Underlying Factor Structure Research Articles

Effectiveness drivers for Indian information technology managers: an empirical study

The purpose of this research is to identify the effectiveness drivers contribute to managerial effectiveness in Indian information technology (IT) professionals through empirical study. Effectiveness assessments were administered to 2,080 IT professionals working as technical managers, their respective reporting officers, peers and subordinates. Intended as a comprehensive inquiry into the competencies of technical managers, three factors determined the design: repository of critical competencies through literature, 360 degree feedback on effectiveness attributes and empirical analysis to unearth underlying factor structure for effectiveness. Nineteen variables were found to be contributing to the effectiveness of the IT managers. They belong to competency areas such as technology management, business management, project management, domain know how, emotional intelligence (EI) and the value system. Inferences include emotional intelligence is key to effective management of technical managers; technical ability alone is not enough to be an effective manager; domain and business skills are critical and robust individual value system contributes in achieving effectiveness. Given the growth, uncertainty and rapid change of technology associated with IT industry, findings provide organisations with specific competency development areas for their technology talents. It is expected to provide a guiding force for technology leadership development in times to come.

Proactive coping and preventive coping: Evidence for two distinct constructs?

Proactive coping and preventive coping are commonly researched forms of future-oriented coping. There is however, contention in the literature regarding their underlying factor structures: some studies report they are separate constructs, while others have combined them together with other constructs. Given the growing literature using these forms of future-oriented coping, it is important to clarify the underlying structures of these measures. To inform these discussions, the factor structures of both proactive and preventive coping were empirically assessed with three independent samples. Sample 1 (N=181) investigated the underlying structures using exploratory factor analysis, with the resulting factors then examined in Sample 2 (N=282) and Sample 3 (N=345) using confirmatory factor analyses. The results supported the differentiation between proactive and preventive coping, revealing two distinct factors, however correlations with personality and psychological strain were inconsistent between the samples. These results contribute to recent discussions by demonstrating proactive and preventive coping are both uni-dimensional constructs as measured by the Proactive Coping Inventory, yet the conceptual distinctions may not be supported empirically in older and more educated samples. Future research is required to enhance our understanding of the theoretical distinction between the two coping scales in heterogeneous samples.

Making sense of it all: The impact of sensory processing sensitivity on daily functioning of children

Previous research on sensory processing sensitivity and related concepts showed an association with internalizing problems. The current explorative study investigated the underlying factor structure of the parent-report Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS) and its association with problems in daily functioning. Caregivers of 235 children (3–16years) completed the HSPS as well as questions on daily functioning. First, the factor structure of the HSPS was explored and evaluated. Second, both differences in reported problems between a high SPS and a control group, and in SPS factors between children with few versus many problems, were examined. Results suggested that the scores of the HSPS have good internal consistency and supported a two-factor structure which distinguishes Overreaction to Stimuli (OS) and Depth of Processing (DP). Children with high SPS were reported to have more internalizing problems. High OS was more common in children who cried excessively as a baby, children with medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS), sleeping, eating and drinking problems while high DP was more common in children with MUPS and sleeping problems. This study provides the first empirical evidence that the parent-report HSPS may add valuable information to the assessment of children with problems in daily functioning.

Measuring Educators’ Perceptions of Their Skills Relative to Response to Intervention

The Perceptions of RtI Skills Survey is a self-report measure that assesses educators’ perceptions of their data-based problem-solving skills—a critical element of many Response-to-Intervention (RtI) models. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to evaluate the underlying factor structure of this tool. Educators from 68 ( n = 2,397) and 60 ( n = 1,961) schools in a southeastern state participated during the spring of 2008 and spring of 2010, respectively. Results supported a correlated three-factor model with the following dimensions: Perceptions of RtI Skills Applied to Academic Content, Perceptions of RtI Skills Applied to Behavior Content, and Perceptions of Data Display Skills. Internal consistency estimates for all factors exceeded .90. In addition, significant associations between factor scores and data-based problem-solving fidelity at Tiers I and II were found. Implications for educators facilitating RtI implementation are discussed.

