Prior research has raised questions about different kinds of Music in General Studies (MGS) courses offered at two-year colleges, but few have addressed faculty perceptions related to student learning outcomes (SLO) and institutional missions. In principle, there is a demand on educational institutions to be accountable for SLOs, but two-year colleges present special accountability problems, because they serve multiple missions within each institution. MGS faculty perspectives can provide baseline data needed to demonstrate the ways in which MGS courses contribute to meeting the needs of students, the community, and the institutional missions. This study serves a broader goal of familiarizing readers with faculty perspectives on music education in two-year colleges. More specifically, it contributes to understanding how student learning outcomes of MGS courses are incorporated in light of blended missions as well as the challenges created by serving blended missions within a single music course. The following questions guide the research and focus on South Carolina, two-year college music faculty perspectives on MGS courses: (1) How do instructors of MGS courses describe the primary learning goals of students enrolled in MGS courses? (2) What student learning outcomes do instructors of MGS courses identify for measurement in their MGS courses? (3) How do the instructors' perceptions shape MGS content, textbook selection, and SLOs? (4) How are student learning outcomes measured in MGS courses? (5) How do instructors of MGS courses perceive the purpose of MGS within the institutional mission of their respective colleges? Following within case and cross case analysis of interview data, findings indicated that participants tended to emphasize "identifying the elements of music using correct terminology" as the most important SLO in MGS courses. All participants considered "performing music" the least important SLO. The majority reported their institutional missions as "blended" (transfer and vocational) and perceived MGS courses to be aligned with institutional missions.  

No description available.

This study investigated the relationship between community college institutional expenditures and student success in reaching momentum points. The 3 years of student cohorts of a large community college district in Texas formed the population. Student characteristics and institutional context characteristics served as control variables. Institutional financial data functioned as the independent variables. Student success variables (milestones and momentum points) served as dependent variables. Because each of the three cohorts contained over 10,000 students and displayed equivalent characteristics, the random sample of 7,634 students was drawn from the combined cohorts. Institutional financial variables predicted the milestones of reading readiness (χ2 = 315.10, df = 17, n = 3,495, p < .001) and writing readiness (χ2 = 296.64, df = 17, n = 3,149, p < .001). Financial variables contributed to the completion of English-1301 (χ2 = 1004.14, df = 17, n = 7,634, p < .001), college-level math (χ2 = 615.24, df = 17, n = 7,634, p < .001), 30 college-level credit hours (χ2 = 833.85, df = 17, n = 7,634, p < .001), and reenrollment the second fall semester (χ2 = 375.41, df = 17, n = 7,634, p < .001). Student services expenditures provided high odds for completion of English-1301 (odds ratio = 4.85 x 1014), college-level math (odds ratio = 5.24 x 1018), 30 college-level credits (odds ratio = 1.60x1015), and for re-enrollment in the second fall semester (odds ratio = 7.32 x 1014). Instructional expenditures and operations & maintenance expenditures also predicted student enrollment in the second fall semester. Student services’ influence on student engagement and success should inform decisions about programs for improving student success. Institutional policymakers may utilized these expenditure results support momentum point attainment. Finally, the influence of full time enrollment on student completion of milestones and momentum points in every regression model suggested resources for encouraging full-time, uninterrupted college enrollment are needed. Additional implications and recommendations are provided.

