Factor Intercorrelations Research Articles

Psychometric Characteristic of Social Competence and Behaviour Evaluation (SCBE-30) in a Sample of Nigerian Preschoolers

Social Competence and Behaviour Evaluation (SCBE-30) is a 3-factor (Externalizing, Internalizing and Social Competence) 30-item questionnaire that examines Preschoolers (Kindergarten and Nursery). The main goal of this study is the validation and adaptation of the scale in Nigeria. 400 pre-schoolers in Ile-Oluji, Ondo State, Nigeria are involved in the study while 364 children whose Parental Consent Form was obtained are the final participants. McDonald’s ωt (McDonald, 1999) measure of reliability using the psych package from CRAN (Revelle, 2008) was used to verify the internal consistency of the scale. The original subscale with 10 items of the novel SCBE-30 version is not confirmed by the confirmatory factor analysis. Seven items showed significant contribution to both SC and AW while all 10 items of the AA subscale have significant loadings. However, only 4 items for the SC scale showed factor loading of above 0.40, 3 for AW and 6 for AA. Exploratory factor analysis showed that boys are more aggressive than girls while girls exhibit more social competence and internalizing behaviour. The social competence scale is found to be significantly different from other factors while both Anger-Aggression and Anxiety-Withdrawal showed no difference. All inter-factor correlations agreed with the literature. Five models are compared using various modifications and the final accepted model have Chi-Square = 261.316; GFI = 0.946, CFI = 0.953, RMSEA = 0.027 and SRMR = 0.047. The new 24-item scale for the Nigerian sample shows good psychometric characteristics and meets validation criteria as reported by researchers where the scale had been earlier validated.

Validity and reliability evidence for the Behavioral Regulation in Sport Questionnaire with Romanian professional athletes.

BackgroundDespite the importance attributed to athletes’ motivation in sports performance and well-being; no measures of motivation toward sport were found in the Romanian sport context.ObjectiveGrounded in self-determination theory, this research aimed to adapt and to gather validity and reliability evidence supporting the use of the Behavioral Regulation in Sport Questionnaire (BRSQ) in the Romanian sport domain.MethodThe participants were 596 Romanian professional athletes (age: M = 22.91, SD = 5.84; sports experience: M = 11.14, SD = 5.03), who 273 practiced individual sports and 323 team sports. They completed an online questionnaire survey assessing their perception of behavioral regulation, resilience and burnout in sport.ResultsConfirmatory factor analysis supported the six-factor correlated model, which was invariant across age and sport. Correlations among latent factors configured a simplex structure, underpinning the self-determination continuum. Average variance extracted values from .50 to .70 endorsed convergent validity. Scores for heterotrait-monotrait ratio of correlations as high as .88, as well as 95% confidence intervals of each interfactor correlation that did not include 1.00 supported discriminant validity. Values over .70 for Cronbach’s alpha, McDonald’s omega and Raykov’s coefficients showed a good level of reliability for each factor. Linear regression analysis revealed that while intrinsic motivation, integrated regulation and identified regulation positively predicted resilience, introjected regulation, external regulation and amotivation positively predicted burnout.ConclusionsThe BRSQ is shown to be a valid and reliable measure of the six types of behavioral regulation in the Romanian sport context.

Modelling variance in the multidimensional Health Literacy Questionnaire: Does a General Health Literacy factor account for observed interscale correlations?