The Global Engagement Measurement Scale (GEMS): A New Scale for Assessing the Impact of Education Abroad and Campus Internationalization

We describe the development and validation of a new instrument to measure the non-academic impact of education abroad, the Global Engagement Measurement Scale (GEMS). Based on a review of the extant literature, we developed a 37-item instrument containing scales for four specific constructs of interest: a) cultural engagement; b) ambiguity tolerance; c) knowledge of the host site; and d) diversity openness. The measure was piloted with 263 education abroad students before and after a 5- week education abroad program. We examined the scales’ underlying factor structure, reliability, and sensitivity to education abroad program effects. Results indicate strong reliability and statistically significant increases across all scales following education abroad experiences. The GEMS instrument is brief and easy to administer, publically available, and includes important constructs for assessing the impact of education abroad. Additionally, the GEMS could be used to assess campus internationalization efforts with domestic and international students.

A Multifactorial Conceptualization of Impulsivity

Abstract. Despite the multiple phenotypic presentations of impulsivity, the underlying factor structure of the construct has yet to be settled. The aim of this study, with two multimethod, multisource datasets, was to further explore the multifactorial nature of impulsivity and propose a measure-selection approach. Unlike previous studies that relied on a single type of statistical analysis, the current study explored the relations between personality and behavioral measures of impulsivity utilizing exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and principal component analysis (PCA). Participants comprised two samples of young adults (n(study 1) = 175 and n(study 2) = 118) from separate communities in southwestern Ontario, Canada. Various facets of impulsivity were assessed including adult ADHD symptoms, planning and organizational skills, executive dysfunction, impulsive personality traits (i.e., sensation-seeking), risk-taking behavior, disinhibition, cognitive flexibility, and delay discounting. Both statistical analyses yielded two-factor models. The Dysexecutive Control factor reflected a tendency to act without thinking or planning, and difficulty focusing for a sustained period of time. The Reward-Seeking factor reflected a general need for excitement, and a preference for novel situations despite adverse consequences. For the purposes of standardized assessment of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral manifestations of impulsivity, trans-theoretical measure selection for research and clinical purposes is discussed.

Reliability and validity of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale in an emergency department in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional observational study.

BackgroundDepression and anxiety are prevalent psychiatric comorbidities that are known to have a negative impact on a patient’s general prognosis. But screening for these potential comorbidities in a hospital’s accident and emergency department has seldom been undertaken, particularly in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the Middle East. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) has been extensively used to evaluate these psychiatric comorbidities in various clinical settings at all levels of health care services except for the accident and emergency department. This study therefore aimed to assess the reliability and validity of the HADS for anxiety and depression among patients at a hospital accident and emergency department in Saudi Arabia.MethodsThis cross-sectional observational study was conducted from January to December 2012. The participants were 257 adult patients (aged 16 years and above) who presented at the accident and emergency department of King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, who met our inclusion criteria. We used an Arabic translation of the HADS. We employed factor analysis to determine the underlying factor structure of that instrument in assessing reliability and validity.ResultsWe found the Arabic version of the HADS to be acceptable for 95 % of the subjects. We used Cronbach’s alpha coefficient to evaluate reliability, and it indicated a significant correlation with both the anxiety (0.73) and depression (0.77) subscales of the HADS, thereby supporting the validity of the instrument. By means of factor analysis, we obtained a two-factor solution according to the two HADS subscales (anxiety and depression), and we observed a statistically significant correlation (r = 0.57; p < 0.0001) between the two subscales.ConclusionThe HADS can be used effectively in an accident and emergency department as an initial screening instrument for anxiety and depression. It thus has great potential as part of integrated multidisciplinary care.

The structure of DSM-5 posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in war veterans

ABSTRACTBackground and Objectives: The present research examined the underlying factor structure of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as conceptualized in the recently published fifth edition of the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5). Design: Participants were 258 trauma-exposed Iraq/Afghanistan war veterans. Methods: A self-report measure of PTSD symptoms was administered to all participants and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to compare several different models of PTSD. Results: CFA revealed that the best-fitting model was a six-factor model in which symptoms loaded onto the factors of intrusion, avoidance, negative affect, anhedonia, dysphoric arousal, and anxious arousal. Conclusions: These findings have important implications for ongoing conceptualization of PTSD and suggest that additional modifications to the diagnostic criteria for PTSD may still be warranted to more accurately reflect the underlying structure of PTSD symptoms.

