Market reform, financial decentralization, and economic globalization have greatly accentuated China's social and regional inequalities. Education is expected to address these inequalities in a context of rapid social change, including the rise of an urban middle class, changed status of women, resurgence of ethnic identities, growing rural to…

The purpose of the present paper is to explore how distance education has diffused in north Cyprus. In this paper, Rogers' diffusion theory (1995) was used to analyze the acceptance and implementation of distance education in institutions of higher learning in north Cyprus. The four main elements of the diffusion paradigm--the innovation,…

Describes a game designed to impress upon undergraduates the difficulty of economic mobility for minorities. The game involves two groups, "Majorities" and "Minorities," and their efforts to build a simulated social network with string. Minorities receive shorter lengths of string and cannot leave their seats. Discusses follow-up exercises. (MJP)

This article uses three case studies to examine the intersecting developments of technology, capitalism, and globalization through the contradictions and paradoxes of copyright governance and piracy. China is used as a case study to investigate the relations among the state, law, and global capitalism. (Contains 7 tables and 9 notes.)

A study of Chinese and U.S. business students' perceptions of their education identified differences that have significant implications for China's efforts to move from a centrally planned to a socialist market economy. Five scales (creativity, usefulness, interaction, effort, and focus) showed significant differences between the young people in…

This monograph, based on the Language Management model, provides information on both the "simple" (discourse-based) and "organised" modes of attention to language problems in the Czech Republic. This includes but is not limited to the language policy of the State. This approach does not satisfy itself with discussing problems…

It is essential, in analyzing the significance of Spain's Organic Law of Education (2006), as well as its associated measures, to be conscious of the lines of broad, hegemonic ideology that pervade Spanish society and the European Union. The market reforms to which the education system is currently subject leads it to incorporate in an…

A paradigm for the study of the diffusion of complex innovations through a society is presented in this paper; the paradigm is useful for studying sociocultural change as innovations diffuse. The model is designed to account for change within social systems rather than in individuals, although it would also be consistent with information…

An information-control systems model for evaluation of adult education programs is offered and illustrated. The model is based upon identifying principal subsystems, such as source, channel and audience, which are involved in initiation, production, delivery and reception of educational messages. These subsystems are seen as separate but…

The issue addressed by this paper concerns one particular aspect of sociological theory and method in the analysis of social inequality. While not often made explicit, a temporal aspect is built into the sociological notion of social stratification as a general and comprehensive phenomenon, under which many observable forms of inequality may be…

Equality of educational opportunity is a social goal in both the United States and Canada; yet, the nations differ considerably in their approaches and progress toward this objective. Canada appears to have achieved greater equality of condition vis-a-vis education than has the United States, judged by variation in expenditure per student among…

This paper examines the conflicts between and the inequities inherent in practically all present day social systems and suggests strategies for building a socially supportive environment. The study focuses on the practical implications of the nature-nurture controversy and contends that greater attention must be given to extrinsic factors in…

One of a series of pamphlets providing practical and useful sources of classroom techniques for social studies teachers, the concern of this issue is how to engage children in the study of political participation, attending to varied dimensions of political actions and approaches to analysis. The first of two sections discusses political…

This subunit on totalitarianism in the USSR is part of an eleventh grade course on area studies. Following an introduction with suggested teaching strategies, the objectives for the subunit are listed as to generalizations, skills, and attitudes. A double-page format relates objectives with pertinent content, teaching procedures, and instructional…

Yugoslavia, in its postwar reconstruction, has devoted considerable effort to educational development, especially at the secondary school level. The new General Law on Education of 1958 introduced major reforms and inaugurated a new public school system for the diverse population of the country. The purpose of this study is to present a factual…