Latent Phenomenon Research Articles

Shirking When Bureaucratic Accountability Is Due? Evidence from Managing Severe Safety Accidents

When bureaucrats are up to answer for governance accidents, shirking could be a “less harm” strategy to ward off bureaucratic accountability. This study searches for evidence of shirking behaviors and investigates shirking strategies. Modeled as a latent phenomenon, shirking is context specific, enabled and constrained by power and institutional opportunities. Examining the whole population of 213 severe safety accidents in China between 2012 and 2018, the findings confirm that more powerful provincial leaders reduce the number of accountable bureaucrats and those with longer tenure suppress judicial prosecutions. Externally appointed leaders shift sanctions downward to lower-level subordinates once securing longer tenure. Higher-up political attention demands more top-down accountability; nevertheless, bureaucrats may nudge political attention to mitigate responsibilities. Due to bureaucrats’ shirking, safety accidents may not receive accountability commensurate with accident severity.

A primer on measurement invariance in L2 anxiety research

AbstractMeasurement invariance (MI) is essential to bolstering validity arguments behind psychometric instruments (Zumbo, 2007). Nonetheless, very few second language (L2) anxiety scales, including the most widely used L2 anxiety questionnaire—the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS; Horwitz et al., 1986)—have been tested for MI. The present paper seeks to address this deficiency in the literature (a) by demonstrating why this procedure is key to enhancing our understanding of the latent phenomenon in question, particularly in relation to different language learning contexts, (b) by outlining the main stages of MI testing with specific recommendations for L2 scale developers and users, (c) by providing commendable examples of the application of MI in applied linguistics research in order to illustrate the potential of this technique, and (d) by making a case for employing MI in future validation studies, thereby promoting methodologically sound research practices in the context of anxiety scales and elsewhere in applied linguistics.

Transmission Dynamics of Tuberculosis with Age-specific Disease Progression.

Demographic structure and latent phenomenon are two essential factors determining the rate of tuberculosis transmission. However, only a few mathematical models considered age structure coupling with disease stages of infectious individuals. This paper develops a system of delay partial differential equations to model tuberculosis transmission in a heterogeneous population. The system considers demographic structure coupling with the continuous development of disease stage, which is crucial for studying how aging affects tuberculosis dynamics and disease progression. Here, we determine the basic reproduction number, and several numerical simulations are used to investigate the influence of various progression rates on tuberculosis dynamics. Our results support that the aging effect on the disease progression rate contributes to tuberculosis permanence.

СУБЪЕКТЫ СИСТЕМЫ ПРОТИВОДЕЙСТВИЯ КОРПОРАТИВНОМУ МОШЕННИЧЕСТВУ И ВОВЛЕЧЕНИЮ В КОРРУПЦИОННУЮ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТЬ

Corporate fraud is a very dangerous latent phenomenon for the organization. It leads to severe financial damage, harms companies and citizens, greatly reduces the investment attractiveness of the country. Often, foreign corporations do not want to have business relations with those Russian companies in which there are signs of corporate fraud. In addition, a significant share of assets is withdrawn from legal circulation, which is why the state budget and the beneficiaries of a particular organization are deprived of part of the income.

A Latent Class Model for Multivariate Binary Data Subject to Missingness

When researchers are interested in measuring social phenomena that cannot be measured using a single variable, the appropriate statistical tool to be used is a latent variable model. A number of manifest variables is used to define the latent phenomenon. The manifest variables may be incomplete due to different forms of non-response that may or may not be random. In such cases, especially when the missingness is nonignorable, it is inevitable to include a missingness mechanism in the model to obtain valid estimates for parameters. In social surveys, categorical items can be considered the most common type of variable. We thus propose a latent class model where two categorical latent variables are defined; one represents the latent phenomenon of interest, and another represents a respondent’s propensity to respond to survey items. All manifest items are considered to be categorical. The proposed model incorporates a missingness mechanism that accounts for forms of missingness that may not be random by allowing the latent response propensity class to depend on the latent phenomenon under consideration, given a set of covariates. The Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm is used for estimating the proposed model. The proposed model is used to analyze data from 2014 Egyptian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS14). Missing data is artificially created in order to study results under the three types of missingness: missing completely at random (MCAR), missing at random (MAR), and missing not at random (MNAR).

