Respond bias has always been a risk when it comes to interpreting personality data. For this reason two social desirability measures were created to combat this problem during research and workplace application. The first of these measures is the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale created to measure a need for approval. The second of these measures is Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding, which stems from a theory that describes social desirability as both a deception towards others and towards the self. For either of these measures to be usable, however, they need to be reliable and valid. This study then is intended to validate these two instruments in a diverse South African population sample and to look at the reliability of the items in these instruments and their factor structure. The objective of this study was to investigate both of these measures and to determine their psychometric properties and how they compare to the theory in literature. A convenient and purposive sample of N = 359 individuals from across South Africa was contacted via electronic means and asked to partake in this study. A questionnaire survey was forwarded to them with the intention of measuring social desirability. This included both the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSDS) and Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding (BIDR) measure. In addition a demographical questionnaire was included (gender, race, language group and age). The statistical analysis was done via the SPSS program during data examination: descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis (with Maximum Likelihood as extraction method), Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, and product-moment correlations were conducted. The results of this analysis indicated that although these measures are widely accepted and used internationally, the full version of both the measures is not valid and reliable within this South African sample. Although not all items from the scales could be validated, there were items that indicated very acceptable psychometric properties. Various recommendations were made for the context of using these measures to ascertain an individual’s response bias and for future research. A person attempting to use these measures should only focus on using the reliable items from this study. These items could be applied in developing a shortened version of these measures. It is recommended that further research into these measures could be done by using a traditional paper-and pencil format, a larger sample or by focusing on a specific population group within South Africa. / MCom (Industrial Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Respond bias has always been a risk when it comes to interpreting personality data. For this reason two social desirability measures were created to combat this problem during research and workplace application. The first of these measures is the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale created to measure a need for approval. The second of these measures is Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding, which stems from a theory that describes social desirability as both a deception towards others and towards the self. For either of these measures to be usable, however, they need to be reliable and valid. This study then is intended to validate these two instruments in a diverse South African population sample and to look at the reliability of the items in these instruments and their factor structure. The objective of this study was to investigate both of these measures and to determine their psychometric properties and how they compare to the theory in literature. A convenient and purposive sample of N = 359 individuals from across South Africa was contacted via electronic means and asked to partake in this study. A questionnaire survey was forwarded to them with the intention of measuring social desirability. This included both the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSDS) and Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding (BIDR) measure. In addition a demographical questionnaire was included (gender, race, language group and age). The statistical analysis was done via the SPSS program during data examination: descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis (with Maximum Likelihood as extraction method), Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, and product-moment correlations were conducted. The results of this analysis indicated that although these measures are widely accepted and used internationally, the full version of both the measures is not valid and reliable within this South African sample. Although not all items from the scales could be validated, there were items that indicated very acceptable psychometric properties. Various recommendations were made for the context of using these measures to ascertain an individual’s response bias