The world of work has become extremely volatile, with the scarcity of skills and the management of human capital at the top of the agenda. Human capital is the most valuable asset in any organisation. It is evident that leadership is vital in organisations in ensuring their success; thus making leadership empowerment behaviour crucial. It is essential that our leaders become people developers who focus on growing and up skilling subordinates as a way of attracting and retaining talent. It is important that leaders create an enabling environment for their subordinates; one of independence, innovation and, more importantly, growth and development. The purpose of this study was to explore the psychometric properties of the leadership empowerment questionnaire by investigating internal consistency; furthermore investigating the differences between genders regarding male and female perceptions of leadership empowerment behaviour. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was used. The measuring battery comprised the Leadership Empowerment Behaviour Questionnaire (LEBQ), which is originally a six-factor structure. The analysis was carried out using the IBM-SPSS and Mplus statistical modelling programs. Reliability was explored by utilising the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) index (rho). Construct validity was assessed by examining the factor structure, utilising the Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and the CFA. Satisfactory reliability indices were attained. A three-factor model of the LEBQ was confirmed. The three-factor model consists of autonomy, development and accountability. Measurement invariance was tested by the use of configural, scalar and metric invariance. The configural model concluded that the three-factor structure obtained for the total sample also holds for the two groups (Males & Females) of respondents separately. The metric model indicates that the latent variables are measured in the same way with the same metric in the two target groups. The Scalar model indicates that on these three items, males and females differ regarding their starting points in their response to these questions. Although there were differences in the starting points of certain items, there were no real differences evident in the overall model regarding males and females. Recommendations for further research were made. / MA (Industrial Psychology)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2015

The world of work has become extremely volatile, with the scarcity of skills and the management of human capital at the top of the agenda. Human capital is the most valuable asset in any organisation. It is evident that leadership is vital in organisations in ensuring their success; thus making leadership empowerment behaviour crucial. It is essential that our leaders become people developers who focus on growing and up skilling subordinates as a way of attracting and retaining talent. It is important that leaders create an enabling environment for their subordinates; one of independence, innovation and, more importantly, growth and development. The purpose of this study was to explore the psychometric properties of the leadership empowerment questionnaire by investigating internal consistency; furthermore investigating the differences between genders regarding male and female perceptions of leadership empowerment behaviour. A quantitative cross-sectional survey was used. The measuring battery comprised the Leadership Empowerment Behaviour Questionnaire (LEBQ), which is originally a six-factor structure. The analysis was carried out using the IBM-SPSS and Mplus statistical modelling programs. Reliability was explored by utilising the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) index (rho). Construct validity was assessed by examining the factor structure, utilising the Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and the CFA. Satisfactory reliability indices were attained. A three-factor model of the LEBQ was confirmed. The three-factor model consists of autonomy, development and accountability. Measurement invariance was tested by the use of configural, scalar and metric invariance. The configural model concluded that the three-factor structure obtained for the total sample also holds for the two groups (Males & Females) of respondents separately. The metric model indicates that the latent variables are measured in the same way with the same metric in the two target groups. The Scalar model indicates that on these three items, males and females differ regarding their starting points in their response to these questions. Although there were differences in the starting points of certain items, there were no real differences evident in the overall model regarding males and females. Recommendations for further research were made. / MA (Industrial Psychology)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2015

A case study was used to survey 308 teacher trainees in western Kenya to investigate the extent to which pre-service teachers in two Kenyan teacher training colleges are prepared to integrate technology in teaching. . The study uses the technological pedagogical and content knowledge (TPACK) framework to understand the knowledge needed by the pre-service teachers to integrate technology effectively. Data was gathered using the Survey of Pre-Service Teachers' Knowledge of Teaching and Technology and three open-ended questions. Data from the survey does not distinguish the TPACK variable among the respondents. The data suggests that the pre-service teachers rate themselves highly on the other six TPACK subscales of technological knowledge, content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge, technological pedagogical knowledge, and technological content knowledge. Further, the data suggests that the respondents' personal use of technology, to a large extent, influences how they use technology in classrooms. Lastly, the data indicates that the survey instrument is inadequate in capturing all the TPACK subscales in this population as it shows weak internal consistency. These findings imply that faculty in these colleges need to be more intentional and deliberate in teaching the trainees how to integrate technology in lessons. Policymakers and college administrators may also influence the teachers' personal use of technology to inculcate into the trainees tested methods of technology integration. Another implication is that future research could employ other supplementary methods, in addition to surveys, to find out the levels of technology integration in the teacher trainees.

