In this dissertation, we first develop new statistical methodologies for small area estimation problems with measurement errors. The prediction of small area means for the unit-level regression model with the functional measurement error in the area-specific covariate is considered. We obtain the James-Stein (JS) estimate of the true area-specific covariate. Consequently, we construct the pseudo Bayes (PB) and pseudo empirical Bayes (PEB) predictors of small area means and estimate the mean squared prediction error (MSPE) associated with each predictor. Secondly, we modify the point estimation of the true area-specific covariate obtained earlier such that the histogram of the predictors of the small area means gets closer to its true one. We propose the constrained Bayes (CB) estimate of the true area-specific covariate. We show the superiority of the CB over the maximum likelihood (ML) estimate in terms of the Bayes risk. We also show the PB predictor of the small area mean based on the CB estimate of the true area-specific covariate dominates its counterpart based on the ML estimate in terms of the Bayes risk. We compare the performance of different predictors of the small area means using measures such as sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and MSPE. We believe that using the PEB and pseudo hierarchical Bayes predictors of small area means based on the constrained empirical Bayes (CEB) and constrained hierarchical Bayes (CHB) offers higher precision in recognizing socio-economic groups which are in danger of the prehypertension. Clustering the small areas to understand the behavior of the random effects better and accordingly, to predict the small area means is the final problem we address. We consider the Fay-Herriot model for this problem. We design a statistical test to evaluate the assumption of the equality of the variance components in different clusters. In the case of rejection of the null hypothesis of the equality of the variance components, we implement a modified version of Tukey's method. We calculate the MSPE to evaluate the effect of the clustering on the precision of predictors of the small area means. We apply our methodologies to real data sets. / February 2017

As técnicas de medição de complexidade funcional são facilmente encontradas na literatura, entretanto, o processo de avaliação dessas técnicas nem sempre são abordados, o que torna contestável sua validade. A técnica análise de pontos de processos de negócio (Business Process Points and Analisys -- BPPA) foi desenvolvida com o objetivo de adaptar a técnica Análise de Pontos de Função, da engenharia de software, a fim de ser aplicada no contexto de gestão de processos de negócio. A BPPA foi proposta para que gerentes de projetos possam estimar sistematicamente a complexidade funcional de um projeto de automação de processos de negócio, todavia, a técnica BPPA não foi submetida a um processo de avaliação consistente, capaz de apresentar seus benefícios e suas limitações. A avaliação da técnica BPPA é o objeto de estudo desta dissertação, que visa avaliar consistentemente sua capacidade de acurácia e reprodutibilidade, identificando suas limitações. Assim, esta dissertação apresenta a execução de um quase-experimento que objetivou avaliar a técnica BPPA em relação a sua capacidade de ser reprodutível e acurável. O quase-experimento foi realizado por 58 alunos de graduação e pós-graduação, selecionados por conveniência, que mensuraram a complexidade funcional de três modelos de processo de negócio, com o auxílio de materiais de apoio, após terem sido submetidos a um treinamento sobre as etapas de estimativa funcional da técnica BPPA. Os resultados obtidos com esse experimento apresentaram um baixa índice de acurácia e reprodutibilidade da técnica BPPA. Entrevistas semiestruturadas foram conduzidas com alguns dos sujeitos participantes do processo experimental, a fim de identificar as potenciais limitações do quase-experimento a que foram submetidos. As entrevistas foram conduzidas por meio de perguntas predefinidas com objetivo de extrair a percepção dos sujeitos em relação à técnica BPPA, ao processo experimental, ao relatório técnico, ao material de apoio, ao treinamento da estimativa da complexidade funcional dos pontos de processos de negócio e aos outros elementos observados pelos participantes. As entrevistas permitiram entender que os sujeitos identificaram pontos de falhas potenciais no processo como um todo, principalmente em relação a qualidade do relatório técnico, que descreve a técnica e as regras de sua aplicação / Functional size measurement techniques are easily found in the literature, however, the evaluation process of these techniques are not always approached which makes its validity questionable. The Business Process Points and Analyzes (BPPA) technique was developed with the objective of adapting the Functional Points Analysis (FPA) technique of software engineering, in order to be applied in the context of business process management. BPPA was proposed so that project managers can systematically estimate the functional size of a business process automation project, however, the technique was not submitted to a consistent evaluation process, capable of presenting its benefits and limitations. The evaluation of the BPPA technique is the object of study of this dissertation that aims to consistently evaluate its capacity for accuracy and reproducibility, identifying its limitations. Thus, this dissertation presents the execution of a quasi-experiment aimed to evaluate the technique in relation to its ability to be accurate and reproducible. The quasi-experiment was performed by 58 graduate and