Objectives:Self-report measures of health literacy frequently encompass a group of conceptually distinct but related domains scored as either a single scale or separately for each domain. Psychometric studies of the 44-item Health Literacy Questionnaire, scored as nine separate scales, typically report the results of correlated factors confirmatory factor analyses as validity evidence. However, some scales are quite strongly correlated, raising the question of whether there is sufficient discriminant validity to warrant separate scoring. This psychometric study aims to contrast the results of fitting higher-order and bifactor models as alternative options to illuminate the issue.Methods:Correlated factors, higher-order and bifactor confirmatory factor analysis models were fitted to an Australian sample of responses to the Health Literacy Questionnaire (N = 813) using Bayesian confirmatory factor analysis methods.Results:All models representing a nine-factor structure for the Health Literacy Questionnaire fitted well. The correlated factors model replicated previous findings, showing inter-factor correlations between 0.19 and 0.93. A higher-order model showed relatively high loadings of all nine first-order factors on the second-order factor with particularly high loadings (⩾0.97) for three. Two bifactor models showed that the majority of Health Literacy Questionnaire items were multifactorial, each containing systematic variance from both a General Health Literacy factor and a domain-specific factor. Seven items from four scales were identified as strongly associated with the General Health Literacy factor, with item content suggesting that this factor indexes a broad sense of agency and efficacy in interacting with health-related information and healthcare providers.Conclusion:Contrasting correlated factors, higher-order and bifactor models fitted to the Health Literacy Questionnaire suggest that constituent items in self-report health literacy questionnaires might be anticipated to represent at least two sources of reliable and substantive common factor variance: variance associated with General Health Literacy and variance associated with a more specific domain, suggesting that items may be ‘irreducibly’ heterogeneous. Implications for test development and validation practice are discussed.

Assessing Pre-Service Teachers’ Person-Centered Attitudes: Validity Evidence for the APBS Instrument Based on Internal Structure

Abstract Person-centered teacher behavior is positively related to cognitive and affective-motivational student outcomes. Although underlying teacher attitudes are thought to be of great importance for person-centered teacher-student relationships, this aspect has not been considered in empirical studies to date. This study examined the internal structure and reliability of a new self-report measure assessing attitudes on person-centered behavior toward students (APBS) in a sample of 363 German pre-service teachers aged 18-40 years (M = 22.28, SD = 3.48; 72.7% female). Exploratory factor analyses and internal consistency analyses based on polychoric correlations provided evidence for a theoretically grounded four-factor model with “unconditionality” (α = .91), “empathic understanding” (α = .92), “trust” (α =.89) and “genuineness” (α = .83) explaining 46% of the total variance. Interfactor correlations ranged between .53 and .72. There is thus preliminary evidence that the APBS test scores can be interpreted as intended. However, further validation studies are required to replicate the internal structure using confirmatory factor analyses and to examine the relations between APBS test scores and external variables. The instrument can be used in research in the field of teacher-student relationships as well as in teacher education courses addressing participants’ educational attitudes.

Exploratory Graph Analysis for Factor Retention: Simulation Results for Continuous and Binary Data.

Exploratory graph analysis (EGA) is a commonly applied technique intended to help social scientists discover latent variables. Yet, the results can be influenced by the methodological decisions the researcher makes along the way. In this article, we focus on the choice regarding the number of factors to retain: We compare the performance of the recently developed EGA with various traditional factor retention criteria. We use both continuous and binary data, as evidence regarding the accuracy of such criteria in the latter case is scarce. Simulation results, based on scenarios resulting from varying sample size, communalities from major factors, interfactor correlations, skewness, and correlation measure, show that EGA outperforms the traditional factor retention criteria considered in most cases in terms of bias and accuracy. In addition, we show that factor retention decisions for binary data are preferably made using Pearson, instead of tetrachoric, correlations, which is contradictory to popular belief.

Values, Ethics and Theoretical Perspectives of the Hartford Social Competency Scale-II: Factorial Structure and Reliability of a Portuguese Version

Abstract Social work practice with the older population demands assessing gerontological competencies, for which values and ethics are central. This study aimed to test the adjustment of the Portuguese version of the Hartford Geriatric Social Work Competency Scale II subscale—values, ethics and theoretical perspectives (GSWCS-II-VEPT) to a bifactor structure and to analyse its reliability in a sample of social workers. The study enrolled 534 social workers employed in older adults’ care organisations. The confirmatory factorial analysis showed that the items presented factorial loads more than 0.60, and the bifactorial component model fitted well with the data. The two components consisted of ‘nuclear competencies’ and ‘specialised skills’. The GSWCS-II-VEPT presented excellent reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.90). However, high interfactor correlations demanded the test of a single-factor solution. The single-factor model did not fit the data as well as the two-factor solution, and the Akaike information criterion value was smaller in the two-factor model, indicating a superior fit. The results support adequate psychometric properties of GSWCS-II-VEPT in evaluating ethical skills, values and theoretical perspectives in Portuguese social workers and can be used as a tool for self-evaluation of these professionals’ ethical behaviour.

