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This paper investigates the impact of including or omitting an explicit "don't know (DK)/no opinion (NO)" option in survey questionnaires. Three consecutive annual surveys were conducted using identical questionnaires, with variations in the inclusion of the DK/NO option. The study compares responses from the 2019 survey, which lacked a DK/NO option, to responses from the 2020 and 2021 surveys, which included this option. Utilizing a 7-point Likert scale, respondents were asked to indicate their opinions, with options ranging from extreme disagreement to extreme agreement, with a neutral midpoint. Statistical analysis, employing Two Sample Z-tests Between Proportions, assessed differences in the proportion of neutral responses between the surveys. Findings reveal that the inclusion of the DK/NO option did not significantly alter the proportion of neutral responses compared to surveys without this option. These results challenge the prevailing notion that explicit DK/NO options improve data quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective/Research Question: Community college graduation rates are typically quite low, and developmental mathematics enrollment and coursetaking patterns may constrain academic outcomes. To identify ways in which community college graduation rates may be improved, decision trees were utilized to examine the STEM coursetaking patterns of N = 5,065 students who matriculated in remedial mathematics. Methods: The research design was guided by Tinto's academic and social integration framework, which provided an analytical lens for identifying how decision trees facilitate academic decision making when academic and social integration is limited. Decision trees identified course sequence rules to predict graduation, which can be used to formulate course pathways for community college advisors and their students. Results: Nine rules from the decision tree were identified, which could be used to advise community college students in coursetaking that aligns with career aspirations. The most important variable predicting graduation was completing College-Level Mathematics, which included Algebra II, Statistics, Precalculus, and survey mathematics courses. General education sciences courses such as Astronomy, Geology, Environmental Science, and Marine Biology were the most important science courses predicting graduation. Conclusions/Contributions: Results suggest the importance of College-Level Mathematics in providing the skills necessary for students to be successful in subsequent STEM coursework and persist to graduation. Designating specific academic pathways may improve social and academic integration and graduation rates, providing continuity as students work with different advisors to choose majors and plan course sequences. Transparent, accessible enrollment planning fosters programmatic consistency and student agency in selecting coursework that will maximize their success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of causal relationships between specific genes and social, behavioral, and health outcomes is challenging due to environmental confounding from population stratification and dynastic genetic effects. Existing methods to eliminate environmental confounding leverage random genetic variation resulting from recombination and require within-family dyadic genetic data (i.e., parent-child and/or sibling pairs), meaning they can only be applied in relatively small and selected samples. We introduce the phenotype differences model and provide derivations showing that it--under plausible assumptions--provides consistent (and, in certain cases, unbiased) estimates of genetic effects using just a single individual's genotype. Then, leveraging distinct samples of fully and partially genotyped sibling pairs in the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, we use polygenic indices and phenotypic data for 24 different traits to empirically validate the phenotype differences model. Finally, we utilize the model to test the effects of 40 polygenic indices on lifespan. After a 10% false discovery rate correction, we find that polygenic indices for three traits--body mass index, self-rated health, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease--have a statistically significant effect on an individual's lifespan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Educational measurement is a social science that requires both qualitative and quantitative competencies. Qualitative competencies in educational measurement include developing and applying theories of learning, designing instruments, and identifying the social, cultural, historical, and political contexts of measurement. Quantitative competencies include statistical inference, computational fluency, and psychometric modeling. I review 12 commentaries authored by past presidents of the National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME) published in a special issue prompting them to reflect on the past, present, and future of educational measurement. I explain how a perspective on both qualitative and quantitative competencies yields common themes across the commentaries. These include the appeal and challenge of personalization, the necessity of contextualization, and the value of communication and collaboration. I conclude that elevation of both qualitative and quantitative competencies underlying educational measurement provides a clearer sense of how NCME can advance its mission, "to advance theory and applications of educational measurement to benefit society." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates whether the use of instruments providing quantifiable force feedback in manual skill learning can assist students with learning difficulties. Under the same theoretical teaching model, one group (intervention group, n = 10) received education with quantitative force feedback for manual skills, while the other group received traditional teaching methods (control group, n = 18). After conducting Levene's test to assess homogeneity of variances, t‐tests were performed to compare point grades, and Mann–Whitney tests were used to compare rating grades between the groups. There is a significant difference in the point grades of the intervention group compared to the control group (p < 0.05), and also a significant difference in the rating evaluation grades (p < 0.05). Under the guidance of teachers, the application of feedback instruments providing a 'time‐force profile' allows for the quantification of manual skill force, reinforcing students' practice of 'force control', leading to an enhancement in the manual skill proficiency of students with learning difficulties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incel population comprises men experiencing involuntary celibacy who mingle based on their challenges in establishing romantic connections. Despite the current