In this article it is argued that one of the main problems in data analysis is an over-emphasis on statistical rather than substantive significance. Statistical significance reports the improbability of specific outcomes from sample data using a null hypothesis. In contrast, substantive significance is concerned with the real-world meaning of data modelling results for a population, regardless of p value, where an effect size estimator is used for evaluation. The argument presented in this article begins with a consideration of how substantive significance may be defined. Thereafter, there is a summary of the literature on substantive significance and its measurement using a variety of effect size estimators, many of which are little known to researchers. This article also examines the topics of economic and clinical significance. In the conclusion, this study discusses attempts to synthesise different concepts of substantive significance and recommends some practical usage of these concepts., Petr Soukup., and Obsahuje bibliografii
This article examines the relationship between voter turnout (or, precisely, turnout intention) and variables related to the perception of the election campaign in the broader context of the other types of variables such as basic socio-demographic or political characteristics. The data used in this analysis are from surveys conducted during the period of three month before elections in 2010. All of the surveys were designed as public opinion polls and approximately 1000 Czech adults were interviewed nationwide at the beginning of each month. To explain the relationship between voter turnout (or rather a kind of readiness to vote) and the perception of the campaign, the binary logistic regression was chosen and three models were created. In relation to voter turnout, in addition to basic socio-demographic characteristics, the variables related to the perception of the election campaign are statistically significant, too. In the extended model, however, it is showed that behind the effects of most of them stands the rate of interest in politics. The only variable, which draws on a basis other than the interest in politics, proved to be awareness and acceptance of campaign influence on own voting behaviour. The frequency of consumption of media content proved to be more important than age, education and living standards. However, again behind these variables stands the interest in politics. Therefore, the interest in politics appears to be essential in relation to voter turnout in our analysis., Paulína Tabery, Gabriela Šamanová., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
The degree of party polarization is a significant analytical measure contributing to our understanding of the party system development and it’s dynamic in time. It influences the government formation and indirectly also its stability. Moreover, the party polarization affects electoral choice and thus the voter decision-making process. Despite these it has been wrongfully neglected in the Czech political science literature so far. The aim of this paper is to fill this gap and present empirically backed data on the intensity and change of the party polarization in the Czech Republic. The analysis is based on the data sets of CVVM which monthly records the voter self-placement on the left-right scale in the long term. By analysing these data and using Dalton’s index of party system polarization it is proved that party polarization in the Czech Republic has generally increased since 1993 and that it was usually higher during General election campaign. Within the period under review (1993-2013) the polarization index reached its lowest value in 2001, while the highest value was found in June 2010., Eva Lebedová., and Obsahuje seznam literatury