Definition Of Construct Research Articles

Development and First Validation of the Perceived Young Adult Lockdown Parental Relationship Scale (PYALPRS): An Italian Case Study

The COVID-19 pandemic and the confinement experience have significantly affected the relationship between young adults and their parents. The present study focuses on the design and validation of the Perceived Young Adult Lockdown Parental Relationship Scale (PYALPRS), a measure assessing two dimensions of the child–parent relationship associated with the COVID-19 lockdown period: Oppression-Conflict and Closeness-Support. After a phase of construct definition and item design and purification, 100 Italian young adults (M = 24; SD = 3.9) were recruited to explore the factor structure of the scale. Then, a sample of 259 Italian young adults (aged 18–35; M = 24; SD = 3.8) was used to demonstrate the psychometric validity of the scale. The results of our confirmatory factor analysis, which resulted in high goodness of fit scores, support two identifiable factors reflecting the theory-based constructs of the PYALPRS. Moreover, internal consistency and convergent and divergent validity analyses show that the PYALPRS can be considered a reliable and valid instrument. ANOVA demonstrated that there were significant differences between being a cohabitant or single as well as between different perceptions of the home space during lockdown on the Oppression-Conflict dimension, while a larger home space perception was associated with the Closeness-Support dimension.

Needed: Clear definition and hierarchical integration of motivation constructs.

Murayama and Jach offer a thoughtful and timely critique of motivation constructs. We largely concur with their basic premises, but offer additional input and clarification regarding the importance of carefully considering the energization and direction components of motivation, and fully attending to the hierarchical aspect of motivation rather than prioritizing particular levels of analysis.

The Virtual Client Experience Survey for Mental Health and Addictions: Revalidation of a Survey to Measure Client and Family Experiences of Virtual Care.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic precipitated a rapid shift to virtual care in health care settings, inclusive of mental health care. Understanding clients' perspectives on virtual mental health care quality will be critical to informing future policies and practices. This study aimed to outline the process of redesigning and validating the Virtual Client Experience Survey (VCES), which can be used to evaluate client and family experiences of virtual care, specifically virtual mental health and addiction care. The VCES was adapted from a previously validated telepsychiatry survey. All items were reviewed and updated, with particular attention to the need to ensure relevance across mental health care sectors and settings. The survey was then revalidated using the 6 domains of health care quality of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) as a guiding framework. These 6 domains include being safe, effective, patient-centered, efficient, timely, and equitable. The VCES was piloted with a convenience sample of clients and family members accessing outpatient care at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto, Ontario, through video or telephone. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted in MPlus and used to test the factorial structures of the VCES, with minor respecification of the model based on modification indices, factor loadings, reliability, and item-total correlation. The respecifications were checked for alignment with the construct definitions and item interpretation. The reliability of the constructs was estimated by the Cronbach α coefficient. The survey was completed 181 times. The construct reliability was generally high. Timely was the only subscale with an α lower than 0.7; all others were above 0.8. In all cases, the corrected item-total correlation was higher than 0.3. For the CFA, the model was adjusted after multiple imputations with 20 datasets. The mean chi-square value was 437.5, with df=199 (P<.001). The mean root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) was 0.08 (SD 0.002), the mean confirmatory fit index (CFI) was 0.987 (SD 0.001), the mean Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI) was 0.985 (SD 0.001), and the mean standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) was 0.04 (SD 0.001). This study describes the validation of the VCES to evaluate client and family experiences of virtual mental health and addictions care. Given the widespread uptake of virtual care, this survey has broad applicability across settings that provide mental health and addiction care. The VCES can be used to guide targeted quality improvement initiatives across health care quality domains. By effectively addressing challenges as they emerge, it is anticipated that we will continue to move toward hybrid modalities of practice that leverage the strengths and benefits of telephone, video, and in-person care to effectively respond to unique client and family needs and circumstances.