issues plaguing incel forums (e.g., violent content), they were originally conceived as platforms for social support to alleviate loneliness among sexually inexperienced individuals. However, documentation of support types within these forums is limited. The aim of this study was to document the exchange of social support within incel forums, utilizing Braithwaite et al.'s (1999) adaptation of Cutrona and Suhr's (1992) social support typology (informational, emotional, esteem, network, tangible support) to analyze the forms of support exchanged within incels forums. Thematic analyses of 37 threads from r/IncelExit (i.e., users seeking to leave inceldom) and Incels.is (i.e., users deeply entrenched in inceldom) reveal a prevalence of informational support, followed by emotional support. These findings align with existing literature positing that informational support is the prevailing type in online interactions on forums between strangers, where anonymity also facilitates the intimate exchanges characteristic of emotional support. Notable distinctions emerge between the two forums: r/IncelExit favoured informational support (prioritized when the problem is perceived as controllable) to suggest concrete actions to resolve the problem, while Incels.is emphasized emotional support (prioritized when the problem is perceived as uncontrollable) to show empathy and understanding of the situation. Our findings also reveal that antisocial support (i.e., encouraging self-destructive behaviours instead of providing genuine support) was sometimes present, especially on Incels.is. This study provides an initial exploration of support dynamics in incels forums, with implications for interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has argued that estimates of the percentage of Americans without a religious affiliation may be influenced by a measurement artifact caused by the poor reliability of conventional survey questions. Using a question-order experiment and cognitive interviews, we assess religious affiliation measures like those commonly used on surveys. A filter question and a full question presenting a list of religious affiliations as response options are asked in a random order. Findings suggest that nominally religious respondents have higher odds of reporting an affiliation to the full question than the filter. They describe nominal or residual religious affiliations, highlighting the role of family connections and religious pasts in their affiliation reports. Conversely, highly religious and nonreligious respondents are, respectively, only slightly and not at all influenced by question characteristics. Findings suggest that using a filter question before a full question avoids this source of inconsistency and yields better data quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

European citizens' attitudes towards defence are a fundamental element of common identity in the EU's aim of becoming a unitary international actor. In Spain, since the early 2000s, the Spanish Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces have developed a public policy to promote defence culture to influence Spanish society's views, perceptions, opinions, etc., towards defence and military policies. However, this approach is flawed because, despite being defined as part of the Spanish citizens' political culture, these institutions reduce this concept to 'knowledge' or 'awareness of its importance'. Therefore, the understanding of the Spanish defence political culture has been ill-analysed. Hence, a political culture related to defence issues can be best explained within the political culture framework, from which an ideal type, in the Weberian sense, can be established. Thus, based on previous studies, using survey data and both exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (EFA & CFA), we test five sub-models to explain this political culture. This research is relevant to the study of the defence political culture because it reaffirms the existence of different cultural subtypes and civil–military relations and shows that the cultural gap in the convergence of values must be worked on in a segmented manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Culture is transmitted and replicated among humans, constituting a foundational element of social studies. However, despite the relevance of this epistemological premise, there is relatively little empirical attention to the processes of social reproduction of culture. In this study, adopting the theoretical approach of cultural evolutionism and employing quantitative methods, attention is focused on cultural transmission in football fandom. Data from a web survey conducted on students of the University of Milan, totaling 4047 valid cases, are presented. Analyses show that football fandom tends to reproduce primarily through family socialization, vertically, at an early stage of life, although horizontal dynamics are also evident, linked to the historical and environmental context experienced by the individual. Consistent with Mesoudi's definition (2011), estimating the possible relative selection effects, beyond neutral replication (random copying), assigns a «replicative» advantage of approximately 9% to environmental conformity (frequency-dependent bias), namely the Milanese context, for Inter and Milan teams, and approximately 12% to the imitation of successful models and sporting success itself (model-based bias and content bias). Meaning that achieving numerous sporting successes in the 1990s would confer a «replicative» advantage to Milan (benefiting from the combined effect of success and conformity). A «replicative» advantage of x percentage points means that, given fans of different teams in generation t, in generation t+1, there will be a x percentage increase in fans of the team that has that selection advantage, compared to fans of other teams. The results of this study, within the limitations of the data used, a sample not generalizable to the population but rich in heterogeneity, can serve as a litmus test for investigating cultural transmission phenomena more systematically according to the cultural evolutionism approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sex offender recidivism (SOR) has been the subject of research for over 70 years. Myths, misconceptions, and erroneous conclusions about SOR, however, remain widespread, impeding the development of evidence-based policies aimed at preventing sexual offenses. To address the rich but uneven literature, a comprehensive review was conducted making it possible to provide a contextualized overview of scientific knowledge against the backdrop of methodological issues, challenges, and shortcomings. Over the years, researchers have been asked to provide a simple answer to a seemingly simple question: what are the recidivism rates for sexual offending? In response, the field has produced a wide range of findings making it difficult to draw firm conclusions, leaving room for interpretation and personal biases. The variations in recidivism rates are attributable to offender and methodological characteristics, both of which are embedded in a particular sociolegal context. As a result, the base rate of SOR is more effectively considered in terms of a series of questions that should include the type of recidivism, with whom, over what period, and in what context. Issues and debates that have marked the field and fueled its growth are highlighted. Research innovations and important areas of research are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Gaps exist in the understanding of the etiology of poor sleep quality after lung transplantation. Research Question: What factors are associated with poor sleep quality in lung transplant recipients? Design: A quantitative, single-site, cross-sectional study used an anonymous survey based on 3 scales. