Psychometric testing is becoming more influential in the recruitment and development of individuals within the corporate environment globally, with over 80% of Fortune 500 companies in the USA and over 75% of the Times Top 100 companies in the UK using psychometric testing, the same trend is emerging in South Africa. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between an individual’s preferred behavioural approach on various behavioural dimensions and the manner in which they complete a psychometric measure, more specifically, a learning potential measure within the corporate environment, as an individual’s preferred behavioural approach may act as a biasing factor with regard to the result that they obtain. A causal research design was utilised and two psychometric measures used to respectively determine an individual’s preferred behavioural style and learning potential. The sample consisted of 398 economically active adult candidates in either a development or recruitment assessment centre. Both the Personal Profile Analysis (PPA) and Test for Selection and Training (TST) were administered on these 398 individuals. Statistical analysis was carried out on the test results with the use of SPSS and Microsoft Excel. The reliability and validity of the measuring instruments was also ascertained and found acceptable. Descriptive statistics, contingency tables, significant differences, t-test statistics and p-values were used to analyse the data. These statistical methods were used to indicate if a relationship exists. The results indicate that various behavioural dimensions, (Dominance, Influence and Steadiness) amongst individuals within the South African Corporate environment do have an impact on how they complete a learning potential measure, when consideration is given to the speed and accuracy with which they complete such a measure. Recommendations for the organisation and future research were made. / Psychology / M.A. (Research Psychology)

<p>Functional impairment is increasingly prevalent among middle-aged and older adults, with 2 in 5 adults over the age of 65 having some form of disability, the majority being limitations on mobility. Many older adults are able to maintain functional capacity well into later life, but the factors that contribute to high levels of function and the mechanisms by which they operate are unclear, although prior work has demonstrated the importance of social relationships for health. Guided by principles from the life course perspective and perspectives on social connectedness, this dissertation examined the role of social connectedness across the life course as a predictor of functional capacity in adulthood. I used existing longitudinal data from the national Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study to pursue three central aims.</p> <p><br></p> <p>First, Paper 1 compared theoretical and data-driven approaches to classifying life course relationships, including multiple dimensions of social connectedness at different time points across the life course. Results showed that the data-driven approach (i.e., latent profile analysis) was a stronger predictor of functional limitations than the theoretical approach and revealed relationship trajectories consistent with life course cumulative processes. Second, using the profiles obtained from Paper 1, Paper 2 probed the association between life-course social connectedness and functional limitations by examining the potential mediating role of candidate biological and behavioral mechanisms, and moderation by socioeconomic status (SES). Paper 2 findings suggested that observed differences in later-life functional limitations based on life-course social connectedness can be at least partially explained by physical activity, but do not vary by SES. Contrary to hypotheses, inflammation was not a significant mediator. Third, Paper 3 used monozygotic twin data and within-family analyses to sharpen the focus on potential causal associations between life-course social connectedness and adult functional status. Results suggested that the association is likely driven by genetic and/or shared environmental influences. </p> <p><br></p> <p>Taken together, these results add to our understanding of social connectedness and health and address important gaps in the literature. These findings are used to generate theory- and intervention-relevant insights into the successful maintenance of health, independence, and function across the lifespan.</p>