Lost in Translation: The Conceptual Drift from the Identity Status Interview to Questionnaire Measures

AbstractThe identity status model (Marcia et al., J Pers Soc Psychol 3:551--558, 1966) is a widely used framework for identity research in adolescence and adulthood. This paper explores the conceptual and empirical relations between two identity status assessments – the identity status interview (Marcia et al., in Ego identity, Springer, New York, 1993) and the Dimensions of Identity Development Scale (DIDS; Luyckx et al. in J Res Person, 42:58–82, 2008) ). Study 1 was a systematic review of studies that have statistically derived identity statuses based on the DIDS (k = 42 samples), revealing pronounced inconsistencies in the meaning and interpretations in the classifications. Study 2 examined the factor structure of the DIDS across three Swedish samples (N = 429), and then in a subsample of 123 young adults examined correspondence between the DIDS and the identity status interview. Although there were the expected correlations between commitment and exploration processes using the two methods, when the DIDS processes were plotted over the identity statuses as assessed in the identity status interview, expected relations were only detected for the moratorium status, and not for identity achievement, foreclosure, or diffusion. Together, our findings show that aside from the intentional changes made from Marcia’s identity status model to the dual-cycle model, there have been what appear to be a less intentional drift in the definition and operationalization of the core constructs shared by the two models. The findings highlight the need to keep the complexity in identity research, as the risk of getting lost in translation in measurement development is apparent.

Development and Validation of a Novel Tool to Measure Medication Adherence for Noncommunicable Diseases in India: Protocol for an Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods Multicentric Study.

In high-income countries, only 50% of patients treated for chronic diseases adhere to the prescribed treatment. This issue is even more pronounced in resource-limited countries. Medication adherence scales are simple, low-cost approaches to identify nonadherence in clinical practice. In India, nonadherence to medication varies from 18.7% to 74%, assessed using scales validated in the Western population, as there is no validated medication adherence tool contextualized to the Indian setting. The phrasing of questions in scales validated elsewhere and its interpretations may vary when applied in Indian patients unless accounting for the unique cultural, social, and economic factors influencing medication adherence in India. This could result in inaccurate reports of adherence behavior. This study aims to develop and validate a novel medication adherence tool for select noncommunicable diseases (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchial asthma, and coronary artery disease) in the Indian population. An exploratory sequential mixed methods design will be used, beginning with a qualitative phase where the construct of the scale is defined and preliminary items are generated through a scoping review, focus group discussions, and in-depth interviews. This will be followed by the tool's development phase, including an expert panel review and item revision. Finally, a quantitative phase in 4 zones in India (North, South, East, and West) will be conducted to confirm and validate the newly developed scale. In the first phase, we will frame the construct definition and develop an inventory of potential items for the proposed medication adherence tool. In the second phase, item-level and scale-level content validity indices, along with content validity ratio, will be estimated. In the third phase, we will conduct an item reduction analysis and determine the scoring matrix and item weightage after expert review. We will assess the tool's psychometric properties, plot the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to set an adherence cut-off score, and compute the construct validity and test-retest reliability from the quantitative survey. A medication adherence tool for noncommunicable diseases, developed after ensuring it is ethnically, culturally, and linguistically appropriate incorporating stakeholder perspectives and validated in community settings, would offer a real-world perspective of adherence. The tool will have 2 versions for clinical practice and research, aiding policy makers in adopting tailored adherence policies. PRR1-10.2196/60805.

To what extent is the banking sector devoted to sustainability? A bibliometric and content analysis

AbstractThis research explores the diverse scenario of sustainability in the banking sector, aiming to comprehensively map the existing literature on the subject. It uses a comprehensive literature review methodology, applying bibliometric and content analysis techniques. Based on an analysis of 142 papers, the study traces the trajectory of sustainability in the banking sector, identifying key challenges and unresolved issues. The study not only offers insights into the interplay of sustainable practices but also sheds light on the internal struggles within the banking sector to integrate environmental, social, and governance practices into daily operations. The findings reveal that the main topics related to banking sustainability are sustainability reporting, banking performance, and customer loyalty. Additionally, the research examines the definitions of essential constructs, such as sustainable banking and finance, green banking and finance, exploring overlaps and distinctive characteristics. The findings provide valuable contributions to research by pinpointing critical literature gaps and offering practical insights into a broader sustainability agenda, including its primary challenges.

