Valid Interpretation Research Articles

Exploring the depths of second language processing with eye tracking: An introduction

In this paper, we review how eye tracking, which offers millisecond-precise information about how language learners orient their visual attention, can be used to investigate a variety of processes involved in the multifaceted endeavor of second language acquisition (SLA). In particular, we review the last 15 years of research in SLA, in which applied linguists have exploited the information gleaned from eye-tracking metrics to advance the field. As we explain, eye-tracking researchers within SLA have diversified which aspects of SLA they investigate and are entering new territory by pairing eye-tracking metrics with other data-collection methods for data-triangulation purposes. Eye tracking in SLA is also an inherently interdisciplinary endeavor, for which research partnerships with computer scientists hold special promise in the areas of automated language assessment and the evaluation of cognitive functioning and processing. We describe how the papers in this special issue on eye tracking in Second Language Research push the boundaries by: (a) ensuring greater standardization of how eye tracking is used in SLA (Godfroid and Hui, 2020); (b) embedding eye-tracking metrics within a mixed-methods design for more valid and complete data interpretation (Andringa, 2020; Michel et al., 2020); (c) using eye trackers to investigate the nuanced differences in cognitive processes involved across multimodal input and feedback types in SLA (Conklin et al., 2020; McDonough et al., 2020).

ACT: An Evidence-Based Macro Framework to Examine How Communication Approaches Can Change Social Norms Around Female Genital Mutilation

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a complex harmful traditional practice associated with prevalent social norms. Yet, there is a lack of social norms focused conceptual and measurement frameworks to assess the impact of social and behavior change communication-based interventions towards ending the practice of FGM. This manuscript describes the development of an evidence-based macro framework to measure FGM behavior and social norms change over time. ACT is an acronym for the different sections of the framework: 1) Assess What People Know, Feel, and Do; 2) Ascertain Normative Factors; 3) Consider the Context, Especially Gender and Power; 4) Collect Information on Social Networks and Support; 5) Track Individual and Social Change Over Time; and 6) Triangulate All Data Analysis. ACT takes a social-ecological perspective to change and was constructed using various social norms theories, both in general and specific to FGM. Subsequently, meetings were held with social norms and FGM field experts across the world to further refine the framework. The ACT framework includes a menu of constructs, indicators, methods, and tools that can be adapted according to available resources, the local context, and research limitations. Both qualitative and participatory quantitative methods are described. Descriptions of the steps necessary to measure social norms change with regard to FGM through monitoring and evaluation are included. The ACT framework allows for change to be directly linked to the communication approaches used by interventions through attribution and contribution using indicators to measure outputs, short-term outcomes, and exposure. Triangulation is built into the ACT framework to facilitate validation, enrichment, and holistic interpretation of data, as well as creating a feedback loop. ACT is currently being validated in two countries in Africa in which FGM is practiced to different extents. Next steps are discussed.

The importance of mediation in reproductive health studies.

A mediator is a factor that occurs after the exposure of interest, precedes the outcome of interest (i.e. between the exposure and the outcome) and is associated with both the exposure and the outcome of interest (i.e. is on the pathway between exposure and outcome). Mediation analyses can be valuable in many reproductive health contexts, as mediation analysis can help researchers to better identify, quantify and understand the underlying pathways of the association they are studying. The purpose of this commentary is to introduce the concept of mediation and provide examples that solidify understanding of mediation for valid discovery and interpretation in the field of reproductive medicine.

Validation and clinical interpretation of the St George\u2019s respiratory questionnaire for COPD (SGRQ-C) after adaptation to Malaysian language and culture, in patients with COPD