Faculty research productivity studies typically focus on the scholarly performance of the individual researcher, although environmental and organizational conditions that are largely outside of the researcher’s control can significantly impact that performance. From an institutional effectiveness perspective, it is imperative for the higher education administrators and leaders who share the responsibility of managing and supporting their university’s research enterprise to understand how the institutional environment itself impacts the productivity of its research community. In this sequential mixed methods study, a quantitative framework was tested for assessing institutional effectiveness in research administration based on the assertion that this concept can be measured indirectly, at the departmental level, based on the calculation of a program’s residual scholarly output. This is the difference between the actual amount of scholarly output a program produces compared to the predicted amount of scholarly output that its resources suggest it is capable of producing. The assumption is that the institution’s effectiveness in supporting research is largely reflected by the extent to which a program over- or under-produces scholarship based on its level of resources. The residual scholarly output was calculated for each Ph.D.-granting biomedical engineering program in doctoral universities with a Carnegie classification of “highest research activity” for the period of 2014 through 2016. A sampling of those programs that achieved among the highest and lowest residual productivity levels then became the subject of a qualitative inquiry where researchers and administrators were interviewed with two goals in mind. The more ostensive goal was to reveal what factors, characteristics, resources, and conditions distinguish under- and over-producing programs for the purpose of informing best and worst practices in research administration. Equally important, the second goal was to determine if the quantitative framework was actually successful in distinguishing institutional effectiveness in supporting research. The study concludes that the quantitative framework proved to be a successful method for detecting institutional effectiveness in supporting research, and that the primary distinguishing characteristic between high and low-functioning environments was how well programs were able to reduce the general administrative burdens that researchers face, particularly in grant management and the operation of research laboratories.

O estudo trata da política Plano de Metas Compromisso Todos pela Educação, tendo como foco a elaboração e implementação do Plano de Ações Articuladas (PAR) num município do Rio Grande do Sul, no período 2008-2011. O PAR é um conjunto articulado de ações, apoiado técnica ou financeiramente pelo Ministério da Educação (MEC), que visa ao cumprimento das metas da política e a observância das suas diretrizes, sendo requisito para a assistência voluntária da União à educação das redes públicas estaduais e municipais de ensino. O objetivo geral da tese é avaliar como e em que medida a implementação do Plano de Metas/PAR no município estudado afeta e é afetada pelas condições institucionais de atuação da Secretaria Municipal de Educação. Portanto, o objeto de estudo é a efetividade institucional no processo de implementação do Plano de Metas/PAR, restrito ao ator Secretaria Municipal de Educação. A perspectiva teórico-metodológica que guiou o estudo conjugou os seguintes aportes: referências que apoiaram a caracterização do município como ente federado e suas atribuições e responsabilidades na área educacional; abordagens, ferramentas e conceitos da análise de políticas públicas, principalmente a abordagem cognitiva e propostas/reflexões sobre a implementação de políticas públicas e avaliação de políticas – de processos e de resultados; elementos metodológicos do estudo de caso. A pesquisa empírica abrangeu, essencialmente, levantamento e análise documental, observações in loco e entrevistas com atores da implementação da política. Os resultados do estudo indicam que a política vai sendo ressignificada pelos atores ao longo da sua implantação. Nesse processo são incorporados referenciais normativos e cognitivos dos atores que se imbricam com: a organização burocrática, tanto no âmbito municipal quanto no âmbito federal; a capacidade institucional da Secretaria Municipal de Educação na implementação do PAR; os jogos da política; a capacidade financeira de investimentos do município; o atendimento do MEC às ações de sua abrangência e a consultoria prestada por esse órgão. Com base nesses elementos foi possível identificar algumas subações do PAR implementadas no município, contudo, os princípios do planejamento e da democratização das decisões ainda não foram introduzidos na Secretaria Municipal de Educação. No período estudado, a secretaria vivenciou uma descontinuidade administrativa devida, sobretudo, aos jogos da política local. Além disso, a equipe estava se apropriando da política, que apresenta uma nova forma de trabalho, a qual demanda a elaboração de um minucioso diagnóstico das condições da educação local, seguida do planejamento de inúmeras ações e subações, de responsabilidade do MEC ou do próprio município, a serem implementadas com o objetivo de melhorar a qualidade da educação básica. / This work deals with theGoalSettingPolicyAll for Education Commitment, focusing on the elaboration and implementation of the Plan of Connected Actions (PAR) in a municipality in the state of Rio Grande do Sul/Brazil, from 2008 to 2011. The Plan of Connected Actions (PAR) is a connected set of actions, technically or financially