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scale with scores dichotomized to poor versus good sleepers based on the cutoff score > 8. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale evaluated symptoms of anxiety and depression, and the Short Form-12 measured health-related quality of life using the mental and physical component scores. Additional self-reported data included demographic and transplant-related variables. Results: The response rate was 38.4% (61/158), and 52.5% of the sample (32/61) evidenced a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score > 8, suggestive of poor sleep quality. Bivariate analyses demonstrated that poor sleep was significantly related to symptoms of depression (P <.01), anxiety (P <.01), stressors of hospitalization (P <.05), and treatment of acute rejection (P <.05). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that anxiety was significantly associated with poor sleep (odds ratio = 1.34, P <.05). Conclusion: Poor subjective sleep quality remains prevalent in lung transplant recipients. Individuals with anxiety symptoms were at a greater risk for poor sleep. Guidance for strategies to improve sleep quality requires further in-depth exploration before implementation of interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Lymphocele is a common complication post-kidney transplantation, influenced by various factors including surgical technique, graft vessel count, operator experience, body mass index, ischemia time, and immunotherapy regimens. Project Aims: The purpose of this study was to evaluate lymphocele risk factors, particularly focusing on the role of end-stage kidney disease. Design: A retrospective study was conducted on renal transplant recipients from a single center (March 2020 to December 2022). Patients were categorized into those developing lymphocele and those without during the postoperative period. Data, including sociodemographic, personal history, graft-related variables, intervention, and postoperative outcomes, were collected from electronic medical records. Results: Out of 291 renal transplant recipients, 57 (19.6%) developed postoperative lymphocele, with 15 (5.1%) being symptomatic. Patients with body mass index <24.9 kg/m2 have lower risk of developing lymphocele with an Odds Ratio of 0.538 (P=0.046). Higher lymphocele prevalence was noted in patients with chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis (46.2%; OR 3.815; P=0.024). Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis patients showed no lymphocele (0.0%; OR 0.123; P=0.048). Other factors, including autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, did not exhibit significant differences in lymphocele prevalence. Conclusion: The etiology of end-stage kidney disease can serve as a significant predictor of lymphocele development during the postoperative period following renal transplantation. Further larger prospective studies are required to comprehensively assess risk factors and explore end-stage kidney disease potential role in predicting lymphocele formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of the current study is to understand Americans' attitudes toward deceased organ donation and to assess their level of acceptance on positions toward organ donation. Methods: In summer and winter of 2023, 2 national samples completed measures of attitudes toward donation, reported their registration status, rated positions related to donation, and provided demographic information. Results: Data from 2 samples indicated registration estimates between 50% and 57% and a significant proportion of those unregistered reported reluctance to register. The believability of national registry estimates and ratings of acceptability of 9 organ donation positions differed by registration status. Conclusion: Mass media and motor vehicles interventions seeking to increase registration rates should take into consideration individual attitudes and support toward donation may not be as strong as once thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Patients are at risk of hospital readmission after kidney and liver transplantation due to the complexity of posttransplant care. Currently, clinical practice relies on providers' prediction since there is a lack of specific strategies. However, the accuracy of clinicians' ability to predict readmissions using clinical judgment alone is unknown. Research Question: What is the accuracy of clinicians' ability to predict readmissions after transplantation using clinical judgment alone? Design: In 2019, clinical providers at a large, urban transplant center were electronically surveyed. Primary surgeons, nephrologists, transplant pharmacists, hepatologists, and nurses were asked, within 24 h of any kidney or liver transplant recipient discharge, to predict whether a patient would be readmitted within 30 days, and the suspected causes of readmission. Prediction accuracy was assessed by sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and F-score. Kappa scores were calculated to assess agreement between transplant surgeons and other providers. Results: Overall, N = 34 unique providers were surveyed about 148 kidney and 63 liver transplant recipients, and 27.0% of kidney recipients and 25.4% of liver recipients were readmitted within 30 days. The positive predictive values were low among clinical providers, ranging from 0.25 to 0.55. Agreements between providers were weak, but higher among kidney transplant providers (range: 0.42-0.44) than for liver transplant providers (range: −0.02-0.26). Conclusion: Clinical judgment alone to predict readmission among transplant recipients may not be sufficient and a combination of clinicians' predictions, multitiered discharge surveillance strategies and data-based predictive models may better identify high-risk patients and guide interventions to reduce readmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental strategy research has often used organizational interpretation as a key lens for understanding