No / As English schools consider downgrading practical science, John Baruch points out that other nations are rushing to include more.

De março de 2010 a dezembro de 2012, o Observatório de Comunicação, Liberdade de Expressão e Censura (OBCOM) da Universidade de São Paulo (USP) desenvolveu a pesquisa Opinião Pública e Censura no Mundo Contemporâneo. Para abarcar a complexidade e a diversidade de pontos de vista, diferentes instrumentos de investigação foram empregados, dentre eles, a produção de vídeo-entrevistas. Consideramos relevante avivar o debate a incorporação da linguagem audiovisual ao trabalho de pesquisa empírica no âmbito das Ciências Humanas e Sociais tanto para ressaltar quanto justificar possibilidades renovadas de postura, abordagem, interação e divulgação de nossa produção científica. O processo desta proposta audiovisual em seus aspectos epistemológicos, teóricos e técnicos foi o objeto deste trabalho. Partindo da experiência de produção, a metodologia que adotamos converge com experiências contemporâneas da Antropologia, Ciências Sociais, Cinema e Documentário. Sendo assim, a construção da pesquisa colocou em relevo as questões: a) O debate sobre a incorporação das imagens ao trabalho científico e a validade de uma metodologia na pesquisa empírica com audiovisual; b) O questionamento do uso de mídias a partir das Ciências da Comunicação; c) Como o audiovisual foi incorporado em uma pesquisa sobre Opinião Pública e suas possibilidades de análises; d) As renovadas posturas de abordagem, interação e divulgação da produção científica contemporânea. / From March 2010 to December 2012, the Universitys of São Paulo Observatório de Comunicação, Liberdade de Expressão e Censura (OBCOM), developed the research Public Opinion and Censorship in Contemporary World (Opinião Pública e Censura no Mundo Contemporâneo). To arrest the complexity and the diversity of different points of view, multiple investigations apparatus were used, such as the video-recording production. We considered relevant, to enliven the debate, the implantation of audiovisual language in the empiric research work inside Humanities studies. This would justify the renewed possibilities of stance, approach, interaction and disclosing of scientific production and also, would highlight them. The process of this audiovisual proposal in its epistemological, technical and theoretical aspects is the object of this paper. Based on the production experience, we adopt a methodology that converges with contemporary experiences in Anthropology, Social Sciences, Cinema and Documentary. In light of this evidence, the main questions that the research points at are: a-) the debate about the images incorporation in scientific work and the validation of a methodology in empiric research with audiovisual resources; b-) the questioning of media uses in Communication Sciences; c-) how audiovisual resources were used in a research about public opinion and how we can analyze them; d-) the renewed stances of approach, interaction and divulgation of contemporary scientific production.

Despite its prominent role in firms' external financing, debt is highly underrepresented in the academic literature, compared to equity financing (Cumming, 2016). This thesis investigates corporate debt under diverse bankruptcy regulation in Europe (Chapter 1), as well as benefits arising from debt renegotiation among US firms (Chapter 2 and 3). The first study examines whether corporate borrowing responds to the strength of creditor rights, which differ greatly across countries. We use a difference-in-differences (DiD) methodology around an EU-wide bankruptcy reform in 2002 as an exogenous shock that reshaped the institutional environment for corporate debtors and their creditors in Europe. Our findings suggest that subsidiaries in the EU decrease their leverage when they are exposed to less creditor-friendly regimes after 2002, while there is hardly any impact on leverage when shifting to an equally creditor-friendly regime, and even less so when shifting to a more creditor-friendly one. We conclude that the legal environment under which credit is granted matters for firms' access to finance. The following two studies take a closer look into the bank-firm relationship during which renegotiations of existing loans are frequently observed. While the area of private debt renegotiation (among healthy firms) is not very well researched so far, this is the first study to link between loan renegotiation and firms' credit rating (Chapter 2) and firms' adjustments toward capital structure targets (Chapter 3). Firms' credit rating is important as it determines the rate firms have to pay for private debt and it governs capital requirements of lenders (Basel II and III). The study shows a positive impact on a firm's credit ratings whenever there was a loan amendment in the month prior to the rating update. Amending loans after the initial loan contract therefore carries signalling power to the capital market (in line with existing literature) and implies benefits to both borrowers and lenders. The third study finds an additional beneficial effect of loan amendments for firms. We investigate whether loan amendments might serve as a channel available to firms to speed up their adjustments toward capital structure targets. Against a broad range of alternative leverage target definitions used in the capital structure literature recently, loan amendments tend to accelerate firms' speed of adjustments by up to 10.6 percent points within twelve months after the loan has been amended (in addition to firms' general speed of adjustment). Therefore, our studies provide evidence for additional, novel benefits of corporate debt renegotiation which encourages firms to update and optimise financial contract design even after origination.

