Suchergebnisse

Foreword; Table of Contents; The Desegregation of Ideas; A Generation of Demographic Change; Minimum Subsistence; Optimum Rates of Population Growth; The Man-Land Ratio; The Equilibrium Population; The Genetic Future of Man; Cultural Aspects of the Population Problem; Variations on a Theme by Malthus; Commentary; Index

A rejoinder to SA 0104/C2675 & SA 0104/C7045 which takes issue with the theoretical meanings to be attached to the terms 'intensity' & 'extensity' in the measurement of pol'al opposition. Alternative procedures that may clarify the problem are suggested, using the term 'solidarity' to measure diff's in belief, values, att's, etc. Variance is seen as, in some sense, a measure of 'consensus.' The smaller the variance, the more likely there will be consensus. The question of how variance is to be measured in the situation described by the above papers is raised. A mathematical formula to deal with this problem is proposed, which simply involves assigning numbers to the 3 alternatives of the original papers (majority position= 1, central or neutral position= 0, & substantively minority position= -1). Statistical tables obtained to measure variance under diff types of distribution are presented. Hence G. J. McCall's & J. M. Simmons' proposed measure of 'extensity' is merely a special case of variance. It is concluded that the mean/average could be taken as a possible measure of 'intensity,' since it has the property of ranging from 0 to 1, but it has the additional property of being intimately connected to variance. The proposed measure was compared with that of McCall & Simmons in an application to a symmetrical response leading to either polarity or indifference, & of an assymetrical response suggesting consensus, & as a result it appeared necessary to translate a measure of 'opposition' into the mathematical model G=o2/(1 -- X). It is concluded that if the theoretical model does not obtain, the thrust of the res was in error. In that case the data must be returned to for an ad hoc analysis. If, however, the theoretical conditions do exist, this measure carries with it its own implications. M. Maxfield.