scholarly journals Evidence of validity of the Stress-Producing Life Events (SPLE) instrument

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Marta Rizzini ◽  
Alcione Miranda dos Santos ◽  
Antônio Augusto Moura da Silva

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the construct validity of a list of eight Stressful Life Events in pregnant women. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,446 pregnant women in São Luís, MA, and 1,364 pregnant women in Ribeirão Preto, SP (BRISA cohort), from February 2010 to June 2011. In the exploratory factorial analysis, the promax oblique rotation was used and for the calculation of the internal consistency, we used the compound reliability. The construct validity was determined by means of the confirmatory factorial analysis with the method of estimation of weighted least squares adjusted by the mean and variance. RESULTS: The model with the best fit in the exploratory analysis was the one that retained three factors with a cumulative variance of 61.1%. The one-factor model did not obtain a good fit in both samples in the confirmatory analysis. The three-factor model called Stress-Producing Life Events presented a good fit (RMSEA < 0.05; CFI/TLI > 0.90) for both samples. CONCLUSIONS: The Stress-Producing Life Events constitute a second order construct with three dimensions related to health, personal and financial aspects and violence. This study found evidence that confirms the construct validity of a list of stressor events, entitled Stress-Producing Life Events Inventory.

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Yasin Ghadi

Purpose Job crafting is recently argued to have five dimensions (Nielsen et al., 2017): increasing challenging demands, decreasing social demands, increasing social job resources, increasing quantitative demands and decreasing hindrance demands. The purpose of this study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties and construct validity of the five-factor model of job crafting, introduced by using a sample of Jordanian university employees. Design/methodology/approach A pre-determined survey on was used. Accordingly, 513 professional workers in several universities completed the survey. Cronbach’s alpha was used to assess the internal consistency of the scale, whereas series of confirmatory factor (CFA) analysis and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) were conducted to assess the scale’s factorial and discriminant validity. Other tests were also conducted. Findings As predicted, the proposed model best fit the data. Statistical analysis yielded several findings. First, the results of the reliability test revealed that the five sub-scales of job crafting had significant and sufficiently strong internal consistencies. Second, the results showed that the 15 items loaded significantly with a factor loadings more than 0.50. Third, the CFA results confirmed that the five-factor model best fitted the data in comparison to the one-factor model. Finally, the construct validity of JCRQ-15 was confirmed through its correlation with several validating variables. Research limitations/implications Some limitations need to be addressed. First, the sample came from participants working in specific Jordanian universities which may limit the generalization that could be made from the results to other occupations. Second, due to the cross-sectional design of the present study, the question remains whether the JCRQ-15 are stable overtime. Third, the common methods bias might be a problem because it is one of the main sources of measurement error in validation studies using self-reported scales. Originality/value The present study provided an early supportive evidence for the use of the JCRQ-15 as a valid measure of job crafting in the Jordanian context.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera Lomazzi

Although measurement invariance is widely considered a precondition for meaningful cross-sectional comparisons, substantive studies have often neglected evaluating this assumption, thereby risking drawing conclusions and making theoretical generalizations based on misleading results. This study offers a theoretical overview of the key issues concerning the measurement and the comparison of socio-political values and aims to answer the questions of what must be evaluated, why, when, and how to assess measurement equivalence. This paper discusses the implications of formative and reflective approaches to the measurement of socio-political values and introduces challenges in their comparison across different countries. From this perspective, exact and approximate approaches to equivalence are described as well as their empirical translation in statistical techniques, such as the multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (MGCFA) and the frequentist alignment method. To illustrate the application of these methods, the study investigates the construct of solidarity as measured by European Values Study (EVS) and using data collected in 34 countries in the last wave of the EVS (2017–2020). The concept is captured through a battery of nine items reflecting three dimensions of solidarity: social, local, and global. Two measurement models are hypothesized: a first-order factor model, in which the three independent dimensions of solidarity are correlated, and a second-order factor model, in which solidarity is conceived according to a hierarchical principle, and the construct of solidarity is reflected in the three sub-factors. In testing the equivalence of the first-order factor model, the results of the MGCFA indicated that metric invariance was achieved. The alignment method supported approximate equivalence only when the model was reduced to two factors, excluding global solidarity. The second-order factor model fit the data of only seven countries, in which this model could be used to study solidarity as a second-order concept. However, the comparison across countries resulted not appropriate at any level of invariance. Finally, the implications of these results for further substantive research are discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 102 (3) ◽  
pp. 600-616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott L. Fulford ◽  
Felipe Schwartzman

