This thesis presents content-related and construct-related validity evidence for science sub-tests within Student Selection Test (SST) in Turkey via underlying the content, cognitive processes, item characteristics, factorial structure, and group differences based on high school type. A total number of 126,245 students were present in the research from six type of school in the data of SST 2006. Reliability Analysis, Item Analysis, Principle Component Analysis (PCA) and one-way ANOVA have been carried out to evaluate the content-related and construct-related evidence of validity of SST. SPSS and ITEMAN programs were used to conduct the above-mentioned analyses. According to the results of content analysis, science items in the SST 2006 found to be measuring various cognitive processes under knowledge, understanding and problem solving cognitive domains. Those items loaded under three factors according to PCA findings which were measuring very close dimensions. Moreover, a threat to validity was detected via one-way ANOVA due to significant mean difference across high school types.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Education))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008

Thesis (Ph.D. (Education))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008

Orientation: South Africa’s cultural and linguistic diversity requires special measures to ensure that the assessments used in employment settings are scrupulously fair. To this end, Section 8 of The Employment Equity Act requires that psychometric tests are scientifically proved to be valid and reliable and not to discriminate unfairly against any individual or group. The South African Personality Inventory (SAPI) sets out to meet these criteria by incorporating culture-specific elements and by providing versions in each of South Africa’s 11 official languages. o Research purpose: The key determination of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Afrikaans version of the South African Personality Inventory (SAPI). The aforementioned properties include item analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), reliability analysis, product-moment correlation and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). o Motivation for the study: To contribute to the fair, valid and reliable use of the SAPI questionnaire in all language versions of the instrument by examining the psychometric properties of the Afrikaans version and comparing it with the validated English version. Once this has been done for each of the 11 official South African languages versions, a culturally neutral instrument will be available for the full diversity of employment settings in South Africa. o Research design, approach and method: This study used a quantitative cross-sectional research design with an emic approach, objectivist ontology and a post-positivist research paradigm. Primary data was collected by administering the Afrikaans version of the SAPI questionnaire to a non-probability sample of 201 purposively selected white Afrikaans-speaking South Africans who are economically and non-economically active and have a minimum qualification of Grade 12. An online Afrikaans version of the SAPI along with a biographical questionnaire was used to collect data. Item analysis was investigated by means of a descriptive statistical analysis. An initial principle component analysis followed with exploratory factor analysis was performed to determine the instrument’s factor structure. A reliability analysis was conducted in order to measure the internal consistency of the instrument. Product-moment correlations explored the relationships between variables. Further analysis was done to detect the relationships of the variables and to detect differences. Main findings: The White Afrikaners attach immense importance to the social-relational factors. From the six factors, only three factors were extracted, namely the Social-relational Positive, combined Social-relational Negative/Conscientiousness, and Intellect/Openness factors. These factors showed adequate validity and reliability. The item functionality needs to be re-evaluated in order to measure all the six factors of the SAPI and different analytical techniques should be applied. The relationships between the remaining three factors were sufficient, and only age differences were detected in the experience of Social Relational Negative/Conscientiousness o Practical/managerial implications: The results of this study provide a firm foundation for the further investigation of the validity of the Afrikaans version of the questionnaire. Furthermore, insight is given to researchers and practitioners on the need to develop, adapt or translate psychometric instruments, especially for use in an environment which is multicultural and multilingual. o Contribution/value-add: This study contributes to cultural-specific research on the assessment of personality in South Africa. Its thorough investigation and attempt to validate the Afrikaans version of the SAPI is supported by an extensive body of literature relevant to standardizing the SAPI. Practitioners and organisations will now be able to administer a culturally informed personality assessment where the home language of the employees is Afrikaans. / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2019. / Human Resource Management / MCom / Unrestricted

A Venda version of the South African Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire Fifth edition(16PF5) was develop using forward and back translation methods. This version was administered to a sample of 85 Venda speaking subjects. Subjects ranged in age from 18 to 30 years old. Item analysis was done and a qualitative analysis of the reasons why items were not successful was done for each scale. Reasons identified included translation errors, problems in understanding the vocabulary and idiomatic language used, the use of the negative form and possible differences in the manifestation of constructs. Given the large number of items to be excluded, only general trends were indicated as to avoid over interpretation. These trends need to be considered when changing or replacing items. The results of this study can be regarded as a first step in developing a Venda version of the 16PF5. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

