Quando um conjunto de dados possui uma estrutura hierárquica, uma possível abordagem são os modelos de regressão multiníveis, que se justifica pelo fato de haver uma porção significativa da variabilidade dos dados que pode ser explicada por níveis macro. Neste trabalho, desenvolvemos a seleção de modelos de regressão multinível aplicados a dados educacionais. Esta análise divide-se em duas partes: seleção de variáveis e seleção de modelos. Esta última subdivide-se em dois casos: modelagem clássica e modelagem bayesiana. Buscamos através de critérios como o Lasso, AIC, BIC, WAIC entre outros, encontrar quais são os fatores que influenciam no desempenho em matemática dos alunos do nono ano do ensino fundamental do estado de São Paulo. Também investigamos o funcionamento de cada um dos critérios de seleção de variáveis e de modelos. Foi possível concluir que, sob a abordagem frequentista, o critério de seleção de modelos BIC é o mais eficiente, já na abordagem bayesiana, o critérioWAIC apresentou melhores resultados. Utilizando o critério de seleção de variáveis Lasso para abordagem clássica, houve uma diminuição de 34% dos preditores do modelo. Por fim, identificamos que o desempenho em matemática dos estudantes do nono ano do ensino fundamental do estado de São Paulo é influenciado pelas seguintes covariáveis: grau de instrução da mãe, frequência de leitura de livros, tempo gasto com recreação em dia de aula, o fato de gostar de matemática, o desempenho em matemática global da escola, desempenho em língua portuguesa do aluno, dependência administrativa da escola, sexo, grau de instrução do pai, reprovações e distorção idade-série. / When a dataset contains a hierarchical data structure, a possible approach is the multilevel regression modelling, which is justified by the significative amout of the data variability that can be explained by macro level processes. In this work, a selection of multilevel regression models for educational data is developed. This analysis is divided into two parts: variable selection and model selection. The latter is subdivided into two categories: classical and Bayesian modeling. Traditional criteria for model selection such as Lasso, AIC, BIC, and WAIC, among others are used in this study as an attempt to identify the factors influencing ninth grade students performance in Mathematics of elementary education in the State of São Paulo. Likewise, an investigation was conducted to evaluate the performance of each variable selection criteria and model selection methods applied to fitted models that will be mentioned throughout this work. It was possible to conclude that, under the frequentist approach, BIC is the most efficient, whereas under the bayesian approach, WAIC presented better results. Using Lasso under the frequentist approach, a decrease of 34% on the number of predictors was observed. Finally, we identified that the performance in Mathematics of students in the ninth year of elementary school in the state of São Paulo is most influenced by the following covariates: mothers educational level, frequency of book reading, time spent with recreation in classroom, the fact of liking Math, school global performance in Mathematics, performance in Portuguese, school administrative dependence, gender, fathers educational degree, failures and age-grade distortion.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi determinar o papel da integração sensório-motora sobre o efeito do estímulo precedente visual. A investigação também teve a intenção de delimitar a estratégia relacionada à modulação do efeito do estímulo precedente. Para isso, foram utilizadas variações de tarefas de tempo de reação (TR) de escolha, e os dados de TR e acurácia foram analisados. Encontramos uma propensão a antecipar respostas na tarefa de TR de escolha de local, devido ao aparecimento do estímulo precedente. A análise revelou uma troca velocidade-acurácia, indicativa de mudança no critério. Uma adaptação da Teoria de Detecção de Sinais mostrou que o critério de decisão foi elevado, evitando erros de antecipação e de alarmes falsos. A tarefa de TR de escolha de forma apresentou diminuição nos tempos de reação no local do estímulo precedente, sem trocas de velocidade por acurácia. Nossos resultados principais indicam que a integração de estímulo e resposta pode interferir no efeito do estímulo precedente através de modulações de estratégia, dependentes de características do estímulo relevantes à tarefa em questão. / The aim of the present work was to determine the role of sensory-motor integration on the effect of the visual prime stimulus. The investigation intended also to delimit the strategy related to this prime stimulus effect modulation. In order to do that, variations of choice reaction time (RT) task were used, and RT and accuracy data were analyzed. We found a propensity to anticipate responses in the location-based choice RT task, due to the onset of the prime stimulus. The analysis revealed a speed-accuracy trade-off, indicative of criterion shift. An adaptation of the Signal Detection Theory showed that the decision criterion was raised, avoiding anticipatory and false alarm errors. The form-based choice RT task presented decrease in response time in the prime stimulus location, with no speed-accuracy trade-offs. Our main results indicate that stimulus-response integration can interfere with the prime stimulus effect through strategic modulations dependent on stimuli features relevant to the task in hand.