Measuring self-efficacy in defecation: Validation and utilization of a Chinese version of the self-efficacy for functional constipation questionnaire (SEFCQ) in a pediatric population.

Self-efficacy in defecation plays an important role on behavioral therapy for functional constipation (FC). There is an unmet need for valid child self-report measures of task-specific self-efficacy for pediatric FC. Our aim was to cross-culturally validate the Self-Efficacy for Functional Constipation Questionnaire (SEFCQ) and to explore the salient factor(s) of self-efficacy in defecation that correlate with anxiety and constipation symptom severity among Chinese children. The SEFCQ was adapted to Chinese version following the Rome Foundation guidelines for the translation of questionnaires. Two hundred and three children with FC were involved in psychometric testing. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to determine the structure of the SEFCQ. Construct validity was evaluated by testing the relationship between the SEFCQ and both anxiety and the Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms (PAC-SYM). Test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and interfactor correlation were used to evaluate reliability. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to identify salient self-efficacy for FC that correlates with anxiety and constipation symptom severity. Confirmatory factor analysis supports the two-factor structure of the SEFCQ. Adequate test-retest reliability (r=0.973, p<0.001) and internal consistency (Cronbach's α=0.871) were obtained. Both self-efficacy factors were significantly associated with anxiety (r=-0.227 to -0.350, p<0.001) and PAC-SYM (r=-0.495 to -0.602, p<0.001), with emotional self-efficacy being the most salient factor for predicting the symptom severity of constipation after controlling for sex, age, quality of parents' marriage, and family history. The SEFCQ showed satisfactory psychometric properties. Low self-efficacy in defecation correlates with anxiety and may contribute to poor adherence to behavior change, which exacerbates the symptoms of constipation. Further study is needed to apply social cognitive intervention to increase children's self-efficacy in defecation and assess its effect on treatment outcomes.

Psychometric Properties of the Chinese-Language Attitude toward Physical Activity Scale: A Confirmatory Study on Chinese Children.

Background: This study examined the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Attitude toward Physical Activity Scale (APAS) using a cross-sectional design. Methods: The sample consisted of 692 primary students in China (boy 52.6%, girl 47.4%). The mean age of the participants was 9.4 years (SD = 0.92). Psychometric properties of the 57-item APAS was examined using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Results: The hypothesized seven factors model was supported by CFA (CFI = 0.912, TLI = 0.901, SRMR = 0.041, RMSEA = 0.029) after 22 items were removed and the inclusion of seven residual covariance for items loaded on the same factor. Cronbach’s alphas of the scales ranged between 0.50 and 0.76. The composite reliability (CR) was between 0.50 and 0.75. All inter-factor correlation coefficient was less than 0.85. Conclusions: Findings provided empirical evidence that the Chinese version of the APAS has adequate psychometric properties for assessing attitudes of primary school children in China toward physical activity.

Adaptation of The Nomophobia Scale to The Field of Physical Education and Sports: Alternative Models Strategy Measurement Model Test

This research is; It is the testing of measurement models with the alternative models’ strategy of the Nomophobia Scale, which was developed by Yildirim and Correia. For this purpose, data obtained from a sample of 303 physical education and sports undergraduate students in the fall semester of the 2020-2021 academic year. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was applied for the construct validity of the scale. Cronbach Alpha internal consistency and CR coefficients were calculated for reliability. The decomposition and convergence validities of the scale were tested with three alternative models with 3, 2 and 1 factors, using the X2 difference tests of the predicted four-factor model (inability to access four-item information, losing five-item connection, inability to communicate with six items, not feeling comfortable with five items). The fact that the AVE values of the factors are lower than the CR values and the AVE values above .5 indicate that the factors have a combined validity. The fact that the AVE values of the factors are higher than the MSV and ASV values means that the factors have discrimination validity. In addition, the fact that the AVE scores of the factors are higher than the inter-factor correlations indicate that there is discrimination validity. From these results, the assumed four-factor model is the model that provides the best fit with the data and the scale can be used as a highly valid and reliable tool for the physical education and sports undergraduate student stage.

