Instrument For Measuring Quality Research Articles

Проверка измерительной инвариантности для тестов когнитивных и языковых способностей

<p style="text-align: justify;">This paper discusses the measurement invariance of assessment instruments. The purpose of measurement invariance testing is to assess the extent to which a measured construct has comparable meaning across different groups or measurement points, to ensure that comparisons of these groups or measures to each other are appropriate. The paper provides an overview of recent and classic papers discussing conceptual and methodological aspects of invariance testing. Specific focus is placed on the available data on invariance testing for the assessments of cognitive and language abilities, and on the significance of invariance for the accurate assessment of individual and between-group differences. Finally, current approaches to invariance testing within structural equation modelling and item response theory are discussed. This paper may serve as an introduction to the concept of measurement invariance. It will be useful to readers interested in improving the quality of measurement instruments and making more reliable inferences about psychological phenomena.</p>

Hybrid instrument network optimization for air quality monitoring

Abstract. The significance of air quality monitoring for analyzing impact on public health is growing worldwide. A crucial part of smart city development includes deployment of suitable air pollution sensors at critical locations. Note that there are various air quality measurement instruments, ranging from expensive reference stations that provide accurate data to low-cost sensors that provide less accurate air quality measurements. In this research, we use a combination of sensors and monitors, which we call hybrid instruments, and focus on optimal placement of such instruments across a region. The objective of the problem is to maximize a satisfaction function that quantifies the weighted closeness of different regions to the places where such hybrid instruments are placed (here weights for different regions are quantified in terms of the relative population density and relative PM2.5 concentration). Note that there can be several constraints such as those on budget, the minimum number of reference stations to be placed, or the set of important regions where at least one sensor should be placed. We develop two algorithms to solve this problem. The first one is a genetic algorithm that is a metaheuristic and that works on the principles of evolution. The second one is a greedy algorithm that selects the locally best choice in each iteration. We test these algorithms on different regions from India with varying sizes and other characteristics such as population distribution, PM2.5 emissions, or available budget. The insights obtained from this paper can be used to quantitatively place reference stations and sensors in large cities rather than using ad hoc procedures or rules of thumb.

Quality Assessment of Anesthesia Videos available on YouTube

Previous research indicates patients have limited knowledge regarding anesthesia and the role of medical anesthetists [5]. Research also suggests a majority of patients experience perioperative fear, along with a fear of anesthesia [6]. Achieving patient and public recognition of anesthesia can help lessen fear and anxiety, improving surgical outcomes [5]. Our aim is to determine the quality of YouTube videos related to anesthesia information for patients. YouTube videos were searched utilizing the phrase “How does anesthesia work?” and sorted based on “Relevance” as determined by YouTube. Two medical student graders scored the top 50 videos using a modified DISCERN [8,9] (“mDISCERN”) and a Global Quality Scale (GQS) [8] as quality measurement instruments. The students reached Agreed Upon Total (“AUT”) scores for each video. The mean AUT mDISCERN score was 4.2 with a standard deviation of s=0.9035079. The mean AUT GQS was 3.88 with a standard deviation of s=1.171777. Tests were ran to compare videos in which healthcare providers/facilities were involved in the production (“credentialed”) versus those in which either professionals were not involved, or their involvement was not disclosed (“not credentialed”). Utilizing mDISCERN, there is a higher video quality for “credentialed” videos. However, there was not a statistically significant difference for GQS scores. The scored videos were generally of good quality and did provide useful information to potential patients. Higher quality videos tended to describe the basic science and physiology behind anesthesia and also clearly explained the process of undergoing anesthesia.

The Development of E-Banking Services Quality Measurement Instrument: MPQe-BS

Perceived service quality is a well-researched concept in the marketing literature. Several measurement scales have been proposed, including for banking services, but most apply to the physical service environment. On the other hand, there is a lack of instruments available to measure the quality of banking services in a digital environment. Nowadays, especially pushed by the COVID-19 situation and sustainable development goals promoted by the United Nations, digitalization of services is a new normal. It is often perceived as a green banking practice and a prerequisite to contribute to the SDGs and environment per se. The purpose of this paper is to develop and validate a perceived quality scale of e-banking services. The proposed measurement model was tested on a convenience sample of 335 respondents from Slovenia and Croatia via web-based questionnaires. Content validity, construct validity, dimensionality, and discriminant validity were assessed with EFA and CFA. The results prove that the instrument is appropriate for measuring the perceived quality of e-banking services. It measures six dimensions: efficiency, availability, contact, design, security, and fulfillment. Additional group analysis shows that the scale applies to different cultural contexts. The main limitation of the research is that the instrument measures only the perceived quality of e-banking services provided through online channels. The main theoretical and managerial implications are also discussed.