how firms engage in sensemaking around natural environmental issues and environmental performance. This work has rarely empirically tested the proposed relationships of organizational interpretation in firms' sensemaking around environmental issues nor the relationship between firms' environmental sensemaking and environmental performance. We empirically test this relationship, capturing environmental sensemaking through computer‐aided text analysis (CATA) of published sustainability reports, and environmental performance with the Trucost environmental dataset. Mixed‐effects general linear modeling on a bespoke longitudinal dataset of 117 publicly traded companies from 2005 to 2018 reveals the three stages of the organization interpretation model of sensemaking—scanning, interpreting, and responding—align as expected. We also find firms' environmental scanning relates with year‐over‐year improvement in environmental performance, yet environmental interpreting correlates with worsening environmental performance. Additionally, larger firms and firms in industries with high carbon emissions gather more environmental data and exhibit more extensive environmental interpreting. This research provides insight for scholars by testing environmental sensemaking and exploring the boundary conditions of sensemaking and performance, and for practitioners and policymakers by offering a new framework for analyzing and interpreting sustainability reports and corporate environmental performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We extend scarce research on the age-crime relationship involving Global South countries by investigating age-arrest patterns in the African countries of Botswana and Namibia. Our analysis included comparisons of Botswana age-crime distributions with (a) the reverse J-shaped invariance curve proposed by Hirschi and Gottfredson; (b) US age-arrest curves; and (c) Taiwan and South Korea age-arrest curves. On the one hand, the findings revealed considerable divergence in Botswana age-crime patterns compared with the HG invariance projection. On the other hand, there was considerable similarity of Botswana age-arrest distributions with those observed in Taiwan and South Korea (i.e., collectivist countries) as reported recently by Steffensmeier and colleagues. Within all these nations, we find "older" age-crime curves yielded by low prevalence of adolescent and young-adult crime combined with higher midlife rates (30–49), as opposed to US age patterns and the HG invariance premise that display high adolescent rates in combination with smaller young-adult rates and shrinking midlife rates. Future directions for studying "why" societies differ in age-crime patterns entail going beyond the study of adolescence (only) to also address what happens in peoples' lives past adolescence—i.e., what pressures, strains, temptations, circumstances, and crime opportunities are faced by peoples during the 30 s and 40 s, the midlife stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In neuroscience, the term neuromyth refers to an unsubstantiated misconception which has been generated for a number of reasons, such as a misunderstanding or misquotation of scientific facts regarding the nervous system. This study addresses the persistence of neuromyths related to the number of neurons in the human brain, especially in educational neuroscience texts. Through a review of 24 texts in neuroscience and related fields, as well as a systematic search of experimental articles in the Web of Science database, the figures reported in the literature were compared with experimental data obtained through stereology. The most recent experimental results suggest that the human brain contains approximately 19 billion neurons, in contrast to the commonly cited inaccurate figures, such as 86 billion, 100 billion, one billion and 86 trillion, which could originate from incorrect translations and terminological misunderstandings. The results show the need to demystify these neuromyths and promote further experimental research that allows more precise estimates on neuronal quantification, thus contributing to a better understanding of the human brain in various areas of neuroscience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the aftermath of armed conflicts, many countries face significant socioeconomic inequalities that often stem from societal divisions based on ethnicity, religion, region, or caste systems. Transitional justice (TJ) has emerged due to the need to respond to widespread human rights violations and the grievances caused by the armed conflict. Prior work has established a strong positive relationship between horizontal inequalities (HIs) and the occurrence of civil conflicts. Yet previous research has largely overlooked how these inequalities evolve in postconflict countries that implement TJ measures to address past violations. This article investigates the impact of TJ on HIs and argues that TJ can help reduce HIs by influencing three main factors that make conflict more likely: grievance, opportunity, and identity. By examining the levels of accessibility of services and exclusion among social groups following the implementation of TJ, this study is the first to conduct a quantitative analysis of the TJ–HIs relationship. The findings suggest a consistent positive relationship between TJ and multiple measures of HIs that disappears when control variables are included. Ultimately, the findings contribute to the ongoing discourse surrounding the design and implementation of effective TJ strategies that promote social inclusivity, diminish disparities, and foster sustainable peace and development in postconflict societies. Public Significance Statement: This study explores whether transitional justice influences horizontal inequalities in postconflict settings. While the findings yield no statistically significant effects of transitional justice on horizontal inequalities, they enrich discussions on effective transitional justice strategies. The study underscores considering socioeconomic dimensions, as victimized groups prioritize social and economic needs alongside justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Distracted driving (DD) remains a significant global challenge to road safety. • Links between personality and DD examined in Australian and Italian drivers. • Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Agreeableness positively affected DD. • Conscientiousness affected attitudes and norms; Openness affected involuntary DD. • Invariances across cultures suggested the need for assessing drivers' personality. The present study aimed to investigate the association between the Big Five personality dimensions with the susceptibility of distracted driving (i.e., engagement in voluntary distraction, attitudes toward distraction, and susceptibility to involuntary distraction) comparing samples of Australian and Italian drivers. Distracted driving