Effects of quality of opposition and match status on technical and tactical performances in elite volleyball

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of quality of opposition and match status on technical and tactical volleyball performances, as measured by block, attack, serve, and set actions related to the tasks, space, players, and efficacy of selected game actions. Twenty-five matches from the men's World Cup 2007 were notated and through cluster analysis were classified as "high" (HIGH), "intermediate" (INT) or "low" (LOW) quality. The difference between points scored and points allowed was used to define match status. Multinomial logistic regression identified an association of match status with: set direction (likelihood ratio test [LRT]?=?15.5, P?=?0.017) and block typology (LRT?=?9.6, P?=?0.047) in HIGH vs. HIGH matches; attack player (LRT?=?17.4, P?=?0.026) and block typology (LRT?=?9.2, P?=?0.010) in LOW vs. LOW matches; and serve type (LRT?=?17.4, P?=?0.002), block strategy (LRT?=?53.7, P?<0.001), and serve efficacy (LRT?=?26.0, P?=?0.001) in HIGH vs. LOW matches. Results suggest that volleyball teams took more risky decisions in unbalanced situations. They also carried less risk through technical and tactical decisions in balanced and moderate situations whether they had the advantage or not. Therefore, strategic behaviour was affected by the interaction of quality of opposition and match status, providing a better understanding of volleyball game performance and new insights for practice, competition, and research.     

Mandatory provisioning of digital public services as a feasible service delivery strategy: Evidence from Italian local governments

Several governments are actively encouraging their administrations to deliver public services exclusively through digital channels. This strategy consists of putting in place a series of complex and specific actions that bring into play numerous actors, to ensure that users are willing to accept digital channels and that weaker users are not disadvantaged. Although this strategy is being increasingly adopted in various countries, scholars have scarcely begun to explore its logic. This research explores how to define a service delivery strategy that forces users to adopt digital channels. Four in-depth case studies have been conducted on Italian local governments that started delivering their non-educational school services through digital channels alone. We found that a mandatory service delivery strategy is feasible when the starting point is to understand the users' characteristics, skills and behaviours and, as a consequence, whether they perceive the service as complex and/or ambiguous. With this in mind, public organisations can select the proper mix of channels for each category of users and combine their change in approach with behavioural-type interventions, i.e. by creating the right conditions to modify the users' behaviour.     

Defining information—II: A quantitative evaluation of the information content of documents

For the quantitative determination of the information content (IC) of documents, two requisite parameters were defined. First, the information unit (IU) as the smallest unit consistent with our previous definition of information, and second, its connectivity (C), namely, the extent to which it is connected with other information units in the document. The total quantity of information contained therein is then a function of the number of information units, as well as their connectivities.     

Advisory work as assistance in problem-solving — Problem-solving models as basic concepts for advisory work

Abstract

This article summarises some basic concepts of advisory work, incorporated into novel forms of extension over the past half century at Hohenheim University, Stuttgart, Germany. It emphasis a certain understanding of advisory work: as support through “mental help” in structuring and restructuring by informing, motivating and enabling. Through exercises given in the article one can get the idea that problem situations are determined by one's own lack of insight and difficulties in breaking through the limitations of perceptions. The concept presented here in “stages of systematic problem-solving” starts with the perception of a problem by the client. The further critical steps are described within this process from perception of a problem towards solutions and evaluation of results. Two other models that are useful in thinking about problem-solving are also presented. Advisors should value them and be able to make use of them in a flexible way.     

Effects of simultaneous auditory feedback on reading accuracy during reading development

Five groups of twelve right-handed male children from the second to the sixth grade with normal reading efficiency were tested under three conditions of simultaneous amplified auditory feedback, binaurally, to the left and to the right ear, on reading aboud two separate classes of words, nouns and nonwords. Lateralized feedback was supposed to shift auditory attention towards the source of input and modify as a consequence, the functionality of the contralateral hemisphere. Right ear feedback improved reading accuracy with respect to the control (binaural) or left ear condition in the first three grades. No effect was observed in the fifth grade whereas in the sixth grade, the condition of left ear feedback improved only the reading of nouns. Changes in reading accuracy are interpreted according to an hypothesis of a decrement of the left hemisphere involvement during the course of reading development. These changes are discussed in relation to Frith's (1985) psycholinguistic model of reading acquisition.     

Erasmus Thematic Networks and the European dimension of Engineering Education

Some of the most important challenges for engineering schools at the beginning of the 21st century are summarised as well as the role of ERASMUS Thematic Networks (TN) in this scenario.

Though focus is mainly given to the European environment, the changes which are interesting Engineering Education appear to involve also the non-European sphere and therefore, this set of papers on the main outcomes of E4 Thematic Network (2000–2004) has been conceived, not only as an useful instrument of dissemination, but also an open window on Europe.

In this introductory paper key characteristics of successful TNs are outlined, as resulting from the experience of TN E4, Enhancing Engineering Education in Europe, which has terminated its life end of September 2004. The new TN project, denominated TREE, for Teaching and Research in Engineering in Europe, is briefly presented.

On the other hand, in the following 5 sections some of the main activities developed within E4 are presented touching topics related to accreditation, quality assurance, students involvement in Engineering Education, ICT and new learning methods and curriculum development.