Maximum Likelihood Factor Analysis Research Articles

Unidimensional community detection: A monte carlo simulation, grid search, and comparison.

Unidimensionality is fundamental to psychometrics. Despite the recent focus on dimensionality assessment in network psychometrics, unidimensionality assessment remains a challenge. Community detection algorithms are the most common approach to estimate dimensionality in networks. Many community detection algorithms maximize an objective criterion called modularity. A limitation of modularity is that it penalizes unidimensional structures in networks, favoring two or more communities (dimensions). In this study, this penalization is discussed and a solution is offered. Then, a Monte Carlo simulation using one- and two-factor models is performed. Key to the simulation was the condition of model error or the misfit of the population factor model to the generated data. Based on previous simulation studies, several community detection algorithms that have performed well with unidimensional structures (Leading Eigenvalue, Leiden, Louvain, and Walktrap) were compared. A grid search was performed on the tunable parameters of these algorithms to determine the optimal trade-off between unidimensional and bidimensional recovery. The best-performing parameters for each algorithm were then compared against each other as well as maximum likelihood factor analysis and parallel analysis (PA) with mean and 95th percentile eigenvalues. Overall, the Leiden and Louvain algorithms and PA methods were the most accurate methods to recover unidimensional and bidimensional structures and were the most robust to model error. More nuanced method recommendations for specific unidimensional and bidimensional conditions are provided. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Farsi Version of the Body Image Concern Inventory in Iranian Hemodialysis Patients: Validity and Reliability

Background and Purpose:Patients on hemodialysis often struggle with their body image. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the validity and reliability of the Persian version of the body image concern questionnaire for the first time in hemodialysis patients in Iran.Methods:In this cross-sectional study, 400 hemodialysis patients from Iran were assessed using the Body Image Concern Inventory (BICI). By using exploratory factor analysis (EFA; with Maximum Likelihood Factor Analysis and Promax Rotation) and confirmatory factor analysis, the construct validity of BICI was assessed. To check for internal consistency, the average interitem correlation, Cronbach’s alpha, and McDonald’s omega coefficients were used. Stability was assessed with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).Results:The participants’ average age was 53.2 (SD= 13.2) years, and more than half of them were women (54.60%). Four factors extracted from exploratory factor analysis (EFA) show that the total cumulative variance explained by these factors was 44.46% of the total variance. Item factor loadings varied between 0.415 and 0.970. Internal consistency coefficients were considered acceptable (>0.7). Also, stability was evaluated as good (ICC = .839).Conclusions:The Farsi version of the BICI scale as a self‐report measure of concerns about dysmorphic appearance has 19 items and shows acceptable reliability and validity. Consequently, the scale can be used by nurses to evaluate body image among Farsi-speaking hemodialysis patients, which can help them to take necessary actions to decrease the level of concerns in these patients.

Practical Intelligence - an Atypical Empirical Test

Using an empirical correlation non-experimental desing, the goal of the research was to examine the possibility of an atypical approach to measuring practical intelligence based on Sternberg's Theory of Successful Intelligence, within which practical intelligence in the school context is defined as the ability to think practically - translating theory into practice and abstract ideas into practical realization. It started from the following research questions and their corresponding hypoteses: (1) is it possible to measure practical intelligence by creating a valid and reliable instrument, atypical in terms of previous approaches and official, formal measurements and maesures of practical intelligence; (2) if such a possibility exists, what level of practical intelligence, in terms of the given criterion, do the participants exhibit inrelation to gender, age, type of study attendence and school success, and do they statistically significantly differ in this sense? A total of 14 male and 50 female students (N=64) of the Department of Pedagogy of the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Sarajevo and the Academy of Music of the University of Sarajevo, with an average age of M=19.23 (SD=.99), were asked about basic demographic variables, school success and practical intelligence. The validaty of the Practical Intelligence Questionnaire was tested using a maximum likelihood factor analysis. The criteria, of which KMO test (.825) and Bartlett test χ (105) = 323.050, p<.001, communality ≥ .40 and χ test values, in the third step indicated an acceptable two-factor solution: χ (76) = 77,611; p = .427. Two interpretable factors that positively correlate with each other (r=.27, p<0.01) were singled out, explaining a total of 47.35% of the variance based on which, in addition to the total - SPM, scale of practical thinking, two subscales - SSPM1 and SSPM2 were formed. The Cronbach alpha coefficient of internal consistency as a measure of reliability was satisfactory on the total measure of practical intelligence (SPM α = .86) and the cognitive-motivational measure of practical intelligence (SSPM1α = .88), while the reliability criterion of minimum α = .70 was not reached on the measure emotional practical intelligence (SSPM2 α = .56). Thus, it could be strated that the first hypotesis - about the validity and reliability of the Questionnaire on practical thinking - was almost completely confirmed. The achieved level of practical intelligence, expressed through all three measures (SPM, SSPM1 and SSPM2), was above avarage considering the set criteria in both strata of the sample. There were no statistically significant relationships between these levels in relation to gender, age and school success, expect when it comes to the type of study, where the students of the Music Academy achieved higher scores on the scale of emotional practical intelligence. Thus, the second hypotesis about the average level of practical intelligence and the disconnection with other research variables was partially confirmed. It is therefore possible to measure practical intelligence atypically, informally, but psychologically and psychometrically based. Since, as far as is known, this is the first such attempt, the results about the above-average practical intelligence of student cannot be generalized or fully accepted without thorough further questioning.