The purpose of the study was to investigate how the online, computer-based learner's personal learning profile (Preference), the content delivery method supplemented with visual content based on Neil Fleming's VARK (visual, aural, read/write, kinesthetic) model (Content), and the interaction of Preference and Content, influenced learner performance (Performance) and/or learner self-reported satisfaction (Satisfaction). Participants were drawn from a population of undergraduates enrolled in a large public southwestern research university during the fall 2015 semester. The 165 student participants (13.79% completion rate) were comprised of 52 (31.5%) females and 113 (68.5%) males age 18-58+ years with 126 (76.4%) age 18-24 years. For race/ethnicity, participants self-identified as 1 (0.66%) American Indian/Alaska Native, 21 (12.7%) Asian/Pacific Islander, 27 (16.4%) Black, non-Hispanic, 28 (17%) Hispanic, 78 (47.3%) White, non-Hispanic, 10 (6.1%) other. Reported socioeconomic status was 22 (13.3%) withheld, 53 (32.1%) did not know, 45 (27.3%) low, 13 (7.9%) moderately low, 16 (9.7%) middle, 8 (4.8%) upper middle, and 8 (4.8%) upper. This causal-comparative and quasi-experimental, mixed-method, longitudinal study used researcher-developed web-based modules to measure Performance and Satisfaction, and used the criterion p < .05 for statistical significance. A two-way, 4 x 3 repeated measures (Time) analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) using Preference and Content was statistically significant on each Performance measure over Time, and at two measures on Satisfaction over Time. The RM-ANOVA was statistically significant on between-subjects main effect Performance for read/write modality Content compared to aural and kinesthetic Content. There were no statistically significant main effects observed for Satisfaction. A Pearson r correlation analysis showed that participants that were older, married, and of higher socioeconomic status performed better. The correlation analysis also showed that participants who performed better reported greater likelihood to take online courses in the future, higher motivation, sufficient time and support for studies, and sufficient funding for and access to the Internet. The study results suggested that regardless of Preference, using read/write modality Content based on the VARK model while maintaining the verbal language can yield better Performance outcomes. The study results also suggested that while maintaining the verbal language, Preference, and Content based on the VARK model do not distinguish learner Satisfaction outcomes. However, because Satisfaction has been shown to impact Performance, efficacy, and retention, it matters to educational institutions. Future research should consider more granular models and factorial research methods, because models that utilize a single representative construct score can mask effects when analyzing Performance and Satisfaction.

