This study examined the validity evidence of a standards-based teacher evaluation system implemented at seven Title I schools in a central Texas school district with financial support from the federal Teacher Incentive Fund. The researcher attempted to determine whether the evaluation system accurately identified the level of teacher performance by correlating the system’s metrics with a criterion, which was a value added estimation of student achievement. Teacher data included 2012-2013 classroom observation scores, multiple portfolio ratings, and demographic characteristics. Student level data included 2012-2013 mathematics and reading scale scores on the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR). Prior achievement from 2011-2012 and student demographic data from 2012-2013 were also used during the calculation of the value added estimations. When the correlations were combined by subject across grade levels, several metrics showed positive and statistically significant relationships in mathematics. These correlations suggest that these measures are valid. At the same time, the study identified a number of statistically significant negative correlations that call for further research on the evaluation system. The relationships identified in reading are especially concerning because almost all of the evaluation metrics were negatively correlated with student achievement. / text

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The measurement of pain has had a growing importance in animals for both privately owned animals and those animals involved in clinical research. Lameness is considered to be 1 aspect of the pain experience. The ability of a veterinarian to assess lameness during a routine orthopedic examination can be difficult given the short amount of time in which the clinician can observe the animal, and the fact that the animal is in a stressful environment. Thus, the input of the owner concerning the animal's well-being over an extended time period may be extremely useful to the clinician in assessing the degree of lameness of the animal. It was the purpose of this study to establish an instrument that was both repeatable and valid in assessing the degree of lameness. The instrument used was a questionnaire containing 39 questions in a visual analog scale format. A force platform was used as the gold-standard for detecting mechanical lameness. Peak vertical, cranial-caudal, and their associated impulses were forces used to determine lameness, along with maximum slope in some cases. A test-retest measure of repeatability was conducted on a subset of 19 dogs that were confirmed to have less than a 10% change in vertical peak force. Nineteen of the 39 questions were found to be repeatable based on a Spearman rank correlation. These 19 questions were then used as predictor variables in several multiple regression models which predicted force plate measurements. The result was 3 different models each containing 7 independent variables that were thought to be valid representations of the forces measured (vertical peak, vertical impulse, and propulsion peak forces). Each reduced model was found to fit the data as well as the full model containing all 19 of the repeatable questions. The composite of 11 questions from the 3 different models was used to calculate a total score. This total score was found to be significantly correlated with force plate measurements. These 11 questions should be useful to a clinician in detecting the degree of lameness in the dog.

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Motivational Distortion is a construct of replicable error characterized by a shift in one's responding on a personality measure from an anonymous role to a role motivated by the testing situation. The Sixteen Personality Factor (16PF) contains an embedded scale designed to measure the this construct. Scores on this scale provide a basis for correcting scores on the primary factors.To date, individual studies on Motivational Distortion have not adequately addressed the construct validity of the scale. The present study utilized a sample of teleeducation students in an attempt determine if varying levels of role aptitude and role-congruent settings does impact Motivational Distortion.The results of regression and Aptitude-by-treatment interaction analysis (ATI) have two implications for Motivational Distortion. Namely, The relation of Motivational Distortion and its components may be moderating instead of causal, and the relation of the construct and other personality factors is more limited. / Department of Psychological Science

