When Empirical Success Implies Theoretical Reference: A Structural Correspondence Theorem

Starting from a brief recapitulation of the contemporary debateon scientific realism, this paper argues for the following thesis:Assume a theory T has been empirically successful in a domainof application A, but was superseded later on by a superiortheory T^*, which was likewise successful in A but has an arbitrarilydifferent theoretical superstructure. Then under natural conditionsT contains certain theoretical expressions, which yielded T'sempirical success, such that these T-expressions correspond(in A) to certain theoretical expressions of T^*, and given T^*is true, they refer indirectly to the entities denoted by theseexpressions of T^*. The thesis is first motivated by a studyof the phlogiston–oxygen example. Then the thesis is provedin the form of a logical theorem, and illustrated by furtherexamples. The final sections explain how the correspondencetheorem justifies scientific realism and work out the advantagesof the suggested account.

1. Introduction: Pessimistic Meta-induction vs. Structural Correspondence
2. The Case of the Phlogiston Theory
3. Steps Towards a SystematicCorrespondence Theorem
4. The Correspondence Theorem and ItsOntological Interpretation
5. Further Historical Applications
6. Discussion of the Correspondence Theorem: Objections and Replies
7. Consequences for Scientific Realism and Comparison with OtherPositions

   7.1 Comparison with constructive empiricism

   7.2Major difference from standard scientific realism

   7.3 Fromminimal realism and correspondence to scientific realism

   7.4Comparison with particular realistic positions

     

Parallel assessment of nutrition and activity in athletes: validation against doubly labelled water, 24-h urea excretion, and indirect calorimetry

The assessment of nutrition and activity in athletes requires accurate and precise methods. The aim of this study was to validate a protocol for parallel assessment of diet and exercise against doubly labelled water, 24-h urea excretion, and respiratory gas exchange. The participants were 14 male triathletes under normal training conditions. Energy intake and doubly labelled water were weakly associated with each other (r = 0.69, standard error of estimate [SEE] = 304 kcal x day(-1)). Protein intake was strongly correlated with 24-h urea (r = 0.89) but showed considerable individual variation (SEE = 0.34 g kg(-1) x day(-1)). Total energy expenditure based on recorded activities was highly correlated with doubly labelled water (r = 0.95, SEE = 195 kcal x day(-1)) but was proportionally biased. During running and cycling, estimated exercise energy expenditure was highly correlated with gas exchange (running: r = 0.89, SEE = 1.6 kcal x min(-1); cycling: r = 0.95, SEE = 1.4 kcal x min(-1)). High exercise energy expenditure was slightly underestimated during running. For nutrition data, variations appear too large for precise measurements in individual athletes, which is a common problem of dietary assessment methods. Despite the high correlations of total energy expenditure and exercise energy expenditure with reference methods, a correction for systematic errors is necessary for the valid estimation of energetic requirements in individual athletes.     

What does educational quality mean?

Educational Assessment, Evaluation and Accountability -     

COVID-19 and schooling: evaluation,assessment and accountability in times of crises—reacting quickly to explore key issues for policy,practice and research with the school barometer

Educational Assessment, Evaluation and Accountability - The crisis caused by the COVID-19 virus has far-reaching effects in the field of education, as schools were closed in March 2020 in many...     

The costs and benefits of 'red tape': anti-bureaucratic structure and gender inequity in a science research organization

This paper explicates a central conflict that can affect science research organizations, the conflict between the anti-bureaucratic stance believed to advance science and concerns for gender equity rooted in the universalist ethos of science. We present a case study of a science research organization, using employment and publication records, a survey of 308 employees, and qualitative interviews with 60 employees. We show how anti-bureaucratic organizational structures perpetuate gender inequities for both female scientists and non-scientists.     

Establishing an Explanatory Model for Mathematics Identity

This article empirically tests a previously developed theoretical framework for mathematics identity based on students’ beliefs. The study employs data from more than 9,000 college calculus students across the United States to build a robust structural equation model. While it is generally thought that students’ beliefs about their own competence in mathematics directly impact their identity as a “math person,” findings indicate that students’ self‐perceptions related to competence and performance have an indirect effect on their mathematics identity, primarily by association with students’ interest and external recognition in mathematics. Thus, the model indicates that students’ competence and performance beliefs are not sufficient for their mathematics identity development, and it highlights the roles of interest and recognition.     

Skill Acquisition and Reflection‐based Decision Making in a Teaching Laboratory: an evaluative study

This paper continues the tradition of research, development and evaluation of teaching laboratories, and, at the same time, extends earlier research in two directions: by placing more emphasis on the improvement of a reflection‐based decision‐making ability in becoming a teacher (beyond effective skill acquisition), and by concentrating on the improvement of presentation skills, an area neglected in teacher training. Based on research on teaching and teacher training, a training program was developed for enhancing the trainees’ nonverbal expressiveness in presentations that, by fostering reflection‐based decision making through experimenting with presentation skills in a laboratory with feedback and discussions, also improves the clarity, interest and social climate of presentations. The evaluation of the most recent Version of this program reveals that significant gains could be achieved not only in nonverbal expressiveness as an indicator for successful skill acquisition, but also in the global aspects of successful lecturing indicating that the program was also effective for the improvement of the trainees’ reflection‐based decision making.     

Evaluierung von Studienpl?nen

Gegenstand des vorliegenden Beitrages ist die Vorstellung eines Projektes zur Evaluierung eines Studienplanes in Form der Ermittlung von Verbesserungsm?glichkeiten hinsichtlich der Studienbedingungen. Evaluiert wird der aktuelle Studienplan für die Studienrichtung Betriebswirtschaft an der Karl-Franzens-Universit?t Graz. Zun?chst werden anhand einer kombinierten offenen und strukturierten Befragung Verbesserungswünsche von Studierenden, die nach diesem Studienplan studieren, gewonnen. Im Anschluss werden jene Verbesserungswünsche identifiziert, die realisierbar erscheinen. Zielsetzung der gegenst?ndlichen Evaluierung ist eine Verbesserung der Studienqualit?t.