What Should Psychometricians Know about the History of Testing and Testing Policy?

AbstractIn 2023, a National Council on Measurement in Education Presidential Task Force developed a consensus framework for foundational competencies in educational measurement to guide graduate programs and subsequent professional development. This article elaborates on the social, cultural, historical, and political context subdomain from that framework. A graduate course on the history of testing and testing policy in the United States is proposed to help measurement professionals develop an understanding of historic belief systems and theories of action that affect every aspect of testing applications—definition of constructs, instrument design, respondents’ interactions, interpretations and use of results, and both intended and unintended consequences. Two, accessible, key readings are proposed for each of 14 weeks addressing the following topics: IQ testing and deficit perspectives; special education placements, disproportionality, and accommodations; grade retention and tracking; college admissions testing; standards‐based reforms; 1990s performance assessment innovations; NCLB and school accountability; achievement gaps and opportunity to learn; NAEP and international assessments; standard setting and NAEP achievement levels; Common Core State Standards and ESSA; formative assessment and research on learning; culturally responsive assessment.

The Development of Intellect in Emerging Adults: Predictors of Longitudinal Trajectories.

Intellect is an important personality trait, especially with regard to the prediction and explanation of intellectual performance, such as occupational or academic success. However, much less is known about the development of Intellect. I present results from a longitudinal study spanning eight years to investigate changes in Intellect during a critical period: the transition from school to vocation. The study is based on a large and heterogeneous sample with up to 1964 participants. Using a facet approach, I investigate predictors of longitudinal trajectories theoretically derived from construct definition, including subjective and objective attributes of education and profession; attitudes regarding the malleability of personality traits; as well as personality traits beyond Intellect, especially intelligence. Results reveal some support for the social investment principle according to neo-socioanalytic theory, as epistemic job demands and epistemic leisure activities predicted the increase in Intellect over time. The study contributes to our understanding of the development of personality traits related to intellectual achievement, including important internal and external predictors of longitudinal trajectories.

A high-stakes reading test as the White listening subject: Applying an antiracist validation lens

ABSTRACT In this paper, the White listening subject takes the form of a standardized high-stakes reading test, the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR). Although the test does not actually listen, it ‘hears’ and evaluates children’s responses to its questions. I present the results of the 2017 Grade 8 reading exams, from the March, May, and June administrations, with a focus on results for students who are learning English as an additional language, who are racially minoritized, and who are economically disadvantaged. The analysis looks at factors predicting test completion, passing rates, and test resitting: language proficiency status, race/racism, and economic disadvantage. In the discussion, I question these results’ validity by examining the STAAR validity arguments including the construct definition, development and scoring of the assessment, retake administration policies, and consequences for language minoritized and racialized students. I hope this study may spur changes in policy and practice, and the institution of a re-humanizing lens in assessment policies in Texas and beyond.

The Relationship Between Misinformation And Social Noise And Their Impact On The Information Ecosystem

Social noise and social entropy are new concepts modeled after Shannon’s information and communication theory, in which the interference of noise between the sender and receiver is measured using entropy. Social noise in the context of social media plays a vital role in magnifying and spreading misinformation, which in turn impacts the overall information ecosystem. Ecosystems are made of interconnected and integrated parts that rely on one another to maintain balance and survive. Studies related to social noise and misinformation have shown that social noise can contribute significantly to spreading misinformation and potentially alter the original intended message (Alsaid &amp; Pampapura, 2022); Alsaid et al. (2024). paper investigates methods of quantifying social noise using entropy to minimize the spread of misinformation on social media, particularly X. Using a combination of Uncertainty Reduction Theory (URT) and Social Entropy, data analysis was performed using one million tweets harvested from #Ukraine. Data analysis involved several methods: sentiment analyses, term association, network maps, and entropy computation. Results have shown a direct relationship between social noise and social entropy as a measure of uncertainty. Also, social noise and uncertainty decrease with the use of URLs and rich content. It is evident from the results that the entropy value is influenced by the accuracy of keywords identified using topic modeling as descriptive of social noise constructs. Semantic analysis of tweets can help improve the definition of social noise constructs, leading to enhanced and more accurate entropy calculation. Future studies may consider advanced machine learning and AI

Conceptualizing Sleep Satisfaction: A Rapid Review.

