Best Predictor Of Performance Research Articles

Instructional Mode: A Better Predictor of Performance Than Student Preferred Learning Styles

Instructional Mode: A Better Predictor of Performance Than Student Preferred Learning Styles

And the Winner Is… A Comparison of Valuation Measures for Equity Country Allocation

The authors evaluate and compare the usefulness of various valuation ratios for equity country allocation. To this end, the performance of 73 national equity indexes is investigated for the period 1996 to 2017. The earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA)-to-enterprise value (EV) multiple is the best predictor of performance and outperforms other metrics. An equal-weighted portfolio that is long (short) in the tertile of countries with the highest (lowest) EBITDA-to-EV ratio produces a mean monthly return of 0.69% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.81, which is more than double the Sharpe ratios obtained from using traditional metrics such as the book-to-market ratio or dividend yield. Two major drawbacks of intercountry value strategies are identified: (1) payoffs are derived predominantly from emerging and frontier markets and (2) profitability has significantly declined in the last decade. <b>TOPICS:</b>Accounting and ratio analysis, mutual funds/passive investing/indexing, emerging

Examining Work Engagement and Job Satisfaction Variables in their Relations with Job Performance and Intention to Quit

Purpose – In this study, work engagement and job satisfaction variables; two positive constructs related with employees attitudes to work; and their associations with employee related outcomes such as performance and intention to quit were analysed via the data collected from 988 participants employed in education sector. We aimed to understand the associations and interactions of work engagement and job satisfaction on the outcome variables intention to quit and employee performance. Design / Methodology/ Approach – The data of the study were collected by using UWES (Very Short Form) Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, Job Satisfaction Scale (Babin and Boles, 1998), Intention to Quit Scale (Babin and Boles, 1998) and Performance Scale (Kirkman and Rosen, 1999). Data were analysed by using Simple and Multiple Linear Regression analyses and Sobel tests. Findings – The results of the analyses confirmed that work engagement and job satisfaction were two interrelated but different constructs. It revealed that, job satisfaction was a stronger predictor of intention to quit compared to work engagement, and it was a mediator between work engagement and intention to quit. Work engagement was found to be a stronger predictor on employee performance compared to job satisfaction, and it acted as a mediator between job satisfaction and job performance. Discussion – The results denoted that job satisfaction seems to be a more powerful predictor on negative attitudes such as intention to quit whilst work engagement may be more related to positive results like performance. The findings of the study were evaluated by considering the previous literature on job satisfaction and performance relationship, which have been debated since 1950s. In accordance with the current literature on work engagement, it was concluded that work engagement could be a better predictor of performance for the education sector employees.

Cortical beta oscillations are associated with motor performance following visuomotor learning

People vary in their capacity to learn and retain new motor skills. Although the relationship between neuronal oscillations in the beta frequency range (15–30 Hz) and motor behaviour is well established, the electrophysiological mechanisms underlying individual differences in motor learning are incompletely understood. Here, we investigated the degree to which measures of resting and movement-related beta power from sensorimotor cortex account for inter-individual differences in motor learning behaviour in the young and elderly. Twenty young (18–30 years) and twenty elderly (62–77 years) healthy adults were trained on a novel wrist flexion/extension tracking task and subsequently retested at two different time points (45–60 min and 24 h after initial training). Scalp EEG was recorded during a separate simple motor task before each training and retest session.Although short-term motor learning was comparable between young and elderly individuals, there was considerable variability within groups with subsequent analysis aiming to find the predictors of this variability. As expected, performance during the training phase was the best predictor of performance at later time points. However, regression analysis revealed that movement-related beta activity significantly explained additional variance in individual performance levels 45–60 min, but not 24 h after initial training. In the context of disease, these findings suggest that measurements of beta-band activity may offer novel targets for therapeutic interventions designed to promote rehabilitative outcomes.

