Psychometric properties and validity of an instrument measuring lower secondary students’ perceived competence in educational decision-making process

Making decisions about school or career is a very important task for young people since these choices can have long-term consequences. The main purpose of this study is to examine psychometric properties and construct validity of Perceived Competence in Educational Decision-making Process Questionnaire (PCEDPQ). A multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (MCFA) is performed to test the scale theoretical structure and the metric invariance across gender. Results of MCFA are consistent with the hypothesized scale structure and show measurement invariance across gender. The reliability of the scales in terms of internal consistency ranged from .74 to .7

The Validation of a Scale Measuring Teaching Styles in the Italian Context

AbstractThe teaching style is important because it influences students’ school-related motivation, emotion, and performance. The main purpose of this study is to examine psychometric properties and construct validity of a short version of the Problems In School questionnaire (PIS). A multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (MCFA) is performed to test the scale theoretical structure and the metric invariance across teachers’ length of service. Results of MCFA are consistent with the hypothesized scale structure and show measurement invariance across different lengths of teaching service. The reliability of the scales in terms of internal consistency ranged from .61 to .69

From educational poverty to academic success assessment. Concepts, indicators and tools validated at national level

The article discusses several models for contrasting educational poverty, demonstrating the need for actions aimed at increasing the resilience of disadvantaged children and adolescents. Different types of factors promoting resilience, on which a direct intervention of teachers and educators is possible, are identified. Subsequently, tools for evaluating these resilience factors at the individual as well as at the group-level are presented, describing their theoretical approach, their scope and their psychometric properties. For each presented indicator, the available information about gender differences and immigrant background differences is reporte

Measuring Process-oriented Teaching

AbstractProcess-oriented teaching is generally recognized as a way to promote lifelong learning, which in turn is tied to a demand of modern society. The purpose of this study is to examine psychometric properties and construct validity of Process-Oriented Teaching Questionnaire. A multi-group confirmatory factor analysis (MCFA) is performed to test the scale theoretical structure and the metric invariance across teachers’ length of service. Results of MCFA are consistent with the hypothesized scale structure and show measurement invariance across different lengths of teaching service. The reliability of the scales in terms of internal consistency ranged from .81 to .87

Application of Real and Virtual Radial Arm Maze Task in Human

Virtual Reality (VR) emerges as a promising technology capable of creating different scenarios in which the body, environment, and brain are closely related, proving enhancements in the diagnosis and treatment of several spatial memory deficits. In recent years, human spatial navigation has increasingly been studied in interactive virtual environments. However, navigational tasks are still not completely adapted in immersive 3D VR systems. We stipulate that an immersive Radial Arm Maze (RAM) is an excellent instrument, allowing the participants to be physically active within the maze exactly as in the walking RAM version in reality modality. RAM is a behavioral ecological task that allows the analyses of different facets of spatial memory, distinguishing declarative components from procedural ones. In addition to describing the characteristics of RAM, we will also analyze studies in which RAM has been used in virtual modality to provide suggestions into RAM building in immersive modality

Motor Imagery as a Key Factor for Healthy Ageing: A Review of New Insights and Techniques

Motor imagery (MI) describes a dynamic cognitive process where a movement is mentally simulated without taking place and holds potential as a means of stimulating motor learning and regaining motor skills. There is growing evidence that imagined and executed actions have common neural circuitry. Since MI counteracts cognitive and motor decline, a growing interest in MI-based mental exercise for older individuals has emerged. Here we review the last decade’s scientific literature on age-related changes in MI skills. Heterogeneity in the experimental protocols, as well as the use of populations with unrepresentative age, is making it challenging to draw unambiguous conclusions about MI skills preservation. Self-report and behavioural tasks have shown that some MI components are preserved, while others are impaired. Evidence from neuroimaging studies revealed that, during MI tasks, older individuals hyperactivate their sensorimotor and attentional networks. Some studies have argued that this represents a compensatory mechanism, others claim that this is a sign of cognitive decline. However, further studies are needed to establish whether MI could be used as a promotion factor to improve cognitive functioning and well-being in older people

Boosting effect of regular sport practice in young adults: Preliminary results on cognitive and emotional abilities