Área de endemismo ou elemento biótico é uma região geográfica que apresenta congruência distribucional entre táxons. Não há um padrão aceito universalmente para delimitação de áreas de endemismo e, portanto, várias metodologias são usadas para sua identificação. Nesta dissertação, propomos uma comparação integrada de alguns métodos de análises de endemismo, com base em dados de distribuição hipotéticos e reais. Desta forma, este estudo tem como objetivos: (1) comparar a Análise de Parcimônia de endemicidade (PAE), a Análise de endemicidade (EA) e um novo método de codificação que propomos a Análise de Distribuições de Três-Itens (3ID), avaliando sua performance com base na capacidade de identificar padrões hipotéticos predefinidos de áreas de endemismo, representando áreas não conflitantes, aninhadas e sobrepostas; (2) analisar os padrões de distribuição de 214 espécies de hidrozoários bentônicos, pelágicos e benthopelágicos não-sifonóforos do Oceano Atlântico Sul Ocidental (OASO), usando três métodos biogeográficos para testar hipóteses anteriores de regionalização biogeográfica e avaliar o performance da PAE, a EA e a 3ID com conjuntos de dados reais. No capítulo 2, intitulado &ldquo;Comparison of analysis of endemism procedures based on hypothetical distributions&rdquo;, nós comparamos a PAE, EA e 3ID e encontramos que a 3ID tem o maior percentual de sucesso na recuperação de áreas de endemismo predefinidas. Adicionalmente, a EA é o único método capaz de recuperar padrões sobrepostos, porém também encontra padrões espúrios. Nós sugerimos, portanto, que a melhor opção para identificação de áreas de endemismo é o uso de 3ID e EA em conjunto. No capítulo 3, intitulado &ldquo;Biogeographic patterns of benthic and planktonic hydrozoans from the southwestern Atlantic Ocean&rdquo;, nós utilizamos dados distribucionais de 214 espécies de hidrozoários bentônicos, pelágicos e bentopelágicos não-sifonóforos do OASO (20&deg;-60&deg;S, 33&deg;-75&deg;W), os quais foram organizados em diferentes matrizes (concatenada, bentônica, pelágica, e bentopelágica) de acordo com as diferentes estratégias de ciclo de vida em Hydrozoa. Todas as matrizes foram analisadas por meio da PAE, EA e 3ID. Os resultados mostram três padrões biogeográficos gerais: (1) Tropical (2) Temperado-Quente, e (3) Temperado-Frio. Os padrões obtidos variam de acordo com o tipo de ciclo de vida em Hydrozoa, demonstrando a importância de analisar-se separadamente conjuntos de dados de espécies com diferentes estratégias de reprodução. Cada método teve um desempenho diferente e, portanto, concluímos que o uso de 3ID e EA em conjunto é a melhor opção para inferir padrões biogeográficos marinhos / Areas of endemism or biotic elements comprise regions delimited by more than one taxon with coincident patterns of distribution. There is not an accepted universal protocol for delimitation of areas of endemism, and therefore, they are identified by several different methods. In this study, we propose an integrative comparison of different methods for identification of areas of endemism based on data of hypothetical and real distributions. Therefore, the general aims of this study are: (1) to compare the Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity (PAE), the Endemicity Analysis (EA) and a new coding method that we propose, the Three-Item Analysis of Distributions (3ID) to contrast their performance based on their ability to identify hypothetical predefined areas of endemism representing non-conflicting, nested and overlapping patterns; (2) to analyze the patterns of distribution of benthic, pelagic and benthopelagic non-siphonophore hydrozoans of the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean (SWAO), to test previous biogeographic hypotheses of regionalization for the area and to evaluate the performance of the endemicity methods based on real datasets. In chapter 2, entitled &ldquo;Comparison of analysis of endemism procedures based on hypothetical distributions&rdquo;, we compared the performance of PAE, EA and 3ID, and we found that 3ID has the greatest percentage of success in retrieving predefined areas of endemism. EA is the only method that recovers overlapping patterns, but it can also find spurious patterns. We recommend the use of 3ID together with EA as the best available option for hypothesizing areas of endemism. In chapter 3, entitled &ldquo;Biogeographic patterns of benthic and planktonic hydrozoans from the southwestern Atlantic Ocean&rdquo;, we used the distribution 214 hydrozoan species from the SWAO (20&deg;-60&deg;S, 33&deg;-75&deg;W), which were organized in different data matrices (concatenated, benthic, pelagic, and benthopelagic) according to the different life cycle strategies in Hydrozoa. All matrices were analyzed through PAE, EA and 3ID. The resulting areas showed three broad biogeographic patterns: (1) Tropical, (2) Warm-Temperate and (3) Cold-Temperate. The output patterns varied according to the life cycle of hydrozoan species, demonstrating the importance in analyzing separately data of species with different strategies of life cycle. Each method performed differently, and we concluded that the use of 3ID and EA together is the best approach to infer strong biogeographic patterns for the marine realm

