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Educational podcasts have become an increasingly prevalent media used to disseminate profession‐specific information through easily accessible means. Despite the potential of educational podcasts as convenient and effective medium, there is a dearth of literature dedicated to the topic. Thus, using the Uses and Gratification framework, the psychometric properties of the Educational Podcasts Motivation Scale were examined, as well as the motivational factors that influence intention to listen to educational podcasts and recommend podcasts to others were explored. A sample of individuals in the field of education (n = 606), such as in‐service K‐12 teachers and higher education professors, were recruited for this study. This sample were randomly divided, and an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted with the first set (n = 312) to identify underlying constructs, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modelling (SEM) were employed with the second set (n = 294). The scale demonstrated strong psychometric properties and five distinct motivational factors were identified: Information Gathering, Flexibility in Use, Social Interaction, Entertainment, and Professional Encouragement. Several motivational factors had significant associations with the constructs of "intention" and "word‐of‐mouth". This paper demonstrates both the unique motivational factors related to listening to educational podcasts and the motivational factors that overlap with other forms of media. Further examination of the underlying motivations to listen to educational podcasts is warranted. Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic Educational podcasts have become an increasingly prevalent media used to disseminate information to specific professions and fields that provide current practices and research information through easily accessible means.Educational podcasts have been found to be an effective tool to improve self‐efficacy and knowledge around topics with educators and college students, as well as a means to develop communities of practice where educators share knowledge and experiences.Results of studies using the uses and gratifications framework to examine the gratifications for listening to podcasts have found an array of overlapping, and sometimes conflicting, gratifications from the use of podcasts. Those most often identified include entertainment, multitasking and convenience, social interaction, escapism and educational purposes.What this paper adds This paper outlined the development of the Educational Podcasts Motivation Scale and used an exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling to demonstrate its strong psychometric properties.Five distinct motivational factors for why educators engage with educational podcasts were identified: (a) Information Gathering, (b) Flexibility in Use, (c) Social Interaction, (d) Entertainment and (e) Professional Encouragement.This paper identifies that educators are often most motivated to listen to educational podcasts due to constructs such as social interaction, flexibility in use and information gathering.Implications for practice and/or policy The findings in this paper demonstrate the perceived benefits and uses of educational podcasts as a learning tool, further establishing educational podcasts as a useful tool that should be incorporated into learning environments.The findings in this paper indicate that those embedding educational podcasts within learning activities and professional development should consider how to emphasise the flexibility, social interactions and learning aspects of these tools to promote the attractive features of this tool.Although this study sheds light on the reasons those in the field of education use this medium, additional research is needed to explore how and why these individuals engage with educational podcasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of the most significant organizational factors on primary school achievements, with a note that the achievement of the school is expressed through the quality of outcome knowledge. The research was conducted on a sample of 460 employees, from 21 primary schools, of which 439 are professionals and 21 are principals in the South Bačka County, Republic of Serbia. The collected data were processed using the Gretl software and AMOS for modelling structural equations. More precisely, the research is based on the application of exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. A neural network based on a standard multilayer perceptron model was used in the paper to test the validity of the obtained results of the AMOS model. The results of the research show that school management is the most important factor in school achievement and that this influence is most pronounced through teaching staff and school infrastructure. The results, also show that teachers' competencies have the strongest direct influence on the quality of outcome knowledge. The results obtained indicate that decision-makers and creators of social policies must pay special attention to the selection of school principals as well as their professional education, while school principals to the selection of teachers. Future researchers are recommended to use the Sobel test to precisely determine the indirect influences of school management on school achievement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper develops an instrument to measure the brand personality of employers in the healthcare sector. Focus group interviews, literature and internet searches were used to generate an initial item pool. Based on three online surveys among nursing staff, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and Rasch modeling were used for factor extraction, scale refinement, and scale evaluation. These analyses show that the employer brand personality can be operationalized as a higher-order construct with the dimensions of status, warmth, competence, and trustworthiness. In particular, these analyses confirm the reliability and validity of the delineated measurement instrument. Healthcare organizations from the public and nonprofit sector can thus use the measurement scale to assess their image as an employer as well as the effectiveness of their personnel marketing activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Forgotten Joint Score (FJS), a commonly used patient-reported outcome measure, was developed without fully confirming assumptions such as unidimensionality (all items reflect 1 underlying factor), appropriate weighting of each item in scoring, absence of differential item functioning (in which different groups, e.g., men and women, respond differently), local dependence (pairs of items are measuring only 1 underlying factor), and monotonicity (persons with higher function have a higher score). We applied item response theory (IRT) to perform validation of the FJS according to contemporary standards, and thus support its ongoing use. We aimed to confirm that the FJS reflects a single latent trait. In addition, we aimed to determine whether an IRT model could be fitted to the FJS. Methods: Participants undergoing primary total knee replacement provided responses to the FJS items preoperatively and at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and Mokken analysis were conducted. A graded response model (GRM) was fitted to the data. Results: A total of 1,774 patient responses were analyzed. EFA indicated a 1-factor model (all 12 items reflecting 1 underlying trait). CFA demonstrated an excellent model fit. Items did not have equal weighting. The FJS demonstrated good monotonicity and no differential item functioning by sex, age, or body mass index. GRM parameters are reported in this paper. Conclusions: The FJS meets key validity assumptions, supporting its use in clinical practice and research. The IRT-adapted FJS has potential advantages over the traditional FJS: it provides continuous measurements with finer granularity between health states, includes individual measurement error, and can compute scores despite more missing data (with only 1 response required to estimate a score). It can be applied retrospectively to existing data sets or used to deliver individualized computerized adaptive tests. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The road passenger transportation enterprise is a complex system, requiring a clear understanding of their active safety situation (ASS), trends, and influencing factors. This facilitates transportation authorities to promptly receive signals and take effective measures. Through exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, we delved into potential factors for evaluating ASS and extracted an ASS index. To predict obtaining a higher ASS information rate, we compared multiple time series models, including GRU (gated recurrent unit), LSTM (long short-term memory), ARIMA, Prophet, Conv_LSTM, and TCN (temporal convolutional network). This paper proposed the WDA-DBN (water drop algorithm-Deep Belief Network) model and employed DEEPSHAP to identify factors with higher ASS information content. TCN and GRU performed well in the prediction. Compared to the other models, WDA-DBN exhibited the best performance in terms of MSE and MAE. Overall, deep learning models outperform econometric models in terms of information processing. The total time spent processing alarms positively influences ASS, while variables such as fatigue driving occurrences, abnormal driving occurrences, and nighttime driving alarm occurrences have a negative impact on ASS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study demonstrates the use of the multidimensional item response theory (MIRT) to investigate the internal structure of a construct exploratively and confirmatively. Based on data from 657 Islamic university students (65% female) spread across Indonesia, MIRT was used to examine the factor structure of the items measuring student engagement. The MIRT results supported the multidimensional structure of the scale. Most notably, the comparison of the investigated models supported the within-item multidimensional structure in which almost all items fit 3-factor loadings among all measured domains (cognitive, behavioral, and social). Furthermore, vector depictions of the items in a 3-dimensional space are offered to give the reader a vivid picture of their multidimensionality. The paper ends with an overview of MIRT in scale development and dimensionality assessment to didactically enhance readers’ awareness of its usefulness as a psychometric tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supply chain viability (SCV) is an emerging concept of growing importance in operations management. This paper aims to conceptualize, develop, and validate a measurement scale for SCV. SCV is first defined and operationalized as a construct, followed by content validation and item measure development. Data have been collected through three independent samplings comprising a total of 558 respondents. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses are used in a step-wise manner for scale development. Reliability and validity are evaluated. A nomological model is theorized and tested to evaluate nomological validity. For the first time, our study frames SCV as a novel and distinct construct. The findings show that SCV is a hierarchical and multidimensional construct, reflected in organizational structures, organizational resources, dynamic design capabilities, and operational aspects. The findings reveal that a central characteristic of SCV is the dynamic reconfiguration of SC structures in an adaptive manner to ensure survival in the long-term perspective. This research conceptualizes and provides specific, validated dimensions and item measures for SCV. Practitioner directed guidance and suggestions are offered for improving SCV during the COVID-19 pandemic and future severe disruptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding lay theories on the causes of economic inequality is the first step to comprehending why people tolerate, justify, or react against it. Accordingly, this paper aims to develop and validate with two cross-sectional studies the Attributions for Cross-Country Inequality Scale (ACIS), which assesses how people explain cross-country economic inequality–namely, the uneven distribution of income and wealth between poor and rich countries. After selecting and adapting items from existing scales of attributions for poverty and wealth, in Study 1, we tested the factorial structure of this initial pool of items in three countries with different levels of economic development and inequality, namely, Italy (n = 246), the UK (n = 248), and South Africa (n = 228). Three causal dimensions emerged from the Exploratory Factor Analysis: "rich countries" (blaming the systematic advantage of and exploitation by rich countries), "poor countries" (blaming the dispositional inadequacy and faults of poor countries), and "fate" (blaming destiny and luck). The retained items were administered in Study 2 to three new samples from Italy (n = 239), the UK (n = 249), and South Africa (n = 248). Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) corroborated the factorial structure of the ACIS, and Multi-Group CFA supported configural and metric invariances of the scale across countries. In addition, we show internal consistency and construct validity of the scale: the scale correlates with relevant constructs (e.g., beliefs about cross-country inequality and ideological orientation) and attitudes toward relevant policies related to international redistribution and migration. Overall, the scale is a valid instrument to assess causal attribution for cross-national inequality and is reliable across countries. By focusing on resource distribution from an international perspective, this scale will allow researchers to broaden the discussion on economic inequality to a global level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the factor structure of the 49 goal prioritization questions of the Gait Outcome Assessment List (GOAL). Method: This was a retrospective review of 622 consecutive individuals diagnosed with cerebral palsy (median = 11 years 2 months, SD = 6 years 0 months, 370 male), who underwent a routine clinical gait analysis at a specialty center and completed the validated GOAL. To assess dimensionality, we performed exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses on the goal ratings of its 49 gait‐related items. For internal consistency, we calculated Cronbach's alpha. We created standardized goal scores for each factor and determined floor and ceiling effects according to the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). Results: Factor analyses suggested that the GOAL's 49 goal prioritization items represented eight factors, one more than the original GOAL validation because pain and fatigue were separated into distinct factors. Cronbach alphas were acceptably high (≥0.80) across factors except for use of braces and mobility aids (α = 0.68). Goal importance varied across domains and GMFCS levels. Interpretation: The GOAL can be expanded as a tool to better understand goal priorities in ambulatory individuals with cerebral palsy. These scores can be used to guide clinical conversations and provide more focus than previously available when faced with 49 individual goals. Scores can also be aggregated across relevant populations for larger‐scale studies. What this paper adds: The goal items of the Gait Outcomes Assessment List (GOAL) can be reduced into eight goal domains.Pain and fatigue represent distinct goal domains.The level of goal importance varies across GOAL domains and Gross Motor Function Classification System levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents our efforts to develop a scale for measuring students' learning experiences with knowledge-based chatbots in massive open online courses (MOOCs) through three studies. In Study 1, we conducted a qualitative synthesis of the current literature and analyzed students' open-ended responses regarding their experiences with a knowledge-based chatbot. Consequently, we identified eight salient domains (i.e., social presence, teaching presence, cognitive presence, self-regulation, co-regulation, perceived ease of use, behavioral intention, and enjoyment), resulting in the creation of 53 items. In Study 2, we selected 30 items that received more than 80% agreement from five experts. Finally, in Study 3, we reported the findings of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of the final scale based on student responses (N = 237) and presented 22 items across five domains (i.e., social presence, teaching and cognitive presence, self-regulation, perceived ease of use, and behavioral intention). This research contributes to the current literature by providing an instrument to measure students' learning experiences with knowledge-based chatbots in MOOCs, which is presently unavailable. The scale developed in this study could be employed for further research aiming to systematically develop knowledge-based chatbots and investigate the relationships between salient factors influencing students' learning experiences in MOOCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper was to validate and examine the psychometric properties of the 9-item Temporal Satisfaction With Life Scale (TSWLS) in the Italian context. Four studies were conducted. In Study 1, we performed an exploratory factor analysis. The 3-factor structure — past life satisfaction, present life satisfaction, and future life satisfaction — was confirmed. In Study 2 we tested the structure of the nine items of the scale, based on confirmatory factor analysis. The 3-factor structure with a high-order factor was the best factorial solution. In Study 3 we tested the concurrent validity of the TSWLS. The scale was significantly and positively related with life satisfaction, flourishing, and positive affects, and negatively related with negative affects. In Study 4 we showed the stability of the TSWLS using the testretest method after an interval of four weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bullying increases risk of social anxiety and can produce symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to cognitive models, these are maintained by unhelpful beliefs, which are therefore assessed and targeted in cognitive therapy. This paper describes psychometric validation of a new measure of beliefs related to bullying experiences. Methods: In an online survey of 1879 young people before starting university or college in the UK, 1279 reported a history of bullying (N = 1279), and 854 rated their agreement with beliefs about self and others related to bullying experiences and completed