Identification of Preferred Representational Sensory System in Neuro-Linguistic Programming

To the Editor: With the increase in life expectancy, the number of adults aged 60 and older will increase to 2 billion by 2050, 80% of whom will be living in developing countries.1 Falling is one of the main health problems of older adults, with approximately one-third of individuals aged 65 and older experiencing falls.2 Falls and fear of falls are related to one another, with each being a risk factor for the other.3 Fear of falls may result in avoidance of daily activities and reduction in the older adult's quality of life.4, 5 The Falls Efficacy Scale—International (FES-I) is an instrument that Prevention of Falls Network Europe (ProFaNE) designed to investigate fear of falls in older adults.6 The present study was conducted to assess the reliability and validity of a Persian version of the FES-I in Iranian older adults. Individuals aged 60 and older from a retirement center in Tabriz (Iran) who were able to speak, comprehend, read, and write Persian and were living independently in the community participated (n = 200). The study was performed between October 2012 and March 2013 after approval of the ethics committee of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. The FES-I is a self-report questionnaire with 16 items assessed on a four-item Likert scale (not at all concerned to very concerned).6 Cronbach alpha (internal consistency) and Spearman-Brown correlation coefficients (test–retest) were used to investigate reliability; values greater than 0.7 indicated good reliability, and values less than 0.5 indicated unacceptable reliability.7 To determine the validity of the construct, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were considered. Correlation matrix, principal axis factoring, varimax rotation, and the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure of sampling adequacy (KMO) were used for exploratory factor analysis.1 To evaluate the structure of the factors of exploratory factor analysis, goodness of fit of confirmatory factor analysis was conducted based on chi-square degrees of freedom (χ2/df) less than 5, goodness-of fit index (GFI), adjusted goodness-of-fit index (AGFI) greater than 0.9, root mean square residual (RMSR) less than 0.1, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) less than 0.08, comparative fit index (CFI) greater than 0.9, normed fit index (NFI) greater than 0.9, non-normed fit index (NNFI) greater than 0.9, incremental fit index (IFI) greater than 0.9, relative fit index (RFI).7 Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 11.5 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). In all analyses, P < .05 was considered statistically significant. Cronbach alpha was 0.90 to 0.95 and Spearman-Brown correlation coefficients were 0.82 to 0.84 for the factors and total instrument. The adequacy of the factor analysis model was confirmed (KMO = 0.936 and for Bartlett test, χ2 of Bartlett test was 2,505.781, df 120, P < .05). In exploratory factor analysis with varimax rotation, two factors were extracted. Items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, and 16 from the questionnaire were loaded in the first factor, and items 11, 13, 14, and 15 were loaded in the second factor. Two extracted factors determined 67.55% of total variance changes.1 In confirmatory factor analysis, based on the comparison of the data of goodness of fit for two- and one-factor analysis and theoretical basic (χ2/df < 5, RMSR < 0.1, NFI > 0.9, NNFI > 0.9, CFI > 0.9, IFI > 0.91) and the closeness of GFI and AGFI to 0.9, there was no considerable difference in these values for three models. All relationships between the items and factors were significant (P < .05). Thus, based on this model, the structure of exploratory factor analysis for this questionnaire was confirmed in two factors (Table 1). Test–retest and internal consistency reliability in accordance with previous literature were confirmed.6, 8-10 In the investigation of factor analysis in the present study and other studies, two factors were extracted, but loaded items on each factor in the studies were different.6, 10 Based on the results of this study, the Persian version of the FES-I has good validity and reliability in community-dwelling older people. This instrument can be used as an easy, low-cost method of measuring fear of falling in Iranian older adults. This article is the result of a thesis approved by the ethics committee of Tabriz University of medical sciences no. 9161. Our gratitude goes to all the older adults participating in this study, ProFANE, and the collaboration of Persian and English translators who helped us in translating the instrument. Finally, we are grateful to the staff of the Tabriz retirement center in allowing us to conduct the research there. Conflict of Interest: The editor in chief has reviewed the conflict of interest checklist provided by the authors and has determined that the authors have no financial or any other kind of personal conflicts with this paper. Author Contributions: All authors contributed to this paper. Sponsor's Role: None.

