Testing the Validity of the Modified Vaccine Attitude Question Battery across 22 Languages with a Large-scale International Survey Dataset

In this study, we tested the validity of the modified version of the Vaccine Attitude Question Battery (VAQB) across 22 different languages. Validity test was conducted with a large-scale international survey dataset, COVIDiSTRESSII Global Survey, collected from 20,601 participants from 62 countries. We employed exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, measurement invariance test, and measurement alignment for internal validity test. Moreover, we examined correlation between the VAQB score, vaccination intent, compliance with preventive measures, and trust in public health-related agents. The results reported that the modified VAQB, which included five items, showed good validity across 22 languages with measurement alignment. Furthermore, the VAQB score showed negative association with vaccination intent, compliance, and trust as expected. The findings from this study provide additional evidence supporting the validity of the modified VAQB in 22 languages for future large-scale international research on COVID-19 and vaccination.

Validity Testing of the Conspiratorial Thinking and Anti-Expert Sentiment Scales Across 24 Languages from a Large-Scale Global Dataset

In this study, we tested the validity across two scales addressing conspiratorial beliefs that may influence behaviors related to public health, government, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The 4-item Conspiratorial Thinking Scale and 3-item Anti-Expert Sentiment Scale were validated across 24 languages and dialects using the COVIDiSTRESSII Global Survey dataset, with 12,261 participants who completed the survey in languages with greater than 100 participants per language. We employed confirmatory factor analysis, measurement invariance test, and measurement alignment for internal consistency testing. To test convergent validity of the two scales, we assessed correlations with trust in seven agents related to government, science, and public health. Although scalar invariance was not achieved when measurement invariance test was conducted initially, we found that both scales can be employed in further international studies with measurement alignment. Moreover, both conspiratorial and anti-expert beliefs were significantly and negatively correlated with trust in all agents. Findings from this study provide supporting evidence for the validity of both scales across 24 languages for future large-scale international research.

Invarianza multicultural y validación del índice de fortaleza mental en deportistas norteamericanos y mexicanos (Multicultural Invariance and Validation of the Mental Toughness Index in North American and Mexican Athletes)

La fortaleza mental (MT) es un tema ampliamente indagado y relacionado con profesiones, personalidades y la actividad deportiva. El trabajo del psicólogo del deporte es apoyar en el manejo de emociones, el afrontamiento a estresores y establecimiento de metas, haciendo uso de las características multiculturales de los deportistas. Se examinó la invariancia de MT entre atletas estadounidenses y mexicanos a través de la prueba de invarianza, mediante análisis factorial confirmatorio de grupos múltiples con modelos cada vez más restrictivos. El ajuste de los datos del modelo en ambas muestras fue satisfactorio (CFI mexicano = .988, RMSEA mexicano = .085; CFI US = .998, RMSEA US = .032). El modelo de invariancia escalar se seleccionó como el mejor ajuste (escalar CFI = .981, escalar RMSEA = .077). Los resultados implican que el significado del constructo es igual en ambas culturas y sus puntajes pueden compararse directamente. Abstract. Mental toughness (TM) is a widely investigated topic related to professions, personalities and sports activity. The work of the sports psychologist is to support the management of emotions, coping with factors and setting goals, making use of the multicultural characteristics of athletes. The invariance of TM was examined between American and Mexican athletes through the invariance test. It was performed by confirmatory factor analysis of multiple groups with increasingly restrictive models. The fit of the model data in both samples was very good (Mexican CFI = .988, Mexican RMSEA = .085; US CFI = .998, US RMSEA = .032). The scalar invariance model was selected as the best fit (CFI scalar = .981, RMSEA scalar = .077). The results imply that the meaning of the construct is the same in both cultures and its scores can be directly compared.

Construct validity and measurement invariance of the Asian Family Characteristics Scale in the Thai population

PurposeThe purpose of this paper was to establish the psychometric properties of the Asian Family Characteristics Scale (AFCS) in the Thai population.Design/methodology/approachThe 30-item AFCS originally developed in the Malay language was translated into Thai. Thai (n = 384) and Malay (n = 500) participants in Study 1 responded to the AFCS in their respective languages. The data were subjected to a confirmatory factor analysis with a measurement invariance test. In Study 2, Thai participants (n = 495) filled out the AFCS and Chulalongkorn Family Index, International Personality Item Pool-NEO, Self-Compassion Scale, Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Satisfaction with Life Scale.FindingsStudy 1 showed that the measurement model of the Thai AFCS fit the data from the Thai population. The measurement invariance test confirmed that the structure and meaning of the AFCS are equivalent across the Thai and Malay samples. Study 2 demonstrated the AFCS's convergent validity by showing that the AFCS score had a positive correlation with the Chulalongkorn Family Inventory, self-compassion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, satisfaction with life and a negative correlation with neuroticism, depression, anxiety and stress. The AFCS's discriminant validity was supported by nonsignificant correlations with extraversion and openness to experience.Originality/valueThis paper is an attempt to develop a family characteristic measure specifically for the Asian population. The results provide empirical evidence for measurement invariance and validity of the scale in another Asian language, enhancing its cross-cultural generalizability.