BackgroundCultural differences affect the administration and results of health status questionnaires. “Cross cultural adaptation” ensures retention of psychometric properties such as validity and reliability at an item and/or scale level.ObjectiveTo develop a Malaysian version of St George’s respiratory COPD specific questionnaire (SGRQ-CM), to evaluate the full spectrum of psychometric properties (reliability, validity and responsiveness), to test the factor structure and to assess minimum clinically important difference for the SGRQ-CM, to be used in population of Malaysia.MethodologySGRQ-C was translated to Bahasa Malaysia using a standard protocol. 240 COPD patients were included in the study. All patients were followed-up for six months. Construct validity, internal consistency, item convergent validity, test-retest ability, responsiveness, factor analysis and MCID of the Malaysian version of SGRQ-C to be used in population of Malaysia were evaluated.ResultsThe Cronbach alpha coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for SGRQ-CM were reported as 0.87, and 0.88 respectively. Correlation of SGRQ-CM with CAT, EQ-5D-5 L, mMRC dyspnea scales and FEV1%predicted were reported as 0.86, − 0.82, 0.72 and − 0.42 respectively. Correlation coefficient between the subscales and other clinical and health status measures ranged from r = − 0.35 to r = − 0.87. The MCID was reported as 5.07 (− 2.54–12.67).ConclusionThe Malaysian version of SGRQ-C has a good psychometric property comparable to those of the original version and has a strong evidence of validity, reliability and responsiveness towards disease severity in Malaysian COPD patients. It can be recommended as a reliable quality of life measure for future research.

Group Differences in the Value of Subscores: A Fairness Issue

The aim of this article was to examine the quality of subscores from a test fairness perspective. We were using a method based on classical test theory to study group differences in the value that subscores from a typical college admission test add to the total test score. Significant group differences in such subscore value would raise questions about fairness for that testing program. In particular, differences in subscore value between subgroups based on certain accommodations could indicate problems with the appropriateness of the accommodation. The groups in this study were males and females, and additionally a typical time adaptation given to test takers in need of extended time was analyzed. We found that the value added ratio (VAR) for all subscores in the studied test were slightly larger for males than for females. There were some differences between subgroups with respect to the extended time accommodation, but they were not systematic in the same way as for males/females. While the differences in the subscores’ added value were small in general, they may in some instances be large enough to pose a threat to a valid and fair interpretation and use of test scores.

Quality of reporting of drug exposure in pharmacoepidemiological studies.

PurposeExposure definitions vary across pharmacoepidemiological studies. Therefore, transparent reporting of exposure definitions is important for interpretation of published study results. We aimed to assess the quality of reporting of exposure to identify where improvement may be needed.MethodWe systematically reviewed observational pharmacoepidemiological studies that used routinely collected health data, published in 2017 in six pharmacoepidemiological journals. Reporting of exposure was scored using 11 items of the ISPE‐ISPOR guideline on reporting of pharmacoepidemiological studies.ResultsOf the 91 studies included, all studies reported the type of exposure (100%), while most reported the exposure risk window (85%) and the exposure assessment window (98%). Operationalization of the exposure window was described infrequently: 16% (14/90) of the studies explicitly reported the presence or absence of an induction period if applicable, 11% (5/47), and 35% (17/49) reported how stockpiling and gaps between exposure episodes were handled, respectively, and 35% (17/49) explicitly mentioned the exposure extension. Switching/add‐on was reported in 62% (50/81). How switching between drugs was dealt with and specific drug codes were reported in 52 (57%) and 24 (26%) studies, respectively.ConclusionPublications of pharmacoepidemiological studies frequently reported the type of exposure, the exposure risk window, and the exposure assessment window. However, more details on exposure assessment are needed, especially when it concerns the operationalization of the exposure risk window (eg, the presence or absence of an induction period or exposure extension, handling of stockpiling and gaps, and specific codes), to allow for correct interpretation, reproducibility, and assessment of validity.

Standard multiscale entropy reflects neural dynamics at mismatched temporal scales: What's signal irregularity got to do with it?

