scholarly journals Illuminating the complexities of conflict with evolution: validation of the scales of evolutionary conflict measure (SECM)

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gena C. Sbeglia ◽  
Ross H. Nehm
Keyword(s):  
Rating Scale ◽  
High Reliability ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Educational Interventions ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Validity Evidence ◽  
Evolution Acceptance ◽  
Evolutionary Conflict ◽  
Community Conflict ◽  
Personal Conflict

Abstract Background Although personal, familial, and community conflict with evolution have been documented in the literature, these scales require conceptualization as a construct and operationalization as a measure. The Scales of Conflict with Evolution Measure (SECM) instrument was developed in response to these needs. Using a construct validity framework, the content, internal structure, convergent, and substantive validity of the SECM were evaluated using Rasch analysis, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), and follow up questioning. The conceptual utility of the instrument was explored by examining whether it added explanatory insights into evolution acceptance above and beyond religiosity, evolution knowledge, and background variables. Results A literature review and expert consultation indicated that construct of evolutionary conflict perception should (i) encompass the hierarchical nature of human social structures (personal, family, community) and (ii) probe conflict as it relates to human values, cultures, and beliefs. A three-dimensional construct was operationalized as a nine-item rating scale measure. Using Rasch analyses of SECM responses from a diverse sample of > 1000 students studying evolution, the instrument met criteria of robust measurement, including: fit to model expectations; three-dimensional structure; high reliability; good rating scale function; measurement invariance with time; and convergence with a similar construct. SEM showed that: (i) family and community conflict had unique causal contributions to personal conflict, with family showing a stronger and modest impact, and (ii) personal conflict had a significant and modest causal impact on evolution acceptance above and beyond the contributions of religiosity, evolution knowledge, and background variables. Conclusion The SECM is an easy-to-administer instrument to measure conflict with evolution and is supported by several forms of validity evidence. The SECM has potential for facilitating measurement of evolutionary conflict in educational settings, thereby raising instructor awareness of conflict levels in students, promoting rigorous evaluations of educational interventions designed to reduce conflict, and fostering conceptual advances in the field of evolution education. Future work is needed to gather additional forms of validity evidence and to test current validity claims in additional participant samples. SECM measures should also be incorporated into more complex SEM models that treat evolution knowledge and religiosity as part of the structural paths to evolution acceptance. Such models could provide insights into the most worthwhile targets for the development of educational interventions to mitigate conflict at multiple scales.

FACTORS AFFECTING ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE THROUGH PARTICIPATION OF ZAKAT RECIPIENT IN DEVELOPING BUSINESS

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-250
Author(s):  
Estiningsih ◽  
Sundari
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Economic Performance ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
High Reliability ◽  
Hypothesis Test ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Community Empowerment ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Empowerment Program

Community empowerment is a form of development which directly involves the community. In community empowerment program, the position of the community is as program consumer but as program producer instead. Community empowerment aims to achieve community independence and welfare. Zakat is a subsystem which can support community empowerment program. It’s consistent with the objective of zakat, which is material and spiritual wellbeing. To encourage the success of the program, there should be support from various parties, including companion and social capital supports.The purpose of the present study was determining the direct effects of companion and social capital on participant of zakat recipient and its impact of economic performance of zakat-receiving micro businessman. The present study used primary data by involving 72 zakat-receiving micro businesspeople (mustahik businesspeople) in Wonosari Sub-district, Gunung Kidul Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta. The research instrument was questionnaire with likert-5 scale which has high reliability and validity based on Cronbah Alpha and Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin values. The empirical model was analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM).The result of hypothesis test shows that companion and social capital affected the participation of zakat recipient, and the participation of zakat recipient affected the economic performance of zakat-receiving micro businessman.

scholarly journals Accuracy and Reproducibility of Facial Measurements of Digital Photographs and Wrapped Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) Photographs

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 757
Author(s):  
Maged Sultan Alhammadi ◽  
Abeer Abdulkareem Al-mashraqi ◽  
Rayid Hussain Alnami ◽  
Nawaf Mohammad Ashqar ◽  
Omar Hassan Alamir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Soft Tissue ◽  
Cone Beam Computed Tomography ◽  
High Reliability ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Cone Beam ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Facial Profile ◽  
Digital Photographs ◽  
Gonial Angle

