Psychometric evaluation of the Clinical Outcome in Routine Evaluation – General Population : Czech version

Objectives. This study aimed to assess psychometric properties, such as reliability, construct validity, and cut-off scores, for the Czech version of the Clinical Outcome in Routine Evaluation – General Population (GP-CORE) questionnaire, a tool usable for repeated measurement of psychological distress within routine clinical settings. Participants and setting. Two general populations and one clinical sample were used with N values of 420, 394, and 345, respectively. Hypotheses. One of the competing theoretical factor solutions will demonstrate the best fit. Statistical analysis. To examine the factor structure of the GP-CORE, a confirmatory multidimensional item response theory analysis (graded response model) was employed. Results. The best fitting model was a bifactor solution representing one content domain of overall distress and two item wording domains (positively and negatively worded items). Clinical cut-off scores were determined to be 1.85 (men) and 1.90 (women). Study limitations. The GP-CORE can be used as an unidimensional measure of overall distress, but users have to be aware of the influence of positive vs. negative item wording on the responses

Czech version of the Outcome Rating Scale : Selected psychometric properties

Objectives. The Outcome Rating Scale (ORS) is an ultra-brief self-report scale designed to measure change during psychotherapy. The goal of this study was to test (a) the factor structure of the ORS, (b) the measurement invariance between a clinical and a non-clinical sample, between pre-therapy and post-therapy assessment (within the clinical sample), and between online and paper-and-pencil forms of administration (within the non-clinical sample), (c) concurrent validity with other outcome measures, and (d) sensitivity to therapeutic change. Sample and settings. N = 256 patients, N = 210 non-clinical respondents, and N = 89 students participated in the study. Patients responded to the ORS before and after psychotherapy. Statistical analysis. The factor structure and measurement invariance were tested using confirmatory factor analysis. Concurrent validity and test-retest reliability were assessed using correlational analysis. Sensitivity to change was assessed using the Reliable Change Index and pre-post effect size. Results. The unidimensional structure was supported. The best-fitting model was a partially tau-equivalent model with the first and the fourth items’ loadings fixed to the same value. While only metric invariance was demonstrated between the clinical and non-clinical samples, the ORS demonstrated scalar invariance between pre- and post-therapy assessment and strict invariance between the paper-and-pencil and online forms of administration. Internal consistency, as well as concurrent validity, were satisfactory. The sensitivity to the therapeutic change was adequate. Furthermore, internal consistency and sensitivity to change were increased if the score was computed as a weighted sum of items. Study limitation. The samples were not representative

Nationwide increases in anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies between October 2020 and March 2021 in the unvaccinated Czech population

Background: The aim of the nationwide prospective seroconversion (PROSECO) study was to investigate the dynamics of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in the Czech population. Here we report on baseline prevalence from that study. Methods: The study included the first 30,054 persons who provided a blood sample between October 2020 and March 2021. Seroprevalence was compared between calendar periods, previous RT-PCR results and other factors. Results: The data show a large increase in seropositivity over time, from 28% in October/November 2020 to 43% in December 2020/January 2021 to 51% in February/March 2021. These trends were consistent with government data on cumulative viral antigenic prevalence in the population captured by PCR testing – although the seroprevalence rates established in this study were considerably higher. There were only minor differences in seropositivity between sexes, age groups and BMI categories, and results were similar between test providing laboratories. Seropositivity was substantially higher among persons with history of symptoms (76% vs. 34%). At least one third of all seropositive participants had no history of symptoms, and 28% of participants with antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 never underwent PCR testing. Conclusions: Our data confirm the rapidly increasing prevalence in the Czech population during the rising pandemic wave prior to the beginning of vaccination. The difference between our results on seroprevalence and PCR testing suggests that antibody response provides a better marker of past infection than the routine testing program

