Robust estimation procedures and visual display techniques for a two-way classification model

An important problem in statistics is to study the effect of one or two factors on a dependent variable. This type of problem can be formulated as a regression problem (by using dummy (0,1) variables to represent the levels of factors) and the standard least squares (LS) analysis is well-known. The least absolute value (LAV) analysis is less well known, but certainly is becoming more widely used, especially in exploratory data analysis.The purpose of this report is to present a didactic treatment of visual display methods useful in exploratory data analysis. These visual display techniques (stem- and- leaf, box- and- whisker, and two-way plots) are presented for both the least squares and the least absolute value analyses of a two-way classification model.     

Formal Mentoring Systems: An Examination of the Effects of Mentor/Protégé Cognitive Styles on the Mentoring Process

In informal mentoring systems, protégés seek help from other organizational members between whom there is often mutual attraction and rapport resulting in a level of interpersonal comfort between the members of the relationship. Because of the apparent benefits for both employee and organization, many human resource managers now attempt to establish formal mentoring systems in which mentors and protégés are brought together systematically. It is recognized, however, that assigned mentoring relationships are not usually as beneficial as those that develop informally. There appears, therefore, to be a need to match partners in some way. It has been suggested that a better grasp of psychological factors is necessary if this is to be achieved. One personality variable that may be partly responsible for shaping the overall effectiveness of such relationships is cognitive style. The present study, involving 53 mentor–protégé dyads, examined the effects of the cognitive styles of mentors and protégés on the process of formal mentoring. Data were collected from both partners in each dyadic relationship, and findings suggest that in dyads whose mentor is more analytic, congruence between the partners' cognitive styles enhances the quality of their mentoring relationships. Cognitive style was also found to work indirectly through its influence on other variables to enhance mutual liking and psychosocial and career mentoring functions. Gender composition was also found to have a significant impact on the mentoring process. Dyads with female mentors and male protégés were found to be the least favourable combination.     

Reconciling moral and legal collective entitlement: Implications for community-based land reform

This paper discusses the drawing and contesting of social boundaries in the enactment of collective land rights, and the implications for land reform policies based around the notion of ‘community’ entitlement. Drawing on recent research in the crofting areas of Scotland, the paper explores the tensions arising when legal collective rights—or proposed changes to them—do not coincide with perceived moral claims to land. Examining the enactment of existing collective rights demonstrates how contested moral assumptions underpinning crofting identities, discourses and land use practices qualify and disqualify individuals as members of an imagined ‘crofting community’, and shape de facto access to and control over land-based resources. Some of the key policy implications of these findings are discussed with particular reference to Scottish land reform.     

Interfuel substitution in Australia: a way forward to achieve environmental sustainability

This paper examines the possibilities for interfuel substitution in Australia in view of the need to shift towards a cleaner mix of fuels and technologies to meet future energy demand and environmental goals. The translog cost function is estimated for the aggregate economy, the manufacturing sector and its subsectors, and the electricity generation subsector. The advantages of this work over previous literature relating to the Australian case are that it uses relatively recent data, focuses on energy‐intensive subsectors and estimates the Morishima elasticities of substitution. The empirical evidence shown herein indicates weak‐form substitutability between different energy types, and higher possibilities for substitution at lower levels of aggregation, compared with the aggregate economy. For the electricity generation subsector, which is at the centre of the CO₂ emissions problem in Australia, significant but weak substitutability exists between coal and gas when the price of coal changes. A higher substitution possibility exists between coal and oil in this subsector. The evidence for the own‐ and cross‐price elasticities, together with the results for fuel efficiencies, indicates that a large increase in relative prices could be justified to further stimulate the market for low‐emission technologies.     

Careers guidance,psychometric testing and unemployment amongst young people: an empirical analysis for Northern Ireland

Psychometric tests continue to form an important part of careers guidance for young people of school leaving age throughout the UK. In the existing literature, there is little evidence about the impact of testing on subsequent labour market success. This paper presents a quantitative analysis of the effect of testing in Northern Ireland on young people's subsequent experiences of unemployment and long-term unemployment between the ages of 16 and 18. On account of the sample selection problem, standard single equation estimates of the effects of testing are likely to give biased results, and so the bivariate probit model is used in the estimation. The results suggest that although testing is not having an adverse impact, it is not having a statistically significant positive effect. This may be attributable to some aspects of test administration in Northern Ireland which, in many cases, seems to fall short of recommended guidelines.     

Industry type,culture, mode of entry and perceptions of international marketing ethics problems: A cross-cultural comparison

The authors investigate the differences in ethical perceptions of Australian and Hong Kong international managers. Ethical perceptions are measured with respect to different industry types, cultures and modes of entry into international markets. Mode of entry refers to how firms select to enter foreign markets. Modes of entry include: exporting (indirect or direct), contractual methods (licensing and franchising) and via direct foreign investment (joint ventures and wholly-owned subsidiaries). It was determined that culture and mode of entry have a significant effect on the perception of ethical problems.Robert Armstrong is an Associate Professor of Marketing and Research Associate of the Asia Research Centre at Murdoch University. His prior experience includes: industrial management, marketing research and corporate planning. His research and consulting interests are centred in the areas of international marketing ethics and services marketing.Jill Sweeney is a Senior Tutor at Murdoch University and is currently working on a doctorate. Jill's chief research interests are in the areas of services marketing and marketing ethics.     

The nature of the new joint consultation

Drawing upon research conducted in thirteen organisations between 1980 and 1984, the authors illustrate, by the use of case studies, a range of developments in joint consultation. They specifically link their findings on consultation to other industrial relations activity and the nature of the product market in which the companies find themselves.     

Toward a Synthesis of Models of Regulatory Policy Design with Limited Information

We develop a simple, yet general, model that admits as special cases several key analyses of the design of regulatory policy in the presence of asymmetric information. In doing so, we help to identify the central differences and similarities among the diverse analyses in the literature.