supported by the Ministry of Education (MEC), which aims at fulfilling the goals of this policy and the observance of its guidelines, being requirement for the voluntary assistance of the Union to education in state and municipal public schools.The general purpose of this thesis is to evaluate how and to what extent the implementation of the Goal Setting Policy/PAR in the taken municipality affects and is affected by institutional performance conditions of the Municipal Secretary of Education.Therefore, the object of this study is the institutional effectiveness in the implementation of the Goal Setting Policy/PAR, restricted to the Municipal Secretary of Education.The theoretical-methodological perspective that guided this study reached the following results:references that supported the characterization of the municipality as a federated entity and its duties and responsibilities in the educational area; approaches, tools and concepts for analyzing public policies, especially the cognitive approach and proposals/reflections on implementing public policies and assessingpolicies of processes and results; methodological elements of this case study. Empirical research covered, essentially, survey and documentary analysis, on-site observations and interviews with actors in policy implementation. The results of this study show that this policy is being re-signified by actors along its development.In this process, cognitive and normative referential of actors committed to bureaucratic organization, in municipal level as well as in federal level; institutional capability of the Municipal Secretary of Education in the implementation of the Plan of Connected Actions (PAR); political games; investment financial capability of the municipality andhow MEC deals with the actions of its scope and the consultancy provided by it are incorporated.Based on these elements, it was possible to identify some subactionsof the Plan of Connected Actions (PAR) implemented in the municipality. However, the principles of planning and decision democratization have not been introduced in the Municipal Secretary of Education yet.In the period under study (2008 – 2011), the Municipal Secretary experienced an administrative discontinuity, mainly due to the games of local policy.Furthermore, its staff was appropriating the policy, which presents a new way of working and requires the establishment of a detailed diagnosis of the conditions of local education, followed by the planning of countless actions and subactions – MEC or the own municipality being responsible for them – to be implemented in order to improve the quality of basic education. / Este estudio trata de la política Plan de Metas Compromiso Todos por la Educación, cuyo foco es la elaboración y la implementación del Plan de Acciones Articuladas (PAR) en un municipio de Rio Grande do Sul, en el periodo de 2008-2011. El PAR es un acoplado de acciones que cuentan con el apoyo técnico y financiero del Ministerio de la Educación (MEC), visando cumplir las metas de la política y la observancia de sus directrices, siendo requisito para la asistencia voluntaria de la Unión a la educación de las redes públicas estaduales y municipales de enseñanza. El objetivo general de la tesis es evaluar cómo y en qué medida la consumación del Plan de Metas/PAR en el municipio estudiado afecta y es afectado por las condiciones institucionales de actuación de la Secretaria Municipal de Educación. Por lo tanto, el objetivo del estudio es la efectividad institucional en el proceso de implementación del Plan de Metas/PAR, restricto al actor Secretaria Municipal de Educación. La perspectiva teórico-metodológica que guió el estudio conjugó los siguientes aportes: referencial que apoyó con la caracterización del municipio como ente federativo y sus atribuciones y responsabilidades en el área educacional; abordajes, herramientas y conceptos de análisis de políticas públicas, esencialmente el abordaje cognitivo y propuestas/reflexiones sobre la implementación de políticas públicas y evaluaciones de políticas – de procesos y de resultados; elementos metodológicos de estudio de caso. La investigación empírica abarcó, especialmente, levantamiento y análisis documental, observaciones in loco y entrevistas con actores de la implantación de la política. Los resultados del estudio indican que la política va siendo re-significada por los actores a lo largo de la implementación. En este proceso son incorporados referenciales normativos y cognitivos de los actores que se imbrican con: la organización burocrática, tanto en el ámbito municipal cuanto en el ámbito federal; la capacidad institucional de la Secretaria Municipal de Educación en la implementación del PAR; los juegos de la política; la capacidad financiera de inversiones del municipio; la atención del MEC a las acciones su alcance y consultoría proporcionada por este órgano. Con base en estos elementos fue posible identificar algunas sub-acciones del PAR implantadas en el municipio, sin embargo, los principios de planeamiento y de democratización de las decisiones todavía no fueron introducidas en la Secretaria Municipal de Educación. En el periodo estudiado, la secretaria vivió una discontinuidad administrativa debido, sobretodo, a los juegos de la política local. Además, el equipo que desarrollaba la política se estaba apropiando de su metodología, que presenta una nueva forma de trabajo, la cual exige la elaboración de un minucioso diagnóstico de las condiciones de la educación local, seguida del planeamiento de inúmeras acciones y sub-acciones, de responsabilidad del MEC o del propio municipio, a ser implantadas con el objetivo de mejorar la calidad de la educación básica.

