Instrument Design Research Articles

Reflexive approaches to sampling, survey design and implementation: some practical examples from rural India

ABSTRACT Reflexivity in quantitative research is central to questioning the ways in which the data is designed, collected and interpreted. It requires the researcher to be reflexive about their knowledge, their positionality, and the bias they may bring at each stage of the research. Unfortunately, though, limited evidence exists on the use of reflexive approaches to adapt more ‘standardised’ approaches to quantitative research, such as sampling, design of survey instruments and the use of scales for measurement. Using the case of a large-scale data collection which took place in Uttar Pradesh, India, this paper demonstrates the challenges of sampling villages and selecting teachers and students as main sampling units. We further demonstrate the adaptation required with language and standard measure scales as well as how to consider enumerators as key stakeholders in the process of data collection. We argue that adaptions to standardised techniques are necessary to enhance the validity of quantitative research when working in diverse contexts.

Technological Factor and Technological Adoption in Agricultural Enterprises of the San Quintín Valley: Validity And Reliability of the Instrument

Objective: to present the process of validation and reliability of the design of a measurement instrument to measure the variables technological factor and technological adoption in agricultural enterprises. Theoretical framework: The research addresses the technological factor that emerges from the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) model as a determinant of technological adoption, developing the concepts and focusing on their behavior in agricultural companies. Method: The methodology used is based on a non-experimental cross-sectional study with an explanatory correlational scope, applying statistical analysis techniques to assess the validity and reliability of the instrument. Results: The values of KMO = 0.853 and Cronbach's Alpha = 0.926 allow us to infer that the instrument has an adequate validity and reliability to measure the constructs. Discussion and conclusions: Based on the results obtained, it was concluded that the instrument is suitable to measure the influence of the technological factor on the adoption of technology in the case of agricultural companies in the San Quentin Valley. Implications of research: The research contributes to the understanding of the influence of the technological factor in the technological adoption in agricultural companies, allowing to formulate strategies for their management and with it to increase in this type of companies the level of systematization according to the current digital economy. Originality/value: The research provides a measurement tool that allows data to be collected to understand the context of agricultural companies regarding technological adoption.

Behavioral risk assessment of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among workers of petrochemical industries: protocol of a mixed method study

BackgroundMusculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are one of the most common occupational diseases and the main cause of disability worldwide. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) are one of the common health risks and the most important cause of absenteeism due to disability in various industries, including the petrochemical industry, in developed and developing countries. These disorders have important social economic, and significant financial consequences due to direct and hidden costs. Health behaviors play a role in both creating and preventing musculoskeletal disorders in employees. Therefore, by identifying the influencing factors on these behaviors, it is possible to strengthen and improve the preventive behaviors of musculoskeletal disorders through educational intervention programs. This study aims to assess the behavioral risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, and design and implement an educational intervention to teach effective behaviors in the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders in petrochemical industry workers.MethodsThis study is a mixed-method study implemented in four stages involving the qualitative study, the design and evaluation of an instrument, the design of an experimental randomized clinical trial, and the psychometric evaluation of the instrument and the evaluation of the program. The research community consists of employees working in the petrochemical industry. The volume of samples in the qualitative study with the purposeful sampling method, in the instrument design stage based on the available sampling method, and also in the experimental study, the samples are employees suffering from work-related musculoskeletal disorders, who were selected based on a simple random method from among the employees of the petrochemical industry. Then they will be divided into intervention and control groups. The instruments of this research include a demographic questionnaire, a researcher-made questionnaire for measuring behavior, and two auxiliary instruments including the visual analog scale (VAS) and the Quebec Disability Scale. Evaluation is done in 4 stages: pre-test, immediately, 3, and 6 months after the intervention of both groups. The obtained data will be analyzed using SPSS software.DiscussionMusculoskeletal disorders related (WMSDs) to work can harm employees’ health in various industries, including the petrochemical industry. This study attempts to evaluate the behavioral risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders among petrochemical industry workers and design and implement an appropriate educational intervention program.Trial registrationIranian Registry of Clinical Trial (IRCT20240321061346N1). Registered on 2024–04-10.Ethics Status: Ethics code: IR.MODARES.REC.1402.251.

Stigma in Mexican patients with Lung Cancer: Psychometric Properties of the Cataldo Lung Cancer Stigma Scale (CLCSS) - Brief version.