Psychometric Properties of Patients' Health Questionnaire Assessed on Obstetric Fistula Patients in Northwestern, Nigeria

Nigeria is among the highest contributor to global prevalence of obstetrics fistula (OF) and weak health care policies and services have left the victims reeling in untold psycho-social and physical morbidities. This study was aimed at assessing the psychometric properties of a globally used Patients’ Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) among these patients. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed to study the fertility desires, mental health and patients’ quality of life among women with obstetric fistula in three selected OF centers in Northwestern region of Nigeria. Using two-stage sampling technique four hundred twenty (420) OF patients were recruited into the study. Maximum likelihood (ML) factor analysis was deployed to produce latent factors from the responses to the PHQ-9 scale, internal reliability and construct validity were determined by Cronbach alpha values while comparative mean analysis was used to validate standardized scores of the derived PHQ-9 scale factors against socio-demographic and obstetric characteristics. Mean age and standard deviation of respondents were 26.4±8.4 years as 60% aged between 20-25 years. The married, divorced and those in polygamous were 45%, 47.1% and 73.6% respectively. More than half (55.5%) were traders while majority (89.8%) earned NGN4500 or less monthly. Three factors of somatic (r= 0.72-0.82; α=0.86), non-somatic (r= 0.64-0.76; α=0.77) and affective (r= 0.64-0.96; α=0.74) constructs emerged from the ML factor analysis. Patients of ages 20-25 years, divorced/single and widows, the formally educated and farmers significantly differed with high scores of the affective construct of the PHQ-9 scale. Those who had more than four pregnancies and greater than a single stillbirth significantly differed with affective symptoms (0.29±0.90; 0.69±0.9 The 15–17-year-olds at first birth and those who waited more than ten years for OF surgical repairs differed with non-somatic symptoms’ construct of the PHQ-9 scale (0.21±1.04; 0.31±0.87) significantly differed with affective factors. The PHQ-9 instrument exhibited possibility of being used to assess the quality of OF patients’ mental health. Future studies could expand the sample size to accommodate advanced inferential psychometric methods.

Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of the Spiritual Well-Being Scale Among Iranian Potential Organ Donors.

The Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWBS) is a widely used scale that requires evaluation for the Iranian population. This study aimed to determine the psychometric properties of the SWBS among a sample of potential Iranian organ donors. The research was conducted in 2022 in Iran using cross-sectional methodological design. The sample consisted of 316 individuals from the Iranian community who expressed willingness to donate organs. Convenience sampling was used to select the participants. The construct validity and reliability of the Persian version of the SWBS were assessed. The results from maximum likelihood (ML) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) revealed three factors labeled as higher power, the meaning of life, and the purpose of life, which explained 50.2% of the total variance in the concept of Spiritual Well-Being (SWB). The results indicated that the model was appropriate. Cronbach's Alpha and McDonald's Omega demonstrated an acceptable internal consistency of the scale. All the statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 27 and AMOS 27 software. These findings suggest that the Persian version of the SWBS is a reliable and valid scale for assessing the spiritual well-being of individuals who are willing to donate organs. The scale comprises 16 items related to higher power, meaning of life, and sense of life.

Maximum likelihood factor analysis for resolution of noisy smartphone based diffuse reflectance data from CdS pigments