and for future research. A person attempting to use these measures should only focus on using the reliable items from this study. These items could be applied in developing a shortened version of these measures. It is recommended that further research into these measures could be done by using a traditional paper-and pencil format, a larger sample or by focusing on a specific population group within South Africa. / MCom (Industrial Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Skönmålning i personlighetstest, vilka ofta används som urvalsmetod vid rekrytering är ett stort problem. Skönmålade svar och orealistiska resultat kan leda till felaktiga beslut och misslyckade rekryteringar. Detta examensarbete var skrivet inom ramen för ett forskningsprojekt "Studier avseende ett nytt svenskt arbetspsykologiskt test Understanding Personal Potential (UPP)". UPP-testets konstruktör hävdar att testet reducerar över 90% av effekten av skönmålning (Sjöberg, 2015). Syftet med den föreliggande studien var att undersöka om UPP-testet kan genomskåda skönmålning. Studien hade en experimentell design och genomfördes 2011-2012. Av 60 personer som rekryterades till studien genomförde 48 UPP-testet vid två tillfällen; majoriteten var studenter i kursen Human Factors ur ett individperspektiv vid Högskolan Väst. Vid första testtillfället uppmanades deltagarna att svara ärligt på testets frågor. Vid andra testtillfället var uppgiften att försöka framställa sig själva så bra som möjligt för att kunna få sitt drömjobb. Ett beroende t-test användes för att mäta medelvärdesskillnader i samtliga skalor mellan dessa två tillfällen. Resultatet visade att UPP-testet inte klarade av att korrigera skönmålning på ett effektivt sätt. I 15 av 24 skalor hade medelvärdesskillnader mellan poängvärdena från det första och det andra tillfället en stor eller måttlig effekt d. Resultaten är svåra att diskutera i förhållande till tidigare forskning, eftersom tidigare studier om UPP-testet inte har genomgått en kollegial granskning (eng. peer review) och ofta är svårtolkade. Resultaten diskuteras i relation till tidigare forskning om alternativa sätt att "komma åt" skönmålningsproblemet. / Social desirability in personality tests which are often used as the selection method for recruitment is a big problem. Faked responses and unrealistic results can lead to wrong decisions and unsuccessful recruitment. This thesis was written in the context of a research project "Studies on a new Swedish labor psychological test Understanding Human Potential (UPP)". The author of the UPP test claims that the test reduces over 90% of the effect of social desirability (Sjöberg, 2015). The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether the UPP test can detect social desirability. The study had an experimental design and was conducted in 2011-2012. Out of the 60 people who were recruited to the study, 48 took the UPP test on two occasions; the majority were students in the course Human Factors from an individual perspective at University West. At the first test session the participants were asked to honestly answer the test questions. At the second test session they were asked to try to portray themselves as good as possible in order to get their dream job. A paired samples t-test was used to measure the mean difference in all scales between these two occasions. The results showed that the UPP test was not able to correct for social desirability effectively. In 15 of the 24 scales the mean difference between the scores from the first and the second rounds had a large or moderate effect (d). The results are difficult to discuss in relation to previous research because previous studies on the UPP test are not peer reviewed and are often difficult to interpret. The results are discussed in relation to previous research on alternative ways to "get at" the problem of social desirability.

A planta brasileira Copaifera sp. é uma árvore cujo óleo é tradicionalmente utilizado pela população principalmente como antiinflamatório, analgésico e relaxante muscular justificando o grande interesse científico em seu estudo. Entretanto, estudos tecnológicos, fitoquímicos e biológicos sobre suas folhas são escassos. Assim, este trabalho propôs estudar e otimizar o processo extrativo a partir das folhas de Copaifera langsdorffii Desf., além de determinar as melhores condições de secagem em spray dryer, já que formas farmacêuticas sólidas são mais interessantes do ponto de vista mercadológico e farmacotécnico e ambas as estapas são fundamentais para o desenvolvimento de um futuro medicamento fitoterápico. As condições ótimas de extração e secagem em spray dryer foram obtidas através de diversos planejamentos experimentais como o planejamento Box-Behnken, a inclinação ascendente e a função desejabilidade. Para obtenção do extrato líquido através do processo de maceração dinâmica, objetivou-se maximizar as seguintes respostas: teor de sólidos solúveis e flavonóides totais e dos marcadores