Factor structure of the Parent Emotional Reaction Questionnaire: analysis and validation

BackgroundAlthough many children experience violence and abuse each year, there is a lack of instruments measuring parents’ emotional reactions to these events. One instrument, the Parent Emotional Reaction Questionnaire (PERQ), allows researchers and clinicians to survey a broad spectrum of parents’ feelings directly related to their children's traumatic experiences. The objectives of this study were: (1) to examine the factor structure and the internal consistency of the PERQ; (2) to evaluate the discriminant validity of the instrument; and (3) to measure whether potential subscales are sensitive to change.MethodA Norwegian sample of 120 primary caregivers of a clinical sample of 120 traumatized children and youths (M age=14.7, SD=2.2; 79.8% girls) were asked to report their emotional reactions to their child's self-reported worst trauma. Exploratory factor analysis was used to explore the underlying factor structure of the data.ResultsThe analysis of the PERQ showed a three-factor structure, conceptualized as PERQdistress, PERQshame, and PERQguilt. The internal consistencies of all three subscales were satisfactory. The correlations between the PERQ subscales and two other parental measurements revealed small to moderate effect sizes, supporting the discriminant validity of the PERQ subscales. The differences in sum scores of the PERQ subscales before and after a therapeutic intervention suggest that all of the subscales were sensitive to change.ConclusionsStudy findings support the validity of conceptualizing the PERQ as three separate subscales that capture clinically meaningful features of parents’ feelings after their children have experienced trauma. However, the subscales need to be further evaluated using a larger sample size and a confirmatory factor analytic approach.

Factor Structure of the Social Appearance Anxiety Scale in Turkish Early Adolescents

Although the Social Appearance Anxiety Scale (SAAS) is most often validated with the use of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on undergraduate students, exploratory factor analysis and multiple factor retention decision criteria necessitate the analysis of underlying factor structure to prevent over and under factoring as well as to reveal convergence and divergence in different factor analysis methods. This study examines the factor structure of SAAS using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with multiple factor retention decision criteria, and CFA in a large sample of adolescents in Turkey via secondary data analysis. The number of participants was 2,098 (1,072 female and 1,026 male; M = 12.77 years; SD=1.69) students attending 22 junior high schools. Results suggest that the Social Appearance Anxiety Scale is a valid and reliable measure with a unidimesional structure for Turkish early adolescents.

Factor Structure of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) Differs by Sex.

Although the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) is widely used in clinical research, factor analytic studies of the scale have been inconsistent and questions remain about the underlying factor structure of schizophrenia symptoms. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the factor structure of the PANSS differs in men and women with schizophrenia. Principal components analysis (PCA) with equamax rotation was used to examine the factor structure of the PANSS separately in 124 males and 74 females with schizophrenia-related psychoses. In males, a four-factor structure was identified: 1) Negative, 2) Cognitive, 3) Positive, and 4) Hostility. In females, a four-factor structure also emerged: 1) Negative, 2) Cognitive, 3) Positive, and 4) Depression. The most notable difference between the male and female PCAs was the presence of a depression factor in the females and a hostility factor in males. These results support sex differences in the factor structure of schizophrenia symptoms, which has important implications for clinical research.

Psychometric properties of the AHRQ Community Pharmacy Survey on Patient Safety Culture: a factor analysis

BackgroundThe U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) developed a hospital patient safety culture survey in 2004 and has adapted this survey to other healthcare settings, such as nursing...

Methodological challenges in mapping chinese medicine syndrome with conventional diagnosis: Implications for multi-centre trials in integrative medicine

IntroductionChinese medicine (CM) diagnostic instruments are increasingly developed to classify patients into different syndrome subtypes, potentially allowing for subgroup analyses in randomized trials. However, its external validity has been questioned. We illustrated this problem by evaluating a previously validated Functional Gastrointestinal Disorder CM Syndrome Differentiation Instrument (FDCMI) on a heterogeneous sample of functional dyspepsia (FD) patients. MethodsA cross-sectional study was performed using two questionnaires to diagnose FD patients from both conventional and CM perspectives. CM diagnostic subtypes were classified into Spleen-Stomach Qi Deficiency (QD), Liver Qi Stagnation (LQS), Dampness Syndrome (DS), and Qi Stagnation (QS) by the FDCMI. Descriptive analyses were used to illustrate relationships between conventional and CM diagnostic criteria. Explanatory factor analysis (EFA) was performed to explore the underlying factor structure of FDCMI in the current sample. ResultsData were successfully collected from 224 FD patients, with a response rate of 83.7%. Respectively 49 (21.9%) and 162 (72.3%) patients qualified for conventional FD diagnostic criteria under the Rome III (R-FD) criteria and modified Rome III (M-FD) criteria. Respectively 118 (52.7%), 116 (51.8%), 116 (51.8%) and 107 (47.8%) patients qualified for a diagnosis of QD, LQS, DS and QS under the FDCMI criteria using a 30% cutoff threshold of the total subscale score for each CM diagnostic subtype. Forty patients (17.9%) did not qualify for any single CM subtype under this threshold. Most patients belonged to more than one CM subtype. EFA results revealed an 8-factor structure that accounts for only 59.4% of the total variance. ConclusionsDue to population heterogeneity, differences in disease phenotype, diagnostic performance of conventional tests, co-morbidity and cut-off threshold, CM diagnostic instruments may have limited external validity, potentially reducing their applicability in multicenter trials.

