Purpose: A key objective feature in Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is the presence of Periodic Limb Movements (PLMs). The gold standard for documenting PLMs is through polysomnogram (PSG), an overnight sleep study in a sleep laboratory, which is expensive and often inaccessible. This work explored the ability of a portable sleep monitor (PM) to reliably record surface EMG signals, to reliably record limb movements overnight in comparison with PSG, and examined intra- and inter-rater reliability for scoring the PM recordings. Methods: The PM’s surface EMG channel was tested against a standard EMG amplifier by recording bilateral tibialis anterior muscle activity in five healthy participants. It was also tested for recording PLMs simultaneously with polysomnography at Kingston General Hospital with 40 participants referred for screening of sleep disorders. PLMs were scored using standard criteria according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine Scoring Manual (2007) Analyses: Comparison between the two methods of surface EMG recording was through counts of muscle activity bursts. Comparison of overnight PLM counts was through t-test, Pearson’s r, Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman plots. Intra-rater reliability and inter-rater reliability between two analysts was examined by ICC. Results: Examination of the PM surface EMG recordings demonstrated an exact match of muscle activity counts between the PM and standard EMG recordings. In the PSG study, mean difference between the two PLMI values was +4.8 ± 11.1, t (34) = 2.1, p = 0.04, which was statistically significant and demonstrated systematic over-reporting by the portable monitor. The two PLMI values were strongly correlated, giving a Pearson’s r = .87, p < 0.001. ICC for absolute agreement was 0.87, (95% CI, 0.76 – 0.93), p < 0.001. Bland-Altman analysis gave 95% limits of agreement between the two PLM Indices as +27.9 (95% CI +33.0 to 20.2) to – 19.3 (95%CI -10.6 to -23.4). Conclusions: These data suggest there may be sufficient agreement between PLMI collected by PM and polysomnography to support the use of the PM for measuring PLMs. Further testing should address test retest reliability and examine the performance of the PM in a wider patient population. / Thesis (Master, Rehabilitation Science) -- Queen's University, 2012-08-24 16:40:03.381

Cough reflex testing (CRT) is used to assess the sensory and motor components of a reflexive cough. When used as an adjunct to the clinical swallowing evaluation, it has the potential to identify individuals who are more likely to aspirate silently in the event of aspiration. It is unknown how reliable clinicians are at interpreting cough responses and the factors that influence this reliability. Therefore, this study ascertained the reliability of Speech Language Therapists in interpreting cough responses in CRT and determined how sensory perception and training influence reliability. Additionally, the study determined a relative measure of CRT interpretation validity through a comparison with ‘expert’ consensus ratings. A total of 111 clinicians completed an online survey consisting of ratings of 30 audio-, visual- and audiovisual clips over three sessions, and a final questionnaire. Reliability was substantial (κ=.76) in rating for presence of cough but only fair (κ=.25) in rating for strength of cough. Clinicians used a variety of auditory and visual cues to assist in decision making. Training did not result in higher reliability. Ratings of individual clinicians were significantly associated with consensus ratings for presence of cough (p < 0.001) and strength of cough (p < 0.05). In summary, clinicians could reliably and accurately judge presence of cough response, but were poorer at rating the strength of cough.

No description available.

The purpose of the current study was to investigate three aspects of the construct validity of attributional style assessment instruments. The first purpose was to determine the independence of stability and globality. The second was to determine if controllability was a dimension of attributional style. The third purpose was to determine if inventories that use real or hypothetical events measure attributional style equally well. One hundred fifty-nine female, and one hudred fifty-five male subjects, completed four questionnaires that assessed attributional style. Results provided some support for the general construct of attributional style. All four factors were found, which demonstrates the support for the four factor model. However, the two factor model may be the best overall method. No method factor (real or hypothetical stimulus event) solution was obtained. Possible sex differences are discussed. The findings are discussed in terms of attribution theory. Suggestions for further research are presented. / Department of Psychological Science

The Neuropsychological Symptom Inventory (Dean, 1982) was developed to examine the neuropsychological symptomology presented by patients. It consists of 17 items that assess family/medical history that are responded to on a true/false format. In addition, there are 100 items which assess cognitive, emotional-social, sensory-perceptual, and behavioral symptomology, which are to be responded to on a Likert scale from 1 to 4.The present study investigated the validation of the Neuropsychological Symptom Inventory (NSI) (Dean, 1982). In a series of investigations the construct validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability of the NSI were examined. Such procedures were considered essential to investigate the utility of the NSI.The subjects numbered 826, for the factor analysis study and the internal consistency analysis, which consisted of college students from introductory psychology classes, and patients seen in both outpatient and inpatient settings. Additionally, there were 132 subjects who participated in the study for test-retest.Utilizing a varimax rotation, a four factor solution was obtained for the NSI, accounting for 47.9 % of the total variance. The results demonstrated high internal consistency for the NSI, with an overall Alpha coefficient of .967. In addition, moderate test-retest estimates were found, ranging from .3365 for Factor 3 to .6223 for Factor 4.These results showed strong psychometric properties for the NSI and suggest its use as a viable alternative to currently available measures. Results are discussed in terms of a need for further refinement of the NSI. / Department of Educational Psychology

