Ultrashort Version of the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES-3): A Psychometric Assessment

The objective was to determine the validity of the UWES-3, an ultrashort measure of work engagement lacking evidence in Hispanic populations. In total, 200 workers with heterogeneous positions and careers from Metropolitan Lima were enrolled via nonprobabilistic sampling. The UWES-3 and measures of external variables (work accidents, stress overload, and others) were used. Data were collected through a web platform. Items were analysed, nonparametric response theory methods (Mokken scale analysis and Ramsay curves) were applied to the items, and ordinal and linear regression were used to determine the relationships with external variables. The items had statistically similar distributional properties and monotonic associations with external variables but with fewer functional response options. The UWES-3 complied with the monotonic homogeneity model and invariant ordering of items; the scaling of the items, score (greater than 0.80), and reliability (0.94) were high. With the effects of age and sex controlled, the UWES-3 significantly predicted minor accidents at work and job satisfaction and revealed effects of stress overload and perceived efficacy. The theoretical implications of the UWES-3 as a brief unidimensional measure integrating the three original dimensions of the instrument and the practical implications of its use for research and professional practice are discussed.

The Optimism–Pessimism Short Scale–2 (SOP2): a comprehensive validation of the English-language adaptation

The Optimism–Pessimism Short Scale–2 (SOP2) described in this article measures the psychological disposition of optimism with two items. SOP2 is the English-language adaptation of an originally for the German language developed scale. Because an empirical validation of this English-language SOP2 was hitherto lacking, the aim of the present study was to assess the psychometric properties (objectivity, reliability, validity) of the English-language adaptation and to investigate measurement invariance across both language versions using heterogeneous quota samples from the UK and Germany. Our results show that the English-language adaptation has satisfactory reliability coefficients and is correlated with 10 external variables in the study (e.g., self-esteem, Emotional Stability, life satisfaction). Moreover, scalar measurement invariance of the scale holds when comparing the UK and Germany, implying the comparability of latent (co)variances and latent means across the two nations. As an ultra-short scale with a completion time of < 20 s, SOP2 lends itself particularly to the assessment of dispositional optimism in survey contexts in which assessment time or questionnaire space are limited. It can be applied in a variety of research disciplines, such as psychology, sociology, or economics.

Preliminary Steps Toward Extracting the Specific Alternative Model for Personality Disorders Diagnoses From Criteria A and B Self-Reports

The Alternative DSM-5 Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD) retains six specific personality disorders (PDs) that can be diagnosed based on Criterion A level of impairment and Criterion B maladaptive facets. Those specific diagnoses are still underresearched, despite the preference expressed by most PD scholars for a mixed/hybrid classification. This study explores the possibility of using Criterion A and B self-report questionnaires to extract the specific AMPD diagnoses. Plausible prevalence estimates were found in three samples (outpatient PD, private practice, community; N = 766) using the facet score > 2 and t score > 65 methods for determining the presence of a Criterion B facet; diagnoses had meaningful correlations with external variables. This study provides evidence—albeit preliminary—that the extraction of the specific AMPD PDs from self-report questionnaires might be a viable avenue. Ultimately, it could promote the use and dissemination of those diagnoses for screening purposes in clinical and research settings.

The predictors of exam performance of Kazakh university students and secondary school pupils learning Turkish

The present study investigates the effect of sociobiographical, emotional, attitudinal characteristics and teacher perceptions of 275 Kazakh secondary school pupils and 317 university students on their exam performance in Turkish as a foreign language (FL). Multiple regression analyses reveal that exam results in Turkish of secondary school pupils are predicted by teacher gender, participant’s age, attitude towards the FL and FL Classroom Anxiety. A very different picture emerges for university students, where FL level, participant’s gender, FL Enjoyment, FL Classroom Anxiety and teacher’s age explain more than twice as much variance. FL exam scores for both groups are thus underpinned by different sets of complex interactions between multiple learner-internal and learner-external variables and the effect of emotions is much stronger among university learners.

