1,078 research outputs found
Explorations in Juror Emotion and Juror Judgment
No full textThe fictional sleuth, Sherlock Holmes, was acutely sensitive to the importance – even the primacy – of empirical evidence for developing workable theories. It is an insight which modern behavioral scientists might be well advised to recognize. Elsewhere (Kerr 1998), I reported some survey data that indicated that modern editors, reviewers and readers expect nearly any sound piece of behavioral science to begin with an explicit hypothesis, derived from a priori theory. I went on to suggest that this strong preference was based on both a healthy and unhealthy premise. The healthy premise is that cogent a priori theory can do much to justify, organize, and empower our observations – an axiom of the classic hypothetico-deductive model of science (e.g., Hempel 1966). The unhealthy premise is that this is always or invariably the case – that “…it is a capital mistake not to theorize, regardless of the knowledge, understanding, or even existence of the facts” (Kerr 1998, p. 201).1 This tempts us to attempt to make theoretical bricks, even when we lack empirical clay
International Harmonization and the Gains from Trade
No full textInternational harmonization of standards and regulations is often a goal expressed in trade agreements because it is expected to yield gains from trade. Absence of progress toward harmonization is often interpreted as being motivated by protectionism, with differences in standards and regulations seen as non-tariff barriers. While protectionism may well be the source of resistance to harmonization, there may be other reasons it is not pursued. These alternative explanations have not received much attention from economists. In this article some of these alternatives are outlined - demand effects from altering standards, switching costs, proprietary technologies. The article concludes that proposals for international harmonization need to be scrutinized carefully.demand effects, harmonization, regulation, standards, switching costs, TBT, International Relations/Trade,
Recession, International Trade and the Fallacies of Composition
No full textA truly global recession has not been manifest since the Great Depression of the 1930s. As a result, the multilateral institutions put in place at the end of the Second World War to ensure that a major depression never happened again have not been tested. One of the lessons of the Great Depression was that governments had a major role to play in managing the economy. The use of subsidies to affect economic outcomes was one manifestation of this expanded role. In a recession, sector specific subsidies will likely be requested by firms. Subsidies can distort trade, leading to the potential for beggar thy neighbour subsidy wars. Subsidies will be difficult to discipline in a global recession.beggar thy neighbour, deficits, paradox of thrift, recession, subsidies, International Relations/Trade,
HARKing (Hypothesizing After the Results are Known)
No full textThis article considers a practice in scientific communication termed HARKing (Hypothesizing After the Results are Known). HARKing is defined as presenting a post hoc hypothesis (i.e., one based on or informed by one's results) in one's research report as if it were, in fact, an a priori hypotheses. Several forms of HARKing are identified and survey data are presented that suggests that at least some forms of HARKing are widely practiced and widely seen as inappropriate. I identify several reasons why scientists might HARK. Then I discuss several reasons why scientists ought not to HARK. It is conceded that the question of whether HARKing's costs exceed its benefits is a complex one that ought to be addressed through research, open discussion, and debate. To help stimulate such discussion (and for those such as myself who suspect that HARKing's costs do exceed its benefits), I conclude the article with some suggestions for deterring HARKing
Quantum Kerr Learning
No full textQuantum machine learning is a rapidly evolving field of research that could
facilitate important applications for quantum computing and also significantly
impact data-driven sciences. In our work, based on various arguments from
complexity theory and physics, we demonstrate that a single Kerr mode can
provide some "quantum enhancements" when dealing with kernel-based methods.
Using kernel properties, neural tangent kernel theory, first-order perturbation
theory of the Kerr non-linearity, and non-perturbative numerical simulations,
we show that quantum enhancements could happen in terms of convergence time and
generalization error. Furthermore, we make explicit indications on how
higher-dimensional input data could be considered. Finally, we propose an
experimental protocol, that we call \emph{quantum Kerr learning}, based on
circuit QED.Comment: 20 pages, many figures. v2: significant updates, author adde
Determining the sign of g factor via time-resolved Kerr rotation spectroscopy with a rotatable magnetic field
No full textTime-resolved Kerr rotation spectroscopy is used to determine the sign of the g factor of carriers in a semiconductor material, with the help of a rotatable magnetic field in the plane of the sample. The spin precession signal of carriers at a fixed time delay is measured as a function of the orientation of the magnetic field with a fixed strength B. The signal has a sine-like form and its phase determines the sign of the g factor of carriers. As a natural extension of previous methods to measure the (time-resolved) photoluminescence or time-resolved Kerr rotation signal as a function of the magnetic field strength with a fixed orientation, such a method gives the correct sign of the g factor of electrons in GaAs. Furthermore, the sign of carriers in a (Ga, Mn) As magnetic semiconductor is also found to be negative
Special and Differential Treatment: A Mechanism to Promote Development?
No full textMuch has been made of "special and differential" treatment in the Doha Development Round of WTO negotiations. In particular, a conscious effort has been made to infer that special and differential treatment will promote development. While special and differential treatment may be a necessary evil given developing countries' higher adjustment costs, dignifying it as a development mechanism plays into the hands of protectionist interests. In particular, by allowing a general increase in the ability of developing countries to isolate their economies, it may reduce the efficacy of important forces that prod institutional reforms in developing countries. As institutional reform is one of the keys to economic development, lionizing special and differential treatment in the WTO is likely to be counterproductive.development, institutional reform, protectionism, special and differential treatment, WTO, International Development,
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