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Exploratory Factor Analysis (exploratory + factor_analysis)
Selected AbstractsAssessing suicide risk among callers to crisis hotlines: A confirmatory factor analysis,JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 9 2010Tracy K. Witte Abstract Our goal was to investigate the factor structure of a risk assessment tool utilized by suicide hotlines and to determine the predictive validity of the obtained factors in predicting subsequent suicidal behavior. We conducted an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), an EFA in a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (EFA/CFA) framework, and a CFA on independent subsamples derived from a total sample of 1,085. Similar to previous studies, we found consistent evidence for a two-factor solution, with one factor representing a more pernicious form of suicide risk (i.e., Resolved Plans and Preparations; RPP) and one factor representing milder suicidal ideation (i.e., Suicidal Desire and Ideation; SDI). The RPP factor trended toward being more predictive of suicidal ideation at follow-up than the SDI factor. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 66:1,24, 2010. [source] Using the People of Color Racial Identity Attitude Scale Among Asian American College Students: An Exploratory Factor AnalysisAMERICAN JOURNAL OF ORTHOPSYCHIATRY, Issue 2 2009Justin C. Perry PhD In this study, an exploratory factor analysis of the People of Color Racial Identity Attitude Scale (PRIAS; Helms, 1995b) among a sample of Asian American college students (N = 225) was conducted. The factorial structure that emerged revealed mixed results in terms of consistency with the People of Color (POC) theory (Helms, 1995a). The measure's construct validity for Asian Americans may be improved through further scale development and revision. Directions for future research on the PRIAS are discussed. [source] Measuring Nausea in Emergency Department Patients via the Use of Exploratory Factor AnalysisACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 6 2010Robert L. Cloutier MD Abstract Objectives:, The objective was to evaluate the applicability of a previously studied multifactorial nausea scale in the emergency department (ED) setting via exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Methods:, Two studies evaluated the validity and factor structure of 18 nausea descriptors scored on 11-point Likert scales. Trained research volunteers administered the scale to 83 men and 123 women in the first sample and to 100 men and 230 women in the second sample. All patients were assessed at enrollment and again at 90 minutes to detect changes in symptom severity. An EFA in the first study used a maximum likelihood estimation method with a principal factor analysis. The second study narrowed the descriptors and evaluated the factor structure with a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Results:, Two factors were retained in the solution; one contained five items with descriptors of physical symptoms, and a second contained five items with psychological symptoms. CFA determined that the two five-item scales were stable and reliable measures of patient nausea experience. Conclusions:, The scales measure both physical and psychological symptoms of nausea, indicating that the experience is multidimensional. ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2010; 17:e33,e39 © 2010 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine [source] The Attentional Resource Allocation Scale (ARAS): psychometric properties of a composite measure for dissociation and absorption,DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, Issue 8 2010R. N. Carleton M.A. Abstract Background: Differences in attentional processes have been linked to the development and maintenance of psychopathology. Shifts in such processes have been described by the constructs Dissociation and Absorption. Dissociation occurs when external and/or internal stimuli are excluded from consciousness due to discrepant, rather than unitary, manifestations of cognitive awareness [Erdelyi MH. 1994: Int J Clin Exp Hypnosis 42:379,390]. In contrast, absorption can be conceptualized by a focus on limited stimuli, to the exclusion of other stimuli, because of unifying, rather than discrepant, manifestations of cognitive awareness. The Dissociative Experiences Scale [DES; Bernstein EM, Putnam FW. 1986: J Nerv Ment Dis 174:727,735] and Tellegen Absorption Scale [TAS; Tellegen A, Atkinson G. 1974: J Abnorm Psychol 83:268,277] are common measures of each construct; however, no factor analyses are available for the TAS and despite accepted overlap, no one has assessed the DES and TAS items simultaneously. Previous research suggests the constructs and factor structures need clarification, possibly including more parsimonious item inclusion [Lyons LC, Crawford HJ. 1997: Person Individ Diff 23:1071,1084]. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the factor structure of the DES and TAS and create a psychometrically stable measure of Dissociation and Absorption. Methods: This study included data from an undergraduate (n=841; 76% women) and a community sample (n=233; 86% women) who each completed the DES and TAS. Results: Exploratory factor analyses [Osborne JW (ed). 