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
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Sprecher der Sektion
Homepage: http://www.gesis.org/methodensektion/
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/
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/
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
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
--------------------------------------------------------
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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!)
*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/>
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/
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
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/