper. a method is proposed for ultimate shear strength design for joints subjected to monotonic loading which gives reliable predictions for an extensive range of test results. A proposal for predicting the serviceability limit state, or the diagonal cracking strength of a joint, which may be necessary for some designs is also given.

Personality and Occupation: Implications for Human Resource Management

A wag once said that personality is what personality tests measure. Most of us believe that we have 'a personality' and that 'it' affects most aspects of our behaviour. Yet there is widespread disagreement about the fundamentals of personality. Even experts cannot agree about its nature and measurement. Some believe personality represents an individual's underlying biological tendencies and is largely inherited. Others believe that personality is the product of conditioning and is acquired through socialisation. For some personality does not exist at all, it being a convenient label for game-playing: a metaphor which exists only in the heads of people. Yet personality is measured and assumptions made about its relationship to managerial performance and leadership.

Transcendental Arguments II

Kant was concerned to refute Cartesian skepticism by showing that the existence of objects located in space is a condition for the possibility of self-conscious experience. There is widespread disagreement among Kant scholars about how Kant intended this refutation to proceed and even about which parts of the Critique of Pure Reason embody the crux of the Kantian anti-skeptical strategy. In this paper, I will examine what I take to be the most promising kind of reconstruction of Kant's anti-skeptical strategy-promising because of its potential anti-skeptical force and not because of its fidelity to Kant's intentions. This paper, then, is an examination of an antiCartesian epistemological position and not a piece of Kant scholarship. According to the position in question, it follows from the fact that one is the subject of self-conscious experience that there are outer objects-physical objects located in space. Therefore, according to this position, a Cartesian skeptic cannot consistently maintain that he is self-conscious yet deny that one can know whether or not there exist any outer objects. The distinguishing feature of the kind of reconstruction of Kant which I discuss is its construal of what is involved in self-consciousness. Since the key premise of the reconstruction's anti-skeptical argument is that one is selfconscious, the intended construal of self-consciousness is obviously crucial. On the construal in question, one has knowledge about temporally diverse experiences simply in virtue of being self-conscious. I call this the wide construal of self-consciousness, to be contrasted with the narrow construal, on which it is not held that selfconsciousness involves knowledge of experiences which exist at different times. On such a construal, one might hold only that if one is self-conscious, then one has the ability to know of a current experience that it belongs to oneself (one can self-ascribe a current experience, in Strawson's phrase). Different writers have different views about the nature of the knowledge concerning temporally diverse experiences which is supposedly entailed by self-consciousness.

The pre-participation examination of the young athlete. Defining the essentials.

Examination of published reports and expert recommendations about appropriate pre-participation examinations of young athletes reveals widespread disagreement about objectives, format, and content. This review and commentary examines current evidence and proposes a more modest routine athletic physical. Even without requiring evidence of careful science and methodologic rigor, few of the traditional parts of the physical for the athlete are found to have evidence of utility. Some newly suggested orthopedic maneuvers may ultimately prove useful. Definitive recommendations await evaluation, using appropriate and careful methodology.

Carbonization reactions of inertinite macerals in Australian coals

Widespread disagreement about the degree of reactivity of the inertinite group of macerais is related to variations in experimental conditions of assessment and failure to appreciate technological modifications imposed on similar macerals by dissimilar source materials and depositional conditions. This has resulted in the constant under-estimation of the coking potential of post-Carboniferous inertinite-rich coals by predictive methods developed for vitrinite-rich Carboniferous coals. Coking tests up to 1000 °C have been carried out on 20 coals of different rank in such a manner that coked portions of the samples could be correlated with their uncoked equivalents. It has been found that an inverse relationship exists between the level of precarbonization reflectance (PCR) of inertinite and the reflectance and bireflectance of its coke. The increase in the latter parameter is non-linear and involves a sudden jump which is taken as the boundary between reactive (high bireflectance) and non-reactive (low bireflectance) inertinite. In relation to coal rank a reactivity field for inertinite has been delineated which can be subdivided into two areas of high and moderate reactivity, respectively. On the whole, the proportion of reactive inertinite is larger than allowed for in most petrography-based coke stability calculations.

Women's health: an investment in the future.

Women's health is examined from three perspectives: the health needs of women as a person (personhood), as a woman (womanhood), and as a mother (motherhood). Women's health is looked at from other vantage points: as the stimulus for the generation of issues, an area of widespread public concern, dispute, or disagreement; and as an investment, worthy of time and money because it will ultimately pay dividends.