2008: Best Practices in Quantitative Methods. Los Angeles: Sage Publications Inc.] with all DES and TAS items suggested a 15-item 3-factor solution (i.e., imaginative involvement, dissociative amnesia, attentional dissociation). Confirmatory factor analyses resulted in excellent fit indices for the same solution. Conclusions: The items and factors were conceptualized in line with precedent research as the Attentional Resource Allocation Scale (ARAS). Comprehensive results, implications, and future research directions are discussed. Depression and Anxiety, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire: confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis with Turkish samplesJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 3 2009Mehmet Z. Firat Abstract Title.,Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire: confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis with Turkish samples. Aim., This study is a report of an investigation of the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire. Background., Cultural, social and family environments influence women's beliefs about and attitudes towards menstruation. Awareness of these beliefs and/or attitudes and their cultural origins is necessary to understand women and their reactions to menstruation when offering health care. Although the Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire has been used in several studies, the psychometric properties of the Turkish version have not been investigated. Methods., Confirmatory factor analyses were carried out with two different samples , high school (n = 650) and undergraduate university students (n = 569) , in Turkey in the spring semester of 2006. Exploratory factor analyses were then used to modify the factor structure. Results., Confirmatory factor analysis did not confirm the factor model reported in the United States of America. However, compared with British and Indian samples, Turkish attitudes showed better fit than both British and Indian samples with comparative fit index values of 0·776 and 0·797 for the high school and university samples respectively. Finally, exploratory factor analysis yielded a 28-item measure for the high school sample and 31-item measure for the university sample, with a 5-factor solution. Reliability estimates of both scales were satisfactory, being 0·73 for the high school and 0·79 for the university sample. Conclusion., The modified 5-factor Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire could be a useful tool for assessing menstrual attitudes among Turkish high school and university students. The overall score permits comparison with results from earlier studies using the original instrument. [source] A Three-Factor Model of Trait Anger: Dimensions of Affect, Behavior, and CognitionJOURNAL OF PERSONALITY, Issue 5 2000René Martin The structure of trait anger was tested in a study of 24 self-report scales. Exploratory factor analyses in an undergraduate sample (N= 457) yielded a two-factor model (comprising cynicism and aggression) and a three-factor model (representing angry emotions, aggressive behaviors, and cynicism). Subsequent evaluations, including confirmatory factor analyses, indicated that the three-factor model provided the best characterization of the trait anger domain. The three-factor solution was consistent with an ,ABC' conceptualization of trait anger, consisting of the dimensions of affect, behavior, and cognition. The three factors showed strikingly different associations with the Big Five personality traits. Angry Affect was most strongly related to Neuroticism, whereas Behavioral Aggression was associated with low Agreeableness. Cynical Cognition represented a blend of neurotic and disagreeable characteristics. Modest mean-level differences were observed between the genders for each factor. [source] The Language of Intoxication: Preliminary InvestigationsALCOHOLISM, Issue 3 2009Ash Levitt Background:, The extensive vocabulary individuals use to describe alcohol's subjective effects has largely gone unexamined in contemporary alcohol research. The present study examined the language drinkers use to describe their own intoxication. It is argued that this language can provide a more complete characterization of alcohol's subjective effects than is available from existing objective and subjective measures of alcohol use and can inform future self-report research. Method:, Toward this goal, a preliminary, cross-sectional, web-based study of the familiarity and usage of current intoxication-related words was conducted in 2 different samples (n = 290 and 146, respectively) of university undergraduates. Results:, Exploratory factor analyses using data from the first sample and confirmatory factor analyses using data from the second sample similarly showed that commonly used terms loaded onto 2 factors, which directly reflected the number of drinks required to be considered moderately or heavily intoxicated, respectively. Gender differences were also found in the familiarity and self-use of some terms across both samples. Conclusions:, The findings suggest that alcohol researchers include multiple intoxication-related terms in future self-report research, and to periodically assess current intoxication-related vocabulary considering demographic, generational, and socio-cultural differences. [source] Children's Self-Reports About Violence Exposure: An Examination of the Things I Have Seen and Heard ScaleAMERICAN JOURNAL OF ORTHOPSYCHIATRY, Issue 3 2007Richard Thompson PhD Children's exposure to violence is often found to be an important predictor of child outcomes. The measures most frequently used to assess it have not been systematically examined, and there is little consensus about how to use these measures. This study examined a version of the Things I Have Seen and Heard Scale in a sample of 784 children who completed the scale at both age 6 and 8. There was only modest support for the use of the scale as a set of single-item measures or as a simple sum of items. Exploratory factor analyses suggested that the scale consisted of two factors: a global/community violence scale and a home violence scale. The evidence for validity of the scales was stronger at age 8 than at age 6. These findings suggest that there may be some limits to the utility of self-reports of violence exposure in very young children. However, there is initial evidence that the global/community scale is a reliable and valid indicator of young children's exposure to violence. Further use and