Probability-based Sampling Methods Research Articles

English

The purpose of this study is to identify the sources of reading difficulties and to evaluate reading fluency of 9th grade students which aims to improve students’ reading and their understanding of complex literary texts. The sample is composed of 120 students selected from 9th grade of 10 different high schools in central province of Ankara in Turkey. The schools are chosen with probability-based sampling methods. Students were asked to read a text which is proposed by Turkish literature curriculum. Data was gathered using “Miscue analysis form” and “Questionnaire” as the main research tools to understand the sources of students’ reading difficulties. The statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) program was used for data analysis. According to findings, it was seen that students have reading difficulties even though they are 9th grade students. The results showed that students read inaccurately and they do not pay attention to punctuation marks. It can be also said students with low reading fluency have low competency. The result of this study indicates that most of the teachers who were participated in this study do not assess their students’ reading performance and they do not have any analysis form for assessing students’ reading performance.   Key words: Reading, literature education, fluent reading, reading errors, reading instruction.

İş Yaşamı Kalitesinin İşe Yabancılaşmayı Yordama Düzeyi

AbstractThe current research aims to determine the level of elementary school teachers' quality of work life (QWL) to predict work alienation. The study was designed using the relational survey model. The research population consisted of 1096 teachers employed at 25 elementary schools within the city of Van in the academic year 2010- 2011, and 346 teachers were used for the sampling. The group (cluster) sampling method, a probability-based sampling method, was used in the current study. The scales of Quality of Work Life and Work Alienation were used as data collection tools. The data was analyzed through frequency, percentage, standard deviation, t-test, ANOVA, and regression analysis. Teachers who participated in the sub-dimension of QWL, mostly at medium levels, stated that the level of work alienation was low. Female teachers stated that their total area of lv ife was better than that of males, but female teachers more often felt powerless, meaningless, and isolated at schools. Married teachers stated that their total area of life was better than that of single teachers. Classroom teachers stated that they received less appropriate and fair compensation compared with subject-matter teachers. Teachers from the 6 to 10 year seniority group agreed the least that the working capacity at schools was developed, compared to teachers from the 11 to 15 yearand 16+ year seniority groups. It was found that the sub- dimensions of QWL were significant predictors of total area of life, democratic environment, social integration, healthy and safe working conditions, and appropriate and fair compensation. Also, the sub-dimensions of work alienation were significant predictors of powerlessness, meaninglessness, isolation, and alienation from school.Key WordsAlienation from School, Elementary School, Quality of Work Life (QWL), Teacher, Work Alienation.Quality of Work Life (QWL)The development of QWL in this literature is based on Trist et al.'s research on work, man and technology at the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations in London (Cummings & Worley, 1997). Trist et al. developed the socio-technical system of understanding which combines developing technology and the social system together (Cummings, 1977). The socio- technical system aims to provide harmony between technology and an employee's social interaction in order for the organization to efficiently meet its goals (Balci, 2005).A complete consensus on the concept of QWL cannot be achieved. According to authors such as Coch and French (1948), Morse and Reiver (1956), and French and Israel (1960), QWL means democracy in the work environment (as cited in Cummings, 1977; Bragg & Andrews, 1973). This points to more participation by the employees in the decision making process. Margolis and Kroes (1974), House (1974), Kasl (1974), and Thomas (1974), on the other hand, view QWL as initiating change in order to provide more humane and healthier conditions as well as equity in sharing income sources. Many view QWL as a comprehensive approach to make work more humane and provide greater job satisfaction (Balci, 1995; Travis, 1995). The concept of QWL often refers to the physical and psychological welfare in the work environment with regard to an employee's integration in their total area of life (Bilgin, 1995). Despite various views, basic conceptual QWL categories may be listed as follows (Beach, 1980; Cummings & Worley, 1997; Walton, 1972):Total Area of Life: Total area of life includes all work related and non-work-related areas of life because both work and non-work related life influence each other (BartolomeL Travis, 1995).Safe and Healthy Work Conditions: The physical and health conditions at school play a significant role in increasing the QWL. Temperature, light, colors, cleanliness, classrooms, number of students, and overall safety are all considered to be factors affecting education employees (Basar, 1998; Fletcher, 1983; Hathaway, 1995; Johnson, 2001; Ling, Chik, & Pang, 2006; Uludag & Odaci, 2002; White, 1990). …

Respondent Driven Sampling for HIV Biological and Behavioral Surveillance in Latin America and the Caribbean

Since 2005, respondent driven sampling (RDS) has been widely used for HIV biological and behavioral surveillance surveys (BBSS) in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). In this manuscript, we provide a focused review of RDS among hard-to-reach high-risk populations in LAC and describe their principal operational, design, and analytical considerations. We reviewed published and unpublished reports, protocols, and manuscripts for RDS studies conducted in LAC between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2011. We abstracted key operational information and generated summary statistics across all studies. Between 2005 and 2011, 87 RDS studies were conducted in 15 countries in LAC (68% in South America, 18% in Mexico and Central America, and 14% in the Caribbean). The target populations were primarily men who have sex with men (43%), sex workers (29%), and drug users (26%). Study considerations included establishing clear eligibility criteria, measuring social network sizes, collecting specimens for biological testing, among others. Most of the reviewed studies are the first in their respective countries to collect data on hard-to-reach populations and the first attempt to use a probability-based sampling method. These RDS studies allowed researchers and public health practitioners in LAC to access hard-to-reach HIV high-risk populations and collect valuable data on the prevalence of HIV and other infections, as well as related risk behaviors.

