There are several conditions for applying equal weights as an alternative to least squares weights. Psychometric parallelism, one of the conditions, has been suggested as a necessary and sufficient condition for equal-weights aggregation. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of psychometric parallelism among predictors on the efficiency of equal weights and least squares weights. Target correlation matrices with 10,000 cases were simulated so that the matrices had varying degrees of psychometric parallelism. Five hundred samples with six ratios of observation to predictor = 5/1, 10/1, 20/1, 30/1, 40/1, and 50/1 were drawn from each population. The efficiency is interpreted as the accuracy and the predictive power estimated by the weighting methods. The accuracy is defined by the deviation between the population R² and the sample R² . The predictive power is referred to as the population cross-validated R² and the population mean square error of prediction. The findings indicate there is no statistically significant relationship between the level of psychometric parallelism and the accuracy of least squares weights. In contrast, the correlation between the level of psychometric parallelism and the accuracy of equal weights is significantly negative. Under different conditions, the minimum p value of χ² for testing psychometric parallelism among predictors is also different in order to prove equal weights more powerful than least squares weights. The higher the number of predictors is, the higher the minimum p value. The higher the ratio of observation to predictor is, the higher the minimum p value. The higher the magnitude of intercorrelations among predictors is, the lower the minimum p value. This study demonstrates that the most frequently used levels of significance, 0.05 and 0.01, are no longer the only p values for testing the null hypotheses of psychometric parallelism among predictors when replacing least squares weights with equal weights.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Although the scientific study of forgiveness has flourished in recent years, the study of the effects of culture on forgiveness has been minimal. The present thesis reviews the literature examining the effects of individualism and collectivism on forgiveness. In Study 1, four scales are created that are hypothesized to relate to the study of culture and forgiveness. Evidence for the reliability and validity of these scales are presented. In Study 2, the effects of individualism and collectivism are empirically tested. Collectivistic forgivers understand forgiveness within the context of reconciliation, social harmony, and relational repair. Collectivistic forgiveness primarily involves a decision to forgive, but this decision often does not result in the reduction of negative emotions associated with unforgiveness.

The purpose of this research was to develop and test an instrument to measure or quantify the construct of inner strength. Inner strength was synthesized into a theory based on twelve years of qualitative data from direct participant quotes, defined by Roux et al. (2002) as a central human resource that promotes well-being and healing. The inner strength questionnaire (ISQ) has undergone extensive psychometric evaluation which resulted in several versions. The third version had 37-items and was believed to have four subscales that mirrored the theoretical themes that emerged through the qualitative data. The sample was composed of 281 women with a variety of chronic health conditions including breast cancer, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and heart disease. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were employed to assess the structure of the ISQ. Internal consistency was used to assess the reliability of each hypothesized subscale and the entire ISQ. Convergent and discriminant validity, were analyzed using the multitrait-multimethod by Campbell and Fiske (1959). For convergent validity, the entire instrument and each of the subscales was correlated with similar theoretical subscales of the Mastery of Stress Instrument (Younger, 1993). For discriminant validity, the Center for Epidemiological Studies in Depression (CESD) was correlated with the entire ISQ. Both the EFA and CFA revealed a four factor model. The four factors were labeled 1) mental, 2) connectedness, 3) knowing and searching, 4) physical. The reliability for all items on the ISQ was 0.91. The reliabilities for each of the subscales were 0.85 for mental, 0.96 for connectedness, 0.85 for knowing and searching, and 0.83 for physical. The multitrait-multimethod matrix revealed correlation coefficients for the relationship between the ISQ and MSI to be 0.55 and a correlation coefficient of -0.19 between the ISQ and the CESD.A four factor model is supported by the statistical data. Through face-to-face interviewing and input from content expert reviewers, ten items were eliminated from the 37-item (version 3) instrument to form a new version of the instrument. The new instrument supports the metasynthesis generated by Roux (2002) except for the fifth theme, entitled "new normal", which was found to be a consequence of having inner strength, not a component of inner strength.

Qualitative interviews of college students with disabilities indicated that students were reporting significant discrimination and disability stigma effects. Until recently, however, no formal instruments had been developed specifically to measure disability stigma in college students. The purpose of this study was to develop the Postsecondary Student Survey of Disability-Related Stigma (SSDRS), a Likert-type scale that measured amount of perceived stigma in college students with disabilities. The SSDRS was patterned after similar instruments developed to measure race-related stigma and other forms of perceived social discrimination, and was designed to be administered through disability support service offices. The SSDRS consisted of five subscales: personal feelings, global events, academics, group identity, and personal relationships. The questionnaire was pilot tested at two schools, a small, private liberal arts college and a medium-sized, urban community college (n=85). A preliminary exploratory factor analysis and reliability analysis suggested minor changes to the instrument. The pilot results also provided justification for further sampling and more formal analysis of the instrument with a larger data set. The scale was then administered to students with disabilities at a large urban research university. The results were similar to those from the pilot.After aggregating the data (N = 121), another exploratory factor analysis was conducted to identify the underlying structures measured by the instrument. The five subscales suggested by the literature were confirmed, and subscale reliability of scores improved. Analysis of the aggregate data also suggested the removal of several items that did not appear to function well in the instrument.The results of the study suggested that disability stigma is a significant issue for college students with disabilities. Disability support personnel at the postsecondary level could use an instrument like the SSDRS for benchmarking, analyzing the disability climate on campus, or designing specific student interventions. The results also suggested that the phenomenon of disability stigma is measurable, and worthy of future study.