Stigma in lung cancer patients may be associated with various negative outcomes such as increased psychosocial symptoms, severity of physical symptoms, and may act as a barrier to medical help-seeking behavior. The Cataldo Lung Cancer Stigma Scale (CLCSS) is one of the most widely used instruments for assessing health-related stigma in lung cancer patients. To determine the psychometric properties of the CLCSS in a Mexican sample of lung cancer patients. A non-experimental, instrumental design was employed, using non-probabilistic sampling based on availability. The sample included 265 lung cancer patients. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was conducted to assess construct validity, and Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's Omega were used for internal consistency and test-retest reliability, respectively, through Pearson correlation coefficient. The 17-item version yielded a model with 4 factors (stigma and shame, social isolation, discrimination, and smoking) explaining 50.74% of the variance, with adequate values of internal consistency and test-retest reliability. The Mexican version of the CLCSS is culturally appropriate, brief, psychometrically valid, and reliable for assessing health-related stigma in Mexican lung cancer patients.

Validation of the self-regulation of learning instrument for undergraduates

IntroductionSelf-regulation of learning is an essential variable in university students’ educational process and integral development, especially in the first semesters. Given its relevance, significant, valid, and reliable instruments are required for its measurement. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the psychometric properties of the SRLI-U scale that assesses Self-Regulation of Learning in Undergraduates.MethodsAn instrumental design was used, and the questionnaire was administered to 348 Chilean first-year university students (59.5% female) aged between 18 and 21 years (M = 18.85; SD = 0.773).ResultsAdequate adjustment indexes of the second order model were evidenced considering three dimensions theoretically coherent with Zimmerman’s model (1) Learning Disposition, Ω = 0.861, (2) Learning Performance, Ω = 0.842, and (3) Learning Self-evaluation, Ω = 0.887; and a general factor Ω = 0.936.ConclusionIt is a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating levels of self-regulation in Chilean university students.DiscussionThe SRLI-U constitutes a valuable tool for educational practice because it allows for evaluating, monitoring, and intervening the self-regulation of learning levels. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed, as well as the study’s limitations.

Optical System Design of a Self-Calibrating Real Entrance Pupil Imaging Spectrometer

Presently, on-orbit calibration methods have several problems, such as low calibration accuracy and broken traceability links, so an urgent need exists to unify traceable and high-precision on-orbit radiometric calibration loads as benchmarks for cross-transfer radiometric calibration. Considering the deficiencies of current on-orbit calibration, this paper proposes adjusting the size of the variable diaphragm at the entrance pupil and the integration time to attain large dynamic attenuation, converting the radiometric calibration into absolute geometric calibration of the attenuation device, and realizing a self-calibrating real entrance pupil imaging spectrometer (SCREPIS) that can be directly used to view the Earth and the Sun and quickly obtain apparent reflectance data. An initial structural design method based on the distance between individual mirrors is proposed according to the instrument design requirements. The design of a real entry pupil image-side telecentricity off-axis three-reflector front optical system with a 7° field of view along the slit direction, a 3.7 systematic F-number, and a 93 mm focal length is finally realized, and the system image plane energy is verified to change proportionally to the variable diaphragm area. Finally, the front system and rear Offner optical system are jointly simulated and optically designed. The system provides instrumental support for cross-calibration and theoretical support and a technical basis for planning space-based radiation references.

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.

Flow disturbance by intrusive instrumentation located on the surface of a compressor blade

In this paper, we present an experimental and numerical investigation into the flow disturbance by intrusive instrumentation in the form of spanwise pressure tubes mounted on the pressure and suction side of a compressor blade in a linear cascade wind tunnel at a moderate subsonic Mach number of 0.5 and a Reynolds number of 790,000. The pressure tubes were modelled as simplified bumps extending over the entire span with a width of 24% of the chord length and a height of 67% of the maximum blade thickness. The leading edge of the bumps is located at 30% of the streamwise surface length. We found that the total pressure losses generated by these pressure tubes are considerably larger when they are placed on the suction side of the blade. The suction-sided bump increases the total pressure loss coefficient by a factor of four, while the pressure-sided bump approximately doubles it. CFD simulations reveal that the suction-sided bump causes the flow to form a large, open recirculation zone, while for the pressure-sided bump, the flow reattaches near the trailing edge. In conclusion, we provide insights into the effects of pressure tubes on the losses generated by compressor blades. The mounted tubes significantly impact the flow and should be carefully considered during instrumentation design.

Assessing Rodent Attitudes: The Psychometric Properties of the SARod in a Chilean Context.

