Do prior studies matter?

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-154
Author(s):  
Betty Nalukenge ◽  
Robert Wamala ◽  
Bruno Ocaya
Keyword(s):  
Academic Achievement ◽  
Law School ◽  
Law Students ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Makerere University ◽  
Administrative Records ◽  
Weighted Score ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Literature History ◽  
Invariant Factors

Purpose – Introduction of law school admission examinations has increased the debate regarding the relevance of prior studies for the enrollees in the program. The key issues of contention are whether prior studies reliably predict academic achievement of enrollees, and demonstrate proficiencies required for admission in the program. The purpose of this paper is to use administrative records of law students at Makerere University – over a four-year stipulated period of bachelor’s studies – to investigate the above-mentioned issues further. Design/methodology/approach – Panel data of 2,485 records enable us to explore time variant and invariant factors in the course of bachelor’s candidature. Findings – About 81 per cent of differentials in academic achievement was found to be due to variation across students. In addition to confirming prior academic attainment as a contributing factor to variations in academic achievement, our findings affirm that competence in literature, history and divinity predicts success on the program. Research limitations/implications – Competence in these subjects (literature, history and divinity) certainly demonstrates proficiencies required by a student of law. Thus, admission based on competence in these subjects provides insights into proficiencies required by enrollees to excel academically in the program. Originality/value – Unlike prior studies, this study explores time-variant factors in the course of bachelor’s candidature, and is based on subjects taken during prior studies (secondary education) rather than a pooled index or weighted score adopted on admission to the program.

Do pre-entry tests predict competencies required to excel academically in law school?

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-226
Author(s):  
Robert Wamala
Keyword(s):  
Bachelor's Degree ◽  
Law School ◽  
First Year ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Administrative Records ◽  
Admission Tests ◽  
Admission Test ◽  
Literature History ◽  
Academic Qualifications

Purpose – Prospective students of law are required to demonstrate competence in certain disciplines to attain admission to law school. The grounding in the disciplines is expected to demonstrate competencies required to excel academically in law school. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relevance of the law school admission test to predicting the competencies. Design/methodology/approach – The assessment is based on administrative records of 815 students admitted at Makerere University’s law school on the basis of their performance in the test. Grades obtained in advanced level (A-Level) of secondary education subjects, namely, literature, history, divinity and economics, were adopted as a measure of competence in the disciplines. The outcome of the test was modeled by performance of enrollees in the subject, their characteristics (gender, nationality, entry scheme and academic qualifications at enrollment) and first-year grade point average using a quantile regression. Findings – With the exception of enrollees’ characteristics, no significant variations in the outcome of the test were noted in the results between students who did not do the subjects at the A-Level and those who obtained Grade A (p > 0.05). Similar findings in performance were noted between students who obtained Grade A and those with other grades in the disciplines. Research limitations/implications – The findings confirm that admission tests to law school are a measure of mental rather than educational or academic ability. However, the results may not be applied to candidates in countries where a bachelor’s degree is a requirement for admission to law school. Originality/value – The study provides an empirical investigation of whether the admission test to law school predicts competencies required to excel academically in the undergraduate program.

The 2016 Police and Crime Commissioner elections

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 41-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Joyce
Keyword(s):  
Public Awareness ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Source Material ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Social ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Government

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the 2016 elections for Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and to compare them with those that took place in 2012. It seeks to evaluate the background of the candidates who stood for office in 2016, the policies that they put forward, the results of the contests and the implications of the 2016 experience for future PCC elections. Design/methodology/approach This paper is based around several key themes – the profile of candidates who stood for election, preparations conducted prior to the contests taking place, the election campaign and issues raised during the contests, the results and the profile of elected candidates. The paper is based upon documentary research, making particular use of primary source material. Findings The research establishes that affiliation to a political party became the main route for successful candidates in 2016 and that local issues related to low-level criminality will dominate the future policing agenda. It establishes that although turnout was higher than in 2012, it remains low and that further consideration needs to be devoted to initiatives to address this for future PCC election contests. Research limitations/implications The research focusses on the 2016 elections and identifies a number of key issues that emerged during the campaign affecting the conduct of the contests which have a bearing on future PCC elections. It treats these elections as a bespoke topic and does not seek to place them within the broader context of the development of the office of PCC. Practical implications The research suggests that in order to boost voter participation in future PCC election contests, PCCs need to consider further means to advertise the importance of the role they perform and that the government should play a larger financial role in funding publicity for these elections and consider changing the method of election. Social implications The rationale for introducing PCCs was to empower the public in each police force area. However, issues that include the enhanced importance of political affiliation as a criteria for election in 2016 and the social unrepresentative nature of those who stood for election and those who secured election to this office in these contests coupled with shortcomings related to public awareness of both the role of PCCs and the timing of election contests threaten to undermine this objective. Originality/value The extensive use of primary source material ensures that the subject matter is original and its interpretation is informed by an academic perspective.

