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Even though Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) has become a central domain in education, there is still a lack of clarity in the underlying conceptual models guiding educational efforts and insufficient empirical evidence supporting these models. The Chilean Agency for Quality in Education developed a socioemotional questionnaire as part of the Comprehensive Learning Diagnosis (DIA), administered in educational institutions nationwide. Its underlying conceptual model considers nine SEL competencies structured into three dimensions: Individual, Communal, and Civic, mapping onto the Chilean educational curriculum and learning goals relative to SEL. Even though this model was built based on a thorough revision of existing approaches to SEL and assessment tools, this dimensional structure has not been empirically tested. This study explores a dimensional model of SEL based on a large‐scale sample of Chilean students assessed through the DIA (882,553 7th–12th graders). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were conducted to determine the dimensional structure, also testing for invariance by educational level (basic vs. secondary education) and gender. EFA evidenced a three‐dimensional structure, with factors labeled as individual, relational, and socio‐moral based on their composition. CFA confirmed these dimensions with adequate fit indices. Factorial invariance of the identified model was found between basic and secondary school students, and between boys and girls. The study allowed for the construction of a theoretical model of SEL based on a large‐scale sample. The identification of a moral factor as a key dimension of SEL constitutes a novel and promising perspective, in line with recent research providing new insights into SEL. Further evidence regarding the reliability and validity of the instrument should be analyzed. Also, the proposed SEL model should be tested in different countries and populations to broaden our understanding of SEL and inform educational policies and practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug traffickers perform many crime strategies to avoid legal sanctions. The use of any crime strategy is mainly for reducing the risk of arrest, which has been the focus of research on restrictive deterrence. This study aims to develop a Restrictive Deterrence Utility Scale (RDUS) to measure the effectiveness of crime strategies used in drug trafficking. Survey data were collected from August to October 2021, including 294 female drug offenders aged between 21 and 61 years serving sentences with a median length of around 10 years in a Southern city in Mainland China. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was conducted for scale investigation. Three valid and reliable factors for the RDUS were found: anomaly avoidance, reduction of exposure time, and the use of weapons and tools. Composite reliability, convergent validity, discriminant validity of three factors were confirmed with Cronbach α being higher than 0.9, that being higher than correspondent Average Variance Extracted which all being higher than 0.5 and higher than correspondent factor correlation. The RDUS offers a helpful method for assessing the motivation for drug traffickers to persist in drug crime and for formulating appropriate interventions for drug prohibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This study analyses the relationship between Industry 4.0, human values and job insecurity in Colombia against significant technological changes and global economic challenges. It aims to understand how human values mediate the relationship between Industry 4.0's technological advances and the perception of job security in the current era of economic and social uncertainty. Utilising a Likert scale, the study gathered 714 survey responses from employees in medium and large Colombian companies. The study used a multistage multivariate analysis approach, starting with unidimensionality analysis, followed by reliability and validity analysis to measure accuracy. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were subsequently employed to test the underlying factor structures of the data. Finally, structural equation modelling integrated the findings, forming a model that sheds light on the relationships among the studied variables. The analysis revealed strong human values such as commitment, collaboration, tolerance, honesty and loyalty in the workplace. Interestingly, participants had a low perception of job insecurity, indicating a more complex relationship between technological advancements and job security perceptions. This study offers valuable insights into how human values shape the workforce's response to the rapid changes of Industry 4.0, particularly in an emerging economy like Colombia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and Objectives Method Results Conclusion This study aimed to develop and validate a knowledge, attitude, and practice scale of antibiotic use for Chinese medical students.A five‐phased procedure was adopted: (a) A item pool was constructed after literature review; (b) Delphi method was used to refine the items; (c) A pilot study was conducted to clarify the item; (d) Item analysis and exploratory factor analysis were used to finalize the scale; (e) Content validity, construct validity and reliability of the scale were analysed.The scale of 32 items, respectively 15, 9, and 8 for knowledge, attitude, and practice, was finalized. The item‐level content validity ranged from 0.80 to 1.00. The scale‐level content validity of the scale was 0.90. Model fit indices of total scale and the three dimensions met the criteria. Cronbach's α and the split‐half coefficient were respectively 0.81 and 0.65 for the total scale. For each dimension, Cronbach's α varied from 0.68 to 0.89 and the split‐half coefficient varied from 0.64 to 0.83.The scale can be used as a whole or separately, serving as an effective tool to measure medical students' knowledge, attitude, or practice regarding antibiotic use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Methods Results Conclusions One of the most common assessment tools for examining the competencies of health professionals is the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).In this study, an Educational Effects of OSCE Questionnaire (EEOQ) was developed and validated in seven steps: (1) Reviewing the literature, (2) Holding focus groups, (3) Synthesizing the results of literature review and focus groups, (4) Developing items, (5) Evaluating content validity, (6) Conducting cognitive interviews, and (7) Implementing a pilot test.The analysis of the literature review and focus groups revealed that the educational effects of OSCE are influenced by factors related to the test, the examiner, the peers, and the student. Initially, 22 items were developed, but one item was excluded based on the results of the I‐CVR and I‐CVI indices. In the Exploratory Factor Analysis, the KMO index was computed to be 0.85, and the significance of Bartlett's test of sphericity was confirmed (p < 0.001). The Total Variance Explained table showed that the educational effects of OSCE were grouped into four factors: content, structure, reflection and review, and feedback along with OSCE.This study found good evidence of validity and reliability for a questionnaire measuring the educational effects of OSCEs. It was discovered that OSCE can have different effects on student learning processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Aim Materials and Methods Results Conclusion While the importance of gingival aesthetics is increasingly recognized, a questionnaire quantifying its psychosocial impact is still lacking. We have adapted the validated Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIDAQ) for the gingival context. This study's aim was to develop a new Psychosocial Impact of Gingival Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIGAQ) and test its validity for the general population in Spain, exploring the underlying dimensions of the construct assessed.The PIDAQ was adapted to address gingival aesthetics. PIGAQ (23 items) was completed by 200 patients aged from 18 to 85 years, and socio‐demographic variables were recorded. The four‐dimensional structure of the PIDAQ was respected, adapting the subscales to focus on the gingiva. Descriptive analysis, assessments of reliability and validity and an exploratory factor analysis were performed.The revised PIGAQ (now containing 20 items) has a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.88 with four underlying factors explaining 61.5% of the total variance. Three items (SI‐1, PI‐2 and PI‐5) were eliminated because of unacceptable fit indices. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the subscales are as follows: Gingival Self‐Confidence, 0.85; Social Impact, 0.84; Psychological Impact, 0.79; and Aesthetic Concern, 0.76.PIGAQ is a reliable and potentially valid instrument for assessing psychosocial perceptions of gingival aesthetics. The scale was shown to have a satisfactory factor structure and level of internal consistency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The ability to convey emotions and induce pleasure is one of the most important aspects of the way that music becomes meaningful to humans. Affective responses to music are specific to both cultural and personal preferences, but little is known about the individual variability in adolescence. The Barcelona Music Reward Questionnaire (BMRQ) is a psychometric measure that identifies five factors associated with musical pleasure: Musical Seeking, Emotional Evocation, Mood Regulation, Social Reward, and Sensory‐Motor. With this study, we aimed to validate the BMRQ in Danish teens and to explore the differences in music reward experiences in relation to the amount of musical activity, between genders and over ages. Approximately 30,000 Danish adolescents participated in a mass experiment with a subset (N = 4641, 51.2% girls, age range = 13–19 years old) responding to (1) a Danish adaptation of the BMRQ and (2) the Concurrent Musical Activities (CCM) Questionnaire. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were applied, and a seven‐factor model of the BMRQ was found to fit the Danish adolescent population. The seven‐factor version of the Danish BMRQ was due to the split of the dimensions “Sensory‐Motor” and “Social Reward” into two further subfactors. The students with a higher amount of musical engagement scored higher across all dimensions. In particular, the higher the musical engagement, the higher scores were found for the facet of musical pleasure related to the sharing of musical activities, especially in the earliest stages of adolescence. Furthermore, we found that sensitivity to music generally tends to increase with age, and that girls reported overall to be more sensitive to music than boys in the dimension related to evocation of emotions. A slightly different model of the BMRQ has to be taken into account when testing the Danish adolescent population. In addition to utilizing the Danish version of the BMRQ on a large sample of adolescents, this study may provide insight into the relationship between changes in the level of musical reward depending on amount of musical engagement and how musical reward unfolds within and between genders and across age groups during this developmental stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Statistics knowledge, literacy, and skills are vital to undergraduates' academic and professional careers. Students' attitudes toward statistics play a vital role in their understanding of the importance of statistics. Therefore, it is important to examine their attitude toward statistics. This study investigated the attitude of 153 business students toward statistics and the factors that affect this attitude using the Survey Attitudes Toward Statistics (SATS‐36) scale. It also investigated the relationship between attitudinal components and students' demographic and academic characteristics. Five components underlying students' attitudes toward statistics were identified using exploratory factor analysis. Further, a background in quantitative subjects and demographic characteristics was found to affect students' attitudes toward statistics. The results suggested that statistics should be taught in a more practical way to relate it to students' lives, and teachers must adopt active learning methods in which students work with data and real‐life examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the association between racial attitudes and perceptions of police misconduct in the US, focusing on racial empathy as a form of positive racial sentiment that may work alongside racial resentment to shape public views on police bias and use of force. Using data from the 2020 American National Election Studies (ANES) time series survey, an exploratory factor analysis demonstrates that racial empathy and racial resentment are distinct constructs. Multivariate regression analyses indicate that respondents with racial empathy are more likely to believe that police treat white people better than they treat Black people and that police frequently use more force than necessary. Respondents with racial resentment are less likely to believe these perceptions. Racial empathy is a racial attitude that can shape attitudes towards crime and justice. Future research should consider racial empathy in investigating ways that racial attitudes shape public opinion on crime and justice policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The digital media landscape is rapidly shifting, and some children begin using digital media in infancy. As with book reading, young children need adult guidance to learn from digital media. Joint media engagement (JME) occurs when preschool children and their parents actively use digital media together. JME during early childhood is associated with increased learning from media. However, there are no validated scales of JME. In the present study, parents of 353 1‐to‐5‐year olds answered a series of questions about their media use and behaviours. Exploratory factor analysis yielded two scales, one for viewing video content together and one for playing digital games together. Convergent validity was established by comparison to the widely used Television Mediation Scale. Together, these findings establish the JME instrument as a valid and reliable tool for measuring joint media engagement during early childhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Methods Results Conclusion The aim of the study is to investigate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Self‐Efficacy Tool for the Ability to Support Breastfeeding Mothers.In the current methodological study, research data were collected using a Descriptive Information Form and the Self‐Efficacy Tool for the Ability to Support Breastfeeding Mothers. Validity analysis was conducted using the content validity index, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. The Pearson product‐moment correlation and Cronbach alpha reliability coefficients were performed for reliability analysis. High scores indicate a higher ability to support breastfeeding mothers.To evaluate the tool's invariance over time, test‐retest measurements were made at an interval of at least two weeks and showed no difference in mean scores (p > 0.05). Corrected item‐total score correlations varied between 0.43 and 0.77. The Cronbach alpha value was determined to be 0.97, which indicated high internal consistency.The results of the present study show that the Turkish version of the Self‐Efficacy Tool for the Ability to Support Breastfeeding Mothers is valid and reliable. It can be utilised as a measurement tool to determine the degree of self‐efficacy in the ability to support breastfeeding mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Methods Results Conclusions This study aims to test and adapt the Turkish psychometric properties of the preventive health management self‐efficacy related to premature labor (PHMSE‐PL) scale for women of reproductive age.The study follows a methodological approach. The original scale comprises 34 items distributed across 5 subscales and is structured on a five‐point Likert scale. The study sample consisted of 351 women aged 19 to 49, all without any physical or mental disabilities, irrespective of marital status or pregnancy status. Exclusion criteria encompassed women engaged in healthcare professions such as medical faculty, nursing, or midwifery, as well as those with a history of preterm birth during pregnancy.During the validity assessment of the scale, language, content, and construct validity were scrutinized. In the reliability phase, internal consistency and stability over time ‐analyses were conducted. Following confirmation of language validity, all items achieved a content validity index value exceeding 0.80. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were employed to assess structural validity, revealing that the scale retained its original grouping into five sub‐factors. These factors collectively accounted for 81.5% of the variance. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the entire scale reached 0.98, indicating high internal consistency. Test–retest analyses yielded a correlation coefficient of 0.99 between overall scale scores, demonstrating excellent consistency between the two measurement measurements.The PHMSE‐PL scale adapted to Turkish culture demonstrated high levels of validity and reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public Significance Statement The aim of the present study was to develop and validate the Immigration‐Related Political Ideology Scale (IRPIS), designed to measure diverse political perspectives on immigration among US voters. The IRPIS was developed following a series of focus groups and refined through a systematic item‐generation process involving expert panels. The scale was validated using a two‐step factor analysis with a nationally representative sample of 1292 US voters, divided into exploratory (n = 632) and confirmatory (n = 660) sub‐samples. The exploratory factor analysis identified seven distinct factors: conservative views, welcoming attitudes, world regions, flexibility, assimilationist expectations, multicultural expectations, and undocumented immigrant rights. Confirmatory factor analysis provided an acceptable fit (CFI = .901; RMSEA = .050), and the scale demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's alphas ranging from .89 to .97). Inter‐factor correlations varied, with strong links observed among welcoming attitudes, flexibility, and multicultural expectations (r’s > .80), confirming a polarization between liberal and conservative stances on immigration. These findings suggest that the IRPIS is the first scale specifically designed to assess immigration‐related political orientations in a polarized US context. This tool has important implications for political strategy and policymaking, especially in the context of rising immigration rates and political polarization.The present study validates the Immigration‐Related Political Ideology Scale (IRPIS) using a nationally representative sample of 1292 US voters. Immigration remains a highly polarizing issue, with deeply entrenched ideological differences influencing policy preferences and public discourse. Exploratory factor analysis identified seven distinct factors and confirmed a clear polarization between liberal and conservative views on immigration. The IRPIS represents a critical tool for research, political strategy, and policymaking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While there are many studies in the literature on out‐of‐school learning (OSL) environments, whose importance for learning is increasingly understood, studies involving parents and their views on these environments are rarely found. However, parents' contribution is extremely important and necessary for an efficient learning process. In this study, a survey was developed to determine parents' views on OSL environments. Thirty‐seven parents were face‐to‐face interviewed regarding to their views on OSL environments. An item pool was formed based on these interviews. Then this pre‐survey was administered to 702 voluntary parents. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses have performed and a survey with 21 items has been obtained. The survey has three dimensions: contribution of OSL environments to children's cognitive development; contribution of OSL environments to skill development; and parents' concerns about out‐of‐school learning environments. According to the findings, a significant number of parents are aware of the contribution of out‐of‐school learning environments in terms of both cognitive and skill acquisition. Also, it is seen that the gender of the parents and the gender of their child do not make any significant difference in their views. Parents with a bachelor's degree believe that out‐of‐school learning environments will contribute more to their children's skill and cognitive development than parents with a primary and secondary school degree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Informal social protection interventions are instrumental in improving people's welfare through fostering income growth and enabling self‐sufficiency. Whereas the success of some informal social protection initiatives has been acknowledged and documented, there is limited knowledge of the factors influencing the performance of informal social protection initiatives, especially in developing countries like Uganda. In this study, we identify and isolate the perceived factors influencing the performance of informal social protection initiatives. We use exploratory factor analysis on a sample of 130 beneficiaries of two informal social protection interventions in the Alebtong and Kampala districts of Uganda. Findings reveal that the performance of informal social protection interventions is perceived to be influenced by three categories of factors, collectively accounting for 62.4% of the total dataset variance which is more than the threshold of 50%. The factors are beneficiary empowerment, welfare enhancement and coverage and equality. Each factor encompasses a cluster of variables that collectively capture the essential dimensions of individual perceptions concerning the effect of informal social protection initiatives. This research offers valuable insights into how the beneficiaries perceive informal social protection initiatives, shedding light on the nuanced factors contributing to their effectiveness in Uganda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Biomarkers of kidney function, including glomerular, tubular, and fibrotic markers, have been associated with blood pressure in elderly populations and individuals with kidney and cardiovascular diseases. However, limited information is available in young adults. In this study, we compared levels of several kidney function biomarkers between normotensive and hypertensive young adults and explored the associations of these biomarkers with blood pressure within these groups. In this cross‐sectional assessment, twenty‐four‐hour (24‐h) blood pressure measurements of 1055 participants (mean age = 24.6 years) were used to classify hypertension as per the 2018 ESC/ESH guidelines. Biomarkers of kidney function included estimated glomerular filtration rate, urinary albumin, alpha‐1 microglobulin (uA1M), neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin (uNGAL), uromodulin (uUMOD), and the CKD273 classifier. All urinary biomarkers, except for the CKD273 classifier, were standardized for urinary creatinine (Cr). In the hypertensive group (61.0% White; 73.2% men), urinary albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio (uACR), uNGAL/Cr and uUMOD/Cr were lower than the normotensive group. In multiple regression analyses, 24‐h systolic blood pressure (SBP) (β = 0.14; p = 0.042), 24‐h diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (β = 0.14; p = 0.040), and 24‐h mean arterial pressure (MAP) (β = 0.16; p = 0.020) associated positively with uA1M/Cr in the hypertensive group, while 24‐h MAP positively associated with uACR (β = 0.17; p = 0.017). In exploratory factor analysis, positive associations of 24‐h DBP and 24‐h MAP with a factor pattern including tubular biomarkers were observed in the hypertensive group (24‐h DBP: β = 0.18; p = 0.026, 24‐h MAP: β = 0.17; p = 0.032). In the setting of hypertension, high perfusion pressure in the kidneys may play a role in the development of proximal tubule damage and promote early deterioration in kidney function in young adults.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03292094 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social comparison, the process of evaluating one's characteristics in relation to others, influences individuals' self‐perception and behavior. However, instruments are scarce for assessing social comparison in the medical setting. Objectives: Our aim was to develop and validate a new scale for assessing social comparison. Materials and methods: Seven statements were developed, encompassing the perceived normality of having rashes, the tendency to compare their situation with others, and the emotional response when seeing someone better or worse off than themselves. The instrument was piloted in 15 patients for readability and face validity, then prospectively validated using modern psychometric methods in 1,053 adult patients with eczema or psoriasis from three tertiary dermatological centers in Singapore. Results: Of 1,053 adult patients, 802 (76.2%) had eczema, and 251 (23.8%) had psoriasis. Exploratory factor analysis (using a 70% sample split) showed a single factor model comprising three questions (Eigenvalue: 1.4). Confirmatory factor analysis with the remaining 30% of the sample confirmed an excellent model fit. Cronbach's alpha was 0.7, and inter‐item correlations ranged from 0.42 to 0.46. In the Rasch analysis, item fit statistics and item characteristic curves showed appropriate discrimination between response options, although reliability was suboptimal with a person separation reliability of 0.63. Conclusions: Comprising 3 questions, the newly derived social comparison scale showed acceptable psychometrics as a measure of social comparison for clinical and research purposes in dermatology. Its brief nature likely results from its brevity and applicability to conditions beyond eczema and psoriasis, which warrants further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID‐19 infection among pregnant women results in more severe symptoms and higher mortality rates. No comprehensive health literacy for protection against COVID‐19 among pregnant women has been available for general use in Thailand. This cross‐sectional study aimed to develop and examine an instrument for measuring health literacy of prevention COVID‐19 infection among pregnant women (HLS‐P). A total of 321 pregnant women aged older than 20 years were participated in this study, Selected through multistage cluster sampling, between September 2021 and January 2022. Data were collected using structured questions that included sociodemographic characteristics and the health literacy scale for protecting against COVID‐19 (HLS‐P) developed by the researchers. The content and construct validity of the health literacy scale were examined. Exploratory factor analysis performed with principal component analysis and Varimax rotation. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS AMOS 26. The model fitting was evaluated using several indices namely root mean square error of approximation, normed fit index, comparative fit index, and goodness‐of‐fit index. The reliability of the scale was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha and item total correlation. As a results of exploratory factor analysis of the scale, 31 items were loaded which indicated a 6‐factors for the scale that collectively explained 62.59% of total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis also indicated a good fit to the six latent structures with root mean square error of approximation 0.03, normed fit index 0.94, comparative fit index 0.97, and goodness‐of‐fit index 0.91. Internal consistency reliability was satisfactory with Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.94 and the item‐total correlation between 0.34 and 0.86. The overall scale was sufficiently reliable. As a result, the HLS‐P is a reliable and relevant measure for assessing health literacy in pregnant women. Thus, this scale is profoundly used as an evaluation tool for measuring health literacy among pregnant women, providing critical information for healthcare professionals and policymakers about the health literacy needs and capacity of service receivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Future counselors are likely to work with clients with process/behavioral addictions (PBA). The behavioral addiction knowledge survey (BAKS) was designed to determine counseling students' knowledge of PBAs. This article presents the instrument development procedures and results of a preliminary exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and a Rasch analysis of the BAKS. The sample size included 77 counseling students. The EFA suggested a three‐factor, 18‐item solution, with satisfactory internal consistency within each factor. Rasch analysis results also yielded excellent infit and outfit statistics. Detailed psychometric properties of the BAKS are provided. Implications for counselor educators, supervisors, and future researchers are included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Methods Results Conclusions Evidence‐based indicators are needed to increase the frequency of practicing care for hiesho, which can be a risk factor during childbirth. Such practice will lead to hiesho prevention. This study aimed to develop a Hiesho Care Practice Scale (HCPS) for pregnant women and examine its reliability and validity.To develop a HCPS and examine its reliability and validity, we conducted a questionnaire‐based survey among nurses who provide hiesho care for pregnant women in Japan.The analysis included 100 participants (recovery rate: 96%). Exploratory factor analysis produced four factors