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Thesis advisor: Larry H. Ludlow / In the field of teacher education, it is well documented that the most influential part is the clinical component, often referred to as student teaching or the practicum experience (Cochran-Smith, 1991; Darling-Hammond, 2014; Evertson, 1990). During the practicum, there exists a triad of three individuals: a university supervisor, a K-12 classroom teacher (often referred to as the cooperating teacher), and the teacher candidate. While much research has been conducted on teacher candidates and the cooperating teacher role, there has been a lack of research on the role of the university supervisor. The lack of measurement instruments to assess the quality of the university supervisor puts teacher education programs at a disadvantage, both from a programmatic improvement standpoint, as well as meeting accreditation requirements. This dissertation provides an answer to this issue, creating a new instrument that assesses the quality of the university supervisor, from the perspective of teacher candidates. This instrument is constructed under the Rasch-Guttman Scenario (RGS) framework, as most clearly defined by Ludlow, Baez-Cruz, et al. (2020). The RGS framework derives its influence from the works of George Rasch (1960/80) as well as Louis Guttman’s facet theory (Guttman 1954; Guttman 1957). The result is a new scale, entitled the University Supervisor Quality (USQ) scale, consisting of nine scenario items. All nine items include four facets that comprise the construct of university supervisor quality: resourcefulness, constructive feedback, mentorship, and collaboration. The results of this dissertation suggest that the utilization of the RGS framework is successful for developing a scale about university supervisor quality. In addition, the use of cognitive interviews provide valuable insight into the development of scales using the RGS framework. This scale has the potential for use in teacher education programs for evaluating the quality of their supervisors, and to utilize as evidence for accreditation purposes. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2022. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Educational Research, Measurement and Evaluation.

90 pages

Introdução. Incapacidade funcional está relacionada à dificuldade em realizar as atividades de vida diária de forma independente comprometendo sobremaneira a qualidade de vida da pessoa idosa. Requer adaptação do idoso, reorganização familiar e, muitas vezes, a presença de um cuidador. Reconhecer seu processo de instalação pode auxiliar no estabelecimento de medidas preventivas e adequação dos serviços sociais e de saúde. Objetivo: Construir escala hierárquica de dificuldades referidas no desempenho funcional de AVDs (incapacidades) em uma população de idosos do Município de São Paulo. Metodologia: Utilizando-se o método de escalonamento de Guttman, foram desenvolvidas escalas hierárquicas de incapacidades com a população idosa do Município de São Paulo utilizando a base de dados do Estudo SABE. Com a base de dados de 2000 a escala foi comparada à outra construída aproximadamente dez anos antes buscando verificar mudanças ocorridas no período e, com a base de dados de 2006 foi construída uma escala hierárquica da incidência de incapacidades nesse grupo onde foi aplicada uma escala de escores para classificação do nível funcional. Resultados: Verificou-se que a proporção de incapacidades aumentou em um período de dez anos. Para o seguimento de 2006 encontrou-se a seguinte ordem hierárquica crescente de dificuldades: comer (5,7 por cento ), higiene pessoal (6,3 por cento ), usar o banheiro (7,2 por cento ), locomover-se (7,8 por cento ), tomar banho (10,1 por cento ), vestir a parte de cima da roupa (11,9 por cento ), ser continente (fecal) (13,8 por cento ), administrar as próprias finanças (20,3 por cento ), tomar o próprio medicamento (21,2 por cento ), mobilizar-se (22,8 por cento ), usar o telefone (24,2 por cento ), vestir a parte de baixo (25,6 por cento ), fazer compras (30,5 por cento ), ser continente (urinário)(40,5 por cento ) e utilizar transporte (43,8 por cento ). Nos dois períodos, percebeu-se que os homens apresentaram maiores proporções de incapacidades, apesar de as mulheres as acumularem mais e que as dificuldades aumentaram com o avançar da idade. Conclusões: Foram verificadas mudanças no padrão de instalação e aumento das proporções de incapacidade em quase uma década. A escala hierárquica possibilitou a