symptom measures of social anxiety and PTSD related to bullying. An empirical structure for a Bullied Cognitions Inventory was established using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and assessed using model fit statistics and tests of reliability and validity. Results: Fifteen items clustered into four themes: "degraded in the eyes of others", "negative interpretations of reactions to bullying", "recognisable as a bullying victim" and "social defeat". The measure has acceptable reliability and validity and, accounting for existing cognitive measures, explained additional variance in symptoms of PTSD but not social anxiety. Conclusions: The Bullied Cognitions Inventory (BCI) is a valid and reliable tool for measuring cognitions related to bullying. It may be useful in therapy for identifying and monitoring unhelpful cognitions in those who were bullied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sharing economy accommodation services offered by companies such as Airbnb have become a very popular alternative to traditional hotels. However, existing research about service quality (SQ) in shared accommodation focuses only on the guest's perspective. Given that hosts are an essential part of these services, this paper aims to identify the determinants of SQ for both guests and hosts. Based on an international survey (N = 501) the proposed dimensions are validated through an exploratory factor analysis and a confirmatory factor analysis. Then, structural equation modeling is applied to assess the impact of the SQ dimensions on overall guest and host satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current paper presents a five-factor measurement model of anger summarizing scores on public-domain self-report measures of anger. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of self-report measures of anger (UK, n = 500; USA, n = 625) suggest five replicable latent anger factors: anger-arousal, anger-rumination, frustration-discomfort, anger-regulation, and socially constituted anger. Findings suggested a 5-factor interpretation provided the best fit of the data. We also report evidence of measurement invariance for this 5-factor model of anger across gender, age, and ethnicity. The findings suggest a useful and parsimonious account of anger, summarizing over 50 years of research around the self-report measurement of anger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alexithymia is a trait characterized by difficulties identifying feelings, difficulties describing feelings, and externally orientated thinking. It is widely regarded as an important transdiagnostic risk factor for a range of psychopathologies, including depressive and anxiety disorders. Whilst several well-validated psychometric measures of alexithymia exist, these are relatively lengthy, thus limiting their utility in time-pressured settings. In this paper, we address this gap by introducing and validating a brief 6-item version of the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire, called the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire-Short Form (PAQ-S). Across two studies with adult samples (Study 1 N = 508 United States community; Study 2 = 378 Australian college students), we examined the psychometric properties of the PAQ-S in terms of its factor structure, reliability, and concurrent/criterion validity. In exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, all PAQ-S items loaded well on a single general alexithymia factor. The PAQ-S total score had high reliability, and correlated as expected with the long-form of the PAQ, as well as other established markers of alexithymia, emotion regulation, and affective disorder symptoms. Our samples were general community or college student samples from two Western countries; future validation work in clinical samples and more diverse cultural groups is thus needed. The PAQ-S retains the psychometric strengths of the PAQ. As such, the PAQ-S can be used as a quick, robust measure of overall alexithymia levels. The introduction of the PAQ-S hence enables valid assessments of alexithymia in a more diverse range of settings and research designs. • There is a need for brief alexithymia measures for time-pressured settings. • In this paper, we introduce the PAQ-S as a 6-item measure of alexithymia. • The PAQ-S is designed to provide a total score as an overall marker of alexithymia. • Across two studies, we find the PAQ-S to have strong validity and reliability. • The PAQ-S should enable alexithymia assessments in a more diverse range of settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychosocial risks constitute one of the major contemporary challenges for occupational health and safety. As early identification is the first step towards psychosocial risk management, the psychometric tool presented in the paper has been constructed in order to measure psychosocial risks as well as their impacts. The Psychosocial Risks and Impacts in the Workplace Assessment Tool (PRIWA) has been developed in Greek during the early years of the economic crisis. The paper presents the tool and the studies that were conducted to evaluate its psychometric characteristics. Six large samples of employees from many different Greek companies were administered the PRIWA and other tools. The results of the exploratory factor analysis demonstrated a seven-factor structure of the PRIWA, which was later confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis. Analyses were also performed to test internal consistency, item-to-scale homogeneity, and concurrent validity of the PRIWA. The results indicated that PRIWA is a reliable and valid psychometric tool, which gives its users the opportunity to conduct research, develop prevention plans, and/or design customized interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unsafe acts of ship officers have been a direct cause of many maritime accidents. In the maritime industry, much effort has been made to prevent unsafe acts and to improve safe behaviours of ship officers. The positive effect of organizational safety climate on human behaviour has been well documented in the literature. Within this context, this paper aims to pioneer the development of the measurement constructs of safety climate in shipping operations and analyze its impact on safety consciousness and behaviour of ship officers. Using primary data collected from 284 deck officers and captains, an exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis and a structural equation model are used to reveal the relationship among the constructs of safety climate, safety consciousness and safety behaviour. The research results show that (1) safety climate generates a direct positive effect on safety consciousness and behaviour; (2) safety consciousness has a positive effect on safety behaviour; and (3) safety consciousness acts as a mediator between safety climate and safety behaviour. Its managerial implications and practical contributions lie in the provision of useful insights on how ship managers can effectively gain the improved safety behaviours of ship officers by appropriate introduction of safety climate and consciousness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the Maker Competency Instrument (MCI) was developed to diagnose the level of Maker Competence of elementary and secondary students in South Korea. First, in this study, a draft of the test tool was adapted based on the Maker Competency Model developed as part of Yoon et al.'s research (2018). Then, two expert-level Delphi surveys examined the content validity of the MCI. To verify the construct's validity, the exploratory factor analysis and the confirmatory factor analysis were conducted in two separate stages with the involvement of both teachers and professional Makers. As a result, it was confirmed by the MCI that 6 higher-order factors (Making mind, Making practice, collaboration, visual thinking, human-orientation, integrated thinking), 19 lower-order factors (observation, sense of challenge, interest in various areas, pleasure of the making process, understanding programming, understanding electricity, information searching, direct execution, understanding production tools, planning, hand knowledge, conflict management, communication, sharing, visual thinking and insight, humanity, user-oriented, analytical thinking, intuitive thinking), and 57 items were reasonable. From the outcome of this paper, it can be deduced that the MCI can be used from elementary to secondary school due to its proven reliability and validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to measure the extent to which students possess the necessary competences of an employable graduate, the authors explored the development and validation of a questionnaire that measures employability competences of students in higher education through combining insights from higher education and workplace learning literature. Design/methodology/approach: The paper aims to develop and validate the questionnaire a systematic literature review and factor analyses were conducted. The authors applied the questionnaire to two different groups of students. First, to undergraduate students in an applied sciences program in Belgium (N = 935). The dataset was randomly divided into two subsets to conduct an exploratory and a confirmatory factor analysis. Next, another confirmatory factor analysis was done to