Replikovatelnost českého psychologického výzkumu

Východiska: Bezdíček, Preiss a Dočkalová (2009) a Preiss a Mačudová (2012) sledovali počet publikací českých docentů a profesorů psychologie a zhodnotili ji jej jako nedostatečný – samotné množství publikací však neříká nic o jejich kvalitě. Jedním z ukazatelů kvality výzkumu je jeho replikovatelnost, která je přitom jedním z nosných témat současné světové psychologie. Ukazuje se totiž, že přinejmenším část psychologického výzkumu replikovatelná není (zejm. Open Science Collaboration, 2015; Klein a kol., 2016) a že nalezené efekty ve skutečnosti neexistují. Naopak efekty, které existují, mohou zůstat skryty v důsledku špatně naplánovaného výzkumu a nízké síly testů. Cíle: Představíme statistické postupy pro odhad replikovatelnosti výzkumu a aplikujeme je na české psychologické publikace. Soubor: Vzorek byl náhodně vybrán ze všech českých časopiseckých publikací indexovaných na Web of Science, u nichž bylo možné získat full-text a které testovaly alespoň jednu hypotézu. Ke každé publikaci byly dohledány údaje o autorech (počet publikací, citovanost aj.). Metody: V každé publikaci jsme identifikovali hlavní hypotézy a zaznamenali reportované statistiky. Na jejich základě jsme odhadli replikovatelnost těchto studií pomocí několika různých statistických testů, a to jak pro celý soubor dohromady, tak i zvlášť podle počtu publikací autorů a dalších ukazatelů. Výsledky: Výsledky popisují replikovatelnost českého psychologického výzkumu. Zároveň ukazujeme souvislosti mezi publikační aktivitou autora a replikovatelností jeho výzkumu.Background: Bezdíček, Preiss and Dočkalová (2009) and Preiss and Mačudová (2012) rated the number of publications of Czech academics (professors and associate professors) and evaluated it as insufficient– however, the number of publications says nothing about their quality. One indicator of research quality is its replicability, which is one of the main topics in the present psychology science. It has been shown that at least part of psychological research is not replicable (e.g. Open Science Collaboration, 2015; Klein et al., 2016) and some of the published psychological effects actually do not exist. On the contrary, some effects can remain hidden due to poor research and underpowered design. Objectives: We introduce statistical methods to estimate the replicability of research and apply them to the Czech psychological publications. Sample: The sample was randomly selected from all Czech journal publications indexed on the Web of Science, where it was possible to get a full-text and which tested at least one hypothesis. For each publication, we search their authors and publication impact (number of publications, their citation etc.). Method: In each publication, we identified the main hypotheses and reported statistics. Then we estimated the replicability of these studies using several different statistical tests, both for the whole set and also stratified by the authors and other indicators. Results: The results describe the replicability of the Czech psychological research. We also show the relationship between authors’ publication activity and replicability of their research

Survey of Period Variations of Superhumps in SU UMa-Type Dwarf Novae

We systematically surveyed period variations of superhumps in SU UMa-type dwarf novae based on newly obtained data and past publications. In many systems, the evolution of superhump period are found to be composed of three distinct stages: early evolutionary stage with a longer superhump period, middle stage with systematically varying periods, final stage with a shorter, stable superhump period. During the middle stage, many systems with superhump periods less than 0.08 d show positive period derivatives. Contrary to the earlier claim, we found no clear evidence for variation of period derivatives between superoutburst of the same object. We present an interpretation that the lengthening of the superhump period is a result of outward propagation of the eccentricity wave and is limited by the radius near the tidal truncation. We interpret that late stage superhumps are rejuvenized excitation of 3:1 resonance when the superhumps in the outer disk is effectively quenched. Many of WZ Sge-type dwarf novae showed long-enduring superhumps during the post-superoutburst stage having periods longer than those during the main superoutburst. The period derivatives in WZ Sge-type dwarf novae are found to be strongly correlated with the fractional superhump excess, or consequently, mass ratio. WZ Sge-type dwarf novae with a long-lasting rebrightening or with multiple rebrightenings tend to have smaller period derivatives and are excellent candidate for the systems around or after the period minimum of evolution of cataclysmic variables (abridged).Comment: 239 pages, 225 figures, PASJ accepte

Analysis of Volkswagen's crisis communication in the Czech Republic

This master thesis deals with analysis of crisis communication of the Volkswagen Group in the Czech Republic and its presentation in media. The theoretical part presents particular components of public relations and the crisis communication and its rules as a part of them. Then some basic principles in media analysis and marketing research are presented. The practical part starts with an in-depth overview of the emission scandal as a crisis situation for Volkswagen with an analysis of selected PR components impact of several indicators and also analysis of the media picture of the company. The research focuses on customer s attitude towards the emissions issue and VW s reaction. Finally the SWOT analysis is assembled and on its basis the solution for post-crisis communication is offerred