determinação de níveis de incapacidade / Introduction: Functional disability is related to the difficulty to perform daily life activities independently, which seriously jeopardizes elderly peoples quality of life. It requires adaptation, family reorganization and, in many cases, the presence of a caregiver. Recognizing these needs may help establish prevention measures and adequacy to social and health care services. Objective: To build a hierarchy scale on the aforementioned difficulties in the functional performance of DLAs (disabilities) in a population of elderly people in the municipality of São Paulo. Methodology: By using Guttman scaling method, hierarchy scales of disabilities were developed with the elderly population of the municipality of São Paulo with the database of SABE Study. With the 2000 database at hand, the scale was compared to another one built nearly ten years earlier seeking to find changes occurred in this period and, with the 2006 database a hierarchy scale of the occurrence of disabilities was built for this group of people, where a scale of scores was applied to rank the functional level. Results: It was found that the proportion of disabilities increased in a ten-year period. For the 2006 segment, the study found the following order of increasing difficulty: eating (5.7 per cent ), personal hygiene (6.3 per cent ), using the toilet (7.2 per cent ), walking (7.8 per cent ), bathing (10.1 per cent ), dressing the top of clothing (11.9 per cent ), being able to keep their fecal continence (13.8 per cent ), managing their own finances (20.3 per cent ), taking their own medicine properly (21.2 per cent ), moving (22.8 per cent ), using the phone (24.2 per cent ), dressing the bottom of clothing (25.6 per cent ), shopping (30.5 per cent ), being able to keep their urinary continence (40.5 per cent ) and using means of transportation (43.8 per cent ). In both periods, men were reported to show greater proportions of disabilities, despite the fact that women accumulate more of them and that their difficulties grow as age progresses. Conclusions: Changes on the pattern of installation and an increase on the proportion of disabilities were found in the course of nearly a decade. The hierarchy scale allowed the determination of the levels of disability

Introdução. Incapacidade funcional está relacionada à dificuldade em realizar as atividades de vida diária de forma independente comprometendo sobremaneira a qualidade de vida da pessoa idosa. Requer adaptação do idoso, reorganização familiar e, muitas vezes, a presença de um cuidador. Reconhecer seu processo de instalação pode auxiliar no estabelecimento de medidas preventivas e adequação dos serviços sociais e de saúde. Objetivo: Construir escala hierárquica de dificuldades referidas no desempenho funcional de AVDs (incapacidades) em uma população de idosos do Município de São Paulo. Metodologia: Utilizando-se o método de escalonamento de Guttman, foram desenvolvidas escalas hierárquicas de incapacidades com a população idosa do Município de São Paulo utilizando a base de dados do Estudo SABE. Com a base de dados de 2000 a escala foi comparada à outra construída aproximadamente dez anos antes buscando verificar mudanças ocorridas no período e, com a base de dados de 2006 foi construída uma escala hierárquica da incidência de incapacidades nesse grupo onde foi aplicada uma escala de escores para classificação do nível funcional. Resultados: Verificou-se que a proporção de incapacidades aumentou em um período de dez anos. Para o seguimento de 2006 encontrou-se a seguinte ordem hierárquica crescente de dificuldades: comer (5,7 por cento ), higiene pessoal (6,3 por cento ), usar o banheiro (7,2 por cento ), locomover-se (7,8 por cento ), tomar banho (10,1 por cento ), vestir a parte de cima da roupa (11,9 por cento ), ser continente (fecal) (13,8 por cento ), administrar as próprias finanças (20,3 por cento ), tomar o próprio medicamento (21,2 por cento ), mobilizar-se (22,8 por cento ), usar o telefone (24,2 por cento ), vestir a parte de baixo (25,6 por cento ), fazer compras (30,5 por cento ), ser continente (urinário)(40,5 por cento ) e utilizar transporte (43,8 por cento ). Nos dois períodos, percebeu-se que os homens apresentaram maiores proporções de incapacidades, apesar de as mulheres as acumularem mais e que as dificuldades aumentaram com o avançar da idade. Conclusões: Foram verificadas mudanças no padrão de instalação e aumento das proporções de incapacidade em quase uma década. A escala hierárquica possibilitou a