Construction and validation of a questionnaire to assess student satisfaction with mathematics learning materials

Sixth Edition Technological Ecosystems for Enhancing MulticulturalityMathematics is an essential branch for the scientific development and its study is mandatory in most university degrees. However, currently the level of academic performance and motivation of students to learn this science is not the desired one. The students can use different learning tools inside and outside the math classroom, enhancing the quality of the learning materials that are designed essentially to facilitate the learning of mathematics. The present research project aims to determine the validity and reliability of a measurement instrument that allows theassessment of the satisfaction of the students with the availablelearning materials. To fulfill the objectives of this research, the method of survey was used. A study with a quantitative approach was developed, which led to the design and validation of a questionnaire by a group of 7 experts. The validation closed after applying a pilot study with 728 students. It concluded positively, obtaining nine factors that coincide with the revision of the literature: technological quality, quality of content, visual quality, didactic significance, adequacy of content, relationship between theory and practice, involvement, contribution to learning, relevance and interaction between educational actors. The results of this questionnaire provide to the international scientific community with relevant information for the design, selection, and use of study materials in the classrooms, which will contribute to raising the levels of student engagement, and their academic performance in mathematics, secondaril

A Measuring Tourism Specialization: a Composite Indicator for the Spanish Regions

Tourism sector is playing a key role in the development of a region, therefore tourism activities continue to growth in the last year despite the actual crisis (UNWTO 2011). Also, Spain maintains in the better positions of the world ranking. Furthermore, Tourism activities generate around 10% of GPD and represents 11.5% of total workers of the Spanish Economy in 2011. Nevertheless, this is not true for all the Spanish Regions. The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the tourism specialization in the Spanish Provinces. In general previous literature supports the idea that tourism enhances economic growth (Neves & Maças 2008). Given that we are able to define Tourism specialization from very different perspectives, it is essential to review the previous literature and clarify which indicators are the best ones to measure tourism specialization. In order to measure tourism specialization from a wide point of view, we account for both demand and supply side variables for tourism sector, and amenities. We developed principal component analysis (PCA) in order to summarize the information provided by the different measures. It is essential to understand the relationship between tourism characteristics, amenities and its economic impacts for public policies and tourism managing. Tourism sector is playing a key role in the development of a region, therefore tourism activities continue to growth in the last year despite the actual crisis (UNWTO 2011). Also, Spain maintains in the better positions of the world ranking. Furthermore, Tourism activities generate around 10% of GPD and represents 11.5% of total workers of the Spanish Economy in 2011. Nevertheless, this is not true for all the Spanish Regions. The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the tourism specialization in the Spanish Provinces. In general previous literature supports the idea that tourism enhances economic growth (Neves & Maças 2008). Given that we are able to define Tourism specialization from very different perspectives, it is essential to review the previous literature and clarify which indicators are the best ones to measure tourism specialization. In order to measure tourism specialization from a wide point of view, we account for both demand and supply side variables for tourism sector, and amenities. We developed principal component analysis (PCA) in order to summarize the information provided by the different measures. It is essential to understand the relationship between tourism characteristics, amenities and its economic impacts for public policies and tourism managing

Validation of the oral health impact profile (OHIP-20sp) for Spanish edentulous patients

Objectives: The purposes of this study are to validate the indicator of Oral Health Impact Profile for edentulous patients (OHIP-20sp) in the Spanish population and to analyze the factorial construct of the prosthetic well-being. Study Design: A total of twenty-one (n=21) edentulous patients wearing mandibular implant-over dentures on Locator® (LO) and twenty (n=20) with complete dentures (CD) were retrospectively evaluated in this study. All participants were recruited consecutively and were treated in the previous academic year 2009-2010 by professors of the University of Salamanca. Reliability analyses and validity tests were performed in order to evaluate the psychometric properties of OHIP-20sp employing two different total score methods (additional and simple count). A retrospective evaluation of the impact of the prosthetic treatment was captured with an evaluative instrument derived from OHIP-20, and named POST-OHIP-13. Results: The reliability coefficient (Cronbach?s alpha = 0.91) has shown a high internal consistency. Item-total correlations coefficients ranged from 0.46 and 0.81. Five factors, named as disability, functional comfort, psychosocial impact, pain-discomfort and functional limitations were identified as principal components of the construct, explaining almost 85% of the variance. The 48% of the sample felt at least one impact in an occasional or more frequently manner (generally food packing). The global transition judgment of the prosthetic treatment using the POST-OHIP-13 was significantly higher in group LO than in the CD group. Conclusions: OHIP-20 seems to be a reliable and valid indicator to measure oral impact and satisfaction in the Spanish edentulous population. The underlying construct is comprised by 5 factors named as disability, functional comfort, psychosocial impact, pain-discomfort and functional limitations

Development and Validation of a Digital Literacy Scale for Teenagers

[EN]Research related to digital literacy has grown exponentially in recent years. Its importance is that some scholars suggest that digital skills are a prevention tool against the risks of digital technologies. These risks are especially important because of their psychological consequences on adolescents. Thus, digital literacy could be a health prevention tool. The purpose of this research was to develop and validate a scale to assess digital literacy on teenagers. A self-report questionnaire with 47 items measured in a 5-point Likert scale was developed. After a pilot study, the questionnaire was administered to a sample composed by 715 secondary school students from 13 schools in Spain, aged between 12 and 20 years. Exploratory factor analysis revealed the existence of six factors: technological skill, personal security skill, critical skill, devices security skill, informational skill and communication skill. The scale demonstrated support for internal consistency reliability in most of the factors, with Cronbach’s Alpha levels ranging from .63 to .75, and validity. Further research is needed to confirm the factor structure

