No description available.

In this study, the author provided a discussion of international cross-cultural validation studies which reported low internal consistency reliabilities for the self-motivation facet of the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue). A review of salient models of emotional intelligence (EI) revealed that self-motivation was consistently conceptualised as part of the sampling domain of trait and mixed models of EI, but not ability-based conceptualisations of the construct. The author provided a qualitative evaluation of the ten self-motivation test items as they appeared in the TEIQue with the purpose of exploring the operationalisation of the construct in a multi-cultural South African sample. The exploratory-descriptive research was conducted amongst permanent employees who have all completed the TEIQue as part of on-going employee assessments. The present study found limited support for a satisfactory operationalisation of the self-motivation facet of the TEIQue as it related to a multi-cultural South African research sample. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

This research is primarily concerned with the on-going development of the secondary mathematics curriculum in The Bahamas. In order to determine whether pupils assimilated mathematical ideas into a schematic structure, and could retrieve and use them as final behaviours outlined in the syllabuses, data from two diagnostic tests administered to pupils of 13+ and 15+ years respectively, were analysed. For the former age range, 377 pupils completed an Objective Test containing 50 items and for the latter age range 241 pupils attempted a Choice-Type Test with the instruction to choose any 10 of the total of 14 questions [continued]…

This study is concerned with the effect of placing text into a mediated structure form upon the generation of test items for analysis level domain referenced test construction. The item writing methodology used is the linguistic (operationally defined) item writing technology developed by Bormuth, Finn, Roid, Haladyna and others. This item writing methodology is compared to 1) the intuitive method based on Bloom's definition of analysis level test questions and 2) the intuitive with keywords identified method of item writing. A mediated structure was developed by coordinating or subordinating sentences in an essay by following five simple grammatical rules. Three test writers each composed a ten-item test using each of the three methodologies based on a common essay. Tests were administered to 102 Composition 1 community college students. Students were asked to read the essay and complete one test form. Test forms by writer and method were randomly delivered. Analysis of variance showed no significant differences among either methods or writers. Item analysis showed no method of item writing resulting in items of consistent difficulty among test item writers. While the results of this study show no significant difference from the intuitive, traditional methods of item writing, analysis level test item generation using a mediating structure may yet prove useful to the classroom teacher with access to a computer. All three test writers agree that test items were easier to write using the generative rules and mediated structure. Also, some relief was felt by the writers in that the method theoretically assured that an analysis level item was written.

In this study, the author provided a discussion of international cross-cultural validation studies which reported low internal consistency reliabilities for the self-motivation facet of the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue). A review of salient models of emotional intelligence (EI) revealed that self-motivation was consistently conceptualised as part of the sampling domain of trait and mixed models of EI, but not ability-based conceptualisations of the construct. The author provided a qualitative evaluation of the ten self-motivation test items as they appeared in the TEIQue with the purpose of exploring the operationalisation of the construct in a multi-cultural South African sample. The exploratory-descriptive research was conducted amongst permanent employees who have all completed the TEIQue as part of on-going employee assessments. The present study found limited support for a satisfactory operationalisation of the self-motivation facet of the TEIQue as it related to a multi-cultural South African research sample. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology, with specialisation in Research Consultation)