Arabic validation and cross-cultural adaptation of the 5C scale for assessment of COVID-19 vaccines psychological antecedents.

In the Arab countries, there has not been yet a specific validated Arabic questionnaire that can assess the psychological antecedents of COVID-19 vaccine among the general population. This study, therefore, aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the 5C scale into the Arabic language. The 5C scale was translated into Arabic by two independent bilingual co-authors, and then translated back into English. After reconciling translation disparities, the final Arabic questionnaire was disseminated into four randomly selected Arabic countries (Egypt, Libya, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Saudi Arabia). Data from 350 Arabic speaking adults (aged ≥18 years) were included in the final analysis. Internal consistency was assessed by Cronbach's alpha. Construct validity was determined by concurrent, convergent, discriminant, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Age of participants ranged between 18 to 73 years; 57.14% were females, 37.43% from Egypt, 36.86%, from UAE, 30% were healthcare workers, and 42.8% had the intention to get COVID-19 vaccines. The 5 sub-scales of the questionnaire met the criterion of internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha ≥0.7). The predictors of intention to get COVID-19 vaccines (concurrent validity) were young age and the 5C sub-scales. Convergent validity was identified by the significant inter-item and item-mean score of the sub-scale correlation (P<0.001). Discriminant validity was reported as inter-factor correlation matrix (<0.7). Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin sampling adequacy measure was 0.80 and Bartlett's sphericity test was highly significant (P<0.001). Exploratory factor analysis indicated that the 15 items of the questionnaire could be summarized into five factors. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed that the hypothesized five-factor model of the 15-item questionnaire was satisfied with adequate psychometric properties and fit with observed data (RMSEA = 0.060, GFI = 0.924, CFI = 0.957, TLI = 0.937, SRMR = 0.076 & NFI = 906). The Arabic version of the 5C scale is a valid and reliable tool to assess the psychological antecedents of COVID-19 vaccine among Arab population.

Psychometric Properties of the Slovak Version of Short Dark Triad.

The Short Dark Triad is a scale used to capture three aversive personality traits—Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy on the subclinical level. The present study aimed to verify the psychometric properties of the Slovak version of the Short Dark Triad scale in three studies. The first two studies aimed to examine the reliability of the scale. The aim of Study 1 was to examine the factor structure of SD3. A three-factor model consisting of three latent intercorrelated factors in a unidimensional and bifactorial model were examined on a sample of 588 participants. Study 2 aimed to test the consistency of the results over time (test–retest reliability) on the sample of 117 participants. In Study 3, convergent and divergent validity was examined on the sample of 333 participants. For both kinds of validity examination, the Slovak version of NEO-FFI was used. The internal consistency of the subscales and test results, the same as the retest results, were satisfactory. The relationships between the scales were found to be significant. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) results supported the original three-factor model. Significant interrelations have been established between Machiavellianism and openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness; narcissism and neuroticism, extraversion and agreeableness; psychopathy and openness, agreeableness and conscientiousness. The Short Dark Triad achieved satisfactory values of reliability and validity; therefore, it can be used on the Slovak population.

Algorithmic jingle jungle: A comparison of implementations of principal axis factoring and promax rotation in R and SPSS

A statistical procedure is assumed to produce comparable results across programs. Using the case of an exploratory factor analysis procedure—principal axis factoring (PAF) and promax rotation—we show that this assumption is not always justified. Procedures with equal names are sometimes implemented differently across programs: a jingle fallacy. Focusing on two popular statistical analysis programs, we indeed discovered a jingle jungle for the above procedure: Both PAF and promax rotation are implemented differently in the psych R package and in SPSS. Based on analyses with 247 real and 216,000 simulated data sets implementing 108 different data structures, we show that these differences in implementations can result in fairly different factor solutions for a variety of different data structures. Differences in the solutions for real data sets ranged from negligible to very large, with 42% displaying at least one different indicator-to-factor correspondence. A simulation study revealed systematic differences in accuracies between different implementations, and large variation between data structures, with small numbers of indicators per factor, high factor intercorrelations, and weak factors resulting in the lowest accuracies. Moreover, although there was no single combination of settings that was superior for all data structures, we identified implementations of PAF and promax that maximize performance on average. We recommend researchers to use these implementations as best way through the jungle, discuss model averaging as a potential alternative, and highlight the importance of adhering to best practices of scale construction.