ROC Modelling Data of the Word Frequency Effect: A Formal Model of Visual Word Recognition

This article presents a formal statistical model for assessing the word frequency effect in recognition memory. This topic is relevant because word frequency is the best predictor of performance in recognition memory tasks. Signal Detection Theory was applied using high-frequency and low-frequency words as item-signals. Signal Detection Theory test assumes orthogonality of responses: hits, false alarms, correct rejections, and incorrect rejections. Ninety-six adult male and female students participated in two experiments: one conducted in the laboratory and the other in the class-room. The selected words for memory contained 3 to 5 letters and 1 or 2 syllables to control for length. Significant differences were found between high-frequency and low-frequency words in the number of false alarms for the two experiments. The differences were statistically significant in two experiments. The Cohen effect size was 0.6 and 0.45 respectively. The word frequency effect in first- and second-experiments was F (1, 46) = 4.13, MCE. = 2.34, p = 0.003 and F (1, 46) = 3.71, MCE. = 12.36, p = 0. 01 respectively. A formal model is presented based on the Receiver Operating Characteristic data to assess data trends for high- and low frequency words. Two differentiated models were obtained: a continuous model based on high frequency stimuli and a threshold model based on low frequency stimuli.

Predictors of virtual reality simulation bronchoscopy performance among novice bronchoscopists.

IntroductionSimulation-based training is gradually replacing the classic “apprenticeship” training model. Predictors of better performance of virtual reality simulation bronchoscopy are not clear.ObjectiveWe aim to explore the predictors of performance of simulation bronchoscopy among novice bronchoscopists.Materials and methodsThis is a descriptive observational cohort study conducted at King Abdulaziz University Clinical Skills and Simulation Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. All participants filled a demographic questionnaire and attended a pre-simulation orientation about the requested tasks. The Simbionix bronchoscopy simulator was used in this study. First, each resident performed three trails of basic scope manipulation task to test hand–eye coordination skills. Thereafter, each resident performed the guided anatomical navigation task to accurately examine as many lung segments as possible. Results and metrics were retrieved from the simulator, and statistical analysis was performed using t-test to measure statistically significant P-value (<0.05).ResultsFifty-three internal medicine residents participated in this study. Male residents significantly achieved higher score in the basic scope manipulation task than female residents (65% vs 46%, P<0.001). Furthermore, the percentage of time spent at mid lumen during the scope manipulation was significantly higher for males compared to female residents (48% vs 37%, P=0.003). Residents who were interested in pursuing procedure-based specialty training spent significantly less time in contact with wall (14.6% vs 20.3%, P=0.045). Smokers needed more time to finish the first task (mean 2.5 minutes vs mean 1.1 minutes, P=0.005).ConclusionSimulation bronchoscopy performance was different between genders, smoking status and future interest in pursuing a procedure-based career. Overall, male residents performed better than female residents in basic scope manipulation. Gender differences in performing simulation bronchoscopy need to be examined in future studies. Tailored educational programs may be needed to fit gender-specific skills and requirements as well as future career interests.

Muscle Oxygenation Rather Than VO2max as a Strong Predictor of Performance in Sprint Canoe-Kayak.

To characterize the relationships between muscle oxygenation and performance during on- and off-water tests in highly trained sprint canoe-kayak athletes. A total of 30 athletes (19 kayakers and 11 canoeists) performed a maximal incremental test on a canoe or kayak ergometer for determination of VO2max and examination of the relation between peak power output (PPO) and physiological parameters. A subset of 21 athletes also performed a 200- and a 500- (for women) or 1000-m (for men) on-water time trial (TT). Near-infrared spectroscopy monitors were placed on the latissimus dorsi, biceps brachii, and vastus lateralis during all tests to assess changes in muscle O2 saturation (SmO2) and deoxyhemoglobin concentration ([HHb]). The minimum O2 oxygenation (SmO2min) and maximal O2 (Δ[HHb] extraction) were calculated for all subjects. PPO was most strongly correlated with VO2max (R = .9), but there was also a large correlation between PPO and both SmO2min and Δ[HHb] in latissimus dorsi (R = -.5, R = .6) and vastus lateralis (R = -.6, R = .6, all P < .05). Multiple regression showed that 90% of the variance in 200-m performance was explained by both Δ[HHb] and SmO2min in the 3 muscles combined (P < .01) and 71% of the variance in 500-/1000-m performance was explained by Δ[HHb] in the 3 muscles (P < .01). This suggests that O2 extraction is a better predictor of performance than VO2max in sprint canoe-kayak. These results highlight the importance of peripheral adaptations in both short and long events and stress the relevance of adding muscle oxygenation measurements during testing and racing in sprint canoe-kayak.