In order to survive and to prosper in a continuously changing environment, organisations need energetic and motivated employees, i.e. employees who are psychologically well. Burnout and work engagement are important focus areas for research regarding the wellness of employees. In order to ensure work wellness (i.e. low burnout and high work engagement), it is necessary to assess the current level thereof. This assessment should be done on an individual level, and scores should also be aggregated to study patterns in specific occupations, sections, units, and organisations. However, before the levels of wellness can be assessed, a valid and reliable measuring instrument is needed. The objectives of the study were to to investigate the construct validity and reliability of the Maslach Burnout Inventory - General Survey, and Utrecht Work Engagement Scale for train drivers, and to test assess the relationship between burnout and work engagement. A cross-sectional survey design was used, whereby a sample (JV= 332) was drawn from train drivers in Spoornet. The measuring instruments utilised in this study were The Maslach Burnout Inventory - General Survey (MBI-GS) and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) and the Cognitive Weariness Scale (CWS). Principal components extraction was used prior to principal factor extraction to estimate the number of factors, presence of outliers and factorability of correlation matrices. Structural equation modelling was used to test the relationship between the constructs. The results showed that burnout consisted of four factors, namely Exhaustion, Cognitive Weariness, Professional Efficacy and Cynicism. Work Engagement showed a one-factor structure. Structural equation modelling showed that work wellness consists of two factors, namely energy (including Exhaustion, Cognitive Weariness, and Cynicism), and motivation (Work Engagement and Professional Efficacy). The results also showed that Exhaustion is practically significantly and positively related to Cynicism (large effect) and Cognitive Weariness (medium effect). Exhaustion is also practically significantly and negatively related to Work Engagement (large effect) and Professional Efficacy (medium effect). Cynicism is practically significantly and positively related to Cognitive Weariness (medium effect) and negatively related to Work Engagement (larger effect) and Professional Efficacy (medium effect). Work Engagement is practically significantly and positively related to Professional Efficacy (large effect). The sten scores of the train drivers were low average on Exhaustion (4,02) and on Cynicism (4,38%). The sten scores were above average on Vigour (7,48%) and on Dedication (7,96%). About 52,l%o of the train drivers reported low on Exhaustion and 42,5% reported low on Cynicism. As as far as Vigour and Dedication are concerned, 57% showed high scores on Vigour and 63,9% of train drivers showed high scores on dedication. The structure of well-being was equivalent for Afrikaans and African language groups. Recommendations for future research were made. / Thesis (M.Com. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

In order to survive and to prosper in a continuously changing environment, organisations need energetic and motivated employees, i.e. employees who are psychologically well. Burnout and work engagement are important focus areas for research regarding the wellness of employees. In order to ensure work wellness (i.e. low burnout and high work engagement), it is necessary to assess the current level thereof. This assessment should be done on an individual level, and scores should also be aggregated to study patterns in specific occupations, sections, units, and organisations. However, before the levels of wellness can be assessed, a valid and reliable measuring instrument is needed. The objectives of the study were to to investigate the construct validity and reliability of the Maslach Burnout Inventory - General Survey, and Utrecht Work Engagement Scale for train drivers, and to test assess the relationship between burnout and work engagement. A cross-sectional survey design was used, whereby a sample (JV= 332) was drawn from train drivers in Spoornet. The measuring instruments utilised in this study were The Maslach Burnout Inventory - General Survey (MBI-GS) and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale (UWES) and the Cognitive Weariness Scale (CWS). Principal components extraction was used prior to principal factor extraction to estimate the number of factors, presence of outliers and factorability of correlation matrices. Structural equation modelling was used to test the relationship between the constructs. The results showed that burnout consisted of four factors, namely Exhaustion, Cognitive Weariness, Professional Efficacy and Cynicism. Work Engagement showed a one-factor structure. Structural equation modelling showed that work wellness consists of two factors, namely energy (including Exhaustion, Cognitive Weariness, and Cynicism), and motivation (Work Engagement and Professional Efficacy). The results also showed that Exhaustion is practically significantly and positively related to Cynicism (large effect) and Cognitive Weariness (medium effect). Exhaustion is also practically significantly and negatively related to Work Engagement (large effect) and Professional Efficacy (medium effect). Cynicism is practically significantly and positively related to Cognitive Weariness (medium effect) and negatively related to Work Engagement (larger effect) and Professional Efficacy (medium effect). Work Engagement is practically significantly and positively related to Professional Efficacy (large effect). The sten scores of the train drivers were low average on Exhaustion (4,02) and on Cynicism (4,38%). The sten scores were above average on Vigour (7,48%) and on Dedication (7,96%). About 52,l%o of the train drivers reported low on Exhaustion and 42,5% reported low on Cynicism. As as far as Vigour and Dedication are concerned, 57% showed high scores on Vigour and 63,9% of train drivers showed high scores on dedication. The structure of well-being was equivalent for Afrikaans and African language groups. Recommendations for future research were made. / Thesis (M.Com. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2009.