The study sought to assess whether the soft tissue facial profile measurements of direct Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) and wrapped CBCT images of non-standardized facial photographs are accurate compared to the standardized digital photographs. In this cross-sectional study, 60 patients with an age range of 18–30 years, who were indicated for CBCT, were enrolled. Two facial photographs were taken per patient: standardized and random (non-standardized). The non-standardized ones were wrapped with the CBCT images. The most used soft tissue facial profile landmarks/parameters (linear and angular) were measured on direct soft tissue three-dimensional (3D) images and on the photographs wrapped over the 3D-CBCT images, and then compared to the standardized photographs. The reliability analysis was performed using concordance correlation coefficients (CCC) and depicted graphically using Bland–Altman plots. Most of the linear and angular measurements showed high reliability (0.91 to 0.998). Nevertheless, four soft tissue measurements were unreliable; namely, posterior gonial angle (0.085 and 0.11 for wrapped and direct CBCT soft tissue, respectively), mandibular plane angle (0.006 and 0.0016 for wrapped and direct CBCT soft tissue, respectively), posterior facial height (0.63 and 0.62 for wrapped and direct CBCT soft tissue, respectively) and total soft tissue facial convexity (0.52 for both wrapped and direct CBCT soft tissue, respectively). The soft tissue facial profile measurements from either the direct 3D-CBCT images or the wrapped CBCT images of non-standardized frontal photographs were accurate, and can be used to analyze most of the soft tissue facial profile measurements.

Factor Structure of the Scales for Assessing Emotional Disturbance : 3 Rating Scale for Students Identified With Emotional Disturbance

2021 ◽  
pp. 019874292110123
Author(s):  
Matthew C. Lambert ◽  
Douglas Cullinan ◽  
Michael H. Epstein ◽  
Jodie Martin
Keyword(s):  
Internal Structure ◽  
Emotional Disturbance ◽  
Factor Structure ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Distinct Group ◽  
Considerable Proportion ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Validity Evidence ◽  
Common Variance

This study examined the internal structure of the Scales for Assessing Emotional Disturbance-3 Rating Scale (RS), a teacher-completed RS developed to measure emotional disturbance (ED). As defined in U.S. law and regulations, ED involves five characteristics or patterns of behavioral and emotional maladaptation. RS data obtained on a sample of students with ED were used to examine validity evidence based on the internal structure of the assessment. Of particular interest was the extent to which multivariate factors derived from the RS data conform to the five characteristics of ED stated in the definition. Results indicate that the RS data fit a 5-factor model reasonably well. A subsequent bifactor analysis identified a considerable proportion of common variance across factors, suggesting the presence of a strong general ED factor, two distinct group factors (Inability to Learn and Inappropriate Behavior), and three weak group factors. The findings provided evidence of the validity of the SAED-3 RS based on internal structure and pointed to support for use of the RS in contributing to the process of determining whether a student qualifies for the ED education disability. Implications for improved research on the nature of ED and how students with ED can be better served are discussed.

Objective structured assessment of technical skill in temporal bone dissection: validation of a novel tool

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
M Stavrakas ◽  
G Menexes ◽  
S Triaridis ◽  
P Bamidis ◽  
J Constantinidis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Bone ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Technical Skills ◽  
Technical Skill ◽  
Global Rating Scale ◽  
Global Rating ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Cortical Mastoidectomy

Abstract Objective This study developed an assessment tool that was based on the objective structured assessment for technical skills principles, to be used for evaluation of surgical skills in cortical mastoidectomy. The objective structured assessment of technical skill is a well-established tool for evaluation of surgical ability. This study also aimed to identify the best material and printing method to make a three-dimensional printed temporal bone model. Methods Twenty-four otolaryngologists in training were asked to perform a cortical mastoidectomy on a three-dimensional printed temporal bone (selective laser sintering resin). They were scored according to the objective structured assessment of technical skill in temporal bone dissection tool developed in this study and an already validated global rating scale. Results Two external assessors scored the candidates, and it was concluded that the objective structured assessment of technical skill in temporal bone dissection tool demonstrated some main aspects of validity and reliability that can be used in training and performance evaluation of technical skills in mastoid surgery. Conclusion Apart from validating the new tool for temporal bone dissection training, the study showed that evolving three-dimensional printing technologies is of high value in simulation training with several advantages over traditional teaching methods.

Going through the motions

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annamaria Kubovcikova
Keyword(s):  
Internal Consistency ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multiple Indicators ◽  
Concept Definition ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
Reflective Measurement ◽  
Stability And Consistency

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to test the properties of the well-known three-dimensional adjustment scale, established by Black et al. (1988, 1989), namely, its dimensionality and internal consistency. The theoretical basis of the construct is discussed in relation to formative and reflective measurement approaches. Design/methodology/approach – Two different ways of organizing the adjustment items (random/non-random) were used to assess the internal consistency of the three-dimensional adjustment scale. The quantitative analysis presented is based on survey data from 468 assigned expatriates in Asia that were subjected to an exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis as well as a structural equation modeling – more specifically the multiple indicators multiple causes model (MIMIC). Findings – The study revealed that the adjustment construct is possibly misspecified, especially the general adjustment dimension, that was tested as a formative, not a reflective scale. There is further evidence that the wrong measurement approach skewed the coefficient that connects adjustment to performance, which is the key construct in its nomological network. Moreover, the dimensionality and the internal consistency of the scale are deteriorated to a large extent by randomization of the items. The findings highlight the need for a clear concept definition that would lead to an appropriate operationalization of the construct. Originality/value – The study is one of the few rigorously testing the properties of a construct that has been used for almost 30 years, thus yielding some novel conclusions about its stability and consistency.

