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Situational Judgment Tests (SJTs) are increasingly used for medical school selection. Scoring an SJT is more complicated than scoring a knowledge test, because there are no objectively correct answers. The scoring method of an SJT may influence the construct and concurrent validity and the adverse impact with respect to non-traditional students. Previous research has compared only a small number of scoring methods and has not studied the effect of scoring method on internal consistency reliability. This study compared 28 different scoring methods for a rating SJT on internal consistency reliability, adverse impact and correlation with personality. The scoring methods varied on four aspects: the way of controlling for systematic error, and the type of reference group, distance and central tendency statistic. All scoring methods were applied to a previously validated integrity-based SJT, administered to 931 medical school applicants. Internal consistency reliability varied between 0.33 and 0.73, which is likely explained by the dependence of coefficient alpha on the total score variance. All scoring methods led to significantly higher scores for the ethnic majority than for the non-Western minorities, with effect sizes ranging from 0.48 to 0.66. Eighteen scoring methods showed a significant small positive correlation with agreeableness. Four scoring methods showed a significant small positive correlation with conscientiousness. The way of controlling for systematic error was the most influential scoring method aspect. These results suggest that the increased use of SJTs for selection into medical school must be accompanied by a thorough examination of the scoring method to be used.

Given the poorer academic outcomes of non-Western ethnic minority students compared to ethnic majority students, we investigated whether differences exist in work-study interface between ethnic groups. We tested a work-study interface model, in which the work-related factors work-study congruence, job control, job demands, work hours, job involvement and job support were antecedents to work-study facilitation (WSF) and work-study conflict (WSC). WSC and WSF, in turn, were expected to predict students' study effort and subsequently students' grades. This model fitted well for the full sample and both non-Western ethnic minority students (N = 167) and ethnic majority students (N = 666) separately at a large Dutch university. Results showed that work-study congruence, job control, job involvement and job support led to WSF, which in turn led to more study effort and higher grades. Job control decreased WSC and both job demands and the number of work hours increased WSC. WSC was negatively associated with study effort which resulted in lower grades. These structural relationships, as depicted in the conceptual model of work-study interface, were similar for both the group of non-Western ethnic minority students and the group of ethnic majority students. However, ethnic minority students worked more hours per week than ethnic majority students, which partly explained--via WSC and study effort--the lower academic outcomes for this group.

Offender risk and needs assessment, one of the pillars of the risk-need-responsivity model of offender rehabilitation, usually depends on raters assessing offender risk and needs. The few available studies of interrater reliability in offender risk assessment are, however, limited in the generalizability of their results. The present study examined interrater reliability in Dutch offender risk assessment by 38 raters who independently assessed 75 offenders. The results show substantial reliability (Tinsley and Weiss's "T" value greater than or equal to 0.61) for risk of reconviction and moderate ("T" value greater than or equal to 0.41) to substantial reliability for offender needs, such as accommodation, finances, or education. These results are discussed in light of a recent British study on the interrater reliability of a comparable risk assessment instrument. The results from the present study show similar to better reliability, leading to the conclusion that greater external validity does not negatively influence interrater reliability results. (Contains 3 tables and 2 notes.)

Expanding on family-work and work-study models, this article investigated a model for family-study conflict and family-study facilitation. The focus of the study was the relationship of family-study conflict and family-study facilitation with students' effortful behaviors and academic performance among a sample of university students (N = 1,656). Model tests using structural equation modeling identified participation in family activities, family social support, and involvement with family as antecedents of both family-study conflict and family-study facilitation. In turn, family-study conflict was negatively related to study effort, and family-study facilitation positively contributed to students' study effort. Effort positively predicted students' grade point average. (Contains 2 tables and 2 figures.)