Archiving in the networked world: authenticity and integrity

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 545-552
Author(s):  
Michael Seadle
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Digital Environment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Digital World ◽  
Digital Work ◽  
Mathematical Algorithms ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Technical Sense

PurposeThis article aims to discuss how concepts from the analog world apply to a purely digital environment, and look in particular at how authenticity needs to be viewed in the digital world in order to make some form of validation possible.Design/methodology/approachThe article describes authenticity and integrity in the analog world and looks at how to measure it in a digital environment.FindingsAuthenticity in the digital world generally means, in a purely technical sense, that a document's integrity has been checked using mathematical algorithms against other copies on independently managed servers, and that provenance records show that the document has a clearly established succession from a clearly defined original. Readers should recognize that this is different than how one defines authenticity and integrity in the analog world.Originality/valueMost of the key issues surrounding digital authenticity have not yet been tested, but they will be when the economic value of an authentic digital work reaches the courts.

Neurodevelopment in the first three years: implications for child development, professional practice and policy

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 154-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danya Glaser
Keyword(s):  
Brain Development ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Brain Maturation ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Brain Connections

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to outline brain structure and development, the relationship between environment and brain development and implications for practice. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on a selected review of the literature and clinical experience. Findings – While genetics determine the sequence of brain maturation, the nature of brain development and functioning is determined by the young child's caregiving environment, to which the developing brain constantly adapts. The absence of input during sensitive periods may lead to later reduced functioning. There is an undoubted immediate equivalence between every mind function – emotion, cognition, behaviour and brain activity, although the precise location of this in the brain is only very partially determinable, since brain connections and function are extremely complex. Originality/value – This paper provides an overview of key issues in neurodevelopment relating to the development of young children, and implications for policy and practice.

A conceptual framework for product service system design for machine tools

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 1227-1248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pankaj U. Zine ◽  
Makarand S Kulkarni ◽  
Arun K. Ray ◽  
Rakesh Chawla
Keyword(s):  
Machine Tool ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Machine Tools ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Service System ◽  
Product Service System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Context ◽  
Product Service ◽  
Key Issues

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual framework for product service system (PSS) design for machine tools and discuss the PSS implementation issues focusing on the Indian machine tool business sector. Design/methodology/approach – The paper opted for an exploratory survey conducted in the Indian machine tool sector including 39 in-depth interviews with employees of different organizations representing middle and senior management having decision-making authority. It also involves proposing a framework to address the stakeholder’s requirements for services that offers foundation for PSS designers. Findings – The paper helps get an insights about key issues for PSS implementation by the Indian machine tool sector. The hybrid PSS model proposed in the paper can address the stakeholder’s requirements for flexibility in business models through different business phases. Practical implications – The paper offers suggestions for the development of PSS for machine tools for designers and identify issues to be considered particularly in Indian machine tools business context. Originality/value – This paper provides an insight to judge the feasibility of PSS concept for machine tools in Indian context and offers framework for PSS designers.

scholarly journals Research and practice

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (6) ◽  
pp. 1039-1053 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Hepworth ◽  
Philipp Grunewald ◽  
Geoff Walton
Keyword(s):  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Critical Discussion ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Research Experience ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information Behaviour ◽  
Relative Value ◽  
Participative Approach ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Participative Design

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical discussion on the nature of research into people's information behaviour, and in particular the contribution of the phenomenological approach for the development of information solutions. Design/methodology/approach – The approach takes the form of a conceptual analysis drawing on the research literature and personal research experience. Findings – The paper brings to the foreground the relative value of different conceptual approaches and how these underpin and relate to the development of information solutions. Research limitations/implications – The paper, due to the breadth and complexity of the subject, serves to highlight key issues and bringing together ideas. Some topics deserve further explanation. However, this was beyond the scope of this paper. Practical implications – A conceptual framework is provided that indicates the value of the epistemic spectrum for information behaviour studies and provides support for action research and participative design. Social implications – Taking a phenomenological approach, and consequently either a first person approach and/or a highly participative approach to research, challenges the relationship between researcher and respondent. It also raises questions about why the authors conduct research and for whom it is intended. Originality/value – The paper makes explicit the underlying philosophical assumptions and how these ideas influence the way the authors conduct research; it highlights the significance of Cartesian dualism and indicates the significance of these assumptions for the development of information solutions. It supports the view that researchers and developers should be open to respondents leading the exploration of their needs.