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-23T14:09:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Edilezia Freire Simoes.pdf: 1428588 bytes, checksum: e7868d398f5e5751bac9f317913e70ea (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-08-13 / In the book Contra Academicos by Augustine of Hippo (354-430), the discussion about truth is guided by a fundamental question: Can a man achieve wisdom and happiness while he seeks truth or only after he finds it? The interlocutors in this dialogue confront each other around this question. This dissertation aims at understanding the criterion for truth presented in "Contra Academicos‖ and contextualizing/analyzing the philosophical sources that influenced Augustine s intellectual evolution, which required a thorough analysis of his work. The theme for discussion in "Contra Academicos‖ is a relevant problem until today, thus deserving serious debates about the questions it brings. Seeking truth is not a banal or shallow issue, but a necessary and fundamental one. The discussions presented in this book bring the philosophical path followed by Augustin into discussion. Path that started in a meeting with his own self in order to find the truth that dwells inside men. In this search, Augustin walks a path that could not be explained logically, but that concerns his soteriological project, which pushes him through Manichaeism, Neoplatonism and skepticism until he finally reaches Christianity. While passing through skepticism, he has contact with academic skepticism, fruit of confrontation between two Hellenistic schools Academy and Stoa about the criterion of truth. In this confrontation, the Stoic show an unquestionable criterion of truth, while the Academic emphasize impossibility of men to reach truth. As a result, in Contra Academicos Augustin attempts to refute the Academic arguments that had discouraged him from finding truth. He does it in order to reveal the theoretical frailty of those arguments and show that truth can be achieved by men. This truth is Christ, identified by God s wisdom and power. Therefore, Augustine s quest for truth consists in an effort to meet God and thus achieve happiness / Na obra Contra Academicos, de Agostinho de Hipona (354-430), a discussão sobre a verdade norteia-se por uma questão fundamental: Pode um homem alcançar sabedoria e felicidade enquanto ele procura a verdade ou somente quando ele a encontra? Em torno dessa questão, confrontam-se os interlocutores, nesse diálogo. Compreender o critério de verdade apresentado na obra Contra Academicos e contextualizar/analisar algumas fontes filosóficas que exerceram influência na evolução intelectual de Agostinho constituiu o objetivo desta dissertação, o que exigiu uma análise minuciosa da obra. O tema da discussão no Contra Academicos é um problema relevante até os dias de hoje, merecendo esse tema um debate sério acerca de suas questões. Buscar a verdade não é uma tarefa banal ou supérflua, mas necessária e fundamental. As discussões apresentadas nessa obra colocam em pauta a via filosófica na qual Agostinho se direciona, a partir de um encontro consigo mesmo, em busca da verdade que habita no interior do homem. Nessa busca, Agostinho realiza um percurso que não poderia ser explicado logicamente, mas que diz respeito ao seu projeto soteriológico, o qual o impulsiona a passar pelo maniqueísmo, pelo ceticismo, pelo neoplatonismo, até chegar, enfim, ao Cristianismo. Ao passar pelo ceticismo, ele entra em contato, principalmente, com o ceticismo acadêmico, fruto do embate acerca do critério de verdade entre duas escolas helenísticas, a saber: Academia e Estoá. Nesse embate, os Estoicos apresentam um critério indubitável de verdade, e os Acadêmicos, por sua vez, enfatizam a impossibilidade de o homem chegar à verdade. Resulta, então, que, em sua obra Contra Academicos, Agostinho procura refutar os argumentos acadêmicos, que o mantiveram na desesperança de encontrar a verdade. E ele faz isso com o intuito de revelar as debilidades teóricas daqueles argumentos e de mostrar que a verdade pode ser alcançada pelo homem. Essa verdade é Cristo, identificado com a Sabedoria e o Poder de Deus. A busca de Agostinho pela verdade consiste, pois, num esforço de conhecer a Deus e, assim, ser possível chegar à felicidade

The topic of the final thesis is the evaluation of publicly available electronic information and information from paid sources of information. The evaluation of information sources is focused on obtaining data for financial analysis that is performed in the process of business valuation. The thesis is divided into two main parts -- The theoretical one and the practical one. The first three chapters pay particular attention to the thesis that is dedicated to the valuation process, legislation and subjects that can make the valuation. The practical part contains two methodologies that are based on decision analysis. Each method consists of testing criteria. To apply the methodology three travel agencies and three paid information sources were chosen.