This work provides improved procedures for spectrophotometric carbon system measurements. Indicator dyes used for routine spectrophotometric pH measurements in seawater suffer from impurity issues, which introduce vendor-specific systematic errors in pH determinations. The magnitude of these errors for several vendors was investigated for meta Cresol Purple (mCP) and Cresol Red (CR). Flash chromatography procedures were developed to obtain purified mCP and CR on a bulk scale in order to supply the oceanographic research community with the indicators. Easy access to the purified indicators ensures global intercomparability of spectrophotometric pH determinations. Internal consistency of marine inorganic carbon system measurements was studied using datasets obtained on two large coastal ocean acidification research cruises. In both cases, purified mCP was used to obtain the pH measurements, thereby improving accuracy relative to previous studies in which measurements were obtained with unrefined mCP. Based on this internal consistency study, recommendations are made for selecting the parameter pairs used for saturation state calculations. Direct spectrophotometric methods for measuring carbonate ion concentrations in seawater were improved by (a) using a higher concentration of lead as the carbonate indicator and (b) altering the carbonate computational algorithm based on high quality field data. Measurements of DIC and pH (using purified mCP) were used to calculate carbonate ion concentrations for comparison with spectrophotometrically measured carbonate ion concentrations (i.e., via spectrophotometric measurements of Pb(II) spectra in the ultraviolet). Minor changes in the computational algorithm substantially improved agreement between measured and calculated carbonate ion concentrations.

Nearshore and estuarine environments play a vital role in the cycling of carbon, but the effects of ocean acidification in estuarine waters have not been studied as extensively as in the open ocean. One reason for this is the limitation of pH measurement capabilities in low-salinity waters. Typically, pH in these environments has been measured using potentiometric methods that are subject to uncertainties on the order of 0.01. Spectrophotometric methods for measuring pHT offer precision and accuracy superior to those of potentiometric methods. However, previous characterizations for purified sulfonephthalein indicators, used for marine spectrophotometric measurements, are not applicable to estuarine salinities. Some estuarine datasets using unpurified indicators exist, but the presence of dye impurities affects the accuracy of these characterizations. Colorimetric impurities are known to interfere with absorbance measurements and can cause errors in pH on the order of 0.02. In this work, a mathematical model has been developed to correct spectrophotometric pHT determined with unpurified m-Cresol Purple (mCP), the indicator used most widely for these measurements. The model accounts for absorbances of colorimetric impurities that interfere with absorbance by mCP. This corrective approach brings measurements made using unpurified mCP in synthetic solutions of 0.7 M NaCl into better agreement with those made using purified mCP: within ±0.004 pH units for all six indicators tested at pHT ≤ 8.0. The model is useful for both (a) research groups currently using unpurified mCP to measure pHT, and (b) retrospective correction of historic pHT datasets collected using unpurified mCP. The correction requires only that a small sample of the unpurified mCP is saved for a single-point test at high pHT (~12), and that historic absorbance measurements are archived for subsequent correction. The principles of the corrective model were applied to an historic calibration of the mCP dissociation constant (KI) at 0 ≤ S ≤ 40 and T = 298.15 K using unpurified indicator. After correction of absorbances for dye impurities, recalculation of KI was performed, and the recalculated values were combined with mCP KI data for freshwater and seawater. The combined dataset was then refitted as a function of S and T. The resulting model is representative of mCP behavior across 0 ≤ S ≤ 40 and 278.15 ≤ T ≤ 308.15 K and produces p(KIe2) values that are within ±0.004 of p(KIe2) values from previously published purified mCP calibrations. This refitting approach was also applied to pHT determinations made with Thymol Blue (TB) and Cresol Red (CR), two sulfonephthalein indicators that have been previously used in waters outside the indicating range of mCP. The models, which were of the same form as the estuarine p(KIe2) model for mCP, performed approximately as well as the mCP model: with the exception of one high-salinity, high-temperature TB datum, all residuals were within ±0.0043 of the previously published TB and CR calibrations. Finally, an internal consistency analysis was performed using carbon chemistry data collected during two recent coastal ocean acidification research cruises. For pHT measurements performed during both cruises, purified mCP was used, and corresponding measurements of total alkalinity (TA) and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) were conducted. Both cruises included excursions into the Columbia River, where low salinities prevent usage of the marine p(KIe2) model for purified mCP. The Columbia River samples provided the opportunity to evaluate the internal consistency of pHT measurements made in low-salinity waters using the refitted estuarine p(KIe2) model. Although internal consistency agreement in the estuarine range is poor compared to marine measurements, pHT calculated using the new estuarine model compared well with pHT calculated using the previously published estuarine mCP model. The poor internal consistency in the estuarine range, even when making state-of-the-art pH measurements, points toward the need for a more robust characterization of the carbonic acid dissociation constants in the estuarine salinity range. This characterization should take into account the contributions of organic acids to total alkalinity in nearshore waters.

