Objectives: Lao Juan (LJ, 劳倦) is a syndrome described in Chinese medicine (CM) that manifests with : Lao Juan (LJ, 劳倦) is a syndrome described in Chinese medicine (CM) that manifests with fatigue, fever, spontaneous sweating, indigestion, work-induced pain, weakness of the limbs, and shortness of breath. fatigue, fever, spontaneous sweating, indigestion, work-induced pain, weakness of the limbs, and shortness of breath. The present study was conducted to examine the reliability and validity of a Lao Juan Questionnaire (LJQ). The present study was conducted to examine the reliability and validity of a Lao Juan Questionnaire (LJQ). Methods: A total of 151 outpatients and 73 normal subjects were asked to complete the LJQ. Seventy-three normal subjects A total of 151 outpatients and 73 normal subjects were asked to complete the LJQ. Seventy-three normal subjects were additionally asked to complete the Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS). Twelve clinicians determined whether the were additionally asked to complete the Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFS). Twelve clinicians determined whether the 151 outpatients exhibited LJ or not. The internal consistency and construct validity for the LJQ were estimated using 151 outpatients exhibited LJ or not. The internal consistency and construct validity for the LJQ were estimated using data from the outpatient subjects. The CFS data were used to examine the concurrent validity of the LJQ. Total LJQ data from the outpatient subjects. The CFS data were used to examine the concurrent validity of the LJQ. Total LJQ scores and the clinicians' diagnoses of the outpatients were used to perform receiver operating characteristics (ROC) scores and the clinicians' diagnoses of the outpatients were used to perform receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analyses and to defi ne an optimum cut-off score for the LJQ. curve analyses and to defi ne an optimum cut-off score for the LJQ. Results: The 19-item LJQ had satisfactory internal : The 19-item LJQ had satisfactory internal consistency (α=0.828) and concurrent validity, with signifi cant correlations between the LJQ and the CFS subscales. consistency (α=0.828) and concurrent validity, with signifi cant correlations between the LJQ and the CFS subscales. In the test of construct validity using principal component analysis, a total of six factors were extracted, and the overall In the test of construct validity using principal component analysis, a total of six factors were extracted, and the overall variance explained by all factors was 59.5%. In ROC curve analyses, the sensitivity, specifi city, and area under the variance explained by all factors was 59.5%. In ROC curve analyses, the sensitivity, specifi city, and area under the curve were 76.0%, 59.2%, and 0.709, respectively. The optimum cut-off score was defi ned as six points. curve were 76.0%, 59.2%, and 0.709, respectively. The optimum cut-off score was defi ned as six points. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the LJQ is a reliable and valid instrument for evaluating LJ. Our results suggest that the LJQ is a reliable and valid instrument for evaluating LJ. KEYWORDS Chinese medicine, chronic fatigue syndrome, Chinese medicine-pattern Chinese medicine, chronic fatigue syndrome, Chinese medicine-pattern

Development and Validation of A

by J. Biggs and C. Tang, Maidenhead, England,
Open University Press, 2007, 360 pp., £29.99, ISBN-13: 978-0-335-22126-4

Teaching for quality learning at university

Biodiversity, a multidimensional property of natural systems, is difficult to quantify partly because of the multitude of indices proposed for this purpose. Indices aim to describe general properties of communities that allow us to compare different regions, taxa, and trophic levels. Therefore, they are of fundamental importance for environmental monitoring and conservation, although there is no consensus about which indices are more appropriate and informative. We tested several common diversity indices in a range of simple to complex statistical analyses in order to determine whether some were better suited for certain analyses than others. We used data collected around the focal plant Plantago lanceolata on 60 temperate grassland plots embedded in an agricultural landscape to explore relationships between the common diversity indices of species richness (S), Shannon's diversity (H'), Simpson's diversity (D-1), Simpson's dominance (D-2), Simpson's evenness (E), and Berger-Parker dominance (BP). We calculated each of these indices for herbaceous plants, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, aboveground arthropods, belowground insect larvae, and P.lanceolata molecular and chemical diversity. Including these trait-based measures of diversity allowed us to test whether or not they behaved similarly to the better studied species diversity. We used path analysis to determine whether compound indices detected more relationships between diversities of different organisms and traits than more basic indices. In the path models, more paths were significant when using H', even though all models except that with E were equally reliable. This demonstrates that while common diversity indices may appear interchangeable in simple analyses, when considering complex interactions, the choice of index can profoundly alter the interpretation of results. Data mining in order to identify the index producing the most significant results should be avoided, but simultaneously considering analyses using multiple indices can provide greater insight into the interactions in a system.

/pdf/choosing-and-using-diversity-indices-insights-for-ecological-34py1vvn26.pdf

Choosing and using diversity indices: Insights for ecological applications from the German Biodiversity Exploratories

This paper describes the development of a multidimensional self-report measure of interoceptive body awareness. The systematic mixed-methods process involved reviewing the current literature, specifying a multidimensional conceptual framework, evaluating prior instruments, developing items, and analyzing focus group responses to scale items by instructors and patients of body awareness-enhancing therapies. Following refinement by cognitive testing, items were field-tested in students and instructors of mind-body approaches. Final item selection was achieved by submitting the field test data to an iterative process using multiple validation methods, including exploratory cluster and confirmatory factor analyses, comparison between known groups, and correlations with established measures of related constructs. The resulting 32-item multidimensional instrument assesses eight concepts. The psychometric properties of these final scales suggest that the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA) may serve as a starting point for research and further collaborative refinement.