The Symbolism of Learning in St. Augustine

There is widespread disagreement as to exactly what Augustine might have meant by his theory of learning, in which Christ, the truth, teaches within. The precise interpretation of Augustine's doctrine of illumination has been the subject of centuries of debate. How is this kind of learning process which Augustine outlines—a process by which the word of God illumines the soul—to be understood? The major schools of thought on this subject have been: theontologisticversion, which regards the immediate presence of the divine light, the continuity between the mind of man and the mind of God, as primary in the act of learning; theideogeneticversion, which regards the activity of the word of God, mysteriously producing ideas in the human mind, as primary in the learning process; and, finally, what we might call thenormativeversion, which understands the metaphor of illumination to refer to the way in which the divine light provides an ultimate standard of certainty by which knowledge is evaluated, rather than describing an inner, psychological process through which the act of learning occurs.

General beliefs and the principle of charity

In 'Charity, interpretation, and belief 1, Colin McGinn argues against Donald Davidson's contention (particularly in 'On the very idea of a conceptual scheme'2) "that charity with respect to the beliefs and sayings of others is a sine qua non of successful translation" (McGinn, p. 521), that "We know a priori that there is no possibility of widespread and deep-going disagreement between interpreter and interpreted" (McGinn, p. 522). McGinn thinks, because of a passage in Davidson's 'Thought and talk'3, that there are two principles "upon [whose] truth hinges Davidson's case for according to charity the status of a constitutive condition of intelligibility" (McGinn, p. 525). The first is that

The Theology of Image in Eastern Orthodoxy and John Calvin

His chapter title ‘Childish arguments for images at the Council of Nicaea (787)’, in John Calvin'sInstitutes of the Christian Religion, suggests the bitter and painful divisions that have arisen in the Church over the issue of image veneration. From Biblical through Patristic to Reformation times, Iconodule, Iconophile and Iconoclast dissension has remained unresolved. Calvin's 'disgust' at Nicaea IPs ‘absurdities’ and Orthodoxy's anathemas against Calvinist ‘heretics’ are symptomatic of the widespread disagreement and divergence in the Church over this fundamental question of the Faith.

Issues in the Education of Emotionally Disturbed Children

Major issues facing educators and clinicians in the field of emotional disturbance in children and youth are centered around providing appropriate services to this population. Three major problems are discussed in relation to helping disturbed children. They are: (1) issues pertaining to assessment practices; (2) issues pertaining to the nature of emotional disturbance; and (3) issues pertaining to the treatment of emotional problems. Because of the wide range of theoretical backgrounds of practitioners in the field and because of non-standardized practices in defining, identifying, placing, and treating disturbed children these issues continue to cause widespread disagreements among professionals when implementing treatment programs. The need for objectively defining emotional problems and rationally designing programs to meet individual child needs is stressed.

On the Analysis of "Protagoras" 351B-360E

HAVING SECURED PROTAGORAS' ASSENT to the identity of piety, justice, wisdom, and temperance, Socrates attempts to complete his proof of the unity of the virtues by demonstrating the identity of courage and wisdom. After an initial foray in this direction (the fourth argument) is countered by Protagoras, who accuses him of committing a simple fallacy (349el-351b2),1 Socrates launches into the lengthy and complex final argument of the Protagoras (the fifth argument). This argument, which contains Plato's fullest single statement of the Socratic paradoxes, has received a good deal of attention in recent years, but its most important segment, Socrates' attempt to prove the non-existence of moral weakness, or akrasia (a word not used in the Protagoras), is still the subject of much controversy. In particular, there is widespread disagreement about his proofs (a) that the belief of the many-that people perform certain actions, while knowing them to be wrong, though they don't have to do them, because they are overcome by pleasureis absurd; and (b) that the actions are really due to ignorance. In light of this widespread disagreement, these points, which are central not only to the interpretation of the Protagoras but to Plato's early dialogues as a whole, deserve to be examined anew. The position taken in this paper is that Socrates' interpretation of akrasia in the Protagoras is dependent on a certain view of human motivation, which we may call Egoism-its precise nature is discussed below. In particular, I will argue that Socrates is able to reduce the many's account of akrasia to absurdity by showing that it conflicts with the obvious truth of Egoism. While some semblance of this view has been argued before, most notably by Santas,2 it has recently come under attack by C. C. W. Taylor, in his extremely helpful commentary on the Protagoras.3 The purpose of this paper is to defend the Egoism-view. I will attempt to show not only that Socrates' argument depends upon

Epidemiology of otitis media: problem and research focus for geographers.

Yearly, otitis media (inflammation of the middle ear and its extensions) creates fluctuating hearing loss for thousands of children aged ten or younger. The common etiological factor seems to be a dysfunctioning eustachian tube, but there is widespread disagreement as to specific causes contributing to this dysfunction. Certain incidence patterns suggest that season of year, low altitude, high humidity, and variable weather are contributing factors. Geographers could add to an understanding of this medical problem by studying spatial patterns and by attempting to determine the occurrence of otitis media with the interrelationships of such variables as climate, altitude and weather patterns.