Effect of Lavender Inhalation Aromatherapy on Sleep Quality in Cancer Patients at Murni Teguh Memorial Hospital

<div><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="left"><tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="top"><p><em>Sleep is a physiological human need. Sleep disorders can affect a person's quality of life. One of the complementary therapies is aromatherapy, which can improve one's sleep quality non-pharmacologically. This study aims to identify the effect of lavender inhalation aromatherapy intervention on sleep quality in cancer patients. The research method used is quantitative or quantitative design with a quasi-experimental design non-equivalent approach. The sampling technique is a non-probability sampling technique, namely the convenience sampling method. Respondents to this study were hospitalized cancer patients totaling 100 respondents consisting of 50 respondents for the intervention group and 50 respondents for the control group. Data was collected using a questionnaire. The sleep quality measurement instrument used is the Sleep Quality Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the dependent t-test and independent t-test. The results of the study found an effect of lavender inhalation aromatherapy on improving sleep quality in cancer patients with a p-value (p=0.000). Conclusion Lavender inhalation aromatherapy can improve sleep quality in cancer patients and is recommended as a nursing intervention and alternative therapy to improve sleep quality in cancer patients.</em><em></em></p><p><em> </em></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><strong><em>Keyword: Cancer, Lavender Aromatherapy, Sleep quality</em></strong></p>

ANALYZING THE QUALITY OF MEASUREMENT INSTRUMENTS OF MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS ON CLASS XI ECONOMICS MATERIAL IN PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL 3 GORONTALO THROUGH CLASSICAL TEST THEORY AND RASCH MODELS

One form of evaluation of student learning outcomes is the Final Semester Examination. This exam is designed to measure the extent of achievement of educational objectives. A good evaluation must meet several criteria, including good item validity and reliability, a variety of difficulty levels, and the power of differentiation. This study aims to describe the results of a comparative analysis of the quality of measurement instruments in the form of multiple-choice questions using the classical test theory approach and the Rasch model in terms of validity, reliability, difficulty level, and question differentiation. Data were obtained through a website that presents multiple choice exam results of grade XI students at SMA Negeri 3 Gorontalo, consisting of 26 female students and 10 male students. The results showed that in the instrument validity analysis, the Rasch model showed more valid items with a determination category of 0.4 < pt measure corr < 0.8. This means that the Rasch model provides a better analysis compared to the classical test theory analysis. In the reliability analysis, the reliability value of items in the Rasch model is higher but in almost the same category. In analyzing the difficulty level of the instrument, the classical test theory approach shows that the items are in the easy, medium, and difficult categories, so they are still considered capable of measuring students' abilities. However, in the Rasch model, items are only in the very easy, difficult, and extremely difficult categories. In analyzing the power of differentiation, the classical test theory method and the Rasch model have not provided good enough results to identify respondents in several groups based on their level of understanding

Measuring the quality of workplace learning environments – a qualitative meta synthesis of employee questionnaires

PurposeThis study aims to support researchers and practitioners in finding suitable instruments for future research studies and organizational quality assessments.Design/methodology/approachEmployees’ success of learning at work is strongly influenced by the quality of the workplace learning environment. In the recent decades growing effort has been given to the development of surveys to measure the quality of workplace learning, resulting in a large number of available survey instruments. This study conceptually draws on a 3-P model and uses a qualitative metasynthesis to collect and categorize n = 94 surveys that intend to measure the quality of workplace learning (WPL).FindingsThe results underline that research on WPL environments is a highly interdisciplinary endeavor, where every discipline enriches the field by a new perspective and own foci. Overall, this study finds a focus on learning culture and working conditions, on social and functional inclusion of the learner and on support and feedback during training. Products of WPL such as professional competences or career aspirations play a minor role.Originality/valueWith the integration of quality measurement instruments from various research studies, this study produces an interactive online instrument map that gives a broad, yet organized overview of available quality measures in the WPL field.