A questão central deste trabalho refere-se à institucionalização da mediação no âmbito do Judiciário e às condições necessárias para uma boa relação entre a mediação e o processo judicial. Esta questão foi analisada sob as perspectivas processual e institucional. A primeira recai sobre as bases do processo de mediação, em especial o devido processo legal mínimo, e a sua interação com o processo judicial, diferenciando a justiça do processo e a justiça do resultado. A segunda recai sobre o desenho dos programas de mediação que funcionam junto ao Judiciário e os papéis assumidos pelos diferentes atores que participam destes programas: juízes, mediadores, partes, advogados e funcionários dos Tribunais. Sob esta última perspectiva, foi realizada pesquisa empírica e comparada em programas de mediação que funcionam junto ao Judiciário no Brasil e nos EUA. / The main issue of this work is the institutionalization of mediation within the Courthouse and the pre-conditions for having a good relationship between mediation and the Judiciary. This issue is analyzed from both procedural and institutional points of view. The procedural perspective falls on the mediation due process (minimal but meaningful due process standards) and on the differences between the procedural and substantial justices. The institutional perspective falls on the design of the Court-Connected Mediation Programs and on the roles of the players who participated in these programs: judges, mediators, plaintiff and defendant, attorneys, and Court workers. An empirical research was also done about the Court-Connected Mediation Programs in Brazil and in the United States.

Bei der hier vorzustellenden Arbeit handelt es sich um eine qualitative Langzeitstudie, die sich mit dem politischem Interesse von acht jungen Frauen in Brandenburg im Alter von 16 bis 20/21 Jahren, dem Alter, in dem sich die bisher ausgebildete individuelle politische Identität stabilisiert, beschäftigt. Die politische Identitätsbildung jugendlicher Schüler und Schülerinnen zu unterstützen, sie auf die Übernahme der Rolle eines mündigen Bürgers bzw. einer mündigen Bürgerin vorzubereiten und demokratisches Bewusstsein zu fördern, gilt als wichtiges Ziel politischer Bildung in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. In diesem Konzept verbinden sich die aus psychologischer Sicht zu bewältigenden Entwicklungsaufgaben, die mit der Suche nach einem Platz in der Gemeinschaft (Erikson 1950, 1959, 1968) verbunden sind, mit einer Sicht des politischen Systems, nach der dessen Stabilität maßgeblich von der Legitimation seiner Mitglieder und deren Bereitschaft zur politischen Beteiligung abhängt (Easton 1965, 1975).<br><br> Die Herausbildung politischer Identität und die damit verbundenen Einstellungen und Verhaltensweisen Jugendlicher werden durch die Jugendforschung auf vielfältige Art und Weise untersucht. Nach dem politischen Identitätskonzept von Fend (1991) können politische Einstellungen und Verhaltensweisen nach affektiv-motivationalen, kognitiven und Verhaltensaspekten differenziert betrachtet werden. „Politisches Interesse“ kann als ein Konstrukt gesehen werden, welches im Schnittpunkt dieser drei Dimensionen liegt, da es sowohl motivationale, kognitive als auch handlungsbezogene Aspekte beinhaltet. Ihm kommt als motivationale Basis eine wichtige Bedeutung für die politische Exploration und politische Partizipation, und damit für die politische Identitätsentwicklung zu.<br><br> In empirischen Untersuchungen wird immer wieder festgestellt, dass das für die politische Identitätsentwicklung so bedeutsame politische Interesse bei jungen Frauen im Vergleich zu jungen Männern niedriger ausfällt. Junge Frauen zeigen eine geringere Bereitschaft, sich mit Politik zu beschäftigen, sie fühlen sich politisch inkompetenter und glauben in stärkerem Maße als ihre männlichen Altersgenossen, keinen Einfluss auf die Politik nehmen zu können (vgl. z.B. Fend 1991; Hoffmann-Lange 1995; Verba et al. 1995; Gille et al. 2000; Torney-Purta et al. 2001; Jugendwerk der Deutschen Shell 2000; 2002; Brandenburger Jugendlängsschnitt). Diese vorgefundenen Geschlechtsunterschiede werden auf unterschiedliche Art und Weise erklärt.