This study aims to use multivariate chemometric methods such as principal component analysis (PCA), maximum likelihood common factor analysis (MLFA), and multivariate curve resolution alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) to analyze a designed data set and obtain an estimation of measurement error structure in the absence of replicates. For this purpose, we developed a smartphone-based diffuse reflectance spectrophotometer (smartDRS) with the advantage of being rapid, simple, and cost-effective in acquiring spectral information from the produced pigment samples based on a designed experiment. In our experimental design, the effects of different factors on the color of synthesized cadmium sulfide (CdS) pigment are investigated. DR spectral data from synthesized CdS samples were rapidly and successfully measured using the homemade device. The contribution of three forms (two crystalline and one amorphous) of CdS with three different spectra in each of the 16 synthesized pigment samples was illustrated and confirmed by using MLFA-MCR-ALS. Based on RGB values obtained from spectral information, the concentration profile of the brightest form of CdS was considered as a quantitative criterion of the whiteness of CdS samples and the response in the experimental design. The experimental design results showed pH, use of the furnace, and time for CdS drying as the main factors, in addition to a two-factor (Cd/S molar ratio × drying time) and a three-factor (pH × furnace × drying time) interactions are statistically significant on experimental design response. MLFA results also showed that independent noise in the measured diffuse reflectance data is heteroscedastic but not simply proportional to the signal intensities. This study shows the success of maximum likelihood-based multivariate analysis of diffuse reflectance spectral data from smartDRS for quantitatively investigating affecting factors on synthesized CdS color. Results from the application of PCA before MCR-ALS were considerably different from what was obtained from MLFA and MCR-ALS and were not in accordance with the previous reports.

Association of Social Determinants of Health Measures and Successful Community Discharge Across Rehabilitation Service Areas

<h3>Research Objectives</h3> Evaluate: 1) variation in successful community discharge across Rehabilitation Service Areas (RSAs) nationally, and 2) the relationship between social determinants of health (SDH) variables/indices and successful community discharge across RSAs. <h3>Design</h3> Retrospective cross-sectional analysis of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and AHRQ SDH dataset. We performed maximum likelihood factor analysis with varimax rotation and principled mean analysis to identify how many factors to extract from the AHRQ-SDH dataset and calculated a rehabilitation-specific SDH measure (SDH-R) based on these factors and variables. Next, we calculated the Social Deprivation Index (SDI) and the SDH-R for a random sample of 800 RSAs and examined the association between SDI and SDH-R and successful community discharge. <h3>Setting</h3> We examined discharges following post-acute care from long-term care hospitals, home health agencies, and skilled nursing and inpatient rehabilitation facilities. <h3>Participants</h3> The population included 2013–2015 Medicare records from fee-for-service beneficiaries >65 years. The cohort included 2,287,210 records across all diagnostic groups. <h3>Interventions</h3> N/A. <h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3> Successful community discharge across the 1711 RSAs nationally using CMS quality measure specifications. <h3>Results</h3> The national average for successful community discharge across RSAs was 55.1%. The pattern of successful community discharge indicates the majority of RSAs(1239, 72.4%) perform at the national average for successful community discharge with 253 RSAs (14.8%) significantly below and 219(12.8%) significantly above the national average. Factor analysis with AHRQ-SDH variables identified five factors with eigenvalues >1.0. The resultant model explained 23.1% of the variation in successful community discharge. The SDH-R model performed significantly better than the SDI (RMSE:SDH-R=0.88 vs SDI=0.99). <h3>Conclusions</h3> Successful community discharge varied across RSAs nationally. We identified SDH variables related to successful community discharge following rehabilitation. More research is needed to understand how SDH impacts community discharge across high- and low-performing RSAs and explore disparities and equity issues related to successful community discharge following post-acute care rehabilitation. <h3>Author(s) Disclosures</h3> This work was supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) R01-HS024711 (TR,JP,AH,YK,KE), T32-HS026133 (YK,JD). All authors declare no conflicts.

Overfactoring in rating scale data: A comparison between factor analysis and item response theory.

Educational and psychological measurement is typically based on dichotomous variables or rating scales comprising a few ordered categories. When the mean of the observed responses approaches the upper or the lower bound of the scale, the distribution of the data becomes skewed and, if a categorical factor model holds in the population, the Pearson correlation between variables is attenuated. The consequence of this correlation attenuation is that the traditional linear factor model renders an excessive number of factors. This article presents the results of a simulation study investigating the problem of overfactoring and some solutions. We compare five widely known approaches: (1) The maximum-likelihood factor analysis (FA) model for normal data, (2) the categorical factor analysis (FAC) model based on polychoric correlations and maximum likelihood (ML) estimation, (3) the FAC model estimated using a weighted least squares algorithm, (4) the mean corrected chi-square statistic by Satorra-Bentler to handle the lack of normality, and (5) the Samejima's graded response model (GRM) from item response theory (IRT). Likelihood-ratio chi-square, parallel analysis (PA), and categorical parallel analysis (CPA) are used as goodness-of-fit criteria to estimate the number of factors in the simulation study. Our results indicate that the maximum-likelihood estimation led to overfactoring in the presence of skewed variables both for the linear and categorical factor model. The Satorra-Bentler and GRM constitute the most reliable alternatives to estimate the number of factors.

