Measuring people – variables, samples and the qualitative critique Variables; Psychological constructs; Operational definitions of psychological constructs; Reliability and validity; Samples; Probability- and non-probability-based sampling methods; Sample size; Introducing the quantitative/qualitative debate; Relative values of quantitative and qualitative studies

2021 ◽  
Vol 156 ◽  
pp. 104535
Author(s):  
Toby R. Petrice ◽  
Leah S. Bauer ◽  
Deborah L. Miller ◽  
John S. Stanovick ◽  
Therese M. Poland ◽  
...  

Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 437
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari ◽  
Shanika Boyce ◽  
Mohsen Bazargan

Intersectional research on childhood suicidality requires studies with a reliable and valid measure of suicidality, as well as a large sample size that shows some variability of suicidality across sex by race intersectional groups. Objectives: We aimed to investigate the feasibility of intersectionality research on childhood suicidality in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. We specifically explored the reliability and validity of the measure, sample size, and variability of suicidality across sex by race intersectional groups. Methods: We used cross-sectional data (wave 1) from the ABCD study, which sampled 9013 non-Hispanic white (NHW) or non-Hispanic black (NHB) children between the ages of 9 and 10 between years 2016 and 2018. Four intersectional groups were built based on race and sex: NHW males (n = 3554), NHW females (n = 3158), NHB males (n = 1164), and NHB females (n = 1137). Outcome measure was the count of suicidality symptoms, reflecting all positive history and symptoms of suicidal ideas, plans, and attempts. To validate our measure, we tested the correlation between our suicidality measure and depression and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) sub-scores. Cronbach alpha was calculated for reliability across each intersectional group. We also compared groups for suicidality. Results: We observed some suicidality history in observed 3.2% (n = 101) of NHW females, 4.9% (n = 175) of NHW males, 5.4% (n = 61) of NHB females, and 5.8% (n = 68) of NHB males. Our measure’s reliability was acceptable in all race by sex groups (Cronbach alpha higher than .70+ in all intersectional groups). Our measure was valid in all intersectional groups, documented by a positive correlation with depression and CBCL sub-scores. We could successfully model suicidality across sex by race groups, using multivariable models. Conclusion: Given the high sample size, reliability, and validity of the suicidality measure, variability of suicidality, it is feasible to investigate correlates of suicidality across race by sex intersections in the ABCD study. We also found evidence of higher suicidality in NHB than NHW children in the ABCD study. The ABCD rich data in domains of social context, self-report, schools, parenting, psychopathology, personality, and brain imaging provides a unique opportunity to study intersectional differences in neural circuits associated with youth suicidality.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 205630511877283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hwalbin Kim ◽  
S. Mo Jang ◽  
Sei-Hill Kim ◽  
Anan Wan

Despite the existing evaluation of the sampling options for periodical media content, only a few empirical studies have examined whether probability sampling methods can be applicable to social media content other than simple random sampling. This article tests the efficiency of simple random sampling and constructed week sampling, by varying the sample size of Twitter content related to the 2014 South Carolina gubernatorial election. We examine how many weeks were needed to adequately represent 5 months of tweets. Our findings show that a simple random sampling is more efficient than a constructed week sampling in terms of obtaining a more efficient and representative sample of Twitter data. This study also suggests that it is necessary to produce a sufficient sample size when analyzing social media content.


1996 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 191-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles L. Mulford ◽  
Motoko Y. Lee

Scales were developed to measure the tendencies to blame AIDS victims or the society in which victims live. Data from a sample of 874 students were used to examine the construct validity and reliability of the scales. The list-wise deletion reduced the sample size to the usable sample size of 824. The data showed satisfactory validity and reliability of the scales so they may be used to study attitudes toward those who are suffering from AIDS and related problems.