Design thinking and egg processing units: a different proposal for a checklist for facilities and equipment maintenance self-control program

Eggs quickly lose their quality if they are not in adequate conditions during handling, and adequate control of the entire production chain is essential, considering that the introduction of contaminants can occur at any stage of production. The Self-Control Programs (PACs) aims to guarantee the hygienic-sanitary quality of products and the steps of the program include the description, implementation, monitoring, and verification, being considered fundamental in the quality management in companies that produce food of animal origin in Brazil. The checklist for maintenance of facilities and equipment proposed in this study was developed by a multidisciplinary team covering egg processing units with a production of up to 3,600 units/day. The design thinking methodology was used in this context to facilitate the search for better ideas through discussions that could develop creative thoughts in an empathic and user-centered way. The proposed list collaborated as a quality measurement instrument with simple language and applicable to the small producer. It reinforced the need to meet the prerequisites for the proper functioning of the PAC, serving as a stimulus for the search for knowledge of the quality culture, through the constant observation of the paradigm required by regulatory agencies.

Is Hospital Service Quality Relevant During COVID-19 Pandemic?

The study captures hospital service quality expectations during the COVID-19 crisis and compares the same before the onset of COVID-19. The study also highlights which dimensions of service quality attenuate during a medical crisis. The authors used a service quality measurement instrument based on SERVQUAL to capture service quality expectation from patients between June 2019 and May 2020. A sample of 700 was obtained (pre COVID-19 sample size 350 and during COVID-19 sample size 350). The data was analysed using partial least squares, structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) and ANOVA. Service quality and its dimensions of assurance, empathy, reliability, responsiveness and tangibility remain relevant during COVID-19 pandemic, however, there is a drop in service quality expectation in India in all the five dimensions of service quality. Service quality expectations in tangibility dropped by 11.59%, reliability dropped by 8.82%, responsiveness dropped by 11.56%, assurance dropped by 9.82% and empathy dropped by 12.29%. From a practical standpoint, the study also identifies service quality dimensions that hospitals need to focus on during a crisis. In India, hospitals handling COVID-19 patients need to pay special heed to reliability and responsiveness to improve their service quality and better manage care during the pandemic situation.

European Portuguese Language and Cultural Validation of the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Assessment Test.

The chronic obstructive pulmonary disease assessment test (CAT) is a self-administered questionnaire that measures health-related quality of life. GOLD proposes using this questionnaire, since it provides thorough coverage of the impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on well-being. This questionnaire has been widely used in daily clinical practice in Portugal, but it lacks validation for European Portuguese. The aim of this study was to carry out the cultural adaptation and validation of the CAT questionnaire so that the most appropriate version can be made available to Portuguese researchers and clinicians. A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed involving 65 patients with COPD aged 40 years or older. CAT and the previously validated Portuguese-language version of the Clinical Questionnaire for COPD were applied between January 2019 and June 2019. The agreement between the two questionnaires was determined with Kappa agreement with a 95% confidence interval. Spearman correlation was used to find the correlation between two scores. The 65 patients included in the study were observed in a hospital-based pulmonology clinic [aged 68 ± 7 years; forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) 49.86% ± 16.5% predicted]. CAT correlated significantly with all the domains and the overall score of the CCQ (0.47 < r < 0.75; p < 0.001). The bilingual patient interclass correlation coefficient was 0.922; Pearson's r = 0.928; p < 0.001. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.96 (p < 0.001). The European Portuguese version of the COPD Assessment Test is a valid instrument for measurement of health-related quality of life in COPD patients. The use of validated questionnaires is of great importance since it generates reliable and reproducible evidence for use either in research or clinical practice.