Psychometric properties of the of the Persian version of the Coping Assessment for Bereavement and Loss Experiences (CABLE)

Background and aimThe loss of a loved one through death is practically an inevitable part of the human experience. However, not all grieving people cope with this blow in the same way. One of the factors that may differentiate the grieving reactions of mourners in the face of this lesion is the strategies that the person uses in this situation to adapt and manage the situation. A valid and reliable tool is also needed to measure and evaluate coping strategies. The aim of this study was to translate and determine the characteristics of psychological tools for measuring coping with experiences of grief and loss (28 items) in people living in Tehran.Materials and methodsThis is a methodological study with a descriptive cross-sectional design that after obtaining written permission from the original developer and according to the WHO protocol, the Persian version of the questionnaire was completed by 480 people who experienced mourn in Tehran in February 2021 to October 2021. Then, the Face validity, Content validity and Construct validity of questionnaire were assessed. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, McDonald’s omega and Test-retest were used to determine the reliability.ResultsCronbach’s alpha for all items was 0.91 and intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.86, both of which indicate the reliability of the Persian version of the CABLE tool. Based on exploratory factor analysis, maximum likelihood (n = 260) and confirmatory factor analysis (n = 220) six factors were identified. Factors can explain 50% of the total variance observed. The model had an acceptable fit: GFI: 0.88, CFI: 0.96, IFI: 0.96, NFI: 0.92, PNFI: 0.82, RAMSEA: 0.058, CMIN / DF: 2.37 RMR: 0.056. Internal consistency and construct validity of the questionnaire were confirmed.ConclusionThe findings of the present study indicate that the Persian version of CABLE has the appropriate validity and reliability to assess the compliance with the experiences of grief and loss in Persian population.

Preliminary Validation of the Pain-related Prayer Scale (PPRAYERS): An Exploratory Factor Analysis

Previous research on prayer as a pain coping strategy is mixed, with some studies associating prayer practices with greater pain and others with less. To date there is only one measure of pain-related prayer, the prayer subscale of the Coping Strategies Questionnaire-Revised (CSQ-R), which solely measures passive prayer, thus neglecting other types of petitionary prayer (i.e., active and neutral prayer). Therefore, to better understand the relationship between pain and prayer there is a need for a more comprehensive measure of petitionary prayer for pain. The aim of this study is to conduct a preliminary validation of the newly developed Pain-related Prayer Scale (PPRAYERS), a 22-item self-report questionnaire that asks participants to rate the frequency of their use of various petitionary prayer statements to God or a Higher Power in response to pain. Statements included active, passive, and neutral petitionary prayer statements. Two hundred and five adults with chronic pain completed a series of demographic, health, and pain-related questionnaires including the PPRAYERS. A maximum likelihood factor analysis with an oblimin rotation was used to examine the underlying factor structure of PPRAYERS. The scree plot and factor eigenvalues (>1) were evaluated. Factor loadings (>0.30) and cross-loadings were used to evaluate individual items. Congruent with theory, analysis yielded three factors, neutral, passive, and active prayer, that explained 40%, 15%, and 10% of the total variance, respectively. All but four items demonstrated primary loadings on one factor with primary loadings >0.5 and a difference between primary and secondary loadings >0.2. These results provide preliminary validation for PPRAYERS that measures active-, passive-, and neutral-style petitionary prayer. Additional research by the authors is ongoing to confirm the factor structure of the measure and provide evidence for convergent and discriminant validity by examining the associations between PPRAYERS and existing relevant measures. Grant support from 2021 Episcopal Church United Thank Offering Grant.

Psychometric development and validation of victim gaslighting questionnaire (VGQ): across female sample from Pakistan

PurposeGaslighting a form of abusive manipulation both emotional and psychological is a growing phenomenon in recent times. However, as of yet, there is a scarcity of a valid and reliable instrument which can measure the severity of gaslighting in victims of interpersonal relationships abuse. The purpose of this study is the development of an instrument which can effectively measure gaslighting in victims and is psychometrically reliable and valid.Design/methodology/approachSince the aim of the study was the development of a scale first a sample of eight women who were victims of domestic abuse was taken for the focus group. Afterwards using purposive sampling a sample of 20 women for the pilot study and a sample of 150 women for the main study was taken with age range 18–40 (M = 23.38, S.D = 4.03). For the development of scale theoretical basis along with a focus group was conducted to establish an item pool. Afterwards, subject matter experts helped in establishing contend validity followed by Velicer’s minimum average partial (MAP) method and maximum likelihood factor analysis (FA) was performed for the establishment of the factorial structure of the instrument.FindingsVelicer’s MAP method and Maximum Likelihood FA suggested two factor structures including peer disagreement and loss of self-trust. Instrument displayed high alpha reliability of α = 0.934, with α = 0.927 and α = 0.854, for the subscale, respectively.Research limitations/implicationsThough all necessary steps were taken to minimize the limitations of the present study, however, some limitations do exist which needs to be addressed. The foremost limitation of the present scale is that it is being developed with only a female sample, however, the inclusion of a male sample in future studies can help in identifying whether men also are victims of gaslighting from peers and other family members or not. The second limitation is of validity though necessary validities have been established future studies should study on establishing further validities to further refine the instrument. Additionally, the scale has only been validated and tested on female samples future studies should be conducted on other specific groups or samples to develop norms. Moreover, testing the scale on other cultures could also help in establishing cross cultural validation of the instrument. Finally, though the scale assumes a higher level of scores suggests a higher level of victimization, a proper cutoff score can help in further identifying proper victims from the normal level of gaslighting.Practical implicationsThe present instrument has its applicability in several domains the most important being in the criminal justice system as gaslighting comes under gaslighting and even in the UK is considered as a criminal offense. This instrument can help in determining the severity of gaslighting in victims. Likewise, it can be used in clinical settings for psychologists to identify possible cases of gaslighting victims which can enable them to provide specific help and treatment for them. Moreover, researchers can also benefit from the instrument as it can enable them to explore gaslighting with other possible variables which can help them explore the concept of gaslighting even further.Originality/valueThis paper is a novel study and has been completed with the purpose of evaluating the effects of gaslighting in victims of interpersonal relationships abuse as the earlier measures are either not psychometrically valid or cannot be generalized to a wider population. The present established scale is an effort to construct an instrument that can be used worldwide.