exploration of the subscales is warranted. [source] Motives for substance use among young people seeking mental health treatmentEARLY INTERVENTION IN PSYCHIATRY, Issue 3 2008Leanne Hides Abstract Aims: To explore substance use motives among young people seeking mental health treatment. Methods: Participants consisted of 103 young people seeking mental health treatment, who had used drugs or alcohol in the past year. The young people completed a 42-item substance use motives measure based on the Drinking Motives Measure for their most frequently used substance in the past year. Results: Exploratory factor analysis of the substance use motives scale indicated the young people reported using substances for positive and negative drug effects, to socialize with their peers, and to cope with a negative affect. They did not report using substances for enhancement or conformity motives. Coping motives predicted the presence of a current substance use disorder. Conclusions: The findings support the need for integrated treatment approaches within mental health settings, particularly targeted at young people with co-occurring mental health and substance use problems. [source] Development and Construct Validation of the Pharmacists' Care of Migraineurs ScaleHEADACHE, Issue 1 2009Monica L. Skomo PharmD Objectives., To develop the pharmacists' care of migraineurs scale (PCMS) and to evaluate its psychometric properties. Background., Migraine is often managed suboptimally in primary care. Migraineurs frequently come into contact with community pharmacists, who have the opportunity to make a positive impact on migraineur treatment outcomes. A valid and reliable tool that measures and documents the care provided by pharmacists to migraineurs is critical to the development and evaluation of educational programs and interventions. Methods., Relevant domains of pharmacist care and their respective composite items (behaviors) were identified through an extensive literature search and the use of 2 pharmacist and 2 migraineur focus groups sessions. The resultant 45 PCMS items composed a survey questionnaire mailed to a nationwide random sample of 6000 pharmacists. Data were subjected to an exploratory principal axis factoring procedure to discern the factor structure, and as such describe the latent domains composing the pharmacist caring behaviors constructs. Results., A total of 580 usable responses were returned, with an additional 60 returned as undeliverable, thus yielding a response rate of 9.7%. Exploratory factor analysis using principal axis factoring yielded 9 factors. However, upon examining the scree plot, communalities, and factor loadings, a reanalysis forcing a 7-factor solution yielded a more interpretable and plausible factor structure. The 7-factor solution included the following domains: (1) empathy; (2) prospective drug utilization review for newly diagnosed migraineurs; (3) medication counseling; (4) nonpharmacologic treatment plan; (5) headache sufferer triage; (6) dissemination of public health information; (7) maintenance of knowledge on migraine. Following the application of scale purification procedures, the final instrument is composed of 41 items and demonstrated a Cronbach's alpha reliability of 0.947. Cronbach's alpha reliabilities for the 7 domains ranged from 0.67 to 0.91, indicative of good to excellent internal consistency reliabilities for all the domains. Conclusions., The PCMS demonstrated very good construct validity and reliability. While additional validity testing is warranted, the PCMS should allow for benchmarking in the evaluation of interventions designed to improve pharmacists' care to migraineurs and for identifying correlates to effective community pharmacist migraineur care. [source] Toward development of a generalized instrument to measure andragogyHUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY, Issue 2 2009Elwood F. Holton III Andragogy has emerged as one of the dominant frameworks for teaching adults during the past 40 years. A major and glaring gap in andragogy research is the lack of a measurement instrument that adequately measures both andragogical principles and process design elements. As a result, no definitive empirical test of the theory has been possible. The purpose of this article is to report on initial attempts to develop a survey instrument that corrects this shortcoming in the andragogy research literature. The instrument developed for this study was part of a comprehensive examination of andragogical principles and process design elements and their effect on student satisfaction and learning outcomes in a postsecondary education setting. It was administered to 404 adults enrolled in an adult-oriented postgraduate degree program. Exploratory factor analysis revealed promising scales to measure five of the six andragogical principles and six of the eight process design elements. This instrument is the most successful attempt to date to measure andragogical principles and elements. It holds promise for advancing research on andragogy, and subsequently advancing the field of HRD by explaining affective and cognitive responses to andragogical instructional strategies across a spectrum of learning environments. Additional implications for future research to strengthen the instrument are also discussed. [source] Validation of the Learning Transfer System Inventory: A study of supervisors in the public sector in JordanHUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY, Issue 3 2008Abdulfattah Yaghi Jordanian policymakers rely on trained supervisors to lead organizational change in public administration. The impact of training, however, remains weak unless trainees apply what they have learned (training transfer). In order to assess training transfer, the present study validates a Classic Arabic version of the Learning Transfer System Inventory (CALTSI). The instrument was administered to a random