Tableau-based translation from first-order logic to modal logic

We define a procedure for translating a given first-order formula to an equivalent modal formula, if one exists, by using tableau-based bisimulation invariance test. A previously developed tableau procedure tests bisimulation invariance of a given first-order formula, and therefore tests whether that formula is equivalent to the standard translation of some modal formula. Using a closed tableau as the starting point, we show how an equivalent modal formula can be effectively obtained.

VOLATILITY TRANSMISSION BETWEEN US ECONOMIC POLICY UNCERTAINTY AND BIST (BORSA ISTANBUL) MAJOR SECTOR INDICES

The significant effects of global economic policy uncertainties on world markets have been revealed in the related literature recently. The primary purpose of this study is to examine the volatility interaction (the causality in variance relationship) between uncertainty in US economic policies and BIST (Borsa Istanbul) major sector indices (financial, industrial, and technology indices). To satisfy this purpose, the causality in variance approach proposed by Hafner and Herwartz (2006) is utilized. The findings of the implemented volatility model show that the US economic policy uncertainty and BIST (Borsa Istanbul) major sector indices are strongly influenced by long-term volatility. According to the main findings of the causality invariance test, it is observed that there are significant and robust volatility transmissions from the US economic policy uncertainty to the BIST significant sector returns (financial, industrial, and technology sector returns). The test findings indicate that the BIST significant sector returns are quite sensitive to shocks in the US economic policy uncertainty. The results of the analysis present considerable implications for market participants in terms of developing effective economic policies and constructing optimal portfolios.

The Association between Body Mass Index and Physical Fitness of Normal Weight/Overweight/Obese University Students

This study aimed to apply longitudinal data (in four waves) to examine relationships between body mass index (BMI), flexibility, muscular endurance, and explosive power, and employed a random-intercept panel model (RIPM) to divide the variations of different waves into between- and within-person variations. Furthermore, a multi-group model test was conducted to explore whether an interaction effect existed between sex and these relationships. The data were collected from a university in Taiwan between August 2009 and July 2010, and 3863 freshman and junior students were recruited. Results showed that the between- and within-person relationships between BMI and explosive power, and between BMI and muscular endurance, were negative (independent of sex). The negative between- and within-person associations between BMI and muscular endurance were both invariant with respect to sex. The negative between-person associations between BMI and explosive power were not equivalent for both sexes, yet the within-person associations between BMI and explosive power were equivalent for both sexes. The between-person associations between BMI and flexibility were positive for both sexes, but the within-person associations of these two variables were negative for both sexes. The invariance test confirmed that the positive associations of between-person BMI and between-person flexibility were invariant for both sexes, yet the negative associations of within-person BMI and within-person flexibility were not equivalent for both sexes. Between-and within-person correlations among explosive power, muscular endurance, and flexibility were significantly positive. Only the auto-regressions of BMI and muscular endurance were significant and equivalent for both sexes.

Structural Validity and Reliability of The Urdu Translated Version of IPIP - NEO - 300 Web - Based Inventory

The NEO-IPIP-300 is a 300-item version scale of freely available personality tests based on the OCEAN Model of 30 distinctive personality traits. The scale measures human personality preferences and groups them into five distinct factors, namely Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. The scale has been translated into many languages before, but there was no translation and norms available for the Urdu language.Paper reports the translation, creation of web version, data collection (N=869), and reliability of Urdu version of NEO-IPIP-300. We also did a CFA Analysis and Measurement Invariance test as part of the paper. Full measurement invariance was met for the full model, and partial measurement invariance was met for neuroticism (metric and scalar) and extraversion (metric). In general, all models fit well and suggest that the Urdu IPIP-300-NEO aligns well with the English IPIP-300-NEO. In some cases, the Urdu inventory performed better (e.g., higher internal consistency) than the English inventory.

Urdu NEO IPIP 300 Data

The IPIP-NEO-300 is a 300-item, freely available personality inventory based on the OCEAN Model of 30 distinctive personality traits. The inventory measures human personality preferences and groups them into five distinct factors, namely Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. The inventory has been translated into many languages before, but there was no translation and norms available for the Urdu language.This article reports the translation, creation of a web version, data collection (N=869), and reliability of an Urdu version of IPIP-NEO-300. We also conducted a CFA Analysis and Measurement Invariance test. Full measurement invariance was met for the full model, and partial measurement invariance was met for Neuroticism (metric and scalar) and extraversion (metric). In general, all models fit well and suggest that the Urdu IPIP-NEO-300 aligns well with the English IPIP-NEO-300. In some cases, the Urdu inventory performed better (e.g., higher internal consistency) than the English inventory.