In recent years, meta-analytic reviews have estimated validities for the use of personality scales in the prediction of job performance from an array of empirical studies. A variety of personality measures were used in the original studies, and procedures and decisions concerning the categorization of these measures into Big Five personality factors have differed among reviewers. An underlying assumption of meta-analysis is that the predictors across included studies are essentially the same, as is the criterion. If this is not the case, then problems arise for both theoretical reasons and practical applications. If predictors that are not highly correlated are combined in a meta-analysis, then the theoretical understanding of antecedents and consequents of the predictors will be clouded. Further, combining predictors that are not essentially the same may obscure different relations between predictors and criteria, that is, test may operate as a moderator. To meet the assumption of similarity, systematic methods of categorizing personality scales are advised. Two indicators of scale commensurability are proposed: 1) high correlations among predictor scales and 2) similar patterns of correlations between predictor scales and job-related criteria. In the current study, the similarity of the most commonly used personality scales in organizational contexts was assessed based on these two indicators. First, meta-analyses of correlations between scales were conducted. Second, subgroup meta-analyses of criterion-related validity were examined, with specific personality scale and criterion as moderators. Correlations between criterion-related validity and certain sample characteristics were also conducted to determine if sample characteristics act as moderators of validity. Additionally, an examination of personality scale reliabilities was conducted. Results reveal that assumptions of similarity among personality measures may not be entirely met. Whereas meta-analyzed reliability and criterion-related validity coefficients seldom differed greatly, scales of the "same" construct were only moderately correlated in many cases. Although these results suggest that previous meta-analytic results concerning reliability and criterion-related validity are generalizable across tests, questions remain about the similarity of personality construct conceptualization and operationalization. Further research into comprehensive measurement of the predictor space is suggested.

Crystallographic image processing (CIP) is a technique first used to aid in the structure determination of periodic organic complexes imaged with a high-resolution transmission electron microscope (TEM). The technique has subsequently been utilized for TEM images of inorganic crystals, scanning TEM images, and even scanning probe microscope (SPM) images of two-dimensional periodic arrays. We have written software specialized for use on such SPM images. A key step in the CIP process requires that an experimental image be classified as one of only 17 possible mathematical plane symmetry groups. The current methods used for making this symmetry determination are not entirely objective, and there is no generally accepted method for measuring or quantifying deviations from ideal symmetry. Here, we discuss the crystallographic symmetries present in real images and the general techniques of CIP, with emphasis on the current methods for symmetry determination in an experimental 2D periodic image. The geometric Akaike information criterion (AIC) is introduced as a viable statistical criterion for both quantifying deviations from ideal symmetry and determining which 2D Bravais lattice best fits the experimental data from an image being processed with CIP. By objectively determining the statistically favored 2D Bravais lattice, the determination of plane symmetry in the CIP procedure can be greatly improved. As examples, we examine scanning tunneling microscope images of 2D molecular arrays of the following compounds: cobalt phthalocyanine on Au (111) substrate; nominal cobalt phthalocyanine on Ag (111); tetraphenoxyphthalocyanine on highly oriented pyrolitic graphite; hexaazatriphenylene-hexacarbonitrile on Ag (111). We show that the geometric AIC procedure can unambiguously determine which 2D Bravais lattice fits the experimental data for a variety of different lattice types. In some cases, the geometric AIC procedure can be used to determine which plane symmetry group best fits the experimental data, when traditional CIP methods fail to do so.

