Während Zulassungstests an Universitäten im Regelfall evaluiert werden, sind entsprechende Verfahren zur Evaluierung anderer Prozessschritte in Bewerbungsverfahren - wie die Einreichung von Motivationsschreiben - noch nicht etabliert. Um diese Lücke zu schließen, wird in diesem Beitrag ein Multi-Method-Ansatz zur Evaluierung von Motivationsschreiben vorgestellt, bei dem Text-Mining-Techniken mit inhaltsanalytischen Elementen kombiniert werden. Es wird dargelegt, wie unterschiedliche von Studierenden gesendete "Signale" mit Studienerfolg korrelieren, und aufgezeigt, dass soziodemografische Effekte bei der Bewertung von Motivationsschreiben berücksichtigt werden müssten.

“Positive illusions” refer to the tendencies to perceive the self and others positively. The current study proposes that cultural norms regarding positive illusions contribute to cultural differences in well-being. All pairs of participants completed self-reports and informant reports, and served both as perceivers and targets (N = 906 undergraduate students). A novel validated measure of positive illusions and multi-method assessment of well-being were used to examine cultural differences between Asians and Westerners in well-being. Positive illusions were assessed by means of the halo-alpha-beta model of correlations among ratings of participant’s own and an acquaintance’s personality on the Big Five dimensions (Anusic, Schimmack, Pinkus, & Lockwood, 2009). The results suggest that rating biases influence cross-cultural comparisons of well-being and that European and Asian Canadians have similar levels of well-being.

“Positive illusions” refer to the tendencies to perceive the self and others positively. The current study proposes that cultural norms regarding positive illusions contribute to cultural differences in well-being. All pairs of participants completed self-reports and informant reports, and served both as perceivers and targets (N = 906 undergraduate students). A novel validated measure of positive illusions and multi-method assessment of well-being were used to examine cultural differences between Asians and Westerners in well-being. Positive illusions were assessed by means of the halo-alpha-beta model of correlations among ratings of participant’s own and an acquaintance’s personality on the Big Five dimensions (Anusic, Schimmack, Pinkus, & Lockwood, 2009). The results suggest that rating biases influence cross-cultural comparisons of well-being and that European and Asian Canadians have similar levels of well-being.

The current dissertation employed a multi-method approach to examine gratitude as a mediator of the well-established relation between agreeableness and relationship quality. Study 1 examined this hypothesis in a sample of 158 same-sex best friend pair recruited from the Introductory Psychology subject pool at the University of Toronto, Mississauga. Each friend made self- and informant ratings of agreeableness and dispositional gratitude. Friends also made self-ratings of friendship quality. Structural equation model analyses with latent factors revealed that dispositional gratitude fully mediated the effects of agreeableness on friendship support, intimacy, and affection. Study 2 extended the findings of Study 1 by examining whether frequency of grateful affect was a more proximal mediator of the relation between agreeableness and marital quality. One hundred and ninety-seven family triads (student, mother and father) were recruited from the Introductory Psychology subject pools at the University of Toronto, St. George and Mississauga. Each member of the triad made self- and informant ratings of agreeableness, dispositional gratitude, frequency of grateful affect, and relationship quality. Structural equation model analyses with latent factors showed that frequency of spouses’ grateful affect fully mediated the effects of spouses’ agreeableness on marital support and intimacy and partially mediated the effect of agreeableness on marital companionship and affection. In sum, the findings of the current dissertation suggest that gratitude is one way in which agreeable individuals maintain good quality friendships and marital relationships. The implications of these results for current theories of gratitude as well as relationship research are discussed.

The current dissertation employed a multi-method approach to examine gratitude as a mediator of the well-established relation between agreeableness and relationship quality. Study 1 examined this hypothesis in a sample of 158 same-sex best friend pair recruited from the Introductory Psychology subject pool at the University of Toronto, Mississauga. Each friend made self- and informant ratings of agreeableness and dispositional gratitude. Friends also made self-ratings of friendship quality. Structural equation model analyses with latent factors revealed that dispositional gratitude fully mediated the effects of agreeableness on friendship support, intimacy, and affection. Study 2 extended the findings of Study 1 by examining whether frequency of grateful affect was a more proximal mediator of the relation between agreeableness and marital quality. One hundred and ninety-seven family triads (student, mother and father) were recruited from the Introductory Psychology subject pools at the University of Toronto, St. George and Mississauga. Each member of the triad made self- and informant ratings of agreeableness, dispositional gratitude, frequency of grateful affect, and relationship quality. Structural equation model analyses with latent factors showed that frequency of spouses’ grateful affect fully mediated the effects of spouses’ agreeableness on marital support and intimacy and partially mediated the effect of agreeableness on marital companionship and affection. In sum, the findings of the current dissertation suggest that gratitude is one way in which agreeable individuals maintain good quality friendships and marital relationships. The implications of these results for current theories of gratitude as well as relationship research are discussed.