/pdf/the-multidimensional-assessment-of-interoceptive-awareness-3je7dttp62.pdf

The Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA).

This study draws upon social cognitive career theory and higher education literature to test a conceptual framework for understanding the entrance into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors by recent high school graduates attending 4-year institutions. Results suggest that choosing a STEM major is directly influenced by intent to major in STEM, high school math achievement, and initial postsecondary experiences, such as academic interaction and financial aid receipt. Exerting the largest impact on STEM entrance, intent to major in STEM is directly affected by 12th-grade math achievement, exposure to math and science courses, and math self-efficacy beliefs—all three subject to the influence of early achievement in and attitudes toward math. Multiple-group structural equation modeling analyses indicated heterogeneous effects of math achievement and exposure to math and science across racial groups, with their positive impact on STEM intent accruing most to White students and least ...

/pdf/why-students-choose-stem-majors-motivation-high-school-4bza1cv8lr.pdf

Why Students Choose STEM Majors Motivation, High School Learning, and Postsecondary Context of Support

The following paper presents current thinking and research on fit indices for structural equation modelling. The
paper presents a selection of fit indices that are widely regarded as the most informative indices available to researchers.
As well as outlining each of these indices, guidelines are presented on their use. The paper also provides reporting
strategies of these indices and concludes with a discussion on the future of fit indices.

/pdf/structural-equation-modelling-guidelines-for-determining-muejvmc1az.pdf

Structural Equation Modelling: Guidelines for Determining Model Fit

The following paper presents current thinking and research on fit indices for structural equation modelling. The paper presents a selection of fit indices that are widely regarded as the most informative indices available to researchers. As well as outlining each of these indices, guidelines are presented on their use. The paper also provides reporting strategies of these indices and concludes with a discussion on the future of fit indices.

/pdf/evaluating-model-fit-a-synthesis-of-the-structural-equation-5eti7g5cdc.pdf

Evaluating Model Fit:a Synthesis of the Structural Equation Modelling Literature

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the servicescape should be subsumed as a dimension within service quality
conceptualizations or whether it is a unique construct in itself which precedes service quality evaluations and behavioral intentions. The authors both
propose and operationalize this model and in doing so make a theoretical contribution by demonstrating how a delineation between these two
constructs is necessary in order for theory to progress in this area.
Design/methodology/approach – A total of 355 customers were intercepted as they exited a retail store and surveyed using a structured
questionnaire. The data were then analyzed using structural equation modeling to test the research hypotheses.
Findings – This paper finds that it is more appropriate to model the servicescape as a separate construct which precedes service quality thus
highlighting a need for a demarcation to be made between these important constructs. In addition, the authors find that design is a significant
contributor to behavioral intentions further confirming the necessity to manage service environments in order to generate repatronage behaviors.
Practical implications – Service providers should consider the influence of store environments in shaping service quality perceptions and their
subsequent impact on behavioral intentions.
Originality/value – The paper adds to the existing literature by disentangling the complicated relationships between service environments, service
quality and behavioral intentions. Furthermore, the findings indicate to practitioners which aspects of the servicescape require attention so as to
maximize repatronage intentions.

/pdf/the-servicescape-as-an-antecedent-to-service-quality-and-jx6ab1j2p1.pdf

The servicescape as an antecedent to service quality and behavioral intentions

It is important to distinguish between exploratory and confirmatory analysis. In an exploratory analysis, one wants to explore the empirical data to discover and detect characteristic features and interesting relationships without imposing any definite model on the data. An exploratory analysis may be structure generating, model generating, or hypothesis generating. In confirmatory analysis, on the other hand, one builds a model assumed to describe, explain, or account for the empirical data in terms of relatively few parameters. The model is based on a priori information about the data structure in the form of a specified theory or hypothesis, a given classificatory design for items or subtests according to objective features of content and format, known experimental conditions, or knowledge from previous studies based on extensive data.

/pdf/exploratory-factor-analysis-5gfgfjr5v2.pdf

Exploratory Factor Analysis

It is widely regarded that providing students with feedback is central to their learning [1] Traditionally feedback has been given to students either in person or in writing, however, more recently, due to advancements in technology, audio is being employed by a small minority of lecturers in Higher Education [2-5] To date, research on audio feedback has focused on students’ perceptions of it as a feedback mechanism, and its ability to increase students’ sense of involvement However this paper adds to this stream of research by exploring the manner in which students engage with audio feedback Using data gathered from Business students in the Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland, this paper explores how students evaluate audio feedback as a method through which to improve their academic performance This study also examines age related differences in the number of times students listened to the feedback and it considers the reasons for this

/pdf/towards-an-understanding-of-students-use-of-audio-feedback-3ekpau4h67.pdf

Daire Hooper

Papers

Structural Equation Modelling: Guidelines for Determining Model Fit

Evaluating Model Fit:a Synthesis of the Structural Equation Modelling Literature

The servicescape as an antecedent to service quality and behavioral intentions

Exploratory Factor Analysis

Towards an Understanding of Students’ Use of Audio Feedback: an Exploratory Study