Multiscale Entropy (MSE) is used to characterize the temporal irregularity of neural time series patterns. Due to its' presumed sensitivity to non-linear signal characteristics, MSE is typically considered a complementary measure of brain dynamics to signal variance and spectral power. However, the divergence between these measures is often unclear in application. Furthermore, it is commonly assumed (yet sparingly verified) that entropy estimated at specific time scales reflects signal irregularity at those precise time scales of brain function. We argue that such assumptions are not tenable. Using simulated and empirical electroencephalogram (EEG) data from 47 younger and 52 older adults, we indicate strong and previously underappreciated associations between MSE and spectral power, and highlight how these links preclude traditional interpretations of MSE time scales. Specifically, we show that the typical definition of temporal patterns via "similarity bounds" biases coarse MSE scales-that are thought to reflect slow dynamics-by high-frequency dynamics. Moreover, we demonstrate that entropy at fine time scales-presumed to indicate fast dynamics-is highly sensitive to broadband spectral power, a measure dominated by low-frequency contributions. Jointly, these issues produce counterintuitive reflections of frequency-specific content on MSE time scales. We emphasize the resulting inferential problems in a conceptual replication of cross-sectional age differences at rest, in which scale-specific entropy age effects could be explained by spectral power differences at mismatched temporal scales. Furthermore, we demonstrate how such problems may be alleviated, resulting in the indication of scale-specific age differences in rhythmic irregularity. By controlling for narrowband contributions, we indicate that spontaneous alpha rhythms during eyes open rest transiently reduce broadband signal irregularity. Finally, we recommend best practices that may better permit a valid estimation and interpretation of neural signal irregularity at time scales of interest.

Analytical challenges of testing hypotheses of agreement and discrepancy: Comment on Campione-Barr, Lindell, and Giron (2020).

Researchers are often inclined to test agreement or discrepancy hypotheses using difference scores. This commentary explains 2 mathematical-statistical principles underlying associations with difference scores and 2 conceptual-interpretation problems that make difference scores inappropriate for testing such hypotheses. The commentary provides examples of valid and invalid interpretations of difference score associations in reference to equivalent models. The commentary recommends testing agreement hypotheses using interaction terms and explains how to do so. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Real-time prediction of quality characteristics in laser beam welding using optical coherence tomography and machine learning

Laser beam welding significantly outperforms conventional joining techniques in terms of flexibility and productivity. The process benefits, in particular, from the highly focused energy and thus from a well-defined heat input. The high intensities of brilliant laser radiation, however, induce very dynamic effects and complex processes within the interaction zone. The high process dynamics require a consistent and reliable quality assurance to ensure the required weld quality. A novel sensor concept for laser material processing based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to measure the capillary depth of the keyhole during deep penetration welding. The OCT measurements were compared with analyses of the surface quality of the weld seams. A machine learning approach could be utilized to reveal correlations between the weld depth signal and the weld seam surface quality, underlining the high level of information contained in the OCT signal about characteristic process phenomena that affect the weld seam quality. Fundamental investigations on aluminum, copper, and galvanized steel were carried out to analyze the structure of the data recorded by the OCT sensor. Based on that, evaluation strategies focusing on quality characteristics were developed and validated to enable a valid interpretation of the OCT signal. The topography of the weld seams was used to classify the surface quality and correlated with the weld depth signal of the OCT system. For this purpose, a preprocessing of the OCT data and a detailed analysis of the topographic information were developed. The processed data were correlated using artificial neural networks. It was shown that by using adequate network structures and training methods, the inline process data of the capillary depth can be used to predict the surface quality with decent prediction accuracy.

Multiphysics anomaly map: A new data fusion workflow for geophysical interpretation

When collecting and processing geophysical data for exploration, the same geologic feature can generate a different response for each rock property being targeted. Typically, the units of these responses may differ by several orders of magnitude; therefore, the combination of geophysical data in integrated interpretation is not a straightforward process and cannot be performed by visual inspection only. The multiphysics anomaly map (MAM) that we have developed is a data fusion solution that consists of a spatial representation of the correlation between anomalies detected with different geophysical methods. In the MAM, we mathematically process geophysical data such as seismic attributes, gravity, magnetic, and resistivity before combining them in a single map. In each data set, anomalous regions of interest, which are problem-dependent, are selected by the interpreter. Selected anomalies are highlighted through the use of a logistic function, which is specially designed to clip large magnitudes and rescale the range of values, increasing the discrimination of anomalies. The resulting anomalies, named logistic anomalies, represent regions of large probabilities of target occurrence. This new solution highlights areas where individual interpretations of different geophysical methods correlate, increasing the confidence in the interpretation. We determine the effectiveness of our MAM with application to real data from onshore and offshore Brazil. In the onshore Recôncavo Basin, the MAM allows the interpreter to identify a channel where a drilled well found the largest sandstone thickness on the area. In a second example, from offshore Sergipe-Alagoas Basin, the MAM helps differentiate between a dry and an oil-bearing channel previously outlined in seismic data. Therefore, these outcomes indicate that the MAM is a valid interpretation tool that we believe can be applied to a wide range of geologic problems.