Background. Adequate physical activity is essential to healthy aging. This study aimed to examine the construct validity of the Persian version of the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) among community-dwelling adults, which would be used as a screening tool at the Neyshabur longitudinal study on the aging (NELSA) Center. Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Neyshabur, Iran, as a pilot phase at the NELSA center between May and January 2019. The sampling method was a stratified random method. For explanatory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), 300 and 650 community-dwelling adults aged 50 and older were selected, respectively. EFA was used with the principal component extraction method, and Varimax rotation and CFA were performed with the maximum likelihood estimation method. Results. Of the 950 participants, 445 (46.8%) were male, and 505 (53.2%) were female. The mean age of participants was 63 ± 8.6 years. The mean physical activity score was 89.7 ± 70.7. According to the percentage of variance explained in EFA, all five extracted factors explained 62.7% of the total variance. The results of CFA showed that all item-scale relationships were significant (P &lt; 0.05), except for household activity (Q8) and leisure time activity (Q2) (P &gt; 0.05). The values of the fit indices showed that the model fits well with the data. Conclusion. The EFA and CFA confirmed the construct validity of the Persian version of PASE. This questionnaire is suitable for measuring the physical activity level of older Persian adults. Practical Implications. The Persian version of PASE is suitable for measuring the physical activity level of older Persian adults.

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Individual-Level Abortion Stigma Scale.SettingThree hospitals affiliated to Public Hospitals Union General Secretariat...

Digital competences represent essential skills for adapting to 21st-century conditions; encompassing the safe and critical use of information society technologies for work, daily life, and communication. Determining the digital competence levels of individuals is crucial to guide interventions aimed at enhancing these competences. This study presents the development process of a Digital Competence Scale for Faculty Members (DCS-FM), designed specifically to assess the digital competence levels of higher education instructors. The data collection process took place during the 2020–2021 academic year among faculty members working at ... University in ... province of Türkiye. Researchers collected the data themselves to ensure consistency and reliability throughout the process. As part of the validity studies, an exploratory factor analysis was conducted, yielding a six-factor structure. Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed that the six-factor structure demonstrated good model fit indices. In the process of developing the scale and conducting validity and reliability studies, data were collected from a total of 740 unique faculty members. The scale development process involved two pilot applications and one main application, with exploratory factor, confirmatory factor, and item analyses conducted throughout. Confirmatory factor analysis of the collected data yielded a 30-item scale encompassing six factors. These factors align with the European Framework for Digital Competence of Educators (known as ‘DigCompEdu’) developed by the European Commission Joint Research Centre. Based on the validity and reliability analysis results and findings, it can be concluded that the scale possesses the sufficient psychometric properties sought in the literature.

This study aims to test the validity and reliability of instruments measuring the variable of innovation capacity in the management system of Islamic boarding school education institutions in Jambi City. This research method employed a cross-sectional survey design with a quantitative approach. The sample size for this study consisted of 162 teachers (Ustad/Ustadzah) in Islamic boarding school education institutions. Quantitative data were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using SPSS 23 and AMOS 18. The results of this study indicated that EFA identified five factor structures to construct the dimensions of Innovation Capacity (IC), namely Opportunity Exploration (OE), Idea Sustainability (IS), Idea Introduction (II), Idea Emergence (IE), and Idea Realization (IR). Meanwhile, these findings were verified and confirmed by CFA regarding the factorial validity analysis of the Innovation Capacity dimension from the EFA testing results. This study suggests that future innovation capacity instruments require further adjustment to enhance the level of reliability and the ability to explain differences related to the measured constructs within different contexts, cultures, and conditions.

To undertake rigorous psychometric testing of the newly developed contemporary work environment measure (the Brisbane Practice Environment Measure [B-PEM]) using exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis. Content validity of the 33-item measure was established by a panel of experts. Initial testing involved 195 nursing staff using principal component factor analysis with varimax rotation (orthogonal) and Cronbach's alpha coefficients. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted using data from a further 983 nursing staff. Principal component factor analysis yielded a four-factor solution with eigenvalues greater than 1 that explained 52.53% of the variance. These factors were then verified using confirmatory factor analysis. Goodness-of-fit indices showed an acceptable fit overall with the full model, explaining 21% to 73% of the variance. Deletion of items took place throughout the evolution of the instrument, resulting in a 26-item, four-factor measure called the Brisbane Practice Environment Measure-Tested. The B-PEM has undergone rigorous psychometric testing, providing evidence of internal consistency and goodness-of-fit indices within acceptable ranges. The measure can be utilised as a subscale or total score reflective of a contemporary nursing work environment. An up-to-date instrument to measure practice environment may be useful for nursing leaders to monitor the workplace and to assist in identifying areas for improvement, facilitating greater job satisfaction and retention.

Workplace incivility is defined as low-intensity deviant behavior with ambiguous intent to harm the target. In this sense, it involves a violation of workplace norms that could damage the quality of working relationships. The aim of this study is to evaluate the factor structure of the adaptation of Straightforward Incivility Scale (SIS; Leiter 2013) in an Italian sample. A sample of 404 healthcare workers completed the SIS. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted. In the first step of analysis, exploratory factor analysis and parallel analysis with 202 participants revealed three factors: supervisor, coworker, and instigated incivility. In the second step, a confirmatory factor analysis with 202 participants supported the 15-item three-factor model in the cross-validation sample. Results provide confirmation of the cross-cultural stability of the facet, factor, and global scale structure of the SIS.

Strategic Self‐Regulation for Speaking English as a Foreign Language: Scale Development and Validation

This study aimed to investigate the latent constructs in the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale using a research context of Japanese undergraduates who learn English as a foreign language. The study conducted both exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis against two different groups of Japanese undergraduate students. First, exploratory factor analysis was used to extract factors from 33 items of the scale in its application to 149 management major students. Subsequently, confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on the factors from the exploratory factor analysis. Data from 237 English language learners at two universities—155 undergraduates at a foreign study university and 82 at a general university—were applied to test a hypothetical model in relation to the extracted latent constructs. Results of the two factor analyses identified and confirmed two underlying components of the scale: (1) communication apprehension and (2) fear of failing. The model fit statistics illustrated that the two-factor paradigm appropriately fit the data from the second undergraduate group. Implications of the results are discussed.

Better conceptually-driven research is necessary to learn more about 1) the characteristics of life events as teachable moments (TMs) and 2) the potential of life events to evoke lifestyle change intention (LCI). This study aimed to develop and validate two scales for the purposes of TM research in the context of cardiovascular disease (CVD): the CardiacTM and CardiacLCI-scales. After the initial development of items based on a theoretical framework and literature search, six experts rated the content validity of both scales as sufficient. The item list was further adjusted after think-aloud sessions with two CVD patients. The resulting scales were presented online in a cross-sectional survey, which yielded 625 responses of Dutch CVD patients (June 2020). To test construct validity, we conducted Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) with Varimax rotation on a random split-half of the sample (n = 300) and evaluated the factor structure with Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) on the holdout sample (n = 325). EFA and CFA on the CardiacTM-scale (α = 0.88) revealed a 28-item six-factor structure explaining 61.0% of the variance, with adequate goodness-of-fit statistics (CFI = 0.87; TLI = 0.85; SRMR = 0.07) and internally reliable factors (Affective impact, Risk CVD, Changed self-concept, CVD group identity, Risk non-communicable disease, Anticipated regret). The CardiacLCI-scale (α = 0.81) revealed an 11-item two-factor structure explaining 51.5% of the variance, with adequate model fit (CFI = 0.92; TLI = 0.90; SRMR = 0.08) and internally reliable factors (Event-related lifestyle change and General healthy lifestyle). The scales may be used to expand knowledge around life events as TMs and to support conversation regarding lifestyle after cardiac and other life events.

ABSTRACTThis cross-sectional study analyzed the factorial structure of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI) in a sample of 304 Spanish-speaking HIV-positive adults. Participants completed the PTGI and a socio-demographic questionnaire. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was carried out through structural equations modeling, with a Varimax rotation. Factors with eigenvalues greater than 1 were extracted, and items with loadings higher than .5 on a factor and lower than .4 on the rest were retained. Two confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were performed to test a hierarchical model and a bifactor model. Reliability analyses were conducted. EFA suggested a three-factor model keeping 11 of the original 21 items. The three factors that emerged were changes in philosophy of life, in the self and in interpersonal relationships. CFAs suggested that only the bifactor model fitted the data. The three factors as well as the global scale showed good reliability. The factor structure of PTGI’s scores in our data is consistent with the three dimensions theorized by Tedeschi and Calhoun, which speaks in favor of the construct validity of this measure.

Teacher leadership is gaining momentum in the school improvement program nowadays. School reformation depends on teacher leaders' ability to implement new approaches and help colleagues develop their skills, values, and expertise. Thus, this study aimed to develop and validate the teacher leadership instrument to measure the aspect of value using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), which has 31 items. The data were analyzed using Statistical Packages for the Social sciences version 22 and Structural Equation Modelling version 20.0. This study was administered to 320 teachers in 19 secondary schools in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, using questionnaires. The Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) yielded a 29 items three-factor model termed as Being a Consultant (PR), Fostering a Cooperation Culture (MBK), and Leading the Teaching and Learning Process (PPdP). The Confirmatory Factor Analysis yielded 17 items demonstrating three factors that achieved the model fit index, with Chi-squared/degree of freedom (Chisq/df) = 2.541, Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI) = 0.934, Comparative Fit Index (CFI) = 0.944; and Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) = 0.070. The composite reliability and average variance extracted of the domains ranged from 0.54 to 0.57 and 0.85 to 0.89. The study found that the instrument is valid and reliable in measuring the values aspect of teacher leadership models. This model's development can have a huge impact on teachers' leadership training through the teachers' professionalism improvement programs.