and 20 items. The model's fit indices obtained from the confirmatory factor analysis include goodness of fit of .80, adjusted goodness of fit of .75, comparative fit index of .88, and root mean squared error of approximation of .08. The correlation coefficients for the patient coaching skill evaluation scale for criterion‐related validity test ranged from .23 to .51 (p < .01).Cronbach's α was .88, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was .81.The HCPS developed in this study consisted of four factors and 20 items, and its reliability and validity were verified. This scale enables the subjective and objective evaluation of hiesho care practice in the nursing profession. It may contribute to standardizing and developing improvement measures for hiesho care among pregnant women by nurses and midwives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to explore the mechanism by which sustainability leadership (SL) and transformational leadership (TL) contribute to implementing sustainability‐related aspects and the adoption of the SDGs by the teaching staff and whether these relationships are mediated by the higher education institutions' (HEIs) level of social innovation tendency. The authors relied on a world survey containing questions developed according to the literature to achieve the results, receiving 603 answers from teaching staff in 102 developed and developing countries. To analyse the data, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were deployed to check the instruments and the model's structure of factors, and structural equation modelling with hypotheses testing was adopted to understand the level of significance and the magnitude of the relationship between the constructs. The results indicate that SL has a significantly strong relationship with TL, social innovation tendency, and the adoption of sustainability aspects in teaching; however, it is not possible to support the existence of a significant relationship between TL and the adoption of sustainability aspects in teaching, and between social innovation tendency and the adoption of sustainability aspects in teaching. Theoretical and practical implications are explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to develop and validate the Sustainable Behavior Questionnaire (SBQ), a comprehensive tool for assessing environmentally sustainable behaviors among Italian adults. Drawing on established theories and scales, the SBQ was refined through a two‐part study. Study 1 involved reviewing the literature, selecting items, and conducting exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on responses from 219 participants. This process resulted in a four‐factor structure: "purchase behavior and awareness," "reusing and recycling," "reducing," and "walking" and "use of public transport." Study 2, comprising 432 participants, confirmed the four‐factor structure through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and established the SBQ's convergent validity with Intention Sustainable Behavior (ISBQ) and Environment Sustainable Value and Norms (ESVN) measures. The SBQ demonstrated robust internal consistency, providing a reliable instrument for assessing sustainable behaviors. This research contributes to the field by offering a psychometrically sound questionnaire for evaluating sustainable behaviors among Italian adults and further understanding their role in promoting environmental conservation and well‐being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aims Materials and Methods Results Discussion Conclusion Several authors have argued that vaccine hesitancy should be conceptualized as indecision in the vaccination decision‐making process, but no established measure with support for its psychometric properties and validity has been created from this operational definition.To resolve this tension, this article undergoes a four‐study scale development process to create the 4‐item Unidimensional Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (UVHS).We conduct four survey studies utilizing a total sample size of 884.In Studies 1 (n = 297) and 2 (n = 298), we provide psychometric support for the measure via exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. In Studies 3 (n = 193) and 4 (n = 106), we support the concurrent and discriminant validity of the measure by assessing its relations with relevant constructs, such as vaccination readiness and acceptance, and we also provide initial indicators of the scale's possible predictive qualities by testing its time‐separated effects with vaccination willingness, receipt and word‐of‐mouth.We leverage these results to provide a number of theoretical insights and suggestions for future practice. Of note, we highlight that different conceptualizations and operationalizations for the same construct can produce notably differing empirical findings, and vaccine hesitancy is no different.Our cumulative efforts indicate that the UVHS is an appropriate measure to assess vaccine hesitancy as indecision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to develop an instrument for assessing sixth‐grade students’ number sense skills in fractions and decimals. This study was conducted on 452 sixth graders (10–11 years old) from the western region of Turkey. The construct validity of the number sense test (NST) was examined via exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). First, the draft NST, which consists of 36 two‐tier items, was administered to 208 students for the EFA. Repeated EFA results indicated that the NST consisted of five number sense components with 25 items (understanding the meaning and magnitude of numbers, recognizing the effects of operations on numbers, using multiple representations of numbers, using reference points in numbers, and judging the reasonableness of a computational result). The NST, with factor loadings ranging from 0.60 to 0.87, accounted for 72.39% of the total variance. The composite reliability and Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranged from 0.88 to 0.92. The CFA was administered to an additional 244 students in the school. The results of the first‐ and second‐order CFA revealed that the model fit of the NST was good (Chi‐square/df = 2.04; RMSEA = 0.066; NNFI = 0.97; IFI = 0.98; CFI= 0.97; and S‐RMR = 0.065). The results of the present study indicate that the NST is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing sixth‐grade students' number sense skills in fractions and decimals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to validate the Spanish version of the Family Involvement Questionnaire‐Short Form (FIQ‐SF) for use with Spanish‐speaking families of children enrolled in early childhood education programs. This study examined the factor structure of the FIQ‐SF and established criterion validity for the resulting FIQ‐SF dimension scores. Results from exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses replicated the three dimensions of the English FIQ: Home Engagement, School Engagement, and home–school Conferencing. Mean differences across family demographics were examined. Criterion‐related validity for the three FIQ‐SF dimensions was established by examining correlations with scores on measures of parent‐reported satisfaction with educational experiences, program records of family engagement, direct assessments of child language skills and teacher‐reported approaches to learning. Future directions and practice implications for the use of the Spanish FIQ‐SF to inform program policy and interventions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Student satisfaction in online live classes is considered an important criterion to evaluate the effectiveness of this instructional system. This study aims to develop a performance evaluation index to measure the satisfaction of students who have mastered Chinese language and literature through online live classes. Guided by survey techniques and related theories, a questionnaire on satisfaction in online live classes for students majoring in Chinese language and literature was developed. The reliability and validity of the measurement instrument were assessed through testing, and the results showed good reliability and validity. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were used to establish a performance evaluation model. The findings of this study contribute to the field of online education by providing a structured method to assess student satisfaction with the Chinese language and literature through online live classes. The performance evaluation index developed in this study can be used by educational institutions to improve the quality of their online instructional programs and improve the overall learning experience for students. Thus, the novelty of the study is to develop an evaluation model that helps educational institutions to evaluate the effectiveness of online live classes and guide the improvement of instructional practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Background Methods Results Conclusions Oral isotretinoin is the most effective systemic treatment for acne patients who fail to respond to other forms of therapies. However, hesitations and concerns regarding its side effect profile may detain the patients from treatment. This study aimed to develop and validate the Isotretinoin Hesitancy Scale (IHS) among acne patients.A cross‐sectional study was conducted with 100 acne patients who had not used isotretinoin previously. A 22‐item scale was created based on the related literature and expert opinions. The items of the scale related to beliefs and worries about isotretinoin were formatted with response options: agree, indecisive, and disagree. In this study, construct validity was tested with exploratory factor analysis, and reliability was tested with internal consistency and split‐half reliability.The results of exploratory factor analysis indicated a three‐factor solution with a total of 14 items, explaining 57% of the total variance. The first factor (Hesitancy Related to Reversible Adverse Effects: 6 items) accounted for 30% of the variance, the second factor (Hesitancy Related to Irreversible Adverse Effects: 4 items) accounted for 16% of the variance and the third factor (Isotretinoin‐related Anxiety: 4 items) accounted 11% of the variance. The internal consistency of the three factors was calculated as 0.79, 0.78, and 0.72, respectively. The Cronbach's alpha score of the total scale was found to be 0.81, and split‐half reliability was found to be 0.87.The IHS is the first scale that provides a valid and reliable assessment of isotretinoin hesitancy in acne patients. Eliminating isotretinoin hesitancy may reduce acne‐related clinical and psychosocial consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forgiveness plays an important role in couple relationships, as it is essential in overcoming interpersonal offenses and related to the well‐being of the relationship. To date, no valid instruments are available for Spanish populations to evaluate forgiveness within marital relationships. This study aims to adapt and evaluate the Marital Offense‐Specific Forgiveness Scale (MOFS), comparing the behavior of the scale in two cultural contexts: Spain and the United States.Two studies were conducted: the first with 389 participants to evaluate the behavior of the scale and to explore the dimensionality of the Spanish version of the MOFS using exploratory factor analysis (EFA); the second study used a sample of 361 Spanish and 119 American participants, conducting a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and an invariance factor analysis.The EFA revealed two factors: Avoidance–Resentment and Benevolence. Using CFA, the factorial structure of the MOFS was confirmed, with results indicating that the proposed model presents a similar fit to the original version. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercultural communication research has highlighted the significance of intercultural communication apprehension/anxiety measurement and instrument development in diverse sociocultural contexts. This study embarked on developing and validating a scale, the Perceived Intercultural Communication Anxiety/Apprehension Scale (PICAS) in the English as a foreign language (EFL) context. By drawing upon the review of the literature and expert judgment, a Likert scale with 52 items was developed for assessing the construct of intercultural communication anxiety/apprehension, which was subjected to exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with 760 Iranian EFL learners. The ultimate results of exploratory factor analysis evidenced 17 items with a stable five‐factor solution, comprising L2 proficiency, prejudice and stereotypes, significant others' attitudes, status, and context familiarity factors. The subsequent CFA confirmed the five‐factor model. The five‐factor PICAS was found to be psychometrically reliable and valid. Potential applications, future directions, and limitations are finally addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Methods Results Conclusion This study aims to perform a psychometric analysis of the 36‐item short form health survey (SF‐36) in a population of pregnant women and validate an adapted version of the instrument to measure health‐related quality of life specific to pregnancy.A cross‐sectional study design was carried out with data collection between 7 and 36 weeks of gestation, with a total sample of 547 pregnant women divided into two randomized subsamples. Data were collected between September 2021 and April 2023. An exploratory factor analysis was initially performed on one subsample, followed by a confirmatory factor analysis on the other. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega, and correlations between factors were analyzed.Results from the exploratory factor analysis proposed a seven‐factor model explaining 56% of the variance. All proposed dimensions achieved Cronbach's alpha scores above 0.75, with a total test score of 0.92. Furthermore, all dimensions exhibited positive and statistically significant correlations. Bartlett's test of sphericity and the Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin test yielded values of 5599 (P < 0.001) and 0.871, respectively. The confirmatory factor analysis reaffirmed this model with good fit indices: χ2 792 (P < 0.001), comparative fit index (CFI) and Tucker–Lewis index (TLI) >0.90, and standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) <0.06.This study developed and validated the “SF‐34 PREG,” an adapted version of the SF‐36, specifically designed for pregnant women. The SF‐34 PREG demonstrated high reliability and a robust factorial structure, making it a more precise and relevant tool for assessing health‐related quality of life during pregnancy. Although it does not include the social functioning dimension of the original SF‐36, the SF‐34 PREG offers improved relevance and accuracy for this specific population. Further research and clinical use of the SF‐34 PREG are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methods Results Conclusions Despite health benefits, many older adults struggle to meet physical activity guidelines, leading to stagnant activity levels. While integrating physical activity into daily routines has been proposed as a promising strategy for older adults, fit‐for‐purpose measurement tools to assess such routines are lacking. The Checklist for Habitual Physical Activity (CHaPA) was developed based on the positive deviance approach and socio‐ecological model to assess daily behaviours encouraging physical activity among adults aged 75 and older. It has been confirmed for its content and face validity. However, to ensure its broader applicability and usefulness, assessing its construct validity and reliability is necessary. Therefore, this study aims to assess the construct validity and reliability of the CHaPA and accordingly update the tool.To validate the construct validity of the CHaPA 22‐item version, we conducted item analysis and exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. We removed inappropriate items based on predefined criteria. Then, we assessed the reliability, internal consistency, test–retest reliability, and measurement errors of the CHaPA final version.Item analyses and factor analyses resulted in the deletion of 11 items. The results of confirmatory factor analysis validated the CHaPA 11‐item version with the three‐factor structure based on model fit index with χ2/degree of freedom = 1.25, comparative fit index = 0.965, Tucker‐Lewis index = 0.952, and root‐mean‐square error of approximation = 0.038. Omega coefficient (0.90) showed excellent internal consistency. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) demonstrated good test–retest reliability (ICC (1, 2) = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.34–0.89, standard error of measurement = 1.75).We finalised the CHaPA 11‐item version as a valid and reliable instrument for assessing daily behaviours conducive to physical activity among individuals aged 75 years and older. We need to examine the methods and effectiveness of disseminating this checklist to ensure its utilisation as a resource for promoting healthy ageing and aiding older adults in maintaining active lifestyles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Background Method Results Conclusion Implications This study aimed to modify the Japanese version of the Justice Sensitivity Inventory for married couples raising children to help them become more aware of their partner's sensitivity to fairness.In Japan, couples with children tend to have prejudice about the division of roles, perceiving each other based on the fairness of child care, housework, and work.Our participants comprised married couples who lived together with a child aged between 1 month and 3 years. A Web company commissioned a survey, with 1,200 and 500 participants included in the first and second rounds of testing, respectively, conducted 1 week apart. We examined the correlation between each subscale of the Japanese version of the Equity Sensitivity Inventory Adapted for Married Couples (J‐ESIA), the Japanese version of the Quality Marriage Index (J‐QMI), the Japanese version of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (J‐IRI), and the short form of the Japanese Big‐Five Scale (S‐JBFS). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted.Three factors were identified: ES‐Perpetrator, ES‐Victim, and ES‐Beneficiary. Cronbach's α for each subscale ranged from .95 to .96.A couple‐specific correlation was confirmed for comorbid validity.Couples can recognize each other's sensitivity to fairness and bring about behavioral change in their relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building on a World Englishes perspective, this article revisits foreign language confidence (FLC) and elaborates on the development and validation of a three‐factor Foreign Language Confidence Scale (FLCS) including Foreign Language Competence, Sense of Linguistic Security, and Sense of Linguistic Ownership. It first critically examines the existing understanding and measurement of FLC. Then it offers a theoretical and empirical justification for the three‐factor proposition in the FLCS. To examine the psychometric quality of the FLCS, two datasets (Sample 1: N = 673, Sample 2: N = 380) were collected from 1053 undergraduate English‐as‐a‐foreign‐language (EFL) learners at a top‐tier university in China. Results of exploratory factor analysis using Sample 1 demonstrated a stable three‐factor structure in the FLCS with sufficient factorial eigenvalues and strong item loadings. The confirmatory factor analysis based on Sample 2 cross‐validated the FLCS's underlying factor structure and substantiated the reliability and validity (e.g., convergent and discriminant validity) of the three‐factor 16‐item FLCS. This article also discusses the psychometric properties of the FLCS and points out its potential use for future teaching and research purposes against the backdrop of decolonizing English language education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a lack of questionnaires specifically designed to assess social isolation in adolescents. We developed and