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The purpose of this study was to develop a questionnaire to measure academic self-efficacy for undergraduates. The theoretical framework of the questionnaire was based on Bandura¡¦s self-efficacy theory. A total of 409 participants were selected by judgment sampling from the first- and second-grade undergraduate of six colleges in national Sun Yat-sen university (Liberal Arts, Science, Engineering, Management, Marine Sciences, and Social Sciences). The newly developed Academic Efficacy and Motivation Questionnaire (AEMQ) was modified and derived from eight related scales. Expert content validity was conducted by three experts in the field, and the data were analyzed by rating scale model (RSM) in ConQuest. The findings were as follows: 1. All the 69 items in AEMQ have good fit values (MNSQ between 0.6 and 1.4). 2. The items of the AEMQ tended to be too easy for participants. 3. The reliability of each dimension of AEMQ was poor. The highest reliability value was 0.575, and the lowest was 0.382. 4. The first dimension ¡§actual performance¡¨ and the second dimension ¡§vicarious experience¡¨ have negative correlation with the forth dimension ¡§psychological index¡¨. The result was consistent with past studies.

国立情報学研究所で電子化したコンテンツを使用している。

FundaÃÃo de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Cearà / Com o objetivo de avaliar o grau de maturidade, quanto à utilizaÃÃo de ferramentas e tÃcnicas da GestÃo pela Qualidade Total (GQT), e sua evoluÃÃo nos Ãltimos 10 anos, nas empresas de transformaÃÃo e construÃÃo civil de portes mÃdio e grande no Estado do CearÃ, o presente trabalho utilizou o Modelo de Resposta Gradual da Teoria da Resposta ao Item (TRI). Este modelo foi projetado para analisar respostas graduadas e passÃveis de ordenaÃÃo. Como base de comparaÃÃo para verificar uma possÃvel evoluÃÃo na maturidade, foi utilizado o trabalho realizado por Alexandre (1999). A metodologia empregada para a coleta de dados foi a pesquisa quantitativa, atravÃs de um questionÃrio estruturado na escala de Likert com 5 categorias de resposta. O estudo utilizou o modelo de Resposta Gradual da TRI para avaliaÃÃo da maturidade criando-se uma escala de medida padronizada, atravÃs do qual se tornou possÃvel a comparaÃÃo e a verificaÃÃo de que houve uma evoluÃÃo pouco significativa da maturidade das empresas, principalmente levando-se em conta a importÃncia da qualidade como diferencial competitivo para a manutenÃÃo das empresas no mercado globalizado. A escala construÃda pode auxiliar na identificaÃÃo de prÃticas nÃo implantadas que poderiam melhorar a qualidade dos produtos. / Aiming to evaluate the degree of maturity in the use of tools and techniques of Total Quality Management (TQM), and its evolution over the past 10 years, in the companies of transformation and construction of medium and large scale in the State of Ceara, this study used the Graded Response Model of Item Response Theory (IRT). This model was designed to examine responses graded and capable of ordinate. As a basis of comparison for possible evaluates in the maturity, it was used the work done by Alexander in 1999. The methodology used for collecting data was the quantitative survey, using a structured questionnaire in Likert scale with five response categories. The study used a model for assessment of maturity by creating a standardized measurement scale with the support of the IRT, whereby it became possible to compare and to check that there was a low evolution of maturity of organizations, especially taking into account the importance of quality as a competitive differential for maintenance companies in the global market. The scale constructed may serve as a basis to enable companies to identify potential practice has not implanted, allows, still monitoring their development level of maturity.

The present study examined the structural construct validity of the LoTi Digital-Age Survey, a measure of teacher instructional practices with technology in the classroom. Teacher responses (N = 2840) from across the United States were used to assess factor structure of the instrument using both exploratory and confirmatory analyses. Parallel analysis suggests retaining a five-factor solution compared to the MAP test that suggests retaining a three-factor solution. Both analyses (EFA and CFA) indicate that changes need to be made to the current factor structure of the survey. The last two factors were composed of items that did not cover or accurately measure the content of the latent trait. Problematic items, such as items with crossloadings, were discussed. Suggestions were provided to improve the factor structure, items, and scale of the survey.

