Psycho-lexically based Openness to Experience

We investigated whether NEO-PI-R Openness to Experience (Costa & McCrae, 1992) and its six facets could be identified in the natural trait lexicon. To represent the NEO-PI-R Openness, a list of 113 items was selected from a lexically derived trait list developed for the eight-factor trait model of De Raad and Barelds (2008). We used ratings from two samples. The first (N=271) filled out the lexical Openness scales, the NEO-PI-R Openness scales, and scales measuring the eight-factor model. From the second sample (N=1,466), ratings were used to analyze the lexical Openness scales. Correlations between the eight-factor scales and the two sets of Openness scales indicated that Openness scales are fairly covered by the eight factors, except for the Ideas and Values facets of the NEO-PI-R. The lexical Openness scales correlated well with the NEO-PI-R Openness scales. Openness to Experience and its six facets were identified in the natural trait lexicon, but exploratory factor analyses did not support the six-facet structure of the NEO-PI-R Openness, neither did they lead to a similar six-facet structure across samples. Moreover, it did not consistently support a proposed two-facet structure emphasizing internal openness (fantasy, aesthetics) and external openness (ideas, change).

Assessing Resilience in Older Adulthood: Development and Validation of the Resilience Scale for Older Adults

This study presents on the initial development and validation of the Resilience Scale for Older Adults (RSOA). This new measure is based on a theoretical model of resilience grounded in qualitative research conducted with older adults. The scale consists of four resilience protective factors with 11 underlying facets. The Intrapersonal factor consists of Perseverance and Determination, Self-Efficacy and Independence, Purpose and Meaning, and Positive Perspective. The Interpersonal factor consists of Sense of Community, Family Support, and Friend/Neighbour Support. The Spiritual factor consists of Faith and Prayer, and the Experiential factor consists of Previous Adversity and Proactivity. The findings of three independent studies using older adult samples support the four-factor, 11-facet structure of the RSOA. Results also provide promising initial reliability and validity information, and analysis of gender invariance suggests that the factor structure is comparable across men and women. Implications for the applicability of the RSOA in research and clinical settings are discussed.

A Network Analysis of the Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ)

Objectives The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) is a popular self-report instrument for mindfulness assessment. However, several studies report mixed evidence regarding its reliability and validity. While recent replication studies have shown several issues regarding its latent structure, first-order facets seemed to replicate successfully. This study proposes an exploratory approach to these facets on an item level in one sample, with cross-validation in another sample. Methods Using a snowball sampling, 1008 participants were recruited in the first sample. Psychometric networks were applied to explore relations between items and item clusters. We compared these exploratory latent variable proposals with previous literature. A second sample of 1210 participants was collected from an FFMQ validation study, and confirmatory factor analyses were applied to cross-validate findings on the first sample. Results The FFMQ showed a positively correlated network. Exploratory analyses suggested the 5-facet structure as stable with alternatives of 4-facet (merging Observe and Non-Judging) and 6-facet (splitting Acting with Awareness in two) solutions. However, the CFAs in the second sample did not provide clear support to any solution. Conclusions The FFMQ showed unclear evidence on its latent structure. We propose researchers and users of the FFMQ to use the most fitting solution between the 5 and 6-facet solutions in their data, since the 4-facet solution is difficult to interpret. We also propose cautionary notes and guidelines for researchers and applied users of the FFMQ and regarding this instrument. We conclude that more research is needed in mindfulness assessment to provide robust measurements.

Migrating a complex classification scheme to the semantic web: expressing the Integrative Levels Classification using SKOS RDF

PurposeThe Integrative Levels Classification (ILC) is a comprehensive “freely faceted” knowledge organization system not previously expressed as SKOS (Simple Knowledge Organization System). This paper reports and reflects on work converting the ILC to SKOS representation.Design/methodology/approachThe design of the ILC representation and the various steps in the conversion to SKOS are described and located within the context of previous work considering the representation of complex classification schemes in SKOS. Various issues and trade-offs emerging from the conversion are discussed. The conversion implementation employed the STELETO transformation tool.FindingsThe ILC conversion captures some of the ILC facet structure by a limited extension beyond the SKOS standard. SPARQL examples illustrate how this extension could be used to create faceted, compound descriptors when indexing or cataloguing. Basic query patterns are provided that might underpin search systems. Possible routes for reducing complexity are discussed.Originality/valueComplex classification schemes, such as the ILC, have features which are not straight forward to represent in SKOS and which extend beyond the functionality of the SKOS standard. The ILC's facet indicators are modelled as rdf:Property sub-hierarchies that accompany the SKOS RDF statements. The ILC's top-level fundamental facet relationships are modelled by extensions of the associative relationship – specialised sub-properties of skos:related. An approach for representing faceted compound descriptions in ILC and other faceted classification schemes is proposed.

Optimization of the facet structure of cobalt oxide catalysts for enhanced hydrogen evolution reaction

The three different exposed crystal planes of Co3O4 catalysts, in which the {112} and {011} planes with abundant Co3+ sites exhibited photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity superior to that of the {001} plane.