Good Practices in the Redesign of Spaces for University Education in the Venezuelan Context of the Sucre Mission

The objective of this article is to present the good practices in the conception of the redesign of spaces for university education in the Venezuelan context of the Sucre Mission, taking into consideration the historical context in which it takes place. The training of professionals is considered a priority for the development of nations, being desertion or abandonment a latent phenomenon that emerges as a result of dysfunctional economic scenarios or the emergence of exceptional situations. The use of the internet and mobile technology make it possible to mitigate such a situation in a challenge to maintain a quality university education; all of which demands relevant, timely and viable organizational processes.

Quantitative Analysis of the Sensitization of an Austenitic Stainless Steel Aged between 600 and 900°C through Electrochemical and Microstructural Measurements

Is the concern with latent phenomenon of sensitization, as it exposes austenitic stainless steels to one of the most severe types of corrosion, intergranular, caused by chrome impoverishment in some regions after the material has been treated thermally in a temperature range between 450°C and 850°C. The aim of this study is to identify the conditions under which the stainless steel AISI 304 austenitic will sensitize, microstructural analysis and reactivation potentiodynamics technique by Double cycle method (DL-EPR). In steel samples were subjected to different ranges of time and temperature. The behavior of the degree of sentiment reveals that the rainfall happens so intense under the conditions under study with the exception of 900oC - 1, 2, and 6, which was observed and proven both by microstructural analysis and the DL-EPR.

Schizophrenia phenomenology revisited: positive and negative symptoms are strongly related reflective manifestations of an underlying single trait indicating overall severity of schizophrenia.

To examine whether negative symptoms, psychosis, hostility, excitation, and mannerism (PHEM symptoms), formal thought disorders (FTD) and psychomotor retardation (PMR) are interrelated phenomena in major neurocognitive psychosis (MNP) or deficit schizophrenia and whether those domains belong to an underlying latent vector reflecting general psychopathology. In this study, we recruited 120 patients with MNP or deficit schizophrenia and 54 healthy subjects and measured the above-mentioned symptom domains. In MNP, there were significant associations between negative and PHEM symptoms, FTD and PMR. A single latent trait, which is essentially unidimensional, underlies these key domains of schizophrenia and MNP and additionally shows excellent internal consistency reliability, convergent validity, and predictive relevance. Confirmatory Tedrad Analysis indicates that this latent vector fits a reflective model. The lack of discriminant validity shows that positive (and PHEM or psychotic) and negative symptoms greatly overlap and probably measure the same latent construct. Soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) shows that MNP (diagnosis based on negative symptoms) is better modeled using PHEM symptoms, FTD, and PMR than negative symptoms. In stable phase MNP, which is a restricted sample of the schizophrenia population, negative and PHEM symptoms, FTD and PMR belong to one underlying latent vector reflecting overall severity of schizophrenia (OSOS). The bi-dimensional concept of "positive" and "negative" symptoms cannot be validated and, therefore, future research in stable phase schizophrenia should consider that the latent phenomenon OSOS as well as its reflective manifestations are the key factors of schizophrenia phenomenology.

Cuerpos en trance. Paisajes, flujos, desaparición y transición en Colombia

En Colombia, la desaparición de personas ha discurrido en una compleja ecología de lo humano y lo no-humano, lo deshecho, y los desechos. Un paisaje en la que circulan cuerpos ocultos, enterrados y vertidos en ríos, botaderos, escombreras, zonas de excedentes, y particularmente en cementerios, configurando formas híbridas de vida y sentido entre la muerte. Aquí, abordo la desaparición desde su comprensión como un fenómeno latente en el paisaje, el cual, como los cuerpos e identidades de quienes son desaparecidos, es sujeto de una transformación violenta, continua, y en algunos casos, irreversible. Una espacialidad en la que las cargas simbólicas y materiales embebidas –aquellas que posibilitan procesos de resistencia, politización, y la creación de otras formas de futuro– se encuentran en riesgo de ser radicalmente transformadas y de desaparecer. De este modo, este artículo responde a una aproximación metodológica ad hoc en la que a través de la investigación-creación, y la observación participativa, indago en las diferentes formas de relación y sentido que la desaparición configura entre sujetos, cuerpos, sus recorridos, y el paisaje.

Bayesian Estimation of Latent Class Model for Survey Data Subject to Item Nonresponse

Latent variable models are widely used in social sciences for measuring constructs (latent variables) such as ability, attitude, behavior, and wellbeing. Those unobserved constructs are measured through a number of observed items (variables). The observed variables are often subject to item nonresponse, that may be nonignorable. Incorporating a missingness mechanism within the model used to analyze data with nonresponse is crucial to obtain valid estimates for parameters, especially when the missingness is nonignorable.In this paper, we propose a latent class model (LCM) where a categorical latent variable is used to capture a latent phenomenon, and another categorical latent variable is used to summarize response propensity. The proposed model incorporates a missingness mechanism. Bayesian estimation using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods are used for fitting this LCM. Real data with binary items from the 2014 Egyptian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS14) are used. Different levels of missingness are artificially created in order to study results of the model under low, moderate and high levels of missingness.