químicos, quercetrina e afzelina. As condições ótimas de extração encontradas foram: massa de planta de 41 g, proporção etanol/ água de 79°GL, tempo de extração de 1 h, temperatura de extração de 25°C e velocidade de agitação de 600 rpm. No estudo do processo de secagem em spray dryer, foi realizado inicialmente um teste preliminar onde oito diferentes excipientes disponíveis foram estudados quanto às caracterísitcas físico-químicas entre elas fluidez, compactação e degradação dos marcadores químicos. As condições do equipamento foram: bico atomizador duplo fluido pneumático com orifício de abertura de 1,2 mm que operou com vazão de ar de 40 L/min e pressão de 5,0 bar; vazão do gás de secagem de 0,6 m3/min; temperatura de saída (Ts) de 80°C e fluxo da amostra (Ws) de 5,0 g/min. A proporção sólidos do extrato líquido de C. langsdoffii: excipiente foi de 3:1. Entre os excipientes estudados, o manitol foi o que forneceu o extrato seco de C. langsdorffii com melhores características físicas e físico-químicas e, por isso foi utilizado no estudo seguinte, o planejamento Box-Behnken cujas variáveis estudadas foram concentração da amostra (Cs), fluxo da amostra (Ws) e temperatura de saída (Ts). Foram avaliadas nove respostas das quais: densidade compactada, ângulo de repouso, índice de Carr, umidade absorvida, rendimento, eficiência de secagem, degradação de flavonóides totais, quercetrina e afzelina. Para obter a condição de secagem em que as nove respostas apresentassem valores satisfatórios, utilizou-se a função desejabilidade. Assim, as condições de secagem para se obter o extrato seco de C. langsdorffii com boas características foram: concentração da amostra de 20,7% m/m, fluxo da amostra de 5 g/min e temperatura de saída de 80°C. Como resultado final deste trabalho, obteve-se um extrato líquido de C. langsdorffii otimizado com teores máximos de sólidos solúveis e dos marcadores químicos e um extrato seco com propriedades físicas, físico-químicas e farmacotécnicas adequadas para a obtenção de formas farmacêuticas sólidas. / The Brazilian plant Copaifera sp. is a tree the oil of which is widely used in popular medicine as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic and muscle relaxant, consequently it is the subject of huge scientific interest. However, technological, phytochemical and biological studies regarding its leaves are rare. Thus, this work aimed to study and optimize the extraction process from Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. leaves, as well as to determine the best conditions for the spray drying process, since pharmaceutical solid forms are more marketable and of pharmacotechnical interests, with both steps being fundamental to the development of a future phytomedicine. The best extraction and spray drying conditions were guided by several experimental designs such as the Box-Behnken, the steepest ascent and the desirability function. From liquid extract achievement through dynamic maceration, the purpose was to maximize the following responses: soluble solids and total flavonoids contents and the chemical markers, quercetrin and afzelin contents. The best extraction conditions found were: plant mass of 41 g, ethanol/water proportion of 79°GL, extraction time of 1 h, extraction temperature of 25°C and stirring speed of 600 rpm. In the spray drying study, a preliminary test was accomplished, where eight different excipients were studied with regard to the physicochemical features such as flowability, compaction and chemical marker degradation. The equipment conditions were: a two-fluid pneumatic spray nozzle with an inlet orifice diameter of 1.2 mm that operated on 40 L/min air rate and 5 bar pressure; 0.6 m3/min drying air rate; 80°C outlet temperature (Ts) and 5.0 g/min sample feed rate (Ws). The proportion of C. langsdorffii liquid extract solids content: excipient was 3:1. Among the excipients studied, mannitol provided the best physicochemical feature for C. langsdorffii dried extract, therefore it was used in the following test, the Box-Behnken design, where the studied variables were sample concentration (Cs), sample feed rate (Ws) and outlet temperature (Ts). Nine responses were evaluated: tapped density, angle of repose, Carr index, humidity absorption, yield, drying efficiency, total flavonoids and quercetrin and afzelin degradation. To obtain the drying conditions where the nine responses presented satisfactory values, the desirability function was used. Thus, the drying conditions to obtain a dried extract with good physicochemical features were: sample concentration of 20.7% w/w, sample feed rate of 5.0 g/min and outlet temperature of 80°C. As a final result of this work, an optimized C. langsdorffii liquid extract presenting maximum soluble solids and chemical markers contents and a dried extract presenting the appropriate physical, physicochemical and pharmacotechnical properties to produce pharmaceutical solid forms were obtained.

No description available.