We develop a method to use the one-time cross-sectional impact of a cleanly identified shock to identify its aggregate impact through the use of a factor model. We apply this methodology to evaluate the importance of fluctuations to the commitment to a currency peg for macroeconomic outcomes during the gold standard period in the United States. The presidential election in 1896 provides a cleanly identified positive shock to commitment to the gold standard. After the election, bank leverage increased substantially, particularly in states where gold was in greater use. Using the latent factor identified by the election, we find that full commitment to gold had the potential to reduce the volatility of real activity overall by a significant amount in the last two decades of the nineteenth century, as well as substantially mitigate the economic depression starting in 1893.


2019 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
M. Maggio ◽  
M. Barbolini ◽  
Y. Longobucco ◽  
L. Barbieri ◽  
C. Benedetti ◽  
...  

Objectives: Frailty is a pre-disability condition in older persons providing a challenge to Health-Care Systems. Systematic reviews highlight the absence of a gold-standard for its identification. However, an approach based on initial screening by the General Practitioner (GP) seems particularly useful. On these premises, a 9-item Sunfrail Checklist (SC), was developed by a multidisciplinary group, in the context of European Sunfrail Project, and tested in the Community. Objectives: – to measure the concordance between the judgments of frailty (criterion-validity): the one formulated by the GP, using the SC, and the one subsequently expressed by a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment Team (CGA-Team); – to determine the construct-validity through the correspondence between some checklist items related to the 3 domains (physical, cognitive and social) and the three tools used by the CGA-Team; – to measure the instrument’s performance in terms of positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV). Design: Cross-sectional study, with a final sample-size of 95 subjects. Setting: Two Community-Health Centers of Parma, Italy. Participants: Subjects aged 75 years old or more, with no disability and living in the community. Measurements: We compared the screening capacity of the GP using the SC to that one of CGA-Team based on three tests: 4-meter Gait-Speed, Mini-Mental State Examination and Loneliness Scale. Results: 95 subjects (51 women), with a mean age of 81±4 years were enrolled. According to GPs 34 subjects were frail; the CGA-Team expressed a frailty judgment on 26 subjects. The criterion-validity presented a Cohen’s k of 0.353. Construct-validity was also low, with a maximum contingency-coefficient of 0.19. The analysis showed a PPV of 58.1% and a NPV equal to 84.6%. Conclusions: Our data showed a low agreement between the judgements of GP performed by SC and CGA-Team. However, the good NPV suggests the applicability of SC for screening activities in primary-care.


2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (123) ◽  
pp. 20160589
Author(s):  
James Rafferty ◽  
Lance Farr ◽  
Tim James ◽  
David Chase ◽  
John Heinrich ◽  
...  

We present a novel, high-resolution magnetic resonance technique, fine structure analysis (FSA) for the quantification and analysis of amorphous and quasi-amorphous biological structures. The one-dimensional technique is introduced mathematically and then applied to one simulated phantom, two physical phantoms and a set of ex vivo biological samples, scanned with interpoint spacings of 0.0038–0.195 mm and cross-sectional sizes of 3 × 3 or 5 × 5 mm. The simulated phantom and one of the physical phantoms consists of randomly arranged beads of known size in two and three dimensions, respectively. The second physical phantom was constructed by etching lines on Perspex. The ex vivo samples are human bone specimens. We show that for all three phantoms, the FSA technique is able to elucidate the average spacing of the structures present within each sample using structural spectroscopy, the smallest of which was 180 µm in size. We further show that in samples of trabecular bone, FSA is able to produce comparable results to micro-computed tomography, the current gold standard for measuring bone microstructure, but without the need for ionizing radiation. Many biological structures are too small to be captured by conventional, clinically deployed medical imaging techniques. FSA has the potential for use in the analysis of pathologies where such small-scale repeating structures are disrupted or their size, and spacing is otherwise altered.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 48-62
Author(s):  
Orlando M. Pagán-Torres ◽  
Eduardo Cumba-Avilés ◽  
Ernesto Rosario-Hernández ◽  
Juan Aníbal González-Rivera