O estudo trata da política Plano de Metas Compromisso Todos pela Educação, tendo como foco a elaboração e implementação do Plano de Ações Articuladas (PAR) num município do Rio Grande do Sul, no período 2008-2011. O PAR é um conjunto articulado de ações, apoiado técnica ou financeiramente pelo Ministério da Educação (MEC), que visa ao cumprimento das metas da política e a observância das suas diretrizes, sendo requisito para a assistência voluntária da União à educação das redes públicas estaduais e municipais de ensino. O objetivo geral da tese é avaliar como e em que medida a implementação do Plano de Metas/PAR no município estudado afeta e é afetada pelas condições institucionais de atuação da Secretaria Municipal de Educação. Portanto, o objeto de estudo é a efetividade institucional no processo de implementação do Plano de Metas/PAR, restrito ao ator Secretaria Municipal de Educação. A perspectiva teórico-metodológica que guiou o estudo conjugou os seguintes aportes: referências que apoiaram a caracterização do município como ente federado e suas atribuições e responsabilidades na área educacional; abordagens, ferramentas e conceitos da análise de políticas públicas, principalmente a abordagem cognitiva e propostas/reflexões sobre a implementação de políticas públicas e avaliação de políticas – de processos e de resultados; elementos metodológicos do estudo de caso. A pesquisa empírica abrangeu, essencialmente, levantamento e análise documental, observações in loco e entrevistas com atores da implementação da política. Os resultados do estudo indicam que a política vai sendo ressignificada pelos atores ao longo da sua implantação. Nesse processo são incorporados referenciais normativos e cognitivos dos atores que se imbricam com: a organização burocrática, tanto no âmbito municipal quanto no âmbito federal; a capacidade institucional da Secretaria Municipal de Educação na implementação do PAR; os jogos da política; a capacidade financeira de investimentos do município; o atendimento do MEC às ações de sua abrangência e a consultoria prestada por esse órgão. Com base nesses elementos foi possível identificar algumas subações do PAR implementadas no município, contudo, os princípios do planejamento e da democratização das decisões ainda não foram introduzidos na Secretaria Municipal de Educação. No período estudado, a secretaria vivenciou uma descontinuidade administrativa devida, sobretudo, aos jogos da política local. Além disso, a equipe estava se apropriando da política, que apresenta uma nova forma de trabalho, a qual demanda a elaboração de um minucioso diagnóstico das condições da educação local, seguida do planejamento de inúmeras ações e subações, de responsabilidade do MEC ou do próprio município, a serem implementadas com o objetivo de melhorar a qualidade da educação básica. / This work deals with theGoalSettingPolicyAll for Education Commitment, focusing on the elaboration and implementation of the Plan of Connected Actions (PAR) in a municipality in the state of Rio Grande do Sul/Brazil, from 2008 to 2011. The Plan of Connected Actions (PAR) is a connected set of actions, technically or financially supported by the Ministry of Education (MEC), which aims at fulfilling the goals of this policy and the observance of its guidelines, being requirement for the voluntary assistance of the Union to education in state and municipal public schools.The general purpose of this thesis is to evaluate how and to what extent the implementation of the Goal Setting Policy/PAR in the taken municipality affects and is affected by institutional performance conditions of the Municipal Secretary of Education.Therefore, the object of this study is the institutional effectiveness in the implementation of the Goal Setting Policy/PAR, restricted to the Municipal Secretary of Education.The theoretical-methodological perspective that guided this study reached the following results:references that supported the characterization of the municipality as a federated entity and its duties and responsibilities in the educational area; approaches, tools and concepts for analyzing public policies, especially the cognitive approach and proposals/reflections on implementing public policies and assessingpolicies of processes and results; methodological elements of this case study. Empirical research covered, essentially, survey and documentary analysis, on-site observations and interviews