Deliberate practice in music: Development and psychometric validation of a standardized measurement instrument

Practice is the process through which musicians improve their performance abilities and increase their level of expertise. Deliberate Practice (DP) is a theory of expertise based on the concept that interindividual differences in the level of proficiency in a specific domain can be mostly explained by interindividual differences in the amount of deliberate practice; despite its popularity, subsequent studies have demonstrated several critical issues in Ericsson’s DP concept, due to its vagueness in definitions, arbitrary measurements of expertise, and inability to account for the possible role of genes. The present project aimed at creating a new questionnaire, capable of measuring practice quality in terms of deliberate practice for the music domain, regardless of the instrument and musical genre played, at any level of expertise. Based on data from a sample of 1,558 musicians, ranging from amateurs to world-renowned soloists, the Deliberate Practice in Music Inventory (DPMI) was created, a self-report questionnaire and measurement instrument for practice quality consisting of a main DP scale and four subscales: Process improvement, Practice competences, Mindless practice (inverted scale), and Task decomposition. Results indicated that musicians who implement effective practice habits are focused on solving problems related to music playing and often refine their practice routines to increase their effectiveness. In addition, musicians who usually exhibit high amounts of DP behavior often decompose long and complex tasks into shorter and simpler elements, aiming to master them more easily and in shorter time. The DPMI instrument shows good convergent validity with measures related to expertise in music as well as good predictive validity for performance improvement. The DPMI generates new perspectives for the field of musical expertise research.

Upravljanje upotrebnim kvalitetom održavanja motornih vozila u autoservisima

Quality is the basis of the existence of any modern organization. Delivery of quality products/services satisfying or exceeding consumer expectations is imperative for the success of any organization. Therefore, quality must be managed. The purpose of this work is to establish a model for quality management of vehicle after-sale maintenance activities. To achieve this goal it was first necessary to identify quality indicators. An instrument for quality measurement of after-sale vehicle maintenance activities was afterward established, based on identified quality indicators and theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of quality management, to be followed by a model for quality management. An example of quality management of vehicle maintenance with the implementation of the established model was also presented. The developed methodology may be generalized and applied to other service industries.

A Real-Time Water Quality Measurement Instrument for Simultaneously Detecting Turbidity and Particle Size by Using Single-Photon Counting Technique

A Real-Time Water Quality Measurement Instrument for Simultaneously Detecting Turbidity and Particle Size by Using Single-Photon Counting Technique

Cultural and Linguistic Adaptation for the Romanian Language Version of the Cardiff Acne Disability Index: A Pilot Study on the Web-Based Experience of Cognitive Debriefing

Background The Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI) is a validated measurement instrument for quality of life evaluation in young patients with acne. The original version was designed in English, and it has been translated to other languages. An adaptation for the Romanian language was lacking. Objective The main objective of this study was to evaluate the comprehensibility of the Romanian language adaptation of the CADI in a small sample of patients with acne. Methods Guided by the team at Cardiff University, we conducted the stages of the standardized translation process—forward translation, the reconciliation of translated versions, back translation, and cognitive debriefing. The cognitive debriefing stage involved applying the CADI to a small sample of patients. This was followed by individual interviews in which each question was discussed. Ethical approval was obtained for the cognitive debriefing stage. We administered this measure as a web-based form. The completion times for each individual question and for the entire survey were automatically recorded. The interviews for assessing comprehensibility and suitability for the Romanian language and culture were also held as live, web-based meetings. Results A total of 7 patients with acne—4 females and 3 males—aged between 19 and 34 years were included. All subjects were native speakers of the Romanian language. They had mild or moderate acne. The mean completion time for the survey was 3.28 minutes. The mean score for the CADI was 5.4286. All participants agreed that the language used in this quality of life measurement instrument was simple, clear, and adequate for their native language. Conclusions Despite the epidemiologic restrictions against COVID-19, through teledermatology, we achieved cultural adaptation for the CADI in a language that previously lacked a specific tool for assessing quality of life impairment in patients with acne. Conflicts of Interest CMS receives royalties from Springer Nature, consulting fees from Vichy International, and support for attending meetings from Leo Pharma. SC has no conflicts of interest.