Good, satisfying, sleep is a key indicator and determinant of health and wellness. However, there is no consensus about how to define and measure good sleep. The present research aimed to define sleep satisfaction through the extant literature and disentangle it from sleep quality, a conceptually similar construct. Systematic review methods were adapted for a rapid review approach. The entire review was completed in eight weeks. Tabulation coding with content analysis was used to identify key categories and synthesize findings. A systematic process for generating construct definitions was followed. Database search yielded 51 eligible studies (N > 218,788), representing diverse adult populations, in 20 countries. Designs varied in rigour. Sleep satisfaction was defined as a personal, introspective, and global judgment about one's feelings of contentment with one's sleep, at a particular point in time. Sleep satisfaction was understood as an indicator of general health, impacted by and varied as a function of one's sleep environment and individual-level characteristics. This rapid review contributes to the literature by providing the first systematically generated definition of sleep satisfaction, with strong implications for measurement, research, and practice.

A novel approach to measure perceived customer centricity in the passenger airline industry: Index development and validation

This study addresses a significant gap in current research by developing and validating a comprehensive index for measuring perceived customer centricity in the passenger airline industry. The index was derived using a rigorous scale development methodology based on three surveys with a total of 963 participants. The process involved construct definition, item generation, and item validation through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. The final measurement index comprises 19 items across four dimensions (Customer Care & Experience, Communication & Product, Sustainability, and Value) and demonstrates strong discriminant and convergent validity, providing a reliable tool for assessing customer perceptions. Therefore, this research introduces the first validated measure of perceived customer centricity specifically designed for the airline industry and offers practical insights for airline managers, enabling them to identify specific areas where customer perceptions fall short and to make targeted improvements. Additionally, the index serves as an alternative to the industry-wide adopted Net Promoter Score (NPS). It extends current literature by providing an industry-specific scale and offers a practical instrument for enhancing customer-centric strategies in real-world applications, thereby fostering long-term, mutually beneficial relationships. Additionally, it provides empirical evidence of the multidimensional nature of customer centricity and offers a validated tool that can be applied in future research to explore customer perceptions and their impact on airline performance, thus satisfying both practical and academic needs.

The predictive value of gaze behavior and mouse-clicking in testing listening proficiency: A sensor technology study

This study employed eye-tracking and mouse click frequency analysis to investigate the predictive power of gaze behaviors, mouse-clicking, and their interactive effects with linguistic backgrounds on the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) listening test scores. A total of 77 test takers (45 with English as their first language (E-L1) and 32 with English as their second language (E-L2)) participated in this study. Their eye movements and mouse click frequencies were recorded as they took a computer-based IELTS listening test. The subsequent data analysis, utilizing linear mixed models, showed that gaze patterns, mouse actions, and language background significantly predicted listening test outcomes across four listening test sections and between E-L1 and E-L2 candidates, accounting for 33.2% of the variance observed in test scores. These results indicate the effect of potential sources of construct-irrelevant variance on test scores, which are not predicted in the available construct definitions of the test used in the study. Implications for the listening construct and test validity are discussed.

Toxic work climates: An integrative review and development of a new construct and theoretical framework.

Research and the media demonstrate the profound impact hostile work environments have on organizations and their members. Often, the term "toxic work climate" is used to describe patterns of aggressive behaviors that harm individuals and manifest in the broader workplace. However, despite these common references, scholars still know relatively little about what a toxic work climate actually entails, the processes by which they emerge, and their influence on organizational outcomes. The research domain is complex. Within the organizational literature alone, toxic work climates have been described as those that harbor abusive bosses, aggressive employees, and those that show signs of bullying or incivility. Our aim in this integrative conceptual review is to add precision and focus to this multidisciplinary and fragmented literature. Grounding our efforts in multilevel theories, we first introduce an overarching definition of the toxic work climate construct and review research on existing hostile climate types that can appropriately be consolidated under this new heading. We then develop a new theoretical model that outlines the dominant causes and mechanisms by which toxic work climates form, and the main pathways by which they influence employees, teams, and organizations. Finally, we provide a unified path forward for advancing theory, research, and practice, including advice on how toxic climates might be combated in years to come. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Putting the "experience" back in experience sampling: A phenomenological approach.