validated a self‐report measure of social isolation in adolescents, the Social Isolation Questionnaire (QIS). A literature review on social isolation and mental health in adolescents indicated 20 questions to form QIS. Two cross‐sectional surveys with 48 and 1135 adolescents, respectively, evaluated the reproducibility and validity of QIS. The Bland–Altman plot did not indicate a systematic difference between measurements 15 days apart. Bartlett's sphericity test verified a correlation between the questions and the Kaiser‐Meyer‐Olkin test showed good adequacy (.896) to the factor analysis. Exploratory factor analysis suggested the exclusion of three questions (loading factors <0.3), and eigenvalues (4.9–0.8) indicated that the questionnaire should be composed of three factors (dimensions). The Cronbach's alpha indicated high internal consistency of the 17 questions (0.850 overall; Dimensions: 0.815 'feeling of loneliness'; 0.760 'friendship'; and, 0.680 'Family support'). The QIS score ranged from 0 to 131 (maximum social isolation score). The correlation between QIS and depressive symptoms (r =.543) indicated the construct validity of QIS. We evaluated QIS in the Portuguese version, thus translation and cultural adaptation are necessary to evaluate the questionnaire in other settings. We constructed and validated the QIS questionnaire, a self‐administered questionnaire to assess social isolation in adolescents, composed of three dimensions; feelings of loneliness, friendship and family support. The QIS questionnaire seems a very promising tool to support practitioners and researchers in assessing social isolation among adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a study conducted in the Netherlands that examines the relationship between probation officer procedural justice, low self-control, and recidivism. The study found that both procedural justice and low self-control are significantly associated with recidivism. However, there is no interaction between self-control and procedural justice, indicating that the impact of perceived fairness on recidivism does not vary based on self-control levels. The findings suggest that procedural justice can improve outcomes for individuals on probation, even among those at higher risk. The study collected data through interviews with individuals in pre-trial detention and post-release interviews, and the results showed that 28% of respondents were reconvicted. The study used linear probability models to analyze the data and found that higher levels of procedural justice experienced with probation officers were associated with a lower probability of recidivism, while low self-control was positively related to recidivism. These findings have implications for probation policies and highlight the importance of probation officers engaging in procedurally just practices to reduce recidivism rates. Further research is needed to explore these relationships in different contexts and populations. [Extracted from the article]

Objective: The objective of this study was to translate and validate the Revised Impact of Miscarriage Scale (RIMS) into Kirundi for use among women and men in Burundi. Additionally, the study aimed to compare the experience and personal meaning of miscarriage between women and men. Methods: This is a cross‐sectional multicentered study. The RIMS was translated into Kirundi. Cronbach coefficient alpha and its internal consistency were measured for both genders. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to determine the underlying factors and the shared variance. Both women and men completed the RIMS questionnaire, while women completed sociodemographic, reproductive and mental health questions. Results: In all, 79 couples completed the RIMS. The original factor structure was retained after the EFA, with 68% of the shared variance explained in the three‐factor solution with 16 questions. Isolation/guilt, Loss of baby, and Devastating event. The internal consistency for women and men combined was α = 0.928. Although women scored higher on the factors of Isolation/guilt and Loss of baby, there were no significant differences in the Devastating event factor between women and men. Couples scores were positively correlated. Women who had experienced a previous miscarriage were more significantly impacted by all three factors compared to women experiencing their first miscarriage. Conclusions: The Kirundi translation of the RIMS retained the original factor structure and demonstrated excellent internal consistency α = 0.928 in women and men combined. The RIMS could be a tool for caregivers to identify individuals who require additional support after a miscarriage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current research, we developed and tested a Cyber Malevolent Creativity Behavior Scale (CMCBS), which contains 11 items in three dimensions and aims to measure the degree of individuals' cyber malevolent creativity through malevolent creative behaviors in their lives. The results revealed satisfactory reliability with Cronbach's α coefficient of 0.749 for the overall scale. Specifically, the calculated values were 0.681 for cybershaming, 0.799 for technology abuse, and 0.644 for information manipulation. Data were collected utilizing an online survey (N = 988) in the form of a questionnaire. Using exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, the questionnaire's latent structure and contribution of relevant correlates for explaining cyber malevolent creativity were examined. The CMCBS was significantly and positively correlated with the Malevolent Creativity Behavior Scale, Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire, and the Cyberbullying Inventory. This, along with the adequate psychometric properties uncovered here, indicates that it is a useful tool for research on cyber malevolent creativity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Science identity, or one's sense of recognition and competence as a scientist, is an invaluable tool for predicting student persistence and success, but is understudied among undergraduates completing preparatory work for later studies in medicine, nursing, and allied health ("pre‐health career students"). In the United States, pre‐health career students make up approximately half of all biology students and, as professionals, play important roles in caring for an aging, increasingly diverse population, managing the ongoing effects of a pandemic, and navigating socio‐political shifts in public attitudes toward science and evidence‐based medicine. Pre‐health career students are also often members of groups marginalized and minoritized in STEM education, and generally complete their degrees in community college settings, which are chronically under‐resourced and understudied. Understanding these students' science identities is thus a matter of social justice and increasingly important to public health in the United States. We examined science identity and engagement among community college biology students using two scales established and validated for use with STEM students attending four‐year institutions. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were used on two sub‐samples drawn from the pool of 846 participants to confirm that the factor structures functioned as planned among the new population. Science identity values were then compared between pre‐health career students (pre‐nursing and pre‐allied health) and other groups. Pre‐health career students generally reported interest and performance/competence on par with their traditional STEM, pre‐med, and pre‐dentistry peers, challenging popular assumptions about these students' interests and abilities. However, they also reported significantly lower recognition than traditional STEM and pre‐med/dentistry students. The implications for public health, researchers, and faculty are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The active participation of farmers in adopting eco‐friendly practices is vital to mitigate the environmental and health risks linked to pesticide usage. Farmers' awareness of these risks significantly influences their adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) methods over traditional pesticide applications. This study sought to explore the range of understanding on pesticide effects, categorize IPM strategies employed in pest management, and examine the correlation between knowledge levels and IPM strategy choices. Data was gathered through structured questionnaires from 391 rice farmers in Sari County, Mazandaran province, Northern Iran. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis revealed three distinct dimensions of pesticide risk knowledge: personal risk of pesticide, environmental risk of pesticide, and community risk of pesticide. Furthermore, the study identified three primary categories of IPM strategies: high familiarity, intermediate familiarity, and low familiarity. The results of the regression analysis indicated that the personal risk of pesticides (β = 0.556; P < 0.01) and the environmental risk of pesticides (β = 0.262; P < 0.01) are significantly correlated with the adoption of high familiarity IPM strategies. Furthermore, the study revealed that there was no significant statistical evidence to support the notion that different types of pesticide risk knowledge had any influence on the adoption of intermediate and low familiarity strategies. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study imply the critical importance for agricultural extension programs to focus on enhancing farmers' knowledge of pesticide risks and various IPM strategies. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose Methods Results Conclusions The Rasch‐Built Pompe‐Specific Activity (R‐PAct) scale is a patient‐reported outcome measure specifically designed to quantify the effects of Pompe disease on daily life activities, developed for use in Dutch‐ and English‐speaking countries. This study aimed to validate the R‐PAct for use in other countries.Four other language versions (German, French, Italian, and Spanish) of the R‐PAct were created and distributed among Pompe patients (≥16 years old) in Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and Switzerland and pooled with data of newly diagnosed patients from Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the USA, and the UK and the original validation cohort (n = 186). The psychometric properties of the scale were assessed by exploratory factor analysis and Rasch analysis.Data for 520 patients were eligible for analysis. Exploratory factor analysis suggested that the items separated into two domains: Activities of Daily Living and Mobility. Both domains independently displayed adequate Rasch model measurement properties, following the removal of one item ("Are you able to practice a sport?") from the Mobility domain, and can be added together to form a "higher order" factor as well. Differential item functioning (DIF)‐by‐language assessment indicated DIF for several items; however, the impact of accounting for DIF was negligible. We recalibrated the nomogram (raw score interval‐level transformation) for the updated 17‐item R‐PAct scale. The minimal detectable change value was 13.85 for the overall R‐PAct.After removing one item, the modified‐R‐PAct scale is a valid disease‐specific patient‐reported outcome measure for patients with Pompe disease across multiple countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Methods Results Conclusion To develop and validate a comprehensive competency model for basic public health professionals to enhance their response to public health emergencies.Staff working in basic public health institutions such as the Centre for Disease Control, community health services and township health centres were selected as the study population. Through an integrative literature review, structured questionnaire survey (n = 1310), exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, we developed and validated a competency model. Exploratory factor analysis was utilized to extract common factors, and confirmatory factor analysis was employed to establish the model and ensure its robustness.Identified competencies by exploratory factor analysis encompass professional and technical skills, medical professionalism, specialized medical knowledge, cognitive and managerial aptitude, public health service competence, emergency response proficiency and physical and mental quality. The model displayed high validity, with a Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin score of 0.933, the χ2 value of Bartlett's test of sphericity was 4169.238 at 889 degrees of freedom (df) (p < 0.001) and the cumulative contribution rate was 60.7%. The confirmatory analysis yielded a final model fit (χ2/df = 2.461) with satisfactory adjusted fit indicators.This validated competency model provides a robust framework for selecting, training and evaluating basic public health professionals, potentially enhancing overall emergency response capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caregivers play an integral role in supporting children's development, not only through their individual parenting practices but also how they work together as coparents. The literature on coparenting is extensive; however, most of the research has relied on global measures to assess the quality and functioning of the coparenting relationship. Examining the coparenting relationship with domain‐specific measures enables a deeper understanding of this complex family process. One domain of particular interest is emotion socialization given the vast and long‐term consequences emotion socialization has on children's emotional, social, behavioral, and psychological functioning. Emotion socialization literature would benefit from a domain‐specific coparenting measure, as researchers have rarely explored how coparents work together when responding to their children's emotions (i.e., coparenting children's emotions). As such, an emotion‐focused coparenting measure could address gaps in both coparenting and emotion socialization literature. This study outlines the development and psychometric evaluation of a domain‐specific measure of coparenting, the Coparenting Children's Emotion Scale (CCES), which assesses how parents work together when responding to their children's emotions. In the current study, the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the CCES were examined in an Australian sample. Findings from exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses showed that the CCES comprises two subscales that capture coparents' levels of support/cooperation and undermining. In the current sample, both CCES subscales demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency, and good convergent and concurrent validity. The CCES will provide researchers and practitioners with a domain‐specific measure to use in exploratory and intervention research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relationships with close relatives, friends, and future generations should be critical in a collective society; therefore, the fear of separation from others, and care for others, must be core components of attitudes concerning death. However, such relational attitudes toward death have been insufficiently investigated. This study develops a new psychological scale for assessing death attitudes considering relationships with loved ones and future generations. In Study 1, we conducted an exploratory factor analysis using data from 477 Japanese adults. The results revealed a five‐factor structure of the Death Attitudes in Relationships Scale (DARS) and confirmed its internal consistency, convergent validity, and test–retest reliability. In Study 2 (N = 380), we demonstrated the goodness‐of‐fit indices for the factor structure and further verified the construct validity, considering relationships with other variables. As such, we confirmed the validity and reliability of the DARS. The DARS can be used to reexamine the previous, accumulated findings using the existing scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the development and validation process of a scale designed to assess the assistive technology (AT) knowledge of preservice special education teachers related to visual impairment (VI). The scale was administered to two groups of preservice special education teachers, and data from the first group (N = 291) were subjected to an exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The results of the EFA revealed that the scale had a five‐factor structure, which included "braille technologies," "accessibility for documents and software," "AT for diverse needs," "AT for accessing print," and "AT for transforming content into accessible digital format." Based on the findings of the EFA, the researchers revised the scale and applied it to the second group of preservice teachers (N = 119) to confirm the five‐factor structure through a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The fit indices calculated during the CFA indicated a good model fit. By following a systematic approach, a valid 23‐item scale for assessing AT knowledge related to VI was developed. This study offers a useful assessment tool and knowledge constructs for designing AT courses. Practitioner Points: A newly developed, valid, and reliable measurement tool has been created to gauge the self‐efficacy levels of preservice special education teachers with respect to specific knowledge related to AT for VI.Both practitioners and researchers can employ this developed scale to assess the self‐efficacy of preservice teachers in their knowledge and application of AT for VI, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of AT courses.The knowledge constructs that have been identified in this study, based on the results of EFA and CFA, can serve as valuable guidance for instructors when designing the content of courses related to AT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Those tasked with recruiting students to school psychology programs have limited resources. Yet, they need to identify which sources of information prospective students will use to inform their choice of school psychology programs. A survey was developed to measure which information sources school psychology students consider when applying to graduate programs and to determine which demographic factors contribute to the types of information used. The survey was administered via email and completed by 406 current school psychology students. An exploratory factor analysis found three factors related to General Information, Program Details, and Student Outreach. Overall, students highlighted the importance of general information that is available on the website. Student outreach efforts were less preferred, though students did value the opportunities to talk with faculty members such as the program coordinator. Effects of race, gender, first‐generation status, and in‐state status were not significantly related to student information preferences. Results suggest that programs should consider creating high‐quality program, departmental, and university websites as the most effective way to provide information to prospective students. Practitioner Points: Information provided on a program website is the information source considered most by school psychology applicants.Social media was not a source of information used by most applicants.There were no differences based on race, gender, first‐generation status, and in‐state status on the sources of information that school psychology applicants use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, significant attention is given to the cultivation and evaluation of Mathematical Higher‐Order Thinking Skills (MHOTS). This study aims to address the gap in developing and validating suitable MHOTS structures for high school students. In this study, 53 items were determined by experts in the field of mathematics education and scale development. The study group of this study consists of 654 students educated at the high school level. We decided to split the samples randomly in two by designating a random half as exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and the other half as confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). EFA was used to confirm a robust "four‐dimensional, nine‐factor" measurement structure, encompassing four key dimensions, namely mathematical critical thinking, mathematical creative thinking, mathematical problem‐solving, and mathematical metacognitive skills. The scale's quality was assessed through a retest using CFA and the structural validity was evaluated through CFA and correlation analysis. The criterion validity of the scale was also examined using math scores. The results from the double validity analysis showed that the scale had a reasonable and valid structure. The findings established the MHOTS for high school students as a reliable and valid instrument for measuring the level of MHOTS among high school students. This newly developed scale holds promise as an effective tool to assess and enhance mathematical higher‐order thinking in the student population. Practitioner points: MHOTS encompasses four key dimensions, namely mathematical critical thinking, mathematical creative thinking, mathematical problem‐solving, and mathematical metacognitive skills.We utilized exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to assess the reliability and validity of H‐MHOTS.H‐MHOTS is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring the level of MHOTS among high school students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Medical students' preparedness for clinical practice is well researched, yet little is known on the extent to which students are being prepared for a medical career. This paper reports the construction of a short medical inventory titled eXploring medical sTudents' caReer reAdiness (XTRA) to measure students' career readiness based on Super's theory of career maturity. Approach: We designed an instrument consisting of a series of 5‐point Likert‐scale to identify participants competencies regarding career exploration and planning during their undergraduate studies. The instrument was completed by 348 medical students from 41 universities in the United Kingdom. We examined the validity and reliability of the instrument through Exploratory Factor Analysis, Cronbach's coefficient α and Pearson correlation. Evaluation: Exploratory Factor Analysis revealed that 16 of the 20‐items survey were aligned with the exploration stage of Super's theory: Crystallisation (Career goals), Specification (Career pathways) and Implementation (Career accomplishments). The four items that formed two separate statistical factors were specific to a current medical career in the UK. Internal reliability for Super's factor subscales were acceptable (α = 0.71 to α = 0.81). A significant positive relationship was found between students' overall rating of career readiness and the three factors, indicating construct validity. Implications: The XTRA Inventory is a short instrument with construct and content validity specifically designed to measure career readiness of medical students. Further work on its psychometric properties will help establish this inventory to be used as a guidance and career counselling tool by medical educators and educational institutions in developing career development programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nature connection is a common construct in research examining relationships between the natural environment and human well‐being. The multidimensionality of the concept is often described but rarely reflected in existing unidimensional measures, which can also be limited by poor psychometric characteristics. This research aimed to develop and validate a new brief (9‐item) multidimensional self‐report measure: The Nature Experiences Questionnaire (NEQ). Scale items were formulated from a review of relevant literature and in consultation with experts. Study 1 investigated the underlying structure using exploratory factor analysis in a sample of 142 undergraduate psychology students. The resulting three‐factor solution was replicated in Studies 2 and 3 using confirmatory factor analyses in independent samples of community members (n = 231) and workers (n = 2629). The NEQ was positively correlated with two existing measures of nature connection, and the three subscales (nature affect, cognitions and behaviour) predicted more variance in well‐being. The NEQ demonstrated robust psychometric properties over time and was predictive of worker well‐being, relaxation from work and job satisfaction. The implications and recommendations for the use of this measure are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The government around the globe are striving to improve their public finance to meet their public expenditures and for sustainable development of their economies. However, the capability of the governments to generate adequate revenue is limited and refrained by numerous factors. The non‐compliance behavior of GST taxpayers is one of the major factors attributed to this phenomenon. Therefore, this paper endeavors to frame and validate a comprehensive instrumental scale with the application of the extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) for analyzing the determinants of compliance behavior of GST taxpayers in India. The current study has adopted the quantitative design through exploratory and confirmatory studies by incorporating qualitative semi‐structured interviews with 100 GST consultants to validate the instrumental scale. The study has collected a random sample of 339 GST taxpayers using snowball random sampling. Meanwhile, the study has employed the Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) for analyzing the collected data. The result affirms six major factors in determining the compliance behavior of GST taxpayers explaining 65.166% of the total variance. The findings have instituted perceived complexity, trust and moral obligation in addition to three major constructs of TPB theory namely attitude behavior, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control of the GST taxpayers. The results explicate that the compliance behavior of GST taxpayers is a dynamic and multifaceted phenomenon and it is critical for GST authorities to comprehend the compliance behavior of GST taxpayers. The result explicates that there is a need to simplify and rationalize the GST system in India to increase voluntary compliance of taxpayers. The results also endorse for building trust between GST taxpayers, GST authorities and the state. This study may act as a baseline for formulating policies and strategies on GST in India. There is hardly any national and international study that has applied the extended theory of planned behavior for studying the antecedents of compliance behavior of GST taxpayers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the abundance of research linking leadership behaviours to organisational effectiveness in various sectors, there is a lack of empirical studies that investigate how leadership behaviours influence performance in the context of research universities. The present study examined the effects of leadership behaviours on departmental performance in public research universities in Ethiopia. The study employed a quantitatively driven embedded type of mixed methods design. The participants of the study were 1176 academic staff (969 instructors and 207 department heads). They were selected from four public research universities using a simple random sampling technique. In addition, 14 key informants were selected using a purposive sampling technique based on their teaching‐learning, research and leadership lived experiences in higher education institutions and interviewed using semi‐structured guiding questions. Quantitative data were collected using questionnaires composed of demographic questions and adapted versions of two scales: Multifactor Leadership Questionnaires and a new tool for measuring global academic performance. The quantitative data were analysed using frequency, percentage, multiple correlations and regression, one sample t‐test, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. Version 23.0 of Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) and SPSS‐23 were used for data analyses. Qualitative data were analysed thematically using open code version 4.03 software. The analyses showed that transactional leadership dimension and teaching‐learning dimension of departmental performance were practised predominantly. Dimensions of leadership behaviour were found to be positively and significantly related to dimensions of departmental performance. The joint contributions of dimensions of leadership behaviour were larger than their separate contributions, thereby supporting the formulated alternative hypotheses. Implications of the findings were discussed.Context and implicationsRationale for the studyLeadership is one of the indispensable factors that determine organisational success. However, empirical study findings that show the effects of leadership behaviours on departmental performance in public higher education institutions were scarce.Why the new findings matterThe new findings matter because the transactional leadership dimension of leadership behaviours and the teaching‐learning dimension of departmental performance are practiced predominantly in the sampled research universities. The findings demonstrated that the stated dimensions of leadership behaviour are positively and significantly related to departmental performance. It is more informative and contributes to knowledge and practice that the combined contributions of leadership behaviours are larger than their separate contributions.Implications for practitionersThe findings of the study have policy and practical implications for improving effectiveness of higher education leadership and departmental performance dimensions: the teaching‐learning process, research and community services in the context of Ethiopian public research universities. This finding further implies that schools and department heads need to use a combination of appropriate leadership behaviours in order to improve departmental performance dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]