Bifactor Item Response Theory (IRT) models are presented as a plausible structure for psychological measures with a primary scale and two or more subscales. A bifactor graded response model, appropriate for polytomous categorical data, was fit to two university counseling center datasets (N=4,679 and N=4,500) of Outcome-Questionnaire-45.2 (OQ) psychotherapy intake data. The bifactor model showed superior fit compared to a unidimensional IRT model. IRT item parameters derived from the bifactor model show that items discriminate well on the primary scale. Items on the OQ's subscales maintain some discrimination ability over and above the primary scale. However, reliability estimates for the subscales, controlling for the primary scale, suggest that clinical use should likely proceed with caution. Item difficulty or severity parameters reflected item content well, in that increased probability of endorsement was found at high levels of distress for items tapping severe symptomatology. Increased probability of endorsement was found at lower levels of distress for items tapping milder symptomatology. Analysis of measurement invariance showed that item parameters hold equally across gender for most OQ items. A subset of items was found to have item parameters non-invariant across gender. Implications for research and practice are discussed, and directions for future work given.

Previous research has tested the lasso method for DIF detection in dichotomous items, but limited research is available on this technique for polytomous items. This simulation study compares the lasso method to hybrid ordinal logistic regression to test performance in terms of TP and FP rates when considering sample size, test length, number of response categories, group balance, DIF proportion, and DIF magnitude. Results showed better Type I error control with the lasso, with smaller sample sizes, unbalanced groups, and weak DIF. The lasso also exhibited more stable Type I error control when DIF was weak, and groups were unbalanced. Lastly, low DIF proportion contributed to better Type I error control and higher TP rates with both methods.

No description available.

This thesis explores and describes the relationship between emotional intelligence, job satisfaction and job self-efficacy. The sample was collected between 2007 and 2010 and consists of 1336 South Africans within the workplace. Trait emotional intelligence was assessed using the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue), while job satisfaction and job self-efficacy were assessed from the biographical questions asked during the TEIQue assessment process. The first hypothesis investigated whether there is a statistically significant relationship between job satisfaction and trait emotional intelligence. A relationship was found that is statistically, but not practically, significant. The second hypothesis centred on the relationship between job self-efficacy and emotional intelligence, with statistically significant results (p<0.001), and a weaker relationship than the one found between job satisfaction and scores on the TEIQue. The third hypothesis, investigating a possible interaction effect between job satisfaction and job self-efficacy, was rejected. In addition to the study’s three hypotheses, exploratory IRT analysis was conducted on a section of the TEIQue items in order to further explore the functioning of the test within the South African context. Findings suggest that there is a relationship between the constructs within the study, but that this relationship is more complex than first assumed, being affected by issues such as social desirability and central tendency bias. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

This thesis explores and describes the relationship between emotional intelligence, job satisfaction and job self-efficacy. The sample was collected between 2007 and 2010 and consists of 1336 South Africans within the workplace. Trait emotional intelligence was assessed using the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue), while job satisfaction and job self-efficacy were assessed from the biographical questions asked during the TEIQue assessment process. The first hypothesis investigated whether there is a statistically significant relationship between job satisfaction and trait emotional intelligence. A relationship was found that is statistically, but not practically, significant. The second hypothesis centred on the relationship between job self-efficacy and emotional intelligence, with statistically significant results (p<0.001), and a weaker relationship than the one found between job satisfaction and scores on the TEIQue. The third hypothesis, investigating a possible interaction effect between job satisfaction and job self-efficacy, was rejected. In addition to the study’s three hypotheses, exploratory IRT analysis was conducted on a section of the TEIQue items in order to further explore the functioning of the test within the South African context. Findings suggest that there is a relationship between the constructs within the study, but that this relationship is more complex than first assumed, being affected by issues such as social desirability and central tendency bias. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)