remains a significant global challenge to road safety, contributing to the occurrence of motor-vehicle crashes with serious consequences on public and environmental health. Despite efforts to explore factors underlying distracted driving, less is known on the role of the driver's personality in affecting the tendency to report distraction. Five hundred and fifty-one participants (55 % females; age range: 18–82 years; M ± sd: 40.4 ± 17.5) from Australia and Italy completed an online survey including questionnaires on personality and distracted driving. The invariance of the tested model was assessed through a multigroup path analysis considering personality traits as predictors and different facets of the susceptibility to distracted driving as outcomes, in a unique model. The effects of age, gender, and education were also controlled in the analyses. Results showed differences among nationality groups in personality traits as well as in susceptibility to distraction. The tested model showed invariance across nationality groups, suggesting positive effects of Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Agreeableness on all dimensions of susceptibility to distracted driving. Furthermore, Conscientiousness was found to affect attitudes toward distraction, perceived control, and perceived social norms. Finally, the tendency to report susceptibility to involuntary distraction was influenced by Openness. These results provide insights on the usefulness of assessing personality profiles to achieve road safety improvements and represent a valuable source of knowledge for the study of individual risk exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Between 2014 and 2018, at least 974 youth were fatally shot by the police. Racial disparities in fatal police shootings (FPS) have been well-established in existing research, but less attention has been paid to patterns in fatal police encounters with youth. This study uses a multisource and externally validated research design to track cases of FPS for individuals aged between 10 and 24. Cases were geocoded to the county-level and linked to multiple variables capturing social, demographic, and policing contexts. The results point to substantial racial disparities in FPS. Black youth are killed at nearly double the rate of white youth. Counties with heightened risks to the physical safety of law enforcement have more FPS. Shootings are also more frequent for Black youth in racially segregated communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fractured rock mass is one of the main water inrush channels. Groundwater exhibits nonlinear seepage characteristics in fractured rocks when water inrush occurs. However, the research on the risk of water inrush from the fractured rocks mainly focuses on qualitative analysis due to the complexity of the internal structure of the fractured rocks, which is difficult to be quantitatively evaluated. In order to find a quantitative evaluation method for the risk of water inrush from fractured rocks, the experiments of nonlinear seepage in fractured rocks were carried out to investigate the changes in the internal structural parameters of fractured rocks and the parameters of nonlinear seepage in fractured rocks. A nonlinear seepage mathematical model was derived based on the nonlinear seepage theory and fractal theory of porous media. The relationship between the structural characteristic parameters of the fractured rocks, nonlinear seepage characteristic parameters, and the classification of the water inrush risk was established. An evaluation criterion of water inrush based on the critical pressure gradient of nonlinear flow was established. The results indicate that: the critical pressure gradient of nonlinear flow can be used as a quantitative indicator to evaluate the risk of water inrush from the fractured rocks, which considers both the internal structural parameters of the fractured rocks and the nonlinear flow state parameters of groundwater; The evaluation criterion of water inrush based on the critical pressure gradient of nonlinear flow considers the total critical water pressure that applied to all rock layers including the fractured area and intact rock layers, compared to the traditional method of determining the risk of water inrush, which only considers the water resistance ability of intact rock layers. Also, the evaluation criterion considers the water resistance ability of all rock layers. It is the first attempt to apply nonlinear seepage state parameters to the study of water inrush hazard quantification methods. It is also a water inrush hazard quantification method that couples the internal structural parameters of fractured rocks with the flow state parameters of groundwater.

Social media has changed how sport organizations and individuals in the sport industry communicate and conduct business. The increase in the number, complexity, and capabilities of platforms provides ample opportunities and data for researchers to employ quantitative research methods. In this article, we provide an overview of the state of scholarship by conducting a scoping review of sport social media research published between 2010 and 2022 with a focus on articles based on quantitative data. We then critically discuss four areas that present opportunities for improvement—scope, theory, data collection, and data analysis. Based on these four areas, we introduce the social media research framework to guide future social media research in sport. Within the social media research framework, we outline three focal areas of research—people, spaces, and technologies—and suggest examining these areas simultaneously, rather than in isolation, as well as their intersections in the sport industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Completing self-administered patient experience surveys is challenging for many patients. We randomized adult patients receiving care from an urban safety net provider to complete the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) Clinician and Group Survey 3.1 (CG-CAHPS 3.1), or an "EZ" survey created using plain language principles. We compared response rates, item missingness, item-scale correlations, and reliability of patient experience scores based on 264 completed surveys (64% female, 66% Hispanic, 33% high school education or less). The CG-CAHPS 3.1 survey response rate was higher (20% vs 16%), and failure to follow skip instructions was more common for the EZ survey. Internal consistency reliability for multi-item scales was similar, but provider-level reliability was higher for the EZ than for the CG-CAHPS 3.1 survey measures. Cognitive interviews with patients are needed to assess whether the wording of the EZ survey is responsible for the lower response rates and more skip pattern errors. Future studies are also required to provide additional information about the psychometric properties of the CG-CAHPS 3.1 and EZ surveys.