Approximately a third of homicide cases go unsolved each year. Research focused on understanding what affects homicide clearance rates is often methodologically underdeveloped and has produced mixed findings. These deficiencies compromise the ability of researchers to provide important guidance to police practitioners seeking to develop best practices. Under-specified modeling and limited access to accurate sources of homicide investigation data are two potential and interconnected reasons for the inconsistencies found in previous studies. The purpose of this study was to expand the literature on homicide case outcomes as follows: 1) to organize predictors into five substantive domains (involved subjects, event circumstances, case dynamics, ecological characteristics, and investigator factors) and operationalize multiple measures of each as viable predictors of clearance outcomes; 2) to explore the utility of using original and verified police data with a larger number of nuanced data points than previously documented in modeling efforts; and 3) to forward a unique multi-method account of the factors that predict homicide case outcomes that can be readily replicated in future studies. Data were collected from one Southern metropolitan police department's 2009 to 2011 homicide investigations (N = 252). Access to official homicide case files allowed for key subject, incident, and evidentiary information to be obtained. Critical investigation details and context were added to the case file data via interviews and survey administration efforts involving the lead detectives that worked the cases. The dataset was further supplemented with Census data. Subsequent analyses included examination of the data quality and multivariate logistic regressions. A comparison of the dataset after the first stage of data collection to the final product was conducted to understand the extent to which the dataset were improved. The multi-method process resulted in more precision to the data recorded from case files, significant reductions in missing data, and heightened detail on key variables. Consequently those data allowed for specification of a multivariate model that included multiple measures from all of the homicide investigation domains. Those results suggest the expanded data more accurately captured the factors that predict clearance outcomes as measures within all five domains were significant predictors of investigation closure.

Objective: This dissertation was undertaken to explore the clinical utility of physiological and behavioural metrics of neurocognitive adaptability in the screening of older adults for possible early signs of pathological cognitive aging. Methods: This was an intensive, multi-method study of 44 healthy (non-demented) Victoria-area older adults (ages 65 to 80 years). Study 1 examined timescale-specific differences in resting electroencephalographic (EEG) adaptability as a function of subtle cognitive decline. Study 2 described differences in retest practice effect -- within and across a burst of 4 to 6 occasions of computerized cognitive testing -- with respect to individual variation in estimated premorbid function and self-reported conscientiousness. Study 3 considered whether practice effects from Study 2 were related to individual differences in the resting EEG marker derived in Study 1, above and beyond the differences due to premorbid function and conscientiousness. Results: Study 1 revealed that older adults with neuropsychological performance indicators of subtle cognitive decline also showed subtle, timescale-specific differences in resting EEG adaptability. Study 2 illustrated the differentiable effects of individual differences in estimated premorbid function and conscientiousness on within- and across-occasion improvement on a computerized attention-shifting (switch) task. Study 3 demonstrated the unique promotional effects exerted by conscientiousness and resting EEG adaptability on the rate of across-occasion improvement in cognitive performance. Conclusions: Useful yet under-used tools for detecting early signs of neurocognitive decline include rigorous, standardized neuropsychological diagnostic criteria, the magnitude of practice-related improvement in cognitive performance, and characteristics of the brain's resting electrical activity. Future multi-method, ecologically-situated studies are needed to establish standardized protocol that can be used to screen growing worldwide numbers of older adults for losses in neurocognitive adaptability that may herald the earliest stages of pathological neurocognitive aging. / Graduate

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / EMS personnel experience emotionally charged calls, such as CPR, trauma, or domestic violence. This study examined the changes on communication by these events. Communication Complex metaframework allowed use of other disciplines. There is a lack of scholarship surrounding EMS communication. Research from other military and other fields was translated into the EMS community. Mental illness is a growing concern in EMS as 37% contemplate suicide and 6% complete it. Part of understanding the affect is an exploration of how the culture of EMS (i.e. training, traditions, machismo) shapes the way new EMS are acculturated. EMS have repeated exposure to trauma over a career. These exposures change communication patterns. Using a three-chapter autoethnography, I was able to examine my communication and mental status changes from rookie until retiring 14 years later with PTSD and constant suicidal ideation. Ethnographic interviews of veteran EMS provided insight into the old school ideology of emotional repression and shelving. I analyzed using the NREMT Patient Assessment skill sheet as a guide in a three-step process to discover and reassess themes. The primary survey indicated common job-related stressors- pedi calls and staffing problems. The secondary survey revealed themes of emotions, senses, and support. Finally, the reassessment revealed subtle changes in EMS culture, including decreased PTSD stigma, increased resiliency training, and increased administrative support. Future research could examine the effect of spousal support and changes in cultural emotional suppression. The goal is to develop programs to help allies understand the emotionality in EMS and create dedicated support structures to increase EMS mental health.