This article discusses the concept of "experience" in experience sampling. A central challenge of clinical science is understanding psychopathological constructs and their manifestations. In conventional definitions and measures of psychopathology, subjective experience of mental disorder is often lost. The authors argue for an integration of phenomenology-or prioritization of subjectivity-in psychopathological construct definition and measurement, particularly through experience sampling methods (ESMs). ESMs capture idiographic, contextual, and longitudinal elements of lived experience that can expand our current conceptualizations and classifications of psychopathology. The authors propose three novel applications and extensions: (a) leveraging ESM for subjective construct definition (i.e., phenomena detection), (b) mixed-methods approaches, like cognitive interviewing, to improve the validity of ESM measures and (c) incorporation of novel ESM approaches (e.g., audiovisual data capturing) to expand understanding of subjective, daily experience of psychopathology. Merging phenomenological tradition with ESM serves to expand our understanding of psychopathology and bring "experience" back into experience sampling. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Autism Spectrum Disorder and BRIEF-P: A Review and Meta-Analysis.

This research can facilitate the development of early detection tools for ASD by identifying specific patterns of deficits in executive functioning, validating the use of the BRIEF-P as a detection tool, and complementing information obtained from other evaluation instruments (Autism Diagnostic Interview-ADI-and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-ADOS). To gain knowledge of the application and usefulness of the BRIEF-P in the evaluation of executive functions (EFs) in people with ASD in the early years of the life cycle. In order to systematically examine this hypothesis, a meta-analysis was conducted to identify the executive profile (strengths and weaknesses) of children with ASD. Out of a total of 161,773 potentially eligible published articles from different databases, 13 appropriate articles were revised and 4 articles were selected. Studies that were included evaluated samples involving individuals with ASD aged 2 to 8 years and were published in English or Spanish during the period of 2012-2022. The executive profile obtained from the application of the BRIEF-P in individuals with ASD was analyzed. It was identified that children with ASD, compared to typically developing children, show significantly clinical scores on the flexibility, inhibition, and global executive functioning scales. The results support the hypothesis of an executive deficit, with flexibility and inhibition being diagnostic markers for early and prompt identification of autism. The results confirm deficits in flexibility, although they are not conclusive. This may be due to aspects related to methodology, whereby the studies (i) include very large and heterogeneous age groups, (ii) do not discriminate based on the level of competence, and (iii) use instruments for evaluating executive functions that are not validated or adapted for people with ASD. Another reason is the lack of consensus in the very operational definition of the executive functions construct, with the studies focusing mainly on the cold dimension while ignoring the hot dimension. From the perspective of therapeutic and treatment implications, executive dysfunction can impact adaptive skills in daily life and consequently the person's autonomy.

Assessing Autonomy, Competence, and Relatedness Briefly

Abstract: The satisfaction of the psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness have been established as central components of human well-being, predictive of various positive behavioral and psychological outcomes. However, in many contexts, they need to be assessed very briefly, sometimes with just one item. Recent research has shown that well-designed single-item scales of relatively unidimensional constructs can perform surprisingly well. Accordingly, this project aimed to create and validate single-item scales for the three needs. In Study 1 ( n = 353, UK), we generated new items based on careful examination of the construct definitions and tested them alongside established multi-item need satisfaction scales. In Study 2 ( n = 335, US), we replicated these results using a shorter time span (need satisfaction yesterday). Study 3 ( n = 327, UK) compared the performance to a few other brief need satisfaction scales. In all studies, the new single items loaded excellently on respective longer scales and correlated with criterion variables at near identical levels as the longer scales. Given that the performance of the single-item scales was comparable to the established multi-item scales, they are recommended as valid and useful measures of need satisfaction for research context requiring very brief measures.

Evaluating the harmonization potential of oral health-related questionnaires in national longitudinal birth and child cohort surveys.