This research examines the psychometric properties and factor structure of the Brief Religious Coping Scale (Brief-RCOPE) in a sample of 302 Puerto Rican adults. We examined its internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha), McDonald’s omega coefficient, construct validity, and factor structure. The Brief-RCOPE obtained an alpha coefficient of .94 in the Positive Religious Coping (PRC) subscale and .84 in the Negative Religious Coping (NRC) subscale. The omega coefficient was .94 (PRC) and .85 (NRC), respectively. We conducted a confirmatory factor analysis, using the Satorra-Bentler correction, to examine the factor structure of the Brief-RCOPE. The two-factor model showed a better adjustment to the data than the one-factor model. Indicators of construct validity were also adequate. Our findings suggest that the Brief-RCOPE is a reliable and valid instrument to measure religious coping strategies that may significantly affect people’s daily lives.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. e034863
Author(s):  
Nikoloz Gambashidze ◽  
Antje Hammer ◽  
Nicole Ernstmann ◽  
Tanja Manser

ObjectiveTo study the psychometric properties of the Georgian version of the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire short version.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingThree Georgian hospitals.ParticipantsPersonnel of participating hospitals (n=305 responses, estimated response rate 30%).InterventionsNone.Primary and secondary outcome measuresPsychometric properties (model fit, internal consistency, construct validity, convergent and discriminant validity) of the instrument, factor structure derived from the data.ResultsThe Georgian version of Safety Attitudes Questionnaire demonstrated acceptable construct validity and internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha 0.61–0.91). Three factors, Teamwork Climate, Safety Climate and Working Conditions, had limited convergent and discriminant validity. Confirmatory factor analysis with the original six-factor model resulted in limited model fit (χ2/df=2.14, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA)=0.06, goodness of fit index (GFI)=0.83, CFI=0.88, TLI=0.86). Exploratory factor analysis resulted in a modified four-factor model with satisfactory model fit (χ2/df=2.09, RMSEA=0.06, GFI=0.88, CFI=0.93, TLI=0.91).ConclusionsThe Georgian version of the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (short version) demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties, with acceptable to good internal consistency and construct validity. While the whole model had limited fit to the data, a modified factor model resulted in good model fit. Our findings suggest the dimension Working Conditions has questionable psychometric properties and should be interpreted with caution. Other two correlated dimensions Teamwork Climate and Safety Climate share considerable variance and may be merged. Overall, the instrument can provide valuable information relevant for advancement of patient safety culture in Georgian hospitals.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Tkalac Verčič ◽  
Dubravka Sinčić Ćorić ◽  
Nina Pološki Vokić

PurposeThe study examines the psychometric properties of internal communication satisfaction questionnaire (ICSQ), an instrument originally developed in Croatian. A need for a contemporary instrument validated among a non-English-speaking population of employees who use English as their second language motivated the authors to translate the scale.Design/methodology/approachICSQ was validated on a sample of 507 employees of a large Croatian subsidiary of a multinational bank, where English is the official corporate language.FindingsICSQ displayed satisfactory levels of psychometric properties, retaining the psychometric properties of the original version of the instrument. A confirmatory factor analysis revealed the acceptable model–data fit of the eight-factor model. Additionally, findings supported the reliability and construct validity of the English version of the instrument. Good internal consistencies of all eight internal communication satisfaction (ICS) dimensions and the total ICSQ and an adequate level of scale homogeneity according to the inter-item and inter-total correlations were found.Research limitations/implicationsIn order to generalize the study’s results to other business areas and industries, the study should be replicated in other contexts. Additionally, construct validity was tested by applying cross-sectional design, and therefore, no conclusion can be drawn on the causal direction of the relationship. Finally, the discriminant validity of ICSQ was not tested and should be examined in future studies.Practical implicationsThe resulting 32-item instrument, in English, can be used for empirical and practical purposes in improving internal communication.Originality/valueThe study confirms that internal communication is a multidimensional construct and should be measured as such.


