A critical look at some point process models for repairable systems

The use of a modeldriven approach to the analysis of repairable systems is considered and shown to be useful as a way of understanding the characteristics of such a system. However, considerable statistical problems arise from the use of a set of standard model-building elements. In particular, identification problems arise in many of the models. The argument is illustrated by examples from software reliability and mechanical reliability. The conclusion is that, in many cases, the exploratory data-analysis approach is as effective as the use of more sophisticated models

Psychometric Study of a Scale of Measurement of the Digital Stories Creation Using Utellstory

The purpose of this paper is to validate a scale about learning how to use the Utellstory software for the creation of digital stories. The questionnaire was provided to a sample of 142 and 276 students from Masters in Inclusive Education and Early Childhood Education Degree of the University of Córdoba (Spain), respectively. The data were subjected to an analysis of reliability and validity through the use of exploratory and confirmatory factorial analyses. The results revealed an instrument with correct validity and reliability that demonstrate that the model is stable and consistent with the starting theoretical assumptions

An Exploratory Application of Rhetorical Structure Theory to Detect Coherence Errors in L2 English Writing: Possible Implications for Automated Writing Evaluation Software

This paper presents an initial attempt to examine whether Rhetorical Structure Theory (RST) (Mann & Thompson, 1988) can be fruitfully applied to the detection of the coherence errors made by Taiwanese low-intermediate learners of English. This investigation is considered warranted for three reasons. First, other methods for bottom-up coherence analysis have proved ineffective (e.g., Watson Todd et al., 2007). Second, this research provides a preliminary categorization of the coherence errors made by first language (L1) Chinese learners of English. Third, second language discourse errors in general have received little attention in applied linguistic research. The data are 45 written samples from the LTTC English Learner Corpus, a Taiwanese learner corpus of English currently under construction. The rationale of this study is that diagrams which violate some of the rules of RST diagram formation will point to coherence errors. No reliability test has been conducted since this work is at an initial stage. Therefore, this study is exploratory and results are preliminary. Results are discussed in terms of the practicality of using this method to detect coherence errors, their possible consequences about claims for a typical inductive content order in the writing of L1 Chinese learners of English, and their potential implications for Automated Writing Evaluation (AWE) software, since discourse organization is one of the essay characteristics assessed by this software. In particular, the extent to which the kinds of errors detected through the RST analysis match those located by Criterion (Burstein, Chodorow, & Leachock, 2004), a well-known AWE software by Educational Testing Service (ETS), is discussed

Active Internationalization of Software Enterprises: Scale Development and Validation

A 34-item scale was developed to measure the attributes that contribute to success in the active internationalization processes of small and medium enterprises of software. Data from 103 companies was analysed. The scale was developed and available online in 4 languages. Based on established scale development procedures, such as exploratory and confirmatory factorial analysis, a final version of the research scale was proposed, composed by 15 items grouped in 4 dimensions. Innovation, entrepreneurship, network, and foreign market knowledge appear to be important factors for the success in the active internationalization processes of small and medium enterprise of software. Reliability and validity measures were calculated in order to check the adequacy of the proposed model. Concluding remarks discuss theoretical and managerial implications with limitations and directions for future research

Executive function assessment: Adaptation of the Amsterdam executive function inventory using Spanish first-year university students from two knowledge areas

Objective Many university students have difficulties in adapting to autonomous learning due to executive functioning deficits. In the Spanish university context, there is a lack of reliable validated instruments for the evaluation of executive functioning. In this sense, the aim of this research is to present the process of adaptation and validation of the Amsterdam Executive Function Inventory (AEFI) for the evaluation of executive functioning in the Spanish context. Methods This study integrates two sequential processes: questionnaire translation and back-translation, and evaluation of the psychometric properties (exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted), reliability, validity and multigroup analysis to identify factorial invariance. An online questionnaire was used for data collection and R package lavaan software was administered to a sample of 519 first-year university students (270 females and 249 males). Results The exploratory factor analysis evidenced an interna structure of three factors with adequate internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha higher than 0.70), endorsed in the confirmatory factor analysis that indicated an adequate goodness-of-fit-indexes for the model. The composite reliability showed values between 0.74 and 0.82, and the convergent (average variance extracted values ranged from 0.50 to 0.61) and discriminant validity were adequate. A multigroup-analysis showed the invariance factorial through the difference in the RMSEA, CFI and TLI index, performed both in the model comparison according to gender and academic disciplines. Conclusion The AEFI adapted for Spanish has practical implications for the management of university students, as it can facilitate the improvement of university policies designed to foster the development of executive functions, specifically in first-year students