A factor analytic approach to understanding health risk behaviors and resilience among multi-racial/ethnic adolescents in New Mexico

ABSTRACT Objective This study examined the factor validity of health risk behaviors and resilience indicators and their covariation across a large racially/ethnically diverse adolescent population. Design The study subsample (47% Hispanic, 31% White Non-Hispanic, 17% American Indian) was derived from the 2013 New Mexico Youth Risk Resilience Survey (YRRS; N-19,033). We conducted a confirmatory factor analysis on the 6 health risk domains identified by the CDC as contributing most to adolescent morbidity/mortality: (1) cigarette use, (2) alcohol and other illicit drug use, (3) marijuana use, (4) sexual activity, (5) nutrition habits, and (6) physical activity. Results A 4-factor CFA model of adolescent health risk behaviors was replicated, and a hypothesized 6-factor structure based on behaviors that contribute most to adolescent morbidity/mortality was confirmed. The pattern of covarying risk behaviors differed by Hispanic, Native American, and Non-Hispanic White groups. We also confirmed a single external resilience-interference factor (decreased parental support, low school/community engagement, negative peer associations) that positively correlated with all six risk behaviors. Conclusion This study described the structure of adolescent health risk behaviors within a context of psychosocial resilience for American Indian and Hispanic adolescents in contrast to Non-Hispanic White adolescents. Our findings provided evidence for the construct validity of six health-risk behavior dimensions within a large racially/ethnically diverse adolescent sample, which reveal different patterns of loadings, degrees of model fit, and factor inter-correlations across the three racial/ethnic groups. Patterns of covarying risk behaviors differed in strength and direction by racial/ethnic group. Results suggest that interventions should target multiple behaviors and be tailored for different racial/ethnic groups. Targeting health risk and resilience indicators supports the use of multi-level health interventions at the individual, school, family, and community level by identifying individuals based on external resilience scores.

Development and validation of a questionnaire on teachers’ instructional beliefs and practices in education for sustainable development

Holistic and pluralistic instructional beliefs and instructional practices in Education for Sustainable Development are often considered of high importance to foster students’ competences. This mixed-method study describes the development and the validation of the Holism-Pluralism in Education for Sustainable Development questionnaire (HPESD-Q) to measure teachers’ instructional beliefs and their instructional practices in ESD. The development process includes a survey to choose participants for interviews, review from an expert team, cognitive testing, pilot-testing and the main-run study. Confirmatory factor analysis, reliability and intercorrelations analysis were applied in the validation process. The final version of the HPESD- Q consists of the Instructional Beliefs scales and the Instructional Practices scales. Both have good fit-of-goodness indicators (CLI = .992, TLI = .9891, RMSEA = .030 and CLI = .984, TLI = .980, RMSEA = .043, respectively). The Cronbach’s α for the scales range from .90 to .97, indicating good internal consistency, while the intercorrelations indicate good discriminant validity. The results indicate the potential of the questionnaire for research and practice in ESD.

Exploration and Validation of Behavioral Pain Measures and Physiological Pain Measures Factor Structure Extracted From the Pain Assessment Tool Item Scores for Infants Admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care.

