Confirmatory Factor Analysis Modeling Research Articles

U.S. Secondary Students’ Source-Based Argument Writing in History

Developing students’ source-based argument writing skills is a vital educational goal for the 21st-century information society. Consequently, researchers and educators continually seek ways to understand and improve students’ capacities for advancing arguments and synthesizing multiple documents, texts, or sources in a range of subject areas in secondary schools. This study examined differences between middle and high school students’ argument essays (N = 207) in multiple dimensions of source-based argument writing in history, the dimensions writing in history, and the relations of identified dimensions to overall writing quality. Using multivariate analysis of covariance, middle and high school students’ writing significantly varied in areas of writing related to language use, the presentation of ideas, and evidence use. Their writing varied less so for skills related to historical thinking, indicating a lack of development in these skills across secondary school. Findings from confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling showed a bifactor model with a general factor and 4 specific factors—Presentation of Ideas, Evidence Use, Language Use, and Historical Thinking—best represented writing in this genre, with the general factor strongly predicting holistic writing scores. Implications for both research and educational practice are discussed, including the importance of attending to developmental variation in discrete writing skills.

Chronic stress and lack of social support: Role in adolescent depression and suicide-related behaviors in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine acute and chronic stressors, and perceived lack social support, and their associations with depression and suicidal ideation in adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsDeidentified data from (N = 270,153) U.S. adolescents aged 11 to 17 who completed the Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item tool (PHQ-9) in the years 2020 and 2021 were sourced from a collection of online screening tools that are free, confidential, anonymous, and scientifically validated. In addition to depression, the survey included questions about suicidality, past/chronic stressful events, and contributors to mental health problems and sociodemographic variables. SPSS software version 28 for descriptive analyses, and Mplus version 7.31 for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM), were respectively used. ResultsParticipants were predominantly female, White, and heterosexual, and exhibited a high prevalence of severe depression and a significant frequency of suicidal thoughts. Significant associations were found between past/chronic stressful events, and lack of social support, with suicidality and depression. Mental health stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic itself presented no significant associations with depression and suicidality and was weakly and negatively associated with lack of social support and past/chronic stressors. DiscussionThese findings reinforce the notion that prior traumatic events can create vulnerabilities in the face of acute stressors, while social support can enhance resilience in adolescents. Factors that increase resilience, such as preventing traumatic events, reducing social stressors, and increasing social support, can serve as valuable guidelines for clinical and public health interventions.

Supervisory performance in telework: the role of job demands, resources, and satisfaction with telework

IntroductionDigitalization and the pandemic have transformed work, increasing flexibility, and remote arrangements. A critical factor in these transformations' success is supervisors' competencies. Consequently, new tools for assessing supervisory performance are required, particularly considering subordinates' evaluations. This study investigates the role of three telework resources (structural support, telework readiness, and monitorization) and three demands (workload, isolation, and information overload) in predicting employees' evaluation of supervisors, with satisfaction with telework as a moderator.MethodsA survey among 322 Spanish teleworkers was conducted in July 2023. Specific scales for measuring Telework Supervisory Performance, as well as Telework Resources and Demands, were developed. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), correlations, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) were conducted.ResultsOrganizational structural support positively correlates with subordinates' evaluation of their supervisor, while monitorization shows a negative relationship. Telework demands studied demonstrated no significant relationship with the outcome. Interaction effects between resources and satisfaction with telework increased the relationship with supervisor evaluations.DiscussionThis research shows that organizational support significantly enhances supervisor evaluations in remote work settings, particularly among satisfied teleworkers. The findings also reveal that high monitoring levels can negatively impact supervisor assessments. Conversely, job demands were not significantly linked to supervisor evaluations. Implications for workers and organizations are discussed.