The Detection of Perioperative Myocardial Infarction in Aortocoronary Bypass Surgery

The incidence of myocardial infarction associated with aortocoronary bypass is difficult to determine because of widespread disagreement in evaluating the criteria for its detection. A prospective study consisting of 100 consecutive patients undergoing surgery for aortocoronary bypass was initiated. All patients were evaluated before and after surgery with electrocardiograms, heart scans of the infarct, and determinations of the level of the MB isoenzyme of creatine phosphokinase. A figure determined to be the upper limit of the expected rise in the level of the isoenzyme resulting from cardiac manipulation was selected, and 20 percent of the patients had more than the expected rise in the enzymatic level. Approximately one-half of these patients had abnormal ECGs or scans (or both) as well. The determination of the level of isoenzyme is very sensitive, and a normal level would exclude infarction. Elevations of concentrations of the enzyme due to minor myocardial cellular alterations are frequent. For this reason, in addition to an elevation of the concentration of the enzyme above the expected rise, the presence of an abnormal scan or ECG (or both) is necessary to make the diagnosis of perioperative infarction.

Computerized ECG Analysis

<h3>To the Editor.—</h3> In the review entitled "Status Report on Computerized ECG Analysis" (239:1201, 1978), Ariet and Crevasse make the following statement: "On the other hand, there seems to be no disagreement that presenting a cardiologist with a computerized analysis of an ECG will improve his own diagnostic capability and save time, particularly in reporting." Since this statement is, in fact, the whole justification for promotion of computer ECG programs, it is interesting—and alarming—to discover that it is simply not true. There is widespread disagreement with the notion that computer ECG analysis "will improve diagnostic capability," and there are convincing data to show that it will not. There are no data at all to substantiate the notion that use of computer ECG analysis will save time. Computer ECG proponents confront a dilemma best stated as a question. By universal agreement (including the authors in question),<i>all</i>computer ECG analyses must

Yves R. Simon and "The Common Good": A Note on the Concept

The term is not much in use of late. Public has largely replaced it. Yet some of problems of modern political thought are evident in current widespread disagreement about meaning of the public interest. Many reject idea of public interest or common good altogether;2 others identify it with an aggregation of particular interests.3 Most commonly, public interest is conceived as policy which emerges from conflict of interests within democratic process, or, occasionally, as process of interest conflict and compromise itself. I have criticized these conceptions elsewhere.4 Their most fundamental flaw is failure to see anything to beyond encounter of interests: that is, wants, desires, or preferences. In politics of there is no public to possess an interest, let alone any criteria according to which an interest's moral or political worth might be assessed. I do not intend to re-cover that ground in this essay. I intend, rather, to suggest how a unitary conception of common good, such as Yves R. Simon's, avoids theoretical pitfalls to which other are subject. The term is taken from Virginia Held's classification of public interest theories. Held's criticism of other conceptions-preponderance theories and interest theories-parallels and complements that given above of dominant conceptions and need not be

Prosecutors and the Disposition of Criminal Cases: An Analysis of Plea Bargaining Rates

Increasing crime rates generate considerable public concern over the performance of the criminal justice system. Many citizens would be shocked to learn that the system operates on the basis of mutual cooperation and consultation, rather than the media image of the strident prosecutor battling a committed defense attorney. The actual operation of the American system of criminal justice is vastly different from the ideal adversary system. The reality is bureaucratic bargaining.1 Approximately ninety percent of all criminal cases are resolved through the process of pre-trial negotiation or plea bargaining.2 Plea bargaining results from an agreement between the prosecutor, defense attorney, and ocrasionally the defendant. The prosecutor offers the defendant a quid pro quo (charge reduction or sentence recommendation) for pleading guilty. Plea bargaining is a low visability process, one which occurs in a private and informal setting. Decisions are made over lunch or in the hallway of the criminal court building. Moreover, the participants wield such discretion that in most cases they serve as the final arbiters in the sentencing decision. The practice of plea bargaining has created considerable controversy. Various study groups such as the President's Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice and the American Bar Association have endorsed the practice, although recommending certain reforms.3 However, other groups, specifically the Nixon Administration's National Advisory Commission on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals, have argued for the abolition of plea bargaining.4 Given the prevalence of the practice, as well as the widespread disagreement over its use, plea bargaining merits further study and research. This study examines the effect of a prosecutor's values and social background on his rate of plea bargaining. The findings presented here are based on a mail survey of prosecuting attorneys and their assistants in the state of Illinois.6 The survey instrument contained both open-ended and closed questions focusing primarily on the prosecutor's plea bargaining practices and his view of these procedures. Respondents were also asked to supply biographical data.