<br><br> In der empirischen Jugendforschung wird im Allgemeinen eine Single-Item-Frage zur Erfassung von politischem Interesse genutzt. Diese kann nicht als ausreichend angesehen werden, wenn es darum geht, der These nachzugehen, dass weibliche Jugendliche nicht unbedingt politisch weniger, sondern politisch anders interessiert sind als männliche Jugendliche. Arbeiten, die das politische Interesse differenzierter erfassen, belegen dies bereits (vgl. z.B. Kuhn et al. 1998; Oesterreich 2002; Albert et al. 2003; Kuhn/Schmid 2004) <br><br> Diese Arbeit soll dazu beitragen, dass politische Interesse von weiblichen Jugendlichen mittels qualitativer Daten weiterführend zu erklären. Anhand verschiedener Fragen wird dem politischen Interesse weiblicher Gymnasiastinnen aus Brandenburg in seinem Zusammenhang mit dem Informationsverhalten und dem Stellenwert, den Vertrauen in Politik und gegenüber Politikern für die Jugendlichen hat, nachgegangen. / The essay (qualitative long term study) presents perspectives on the political interest of eight young women in the federal state of Brandenburg/Germany between the age of 16-21, an age by which they have achieved an individual political identity.<br><br> German politics aim at supporting, inspiring and preparing adolescents in order to create responsible citizens and to promote a democratic awareness. From a psychological perspective, this concept includes developmental tasks to be coped with as for example the search for a place in society (Erikson 1950, 1959, 1968) and an understanding of the political system as the warrant of stability depending on the legitimate members of the system and their readiness to participate in it (Easton 1965, 1975).<br><br> There are many different critical approaches towards understanding the development of political identity as well as the attitudes and behaviour of adolescents. According to the concept of identity developed by Fend (1991), political identity and behaviour are differentiated into affective-motivational and cognitive aspects. Political interest is attributed to both motivational and cognitive aspects and thus can serve as a central indicative concept for the process of the forming of a political identity. On the one hand, political interest constitutes an important motivational precondition to a maintained interest in political processes and participation. On the other hand, the motivation to stay informed about ongoing political issues promotes the perpetual increase of knowledge as well as the growth of the competence to analyse and act. <br><br> In empirical research, the political interest of young women, which is essential for the development of a political identity, has been repeatedly characterized as lower than that of young men. In comparison to their male contemporaries females show less motivation to deal with politics, they feel less politically competent and are more ready to believe in having no influence on politics (cp. Fend 1991; Hoffmann-Lange 1995; Verba et al. 1995; Gille et al. 2000; Torney-Purta et al. 2001; Jugendwerk der deutschen Shell 2000; 2002; Brandenburger Jugendlängsschnitt). These differences between the genders have received multiple explanations.<br><br> In empirical youth research, one particular question is generally used to assess political interest. Yet, this procedure is inadequate when it comes to finding evidence for the idea that female adolescents are not necessarily less interested in politics, but that they have a different kind of interest than their male counterparts. Essays that approach political interest in a more differentiated way have already provided evidence for this(cp. Kuhn et al. 1998; Oesterreich 2002, Albert et al. 2003, Kuhn/Schmid 2004).<br><br> This essay shall provide further insight into the political interest of female adolescents on the basis of qualitative data. Using different types of questions, the political interest of high school students in the federal state of Brandenburg, studying towards A-level is evaluated with regard to the behaviour concerning the level of concern, trust and appreciation invested in politics and politicians by female adolescents.