determinação de níveis de incapacidade / Introduction: Functional disability is related to the difficulty to perform daily life activities independently, which seriously jeopardizes elderly peoples quality of life. It requires adaptation, family reorganization and, in many cases, the presence of a caregiver. Recognizing these needs may help establish prevention measures and adequacy to social and health care services. Objective: To build a hierarchy scale on the aforementioned difficulties in the functional performance of DLAs (disabilities) in a population of elderly people in the municipality of São Paulo. Methodology: By using Guttman scaling method, hierarchy scales of disabilities were developed with the elderly population of the municipality of São Paulo with the database of SABE Study. With the 2000 database at hand, the scale was compared to another one built nearly ten years earlier seeking to find changes occurred in this period and, with the 2006 database a hierarchy scale of the occurrence of disabilities was built for this group of people, where a scale of scores was applied to rank the functional level. Results: It was found that the proportion of disabilities increased in a ten-year period. For the 2006 segment, the study found the following order of increasing difficulty: eating (5.7 per cent ), personal hygiene (6.3 per cent ), using the toilet (7.2 per cent ), walking (7.8 per cent ), bathing (10.1 per cent ), dressing the top of clothing (11.9 per cent ), being able to keep their fecal continence (13.8 per cent ), managing their own finances (20.3 per cent ), taking their own medicine properly (21.2 per cent ), moving (22.8 per cent ), using the phone (24.2 per cent ), dressing the bottom of clothing (25.6 per cent ), shopping (30.5 per cent ), being able to keep their urinary continence (40.5 per cent ) and using means of transportation (43.8 per cent ). In both periods, men were reported to show greater proportions of disabilities, despite the fact that women accumulate more of them and that their difficulties grow as age progresses. Conclusions: Changes on the pattern of installation and an increase on the proportion of disabilities were found in the course of nearly a decade. The hierarchy scale allowed the determination of the levels of disability

Thesis advisor: Larry H. Ludlow / Teachers in the United States are increasingly tasked with using data to inform their classroom instruction both through federal policies, such as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2016), and state policies requiring the use of teacher-determined data-driven goals for performance evaluations (MA 603 CMR 35.07). Many teachers, however, report that they feel underprepared to engage in this type of work (Dunn et al., 2013), also called Data-Driven Decision Making (DDDM). In addition, there is currently a limited set of instruments to measure the construct of using data to inform classroom instruction and the instruments that currently exist measure this construct using a typical Classical Test Theory design.This work developed an instrument called the Using Data to Inform classroom Instruction (UDII) scale to measure teachers’ use of data to inform classroom instruction. It used the Rasch/Guttman Scenario (RGS) methodology, an approach that develops scenarios that reflect the rich lived experiences of individuals (Antipkina & Ludlow, 2020; Ludlow et al., 2014). The RGS approach utilizes the Rasch model, part of the family of Item Response Theory models, which conceptualizes a construct as a hierarchical continuum. Scenario items and people are plotted on the same variable map, which allows for the development of rich descriptions of individuals at particular raw score locations on the continuum. An interpretative variable map is included to help schools and districts use the results of the survey. This work adds to the growing body of literature utilizing the RGS approach, as well as the literature focused on the use of data to inform classroom instruction (or DDDM). The UDII scale can be utilized by schools and districts who are engaged in the work of using data to inform classroom instruction to identify the current skillsets of teachers and/or teams of teachers to provide differentiated support, or it can be used before and after an intervention focused on using data to inform classroom instruction to measure change. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2022. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Educational Research, Measurement and Evaluation.