abstract: The body is capable of regulating hunger in several ways. Some of these hunger regulation methods are innate, such as genetics, and some, such as the responses to stress and to the smell of food, are innate but can be affected by body conditions such as BMI and physical activity. Further, some hunger regulation methods stem from learned behaviors originating from cultural pressures or parenting styles. These latter regulation methods for hunger can be grouped into the categories: emotion, environment, and physical. The factors that regulate hunger can also influence the incidence of disordered eating, such as eating in the absence of hunger (EAH). Eating in the absence of hunger can occur in one of two scenarios, continuous EAH or beginning EAH. College students are at a particularly high risk for EAH and weight gain due to stress, social pressures, and the constant availability of energy dense and nutrient poor food options. The purpose of this study is to validate a modified EAH-C survey in college students and to discover which of the three latent factors (emotion, environment, physical) best predicts continual and beginning EAH. To do so, a modified EAH-C survey, with additional demographic components, was administered to students at a major southwest university. This survey contained two questions, one each for continuing and beginning EAH, regarding 14 factors related to emotional, physical, or environmental reasons that may trigger EAH. The results from this study revealed that the continual and beginning EAH surveys displayed good internal consistency reliability. We found that for beginning and continuing EAH, although emotion is the strongest predictor of EAH, all three latent factors are significant predictors of EAH. In addition, we found that environmental factors had the greatest influence on an individual's likelihood to continue to eat in the absence of hunger. Due to statistical abnormalities and differing numbers of factors in each category, we were unable to determine which of the three factors exerted the greatest influence on an individual's likelihood to begin eating in the absence of hunger. These results can be utilized to develop educational tools aimed at reducing EAH in college students, and ultimately reducing the likelihood for unhealthy weight gain and health complications related to obesity. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Nutrition 2013

Innovation is one of the most important factors behind today´s global economic growth and prosperity. In the current economic climate, increasing global competition and rapidly changing environment, an organisations ability to innovate is regarded as a key factor for success. It is widely accepted that creating new processes, products and procedures are vital for productivity and growth in all sectors. The literature on innovation measurements areas and utilities is voluminous and diverse. Assessing and measuring the complex conditions that influence a firm’s innovation capability is a challenging task, due to the inconsistency, inaccessibility, and complexity of measures. An integrative and holistic innovation capability assessment framework should include all aspects of innovation. This study attempt to address this gap, the lack of a holistic innovation capability assessment framework (HICAF) in project-based firms, by (a) reviewing the literature on innovation, innovation assessment, and measurement areas (b) through a qualitative case study exploring the factors promoting innovation in project-based firms (c) integrating the findings into a holistic assessment framework (d) generating items, in form of a statement, to address the underlying construct of each identified factor (e) applying the proposed framework within an organisation and statistically validating the instrument to achieve item homogeneity. Internal consistency reliability estimates have been utilized to produce a final framework consisting of 57 statistically validated items and eight theoretically grounded categories with 19 corresponding factors promoting innovation, also called enablers, in technology-orientated project-based organisations. In addition to the identified literature findings, the case study resulted in two new enablers, time management, and quality, which are not necessarily specific for project-based organisations, rather specific for the observed organisation. The performed case study is insufficient for determining whether there are any specific enablers for project-based organisations. The advantages of HICAF lies in its simplicity due to practical applicability in a large scale and facilitates managers to diagnose the organisation and recognize true symptoms to then apply appropriate treatment and remedies. A frequent application of HICAF can also help to study the effect of specific treatment and remedies in relation to innovation capability.

Title: Internal consistency of assessment set of clinical features of patients with multiple sclerosis and its correlation with the degree of neurological impairment. Objectives: The aim of this work is to verify the internal consistency of Assessment set of clinical features in patients with multiple sclerosis and its correlation with the degree of neurological disability that would comprehensively and objectively judged effect of physiotherapy in patients with MS. Method: Clinical Examination set of functions includes well-known, standard and validated assessments that evaluate the function associated with the central movement disorders focusing on the clinical manifestations of RS (Low-Contrast Letter Acuity Test contrasting vision, Motricity Index assesses muscle strength, spasticity Modified Ashworth Scale, Berg balance Scale equilibrium, Nine Hole Peg Test investigate fine motor skills, Timed 25 - Foot Walk assess walking speed over a distance of 7.5 m, Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test investigates cognitive function, and auditory information processing speed, simple computational skills and ability to concentrate after the duration of the test. Belong to this set as evaluation of righting, equilibrium and protective reactions, examination dysdiadochokinesia, ataxia, and test evaluation...

The Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5) is an emerging measure used to map pathological personality traits. In this thesis, the reliability and facet structure of the Swedish version of the PID-5 is evaluated. Further, the possible occurrence of higher-order factors of the pathological personality traits is explored. Using a sample of 275 observations, the facet structure and higher-order factors are investigated using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results show that the internal consistency, measured with Cronbach's alpha, is strong for the facets and adequate for the domains from the PID-5. The theorized facet structure could not be confirmed for the Swedish version of the PID-5. Treating the five domains as observed variables, support for a general factor of psychopathology and indications of the two factors internalizing and externalizing are found.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2017-03-29T15:07:34Z No. of bitstreams: 1 renatatoledoalves.pdf: 1932007 bytes, checksum: d5275a468ca1bba74716981cdd985ee1 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2017-03-30T11:22:20Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 renatatoledoalves.pdf: 1932007 bytes, checksum: d5275a468ca1bba74716981cdd985ee1 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-30T11:22:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 renatatoledoalves.pdf: 1932007 bytes, checksum: d5275a468ca1bba74716981cdd985ee1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-11-23 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Frente à necessidade de incluir aspectos comportamentais no diagnóstico das condições de saúde/doença bucal para grupos específicos, como as gestantes, a avaliação das atitudes torna-se imprescindível. Este estudo transversal construiu e validou um instrumento para avaliar as atitudes frente à saúde bucal de gestantes usuárias do serviço público de Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brasil, e verificou a associação entre as atitudes e características demográficas, socioeconômicas e a história gestacional da população. A metodologia qualitativa foi utilizada para gerar itens de atitudes em relação à saúde bucal na gestação. Após a validação aparente os itens deram origem a um instrumento fechado cujas respostas foram construídas numa escala tipo Likert de três pontos (Concordo; Não sei; ou Discordo). Este instrumento foi aplicado, por entrevista individual, a uma amostra representativa do município, constituída de 312 gestantes, com idade entre 13 e 43 anos. A análise estatística testou a confiabilidade do instrumento, pelo método da consistência interna, determinada pelo alfa (α) de Cronbach e verificou a associação entre a variável dependente (atitude) e variáveis independentes (características demográficas, socioeconômicas, história gestacional atual e pregressa), pelo teste de Mann-Whitney. O nível de significância de adotado foi 5%. A avaliação da confiabilidade do instrumento resultou em uma escala denominada Escala de Atitudes frente à Saúde Bucal (EA-SB) constituída de 55 itens de atitudes (α=0,82), divididos em três subescalas: Dieta e higiene (α=0,71); Relação bidirecional (α=0,74); e Crenças e mitos (α=0,76). O escore total para a EA-SB demonstrou que apenas 63,8% das gestantes apresentaram atitude favorável frente à saúde bucal e estas foram significativamente associadas às variáveis escolaridade (P=0,007), número de gestações (P=0,028), número de filhos (P=0,029) e problema de saúde em gestações anteriores (P=0,010). Os resultados obtidos demonstram que é possível construir um instrumento confiável e válido para avaliar as atitudes de gestantes em relação à saúde bucal e evidenciaram a necessidade de reforço às ações de promoção e proteção de saúde individual e/ou coletiva direcionadas a este grupo específico. / The evaluation of attitudes has become vital due to the necessity to include behavioral aspects to the diagnosis of oral health/disease conditions for specific groups, such as the group of pregnant women. This cross-sectional study developed and validated an instrument to evaluate the attitudes of pregnant women who use the public services of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil, towards oral health and assessed the association between attitudes and demographic and socioeconomic characteristics as well as pregnancy history of the population. The qualitative methodology was used to create questions about attitudes related to oral health during pregnancy. After apparent validation, the questions gave origin to a closed instrument whose answers were developed in scale such as the three-point Likert Scale (Agree; Don’t Know; and Disagree). This instrument was applied at interviews, individually, to a representative sample of the city constituted by 312 pregnant women with ages between 13 and 43. The statistical analysis tested the reliability of the instrument through the internal consistency method, determined by Cronbach’s alpha (α) and verified the association between the dependent variable (attitude) and the independent variables (demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and present and past history of pregnancy) using the Mann-Whitney Test. The level of significance adopted was 5%. The reliability evaluation of the instrument resulted in a scale called “Scale of Attitudes towards Oral Health” (SA-OH) made of 55 attitude questions (α=0.82), divided into three subscales: Diet and hygiene (α =0.71); Bidirectional relation (α=0.74) and Myths and beliefs (α=0.76). The total score for SA-OH showed that only 63.8% of pregnant women presented a favorable attitude towards oral health and these were significantly associated to the variables of level of education (P=0.007), number of pregnancies (P=0.028), number of children (P=0.029), and health problems during previous pregnancies (P=0.010). The results showed that it is possible to develop a reliable and valid instrument to evaluate the attitudes of pregnant women towards oral health. Results also showed the need to reinforce individual and/or collective actions of health promotion and protection which should be directed to this specific group.