with actors in policy implementation. The results of this study show that this policy is being re-signified by actors along its development.In this process, cognitive and normative referential of actors committed to bureaucratic organization, in municipal level as well as in federal level; institutional capability of the Municipal Secretary of Education in the implementation of the Plan of Connected Actions (PAR); political games; investment financial capability of the municipality andhow MEC deals with the actions of its scope and the consultancy provided by it are incorporated.Based on these elements, it was possible to identify some subactionsof the Plan of Connected Actions (PAR) implemented in the municipality. However, the principles of planning and decision democratization have not been introduced in the Municipal Secretary of Education yet.In the period under study (2008 – 2011), the Municipal Secretary experienced an administrative discontinuity, mainly due to the games of local policy.Furthermore, its staff was appropriating the policy, which presents a new way of working and requires the establishment of a detailed diagnosis of the conditions of local education, followed by the planning of countless actions and subactions – MEC or the own municipality being responsible for them – to be implemented in order to improve the quality of basic education. / Este estudio trata de la política Plan de Metas Compromiso Todos por la Educación, cuyo foco es la elaboración y la implementación del Plan de Acciones Articuladas (PAR) en un municipio de Rio Grande do Sul, en el periodo de 2008-2011. El PAR es un acoplado de acciones que cuentan con el apoyo técnico y financiero del Ministerio de la Educación (MEC), visando cumplir las metas de la política y la observancia de sus directrices, siendo requisito para la asistencia voluntaria de la Unión a la educación de las redes públicas estaduales y municipales de enseñanza. El objetivo general de la tesis es evaluar cómo y en qué medida la consumación del Plan de Metas/PAR en el municipio estudiado afecta y es afectado por las condiciones institucionales de actuación de la Secretaria Municipal de Educación. Por lo tanto, el objetivo del estudio es la efectividad institucional en el proceso de implementación del Plan de Metas/PAR, restricto al actor Secretaria Municipal de Educación. La perspectiva teórico-metodológica que guió el estudio conjugó los siguientes aportes: referencial que apoyó con la caracterización del municipio como ente federativo y sus atribuciones y responsabilidades en el área educacional; abordajes, herramientas y conceptos de análisis de políticas públicas, esencialmente el abordaje cognitivo y propuestas/reflexiones sobre la implementación de políticas públicas y evaluaciones de políticas – de procesos y de resultados; elementos metodológicos de estudio de caso. La investigación empírica abarcó, especialmente, levantamiento y análisis documental, observaciones in loco y entrevistas con actores de la implantación de la política. Los resultados del estudio indican que la política va siendo re-significada por los actores a lo largo de la implementación. En este proceso son incorporados referenciales normativos y cognitivos de los actores que se imbrican con: la organización burocrática, tanto en el ámbito municipal cuanto en el ámbito federal; la capacidad institucional de la Secretaria Municipal de Educación en la implementación del PAR; los juegos de la política; la capacidad financiera de inversiones del municipio; la atención del MEC a las acciones su alcance y consultoría proporcionada por este órgano. Con base en estos elementos fue posible identificar algunas sub-acciones del PAR implantadas en el municipio, sin embargo, los principios de planeamiento y de democratización de las decisiones todavía no fueron introducidas en la Secretaria Municipal de Educación. En el periodo estudiado, la secretaria vivió una discontinuidad administrativa debido, sobretodo, a los juegos de la política local. Además, el equipo que desarrollaba la política se estaba apropiando de su metodología, que presenta una nueva forma de trabajo, la cual exige la elaboración de un minucioso diagnóstico de las condiciones de la educación local, seguida del planeamiento de inúmeras acciones y sub-acciones, de responsabilidad del MEC o del propio municipio, a ser implantadas con el objetivo de mejorar la calidad de la educación básica.

