Rationality and politics of algorithms. Will the promise of big data survive the dynamics of public decision making?

Big data promises to transform public decision-making for the better by making it more responsive to actual needs and policy effects. However, much recent work on big data in public decision-making assumes a rational view of decision-making, which has been much criticized in the public administration debate. In this paper, we apply this view, and a more political one, to the context of big data and offer a qualitative study. We question the impact of big data on decision-making, realizing that big data – including its new methods and functions – must inevitably encounter existing political and managerial institutions. By studying two illustrative cases of big data use processes, we explore how these two worlds meet. Specifically, we look at the interaction between data analysts and decision makers. In this we distinguish between a rational view and a political view, and between an information logic and a decision logic. We find that big data provides ample opportunities for both analysts and decision makers to do a better job, but this doesn't necessarily imply better decision-making, because big data also provides opportunities for actors to pursue their own interests. Big data enables both data analysts and decision makers to act as autonomous agents rather than as links in a functional chain. Therefore, big data's impact cannot be interpreted only in terms of its functional promise; it must also be acknowledged as a phenomenon set to impact our policymaking institutions, including their legitimacy.     

Resting state networks mediate the association between both cardiovascular fitness and gross motor skills with neurocognitive functioning

Recent evidence suggests that cardiovascular fitness and gross motor skill performance are related to neurocognitive functioning by influencing brain structure and functioning. This study investigates the role of resting-state networks (RSNs) in the relation of cardiovascular fitness and gross motor skills with neurocognitive functioning in healthy 8- to 11-year-old children (n = 90, 45 girls, 10% migration background). Cardiovascular fitness and gross motor skills were related to brain activity in RSNs. Furthermore, brain activity in RSNs mediated the relation of both cardiovascular fitness (Frontoparietal network and Somatomotor network) and gross motor skills (Somatomotor network) with neurocognitive functioning. The results indicate that brain functioning may contribute to the relation between both cardiovascular fitness and gross motor skills with neurocognitive functioning.     

Teaching and testing mathematical problem solving by offering optional assistance

Transfer capability is usually defined as theability to apply acquired knowledge and skillsin novel situations.The experiment reported here concerned transferin mathematics education. An experimental programme was constructed, based on strengtheningthe connection of strategic and domain specificknowledge and offering hints during teaching aswell as during testing.Subjects were first graders from secondaryeducation in the Netherlands, from two schools,two classes each. Students from these fourclasses were randomly allocated either to theexperimental or the control group.The experimental computer-supported teachingprogramme was offered once a week during sixweeks; the control group received regularmathematics instruction.After controlling for the effects of thecovariates intelligence, mathematics aptitudeand anxiety, it was shown that the experimentalsubjects performed significantly better on aposttest than subjects in the control group.The results suggest that the experimentalinstruction method enhances mathematics problemsolving ability more strongly than traditionalinstruction. Upon closer examination thiseffect appears to be restricted to subjectsalready relatively high in intelligence andmathematical ability. This finding is notuncommon in intervention research, and issometimes referred to as the Matthew orthe fan-spread effect.