Raw Scale Research Articles

Preparing a healthcare workforce for geriatrics care: an Interprofessional team based learning program

BackgroundImproving the care of older adults in our healthcare system involves teams working together. As the geriatrics population rises globally, health science learners need to be prepared to work collaboratively to recognize and treat common conditions in geriatrics. To enable workforce preparation, the Institute of Medicine and the National League for Nursing emphasize the need to implement interprofessional active learning activities for undergraduate healthcare learners at academic medical centers.MethodsThe Geriatrics Champions Program was a team-based learning activity created to meet this task. It was a 24-month program, repeated twice, that impacted 768 learners and 151 faculty from medicine, occupational therapy, physical therapy, nursing, social welfare, psychology, pharmacy and dietetics. Each class was intentionally divided into 20 interprofessional teams that met four times annually. Each session focused on one geriatrics domain. The objectives were centered around the specific geriatrics competencies for each health profession, divided into the eight domains written in the “American Geriatrics Society IM-FM Residency Competencies”. Evaluation consisted of individual and team Readiness Assessment Tests (iRAT and tRAT). Surveys were also used to collect feedback using a Likert scale. Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to compare iRAT and tRAT scores. Other analyses identified characteristics associated with tRAT performance group (Unpaired t-tests) and tRAT performance on the raw scale (Pearson correlation). Paired t-tests using a 7-level Likert Scale measured pre-post change in learner knowledge.ResultsStudent tRAT scores were 30% higher than iRAT scores (p < 0.001). Teams were more likely to score 100% on the initial tRAT attempt if more team members attended the current session (p < 0.001), more health professions were represented by team members in attendance (p = 0.053), and the team had a better track record of past attendance (p < 0.01). In the post-program evaluation, learners felt this program was helpful for their career preparation in interprofessional geriatrics care.ConclusionsLearners understood that teams performed better than individuals in the care of older adults. Feedback from the learners and faculty was consistently positive and learners felt better prepared for geriatrics care. The program’s benefits may extend beyond individual sessions.

Scaling up research on discrimination and health: The abridged Explicit Discrimination Scale

Using data from two studies conducted among diverse undergraduate students, we assessed the scalar structure of the Explicit Discrimination Scale (EDS), and developed an abridged version of the instrument. Our findings suggest that the EDS has acceptable scalability properties, including an adequate dispersion of items along the latent trait continuum. Results also support the idea that increasing raw scale scores reflect higher intensities of perceived discrimination. This shortened version of the EDS may be used in large-scale studies on the health impacts of discrimination.

Researching unexplained phenomena: empirical-statistical validity and reliability of the Multivariable Multiaxial Suggestibility Inventory-2 (MMSI-2)

Anomalous phenomena are unexplained occurrences, such as paranormal experiences, that challenge the ontological bases of current scientific knowledge and are considered scientifically impossible. Problematically, some scientific research yields significant statistical results in favor of the existence of telepathy, precognition, mind-matter interaction, and mediumship. The current study presents and statistically justifies the Multivariable Multiaxial Suggestibility Inventory-2 (MMSI-2), a new psychological instrument to measure and detect the main psychological explanations for anomalous experiences. A nonprobabilistic sample of 3,224 subjects without a psychiatric history were recruited from the general population of Spain. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to examine the internal structure of the MMSI-2's 174 items. Direct oblimin and promax oblique rotations were applied as criteria for axis rotation. Cronbach's alpha coefficients and their ordinal transformation were also calculated, and gender-differentiated scales for the raw MMSI-2 scale scores were developed. The first-order factorial solution yielded a total of 16 factors that explained 92.84% of the variance. Of these, 10 corresponded to the psychological variables cited in the background literature, four classified the anomalous phenomena according to their sensory mode, and two represented prototype control scales for this class of psychometric inventory. The higher-order EFA grouped the MMSI-2 scales into four macrofactors that together explained 97.737% of the variance. Satisfactory reliability rates were obtained (alphas>0.8). The full version of the MMSI-2 with 174 items is a valid and reliable psychometric instrument for evaluating anomalous phenomena and the theoretically concomitant psychological variables. Similarly, the scaling of scores can be used in psychological assessment as a screening tool to identify clinically suspected psychological variables.

Removal of Copper Ions from Aqueous Solution Using Waste Mill Scales

The optimization of the Copper ions (Cu ions) adsorption from aqueous solution for inclusion in prolonged the milling time of the extracted iron oxides from waste mill scales has been investigated. Different milling times were used to reduce the size of the raw mill scale which are 24, 48 and 72 h. The three adsorbents were characterized using XRD, FESEM and VSM. Adsorbents that milled for 72 hours gave pure magnetite from the XRD results. FESEM images revealed that prolonged the milling time might reduced the particle sizes. Magnetic hysteresis revealed that all the samples having ferromagnetic behavior. Batch adsorption experiment had been carried out with the three adsorbents and as the results, adsorbents that milled with 72 hours shown highest removal of Cu ions with 95% removal efficiency.

La evaluación de escalas de conocimiento político entre países: evidencia de América Latina

An informed public is viewed as essential for democratic representation. Exist- ing work suggests individual-level characteristics such as education affect political information. But contextual factors such as level of democracy and type of electoral system may also impede or facilitate the acquisition of knowledge. However, survey questions often vary across countries, making it difficult to identify the role of con- textual factors. Using the AmericasBarometer surveys from Latin America and the Caribbean, this paper compares alternative scaling methods and demonstrates that the conclusions about knowledge cross-nationally depend on the measure used. The analyses compare a raw additive scale, a standardized additive scale, factor scores, item response scores with anchoring, and item response scores with bridging. The conventional additive scale suggests that very little predicts variation in knowledge across countries, while the alternatives show that factors such democracy, telecom- munications, ethnolinguistic diversity, and electoral system have substantial effects on knowledge.

Body plethysmography for measuring airway resistance in patients with bilateral vocal fold immobility

ObjectiveThis study investigated the reliability of body plethysmography in comparison to spirometry in objectively measuring upper airway functions. MethodsThe study population consisted of 53 participants, 23 patients with BVFI after endolaryngeal laser posterior cordectomy and 30 healthy volunteers. All of them had body plethysmography (airway resistance, Raw), spirometry (ratio of forced expiratory flow at 50% to forced inspiratory flow at 50%, FEF50/FIF50 and peak inspiratory flow, PIF), 6 min-walking-test (6MWT) and Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnea scale measurements. The tests were repeated and reliability was evaluated using intraclass correlation (ICC) and Spearman correlation. ResultsThe reliability of Raw was high with ICC of 0.92, comparable to the spirometry measurements: FEF50/FIF50(ICC = 0.72) and PIF (ICC = 0.97). The mean of Raw was significantly higher in patient group. A strong significant correlation between Raw and MRC dyspnea scale (r = 0.79; p<0.05) and a moderate negative correlation between Raw and 6MWT (r = 0.4; p<0.05) was demonstrated. ConclusionBody plethysmography (Raw) is a reliable tool in objective measurement of upper airway resistance that reflects the patient's perception of breathlessness. A larger number of participants are necessary to confirm this finding.

ПСИХОМЕТРИЧНІ ЯКОСТІ ОПИТУВАЛЬНИКА ОСОБИСТІСНИХ ЦІННОСТЕЙ ОБДАРОВАНИХ СТУДЕНТІВ

The purpose of presented research is the finalization of the gifted students’ personal values questionnaire development. This work carried out in four stages: 1) approbation of the preliminary version of the questionnaire, 2) the response scale elaboration with acceptable discrimination, 3) development of internal consistent, factor and content valid scales, designing test norms, 4) assessing the instrument retest reliability and the criterion validity. Three hundred eighty-six university students answered the questionnaire at all stages of the study. Based on factor and content analysis six measuring scales were constructed: productive creative activity values, orientation on intensive emotional experience, orientation on social recognition, value uncertainty, orientation on profession, value of comfortable living. The data confirm the questionnaire final version compliance with other standard psychometric requirements: no answer to the items was chosen more often than 55%, the distribution of raw scale scores is normal, Cronbach's Alpha closes to 0.70, corrected item-total correlation is above 0.20, retest reliability coefficient is not below 0.70. The instrument is recommended for individual assessment and research purpose in students' population. Further research prospects are related to questionnaire validity determination in relation to other external criteria of giftedness and to the accumulation and reflection of experience in using the tool.

QUALITY OF LIFE OF ELDERLY vs. PRACTICE OF DIFFERENT PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

An active lifestyle provides several health benefits, whether social or psychological, considering that these mechanisms are considered fundamental points for a good quality of life and independence of the elderly. The objective of this study was to investigate the quality of life of elderly people practicing different types of physical activities. The research presented a descriptive characteristic with a quantitative approach. The population of approximately 100 practitioners was composed of users of the “Active Life Project” located in the city of Patos - PB, and the sample consisted of 30 elderly aged 60 to 90 years, average of 70.0 ± 7.1 of them. Which 10 of each modality practiced: Water aerobics, Gymnastics and Dance. To assess the quality of life of the elderly, the SF-36 quality of life questionnaire was used as an instrument. It was a multidimensional questionnaire consisting of 36 items grouped into two components called physical and mental distributed in eight domains: functional capacity, physical aspects, emotional aspects, mental health, social aspects, vitality, pain and general perception of health. The data were analyzed using the Excel for Windows 17 program. The dominance of the practiced mode of dance is verified, where the aspect of physical capacity did not prevail, standing out in the others: social aspects (86.3), mental health (81.6 ), vitality (74.5) and general health (71.5), and only the pain level (62) is of concern, since according to the Raw scale, the table reverses the closer to 100 worse. the domain presents itself. Physical activity is a determining factor in the healthy aging process, enabling the elderly population to go through this process with better quality of life.

Log transformation of proficiency testing data on the content of genetically modified organisms in food and feed samples: is it justified?

The outcome of proficiency tests (PTs) is influenced, among others, by the evaluation procedure chosen by the PT provider. In particular for PTs on GMO testing a log-data transformation is often applied to fit skewed data distributions into a normal distribution. The study presented here has challenged this commonly applied approach. The 56 data populations from proficiency testing rounds organised since 2010 by the European Union Reference Laboratory for Genetically Modified Food and Feed (EURL GMFF) were used to investigate the assumption of a normal distribution of reported results within a PT. Statistical evaluation of the data distributions, composed of 3178 reported results, revealed that 41 of the 56 datasets showed indeed a normal distribution. For 10 datasets, the deviation from normality was not statistically significant at the raw or log scale, indicating that the normality assumption cannot be rejected. The normality of the five remaining datasets was statistically significant after log-data transformation. These datasets, however, appeared to be multimodal as a result of technical/experimental issues with the applied methods. On the basis of the real datasets analysed herein, it is concluded that the log transformation of reported data in proficiency testing rounds is often not necessary and should be cautiously applied. It is further shown that the log-data transformation, when applied to PT results, favours the positive performance scoring for overestimated results and strongly penalises underestimated results. The evaluation of the participants’ performance without prior transformation of their results may highlight rather than hide relevant underlying analytical problems and is recommended as an outcome of this study.Graphical abstract

P4402Effect of carnitine supplementation on progression of carotid plaque in the metabolic syndrome: the ECoM study

Abstract Background/Introduction L-carnitine (L-C) has been investigated as a potential therapy for cardiovascular (CV) disease, but its direct effects on human atherosclerosis are unknown. Epidemiological studies suggest a possible reduction of CV risk factors following treatment, whereas animal studies have shown that L-C may increase pro-atherogenic metabolites. Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine whether L-C therapy led to atherosclerosis progression or regression by direct quantification of carotid atherosclerotic lesions in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methods This study was a Phase 2, prospective, parallel, double blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled, two-center trial. MetS was defined according to the International Diabetes Federation harmonized definition, where presence of any 3 of the 5 following risk factors constituted a diagnosis: elevated waist circumference; elevated triglycerides; reduced HDL or treated; elevated blood pressure or treated; elevated glucose or HbA1c or treated. Participants with a baseline carotid total plaque volume (TPV) ≥50 mm3 were randomized to placebo or 2 g L-C daily for 6 months. Plaque progression was quantified by 3D carotid ultrasound for change in TPV and reduction in vessel lumen area (% area stenosis, Fig. 1). Absolute differences were assessed on the raw scale, while percent change on the log scale. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to assess within- and between-arm differences. Results Of the 177 participants randomized, 157 completed the study (L-C n=76, placebo n=81). No statistically significant difference between arms was found in the primary outcome (TPV). However, there was progression of plaque stenosis in the treatment arm: the L-C group had an increase in stenosis of 9.8% (p=0.01) higher than the placebo arm, and a 2.7% (p=0.03) greater absolute change. Total cholesterol and LDL levels (0.10 mmol/L and 0.05 mmol/L, respectively) were higher in the intervention arm compared to the placebo arm (−0.06 mmol/L and −0.07 mmol/L). Figure 1 Conclusions We observed progression of atherosclerosis with L-C therapy compared to placebo in patients with MetS. The clear lack of benefit of L-C therapy in this population raises serious concerns for its further use as a potential therapy. Given its association with pro-atherogenic metabolites our study offers further understanding of the atherosclerotic process. Acknowledgement/Funding Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada

A cross-sectional study of water arsenic exposure and intellectual function in adolescence in Araihazar, Bangladesh

BackgroundExposure to inorganic arsenic (As) from drinking water is associated with modest deficits in intellectual function in young children; it is unclear whether deficits occur during adolescence, when key brain functions are more fully developed. ObjectivesWe sought to determine the degree to which As exposure is associated with adolescent intelligence, and the contributory roles of lead, cadmium, manganese and selenium. MethodsWe recruited a cross-section of 726 14–16 year olds (mean age = 14.8 years) whose mothers are participants in the Bangladesh Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study (HEALS), and whose household well water As levels, which varied widely, were well characterized. Using a culturally modified version of the WISC-IV, we examined raw Full Scale scores, and Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Reasoning, Working Memory and Processing Speed Indices. Blood levels of As (BAs), Mn, Pb, Cd and Se were assessed at the time of the visit, as was creatinine-adjusted urinary As (UAs/Cr). ResultsLinear regression analyses revealed that BAs was significantly negatively associated with all WISC-IV scores except for Perceptual Reasoning. With UAs/Cr as the exposure variable, we observed significantly negative associations for all WISC-IV scores. Except for Se, blood levels of other metals, were also associated with lower WISC-IV scores. Controlling for covariates, doubling BAs, or UAs/Cr, was associated with a mean decrement (95% CI) of 3.3 (1.1, 5.5), or 3.0 (1.2, 4.5) points, respectively, in raw Full scale scores with a sample mean of 177.6 (SD = 36.8). Confirmatory analyses using Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression, which identifies important mixture members, supported these findings; the primary contributor of the mixture was BAs, followed by BCd. ConclusionsOur data indicate that the adverse consequences of As exposure on neurodevelopment observed in other cross-sectional studies of younger children are also apparent during adolescence. They also implicate Cd as a neurotoxic element that deserves more attention.

Service recovery as an organizational capability

PurposeThis paper aims to explore and conceptualize service recovery as an organizational capability. It proposes a new construct labeled knowledge-enabled recovery effectiveness (KERE).Design/methodology/approachMeasures capturing the KERE construct were developed through domain identification, item pool generation using focus group interviews with managers involved in complaint management and content expert validation.FindingsA first pool of 73 items was generated and then reduced to 37 items. Focus group interviews confirm the theoretical relevance of the KERE construct. Recovery culture, recovery process and internal recovery resources are the different components of a firm’s knowledge that serve as inputs, or as a source of a firm’s service recovery capabilities.Research limitations/implicationsA quantitative study is needed in future research to assess the KERE’s construct structure and validity.Practical implicationsManagers may use the proposed scale to foster effective and relevant marketing strategies by setting clear policies that consider service recovery as a knowledge-based activity rather than a control targeted activity.Originality/valueThis research demonstrates the mutual dialogue between service recovery and knowledge-based capabilities. Also, it proposes a new concept labeled KERE and a raw scale to further understand firms’ aptitude in service recovery.

Psychometric Testing of the Resilience at Work Scale Using Indian Sample

Executive Summary With incessant global competition, technological innovations, organizational restructuring, and turbulent business environment, contemporary organizations need resilient employees, who in turn are capable to face unprecedented changes and adapt successfully to challenging roles, tasks, and situations ( Shin, Taylor, &amp; Seo, 2012 ). Consequently, this necessitates a validated employee-centric measure of resilience for assisting the organizations in fostering and measuring employee resilience development, which would enable employees to meet the challenges and growing work demands ( Hodliffe, 2014 , The development and validation of the employee resilience scale (EmpRes): The conceptualisation of a new model (Doctoral dissertation), New Zealand: University of Canterbury; Masten, 2001 , American Psychologist, 56(3), 227; Winwood, Colon, &amp; McEwen, 2013 , Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 55(10), 1205–1212). To address this gap, the study assessed the psychometric properties of the ‘resilience at work’ (RAW) scale. The study sample comprised employees working in IT organizations operating in the Indian National Capital Region (NCR). The study is based on cross-sectional questionnaire responses from 546 Indian employees working in the IT industry. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to test the factorial validity followed by an analysis of convergent and discriminant validity of the scale items. To evaluate the convergent validity, this study utilized three standard criteria which are standard factor loadings, composite reliability, and average variance extracted (AVE) ( Anderson &amp; Gerbing, 1988 , Psychological Bulletin, 103(3), 411–423). In addition, the study tested the nomological validity of the RAW scale. The study results reveal that the RAW scale exhibits high reliability and the results of CFA validated the seven-factor model of the RAW scale. The results of CFA and reliability of the scale demonstrate that the scale can be utilized to develop and measure resilience among Indian employees. Furthermore, the results of the nomological validity exhibit a significant relationship between resilience and work engagement. This study offers significant implications for both researchers and HRD practitioners. The study provides preliminary evidence for the psychometric properties of the scale in t he Indian organizational context and signifies its potential for the cross-cultural implementations. The RAW scale, thence, can be utilized by organizations as a validated tool for measuring and developing resilience among employees.

Score Establishment and Brazilian Portuguese version of the Pregnancy Sexual Response Inventory (PSRI).

To establish the Pregnancy Sexual Response Inventory (PSRI) scores for each domain before and during pregnancy, and to publish the Brazilian Portuguese version of the PSRI. Pregnant women were recruited during antenatal care; the PSRI was administered to 244 women prenatally at Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, at Universidade do Estado de São Paulo (UNESP, in the Portuguese acronym). The PSRI scores were estimated based on the Kings Health Questionnaire (KHQ) and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short form survey (SF-36). The raw scale type was used to standardize the minimal value and amplitude of each domain. For each domain, the score varied from 0 to 100, and the composite score was obtained as the domain average. The composite score before and during pregnancy was determined by the sum of the scores of all specific domains for each divided by the full domain number. The categorization of the scale into quartiles was established when all PSRI-specific and composite scores were combined. The composite and specific scores for each domain were categorized into quartiles: 0 < 25 as "very bad;" 25 < 50 as "bad;" 50 < 75 as "good" and 75 to 100 as "excellent." The mean scores were lower during pregnancy than before pregnancy in 8 of the 10 domains. The Brazilian Portuguese PSRI version is presented. This study allowed the establishment of the PSRI composite and specific scores for each domain, and the categorization of scores into quartiles: very bad, bad, good and excellent. In addition, the Brazilian Portuguese version of the PSRI is presented in full for application in the Brazilian population.

Case-Mix for Performance Management: A Risk Algorithm Based on ICD-10-CM.

Accurate risk adjustment is the key to a reliable comparison of cost and quality performance among providers and hospitals. However, the existing case-mix algorithms based on age, sex, and diagnoses can only explain up to 50% of the cost variation. More accurate risk adjustment is desired for provider performance assessment and improvement. To develop a case-mix algorithm that hospitals and payers can use to measure and compare cost and quality performance of their providers. All 6,048,895 patients with valid diagnoses and cost recorded in the US Veterans health care system in fiscal year 2016 were included in this study. The dependent variable was total cost at the patient level, and the explanatory variables were age, sex, and comorbidities represented by 762 clinically homogeneous groups, which were created by expanding the 283 categories from Clinical Classifications Software based on ICD-10-CM codes. The split-sample method was used to assess model overfitting and coefficient stability. The predictive power of the algorithms was ascertained by comparing the R, mean absolute percentage error, root mean square error, predictive ratios, and c-statistics. The expansion of the Clinical Classifications Software categories resulted in higher predictive power. The R reached 0.72 and 0.52 for the transformed and raw scale cost, respectively. The case-mix algorithm we developed based on age, sex, and diagnoses outperformed the existing case-mix models reported in the literature. The method developed in this study can be used by other health systems to produce tailored risk models for their specific purpose.

Synthesis of magnetite from raw mill scale and its application for arsenate adsorption from contaminated water

The magnetite particles were chemically synthesized from the waste of hot rolling steel industry. The characterization of the synthesized magnetite was done by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The synthesized magnetite particles were used for the adsorptive removal of arsenate from the contaminated water. The maximum adsorption capacity of 7.69 mg was found on the surface of 1 g of the magnetite. The point of zero charge for magnetite is determined at the pH 6. The adsorption capacity of magnetite particles was successfully restored with alkali cleaning. Newly synthesized particles were found to be effective for arsenate removal up to 5 times with regeneration. The synthesis of magnetite from raw mill scale and its application for arsenate adsorption is a cost effective and ecofriendly process.

Influence of sintering temperature on the structural, electrical and microwave properties of yttrium iron garnet (YIG)

This study investigates the structural, electrical and microwave properties of yttrium iron garnet (YIG) which focuses on the parallel evolving relationship with their dependence on the sintering temperature. The iron oxide obtained from the steel waste product (mill scale) was used to synthesize YIG. The raw mill scale underwent the milling and Curie temperature separation technique to produce high purity iron oxide powder which is the main raw material in preparing and fabricating YIG through high energy ball milling (HEBM) process. Microstructural features such as amorphous phase, grain boundary, secondary phase and intergranular pores contribute significantly to the additional magnetic anisotropy and demagnetizing fields, affecting the electric and microwave properties accordingly. The increment in electrical resistivity and decrement in linewidth while the microstructure was evolving is believed to be a strong indicator of improved phase purity and compositional stoichiometry.

Effect of trace elements on the sintering effect of fish scale derived hydroxyapatite and its bioactivity

Synthesis of nano-crystalline hydroxyapatite (HAp) from fish scale (Catla catla) was carried out by calcining of raw fish scale between 200 °C and 1200 °C. The synthesized powders were characterized using thermogravimetry – differential thermal analysis (TGA-DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The crystallinity, crystallite size, strain and cell parameters of fish scale derived calcined powders and chemically synthesized HAp (S-HAp) powders were estimated from XRD data. The average crystallite size of fish scale derived HAp powder increased with increasing calcination temperature. The fish scale derived HAp (FSH800) and S-HAp, calcined at 800 °C, showed crystallite size of 30 nm and 60 nm, respectively. ICP-AES analysis revealed that the fish scale derived HAp powder calcined at 1200 °C (FSH1200) contain significantly high amount of magnesium and strontium ions compared to S-HAp. After sintering at 1200 °C for 1 h, the relative density of FSH1200 was 20% higher than that of S-HAp due to better sinterability as a result of its small crystallite size and the presence of trace elements. In vitro cytotoxicity studies performed using human osteoblast-like cells (MG63) and mouse osteoblast cell line (MC3T3-E1) demonstrated that fish scale derived HAp (FSH1200) is non-toxic.

Improving Likert Scale Raw Scores Interpretability with K-means Clustering

In this article, by applying k-means clustering, cut-off points are obtained for the recoding of raw scale scores into a fixed number of groupings that preserve the original scoring. The method is demonstrated on a Likert scale measuring xenophobia that was used in a large-scale sample survey conducted in Northern Greece by the National Centre for Social Research. Applying split-half samples and fuzzy c-means clustering, the stability of the proposed solution is validated empirically. Testing its performance against three single indicators of xenophobia shows that it differentiates well between non-xenophobic and xenophobic respondents. The proposed method may be easily applied to facilitate interpretation by providing a more concise and meaningful “profile” of Likert scale (or subscale) raw scores especially the negative and positive ends of the scale for evaluation and social policy purposes.

Time perspective and alcohol-use indicators in France and the United Kingdom: results across adolescents, university students, and treatment outpatients

While some research has reported a significant relationship between time perspective and alcohol use, that research has differed considerably in terms of how both variables are operationalized.The present study aimed to investigate this relationship by operationalizing time perspective in three ways, using raw scale scores, using temporal clusters, and using the Deviation from a Balanced Time Perspective approach. Additionally, age-appropriate measures of alcohol-related behavior were used, and alcohol scale scores were assessed as both an ordinal and a categorical measure. Data gathered in adolescents and university students in the United Kingdom were re-analyzed, and new data from a French university sample and a French Treatment Outpatient sample were analyzed. Overall, results using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test revealed a very modest relationship between scores on this measure and the various time perspective approaches. Results using the Adolescent Alcohol Involvement Scale suggested a stronger relationship between scores on this measure and the time perspective approaches. The results are discussed in the context of the extant literature, and methodological concerns specific to the use of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory are discussed.