Face à la surabondance des ressources et de l'information sur le net, l'accès aux ressources pertinentes devient une tâche fastidieuse pour les usagers de la toile. Les systèmes de recommandation personnalisée comptent parmi les principales solutions qui assistent l'utilisateur en filtrant les ressources, pour ne lui proposer que celles susceptibles de l’intéresser. L’approche basée sur l’observation du comportement de l’utilisateur à partir de ses interactions avec le e-services est appelée analyse des usages. Le filtrage collaboratif et le filtrage basé sur le contenu sont les principales techniques de recommandations personnalisées. Le filtrage collaboratif exploite uniquement les données issues de l’analyse des usages alors que le filtrage basé sur le contenu utilise en plus les données décrivant le contenu des ressources. Un système de recommandation hybride combine les deux techniques de recommandation. L'objectif de cette thèse est de proposer une nouvelle technique d'hybridation en étudiant les bénéfices de l'exploitation combinée d'une part, des informations sémantiques des ressources à recommander, avec d'autre part, le filtrage collaboratif. Plusieurs approches ont été proposées pour l'apprentissage d'un nouveau profil utilisateur inférant ses préférences pour l’information sémantique décrivant les ressources. Pour chaque approche proposée, nous traitons le problème du manque de la densité des données et le problème du passage à l’échelle. Nous montrons également, de façon empirique, un gain au niveau de la précision des recommandations par rapport à des approches purement collaboratives ou purement basées sur le contenu / Face to the ongoing rapid expansion of the Internet, user requires help to access to items that may interest her or him. A personalized recommender system filters relevant items from huge catalogue to particular user by observing his or her behavior. The approach based on observing user behavior from his interactions with the website is called usage analysis. Collaborative Filtering and Content-Based filtering are the most widely used techniques in personalized recommender system. Collaborative filtering uses only data from usage analysis to build user profile, while content-based filtering relies in addition on semantic information of items. Hybrid approach is another important technique, which combines collaborative and content-based methods to provide recommendations. The aim of this thesis is to present a new hybridization approach that takes into account the semantic information of items to enhance collaborative recommendations. Several approaches have been proposed for learning a new user profile inferring preferences for semantic information describing items. For each proposed approach, we address the sparsity and the scalability problems. We prove also, empirically, an improvement in recommendations accuracy against collaborative filtering and content-based filtering

Matrices reasoning tests, which contain missing pieces in matrices that participants attempt to figure out, are one of the most popular types of tests to measure general intelligence. This thesis introduces several methods to develop matrices items, and presents them in different test forms to assess general intelligence. Part 1 introduces the development of a matrices test with reference to Carpenter’s five rules of Raven’s Progressive Matrices. The test items developed were administered together with the Standard Ravens’ Progressive Matrices (SPM). Results based on confirmatory factor analysis and inter-item correlation demonstrate good construct validity and reliability. Item characteristics are explored with Item-Response Theory (IRT) analyses. Part 2 introduces the development of a large item bank with multiple alternatives for each SPM item, with reference to the item components of the original SPM. Results showed satisfactory test validity and reliability when using the alternative items in a test. Findings also support the hypothesis that the combination of item components accounts for item difficulty. The work lays the foundation for the future development of computer adaptive versions of Raven’s Progressive Matrices. Part 3 introduces the development of an automatic matrix item generator and illustrates the results of the analyses of the items generated using the distribution-of-three rule. Psychometric properties of the items generated are explored to support the validity of the generator. Figural complexity, features, and the frequency at which certain rules were used are discussed to account for the difficulty of the items. Results of further analyses to explore the underlying factors of the difficulty of the generated items are presented and discussed. Results showed that the suggested factors explain a substantial amount of the variance of item difficulty, but are insufficient to predict the item difficulty. Adaptive on-the-fly item generation is yet to be possible for the test at this stage. Overall, the methods for creating matrices reasoning tests introduced in the dissertation provide a useful reference for research on abstract reasoning and fluid intelligence measurements. Implications for other areas of psychometric research are also discussed.