cross-validate the factor structure found. For this, the questionnaire was offered to a group of undergraduate and graduate students at a university in The Netherlands (N = 995). Findings: The results support a model of employability based on combined insights from higher education and workplace learning literature. The model consists of the following seven factors: social competences, e-literacy, efficacy beliefs, flexibility, healthy work–life balance, lifelong learning and oral and written communication. Originality/value: The questionnaire can be utilized to screen students' employability profiles and examine the relationship between teaching practices and students' employability competences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research background: Despite a dynamically growing exploration of broadly understood employee participation, there is still space left for more in-depth or new analyses in this area, and occupational health and safety (OHS) serves as a good example in this respect. In empirical studies, employee participation in the field of occupational health and safety is not treated as a separate element of ensuring safety in the organisation, but only as a minor element of occupational health and safety management, or as just one of the elements building a safety culture. Purpose of the article: The aim of the paper is to propose a synthetic measure of active employee participation in OHS taking into account the depth and scope of this participation. A comparative analysis of the level of active participation of OHS at medical facilities and in other sectors of the economy was also performed. Methods: The theoretical model for active employee participation in OHS was tested by means of a survey using the PAPI (Paper & Pen Personal Interview) method. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used. The developed construct (characterised by an adequately high level of validity and reliability) was used in a comparative analysis of medical institutions with other sectors of the economy with the use of the Mann-Whitney U test. Findings & value added: This research fills the theoretical gap in the model approach to participation in OHS. It has been found (EFA and CFA analyses) that active employee participation in OHS consists of one dimension (15 items). The model for active employee participation in OHS and the universal measurement scale developed and validated in this study represent a step forward towards the effective and reliable measurement of employee participation. In addition, the research has shown that the level of active employee participation in OHS at medical facilities is lower than in other sectors of the economy. The added value of this paper results from the approach to measuring employee participation in OHS which takes into account the depth and scope of this participation. The tool is consistent with international regulations and standards in the field of OHS, and thus can be used in other countries to assess active employee participation in OHS, regardless of the size and profile of the company or the sector of the economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Emerging adulthood refers to a new phase in life that is related to the transition period from adolescence to adulthood. The concept spread around the world and has been examined in various cultural contexts. This article aims to introduce a Polish adaptation of the Inventory of the Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (IDEA-PL) developed to assess attitudes toward emerging adulthood among young people. participants and procedure In total, 1,414 randomly assigned emerging adults aged between 18 and 29 took part in this study. Participants were asked to describe the extent to which they considered their current life as a time of identity exploration, experimentation/possibilities, negativity/instability, self-focused, feeling in-between, and other-focused. Responses were given on a Likert-type scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 4 (strongly agree). RESULTS: The results were analyzed in two steps: via exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to check the underlying structure of the measure and via confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to assess the model fit. The EFA results showed that the IDEA-PL items loaded onto the originally dedicated six factors; however, some achieved low loadings and/or cross-loadings. In the second step of the analysis, the problematic items were eliminated and the CFA results showed that a five-factor solution with 15 items achieved satisfactory parameters. CONCLUSIONS: In this paper, we introduce a Polish adaptation of the Inventory of the Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (IDEAPL). These results add value to the existing literature and scholars and clinicians can use this questionnaire for research and practice purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this research paper is to adapt and validate a useful instrument to diagnose the knowledge, attitudes, behaviours and intention to participate (KABIP) towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in higher education institutions (HEIs) from the public administration in developing countries. Design/methodology/approach: The study was carried out using the Delphi technique, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). For the Delphi method, 30 experts participated in three rounds. For the EFA and CFA, a sample of 790 people was selected. The instrument items were extracted from relevant scales on the topic. Findings: The reliability and internal consistency of the instrument were tested and confirmed. Therefore, this study gives a scientific tool to measure the KABIP towards SDGs in different sectors of the public administration, and it can be used in developing countries. Originality/value: The new questionnaire with 66 items and four dimensions can be used to diagnose KABIP towards SDGs at HEIs in developing countries. It has a very important implications because, although attention for SDGs around the world is increasing, only a limited number of valid scientific instrument that measure aspects related to it is available. Furthermore, the knowledge, attitudes, behaviour and intention to participate scale can facilitate the creation of new strategies regarding SDGs in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the effect of parent–adolescent conflict in step versus biological families on family communication patterns (FCPs) and the conflict resolution strategy adopted by adolescents during family destinations or holiday planning (where to visit?). Design/methodology/approach: The literature on family conflict (i.e. parent–adolescent conflict) and the different types of families (step vs nuclear) supported the proposed framework. The survey was conducted in the Indian subcontinent with a sample size of 437 adolescents. SPSS 22.0 was used for factor analysis (exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis) and structural equation modelling was used through AMOS 26.0 for data analysis. Findings: Significant relationship was observed between the types of families (step and biological), FCP and the resolution strategy chosen by Indian adolescents. Adopting a resolution strategy by adolescents in both families depends on the type of FCP in the family. Adolescents in stepfamilies have socio-oriented FCP and use "positive problem-solving" and "conflict withdrawal" as a resolution strategy. In contrast, adolescents in biological families have concept-oriented families and use "conflict enhancement" as a resolution strategy. It has also been found that adolescents who fall into high-stress categories used conflict enhancement strategies. In contrast, those who fall under low-stress categories used positive problem-solving and withdrawal strategies. Practical implications: This study will add a new chapter to adolescents' decision-making literature in line with the previous research. It has practical implications for tourism marketers, academicians/researchers and policymakers. Marketers can segment adolescents into step versus biological families, and the choice of resolution strategies may introduce efficient and competent marketing strategies and promotional campaigns. Originality/value: This study favours that family type is a robust construct to predict adolescents' choice of resolution strategy. So, it is one of the most influential variables in adolescents' resolution strategy adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Noting concerns about the non-clinical efficacy of the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), specifically the instrument's ability to discriminate between lower levels of hopelessness, this paper describes the development of the General Hopelessness Scale (GHS) for use with general samples. Following a literature review an item pool assessing the breadth of the hopelessness construct domain was created. This was then placed in survey form and assessed within two independent studies. Study 1 (N = 305, 172 women, 133 men, Mage = 28.68) explored factorial structure, item performance, and convergent validity of the GHS in relation to standardised measures of self-esteem and trait hopelessness. In Study 2 (N = 326, 224 women, 102 men, Mage = 26.52), scrutiny of the GHS occurred using confirmatory factor analysis and invariance tests, alongside