Suchergebnisse

Wellhofer's adaptation of Klingman's suggestion that spatial diffusion be modeled as an autoregressive spatial series is questioned on two counts. First, this approach is inappropriate for most classes of diffusion models, including dendritic diffusion systems. Second, the procedure by which Wellhofer has ordered the observations in his Argentine illustration produces a database that bears almost no resemblance to the underlying pattern of causation he wishes to examine and actually creates an additional source of bias in the analysis.

Because they are unlikely to match the existing electorate, inmigrants may alter the local partisan balance. Here, partisan change in the US is examined, with focus on the impact of migration. Conditions under which migration is likely to have its greatest effect are also identified. The case of Denton, Tex, which has witnessed both a wave of migration-based population growth & a dramatic change in the local partisan balance, is offered as illustration. 2 Tables, 18 References. Modified HA

WELLHOFER'S ADAPTION OF KLINGMAN'S SUGGESTION THAT SPATIAL DIFFUSION BE MODELED AS AN AUTOREGRESSIVE SPATIAL SERIES IS QUESTIONED ON TWO COUNTS. FIRST, THIS APPROACH IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR MOST CLASSES OF DIFFUSION MODELS, INCLUDING DENDRITIC DIFFUSION SYSTEMS, SECOND, THE PROCEDURE BY WHICH WELLHOFER HAS ORDERED THE OBSERVATIONS IN HIS ARGENTINE ILLUSTRATION PRODUCES A DATABASE THAT BEARS ALMOST NO RESEMBLANCE TO THE UNDERLYING PATTERN OF CAUSATION HE WISHES TO EXAMINE AND ACTUALLY CREATES AN ADDITIONAL SOURCE OF BIAS IN THE ANALYSIS.

Two research strategies, the most similar systems and the most different systems, have each been promoted as being the correct method for conducting comparative research. These two strategies are shown here to be identical in their logical structure, and neither strategy is found to be superior to the other in principle. Their sole differences lie in the amount of variability found in the dependent phenomenon and which independent variables this permits to be eliminated as irrelevant. A research strategy that mixes the two alternatives is proposed as being more feasible, given reasonable expectations about actual research settings.

Few American political institutions have prompted as much research, controversy, and debate during the post-World War II era as have political parties. In turn, few institutions have seen their demise (Broder 1971; Sundquist 1982; Crotty 1984; Wattenberg 1990, 1991) and, alternately, their re-juvenation (Schlesinger 1985; Kayden and Mahe 1985; Pomper 1981; Price 1984; Gitelson, Conway, and Feigert 1984) reported so often in scholarly publications, textbooks, and the popular press. Gibson and his colleagues suggested in 1985 that "[t]he last twenty years have not been kind to American political parties" (1985, 139), and, as we approach the twenty-first century, many scholars would agree that the past four decades have been marked by a volatile and changing party system.