Corporate Social Responsibility has grown in importance of the present society and therefore becomes a meaningful operation for companies today. Since the society is structured by consumers, companies have been forced to adapt this concept in their work, by the reason of keeping and gaining the consumers. For companies to be able to do so, they have to understand their customers and be aware of the different consumers purchase intention. These intention have shown to differ in regard of different industries, which is why this study have chosen to focus on the food industry, where the criticisms for the CSR initiatives are high. Consequently, the purpose of the study is to describe how consumers’ in the food industry perceive CSR and to explore how the perceived CSR affects their purchasing intention. Two research questions were made and to be able to answer these, relevant theories was established. The research was conducted using a quantitative study and a descriptive approach to analyze the collected data. The collection of data was made through nine interviews, divided into three involvement level for the reason of including all kinds of consumers. The results found that the general brand appearance is reflected in the companies’ products and therefore made their purchase based on this. The consumers perceived it hard to gain credible knowledge of companies CSR which leads them to make their purchase based on responsible certified labelling or recognition of the products instead. The consumers have a higher credibility for the negative information about companies. They therefore acts with CSR as a purchase criterion of this as they exclude products from this kind of companies. The consumer did however not act with CSR as a purchase criterion if the price was too high, as this was of a greater importance than CSR for the consumers. Because of the low information level and the low credibility, the consumers rather makes their decision based on what they perceive as less irresponsible instead of what they perceive as responsible. Keywords: CSR, Corporate Social Responsibility, Consumer perception, Consumer awareness, Consumer values, Consumer attitudes, CSR purchase criterion

No description available.

<p>The purpose of this research is to survey and describe some science teachers’ conceptions of which assessment criteria they use at the marking process. Questions which are relevant for this research are the following: </p><p>1. Which assessment methods form the basis for science teachers’ marking process? </p><p>2. Which knowledge qualities are assessed and marked by science teachers? </p><p>3. How do science teachers use national curriculum and marking criterions?</p><p>Five qualitative interviews of science teachers were performed. The interview material was analyzed by a phenomenographical analysis method. </p><p>The result from the first problem consists of the descriptive categories: <i>Science methodology</i> and <i>Oral and written use of language</i>. </p><p>The result from the second problem consists of the descriptive categories: T<i>he students´ ability to use science knowledge in different contexts</i>, <i>The students´ ability to use science vocabulary</i>, <i>The students´ ability to develop science knowledge</i>, and <i>The students´ behavior</i>. </p><p>The result from the third problem consists of the descriptive categories: As a support in the marking process, <i>As a material for discussion</i>, and <i>As a way to communicate objects to students</i>.</p> / <p>Undersökningens syfte är att kartlägga och beskriva några NO-lärares uppfattningar om vilka bedömningskriterier de använder vid betygssättning. Frågor som är relevanta för den här undersökningen är följande: </p><p>1. Vilka bedömningsformer utgör underlag för NO-lärares betygssättning?</p><p>2. Vilka kunskapskvaliteter bedömer och betygssätter NO-lärare? </p><p>3. Hur använder NO-lärare nationella kursplaner och betygskriterier?</p><p>Fem kvalitativa intervjuer genomfördes med NO-lärare. Intervjumaterialet analyserades med en fenomenografisk analysmetod. </p><p>Resultatet av den första frågeställningen består av beskrivningskategorierna: <i>Det naturvetenskapliga arbetssättet </i>och <i>Muntlig och skriftlig språkanvändning</i>. </p><p>Resultatet av den andra frågeställningen består av beskrivningskategorierna: <i>Elevens förmåga att använda den naturvetenskapliga kunskapen i olika sammanhang</i>, <i>Elevens förmåga att använda det naturvetenskapliga språket,</i> <i>Elevens förmåga att utveckla sin naturvetenskapliga kunskap</i> och <i>Elevens beteende</i>. </p><p>Resultatet i den tredje frågeställningen består av beskrivningskategorierna: Som ett stöd för betygssättningen, Som ett diskussionsunderlag och <i>Som ett sätt att förmedla målen till eleverna</i>. </p>