A conceptual framework to untangle the concept of urban ecosystem services

Urban ecosystem service (UES) is becoming an influential concept to guide the planning, design, and management of urban landscapes towards urban sustainability. However, its use is hindered by definitional ambiguity, and the conceptual bases underpinning its application remain weak. This is exemplified by two different but equally valid interpretations of UES: “urban ecosystem services”, referring to ecosystem services from analogs of natural and semi-natural ecosystems within urban boundaries, and “urban ecosystem services”, a much broader term that includes the former group as well as urban services in a city. While we recognize that a single definition of UES is not possible nor necessary as its application is context-dependent, it is nevertheless useful to clarify the relationships between these interpretations to promote consistent use, and importantly, explore how a broader interpretation of UES might advance its applications in areas that have been neglected. We developed a conceptual framework that links UES to natural and human-derived capital to explain the relationships between the dual meanings of UES and proposed three normative propositions to guide its application: (1) integrate holistically multiple components of natural capital to provide UES, (2) reduce dependence on non-renewable abiotic resources and human-derived capital, and (3) enhance UES through technology. The framework we developed helps to resolve the current ambiguity in the meanings of UES, highlights the need to recognise neglected aspects of natural capital important for UES, and can be used to clarify relationships with related concepts conveying dependence of human well-being on nature.

The Truth behind the Zeros: A New Approach to Principal Component Analysis of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory

Psychiatric syndromes in dementia are often derived from the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) using principal component analysis (PCA). The validity of this statistical approach can be questioned, since the excessive proportion of zeros and skewness of NPI items may distort the estimated relations between the items. We propose a novel version of PCA, ZIBP-PCA, where a zero-inflated bivariate Poisson (ZIBP) distribution models the pairwise covariance between the NPI items. We compared the performance of the method to classical PCA under zero-inflation using simulations, and in two dementia-cohorts (N = 830, N = 1349). Simulations showed that component loadings from PCA were biased due to zero-inflation, while the loadings of ZIBP-PCA remained unaffected. ZIBP-PCA obtained a simpler component structure of “psychosis,” “mood” and “agitation” in both dementia-cohorts, compared to PCA. The principal components from ZIBP-PCA had component loadings as follows: First, the component interpreted as “psychosis” was loaded by the items delusions and hallucinations. Second, the “mood” component was loaded by depression and anxiety. Finally, the “agitation” component was loaded by irritability and aggression. In conclusion, PCA is not equipped to handle zero-inflation. Using the NPI, PCA fails to identify components with a valid interpretation, while ZIBP-PCA estimates simple and interpretable components to characterize the psychopathology of dementia.

Kompleksitet og systematik i professionsforskning

This special issue focuses on a conflict between emphasizing nuances and complexity in professional work research and a systematic scientific presentation. The article presents the argument that such a conflict can appear in research collaborations dominated by diverse perceptions of validity and of what count as valid knowledge and interpretation of a given phenomenon. Based on a presentation of a backward-mapping scientific analysis of professional work, the article discusses pros and cons of integrating professional complexity with scientific criteria for valid and reliable analyses.

Peculiarities of implementation of career strategies in the framework of poststructuralism