This study aimed to develop and validate the Scale of Attitudes towards Rodents (SARod) to measure public attitudes towards rodents in a Chilean community context. Utilizing an instrumental design, we gathered data from 497 participants using convenience sampling. The SARod, comprising 22 Likert-scale items, evaluates attitudes across four dimensions: Scientistic, Positivistic, Emotional Negativistic, and Cognitive and Behavioral Negativistic. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted to examine the scale's structure and reliability, revealing strong internal consistency (Ω > 0.8) across all factors. Results indicated that higher educational levels and increased interaction with rodents were associated with more positive attitudes, while a greater disposition towards rodent extermination correlated with more negative attitudes. No significant gender differences were observed. The SARod shows robust psychometric properties, offering a reliable tool for cross-cultural comparisons of rodent-related attitudes. This scale can inform targeted interventions and public education campaigns, promoting coexistence and effective rodent management strategies. Further research should explore the application of the SARod in diverse cultural contexts.

Novel Logging While Drilling Azimuthal Laterolog Resistivity Instrument Design for Oil-Based Mud

Novel Logging While Drilling Azimuthal Laterolog Resistivity Instrument Design for Oil-Based Mud

GGR Handbook of Rock and Mineral Analysis Chapter 5 The Inductively Coupled Plasma

This chapter (The Inductively Coupled Plasma) is a contribution to the Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research Handbook of Rock and Mineral Analysis – an online textbook that is a fully revised and updated edition of A Handbook of Silicate Rock Analysis (P. J. Potts, 1987, Blackie, Glasgow).Chapter 5 (from Section 1 of the handbook dealing with fundamentals of measurement and instrument design) is a comprehensive treatment of the inductively coupled plasma – a significant cornerstone of modern geoanalytical spectrometry. The Chapter includes discussion of plasma formation and key components of the ICP source. This is followed by an examination of the challenges of sample introduction into the plasma, particularly focussed on the introduction of liquid samples. The physical structure of the plasma, its robustness and interference effects are fully examined prior to a section dealing with how the operation of plasma is optimised in practise.

GGR Handbook of Rock and Mineral Analysis Chapter 1 (Part 2) Sampling as Part of the Measurement Process

This chapter (Sampling as Part of the Measurement Process) is a contribution to the Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research Handbook of Rock and Mineral Analysis – an online textbook that is a fully revised and updated edition of A Handbook of Silicate Rock Analysis (P. J. Potts, 1987, Blackie, Glasgow).Chapter 1 (Part 2) forms part of Section 1 of the handbook dealing with fundamentals of measurement and instrument design. The geochemical measurement process is considered to begin when the primary sample is taken from the sampling target, rather than when that sample arrives at the laboratory. This integration of sampling within the measurement procedure enables both sampling and chemical analysis to be optimised in order to achieve a measurement procedure that is fit for its intended geochemical purpose. The key metric in judging this fitness for purpose, and hence validating a measurement procedure, is the uncertainty of each measurement value. This measurement uncertainty is explained, together with methods to estimate and express it in a way that includes the contribution from sampling, with a worked example. The resultant more realistic estimates of measurement uncertainty are shown to improve the reliability of the geochemical interpretation of measurement values.

Overcoming the Challenges of Including Learners with Visual Impairments Through Teacher Collaborations

In this article we report on a study undertaken with 255 teachers working with learners with visual impairments. The focus of our discussion is teachers’ implementation of inclusive education policies with learners with visual impairments in full-service schools in South Africa. We foreground the ways in which the teacher participants relied on teacher collaborations to overcome some of the challenges they faced as a result of limited resource provisions in schools in this country. We implemented an instrumental case study design and followed the approach of participatory reflection and action (PRA). The sample included teachers (n = 255) from seven full-service and ten special schools from five provinces in South Africa. In addition, 50 expert stakeholders who work in the field of visual impairment were involved. For data generation and documentation, we utilised PRA-based workshops, the observation-as-context-of-interaction method, audio-visual techniques, field notes, and reflective journals. The findings of our research confirm that full-service schools face distinct challenges regarding limited resources as well as teachers that are inexperienced to accommodate learners with visual impairments. Even though the teachers in our study were initially reluctant to implement inclusive education practices, their collaboration with fellow teachers and other informed stakeholders enabled them to address some of the challenges they experienced and implement inclusive practices. They subsequently formed a team and learnt from one another to facilitate positive changes through the implementation of inclusive practices, thereby following a socio-ecological approach to inclusive practices in full-service schools in South Africa.

