Development and Initial Validation of the Early Elementary Writing Rubric to Inform Instruction for Kindergarten and First-Grade Students

This article describes the development of the Early Elementary Writing Rubric ( EEWR), an analytic assessment designed to measure kindergarten and first-grade writing and inform educators’ instruction. Crocker and Algina’s (1986) approach to instrument development and validation was used as a guide to create and refine the writing measure. Study 1 describes the development of the 10-item measure (response scale ranges from 0 = Beginning of Kindergarten to 5 = End of First Grade). Educators participated in focus groups, expert panel review, cognitive interviews, and pretesting as part of the instrument development process. Study 2 evaluates measurement quality in terms of score reliability and validity. Data from writing samples produced by 634 students in kindergarten and first-grade classrooms were collected during pilot testing. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted to evaluate the psychometric properties of the EEWR. A one-factor model fit the data for all writing genres and all scoring elements were retained with loadings ranging from 0.49 to 0.92. Internal consistency reliability was high and ranged from .89 to .91. Interrater reliability between the researcher and participants varied from poor to good and means ranged from 52% to 72%. First-grade students received higher scores than kindergartners on all 10 scoring elements. The EEWR holds promise as an acceptable, useful, and psychometrically sound measure of early writing. Further iterative development is needed to fully investigate its ability to accurately identify the present level of student performance and to determine sensitivity to developmental and instruction gains.

Exploratory Factor Analysis for SME Entrepreneur Subjective Norm Instrument towards e-Commerce Acceptance during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic that has hit the world since the end of 2019 has resulted in the contraction of the country’s SMEs economic activities. To maintain business continuity, SME entrepreneurs have been advised to apply e-Commerce in their business routine. Throughout the crisis, subjective norms are seen as a dominant element in determining the implementation of SME entrepreneurial behaviour to accept new changes. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the factors that influence the subjective norms of SME entrepreneurs to accept e-Commerce. Despite this necessity, the delineation of the subjective norms constructed is still not comprehensive as there are limitations in terms of instrument development and the number of items to measure social influence. Hence, this study was conducted to explore item suitability, analyse the degree of validity and reliability as well as to validate the instrument for SMEs' subjective norms toward e-Commerce acceptance behaviour. A total of 159 SME entrepreneurs around Nilai and Seremban, Negeri Sembilan were selected as the respondents through random sampling technique. The results from Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) revealed two component factors of subjective norms which are Interpersonal Influence and External Influence explaining 81.981 percent of the total variance as conceptualised through this instrument. Meanwhile, the reliability index was above 0.9. Based on each analysis performed, it can be concluded that the instrument developed was very satisfactory and relevant in assessing SME entrepreneur subjective norms in accepting e-Commerce. Keywords: Subjective norms, exploratory factor analysis, e-Commerce, COVID-19, SME entrepreneurs.

Development of Self-Control Instruments for Aggressive Behaviorin the Class Xi Vocational School of Diponegoro Majenang

Verbal aggressive behavior is exhibited in individuals due to low self-control. This study aimed to develop instruments for aggressive behavior in students, to help improve the students’ self-control. The instrument development method was used. The data were collected through a questionnaire tested on 30 students of class XI SMK Diponegoro Majenang, chosen by random sampling. The Aiken formula with valid conditions > 0.73 was used for evaluating the validity. The KMO test results of 0.728 > 0.50 meant that the instrument could be considered valid as a measuring instrument. The reliability test was carried out with the Alpha Cronbach formula and a result of 0.853 > 0.60 was obtained. This meant that the self-control scale could be considered reliable to measure the level of control in students exhibiting aggressive behavior Keywords: development; instrument; self-control; aggressive behavior

Questionnaire for Children with Autism Syndrome Disorder

Children with autism syndrome disorder (ASD) have developmental like normal children in general. However, in Indonesia there is no instrument to measure of achievement the development of children with autism syndrome disorder. The purpose of this research resulted in a questionnaire used to measure institutional and family support, parental stimulation abilities, and the ability of children with autism syndrome disorder. The design used exploratory for developing of instruments. Experts involved in the development of instruments are psychologists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, paediatricians, autistic child behavioral therapy practitioners, and the institution of Autism Center of Blitar City. Instrument development begins with focus group discussion, instrument preparation, instrument trials, and analysis. The questionnaire trial was conducted on 40 parents and children with ASD at the Autism Center of Blitar City. The analysis was conducted namely the validity of the content and construct by experts, while the test of validity and reliability of the questionnaire used Lisrel 8.50. Valid and reliable questionnaires items on the institutional and family support as many as 21 questions, parents' ability to stimulate as many as 17 questions, and the ability of children with autism syndrome disorder as many as 17 questions. The resulting questionnaire has a minimum GFI score of 0.75 and a CR of 0.78, so that the questionnaire can be used as a instrument on autism services.

Person-Centered Assessment: Evaluating Positive Psychosocial Measures in Dementia Research

Person-centered principles continue to redefine the nature of dementia care, but less attention has been given to integration of person-centered principles into clinical assessment and dementia research. As a result, identification of deficits and cognitive impairment tends to dominate clinical and research efforts, whereas strengths and positive characteristics need more research. This paper examines existing positive psychosocial measures of psychological wellbeing, hope, spirituality, resilience, social relationship, dignity, and at-homeness. Many of these measures demonstrate strong psychometric properties and have been identified as promising outcome measures for strengths-based studies and approaches to care. This paper will evaluate the extent to which these measures used a person-centered approach to item development and testing, and whether item content is consistent with person-centered principles. Future directions for instrument development require greater inclusion of people living with dementia and family caregivers.

In-hand manipulation assessment instruments for children: A scoping review

Aim Accurate assessment of in-hand manipulation is imperative when treating children with fine motor delays. A clinically suitable instrument for in-hand manipulation is required to inform the paediatric developmental and rehabilitation context. Critical evaluation of the available instrument is required to make an informed decision and direct future research. The aim of the study was to assess the available literature with a view to writing a scoping review on in-hand manipulation assessment instruments for children. Methods The Arskey and O'Malley six-stage scoping review was applied. Fifteen databases were sourced for articles published between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 2020. After identifying 33 eligible articles that met the inclusion criteria, the data obtained from the articles were charted. Results Eleven in-hand manipulation assessment instruments were identified and summarised according to (i) the constructs of in-hand manipulation included; (ii) clinical utility aspects of applicability and practicality and (iii) psychometric properties. Conclusion At the time of the review, none of the instruments had comprehensively completed the instrument development process to the point of standardisation with evaluated psychometric properties. Further research is recommended for the development of a gold standard in-hand manipulation assessment instrument.

A Exploratory Factor Analysis, Validation and Reliability of the ‘Perceived Socio-Economic Sustainability’ Scale: An Entrepreneurship and Economic Corridors Perspective

This research aimed to develop & test the scale for perceived socioeconomic sustainability (PSES). Data was collected from 425 experienced industrial entrepreneurs by survey method of data collection. Findings suggested that the statistically tested form of the PSES scale has consisted of 11-items under single factor. Further, this study displays statistical process by using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) technique to ensure validity and reliability as testimony for the instrument-development. The scale for PSES, developed by this study, will be helpful for scholars for measurement of ‘perception’ of different stakeholders of entrepreneurial ecosystem like financial institutions, media, Government, and service industry etc.