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Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) is a popular financial instrument and communication tool for the appraisal of companies. Often, companies management and other practitioners use untested rules and behavioural approach when investigating the key determinants of ROCE, instead of the scientific statistical paradigm. The aim of this dissertation was to identify and quantify key determinants of ROCE of individual companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), by comparing classical multiple linear regression, principal components regression, generalized least squares regression, and robust maximum likelihood regression approaches in order to improve companies decision making. Performance indicators used to arrive at the best approach were coefficient of determination ( ), adjusted ( , and Mean Square Residual (MSE). Since the ROCE variable had positive and negative values two separate analyses were done. The classical multiple linear regression models were constructed using stepwise directed search for dependent variable log ROCE for the two data sets. Assumptions were satisfied and problem of multicollinearity was addressed. For the positive ROCE data set, the classical multiple linear regression model had a of 0.928, an of 0.927, a MSE of 0.013, and the lead key determinant was Return on Equity (ROE),with positive elasticity, followed by Debt to Equity (D/E) and Capital Employed (CE), both with negative elasticities. The model showed good validation performance. For the negative ROCE data set, the classical multiple linear regression model had a of 0.666, an of 0.652, a MSE of 0.149, and the lead key determinant was Assets per Capital Employed (APCE) with positive effect, followed by Return on Assets (ROA) and Market Capitalization (MC), both with negative effects. The model showed poor validation performance. The results indicated more and less precision than those found by previous studies. This suggested that the key determinants are also important sources of variability in ROCE of individual companies that management need to work with. To handle the problem of multicollinearity in the data, principal components were selected using Kaiser-Guttman criterion. The principal components regression model was constructed using dependent variable log ROCE for the two data sets. Assumptions were satisfied. For the positive ROCE data set, the principal components regression model had a of 0.929, an of 0.929, a MSE of 0.069, and the lead key determinant was PC4 (log ROA, log ROE, log Operating Profit Margin (OPM)) and followed by PC2 (log Earnings Yield (EY), log Price to Earnings (P/E)), both with positive effects. The model resulted in a satisfactory validation performance. For the negative ROCE data set, the principal components regression model had a of 0.544, an of 0.532, a MSE of 0.167, and the lead key determinant was PC3 (ROA, EY, APCE) and followed by PC1 (MC, CE), both with negative effects. The model indicated an accurate validation performance. The results showed that the use of principal components as independent variables did not improve classical multiple linear regression model prediction in our data. This implied that the key determinants are less important sources of variability in ROCE of individual companies that management need to work with. Generalized least square regression was used to assess heteroscedasticity and dependences in the data. It was constructed using stepwise directed search for dependent variable ROCE for the two data sets. For the positive ROCE data set, the weighted generalized least squares regression model had a of 0.920, an of 0.919, a MSE of 0.044, and the lead key determinant was ROE with positive effect, followed by D/E with negative effect, Dividend Yield (DY) with positive effect and lastly CE with negative effect. The model indicated an accurate validation performance. For the negative ROCE data set, the weighted generalized least squares regression model had a of 0.559, an of 0.548, a MSE of 57.125, and the lead key determinant was APCE and followed by ROA, both with positive effects.The model showed a weak validation performance. The results suggested that the key determinants are less important sources of variability in ROCE of individual companies that management need to work with. Robust maximum likelihood regression was employed to handle the problem of contamination in the data. It was constructed using stepwise directed search for dependent variable ROCE for the two data sets. For the positive ROCE data set, the robust maximum likelihood regression model had a of 0.998, an of 0.997, a MSE of 6.739, and the lead key determinant was ROE with positive effect, followed by DY and lastly D/E, both with negative effects. The model showed a strong validation performance. For the negative ROCE data set, the robust maximum likelihood regression model had a of 0.990, an of 0.984, a MSE of 98.883, and the lead key determinant was APCE with positive effect and followed by ROA with negative effect. The model also showed a strong validation performance. The results reflected that the key determinants are major sources of variability in ROCE of individual companies that management need to work with. Overall, the findings showed that the use of robust maximum likelihood regression provided more precise results compared to those obtained using the three competing approaches, because it is more consistent, sufficient and efficient; has a higher breakdown point and no conditions. Companies management can establish and control proper marketing strategies using the key determinants, and results of these strategies can see an improvement in ROCE. / Mathematical Sciences / M. Sc. (Statistics)

Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) is a popular financial instrument and communication tool for the appraisal of companies. Often, companies management and other practitioners use untested rules and behavioural approach when investigating the key determinants of ROCE, instead of the scientific statistical paradigm. The aim of this dissertation was to identify and quantify key determinants of ROCE of individual companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), by comparing classical multiple linear regression, principal components regression, generalized least squares regression, and robust maximum likelihood regression approaches in order to improve companies decision making. Performance indicators used to arrive at the best approach were coefficient of determination ( ), adjusted ( , and Mean Square Residual (MSE). Since the ROCE variable had positive and negative values two separate analyses were done. The classical multiple linear regression models were constructed using stepwise directed search for dependent variable log ROCE for the two data sets. Assumptions were satisfied and problem of multicollinearity was addressed. For the positive ROCE data set, the classical multiple linear regression model had a of 0.928, an of 0.927, a MSE of 0.013, and the lead key determinant was Return on Equity (ROE),with positive elasticity, followed by Debt to Equity (D/E) and Capital Employed (CE), both with negative elasticities. The model showed good validation performance. For the negative ROCE data set, the classical multiple linear regression model had a of 0.666, an of 0.652, a MSE of 0.149, and the lead key determinant was Assets per Capital Employed (APCE) with positive effect, followed by Return on Assets (ROA) and Market Capitalization (MC), both with negative effects. The model showed poor validation performance. The results indicated more and less precision than those found by previous studies. This suggested that the key determinants are also important sources of variability in ROCE of individual companies that management need to work with. To handle the problem of multicollinearity in the data, principal components were selected using Kaiser-Guttman criterion. The principal components regression model was constructed using dependent variable log ROCE for the two data sets. Assumptions were satisfied. For the positive ROCE data set, the principal components regression model had a of 0.929, an of 0.929, a MSE of 0.069, and the lead key determinant was PC4 (log ROA, log ROE, log Operating Profit Margin (OPM)) and followed by PC2 (log Earnings Yield (EY), log Price to Earnings (P/E)), both with positive effects. The model resulted in a satisfactory validation performance. For the negative ROCE data set, the principal components regression model had a of 0.544, an of 0.532, a MSE of 0.167, and the lead key determinant was PC3 (ROA, EY, APCE) and followed by PC1 (MC, CE), both with negative effects. The model indicated an accurate validation performance. The results showed that the use of principal components as independent variables did not improve classical multiple linear regression model prediction in our data. This implied that the key determinants are less important sources of variability in ROCE of individual companies that management need to work with. Generalized least square regression was used to assess heteroscedasticity and dependences in the data. It was constructed using stepwise directed search for dependent variable ROCE for the two data sets. For the positive ROCE data set, the weighted generalized least squares regression model had a of 0.920, an of 0.919, a MSE of 0.044, and the lead key determinant was ROE with positive effect, followed by D/E with negative effect, Dividend Yield (DY) with positive effect and lastly CE with negative effect. The model indicated an accurate validation performance. For the negative ROCE data set, the weighted generalized least squares regression model had a of 0.559, an of 0.548, a MSE of 57.125, and the lead key determinant was APCE and followed by ROA, both with positive effects.The model showed a weak validation performance. The results suggested that the key determinants are less important sources of variability in ROCE of individual companies that management need to work with. Robust maximum likelihood regression was employed to handle the problem of contamination in the data. It was constructed using stepwise directed search for dependent variable ROCE for the two data sets. For the positive ROCE data set, the robust maximum likelihood regression model had a of 0.998, an of 0.997, a MSE of 6.739, and the lead key determinant was ROE with positive effect, followed by DY and lastly D/E, both with negative effects. The model showed a strong validation performance. For the negative ROCE data set, the robust maximum likelihood regression model had a of 0.990, an of 0.984, a MSE of 98.883, and the lead key determinant was APCE with positive effect and followed by ROA with negative effect. The model also showed a strong validation performance. The results reflected that the key determinants are major sources of variability in ROCE of individual companies that management need to work with. Overall, the findings showed that the use of robust maximum likelihood regression provided more precise results compared to those obtained using the three competing approaches, because it is more consistent, sufficient and efficient; has a higher breakdown point and no conditions. Companies management can establish and control proper marketing strategies using the key determinants, and results of these strategies can see an improvement in ROCE. / Mathematical Sciences / M. Sc. (Statistics)