Bayesian and Maximum-Likelihood Modeling and Higher-Level Scores of Interpersonal Problems With Circumplex Structure.

Difficulties in interpersonal behavior are often measured by the circumplex-based Inventory of Interpersonal Problems. Its eight scales can be represented by a three-factor structure with two circumplex factors, Dominance and Love, and a general problem factor, Distress. Bayesian confirmatory factor analysis is well-suited to evaluate the higher-level structure of interpersonal problems because circumplex loading priors allow for data-driven adjustments and a more flexible investigation of the ideal circumplex pattern than conventional maximum likelihood confirmatory factor analysis. Using a non-clinical sample from an online questionnaire study (N = 822), we replicated the three-factor structure of the IIP by maximum likelihood and Bayesian confirmatory factor analysis and found great proximity of the Bayesian loadings to perfect circumplexity. We found additional support for the validity of the three-factor model of the IIP by including external criteria-Agreeableness, Extraversion, and Neuroticism from the Big Five and subclinical grandiose narcissism-in the analysis. We also investigated higher-level scores for Dominance, Love, and Distress using traditional regression factor scores and weighted sum scores. We found excellent reliability (with Rtt ≥ 0.90) for Dominance, Love, and Distress for the two scoring methods. We found high congruence of the higher-level scores with the underlying factors and good circumplex properties of the scoring models. The correlational pattern with the external measures was in line with theoretical expectations and similar to the results from the factor analysis. We encourage the use of Bayesian modeling when dealing with circumplex structure and recommend the use of higher-level scores for interpersonal problems as parsimonious, reliable, and valid measures.

A hindrance to proper health care: psychometric development and validation of opiophobia questionnaire among doctors in Pakistan