Student funding and student success: A case study of a South African university

This study sought to establish the relationship between student matriculation results, bursary funding and academic performance. It involved an analysis of 8099 undergraduates for the 2011 cohort year at one particular high education institution in South Africa. This 2011 cohort was tracked over a period of three years. Results show that in terms of student academic performance, Grade 12 National Senior Certificate results are a weak predictor of academic success, whilst grades weighted by module credits were a statistically better predictor of performance and throughput. Thus, enrolment decisions based solely on matriculation results are not recommended. No relationship was found between either the presence, or the value of individual student bursary funding, and throughput. Thus, student academic performance is not a function of bursary funding, although merit bursaries awarded on academic merit yielded the best results. Lastly, there was a statistically significant relationship between being placed in a student residence and academic performance and throughput. That is, students accommodated in official student residences were more likely to graduate within the minimum time than those who were not.

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy-based affective neurofeedback: feedback effect, illiteracy phenomena, and whole-connectivity profiles.

Background: Affective neurofeedback constitutes a suitable approach to control abnormal neural activities associated with psychiatric disorders and might consequently relief symptom severity. However, different aspects of neurofeedback remain unclear, such as its neural basis, the performance variation, the feedback effect, among others. Aim: First, we aimed to propose a functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)-based affective neurofeedback based on the self-regulation of frontal and occipital networks. Second, we evaluated three different feedback approaches on performance: real, fixed, and random feedback. Third, we investigated different demographic, psychological, and physiological predictors of performance. Approach: Thirty-three healthy participants performed a task whereby an amorphous figure changed its shape according to the elicited affect (positive or neutral). During the task, the participants randomly received three different feedback approaches: real feedback, with no change of the classifier output; fixed feedback, keeping the feedback figure unmodified; and random feedback, where the classifier output was multiplied by an arbitrary value, causing a feedback different than expected by the subject. Then, we applied a multivariate comparison of the whole-connectivity profiles according to the affective states and feedback approaches, as well as during a pretask resting-state block, to predict performance. Results: Participants were able to control this feedback system with ( ) of performance during the real feedback trials. No significant differences were found when comparing the average performances of the feedback approaches. However, the whole functional connectivity profiles presented significant Mahalanobis distances ( ) when comparing both affective states and all feedback approaches. Finally, task performance was positively correlated to the pretask resting-state whole functional connectivity ( , ). Conclusions: Our results suggest that fNIRS might be a feasible tool to develop a neurofeedback system based on the self-regulation of affective networks. This finding enables future investigations using an fNIRS-based affective neurofeedback in psychiatric populations. Furthermore, functional connectivity profiles proved to be a good predictor of performance and suggested an increased effort to maintain task control in the presence of feedback distractors.

Perception of word boundaries in spontaneous speech

Studies of lab speech have identified several acoustic variables that listeners use to identify word boundaries (e.g. allophonic variation, segment duration), however spontaneous speech may not contain the same acoustic signals. Using data from a recent study we tested whether disambiguating information is also available to listeners under more typical conditions. 15 pairs of target phrases only differing in the placement of word boundaries, e.g., grey#day vs. grade#A were elicited under read (146 tokens) and spontaneous speech conditions (316 tokens) from multiple talkers who were not aware of the ambiguities. Phrases were played in isolation to 30 Native English listeners in a 2AFC segmentation task (e.g. grey day vs. grade A). Accuracy was above chance for both read (80.9%) and spontaneous speech (73.1%). Accuracy varied according to the critical consonant type and was highest for voiceless stops followed by nasals, voiced stops, fricatives and clusters. Only two items (pierced ears vs. peer steers and beef eater vs. bee feeder) were at chance for spontaneous speech. Measures of word-initial lengthening were good predictors of performance but listeners outperformed predictions from these measures indicating they weren’t the only cues.

And the Winner IssA Comparison of Valuation Measures for Country Asset Allocation

The authors evaluate and compare the usefulness of various valuation ratios for country selection. To this end, the performance of 73 national equity indices is investigated for the period 1996 to 2017. The EBITDA-to-EV multiple is the best predictor of performance and outperforms other metrics. An equal-weighted portfolio that is long (short) in the tertile of countries with the highest (lowest) EBITDA-to-EV ratio produces a mean monthly return of 0.69% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.81. These are more than double the Sharpe ratios obtained from using traditional metrics such as the book-to-market ratio or dividend yield. Two major drawbacks of inter-country value strategies are identified: 1) payoffs are derived predominantly from emerging and frontier markets and 2) profitability has significantly declined in the last decade.