Grundfragen der Organisation von Familienunternehmen

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Family Businesses ◽  
Law School ◽  
Tax Law ◽  
Annual Conference ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Inheritance Tax ◽  
Family Enterprises ◽  
Societas Europaea ◽  
Key Issues

This volume documents the 8th annual conference of the Notarial Center for Family Enterprises of Bucerius Law School on October 25, 2019, which focused on key issues of the organization of family businesses: developments in (inheritance) tax law; design of articles of association for GmbH and GmbH & Co. KG; genderspecific succession clauses; family businesses in the form of Societas Europaea; advantages and disadvantages of different succession models; special challenges of corporate publicity in family businesses. With contributions by Dr. Christian Bochmann, Prof. Dr. Heribert Heckschen, Prof. Dr. Andreas Söffing, Prof. Dr. Marco Staake and Prof. Dr. Hartmut Wicke.

Washington will engage more with South-east Asia

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
East Asia ◽  
The United States ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
National Unity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Set Up

Significance She addressed two key issues during her trip: tensions in post-coup Myanmar and China’s growing regional footprint. Shortly after she left the region, the United States announced that it would donate unused COVID-19 vaccines abroad, including to South-east Asia. Impacts Washington will tighten its sanctions on the Myanmar military while supporting ASEAN’s five-point plan to ease the country’s crisis. The National Unity Government, a parallel administration to Myanmar’s junta set up by its opponents, will try to attract greater US backing. Manila and Washington may extend negotiations over renewing their Visiting Forces Agreement to prevent the pact expiring in August.

Higher education amid COVID-19 pandemic: contributions from resilience, positive orientation and grit

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Afsaneh Ghanizadeh
Keyword(s):  
Academic Achievement ◽  
University Students ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Academic Resilience ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Positive Orientation ◽  
Major Purpose ◽  
Content Type

PurposeThe major purpose of the present study is to investigate the contribution of academic resilience in accounting for two motivational and attitudinal constructs ? Grit and positive orientation and also probe the predictive power of all these constructs in academic achievement of university students in the midst of the pandemic COVID-19.Design/methodology/approach521 university students participated in an online survey. To measure academic resilience, a scale designed and validated by Kim and Kim (2016) comprising 26 items was employed. The scale contains five sub-factors: perceived happiness, empathy, sociability, persistence and self-regulation. Grit was assessed via an 8-item scale comprising two facets: perseverance of effort (PE) and consistency of interest (CI). It was designed by Duckworth and Gross (2014). Positive orientation was determined through positivity scale developed by Caprara et al. (2010), consisting of eight items.FindingsThe results of structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that resilience positively and significantly predicted both grit (β = 0.56, t = 6.41) and positive orientation (β = 0.54, t = 6.35). Resilience also predicted academic achievement directly (β = 0.71, t = 9.12) and indirectly via its impact on grit and positive orientation. It was also found that positive orientation and grit are positively and highly associated (β = 0.77, t = 9.28).Originality/valueThe pandemic COVID-19 brought about substantial changes in university students' education and their overall life style. Many university students around the globe experienced virtual education. Balancing personal and academic roles in these unprecedented conditions seems to be a tough challenge for every university student.

Structuring and financing private equity and venture capital transactions in Luxembourg

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bertrand Géradin
Keyword(s):  
Venture Capital ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Private Equity ◽  
Corporate Law ◽  
Efficient Manner ◽  
Equity Investment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Optimum Balance

Purpose Luxembourg is the jurisdiction of choice for many private equity and venture capital investors/funds. Though the optimum balance of financing instruments in relation to any structure varies according to its particular circumstances, one factor that all Luxembourg domiciled FDI structures have in common is the requirement for an appropriate level of equity investment. This article intends to summarize some of the topics frequently encountered in relation to equity structuring choices. Design/methodology/approach Author details the different steps and choices available to investors and funds. The article offers answers to questions to provide a broad, yet detailed, overview of the process and journey; from selecting the vehicle right through to distributing to investors, governance, and compliance. Findings To avoid an expensive mistake, it is paramount that the private equity or venture capital investors and management team receive detailed advice to ensure: (i) the deal is structured in the most tax efficient manner possible and the commercial deal is suitable for all parties, and (ii) the deal is structured in a manner which is effective under Luxembourg law, for both tax and legal purposes. Practical implications It is important that non-Luxembourg lawyers are able to identify key issues when negotiating the terms of the investment documents, in particular, the articles of association and shareholders' agreement. Originality/value Practical guidance from Luxembourg lawyer specializing in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and private equity transactions.

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