O estudo trata da política Plano de Metas Compromisso Todos pela Educação, tendo como foco a elaboração e implementação do Plano de Ações Articuladas (PAR) num município do Rio Grande do Sul, no período 2008-2011. O PAR é um conjunto articulado de ações, apoiado técnica ou financeiramente pelo Ministério da Educação (MEC), que visa ao cumprimento das metas da política e a observância das suas diretrizes, sendo requisito para a assistência voluntária da União à educação das redes públicas estaduais e municipais de ensino. O objetivo geral da tese é avaliar como e em que medida a implementação do Plano de Metas/PAR no município estudado afeta e é afetada pelas condições institucionais de atuação da Secretaria Municipal de Educação. Portanto, o objeto de estudo é a efetividade institucional no processo de implementação do Plano de Metas/PAR, restrito ao ator Secretaria Municipal de Educação. A perspectiva teórico-metodológica que guiou o estudo conjugou os seguintes aportes: referências que apoiaram a caracterização do município como ente federado e suas atribuições e responsabilidades na área educacional; abordagens, ferramentas e conceitos da análise de políticas públicas, principalmente a abordagem cognitiva e propostas/reflexões sobre a implementação de políticas públicas e avaliação de políticas – de processos e de resultados; elementos metodológicos do estudo de caso. A pesquisa empírica abrangeu, essencialmente, levantamento e análise documental, observações in loco e entrevistas com atores da implementação da política. Os resultados do estudo indicam que a política vai sendo ressignificada pelos atores ao longo da sua implantação. Nesse processo são incorporados referenciais normativos e cognitivos dos atores que se imbricam com: a organização burocrática, tanto no âmbito municipal quanto no âmbito federal; a capacidade institucional da Secretaria Municipal de Educação na implementação do PAR; os jogos da política; a capacidade financeira de investimentos do município; o atendimento do MEC às ações de sua abrangência e a consultoria prestada por esse órgão. Com base nesses elementos foi possível identificar algumas subações do PAR implementadas no município, contudo, os princípios do planejamento e da democratização das decisões ainda não foram introduzidos na Secretaria Municipal de Educação. No período estudado, a secretaria vivenciou uma descontinuidade administrativa devida, sobretudo, aos jogos da política local. Além disso, a equipe estava se apropriando da política, que apresenta uma nova forma de trabalho, a qual demanda a elaboração de um minucioso diagnóstico das condições da educação local, seguida do planejamento de inúmeras ações e subações, de responsabilidade do MEC ou do próprio município, a serem implementadas com o objetivo de melhorar a qualidade da educação básica. / This work deals with theGoalSettingPolicyAll for Education Commitment, focusing on the elaboration and implementation of the Plan of Connected Actions (PAR) in a municipality in the state of Rio Grande do Sul/Brazil, from 2008 to 2011. The Plan of Connected Actions (PAR) is a connected set of actions, technically or financially supported by the Ministry of Education (MEC), which aims at fulfilling the goals of this policy and the observance of its guidelines, being requirement for the voluntary assistance of the Union to education in state and municipal public schools.The general purpose of this thesis is to evaluate how and to what extent the implementation of the Goal Setting Policy/PAR in the taken municipality affects and is affected by institutional performance conditions of the Municipal Secretary of Education.Therefore, the object of this study is the institutional effectiveness in the implementation of the Goal Setting Policy/PAR, restricted to the Municipal Secretary of Education.The theoretical-methodological perspective that guided this study reached the following results:references that supported the characterization of the municipality as a federated entity and its duties and responsibilities in the educational area; approaches, tools and concepts for analyzing public policies, especially the cognitive approach and proposals/reflections on implementing public policies and assessingpolicies of processes and results; methodological elements of this case study. Empirical research covered, essentially, survey and documentary analysis, on-site observations and interviews