<p>Syfte: Undersöka den kriterierelaterade validiteten, mellanbedömarreliabiliteten och användarvänligheten för MEONF, ett screeninginstrument för bedömning av risk för undernäring. Metoder: Hundra patienter inkluderades och nutritionsstatus bedömdes med Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) som här anses vara golden standard samt screenades med Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) och Minimal Eating Observation and Nutrition Form (MEONF). Resultat: Sjuksköterskorna ansåg MEONFs instruktioner och frågor lätta att förstå, svara på (100 %) samt att frågorna var angelägna (98 %). Instrumentet hade acceptabel sensitivitet (0.83) och specificitet (0.78) jämfört med MNA. Sensitiviteten var högre än den som fanns mellan MUST och MNA (0.57). När BMI ersattes med vadomkrets erhölls likvärdiga resultat (sensibilitet 0.83 specificitet 0.79) för MEONF i förhållande till MNA. Mellanbedömarreliabiliteten var hög (kappa 0.81). Sammanfattning: MEONF har bra validitet jämfört med MNA, med hög mellanbedömarreliabilitet. När BMI ersattes med vadomkrets bibehölls precisionen vilket är viktigt när vikt och längd är svåra att erhålla. Hög sensitivitet är angeläget vid screening för undernäring och i det avseendet fungerar MEONF bättre än MUST. En fundamental vinst med MEONF är att instrumentets kriterier upplevs som meningsfulla, för att vissa svårigheter kan avhjälpas med omvårdnadsåtgärder.</p><p>Syfte: Undersöka den kriterierelaterade validiteten, mellanbedömarreliabiliteten och användarvänligheten för MEONF, ett screeninginstrument för bedömning av risk för undernäring.</p><p>Metoder: Hundra patienter inkluderades och nutritionsstatus bedömdes med Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) som här anses vara <em>golden standard</em> samt screenades med Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) och Minimal Eating Observation and Nutrition Form (MEONF).</p><p>Resultat: Sjuksköterskorna ansåg MEONFs instruktioner och frågor lätta att förstå, svara på (100 %) samt att frågorna var angelägna (98 %). Instrumentet hade acceptabel sensitivitet (0.83) och specificitet (0.78) jämfört med MNA. Sensitiviteten var högre än den som fanns mellan MUST och MNA (0.57). När BMI ersattes med vadomkrets erhölls likvärdiga resultat (sensibilitet 0.83 specificitet 0.79) för MEONF i förhållande till MNA. Mellanbedömarreliabiliteten var hög (kappa 0.81).</p><p>Sammanfattning: MEONF har bra validitet jämfört med MNA, med hög mellanbedömarreliabilitet. När BMI ersattes med vadomkrets bibehölls precisionen vilket är viktigt när vikt och längd är svåra att erhålla. Hög sensitivitet är angeläget vid screening för undernäring och i det avseendet fungerar MEONF bättre än MUST. En fundamental vinst med MEONF är att instrumentets kriterier upplevs som meningsfulla, för att vissa svårigheter kan avhjälpas med omvårdnadsåtgärder.</p> / <p>Rationale: Analyse the criterion related validity, interrater reliability and the usefulness of MEONF, an instrument for undernutrition risk screening. Methods: 100 patients were included and assessed with Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) regarded as golden standard and screened with Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) as well as Minimal Eating Observation and Nutrition Form (MEONF). Results: Nurses regarded MEONF instructions and questions easy to understand, easy to answer (100%) and questions as being important (98%). It had acceptable sensitivity (0.83) and specificity (0.78) in relation to MNA. Sensitivity was higher than found between MUST and MNA (0.57). Replacing BMI with Calf Circumference (CC) gave equivalent results (sensibility 0.83, specificity 0.79) in relation to MNA. Interrater reliability was high (kappa 0.81). Conclusions: MEONF has good validity in relation to MNA and high interrater reliability. If replacing BMI with CC the precision is maintained, which is important in cases were weight or height is difficult to obtain. Having high sensitivity is a major concern for nutritional screening instruments and in that respect MEONF works better than MUST. One fundamental gain with MEONF is that the instruments criteria are experienced as clinically meaningful, in that some observed difficulties can be managed by nursing interventions.</p>