Live and Let Live: Africa’s Response Options to China’s BRI

2018 ◽  
pp. 155-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Kodzi
Keyword(s):  
2012 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 262-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Johannes Müller ◽  
Suzan Kamcili-Kubach ◽  
Songül Strassheim ◽  
Eckhardt Koch

A 10-item instrument for the assessment of probable migration-related stressors was developed based on previous work (MIGSTR10) and interrater reliability was tested in a chart review study. The MIGSTR10 and nine nonspecific stressors of the DSM-IV Axis IV (DSMSTR9) were put into a questionnaire format with categorical and dimensional response options. Charts of 100 inpatients (50 Turkish migrants [MIG], 50 native German patients [CON]) with affective or anxiety disorder were reviewed by three independent raters and MIGSTR10, DSMSTR9, and Global Assessment of Functioning scale (GAF) scores were obtained. Interrater reliability indices (ICC) of items and sum scores were calculated. The prevalence of single migration-related stressors in MIG ranged from 15% to 100% (CON 0–92%). All items of the MIGSTR10 (ICC 0.58–0.92) and the DSMSTR9 (ICC 0.56–0.96) reached high to very high interrater agreement (p < .0005). The item analysis of the MIGSTR10 revealed sufficient internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.68/0.69) and only one item (“family conflicts”) without substantial correlation with the remaining scale. Correlation analyses showed a significant overlap of dimensional MIGSTR10 scores (r² = 0.25; p < .01) and DSMSTR9 scores (r² = 9%; p < .05) with GAF scores in MIG indicating functional relevance. MIGSTR10 is considered a feasible, economic, and reliable instrument for the assessment of stressors potentially related to migration.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 554-562
Author(s):  
Alica Thissen ◽  
Frank M. Spinath ◽  
Nicolas Becker

Abstract. The cube construction task represents a novel format in the assessment of spatial ability through mental cube rotation tasks. Instead of selecting the correct answer from several response options, respondents construct their own response in a computerized test environment, leading to a higher demand for spatial ability. In the present study with a sample of 146 German high-school students, we tested an approach to manipulate the item difficulties in order to create items with a greater difficulty range. Furthermore, we compared the cube task in a distractor-free and a distractor-based version while the item stems were held identical. The average item difficulty of the distractor-free format was significantly higher than in the distractor-based format ( M = 0.27 vs. M = 0.46) and the distractor-free format showed a broader range of item difficulties (.02 ≤  pi ≤ .95 vs. .37 ≤  pi ≤ .63). The analyses of the test results also showed that the distractor-free format had a significantly higher correlation with a broad intelligence test ( r = .57 vs. r = .17). Reasons for the higher convergent validity of the distractor-free format (prevention of response elimination strategies and the broader range of item difficulties) and further research possibilities are discussed.


Author(s):  
Yoav Bar-Anan ◽  
Brian A. Nosek ◽  
Michelangelo Vianello

The sorting paired features (SPF) task measures four associations in a single response block. Using four response options (e.g., good-Republicans, bad-Republicans, good-Democrats, and bad-Democrats), each trial requires participants to categorize two stimuli at once to a category pair (e.g., wonderful-Clinton to good-Democrats). Unlike other association measures, the SPF requires simultaneous categorization of both components of the association in the same trial. Providing measurement flexibility, it is sensitive to both focal, attended concepts and nonfocal, unattended stimulus features (e.g., gender of individuals in a politics SPF). Three studies measure race, gender, and political evaluations, differentiate automatic evaluations between known groups, provide evidence of convergent and discriminant validity with other attitude measures, and illustrate the SPF’s unique measurement qualities.


2019 ◽  
pp. 113-121
Author(s):  
Aneke C.U. ◽  
Nwankwegu Simeon A.

This study was set to determine the strategies for enhancing the performance of secondary school students in agricultural science for food security in Ebonyi State. A survey research design was adopted with a population of 53 respondents (14 male and 39 female agricultural science teachers) sampled purposively from 48 secondary schools in Izzi local government area of Ebonyi State. Two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. The instrument for data collection was a structured 4-point weighted 21-item questionnaire developed by the researcher sectioned A and B with response options of Strongly Agree (SA), Agree (A), Disagree (DA) and Strongly Disagree (SD) after intensive literature review and the numerical values of 4, 3, 2 & 1 was assigned to the instrument respectively. The instrument was validated by three research experts while the reliability index of 0.77 was established using Cronbach Alpha reliability estimate. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the two research questions while t-test was used to test the two null hypotheses at .05 level of significance and appropriate degree of freedom. Some of the findings among others include that teachers can enhance the performance of secondary school students in agricultural science for food security in Ebonyi State. It was therefore recommended that facilities should be made available for proper training of secondary school students for productivity on graduation and as well for food security in Ebonyi State.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 519-520
Author(s):  
Priyanka Shrestha ◽  
Erica Husser ◽  
Diane Berish ◽  
Long Ngo ◽  
Marie Boltz ◽  
...  