with actors in policy implementation. The results of this study show that this policy is being re-signified by actors along its development.In this process, cognitive and normative referential of actors committed to bureaucratic organization, in municipal level as well as in federal level; institutional capability of the Municipal Secretary of Education in the implementation of the Plan of Connected Actions (PAR); political games; investment financial capability of the municipality andhow MEC deals with the actions of its scope and the consultancy provided by it are incorporated.Based on these elements, it was possible to identify some subactionsof the Plan of Connected Actions (PAR) implemented in the municipality. However, the principles of planning and decision democratization have not been introduced in the Municipal Secretary of Education yet.In the period under study (2008 – 2011), the Municipal Secretary experienced an administrative discontinuity, mainly due to the games of local policy.Furthermore, its staff was appropriating the policy, which presents a new way of working and requires the establishment of a detailed diagnosis of the conditions of local education, followed by the planning of countless actions and subactions – MEC or the own municipality being responsible for them – to be implemented in order to improve the quality of basic education. / Este estudio trata de la política Plan de Metas Compromiso Todos por la Educación, cuyo foco es la elaboración y la implementación del Plan de Acciones Articuladas (PAR) en un municipio de Rio Grande do Sul, en el periodo de 2008-2011. El PAR es un acoplado de acciones que cuentan con el apoyo técnico y financiero del Ministerio de la Educación (MEC), visando cumplir las metas de la política y la observancia de sus directrices, siendo requisito para la asistencia voluntaria de la Unión a la educación de las redes públicas estaduales y municipales de enseñanza. El objetivo general de la tesis es evaluar cómo y en qué medida la consumación del Plan de Metas/PAR en el municipio estudiado afecta y es afectado por las condiciones institucionales de actuación de la Secretaria Municipal de Educación. Por lo tanto, el objetivo del estudio es la efectividad institucional en el proceso de implementación del Plan de Metas/PAR, restricto al actor Secretaria Municipal de Educación. La perspectiva teórico-metodológica que guió el estudio conjugó los siguientes aportes: referencial que apoyó con la caracterización del municipio como ente federativo y sus atribuciones y responsabilidades en el área educacional; abordajes, herramientas y conceptos de análisis de políticas públicas, esencialmente el abordaje cognitivo y propuestas/reflexiones sobre la implementación de políticas públicas y evaluaciones de políticas – de procesos y de resultados; elementos metodológicos de estudio de caso. La investigación empírica abarcó, especialmente, levantamiento y análisis documental, observaciones in loco y entrevistas con actores de la implantación de la política. Los resultados del estudio indican que la política va siendo re-significada por los actores a lo largo de la implementación. En este proceso son incorporados referenciales normativos y cognitivos de los actores que se imbrican con: la organización burocrática, tanto en el ámbito municipal cuanto en el ámbito federal; la capacidad institucional de la Secretaria Municipal de Educación en la implementación del PAR; los juegos de la política; la capacidad financiera de inversiones del municipio; la atención del MEC a las acciones su alcance y consultoría proporcionada por este órgano. Con base en estos elementos fue posible identificar algunas sub-acciones del PAR implantadas en el municipio, sin embargo, los principios de planeamiento y de democratización de las decisiones todavía no fueron introducidas en la Secretaria Municipal de Educación. En el periodo estudiado, la secretaria vivió una discontinuidad administrativa debido, sobretodo, a los juegos de la política local. Además, el equipo que desarrollaba la política se estaba apropiando de su metodología, que presenta una nueva forma de trabajo, la cual exige la elaboración de un minucioso diagnóstico de las condiciones de la educación local, seguida del planeamiento de inúmeras acciones y sub-acciones, de responsabilidad del MEC o del propio municipio, a ser implantadas con el objetivo de mejorar la calidad de la educación básica.