The psychometric properties of two measures of diabetes disease care, the Diabetes Behavior Rating Scale (DBRS) and the 24-hr Diabetes Interview (24-hr) were evaluated. The 24-hr is a widely used, structured interview while the DBRS is a self-administered, fixed-choice questionnaire. Both measures were administered to 250 youth with Type 1 Diabetes (aged 11–14 years) and their parents. Overall, both measures demonstrate adequate psychometric properties. The DBRS and the 24-hr demonstrated good incremental validity and low convergent validity with each adding significant additive value. Both measures demonstrated good concurrent validity with HbA1c. As expected, scores on the 24-hr demonstrated less than adequate test-retest reliability and both measures demonstrated low parent/youth agreement. Interestingly, external validity analyses demonstrated DBRS scores were moderately related to HbA1c in non-pump but not pump regimens, while the 24-hr displayed acceptable external validity. Only three subscales significantly contributed to HbA1c suggesting a more parsimonious assessment measure. This novel, brief combination could prove efficacious for clinical practice.

Background: The government in Taiwan has promoted breastfeeding in recent years yet, exclusive initiation rates and continuation of breastfeeding remain low. Maternal attitudes have been found to be better predictors of infant feeding method during the postpartum period than socio-demographic factors. Understanding maternal attitudes related to infant feeding in Taiwan will support the development of better targeted, more effective health promotion programs aimed at increasing breastfeeding rates. Objectives: To examine maternal attitudes toward breastfeeding and the relationship of these factors to breastfeeding duration at six weeks postpartum. The Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS) was translated into Chinese for this study; a secondary aim of the study was to assess the psychometric properties of the translated tool. Design: A prospective longitudinal study. Setting: A public hospital in Taichung City, Taiwan. Participants: Using convenience sample. 140 in-hospital breastfeeding mothers were recruited in the hospital setting to complete the IIFAS. A total of 120 (86%) completed 3 week follow-up interview and of those who continued to breastfeed 102 women (100%) were contacted at 6 weeks and completed the study protocol. Methods: Following a systematic translation procedure, mothers completed IIFAS questionnaire in the hospital. Then, participating women were contacted by telephone at three weeks and six weeks postpartum to obtain information regarding infant feeding status and duration. Results: Maternal breastfeeding attitudes were the only predictive factor of the breastfeeding duration (p=0.05). The Cronbach’s alpha for internal consistency was 0.73. In-hospital IIFAS scores significantly predicted infant feeding methods at six weeks postpartum. 72.9% (n=102) of the mothers were breastfeeding their infants, of which 37 mothers (26.4%) were exclusively breastfeeding, 65 mothers (46.4%) were partially breastfeeding at three weeks postpartum. These102 breastfeeding mothers were continued to be followed through six weeks postpartum. 62.1% (n=87) were still breastfeeding their infants, of which 34 mothers (24.3%) were exclusively breastfeeding and 53 mothers (37.9%) were partially breastfeeding at six weeks postpartum. Insufficient milk supply was the reason most often given for discontinuing breastfeeding. Conclusions: Maternal attitudes were related to breastfeeding duration. This study provides evidence that the translated version of the IIFAS is a valid and reliable tool to assess breastfeeding attitudes among Taiwanese mothers in the population tested. Breastfeeding rates showed that the low rates of exclusive breastfeeding. Health professionals might use this tool to identify mothers at increase risk for not continuing with exclusive breastfeeding and intervention strategies need to be developed to improve rates of successful exclusive breastfeeding.

The thesis deals with the development of identity in adolescence, especially the differentiation between the disharmonic and harmonious development. The main focus was the translation and cultural adaptation as well as the testing of the foreign self-report questionnaire AIDA (Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescence), which was accompanied by another research method - an open question asking the respondents for self- description. The AIDA questionnaire is aimed at detecting and recognition of the dangers of identity development in adolescence. One of the chief goals of the thesis is also checking the psychometric properties of these methods and their comparison. Among other determinants, age groups (11-18 years) and sex, or, gender of the respondents were taken into account. In 2012 Goth, Foelsch, Schlüter-Müller and Schmeck introduced the reliable and valid self-report questionnaire AIDA (Assessment of Identity Development in Adolescence), to assess pathology-related identity development in healthy and disturbed adolescents. The culture-adequate formulations for every original item were developed in a series of beta-tests, pilot tests, and a main testing to establish the Czech version of AIDA. Specific cultural idioms and culture-specific aspects were considered. During the main testing,...

Title: Interrater reliability of assessment set of clinical features of patients with multiple sclerosis Objectives: The aim of this thesis is to verify interrater reliability of the assessment set of clinical features of patients with multiple sclerosis which purpose is to evaluate sensitivly and comprehensivly the stage of the patients' clinical condition. Methods: According to the inclusion criteria, the patients with MS were selected by an independent neurologist who determined the EDSS score and duration of the disease. After, patients were evaluated by the assessment set by two independent physiotherapists. The assessment set of clinical features incluedes Low-Contrast Letter Acuity Test which tests contrast vision, Nine Hole Peg Test investiges fine motor skills, Timed 25 - Foot Walk evaluates walking speed over a distance of 7,5 m, Paced Auditory Serial Addition assesses cognitive function, Motricity Index tests muscle strength, Modified Ashworth Scale spasticity, Berg balance Scale equilibrium. Furthemore, the tests for evaluation of righting, equilibrium and protective reactions, the test evaluating knee hyperextension, the examination of dysdiadochokinesia and ataxia. Results: High interrater reliability was confirmed in all tests in the examinig set (ICC: 0,80 - 1), except for MAS...