Development and validation of a rating scale for barriers to and facilitators of nurses’ participation intentions in “Internet + Nursing Service”

BackgroundGiven increases in China’s aging population, the growing demand for public health services and the shortage of human resources among nurses have become more prominent. Under such a background, “Internet + Nursing Services” have received more attention. Thus, exploring the barriers to and facilitators of nurses’ willingness to participate in “Internet + Nursing Services” and utilizing internet technology to increase the supply of nursing services has become a key issue.ObjectiveThis study aimed to develop a scale for assessing the barriers to and facilitators of nurses’ willingness to participate in “Internet + Nursing Services” and to test the validity and reliability of the scale.MethodsA preliminary scale was developed based on a literature review, theoretical research, semistructured qualitative interviews, and two rounds of Delphi expert inquiry. A convenient sampling method was used for the questionnaire survey. A 5-point Likert scale was used to evaluate the importance of the items. The survey data of 659 clinical nurses obtained from February to March 2023 were used for item analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and reliability and validity tests of the scale. The survey data of 538 clinical nurses obtained in April 2023 were used for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the final scale.ResultsThe final scale consists of 25 items and 4 dimensions (performance expectations, perceived risk, need for professional knowledge training, and nonprofessional knowledge training). The scale showed good structural validity and content validity: the Cronbach’s α coefficient of the scale was 0.955, the split-half reliability was 0.778, the test-retest reliability was 0.944, the kaiser-meyer-olkin(KMO) value was 0.960, and the cumulative variance contribution rate of the 4 common factors was 83.147%. The scale content validity index(S-CVI) was 0.914. The confirmatory factor analysis model had favorable fit indices: χ2/df = 4.234, RMSEA = 0.078, NFI = 0.940, IFI = 0.953, TLI = 0.947, and CFI = 0.953.ConclusionThe scale for assessing the barriers to and facilitators of nurses’ willingness to participate in “Internet + Nursing Services” has good reliability and validity, and provides a reference for evaluating nurses’ willingness to participate in “Internet + Nursing Services”.

Altered states of consciousness in Danish healthy volunteers and recreational users of psilocybin and the possible impact of setting and intention: Danish validation of the five-dimensional altered states of consciousness questionnaire.

Psychedelic substances reliably induce marked altered states of consciousness (ASC), which may be important for lasting effects and clinical outcomes of psychedelic intervention. Several instruments are available to measure the acute psychedelic experience, of which the Five Dimensional Altered States of Consciousness Questionnaire (5D-ASC) is commonly used. The questionnaire can be scored and analyzed as having five dimensions or 11 subscales, but the two have not been evaluated with comparable factor analysis methods. The Danish translation of the 5D-ASC was completed by one sample of healthy volunteers receiving psilocybin in a laboratory setting (N = 47) and one sample of recreative users5D-ASC of psychedelics (N = 550), who reported retrospectively through an online survey based on their most recent experience with psilocybin. We calculated internal consistency measures of Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega, conducted a confirmatory factor analysis of the previously suggested factor structures, and tested for possible associations between the 5D-ASC total scores and dose, setting, and intention. For the 11 subscales, we reported omega-sem (composite reliability) using the parameters of the fitted confirmatory factor analyses model. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the 11 subscales had a good fit to data and showed a better fit compared to the originally proposed five-dimensional solution and good internal consistencies. We further found that the 5D-ASC total scores correlated positively with the dose in the recreative sample. We found no correlations between 5D-ASC total scores and intention or setting. We find the Danish 5D-ASC to be a valid tool for measuring ASC among Danish-speaking individuals.

Perceived Traffic Risk on Road Infrastructure Conditions among Car Drivers in Lhokseumawe City, Aceh, Indonesia

According to the Indonesian Department of Transportation, 86% of traffic accidents are attributed to human factors. Additionally, road conditions are identified as a contributing factor to road accidents. Therefore, this study aimed to explore road conditions and their impact on the driving behaviour of car drivers. Data for this exploration were collected by distributing questionnaires to 200 respondents, utilizing a Likert scale for answer options. The technique used was random sampling, utilizing descriptive statistical analysis and a Confirmatory Factor Analysis model. Consequently, the result showed that each latent variable construct examined by car drivers had a value exceeding 80%. The most prominent latent variable was the "Condition of Road Surface Facilities," accounting for 88.1% and featuring eight indicators. The indicator "Disturbed when passing through a narrow road," part of the latent variable "Condition of Road Equipment Facilities," had the highest standardized value at 1.223. Finally, this study suggested that the government should prioritize attention to road infrastructure conditions to enhance driver comfort and mitigate the risk of traffic accidents.