Validation of a Measure of Normative Beliefs About Smokeless Tobacco Use.

Validated methods to evaluate consumer responses to modified risk tobacco products (MRTPs) are needed. Guided by existing literature that demonstrates a relationship between normative beliefs and future intentions to use tobacco the current research sought to (1) develop a measure of normative beliefs about smokeless tobacco (ST) and establish the underlying factor structure, (2) evaluate the structure with confirmatory factor analysis utilizing an independent sample of youth, and (3) establish the measure's concurrent validity. Respondents (smokers and nonsmokers aged 15-65; N = 2991) completed a web-based survey that included demographic characteristics, tobacco use history and dependence, and a measure of attitudes about ST adapted from the Normative Beliefs about Smoking scale. A second sample of youth (aged 14-17; N = 305) completed a similar questionnaire. Exploratory factor analysis produced the anticipated three-factor solution and accounted for nearly three-quarters of the variance in the data reflecting (1) perceived prevalence of ST use, (2) popularity of ST among successful/elite, and (3) approval of ST use by parents/peers. Confirmatory factor analysis with data from the youth sample demonstrated good model fit. Logistic regression demonstrated that the scales effectively discriminate between ST users and nonusers and are associated with interest in trying snus. Assessment of MRTPs for regulatory purposes, which allows messages of reduced risk, should include measurement of social norms. Furthermore, surveillance efforts that track use of new MRTPs should include measures of social norms to determine how norms change with prevalence of use.

Identification of the underlying factor structure of the Derriford Appearance Scale 24.

Background. The Derriford Appearance Scale24 (DAS24) is a widely used measure of distress and dysfunction in relation to self-consciousness of appearance. It has been used in clinical and research settings, and translated into numerous European and Asian languages. Hitherto, no study has conducted an analysis to determine the underlying factor structure of the scale.Methods. A large (n = 1,265) sample of community and hospital patients with a visible difference were recruited face to face or by post, and completed the DAS24.Results. A two factor solution was generated. An evaluation of the congruence of the factor solutions on each of the the hospital and the community samples using Tucker’s Coefficient of Congruence (rc = .979) and confirmatory factor analysis, which demonstrated a consistent factor structure. A main factor, general self consciousness (GSC), was represented by 18 items. Six items comprised a second factor, sexual and body self-consciousness (SBSC). The SBSC scale demonstrated greater sensitivity and specificity in identifying distress for sexually significant areas of the body.Discussion. The factor structure of the DAS24 facilitates a more nuanced interpretation of scores using this scale. Two conceptually and statistically coherent sub-scales were identified. The SBSC sub-scale offers a means of identifying distress and dysfunction around sexually significant areas of the body not previously possible with this scale.

Gender Differences in the Measurement of Creative Problem‐Solving

AbstractDespite significant scholarly attention, the literature on the existence and direction of gender differences in creativity has produced inconsistent findings. In the present paper, we argue that this lack of consensus may be attributable, at least in part, to gender‐specific inconsistencies in the measurement of creative problem‐solving. To explore this possibility, we empirically tested assumptions of multiple‐group measurement invariance using samples borrowed from four recent studies that assessed creative problem‐solving (J.D. Barrett et al., 2013; K.S. Hester et al., 2012; D.R. Peterson et al., 2013; I.C. Robledo et al., 2012). Across the four samples, apparent gender differences emerged on all three components of S.P. Besemer &amp; K. O'Quin's (1999) three‐facet model of creativity (i.e., quality, originality, and elegance) such that, on average, females appeared to exhibit higher baseline levels of creativity. However, in light of violations of measurement invariance assumptions across genders found in these samples, comparisons such as these may not ultimately be appropriate. Although the underlying factor structure and factor loadings on a unitary creativity factor were consistent across gender (i.e., weak factorial invariance), measurement in‐equivalence assumptions were violated at the subfacet level (i.e., strong factorial invariance). Implications of these findings for understanding gender differences in creative problem‐solving are discussed.