The recent worldwide shift in focus from goods production to service provision in Western countries has resulted in the expansion of the service sector. The front-line worker has become a central figure in the new workplace, forming an important link between the company and the customer. The nature of the interaction between customer service staff and clients influences the perceived quality of service rendered by the company. Call centre work requires a high degree of personal contact with the public and the performance of emotional labour. Previous research found emotional labour to be a significant predictor of burnout. Given the above scenario, the lack of empirical research that systematically investigates burnout in a customer services environment in South Africa is a source of concern. The objectives of this study were to determine the construct validity and internal consistency of the Maslach Burnout Inventory - General Survey (MBI-GS) (Schaufeli, Leiter, Maslach & Jackson, 1996) in a customer services environment, and to compare the relationship of burnout with various demographic characteristics. A cross-sectional survey design was used. The study population consisted of an accidental sample of customer services personnel (N = 228). The Maslach Burnout Inventory - General Survey (MBI-GS) was used to determine the level of burnout in the participants. A biographical questionnaire was used to gather additional information. Structural equation modelling (SEM) methods as implemented by AMOS were used to test the factorial model for the MBI-GS. Cronbach alpha coefficients and inter-item correlation coefficients were used to assess the internal consistency and construct validity of the MBI-GS. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. T-tests and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to determine differences between the sub-groups in the sample. Tukey tests were done to indicate which groups differed significantly when ANOVAS were done. The results confirmed a three-factor model of burnout, consisting of Exhaustion, Cynicism and Professional Efficacy. All three factors showed acceptable internal consistencies. The results also showed that customer service staff who measured high on exhaustion and cynicism (compared with those who measured low) experienced less job satisfaction. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