sample of 500 supervisors. Exploratory factor analysis with oblique factor rotation validates 15 of the original 16 factors of the LTSI and explains about 65% of the common variance. These findings and their implications are discussed. [source] Factors affecting transfer of training in ThailandHUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY, Issue 3 2005Siriporn Yamnill To begin the validation process for the Learning Transfer System Inventory (LTSI) in Thailand, research replicating Holton, Bates, and Ruona's study (2000) was conducted in Thailand. The LTSI was administered to 1,029 employees. Exploratory factor analysis and MANOVA were used to identify factors. A factor structure almost identical to that of Holton and colleagues was identified. Perceived content validity of the training was identified as the most important factor. Organization type created the greatest number of differences among variables tested. [source] The Use of Information Technology by National Unions: An Exploratory AnalysisINDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, Issue 1 2002Jack Fiorito Exploratory factor analysis and correlation techniques are applied to survey data to examine national unions' use of information technology (IT). We identify common dimensions in current and planned use of IT forms, its applications, and implementation issues. Finally, relations among these dimensions and selected union characteristics are examined. [source] A validity and reliability study of assessment and screening for sustained withdrawal reaction in infancy: The Alarm Distress Baby scale,INFANT MENTAL HEALTH JOURNAL, Issue 5 2001Antoine Guedeney Sustained withdrawal behavior in infancy is an important alarm signal to draw attention to both organic and relationship disorders. A withdrawal scale, the Alarm Distress Baby scale (ADBB), for infants between 2 and 24 months of age was built. This article describes the construction of the scale and the assessment of its psychometric properties. The ADBB has good content validity, based on the advice of seven experts. The scale has good criterion validity: first, as a measure of the infant's withdrawal reaction, with a very good correlation between nurse and pediatrician on the ADBB (rs = 0.84), and second, as a screening procedure for detecting the developmental risk of the infant. The cutoff score of 5 with a sensitivity of 0.82 and a specificity of 0.78 was determined to be optimal for screening purposes. The scale has good construct validity, with good convergent validity with both the Spitz (1951) and the Herzog & Rathbun (1982) lists of symptoms of infant depression (rs = 0.61 and 0.60, respectively). Exploratory factor analysis showed two different factors, consistent with the scale's construct. Reliability was satisfactory with good internal consistency for both subscales (the Cronbach , = 0.80 for the first subscale and 0.79 for the second) and for the global scale (, = 0.83). The test-retest procedure showed good stability over time (rs = 0.90 and 0.84 for the two different raters). The scale could be used in different clinical settings, provided a sufficient level of social stimulation is given to the infant in a relatively brief period of time. The scale can be used by nurses and psychologists or by medical doctors after a short period of training. © 2001 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health. [source] Why Openness to Experience is not a Good Predictor of Job PerformanceINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SELECTION AND ASSESSMENT, Issue 3 2004Barbara Griffin Recent meta-analyses investigating the relationship between personality and job performance have found that openness to experience is the least predictive of the Big Five factors. Unlike other research that has sought to explain the low criterion-validity with relation to job performance, this study explores the actual construct of openness to experience, suggesting that it consists of two dimensions that relate differentially to job performance thus reducing correlations between overall measures of openness to experience and performance criteria. Exploratory factor analysis of the six sub-dimensions, or facets, of the NEO PI-R (a popular measure of the Big Five factors) produced two factors of openness to experience corresponding to different areas to which people are open. A confirmatory factor analysis on a second set of data provided some support for this result. A pattern of differential relationships between the two factors and other variables including personality, biodata and supervisor-rated performance offered further support for the multidimensionality of openness to experience. The implications of these findings for future research in the selection context are discussed. [source] Cigarette dependence questionnaire: development and psychometric testing with male smokersJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 10 2010Chih-Ling Huang huang c.-l., lin h.-h. & wang h.-h. (2010) Cigarette dependence questionnaire: development and psychometric testing with male smokers. Journal of Advanced Nursing,66(10), 2341,2349. Abstract Aim., This paper is a report of a study conducted to develop and test a theoretically derived Cigarette Dependence Questionnaire for adult male smokers. Background., Fagerstrom questionnaires have been used worldwide to assess cigarette dependence. However, these assessments lack any theoretical perspective. A theory-based approach is needed to ensure valid assessment. Methods., In 2007, an initial pool of 103 Cigarette Dependence Questionnaire items was distributed to 109 adult smokers in Taiwan. Item analysis was conducted to select items for inclusion in the refined scale. The psychometric properties of the Cigarette Dependence Questionnaire were further evaluated 2007,08, when it was administered to 256 respondents and their saliva was collected and analysed for cotinine