The prerequisites for the formation of the theory of post-structuralism within the framework of sociological theory are set out in the article. The problems of the development of neo-functionalism as the first direction of post-structural sociological theory as an alternative theory to structural functionalism have been identified. The prospects for further research in the formulation and implementation of career strategies and scenarios within post-structuralism have been explored. The influence of postmodern sociological and socio-philosophical ideas on the structure of societies by post-structural type is evaluated. The patterns of post-structural transformations in the countries of Western and Eastern Europe are characterized. The mechanisms of post-structural transformation of social structures of the countries of Western Europe and the state support of these processes on the example of economic reforms by M. Thatcher are considered in the text. The problems of transformation of the structures of the societies of the countries of Eastern Europe have been clarified and compared with the social and socio-economic features of the parade of sovereignty of the Soviet republics and the countries party to the Warsaw Pact. The peculiarities of the transformation of the structures of society by post-structural type in different parts of Europe are compared. The impact of the liberal transformation of public institutions in the second half of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first century on the formation and implementation of career strategies of Europeans was evaluated. The peculiarities of the formation of career strategies within societies with transformed public institutions by post-structural type are determined. An outline of the development of further career strategies and scenarios in the short and medium term perspectives for the formation and implementation of career strategies in Europe is provided. The article deals with the peculiarities of planning career strategies in the framework of post-structuralism and the peculiarities of the influence of neo-functionalism on. The concept of career strategy in the context of the achievements of the sociology of post-structuralism is considered. Examples of career strategies developed within a post-structural society are examined and ways of their evolution are explored. The peculiarities of the formation of career strategies at different stages of the evolution of a post-structural society are analyzed and forecasts of their further development are given.The author emphasized that poststructuralism was the answer to the crisis of structural functionalism, whose methodology could no longer satisfy most sociologists and the scientific community in providing valid research and interpretations of social relations in the societies of Western Europe and North America. It has been suggested that in the future, post-structuralist society will be modernized into a society that will have a more stable structure through differentiation of society by individual value orientations, which will allow to function within individual social structures, which will be massive and will not intersect at one another, but will not intersect at one another. only massive public structures. This will allow the implementation of offline career strategies within a separate public structure.

The Developing of Application Web-Based to Academic Supervision Model

This dissertation was written based on the preliminary study of implementation of academic supervision activities in the city of Bukittinggi has not worked effectively and efficiently. A number of technical and practical problems are faced by supervisors and teachers. Overlapping scheduling, class visiting caused disruption of the learning process and bring the psychological effects for the teacher, practical and effective assessment, weak archiving, and follow-up activities were not well targeted. The current model had not been able to overcome these problems, for this reason the writer has developed a a management model named web-based academic supervision as a solution to the existing problem. This research was research and development used Borg and Gall model with stages preliminary studies, development, field testing, and dissemination. The object of the research was supervisor and teachers of elementary school of Bukittinggi town. The data ware collected through questionnaires, validation sheets, and interviews. The final model of web-based academic supervision management was called Web-based Academic Supervision (WBAS). WBAS consists of three stages with 7 steps, they ware pre-observation stage with the steps developted emotional relationships, discussions/ conferences, and determine the supervision schedule. The second stage was observation consis of carrying out observations and evaluations of the class administrative documents, the implementation of lesson plans, and the implementation of learning. The third stage was post-observation consist of analysis/reflection, discussion/ conference, and follow-up activities. The validity of WBAS Model was obtained 4.17 with a valid interpretation, the average score of the practicality of the model was 85.14 with a practical interpretation, and the average score of the effectiveness of the model was 87.16 with a very effective interpretation.

Disability, kinesiophobia, perceived stress, and pain are not associated with trunk muscle strength or aerobic capacity in chronic nonspecific low back pain

ObjectivesTo investigate to which extent disability, psychological and pain-related factors are associated with the outcomes of an isometric trunk muscle strength test and a cardiopulmonary exercise test in persons with chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP). DesignCross-sectional study. SettingREVAL Rehabilitation Research Center (Hasselt, Belgium). ParticipantsPersons with CNSLBP. Main outcome measuresQuestionnaires concerning disability, patient specific functioning, kinesiophobia, perceived stress, pain intensity, and central sensitization were recorded. Outcomes of an isometric trunk strength test (maximum back and abdominal torque) and cardiopulmonary exercise test (VO2max) were assessed. Multivariate linear regression models determined factors explaining outcome variance. ResultsData of 101 persons (39 males, mean age: 44.2y (SD = 9.6)) was assessed. Neither disability, nor psychological, nor pain-related factors were associated with the assessments. Variance in back muscle strength (R2 = 0.44, F = p < 0.01), abdominal muscle strength (R2 = 0.68, F = p < 0.01), and aerobic capacity (R2 = 0.76, F = p < 0.01) could only be explained through the included demographics covariates (age, gender, weight). ConclusionThis study highlighted the lack of biopsychosocial factors in explaining variance in outcomes of abdominal and back strength, and aerobic capacity in persons with CNSLBP with characteristics as depicted in the current sample. This information supports the valid interpretation of the outcomes of these assessments.