The objective of the study was to explore and then validate the factor structure of the Pain Assessment Tool (PAT). A retrospective medical record review was performed of all infants who were admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit between 2008 and 2018 and had 1 PAT assessment (n=2111). Scores on items of the PAT were collected. Infants were randomized to either the principal component analysis (n=1100) to explore the factor structure or confirmatory factor analysis (n=1011). Infants in the 2 samples were demographically comparable. A 2-factor model, consisting of factors Behavioral and Physiological Pain Measures, was extracted, explaining 39.8% of the total variance. There was a low interfactor correlation (r=0.12), and both Behavioral (r=0.59) and Physiological Pain (r=0.37) Measures factor scores were correlated with nurses' perception of pain scores. When the frequencies in the gestational age at birth categories were compared between upper and lower quartile score infants, there was more with pain at preterm than at term (χ2(3)=44.9, P<0.001) for the Physiological Pain Measures factor, whereas Behavioral Pain Measures frequency was higher at term than at preterm (χ2(3)=8.1, P<0.043). A similar pattern was observed for postmenstrual age at assessment categories: Behavioral Pain Measures (χ2(3)=41.8, P<0.001) Physiological Pain Measures (χ2(3)=46.1, P<0.001). The 2-factor correlated model performed better at explaining the observed variances: (χ2(13)=41.6, P<0.001) compared with rival models. The PAT assesses both Behavioral Pain and Physiological Pain Measures, and these dimensions need to be considered separately when assessing pain in infants in the neonatal intensive care unit. Behavioral item scores may be insufficient for detecting pain in premature infants if used alone.

What do we know about our professional self-government of nurses and midwives? Preliminary study

Abstract Introduction. Professional self-government is a form of association of persons who practice the same profession, established in order to represent their interests against the state authorities. Aim. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of nurses and midwives on their professional self-government and their engagement in its activity. Material and methods. The study was conducted among 1,143 nurses and midwives. An originally designed questionnaire was used. The survey was administered via the Internet. Findings from questionnaires completed by 895 members of the Warsaw Regional Chamber of Nurses were analysed statistically. Statistical analysis was performed using intergroup comparisons or interfactor correlation tests, depending on the type of variables; statistical significance was set at p≤ 0.05. Results. Nearly 3/4 of respondents had low-to-medium knowledge on their professional self-government. Age and career length were positively correlated with a high level of knowledge. Conclusions. The knowledge of nurses and midwives on their professional self-government and news related to its functioning should be considered unsatisfactory and fragmentary. Further studies to determine the way to convey this knowledge to nurses and midwives are needed in order to expand this knowledge.

Identification of student’s initial representations for accompanying use : Exploratory factor analysis

his study is conducted among students in training. Its objective is to analyse, through factorial exploration, students' perceptions of their levels of appropriation of academic competencies and their support needs. To this effect, an exploratory factorial analysis is carried out using data from asurvey composedof 12 dimensions and 62 statements. The latter measures 11 oral skills, 09 written skills, 08 practical skills and 12 parameters for asserting support needs. The factorial exploration determined 10 latent variables or factors. This was based on a sample of 147 participants F (n=53;36.1%) M (n=94;63.9%). The factor structure was examined under SPSS 21 using a maximum likelihood extraction method with Varimax axis rotation assuming moderate inter-factor correlations (Elliot and McGregor, 2001).Our results showed from this analysis the extraction of 10 factors explaining 74.38% of the total variance in the data on competencies required during training, as follows :Written Production (WP).This factor (relating to written competence) explained 6.52% of the variance. The analysis expresses a discrepancy of the items by (-.746 and .512). Participants tend to be less appropriate for compliance with instructions when they are able to organise themselves alone during investigative work or document exploration. Oral and Written Communication (OWC).This factor (relevant to oral competence) emerges with a 6.97% variance ratio and also included 2 items (Speaking in front of the audience, communicating ideas in writing to the teacher). The analysis expresses a variance indicated respectively by (.730 and -.711). The student's mastery of the oral situation does not therefore ensure the student's control of written expression or oral exchanges in a duel (student-teacher).Intensity of Effort and Artistic Expression (IEA).This factor (relating to physicalcompetence) accounted for 9.27% of the variance. The analysis expresses a discrepancy between the items. It is indicated respectively by (-.747 and .645). As a result, the ability to express intense effort is not at all favourable for artistic expression.As a result, intense physical effort is not compatible with grace and artistic expression. It has been found that the prior disparities between students (type of baccalaureate...) reveal pedagogical workcamps to be established later on during the readjustments of the different courses of study. According to these results, not all the participants have the same constraints or expectations in the curriculum of this training course.The declaratives representations on the appropriation of the competences identified, grouped and analysed, affirm that the so-called "university" or less professionally oriented courses are generally considered to be of little interest according to the conclusions of the participants Mean 2.54 ± sd .86, i.e. 45% n=67 of the interviewees. The assertions expressed in the results give rise to a measure of action, which is that of reviewing the theoretical side of the training, making it adequate and up to date in the movement of university changes and more precisely in the sciences and techniques of physical and sports activities (STAPS).

