Parental Repayment Hypothesis in Intergenerational Financial Transfers from Adult Children to Elderly Parents: Evidence from Hong Kong

This study examined financial transfers from adult children to non-co-resided elderly parents in Hong Kong, and it tested the parental repayment hypothesis regarding motives for transfers. Specifically, the research question is whether financial transfers are a function of the education or earning capacity of adult children.

Based on data from a representative sample of adult children who provided financial support to their elderly parents aged 60 and above, we used multiple regression models to identify the correlates of the amount of transfers from children to their mother or father living apart.

We found evidence supporting the parental repayment hypothesis, that providing security in old age is the children's repayment for parental investment in their education. There is only a weak relation between the number of children and the transfers. This calls into question common assumptions about the extent to which a decline in fertility poses a threat to the extent of familial support of older persons in the coming decades.     

On-line learning performance and computer anxiety measure for unemployed adult novices using a grey relation entropy method

On-line learning is an asynchronous computer-based learning mode that allows learners to learn anytime and anywhere in their own environment using information and communication technology. It can be considered as a way to bridge the digital gap. How a computer novice performs in such virtual and asynchronous learning environments is an interesting issue in human–computer interaction research. This paper presents the results of a study to investigate on-line learning performance and computer anxiety for unemployed adult novices. In this study, we propose a novel idea that integrates the concept of Shannon entropy into a grey relational analysis model. The proposed method was used to measure human information behavior in relation to on-line learning performance and computer anxiety. A total of 115 unemployed adults voluntarily participated in the experimental study. All experimental subjects were divided into groups according to individual differences in gender, age ranges, educational levels, and learning performances. Taking advantage of the grey relation entropy operation, we derived the perceptive correlations among different classified groups in terms of the accessibility of on-line learning and computer anxiety scales, respectively. Through the empirical study, certain on-line learning characteristics were also identified.     

网络引文研究现状及展望

首先,通过大量文献调研,对网络引文研究现状作宏观介绍,其次,把网络引文研究内容分为网络引文的使用（是否可以使用、怎样进行使用）和网络引文分析（引文分布分析、可获得性分析、影响与利用分析）两方面进行详细阐述,最后,展望未来网络引文研究的重点。     

在S2或T2上HCMU的曲率的光滑性

HCMU是一种在Riemann面上带奇点的extremal度量．在面积和Calabi能量有界的情况下, HCMU的Gauss曲率是Riemann面上的连续函数．本文得到一个在球面上没有Gauss曲率鞍点的HCMU的明显表达式,并进一步证明了在球面或环面上HCMU的Gauss曲率光滑的充要条件是度量的所有奇点的角度都是整数．     

Factors influencing teachers’ innovative teaching behaviour with information and communication technology (ICT): the mediator role of organisational innovation climate

The aim of this study was to analyze the correlation among teachers’ perceived acceptance of technological innovation, organisations’ innovation climate, and innovative teaching using information and communication technology (ICT) in Taiwan. The participants (N?=?482) responded to a questionnaire using a five-point Likert scale for each factor, and their responses were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). This research found that an organisation’s innovation climate is significantly and positively related with innovative teaching using ICT, and that the acceptance of technological innovation is significantly and positively related with innovative teaching using ICT, as supported by the organisation’s innovation climate. The influence pattern and empirical data of the acceptance of technological innovation and the organisation’s innovation climate on innovative teaching with ICT exhibited a good fit. The implications of such findings were discussed.     

English language education in formal and cram school contexts: an analysis of listening strategy and learning style

Formal English language education in Taiwan now starts at Year 3 in primary school, with an emphasis on communicative proficiency. In addition to formal education, attending English cram schools after regular school has become a common phenomenon for Taiwanese students. The main purpose of gaining additional reinforcement in English cram schools is to help pupils enhance their academic performance. However, how pupils use strategies to approach their learning, how they prefer to develop their listening skills, and their relation to different learning environments, say, formal and cram schools, are still unclear. The aim of the present study is to investigate how far formal and cram school English education and the degree of English listening comprehension influences different aspects of listening strategy use and learning styles. The research involved a questionnaire survey of 526 Year 6 primary school pupils. The analysis of the questionnaire was conducted through multivariate analysis of variance and chi-square tests of independence. Results showed that there was a close link between English listening comprehension, learning in English cram schools, certain types of strategy use, and learning styles. Pupils who preferred to learn English in cram schools reported better English listening comprehension and developed better cognitive strategies.     

Fitzgerald and ills Tragic Philosophy of Life

Many of us share Samuel Johnson f sadmission that"the biographical part of literateal...'..is what I love most." Because greatwhtefa perfed. the world's most preciousand enduring work. But the popelariZation ofthe FitZgerald myth has diminished' hisstature and cheapen his work. He is regwhed'by a certain kind of Twenties buff as havingscribbled his masterpieces during the courseof a lifelong bender.Given the kind of whierhe was, it is proper to identify Fitzgeraldwith his material;but it i…     

Developing and validating a scale for measuring teachers’ readiness for flipped classrooms in junior high schools

The aim of this research is to examine the dimensions of junior high school teachers’ readiness for implementing a flipped classroom approach and to construct and validate an instrument—the Flipped-Classroom Teacher Scale (FCTS). Two sets of samples (170 and 495 junior high school teachers) served to explore and confirm the constructs of the FCTS model proposed by this study. The model has been empirically validated via exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis. The research participants were from different geographical locations in Taiwan. The FCTS consists of four factors: institutional support, technology self-efficacy (TSE), teacher beliefs and teaching strategies (TS). The results show that the FCTS model is a valid and reliable scale. Teachers may use the FCTS to gain a greater understanding of their instructional design and strategies in relation to flipped classrooms.     

康德论道德教育方法

康德认为，纯粹德性是人类的本性，它要求出于义务来遵守，而且是趋向于善的唯一动机，因此是可教的。这就是对道德教育的方法如何可能的问题的回答。在此基础上，康德提出了他的道德教育方法：道德判断力的训练、敬重义务的训练、合道德性的道德教育程序的建构、伦理共同体的联合等。康德的这一思想，给我们进行道德教育以如下几个方面的启迪：注重道德教育方式本身的道德性，进行以德性为目的的榜样教育，发挥感性实践的重要作用，以自由和谐丰富集体主义道德原则的内涵，培育自由的道德人。