What’s in a score? Problematizing interpretations of observation scores

Several recent, large-scale observations of naturally occurring classroom instruction have found consistent patterns in how teaching quality systematically varies across domains of instruction, patterns not found in student survey measures. Teaching quality is highest when examining aspects of classroom management; moderately high when examining aspects of student support; and low when focusing on the quality of the instructional support provided to students. This paper problematizes this interpretation, arguing that observed data patterns could result from dilemmas inherent in measuring teaching quality through observation. In problematizing these conclusions, we highlight the complexity of trying to measure instruction at scale, arguing for the need for caution and consideration of the complexity of measurement when interpreting scores from observation systems.     

Beyond breakthrough research: Epistemic properties of research and their consequences for research funding

The aim of this paper is to initiate a discussion about links between epistemic properties and institutional conditions for research by providing an exploratory analysis of such links featured by projects funded by the European Research Council (ERC). Our analysis identifies epistemic properties of research processes and links them to necessary and favourable conditions for research, and through these to institutional conditions provided by grants. Our findings enable the conclusion that there is research that is important for the progress of a field but is difficult to fund with common project grants. The predominance and standardisation of grant funding, which can be observed about many European countries, appears to reduce the chances of unconventional projects across all disciplines. Funding programmes of the ‘ERC-type’ (featuring large and flexible budgets, long time horizons, and risk-tolerant selection processes) constitute an institutional innovation because they enable such research. However, while the ERC funding and other new funding schemes for exceptional research attempt to cover these requirements, they are unlikely to suffice.     

Knowledge transfer activities in social sciences and humanities: Explaining the interactions of research groups with non-academic agents

The aim of this research is to achieve a better understanding of the processes underlying knowledge transfer (KT) in social sciences and humanities (SSH). The paper addresses: first, the extent of SSH research groups’ engagement in KT and the formal KT activities used to interact with non-academic communities; and second, how the characteristics of research groups may influence engagement in various types of KT. The empirical analysis is at research group level using data derived from a questionnaire of SSH research groups belonging to the Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC). We find that KT activities are based on relational rather than commercial activities. The most frequent relational activities in which SSH research groups engage are consultancy and contract research. We find also that the characteristics of research groups (e.g. size and multidisciplinarity) and individuals (e.g. academic status and star scientist) are associated with involvement in KT activities and that a deliberate focus on the societal impacts and relevance of the research conducted is strongly related to active engagement of research groups in all the modes of KT considered in this study. From a managerial perspective, our findings suggest that measures promoting a focus on the societal impact of research could enhance research groups’ engagement in KT activities.     

Making time for science

This work analyzes the evolution of time allocation for agricultural and life science faculty in Tier 1 US research universities from 1975 to 2005. Specifically, it explores the trends with respect to time spent on research versus administrative activities, and shows about a 20% decline in the former and doubling of time spent on the latter. Most of the research time decline is accounted for by increased pre and post-grant administrative efforts and other non-research administrative activities rather than changes in teaching activity. Despite the substantial decrease in time available for research, other key research inputs and overall journal article output per faculty have remained relatively stable over that same time period. These findings raise important concerns regarding whether faculty time is being used sub-optimally relative to other ways in which administrative activities might be completed and scholarly activity might be advanced.     

政策工具视角下中国太阳能产业政策文本量化研究

采用内容分析法,对中国自2006-2013年48份宏观太阳能产业政策文本,按照文本形式、政策年度、政策主体、政策内容4个分析维度进行频数统计和量化分析,并探讨政策工具的使用情况,深入剖析中国太阳能产业宏观扶持的特点。认为中国太阳能产业政策制定主体、技术领域以及政策工具上呈现非均衡性发展,过于偏重财政政策的扶持,合同式诱导工具使用过溢而结构式强制工具存在不足。     

基于C/S和B/S混合结构的物联网智能远程环境监控系统研究

在物联网智能家畜养殖环境监控系统中,服务端与各监控节点以及监控节点与各监控终端的通信方式是基于连接的TCP通信。系统作为数字化养殖与全产业链溯源平台的一个子系统,需要与其进行整合,而平台系统采用B/S结构为用户提供信息服务。为解决该问题,研究并设计了一个C/S与B/S混合体系结构模型,并将该模型应用于系统设计中。同时,为了使服务端能与平台系统的Web服务端有机结合,采用向Web服务器内嵌子线程的方式设计系统服务端。系统测试及试运行结果表明,该解决方案能够满足系统设计需求,性能稳定、响应及时,有效保障了系统的信息一致性。     

广西东部族群文化研究基地MIS——科研管理模块分析设计

本文针对地方研究组织科研成果的特殊性,采用生命周期法对广西东部族群文化研究基地MIS下属科研管理模块进行了分析与设计,该模块主要实现对成果的信息存储、统计以及共享。文章对模块的功能、代码及数据库的设计过程进行探讨,目的是为基地MIS的建设提供一种可行的开发思路。     

江西省科研机构绩效评估机制研究——以江西省农业科学院为例

十一届全国人大一次会议提出的"政府绩效管理制度"标志着绩效管理实践的规范化正式开始。随后,一些地方政府推出了各项实行绩效管理工作的实施方案。绩效管理有诸多的环节,绩效评估作为其核心环节一旦出现问题,就会给其带来严重的负面影响。而绩效评估又是一项技术工作,科研机构在评估环节中存在很多问题。本文主要从绩效评估实施情况、绩效评估机制存在的问题和完善绩效评估机制的对策等方面来对江西省农业科学院的绩效评估机制进行研究。     

水污染溯源方法分析

针对水环境安全的日益重要,通过对水环境污染源的监管以及水环境污染源头的追溯,可以有效防范污染物的扩散、查找到污染源,进而保证水环境的安全。水污染溯源算法对溯源的精准性有重要意义,本文分析了水污染溯源算法中的因子分析、聚类分析和层次分析这几种分析方法在水质溯源模型中的应用,为水污染溯源提供了算法基础。     

高校档案信息化研究综述

新世纪以来,关于高校档案信息化的研究不断增多。这些研究主要集中于高校档案信息化概念和内涵研究,意义和价值研究,所面临的问题研究及应采取的对策研究。厘清已有的研究成果,对于加快高校档案信息化建设具有积极的借鉴作用。