January 2008 - Methoden - mailman.uni-konstanz.de

Call for papers - Mixed Models in SEM
by Sprecher der Methodensektion 30 Jan '08

30 Jan '08

On behalf of Petra Stein: Call for papers - Mixed Models in SEM Session „Mixed Models in SEM“ at the 7th International Conference on Social Science Methodology organised by RC33 (Research Committee on Logic and Methodology) of the International Sociological Association (ISA), hosted in Naples (Italy), September 1-5, 2008 Conference homepage: http://www.rc332008.unina.it Deadline for the submission of abstracts to the session organizer: February 17th, 2008. The session organizers or the organization committee will inform you about the acceptance by the end of March at the latest. Session Organizer: Prof. Dr. Petra Stein (University Duisburg-Essen, petra_stein(a)uni-due.de) Mixed Models in SEM Structural equation modelling, or generally speaking mean and covariance structure models, are a well-tried statistical approach to analyzing simultaneously relations between unobserved variables (structural equation model), and relations between unobserved variables and observed variables (measurement model). Normally, the underlying mean and covariance structure is assumed to stem from one population. This assumption is often unrealistic. If heterogeneity exists and the variable which generates the heterogeneity is known, the researcher may use the multiple group options in programs like LISREL or EQS to estimate the parameter of the structural and the measurement model in different groups, and test the model. A central topic of empirical research is the problem of unobserved heterogeneity. To solve this problem at least partially, a statistical model, the so-called mixture model, is developed. “Finite mixtures” refers to the assumption that a sample of observations arises from a mixture of normal, exponential, or Bernoulli distribution. Finite mixtures of multivariate normal variables may be used whenever the researcher suspects that a population is not homogeneous but consists of heterogeneous subpopulations that have different means and associations between the variables of each subpopulation. In addition to describing each component, the researcher may want to specify mean and covariance structure models like the LISREL models for each component, and may also want to estimate the size of each component. Finite mixtures may further be used as an alternative to cluster analytic techniques in order to identify homogeneous subsets in samples from a heterogeneous population, in the sense that elements within the same subset follow a multivariate normal distribution with the same expected value and variance matrix. Further developments of the mixture model are conditional finite mixtures. In conditional mixtures of multivariate normal distributions, the expected value of each component may depend linearly on regressor variables that need not be multivariate normal. Consequently, the strong assumption of unconditional normality of the mixture components is replaced by the weaker assumption of conditional normality. Further developments of unconditional finite mixtures are the integration of full path models or confirmatory factor models in the mixtures, a development of conditional finite mixtures is a full general mean and covariance model. Another development involves longitudinal data in the model, like for example the growth mixture model. In this session we want to consider some of the new and different developments and applications of mixture models in structural equation modelling. Abstracts: I invite members of RC33 and other social science researchers to send in an extended abstract (1-2 pages) on a methodological problem (quantitative or qualitative) in the area of "Mixed Models in SEM" before February 17th. The full paper will have to be summitted by September 30th, 2008. The presentation of your paper at the conference should not exceed 20 minutes. When submitting a paper, please register as soon as possible. For further details see: http://www.uni-due.de/soziologie/7thmethodology.php/ http://www.rc332008.unina.it/index.html Contact: Prof. Dr. Petra Stein Institut für Soziologie Universität Duisburg-Essen Lotharstr. 65 D-47057 Duisburg petra_stein(a)uni-due.de -- ------------------------- Sprecher der Sektion Homepage: http://www.gesis.org/methodensektion/

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CfP Data for Analyzing Long-Term Social Processes
by Sprecher der Methodensektion 28 Jan '08