item performance and convergent validity analyses relative to measures of affect, optimism, and hope. Factor analysis (using minimum average partial correlations and exploratory factor analysis) within Study 1 revealed the existence of four dimensions (Negative Expectations, Hope, Social Comparison, and Futility), which met Rasch model assumptions (i.e., good item/person fit and item/person reliability). Further psychometric assessment within Study 2 found satisfactory model fit and gender invariance. Convergent validity testing revealed moderate to large associations between the GHS and theoretically relevant variables (self-esteem, trait hopelessness, affect, optimism, and hope) across Study 1 and 2. Further examination of performance (reliability and ceiling and floor effects) within Study 1 and 2 demonstrated that the GHS was a satisfactory measure in non-clinical settings. Additionally, unlike the BHS, the GHS does not assume that administrators are trained professionals capable of advising on appropriate interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of the Ukraine-Russia war in 2022 led to fear, worry and anxiety among individuals, mostly in the immediate neighboring countries of Ukraine. The purpose of the present study was to develop the fear of war scale (FOWARS), aiming to fill the gap in the literature that currently is scarce in valid assessment tools for measuring the fear of war. The sample of the study consisted of N = 1131 participants (n = 670 for group A, for EFA and n = 461 for group B, for CFA). Hungarian speaking participants, mainly from Romania and Hungary. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) evinced a two-factor model of the newly developed scale, and the final version fulfilled the criteria of the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The 13-items FOWARS has robust psychometric properties and proves to be appropriate for a fear of war assessment in the general population. The phenomenon is measured by two factors, namely experiential and physiological dimensions of fear. The scale is available in the present paper in two languages: English and Hungarian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to perform a psychometric evaluation of the internal green marketing (IGM) scale in the context of consumer, industrial and service industry from a developing economy. Drawing on IGM theory, this study validates the measurement scales to operationalize IGM as green internal communication (GIC), green skill development (GSD) and green rewards (GRs). Design/methodology/approach: The sample was drawn from the consumer, industrial and service industries in Jammu and Kashmir, India, using a random sampling method. Data were collected from consumer, industrial and service industries in two phases through a self-administrated questionnaire-based survey. In total, 137 managers responded during the first phase, and 368 managers responded during the second phase. During the first phase, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to uncover the underlying dimensions of IGM, and during the second phase, data were analyzed to test the validity of the IGM scale through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Findings: EFA suggested a three-dimension scale (green internal communication (GIC), green skill development (GSD), and green rewards (GR)) which was confirmed by CFA. The findings of the study demonstrate that IGM is a valid and reliable scale to capture the individual-level perception of the employees with respect to the green internal marketing of an organization. Practical implications: This paper is expected to provide valuable insights into the area of internal green marketing (IGM) about an industry that can be of immense help to domestic and international marketers in formulating human resource (HR)/marketing strategies. Further, it provides a wide-ranging scale that can act as a base for future research studies that aim to explore internal green marketing (IGM) in different organizational settings. Originality/value: IGM is embedded in three underlying elements as GIC, GSD and GRs. It is suitable to the practitioner and researchers to operationalize IGM as a second-order construct in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present paper is to establish the factorial validity and reliability of the Risk-Taking and Self-Harm Inventory for Adolescents (RTSHIA), proposed by Vrouva and colleagues in 2010, in an Italian sample. The RTSHIA measures both Risk-Taking and Self-Harm behavior in adolescents. We administered the scale to a total of 1292 Italian adolescents from 9th to 12th grade; to verify the validity of the scale, we also assessed emotion regulation and psychopathological traits. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) (N = 638) and the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) (N = 660) confirmed the original two-factor structure of the RTSHIA (Risk-Taking and Self-Harm). The only differences in the Italian version of the RTSHIA (RTSHIA-I) were that one item was moved from the original Risk-Taking factor to the Italian Self-Harm factor, and another item that was not included in the original RTSHIA is now part of the Risk-Taking factor in the Italian version. The reliability of the RTSHIA-I is also confirmed, and both factors correlate with emotion regulation and externalizing/internalizing traits. Our results suggest that the RTSHIA-I is a useful tool for assessing Risk-Taking and Self-Harm behaviors in Italian adolescents, and the correlational patterns indicate that these behaviors may be related to difficulties in mentalization skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Products are often valued for what they mean to people. The theoretical dimension that describes the meaning of products is referred to as symbolism. Symbolism plays an important role in product evaluations in pre-use conditions. This paper suggests a framework for the analysis of this dimension in product evaluations. Symbolism comprises varying mixtures of pragmatic, product, and user symbolism. Pragmatic symbolism, which includes the product's instrumental benefits, affects product symbolism, or the overall impression of the product. Product symbolism, in turn, affects user symbolism, which refers to the self-image of the product's user. Our findings, based on exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, suggest that while symbolic value formation often occurs in a bottom-up process, from pragmatic considerations upon which the product's image is built that transfer to the user, it can also be in a top-down process for specific types of products whose design elements directly affect the user's self-image. Symbolism is not a unified dimension, but comprises three sub-dimensions. Perceived usefulness and functional affordance positively affect the symbolic value of products. For most product types, the image of the product positively affects the image of its user. For most product types, the effect of product usefulness on user image is mediated by product image. While symbolism is usually formed in a bottom-up process, it can also be formed in a top-down process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shore power is a green technology used by the shipping industry to abate emissions from vessels berthing in ports. This paper aims to identify industry-related opinions on shore power based on a set of collected data by means of a questionnaire in China. A four-pronged approach is used for this investigation. First, a questionnaire based on more than 50 items of related literature was designed. Second, factor analysis, including exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, was carried out. Third, a structural equation model was used to test specified hypotheses and identify connections among varied factors, such as technology, application, etc. Finally, other related questions, such as development trends and the influence on shore power of new regulations on use of sulphur, were investigated. The results show that motivation, application, incentive, technology, and recognition all have positive influences on the promotion of shore power with 0.452, 0.398, 0.239, 0.216, and 0.194 standardised factor loadings, respectively. Meanwhile, a unified standard, subsidy/incentive, and implementation/enforcement are considered three urgent measures that can be employed to improve the uptake of shore power. Moreover, in upcoming years, digitalisation of application and payment and decarbonisation are predicted to be two major development trends in the industrial use of shore power. Three-quarters of the respondents thought that a new/lower limit of sulphur emission would boost the use of shore power. The findings from this investigation provide a decision-making tool for policymakers and the developed method can be used to promote the wide use of green technology. • Take a four-pronged method to identify industry-related opinions on shore power. • Use a structural equation model to explore connections among varied factors. • Unified standards, incentives, and enforcement are shown to be 3 urgent measures to broaden the uptake of shore power. • Digitalisation and decarbonisation are identified to be 2 major trends in the industrial use of shore power. • A lower limit of Sulphur emission would boost the use of shore power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within