University students’ views regarding gender in STEM studies: Design and validation of an instrument

[EN] Diferences in the representation of diversity in higher education, emphasising the gender gap in some areas, are issues addressed from diferent research domains. Socially, gender roles have been constructed and are also related to professions. In this context, the Social Cognitive Career Theory explores the possible causes of segregation. This segregation is evident in Europe and Spain, as indicated by the European Institute for Gender Equality. This paper describes the design and validation process of an instrument to fnd out what opinions university students have about higher education studies in science, technology,engineering and mathematics (STEM), according to gender. After drafting the questionnaire, it was piloted in a non-experimental quantitative design in Spain. Subsequently, a validity and reli ability study was applied to validate the items and construct their dimensionality. The process was implemented using Reliability Analysis and Exploratory Factor Analysis. Also, the dimensionality consists of fve scales: Gender Ideology, Perception and Self-perception, Expectations about Science, Attitudes and Interests. Based on the results, it is concluded that the opinion about STEM studies is conditioned by personal elements, such as motivations, educational background and family and social infuences, such as people who judged their decision, were their references or studied STEM programs. Finally, it is essential to pay socio-educational attention to the modulating components of decisions about which higher education studies to pursue. Awareness of the factors involved in the decision helps the educational community to establish mechanisms to prevent horizontal gender segregation. The instrument designed, validated and presented in this study provides a glimpse of possible causes for the gender gap in STEM higher education.Publicación en abierto financiada por el Consorcio de Bibliotecas Universitarias de Castilla y León (BUCLE), con cargo al Programa Operativo 2014ES16RFOP009 FEDER 2014-2020 DE CASTILLA Y LEÓN, Actuación:20007-CL - Apoyo Consorcio BUCLE

Spanish Cross-Cultural Validation of the Electronic Version of the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5)

The IIEF-5 questionnaire is a validated scale used as a diagnostic tool in erectile dysfunction (ED). This simplified version includes five items that focus on erectile function and satisfaction during sexual intercourse; it has favourable properties for detecting the presence and severity of erectile dysfunction The main objective of this study was to make a cross-cultural adaptation to Spanish of the IIEF-5 scale and to evaluate its psychometric properties of validity, reliability, and feasibility in the Spanish population. Validation of the IIEF-5 included: (i) professional translation of the scale; (ii) scientific evaluation of the translation; (iii) professional retranslation; (iv) assessment of 10 individuals to test correct comprehension and idiomatic adequacy; (v) validation of the IIEF-5 by an online survey. The study sample consisted of 100 participants, who received the online form either directly or through other participants who distributed it. Participants obtained a mean score of 22.3 (SD 2.7), implying normal erectile function. However, 23 results of mild dysfunction (n = 23) and 2 of mild to moderate dysfunction (5.1%) were identified. A Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.75 was obtained for the total of the final questionnaire, indicating high reliability. Validity analysis had a value of 0.784 (>0.5) and was therefore considered appropriate. The IIEF-5 scale is a reliable tool to test ED, and its Spanish version is satisfactorily understood by patients

Ham Tourism in Andalusia: An Untapped Opportunity in the Rural Environment

Iberian ham is a food product of great quality endorsed by Protected Denominations of Origin, which is beginning to be marketed as a tourist product, and visits to pastures, ham dryers, etc., are becoming tourist attractions in the rural areas of Andalusia. In this research, a factor analysis with VARIMAX rotation is carried out to determine the factors that influence the development of ham tourism. Five components are determined, of which the supply factor is one of the most important. Pull factors are highlighted as the local gastronomy and heritage, among others, and push factors include visiting dryers, pastures, and ham museums. Based on these results and the descriptive analysis of the profile of the ham tourist, it is found that the ham tourist is very satisfied with the visit made, and that the tourist would repeat the experience. However, it is observed that it is necessary to create routes combined with other better known gastronomic products, such as wine, and carry out marketing campaigns to publicize this tourist product in the national and international market, because at present it is local tourists who perform this type of tourism

Managing smart cities with deepint.net

In this keynote, the evolution of intelligent computer systems will be examined. The need for human capital will be emphasised, as well as the need to follow one’s “gut instinct” in problem-solving. We will look at the benefits of combining information and knowledge to solve complex problems and will examine how knowledge engineering facilitates the integration of different algorithms. Furthermore, we will analyse the importance of complementary technologies such as IoT and Blockchain in the development of intelligent systems. It will be shown how tools like "Deep Intelligence" make it possible to create computer systems efficiently and effectively. "Smart" infrastructures need to incorporate all added-value resources so they can offer useful services to the society, while reducing costs, ensuring reliability and improving the quality of life of the citizens. The combination of AI with IoT and with blockchain offers a world of possibilities and opportunities

Intelligent Models in Complex Problem Solving

Artificial Intelligence revived in the last decade. The need for progress, the growing processing capacity and the low cost of the Cloud have facilitated the development of new, powerful algorithms. The efficiency of these algorithms in Big Data processing, Deep Learning and Convolutional Networks is transforming the way we work and is opening new horizons

Learning AI with deepint.net

This keynote will examine the evolution of intelligent computer systems over the last years, underscoring the need for human capital in this field, so that further progress can be made. In this regard, learning about AI through experience is a big challenge, but it is possible thanks to tools such as deepint.net, which enable anyone to develop AI systems; knowledge of programming is no longer necessary