28 Jan '08

On behalf of Nina Baur: ___________________________________________________________________________ Call for Papers for the Session Data for Historical Sociology and for Analyzing Long-Term Social Processes at the Seventh International Conference on Social Science Methodology organised by ISA RC 33 (Research Committee on Logic and Methodology) September 1st ? 5th, 2008, Naples ___________________________________________________________________________ History (as a science) and sociology have always been closely intertwined: Many of the classical social scientists were both sociologists and historians (e.g. Karl Marx, Max Weber, Norbert Elias), and although historical sociology has been long neglected, there have always been historically oriented social scientists such as Michael Mann, Charles Tilly, Randall Collins and Michael Foucault. Currently, historical sociology is re-organizing itself (as can be seen, for example from the ISA TG02). At the same time, many theoretical debates within sociology address long-term social processes. Examples are the debates on welfare regimes, on gender regimes, on varieties of capitalism, on institution building, on World Systems, on modernization, on democratization and on globalization. Questions might be both why certain phenomena are so stable over very long time periods and why and how they change (e. g. path-dependently). If these questions are to be addressed empirically, researchers need data covering time-spans of sometimes 50 years, 100 years or maybe even several centuries, or they need to go back in time as many years. Meanwhile, most empirical (especially quantitative) research covers only the most recent past (i. e. the last 5 to 20 years). Thus, if longitudinal research is to be taken seriously, methodological problems arising when studying the longue durée have to be addressed. One of the most urgent questions is, which kind of data can be used for historical sociology and/or for analyzing long-term social processes. Papers for this session should address one ore more of the following questions: * Is it possible to learn about the distant past from ?classical? sociological data types (i. e. surveys, interviews or observation)? How can these data be used and where are their limits? * What alternative data types do exist that can be used for analyzing long-term social processes (e. g. documents, literature, diaries, paintings, films, mechanical drawings, maps, landscapes, buildings, objects)? What are there similarities and differences, and how do they differ from surveys, interviews and observation? Do historians and social scientists differ in interpreting these data types, or do they just differ in experience with handling specific data types? How can validity of data be assessed? * What specific data problems do arise, if researchers want to analyze social process of the longue durée? Which data are suitable for which kind of questions? * For each specific data type, it is important to ask about their specific characteristics and how this effects interpretation. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this data type? For which kind of theoretical and thematical research question are these data suitable? Where and how can these data be sampled and collected? Are these data limited to a specific geographical area and historical period? Papers debating general methodological questions and papers discussing specific problems using a concrete data type in a specific research project are both equally welcome. Selected Papers from this session will be published in a special issue of the journal HSR (Historical Social Research / Historische Sozialforschung). Submission Please email an extended abstract (1-2 pages) to the session organizer: Nina Baur ? Technical University Berlin ? Germany ? Email: nina.baur(a)tu-berlin.de Deadlines: Submission of extended abstracts (1-2 pages) February 17th, 2008 Notification of authors February 24th, 2008 Submission of Full Paper for HSR September 30th, 2008 Further Information On the Conference: http://www.rc332008.unina.it/ On RC 33: http://www.isa-sociology.org/rc33.htm On ISA: http://www.isa-sociology.org/ ------------------------- Sprecher der Sektion Homepage: http://www.gesis.org/methodensektion/

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CfP Process-Generated Data
by Sprecher der Methodensektion 28 Jan '08

28 Jan '08

On behalf of Nina Baur: ______________________________________________________________________ Call for Papers for the Session Process Generated Data at the Seventh International Conference on Social Science Methodology organised by ISA RC 33 (Research Committee on Logic and Methodology) September 1st - 5th, 2008, Naples ______________________________________________________________________ Process-generated data have several advantages in comparison to data "classically" used in social research, i. e. surveys, interviews and observation: Process-generated data are non-reactive. They can be used, if other means of data collection are not applicable, for example, if infrastructure for large-scale surveys does not exist (which is the case in many countries of transition), if response-rates in surveys are expected to be to low, if researchers might not get access to interview partners or if the social phenomenon of interest is not observable (e.g. when analysing past events or hidden populations). At the same time, discussion on how to methodologically handle these process-generated data has been long neglected. The session aims at comparing a wide range of process-generated data and discussing how they can be used for social research. Examples for standardised data are customer data bases, web logs, administrational forms and GIS data. Examples for less structured data are documents, novels, diaries, letters, websites, paintings, films, photos, maps, mechanical drawings, construction plans, landscapes, buildings, monuments and objects. Papers should discuss a specific type of process-generated data, addressing the following questions: * What are the specific characteristics of this data type? How does this effects data analysis and interpretation? * What are the advantages and disadvantages of this data type? How does this data type differ from other forms of process-generated data, and how does it differ from surveys, interviews and observation? * For which kind of theoretical and thematical research question are these data suitable? * Where and how can these data be sampled and collected? Are these data limited to a specific geographical area and historical period? Are data of the same data type collected in different periods or geographical areas comparable? * How valid are results drawn from these data? Papers debating general methodological questions in handling a specific data type and papers discussing specific methodological problems in a specific research project are both equally welcome. In order to gain a common ground of discussion, authors should also state their disciplinary and theoretical background and - in case of presenting a thematic case study - shortly present the thematic background of the study. Selected Papers from this session will be published in a special issue of the journal HSR (Historical Social Research / Historische Sozialforschung). Submission Please email an extended abstract (1-2 pages) to the session organizer: Nina Baur . Technical University Berlin . Germany . Email: nina.baur(a)tu-berlin.de Deadlines: Submission of extended abstracts (1-2 pages) February 17th, 2008 Notification of authors February 24th, 2008 Submission of Full Paper for HSR September 30th, 2008 Further Information On the Conference: http://www.rc332008.unina.it/ On RC 33: http://www.isa-sociology.org/rc33.htm On ISA: http://www.isa-sociology.org/ - ------------------------- Sprecher der Sektion Homepage: http://www.gesis.org/methodensektion/