postgraduate students, selected by convenience, who measured the functional complexity of three business process models, with support materials aid, after having undergone training on the stages of functional estimation of the technique. The results obtained with this experiment presented the low accuracy and reproducibility of the BPPA technique. Semistructured interviews were conducted with some of the participating in the experimental process in order to identify the potential limitations of the quasi-experiment to which they were submitted. The interviews were conducted by means of pre-defined questions with the objective of extracting the participants perception regarding the technique, the experimental process, the technical report, the support material, the training of estimating the functional size and other elements observed by participants. The interviews allowed us to understand that the participant subjects identified potential failure points in the process as a whole, mainly in relation to the quality of the technical report of the BPPA technique, which describes the technique and the rules of its application

As técnicas de medição de complexidade funcional são facilmente encontradas na literatura, entretanto, o processo de avaliação dessas técnicas nem sempre são abordados, o que torna contestável sua validade. A técnica análise de pontos de processos de negócio (Business Process Points and Analisys -- BPPA) foi desenvolvida com o objetivo de adaptar a técnica Análise de Pontos de Função, da engenharia de software, a fim de ser aplicada no contexto de gestão de processos de negócio. A BPPA foi proposta para que gerentes de projetos possam estimar sistematicamente a complexidade funcional de um projeto de automação de processos de negócio, todavia, a técnica BPPA não foi submetida a um processo de avaliação consistente, capaz de apresentar seus benefícios e suas limitações. A avaliação da técnica BPPA é o objeto de estudo desta dissertação, que visa avaliar consistentemente sua capacidade de acurácia e reprodutibilidade, identificando suas limitações. Assim, esta dissertação apresenta a execução de um quase-experimento que objetivou avaliar a técnica BPPA em relação a sua capacidade de ser reprodutível e acurável. O quase-experimento foi realizado por 58 alunos de graduação e pós-graduação, selecionados por conveniência, que mensuraram a complexidade funcional de três modelos de processo de negócio, com o auxílio de materiais de apoio, após terem sido submetidos a um treinamento sobre as etapas de estimativa funcional da técnica BPPA. Os resultados obtidos com esse experimento apresentaram um baixa índice de acurácia e reprodutibilidade da técnica BPPA. Entrevistas semiestruturadas foram conduzidas com alguns dos sujeitos participantes do processo experimental, a fim de identificar as potenciais limitações do quase-experimento a que foram submetidos. As entrevistas foram conduzidas por meio de perguntas predefinidas com objetivo de extrair a percepção dos sujeitos em relação à técnica BPPA, ao processo experimental, ao relatório técnico, ao material de apoio, ao treinamento da estimativa da complexidade funcional dos pontos de processos de negócio e aos outros elementos observados pelos participantes. As entrevistas permitiram entender que os sujeitos identificaram pontos de falhas potenciais no processo como um todo, principalmente em relação a qualidade do relatório técnico, que descreve a técnica e as regras de sua aplicação / Functional size measurement techniques are easily found in the literature, however, the evaluation process of these techniques are not always approached which makes its validity questionable. The Business Process Points and Analyzes (BPPA) technique was developed with the objective of adapting the Functional Points Analysis (FPA) technique of software engineering, in order to be applied in the context of business process management. BPPA was proposed so that project managers can systematically estimate the functional size of a business process automation project, however, the technique was not submitted to a consistent evaluation process, capable of presenting its benefits and limitations. The evaluation of the BPPA technique is the object of study of this dissertation that aims to consistently evaluate its capacity for accuracy and reproducibility, identifying its limitations. Thus, this dissertation presents the execution of a quasi-experiment aimed to evaluate the technique in relation to its ability to be accurate and reproducible. The quasi-experiment was performed by 58 graduate and postgraduate students, selected by convenience, who measured the functional complexity of three business process models, with support materials aid, after having undergone training on the stages of functional estimation of the technique. The results obtained with this experiment presented the low accuracy and reproducibility of the BPPA technique. Semistructured interviews were conducted with some of the participating in the experimental process in order to identify the potential limitations of the quasi-experiment to which they were submitted. The interviews were conducted by means of pre-defined questions with the objective of extracting the participants perception regarding the technique, the experimental process, the technical report, the support material, the training of estimating the functional size and other elements observed by participants. The interviews allowed us to understand that the participant subjects identified potential failure points in the process as a whole, mainly in relation to the quality of the technical report of the BPPA technique, which describes the technique and the rules of its application