"Umweltaspekte und ihre Wertrelevanz für die Unternehmen: Eine Zusammenfassung existierender empirischer Forschungsergebnisse!" (diese Version ist nicht mehr aktuell! 03.04.2007) The management of the value of a firm requires the identification of important value drivers. The main objective of the paper is to find out whether value based management (e.g. shareholder value oriented management) has to take into account environmental aspects. In order to answer this question, the paper will determine whether there is an empirically proven relationship between the economic and environmental performance of companies. The paper is divided into three main parts: The development of a basic theory, the examination of existing empirical results and the concluding integration of theory with empirical results. Basic Theory: To build a basis, the paper first specifies the theoretical connection between economic and environmental performance of companies. Economic performance (e.g. definable by financial statement and/or capital market data) and environmental performance (e.g. definable by operational and strategic data) are linked in a model. Based on the model the influence of environmental aspects on corporate value is examined resulting in seven hypotheses for the relationship of environmental and economic performance. Empirical Results: In order to test the developed theoretical relation, empirical studies are identified and assessed, with regard to the relationship between economic and environmental performance. The research results in 122 studies from all over the world, which are subject to further investigation. The analyzing process includes different steps. First, the studies are divided and reviewed as far as their empirical method and soundness are concerned. Mainly they can be differentiated in regression, event and portfolio studies. Furthermore the study categorizes the environmental and economic variables used in the analyzed studies. Economic measures are divided into the following categories: market based measures (e.g. stock price), accounting based measures (e.g. RoA), accounting and market based measures (e.g. Tobins q), perceived performance measures (i.e. derived from questionnaires) and miscellaneous measures (e.g. shadow prices). Environmental measures on the other hand are divided into the seven categories: strategic environmental performance, operational environmental performance, questionnaires, rating/ranking, events, environmental disclosure and mutual funds. The next step identifies the empirical result of every study as well as important determinants (e.g. the distinguished environmental and economic categories) of the results. The objective is to show whether general patterns for the existence of different results can be defined. Overall it can be shown that about 40% of all studies report a significant positive relationship between economic and environmental performance, contrary to only 11% reporting significant negative results. Furthermore, in order to assess the special role of environmental aspects as value drivers 23 suitable studies are analyzed on the basis of Rappaport?s shareholder network. Results provide an even stronger evidence for the value creating role of environmental aspects. Conclusion: Finally we can detect statistically proven environmental value drivers combining theoretical and empirical research. At the same time, the empirical methods are also evaluated, especially with regard to there ability to provide useful support for the development and examination of the theoretical research. Overall it seems to the authors that the whole research on the topic runs parallel and is not combined. There are only a few studies who are built on already recognized relations or which try the confirm such relations. Based on these cornerstones, requirements for further empirical research are identified and specified.