Several studies have shown that physical exercise (PE) improves behavior and cognitive functioning, reducing the risk of various neurological diseases, protecting the brain from the detrimental effects of aging, facilitating body recovery after injuries, and enhancing self-efficacy and self-esteem. Emotion processing and regulation abilities are also widely acknowledged to be key to success in sports. In this study, we aim to prove that regular participation in sports enhances cognitive and emotional functioning in healthy individuals. A sample of 60 students (mean age = 22.12; SD = 2.40; M = 30), divided into sportive and sedentary, were subjected to a neuropsychological tests battery to assess their overall cognitive abilities (Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices, APM), verbal and graphic fluency (Word Fluency Task and modified Five Point Test, m-FPT), as well as their emotional awareness skills (Toronto Alexithymia Scale, TAS-20). Our results showed that sportive students performed better than sedentary ones in all cognitive tasks. Regarding emotional processing abilities, significant differences were found in the TAS-20 total score as well as in the Difficulty Describing Feelings (DDF) subscale and the Difficulty Identifying Feeling (DIF) subscale. Lastly, gender differences were found in the External-Oriented Thinking (EOT) subscale. Overall, our findings evidence that PE has positive effects on cognitive functioning and emotion regulation, suggesting how sports practice can promote mental health and wellbeing

Traiettorie locali e globali per costruire salute: XIV Congresso Nazionale Società Italiana di Psicologia della Salute. Cagliari, 25-27 maggio 2023. Libro degli atti

La recente pandemia ha messo in evidenza l’esigenza di considerare in una visione globale (One Health) problemi e risorse spesso ritenuti indipendenti gli uni dalle altre. Senza un’adeguata integrazione istituzionale, sanitaria, educativa e assistenziale il rischio è quello di ridurre bisogni complessi a una dimensione più facilmente trattabile, perdendo di vista la unitarietà biopsicosociale. La pandemia, così come i drammatici scenari bellici - con il loro portato collettivo di incertezza e paura - hanno evidenziato che il bisogno psicologico oltre ad essere diffuso in tutta la popolazione può assumere il carattere di bisogno primario, cui è necessario rispondere, non solo con strumenti individuali di valutazione e terapia, ma anche attraverso strategie di prevenzione e di promozione della salute psicologica rivolte all’intera cittadinanza. Il presente volume riassume i contributi scientifici e professionali discussi nel corso del XIV Congresso SIPSA tenutosi a Cagliari dal 25 al 27 maggio 2023. Il Congresso ha visto la partecipazione di numerosi ricercatori e professionisti che hanno affrontato e dibattuto temi di grande attualità ed interesse, come, ad esempio, la pace, la solidarietà, le emergenze, il benessere, la salute. In continuità con l’Agenda 2030 per lo sviluppo sostenibile, sono state tracciate e confrontate traiettorie di elaborazione riflessiva ed esperienze di intervento psicologico atte a costruire salute a livello globale e locale. Una professionalità psicologica che si fa prossima al cittadino e sia equamente accessibile ed integrata necessita di competenze transdisciplinari, di metodi scientifici e di riferimenti deontologici e professionali, che siano trasparenti, riconoscibili e condivisi, pur essendo declinati e adattati alle specificità territoriali e locali

Brain network topology and personality traits: A source level magnetoencephalographic study

Personality neuroscience is focusing on the correlation between individual differences and the efficiency of large-scale networks from the perspective of the brain as an interconnected network. A suitable technique to explore this relationship is the magnetoencephalography (MEG), but not many MEG studies are aimed at investigating topological properties correlated to personality traits. By using MEG, the present study aims to evaluate how individual differences described in Cloninger's psychobiological model are correlated with specific cerebral structures. Fifty healthy individuals (20 males, 30 females, mean age: 27.4 ± 4.8 years) underwent Temperament and Character Inventory examination and MEG recording during a resting state condition. High harm avoidance scores were associated with a reduced centrality of the left caudate nucleus and this negative correlation was maintained in females when we analyzed gender differences. Our data suggest that the caudate nucleus plays a key role in adaptive behavior and could be a critical node in insular salience network. The clear difference between males and females allows us to suggest that topological organization correlated to personality is highly dependent on gender. Our findings provide new insights to evaluate the mutual influences of topological and functional connectivity in neural communication efficiency and disruption as biomarkers of psychopathological traits