Abstract Delirium is a serious and potentially life-threatening problem, but it remains clinically under-recognized. Various factors contribute to this under-recognition, including limited understanding of delirium, insufficient training and application of delirium assessments, potential stigma for the patient and increased workload for the clinician. As a part of an NIH funded study testing a rapid two-step delirium identification protocol at two hospitals in the U.S. (one urban and one rural), clinicians completed a 12-item survey to assess their knowledge and attitudes about delirium and their confidence in preventing and managing delirium. Survey response options followed a 5-point rating scale (strongly disagree, disagree, undecided, agree, strongly agree). The sample for this analysis included 399 clinicians (MDs=53; RNs=235; CNAs=111). Chi-square was used to test for group differences between clinician types. Less than half of the clinicians reported agreeing with the statement, “delirium is largely preventable” (MDs: 47%; RN: 44%; CNA: 41%, p-value=0.021). MDs and RNs indicated a high level of confidence in recognizing delirium while CNAs endorsed lower levels of confidence (MDs: 87%; RN: 81%; CNA: 65%, p-value=0.001). All types of clinicians reported lower confidence in managing delirium (MDs: 29%; RN: 36%; CNA: 44%, p-value=0.117). 47% of CNAs and 37% of RNs agreed there is a need for additional training in caring for persons with delirium while only 21% of MDs agreed (p = 0.031). Understanding how different types of clinicians think and feel about delirium will inform training and communication initiatives, clinical implementation, and research on best practices for delirium identification and management.


Author(s):  
M. Sazzad Hussain ◽  
David Silvera-Tawil ◽  
Geremy Farr-Wharton

Abstract Objective Established and emerging technologies—such as wearable sensors, smartphones, mobile apps, and artificial intelligence—are shaping positive healthcare models and patient outcomes. These technologies have the potential to become precision health (PH) innovations. However, not all innovations meet regulatory standards or have the required scientific evidence to be used for health applications. In response, an assessment framework was developed to facilitate and standardize the assessment of innovations deemed suitable for PH. Methods A scoping literature review undertaken through PubMed and Google Scholar identified approximately 100 relevant articles. These were then shortlisted (n = 12) to those that included specific metrics, criteria, or frameworks for assessing technologies that could be applied to the PH context. Results The proposed framework identified nine core criteria with subcriteria and grouped them into four categories for assessment: technical, clinical, human factors, and implementation. Guiding statements with response options and recommendations were used as metrics against each criterion. Conclusion The proposed framework supports health services, health technology innovators, and researchers in leveraging current and emerging technologies for PH innovations. It covers a comprehensive set of criteria as part of the assessment process of these technologies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Haberland ◽  
Anna Filonenko ◽  
Christian Seitz ◽  
Matthias Börner ◽  
Christoph Gerlinger ◽  
...  

Abstract Background To evaluate the psychometric and measurement properties of two patient-reported outcome instruments, the menstrual pictogram superabsorbent polymer-containing version 3 (MP SAP-c v3) and Uterine Fibroid Daily Bleeding Diary (UF-DBD). Test-retest reliability, criterion, construct validity, responsiveness, missingness and comparability of the MP SAP-c v3 and UF-DBD versus the alkaline hematin (AH) method and a patient global impression of severity (PGI-S) were analyzed in post hoc trial analyses. Results Analyses were based on data from up to 756 patients. The full range of MP SAP-c v3 and UF-DBD response options were used, with score distributions reflecting the cyclic character of the disease. Test-retest reliability of MP SAP-c v3 and UF-DBD scores was supported by acceptable intraclass correlation coefficients when stability was defined by the AH method and Patient Global Impression of Severity (PGI-S) scores (0.80–0.96 and 0.42–0.94, respectively). MP SAP-c v3 and UF-DBD scores demonstrated strong and moderate-to-strong correlations with menstrual blood loss assessed by the AH method. Scores increased in monotonic fashion, with greater disease severities, defined by the AH method and PGI-S scores; differences between groups were mostly statistically significant (P < 0.05). MP SAP-c v3 and UF-DBD were sensitive to changes in disease severity, defined by the AH method and PGI-S. MP SAP-c v3 and UF-DBD showed a lower frequency of missing patient data versus the AH method, and good agreement with the AH method. Conclusions This evidence supports the use of the MP SAP-c v3 and UF-DBD to assess clinical efficacy endpoints in UF phase III studies replacing the AH method.


2007 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 177-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Eric Landrum

Students in an introductory psychology course took a quiz a week over each textbook chapter, followed by a cumulative final exam. Students missing a quiz in class could make up a quiz at any time during the semester, and answers to quiz items were available to students prior to the cumulative final exam. The cumulative final exam consisted of half the items previously presented on quizzes; half of those items had the response options scrambled. The performance on similar items on the cumulative final was slightly higher than on the original quiz, and scrambling the response options had little effect. Students strongly supported the quiz a week approach.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michaela Gabes ◽  
Christina Tischer ◽  
Anne Herrmann ◽  
Laura Howells ◽  
Christian Apfelbacher

Abstract Background Recap of atopic eczema (RECAP) is a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) assessing eczema control. Long-term control of eczema is one of the four core outcome domains for atopic eczema trials. This instrument has been recently developed in the UK. Objective This study aimed to translate the English RECAP into German and test its content validity in a German population with self-reported atopic eczema. Methods A six-step procedure including two forward and one backward translations, two consensus decisions and an expert review was performed to obtain a German version of RECAP. We conducted semi-standardized cognitive interviews with adults with atopic eczema (n = 7) and parents having children affected by this disease (n = 5). A “think-aloud” method was used and aspects of comprehensibility, comprehensiveness and relevance according to the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) criteria were examined. Interviews were coded using qualitative content analysis. Results No particular linguistic problems were encountered during forward-backward translation. Minor wording changes were made as required. The title was adjusted to a more familiar German term of the disease (which is ‘Neurodermitis’). The recall period was rephrased from ‘over the last week’ to ‘over the last seven days’ since there was a different cultural understanding of the time frame. Regarding content validity, the items of the German RECAP were considered to be comprehensible, comprehensive and relevant for the participants and parents of affected children. The participants understood the instruction and considered the one-week recall period and the response options as appropriate. Conclusions A German version of RECAP that is linguistically equivalent to the original version is now available but further assessment of its measurement properties is needed.


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