The present study explored possible differences in reasons for withdrawing from higher vocational education between ethnic minority and majority non-completers in the Netherlands. Tinto's model on the departure process was used as a theoretical framework. A total of 1017 non-completers filled in a questionnaire regarding their reasons for withdrawal. An exploratory factor analysis resulted in six factors representing these reasons. Multivariate analyses of variance showed no main effect for ethnic background of non-completers, but interaction effects with type of withdrawal (drop-out versus switching course or institution), and moment of withdrawing (early or late). Ethnic minority drop-outs withdrew more often than majority drop-outs because of a perceived poor quality of education. A lack of ability was more important in the decision to withdraw for majority drop-outs compared to ethnic minority drop-outs. Ethnic minority switchers withdrew more often than majority switchers because they were disappointed with the educational content. This factor also appeared to be more important to minority non-completers who had left higher vocational education after more than one year in comparison with the late majority non-completers. (Contains 5 tables and 2 figures.)

This study explored differences in the antecedents and consequences of job search behavior depending on gender and family situation in a large, nationwide sample of the Dutch population. Using Ajzen's (1991) theory of planned behavior (TPB), we found no gender differences in the antecedents of job seeking. However, family situation did affect the relations in the TPB, such that personal attitude was a slightly weaker, and perceived social pressure a stronger predictor of job seeking for individuals with families than for singles. Concerning the consequences, job search behavior significantly predicted the chances of finding (new) employment, but not job satisfaction in the new job and the level of agreement between the obtained and wanted job.

In the context of Ajzen's (1991) theory of planned behavior, the antecedents of intentions are better understood than the antecedents of behavior. The current study aimed to improve the understanding of the transition from intentions to behavior. Based on the work of Gollwitzer (1993), Kuhl and Beckmann (1994), and Lay (1986) we proposed a model of mediators (i.e., implementation intentions) and moderators (i.e., action-state orientation and trait procrastination) in the intention-behavior relation. The model was applied to job seeking, and tested using longitudinal survey data of a sample of unemployed individuals in The Netherlands (N=175). Support was found for the proposed mediating role of implementation intentions in the relation between job search intention and job search behavior. The proposed moderating roles of action-state orientation and trait procrastination were not supported.

The labor market in many Western countries increasingly diversifies. However, little is known about job search behavior of ''non-traditional'' applicants such as ethnic minorities. This study investigated minority-majority group differences in the predictors of job search behavior, using the theory of planned behavior (Ajzen, 1985). Data were collected in a two-wave longitudinal design among 697 temporary employees in The Netherlands. Results showed that the ethnic minorities' perceptions of social pressure predicted intentions to search for a (new) job more strongly than their personal attitudes did. The opposite was found in the native-Dutch group. Self-efficacy did not contribute to the prediction of job search intention. Job search behavior related significantly to job search outcomes, such as job attainment.