PurposeThere is an ever-increasing number of patients suffering from various forms of acute and chronic pain and getting treatment for such ailments is a basic human right. Opioid analgesics remain one way of managing and attending to such patients. However, due to the prevalence of opiophobia, many doctors avoid prescribing opioid-based medicines, even at the cost of patients suffering leading to a hindrance in providing optimal health care. Up till now, there has been no reliable and valid instrument to measure the severity of opiophobia in doctors. For this reason, the purpose of this study is to represent the construction of a precise and reliable instrument for measuring opiophobia along with its validation for doctors in Pakistan.Design/methodology/approachInterviews and theoretical knowledge relating to opiophobia were used as the basis for the purpose of generating an item pool. The generated item pool was evaluated by subject matter experts for content validity and inter-rater reliability, followed by Velicer’s minimum average partial method and maximum likelihood factor analysis for establishing the factorial structure of the scale. As opiophobia in doctors prevails the most and causes a lower ratio of prescription of opioid analgesics. The present sample selected for the study was that of n = 100 doctors (men = 50; women = 50) from various hospitals, treating patients with chronic pain, in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.FindingsA two-factor structure was suggested by Velicer’s minimum average partial method and maximum likelihood factor analysis, which were labeled as fear of opioid analgesics and justified acceptance of opioids. The developed opiophobia questionnaire along with its subscales displayed appropriate levels of reliability α = 0.733, α = 0.760 and α = 0.725, respectively, suggesting the scale to be reliable.Research limitations/implicationsLike any other study, this study also tried to address every essential aspect, but still lacked at some places which should be considered and catered for in future studies. In the first place the sample size was very limited which was due to the fact, the study was conducted during a pandemic and physically going for data collection was unavailable, thus leading to consequent sample size. It is recommended a correspondent study can be conducted with larger sample size, so they can get more reliable results with greater precision and power. Then, they will have the advantage of a small margin of error. The second limitation was the study involved only doctors as that was the main focus of the present study. However, other hospital staff such as nurses should also be incorporated to assess their level of opiophobia. The current scale suggests the severity of opiophobia with higher scores though no cutoff point has been suggested. Future studies should try and incorporate a cutoff point to assess the difference between doctors who have conventional levels of reservations against opioids and those suffering from opiophobia. Another limitation was that the present scale did not establish additional validities such as convergent and divergent validity. Future studies should collect data from a larger sample to establish these validities to further refine the scale.Practical implicationsThis instrument can be immensely effective in identifying doctors who have concerns and fears about prescribing opioids to patients with chronic pain. The findings acquired on such a scale can help in developing appropriate academic and psychological interventions which can help such doctors to overcome their opiophobia. This can enable more doctors to prescribe appropriate medicine to their patients instead of letting them suffer from pain. Additionally, researchers can equally benefit from the instrument as it can enable them to investigate opiophobia with other possible variables.Social implicationsDeveloping such a scale about the fear faced by doctors while treating patients would be very useful as it is not possible to take such fear when it comes to a patient’s life. This fear is also common among patients where they have a fear about the undesirable effects, addiction of drugs and fear of dying. Better awareness should be given to them which will be helpful for successful and less painful treatment in hospitals.Originality/valueThis scale is an original work with the aim of accessing opiophobia among doctors toward (chronic) patients with severe pain. There was a lot of research work that has been done on opiophobia in developed countries and few Pakistani researchers have also worked on opiophobia and its impact on pain management but still, no scale has been developed to measure the extent or tendency of opiophobia among doctors or patients. This scale can be used globally on both men and women doctors to access the tendency of opiophobia among them.

Psychometric development and validation of ostracism experience scale (OES): across sample of young adults from Pakistan

PurposeOstracism is being socially ignored or excluded by others. Ostracism leads to serious psychological distress and health issues in the young adults being ostracized. However, there are no psychometrically designed instruments to measure this phenomenon in young adults. This study aims to develop a scale that measures ostracism efficiently and establishes the scale’s psychometric properties.Design/methodology/approachThe research design used for the study is “a mixed-method study using non-experimental research with an exploratory sequential approach and instrument development design.” For the formation of the item pool, theoretical evidence was collected and focus group discussions were conducted. Afterward, content validity was established with the help of subject matter experts, followed by Velicer’s minimum average partial method and maximum likelihood factor analysis to form the instrument’s factorial structure.FindingsVelicer’s minimum average partial method and maximum likelihood factor analysis made two factors as follows: ostracism experience and psychological effect. The instrument developed has a high value of alpha reliability i.e. a = 0.97 and a = 0.96, a = 0.92 for the subscales, respectively.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample used for the research was enough to run the analysis, but future studies can go for a more extensive and more diverse sample. The sample was based solely on university students. The current research focused only on the target of the phenomenon, and the whole research process was conducted online because of the Covid-19 pandemic going on. The scale developed can be used in several settings to find out if the individual is being ostracized or not.Practical implicationsThe scale’s most important implication is in the colleges and universities where young adults are found and face this problem daily. Likewise, psychologists can also use it in clinical settings. The other important implication of this scale is that it is opening a route to future research as different variables can be studied in ostracism such as depression, physical health and anxiety.Social implicationsOstracism is a hidden evil in societies that is not usually talked about. When people are not given equal importance in groups or settings, it leads to serious psychological issues in those individuals. This scale will in the identification of the problem that will lead to a proper solution to this evil.Originality/valueThis work is original and not copied from anywhere. The research was conducted with the sole purpose of developing a scale on the ostracism experiences in young adults. The data is collected in the form of online surveys. The current scale is an attempt at developing a more reliable and valid scale that can be used in social settings.

A Comparison of Principal Component Analysis and Maximum Likelihood Factor Analysis in Bank Health Ratio

The use of factor analysis methods to reduce variable dimensions is generally known and has been used in various disciplines. The two famous extraction methods of factor analysis are principal component analysis and maximum likelihood. This study aimed to compare both, principal component analysis and maximum likelihood. By their constructed matrix correlation, applied to bank financial ratios. The study is developed from an initial set of 22 ratios of healthy indexed banks. The use of bank financial data aims to identify the structure of the financial ratio of healthy indexed banks. There are 10 variables satisfying the criteria of factor analysis techniques to be considered in the analysis. Both principal component analysis and maximum likelihood suggest three factors that can be used to represent 10 variables.Keywords: factor analysis; principal component analysis; maximum likelihood; financial ratios; bank health.