Factor Structure of the Quality-of-Life Scale According to Scale Length

The study aimed at investigating the factorial structural of the quality-of-life scale among the members of the Jordanian community, and to detect the impact of the reduction of the items of the original 100-items quality of life scale using the multiple Matrix sampling, the sample of the study consisted 3600 an individual from the Jordanian community Who were randomly selected For collecting data, the quality of life scale was used, The validity and reliability of the tool was confirmed on an exploratory sample including 170 individuals. The value of the reliability coefficient measured as a whole was used the Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient 0. 967. The results indicated that the scale has good psychometric properties, and the results of the confirmatory factor analysis showed the validity of the factorial structure of the modified suggestion (or Hypothetical) model and the existence of agree between the modified suggestion model with the data obtained. In order to verify the effect of reducing the items of the 100-items Quality of Life Scale, a multiple sampling matrix was used and the original scale was split into 9 split questionnaires from the original scale, and applying the original(or main) scale and split questionnaires to different sample sizes, the results of the confirmatory factor analysis using the AMOS software indicated that the tenth and fourth split questionnaires achieved the best Goodness of fit

Determinants of Switching Barriers among Oman’s Retail Banking Consumers

This study examines the impact of switching barriers comprises of complexity, switching cost, locked-in, and apathy on the switching decision. The data were collected through a survey questionnaire from three cities (Muscat, Salalah, and Sohar) with a sample of 420 respondents. The participants were Omani nationals only. The data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) Analysis using SPSS and AMOS software. The data were tested for the normality, descriptive analysis, reliability, correlation, exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). The result of the switching barriers indicates that apathy fail to influence the negative relationship with switching decision. However, switching cost, complexity and locked in had a negative impact on the decision to switch that creates barriers among the customers while switching from conventional banking to Islamic banking system. The study concludes that the government, management, and Shariah board of the Islamic banks should focus on establishing a robust and dynamic Islamic banking, which caters for customers’ needs. Finally, Islamic banking products and service, financial and non-financial strategies should address the customers’ financial needs and provide comprehensive banking services

Development of Environmental Attitude Scale Towards Pre-Service Biology Teachers

Healthy life for all living creatures in nature is possible with a clean and habitable environment. Raising awareness of protecting environment in human landscape is important for conservation. Upbringing of informed individuals about environment and constitute behavioral changes by gaining their positive attitudes for nature have an important role in solutions of environmental issues. For this purpose, environmental attitude scale was developed to reveal the pre-service teachers’ reflection and attitude for environment. This scale was applied 178 students who were the pre-service teachers in biology education department. Reliability calculation and exploratory factor analysis of the scale were computed via packaged software SPSS 13.0 while confirmatory factor analysis was computed via software Lisrel 8.80. Internal consistency coefficient of Cronbach alpha was found as 0.87 which signifies was a good value for reliability co-efficient.  As the result of factor analysis, which was applied to obtained data, it was determined that eighteen itemized scale was five-dimensional. These dimensions were as follows: environmental issues, energy saving, waste products, environmental responsibility and environmental support according to cognitive, affective and behavioral statements. It was confirmed that, there was a positive and linear relation among the marks that students got and factors of the scales. Moreover, confirmatory factor analysis studies of the survey were computed via software Lisrel 8.80. In this current study, it was found as; RMSEA=0.050; SRMR=0.062; GFI=0.90; AGFI=0.86; CFI=0.97; NFI=0.92 and RFI=0.90, in the scope of confirmatory factor analysis. It has been confirmed that, the scale that was executed according to the results, can be used to as a reliable scale for environmental attitude. Keywords: Environmental education, attitude, pre-service biology teacher

Compiling a Model of Managers' Professional Meritocracy Based on Islamic and Iranian Teachings

The purpose of this study is to develop a model of professional meritocracy of managers based on Iranian and Islamic teachings. The research method is mixed (qualitatively quantitative) of the type of successive exploratory designs. In the qualitative section, using the library method and mining texts, the concepts related to the indicators of professional competence of organizational managers were examined. The statistical population in this section was 47 educational management experts who were selected by purposive sampling method and using the analysis of semi-open interview results and content analysis method, concepts were drawn in the form of a network of themes. The tools for collecting research information in the qualitative section were sources, interviews and documents (research reports, etc.) that the participatory feedback method was used to validate the validity and reliability analysis. In order to analyze the qualitative data, inductive content analysis based on open coding was used. In the quantitative part, data collection was based on a researcher-made questionnaire. In this part, a one-sample t-test was used and the statistical population of this section was 213 And were bred in Bushehr province that multi-stage cluster sampling method was used to select quantitative statistical samples. To validate the reliability of the questionnaire in this section, Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used, the reliability of which was 0.78, and its face and content validity was confirmed by experts. Data analysis in the qualitative domain was based on content analysis and in the quantitative domain was done using statistical software and factor analysis method. The results showed that the development of human resource management model with qualification criteria in accordance with Islamic and Iranian teachings, organizational planning based on "competence", matching capabilities and competencies with jobs and managements should be done carefully and only under legal and ethical criteria