A test of Rosen’s and Adler’s theories of superstars

This article compares and contrasts Adler and Rosen’s theories regarding the stardom and popularity of musical artists through the impact of local linguistic policies on consumers’ decisions to buy recorded music (CDs). Spain, with local linguistic policies implemented in Catalonia and the Basque Country, serves as an ideal quasi ‘natural experiment’ for testing these theories. The authors’ predictions are addressed within a multilevel regression framework, with two main results: first, contrary to Rosen’s predictions, the impact of local linguistic policies on the probability of buying music CDs is positive; second, local linguistic policies seem to contribute to increasing the production of music CDs in local languages, increasing the popularity of local artists with their audiences.     

How do theatrical box office revenues affect DVD retail sales? Australian empirical evidence

This study considers the Australian DVD industry using a data set of retail sales for over 44,800 titles 1997–2007. A sub-sample of 760 titles which also received an initial theatrical release reveals that the DVD revenue distribution has thicker tails than the theatrical revenue distribution implying the top-ranked DVDs earning a greater share of revenues than their theatrical contemporaries. A comparison of revenues finds not only a high degree of correlation between the two markets, but a relationship that is nonlinear and increasing at higher theatrical revenue levels. This finding is consistent with a word-of-mouth momentum effect and more institutional flexibility in the DVD market. The high levels of correlation are present across all genres/ratings and are observed to be stronger for large release titles. Finally, a seemingly unrelated regression structure is proposed to jointly consider the two markets, which is shown to be empirically valid.     

Intermittent hypoxia exposure in a hypobaric chamber and erythropoietin abuse interpretation

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of intermittent hypoxia exposure on direct and indirect methods used to evaluate recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) misuse. Sixteen male triathletes were randomly assigned to either the intermittent hypoxia exposure group (experimental group) or the control normoxic group (control group). The members of the experimental group were exposed to simulated altitude (from 4000 to 5500 m) in a hypobaric chamber for 3 h per day, 5 days a week, for 4 weeks. Blood and urine samples were collected before and after the first and the final exposures, and again 2 weeks after the final exposure. While serum EPO significantly increased after the first [from a mean 8.3 IU x l(-1) (s = 3.2) to 16.6 IU x l(-1) (s = 4.7)] and final exposures [from 4.6 IU x l(-1) (s = 1.4) to 24.8 IU x l(-1) (s = 9.3)], haemoglobin, percentage of reticulocytes, and soluble transferrin receptor were not elevated. Second-generation ON/OFF models (indirect rhEPO misuse detection) were insensitive to intermittent hypoxia exposure. The distribution of the urinary EPO isoelectric profiles (direct rhEPO misuse detection) was altered after intermittent hypoxia exposure with a slight shift towards more basic isoforms. However, those shifts never resulted in misinterpretation of results. The intermittent hypoxia exposure protocol studied did not produce any false-positive result for indirect or direct detection of rhEPO misuse in spite of the changes in EPO serum concentrations and urinary EPO isoelectric profiles, respectively.     

Didáctica de las Matemáticas y Psicología

Resumen

En la primera parte se presenta una aproximación a la Didáctica de las Matemáticas como una disciplina autónoma, interdisciplinar, con un campo teórico y práctico propio, en fase de desarrollo. Seguidamente se describen las características de los planteamientos didácticos de la educación matemática en los últimos 30 años, poniendo de relieve las claves psicológicas que están informando las distintas tendencias. Finalmente se resumen las líneas de trabajo que hoy se perfilan dentro de la investigación en Didáctica de las Matemáticas, con especial mención de los trabajos dedicados a los procesos cognitivos implicados en el aprendizaje de conceptos matemáticos, con breves referencias al estudio del comportamiento matemático y del aprendizaje de las Matemáticas desde una perspectiva social.     