The nursing profession in South Africa currently faces a climate of uncertainty and change as governments struggle to contain healthcare while improving access, equity and health outcomes. These factors are placing an extra burden on people in a profession that is already encapsulated by an above-average risk environment for burnout and occupational stress. This research emerges from the need to enhance the work wellness of employees in an already burdened profession. Enhancement of work wellness depends on the successful diagnosis of burnout, work engagement and occupational stress. To be able to measure these constructs, it is important to use reliable and valid instruments, taking into account the cultural diversity in a multicultural setting such as South Africa. No validated instruments in this regard exist for the nursing profession in South Africa. Furthermore, little information is available regarding these constructs and the relationship between them, including sense of coherence and coping strategies. The general aim of this study was to validate the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) and the Nursing Stress Indicator (NSI) for the nursing profession in South Africa; to analyse the differences between the levels of burnout and engagement of different biographical groups; to identify the major occupational stressors and to investigate the relationships between occupational stress, sense of coherence, coping, burnout and work engagement. A cross-sectional survey design was used, with stratified random samples (N = 818) taken of registered nurses in South Africa. The Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey. the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, the Nursing Stress Indicator, the Orientation to Life Questionnaire, the Coping Orientation for Problem Experienced Questionnaire, as well as a biographical questionnaire, was administered for the purpose of data collection. Cronbach alpha coefficients, exploratory factor analysis, Pearson product-moment correlations, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), t-tests, descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were employed to analyse the data. Exploratory factor analysis with target rotations resulted in a three-factor model of burnout, consisting of exhaustion, depersonalisation and personal accomplishment, and a one-factor model of work engagement. The scales showed acceptable construct equivalence and internal consistencies for all three language groups, except for one item in the engagement scale, where a significant lower score was noticed for the African language speaking group. Practically significant differences were found in the burnout and engagement levels of registered nurses with regard to their age and rank, and in the case of work engagement, also regarding the years spent in nursing. T-tests revealed that burnout and engagement levels were influenced by the occurrence of a medical condition and a lack of specialised training, and in the case of burnout, also by longer working hours (full-time employment). Registered nurses reported significantly high levels of stress relating to staff shortage, inadequate salaries and excessive administrative duties. Lack of organisational support and job demands were the strongest predictors of burnout (emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation), together with a weak sense of coherence. Focus on and ventilation of emotions as a coping strategy was also related to emotional exhaustion. Low levels of burnout were found to be related to high levels of engagement. Multiple regression analysis revealed that occupational stress, a weak sense of coherence, approach coping, focus on and ventilation of emotions, and low seeking of emotional/social support predicted 33% of the variance in emotional exhaustion. Twenty-seven percent of the variance in depersonalisation was predicted by occupational stress, a weak sense of coherence, avoidance coping, focus on and ventilation of emotions, and a low turning to religion. Occupational stress because of job demands, a weak sense of coherence, approach coping strategies, focus on and ventilation of emotion, in the absence of avoidance as a coping strategy, predicted 17% of the variance in personal accomplishment, while low levels of occupational stress because of job demands, a weak sense of coherence, and approach coping strategies predicted 24% of the variance in engagement. Recommendations for future research were made. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Although different occupations/organisations have unique work characteristics, it seems possible to divide them into two categories, namely job demands and job resources. A valid, equivalent and reliable instrument is needed to measure job demands and resources and to compare them among different occupations/organisations. The aim of this study was to investigate the construct equivalence, validity and reliability of a measuring instrument of job demands and resources and to assess the differences between the job demands and job resources in various occupations/organisations in South Africa. A cross-sectional survey design was used. A stratified random sample (N = 2717) was taken from a population consisting of employees in various occupations and organisations. The occupations/organisations included academics (higher education institutions), staff at a university of technology, correctional officers. insurance staff and engineers. The Job Demands-Resources Scale (JDRS) was used to assess job demands and job resources in the different occupations/organisations. Descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, reliability analysis and multivariate analysis of variance were used to analyse the data. Five reliable factors were extracted using principal component analysis, namely: overload, growth opportunities, organisational support, advancement and job insecurity. The results showed that the structure of job demands and job resources in the different occupations/organisations were equivalent. with the exception of one factor, namely organisational support. Engineers showed higher scores on overload and growth opportunities than Occupations/organisations. Academics in higher education institutions also experienced more growth opportunities than other groups. Engineers, academics in higher education institutions and employees in the insurance industry reported higher levels of organisational support than correctional officers and employees at a university of technology. Engineers obtained the highest score on advancement, while academics in higher education institutions obtained the lowest scores. Job insecurity was the highest for correctional officers and employees of a university of technology, and the lowest for engineers. Recommendations for future research were made. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Coping strategies represent the efforts, both behavioural and cognitive, that people invest in order to deal with stressful encounters. Coping is a basic component for developing adaptation and plays a major role in the relationship between the individual and the environment, especially as a moderating element between stress and sickness. Against this backdrop of the impact that the well-being of employees has on organisations, it is of the essence that organisations need to understand how their members cope with the demands which the organisation places on them. This understanding can assist organisations to evaluate the resources they make available to help employees to cope more positively with the demands placed upon them. The general objective of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Coping Orientations to the Problems Experienced Questionnaire (COPE) within different occupational groups in South Africa, to examine the construct equivalence and to assess reliability. A swey design was used. Random samples (N = 3178) were taken from electricity supply personnel, nurses and police officials, and the COPE was administered. Descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) were used to analyse the data. Exploratory factor analysis, using principal axis factoring with varimax rotation, was conducted on 53 items of the COPE and revealed four interpretable factors (Factor 1 = Approach Coping; Factor 2 = Avoidance; Factor 3 = Seeking Support; and Factor 4 = Turn to Religion). Highly acceptable Tucker's phi coefficients were found for all the comparisons, and therefore, sufficient evidence for the construct equivalence of the COPE was demonstrated. Alpha coefficients, ranging from 0,85 to 0,92, were obtained. Statistically significant differences were found between the coping strategies employed within the different organisational, gender and language groups. Recommendations for future research were made. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Performance measurement and criterion theory are critical topics in the fields of I/O psychology, yet scholars continue to note several issues with the criterion, including empirically redundant behaviors, construct and measure proliferation, and definitions that conflict. These interconnected problems hinder the advancement of criterion measurement and theory. The goal of this study was to empirically examine the issues of theory/construct clarity and measurement as they exist regarding work performance behaviors. This study's first objective was to clarify definitions of core performance behaviors, particularly to resolve issues of construct proliferation and conceptual conflict. Universal definitions of four core criterion constructs (i.e., task performance, citizenship performance, counterproductive work behavior, and withdrawal) were developed that integrated existing definitions of similar behaviors. Each definition reflects a parsimonious conceptualization of existing performance behaviors, which serves to clarify existing, and at times divergent, criterion conceptualizations. Importantly, these integrated definitions represent commonly-held definitions of the constructs and replace the largely discrepant accumulation of definitions. The second objective was to determine whether existing items assumed to measure the four core work performance behaviors were judged by raters to represent their respective constructs. The results showed that of the 851 items examined, over half were judged to not represent their respective constructs which, importantly, replicated previous research. Additionally, the results highlight items that match their respective construct definition and contain minimal overlap with non-posited constructs. Finally, the third objective was to determine the implications of using the problematic items for both the empirical relationships among work performance behaviors and evidence of construct-related validity. The results provided preliminary evidence that while nomological networks are minimally affected, relationships among some work performance dimensions are significantly affected when problematic items are removed from measures of performance constructs. This dissertation demonstrated the need for more attention to the construct labels placed on the behaviors described in work performance items, as there are potentially adverse consequences for theory and measurement. Ultimately, the results of this study showed that work performance behaviors/items have often been assigned incorrect construct labels which, subsequently, may cast considerable doubt on the theoretical and empirical understanding of the criterion domain.