Healthcare problems are complex; they exhibit both detail and dynamic complexity. It has been argued that Discrete Event Simulation (DES), with its ability to capture detail, is ideal for problems exhibiting this type of complexity. On the other hand, System Dynamics (SD) with its focus on feedback and nonlinear relationships lends itself naturally to comprehend dynamic complexity. Although these modelling paradigms provide valuable insights, neither of them are proficient in capturing both detail and dynamic complexity to the same extent. It has been argued in literature that a hybrid approach, wherein SD and DES are integrated symbiotically, will provide more realistic picture of complex systems with fewer assumptions and less complexity. In spite of wide recognition of healthcare as a complex multi- dimensional system, there has not been any reported study which utilises hybrid simulation. This could be attributed to the fact that due to fundamental differences, the mixing of methodologies is quite challenging. In order to overcome these challenges a generic theoretical framework for hybrid simulation is required. However, there is presently no such generic framework which provides guidance about integration of SD and DES to form hybrid models. This research has attempted to provide such a framework for hybrid simulation which can be utilised in healthcare domain. On the basis of knowledge induced from literature, three requirements for the generic framework have been established. It is argued that the framework for hybrid simulation should be able to provide answers to Why (why hybrid simulation is required), What (what information is exchanged between SD and DES models) and How (how SD and DES models are going to interact with each other over the time to exchange information) within the context of implementation of hybrid simulation to different problem scenarios. In order to meet these requirements, a three-phase generic framework for hybrid simulation has been proposed. Each phase of the framework is mapped to an established requirement and provides guidelines for addressing that requirement. The proposed framework is then evaluated theoretically based on its ability to meet these requirements by using multiple cases, and accordingly modified. It is further evaluated empirically with a single case study comprising of Accident and Emergency department of a London district general hospital. The purpose of this empirical evaluation is to identify the limitations of the framework with regard to the implementation of hybrid models. It is realised during implementation that the modified framework has certain limitations pertaining to the exchange of information between SD and DES models. These limitations are reflected upon and addressed in the final framework. The main contribution of this thesis is the generic framework for hybrid simulation which has been applied within healthcare context. Through an extensive review of existing literature in hybrid simulation, the thesis has also contributed to knowledge in multi-method approaches. A further contribution is that this research has attempted to quantify the impact of intangible benefits of information systems into tangible business process improvements. It is expected that this work will encourage those engaged in simulation (e.g., researchers, practitioners, decision makers) to realise the potential of cross-fertilisation of the two simulation paradigms.

This study focused on whether empowerment at individual, organisational and community levels was evident in the context of a school development planning programme. A contextualist, multi-method approach to the study was used, combining quantitative and qualitative data. A School Development Planning Evaluation Scale was developed to assess organisational empowerment in a school context. Quantitative data measuring variables associated with empowerment were also examined to establish whether involvement in the programme was associated with empowerment at the individual (locus of control and general and specific efficacy) and organisational (participation and leadership) levels. An ex post facto analysis based on a post-test only comparison group evaluation design was conducted to explore the impact of the programme. Focus groups and interviews were conducted to establish whether school staff reported that involvement in the programme had led to their personal empowerment and the empowerment of their schools. Archival data relating to the schools were also examined. Relationships between the variables were explored using multiple regression and structural equation modelling. A model of school development was developed and tested. The results indicated that extent of involvement in the programme was not a significant influence on level of empowerment. More important was the influence of school leadership, and in particular the leadership style exercised by the principal. Impact and relationship matrices, integrating the quantitative and qualitative analyses, indicated that the programme had effects on both individuals and schools, and that the process of school development planning was related to aspects of organisational empowerment. Issues of organisational internal capacity and contextual support, however, influenced implementation of school development planning. The study suggests that school development planning is a process which is contextually related, and confirms and refines the nomological network of II organisational empowerment. The results indicate that a variety of individual, organisational and contextual factors impact on individual and organisational empowerment and that a multi-level perspective is necessary for understanding the school development process. The study also suggests that community psychology, and empowerment theory in particular, offer useful frameworks for theorising and researching school development issues at individual, organisational and community levels.