Academic disciplines measurement

Marsden, B., Engineering Science in Glasgow Economy, Efficiency and Measurement as Prime Movers in the Differentiation of an Academic Discipline) The British Journalfor the History of Science, 25(1992), pp. 319-46. 

Statistics is a field with a broader scope than probability, but in some ways, it is easier to define. The academic discipline of statistics is based on the study of groups of numbers in three st es collection, measurement, and analysis. At the collection st e. 

The modem factory ferming methods, with poultry, swine, and other farm animals kept in confinement and in crowded conditions, has been condemned by animal rights activists. They claim that because the animals are often not able to perform their natural and instinctive behaviors, they are suffering. Animal science departments have been aware of these criticisms and have developed a new field of farm animal welfare. Faculty positions in the emerging field have been filled, and students are being introduced to tbe concepts. Animal welfare is being studied academically in a manner tbat is validated and measured objectively and, tberefore, is reliable. The discipline considers the relationship of ferm animal welfare to the animals environment in three areas how the animals feel, their fitness and health, and their namral behaviors. 

Faculty support. This was measured with four items for which students were asked to indicate their agreement with a set of items capturing the types of assistance provided by faculty and staff to help students master knowledge in their discipline and develop creative capacities. An example of an item in this scale was faculty and staff provide students with strong academic and professional role models. (a = 0.76)... 

---