Aquichan ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Sofia Almeida ◽  
Ana Nascimento ◽  
Pedro Bernardes Lucas ◽  
Élvio Jesus ◽  
Beatriz Araújo

Objective: This study aims to validate the Portuguese version of the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI) and assess construct validity through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study validates the psychometric properties of the PES-NWI in Portugal. Exploratory factorial analysis is used to analyze the psychometric properties of the PES-NWI in a sample of 5,075 Portuguese nurses; the data sample covers all geographic regions in the country. Confirmatory factor analysis is performed to confirm the model’s data adequacy. Results: Factorial analysis explained 54.6 % of the variance and a five-dimension structure. The five factors identified were Nurse Participation in Hospital Affairs, Nurse Manager Ability, Leadership and Support of Nurses, Nursing Foundations for Quality of Care, Staffing and Resource Adequacy, and Nurse-Physician Relations. The confirmatory analysis showed that the five-factor model fit well with the data in the Portuguese context. Conclusion: In a Portuguese health context, the PES-NWI is a valid scale to access the nursing environment and improve working conditions.


e-CliniC ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fauzia Tamara Rauf ◽  
Rudy A. Lengkong ◽  
Maya Mewengkang

Abstrak: Air susu ibu (ASI) merupakan makanan terbaik bagi bayi karena mengandung zat gizi yang ideal untuk bayi, terutama pada umur 0 sampai 6 bulan. ASI Eksklusif adalah ASI yang diberikan kepada bayi sejak dilahirkan selama enam bulan, tanpa menambahkan dan/atau  mengganti dengan makanan atau minuman lain. Hasil riset kesehatan dasar tahun 2010 bayi yang diberikan ASI eksklusif sampai 6 bulan hanya 15,3%. Provinsi Sulawesi Utara pada tahun 2010 cakupan ASI eksklusifnya hanya sebesar 22,61%, yang masih terpaut jauh dari target nasional yaitu 80%. Tujuan dari penelitian ini untuk mengetahui gambaran pengetahuan dan sikap ibu hamil di Poliklinik Obstetri BLU RSUP Prof. DR. R.D. Kandou Manado tentang pentingnya ASI eksklusif. Penelitian ini bersifat deskriptif dengan menggunakan pendekatan cross sectional. Sampel penelitian sebesar 50 sampel ibu hamil. Instrumen yang digunakan adalah kuesioner. Analisis data dilakukan secara univariat. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan ibu dengan pengetahuan baik tentang ASI eksklusif ada sebanyak 38%, pengetahuan tidak baik ada 62%. sikap baik tentang ASI eksklusif sebanyak 46% dan sikap yang tidak baik 54%. Terdapat kelompok karakteristik yang paling banyak berpengetahuan baik dan berpengetahuan tidak baik terdapat pada kelompok yang sama (>30tahun, SLTA, Tidak bekerja). Sedangkan kelompok karakteristik yang paling banyak memiliki sikap baik dan sikap tidak baik terdapat pada kelompok yang sama juga (>30tahun, SLTA, Tidak bekerja). Kesimpulan: didapatkan paling banyak yang berpengetahuan tidak baik, dan sikap tidak baik. Namun, tidak dapat dilihat adanya pengaruh yang signifikan antara karakteristik umur, pendidikan, dan pekerjaan terhadap pengetahuan dan sikap ibu hamil tentang ASI eksklusif pada penelitian ini oleh karena beberapa faktor. Kata kunci: Pengetahuan, Sikap, ASI Eksklusi   Abstract: Breast milk is the best meal for babies because it contains ideal nutritions for babies, espesially for 0 to 6 months babies. Exclusive breast milk is the one the mothers give since they was born until 6 months old, without adding or replacing it with any other meals or drinks. The result of 2010 basic health study states that there were 15,3% babies given exclusive breast milk, while 22,61% of that number was in north celebes, which were far away from national target, 80%. The aim of this study is to describe the knowledge and attitude of pregnant women in obsgyn clinic in Kandou Hospital about how important exclusive breast milk is. This is a descriptive study using cross sectional approachment. This study has 50 samples of pregnant women, using quittionaire as instrument. Data analysis is done by univariet. Result shows 38% of pregnant women have good knowledge about exclusive breast milk and 62% have bad knowledge. Good attitude about exclusive breast milk reaches 46% while 54% has bad attitude. This study identified the group with good and bad knowledge were in the same group (<30 years old, senior high school, unemployee). At the same time, group with most number of good and bad attitude were also in the same group (<30 years old, senior high school, unemployee). Conclusion: This study results that bad knowledge and attitude have the highest percentage. However, it is unable to see the significant effect between age, education and occupation characteristic with the knowledge and attitude of pregnant women about exclusive breast milk in this study because of some factors. Keyword: Knowledge, Attitude, Exclusive Breast Milk.


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