Este trabalho tem por proposta analisar os modelos utilizados nos processos de gestão de materiais e compras para itens MRO em uma empresa do setor agroindustrial com ênfase no gerenciamento destes itens e das atividades executadas para sua aquisição a fim de identificar as melhores práticas de gestão visando à manutenção de seus estoques em níveis considerados satisfatórios. O estoque de itens MRO pode ter tanta importância para a empresa quanto o estoque de matérias-primas, haja vista o custo de interrupção da produção, como mão-de-obra parada, equipamento ocioso, prazos de entrega adiados e a perda de encomendas ou de clientes em decorrência de paradas não programadas que a má administração destes recursos pode causar. Além disso, o custo da oportunidade perdida em se obter rendimento durante o tempo de uma eventual parada, o lucro cessante, demonstra como o mau planejamento ou a falta deste para itens MRO pode prejudicar os indicadores de desempenho de uma organização. O trabalho foi dividido em duas fases: a análise conceitual e a análise prática. Na análise conceitual, o pesquisador estabeleceu os temas à cerca dos processos para gestão de materiais e compras em geral e avaliou sua aplicabilidade para itens MRO. Na análise prática, o pesquisador, por meio de pesquisa-ação com a aplicação da metodologia Transmeth (NUMA, 2003), analisou os processos praticados pela empresa citada, a fim de promover o mapeamento e a análise dos processos inerentes à função gestão de materiais e compras para itens MRO. Finalmente, o pesquisador propôs um modelo de gestão de materiais e compras de itens MRO para as empresas que atuam neste segmento. / The purpose of this work is analyzing the models employed in MRO material and purchasing management processes in an agro industrial company focusing on the management of these items and their purchasing activities, performed in order to identify the best management practices aiming the maintenance of their stocks at satisfactory levels. The MRO items stocks can be as important as raw-material stocks, considering the production interruption cost: employees without work, idle equipments, postponed deliveries and the loss of orders of clients due to unscheduled production interruption, which can be caused by the bad administration of these resources. Moreover, all the profit loss and a bad or the absence of planning for MRO items management can damage the performance indicators of an organization. This work was divided into two phases: conceptual analysis and practical analysis. Through the conceptual analysis, the researcher established the topics regarding the material and purchasing management processes in general and evaluated its applicability to MRO items. In the practical analysis, the researcher, applying an action-research methodology based on Transmeth methodology, analyzed the processes employed by an agro industrial company in order to map and evaluate the MRO material management and purchasing. Finally, the researcher suggested a MRO material management and purchasing model for agro industrial companies.

