Interpersonal skills scale: Development and validation in urbanized sample of adolescents

Interpersonal skills play a vital role in the growth and development of adolescents. The current study explored the experience and manifestation of interpersonal skills in Pakistani adolescents. In phase I, using open‐ended phenomenological approach, key components of interpersonal skills were elicited from 32 adolescents (boys = 16; girls = 16) aged 11–19 years (M = 14.48; SD = 1.06). In phase II, Content Validity Index for items (I‐CVIs) and scale (S‐CVI) was established. In phase III, pilot testing was carried out on 21 adolescents (boys = 11; girls = 10). In Phase IV, a sample of 674 adolescents (boys = 47%; girls = 53%) aged 11–19 years (M = 14.88; SD = 1.33) were tested for psychometric properties of Interpersonal Skills Scale along with Social Intelligence Scale for Adolescents and Self‐Esteem Scale for Children. Exploratory Factor Analysis (n = 221) generated three factors of the Interpersonal Skills Scale social engagement, sociability, and social etiquettes. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (n = 453) also supported the three‐factor structure of the Interpersonal Skills Scale. Furthermore, the scale found to have high internal consistency, construct validity, discriminant validity, split‐half reliability, and test–retest reliability. The results are discussed in the light of factorial structure in the Pakistani cultural context.     

A comparison of reweighting estimators of average treatment effects in real world populations

Regulatory agencies typically evaluate the efficacy and safety of new interventions and grant commercial approval based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Other major healthcare stakeholders, such as insurance companies and health technology assessment agencies, while basing initial access and reimbursement decisions on RCT results, are also keenly interested in whether results observed in idealized trial settings will translate into comparable outcomes in real world settings—that is, into so-called “real world” effectiveness. Unfortunately, evidence of real world effectiveness for new interventions is not available at the time of initial approval. To bridge this gap, statistical methods are available to extend the estimated treatment effect observed in a RCT to a target population. The generalization is done by weighting the subjects who participated in a RCT so that the weighted trial population resembles a target population. We evaluate a variety of alternative estimation and weight construction procedures using both simulations and a real world data example using two clinical trials of an investigational intervention for Alzheimer's disease. Our results suggest an optimal approach to estimation depends on the characteristics of source and target populations, including degree of selection bias and treatment effect heterogeneity.     

英语专业四级口试故事复述评分标准效度论证

对专家评分员在无引导评分过程中的口头报告分析表明,语法词汇及表达、复述内容、流利度、语音语调这四个方面是英语专业四级口试故事复述任务的主要考察因素。按照由高到低的比例,依次是语法词汇及表达、复述内容、语音语调和表述流利度。因此,应将流利度纳入故事复述评分标准,避免仅将语音语调和语法作为故事复述评分的侧重点。同时,应该丰富和细化故事复述任务评分标准在优秀、良好、合格与不合格四个层级的描述,以提升评分的科学性、客观性及公正性,进而充分发挥英语专业四级口试在高等学校英语专业英语教学中的导向作用。     

Development of a Measure of College Students' Adherence to Religious Doctrine Concerning Sexual Behavior

Abstract

Objective: The authors developed a 14-item measure of adherence to religious doctrine concerning sexual behavior (ARDSB). The ARDSB psychometric properties were investigated to better understand religious motivations associated with changes in sexual behavior that may provide support for sexual health promotion and prevention programs. Participants: Four hundred eighty-three undergraduates aged 18 to 26. Methods: Data were collected from an online survey during the 2012–2013 academic school year. Results: Principle components factor analysis identified 2 factors: reasons to break religious doctrine and reasons to adhere to religious doctrine concerning sexual behavior. The subscales had good internal consistency. Correlations, t tests, and analyses of variance of the subscales with measures of intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity and self-reported sexual behavior and risk provide support for concurrent validity. Conclusions: The ARDSB could be employed as a measure to better understand sexual behavior; it is inexpensive and relatively easy to employ in both research and campus ministry settings.     

试论我国侦查行为正当性的构建

侦查行为是国家侦查权力运行的具体表现,侦查权的运行在我国具有极强的行政性特征,侦查行为在实施过程中体现出浓厚的强制性、行政性色彩,在性质上属于一种强制性行政调查活动而非司法性行为。侦查行为的非正当实施,常常侵害到公民个人的人身自由、居住自由、财产所有等多方面的基本权利和自由。如何更好地发挥侦查行为对人权的保障功能,实现侦查行为的正当性,充分发挥侦查行为的正向作用是探讨的核心问题。     

Ethnic Validity: A Model for Families on Uncharted Seas

This paper provides an ethnic validity framework as a model for conceptualizing and understanding the lives of ethnic minority families and the individuals in them. It outlines the ecological context of minorities (nonculture-defining groups) in a culture defined and dominated by a culture-defining group majority. Cross-ethnic/racial and cross-cultural studies organized around themes of acculturation and psychosocial competence are cited to substantiate the utility of this model. Their findings also provide a basis for outlining individual, family, and societal intervention approaches which can facilitate each group’s ethnic validity and lead to a culturally diverse society which is more equitable for all of its members.     

Experiences with the French aging males' symptoms (AMS) scale

Introduction.?The aim of this paper is to report on experiences gained from the application of the French version of the Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) scale, to show correlations with other relevant scales and to provide population reference values for France.

Methods.?A representative survey based on an existing, representative population panel was performed in France (963 males, aged 15 + years). Other AMS data from Europe were then used for comparison. Mean scores of the French AMS scale do not systematically differ from the data of other European studies. The population reference values obtained for France strongly suggest that the scale measures can appreciate the level of well-being whatever the patients' age; however, some variables, such as age and family income, can influence the total AMS scores. Comparisons with the generic quality-of-life scale, SF-12, and a depression scale, HAD, have shown good correlations, as have comparisons with the ADAM questionnaire.

Conclusion.?The French AMS scale is a standardized, valid and simple health-related quality of life (HRQoL) scale, with results comparable to other published European findings. The results also indicate that the AMS scale can be used to measure and compare HRQoL in those less than 40 years of age.     

对双宾语结构合法性的思考

为了避免或减少由双宾语结构引起的理论冗余和导致的教学尴尬,本文重审双宾语结构研究中的两大焦点问题——格问题与主目结构问题,发现:双宾语结构中的直宾与间宾不能都获得宾格,从而无法成为合法的动词宾语。因此,双宾语结构不具有句法学意义上的合法性,而只存于语言表象。这一推论得到了语言事实的印证。     

浅析文本类型对阅读测试效度的影响

通过相关性分析、单因素方差分析等统计学方法分析了长篇阅读文本（小说）、中长篇阅读文本（论说文）及短篇阅读文本（应用文）对同一种题型——多项选择题的效度影响。结合对英语专业学生泛读能力的培养要求,比较了三种文本类型的测试效度,提出泛读测试试卷开发的新思路。     

从政策网络视角分析新阶层政治参与的效度问题

从政策网络视角研究新阶层政治参与的效度,开辟了研究新阶层政治参与的新途径。从政策网络视角研究新阶层的政治参与效度问题,其核心是政策网络的集成度问题。网络学习机制是提升政策网络集成程度,进而提高新阶层政治参与效度的内在机制。构建网络学习机制需要按照网络学习的内容逐步递进,根据学习层次逐渐深化,从而不断提高新阶层政治参与的效度。