Examination of Measures of Perfectionism for Structural and Measurement Invariance in an Italian and a Canadian Sample

Perfectionism measures developed in English-speaking populations have become frequently used in many non-English contexts, including in Italy. Establishing structural and measurement equivalence of instruments between Canadian and Italian samples is therefore important in establishing the validity of these concepts and instruments in Italian contexts, and to allow for direct cross-cultural comparisons. The current study investigated the measurement equivalence between a Canadian and an Italian sample for the commonly used measures of perfectionism constructs based on the Comprehensive Model of Perfectionistic Behavior. The Hewitt & Flett Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, the Perfectionistic Self-Presentation Scale, and the Perfectionism Cognitions Inventory were examined for configural, metric, and scalar invariance via equivalence testing of multigroup confirmatory factor analysis models. The results showed some evidence for configural and metric equivalence for the three measures, thus facilitating cross-cultural interpretation of pattern of associations. However, there was no consistent evidence for scalar invariance, thus suggesting that direct comparisons of perfectionism levels between the two contexts cannot be meaningfully interpreted. This highlights the need for research in both Canadian and Italian contexts to understand cross-cultural differences and similarities in perfectionism.

Structural relationship between mobile shopping characteristics, consumption values, impulse buying, and consumer satisfaction

This study aims to empirically determine the structural relationship between mobile shopping characteristics, consumption values, impulse buying, and satisfaction in order to promote an understanding of impulse buying in the mobile shopping environment. To this end, we conducted a survey using the convenience sampling method on sports management majors attending a four-year university in Seoul, South Korea, who have experience purchasing sports products on a mobile device. We analyzed the collected data using descriptive statistics analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, reliability analysis, correlation analysis, and structural equation modeling. The key findings are as follows: First, mobile shopping attributes had a positive effect on consumption values. Second, consumption values of college student consumers in the mobile shopping environment had an effect on impulse buying. Third, impulse buying in the mobile shopping environment had a positive effect on the satisfaction of college student consumers. The results of this study have significance in that they provide the basic data for establishing efficient marketing strategies that can induce impulse buying to act as a positive shopping driver. Furthermore, this study is significant because it empirically demonstrates the casual relationship between impulse purchases and consumer satisfaction, and that consumption value is a determinant of impulse purchases.

Cultural adaptation and validation of the knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score into Sinhala language in patients with primary knee osteoarthritis: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundKnee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) scale is a patient-reported outcome measurement tool. It evaluates both short- and long-term consequences of knee injury and primary osteoarthritis. This study aims to translate and validate the KOOS scale for a Sinhala-speaking Sri Lankan population.MethodsA cross sectional study was conducted in three hospitals. Four hundred and fifteen patients comprising 185 males and 227 females (3 subjects did not reveal their gender) with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) participated in the study. Seventy nine participants without KOA were recruited as controls. The functionality and quality of life level in patients and healthy participants were assessed using translated versions of the KOOS and Short Form-36 (SF-36) scales. Internal consistency of the instrument was assessed by Cronbach alpha. Construct validity and test-retest reliability were examined using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was used to assess factorial validity.ResultsThe mean age (± sd) of the KOA subjects was 54.9 (± 9.2) years and for the control group was 49.2 (± 8.0) years. Majority of the respondents were female and Sinhalese in both groups. Internal consistency reliability was high (Cronbach’s alpha values ≥ 0.70). The test–retest reliability was excellent with the intraclass correlation coefficient for all subscales being above 0.90. Construct validity was assessed by the magnitude of the correlation coefficient between KOOS and SF-36 subscale scores. KOOS Pain scale moderately correlated with SF-36 bodily pain (Pearson’s r = 0.41). SF-36 physical function scores had a weak positive correlation with all KOOS subscales and SF-36 emotional wellbeing was not significantly correlated with KOOS Quality of Life (QoL) subscale. A five-factor Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) model yielded a Comparative Fit Index (CFI) = 0.950, Tucker Lewis Index (TLI) = 0.946, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) = 0.082 and Standardised Root Mean squared Residual (SRMR) = 0.072.ConclusionThe Sinhala translation of the KOOS scale is a reliable and valid instrument to assess KOA in a Sinhala-speaking Sri Lankan population. Studies to assess its use as a scale to evaluate responsiveness are recommended.