Pregnancy care experiences for adults with congenital heart disease in the United States

BackgroundResearch to reduce maternal morbidity due to cardiovascular disease is vitally important in the United States, especially for the growing number of individuals with congenital heart disease (CHD) reaching childbearing age. Understanding patient experiences through patient engagement is critical to designing research that is aligned with the needs of adults with CHD undergoing pregnancy. MethodsThis patient engagement project, grounded in human centered design, focuses on the discovering patient and healthcare provider priorities for reducing maternal morbidity in CHD through patient centered outcomes research (PCOR). In this first stage, a capacity building consortium of over 90 key partners, including patients, advocates, healthcare providers, and researchers, was assembled. Baseline education on patient engagement, PCOR, and survey instrument design was delivered virtually. Two questionnaires were designed to elicit tacit knowledge – one for patients and one for providers – regarding gaps and needs across four key pillars: access to clinical care, patient and provider education, mental health, and research opportunities. The pillars were determined through thematic summaries from consortium discussions. ResultsThe patient questionnaire received 828 responses (age range: 18-60 years) from 48 U.S. states. The provider questionnaire garnered 218 responses from professionals. Several common themes for areas of research were observed across all pillars including improved access to specialized cardio-obstetric care and improved education about the need for specialized care. Healthcare providers cited insufficient care coordination models and resources as a major barrier to providing effective clinical care. Both patients and providers expressed a need for improved access to mental health care. While only 28% of patient respondents who underwent a pregnancy reported a pre-existing mental health diagnosis, nearly 2/3 reported having significant anxiety symptoms related to their pregnancy. Of those with significant symptoms, 44% were unable to access mental health services. Additionally, only 55% of healthcare providers reported referral for assessment and treatment if mental health concerns arose during or after pregnancy. ConclusionThe results provide valuable insights into the unique challenges faced by patients with CHD and their providers during pregnancy. By addressing the identified gaps through PCOR, we can work towards a goal to improve maternal care for women with CHD.

Ku-Band SAR-Drone System and Methodology for Repeat-Pass Interferometry

In recent years, drone-based Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) systems have emerged as flexible and cost-efficient solutions for detecting changes in the Earth’s surface, retrieving topographic data, or detecting ground displacement processes in localized areas, among other applications. These systems offer a unique combination of short and versatile revisit times and flexible acquisition geometries that are not achievable with space-borne, airborne, or ground-based SAR sensors. However, due to platform limitations and flight stability issues, they also present significant challenges regarding instrument design and data processing, particularly when generating interferometric repeat-pass datasets. This paper demonstrates the feasibility of repeat-pass interferometry using a Ku-band drone-based SAR system. The system integrates a dual-channel Ku-band Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radar with cross-track single-pass interferometric capabilities, mounted on a drone platform. The proposed repeat-pass interferometric processing chain leverages an accurate Digital Elevation Model (DEM), generated from the single-pass interferograms, to precisely coregister the entire stack of acquisitions, thereby producing repeat-pass interferograms free from residual motion errors. The results underscore the potential of this system and the processing chain proposed for generating multi-temporal repeat-pass stacks suitable for repeat-pass applications.

Endoscopic Treatment of Neurosurgical Pathologies: Experience and Future Prospects in the Neurosurgery Department at Mohammed 6 University Hospital, Marrakech

Endoscopy is a new procedure in neurosurgery that uses optical magnification and video-assisted endoscopes to guide the hand to hard-to-reach locations. Despite extensive trials and meta-analyses, no definitive results have been published on its benefits. Neuroendoscopy has expanded beyond ventricular operations to treat various neurosurgical conditions, including cyst fenestration, tumor biopsy, tumor excision, and metastatic disease evaluation. It is beneficial for patients with hydrocephalus, intraventricular cysts, and concurrent hydrocephalus. Intracranial cysts are ideal for neuro-endoscopic therapy, and it can treat cystic craniopharyngiomas, dysontogenic tumors, gliomas, and metastases. Endoscopic tumor biopsy is a reliable technique for ventricle brain tumors. our study treated 480 hydrocephalus patients using endoscopic third ventriculostomy, accounting for 50.5% of cases. The most common cause was Sylvius aqueduct stenosis. Endoscopy was beneficial for treating colloidal cysts, arachnoid cysts, pituitary adenoma, and craniopharyngioma. It also served as a complement to microsurgery in 55 cases. Neuroendoscopy improved sciatic pain in 15 patients who underwent lumbar discectomy, with only minor issues due to the surgical scar. Neuroendoscopic surgery is expected to advance significantly in the future, with advancements in camera and optical technology, surgical instrument design, navigation systems, multiport surgery, and improved microsurgery.