This thesis concerns the differences in how ethinic groups co-exist in two different environments in the same country, with a focus on the ethno-political. My research questions are: Why are ethnic or interpersonal relations characterized differently in different regions? How and why do conflicts or agreements arise in specific environments? The aim is to understand the connection between inter-ethnic relations and environmentally specific factors. I am concerned with those mechanisms and processes which determine the type of ethnic relation – as conflict or mutual understanding - in specific environments. The thesis uses case studies of two contrasting multiethnic cities with different interethnic relations – Erbil and Kirkuk in Kurdistan/Iraq. My explanatory model consists of four main factors: I) historical factors in terms of critical events; II) institutional factors such as institutional efficiency and security; III) structural factors such as group size, territorial base and different tolerance systems; and IV) social relational factors such as the significance of inter-ethnic contacts and social capital. The empirical work demonstrates that the relations between the above mentioned factors in the respective environments determine the outcome of the inter-ethnic relations. The results show that one factor can be more important than another factor, but how the factors impact upon one another and under what circumstances is of significance. The presentation of environmentally specific differences shows that ethnic groups do not have static boundaries and are not necessarily hostile to one another. Conflict is not the given form of relationship between ethnic groups. That is, the result can be read as a critique of those who necessarily see potential conflicts between groups with cultural differences and those who essentialize cultural groups. In this context one can see a chain of interrelated factors; the relevance of which is dependent on the specific situation. Some of the negative factors that can increase the possibility of conflict and decrease the possibility for peaceful co-existence include: Instability in the political climate; insecurity; institutional ineffectiveness; segregation; undefined relations of power; and an ethnic composition maintaining the balance of power. If these factors combined result in a high level of complexity, which makes ethnicity stand out in terms of ethnic competition, the likelihood of ethnic conflict is significant.

The thesis challenges the notion of effectiveness of law as being based on the formal institutions of courts, law enforcement and written law. It argues that the best way to measure the effectiveness of law is the legal self-efficacy of laymen who are the end users of law.  It presents a new perspective on the effectiveness of law. It turns the traditional perspective of studying the effects of legal institutions around and instead studies the effect of how individuals perceive their own ability to use law. This self-reflexive ability - legal self-efficacy -  is the answer to the question “How comfortable are with communicating with legal terminology?”. The thesis makes several comparisons using the traditional perspective and legal self-efficacy and finds that legal self-efficacy is a better measure of legal effectiveness. This thesis analyzes 246 businesspeople in Russia and their risk behavior  with regards to economic transactions in relation to legal self-efficacy.  The theory behind legal self-efficacy is a combination of Luhmann’s theory of law as communication and Bandura’s concept of self-efficacy.  The first paper applies the traditional approach. It analyzes the effect of legal efficiency on leverage and debt maturity for listed and non-listed companies. The second paper is describes the conceptual foundation of the legal effectiveness based on the individual. The third paper compares the effect of private order (including legal self-efficacy) and public order institutions on the granting of trade credit.  The fourth paper analyzes the impact of legal self-efficacy and formal legal institutions on sanctions against clients in a comparative perspective. The final paper seeks out possible sources of legal self-efficacy. Legal self-efficacy can be used to better understand the interaction of individuals and law including such fields of research as behavioral accounting, behavioral law and finance, legal sociology and legal studies.