Predictores Selectivos en el Sector Público: Validez Predictiva y Reacciones de los Candidatos

The purpose of this research has been to deepen the knowledge about how selection procedures work in the public sector. To this aim two aspects were considered: a) the predictive validity of the predictors employed and b) the perceived justice of the hired workers regarding the ion process and the tests used and their relation with test performance and job performance. The results that the job knowledge test is the best predictor of performance and that the reactions of the candidates present a positive correlation with job performance and with the situational judgment test results. The limitations of the research as well as the practical implications of the results are discussed.

Relationship Between Children's Lexical Diversity in Written Narratives and Performance on a Standardized Reading Vocabulary Measure.

The purpose of this study was to examine construct validity of methods of calculating lexical diversity in written narrative samples relative to children's performance on a reading vocabulary measure. For 234 children in 1st-5th grade, written narratives were examined and compared between grades for number of different words (NDW), total words (TNW), NDW in a truncated 50 word sample, and type token ratio (TTR). The relationship between lexical diversity in written narratives and a standardized reading vocabulary measure (GMRT-4) was analyzed by comparing correlations. Grade differences were observed in measures of lexical diversity and productivity. Lexical diversity showed a significant moderate correlation with the GMRT-4. NDW had a stronger relationship to GMRT-4 scores than TTR for participants in first and second grade. Considering length (TNW, NDW constrained to 50 words, or TTR) did not result in a stronger relationship with reading vocabulary. Following additional study establishing probe equivalence, NDW in written narratives may be an efficient, educationally relevant, marker of language maturity and a good predictor of performance on a standardized reading vocabulary measure.

A new set of tasks for the assessment of lexical disorders in Italian

A new set of tasks for the assessment of lexical disorders in Italian

Evaluation of the role of incentive structure on student participation and performance in active learning strategies: A comparison of case-based and team-based learning

Background: Student participation is important for the success of active learning strategies, but participation is often linked to the level of preparation. At our institution, we use two types of active learning activities, a modified case-based learning exercise called active learning groups (ALG) and team-based learning (TBL). These strategies have different assessment and incentive structures for participation. Non-cognitive skills are assessed in ALG using a subjective five-point Likert scale. In TBL, assessment of individual student preparation is based on a multiple choice quiz conducted at the beginning of each session.Methods: We studied first-year medical student participation and performance in ALG and TBL as well as performance on course final examinations.Results: Student performance in TBL, but not in ALG, was strongly correlated with final examination scores. Additionally, in students who performed in the upper 33rd percentile on the final examination, there was a positive correlation between final examination performance and participation in TBL and ALG. This correlation was not seen in students who performed in the lower 33rd percentile on the final examinations.Conclusions: Our results suggest that assessments of medical knowledge during active learning exercises could supplement non-cognitive assessments and could be good predictors of performance on summative examinations.

The quantitative literacy of South African school-leavers who qualify for higher education

There is an articulation gap for many students between the literacy practices developed at school and those demanded by higher education. While the school sector is often well attuned to the school-leaving assessments, it may not be as aware of the implicit quantitative literacy (QL) demands placed on students in higher education. The National Benchmark Test (NBT) in QL provides diagnostic information to inform teaching and learning. The performance of a large sample of school-leavers who wrote the NBT QL test was investigated (1) to demonstrate how school-leavers performed on this QL test, (2) to explore the relationship between performance on this test and on cognate school-leaving subjects and (3) to provide school teachers and curriculum advisors with a sense of the QL demands made on their students. Descriptive statistics were used to describe performance and linear regression to explore the relationships between performance in the NBT QL test and on the school subjects Mathematics and Mathematical Literacy. Only 13% of the NBT QL scores in the sample were classified as proficient and the majority of school-leavers would need support to cope with the QL demands of higher education. The results in neither Mathematics nor Mathematical Literacy were good predictors of performance on the NBT QL test. Examination of performance on selected individual items revealed that many students have difficulty with quantitative language and with interpreting data in tables. Given that QL is bound to context, it is important that teachers develop QL practices within their disciplinary contexts.

Cold-Blooded Attention: Finger Temperature Predicts Attentional Performance.