Dimensionality Reduction for Countermovement Jump Metrics.

Dozens of variables can be derived from the countermovement jump (CMJ). However, this does not guarantee an increase in useful information because many of the variables are highly correlated. Furthermore, practitioners should seek to find the simplest solution to performance testing and reporting challenges. The purpose of this investigation was to show how to apply dimensionality reduction to CMJ data with a view to offer practitioners solutions to aid applications in high-performance settings. The data were collected from 3 cohorts using 3 different devices. Dimensionality reduction was undertaken on the extracted variables by way of principal component analysis and maximum likelihood factor analysis. Over 90% of the variance in each CMJ data set could be explained in 3 or 4 principal components. Similarly, 2 to 3 factors could successfully explain the CMJ. The application of dimensional reduction through principal component analysis and factor analysis allowed for the identification of key variables that strongly contributed to distinct aspects of jump performance. Practitioners and scientists can consider the information derived from these procedures in several ways to streamline the transfer of CMJ test information.

Beyond principal components: a critical comparison of factor analysis methods for subspace modelling in chemistry.

Multivariate data analysis tools have become an integral part of modern analytical chemistry, and principal component analysis (PCA) is perhaps foremost among these. PCA is central in approaching many problems in data exploration, classification, calibration, modelling, and curve resolution. However, PCA is only one form of a broader group of factor analysis (FA) methods that are rarely employed by chemists. The dominance of PCA in chemistry is primarily a consequence of history and convenience, but this has obscured the potential advantages of other FA tools that are widely used in other fields. The purpose of this article, which is intended for those who are already familiar with the mathematical foundations and applications of PCA, is to develop a framework to relate PCA to other commonly used FA methods from the perspective of chemical applications. Specifically, PCA is compared to maximum likelihood factor analysis (MLFA), principal axis factorization (PAF) and maximum likelihood PCA (MLPCA). Similarities and differences are highlighted with regard to the assumptions and constraints of the models, algorithms employed, and calculation of scores and loadings. Practical aspects such as data dimensionality, preprocessing, rank estimation, improper solutions (Heywood cases), and software implementation are considered. The performance of the four methods is compared using both simulated and experimental data sets. While PCA provides the most reliable estimates when measurement error variance is uniform (homoscedastic noise) and MLPCA works best when the error covariance matrix is explicitly known, MLFA and PAF have the distinct advantage of providing information about measurement uncertainty and adapting to situations of unknown heteroscedastic errors, eliminating the need for scaling. Moreover, MLFA in particular is shown to be tolerant to deviations from model linearity. These results make a strong case for increased application of other FA methods in chemistry.

Factors that Motivate High School Agriculture Teachers to Teach

The purpose of this research was to describe the factors that motivate high school agriculture teachers to teach. The motivation to teach included intrinsic motivations, extrinsic motivations, and altruistic motivations. This was a census study using an online questionnaire that was sent to all (N = 252) high school agriculture teachers in Iowa. The Tailored Design Method with five contacts was used for data collection. The overall response rate was 47% (n = 119). Motivational factors were measured using a four-point Likert-type scale with the following response options: 1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = agree, and 4 = strongly agree. Confirmatory factor analysis and maximum likelihood factor analysis were used to identify factors underlying individuals’ motivation to teach. Means and standard deviations were 3.24 (0.13) for intrinsic factors and 2.55 (0.19) for extrinsic factors, respectively, indicating these factors influenced individuals’ motivations to teach. In this study, altruistic factors retained through factor analysis aligned with the intrinsic factors. The findings were consistent with previous studies on intrinsic and extrinsic motivations based on self-determination theory. Even though teachers were drawn to the profession more strongly by intrinsic factors, both intrinsic and extrinsic factors are important in motivating agriculture teachers to teach. The study has implications for the design of induction and mentoring programs and for the administrative support of teachers.