Evaluating the Technology Acceptance of Home-based Cardiac Telerehabilitation Programmes in patients with Coronary Heart Disease: A Systematic Scoping Review (Preprint)

BACKGROUND An understanding of the technology acceptance of home-based cardiac telerehabilitation (HBCTR) programmes is paramount if they are to be designed and delivered to target the needs and preferences of coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. However, the current state of technology acceptance of HBCTR has not been systematically evaluated in the literature. OBJECTIVE This scoping review aimed to provide a comprehensive summary of HBCTR technology acceptance in terms of (a) the timing and approaches used and (b) patients’ perspectives on its usability, utility, acceptability, acceptance, and external variables. METHODS We searched PubMed, CENTRAL, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Scopus from inception till July 2021 for English language publications that reported empirical evidence on the technology acceptance of phase 2 HBCTR in patients with CHD. Content analysis was undertaken. RESULTS The search identified 1798 studies, of which 18 studies met eligibility criteria and reported 14 unique HBCTR programmes. Majority of included programmes evaluated technology acceptance at the intra- and post-trial stages using questionnaires (n = 10) and captured usage data (n = 11). Qualitative interviews were the least used approach (n = 3). Usability, utility, acceptability, and acceptance were generally favoured. External variables influencing HBCTR usage included component quality, system quality, facilitating conditions and intrinsic factors. CONCLUSIONS HBCTR usability, utility, acceptability, and acceptance were high. Yet, a number of external variables influenced technology acceptance of HBCTR programmes. Findings from this review can be used to provide guidance for stakeholders and clinicians in developing and evaluating patient-centered HBCTR programmes. CLINICALTRIAL NA

Container Volume Prediction Using Time-Series Decomposition with a Long Short-Term Memory Models

The purpose of this study is to improve the prediction of container volumes in Busan ports by applying external variables and time-series data decomposition methods to deep learning prediction models. Previous studies on container volume forecasting were based on traditional statistical methodologies, such as ARIMA, SARIMA, and regression. However, these methods do not explain the complexity and variability of data caused by changes in the external environment, such as the global financial crisis and economic fluctuations. Deep learning can explore the inherent patterns of data and analyze the characteristics (time series, external environmental variables, and outliers); hence, the accuracy of deep learning-based volume prediction models is better than that of traditional models. However, this does not include the study of overall trends (upward, steady, or downward). In this study, a novel deep learning prediction model is proposed that combines prediction and trend identification of container volume. The proposed model explores external variables that are related to container volume, combining port volume time-series decomposition with external variables and deep learning-based multivariate long short-term memory (LSTM) prediction. The results indicate that the proposed model performs better than the traditional LSTM model and follows the trend simultaneously.

PENERAPAN PERMAINAN “ SMART EGG PUZZLE ” DALAM MENINGKATKAN PERILAKU PROSOSIAL ANAK USIA DINI

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the application of the smart egg puzzle game on the social behavior of early childhood. This research was conducted in TK intan Berlian Lamongan with a total sample of 35 children. This study uses a quantitative approach. The research design in this study uses a quasi-experimental research design, where this design has a control group but does not fully function to control external variables that affect the implementation of the experiment. In this study, a nonequivalent control group design was used, where the experimental group and the control group were not chosen randomly. The indicators of this research are being cooperative, expressing emotions according to existing conditions and sharing with others. The results showed that the smart egg puzzle game had a significant effect on understanding the concept of geometry and social behavior in children aged 5-6 years at Intan Berlian Kindergarten. The t-test proves that the value of sig. Levene's Test for Equality of Variances is 0.221, greater than 0.05, it means that H0 is rejected and Ha is accepted. Thus it can be concluded that there is a significant difference between the experimental group and the control group

Validity of Zulliger-SC in the Cognitive Assessment of Elderly and Long-Lived Adults

This study sought evidence of validity of the Zulliger method to evaluate cognitive processes in elderly and long-lived adults and to verify the relationship between cognition and external variables. Participated 142 subjects, aged between 18 and 96 years old. The Zulliger Comprehensive System (ZSC), Mini-Mental State Examination and sociodemographic protocols were used as of data collection. The older and long-lived adults presented a significant decrease in mediation (X-%, XA%, P) and abstract reasoning (M) when compared to young and middle-aged adults. Education and socioeconomic status (SES) demonstrated significant and positive correlations with cognitive processes (R, ZF, W, M, DQ+ and Intellectualization). The findings are fundamental to psychological practice and to directing measures for cognitive preservation in human aging.