2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 373-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Marancik ◽  
Jason Collins ◽  
Josephine Afema ◽  
Christian Lawrence

Examining zebrafish populations for the presence of disease is an integral component of managing fish health in research facilities. Currently, many different strategies are used for zebrafish fish health inspections, which is a scenario that may result in subjective and biased diagnostic evaluations. The goal of this study was to compare the success of pathogen detection between a sample size of randomly selected fish ( n = 60) that provides 95% confidence in pathogen detection based on a presumed pathogen prevalence level ≥5%, and other subpopulations and sample numbers commonly submitted for diagnostic testing within a 1000 tank, 30,000 fish, recirculating research system. This included fish collected from a sump tank ( n = 53), sentinel fish ( n = 11), and fish that were found moribund or freshly dead ( n = 18). Additionally, five fish from each subpopulation were collected for histopathologic examination. A second study used retrospective data to examine pathogen distribution between systems ( n = 2−5) in multi-system facilities ( n = 5) using a sample size of 60 fish per system. For the pathogens detected, results supported the use of representative sample numbers rather than smaller numbers of populations considered more at risk. The exception to this is for the moribund/mortality group, which may be a resource for targeted surveillance of select pathogens. Each system within multi-system facilities should be considered separate units in terms of fish health inspections and biosecurity. Development of these evidence-based standards for fish health inspections in zebrafish systems enhances fish welfare, provides identification of potentially zoonotic pathogens, and ensures scientific integrity and reproducibility of research results.


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (17) ◽  
pp. 165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamoyo, J.M

This study examined the effects of imprisonment on self-esteem among female inmates in selected prisons in Kenya. Descriptive survey design was adapted by this study. A total of 295 respondents formed the survey sample, comprising of 291 female inmates’ and four (4) prison staff. Simple random sampling and purposive sampling methods were used to select the respondents. The study utilized questionnaires, interview schedules and an observation guide as instruments for data collection. Piloting was conducted in one selected prison to enable the researcher to improve on the reliability and validity of the instruments. Reliability of the instruments was estimated using Cronbach alpha coefficient. The instruments yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.857 which was considered appropriate for the study. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. The study found that there was significant relationship between imprisonment and inmate’s self-esteem. The study established that most women in prison had low to moderate self esteem such that inmates felt more worthless compared to other people ever since they were imprisoned. The study recommended the need to for prisons come up with rehabilitative programmes employing self esteem strategy to improve on inmates self esteem.


PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Juneau ◽  
Nicolas Pellerin ◽  
Elliott Trives ◽  
Matthieu Ricard ◽  
Rébecca Shankland ◽  
...  

Background Many studies have revealed the positive impact of mindfulness training on mental health and proposed equanimity as a general outcome in contemplative research. Despite recent interest, relatively few studies have empirically examined equanimity and measurement instruments are still lacking. The main goal of this study was to develop an Equanimity Scale (the EQUA-S) in a Western population with or without meditation experience, based on previous definitions of equanimity, in order to investigate its relations with the relevant psychological constructs and health outcomes. Methods Adults from the general population (N = 265; Mage = 34.81) completed various measures: the EQUA-S, mindfulness, hyper-sensitivity, avoidance and fusion, impulsivity, personality, alexithymia, sensitivity to punishment and reward and frequency of problematic addictive behaviors. The dimensionality of the EQUA-S was examined using Factor Analyses. The convergent validity of this new scale was investigated using Pearson’s Correlations. Results The results of a factor analysis revealed two dimensions of equanimity: an even-minded state of mind (E-MSM) and a hedonic independence (HI) component. While the E-MSM was positively related to emotional stability, adaptive emotional regulation and several mindfulness-related abilities, HI was found to correlate negatively with addictive issues. Discussion The relations with personality constructs and possible related cognitive processes are discussed.


1971 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. H. Westigard ◽  
L. D. Calvin

AbstractStudies were conducted in southern Oregon pear orchards to develop sampling methods for assessment of mite abundance. Those species included in the investigation were the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch; European red mite, Panonychus ulmi (Koch); yellow spider mite, Eotetranychus carpini borealis (Ewing); and the predaceous phytoseiid Typhlodromus occidentalis Nesbitt.The results show that five leaves on one limb per tree are adequate to include representative numbers of the four mite species. Variation in mite densities between trees, even of the same variety, was quite high. The sample size (numbers of trees) required for assessing mite density can be calculated provided that an estimate of the coefficient of variation (S/X) is available.


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