Psychological peculiarities of professional development in late adulthood

Introduction. Modern technologies are generating new types of production and transformation of old ones, which results in the loss of jobs, income and status among the representatives of elder generation and leads to a professional loss crisis. All these factors make it necessary to study the peculiarities of professional development in late adulthood.The aim of the current publication is to investigate psychological peculiarities of professional development in late adulthood.Methodology and research methods. The conceptual idea of the research methodology is the subject-based approach, which considers an individual as an active subject of labour, who is able to successfully and effectively realise various occupational activities, thus ensuring a decent standard of living. A standardised questionnaire “Motivation of Professional Activity” by K. Zamfir in modification of A. A. Rean was used to assess the level of internal and external motivation. The “WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF)” was applied to determine the level of quality of life. The parameters of professional development were evaluated employing a questionnaire with closed-type questions – adapted method “Questionnaire of a Working Pensioner” by N. S. Glukhanyuk and T. B. Sergeeva. The study involved 77 professional respondents aged from 50 to 74 years (19 men and 58 women). The Mann-Whitney U-test, Spearman rank correlation coefficient were used for statistical analysis of the obtained data. Maximum likelihood factor analysis was used as well.Results. The comparison of motivation among the respondents of various age groups demonstrated that the employees over 60 years are more motivated to stability and working conditions than the employees aged 50-60. The comparison of professional experience showed that employees with more than 30 years of working experience rated their physical and mental health and well-being higher than employees with 21-30 years of professional experience. Correlation analysis confirmed the research hypothesis about the correlation between the quality of life and work motivation with the characteristics of professional development. It was also confirmed that the quality of life in late adulthood is associated with the ability to overcome workplace challenges. Factor analysis revealed the factors of psychological preparedness for mentoring (“Need for Mentoring”, “Benefits of Mentoring”, “Impact of Mentoring on the Main Place of Work”, “Cons of mentoring”), the factors of self-assessment of work activity (“Social Aspect”, “Professional Aspect”, “Continuation of Work”, “Demand in the Labour Market”) and the factors of psychological difficulties in late adulthood (“Age Changes”, “Impact of Experience”, “Psychophysiological difficulties”, “Cognitive Changes”). Scientific novelty. For the first time in developmental psychology, the relationship between motivation and quality of life at a later age is discussed; the most significant factors of professional development are analysed. It is established that the most important characteristic of the quality of life for professional development is the environment. The results of the study prove the validity of considering late adulthood as the age of development, which contains the necessary psychological resources to overcome age-related changes and realise oneself in professional activities.Practical significance. The data obtained are important for developing a strategy of professional development in late adulthood, which will allow for determining the methods of the psychological support of employees, the improvement of productivity and the reduction of occupational injuries. Based on the specifics of motivation of professional activity in late adulthood and the characteristics of quality of life, the relevant programmes can be developed to overcome the professional loss crisis.

Psychological peculiarities of professional development in late adulthood

Introduction. Modern technologies are generating new types of production and transformation of old ones, which results in the loss of jobs, income and status among the representatives of elder generation and leads to a professional loss crisis. All these factors make it necessary to study the peculiarities of professional development in late adulthood.The aim of the current publication is to investigate psychological peculiarities of professional development in late adulthood.Methodology and research methods. The conceptual idea of the research methodology is the subject-based approach, which considers an individual as an active subject of labour, who is able to successfully and effectively realise various occupational activities, thus ensuring a decent standard of living. A standardised questionnaire “Motivation of Professional Activity” by K. Zamfir in modification of A. A. Rean was used to assess the level of internal and external motivation. The “WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF)” was applied to determine the level of quality of life. The parameters of professional development were evaluated employing a questionnaire with closed-type questions – adapted method “Questionnaire of a Working Pensioner” by N. S. Glukhanyuk and T. B. Sergeeva. The study involved 77 professional respondents aged from 50 to 74 years (19 men and 58 women). The Mann-Whitney U-test, Spearman rank correlation coefficient were used for statistical analysis of the obtained data. Maximum likelihood factor analysis was used as well.Results. The comparison of motivation among the respondents of various age groups demonstrated that the employees over 60 years are more motivated to stability and working conditions than the employees aged 50-60. The comparison of professional experience showed that employees with more than 30 years of working experience rated their physical and mental health and well-being higher than employees with 21-30 years of professional experience. Correlation analysis confirmed the research hypothesis about the correlation between the quality of life and work motivation with the characteristics of professional development. It was also confirmed that the quality of life in late adulthood is associated with the ability to overcome workplace challenges. Factor analysis revealed the factors of psychological preparedness for mentoring (“Need for Mentoring”, “Benefits of Mentoring”, “Impact of Mentoring on the Main Place of Work”, “Cons of mentoring”), the factors of self-assessment of work activity (“Social Aspect”, “Professional Aspect”, “Continuation of Work”, “Demand in the Labour Market”) and the factors of psychological difficulties in late adulthood (“Age Changes”, “Impact of Experience”, “Psychophysiological difficulties”, “Cognitive Changes”). Scientific novelty. For the first time in developmental psychology, the relationship between motivation and quality of life at a later age is discussed; the most significant factors of professional development are analysed. It is established that the most important characteristic of the quality of life for professional development is the environment. The results of the study prove the validity of considering late adulthood as the age of development, which contains the necessary psychological resources to overcome age-related changes and realise oneself in professional activities.Practical significance. The data obtained are important for developing a strategy of professional development in late adulthood, which will allow for determining the methods of the psychological support of employees, the improvement of productivity and the reduction of occupational injuries. Based on the specifics of motivation of professional activity in late adulthood and the characteristics of quality of life, the relevant programmes can be developed to overcome the professional loss crisis.