Commonly in clinical settings, the patients posture is visually evaluated by the clinician using anatomical landmark references. However, this measurement is subjective and not quantifiable. Photogrammetry to assess posture was thought to be a possible good clinical alternative to the other methods because it is non-invasive, quantifiable, and less expensive. However, more tests were needed to determine its validity. This study tested the reliability and the validity of five angles measuring craniocervical posture using photogrammetry. Radiographs and photographs of the craniocervical posture of 39 healthy-female subjects were taken in a standardized sagittal standing position. Markers were placed on the back of the subjects neck and ear. A second photograph and radiograph was taken 1 week later using 21 of the 39 subjects to test reliability. The angles were analyzed using Alcimage software. Intraclass-correlation coefficient and standard error of measurement was used to test the reliability. Concurrent validity was tested using Pearson correlation and regression analysis. Discriminant analysis was used to test the discriminant validity. Sensitivity/specificity and predicted values were also calculated. The results showed that photogrammetry ICC values were good to excellent when assessed by 2 raters (ICC=0.89-0.99). The posture of the subjects was reproducible when tested using radiographs (ICC=0.89-0.98). One rater was reliable in reattaching the markers (ICC=0.71-0.91) and precise in locating the reference spinous processes (87.8%). Craniovertebral angle (CVA) appeared to be valid in measuring the position of the head in relation to the cervical spine (r=0.84) and to be able discriminate subjects with aligned posture, slight forward head posture (SFHP), and forward head posture (FHP) assessed by 1 rater (84.6% correctly classified). Cervical inclination angle (CIA) appears to be valid in discriminating subjects with aligned and FHP (86% and 88% respectively) but moderate to predict the cervical spine inclination. The cervical lordosis angles were not able to discriminate postures and predict the cervical lordosis. CVA and CIA were able to detect postural differences through the sensitivity/specificity and predicted values analysis. This study supports the validation of CVA and CIA to assess craniocervical posture which may improve the ability of the clinician to detect and quantify craniocervical postural alterations. / Rehabilitation Science

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This study was a pilot investigation of the initial validity of a newly developed behaviour-screening instrument for early intervention service providers. Group Special Education, Early Intervention (GSE/EI) (2005) adapted the Canterbury Behaviour Screening Protocol (CBSP) from a widely used behaviour-screening instrument the Early Screening Project. The CBSP consisted of 49 items in 2 checklists. GSE/EI identified 10 early childhood centres with a total roll of 712 to participate in the study. Staff were asked to categorise children's problem behaviours as either withdrawn/isolated or aggressive/oppositional, using profiles provided. Next, they were asked to nominate 2 children in each category, and an additional 2 children in either category, and to rank them from most concerning to least concerning. Centres identified 25 children in the withdrawn/isolated category, and 28 children in the aggressive/oppositional category. Staff completed checklists for children with parent/carer consent, which were scored according to preset protocols. Scores on the CBSP were assigned risk values ranging from "extreme" to "no risk". The estimated prevalence of "high" to "extreme" behaviour problems was 7.2% based on CBSP protocols and teacher nominations. The level of agreement between teacher rank and CBSP score was 79%, and this determined the initial specificity. Next, independent observations of the behaviour of the nominated children were conducted during free play periods at the centres by an observer blind to the children's nominated category, teacher ranking or checklist score. Risk levels were assigned based on the observation scores, using a cut-off value of 37% time spent in problem behaviour for girls and 40% for boys. There was agreement in terms of teacher rank and observation scores, (categorised into either "no risk" and "at/high/extreme risk) for 65% for children in the withdrawn/isolated category, and 75% for children in the aggressive/oppositional category. The level of agreement between the CBSP score and the observations (categorised into either "no risk" or "at/high/extreme" risk) was 40% for children in the withdrawn/isolated category, and 46% for children in the aggressive/oppositional category. Using the cut-off values, a prevalence estimate for high risk or extreme risk for behaviour disorders, based on independent observation of children, was 3.2%. Centre staff completing a feedback form determined the social validity of the CBSP. Although responses were generally favourable, a number of suggestions were also made to improve the procedure. Despite limitations in the design of the draft, the CBSP shows promise for a first step in a screening procedure designed to screen New Zealand early childhood centres for children who may be at risk for developing behaviour and/or social emotional problems. The independent observation may also be useful as a second step, prior to extensive eligibility assessment. A number of suggestions were made for future drafts such as addressing the limitations specified, conducting the CBSP with a greater number of children, and determining the concurrent validity, and test-retest reliability.