Study Instrument Research Articles

Validation of Karolinska Exhaustion Scale: psychometric properties of a measure of exhaustion syndrome

The syndrome of exhaustion is currently a medical diagnosis in Sweden. The description of the syndrome largely corresponds to the suggested core component of burnout, that is exhaustion. Karolinska Exhaustion Scale (KES) has been constructed to provide specific assessment of exhaustion in clinical and research settings. The purpose of the present study was to examine the psychometric properties of this scale in its original and revised versions by examining the factorial structure and measures of convergent and discriminant validity. Data gathered from two independent samples (n1 = 358 & n2 = 403) consisting of patients diagnosed with 'reaction to severe stress, and adjustment disorder' were subjected to confirmatory factor analysis. The study's instruments were Karolinska Exhaustion Scale and Shirom Melam Burnout Measure. Correlation analyses were employed to follow up the established factorial structure of the scale. The study was ethically approved by Karolinska Institute regional ethic committee. The findings demonstrated adequate fit of the data to the measurement model provided by the revised version of KES Limitations: The main limitation of the present study is the lack of a gold standard of exhaustion for direct comparison with KES. (KES-26) and partially supported convergent validity and discriminant validity of the scale. The demonstrated psychometric properties of KES-26 indicate sound construct validity for this scale encouraging use of this scale in assessment of exhaustion. The factorial structure of KES-26 may also be used to provide information concerning possible different clinical profiles.

Engagement Theory in Action: An Investigation of Athletic Training Program Directors

Objective: To examine the use of good practice indicators by athletic training program directors and to provide a theoretical framework using engagement theory, a learner-centered process focusing on program improvement through continuous planning and evaluation, as a foundation for implementing good practices in athletic training education programs. Design and Setting: Athletic training education program directors completed the study's instrument. Responses were analyzed using correlations and regression models following return of the instruments via United States mail. Subjects: Seventy-three undergraduate athletic training education program directors for CAAHEP (now CAATE)-accredited, entry-level programs completed the instrument for this study. Measurements: Subjects completed a demographic sheet indicating Carnegie classification (research and doctoral or comprehensive and baccalaureate), appointment type (administrative/academic or academic/athletic), and degree type (education or non-education). The participants also completed a faculty inventory based on the “Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education.” Data were analyzed using SPSS (Version 10.0). The independent variables were institution type, program director appointment type, and terminal degree type. The dependent variables were the collective and individual subscale scores on the inventory. Results: There were no differences in self reported principles of good practice between program directors of different institution, appointment or terminal degree types. It was clear however, that athletic training program directors across the country report use of quality practices in their teaching. Conclusions/Recommendations: Engagement theory provides a strong foundation for implementing quality indicators in both didactic and clinical instruction in athletic training education programs. The faculty inventory used in this study provides athletic training educators an instrument to use to reflect upon current practices to determine whether they reflect the quality indicators that promote engagement.

The Role of the Academic Administrator in Research Professors' Satisfaction and Productivity

The research reported in this article found that the behavior of research administrators (46 department chairmen and six research center directors) influenced positively the satisfaction of their re searchers (252 research professors, University of Missouri-Colum bia). To a lesser extent, their behavior also influenced researcher productivity, especially when the administrators followed a re source person-coordinator role model. The study's instruments in cluded 335 question interview-questionnaire schedules for re searchers and 221 item instrument for the administrators. The authors are William F. Glueck, Professor of Management, University of Missouri-Columbia and Cary D. Thorp Jr., Assistant Professor of Management, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.