Assessing cognitive demand is crucial for research on self-regulated learning; however, discrepancies in translating essential concepts across languages can hinder the comparison of research findings. Different languages often emphasize various components and interpret certain constructs differently. This paper aims to develop a translingual set of items distinguishing between intentionally invested mental effort and passively perceived mental load as key differentiations of cognitive demand in a broad range of learning situations, as they occur in self-regulated learning. Using a mixed-methods approach, we evaluated the content, criterion, convergent, and incremental validity of this scale in different languages. To establish content validity, we conducted qualitative interviews with bilingual participants who discussed their understanding of mental effort and load. These participants translated and back-translated established and new items from the cognitive-demand literature into English, Dutch, Spanish, German, Chinese, and French. To establish criterion validity, we conducted preregistered experiments using the English, Chinese, and German versions of the scale. Within those experiments, we validated the translated items using established demand manipulations from the cognitive load literature with first-language participants. In a within-subjects design with eight measurements (N = 131), we demonstrated the scale’s criterion validity by showing sensitivity to differences in task complexity, extraneous load manipulation, and motivation for complex tasks. We found evidence for convergent and incremental validity shown by medium-size correlations with established cognitive load measures. We offer a set of translated and validated items as a common foundation for translingual research. As best practice, we recommend four items within a reference point evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative research plays an instrumental role in facilitating health and wellness. Effective interventions are developed, assessed, and refined through the application of logic and empirical evidence in a scientific milieu characterized by diverse views. However, the increasing colonization of academic discourse by postmodern/critical theory (PCT) may undermine foundational concepts upon which quantitative research rests. The postpositivist tradition in which quantitative methods are embedded emphasizes probabilistic truth, logic, empirical evidence, and the interplay of diverse, frequently conflicting perspectives. Conversely, some currents of thought within PCT emphasize multiple realities, intuition, personal stories of lived experience, and the exclusion of views that challenge PCT tenets. The increasing adoption of these concepts in academia may limit or even delegitimize quantitative research as currently practiced in social work. We conclude by arguing that social work clients are best served by a scientific discourse that values multiple theoretical frameworks, research methodologies, and scientists operating from different social locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The paper presents a reconsideration of the foundations of the discipline of Science Studies, taking into account post-non-classical ideas about science. This approach positions Science Studies not only as a scientific field but also as an educational discipline aimed at novice researchers. Aim. The present research aimed to assess the current state of science as a scientific and educational discipline in the Russian and Euro-American scientific traditions. It also aimed to present the project of teaching the discipline of Science Studies as a rigorous science, encompassing both its fundamental and applied aspects, and utilising quantitative and qualitative research methods. Methodology and research methods. The synthesis of universal evolutionism approaches (including deterministic chaos concepts) and the methods of quantitative and qualitative content analysis were employed. Results. A quantitative analysis of the state of science in Russia was conducted. The analysis revealed an increase in the interest of Russian researchers in scientific issues. However, it also highlighted a lack of clear understanding of its disciplinary parameters. Scientific novelty and practical significance. It is proved that Science Studies can be a significant incentive for the growth of scientific knowledge in Russia. The work has led to an understanding of the role of epistemological (cognitive) and social mechanisms in the development of science.

Data literacy for students in nonquantitative fields is important as statistics become the grammar of research and how the world’s decisions are made. Statistics courses are typically offered by mathematics or statistics departments or by social and natural sciences such as economics, political science, psychology, and biology. Here we discuss how to construct a statistics course for students in nonquantitative fields, with a goal of integrating statistical material with students’ substantive interests, using student-focused teaching methods and technology to increase student involvement. We demonstrate this kind of hybrid course with the example of an introductory applied statistics class, taught at both the University of Toronto’s Anne Tanenbaum Center for Jewish Studies and the United States Naval Academy.

Background. G.M. Andreeva set an issue in social psychology that still remains relevant today. It concerns the correlation of two series of patterns in the process of socio-psychological research. These patterns are social development and the development of the human psyche. In this regard, new tasks of intrascientific reflection arise, one of which is the analysis of the methodological problem of integrating qualitative and quantitative methods in socio-psychological research. The idea of integrating two classes of methods is reflected in the systemic approach of B.F. Lomov and remains relevant in the context of the trend towards mixed methods research in social sciences. The need to integrate qualitative and quantitative methods is due to the specifics of social psychology, which is located at the junction of sociology and psychology. Objective. The aim of the article is to identify the features of the integration of qualitative and quantitative approaches in social psychology through the prism of methodological levels. Methods. Theoretical analysis of Russian and foreign works and their systematization based on the levels of methodology. Results. At the level of general methodology, from the standpoint of post-non-classical rationality, the components of scientistic (quantitative) and qualitative methodological approaches are considered. The choice of pragmatism as the philosophical basis of “mixed methods” is justified. At the level of particular methodology, the principles of complementarity and expediency of integration specific to “mixed methods” are disclosed. The set of specific methodological research techniques is presented through options for combining qualitative and quantitative data in interpretation and report. Conclusions. The highlighted specificity of the integration of qualitative and quantitative methods at different levels of methodology outlines the direction for its further elaboration and refinement. It also allows to shift the focus from an intuitive combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to the reflective and conscious application of such a research strategy.