Broker imposed precarity of Indian technical immigrants

AbstractThe primary purpose of this article is to investigate the labour supply chain of Indian technical immigrants in the United States. The two important findings that emerge are as follows: First, the study unearths a latent phenomenon of broker‐induced precarity that results from the labour supply chain and explores how aspirational jobs are becoming precarious ones. Second, the study provides a foundation for devising policies and interventions to make the process of the labour supply chain less detrimental to the Indian technical immigrants. This article draws on a seven‐month‐long field‐based qualitative study and ensures a meticulous triangulation of the findings through an analysis of archival data and actual artefacts related to manpower movement across the labour supply chain.

Los armónicos que aportan los sistemas fotovoltaicos interconectados a la red un problema latent

The electric power that generators supply to users (in Mexico, CFE), requires specifications for the safe and efficient operation of equipment and machinery. An important part of an interconnected photovoltaic system is the inverter and because it is a non-linear load, it will inevitably distort the voltage sine wave, whose components can be harmful for the aforementioned equipment, depending on the degree of total harmonic distortion that results from the operation of these investers The problem of the harmonics originated by the SFVI increases because of two situations: 1. The current trend of the use of this type of systems is increasing, due to the economic, environmental and social benefits. 2. the way of connection for SFVI called distributed generation, produce electricity close to the end users of power, means the harmonic components of the distorted wave will have greater impact. This study of harmonic distortion generated in the invester, it is urgent to analyze and determine procedures and specifications to select the best equipment and to minimize this latent phenomenon, which unfortunately can not be eliminated, but only to reduce its effects.

Социально-психологический возраст женского персонала как латентный феномен организационной жизни

Социально-психологический возраст женского персонала как латентный феномен организационной жизни

Dimensional analysis of depressive, anxious and somatic symptoms presented by primary care patients and their relationship with ICD-11 PHC proposed diagnoses.

A study conducted as part of the development of the Eleventh International Classification of Mental Disorders for Primary Health Care (ICD-11 PHC) provided an opportunity to test the relationships among depressive, anxious and somatic symptoms in PHC. Primary care physicians participating in the ICD-11 PHC field studies in five countries selected patients who presented with somatic symptoms not explained by known physical pathology by applying a 29-item screening on somatic complaints that were under study for bodily stress disorder. Patients were interviewed using the Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised and assessed using two five-item scales that measure depressive and anxious symptoms. Structural models of anxious-depressive symptoms and somatic complaints were tested using a bi-factor approach. A total of 797 patients completed the study procedures. Two bi-factor models fit the data well: Model 1 had all symptoms loaded on a general factor, along with one of three specific depression, anxiety and somatic factors [x2 (627) = 741.016, p < 0.0011, RMSEA = 0.015, CFI = 0.911, TLI = 0.9]. Model 2 had a general factor and two specific anxious depression and somatic factors [x2 (627) = 663.065, p = 0.1543, RMSEA = 0.008, CFI = 0.954, TLI = 0.948]. These data along with those of previous studies suggest that depressive, anxious and somatic symptoms are largely different presentations of a common latent phenomenon. This study provides support for the ICD-11 PHC conceptualization of mood disturbance, especially anxious depression, as central among patients who present multiple somatic symptoms.

К интерпретации понятия «коррупция»: социетальные и социально-психологические аспекты

<p>В статье рассматривается коррупция как сложноорганизованное, разноаспектное, латентное явление. Анализируются особенности коррупции как социетального феномена в рамках политико-правового, социально-экономического и социокультурного подходов, осмысливается их сочетание в едином контенте. С опорой на концептуальные идеи психологии особое внимание уделяется субъекту коррупции, который в данном случае становится носителем уникальных социально-психологических черт. В контексте анализа социетальных и социально-психологических аспектов феномена коррупции разрабатывается авторское определение понятия «коррупция», позволяющее изучить его как комплексное явление. <br /><em> </em></p>

Latent Class Analysis: a new vision of the phenomenon of depression in elderly men in the Brazilian Northeast