<p>Empati har länge ansetts vara en god egenskap hos en medmänniska. Det definierats enligt Davis, som individers affektiva och fysiologiska reaktioner avseende någon annans fysiska och psykiska tillstånd. Tidigare forskning har visat att det finns skillnader avseende empati hos individer beroende på olika faktorer. Huvudsyftet med studien var att se om kön, ålder, arbetsplats, antal år inom yrket samt föräldraskap påverkade kriminalvårdares empati. Deltagarna var kriminalvårdare (<em>N</em> = 90) som arbetade på en anstalt och ett häkte. Mätinstrumenten som användes var the Interpersonal Reactivity Index och Social Desirability Scale. Resultaten som erhölls visade att variablerna inte hade någon signifikant påverkan på kriminalvårdares empati. Detta tyder på att kriminalvårdare behåller distansen till klienterna. Det bör förtydligas att kriminalvårdarna inte saknade empati.</p>

<p>This study focuses on undergraduates in Shanghai and aims to generate some practical implications on how to improve the entrepreneurial environment by enhancing undergraduates’ entrepreneurial intentions. The authors initiated an analytical model with support from the GEM conceptual model and Krueger’s intention model (2000) to carry on an investigation among local undergraduates. The data reflects an actuality of undergraduates’ entrepreneurial intention. On the other hand, by the correlation analysis, undergraduates’ preferences upon different aspects of entrepreneurial environment are filtered out. Finally, practical implications are given through two aspects. One is divisions of respondents by their different grades of entrepreneurial intentions; the preferences from the higher intentioned group will firstly be suggested to improve. The other one is based on the comparison between undergraduates’ valuation and experts’ measurement on the entrepreneurial environment.</p><p>In conclusion, the study reflects that the analytical model is applicable to undergraduates in Shanghai. To enhance undergraduates’ entrepreneurial intention, it is highly recommended by the authors to improve entrepreneurial environment through more attention to the feasibility of technology transfer, sufficient government programs for new firms, the effectiveness of technological region, and government projects.</p>

This study focuses on undergraduates in Shanghai and aims to generate some practical implications on how to improve the entrepreneurial environment by enhancing undergraduates’ entrepreneurial intentions. The authors initiated an analytical model with support from the GEM conceptual model and Krueger’s intention model (2000) to carry on an investigation among local undergraduates. The data reflects an actuality of undergraduates’ entrepreneurial intention. On the other hand, by the correlation analysis, undergraduates’ preferences upon different aspects of entrepreneurial environment are filtered out. Finally, practical implications are given through two aspects. One is divisions of respondents by their different grades of entrepreneurial intentions; the preferences from the higher intentioned group will firstly be suggested to improve. The other one is based on the comparison between undergraduates’ valuation and experts’ measurement on the entrepreneurial environment. In conclusion, the study reflects that the analytical model is applicable to undergraduates in Shanghai. To enhance undergraduates’ entrepreneurial intention, it is highly recommended by the authors to improve entrepreneurial environment through more attention to the feasibility of technology transfer, sufficient government programs for new firms, the effectiveness of technological region, and government projects.