L’approche de la carrière criminelle a été appliquée à maintes reprises auprès de délinquants sexuels afin d’approfondir les connaissances relatives à leur participation criminelle, à la fréquence de leur passage à l’acte, à la durée de leur parcours criminel, à la gravité de leurs crimes et au polymorphisme dont ces délinquants font preuve. Parallèlement à l’essor des nouvelles technologies, un besoin grandissant d’en apprendre davantage sur la carrière criminelle des auteurs de leurre informatique s’est fait ressentir. À ce jour, peu d’études ont analysé le parcours criminel emprunté par ces cyberdélinquants sexuels en ayant recours au cadre d’analyse de la carrière criminelle. Afin de remédier à cette limite, le présent mémoire a comme objectif principal d’analyser les parcours criminels des auteurs de leurre informatique afin d’élargir les connaissances quant à la participation, la fréquence, la durée, la gravité et le polymorphisme. Plus précisément, l’objectif spécifique est d’analyser les tendances en termes de carrières criminelles. Pour ce faire, une analyse de profils latents a été menée auprès d’un échantillon de 1 201 auteurs de leurre. Les résultats indiquent l’existence de divers parcours criminels des auteurs de leurre et mettent en lumière quatre profils, soit (1) l’auteur de leurre « ponctuel à délinquance unique », (2) l’auteur de leurre « versatile tardif », (3) l’auteur de leurre « délinquant sexuel spécialiste » et (4) l’auteur de leurre « polymorphe prolifique ». Le premier profil identifié est composé d’auteurs de leurre ne commettant qu’un seul crime à travers leur parcours criminel selon les données officielles. Le second profil, pour sa part, regroupe les individus commettant plusieurs crimes sexuels et non sexuels et qui mettent fin tardivement à leur carrière criminelle. Ensuite, le troisième profil identifié comprend les auteurs ayant un penchant pour les crimes de sexuels, bien que leur carrière criminelle soit limitée en termes de participation et de fréquence. Dernièrement, le quatrième profil est constitué d’auteurs polymorphes commettant une variété de crimes sexuels et non sexuels. / The criminal career approach has been extensively applied in the context of sexual delinquency and allowed to deepen knowledge regarding the crimes committed by sex offenders, the duration of their criminal involvement, the seriousness of their criminal behaviors, and the variety of crimes they commit. Along with the rise of new technologies, there has been a growing need to learn more about the criminal careers of online groomers. To date, no studies have analyzed the criminal path of these online sex offenders using a criminal career framework. To remedy this limitation, the main objective of this paper is to analyze the criminal paths of online groomers as to broaden knowledge on participation, frequency, duration, seriousness, and versatility. Specifically, the objective is to identify tendencies in regards to their criminal careers. To do so, a latent profile analysis was performed on a sample of 1 201 online groomers. The results support the existence of multiple delinquent paths of individuals who sexually solicit youth online and highlight the existence of four profiles: (1) the “one-timer” groomer, (2) the “versatile and late” groomer, (3) the “specialist sex offender” groomer, and (4) the “versatile and prolific” groomer. The first profile identified consists of online groomers committing a single crime across their criminal path. The second profile includes individuals who commit multiple sexual and non-sexual crimes and who end their criminal career belatedly. The third identified profile includes perpetrators with a preference for sexual crimes, but whose criminal careers are limited in terms of participation and frequency. Lastly, the fourth profile is composed of versatile offenders committing a variety of sexual and non-sexual crimes.

This thesis explores item response theory (IRT) in the Personal Profile Analysis (PPA) from Thomas International. The study contains two parts (Part 1 and Part II) for which two sample groups were collected. For Part I of the research 650 participants were collected via the old form (CPPA25/C7) in the Beijing office of Thomas International in China (male=323, Female=267, missing=60). Part II of the research used the amended form in the same area and collected a sample of 307 (male=185, female=119, missing=3). The study postulates that IRT methods are applicable to forced-choice psychometrics. The results of Part I showed that the current CPPA form functions, to some extent, according to PPA’s original constructs. Part I of the research identified 16 items that need to be amended (called Amend A in this research). The amended form was returned to China for the collection of samples for Part II, and the results are deemed acceptable. The study concludes with a research protocol for PPA-IRT research generated from the current research. The research protocol suggests four levels of analysis for forced choice (FC) psychometrics, namely: 1. Textual analysis, 2. Functional analysis, 3. Dynamic analysis, and 4. Construct analysis. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

This thesis explores item response theory (IRT) in the Personal Profile Analysis (PPA) from Thomas International. The study contains two parts (Part 1 and Part II) for which two sample groups were collected. For Part I of the research 650 participants were collected via the old form (CPPA25/C7) in the Beijing office of Thomas International in China (male=323, Female=267, missing=60). Part II of the research used the amended form in the same area and collected a sample of 307 (male=185, female=119, missing=3). The study postulates that IRT methods are applicable to forced-choice psychometrics. The results of Part I showed that the current CPPA form functions, to some extent, according to PPA’s original constructs. Part I of the research identified 16 items that need to be amended (called Amend A in this research). The amended form was returned to China for the collection of samples for Part II, and the results are deemed acceptable. The study concludes with a research protocol for PPA-IRT research generated from the current research. The research protocol suggests four levels of analysis for forced choice (FC) psychometrics, namely: 1. Textual analysis, 2. Functional analysis, 3. Dynamic analysis, and 4. Construct analysis. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