The management of the value of a firm requires the identification of important value drivers. The main objective of the paper is to find out whether value based management (e.g. shareholder value oriented management) has to take into account environmental aspects. In order to answer this question, the paper will determine whether there is an empirically proven relationship between the economic and environmental performance of companies. The paper is divided into three main parts: The development of a basic theory, the examination of existing empirical results and the concluding integration of theory with empirical results. Basic Theory: To build a basis, the paper first specifies the theoretical connection between economic and environmental performance of companies. Economic performance (e.g. definable by financial statement and/or capital market data) and environmental performance (e.g. definable by operational and strategic data) are linked in a model. Based on the model the influence of environmental aspects on corporate value is examined resulting in seven hypotheses for the relationship of environmental and economic performance. Empirical Results: In order to test the developed theoretical relation, empirical studies are identified and assessed, with regard to the relationship between economic and environmental performance. The research results in 122 studies from all over the world, which are subject to further investigation. The analyzing process includes different steps. First, the studies are divided and reviewed as far as their empirical method and soundness are concerned. Mainly they can be differentiated in regression, event and portfolio studies. Furthermore the study categorizes the environmental and economic variables used in the analyzed studies. Economic measures are divided into the following categories: market based measures (e.g. stock price), accounting based measures (e.g. RoA), accounting and market based measures (e.g. Tobins q), perceived performance measures (i.e. derived from questionnaires) and miscellaneous measures (e.g. shadow prices). Environmental measures on the other hand are divided into the seven categories: strategic environmental performance, operational environmental performance, questionnaires, rating/ranking, events, environmental disclosure and mutual funds. The next step identifies the empirical result of every study as well as important determinants (e.g. the distinguished environmental and economic categories) of the results. The objective is to show whether general patterns for the existence of different results can be defined. Overall it can be shown that about 40% of all studies report a significant positive relationship between economic and environmental performance, contrary to only 11% reporting significant negative results. Furthermore, in order to assess the special role of environmental aspects as value drivers 23 suitable studies are analyzed on the basis of Rappaport?s shareholder network. Results provide an even stronger evidence for the value creating role of environmental aspects. Conclusion: Finally we can detect statistically proven environmental value drivers combining theoretical and empirical research. At the same time, the empirical methods are also evaluated, especially with regard to there ability to provide useful support for the development and examination of the theoretical research. Overall it seems to the authors that the whole research on the topic runs parallel and is not combined. There are only a few studies who are built on already recognized relations or which try the confirm such relations. Based on these cornerstones, requirements for further empirical research are identified and specified.

Automated software test execution is a critical part of the modern software development process, where rapid feedback on the product quality is expected. It is of high importance that impediments related to test execution automation are prevented and removed as quickly as possible. An enabling factor for all types of improvement is to understand the nature of what is to be improved. The goal with this thesis is to further the knowledge about common problems encountered by software developers using test execution automation, in order to enable improvement of test execution automation in industrial software development. The research has been performed through industrial case studies and literature reviews. The analysis of the data have primarily been performed using qualitative methods, searching for patterns, themes, and concepts in the data.  Our main findings include: (a) a comprehensive list of potential impediments reported in the published body of knowledge on test execution automation, (b) an in-depth analysis of how such impediments may affect the performance of a development team, and (c) a proposal for a qualitative model of interactions between the main groups of phenomena that contribute to the formation of impediments in a test execution automation project. In addition to this, we contribute qualitative and quantitative empirical data from our industrial case studies.  