Finding an Effective Classification Technique to Develop a Software Team Composition Model

Ineffective software team composition has become recognized as a prominent aspect of software project failures. Reports from results extracted from different theoretical personality models have produced contradicting fits, validity challenges, and missing guidance during software development personnel selection. It is also believed that the technique/s used while developing a model can impact the overall results. Thus, this study aims to: 1) discover an effective classification technique to solve the problem, and 2) develop a model for composition of the software development team. The model developed was composed of three predictors: team role, personality types, and gender variables; it also contained one outcome: team performance variable. The techniques used for model development were logistic regression, decision tree, and Rough Sets Theory (RST). Higher prediction accuracy and reduced pattern complexity were the two parameters for selecting the effective technique. Based on the results, the Johnson Algorithm (JA) of RST appeared to be an effective technique for a team composition model. The study has proposed a set of 24 decision rules for finding effective team members. These rules involve gender classification to highlight the appropriate personality profile for software developers. In the end, this study concludes that selecting an appropriate classification technique is one of the most important factors in developing effective models

Depression in the Lundby Study 1947-1997 Incidence, course and risk-factors

Abstract The aims of this thesis were to describe methodological problems, incidence and course of depressive disorders as well as possible risk factors for depression within the framework of the Lundby Study. The Lundby population was investigated in 1947, 1957, 1972 and 1997. In 1947 the population consisted of 2550 subjects and in 1957, 1013 were added. The total population consists of 3563 subjects. Attrition rate for the field-investigations, 1947, 1957 and 1972 was 1-2% and in 1997 6%. During the follow-up period the Lundby study had encountered many methodological problems such as changing diagnostic systems, recall bias, low interrater-reliability over time, migration and attrition. Low attrition rate over 50 years and reasonable diagnostic uniformity justify comparisons over time. Incidence of depression was compared for the two time periods 1947-1972 and 1972-1997. Females had higher incidence rates than males in both periods. In the period 1972-1997 the average annual incidence rate was lower for females and tended to be lower for males as compared with 1947-1972. The course of depression was followed for 344 subjects that had experienced an episode of first incidence depression during follow-up. The recurrence rate was about 40 % . Changes to other diagnoses were registered in 21% of the this sample, alcohol disorders in 7 % and bipolar disorders in 2 %. Five percent committed suicide; male gender and severity of depression were significant risk factors. Risk factors for the whole sample and for the genders separately were analyzed for the cohorts1947 and 1957. For the 1947 cohort the personality trait nervous/tense was a risk factor for both genders in univariate analyses as well as in the multivariate analyses. Prior anxiety disorders, tiredness disorder, alcohol disorder and subvalidity appeared to be risk factors, especially for males in univariate analyses. In the multivariate model a risk factor for males was child neurosis and for females the personality trait abnormal/antisocial. In univariate and multivariate analyses of the 1957 the cohort, the risk factors anxiety disorders, alcohol disorders and childneurosis were risk factors for males. For females the personality traits nervous/tense, abnormal/antisocial, tired/distracted, easily hurt and anxiety disorders were risk factors. In multivariate analyses the personality traits nervous/tense and abnormal/antisocial turned out as risk-factors for females

Examining high school students’ personality traits of extraversion and emotional stability in relation to their academic expectation and value appraisals

Abstract : Both personality and motivational characteristics can be considered to estimate individuals’ potential for adjustment and development. That said, these characteristics are rarely studied in conjunction. In this study, we examine how personality and motivational characteristics relate one to the other and influence how students approach learning. More precisely, we analyzed the additive and interactive effects of two intimately related traits (extraversion and emotional stability) from the Big Five model of personality on five motivational dimensions reflecting academic expectations (sense of competence) and values (interest, utility, and mastery and performance goal orientations). Data was collected from a sample of 303 students in tenth and eleventh grade (108 boys and 195 girls; Mage = 16.275 years, SD = 1.149) in a French-Canadian public high school in the greater Quebec City area. Primary analyses included both bivariate correlation and hierarchical regression analyses. Correlations indicated that emotionally stable students were more interested in learning. Hierarchical regression showed that emotionally stable students were more likely to exhibit a performance goal orientation, especially when they were extroverted. These analyses also revealed that emotionally stable students were more interested in learning, especially when they had a strong sense of competence. Results are discussed in light of the limited but relevant existing literature

Risk Factors in the Development of Postnatal Anxiety Symptomatology

ABSTRACT Objectives: Research into postpartum psychopathology has focused largely on depression and only more recently has it been recognised that postnatal anxiety requires its own systematic research. As yet, only a limited number of studies have investigated interpersonal risk factors in relation to postnatal anxiety. This study aimed to further investigate the role of these factors by using a prospective design and standardised measures. Attachment theory is presented as a theoretical framework. It has been debated whether anxiety symptoms in the postpartum should be understood as a feature of postnatal depression, or as a separate clinical entity. This study used the DASS-21, a measure with good discriminant validity, to enable comparison of the risk factors in relation to depression and anxiety symptomatology. Design: Using a prospective design, 81 women were assessed in the third trimester of pregnancy and at approximately 12 weeks postpartum. At Time 1 participants completed measures of social support, relationship satisfaction, adult attachment anxiety, and experiences of parents in childhood. At Time 2 postnatal anxiety and depression symptomatology was assessed. Results: Significant associations were found between postnatal anxiety symptomatology and the majority of the interpersonal variables. In regression analyses these explained 12% of the variance in postnatal anxiety symptomatology. A similar pattern of associations was found for postnatal depression symptomatology, but only 6% of the variance in scores was explained. iii Conclusions: Despite limitations, this study provides preliminary evidence of the contribution of interpersonal risk factors to the development of postnatal anxiety symptomatology, and support for the attachment theory perspective. This indicates the potential importance of interventions that focus on interpersonal relationships. A low rate of comorbidity with depression symptomatology, and differences in the regression models, appear to support the view of postnatal anxiety and depression as being distinct but closely related. Further research is needed with more representative samples

Team boosting behaviours:Development and validation of a new concept and scale

In teams, some people are truly noticed when present, and sorely missed when absent. Often they are described as the “life of the party”, but in a formal team context, we refer to their behaviors as “team boosting behavior”. These behaviors have the potential to affect the team’s processes. In three consecutive studies, we conceptualized these behaviors and developed and validated a questionnaire to measure them. In Study 1, we defined team boosting behaviors as the extent to which team members exhibit mood-enhancing, energizing, and uniting behaviors, directed towards team members. In Study 2, we developed and validated an instrument to measure team boosting behaviors using a sample of team members in work and sports teams (N = 385). Results supported a three-factor structure and indicated positive relationships with conceptually similar constructs. In Study 3, we cross-validated the three-factor structure among the members of 120 work teams and offer evidence for convergent and criterion validity of the Team Boosting behavior scale. The behaviors related positively to a positive team climate, team work engagement, and leader-rated team performance. The scale provides a useful tool for future empirical research to study the role of individual team boosting behaviors in shaping team processes and outcomes