levels. Criterion validity was established through the Pearson correlation between the scale and saliva cotinine levels. Exploratory factor analysis was used to test construct validity. Reliability was determined with Cronbach's alpha coefficient and a 2-week test,retest coefficient. Results., The selection of 30 items for seven perspectives was based on item analysis. One factor accounting for 44·9% of the variance emerged from the factor analysis. The factor was named as cigarette dependence. Cigarette Dependence Questionnaire scores were statistically significantly correlated with saliva cotinine levels (r = 0·21, P = 0·01). Cronbach's alpha was 0·95 and test,retest reliability using an intra-class correlation was 0·92. Conclusion., The Cigarette Dependence Questionnaire showed sound reliability and validity and could be used by nurses to set up smoking cessation interventions based on assessment of cigarette dependence. [source] Insomnia Severity Index: psychometric properties with Chinese community-dwelling older peopleJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 10 2010Doris S.F. Yu yu d.s.f. (2010) Insomnia Severity Index: psychometric properties with Chinese community-dwelling older people. Journal of Advanced Nursing,66(10), 2350,2359. Abstract Aim., This paper is a report of a study to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Insomnia Severity Index. Background., Despite the high prevalence of insomnia in older people and its detrimental impact on well-being and healthcare costs, this problem is almost always undetected and consequently under-treated. The Insomnia Severity Index is psychometrically sound in measuring perceived insomnia severity. However, it has had very limited application in non-White populations. Methods., An instrument validation study was carried out between October 2008 and April 2009. The Insomnia Severity Index was translated into Chinese using Brislin's model and administered to a convenience sample of 585 older Chinese people recruited from three community centres for elders. Other instruments were also administered, including the Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Geriatric Depression Scale. Results., Cronbach's alpha of the Chinese version of the Insomnia Severity Index was 0·81, with item-to-total correlations in the range of 0·34,0·67. Construct validity was supported by its moderate relationship with the Chinese Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and sleep efficiency. The Chinese version of the Insomnia Severity Index also indicated more severe level of insomnia in older people who reported depressed mood on the Geriatric Depression Scale. Discriminant validity was supported as the Chinese version of the Insomnia Severity Index could discriminate poorer sleepers from normal sleepers. Exploratory factor analysis identified a two-factor structure for the Chinese version of the Insomnia Severity Index in measuring the severity and impacts of insomnia on the Chinese older people. Conclusion., The Chinese version of the Insomnia Severity Index is a culturally-relevant and psychometrically-sound instrument for assessing severity and impact of insomnia in Chinese community-dwelling older people. Nurses can use this tool to assess older people's perceptions of insomnia. [source] Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure: psychometric testing with Chinese nursing studentsJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 12 2009Jian Wang Abstract Title.,Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure: psychometric testing with Chinese nursing students. Aim., This paper is a report of the psychometric testing of the Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure with Chinese nursing students. Background., Although the Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure has been widely used to measure educational environments in the healthcare professions, no psychometric evaluation of the measure with Chinese nursing students has been reported. Method., Data from 214 nursing students were collected during a 2-month period between December, 2004 and January, 2005. Exploratory factor analysis, internal consistency reliability and Cronbach's alpha were examined. Results., Five factors were found by principal components analysis with Oblimin with Kaiser Normalization rotation. The original factor names were maintained, but items in each factor changed. These five factors all achieved eigenvalues >1, and in total accounted for 52·186% of the variance. Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0·623 to 0·9 across factors, with an overall alpha of 0·949. Conclusion., The Chinese version of the Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure could be a valuable measurement for nursing educators in professional development programmes and nursing curriculum design. Further studies need in different Chinese nursing schools and larger sample sizes to be conducted to validate its stability and factor structure. [source] Index of sources of stress in nursing students: a confirmatory factor analysisJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 5 2009Chris Gibbons Abstract Title.,Index of sources of stress in nursing students: a confirmatory factor analysis. Aim., This paper is a report of a study to test the proposed factor structure of the Index of Sources of Stress in Nursing Students. Background., Research across many countries has identified a number of sources of distress in nursing students but little attempt has been made to understand and measure sources of eustress or those stressors likely to enhance performance and well-being. The Index of Sources of Stress in Nursing Students was developed to do this. Exploratory factor analysis suggested a three-factor structure, the factors being labelled: learning and teaching; placement-related and course organization. It is important, however, to subject the