Validity of a brief workaholism scale

Resumen tomado de la publicaci??n

Psychometric properties of the School Fears Survey Scale for preadolescents (SFSS-II)

Resumen tomado de la publicaci??n

Modelling the Human Values Scale from Consumers Transactional Data Bases

The main objective of this paper aims at developing a methodology that takes into account the human factor extracted from the data base used by the recommender systems, and which allow to resolve the specific problems of prediction and recommendation. In this work, we propose to extract the user's human values scale from the data base of the users, to improve their suitability in open environments, such as the recommender systems. For this purpose, the methodology is applied with the data of the user after interacting with the system. The methodology is exemplified with a case study

Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale in women

Resumen tomado de la publicaci??n

Escala NEDOCS para medir congestión en urgencias: estudio de validación en Colombia

Introducción: En Colombia, no existe una herramienta para cuantificar el grado de congestión de los servicios de urgencias que sea aplicable a su realidad. Por esta razón, este trabajo busca determinar si la escala NEDOCS es una herramienta válida para medir el grado de congestión en este medio. Métodos: Se calculó la escala durante un período de tres semanas, durante 6 veces en el día a la misma hora en las tres instituciones. Para la validación, se comparó la escala NEDOCS contra dos escalas tipo Likert de 6 preguntas. Además, se describió el porcentaje de la demanda no atendida y del número de quejas. Resultados: Para la escala, la variabilidad se explica en 88 %. Por otro lado, la correlación entre la severidad en la congestión de los últimos 3 ítems de la escala con las opiniones subjetivas fue directa y significativa (r = 1,000., p < 0.000). Se obtuvo una correspondencia significativa con las siguientes variables: a) disponibilidad de camas (r = 0.7, p < 0.001); b) promedio de tiempo de espera, (r = 0,56, p < 0.021). Discusión: Dado que no existe gold standard, las mediciones de la escala en comparación con las opiniones del personal arrojan que la escala NEDOCS aplicada en los servicios de urgencias colombianos es útil para medir congestión. Se observó como fenómeno especial que el personal se encuentra acostumbrado a “vivir con la congestión”, por lo cual el personal considera como congestión del servicio los momentos de alto stress laboral.

Large Scale Structure of Metric Spaces

How the mathematical concept of Coarse Geometries is useful to analysing the Web

pain scale

pain scale

Normalization procedure for the Baptista Depression Scale - Adult Version (EBADEP-A): transferring of norms

Regarding the standardization of psychological assessment instruments, that is, the construction of referential interpretations of a test, we can find different procedures performed both by Classical Test Theory (CTT) and the Theory of Item Response (IRT). Especially in this case (IRT), we can admit one test as a default, so to use its standardization and transfer the cut-off point to another instrument. Based on this information, the present study aimed to provide a cutoff score for the Baptista Depression Scale - Adult Version (EBADEP-A) through procedures of norms-transfer based on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies – Depression Scale (CES-D). The EBADEP-A presented good distribution and ability to discriminate depressive symptoms, and the sample, consisting of Brazilian College students, received a cutoff score of 32 points. It is emphasized that this is an exploratory and preliminary study, and it is suggested further analyzes to be performed with clinical samples for which results can be corroborated or confronted.

Tempus Post Mortem?* Adaptação portuguesa da transcendental-future time perspective scale (TFTPS)

Integrado no conceito mais geral da perspetiva temporal, o futuro transcendental tem sido conceptualizado como uma dimensão que abrange as crenças sobre o futuro a partir da morte imaginada do corpo físico até ao infinito. A transcendental-future time perspective scale (TFTPS) é uma escala unidimensional composta por 10 itens que avalia as cognições relacionadas com este espaço temporal. O objetivo deste estudo é apresentar a adaptação à língua e cultura portuguesa desta escala, assim como a sua estrutura fatorial e características psicométricas numa amostra de 346 participantes com idades compreendidas entre os 17 e os 54 anos (M = 19.87, DP = 4.27). Os resultados encontrados através da análise fatorial exploratória validaram a unidimensionalidade da escala (65.94 % de variância total explicada, α = 0.87).

Psychometric Properties of the Inventário Dimensional Clínico da Personalidade (IDCP) using the Rating Scale Model

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the Dimensional Clinical Personality Inventory (DCPI) using Rasch-based person and item analysis. 1281 participants were recruited, between 18 and 90 years of age (M=26.64; SD=8.94), 431 men (33.6%) and 127 (9.9%) patients diagnosed with axis I disorders and/or axis II according to DSM-IV-TR. Results indicated the IDCP scales performed reasonably well, and the usefulness of the analyses presented, demonstrate the Rasch model’s applicability for clinical applications. Among the important tools offered by the Rasch model, we explore the use of the person-item map, which visually presents the intuitively understandable psychological construct along the dimensional scale of the instrument.

Psychometric properties of the scale NBAS applied to preterm or low birth weight

Objective: to assess, in a randomized sample of measurements made with the NBAS scale, in preterm and / or low birth weight babies, some psychometric characteristics of the same as her construct validity and internal consistency. Materials and methods: we designed a study of assessment of Psychometric properties. From a study of cross-sectional measurements, there were made assessment of the statistic behavior of the items, individually and in their internal consistency, then, there were carried out, type exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Results: we find that, in the analysis of preterm or low birth weight babies, the scale remains largely, the overall structure of factors proposed since 1982, in relation to the dimensions of habituation, social interactive and complementary. The items that make up the dimensions of SNA and motor systems are integrated. Also, we found Cronbach alpha values for internal consistency, which reflects higher to medium correlation levels in the behavioral and reflex items. Conclusion: the NBAS scale reflects characteristics of construct validity and internal consistency, which credits it as a useful tool in clinical assessment of neurodevelopmental effects of preterm or low birth weight babies. It is necessary to analyze the structure of the scale when used for purposes of scientific research.