A comparison of newly-trained and experienced raters on a standardized writing assessment

A short training program for evaluating responses to an essay writing task consisted of scoring 20 training essays with immediate feedback about the correct score. The same scoring session also served as a certification test for trainees. Participants with little or no previous rating experience completed this session and 14 trainees who passed an accuracy threshold proceeded to score other essays. Performance of the newly-trained raters was compared to that of 16 expert raters with extensive experience in scoring responses to the writing task. Results showed that the scores from the newly-trained group of raters exhibited similar measurement properties (mean and variability of scores, reliability and various validity coefficients, and underlying factor structure) to those from the experienced group of raters. Implications for the place of initial training and screening of raters on rater performance are discussed.

Development of a Dental Anxiety Provoking Scale: A pilot study in Hong Kong

Background/purposeDental anxiety is closely related to one's past experience in dental clinics. However, little is known about what clinical, environmental, and psychological aspects provoke anxiety in dental patients. Extending on previous work in The Netherlands which explored anxiety provoking stimuli, the objective of the study was to develop a Dental Anxiety Provoking Scale (DAPS) that measures the degree to which anxiety was provoked by dental stimuli and to identify the underlying factor structure of the DAPS. Materials and methodsFour hundred and sixty study participants were recruited from two universities in Hong Kong. Each participant completed a self-administrated questionnaire that included a 73-item measure of dental anxiety provoking stimuli, and a four-item dental anxiety scale. ResultsResults of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses showed that the DAPS has seven factors, namely, dental check-up, injection, scale and drill, surgery, empathy, perceived lack of control, and clinic environment, and has 27 items. Results of structural equation modeling showed that three factors of the DAPS; dental check-up, surgery, and clinic environment, had a significant effect on dental anxiety score. The Cronbach α values ranged from 0.76 to 0.92 while the composite reliability values ranged from 0.78 to 0.93. The average variance extracted (AVE) values ranged from 0.55 to 0.81. The minimum AVE value was greater than the square of correlation value for each pair of factors. ConclusionThe study developed and validated the DAPS covering a wide range of dental anxiety provoking stimuli, findings were concise enough to be used in clinical based studies.

Investigating stereotypes of social anxiety

Background and Objectives: This paper consists of two studies that test for the presence and content of stereotypes of highly socially anxious individuals. Design: The current studies examined traits that comprise social anxiety stereotypes, and then tested whether undergraduate students held part of this stereotype via an implicit-association test (IAT). Methods: In Study 1, a sample of undergraduate students (n = 635) was asked to generate descriptors of people who are highly socially anxious. These descriptors were utilized to create the Social Anxiety Stereotype Measure (SASM) and the underlying factor structure of the SASM was analyzed. In Study 2, a different sample of undergraduate students (n = 87) was given an IAT to further test for the presence of one of the factors obtained in Study 1. Results: Factor analyses indicated the presence of two social anxiety stereotypes: social inhibition and oddity (comparative fit index = .97, Tucker-Lewis Index = .95, root mean square error of approximation = .07, standardized root mean square residual = .06). Oddity as a stereotype of social anxiety was further supported via an IAT: Participants reacted more quickly when oddity (vs. normality) words were paired with social anxiety (vs. social confidence) words (D = −1.15, SD = .26; t(85) = −41.50, p < .001). Conclusions: Factor analyses revealed two social anxiety stereotypes: social inhibition and oddity. Further testing of the oddity stereotype was supported via an IAT.

Factor‐Based Identification‐Robust Interference in IV Regressions

SummaryRobust methods for instrumental variable inference have received considerable attention recently. Their analysis has raised a variety of problematic issues such as size/power trade‐offs resulting from weak or many instruments. We show that information reduction methods provide a useful and practical solution to this and related problems. Formally, we propose factor‐based modifications to three popular weak‐instrument‐robust statistics, and illustrate their validity asymptotically and in finite samples. Results are derived using asymptotic settings that are commonly used in both the factor and weak‐instrument literature. For the Anderson–Rubin statistic, we also provide analytical finite‐sample results that do not require any underlying factor structure. An illustrative Monte Carlo study reveals the following. Factor‐based tests control size regardless of instruments and factor quality. All factor‐based tests are systematically more powerful than standard counterparts. With informative instruments and in contrast to standard tests: (i) power of factor‐based tests is not affected by k even when large; and (ii) weak factor structure does not cost power. An empirical study on a New Keynesian macroeconomic model suggests that our factor‐based methods can bridge a number of gaps between structural and statistical modeling. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.