Examining Philosophy of Technology Using Grounded Theory Methods

A qualitative study was conducted to examine the philosophy of technology of K-12 technology leaders, and explore the influence of their thinking on technology decision making. The research design aligned with CORBIN and STRAUSS grounded theory methods, and I proceeded from a research paradigm of critical realism. The subjects were school technology directors and instructional technology specialists, and data collection consisted of interviews and a written questionnaire. Data analysis involved the use of grounded theory methods including memo writing, open and axial coding, constant comparison, the use of purposive and theoretical sampling, and theoretical saturation of categories. Three broad philosophy of technology views were widely held by participants: an instrumental view of technology, technological optimism, and a technological determinist perspective that saw technological change as inevitable. Technology leaders were guided by two main approaches to technology decision making, represented by the categories Educational goals and curriculum should drive technology, and Keep up with Technology (or be left behind). The core category and central phenomenon that emerged was that technology leaders approached technology leadership by placing greater emphasis on keeping up with technology, being influenced by an ideological orientation to technological change, and being concerned about preparing students for a technological future

PREDICTING POTENTIAL ASCOSPORE DOSE OF VENTURIA INAEQUALIS (CKE) WINT IN COMMERCIAL APPLE ORCHARDS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE (MODELING, EPIDEMIOLOGY, DISEASE MANAGEMENT)

A theoretical model (Prot. Ecol. 5:103-125) was the framework of a study of factors affecting the number of Venturia inaequalis ascospores per m(\u272) orchard floor per season (PAD) in New Hampshire apple orchards. PAD was calculated as the product of scab lesions per m(\u272) leaf tissue at leaf fall, pseudothecia per lesion, asci per pseudothecium, the proportion of the orchard floor covered by leaf litter at bud break, and ascospores per ascus. Disease incidence and the proportion of lesions that formed mature ascocarps were strongly correlated; lesion fertility was directly proportional to disease incidence at leaf fall. Most lesions from commercial orchards did not produce mature ascocarps. However, even when disease incidence was near zero, approximately 3% of the lesions formed mature ascocarps. Mechanisms were discussed by which sexual reproduction could occur when the probability of pairing of compatible mating types was remote. Infertile lesions were associated with aborted ascocarps as observed by Keitt and Palmiter (Amer. J. Bot. 25:338-345). The number of asci per ascocarp and the number of ascocarps per lesion did not differ on McIntosh, Cortland, or Delicious leaves. Leaves decayed primarily during winter and only slowly from bud break to petal fall. PAD varied from 13 to 44,544 ascospores/m(\u272)/season in orchards where 0.04% and 9.32% of the leaves were infected the previous autumn, respectively. A model proposed by Van der Plank was used to compute time differences ((DELTA)t) in the onset of scab epidemics based on differences in PAD. Spray programs for apply scab could be delayed by 2-22 days in commercial orchards depending on PAD and the value of Van der Plank\u27s infection rate (r)

Are Shorter Work Hours Good for the Environment? A Comparison of U.S. and European Energy Consumption

European employees work fewer hours per year -- and use less energy per person -- than their American counterparts. This report compares the European and U.S. models of labor productivity and energy consumption. It finds that if all countries worked as many hours per week as U.S. workers do, the world would consume 15 to 30 percent more energy by 2050 than it would by following Europe's model

Has Austerity Worked in Spain?

Since 2011 Spain has pursued a set of economic policies for recovery based on internal currency devaluation, labor market reform, fiscal consolidation, and structural and deregulatory reforms such as the Market Unity Law, which are based on the idea of boosting growth through increased efficiency. Unemployment is currently at 21.6 percent, and 47.7 percent for youth, with about 60 percent of the unemployed out of work for more than one year. The number of people classified as at risk of poverty and social exclusion has risen with the unemployment rate, from 10.4 million people in 2007 to 13.4 million in 2014.This report looks at Spain's recent economic history, both before and after its recession, with a focus on employment, contributions to GDP growth, and the current account balance

Latin American Growth in the 21st Century: The "Commodities Boom" That Wasn't

Latin America's economic growth rebound in the 2000s is often attributed to a "commodities boom," which implies that the region's growth was stimulated by sizable increases in the price of commodity exports. This paper looks at whether the data support such a conclusion. It finds that there is no statistically significant relationship between the increase in the terms of trade (TOT) for Latin American countries and their GDP growth. There is, however, a positive relationship between the TOT increase and an improvement in the current account balance. It may be that this allowed countries to avoid balance of payments crises or constraints

Political Forecasting? The IMF's Flawed Growth Projections for Argentina and Venezuela

This report examines the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) projections for economic growth for Argentina and Venezuela in recent years. It shows that the IMF consistently made large errors in overestimating Argentina's GDP growth for the years 2000, 2001 and 2002, during the country's 1998-2002 depression, and large underestimates for the years 2003-2006, as Argentina's economy grew rapidly. The paper also notes the IMF's repeated large errors in underestimating Venezuela's GDP growth for the years since 2004

Policy Alternatives for a Return to Full Employment in Spain

With Spain's official unemployment rate at 26 percent, and the economy projected to contract by 1.3 percent this year, it is difficult to make the case for continued austerity that could push a barely growing economy back into recession. Yet the government is committed to further fiscal tightening, on the grounds that it has no choice.This paper will show that there are various feasible alternatives that can restore full employment to Spain by 2018, as well as other possibilities that could accomplish this goal even sooner