The Dynamics of Opinion Formation in Local Popular Referendums: Why the Dutch Always Say No

There is growing research on voting behavior in referendums.However, the dynamics of opinion formation in popular referendums,referendums initiated by the electorate to approve or rejectdecisions made by representative bodies, has not yet been studied.This is especially unfortunate as voting decisions in popularreferendums differ from those in other referendums in interestingways. Opinion formation can be a very dynamic process in popularreferendums, making the referendum campaign crucial. This paperstudies the dynamics of opinion formation in popular referendumsand relates them to particular characteristics of the campaignsand the issues at hand. Based on the literature, we consideredthe effects of the intensity of the yes and no campaigns, familiaritywith the issue, and partisan cues. Our study uses content analysisdata and data from public opinion surveys dealing with variouspopular referendums held in the Netherlands. The study revealedseveral factors that contributed to the volatility of opinionsin the referendum campaigns: the issue (new and did not fittraditional political schemes), lack of support from societaland community organizations for the position of the local authorities,and low profile campaigns on the part of local authorities.While some of these factors are general and may play a rolein referendums everywhere, some can be considered ‘typicallyDutch’, related to the characteristics of popular referendumsin the Netherlands and the country’s political system.     

Evaluation of Internet Information Sources by High School Students in Ghana

The Internet clearly presents the opportunity for students to expand their knowledge at a fast pace, since they are able to access enormous amount of information. However, accessing the Internet also has its downside since not all information is of good quality. The study explored how 12th grade students at a high school in Ghana evaluated online information sources. These students and the head of the Information Communication Technology department respond to self-administered questionnaires and a semi-structured interview, respectively. The study found that most of the high school students did some kind of an evaluation of online information sources, however, they were not applying the right criteria. The study further revealed that students were not introduced to evaluation criteria at school and this had contributed to the gap in their evaluation competencies.     

The relationship between peak height velocity and physical performance in youth soccer players

Longitudinal changes in height, weight and physical performance were studied in 33 Flemish male youth soccer players from the Ghent Youth Soccer Project. The players' ages at the start of the study ranged from 10.4 to 13.7 years, with a mean age of 12.2 +/- 0.7 years. Longitudinal changes were studied over a 5 year period. Peak height velocity and peak weight velocity were determined using non-smoothed polynomials. The estimations of peak height velocity, peak weight velocity and age at peak height velocity were 9.7 +/- 1.5 cm x year-1, 8.4 +/- 3.0 kg x year-1 and 13.8 +/- 0.8 years, respectively. Peak weight velocity occurred, on average, at the same age as peak height velocity. Balance, speed of limb movement, trunk strength, upper-body muscular endurance, explosive strength, running speed and agility, cardiorespiratory endurance and anaerobic capacity showed peak development at peak height velocity. A plateau in the velocity curves was observed after peak height velocity for upper-body muscular endurance, explosive strength and running speed. Flexibility exhibited peak development during the tear after peak height velocity. Trainers and coaches should be aware of the individual characteristics of the adolescent growth spurt and the training load should also be individualized at this time.     

Three-axis platform simulation: Bond graph and Lagrangian approach

A bond graph model is derived for the geometric constraints of a three-axis flight table. Gimbal dynamics are easily added even in asymmetrical and unbalanced cases. A method is introduced to make the local dependent inertias computable. The bond graph compares favourably to the Lagrangian approach as to modelling effort and accessibility of intermediate variables as well as having computational advantages.     

Statistics in the service of comparative education

International Review of Education - A realistic consideration of the part that statistics can play in the study of comparative education must regard as the first desiderata the development of...     

Frequency-coordinate vector diagram

From the standpoint of circuit synthesis as well as for a fundamental comprehension of circuit behavior, it is desirable to be able to visualize the response of a circuit over an extended frequency range by means of a geometrical construction. Mathematically, the response of a circuit can be expressed with the La Place transform theory as a function of the complex frequency variable, p = α + jωw, in which a is the decrement and ω is the “real” angular frequency. Physically, the nature of the real-frequency response is usually not discernible by casual inspection of the mathematical function. This paper develops a means of visualizing this frequency response readily through the construction of a vector diagram from the response function.