It often appears some cognitive conflicts among the citizens¡¦ when evaluating the policy outcomes performance about Dengue fever prevention, since existed some characteristics in the input and outcome dimension, it include multi-involvers, multi-goals, multi-values and subjective judgement(Wang Ming-Shen and Chen Cheng-Liaou, 2004: 11). We taked the unfairness measurement approach of the Information Integration Theory (IIT) to explore the policy outcome performance about Dengue fever prevention. In this way, we constructed an algebraic model, namely ¡§Dengue Fever Basic Unfairness Measurement Model,¡¨ with accrute empirical test and validity criteria. According to the way of the factorial graph patterns and statistical interaction test of the model, we may analyze and collect these multiple information of policy outcomes(Farkas, 1991: 61 ; Anderson, 1996: 33). We obtained some important findings, include: 1.The citizen integrated the information of Dengue fever prevention outcomes by ¡¥averging¡¦ model, the experimental data support the mode and it had important policy implications. 2.The effort(implicit factor) of the governer¡¦s devoted to prevention tasks was more than the budget expendures(explicit factor) was the most important factor of outcome performance evaluation, and this had important cognitive implication. 3.According to the differences of the information qulity from the Dengue fever prevention, there was an interpersonal salience about the evaluation of the policy outcome performance. 4.It showed that highly corelation between the habitant¡¦s life modes and the prevention outcomes performance, this implied that the implicit social meaning of Dengue fever prevention were interpersonal interaction. 5.The citizen¡¦s perception of the unfairness measurement for the policy outcome performance of Dengue fever prevention were not satisfaction and sensitive to the interpersonal unfairness situation.

Study Design: Cross Sectional Objectives: To develop a functional measurement tool to assess the physical abilities in male gymnasts and to evaluate the test-retest reliability and face validity of that measurement tool. Background: Despite the availability of physical fitness field-tests for many competitive sports, a reliable and valid test to measure the physical abilities (strength, endurance, balance, coordination, agility, and flexibility) of male gymnasts has not been explored or developed. The Men's Gymnastics Functional Measurement Tool (MGFMT) is a set of functional measurements used to objectively measure physical abilities required of male gymnasts. The MGFMT is a field-test designed to improve coaches' abilities to monitor their gymnasts' physical fitness levels and to help identify physical weaknesses that can be improved to create a more all-around physically fit gymnast. Methods: Eighty-three, 7 to 18 year-old competitive male club gymnasts (Level 4-10) were assessed. From these 83 total subjects, a convenience sample of 30 subjects was chosen to participate to establish the test-retest reliability of individual items and performance of the entire tool. These 30 subjects were retested with the MGFMT one week after initial testing. Test conditions and administration were consistent between the 2 administrations of the MGFMT including warm-up and item order. Statistics: Test-retest reliability was analyzed for each of the individual items using Intraclass Correlation Coefficient. Validity was analyzed using linear regression of the athletes' USA-Gymnastics competition level, predicting the component-test raw scores as well as the MGFMT total test score, resulting in a coefficient of determination (r2). Hypotheses: 1) The MGFMT individual items and the MGFMT total composite score demonstrated good test re-test reliability (Intraclass Correlation coefficient (ICC) >0.80). 2) There is a strong relationship between the MGFMT total composite score and the current competitive level of the gymnasts tested (r > 0.80). Results: The mean age of participating subjects was 11.07 years (range 7 - 18) with subjects reporting participation in competitive gymnastics for a mean of 4.36 years. Mean height and weight of the subjects were 37.5 kg and 142.8 cm respectively. Thirteen potential component tests were originally considered for inclusion in the MGFMT. Three component tests were eliminated based on physical ability tested, ease of test application, statistical analysis, and consultation with an informal panel of experts. Several of the relationships between the subjects' current USA Gymnastics competitive level and individual component test item raw scores were statistically significant, however, those relationships ranged from poor to good based on r2 scores (r2 = 0.004-0.64). The relationship between MGFMT composite test score (out of a possible score of 100) and the subjects' current USA Gymnastics competitive level was found to be good (r2 = 0.63). To rule out alternative explanations for the relationship between USA Gymnastics competitive level and MGFMT composite test scores, the relationships between MGFMT composite test scores and age, MGFMT composite test scores and bodyweight and MGFMT total composite scores and total hours training per week were also explored (r2 = 0.30, 0.48, and 0.56, respectively). Reliability testing of the MGFMT composite test score showed excellent test-retest reliability over a one-week period (ICC=0.97). Test-retest reliability of the individual component tests ranged from good to excellent (ICC = 0.75-0.97). Conclusion: The MGFMT, a 10-component field test of male gymnast physical abilities was found to be reliable and valid.

