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Experts and Questions : Exploring Perceptions of Corruption
Get PDFBased on two survey experiments, the article explores the influence specific formulation of survey questions have on the results of corruption perception measurements. By comparing the survey experiment results, the article also highlights differences between perceptions of experts and the public.Článek na základě dvou provedených survey experimentů zkoumá, jak formulace dotazníkových otázek ovlivňuje výsledky měření vnímání korupce. Srovnání výsledků obou survey experimentů také poukazuje na rozdíl mezi vnímáním korupce ze strany veřejnosti a expertů
Relationships among achievement motivation, grades, and aspirations: English as a foreign language
Get PDFAchievement motivation in English as a foreign language became of great interest for teachers, parents, as well as researchers; as English became acommon language for all developed countries. Empirical research in this area world-wide is quite rich. However, findings for Czech students are scarce.Our study uses logistic regression models to determine the relation between reported student achievement motivation measured by the need forachievement (NfA) and the need to avoid failure (NtAF) and grades and aspirations to further study. The probability research sample consisted of 462students at the end of their compulsory education in the Czech Republic (9 grade). NfA was found to be a positive predictor and NtAF was a negativepredictor of student final grade in English, receiving a final report card with honours, as well as aspiration to study at an elite upper secondarycomprehensive school. The effect of NfA on grades and aspiration was, on average, lower for males than for females. The effect of NtAF for males was,on average, higher. In our further research, we are preparing an application of the anchoring vignette method to cope with possible differences in scaleusage among respondents and test if the relations will be stronger.Identifikace rozdílů v úrovni motivace k učení se angličtině a jejího vztahu ke studijním výsledkům a aspiracím žáků je podstatným úkolem pro výzkumníky. Poznatků v této oblasti u českých žáků je však málo. Tato studie si klade za cíl identifikovat vztah mezi úrovní výkonové motivace v angličtině a studijními výsledky a aspiracemi žáků. Výsledky dotazníkového šetření mezi žáky devátých ročníků základních škol (N = 324) ukazují, že potřeba úspěšného výkonu (PÚV) v angličtině je pozitivním prediktorem a potřeba vyhnutí se neúspěchu (PVN) v angličtině negativním prediktorem známky z angličtiny na vysvědčení, získání vyznamenání, budoucí aspirace žáků studovat na gymnáziu. Pro chlapce byl efekt PÚV na tyto indikátory v průměru nižší a naopak, efekt PVN v průměru vyšší než pro dívky (rozdíly však většinou nebyly statisticky signifikantní). Potvrzení těchto zjištění vyžaduje další výzkum, který by bral v úvahu rozdíly v užívání škál mezi žáky (např. skrze aplikaci metody ukotvujících vinět)
Transitions in Old Age : The Meanings of Body from the Perspective of Older Adults with Acquired Impairment
Get PDFThis paper summarises the knowledge about transition from the third age to what is called the fourth age. The study understands ageing as an embodied process and explores the meanings that are attached to the body in the narratives of older persons who have acquired impairment in later life and are receiving care. Because the onset of impairment and infirmity marks a point of transition, the study considers the bodily aspects of the ageing process as key elements, despite this being highly problematic in current social gerontology. The authors call for a complex approach to understanding the meanings of the body in the transitions into old age and drawing on their own study based on three repeated interviews with ten older adults conducted over the course of one year (8 women, mean age = 83.8 years), they explore the meanings that are attached to the body in the context of receiving care. Their analysis of the personal accounts and narratives of everyday activities from the participants in their study revealed that embodiment in action is the main topic through which participants experienced their everydayness. The meanings of embodiment in action are shaped and reconstructed on three dimensions that capture important processes of embodiment in action: the sensing of the body (the Body as an Organiser of Activities), anticipation of the body (the Body as an Uncertain Companion), and the managing of the body (the Body as Work to Be Done). The findings offer insights into the processes of transitions in old age, in which the emotional, social, and behavioural aspects of embodiment in action, rather than age, play the key role. The study further highlights that the meanings of the body are complex, highly relevant, and should not be overlooked within the organisational practice of social and health care
Homeostatic model of human thermoregulation with bi-stability
Get PDFAll homoiothermic organisms are capable of maintaining a stable body temperature using various negative feedback mechanisms. However, current models cannot satisfactorily describe the thermal adaptation of homoiothermic living systems in a physiologically meaningful way. Previously, we introduced stress entropic load, a novel variable designed to quantify adaptation costs, i.e. the stress of the organism, using a thermodynamic approach. In this study, we use stress entropic load as a starting point for the construction of a novel dynamical model of human thermoregulation. This model exhibits bi-stable mechanisms, a physiologically plausible features which has thus far not been demonstrated using a mathematical model. This finding allows us to predict critical points at which a living system, in this case a human body, may proceed towards two stabilities, only one of which is compatible with being alive. In the future, this may allow us to quantify not only the direction but rather the extent of therapeutic intervention in critical care patients
Measuring psychological capital : Revision of the Compound Psychological Capital Scale (CPC-12)
Get PDFThis article provides information about the psychometric limitations of the original Compound Psychological Capital Scale (CPC-12) and suggests a revised version CPC-12R, a free-to-use measure of Psychological Capital. The investigation consisted of three studies: two of these identified psychometric limitations of the original scale, and the third presented the revised version of the scale. The first study did not confirm the hypothesized four-factor structure of the CPC-12 on a sample of Czech teachers (n = 282) and found psychometric limitations in the resilience subscale. The second study identified the same problem using secondary analyses of the original data from two samples of German employees (n = 202 and 321 respectively). The third study proposed a revised version of the scale with new items for resilience, and provided support for reliability and factorial validity of the new CPC-12R on a sample of Czech employees (n = 333). CPC-12R demonstrated a better fit to the theoretically supported model of Psychological Capital than CPC-12, and further displays adequate psychometric properties to be recommended for application in both research and practice
What is the most appropriate polity model for closer cooperation between Central European countries?