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Call for papers - Mobile Phones and other ICT in Survey Data Collection
by Marek Fuchs 28 Jan '08

28 Jan '08

Mobile Phones and other ICTs for Survey Data Collection Session on the occasion of the 7th International Conference of the Research Committee on Logic and Methodology of the International Sociological Association (ISA) hosted in Naples (Italy) September 1-5, 2008 Conference homepage: http://www.rc332008.unina.it/ Deadline for the submission of abstracts to the session organizer: February 11, 2008. The technological advancements on the wireless communication market have influenced peoples everyday life dramatically. Mobile phones and other wireless communications devices are becoming more and more popular and widely accepted. In developed countries the mobile penetration is approaching to the saturation. Many of those mobile phones offer Internet access and video telephony, thus, allow researcher to approach potential respondent using multiple modes. This offers many challenges and opportunities to expand the existing options of the telephone survey methodology. However, at the same time many methodological problems arise, from coverage, sampling, non-response to measurement error. Papers on a variety of methodological topics are invited. Among others-but not exclusively, the following topics would be suitable for the session: experiences with surveys using mobile phones and other mobile devices in different countries, surveys conducted over messenger systems and voice-over-IP shall. Please send abstracts of around 250 (max. 500) words to the session organizer by February 11, 2008. Contact: Prof. Dr. Marek Fuchs University of Kassel Social Science Department Nora-Platiel-Str. 1 34109 Kassel Germany marek.fuchs(a)uni-kassel.de -------------------------------------------------------- This mail sent through http://www.uni-kassel.de/www-mail

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Call for papers - children as respondents
by Marek Fuchs 28 Jan '08

28 Jan '08

Children as Respondents in Surveys Methodological Aspects Session on the occasion of the 7th International Conference of the Research Committee on Logic and Methodology of the International Sociological Association (ISA) hosted in Naples (Italy) September 1-5, 2008 Conference homepage: http://www.rc332008.unina.it/ Deadline for the submission of abstracts to the session organizer: February 11, 2008. In Recent years, many surveys have addressed samples of children and adolescents. Today, their behaviors, attitudes and beliefs are predominantly collected directly from them. By contrast, proxy-reporting from parents or other caretakers is no longer seen as a sufficient technique of data collection. Children and adolescents are assumed to be competent respondents who can speak for themselves and who are often more knowledgeable about their own activities. Collecting data directly from them will likely improve data quality. By contrast, the literature has shown that children and adolescents respond to standardized questionnaires based on limited cognitive capacities and still developing social skills. Assuming a negative effect of the limited cognitive and social abilities on the question answer process, the quality of data obtained from children and adolescents has been questioned. This session aims to provide a forum for researchers interested in methodological aspects of surveys among children and juveniles. Papers on a variety of methodological topics are invited. Among others-but not exclusively, the following topics would be suitable for the session: sampling issues, non-response, measurement error, parental consent, incentives, survey modes for samples of children and juveniles. Please send abstracts of around 250 (max. 500) words to the session organizer by February 11, 2008. Contact: -- Prof. Dr. Marek Fuchs Universität Kassel FB Gesellschaftswissenschaften Professur für empirische Sozialforschung 34109 Kassel Germany +49.561.804-3102 (fon) +49.561.804-3464 (fax) marek.fuchs(a)uni-kassel.de -------------------------------------------------------- This mail sent through http://www.uni-kassel.de/www-mail

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Call for Papers: 'Information and Evaluation', Naples September 1-5, 2008
by Ohly, H. Peter 25 Jan '08