Thermal stress has been shown to increase the chances of unsafe behavior during industrial and driving performances due to reductions in mental and attentional resources. Nonetheless, establishing appropriate safety standards regarding environmental temperature has been a major problem, as modulations are also be affected by the task type, complexity, workload, duration, and previous experience with the task. To bypass this attentional and thermoregulatory problem, we focused on the body rather than environmental temperature. Specifically, we measured tympanic, forehead, finger and environmental temperatures accompanied by a battery of attentional tasks. We considered a 10 min baseline period wherein subjects were instructed to sit and relax, followed by three attentional tasks: a continuous performance task (CPT), a flanker task (FT) and a counting task (CT). Using multiple linear regression models, we evaluated which variable(s) were the best predictors of performance. The results showed a decrement in finger temperature due to instruction and task engagement that was absent when the subject was instructed to relax. No changes were observed in tympanic or forehead temperatures, while the environmental temperature remained almost constant for each subject. Specifically, the magnitude of the change in finger temperature was the best predictor of performance in all three attentional tasks. The results presented here suggest that finger temperature can be used as a predictor of alertness, as it predicted performance in attentional tasks better than environmental temperature. These findings strongly support that peripheral temperature can be used as a tool to prevent unsafe behaviors and accidents.

Protein–protein interaction site predictions with minimum covariance determinant and Mahalanobis distance

Protein–protein interaction site (PPIS) prediction must deal with the diversity of interaction sites that limits their prediction accuracy. Use of proteins with unknown or unidentified interactions can also lead to missing interfaces. Such data errors are often brought into the training dataset. In response to these two problems, we used the minimum covariance determinant (MCD) method to refine the training data to build a predictor with better performance, utilizing its ability of removing outliers. In order to predict test data in practice, a method based on Mahalanobis distance was devised to select proper test data as input for the predictor. With leave-one-validation and independent test, after the Mahalanobis distance screening, our method achieved higher performance according to Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC), although only a part of test data could be predicted. These results indicate that data refinement is an efficient approach to improve protein–protein interaction site prediction. By further optimizing our method, it is hopeful to develop predictors of better performance and wide range of application.

Empirical Study on the Impact of a Tactical Biosurveillance Information Visualization on Users' Situational Awareness.

Decisions on antibiotic-resistant infection (ARI) prevention in dynamic health care settings should be agile and target the right process at the right time. Health information technologies can aid the recognition of high-risk situations for ARI transmission and timely facilitate operators' situational awareness (SA) in various military and civilian health care locations or transport platforms. High SA is one of the significant predictors of better performance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the developed health information visualization (VIZ) on the users' SA regarding situations when risks of ARI transmission and exposure are high. The enrolled 19 subjects assessed the proposed VIZ artifacts representing 1 scenario, compared the VIZ effectiveness against the currently employed local methods, and reported their SA (perception and comprehension) with the use of a pre- and post-self-rating questionnaire. The results showed that the VIZ significantly increased SA in the study subjects and revealed the importance of communicating the risk of exposure to ARIs. The VIZ enabled the participants to quickly acknowledge the high-risk individuals (super-spreaders), locations (hot spots), and biosafety (deficient infection prevention). The study concluded that SA-oriented technologies may be promising for promoting better infection prevention practices.

The Benefits of Increased Sensation Level and Bandwidth for Spatial Release From Masking.

Objective:Spatial release from masking (SRM) can increase speech intelligibility in complex listening environments. The goal of the present study was to document how speech-in-speech stimuli could be best processed to encourage optimum SRM for listeners who represent a range of ages and amounts of hearing loss. We examined the effects of equating stimulus audibility among listeners, presenting stimuli at uniform sensation levels (SLs), and filtering stimuli at two separate bandwidths.Design:Seventy-one participants completed two speech intelligibility experiments (36 listeners in experiment 1; all 71 in experiment 2) in which a target phrase from the coordinate response measure (CRM) and two masking phrases from the CRM were presented simultaneously via earphones using a virtual spatial array, such that the target sentence was always at 0 degree azimuth angle and the maskers were either colocated or positioned at ±45 degrees. Experiments 1 and 2 examined the impacts of SL, age, and hearing loss on SRM. Experiment 2 also assessed the effects of stimulus bandwidth on SRM.Results:Overall, listeners’ ability to achieve SRM improved with increased SL. Younger listeners with less hearing loss achieved more SRM than older or hearing-impaired listeners. It was hypothesized that SL and bandwidth would result in dissociable effects on SRM. However, acoustical analysis revealed that effective audible bandwidth, defined as the highest frequency at which the stimulus was audible at both ears, was the best predictor of performance. Thus, increasing SL seemed to improve SRM by increasing the effective bandwidth rather than increasing the level of already audible components.Conclusions:Performance for all listeners, regardless of age or hearing loss, improved with an increase in overall SL and/or bandwidth, but the improvement was small relative to the benefits of spatial separation.