Interrater reliability of Alberta Infant Motor Scale in term and preterm born infants between 10 to 16 months age from Talca province - Chile

Purpose: To examine the ‘interrater reliability’ of the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) in term and preterm born infants between 10 to 16 months age from Talca province, Maule Region - Chile. Subjects: 115 infants between 10 to 16 months age were incorporated to the study; 95 term born infants were attended in the local Health Centre in Talca City, and 20 preterm infants belonged to the Premature Infants Follow-Up Programme of Talca Regional Hospital. Methods: The motor behaviour of each infant was recorded and later it was assessed by two trained assessors using AIMS. It was obtained the total AIMS’ score and also from prone, supine, seated, and stand subscales. For ‘interrater reliability’ analysis it was used the Intraclass Coefficient of Correlation (ICC), the Standard Error of Measurement (SEM) and 95% limits of agreement. Results: The obtained ICC for the total scores AIMS were major than 0.94 (p<0.0002) for term and preterm born infants. The SEM of total scores was less than 3.1 points, higher than what was found in other similar studies. The 95% limits of agreement were +5.3 to -4.1 points and +7.7 to – 3.9 points in term and preterm born, respectively, revealing ‘interrater agreement’. Conclusion: The AIMS showed adequate ‘interrater reliable’ levels when was applied in Chilean term and preterm born from 10 to 16 month’s age.

Medición de actitudes mediante escalas : Likert y Fishbein.

1) Determinar si los dos componentes del modelo de la acción razonada (Ajzen y Fishbein, 1980) son necesarios para una correcta estimación de la intención de conducta. 2) Comparar las dos escalas. 3) Comprobar si el modelo de la acción razonada aumenta o no al introducir en la regresión las actitudes hacia el objeto. 4) Comprobar si el mejor predictor de la intención de conducta es el hábito de conducta del sujeto. 180 sujetos mayores de edad, de ambos sexos, 44 varones y 56 mujeres, funcionarios del Cabildo Insular, Hospital General y Clínico, Residencia de la Seguridad Social y Compañía Telefónica de Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Diseño correlacional de comparación de escalas. El cuestionario definitivo se aplicó a 180 sujetos. El análisis se efectuó partiendo de 169 cuestionarios. Se plantea una réplica al trabajo de Ajzen y Fishbein, basada en una mejor construcción de la escala Likert y en la actual formulación del modelo Ajzen y Fishbein, variables predictoras: 1) Actitudes hacia el objeto según la escala Fishbein. 2) Actitudes hacia la conducta según la actual escala tipo Ajzen y Fishbein, reforzadores sociales. Variable criterio: intención. Cuestionario elaborado,consta de 4 partes: escala de actitudes tipo Likert hacia el objeto; escala de actitudes tipo Ajzen y Fishbein hacia la conducta; escala de actitudes tipo Fishbein hacia el objeto; escala de normas subjetivas del sujeto. Correlación de cada item de la escala tipo Likert con el total de dicha escala seleccionando aquellos cuya correlación se encontrase entre 0,35 y 0,80. Coeficiente Alfa de Crombach, para determinar la fiabilidad de la escala. Intercorrelaciones entre las distintas escalas del cuestionario y la intención y hábito de conducta. Análisis de varianza de la regresión. Análisis de conglomerados realizados con los ítems de la escala tipo Likert. 1) La capacidad predictiva del modelo de la acción razonada es superior a la de sus componentes aislados y no aumenta significativamente al incluir en la regresión las actitudes hacia el objeto. 2) El mejor predictor de la intención de conducta del sujeto es su hábito de llevar a cabo dicha conducta. 3) El hábito, al ser incluído en la regresión a los componentes del modelo de la acción razonada, mejora la capacidad de este modelo para predecir la intención de conducta. 4) No hemos podido confirmar: a) Que la actitudes hacia la conducta sean superiores a las actitudes hacia el objeto. b) Que las actitudes hacia el objeto según la escala tipo Fishbein sean superiores a las mismas medidas según una escala tipo Likert. El principal problema del modelo de acción razonada es, la dificultad práctica de incluir todas las creencias salientes. Consideramos que el modelo Triandis, 1977-1980, referente a la inclusión del hábito, es superior al de Ajzen y Fishbein. Podemos sugerir la necesidad de realizar este tipo de investigaciones mediante el uso de un mayor número de escalas basadas también en una mayor variedad de modelos.

Networks and RegionalCompetitiveness: Towards a Transaction Cost Approach of Small-Scale Cooperation

A preoccupation with competition often dominates the study of governance. A focus on competition often unnecessarily precludes the possibility that regional institutions can suspend competition in certain areas and facilitate cooperation among potential rivals, thereby potentially contributing to their mutual success. In many ways companies cooperating through these types of networks have a greater degree of flexibility than firms which are forced to rely solely on hierarchies or markets for solutions to their problems. In order to fully understand how such networks work, this article first parses out differences in definitions of networks in order to understand how the type of network mentioned above actually differs from other uses of this term. Then it develops a theory of governance that goes beyond hierarchies and markets by demonstrating how this type of network can lead to reductions in transaction costs. This claim is illustrated on hand from examples of alternative forms of organization in Germany and Italy.