Student selection test in Turkey compose of two parts. The purpose of the first part is to assess students&rsquo / higher order thinking skills like analytical thinking, interpretation and reasoning about elementary school curriculum and 9th grade curricula objectives. On the other hand, second part of the test aims to assess students&rsquo / higher order thinking skills given in the high school curriculum. The main aim of this thesis is to analyze to what extend 2006, 2007 and 2008 student selection tests biology items assess higher order cognitive skills. In accordance with this purpose, elementary and high school curriculum and the appropriateness of the questions in the student selection test with the educational objectives of the curriculum are examined. In addition, dimensions of 2006, 2007, and 2008 SST biology items are examined by Exploratory Component Analysis and Confirmatory Component Analysis techniques. The result of those analysis revealed that SST biology items mostly focus on remembering skill and fail to assess higher order thinking skills. Additionally, there is not any consistency among 2006, 2007, and 2008 SSTs biology items in terms of dimensions which means there is not any construct in biology subtests of SSTs. The other aim of the present study is to identify how much academic and non-academic factors explain the biology achievement. While for academic factors reading comprehension, mathematics, physics, and chemistry achievements of students are used, age, gender, and school type are used for non-academic factors. Findings of the research revealed that academic factors, especially chemistry achievement, have significant affect on biology achievement. In terms of non-academic factors, graduating from selecting high school has important role for biology achievement. Additionally, older students and girls tend to have higher grades in biology.

A Venda version of the South African Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire Fifth edition(16PF5) was develop using forward and back translation methods. This version was administered to a sample of 85 Venda speaking subjects. Subjects ranged in age from 18 to 30 years old. Item analysis was done and a qualitative analysis of the reasons why items were not successful was done for each scale. Reasons identified included translation errors, problems in understanding the vocabulary and idiomatic language used, the use of the negative form and possible differences in the manifestation of constructs. Given the large number of items to be excluded, only general trends were indicated as to avoid over interpretation. These trends need to be considered when changing or replacing items. The results of this study can be regarded as a first step in developing a Venda version of the 16PF5. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less. Marie Curie Debates about how best to test people from different contexts and backgrounds continue to hold the spotlight of testing and assessment. In an effort to contribute to the debates, the purpose of the study was to develop and evaluate the viability and utility of nonverbal figural reasoning ability items that were developed based on inspirations from African cultural artefacts such as African material prints, art, decorations, beadwork, paintings, et cetera. The research was conducted in two phases, with phase 1 focused on the development of the new items, while phase 2 was used to evaluate the new items. The aims of the study were to develop items inspired by African art and cultural artefacts in order to measure general nonverbal figural reasoning ability; to evaluate the viability of the items in terms of their appropriateness in representing the African art and cultural artefacts, specifically to determine the face and content validity of the items from a cultural perspective; and to evaluate the utility of the items in terms of their psychometric properties. These elements were investigated using the exploratory sequential mixed method research design with quantitative embedded in phase 2. For sampling purposes, the sequential mixed method sampling design and non-probability sampling strategies were used, specifically the purposive and convenience sampling methods. The data collection methods that were used included interviews with a cultural expert and colour-blind person, open-ended questionnaires completed by school learners and test administration to a group of 946 participants undergoing a sponsored basic career-related training and guidance programme. Content analysis was used for the qualitative data while statistical analysis mainly based on the Rasch model was utilised for quantitative data. The results of phase 1 were positive and provided support for further development of the new items, and based on this feedback, 200 new items were developed. This final pool of items was then used for phase 2 – the evaluation of the new items. The v statistical analysis of the new items indicated acceptable psychometric properties of the general reasoning (“g” or fluid ability) construct. The item difficulty values (pvalues) for the new items were determined using classical test theory (CTT) analysis and ranged from 0.06 (most difficult item) to 0.91 (easiest item). Rasch analysis showed that the new items were unidimensional and that they were adequately targeted to the level of ability of the participants, although there were elements that would need to be improved. The reliability of the new items was determined using the Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient (α) and the person separation index (PSI), and both methods indicated similar indices of internal consistency (α = 0.97; PSI = 0.96). Gender-related differential item functioning (DIF) was investigated, and the majority of the new items did not indicate any significant differences between the gender groups. Construct validity was determined from the relationship between the new items and the Learning Potential Computerised Adaptive Test (LPCAT), which uses traditional item formats to measure fluid ability. The correlation results for the total score of the new items and the pre- and post-tests were 0.616 and 0.712 respectively. The new items were thus confirmed to be measuring fluid ability using nonverbal figural reasoning ability items. Overall, the results were satisfactory in indicating the viability and utility of the new items. The main limitation of the research was that because the sample was not representative of the South African population, there were limited for generalisation. This led to a further limitation, namely that it was not possible to conduct important analysis on DIF for various other subgroups. Further research has been recommended to build on this initiative. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology