The translation and development of a short form of the Korean language version of the multidimensional work ethic profile

The present research seeks to further facilitate a cross-cultural study on the work ethic construct by developing a short version of the Korean language version of the Multidimensional Work Ethic Profile (MWEP). Our research purpose is to provide researchers and practitioners with a short version of the Korean MWEP that can better meet their research needs by providing a thorough assessment of work ethic in a shorter time than the original full version. Results indicate that a shortened version demonstrates psychometric properties similar to the full version and is more practical and efficient to administer.     

Attribute Charts for Zero-Inflated Processes

The classical Shewhart c-chart and p-chart which are constructed based on the Poisson and binomial distributions are inappropriate in monitoring zero-inflated counts. They tend to underestimate the dispersion of zero-inflated counts and subsequently lead to higher false alarm rate in detecting out-of-control signals. Another drawback of these charts is that their 3-sigma control limits, evaluated based on the asymptotic normality assumption of the attribute counts, have a systematic negative bias in their coverage probability. We recommend that the zero-inflated models which account for the excess number of zeros should first be fitted to the zero-inflated Poisson and binomial counts. The Poisson parameter λ estimated from a zero-inflated Poisson model is then used to construct a one-sided c-chart with its upper control limit constructed based on the Jeffreys prior interval that provides good coverage probability for λ. Similarly, the binomial parameter p estimated from a zero-inflated binomial model is used to construct a one-sided np-chart with its upper control limit constructed based on the Jeffreys prior interval or Blyth–Still interval of the binomial proportion p. A simple two-of-two control rule is also recommended to improve further on the performance of these two proposed charts.     

Tests for Trend: A Simulation Study

In this study, we use the wavelet analysis to construct a test statistic to test for the existence of a trend in the series. We also propose a new approach for testing the presence of trend based on the periodogram of the data. Since we are also interested in the presence of a long-memory process among the data, we study the properties of our test statistics under different degrees of dependency. We compare the results when using the band periodogram test and the wavelet test with results obtained by applying the ordinary least squares (OLS) method under the same conditions.     

A Regression Model for the AUC of Clustered Ordinal Test Results and Working Independent Optimal Weights

We study a regression model on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) for clustered (or repeatedly measured) test results. To account for cluster information, we consider a weighted estimating equation for Dodd and Pepe (2003 Dodd , L. , Pepe , M. ( 2003 ). Semiparametric regression for the area under the receiver operating charateristic curve . Journal of the American Statistical Association 98 : 409 – 417 .[Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar])'s regression model with working independence weights. We find the optimal weight in the given class of working independence weights to minimize the variance (or MSE) of regression estimators. We apply the proposed procedure to analyzing our recent experiment on diagnosing a liver disorder. In this experiment, we investigated MRI images of patients having symptoms of potential liver disorder to compare the performance of different MRI picturing methods in testing for liver disorders.     

COMBINING HOUSEHOLD SURVEYS USING MASS IMPUTATION TO ESTIMATE POPULATION TOTALS

Pressure is often placed on statistical analysts to improve the accuracy of their population estimates. In response to this pressure, analysts have long exploited the potential to combine surveys in various ways. This paper develops a framework for combining surveys when data items from one of the surveys is mass imputed. The estimates from the surveys are combined using a composite estimator (CE). The CE accounts for the variability due to the imputation model and the surveys’ sampling schemes. Diagnostics for the validity of the imputation model are also discussed. We describe an application of combining the Australian Labour Force Survey and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey to estimate employment characteristics about the Indigenous population. The findings suggest that combining these surveys is beneficial.     

Court processes and orders for positive outcomes

ABSTRACT

This commentary is an excerpt of the presentation made by the author at SSR-NAI conference on Innovative Approaches in the Rehabilitation of Offenders. The commentary sets out the key differences between traditional court processes and orders, and those that are aimed at rehabilitation and problem-solving. It describes two initiatives that the Courts in Singapore have implemented over the past few years to help spur, steer and support change in offenders: post-sentencing judicial monitoring and our pre-sentencing protocol for selected offenders and offences.     

外语能力磨蚀的性别差异初探

对300余名大学生进行了英语阅读和听力测试,并从中随机抽取男女生各50名进行了写作测试,得出如下结论:(1)外语磨蚀程度存在明显的性别差异;(2)男女生在深度阅读、短对话听力以及段落听力方面的磨蚀差异不显著;(3)女生在快速阅读能力方面的磨蚀程度明显超过男生;(4)女生写作能力在切题性、连贯性以及清楚性方面的磨蚀程度显著大于男生,而在语言的正确性方面的磨蚀没有明显超过男生.     

Organizational Support in the Workplace: The Case of Korean Hospital Employees

This paper tests three hypotheses on who getsmore support from his or her work organization: (1) Thevalidation hypothesis predicts that employees withgreater social support from their co-workers and supervisors receive more organizationalsupport, because their support validates or legitimizesorganizational support; (2) the positive affectivityhypothesis predicts that employees high on positiveaffect receive more organizational support, becausethey are more likable; and (3) the moderation hypothesispredicts that positive affect and social support do notgenerate organizational support independently, but each acts on the other to affectorganizational support. An assessment of the hypothesesover a sample of 1882 hospital employees in Koreaprovided strong support for the validation hypothesisand partial support for the moderation hypothesis. Contraryto the positive affectivity hypothesis, employees' gooddisposition in itself works against the bringing forthof relevant organizational support, net of support from their supervisors and co-workers.Additional findings related to the unique features ofthe current hospital employees in Korea are alsoreported. Finally, we discuss cross-cultural research implications of the study in moredetail.     

International students' experiences of living temporarily abroad: Sense of belonging toward community well-being

This article unveils the voices of the international students of the Universiti Sains Malaysia by exploring their belongingness and community well-being in Malaysia. This study was conducted with 14 international students (seven males and seven females) studying at the Universiti Sains Malaysia for at least a year. A qualitative approach was employed using in-depth case interviews to examine the socio-cultural challenges they experienced while studying abroad. The specific challenges reported among the international students are their well-being in distinct aspects such as physical, mental, and emotional. This study seeks to explore the international students' reliability on conational communities for social support. When achieving belongingness with their conational friends, international students can flourish well in their current community in Malaysia, thus achieving social community well-being although they are far away. Besides maintaining established close friendships, the international students develop a sense of comfort and familiarity by forming new friendships with conational and other international students. Sharing similar backgrounds and nationalities, as well as experiences and struggles, are significant for international students in maintaining close friendships and situational harmony. This study highlighted the meaning behind physical and emotional distance, as well as the situation of “being temporarily abroad” and its relations to intimacy practices and belongingness in close friendships. The results presented in this article contribute to an increasing understanding of international students' challenges and the future of social harmony and community well-being while temporarily living in Malaysia. Correspondingly, as a result of this study, students will be more deferential of cultural differences and cross-cultural sensitivity, which will also help to decrease prejudice and discrimination.     

RESERVE PRICE EFFECTS IN AUCTIONS: ESTIMATES FROM MULTIPLE REGRESSION‐DISCONTINUITY DESIGNS

We present evidence from 260,000 online auctions of second‐hand cars to identify the impact of public reserve prices on auction outcomes. We exploit multiple discontinuities in the relationship between reserve prices and vehicle characteristics to present causal regression‐discontinuity estimates of reserve price impacts. We find an increase in reserve price decreases the number of bidders, increases the likelihood the object remains unsold, and increases expected revenue conditional on sale. We then combine these estimates to calibrate the reserve price effect on the auctioneer's ex ante expected revenue. This reveals the auctioneer's reserve price policy to be locally optimal. (JEL D44, L11, L62)