Psychometric Characteristics of the California Preschool Social Competence Scale in a Spanish Population Sample

Research Findings: Few rating scales measure social competence in very young Spanish or Catalan children. We aimed to analyze the psychometric characteristics of the California Preschool Social Competence Scale (CPSCS) when applied to a Spanish- and Catalan-speaking population. Children were rated by their respective teachers within 6 months following their 4th birthday in two population-based birth cohorts in Spain (N = 378). A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to compare the underlying structure of the Spanish–Catalan version with that of the original version. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to determine the internal consistency of each of the confirmed factors. Cohen's kappa formula was used to calculate the test–retest reliability in a small subset of children who were rated again one month later. Five correlated factors (Considerateness, Task Orientation, Extraversion, Verbal Facility, and Response to Unfamiliar) were optimally confirmed as a result of CFA. The first three factors had robust internal consistency. The kappa coefficient was satisfactory in 29 items out of 30. Children's cognitive abilities as assessed by the McCarthy Scales, children's gender, maternal social class and level of education were related to the social competence scores as indicators of criterion-related factors. Practice or Policy: The bilingual version of the CPSCS has good psychometric properties allowing it to be used in further studies in either Spanish or Catalan populations.     

Languages of origin and education in Europe: A systematic review

European education policies have tended to cultivate linguistic hegemony and preserve cultural uniformity, which has made it difficult for schools to support different cultural backgrounds. This has contributed to the promotion of artificial monolingual interactions that reinforce linguistic decapitalisation processes. The aim of the review on which this article reports was to investigate the treatment and education of languages of origin in Europe. We present findings from a systematic review of scientific articles published during the period 2010–2020. The main findings indicate that language and nationality are equated in European discourses and that public policies are promoted accordingly. These articulations draw on models that alternate between assimilationism and multiculturalism. Both assimilationist and multiculturalist approaches are detrimental to the supposed objective: that of promoting multilingualism. Thus, it is urgent that a consensus be reached, and certain public policies and educational practices promoted which are respectful of linguistic diversity, since the future social cohesion of our multicultural societies depends on this.     

Strengthening education through collaborative networks: leading the cultural change

Educational partnerships with area-based approaches comprise an increasingly well-grounded and internationally extended strategy for equitable improvement. However, literature shows a lack of focused inquiry on the assessment of these educational collaborative programmes. This article aims to develop and validate an instrument to assess these types of programmes across countries. Two successful programmes were assessed in Spain and the USA in order to test the validity of the measurement model. Results confirm that the model provides a valid tool to assess the effectiveness of collaborative performance, helping school principals, district leaders and policy-makers to enact evidence-based decision-making.     

The Changing Role of Hollywood in the Global Movie Market

Does Hollywood dominate world cinema markets with American taste, culture, and values through the exportation of films produced mainly for its domestic (US and Canada) market? Or does Hollywood supply the films that world audiences demand and, because of the logistics of distribution, screen these films first in the domestic market prior to exhibition in foreign markets? In this article, the authors empirically analyzed the global market for motion pictures to provide statistical evidence that can speak to these questions. They examined data on nearly 2,000 films exhibited from 1997–2007, inclusive, in the United States and Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Mexico, Spain, and the United Kingdom—markets that today collectively account for over 75% of worldwide cinema box-office revenue. The empirical evidence provides support for the hypothesis that the supply of Hollywood films has accommodated global demand as the relative size of the U.S. domestic market has decreased. There is no evidence that box-office success in the United States creates a contagion that spreads to other film exhibition markets; however, box-office success in international markets appears to be less uncertain for films that have been successful in their U.S. releases.     

Implementing Information Technology in the Educational System. A Catalonia perspective

This paper deals with the development of Information and Communication Technology in primary and secondary education in Catalonia. Since 1986 the autonomous government has implemented an integrated policy of development. The aspects of the work presented and analysed are: (a) teacher education; pre‐service and in‐service actions; (b) policies and organisation; and (c) information dissemination: the SINERA project and the Web.     

The Consumption of Cultural Products: An Analysis of the Spanish Social Space

This article analyses the social consumption of cultural products by Spaniards from the standpoint of microeconomics and sociology. By comparing Lancaster's ``new consumer theory' to Bourdieu's theory, we show the usefulness of simultaneous analysis of consumption from both perspectives. The results provide evidence supporting the hypothesis of expressive functions, distinction and symbolic properties of cultural products. In addition, the ``new consumer theory' has various implications for both cultural policymaking and marketing of cultural products.