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Human-centered approaches are of particular importance when analyzing urban spaces in technology-driven fields, because understanding how people perceive and react to their environments depends on several dynamic and static factors, such as traffic volume, noise, safety, urban configuration, and greenness. Analyzing and interpreting emotions against the background of environmental information can provide insights into the spatial and temporal properties of urban spaces and their influence on citizens, such as urban walkability and bikeability. In this study, we present a comprehensive mixed-methods approach to geospatial analysis that utilizes wearable sensor technology for emotion detection and combines information from sources that correct or complement each other. This includes objective data from wearable physiological sensors combined with an eDiary app, first-person perspective videos from a chest-mounted camera, and georeferenced interviews, and post-hoc surveys. Across two studies, we identified and geolocated pedestrians' and cyclists' moments of stress and relaxation in the city centers of Salzburg and Cologne. Despite open methodological questions, we conclude that mapping wearable sensor data, complemented with other sources of information - all of which are indispensable for evidence-based urban planning - offering tremendous potential for gaining useful insights into urban spaces and their impact on citizens.

A widely applicable procedure of examining proximity to unidimensionality for multicomponent measuring instruments with multidimensional structure is discussed. The method is developed within the framework of latent variable modeling and allows one to point and interval estimate an explained variance proportion-based index that may be considered a measure of proximity to unidimensional structure. The approach is readily utilized in educational, behavioral, and social research when it is of interest to evaluate whether a more general structure scale, test, or measuring instrument could be treated as being associated with an approximately unidimensional latent structure for some empirical purposes.

The Values in Action (VIA) framework maps 24 character strengths onto six more abstract virtues through a theoretical classification. However, compared to other individual difference constructs, there is little consensus about the factor-analytic structure of the VIA trait space. Applying Horn's parallel analysis, Goldberg’s Bass-ackwards approach, and cross-country congruency analysis, we scrutinize the factor-analytic solutions-hierarchy of the 24 VIA strengths with the aim to identify one or more useful global levels of abstraction (akin to the Big Five, HEXACO/Big Six, or personality metatraits). We assessed the 24 character strengths with the psychometrically refined IPIP-VIA-R inventory in two large and heterogeneous samples from Germany and the UK (total N ≈ 2,000). Results suggested that three global dimensions suffice to capture the essence of character strengths: Level III recovered more than 50% of the total variation of the 24 character strengths in well-interpretable, global/general, cross-culturally replicable dimensions. We provisionally labeled them positivity, dependability, and mastery. Their superordinate Level-II-dimensions were reminiscent of the "Big Two" personality metatraits Dynamism and Social Self-Regulation. Our results advance the understanding of the VIA character trait space and may serve as a basis for developing scales to assess these global dimensions.

Sense of coherence (SOC) describes an individual's ability to deal with life challenges (manageability), comprehend the environment (comprehensibility), and perceive life and its challenges as meaningful (meaningfulness). We examine measurement invariance (MI) of the SOC-13 scale across gender and age groups in a matched sample of N = 1,816 (50% females; age range 16-83 years). A two-factor model, with a common factor for manageability/comprehensibility items and a second factor for meaningfulness items, best represented the SOC-13 in all groups. Full metric, partial scalar, and full strict invariance held across gender groups. Across age groups, full metric, partial scalar, and partial strict invariance could be established. We conclude that SOC-13 is a reliable and valid measure. Measurement is comparable across gender and age.

Measures of cognitive or socio-emotional skills from large-scale assessments surveys (LSAS) are often based on advanced statistical models and scoring techniques unfamiliar to applied researchers. Consequently, applied researchers working with data from LSAS may be uncertain about the assumptions and computational details of these statistical models and scoring techniques and about how to best incorporate the resulting skill measures in secondary analyses. The present paper is intended as a primer for applied researchers. After a brief introduction to the key properties of skill assessments, we give an overview over the three principal methods with which secondary analysts can incorporate skill measures from LSAS in their analyses: (1) as test scores (i.e., point estimates of individual ability), (2) through structural equation modeling (SEM), and (3) in the form of plausible values (PVs). We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each method based on three criteria: fallibility (i.e., control for measurement error and unbiasedness), usability (i.e., ease of use in secondary analyses), and immutability (i.e., consistency of test scores, PVs, or measurement model parameters across different analyses and analysts). We show that although none of the methods are optimal under all criteria, methods that result in a single point estimate of each respondent’s ability (i.e., all types of "test scores") are rarely optimal for research purposes. Instead, approaches that avoid or correct for measurement error - especially PV methodology - stand out as the method of choice. We conclude with practical recommendations for secondary analysts and data-producing organizations.