Effective use of longitudinal study data is challenging because of divergences in the construct definitions and measurement approaches over time, between studies and across disciplines. One approach to overcome these challenges is data harmonization. Data harmonization is a practice used to improve variable comparability and reduce heterogeneity across studies. This study describes the process used to evaluate the harmonization potential of oral health-related variables across each survey wave. National child cohort surveys with similar themes/objectives conducted in the last two decades were selected. The Maelstrom Research Guidelines were followed for harmonization potential evaluation. Seven nationally representative child cohort surveys were included and questionnaires examined from 50 survey waves. Questionnaires were classified into three domains and fifteen constructs and summarized by age groups. A DataSchema (a list of core variables representing the suitable version of the oral health outcomes and risk factors) was compiled comprising 42 variables. For each study wave, the potential (or not) to generate each DataSchema variable was evaluated. Of the 2100 harmonization status assessments, 543 (26%) were complete. Approximately 50% of the DataSchema variables can be generated across at least four cohort surveys while only 10% (n = 4) variables can be generated across all surveys. For each survey, the DataSchema variables that can be generated ranged between 26% and 76%. Data harmonization can improve the comparability of variables both within and across surveys. For future cohort surveys, the authors advocate more consistency and standardization in survey questionnaires within and between surveys.

Development and content validation of a questionnaire to assess the social determinants of mental health in clinical practice.

There is growing consensus that consideration of the Social Determinants of Mental Health should be at the centre of mental health care provision. To facilitate this, a validated means to assess mental health service users' social contextual information is arguably needed. We therefore developed a questionnaire to assess the Social Determinants of Mental Health in clinical practice. Our guideline-informed development consisted of three steps; i) construct and purpose definition, ii) initial item generation based on the literature, similar questionnaires, and a selection of the ICD-10, iii) evaluation, revision, and content validation of the questionnaire. Initially we developed 249 items that were reduced, revised, and validated in several stages to 73 items. Content validation of the questionnaire was achieved through surveys and focus groups including mental health care service users and professionals. The surveys and focus groups indicated the need for a standardised assessment of adverse social factors and highlighted that the benefits of such an assessment would be a more holistic approach to identifying and addressing fundamental factors involved in the development of mental health difficulties. Importantly, this study also revealed how any assessment of the Social Determinants of Mental Health must prioritise the assessed person having a central role in the process and control over their own data. The focus groups identified contradicting recommendations regarding the most suitable context to administer the questionnaire. The resulting questionnaire can be considered to be theoretically robust and partially validated. Future research is discussed.

Classifying Individuals With Rheumatic Conditions as Financially Insecure Using Electronic Health Record Data and Natural Language Processing: Algorithm Derivation and Validation.

We aimed to examine the feasibility of applying natural language processing (NLP) to unstructured electronic health record (EHR) documents to detect the presence of financial insecurity among patients with rheumatologic disease enrolled in an integrated care management program (iCMP). We incorporated supervised, rule-based NLP and statistical methods to identify financial insecurity among patients with rheumatic conditions enrolled in an iCMP (n = 20,395) in a multihospital EHR system. We constructed a lexicon for financial insecurity using data from available knowledge sources and then reviewed EHR notes from 538 randomly selected individuals (training cohort n = 366, validation cohort n = 172). We manually categorized records as having "definite," "possible," or "no" mention of financial insecurity. All available notes were processed using Narrative Information Linear Extraction, a rule-based version of NLP. Models were trained using the NLP features for financial insecurity using logistic, least absolute shrinkage operator (LASSO), and random forest performance characteristic and were compared with the reference standard. A total of 245,142 notes were processed from 538 individual patient records. Financial insecurity was present among 100 (27%) individuals in the training cohort and 63 (37%) in the validation cohort. The LASSO and random forest models performed identically and slightly better than logistic regression, with positive predictive values of 0.90, sensitivities of 0.29, and specificities of 0.98. The development of a context-driven lexicon used with rule-based NLP to extract data that identify financial insecurity is feasible for use and improved the capture for presence of financial insecurity with high accuracy. In the absence of a standard lexicon and construct definition for financial insecurity status, additional studies are needed to optimize the sensitivity of algorithms to categorize financial insecurity with construct validity.