Los objetivos de la presente tesis fueron comparar el efecto de tres técnicas de cocción en varios vegetales y su selección para cada producto estudiado. Para ello, los trabajos realizados han considerado los cambios en las propiedades físico-químicas, nutricionales, sensoriales y la microestructura. Asimismo, como respuesta al reto de aplicar tratamientos equivalentes en firmeza con diferentes técnicas de cocción se ha propuesto una metodología que combina los diseños experimentales de superficie respuesta (RSM) con análisis instrumentales y sensoriales. Los tratamientos térmicos estudiados fueron la cocción tradicional (TC¿ agua hirviendo a 100 °C) junto con dos tratamientos que utilizan el vacío en el procesado: el cook-vide (CV¿ cocción a vacío continuo donde los alimentos están en contacto con agua hirviendo a baja presión) y el sous-vide (SV¿ cocción de alimentos previamente embolsados a vacío donde el alimento está separado del agua de cocción). Los vegetales objeto de estudio fueron la patata morada (Solanum tuberosum L. var. Vitelotte), la judía verde (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Estefania), la zanahoria (Daucus carota L. cv. Nantesa) y la col lombarda (o repollo colorado) (Brassica oleracea convar. capitata var. capitata f. rubra). Considerando muestras con firmeza instrumental similar y las propiedades nutricionales y sensoriales (especialmente aroma y sabor), incluyendo la aceptación del consumidor, se recomienda la cocción SV para los vegetales estudiados, excepto para la zanahoria. En el caso de este vegetal el cocinado tradicional (100 °C) mantiene la aceptabilidad del consumidor y aumenta la extracción de los ß-carotenos por lo que se considera más recomendable que el SV. / Iborra Bernad, MDC. (2013). Comparison of vacuum treatments and traditional cooking in vegetables using instrumental and sensory analysis [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/32953 / TESIS

À l'échelle mondiale, la violence entre partenaires intimes (VPI) demeure un problème de santé publique préoccupant, nous indiquant l’importance d’identifier ses corrélats. Un facteur ayant été associé à la violence masculine est l’hostilité envers les femmes. Toutefois, aucune de ces études n’a pris en compte toutes les formes principales de VPI ainsi que la sévérité des actes, ne permettant pas de représenter adéquatement l’hétérogénéité du phénomène. Également, l’association observée entre l’hostilité envers les femmes et la VPI perpétrée par les femmes indique la pertinence d’investiguer ce lien chez les hommes. Le premier objectif du présent mémoire visait à identifier les profils de VPI sur la base de la sévérité des actes de VPI physique, psychologique, sexuelle et du contrôle coercitif perpétrés auprès d’un échantillon clinique de 969 hommes en recherche d’aide pour violence conjugale. Le deuxième objectif visait à analyser si les profils identifiés présentaient des différences en termes d’hostilité envers les femmes et d’hostilité envers les hommes. Les analyses de profils latents ont permis d’identifier quatre profils d’auteurs en fonction de la sévérité des actes perpétrés sur les quatre formes de VPI. Des différences significatives ont ensuite été observées entre les profils et l’hostilité de genre. Plus particulièrement, le profil caractérisé par des formes sévères de VPI et de contrôle coercitif affichait les niveaux les plus élevés d'hostilité envers les femmes et envers les hommes. Les résultats contribuent à améliorer notre compréhension des corrélats de la VPI et à guider le développement d'interventions adaptées à ces profils d’auteurs. / Across the world, intimate partner violence (IPV) remains a significant public health concern, indicating the importance of identifying its correlates. One factor that has been associated with male violence is hostility towards women. However, none of these studies took into account all the main forms of IPV, nor the severity of the acts, making it impossible to adequately represent the heterogeneity of the phenomenon. Additionally, the association observed between hostility towards women and IPV perpetrated by women indicates the relevance of investigating this link among men. The first objective of the present study was to identify distinct IPV profiles based on the severity of acts of physical, psychological, sexual, and coercive control IPV perpetrated among a clinical sample of 969 men seeking help for domestic violence. The second objective was to analyze whether the profiles differed in terms of hostility towards women and hostility towards men. Latent profile analyses identified four perpetrators profiles based on the severity of the acts perpetrated on the four forms of IPV. Significant differences were observed between profiles and gender hostility. Most notably, the profile characterized by severe forms of IPV and severe coercive control displayed the highest levels of hostility towards both women and men. The results contribute to improve our understanding of IPV correlates and guide the development of interventions tailored to these different perpetrators profiles.