Social isolation, depression, and anxiety among young adult cancer survivors: The mediating role of social connectedness.

Social isolation and social connectedness are health determinants and aspects of social well-being with strong associations with psychological distress. This study evaluated relationships among social isolation, social connectedness, and psychological distress (i.e., depression, anxiety) over 1 year in young adult (YA) cancer survivors 18-39 years old. Participants were YAs in a large cohort study that completed questionnaires every 2 months for 1 year. Social isolation, aspects of social connectedness (i.e., companionship, emotional support, instrumental support, and informational support), depression, and anxiety were assessed with Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System short form measures. Mixed-effect models were used to evaluate changes over time. Confirmatory factor analysis and multilevel structural equation modeling were used to define social connectedness as a latent construct and determine whether relationships between social isolation and psychological distress were mediated by social connectedness. Participants (N = 304) were mean (M)= 33.5 years old (SD = 4.7) and M = 4.5 years (SD = 3.5) post-initial cancer diagnosis. Most participants were female (67.4%) and non-Hispanic White (68.4%). Average scores for social well-being and psychological distress were within normative ranges and did not change (p values >.05). However, large proportions of participants reported at least mild social isolation (27%-30%), depressive symptoms (36%-37%), and symptoms of anxiety (49%-51%) at each time point. Across participants, more social isolation was related to less social connectedness (p values <.001), more depressive symptoms (p < .001), and more symptoms of anxiety (p < .001). Social connectedness mediated the relationship between social isolation and depression (p = .004), but not anxiety (p > .05). Social isolation and connectedness could be intervention targets for reducing depression among YA cancer survivors.

Accessing the impact of farmers’ awareness level and risk management perception on agriculture insurance satisfaction: Mediating role of non-financial satisfaction

Despite the government’s financial support and promotion by the regulator, the agriculture insurance market is still in the nascent stage in Nepal. The paper aims to examine how awareness level and risk management perception affect the farmers’ satisfaction, taking non-financial satisfaction as a mediating factor. The study was conducted in two metropolitan cities, Pokhara and Bharatpur, in Nepal. Cluster and purposive sampling design was applied to select the respondents. Opinions were obtained through the structured questionnaire from 400 farmers with experience in agriculture insurance. The survey instrument had two parts. The first part was related to demographic information, while the second part measured attitude to risk management, clients’ awareness of insurance, financial satisfaction, and non-financial satisfaction. Almost three forth of the respondents (74.75%) were males and more than half (52%) possessed more than 8 ropani of land. Descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling were used to arrive at conclusions. The results revealed that respondents’ awareness toward agriculture insurance is the most agreed construct (mean = 4.35), followed by financial satisfaction (mean = 3.88), non-financial satisfaction (mean = 3.70), and risk management attitude (mean = 3.5). Although the results did not confirm the mediating effect of non-financial satisfaction on financial contentment and awareness level, a partial mediation effect exists between risk management attitude and financial satisfaction. Financial serenity and non-financial gratification have the strongest association. This study suggests executives and regulators expand risk management capacity and awareness initiatives to increase client satisfaction and loyalty to crop insurance. AcknowledgmentThe University Grants Commission, Nepal, is acknowledged for the financial support to conduct the study under the FRG MGMT 4-2019/20. The support of MBA students Mr. Dhan Bahadur Jagari and Lalit Bahadur Shahi is highly appreciated for their fieldwork as enumerators.

Longitudinal invariance of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 among patients receiving pharmacotherapy for major depressive disorder: A secondary analysis of clinical trial data.

Comparing self-reported symptom scores across time requires longitudinal measurement invariance (LMI), a psychometric property that means the measure is functioning identically across all time points. Despite its prominence as a measure of depression symptom severity in both research and health care, LMI has yet to be firmly established for the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 depression module (PHQ-9), particularly over the course of antidepressant pharmacotherapy. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to assess for LMI of the PHQ-9 during pharmacotherapy for major depressive disorder. This was a secondary analysis of data collected during a randomized controlled trial. A total of 1,944 veterans began antidepressant monotherapy and completed the PHQ-9 six times over 24 weeks of treatment. LMI was assessed using a series of four confirmatory factor analysis models that included all six time points, with estimated parameters increasingly constrained across models to test for different aspects of invariance. Root-mean-square error of approximation of the chi-square difference test values below 0.06 indicated the presence of LMI. Exploratory LMI analyses were also performed for separate sex, age, and race subgroups. Root-mean-square error of approximation of the chi-square difference test showed minimal change in model fits during invariance testing (≤ 0.06 for all steps), supporting full LMI for the PHQ-9. LMI was also supported for all tested veteran subgroups. As such, PHQ-9 sum scores can be compared across extended pharmacotherapy treatment durations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Assessing Competencies, Needs, and Satisfaction With the Transition From Pediatric to Adult Health Care in Rheumatology: Development and Validation of the Transition-KompAZ.

The aim of this study was to develop and psychometrically validate a self-report instrument to assess (1) competencies, (2) needs, and (3) satisfaction among youth transitioning from pediatric to adult rheumatology. The Transition-KompAZ was developed in several steps with conceptual and psychometric analyses. To test its psychometric properties, the instrument was administered to adolescents and young adults (AYAs; 16-25 years) with inflammatory rheumatic diseases before (group 1) or after (group 2) transfer to adult rheumatology. A 2-factor, higher-order confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) model was applied to test the hypothesized factor structure. Internal consistency was estimated using the approach of Raykov with the factor loadings and error variances estimated in the CFA. Spearman rank correlation coefficients were used to assess construct validity. The Transition-KompAZ includes the following modules: (1) competencies in transition (knowledge, self-management), (2) needs (healthcare services, information), and (3) satisfaction (general, transitional care). A total of 173 AYAs (group 1: n = 86; group 2: n = 87) from 12 rheumatology sites completed the Transition-KompAZ. It showed good model fit (comparative fit index > 0.9; Tucker-Lewis index > 0.9; weighted root mean square residual < 0.9) with good internal consistency. The instrument demonstrated moderate-to-good construct validity and good test-retest reliability. The Transition-KompAZ appears to be a reliable tool for assessing important dimensions of transition. It may support a structured and individualized transition, as well as the evaluation of transition services. However, further studies are required to assess its predictive value in terms of transfer readiness and successful transition.

How did New Zealanders decide to get vaccinated against COVID-19? Developing a novel comprehensive model of vaccination intention

ABSTRACT This research introduces and validates the Comprehensive Model of Vaccination Intention (CMVI) to offer a holistic understanding of COVID-19 vaccination uptake in New Zealand. The CMVI excels by presenting a highly explanatory model, incorporating trust in the government's vaccination policy along with and a spectrum of social, cognitive, contextual, and affective variables from theories of Interpersonal Behavior, Planned Behavior, and Health Belief Model. A nationally representative sample of 993 participants was analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. The findings underscore the positive impact of subjective norms and societal perceptions of vaccination, attitude toward vaccination, trust in government, and vaccination habits on COVID-19 vaccination intention. This study highlights the importance of normalizing vaccination to boost intention and shows how emotions shape attitudes. It also finds that better vaccine accessibility and trust in the government lower perceived costs and raise perceived benefits, improving overall attitude and strengthening vaccination intention.

The development and validation of the "Kuesioner Tema Proyek Penguatan Profil Pelajar Pancasila" (KT P5): A new tool for strengthening the Pancasila Student Profile in Indonesian pioneer schools

The Pancasila Student Profile Strengthening Project/Projek Penguatan Profil Pelajar Pancasila (P5), initiated by the Indonesian government, aims to cultivate an independent curriculum in pioneer schools, presenting a challenge in selecting the most appropriate theme from the available seven: Nurture Their Spirit and Body (NS), Local Wisdom (LW), Engineering and Technology (ET), Voice of Democracy (VD), Sustainable Lifestyle (SL), Unity in Diversity/Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (UD), and Entrepreneurship (EP). This study developed and validated a P5 Theme Questionnaire/Kuesioner Tema (KT) to ascertain the priority theme aligning with student needs. Engaging ten pioneer junior high schools, the research surveyed 524 students. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) revealed a seven-factor theme model with 34 items, each demonstrating an average factor loading of greater than 0.7. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) corroborated the model's robustness (RMSEA = 0.025, CFI = 0.984, GFI = 0.991) and high reliability (Coefficient ω = 0.945, Coefficient α = 0.825). Gender-based preferences emerged, with male students favoring Unity in Diversity, Local Wisdom, and Nurture Their Spirit and Body, while female students preferred Local Wisdom, Voice of Democracy, and Sustainable Lifestyle. This research aimed to evaluate the EFA results for each P5 theme, assess the CFA model fitness, and identify student preferences for themes. Ultimately, the "Kuesioner Tema Proyek Penguatan Profil Pelajar Pancasila" (KT P5) serves as a practical and reliable instrument for identifying preferred P5 themes in pioneer schools, facilitating effective implementation of the P5 project.