Media comparisons are only valid within "zones of comparability." Either the level of participants' interactivity (i.e., the "syntactics" of what they do) has to be constant, while the content might vary, or the content of specific media (i.e., the "semantics" of what they encounter) has to be kept constant, while the level of interactivity with the content might vary. The present experiment varied the level of interactivity: Participants watched a violent scene from the movie The Matrix or reenacted the same scene in a Matrix-inspired first-person shooter game. Using the same violent content (shooting at Matrix guards), our results suggest that the higher the level of self-activation while being exposed to violent media content, the stronger the changes in aggressive dispositions as assessed with an aggressive self-concept Implicit Association Test. Ruling out confounders from previous research, unspecific arousal was not responsible for the obtained short-term increases in aggressive dispositions.

Hintergrund: Der Heidelberger Health Score (HHS 3.0) ist ein ökonomisches Messinstrument mit 14 Indikatoren zur systematischen Identifikation von Bedarfen zum Erhalt der Arbeitsfähigkeit. Die 6 im Fragebogen erhobenen Gesundheitsdimensionen umfassen persönliche Gesundheitseinschätzung (PGE), gesundheitliche Ressourcensituation (GRS), mentale Widerstandsfähigkeit (MWF), Work Ability Index (WAI), allgemeines Aktivitätsprofil (AAP) und arbeitsplatzbezogenes Beanspruchungsprofil (ABP). Die Ergebnisse können in einem Gesamtscore abgebildet werden. Ziel der Arbeit (Fragestellung): Wir untersuchten Hinweise auf Validität der Revision 3.0 des HHS anhand von fünf Stichproben. Material und Methoden: Bezüge des HHS zu Standardmessinstrumenten wie SF-36, WAI und SCL wurden in korrelativen Querschnittsdesigns analysiert. Angaben zu Sitzzeiten wurden mit objektiver einwöchiger Akzelerometrie überprüft. Ein prospektives Längsschnittdesign analysierte prädiktive Validität, Sensitivität und Spezifität des HHS für AU-Tage. Ergebnisse: Der HHS wies die erwarteten Korrelationen zu Standardmessinstrumenten wie SF-36 (r = 0,30-0,55), WAI (r = 0,49) und SCL (r = -0,53) auf. Probanden verschätzten sich zwar bei absoluten Sitzzeiten, jedoch wurden Probandenunterschiede laut Akzelerometrie vom HHS recht gut abgebildet (r = 0,57). Mit dem HHS konnten AU-Tage prognostiziert werden (r = -0,43). Diskussion: Der HHS-Gesamtscore und die HHS-Dimensionen erlauben ein spezifisches Screening der arbeitsrelevanten Gesundheitsressourcen. Vor dem Hintergrund der festgestellten Ressourcenlage können gesundheitliche Risikofaktoren für AU-Tage adressiert und bedarfsgerechte Interventionen geplant werden. Der HHS erlaubt es damit, Maßnahmen bedarfsgerecht, zielgenau und effizient im betrieblichen Gesundheitsmanagement zu verankern., Background: The Heidelberg Health Score (HHS 3.0) is an economical 14-item measurement instrument for systematically identifying crucial risk factors and general resistance resources related to preserving employee work ability. The six health-related dimensions reflect Subjective Health Assessment (PGE), General Health Resources (GRS), Mental Resilience (MWF), Work Ability Index (WAI), General Activity Profile (AAP), and Workplace-related Stress Profile (ABP). Results can be formed into a total score. Objectives: The results on the validity of the revised HHS 3.0 as established with five samples are reported. Materials and methods: The relationships between HHS and standard assessment tools such as the SF-36, WAI, and SCL were investigated by means of cross-sectional designs. Subjectively reported sitting times were evaluated against an objective accelerometer worn for a week. A prospective longitudinal study analyzed the HHS’s predictive validity, sensitivity, and specificity for days of incapacity to work. Results: HHS was statistically associated with standard assessment tools as hypothesized: SF-36 (r = 0.30-0.55), WAI (r = 0.49), and SCL (r = -0.53).Though participants misestimated their absolute sitting times, individual differences between them were captured quite well according to the accelerometer (r = 0.57). Days of incapacity to work could be predicted with the help of HHS (r = -0.43). Conclusions: The HHS total score and HHS dimensions provide tools for screening staff’s work-related health resources. Corporate health management may accurately identify areas of staff health in need of attention that - in light of individuals' resources - may affect their days of incapacity to work. Thus HHS enables corporate health management to plan tailored interventions more efficiently.