instrument to confirmatory factor analysis as a further test of construct validity. Method., A convenience sample of final year nursing students (n = 176) was surveyed in one university in Northern Ireland in 2007. The Index of Sources of Stress in Nursing Students, which measures sources of stress likely to contribute to distress and eustress, was completed electronically. The lisrel programme was used to carry out the confirmatory factor analysis and test the factor structure suggested in the exploratory analysis. Findings., The proposed factor structure for the items measuring ,Uplifts' proved to be a good fit to the data and the proposed factor structure for the items measuring ,Hassles' showed adequate fit. Conclusion., In nursing programmes adopting the academic model and combining university-based learning with placement experience, this instrument can be used to help identify the sources of stress or course demands that students rate as distressing and those that help them to achieve. The validity of the ISSN could be further evaluated in other education settings. [source] Nursing attitudes towards acute mental health care: development of a measurement toolJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 5 2005John A. Baker BNurs MSc MPhil RN Aim., This paper reports the development, piloting and validation of a tool to measure attitudes for use with nursing staff working in acute mental health care units. Background., The quality of care provided for service users in acute mental health care has come under both scrutiny and severe criticism. The attitudes of staff working in these environments have been cited as a contributory factor in poor care. No measure of attitudes specific to acute mental health has been reported. Methods., A 64-question measure was constructed and distributed to a sample of qualified and unqualified nurses drawn from seven mental health care units in the North of England. Exploratory factor analysis and a number of other statistical tests were performed to validate the questionnaire. Results., Preliminary analysis reduced the original 64 questions to 37. Five components were retained, accounting for 42% of the variance, and the five rotated factors were identified. The resultant ,Attitudes Towards Acute Mental Health Scale' (ATAMHS) achieved good internal reliability, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0·72. Conclusion., The construction and validation of the ATAMHS measure will enable improved understanding of the attitudes of nursing staff working in acute mental health care settings to occur. This measure is available for use in a clinical area of nursing in which attitude change is of fundamental importance for future development of care. [source] Exploratory factor analysis of the research and development culture index among qualified nursesJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 9 2005Bill Watson MSc Aims and objectives., This paper presents the exploratory factor analysis of a rating instrument for assessing the strength of organizational Research and Development (R&D) culture. Background., Despite nursing's limited research capacity, the discipline is capitalising upon opportunities to become involved in research and is making strong progress. Within the context of the debate on nursing research capacity, the R&D Culture Index was developed as a means of appraising R&D culture within health care organizations. Design., Factor analysis was carried out on data collected from 485 nursing staff. The method of extraction was Principal Components Analysis with oblique rotation. Methods., The Index was developed from the findings of qualitative research conducted with NHS staff. Eighteen items, encompassing the main themes from the data, were initially included in the Index. This pilot instrument was distributed to nursing staff within three different types of NHS Trust. Factor analysis resulted in rejection of two items and the analysis was repeated using the remaining 16 items. Results., Three latent factors were extracted accounting for 58·0% of the variance in the data. The factors were: R&D Support, describing the perceived support within the working environment for R&D activity; Personal R&D Skills and Aptitude, describing an individual's perception of their ability towards R&D activity; and Personal R&D Intention, describing an individual's willingness to engage in R&D activity. Each factor had good internal reliability, as did the overall index. Conclusion., The R&D Culture Index provides an efficient means of assessing the strength of an organization's R&D culture in a way that captures the role of the individual practitioner and the organizational environment. Relevance to practice., These findings suggest that the continuing promotion of R&D within health care organizations is dependent upon a multi-faceted approach that addresses the learning needs of the organization as well as those of the individual practitioners. [source] Comparing the psychometric properties of multiple teacher report instruments as predictors of bipolar disorder in children and adolescentsJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 4 2008Eric A. Youngstrom Abstract The psychometric properties of four teacher report measures and their utility for accurate diagnosis of pediatric bipolar spectrum disorders (BPSDs) were examined. Participants were 191 youth (65% male; 62% African-American; 23% diagnosed with a BPSD), age 5,18 (M=10.16, SD=3.27) years, 70% recruited from a community mental health center and 30% recruited from a mood disorders clinic. Teachers "who knew the child best" were asked to complete the Achenbach Teacher Report Form (TRF) as well as teacher versions of the General Behavior Inventory (T-GBI), the Child Mania Rating Scale (CMRS-T), and the Young Mania Rating Scale (T-YMRS). Teacher response rates and missing data varied significantly depending on the age of the child. Exploratory factor analysis identified stable and interpretable factors; however, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and logistic regression analyses showed that teacher report measures were not able to discriminate BPSD cases from non-BPSD cases, or from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) cases. Teacher report appears to be insufficiently specific or sensitive to BPSD for clinical diagnostic use, although teacher scales might have research utility. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 64: 1,20, 2008. [source] Quality of life in old age: An investigation of well older persons in Hong KongJOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 3 2004Sheung-Tak Cheng What might add quality to life during the last period of the life cycle? In study I, five focus groups of elderly participants representing different ages and socioeconomic backgrounds provided descriptions of quality of life (QOL) from their own perspectives. These descriptions formed the basis of a questionnaire that was administered to a representative, random sample of older persons in Hong Kong (N = 1,616) in study II. The study II sample was further randomly split into two. Exploratory factor analysis on sample A identified four factors: generativity, interpersonal (including intergenerational) relations, physical functioning, and material life. Results of confirmatory factor analysis on sample B showed that the 4-factor QOL model provided a good fit to the data, and that the constructs measured were identical (invariant) between older men and women and between the young-old and the old-old. In study III, the findings were disseminated back to an independent sample of older persons meeting in focus groups, who provided verbal confirmations to the model. The findings shed light on possible community psychology interventions to promote wellness in the elderly. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 32: 309,326, 2004. [source] Relationship between organizational climate and empowerment of nurses in Hong KongJOURNAL OF NURSING MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2002Esther Mok RN Aims,The authors explore the relationship between organizational climate and empowerment among the nursing staff of a regional hospital in Hong Kong. The main purpose of the study was to apply the modified Spreitzer measure of empowerment in a hospital and to examine the relationship of organizational climate to perceptions of empowerment. Methods,From 658 questionnaires sent out, 331 nurses participated in the study with a response rate of 50.3%. Survey measures administered included the modified Litwin and Stringer Organizational Climate Questionnaire (LSOCQ) and the modified Spreitzer empowerment instrument. The relationships between organizational climate and empowerment were examined in a series of bivariate correlational analyses. The final section of the questionnaire asked the respondents to list three elements in the organizational climate that they perceived would further increase their feelings of empowerment. Findings,Exploratory factor analysis of the modified LSOCQ resulted in six factors: leadership, working harmony, challenge, recognition, teamwork and decision making. There was a positive correlation between organizational climate and psychological empowerment. Using multiple regression analysis, all the six derived climate factors significantly accounted for 44% of the variance. Among the six predicting factors, leadership and teamwork showed the most positive relationship with psychological empowerment. Responses from the open questions on perception of organizational climate that further enhance nurses' feelings of empowerment were categorized into eight areas. They include leadership, communication, working relationship, recognition, structure, training, teamwork and stress management. Conclusion,The study echoes previous studies in finding that organizational climate and, in particular, supportive leadership and teamwork are related to empowerment. The findings also suggest that the nurses in the study did not put much emphasis on the importance of participative decision making. [source] Discrimination between worry and anxiety among cancer patients: development of a brief cancer-related worry inventoryPSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, Issue 12 2008Kei Hirai Abstract Objectives: A psychometric scale for assessing cancer-related worry among cancer patients, called the Brief Cancer-Related Worry Inventory (BCWI), was developed. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey for item development was conducted of 112 Japanese patients diagnosed with breast cancer, and test,retest validation analysis was conducted using the data from another prospective study of 20 lung cancer patients. The questionnaire contained 15 newly developed items for cancer-related worry, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, The Impact of Event Scale Revised, and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-8. Results: Exploratory factor analysis of the 15 items yielded a 3-factor structure including (1) future prospects, (2) physical and symptomatic problems and (3) social and interpersonal problems. A second-order confirmatory factor analysis identified a second-order factor called cancer-related worry and confirmed the factor structure with an acceptable fit (chi-square (df=87)=160.16, P=0.001; GFI=0.83; CFI=0.92; RMSEA=0.09). The internal consistency and test,retest reliability were confirmed with the lung cancer sample. Multidimensional scaling found that cancer-related worry is separate from anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Conclusion: Our study succeeded in developing and confirming the validity and reliability of a BCWI. The study also confirmed the discriminable aspects of cancer-related worry from anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Psychometric