L’être humain est un être social amené à comprendre les comportements moteurs d’autrui. Selon la littérature, nous disposons de mécanismes cognitifs spécifiques, d’une part à la perception d’un corps humain (qu’il soit statique ou en mouvement), et d’autre part à la perception des expressions faciales émotionnelles. Ce travail de thèse vise à comprendre dans quelle mesure l'émotion véhiculée par le visage d'une personne, peut moduler notre perception de son action motrice. Les résultats de l’étude 1 ont montré que l’estimation de l’équilibre statique d’autrui pouvait être modulée par l’expression faciale émotionnelle (de sourire ou de crispation) exprimée par celui-ci. L’étude 2, a porté sur l’estimation de l’effort physique développé par une personne uniquement à partir de son expression faciale de douleur. Les résultats ont montré que les participants, dans ce type de tâche, utilisent deux mécanismes perceptifs automatiques. Le premier, mis en évidence par mesure fonctionnelle, facilite l’estimation de l’intensité de douleur à l’effort ressentie par autrui. Le second, démontré par la mesure d’un biais de mémorisation, entraîne une anticipation automatique de la suite de l’évolution de l’expression faciale de douleur à l’effort présentée. L’étude 3 a montré que l’estimation de l’effort physique développé par une personne atteinte de paraplégie réalisant un mouvement de transfert, est modulée par deux comportements de douleur (l’auto-protection et l’expression faciale de douleur). Toutefois, cette modulation diffère selon la familiarité des participants avec le monde médical et la paraplégie. En conclusion, ce travail de recherche propose que la modulation émotionnelle de la perception de l’action motrice d’autrui est en premier lieu sous-tendue par un processus automatique et implicite de contagion émotionnelle (bottom-up). Toutefois, cette dernière peut être inhibée par un processus explicite (top-down) qui dépendrait d’une part du type d’inférence à effectuer sur autrui (estimer l’équilibre postural ou l’effort physique développé), et d’autre part de la familiarité de l’observateur avec l’action motrice et les expressions faciales présentées. / Understanding others’ motor behaviour is part and parcel of Humans’ social experience. According to scientific literature, we rely on specific mechanisms for perceiving human bodies (whether static or moving) on the one hand, and processing emotional facial expressions on the other hand. This thesis aims to understand to what extent the emotion conveyed by a person’s face can modulate one’s perception of her/his motor action. Results of study 1 showed that our estimation of an individual’s static equilibrium is modulated by the observed individual’s emotional facial expression (smiling or tensed). Study 2 focused on perceptual estimation of the physical effort developed by a person on the basis of his facial expression of pain alone. Results revealed that participants adopt two automatic perceptual mechanisms. The first, highlighted via functional measurement, facilitates estimating the intensity of effort pain felt by others. The second, evidenced by measuring memory bias, leads to an automatic anticipation of the subsequent changes in the intensity of pain-related facial expressions. Study 3 showed that the estimation of physical effort developed by a paraplegic individual performing a transfer movement is modulated by two pain behaviours (guarding and facial expression of pain). Interestingly, this modulation varies with participants’ familiarity with both the medical domain and paraplegia. The conclusion of this research suggests that the modulation of emotional perception related to others’ motor action is primarily subtended by an automatic (bottom-up) process and an implicit emotional contagion. However, the latter can be inhibited by an explicit (top-down) process which may depend on (1) the type of inference made on others (estimating postural balance or physical effort developed in others), and (2) the familiarity of the observer with motor action and facial expressions.