No full textThe text deals with constitutional models of interstate cooperation. It evaluates the pros and cons of the unitary state, federation, confederation, real union and personal union.Text se zabývá státoprávními modely mezistátní spolupráce. Hodnotí klady a zápory unitárního státu, federace, konfederace, reálné unie a personální unie
Otevřené hranice a jejich nepřátelé? K současné diskusi v rámci teorie migrace
Get PDFAutor se zabývá současnou diskusí, jež probíhá v rámci normativní teorie migrace, a problematikou otevřených hranic coby bytostně liberálním konceptem, v jehož pozadí se střetávají hodnoty univerzalistického liberalismu s požadavky členů zakotvených politických komunit. V první části článku nastiňuje revizi stěžejních normativních pozic v soudobém politicko-filosofickém diskursu o migraci a upozorňuje na liberální podstatu legitimizačních strategií proponentů i oponentů otevřených hranic. V návaznosti na podstatné kosmopolitní implikace, jež se s argumentací ve prospěch otevřených hranic pojí, pak ve druhé části článku představuje dva vzájemně komplementární návrhy zohledňující východiska liberálních univerzalistů i partikularistů. Tyto návrhy se týkají (i) podmínek úspěšné integrace migrantů a (ii) nápravy demokratického deficitu v kolektivním rozhodování o propustnosti hranic, v jejímž důsledku by došlo k zahrnutí migrantů do deliberativního procesu.The author examines the discussion currently taking place in the framework of the normative theory of migration, and the issue of open borders as a fundamentally liberal concept, one in whose background the values of universalist liberalism clash with the demands of members of bounded political communities. The first part of the article briefly reviews the key normative positions in the contemporary political-philosophical discourse regarding migration and draws attention to the liberal basis of the legitimizing strategies of proponents and opponents of open borders. In connection with the inherent cosmopolitan implications that are associated with arguments in favour of open borders, the author presents in the second part of the article two mutually complementary approaches that take into consideration the starting points of liberal universalists and particularists. These approaches concern (i) the conditions for the successful integration of migrants and (ii) the remedying of the democratic deficit in collective decision-making as regards border permeability, the result of which would be the inclusion of migrants in the deliberative process
Auta, emise a klima: právní nástroje environmentální regulace
Get PDFPublikace se zabývá problematikou, kterou nelze v České republice označit za klasickou, ale v době klimatických změn a nutnosti přechodu k bezemisní dopravě a udržitelnému vývoji společnosti za zcela stěžejní. Monografie rámcově představuje unijní (a související národní) právní úpravu typového schvalování nových vozidel se zaměřením na zkušební cykly WLTP a RDE. Publikace analyzuje emisní normy Euro, které definují mezní limity pro znečišťující látky emitované vozidly, a zároveň analyzuje unijní právní úpravu emisí CO2 z nových vozidel. Pro rozvoj bezemisní dopravy je zásadní dostatečná infrastruktura (př. dobíjecí stanice) a z tohoto důvodu je rozebírána předmětná právní úprava týkající se infrastruktury pro alternativní paliva, ale i vybraných alternativních paliv. Monografie se taktéž zabývá konkrétními nástroji právní regulace (přímými i nepřímými), jejichž využití by mohlo dopomoci k rozvoji bezemisní dopravy a zároveň zlepšení kvality vnějšího ovzduší, a to zejména ve městech. V rámci nepřímých nástrojů je analyzována státní podpora a další finanční pobídky, jejichž cílem je podpořit rozvoj bezemisní dopravy. Analyzované přímé nástroje právní regulace zahrnují programy zlepšování kvality ovzduší, akční plány a nízkoemisní zóny, které jsou komparovány s německou právní úpravou. Tyto nástroje jsou analyzovány zejména s ohledem na jejich roli, již mohou sehrát při rozvoji alternativní infrastruktury a alternativních vozidel.The publication focuses on a topic that cannot be described as a traditional legal topic in the Czech Republic. Nevertheless, in times of climate change and the general need to shift to zero-emission transportation and sustainable development, this topic is very much needed. The publication provides a general framework of type approval legislation of new vehicles in the EU and national legal system, emphasizing test cycles such as WLTP and RDE. The publication analyses Euro emission norms which define thresholds for polluting substances from exhaust fumes, and at the same time analyses Union legal regulation of CO2 emissions from new vehicles. To fully develop zero-emission transportation, it is necessary to have sufficient corresponding infrastructure (e.g., charging stations). This publication focuses on legislation concerning alternative infrastructure and selected alternative fuels. It also analyses specific legal instruments (direct and indirect), which could be used as tools for developing zero-emission transportation and improving air quality, especially in urban areas. State aid and other financial incentives that can promote zero-emission transport development are analysed within indirect legal instruments. Direct legal instruments such as air quality plans, action plans, and low emission zones (which are also compared to their German counterparts) are also analysed. These instruments are analysed with respect to their role in the development of alternative infrastructure and alternative vehicles
Conceptual Model of Visual Analytics for Hands-on Cybersecurity Training
Get PDFHands-on training is an effective way to practice theoretical cybersecurity concepts and increase participants’ skills. In this paper, we discuss the application of visual analytics principles to the design, execution, and evaluation of training sessions. We propose a conceptual model employing visual analytics that supports the sensemaking activities of users involved in various phases of the training life cycle. The model emerged from our long-term experience in designing and organizing diverse hands-on cybersecurity training sessions. It provides a classification of visualizations and can be used as a framework for developing novel visualization tools supporting phases of the training life-cycle. We demonstrate the model application on examples covering two types of cybersecurity training programs