Orientador: Maria Lúcia Marçal Mazza Sundefeld / Banca: Tânia Adas Saliba Rovida / Banca: Dalton Francisco de Andrade / Resumo: O câncer de boca é uma das dez neoplasias mais frequentes em todo o mundo, sendo considerado uma doença multifatorial. Está diretamente associado aos fatores de riscos, tais como: o tabagismo, etilismo, exposição solar e dieta deficiente. É de extrema importância transmitir o conhecimento sobre câncer bucal para os escolares, visto que a população em geral chega à vida adulta sem informações prévias dessa doença. Antes de planejar ações de educação e prevenção é necessário conhecer a população em que se quer intervir. Um bom instrumento para medir esse conhecimento é o questionário. Atualmente, a Teoria da Resposta ao Item (TRI) está sendo aplicada na criação de uma medida para avaliar conhecimento, uma vez que trabalha com um conjunto de modelos matemáticos que analisam a probabilidade de um indivíduo dar uma certa resposta a um item como função dos parâmetros dele e da habilidade do respondente. Este estudo objetiva elaborar, padronizar e aplicar um questionário, validado pela TRI, para avaliação de conhecimento sobre câncer de boca, fatores de risco e prevenção em escolares da 3ª série do ensino médio da rede pública de Araçatuba/SP. O questionário, contendo itens de múltipla escolha com apenas uma alternativa correta, foi elaborado a partir de itens existentes na literatura e sugestões de especialistas. Para análise do questionário através da TRI utilizou-se o modelo logístico unidimensional de 3 (três) parâmetros. Realizaram-se duas aplicações do questionário em escolares de todas as escolas públicas de Araçatuba, SP, sendo a primeira aplicação para o projeto piloto e a segunda para a pesquisa final. As estimativas dos parâmetros dos itens e as probabilidades de acerto em diferentes níveis de conhecimento foram obtidas através do software Bilog-MG versão 3.11 e a avaliação do conhecimento dos alunos... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Oral cancer is one of the ten most common worldwide cancers and is considered a multifactorial disease. It is directly associated with risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, sun exposure and poor diet. It's extremely important to transmit knowledge about oral cancer to students, once the general population reaches adulthood without prior information of this disease. Before planning measures of prevention and education, it is necessary to know the population that wants to intervene. A good way to measure this knowledge is the questionnaire. Currently, Item Response Theory (IRT) is being applied in the development of a measure to assess knowledge, since it works with a set of mathematical models that analyze the probability of an individual giving a certain response to an item as a function of the parameters and ability of the respondent. This study aims to elaborate, standardize and apply a questionnaire, validated by TRI to assess knowledge about oral cancer, risk factors and prevention in senior year students from public school in Araçatuba / SP. The questionnaire containing multiple-choice items with only one correct alternative was elaborated from existing items in the literature and suggestions from experts. The unidimensional logistic model of three parameters was used for the questionnaire analysis. There were two applications of the questionnaire in all public school students of Araçatuba, SP, being the first application for the pilot project and the second for the final survey. The estimatives of parameters of the items and probability of sucess at different levels of knowledge were obtained through the software Bilog-MG and evaluation of students' knowledge processed by Epi Info 2000, version 3.5.1. The questionnaire was applied on 1012 present sudents in the classrooms on the day of the application... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Orientador: Maria Lucia Marçal Mazza Sundefeld / Banca: Tânia Adas Saliba Rovida / Banca: Eder Ricardo Biasoli / Banca: Dalton Francisco de Andrade / Banca: José Eduardo Corrente / Resumo: Introdução- O câncer é responsável por mais de 12% de todas as causas de óbito no mundo, chegando a matar mais de 7 milhões de pessoas por ano. Suspeitar e diagnosticar precocemente o câncer implica em conhecimento relativamente básico sobre o assunto. O questionário é um bom instrumento para medição do conhecimento, e pode ser validado pela Teoria da Resposta ao Item - TRI. O objetivo deste trabalho foi a criação de um instrumento para avaliar o conhecimento sobre o câncer de cabeça e pescoço em diferentes níveis de habilidade. Metodologia: Neste trabalho, inicialmente, foram criados 32 itens para avaliar o conhecimento sobre o câncer de cabeça e pescoço, os quais, antes de serem aplicados a escolares do 3º. Ano do Ensino Médio (n=994), foram incorporados a 24 outros itens, sobre o mesmo construto e população alvo semelhante (n= 1012). Esses itens haviam sido calibrados pela TRI, pelo modelo logístico unidimensional de 3 parâmetros, gerando uma escala (0,1), pela função de informação do item. Durante o processo de incorporação, três itens foram eliminados, restando 53 itens, para esta população. Posteriormente, ainda neste trabalho, 68 novos itens foram criados, sob o mesmo construto, e aplicados aos graduandos dos últimos anos do Curso de Odontologia (n=95) e a cirurgiões dentistas (n=284), totalizando 379 respondentes. Esses 68 itens também foram calibrados naquela mesma escala (0,1), com 2385 respondentes. Resultados: Após a análise, 60, daqueles 68 itens foram mantidos, que somados aos 53 itens iniciais, formaram um questionário com 113 itens sobre câncer de cabeça e pescoço calibrados pela TRI. Também está apresentada a sequência metodológica do processo de incorporação dos itens em uma mesma escala de habilidade. Conclusão: Ainda que um construto não possa ser explorado em sua plenitude semântica, a elaboração... / Abstract: Introduction- Cancer is responsible for over 12% of all causes of death in the world, killing more than 7 million people a year. Early detection and early diagnose cancer implies in basic knowledge on the subject. The questionnaire is a good tool for measuring knowledge, and can be validated by the Item Response Theory - IRT. The aim of this study was to build a tool to assess the knowledge of head and in different level of ability. Methodology: At the beginning 32 items were designed to assess knowledge of head and neck cancer. Before being applied to 3rd High School Students (n=994) these items were joint to 24 others items over the same construct and the same population(n=1012). The previous items had being calibrated by IRT, by parameters of one-dimensional logistic model, getting a scale (0,1) by information function of the item. Over the incorporation process three items were eliminated, coming 53 items for the same population. Further, still in the same study 68 new items, over the same construct and applied to undergraduates of the last years of the Dental School (n-95) and to dental Surgeon (n-284) with a total of 379 respondents. The 68 items were also designed and calibrated in the same scale (o,1), now with a total of 2385 respondents. Results: After the analysis, 60 of the 68 items were kept and added to the previous 53 items and they comprise a questionnaire with 113 items on head and neck cancer calibrated by IRT. This study also presents the methodological sequence of the incorporation process of items in the same scale of ability. Conclusion: Although a construct cannot be totally exploited, the elaboration of this tool to assess the knowledge of head and neck cancer was the result of through analysis. We believe that this bank of items will be eventually useful, as same items might be used to design several different questionnaires allowing different... / Doutor