TIPIKALIS MOTIF KUPU-KUPU DARI SUKU ENGGROS PAPUA

Batik is a cultural heritage of ancestors which is still developing. Batik in Indonesia has its own diversity and distinctive characteristics, including in the Papua region. In Papua batik has characteristics that describe animals, plants and musical instruments. In this study, the use of motifs in Enggros tribe has a different position from each of its clans. Some motifs in the Enggros cannot be used by other clans. Each of these batik motifs has a meaning and hereditary meaning. This study uses a review of the shape of the motif, colour, and aesthetic value. The research method uses a qualitative descriptive method supported by the hermeneutic theory as a method of obtaining a valid interpretation of objectivity. The results of this research discussion reveal about Enggros batik as a characteristic of the Enggros tribe whose surname is from the Iwo Tribe. Expectations achieved in this study can help and find out the motives of the Enggros and the community is expected to understand more deeply these motifs as a legacy of ancestral tradition.

Is Bleaching Effective in Managing Post-orthodontic White-spot Lesions? A Systematic Review.

White spot lesions (WSL) are common side-effects of orthodontic treatment with fixed multi-bracketed appliances. The aim of this review was to find all available literature and critically assess the evidence for the efficacy of bleaching as a method to treat or alleviate post-orthodontic WSLs in permanent teeth. Electronic databases were screened for relevant literature with the aid of predetermined search strategies. All types of studies, including randomised or nonrandomised controlled trials (RCTs or CCTs), prospective and retrospective studies, as well as in vitro studies were considered eligible for inclusion. The reference lists of all included articles were hand searched for additional studies. Two authors independently performed study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment. One RCT and 8 in vitro studies met the inclusion criteria. Seven studies were classified as having a high risk of bias while 2 in vitro studies were graded as having a moderate risk of bias. The results showed that bleaching of WSL can diminish colour disparities between carious and non-affected areas, but the certainty of the evidence was very low. The high degree of methodological heterogeneity precluded a valid interpretation of the results through pooled estimates. The findings from the present systematic review could not support or refute bleaching as an effective method for management of post-orthodontic WSLs. Because most of the studies in this field are in vitro and solid scientific evidence of low risk of bias is scare, further prospective in vivo studies are necessary.

Improving parameter recovery for conflict drift-diffusion models

Several drift-diffusion models have been developed to account for the performance in conflict tasks. Although a common characteristic of these models is that the drift rate changes within a trial, their architecture is rather different. Comparative studies usually examine which model fits the data best. However, a good fit does not guarantee good parameter recovery, which is a necessary condition for a valid interpretation of any fit. A recent simulation study revealed that recovery performance varies largely between models and individual parameters. Moreover, recovery was generally not very impressive. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to introduce and test an improved fit procedure. It is based on a grid search for determining the initial parameter values and on a specific criterion for assessing the goodness of fit. Simulations show that not only the fit performance but also parameter recovery improved substantially by applying this procedure, compared to the standard one. The improvement was largest for the most complex model.

Design textbooks based linguistic intelligence towards representation ability on statistics

An introduction to statistics is a compulsory subject taken by Indonesian Language and Literature Education (Diksatrasia) students. In this course, whether or not Diksatrasia students who have SMA / SMAK / MA cannot understand mathematical concepts. This is a challenge for lecturers who teach these subjects, because most students do not like mathematics. The results of the development of textbooks are based on linguistic intelligence on the ability of statistical representation. This study uses the ADDIE research and development method (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation) that has been modified and is limited to the development stage. The results of this study indicate that textbooks are very well used with total expert validation of 94% with very valid interpretations. It can be concluded that the introductory statistical textbook that has been developed can be used in subsequent implementations