Ziel des Artikels ist die Analyse der psychometrischen Güte der deutschen Version des "Adaptive Leadership Competency Profile" (ALCP) (Sherron, 2000), eines Fragebogens zur Erfassung elf globaler Führungskompetenzen. Vorgestellt wird ein probabilistisch-testtheoretisches Vorgehen zur Überprüfung von mit (Führungs-)Kompetenzmodellen verbundenen Messmodellen auf der Grundlage des Rasch-Modells. Mit Hilfe des ordinalen Rasch-Modells wurden Items und Skalen analysiert und Rasch-Homogenität überprüft (N = 311). Mit Hilfe des Mixed-Rasch-Modells wurde die Annahme der gemeinsamen Skalierbarkeit von unterschiedlichen Mitarbeiterinnen und Mitarbeitern analysiert. Ein 11-dimensionales Rasch-Modell explorierte die latenten Korrelationen der Personenparameter. Sämtliche Skalen trennten Führungskräfte und Nicht-Führungskräfte nach Kompetenzgraden. Stärken des Ansatzes und praktische Implikationen werden diskutiert., We analyze the psychometric properties of the German version of the 'Adaptive Leadership Competency Profile' (ALCP) (Sherron, 2000), which contains eleven scales assessing broad leadership competencies. We illustrate an approach to the probabilistic test-theoretical analysis of competency models according to the Rasch model. Based on the ordinal Rasch model, item and scale analyses demonstrated Rasch homogeneity (N = 311). A mixed Rasch model was used to inspect whether the different types of staff can be scaled jointly. An 11-dimensional Rasch model was used to explore the latent correlations among the person parameters. All scale means discriminated between executive managers and staff members. We discuss strengths of the approach and practical implications.

Sense of coherence (SOC), resilience, dispositional optimism, and self-compassion are highly related aspects of personality that promote health and well-being. We systematically compared these constructs and explored their criterion validity when predicting psychological distress. With the help of structural equation modeling, we examined SOC's factor structure and incremental validity over resilience (N1 = 208) as well as over optimism and self-compassion (N2 = 308) in two studies. Despite strong overlap (shared variance) SOC clearly outperformed its competitors. Neither resilience, nor optimism, nor self-compassion had significant incremental validity over SOC on a latent level. A two-factor model for SOC explained most variance in psychological distress. Results highlight the importance of salutogenic factors even in a neck-to-neck comparison with other potentially health-benefitting personality variables. Meaningfulness appears to contribute to SOC's uniqueness.

We compared the standard 2D representation of a recent violent computer game to its 3D representation realized by shutter-goggles in a lab experiment. Assuming that the higher degree of realism of media violence would impact stronger on players in a pretest–posttest design, we analyzed the influence of violent video game exposure on implicit and explicit measures of aggressiveness. According to an explicit questionnaire on aggressiveness, participants reported having becoming more peaceful, whereas an Implicit Association Test on aggressiveness (Agg-IAT) indicated that the association between self and aggressive behavior became stronger after violence exposure, confirming the unique utility of Agg-IATs in media research. The 3D visualization mode, however, did not further strengthen this association, and a mediation model of increases in aggressiveness by participants’ flow experiences was not supported. When inspecting flow experiences, an interaction effect between gender and visualization mode was evident: Male participants were more likely to have flow experiences in the high-realism (3D) format, whereas female participants were more likely to experience flow in the standard (2D) mode. We discuss the findings in the context of automatic information processing in aggression, and we contend possible changes in automatic behavioral precursors due to media influence.