educational and social discourses, the term 'inclusion' has various meanings. In both research and practice, there is no official definition of inclusion. Nevertheless, subjective definitions affect pedagogical acts. We developed the Definitions of Inclusion Questionnaire [Fragebogen zur Erfassung subjektiver Definitionen von Inklusion] (FEDI) as an economic instrument that takes subjective definitions of inclusion into account. This paper describes the construction and first psychometric evaluation of the questionnaire instrument that 513 participants with various professional backgrounds completed. We used exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of two different subsamples to identify the measuring model. We found a three-factor structure with acceptable-to-good fit measures and an acceptable reliability (CR from.81 to.87). Small to medium correlations of the FEDI scales with attitudes towards inclusion and teachers' sense of efficacy suggest that discriminant validity is given. Perspectives for further research and implications for practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research calls for the sexual and reproductive rights field to prioritize gender norms to ensure that women can act on their reproductive rights. However, there is a gap in accepted measures. We addressed this by including important theoretical components of gender norms: differentiating between descriptive and injunctive norms and adding a referent group. Our team originally developed and validated the G‐NORM, a gender norms scale, in India. In this paper, we describe how we subsequently adapted and validated it in Nepal. We administered items to women of reproductive age, conducted exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, and examined associations between the subscales and reproductive health outcomes. Like the original G‐NORM, our factor analyses showed that descriptive norms and injunctive norms comprise two distinct scales which fit the data well and had Cronbach alphas of 0.92 and 0.89. More equitable descriptive gender norms were associated with higher decision‐making scores, increased odds of intending to use family planning, disagreeing that it is wrong to use family planning, and older ideal age at marriage. Injunctive gender norms were only associated with disagreeing that it is wrong to use family planning. Findings offer an improved measure of gender norms in Nepal and provide evidence that gender norms are critical for agency and reproductive health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Social network use is widespread, and the study of Instagram seems to have captured more attention in recent years. However, scale development and validation in the field has fallen short of providing sound scales of Instagram motives and usage patterns that consider the uniqueness of Instagram-related behavior. This paper describes the development, psychometric and cross-cultural validation of two new measurement instruments: the “Instagram Motives Questionnaire” (IMQ) and the “Instagram Uses and Patterns Questionnaire” (IUPQ). Methods and results: A preliminary set of items was developed for each questionnaire based on a previous qualitative interview study on Instagram motives, uses, and consequences. In the first study, the questionnaires were distributed to a sample of 312 participants aged 18–35 years (M 5 23.81; SD 5 4.49), and an exploratory factor analysis was performed. A parsimonious and interpretable 6-factor solution that displayed adequate factor loadings and adequate Omega coefficients for both instruments were found. In a second study, the two instruments and other measures of known social network usage correlates and mental health consequences were administered online to 1,418 English-speaking participants aged 18–34 years (M 5 21.35; SD 5 3.89). Both scales showed good psychometric properties and the factor structure identified in study 1 was reproduced through confirmatory factor analysis. Omega reliability coefficients were adequate. Finally, when performing multi-group CFA along with a French (n 5 1,826) and a Spanish (n 5 3,040) sample, language and gender invariance were supported. Correlations with other relevant measures indicate good convergent validity of both scales. Conclusions: The present research provides psychometrically sound instruments for further investigations on Instagram use behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human resources are recognized as the ultimate and most indispensable resource in economic development. In this study, an inquiry was made to ascertain the determinants of workers' innovativeness. A survey of 229 respondents in food and beverage processing firms selected through random and snowballing sampling techniques was implemented. Data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and the structural equation model. Findings reveal that though personal, family, organizational and social factors were hypothesized to be influencing the ability of employees to innovate, only family (β = 0.358; p < 0.001) and organizational (β = 0.213; p < 0.01) factors showed a significant and positive influence on employees' innovativeness. The paper concludes that the support employees received from their homes and organizations is crucial and contributed significantly to their innovative ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Around 20% of the population is disabled. Many people have mobility problems, including the elderly and people with young children. It is crucial to adapt cities to the needs of these people and, at the same time, to the needs of all residents. This is the subject of universal design, which should consider inhabitants' needs and habits. This information can be collected by Internet of Things (IoT) devices that observe and listen to residents. Residents do not accept constant surveillance, so the public may not accept data collection by IoT sensors. This study aimed to identify and evaluate factors influencing the acceptance of data collection by IoT devices for universal design. For this purpose, an online survey was prepared by the Warsaw University of Technology. The following statistical methods were used to analyze the data: descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, reliability analysis and structural equation modeling. This paper identifies key factors influencing the acceptance of IoT devices for universal design. The statistically significant factors are the perceived usefulness of data collection, trust in city authorities, the perceived security of data collected by IoT devices and empathy for people with disabilities. The original achievement of this study is its indication that empathy for the disabled moderates and increases the positive relationship between the perceived usefulness of IoT devices and their acceptance. It was also found that trust in city authorities mediates the relationship between the perceived usability and acceptance of IoT devices. City authorities can use the results of this analysis in the implementation of IoT devices in smart cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Several studies have shown the inconsistent factorial structures of the Values in Action Inventory of Strengths between cultures. Aims: This paper describes an adapted Hungarian version of the 24-item Values in Action Inventory of Strengths for adults. Methods: Participants in three online self-report questionnaire-based crosssectional studies (Sn = 10,911) filled in the 24-item Values in Action Inventory of Strengths, the Global Well-being Scale, Huppert’s and Diener’s Flourishing Scales, and the Positivity Scale. Results: The exploratory factor analyses provided evidence for four factors: Wisdom and Knowledge; Humanity; Temperance; and Spirituality and Transcendence. The scales showed excellent internal consistency values in each study. The confirmatory factor analyses of the subsamples also showed a good fit. Low discriminant but excellent content validity was proved. Participants rated themselves highest on Humanity and lowest on Temperance. Women reported significantly higher values on both the Humanity and the Spirituality and Transcendence virtue scales than did men. The Wisdom and Knowledge virtue showed a positive correlation with education level. Among those living alone, Humanity was significantly lower, while the level of Humanity among married people stood significantly higher than in any other group. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the Hungarian version of the 24-item Values in Action Inventory of Strengths for adults serves as a suitable measure for assessing character strengths and virtues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses are two important consecutive steps in an overall analysis process. The overall analysis should start with an exploratory factor analysis that explores the data and establishes a hypothesis for the factor model in the population. Then, the analysis process should be continued with a confirmatory factor analysis to assess whether the hypothesis proposed in the exploratory step is plausible in the population. To carry out the analysis, researchers usually collect a single sample, and then split it into two halves. As no specific splitting methods have been proposed to date in the context of factor analysis, researchers use a random split approach. In this paper we propose a method to split samples into equivalent subsamples similar to one that has already been proposed in the context of multivariate regression analysis. The method was tested in simulation studies and in real datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advances in cognitive abilities theory provided by the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) model have made it essential to develop a new validated brief self-report measure of cognitive abilities. This paper outlines the development and initial validation of the Self-Report Cognitive Abilities Questionnaire (SRCAQ), a brief measure designed to assess cognitive functioning in the ability areas of fluid reasoning, short-term working memory, long term storage and retrieval, comprehension knowledge, processing speed, visual processing. Participants were 896 university students from Indonesia. The series of analyses using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the 6-factor structure of the SRCAQ. It had adequate factorial validity and demonstrated invariance across sex. This study also confirmed sex differences in self-reported cognitive abilities, with males tending to rate their fluid reasoning and visual processing higher than females. In the case of resources being limited, SRCAQ can be an alternative to estimate individuals' cognitive abilities. Limitations and suggestions for future research to expand the current study are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many countries are experiencing an ongoing opioid crisis characterized by high rates of opioid use problems, overdose, poisoning, and death. Stigma has been identified as a central problem for seeking and receiving quality services from health providers and first respondents. The Mental Health Commission of Canada developed a scale that could be used to measure stigma in this population, as no such scale currently exists. This paper provides the results of psychometric testing of this new scale, known as the Opening Minds Provider Attitudes Towards Opioid-Use Scale (OM-PATOS), using exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory (CFA) factor analysis. EFA findings showed a 15 item 2-factor solution, with subscales of 'attitudes' (6 items) and 'behaviours/motivation to help' (9 items). The confirmatory factor analysis provided some preliminary confirmation of the factor structure suggested by the exploratory analyses, but further research with larger samples is needed to fully confirm the factor structure. Overall, results support the use of the 15-item scale with health professionals and first responders, with factors used for descriptive value rather than as calculated subscales until further research can be completed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper demonstrates a simple methodological sequence for the statistical calculation of a context-sensitive quality of life index especially suitable for use in the Global South, i.e. lower and middle income countries. We draw on the large (n = 24,889), area-sampled, survey dataset of the fifth Quality of Life Survey (QoL V, 2017/18) of South Africa's Gauteng province, conducted by the Gauteng City-Region Observatory. Using overtly exploratory analysis, and a fully reflective conception of indicators, we apply exploratory factor analysis (EFA) in two stages to generate our model, while defending our approach methodologically and empirically and indicating its philosophical foundations. We contrast this approach to previous analyses using the QoL I (2010) data, which defined their dimensions and assign their indicators in advance, drawing on literature and indexes largely from the Global North. We ran series of EFAs on 60 longitudinally available variables from the QoL V data set. This allowed us to determine the optimal number of factors/dimensions, guided by established criteria and the interpretability of the grouped indicators. Each dimension score is calculated arithmetically, using the indicators' factor loadings as weights. Then the dimensions, weighted by their eigenvalues, are aggregated into the composite index, scaled to run from 0 to 100. The resulting seven-dimension, 33-indicator model was validated through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on the QoL V data; and its configural invariance, i.e. whether the pattern of indicators amongst the factors holds over time, was checked against the two previous QoL datasets and confirmed. This validates the ability of the approach outlined to generate a stable index. Analysis of the resulting quality of life index by race and municipality reveals trends consistent with the South African context. Overall, the White population group has the highest measured quality of life index, followed in turn by the Indian/Asian, Coloured and Black African population groups. Changes in the quality-of-life ranking of the nine municipalities comprising Gauteng province may be observed over time, using the validated previous models. The value of the exploratory approach in enabling context to influence the index construction is highlighted by the emergence of a distinct dimension of bottom-up political voice, which is relevant for democratic governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Cochlear implant (CI) users do not receive much of the auditory information necessary for an accurate perception of music. This usually entails a dissatisfaction with the music they hear, so that their quality of life may potentially be affected. The main aim of this paper was to translate and validate into Italian an instrument to evaluate these aspects—The Music-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire (MuRQoL)—to help the work of clinicians and therapists. Methods: The translation of the MuRQoL into "Questionario Musica e Qualità della Vita" (MUSQUAV) was done according to the international guidelines. The translated questionnaire was administered to normal hearing (NH) and CI users adults. Exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and known group method were used to confirm construct validity and applicability of MUSQUAV. Results: We retrieved 225 results. The MUSQUAV questionnaire was acceptable according to the goodness-of-fit indices. The correlation between the items, evaluated using Cronbach's α coefficient, indicates a good internal consistency (> 0.80). The non-parametric Mann–Whitney test showed significant differences in the distinct populations tested. Conclusions: The MUSQUAV questionnaire is a valid, low-cost and rapid instrument for professional workers in the audiological field, especially useful in the assessment of the patients' perception and musical engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As additive manufacturing (AM) processes become ubiquitous in engineering and design, there has emerged the need for a workforce skilled in designing for AM (DfAM). Researchers have proposed educational interventions to train students in DfAM; however, few measures with sufficient validity evidence have been proposed to assess the effects of these educational interventions on student designers' learning. In this paper, we present the development of a ten-item DfAM self-efficacy scale spanning the opportunistic and restrictive DfAM domains, as they relate to conceptual design (i.e., preliminary concept generation and selection). We tested the criterion-related validity of the scale by comparing students' self-efficacy to their prior AM and DfAM experience. Additionally, we tested the construct validity of the scale through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Students' responses to the scale positively correlated with their prior experience in AM and DfAM, thereby lending criterion-related validity. Additionally, factor analyses reveal that students' responses are composed of two dimensions: (1) opportunistic DfAM and (2) restrictive DfAM, reflecting the categorization observed in the literature. This finding lends construct validity evidence and demonstrates that the scale captures students' self-efficacies in the two DfAM domains with sufficient separation. This work supports the use of the DfAM self-efficacy scale for assessing the effects of DfAM education on students' DfAM learning in conceptual design. Moreover, the DfAM self-efficacy scale can support future research attempting to enhance the effectiveness of AM and DfAM educational interventions by measuring their effects on students' self-perceived abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a convention project, the relationship between the host and professional conference organizers has an important impact on the convention project promotion. However, as an important stakeholder of the convention, the role of hosts in the project is less concerned and studied. Therefore, based on theories of project governance, this paper combines the role of the convention project hosts from the perspective of the project sponsors and formulates the convention hosts' role measuring scale with the project sponsor measuring scale. Then, through content validity analysis and exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, the scale was optimized and nine items were finally determined. The study found that the hosts of the convention project play three roles in the convention project, the customer role, the controller role, and the supporter role, and verified through the SEM that all three roles have