Search

This paper expands the diffusion of information models developed by Funkhouser and McCombs (1972) to include situations involving simple interaction processes and more complicated situations involving both mass mediated messages and interactively mediated messages. This paper develops discrete time models of information diffusion as opposed to the continuous time models developed by Coleman (1964) and Bartholomew (1967) and others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on prediction logic and quasi-independence in empirical evaluation of formal theory. In the paper by researchers D.K. Hildebrand, J.D. Laing and H.L. Rosenthal, a paradigm for the statement and empirical evaluation of a class of propositions predicting specific relations between qualitative variables was proposed. The approach represents a substantial departure from traditional modes of analysis. Consequently, it is not surprising that one encounters resistance and misunderstanding in those who work in different traditions. The lengthy critique of the paper by researchers L.A. Goodman and W.H. Kruskal, henceforth G&K, illustrates the inappropriateness of evaluating the paradigm using traditional perspectives. G&K operate in two contexts: measures of association and multiplicative models for probabilities in cross-classifications. The primary objective in the paper discussed by G&K was to design a general model that provides a distinct and operationally interpretable measure of the prediction success attained in a population by any logically distinct proposition stated, a priori, in the prediction logic.

This paper examines Caplow's model of coalitions in the triad and identifies several shortcomings. Retaining the basic structure of Caplow's arguments, it recasts the problem as one of interdependent rational decision making. The reformulation allows increased generality in several directions, including a more general notion of strength, relaxation of the additivity assumption about strength, and the adoption of probabilistic choice to allow predictions about the relative frequencies of the various coalitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The index "the proportion of a cohort that have become delinquent by a given age," here called the "prevalence of delinquency," is an important social indicator. In the present paper, we indicate methods by which this index can be estimated from data, and correct errors in previous sex- and racespecific prevalence estimates published by Monahan (1960) for the city of Philadelphia. The difference between the sexes and between the races shown by these corrected prevalence estimates are of sufficient magnitude to render suspect any comparisons of prevalences of delinquency among cohorts which do not take account of the sex and race compositions of the cohorts to be compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an approach to data analysis that assists the investigator in discriminating among specific relations corresponding to alternative scientific predictions about qualitative variates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports research using a psychological theory, R. D. Luce's (1959) individual choice theory, to provide a ratio-level measurement basis for an important sociological variable, occupational prestige. It is shown that earlier measurement procedures to scale this sociological variable are essentially arbitrary, although heuristically useful. Luce's Axiom of Choice and his Ranking Postulate are then tested on choice sets of occupations where subjects are asked to pair-compare or rank the occupations on the basis of their prestige. The Axiom receives qualified support, while the Ranking Postulate is not supported. It is concluded that Luce's choice theory can provide a ratio-level measuremerit basis for occupational prestige, although a procedure using rankings must he appropriately structured in order to be an adequate instrument of measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mathematical demography traditionally has been concerned with the dynamics of the growth and structure of a population that is undisturbed by migration. Recently, however, increasing attention has been directed at the relationships between interregional migration flows and the growth and structure of multiregional population systems that are open to internal migration. This paper contributes to that emerging body of knowledge by generalizing the notion of a life table to the multiregional case and showing how such a generalization leads to a mathematical theory of multiregional population growth that is consistent with the currently accepted single-region theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intent of this paper is to provide a definition of a sociometric clique in the language of graph theory. This problem is viewed from two perspectives: maintaining fidelity to the intuitive notion of a clique; and providing adequate computational mechanics for large bodies of data. Luce's (1950) concept of an n-clique is used, but further qualifications are added. Two statistics or measures with associated probability distributions are defined for testing the adequacy of a subgraph which qualifies according to the definition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper generalizes the Kemeny-Snell distance function for distances between weak orderings to a distance function for the collection of all partial orderings of a set. This generalization explains some of the seemingly strange properties of the Kemeny-Snell distance, and extends it to such important classes of orderings as semiorders and interval orders. In section four I consider possible applications of the distance function and describe a number of problems that arise in attempts to apply the distance function. In section 3 I discuss the concept of a distance function in more general terms and introduce a new distance function defined by a set of axioms different from those given in Section 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we develop two formal models predicting coalitions and payoffs among rank striving players in a sequential three-person game. We test the models' predictions with data from a laboratory study of eleven male triads. Each triad plays a sequence of games; in each game a two-person coalition forms and divides the coalition's point value between the two coalition partners. Participants know that the sequence of games will end without warning at a randomly chosen time; at the sequence's end each player's monetary payoff is a linear function of the rank of his accumulated point score, relative to those of the other members of his triad. The complexity of this situation prevents players and analysts from representing it as a single game; thus they are unable to use n-person game theory to identify optimal strategies. Consequently, we assume that players, unable to develop strategies that are demonstrably optimal in the long run, adopt certain bargaining heuristics and surrogate short run objectives. The two models follow the same basic outline; they differ, however, in the planning horizon they assume players to use. Proceeding from a priori assumptions concerning each player's decision calculus and the bargaining process, the two models state the probability that each coalition forms and predict the point divisions in the winning coalition. The laboratory data provide consistently strong support for the predictions of both models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on empirical evaluation of formal theory. In the paper by researchers D.K. Hildebrand, J.D. Laing and H.L. Rosenthal, henceforth HLR, proposed an index to measure the adequacy of a particular kind of theory when confronted with harsh facts. The authors L.A. Goodman and W.H. Kruskal, henceforth GK, presented a critical analysis, together with constructive proposals towards partial mitigation of the flaws and gaps they found in HLR. The authors do not agree with the rationales given in HLR for the independence like denominator of the proposed index. One can, however, take the index as given and ask how it performs. It was noted in GK that the HLR index compares the theoretically empty cells with the multiplicative yardstick probabilities for those cells, and no adequate justification for this comparison was found. This is so for both the unweighted and weighted forms of the index. In GK, some modest ways around this problem was suggested without claiming necessarily wide applicability for the suggestions.