Emergent technologies present platforms for educational researchers to conduct randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and collect rich data to study students' performance, behavior, learning processes, and outcomes in authentic learning environments. As educational research increasingly uses methods and data collection from such platforms, it is necessary to consider the most appropriate ways to analyze this data to draw causal inferences from RCTs. Here, we examine whether and how analysis results are impacted by accounting for multilevel variance in samples from RCTs with student-level randomization within one platform. We propose and demonstrate a method that leverages auxiliary non-experimental "remnant" data collected within a learning platform to inform analysis decisions. Specifically, we compare five commonly-applied analysis methods to estimate treatment effects while accounting for, or ignoring, class-level factors and observed measures of confidence and accuracy to identify best practices under real-world conditions. We find that methods that account for groups as either fixed effects or random effects consistently outperform those that ignore group-level factors, even though randomization was applied at the student level. However, we found no meaningful differences between the use of fixed or random effects as a means to account for groups. We conclude that analyses of online experiments should account for the naturally-nested structure of students within classes, despite the notion that student-level randomization may alleviate group-level differences. Further, we demonstrate how to use remnant data to identify appropriate methods for analyzing experiments. These findings provide practical guidelines for researchers conducting RCTs in similar educational technologies to make more informed decisions when approaching analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses the Scopus and Web of Science databases to review quantitative methods to forecast electricity consumption from 2015 to 2024. Using the PRISMA approach, 175 relevant publications were identified from an initial set of 821 documents and subsequently subjected to bibliometric analysis. This analysis examined publication trends, citation metrics, and collaboration patterns across various countries and institutions. Over the period analyzed, the number of articles has steadily increased, with a more rapid rise observed after 2020. Although China dominates this research field, strong bibliographic coupling worldwide indicates significant international collaboration. The study suggests that no single method consistently outperforms others across all contexts and that forecasting methods should be adapted to regional contexts, considering specific economic, social, and environmental factors. Furthermore, we emphasize that review papers should compare methods and results regarding both time horizon and temporal resolution, as these aspects are crucial for the accuracy and applicability of the forecasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Advance care planning (ACP), which comprises a living will, durable power of attorney for healthcare (DPAHC), and end-of-life discussions, is an inherently relational process. However, it is unclear how marital status affects men's and women's ACP over the life course. Drawing on social control and gender-as-relational frameworks, we examine marital status differences in ACP and how these patterns differ by gender and age. Methods Data are from the 2020 Health and Retirement Study (HRS), a representative sample of U.S. older adults (N  = 7,074). We estimate logistic regression models to evaluate whether marital status differences in ACP are moderated by age and gender, and multinomial logistic regressions to examine age and gender differences in DPAHC designations among married parents. Analyses are adjusted for sociodemographic and health covariates. Results Multivariable analyses revealed significant moderation effects for discussions only. Among married/cohabiting persons, women are more likely than men to have end-of-life discussions, with gender differences diminishing slightly at oldest ages. Among divorced persons in their 60s and 70s, women are much more likely than men to have had discussions, although this gap converges among the oldest-old. Conversely, young-old widowed men and women are equally likely to have discussions, although women are increasingly likely to do so with advancing age. Men are more likely than women to name their spouse as DPAHC, yet this gap diminishes with age. Discussion Healthcare providers can better guide end-of-life consultations if they understand how men's and women's family relationships change with advancing age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The best empirical research in political science clearly defines substantive parameters of interest, presents a set of assumptions that guarantees their identification, and uses an appropriate estimator. We argue for the importance of explicitly integrating rigorous theory into this process and focus on the advantages of doing so. By integrating a theoretical structure into one's empirical strategy, researchers can quantify the effects of competing mechanisms, consider the ex-ante effects of new policies, extrapolate findings to new environments, estimate model-specific theoretical parameters, evaluate the fit of a theoretical model, and test competing models that aim to explain the same phenomena. As a guide to such a methodology, we provide an overview of structural estimation, including formal definitions, implementation suggestions, examples, and comparisons to other methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study examined financial stress, career-related optimism, and psychological distress from the age of 19 (2013; n = 5,787), until the age of 25 (2019; n = 2,933) using the Longitudinal Surveys of Australia Youth (2009 cohort). Longitudinal mediation using latent growth curve modeling observed trajectories of change across young adulthood, whereby financial stress and career-related optimism decreased, while psychological distress increased across time. The inclusion of regression parameters in the analyses indicated that participants with shallower reductions in financial stress reported steeper increases in distress, and this effect was mediated by shifting career-related optimism. With ongoing financial pressures around the world disproportionately impacting young people, our work further illustrates how these stressors can shape the life course via shifts in vocational optimism and subsequent mental health. Moving forward, policies