Numerical Simulation of Gas Flow and Heat Transfer in Cross-Wavy Primary Surface Channel for Microtubine Recuperators

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. X. Liang ◽  
Q. W. Wang ◽  
L. Q. Luo ◽  
Z. P. Feng
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Numerical Simulation ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
High Reliability ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Flow And Heat Transfer ◽  
High Heat Transfer ◽  
The Cross

Three-dimensional numerical simulation was conducted to investigate the flow field and heat transfer performance of the Cross-Wavy Primary Surface (CWPS) recuperators for microturbines. Using high-effective compact recuperators to achieve high thermal efficiency is one of the key techniques in the development of microturbine in recent years. Recuperators need to have minimum volume and weight, high reliability and durability. Most important of all, they need to have high thermal-effectiveness and low pressure-losses so that the gas turbine system can achieve high thermal performances. These requirements have attracted some research efforts in designing and implementing low-cost and compact recuperators for gas turbine engines recently. One of the promising techniques to achieve this goal is the so-called primary surface channels with small hydraulic dimensions. In this paper, we conducted a three-dimensional numerical study of flow and heat transfer for the Cross-Wavy Primary Surface (CWPS) channels with two different geometries. In the CWPS configurations the secondary flow is created by means of curved and interrupted surfaces, which may disturb the thermal boundary layers and thus improve the thermal performances of the channels. To facilitate comparison, we chose the identical hydraulic diameters for the above four CWPS channels. Since our experiments on real recuperators showed that the Reynolds number ranges from 150 to 500 under the operating conditions, we implemented all the simulations under laminar flow situations. By analyzing the correlations of Nusselt numbers and friction factors vs. Reynolds numbers of the four CWPS channels, we found that the CWPS channels have superior and comprehensive thermal performance with high compactness, i.e., high heat transfer area to volume ratio, indicating excellent commercialized application in the compact recuperators.

scholarly journals Assessment of neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia: Toward improving accuracy

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 244-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florindo Stella
Keyword(s):  
Rating Scale ◽  
High Reliability ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Clinical Approach ◽  
Behavioral Disturbances ◽  
Versatile Tool ◽  
Clinician Rating ◽  
Improving Accuracy ◽  
Elderly Caregivers

ABSTRACT The issue of this article concerned the discussion about tools frequently used tools for assessing neuropsychiatric symptoms of patients with dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease. The aims were to discuss the main tools for evaluating behavioral disturbances, and particularly the accuracy of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory - Clinician Rating Scale (NPI-C). The clinical approach to and diagnosis of neuropsychiatric syndromes in dementia require suitable accuracy. Advances in the recognition and early accurate diagnosis of psychopathological symptoms help guide appropriate pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. In addition, recommended standardized and validated measurements contribute to both scientific research and clinical practice. Emotional distress, caregiver burden, and cognitive impairment often experienced by elderly caregivers, may affect the quality of caregiver reports. The clinician rating approach helps attenuate these misinterpretations. In this scenario, the NPI-C is a promising and versatile tool for assessing neuropsychiatric syndromes in dementia, offering good accuracy and high reliability, mainly based on the diagnostic impression of the clinician. This tool can provide both strategies: a comprehensive assessment of neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia or the investigation of specific psychopathological syndromes such as agitation, depression, anxiety, apathy, sleep disorders, and aberrant motor disorders, among others.

Contractual Complexity in Construction Projects

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 46-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenqian Wang ◽  
Yongqiang Chen ◽  
Shuibo Zhang ◽  
Yu Wang
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation Modeling ◽  
Scale Development ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Construction Projects ◽  
Construction Project ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Modeling Technique ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Empirical Testing ◽  
Item Scale

Building on the multifunctional perspective from current contract theory, we conceptualize contractual complexity as a three-dimensional construct to depict the explicitness and elaborateness of control, coordination, and adaptation provisions in a construction project contract. A 13-item scale with construction project features is developed for measuring the different aspects of contractual complexity following rigorous scale development procedures. Using the structural equation modeling technique, empirical testing results demonstrate that all of the three components contribute significantly to contractual complexity. Further analysis indicated that treating contractual complexity in the three-functional way outperforms the unidimensional one regarding power to explain satisfaction and strong-form opportunism.

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