25 Jan '08

Adminstrative info for SIGMETRICS (for example unsubscribe): http://web.utk.edu/~gwhitney/sigmetrics.html Session 'Information and Evaluation' on the 7th RC33 International Conference on Social Science Methodology, Naples September 1-5, 2008. Session Organizers: H. Peter Ohly (peter.ohly(a)gesis.org) Max Stempfhuber (max.stempfhuber(a)gesis.org) Information and its dissemination are seen as important factors of productivity in global exchange and competition. Here, information is primarily understood as scientific knowledge and research results - which might enhance science itself as well as application domains. On the one hand the question arises, how such information can be acquired, processed and distributed optimally. Approaches such as user participation, data accumulation, value adding and qualitative filtering are of concern. On the other hand, the information on scientific outcomes is used to judge about the structures of disciplines, developments in research and excellence of institutions and individual scientists. This questions the reliability of information and its sources, completeness, comparability and validity of data, as well as the role of indicators for positional judgements. This session targets at the improvement of information transfer as well as diagnostic procedures on information databases and their mutual relationship. Of interest is also, how the scientific community adapts in this context. Please send your abstract as soon as possible to session organizers. The abstract should not be longer than 250 words and it should indicate your name, your email address, your institutional affiliation and up to three keywords. Deadline for abstracts: February 17, 2008. The session organizers or the organisation committee will inform you about the acceptance by the end of March at the latest. (for details: http://www.rc332008.unina.it/ e.g. CfP) Mit freundlichen Gruessen, With kind regards, Sincères salutations, H. Peter OHLY ------------------------------------- GESIS / IZ Sozialwissenschaften / Lennestr. 30 / 53113 BONN / Germany / Tel.: +49-228-2281-542 / Fax.: +49-228-2281-4542 / mailto:peter.ohly@gesis.org / http://www.gesis.org/SocioGuide / http://www.bonn.iz-soz.de/wiss-org Visitors Address: GESIS / IZ Sozialwissenschaften / Produkte+Marketing / Dreizehnmorgenweg 42 / 53175 BONN (Metro-Stop: Platz der Vereinten Nationen) (Important: please take notice of the new telephone and FAX numbers!)

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VERANSTALTUNG: 11. Dt. ISKO-Tagung Wissensorganisation '08
by Ohly, H. Peter 25 Jan '08

25 Jan '08

*International Society of Knowledge Organization* *German Chapter* Das Programm der 11. Deutschen ISKO-Tagung (Wissensorganisation'08) ist jetzt zugaenglich unter folgender Adresse: <http://www2.bsz-bw.de/cms/isko2008>. Die Tagung hat das Thema: *Wissensspeicher in digitalen Räumen Nachhaltigkeit, Verfügbarkeit, semantische Interoperabilität * Ort: Archäologisches Landesmuseum Konstanz* (ALM)* Datum: *20.-22. Februar 2008* Genaue Ortsangaben und die uebrigen Details der Anmeldung (http://www2.bsz-bw.de/cms/isko2008anmeldung.pdf) finden Sie ebenfalls auf der homepage des BSZ. Der Tagungsort kann dort auf zwei Kartenabbildungen angeschaut werden. Dort sind ALM und Stadtarchiv zu sehen (Benediktinerplatz) und an der Spanierstrasse das Lokal, in dem die Interessierten sich am Abend treffen koennen: Seerhein, direkt am Rheinausfluss gelegen auf der Petershausener Seite von Konstanz. Dort besteht auch die Moeglichkeit, fuer 8,50€ Mittag zu essen: http://www.seerhein.com/html/restaurant.html Auf der Homepage befindet sich auch eine Liste verfuegbarer Hotels. Noch gibt es ein Kontingent vorreservierter Zimmer in den beiden unten genannten Hotels: *Gästehaus Centro* 10 Einzelzimmer (55 EURO pro Zimmer/pro Nacht) 2 Doppelzimmer (75 EURO pro Zimmer/pro Nacht) Bahnhofplatz 4 78462 Konstanz Tel.: +49 7531 457 18 18 Fax: +49 7531 457 18 19 E-Mail: centro(a)gruppealbert.de Homepage: http://www.gaestehauscentro.de *Hotel Petershof* 10 Einzelzimmer (77 EURO pro Zimmer/pro Nacht) St.Gebhardstraße 14 78467 Konstanz Tel: +49 7531 / 993399 Fax : +49 7531 / 993398 E-Mail: hotel(a)petershof.de Homepage: http://www.petershof.de Die Veranstalter hoffen, Sie Ende Februar in Konstanz begruessen zu koennen. Viele Gruesse Ihr Joern Sieglerschmidt -- Dr. Joern Sieglerschmidt Bibliotheksservice-Zentrum Baden-Wuerttemberg <http://www.bsz-bw.de> MuseumsInformationsSystem <http://titan.bsz-bw.de/cms/service/museen/> BAM-Portal <http://www.bam-portal.de> ISKO Deutschland <http://www.bonn.iz-soz.de/wiss-org/>