Evidencias de validez y confiabilidad de la escala de percepción del riesgo para conducta sexual en jóvenes piuranos

Globally and nationally, it has been shown that adolescents exhibit risky behaviors that increase the probability of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, which makes it essential to measure this study variable. In this context, evidence of validity and reliability of the risk perception scale for sexual behaviors in young people from Piura has been reported. The study, of instrumental design, used a sample of 292 young people from Piura, chosen through non-probabilistic convenience sampling. It was found that the original four-factor model with 27 items did not present adequate goodness-of-fit indices, so a re-specified four-factor model with 19 items was analyzed, which showed adequate goodness-of-fit indices. In addition, evidence of reliability was found, obtaining acceptable reliability for the dimensions of risk perception of sexual behaviors, knowledge of the sexual history of the partner and sources of information on sexuality, with the exception of the dimension of perception of condom use. In conclusion, the scale presented adequate psychometric evidence, guaranteeing interpretations with theoretical and empirical support in the context of Piura.

The translation of transformative policy ambitions in funding research for climate change

Abstract This paper addresses how research and innovation (R&I) policy responds to global challenges, which demand fundamental transformations of societies and economies. The paper presents the case of a transnational, European funding call (SOLSTICE) for climate change research led by social sciences and humanities. Both the development of SOLSTICE and the research community’s responses are analysed in relation to the transformative R&I policy literature, identifying potential future avenues for improving the transformative outcomes of this type of funding. The study concludes that unlocking the value of transformative R&I policy concepts and approaches depends on wide stakeholder engagement in the funding instrument design phase and an active and sustained focus on achieving societal outcomes during project implementation. In addition, barriers to the effectiveness of (European) transnational funding programmes are identified, particularly when policies target community-level socio-technical transitions to address global challenges.

A Novel Predictive Modeling for Student Attrition Utilizing Machine Learning and Sustainable Big Data Analytics

Student attrition poses significant societal and economic challenges, leading to unemployment, lower earnings, and other adverse outcomes for individuals and communities. To address this, predictive systems leveraging machine learning and big data aim to identify at-risk students early and intervene effectively. This study leverages big data and machine learning to identify key parameters influencing student dropout, develop a predictive model, and enable real-time monitoring and timely interventions by educational authorities. Two preliminary trials refined machine learning models, established evaluation standards, and optimized hyperparameters. These trials facilitated the systematic exploration of model performance and data quality assessment. Achieving close to 100% accuracy in dropout prediction, the study identifies academic performance as the primary influencer, with early-year subjects like Mechanics and Materials, Design of Machine Elements, and Instrumentation and Control having a significant impact. The longitudinal effect of these subjects on attrition underscores the importance of early intervention. Proposed solutions include early engagement and support or restructuring courses to better accommodate novice learners, aiming to reduce attrition rates.

Euclid II. The VIS instrument

This paper presents the specification, design, and development of the Visible Camera (VIS) on the European Space Agency's mission. VIS is a large optical-band imager with a field of view of 0.54 deg$^2$ sampled at with an array of 609 Megapixels and a spatial resolution of . It will be used to survey approximately 14 000 deg$^2$ of extragalactic sky to measure the distortion of galaxies in the redshift range $z=0.1$--1.5 resulting from weak gravitational lensing, one of the two principal cosmology probes leveraged by With photometric redshifts, the distribution of dark matter can be mapped in three dimensions, and the extent to which this has changed with look-back time can be used to constrain the nature of dark energy and theories of gravity. The entire VIS focal plane will be transmitted to provide the largest images of the Universe from space to date, specified to reach AB with a signal-to-noise ratio S/N in a single broad E (r+i+z)$ band over a six-year survey. The particularly challenging aspects of the instrument are the control and calibration of observational biases, which lead to stringent performance requirements and calibration regimes. With its combination of spatial resolution, calibration knowledge, depth, and area covering most of the extra-Galactic sky, VIS will also provide a legacy data set for many other fields. This paper discusses the rationale behind the conception of VIS and describes the instrument design and development, before reporting the prelaunch performance derived from ground calibrations and brief results from the in-orbit commissioning. VIS should reach fainter than AB =25$ with $ S/N 10$ for galaxies with a full width at half maximum of in a diameter aperture over the Wide Survey, and $m_ AB for a Deep Survey that will cover more than 50 deg$^2$. The paper also describes how the instrument works with the telescope and survey, and with the science data processing, to extract the cosmological information.