To examine whether the psychometric properties of the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) at work scales could be replicated with post-myocardial infarction (post-MI) patients and to measure the criterion validity through its association with psychological distress. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 814 patients (739 men and 75 women) who had returned to work after their first MI and who were followed up by telephone at an average of 2.2 years after their baseline interview (1998-2000). The psychological demands scale of the Karasek Job Content Questionnaire was used to measure effort. Reward was measured with nine items from the original reward scale by Siegrist plus two proxy items. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to test the theoretical structure of ERI. Using log-binomial regression models, we evaluated the association between ERI scales and psychological distress measured with the 14-item Psychiatric Symptom Index. ERI scales and subscales demonstrated adequate internal consistencies. Exploratory factor analysis using oblique (promax) rotation yielded a three-factor solution with items representative of extrinsic effort (Factor 1) and reward subscales (Factors 2 and 3). Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated a good fit with the data. The internal consistencies and discriminant validities of the ERI scales were satisfactory. Furthermore, effort, reward, and ERI ratio were significantly associated with psychological distress (adjusted prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.26-2.31; PR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.16-2.29; and PR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.17-2.47, respectively). The psychometric properties of the ERI scales were generally reproduced among post-MI patients. The associations with psychological distress supported the criterion validity of the ERI scales in this population.

Confirmatory factor analysis of the Cornell scale for depression in dementia among patient with dementia of various degrees

Safety is a major concern in the oil and gas industry due to accidents with the potential for catastrophic consequences. One of these was the Piper Alpha drilling platform disaster in 1988, which resulted in the loss of the Piper Alpha platform and the subsequently 167 lives; the worst disaster in the oil and gas industry. To foster a proactive approach in the prevention of workplace injuries, organisations have turned towards key predictors of safety, such as leadership. However, simply practising leadership behaviours is not enough to improve safety, especially in safety-critical organisations. An inability to move beyond the formal control inherent in traditional bureaucratic mindsets limits the applicability of mainstream leadership theories for safety-critical organisations. To address this challenge, this research study adopts a different paradigm for leadership, one which frames leadership as a complex interactive dynamic from which adaptive outcomes emerge as complexity science. Hence, the aim of this research study was to investigate the direct relationship between leadership behaviours and safety outcomes, and the mediating effect of complexity science principles. To accomplish this, a conceptual model was developed using theoretical foundation built from the literature review. The model comprises three main components: 1) leadership behaviours, 2) five complexity science principles (connectivity, interdependence, feedback, exploration-of-the-space-of-possibilities and co-evolution) and 3) three safety outcomes (safety participation, safety compliance and safety climate). These components were linked by the proposed hypotheses that were established based on assumed theoretical relationships. To assess and validate the conceptual model and test the hypotheses, a series of quantitative approaches were employed. A multivariate statistical approach was utilised for data collection through a questionnaire survey; 173 project managers participated in the survey. These individuals are responsible for emergency commands, as well as the day-to-day management of safety. Principal component analysis/Exploratory factor analysis was performed to identify the factor structures representing each underlying construct. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to validate the results obtained from the exploratory factor analysis, followed by multiple regression analysis. Next, structural equation modelling was applied to test the structural models for hypotheses testing. The regression analyses demonstrated that all three identified leadership behaviours — 1) empowering &amp; engaging, 2) modelling &amp; reinforcing, and 3) promoting &amp; enabling — directly influenced the level of safety participation and safety compliance. Additionally, all five principles of complexity science mediated the relationship between empowering &amp; engaging leadership behaviour, and safety participation and safety compliance. As for the hypothesised relationship between modelling &amp; reinforcing leadership behaviour and safety outcomes, apart from the co-evolution principle, all other complexity science principles arbitrated the relationship with safety participation and safety compliance. Furthermore, the relationships between promoting &amp; enabling leadership behaviour, and safety participation and safety compliance were mediated by all five principles of complexity science. Finally, structural equation modelling was used to refine and confirm the findings of the regression analysis, verifying both empowering &amp; engaging, and promoting &amp; enabling leadership behaviours have direct and indirect influences on safety participation and safety compliance levels as a result of all five complexity science principles. And established that modelling &amp; reinforcing leadership behaviour has direct and indirect effects on safety participation and safety compliance levels under the influence of only four complexity science principles — namely, connectivity, interdependence, feedback and exploration-of-the-space-of-possibilities. On the basis of the research results, this study provides insight into the understanding of safety leadership by the empirical evidence that displayed the relationships between the three leadership behaviour constructs and their contribution to the effect of complexity science principles and safety outcomes within the oil and gas industry. From these results, the study provides a list of recommendations for research on the effect of leadership behaviours on complexity science principles and safety outcomes.