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Frühjahrstagung 2008 am 7.-8. März in Bonn
by Sprecher der Methodensektion 24 Jan '08

24 Jan '08

Liebe Kollegin, lieber Kollege, die Frühjahrtagung der Methodensektion unter dem Titel "Umfrage als Methode: Hat sie ausgedient?" hat ein sehr attraktives Programm. Die Tagung findet am 7. und 8. März in Bonn statt. Das vollständige Programm finden Sie im Attachment oder unter: http://www.gesis.org/methodensektion/Aktuelles/Fr%FChjahrstagung2008.pdf Um planen zu können, ist eine Anmeldung beim lokalen Veranstaler notwendig. Diese sollte erfolgen bei: Christiane Katzer (infas Management-Office) Friedrich-Wilhelm-Straße 18, 53113 Bonn Tel.: 0228 3822-409 Fax: 0228 310071 E-Mail: c.katzer(a)infas.de Mit besten Grüßen Christof Wolf ------------------------- Sprecher der Sektion Homepage: http://www.gesis.org/methodensektion/

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Neues Buch: Methoden kulturvergleichender Sozialforschung
by Christian Seipel 24 Jan '08

24 Jan '08

Sehr geehrte Kolleginnen und Kollegen, auf diesem Wege möchte ich Sie auf das von Susanne Rippl und mir gerade erschienene Buch "Methoden kulturvergleichender Sozialforschung" hinweisen. Mit freundlichen Grüßen, Christian Seipel Weitere Informationen und Bestellmöglichkeit unter: http://www.vs-verlag.de/index.php;do=show/site=w/book_id=9562/sid=696073757… bzw. search inside unter http://www.amazon.de/gp/reader/3531149652/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-link PD Dr. Susanne Rippl Technische Universität Chemnitz Institut für Soziologie 09107 Chemnitz Germany phone 0371 531 32706 fax 0371 531 27819 Dr. Christian Seipel Universität Hildesheim Institut für Sozialwissenschaften Marienburger Höhe 22 31141 Hildesheim Tel.: 05121 883 503, Fax 501

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CFP: Comparative Analysis of European Microdata from Official Statistics; ISA-RC33 7th International Conference in Naples, September 1-5, 2008
by Sprecher der Methodensektion 22 Jan '08

22 Jan '08

Please circulate the following call, thanks Christof Wolf * ISA-RC33 7th International Conference in Naples, September 1-5, 2008 * Call for Papers for a Session on * Comparative Analysis of European Microdata from Official Statistics * Chairs of the session: Christof Wolf & Heike Wirth, GESIS-ZUMA, Mannheim, Germany The session focuses on microdata provided by either national statistical agencies in Europe or Eurostat, such as the European Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS), the European Study on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC), the European Structure of Earning Survey (EU-SES) or Time Use Surveys in Europe (see HETUS project). These data sets are the EU reference sources regarding employment, income, social exclusion, earning and time use. Even though most of these data are yet not easily accessible for researchers, this might change in the future. The data offer several advantages for social-structural analysis: Non-response is typically low and sample sizes are usually very large making the analysis of even small subgroups viable. With the increasing focus on (as well as need of) international comparative research, more and more EU researchers interested in social-structural analysis will turn their attention to these data. However since the use of official microdata is rather new ground and the data are directly or indirectly influenced by EU-regulations, there is a need not only to discuss substantive but also methodological questions. Presentations focusing on methodological as well as on substantive issues are welcome. Among the former are questions of data quality, cross-national and inter-temporal comparability, and statistical modeling. Presentations must be comparative and include data from at least three countries. SUBMISSIONS: Send your submissions to the Chairs of the Session: Christof Wolf (Christof.Wolf(a)gesis.org) and Heike Wirth (Heike.Wirth(a)gesis.org) before February 17, 2008. IMPORTANT DATES: Abstract submission: February 17, 2008 Notification of acceptance: Latest by the end of March 2008 For further details about the conference refer to the conference homepage: http://www.rc332008.unina.it/ ------------------------- Sprecher der Sektion Homepage: http://www.gesis.org/methodensektion/

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