and timely clinical interventions should be implemented to assist young adults in navigating this pivotal developmental period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Research-based knowledge on homecare nursing is scarce and further information is warranted about citizens' perceptions of receiving home care under existing conditions. The purpose of this study was to investigate citizen experiences with health-care professionals in the time allotted for home care. Design/methodology/approach: A questionnaire survey was distributed to 348 citizens receiving home care. The questionnaire consisted of questions whether the citizens experienced that enough time was available during the homecare visit and how the conversation and care relationship with the health-care professionals were experienced. The differences in responses were analysed using Fisher's Exact Tests. Findings: Overall, 94% of the citizens reported that sufficient time had been available and that care relationship and conversation with the health-care professionals had been positive during the homecare visit. However, the findings indicated that citizens aged more than +76 years and citizens with a high educational level were more prone to report that the nurses did not spend enough time during the home visit. Originality/value: The findings offer useful insights for the professionals in delivering appropriate home care. Listening to citizens' wishes and needs for home care could lead to better individualised care. Especially the youngest and oldest of the citizens seem to have specific experiences that call for further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction accidents pose significant risks to workers and the public, affecting industry productivity and reputation. While several reviews have discussed risk assessment methods, recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), big data analytics, and real-time decision support systems have created a need for an updated synthesis of the quantitative methodologies applied in construction safety. This study systematically reviews the literature from the past decade, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A thorough search identified studies utilizing statistical analysis, mathematical modeling, simulation, and artificial intelligence (AI). These methods were categorized and analyzed based on their effectiveness and limitations. Statistical approaches, such as correlation analysis, examined relationships between variables, while mathematical models, like factor analysis, quantified risk factors. Simulation methods, such as Monte Carlo simulations, explored risk dynamics and AI techniques, including machine learning, enhanced predictive modeling, and decision making in construction safety. This review highlighted the strengths of handling large datasets and improving accuracy, but also noted challenges like data quality and methodological limitations. Future research directions are suggested to address these gaps. This study contributes to construction safety management by offering an overview of best practices and opportunities for advancing quantitative risk assessment methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whilst studies of child welfare inequalities have identified the impact of socio-economic deprivation on child protection rates, little is known about how this relates to intervention with adults who have care and support needs. This article examines the impact of area-level deprivation on adult safeguarding (AS) rates in Northern Ireland (NI). Routinely gathered statistics for community AS referrals (2015–2017) were linked to area-level deprivation across NI using service users' postcode. The relationship between deprivation and the screening, investigation and safeguarding planning stages of intervention was examined. Our analysis identified a clear social gradient in relation to AS referrals; the higher the level of deprivation, the higher the rates of AS screening and protection plans. Findings for investigations showed more variability. Further research is needed to explore the factors associated with areas of high deprivation that shape AS social work responses. To our knowledge, this is the first time AS rates have been explored in relation to deprivation. The study findings, that structural factors play a significant role in AS interventions, will help to determine how and where social work interventions are best focused, helping to shape policy and AS theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Some in our discipline have recently voiced the opinion that political science is a data science. What follows from this argument is that we as instructors are training the next generation of data scientists, especially professionals and researchers who will work with big data. This paper explores the implications for political science education, arguing that we are uniquely suited to make students critical consumers of big data—a goal we can achieve by creating dialogue with work in critical data studies. I offer three suggestions about how to integrate lessons from critical data studies in the classroom. These include ideas about diversifying the research methods curriculum, using data work for service learning, and modeling best practices in our own engagement with students. Though the discussion in this piece is theoretical, the takeaways include a call to action to create more meaningful dialogue with critical data studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractSocial changes in industrialized societies have prolonged adolescence, postponing entry into adult roles. We use U.S. age-arrest data to investigate whether this delay has contributed to higher crime rates among emerging adults, altering population age-arrest curves. We compare parameters for multiple offenses from 1980 to 2019 to answer: (1) Have there been recent shifts toward older, less adolescent-spiked curves; (2) If so, do emerging adults today exhibit higher offending levels than historical counterparts; or (3) Do proximate age-groups drive these distributional alterations? We find peak age remains in the late teens, but today’s age-curves for minor offenses are more symmetrical compared to preceding adolescent-spiked iterations. Given contemporary emerging adults’ relatively low offending levels, more symmetrical age curves are the product of precipitous declines in teen arrest rates coupled with higher mid-life adult rates. Tracking future age-arrest trends is important, but data collection challenges related to the UCR-NIBRS transition may hinder those efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]