Suchergebnisse

Book review
Book review
In this contribution the author reviews Qualitative inquiry in everyday life by S. Brinkmann.

In this contribution the author reviews Introducing qualitative research: A student's guide (2nd ed.) by Rosalind S. Barbour.

Book review
Book review
In this contribution the author reviews Doing Q methodological research: theory, method and interpretation by S. Watts & P. Stenner.

Reaction to the book review
Reaction to the book review
Reaction to the book review of Wat veteranen vertellen; verschillende perspectieven op biografische interviews over ervaringen tijdens militaire operaties edited by H. van den Berg, S. Scagliola and F. Wester.

Book review
Book review
In this contribution the author reviews Wat veteranen vertellen; verschillende perspectieven op biografische interviews over ervaringen tijdens militaire operaties edited by H. van den Berg, S. Scagliola and F. Wester.

The article deals with the proper identification & localization of the effect of election predictions on voting behavior. As a revision of the "traditional bandwagon concept" stemming from the 1930's & 1940's, which is still in use despite its conceptual fallacy, new lines of thought are merged into the definition of the "modern bandwagon concept:" the relative & subjective bandwagon effects, together with the relative & subjective underdog effects & the slack effect, constitute the declaration effect as a resultant. Using matrices based upon party preferences, upon exposure to, perception of & interpretation of election predictions, & upon possible voting behavior, the several effects are localized. The real existence of effects is briefly discussed in relation to favorable or neutralizing conditions from the fields of pol'al sci & of mass COMM's. A warning is issued, on methodological & pol'al grounds, against too quick an acceptance of US res findings as valid for the Netherlands. IPSA.

Book review, answer to reaction
Book review, answer to reaction
Answer of the author on the reaction to the book review of Wat veteranen vertellen; verschillende perspectieven op biografische interviews over ervaringen tijdens militaire operaties edited by H. van den Berg, S. Scagliola and F. Wester.

The organizational & formal structures of Belgium's francophone political parties are elucidated. For each party, the main conventions held in 1998 & 1999 are listed; subsequently, the composition & organization of the main party committee, the party bureau, & the main executive offices including dispute agencies are described. The party structure is explained; main representatives are listed; & membership numbers, party publications, & recent electoral results are presented. The following parties are discussed: Parti Socialiste, Parti Reformateur Liberal, the environmentalist party Ecolo, & Parti Social Chretien. S. Paul

An investigation of the relations between sociol & pol'al sci (politology), based upon an examination of the existing literature. Pol'al sci remains an ill-defined area of the soc sci's. H. Heller is quoted to the effect that it lacks a clearly defined set of problems or a definitely prescribed methodology. Another difficulty is furnished by the lack of a definite boundary line between 'pol'al sci' & 'pol'al sociol.' The latter may be defined as the sociol of pol'al phenomena. Its concept has been defined in several ways, eg, as the empirical branch of the philosophy of the state (G. Salomon-Delatour); as a synonym of pol'al sci (M. Duverger); as the study of the power of the state (M. G. Lange); as the study of pol'al instit's (S. M. Lipset, R. Bendix). But pol'al phenomena, which pol'al sociol studies, cannot be confined to the state. This is demonstrated by an agreement reached in the early 1960's by the Belgian electricity companies, labor unions & consumers' org's which settled a pol'al matter & by-passed the state. In addition to purely pol'al aspects, pol'al sociol also studies certain psychol'al aspects of behavior which affect pol. It is concluded that pol'al sociol contributes to pol'al sci certain 'pieces of the mosaic of knowledge'; these pieces will be all the more valuable because they come from an area in which intuition has played so far a more important part than rational study. I. Langnas.

S. M. Lipset's thesis (see SA 8:1/607105) that the Wc, more so than other SCs, is predisposed to authoritarian & antidemocratic attitudes is criticized on the grounds that his conceptualization & measurement of SC is inaccurate & inappropriate. Investigation using an empirical class model (see Eric Olin Wright's Class, Crisis and the State, London: Verso [NLB 1978], 1979) fails to show the Wc as more authoritarian than other SCs; on the contrary, education seems to be the most important factor. It is concluded that the measurement of SC is crucial to empirical investigations of Wc authoritarianism; some theoretical implications are briefly discussed. 6 Tables, 2 Figures, 39 References. Modified HA

Institutional issues to likely be dealt with in an early 2000 Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) for all members of the EU are identified & discussed, arguing that the rationalization of current agreements & a focus on institutional functioning & legitimacy would be more desirable than attempting to draft a European Constitution or largely symbolical catalogues of constitutional EU rights & competences. To accomplish better institutional functioning after a year in which the entire committee was suddenly fired, (1) organizational efficiency, (2) institutional openness, & (3) the perception of democracy -- through an increased sense of proximity to residents, better representation of voters' choices in the EU institutions, & increased accountability of individuals & member states -- are deemed essential. S. Paul

In order to study the problem of income inequality it is necessary to define the situation of income equality & to define the concept of deviation from that situation. It is possible to define equality as a situation in which the relationships between incomes correspond to the rule x1 : x2....: xn = 1:1...: 1 (xi being the income of person i), & as a situation in which this relationship satisfies the rule xi -- xj = 0 for all pairs i, j out of the pop. The choice of the definition leads to diff standards of income inequality; in the 1st case, income inequality is measured relatively, in the 2nd it is measured absolutely. The choice of definition must be based on whether people perceive income diff's relatively or absolutely: the position is taken here that people perceive income diff's in relative terms. Inequality is measured as 0 = s/ X, s being the standard deviation. Analogous to the analysis of variance this standard allows for unraveling the total inequality into a part that can be explained by inequality between (soc & econ) groups, & a part that can be explained by inequality that exists within groups. Such an unraveling is an essential condition for gov'al & union policies aimed at levelling the existing income inequality. An examination of the extent to which incomes are unequally distributed in the Netherlands & an evaluation of gov'al & union policies viewed in light of the desirability of decreasing the income inequality are also undertaken. Appendix 1 contains formulas by which income inequality can be studied horizontally & vertically. In Appendix 2 a hyp states the relationship between the amount of power & the willingness to use that power a group possesses on the one hand & the share the group will get in the nat'l income on the other hand. Modified HA.

Main political events of 1999 in Flanders (Belgium) are discussed. Following a description of the formalities, notably budget control issues, leading up to the June 13 elections, the results of the elections & the formation of the new Flemish parliament are described. Although the Christian democratic party CVP emerged as the largest party, it forfeited its governing rights; instead, a socialist/environmentalist coalition consisting of VLD, SP, Agalev, & VU-ID was formed. The development of budgetary agreements is summarized, & main elements of discussions & agreements in the following policy fields are addressed: economy & labor, infrastructure, environment, welfare, education, media, & state reformation. Since the Flemish parliament, established in 1995, is a relatively new institution, organizational & structural aspects of its departments are highlighted & explained, & the developmental processes of each department & office are emphasized. S. Paul