Assessing the dimensionality of the sense of coherence scale (SOC-L9) using Ghanaian university students: Guarding against the method effect

BackgroundThe dimensionality of the sense of coherence (SOC-L9) scale has been in contention due to the varied factor structure revealed in the literature. In this study, we assessed the dimensionality of the SOC-L9 scale using Ghanaian university students while guarding against the method effect. The study also examined the gender measurement invariance of the scale. MethodsThis research conveniently sampled 1062 students who responded to the SOC-L9 scale with negative items reversed to positive items. A larger proportion of the participants were male students (n = 769, 72.4 %), with 293(27.6 %) being female students. The youngest participant was 18 years old, whereas the oldest was 42 years old. Following all validation studies protocols, four distinct confirmatory factor analysis models were fitted and compared (i.e., unidimensional, three-factor first-order, three-factor second-order and bifactor models). ResultsThe initial model comparison revealed that the bifactor CFA model [CFI = 0.958, SRMR = 0.036, AIC = 21231.35, BIC = 21370.45] was superior to the unidimensional [CFI = 0.914, SRMR = 0.046, AIC = 26280.67, BIC = 26414.8] and 3-factor models [CFI = 0.932, SRMR = 0.040, AIC = 26221.67, BIC = 26370.71]. Upon further probing, it was discovered that SOC-L9 functions best as a unidimensional scale for the university student population. Gender measurement invariance was established for configural invariance [CFI = 0.986, SRMR = 0.044], metric invariance [CFI = 0.894, SRMR = 0.051] and scalar invariance [CFI = 0.983, SRMR = 0.047]. ConclusionThe SOC-L9 scale has a nested structure with the various sub-scales interacting to produce a summary total observed score. The structure of the SOC-L9 requires scholars to treat the scale as a unidimensional scale rather than a multidimensional one. This latent structure was found to be consistent with male and female university students.

Building a composite score for patient self-report of flare in osteoarthritis: a comparison of methods with the Flare-OA-16 questionnaire

ObjectivesThis study aims to compare methods of constructing a composite score for the Flare-OA-16 self-reported questionnaire. MethodsParticipants with knee and hip osteoarthritis (OA) completed a validated 16-item questionnaire assessing five domains of flare. Three estimation methods were compared: (i) second-order confirmatory factor analysis (CFA); (ii) logistic regression, according to the participant's self-report of flare (yes/no); and (iii) Rasch method, with weighted scores in each dimension. The distribution (floor effect [FF] and ceiling effect [CF]) were described and the known-group validity (by self-reported flare) tested by Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Similarity between the scores was analyzed by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and their performance against self-report compared by areas under ROC curves (AUC). Intrascore test-retest reliability at 14 days was assessed by ICC. ResultsIn a sample of 381 participants, 247 reported having a flare. CFA showed fit indices (comparative fit index [CFI] = 0.95; root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.08) and estimated composite mean score = 4.33(SD = 2.85) (FF = 14.9%, CF = 0%). For the logistic regression estimation, the mean composite score was 6.48 (SD = 3.13) (FF = 0%; CF = 0%). With Rasch model, the mean composite score was 4.35 (SD = 2.60) (FF = 14.9%; CF = 0%). Similarity analysis indicated a greater concordance between CFA and Rasch scores (ICC = 0.98) than between logistic regression score and the two others (ICC = 0.88 with Rasch score and 0.90 with CFA score). The AUC indicated similar performance of all methods: logistic model (AUC = 0.89 [0.85–0.92]), CFA, and Rasch model (AUC = 0.86 [0.82–0.90]). The difference between groups was significant (P < .05) for scores estimated by CFA (3.98), Rasch model (4.95), and logistic regression (4.30). The reproducibility was ICC = 0.84 (0.75–0.90) for Rasch and CFA scores and ICC = 0.78(0.66–86) for logistic model. ConclusionThree alternatives explored to build a composite score showed similar construct validity. Some metric superiority (better score distribution and reproducibility) of the Rasch model is promising for the detection of occurrence and assessment of severity of a flare in OA.