testing of the Perception of Pregnancy Risk Questionnaire,RESEARCH IN NURSING & HEALTH, Issue 5 2009Maureen I. Heaman Abstract Pregnant women's perception of risk may influence their health behaviors during pregnancy; however, no validated instrument exists to measure those perceptions. The purpose of this study was to refine a new instrument, the Perception of Pregnancy Risk Questionnaire (PPRQ), and conduct psychometric assessment of the final 9-item version. Reliability and validity were assessed using a sample of 199 women in the third trimester of pregnancy. Exploratory factor analysis resulted in a two-factor solution. Evidence of construct validity was demonstrated using the known-groups technique and through convergent validity. Ratings of pregnancy risk correlated with state anxiety level, providing evidence of concurrent validity. The PPRQ had high internal consistency reliability and excellent test,retest reliability. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 32:493,503, 2009 [source] The construct validity of three entry level personality inventories used in the UK: cautionary findings from a multiple-inventory investigation,EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY, Issue S1 2003Neil Anderson This paper reports psychometric analyses into the convergent and divergent validity of three popular entry-level measures of occupational personality in the UK and Continental Europe. A sample of 504 individuals completed all three measures: the British version of the Hogan Personality Inventory (HPI), the Occupational Personality Questionnaire (OPQ Version FS5.2), and the Business Personality Indicator (BPI). In addition, independent ratings of the conceptual loading of primary source scales onto the Five Factor Model (FFM) were obtained (n,=,66). Data were used in a three-stage analytical procedure directed at examining psychometric and construct validity. Results are reported for descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, Cohen's d), internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alphas), and exploratory factor analyses. Findings into the construct validity of first-order scales (i.e. primary source scales) and second-order scales (i.e. FFM loadings) are presented in detail, including multitrait,multimethod (MTMM) analyses of convergent and divergent validity. For some scales, the observed variability in our sample suggested significant range restriction/enhancement. It was found that scale reliabilities were generally lower than those typically reported by the test publishers, and that published factor structures for these measures could not be replicated by the authors for this sample of individuals. Further independent construct validity research into occupational personality inventories is encouraged based upon our proposed model of single-, dual-, and multiple-inventory construct validation studies. Practically, our findings suggest that when IWO psychologists or personnel professionals aim to select/screen job applicants for a particular personality trait those who are selected may vary depending on (i) which personality inventory is used, (ii) the actual variability in the applicant sample tested, and (iii) reliability of the scales under consideration. As such, this study sounds a note of caution. Future research is called for to replicate these findings. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Japanese Language Students' Attitudes Toward Kanji and Their Perceptions on Kanji Learning StrategiesFOREIGN LANGUAGE ANNALS, Issue 3 2007Yoshiko Mori This study aims at identifying interpretable factors underlying Japanese language learners' attitudes toward kanji and their self-reported kanji learning strategies. It also examines the relationship between the two sets of belief factors. A questionnaire survey was conducted among Japanese language students at nine universities in the United States; 311 responses were subjected to exploratory factor analyses that identified six attitudinal factors and six strategy belief factors. Descriptive statistics indicated that students considered rote memorization most effective and metacognitive strategies least effective. Correlational analyses revealed that appreciation of the cultural value of kanji and positive emotions toward kanji were associated with stronger belief in varied strategies. Perception of difficulty and belief in special abilities required for kanji learning, in contrast, were associated with reliance on rote memorization. [source] Measuring consumer perception of product creativity: Impact on satisfaction and purchasabilityHUMAN FACTORS AND ERGONOMICS IN MANUFACTURING & SERVICE INDUSTRIES, Issue 3 2009Diana Horn In the current value-based economy, product creativity is a potential resource for organizations to compete, thus emphasizing the need for product creativity measurement. Two studies were performed to refine and validate a previously tested model and measurement of consumer perception of product creativity: one with web-based evaluations (N = 208) of chairs and lamps and one with paper-based evaluations (N = 105) of individually selected products. Results of exploratory factor analyses indicated three main product creativity factors: Affect, Importance, and Novelty, which explained 72% of the common variance. Results of stepwise regressions indicated that the Affect factor significantly predicts (65% of the explained variance) willingness to purchase creative consumer products. One major contribution of this research is the finding that affect is as equally (R2 = .28) important as novelty (R2 = .25) in consumer perception of product creativity. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed for the Affect, Importance, and Novelty product creativity factors, and general creativity guidelines are provided for consumer product design. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||