a positive effect on the convention project performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper highlights the scientific debate on the Neurolinguistic programming (NLP) issue. NLP is a collection of approaches, communication tools, techniques, and perspectives that determine how individuals think and communicate through language. NLP is used to recognize and modify patterns of human behavior. The sensory representational system, or the method for recognizing representational systems, which is made up of five main senses, influences this process. Systematization literary sources and approaches to this issue indicate that three sensory representational systems exist in the NLP approach: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic (VAK), and that the individual's preferred representational sensory system could explain manifested behavior and characteristics in the managerial and marketing sphere. The central purpose of the research and the significance of choice made about this area of interest is to determine each individual's preferred representational sensory system (VAK) utilizing the original PRSS-VAK methodology. The methodological research tool was the PRSS-VAK methodology which contains nine statements, which are assessed on a scale from 1 (the least describes me) to 4 (the most describes me). The PRSS-VAK methodology would help to comprehend patterns of an individual's behavior and allied cognitive or emotional processes. EFA (Exploratory Factor Analysis) with Varimax rotation was used to verify the methodology on a sample of 214 respondents from the Slovak Republic, and CFA (Confirmatory Factor Analysis) was used to validate the structure on a sample of 268 respondents from the Slovak Republic. This research empirically and theoretically confirms that one of the preferred representational sensory systems may be dominant. However, this may change regarding the current situation (stimulus, impulse). The research results could be beneficial as a springboard not only for researchers concerning this issue. It also indicates that quantitative research does not determine exactly to which category (visual, auditory, or kinesthetic) a certain individual belongs. Using the identification of a preferred representational sensory system could help to facilitate both management and marketing communications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper aims to analyse the effects of individual factors on student science performance in primary education. This is an ex post facto study using the TIMSS 2019 database. The sample comprised 9512 Spanish students undertaking 4th grade primary education (51.6% boys; 48.4% girls) at 535 schools. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the 20 items comprising the student questionnaire on the science teaching and learning process (KMO =.93) were performed. Four factors were identified: student attitude, anxiety and self-efficacy towards the sciences and teacher attitude. Multiple regression analysis was used to predict the influence of student factors on science performance. Outcomes show that student attitudes determine their self-efficacy and that anxiety has a negative impact on performance. Teacher attitude is the most predictive factor regarding performance. The number of books at home which, in itself, is an indicator of socioeconomic status, has a substantial effect on performance. Findings suggest the need to enhance student motivation towards science during the first years of primary education, promote the application of knowledge to solve scientific problems and conduct experiments in Science classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current paper seeks to solve theoretical and well-being ambiguities presented by the concept of valuing happiness by proposing that extant assessment represents a two-factor model situated within goal type theory. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of the valuing happiness scale among UK and US student and adult samples confirmed structural validity for valuing happiness representing valuing happiness in terms of attainment and maintenance goals. Among further UK student samples, both aspects of valuing happiness were related with lower levels of well-being, with a predicted distinction between the two factors of valuing happiness via attainment being associated with lower levels of self-acceptance and valuing happiness via maintenance being associated with lower levels of autonomy. The results suggest that the scale has a two-factor structure with sound psychometric properties that distinguish successfully between attainment valuing happiness and maintenance valuing happiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper attempts to extend the literature of the sociology of religion by studying the everyday religiosity of the Muslim community of Bangladesh. Based on a survey of a convenience sample of 516, between 18 and 50 years of age and belonging to the affluent middle class, the study explores the religious beliefs and practices of the Muslim consumer class. It is found that religion plays a pivotal role in what they wear, eat, or drink. Usually, prayer is the key to Muslim religiousness and believing the existence of heaven is central to their religiosity. The exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis validate the usage of the items as the measurement tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tourism festival and special event innovation are the important factors influencing the creation of superior value, the achievement of customer loyalty, and profitable growth. Based on the perspective of product supply and consumer demand integration analysis, this paper constructed an integrated model of tourism festival and special event innovation and its impacts on tourists' behavioral intentions. The basic data was obtained through the tourist survey on Zhangjiajie International Country Music Festival, and the exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling were used to empirically test the relationship between various dimensions of tourism festival and special event innovation and their impacts on tourists' behavioral intentions. The results show the following: (1) tourism festival and special event innovation includes six dimensions of performance, accessibility, self-service technology, aesthetic environment, tourist community, and loyalty program; (2) performance, self-service technology, and aesthetic environment have a significant positive impact on overall innovation, while accessibility, tourist community, and loyalty program have no significant impact on overall innovation; and (3) overall innovation has a significant positive impact on tourists' satisfaction, brand equity, and tourists' behavioral intentions. Moreover, tourists' satisfaction and brand equity play a partial intermediary role in the impacts of overall innovation on the tourists' behavioral intentions. The article concludes with research limitations and future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In neuro-rehabilitation, the assessment of post-stroke patients' motor function of damaged upper extremities (UEs) is essential. Clinicians need clear and concise assessment instruments to monitor progress recorded in intensive rehabilitation sessions. One such instrument is Manual Muscle Testing (MMT), which, in our view, requires a modified scoring model aimed at improving the assessment process of patients' motor and functional UE status, and recording their step-by-step-progress, especially if patients undergo a short length of hospitalization (of about 10 therapy days). Hence, this paper presents a new scoring system developed by the authors. This systemresults in a more precise MMT grading scale, which has more grades and can provide a more specific muscular assessment, while offering more clarity in quantifying patients' progress after physical therapy. A prospective study was made of 41 post-stroke patients with upper extremity (UE) impairments. To determine the validity of the assessment tool for hypothesizing, and the unidimensionality and internal consistency of the customized model, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with a structural equation model (SEM), Cronbach's Alpha, and Pearson correlation coefficients were used with Fugl–Meyer (FM) assessments, the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), AROM, and the Modified Rankin Scale (MRS). Considering the unidimensionality of the instrument used, we performed a linear regression to identify whether certain movements performed segmentally by the manually evaluated muscles influence the measured manual score of the whole UE. All indices suggested a good model fit, and a Cronbach's Alpha of 0.920 suggested strong internal consistency. The Pearson correlation coefficient of the MMT-customized score with AROM was 0.857, p < 0.001; that with FMUE was 0.905, p < 0.001; that with MRS was −0.608, p = 0.010; and that with MAS was −0.677, p < 0.001. The linear regression results suggest that wrist extensors, shoulder abductors, and finger flexors can influence the manual assessment of the muscle strength of the whole UE, thereby improving post-stroke patient management. The results of our research suggest that, using the proposed scoring, MMT may be a useful tool for UE assessment in post-stroke patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]