Social, Religious and Spiritual Capital and Physical/Emotional Functioning in a National Sample of African Americans

ABSTRACTSpiritual and religious capital are forms of the broader construct of social capital. The present study, using probability‐based sampling methods, surveyed a national sample of African American adults to examine the relative contributions of spiritual and religious capital to their physical and emotional functioning. Analyses were conducted to determine if these constructs made a unique contribution above and beyond general social capital. African American men and women (N = 803) were interviewed by telephone. Hierarchical linear regressions revealed that, across the full sample, although social capital was a positive predictor of physical and emotional functioning (p < .05 and p < .001), neither religious nor spiritual capital made an additional contribution to these outcomes. However, the relationships among these variables differed for men and women. Among men, social capital predicted positive emotional functioning (p < .001) but not physical functioning; spiritual and religious capital made no additional contribution to either outcome variable. Among women, social capital predicted positive emotional functioning (p < .01) but not physical functioning. However, religious capital did make a significant additional contribution to the prediction of emotional functioning (ΔR2, p < .01). Dividing the sample into different age groups did not produce any different findings from those found with the sample as a whole. Findings are discussed in terms of implications for church‐ and faith‐based health promotion interventions aimed at health disparities reduction. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Tropical Fruits and Nectars Typically Consumed in Latino Communities Are Excellent Sources of Vitamins A, C and Other Nutrients

Latinos are the largest minority group in the U.S. The Nutrient Data Laboratory (NDL) is sampling and analyzing foods commonly consumed by Latin Americans in order to improve the quality and quantity of data on ethnic foods in the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference (SR). Guanabana, guava, mango, and tamarind nectars were sampled from retail stores using NDL’s National Food and Nutrient Analysis Program’s (NFNAP) nationwide, probability-based method. Nectars were sent to qualified labs for analysis of proximates, sugar, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and carotenoids. Findings include the following per 1 cup (251 ml): guava nectar, 10% DV for fiber; and mango nectar, 35% DV for vitamin A. All nectars are excellent sources of vitamin C (30-82% DV). NDL and Minnesota’s Nutrition Coordinating Center created a list of tropical fruits typically consumed in Latino communities. The NFNAP sampling method was not feasible due to the low probability of finding these fruits in retail stores. Cherimoya, jackfruit, mango, papaya, and mamey sapote were purchased from U.S. wholesalers, then composited and analyzed. All five fruits are excellent sources (32-138% DV) of vitamin C per 140 g (FDA serving, approximately 1 cup). Other standouts are mango for vitamin A and folate (45% and 21% DV, respectively); mamey sapote for potassium (21% DV); and cherimoya and mamey sapote for fiber (20% and 26% DV, respectively). Papaya has 2173 μg lycopene per 140 g. These new analytical values will enable researchers, clinicians, and consumers to more accurately assess the nutrient intakes of Latin Americans. INTRODUCTION The USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference (SR) is an important source of nutrient composition data for foods consumed in the U.S. As the Latino population in the U.S. increases, there is a greater need to serve this population by adding nutrient data to SR for foods they commonly consume. Many people seek the fruits they consumed in their native countries, resulting in increased tropical fruit imports such as mangos and papayas (Pollack, 2001). The general population is able to enjoy more tropical fruits with the greater availability resulting from the increased demand. Four tropical nectars and 5 tropical fruits were analyzed in order to update SR with quality nutrient data for foods commonly consumed by Latinos. METHODS Tropical nectars and whole fruits were sampled and nutrient components analyzed using the following procedures: Nectar •National Food and Nutrient Analysis Program (NFNAP) – probabilitybased, nationwide retail sampling. •Obtained two brands of each of following types of nectar: guanabana (soursop), guava, mango, and tamarind. •Food Analysis Laboratory Control Center (FALCC) at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University prepared samples according to standard protocols and shipped composited samples to pre-qualified analytical laboratories along with quality control materials. Fruit •Types of fruit were selected based on recommendations by the Nutrition Coordinating Center, at University of Minnesota from results of the multicenter epidemiologic Hispanic Community Health Study. •NFNAP probability-based sampling method not feasible due to limited availability. •Ordered from U.S. wholesalers via Internet; arrived at various stages of ripeness and allowed to fully ripen before composited at FALCC. •Fruits studied and their scientific names and countries of origin (according to the wholesaler) were cherimoya, Annona cherimola, Chile and U.S. (CA); jackfruit, Artocarpus heterophyllus, U.S. (FL); mamey sapote, Pouteria sapota, U.S. (FL); mango, Mangifera indica, Mexico and U.S. (FL); and papaya, Carica papaya, Brazil, Mexico and U.S. (FL). Laboratories conducted analyses of proximate components, sugars, dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals and carotenoids in all of the nectars and fruit using AOAC or other published methods. CONCLUSION Nutrient composition information assists consumers in making more informed food choices to positively impact their health. All four nectars were added to USDA’s SR in earlier releases. The cherimoya was updated with the new data in the recently released SR22 (USDA, 2009). The remaining four tropical fruits will be updated in SR23. A few more types of tropical fruits commonly consumed by Latinos will be sampled and analyzed in the future. New data will aid in the assessment of nutrient intakes of Latin Americans and help health professionals provide dietary guidance to this population .

An In-Class Exercise Which Demonstrates Some of the Benefits and Problems Associated with Probability-Based Sampling in Marketing Research

A sampling exercise is described which has proved effective for both undergraduate and graduate sections of marketing research. The goal of this sampling exercise is to give students experience in drawing various types of samples, including simple random, systematic, cluster, and snowball samples. In addition, this exercise enables students to appreciate, perhaps for the first time, some of the underlying theories and benefits of probability-based sampling methods.