Psychometric Reliability, Validity, and Generalizability of MoCA in American Indian Adults: The Strong Heart Study.

Standardized neuropsychological instruments are used to evaluate cognitive impairment, but few have been psychometrically evaluated in American Indians. We collected Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in 403 American Indians 70 to 95 years, as well as age, sex, education, bilingual status, depression symptoms, and other neuropsychological instruments. We evaluated inferences of psychometric validity, including scoring inference using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling, generalizability inference using reliability coefficient, and extrapolation inference by examining performance across different contexts and substrata. The unidimensional (total score) model had good fit criteria. Internal consistency reliability was high. MoCA scores were positively associated with crystallized cognition (ρ = 0.48, p < .001) and inversely with depression symptoms (ρ = -0.27, p < .001). Significant differences were found by education (d = 0.79, p < .05) depression (d = 0.484, p < .05), and adjudicated cognitive status (p = .0001) strata; however, MoCA was not sensitive or specific in discriminating cognitive impairment from normal cognition (area under the curve <0.5). MoCA scores had psychometric validity in older American Indians, but education and depression are important contextual features for score interpretability. Future research should evaluate cultural or community-specific adaptations, to improve test discriminability in this underserved population.

Human Resource Strategies Foster Knowledge Sharing to Improve Operational Excellence in Thailand's Grocery Retail Sector

This study explores the impact of human resource strategies on knowledge sharing and its subsequent effect on operational excellence within the retail grocery sector. Six hypotheses were formulated to assess the influence of various HR practices, including incentives, performance evaluation, training and development, recruitment, and reciprocity, on knowledge sharing. A sample of 500 employees, holding at least a bachelor's degree and having a minimum of one year of tenure, was drawn from the top ten revenue-generating grocery retail manufacturing firms. The questionnaire's reliability was ensured through a pilot test involving 50 participants, evaluating the Item-Objective Congruence (IOC) index and employing Cronbach's Alpha for reliability assessment. The study employed a combination of judgmental, convenience, and snowball sampling techniques. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) were employed for data analysis and hypothesis testing. Results indicate that performance evaluation, training and development, recruitment, and reciprocity significantly affect knowledge sharing. Additionally, knowledge sharing has a subsequent effect on operational excellence. Nevertheless, a relationship between incentives and knowledge sharing were not supported. This study contributes to the understanding of HR strategies in fostering knowledge sharing and its implications for operational excellence in the grocery retail sector.

The Influence of Digital Retail Environment on Consumer Purchasing Behavior: A Causal Study

As e-commerce continues to evolve, understanding consumer behavior in the context of online shopping becomes increasingly challenging. This study investigates the impact of purchasing attitudes among Saudi customers within the online clothing environment. By collecting 410 responses from residents of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the study emphasizes the convenience aspect of online and virtual markets and employs advanced statistical techniques, specifically SPSS-AMOS software, including confirmatory factor analysis, path analysis, and structural equation modeling. The findings reveal several key insights: perceived entertainment, perceived ease of use, and perceived usefulness significantly and positively influence the user experience on websites. The research highlights the importance of website quality indicators, such as perceived entertainment, ease of use, and usefulness, in shaping the user experience within the online clothing environment. It confirms that website quality, encompassing indicators of the user experience, exhibits a significant positive association with online impulse buying behavior. Additionally, the flow experience, which refers to the immersive and enjoyable state when browsing a website, also demonstrates a statistically significant and positive effect on online impulse buying behavior. These findings offer valuable insights for businesses and marketers seeking to understand and adapt to the evolving landscape of e-commerce, specifically concerning online clothing purchases.