Stock Return Variations: The Validity of Systemic Risk, Size and Valuation as Explanatory Variables in the Lebanese Stock Market

Understanding stock return variations and accounting for their drivers help academics and practitioners estimate expected returns and gauge risk exposures, thereby optimizing investment strategies. This paper seeks to study the effect of systemic risk, size and valuation on stock return, in the Lebanese stock market. The research design and methodology are the Fama French Factor Model (FFFM) as developed by Fama and French in their seminal work of 1993. The research demonstrates validity of the three variables in question, and that is consistent with results obtained for global equity markets. However, the results exhibit a negative market risk premium with respect to US T-bills, and a high level of factor inter-correlation for the period in question.

Factor structure of the International Trauma Questionnaire in UK Armed Forces veterans residing in Northern Ireland

ABSTRACT Background: Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD) was recently included in the revised International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2018). C-PTSD is a new trauma related disorder which may develop after prolonged and multiple exposures to trauma. It is a sister disorder of PTSD and is further characterized by symptomatology of disorganized self-organization (DSO). To qualify for the diagnosis, individuals must first meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, then report DSO symptoms and functional impairment. A body of work is emerging which has focused on the underlying dimensionality of C-PTSD across both adult and more recently adolescent populations from differing index trauma groups and from across several nations and cultures. However, few studies have been conducted in populations exposed to combat trauma despite the obvious prolonged and multiple nature of their trauma histories. Objective: To contribute to emerging evidence of the factor structure of ICD-11 C-PTSD in a novel population. Methods: This is the first factor analytic study to explore C-PTSD in a sample of UK Armed Forces veterans residing in Northern Ireland (N = 732). C-PTSD was measured via the ITQ and we utilized CFA to assess the fit of 7 competing models. Results: Based on established CFA fit indices, a correlated, first order, 6-factor model of C-PTSD, representing 3 PTSD and 3 DSO symptom groupings, was deemed to provide superior fit to the data compared to 6 alternative C-PTSD models. The superiority of the model was further supported by statistical comparisons of competing C-PTSD models. All factor loadings (0.866–0.998) and inter-factor correlations (.746-.975) of the optimally fitting model were statistically significant and high. Conclusion: These results provide support for the construct validity of ICD-11 C-PTSD in a unique sample of Armed Forces veterans residing in Northern Ireland.

Environmental assessment and improvement strategies for electric bus operations

In accordance with worldwide environmental problems and fossil oil dependency concern, green mobility with electric buses is receiving increasing attention as an essential road transport. Environmentally, electric buses emerge as a promising solution in particular to alleviate the emission and noise pollution. Nevertheless, there is no available method on how to quantify green (environmental) performance of electric buses that could provide proper guidance to the bus operators. Therefore, this study aims to construct a green index assessment and improvement framework for electric buses by capturing bus noise, emission and energy consumption level explicitly. The proposed framework, which is capable of quantifying the green level of electric bus operations, plays a vital role in improving the green performance of bus operating system, by considering numerous operational aspects. In order to examine the applicability of the proposed approach, an illustrative case study, focusing on the electric bus operations of Putrajaya (Malaysia), is analyzed accordingly. The resultant findings show that the green performance of electric buses would be different at varying degrees, depending on various inter-correlated factors. It is anticipated that this study may reveal some beneficial insights for the bus operators to operate environmental-friendly electric buses feasibly.