Poor seed coat colour desirability in green lentil (<i>Lens culinaris</i>) costs lentil producers millions of dollars each year. The monetary value that Canadian lentil producers receive for their crop is based on the visual characteristics of the seed coat, mainly the colour. Higher value is given for samples described to have more desirable green seed coat colour. A breeding line, 1294M-23, has been noticed to consistently produce more desirable green lentil samples.<p>A cross was made between 1294M-23 and a less desirable breeding line 1048-8R with the goal of studying the heritability of green seed coat desirability measured by the Acurum® machine. The resulting progeny were taken to F7 by single seed descent. In 2005 and 2006 the recombinant inbred lines (RILs) were seeded in a randomized complete block design at three sites in the current main lentil growing region of Saskatchewan. To measure the seed coat colour of the samples, the Acurum® machine, which is a colour analyzing machine developed for grain crops, was used to consistently compare the samples. The study illustrated that the trait has large environmental effects and is quantitative with a high broad sense heritability of 0.82, using this specific cross and environments. Transgressive segregation occurred for RILs that had more desirable green seed coats and lower index scores than the desirable parent, 1294M-23. A tester that included all registered green lentil cultivars set was grown with the RILs in all environments. The seed coat colour index scores of the tester set fit into a small section of the range of index scores. They all had relatively high mean index scores, meaning less desirable, showing little genetic variation for the trait in current Canadian green lentil cultivars. <p>Chlorophyll was extracted from seed coats of some of the RILs. The amount of total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a, and chlorophyll b was compared to the Acurum® scores using regression analysis. The study found that there was significant relationship between chlorophyll a and b content and the index score, explaining 32 and 37 percent of the variation, respectively. <p>Another portion of the study was to determine if preharvest treatment of the green lentil crop has an effect on the green seed coat colour of the sample. A set of genotypes consisting of all registered green seed coat cultivars was grown at two locations in Saskatchewan in both 2005 and 2006. Prior to harvest a plot of each genotype was swathed, and a second plot was desiccated with diquat. After harvest the samples were analyzed for green seed coat colour using the Acurum® machine. In general, across most genotypes, sites, and years, swathing produced a significantly more desirable green lentil sample. The desirable green parent from the RILs, 1294M-23 produced the most desirable green lentil sample in this study. When the maturity rating was correlated to the Acurum® score a significant positive relationship was found in 2005 but not in 2006. This showed that lines with later maturity could be associated with more desirable green seed coat colour in some environments. Thus caution must be taken when selecting for more desirable phenotypes that genetic gains are being made rather than indirect selection for longer maturity.

Poor seed coat colour desirability in green lentil (<i>Lens culinaris</i>) costs lentil producers millions of dollars each year. The monetary value that Canadian lentil producers receive for their crop is based on the visual characteristics of the seed coat, mainly the colour. Higher value is given for samples described to have more desirable green seed coat colour. A breeding line, 1294M-23, has been noticed to consistently produce more desirable green lentil samples.<p>A cross was made between 1294M-23 and a less desirable breeding line 1048-8R with the goal of studying the heritability of green seed coat desirability measured by the Acurum® machine. The resulting progeny were taken to F7 by single seed descent. In 2005 and 2006 the recombinant inbred lines (RILs) were seeded in a randomized complete block design at three sites in the current main lentil growing region of Saskatchewan. To measure the seed coat colour of the samples, the Acurum® machine, which is a colour analyzing machine developed for grain crops, was used to consistently compare the samples. The study illustrated that the trait has large environmental effects and is quantitative with a high broad sense heritability of 0.82, using this specific cross and environments. Transgressive segregation occurred for RILs that had more desirable green seed coats and lower index scores than the desirable parent, 1294M-23. A tester that included all registered green lentil cultivars set was grown with the RILs in all environments. The seed coat colour index scores of the tester set fit into a small section of the range of index scores. They all had relatively high mean index scores, meaning less desirable, showing little genetic variation for the trait in current Canadian green lentil cultivars. <p>Chlorophyll was extracted from seed coats of some of the RILs. The amount of total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a, and chlorophyll b was compared to the Acurum® scores using regression analysis. The study found that there was significant relationship between chlorophyll a and b content and the index score, explaining 32 and 37 percent of the variation, respectively. <p>Another portion of the study was to determine if preharvest treatment of the green lentil crop has an effect on the green seed coat colour of the sample. A set of genotypes consisting of all registered green seed coat cultivars was grown at two locations in Saskatchewan in both 2005 and 2006. Prior to harvest a plot of each genotype was swathed, and a second plot was desiccated with diquat. After harvest the samples were analyzed for green seed coat colour using the Acurum® machine. In general, across most genotypes, sites, and years, swathing produced a significantly more desirable green lentil sample. The desirable green parent from the RILs, 1294M-23 produced the most desirable green lentil sample in this study. When the maturity rating was correlated to the Acurum® score a significant positive relationship was found in 2005 but not in 2006. This showed that lines with later maturity could be associated with more desirable green seed coat colour in some environments. Thus caution must be taken when selecting for more desirable phenotypes that genetic gains are being made rather than indirect selection for longer maturity.