THE IMPLICATIONS OF TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS AND TRANSPORT QUALITY IN THE UAE

To provide customers with services that meet their demands, Total Quality Management (TQM) has arisen as a management technique since 1980. Quality measurement instruments are to be implemented in the department of municipal affairs and transport in the UAE. TQM makes quality the driving force behind leadership, planning, and design, thus it requires the eight core aspects’ help. Thus, TQM would include leaders and managers based on quality excellence awards, performance, service delivery, and public trust. Quality improvement and measurement in public administration has led to the development and deployment of strategic models. Total quality management has its roots in manufacturing. The UAE economy’s demand for quality public services has made TQM and excellence awards important. Given that service organisations continue to confront harsh realities comparable to those encountered by industrial organisations, this is not surprising. This is the basic rationale for using service quality models. The stages in service quality management may improve service delivery efficiency and customer satisfaction, establishing the strategic framework for technology integration and innovation. The Department of Municipal Affairs and Transport has been compelled to offer value added service for customers and must exhibit a strong commitment to quality service in order to promote its commercial success.&#x0D; &#x0D; &lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt; Article visualizations:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0973/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Total Quality Management Usage for Quality Measurement in a Tertiary Institution –Accra Technical University

Quality measurement in examination processes is key to every educational set up. Therefore the need to develop a model for measuring quality in the application of Total Quality Management (TQM) to examination systems using Accra Technical University formally (Accra Polytechnic) in Ghana become relevant. In order to develop a model, a structured questionnaire was administered to 100 members of staff using purposive sampling technique to study the examination system and assess the performance of TQM principles as well as four Quality indicators - Timeliness, Integrity, Predictability and Satisfaction. Data obtained were analysed using Excel application and incorporated into the TQM model to determine the average scores for the TQM principles and Quality indicators. The TQM model developed tested the effects of TQM implementation on the quality of examinations. Results obtained indicate that staff are generally not satisfied with the quality of the examination processes. This implies that the model proves a good quality measurement instrument for the assessment of examination processes. Keywords: Total Quality Management (TQM), Examinations, TQM Principles, Quality Parameters DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/13-10-11 Publication date: May 31 st 2021

Multi-stakeholder perspectives in defining health services quality indicators and dimensions: a concept mapping based comparison for cataract care between Singapore and The Netherlands

ObjectiveThis study aims to advance understanding of globally valid versus country-specific quality dimensions and indicators, as perceived by relevant stakeholders. It specifically addresses patient-level indicators for cataract surgery.DesignA mixed-methods case...

Website Quality in Asia: Testing a Measurement Instrument in a Chinese Context

In this study we investigate the psychometric properties of a Chinese version of a perceived website quality (PWQ) measurement instrument. The results of our study confirmed the four-factor structure of the scale scores and that the scale has good internal consistency. CFA results support the convergent and discriminant validity of the scales scores for the first factor measurement model. Our findings also showed that a single higher-order factor accounts for the variance among the four lower-order factors. In view of its sound psychometric properties, the Chinese version of the PWQ scale is a useful instrument to evaluate website quality in a Chinese context.

Diagnosis of hygienic-sanitary conditions in restaurants located in the municipality of Cametá-Pará

The law by the ANVISA requires GMP in food. This study aimed to apply the checklist to assess hygienic-sanitary conditions and provide lectures and support materials in restaurants located in the municipality of Cametá-PA. It is a descriptive survey in eighteen restaurants using a quality measurement instrument called a checklist. In addition to the proposal of forms to verify the impact of corrective actions. This verification instrument is part of the requirements required by RDC No. 216/2004 of ANVISA, based on the RDC No. 275, of October 2002 of ANVISA. It was found through the results obtained that all the popular restaurants studied did not satisfactorily comply with the current Brazilian legislation and were classified in groups II and III, that is, they reached a maximum of 75% compliance. Thus, through the diagnosis obtained through the application of the checklist, it is noticed that the restaurant owners have little knowledge about the implementation of GMP; consequently, in none of the evaluated restaurants, these practices are adopted. Thus, they do not comply with the country's current legislation. Corrective actions and delivery of support materials helped the owners. However, it is necessary to support the Health Surveillance, in addition to charging consumers for improvements to these establishments, since adequate sanitary hygienic conditions are an ongoing process.

Low doses of lactoferrin supplementation in weaning calves

Low doses of lactoferrin supplementation in weaning calves