Theory, Operationalization, and Observation Essay

Theory, Operationalization, and Observation - Essay Example Scientists have to oversee their operation definitions so as to guarantee the efficacy of their observation, measurement, and communication. In order to test any hypothesis, scientists must specify the meanings of all the variables involved in the hypothesis. For instance, in the stated example, the variables encompass social class and delinquency. Variables refer to operationalized versions of concepts. In order to operationalize the variables, delinquency may be defined as â€Å"an event of being arrested by law enforcement for a crime,† while social class may be conceived in terms of family status or income levels. After the variables definition, the next step entails specifying the mode to be utilized in measuring the variables (Somekh & Lewin, 2005). In the example, the variables may be operationalized in the form of questions such as â€Å"have you ever stolen anything?† The respondents who say yes will be categorized as delinquents, while the respondents who answer no will be categorized as non delinquent. Social class can be operationalized by posing the question â€Å"what was your family’s income last year?† The answer is measured against a set of provided family income categories. The operationalized hypothesis from the stated example can be expressed as the highest incidences of delinquents manifest among respondents bearing the lowest family income category. Observation denotes looking at the world and making measurements based on the observations. Observation details specifying the precise operations involved in measuring variables and incorporate aspects such as seeing, hearing, and touching. Observations can be conducted to test a certain hypothesis or plainly observe and describe some activity. The researchers first employed the theories explaining the dominant role that socioeconomic status play in sociological explanations of delinquency. In operationalizing the

Most-Favoured-Nation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Most-Favoured-Nation - Essay Example MFN is regarded as an important standard code of international commercial transaction. It has been said that MFN clause is one of the commonly adopted principle in the international investment2 domain. The definition of Most favoured-Nation is3 well explained in Article 5 of International law commission Draft Articles4, Treatment accorded by the granting State to the beneficiary State, or to person or things in a determined relationship with that State, not less favoured than treatment extended by the granting State to a third State or to person things in the same relationship with that third state. The scope of Most Favoured nation is a two way sword creating controversies related to whether the international investment treaties covers jurisdictional or procedural matters. The inclusion of MFN clauses became a general practice in the numerous bilateral, regional and multilateral investment-related agreements till 1950. The aim of MFN clause is to reiterate the importance of equality of treatment irrespective of the nationality of the investors5 and eliminate the discriminative forces.MFN clause had a variant approach towards different treaties leading to more problems in identifying the scope and extend protections based on different treaties and their conditional clauses. Thi... There are 2 differing hypothesis raised by experts on the scope of MFN clause such as MFN clause could be extended to cover jurisdictional matter. The scope of application of the MFN clause concerned does not cover procedural or jurisdictional matter.The above hypothesis involves 2 conditional clauses to facilitate the jurisdiction concept. First clause is that the starting point of interpretation process should be a MFN clause. Second clause assumes that the MFN clause allows the incorporation of the provisions of the dispute settlement mechanism included in third-party BITs8. Overview of Recent Arbitration Cases Among the numerous cases brought to ICSID9 in recent years, two cases, Maffezini v. Kingdom of Spain10 and Tecnicas MedioAmbientales Tecmed S.A. v. the United Mexican States stand out as raising issues concerning the MFN clause. In Argentina and Spain treaty(hereinafter BIT) ,the claimant can avoid stipulations in the absence of the a friendly settlement and negotiation within six months period, the host state has eighteen months trial period to work on the dispute as the disputes are first filed at the local courts of the host state. Host state should make an attempt to resolve the dispute before the claimant approaches tribunal arbitration as the next step. The invoking of MFN clause by the claimant refers the Article IV (2) of the Argentina-Spain BIT that. In all matters subject to this, treatment shall be no less favourable than that extended By each Party to the investments made in its territory by investors of a third country11. The above article guarantees a fair and equitable treatment for the claimant and there can be a replacement