Rivers are among the most heavily managed landscapes worldwide. The meanings people ascribe to river landscapes and their preferences for management have implications for public support for management decisions. This paper reports on a postal survey (N = 1102) on perceived landscape qualities (place attachment, scenic beauty and safety perception) and public perceptions of a planned river intervention in four residential areas along the river Waal (The Netherlands). The objectives of this study were to (1) examine the relationship between place attachment and socio-demographic and geographic variables, and (2) explore the role of perceived landscape qualities in public perceptions of a planned river intervention. Multiple regression analyses showed that socio-demographic and geographic variables explain 21–41% of variation in place attachment dimensions (including place identity, place dependence, social bonding, and narrative bonding). We found that local residents have intermediate to strong bonds with the area and that village residents were more attached than city residents. Narrative bonding was tested as a separate dimension, which resulted in a coherent set of statements with good reliability. Overall, the planned intervention was positively evaluated, especially in terms of improving flood safety. Social bonding, scenic beauty, and recreational value correlated positively with the evaluation scores. Our findings emphasize the importance of place as a social environment in residents’ responses to re-landscaping river interventions and we discuss opportunities to engage local communities and sustain social processes in river management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined antecedents of organizational citizenship behavior (i.e., reward for application; religiosity beliefs and employees’ relational identification with their supervisor) among Turkish white-collar employees in The Netherlands ( n = 103) and Turkey ( n = 147). OCB related positively to reward for application (both samples) but not to religiosity beliefs among Turkish employees in their home country (Turkey). As expected, relational identification with the supervisor was less strongly related to organizational citizenship behavior among Turkish white-collar employees in their host country (The Netherlands) compared to their home country (Turkey), especially when they resided longer in their host country. Giving increasing globalization and war for talent, findings are relevant to better understand effects of white-collar migrants’ cultural background and acculturation patterns in work-related domains, like OCB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey was carried out among inhabitants of Gennep, a small-town municipality in the east of The Netherlands, questioning about (1) the types of nature that people distinguish and the levels of naturalness ascribed to these types of nature; (2) the images that people hold of the appropriate relationship between people and nature and the level of adherence to these images, and (3) people’s preference of broadly defined landscape types. Types of nature inferred by means of factor analysis were labeled arcadian, wild and penetrative nature, the last category comprising elements such as mosquitoes and rats in the barn. Factor analysis was used as well to infer images of appropriate relationship, which appeared to hinge around the concepts of mastery over nature, responsibility for nature and participation in nature, respectively. Levels of adherence to the responsibility and participation images were very high, indicative of a ‘new biophilia’ mainstream in Dutch culture.Landscape types were defined, roughly, as (1) landscape made by and for people; (2) park-like, arcadian landscape; (3) wild, interactive landscape and (4) landscape “in which one may experience the greatness and forces of nature”. Strikingly, more than half of the respondents expressed preference for this last (‘deep ecology’) landscape type, with another third preferring the wild, interactive landscape. The highest preference of the ‘greatness and forces’ landscape was found among the respondents with high ascription of naturalness to the penetrative type of nature and respondents adhering to the participation-in-nature image of relationship.Preferences for landscape types as defined here should be distinguished from visual or behavioral landscape preferences. Even if people may not select landscapes of the ‘greatness and forces of nature’ in daily behaviors, these landscapes of wilderness and greatness do connect with human visions and desires. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background There is limited information on differences in plasma lipid levels among the major ethnic groups in Europe. Objective We investigated ethnic differences in plasma lipid levels in a large multiethnic cohort and explored the contribution of obesity and other determinants to ethnic differences in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglyceride (TG) levels. Methods We compared lipid profiles among 21,617 participants (aged 18 to 70 years) of Moroccan, Ghanaian, South Asian Surinamese, African Surinamese, Turkish and Dutch ethnic origin, living in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Fasting total cholesterol, HDL-C, and TG were measured while fasting. LDL-C was calculated using the Friedewald formula and corrected for lipid-lowering therapy. Results Mean LDL-C ranged from 2.84 ± 0.22 mmol/L in Moroccans to 3.13 ± 0.06 mmol/L in South Asian Surinamese participants. Mean HDL-C ranged from 1.30 ± 0.15 mmol/L in Turkish to 1.62 ± 0.10 mmol/L in Ghanaian participants. Mean TG ranged from 0.64 ± 1.18 mmol/L in Ghanaian to 1.00 ± 1.18 mmol/L in South Asian Surinamese and 1.00 ± 1.27 mmol/L in Turkish origin participants. The differences in LDL-C, HDL-C, and TG levels remained present after adjustment for age and sex. Differences between ethnic groups were significantly attenuated after adjustment for other determinants, including body mass index, diabetes and use of lipid-lowering drugs but remained significant. Conclusion Large ethnic differences exist in lipid components, especially HDL-C and TG levels with a higher HDL-C and lower TG levels among African (Ghanaian and Surinamese) origin participants and the most unfavorable lipid profiles among individuals of South Asian Surinamese and Turkish origin. Highlights • We investigated ethnic differences in lipid levels in a large multiethnic cohort • Ethnic differences in plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels are relatively small • Plasma triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels significantly differ between ethnic groups • We found higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and lower triglyceride levels among African origin participants • South Asian Surinamese and Turkish had the most unfavorable lipid profiles [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]