Through our results, we find that test execution automation is a commonly under-estimated activity,  not only in terms of resources but also in terms of the complexity of the work. There is a clear tendency to perform the work ad hoc, down-prioritize the automation in favor of other activities,  and ignore the long-term effects in favor of short-term gains. This is both a technical and a cultural problem that need to be managed by awareness of the problems that may arise, and also have to be solved in the long term through education and information. We conclude by proposing a theoretical model of the socio-technical system that needs to be managed to be successful with test execution automation. / Syftet med denna avhandling är att utöka den vetenskapliga kunskapen om problem som kan uppstå under användning av automatiserad testning i industriell programvaruutveckling. Utveckling av programvara består principiellt av ett antal processteg: kravbehandling, detaljerad systemkonstruktion, implementation i form av programmering, och slutligen testning som säkerställer att kvaliteten på programvaran är tillräcklig för dess tilltänkta användare. Testning representerar en stor del av tiden och kostnaden för utveckling av programvaran, och detta gör att det är attraktivt att automatisera testningen. Automatiserade tester kan bidra med många positiva effekter. Testning som utförs om och om igen, för att säkerställa att gammal funktionalitet inte slutar att fungera när ändringar görs i programvaran, kan med fördel göras automatiserat. Detta frigör kvalificerad personal till kvalificerat arbete. Automatisering kan även minska ledtiden för testningen och därmed möjliggöra snabbare leveranser till kund. Ett annat mål med testautomatisering är att vara säker på att samma tester utförs på ett likartat sätt varje gång produkten testas, så att den håller en jämn och stabil kvalitetsnivå. Automatiserad testning är dock en mer komplex och kostsam verksamhet än vad man kan tro, och problem som uppstår under dess användning kan ha stora konsekvenser. Detta gäller i ännu större utsträckning i organisationer som använder moderna utvecklingsmetoder där automatisering är grundstenen för en effektiv kvalitetskontroll. För att kunna undvika så många problem som möjligt, är det därför mycket viktigt att förstå vad som händer när man använder testautomatisering i stor skala. Denna avhandling presenterar resultat från fallstudier i svensk industri, som, kombinerat med en systematisk genomgång av befintlig forskning inom området, har utförts för att söka djupare kunskap och möjligheter till generalisering. Arbetet har varit beskrivande, och förklarande, och bygger på empirisk forskningsmetodik.  I avhandlingen bidrar vi med (a) information om de problem relaterade till automatiserad testning som vi har identifierat i de empiriska fallstudierna, (b) en diskussion av dessa problem i relation till andra studier i området, (c) en systematisk litteraturstudie som ger en översikt över relevanta publikationer i området, (d) en analys av bevisen som insamlats genom litteraturstudien, samt (e) en modell av det organisatoriska och tekniska system som måste hanteras för att man skall nå framgång med ett testautomatiseringsprojekt. Resultaten tyder på att rent tekniska problem inte utgör huvuddelen av de problem som upplevs med testautomatisering. Istället handlar det till stora delar om organisationell dynamik: hantering av förändringen det innebär att införa automatisering, planering av automatisering och dess användning, samt vilka finansiella förväntningar man har på automatiseringen. / ITS-EASY Post Graduate School for Embedded Software and Systems

First-year undergraduate students have vastly different perceptions of academic writing, the writing process, and the value of writing within their specific academic disciplines. These perceptions differ not only from their instructors but also from their peers. Yet, while reams of literature discuss, debate, and decipher student perspectives of writing from a scholarly point of view, the first-year student voice is conspicuously absent from this discussion. This study followed 92 first-year students through their first college composition course, English 1101, in order to capture the student perspective of how writing fits in their academic careers. The results indicate that while most students acknowledge first-year composition to be essential to their academic development, few report writing assignments in courses outside of 1101. This raises questions about how students identify writing activities and also suggests avenues for further inquiry, particularly the need for follow-up research at the culmination of their undergraduate careers.

First-year undergraduate students have vastly different perceptions of academic writing, the writing process, and the value of writing within their specific academic disciplines. These perceptions differ not only from their instructors but also from their peers. Yet, while reams of literature discuss, debate, and decipher student perspectives of writing from a scholarly point of view, the first-year student voice is conspicuously absent from this discussion. This study followed 92 first-year students through their first college composition course, English 1101, in order to capture the student perspective of how writing fits in their academic careers. The results indicate that while most students acknowledge first-year composition to be essential to their academic development, few report writing assignments in courses outside of 1101. This raises questions about how students identify writing activities and also suggests avenues for further inquiry, particularly the need for follow-up research at the culmination of their undergraduate careers.