Abstract Objective: to identify the prevalence of depression in elderly men and associated factors using Latent Class Analysis. Method: a cross-sectional, epidemiological study evaluating 162 Primary Care users resident in the community in Recife, Brazil, was carried out. The Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale was used as a screening instrument. The study was based on descriptive analysis and Latent Class Analysis, which allows the indirect measurement of the phenomenon of Depression by measuring the latent phenomenon of depression through 15 directly observed questions/answers from the scale used followed by ordinal logistic regression. Results: Elderly men with up to four years of schooling had a 2.43 times greater chance of developing depression. Those with normal levels of cortisol were less likely to become depressed while elderly men with low levels of Vitamin D and testosterone and high levels of thyroid stimulating hormones (TSH) were more likely to be depressed. The prevalence of the highest level of depression in the study population was 29% and was associated with low levels of education and alterations in the clinical data investigated. Conclusion: The study concluded that Latent Class Analysis allowed an innovative perspective of the phenomenon of depression and its relationship with associated factors, allowing a better and broader approach to this phenomenon in clinical practice.

Exploring the Decision-Making Power of Bangladeshi Women of Reproductive Age: Results From a National Survey

Empowerment is personal, multi-dimensional and latent phenomenon that is difficult to measure directly. Bangladesh is a developing country in South Asia and women population of the country is almost equal to the male with the male dominant norms. It was aimed to look into the decision making authority and gender role of Bangladeshi women of reproductive age group. Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) 2014 data was used for the study. A total of 17,863 women of reproductive age were included in this study. The mean age of the respondents was 31 years. About 23.5% respondents had no education and only 11.6% completed primary education. It was found that 68.5% respondents were working and about 73.6% respondents had no NGO (non-governmental organization) membership. Respondents from richest background were more likely to take their own decisions. Urban residence and with higher educational attainment were more likely to take their own decisions. Working status and membership to NGO are significantly associated with decision making power of women. The study revealed that women from urban area, with NGO membership and employed were more empowered. Poor attainment of primary education, low employment, and few NGO memberships are seemed to be the hindrance in women empowerment in Bangladesh. Keywords: Women empowerment, Decision-making, Health seeking behavior, BDHS, Bangladesh.

Measurement of Validity of Corruption Indices

Corruption is an intrinsically latent phenomenon, which makes it a challenging task to measure it and requires the use of indirect indicators. The academic community and non-government organizations have proposed various indices that differ in terms of their methodology, data and coverage. In this paper, we estimate construct validity of the most widely used indices of corruption: The Corruption Perceptions Index, The Control of Corruption Index, The Bribing and Corruption Index, The Corruption Index, and The Rule of Law: Absence of Corruption. In this paper we show that Corruption Index by the International Country Risk Guide and Absence of Corruption Index are not constructively valid and, therefore, are not suitable for the use in scholarly research. We also show that all indices provide poor estimates of a corruption level in the highly corrupted group of countries.

Analysis of Multivariate Longitudinal Data Subject to Nonrandom Dropout

Longitudinal data are collected for studying changes across time. We consider multivariate longitudinal data where multiple observed variables, measured at each time point, are used as indicators for theoretical constructs (latent variables) of interest. A common problem in longitudinal studies is dropout, where subjects exit the study prematurely. Ignoring the dropout mechanism can lead to biased estimates, especially when the dropout is nonrandom. Our proposed approach uses latent variable models to capture the evolution of the latent phenomenon over time while also accounting for possibly nonrandom dropout. The dropout mechanism is modeled with a hazard function that depends on the latent variables and observed covariates. Different relationships among these variables and the dropout mechanism are studied via 2 model specifications. The proposed models are used to study people’s perceptions of women’s work using 3 questions from 5 waves from the British Household Panel Survey.

Systematic overuse of healthcare services: a conceptual model.

A perfect storm of factors influences the overuse of healthcare services in the USA. Considerable attention has been placed on geographic variation in utilization; however, empiric data has shown that geographic variation in utilization is not associated with overuse. While there has been renewed interest in overuse in recent years, much of the focus has been on the overuse of individual procedures. In this paper we argue that overuse should be thought of as a widespread and pervasive phenomenon that we coin as systematic overuse. While not directly observable (i.e., a latent phenomenon), we suggest that systematic overuse could be identified by tracking a portfolio of overused procedures. Such a portfolio would reflect systematic overuse if it is associated with higher healthcare costs and no health benefit (including worse health outcomes) across a healthcare system. In this report we define and conceptualize systematic overuse and illustrate how it can be identified and validated via a simple empirical example using several Choosing Wisely indicators. The concept of systematic overuse requires further development and empirical verification, and this paper provides an important first step, a conceptual framework, to that end.