Experimental, Quasi-Experimental, and Nonexperimental Design and Analysis With Latent Variables

Purpose Pragmatic language is important for social communication across all settings. Children adopted internationally (CAI) may be at risk of poorer pragmatic language because of adverse early care, delayed adopted language development, and less ability to inhibit. The purpose of this study was to compare pragmatic language performance of CAI from Asian and Eastern European countries with a nonadopted group of children who were of the same age and from similar socioeconomic backgrounds as well as explore the relationship among emotion identification, false belief understanding, and inhibition variables with pragmatic language performance. Method Using a quasi-experimental design, 35 four-year-old CAI (20 Asian, 15 Eastern European) and 33 children who were not adopted were included in this study. The children's pragmatic language, general language, and social communication (emotion identification of facial expressions, false belief understanding, inhibition) were measured. Comparisons by region of origin and adoption experience were completed. We conducted split-half correlation analyses and entered significant correlation variables into simple and backward regression models. Results Pragmatic language performance differed by adoption experience. The adopted and nonadopted groups demonstrated different correlation patterns. Language performance explained most of the pragmatic language variance. Discussion Because CAI perform less well than their nonadopted peers on pragmatic communication measures and different variables are related to their pragmatic performance, speech-language pathologists may need to adapt assessment and intervention practices for this population.

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A Pilot Study on the Efficacy of Volunteer Mentorship for Young Adults With Self-Harm Behaviors Using a Quasi-Experimental Design

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000393 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 37 (6) ◽

pp. 415-426 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Yik-Wa Law ◽

Paul S. F. Yip ◽

Carmen C. S. Lai ◽

Chi Leung Kwok ◽

Paul W. C. Wong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Experimental Design ◽

Suicide Ideation ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Well Being ◽

Control Group ◽

Treatment As Usual ◽

Prevention Services ◽

Quasi Experimental ◽

Self Harm ◽

Volunteer Support

Abstract. Background: Studies have shown that postdischarge care for self-harm patients is effective in reducing repeated suicidal behaviors. Little is known about whether volunteer support can help reduce self-harm repetition and improve psychosocial well-being. Aim: This study investigated the efficacy of volunteer support in preventing repetition of self-harm. Method: This study used a quasi-experimental design by assigning self-harm patients admitted to the emergency departments to an intervention group with volunteer support and treatment as usual (TAU) for 9 months and to a control group of TAU. Outcome measures include repetition of self-harm, suicidal ideation, hopelessness, and level of depressive and anxiety symptoms. Results: A total of 74 cases were recruited (38 participants; 36 controls). There were no significant differences in age, gender, and clinical condition between the two groups at the baseline. The intervention group showed significant improvements in hopelessness and depressive symptoms. However, the number of cases of suicide ideation and of repetition of self-harm episodes was similar for both groups at the postintervention period. Conclusion: Postdischarge care provided by volunteers showed significant improvement in hopelessness and depression. Volunteers have been commonly involved in suicide prevention services. Further research using rigorous methods is recommended for improving service quality in the long term.

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Probability-Based and Measurement-Related Hypotheses With Full Restriction for Investigations by Means of Confirmatory Factor Analysis

Methodology ◽

10.1027/1614-2241/a000033 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 157-164

Author(s):

Karl Schweizer

Keyword(s):

Factor Analysis ◽

Confirmatory Factor Analysis ◽

Cognitive Processing ◽

Latent Variables ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Latent Variable ◽

Model Fit ◽

Repeated Measures Data ◽

Confirmatory Factor ◽

And Performance

Probability-based and measurement-related hypotheses for confirmatory factor analysis of repeated-measures data are investigated. Such hypotheses comprise precise assumptions concerning the relationships among the true components associated with the levels of the design or the items of the measure. Measurement-related hypotheses concentrate on the assumed processes, as, for example, transformation and memory processes, and represent treatment-dependent differences in processing. In contrast, probability-based hypotheses provide the opportunity to consider probabilities as outcome predictions that summarize the effects of various influences. The prediction of performance guided by inexact cues serves as an example. In the empirical part of this paper probability-based and measurement-related hypotheses are applied to working-memory data. Latent variables according to both hypotheses contribute to a good model fit. The best model fit is achieved for the model including latent variables that represented serial cognitive processing and performance according to inexact cues in combination with a latent variable for subsidiary processes.

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Meta-Accuracy and Perceived Reciprocity From the Perception-Meta-Perception Social Relations Model

Social Psychology ◽

10.1027/1864-9335/a000356 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 50 (1) ◽

pp. 24-37

Author(s):

Ben Porter ◽

Camilla S. Øverup ◽

Julie A. Brunson ◽

Paras D. Mehta

Keyword(s):

Structural Equation Modeling ◽

Social Relations ◽

Latent Variables ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Multilevel Structural Equation Modeling ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Complete Understanding ◽

Social Relations Model ◽

Flexible Framework ◽

Multilevel Structural Equation

Abstract. Meta-accuracy and perceptions of reciprocity can be measured by covariances between latent variables in two social relations models examining perception and meta-perception. We propose a single unified model called the Perception-Meta-Perception Social Relations Model (PM-SRM). This model simultaneously estimates all possible parameters to provide a more complete understanding of the relationships between perception and meta-perception. We describe the components of the PM-SRM and present two pedagogical examples with code, openly available on https://osf.io/4ag5m . Using a new package in R (xxM), we estimated the model using multilevel structural equation modeling which provides an approachable and flexible framework for evaluating the PM-SRM. Further, we discuss possible expansions to the PM-SRM which can explore novel and exciting hypotheses.

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In a Working Mood?

Journal of Media Psychology Theories Methods and Applications ◽

10.1027/1864-1105.20.1.3 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

pp. 3-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Leonard Reinecke ◽

Sabine Trepte

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Task ◽

Prior Experience ◽

Computer Game ◽

Control Group ◽

Mood Management ◽

Management Processes ◽

Quasi Experimental ◽

Personal Media ◽

Experimental Group ◽

Subsequent Task

Abstract. This quasi-experimental study examined the effects of exposure to a computer game on arousal and subsequent task performance. After inducing a state of low arousal, participants were assigned to experimental or control conditions via self-selection. Members of the experimental group played a computer game for five minutes; subjects in the control group spent the same amount of time awaiting further instructions. Participants who were exposed to the computer game showed significantly higher levels of arousal and performed significantly better on a subsequent cognitive task. The pattern of results was not influenced by the participants' prior experience with the game. The findings indicate that mood-management processes associated with personal media use at the workplace go beyond the alteration of arousal and affect subsequent cognitive performance.

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