Efficiency and Inefficiency in the Ranking in Competitions: the Case of the Queen Elisabeth Music Contest

The Queen Elisabeth Contest is one of the most prestigious competitions in classical music. For both the artists who participate and for the public, it is important that the ranking of the finalists be affected as little as possible by exogenous factors relating to the organisation of the competition. Still, it is impossible to control for all contingencies. Thus, the ranking can be expected to deviate from that obtained in a hypothetical full-information assessment process. As such, the ranking may be unfair to the candidates and inefficient in providing information to the consumer. Deviations from the full-information ideal may result from self-selection of candidates, from positive information at the margin, and from differences in circumstances. Analysing data on all piano and violin versions of the Contest over the period 1956–1999, we find strong evidence of biases in the rankingprocess. Confirming previous research, we find that musicians who perform later in the final week or later on a given day in this week (on average) obtain a better classification. Further, in the piano competitions women obtain lower rankings and, prior to 1990, finalists from the Soviet Union obtained higherrankings than average. The jury appreciates innovation in the sense that musicians who perform a more recently composed concerto obtain a higher rank. Finally – especiallyfor violin – the candidate's decision to perform a popular concerto leadsto a lower ranking.     

体育教育的国家意志论

国家意志是教育改革的出发点。体育教育改革总是发生在国家特定的政治范畴之内,并深刻反映着特定的国家利益。本文以近现代体育教育的历史沿革为切入点,提出了体育教育的国家意志体现必须要与学生的身心特点、体育学科体系的和谐统一。和谐性是当前体育教育改革中国家意志的集中体现。     

武术文化特色研究

本文主要从中国传统文化的重“道”、重“天人合一”、重“意境”、重“辨证思维”、重“防卫”等几方面，探讨武术所蕴涵的中国传统文化特色。     

人是人的未来——语文学习与人文精神的审美阐释

人被称为万物之灵,他的本质就是他能够感知人的存在并知道生命的短促与不朽!然而,现代人面临诸多的困境和诱惑,往往迷失了本性,致使意义缺失、灵魂失所、无家可归!因此我们提倡通过语文学习构建一种审美的人生态度:终极关怀、诗意栖居、中庸处世。不戚戚于贫贱,不汲汲于富贵;顺天地之德,合神人之力,建不朽之功!     

情感语文教学的途径

语文属于人文学科。语文教学的最大价值是向学生传递人类历史上最优美的价值观念,这一价值实现的基点是情感。教师在教的过程中,主要依靠情感语文教学来达到情感语文境界,实现的途径包括教师的激情、民主教学观、优美的教学情境等,同时在教学实践中不断提高自身的情感素养,通过语文教学真正达到塑造人格及终生教育的目的。     

音乐作品欣赏浅析

本文探讨音乐欣赏者在欣赏音乐作品的过程中,应该注意的几个要素,以期为广大音乐欣赏者提供相关的理论参考。     

教法千种 阅读为先

注重指导学生掌握正确阅读方法,使他们广泛、快捷地获得知识,是语文教师责无旁贷的。最佳阅读方法是:通揽全篇,寻觅精华的泛读与咬文嚼字、钻透精髓的精读相结合。     

从"十运会"中存在的问题引发的对"举国体制"的理性思考

南京十运会赛场上上演了一幕幕丑闻,对全运会还要不要继续办下去,人们对此产生了质疑,并引发对举国体制的思考。根据我国的国情和经济发展水平等各个方面因素来阐述了对举国体制的看法,对我国体育事业发展的趋势提出了建议。     

中国传统文化对郭沫若诗性气质的影响

郭沫若的浪漫主义诗性气质是显著的,但郭沫若诗性气质的形成,历来有不同的看法。针对有些研究者提出的,郭沫若的诗性气质主要受外国诗人的影响,提出了自己的观点:郭沫若诗性气质的形成主要受中国传统文化影响。