Technological convergence in audiovisual media technologies

This paper presents the results of a large-scale survey on viewing practices. Data from over 10,000 cases are used to explore the adoption-use diffusion gap and the correlation structures in the frequencies of the use of multiple channels (e.g. linear television, download, Vod) on multiple devices. The results show that although a lot of devices capable of audiovisual playback are adopted, few (only computers) of them are used to consume television content. Furthermore, in terms of viewing frequencies, the data suggest spill over effects of using multiple devices, rather than a displacement. Finally, it shows there is a stable tendency to use multiple delivery channels within devices, rather than forming a pattern between devices. That is, channels usage frequencies are correlated within devices, rather than scattered among devices

Vulnerability of Urban Informal Sector: Street Vendors in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

This study has been focusing on the vulnerability of street vendors in Java since the time when Java was hit severely by the economic crisis in 1997/1998, which also had reversed the trend of economic formalization in Indonesia. For this aim, a survey was conducted during the month of February 2007 in Yogyakarta and Sleman districts in Yogyakarta Special Province. The survey covered 122 street vendors in several streets in both areas. These samples consist of three groups of street vendors: food seller, non-food seller, and services providers. Based on this survey, vulnerability index of street vendors is measured. The study found that most of street vendors in Yogyakarta experience vulnerability at the medium level. In general, vulnerability of food seller vendors is higher than other vendors. Vulnerability also varies across the locations of vending.informal sector, street vendor, vulnerability, Indonesia

Validity and reliability of questionnaires measuring physical activity self-efficacy, enjoyment, social support among Hong Kong Chinese children

AbstractBackgroundPhysical activity (PA) correlates have not been extensively studied in Hong Kong children.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to assess the validity and reliability of translated scales to measure PA related self-efficacy, enjoyment and social support in Hong Kong Chinese children.MethodsSample 1 (n=273, aged 8–12years) was recruited (May–June, 2013) from two primary schools. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were conducted to assess factorial validity. Criterion validity was assessed by correlating measured constructs with self-reported PA. Cronbach's alpha was computed to assess scale internal consistency. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was performed to assess scale test–retest reliability. Criterion validity was further examined in Sample 2 (n=84, aged 8–12years) from a third school by correlating measured constructs with objectively measured PA collected in September 2013 and February 2014.ResultsThe CFA results supported the one-factor structure of the scales. All PA correlates were significantly (p<0.01) associated with self-reported PA in Sample 1. Self-efficacy and enjoyment were significantly (p<0.05) correlated with objectively measured PA in Sample 2. All the scales demonstrated acceptable internal consistency. All ICC values of the scales suggested acceptable test–retest reliability.ConclusionThe results provide psychometric support for using the scales to measure PA correlates among Hong Kong Chinese children

ABC, 123: The Impact of a Mobile Phone Literacy Program on Educational Outcomes

CGD non-resident fellow Jenny Aker and co-authors report on the results from a randomized evaluation of a mobile phone education program (Project ABC) in Niger, in which adult students learned how to use mobile phones as part of a literacy and numeracy class. Overall, students demonstrated substantial improvements in literacy and numeracy test scores. There is also evidence of persistent impacts: six months after the end of the first year of classes, students in the program retained what they had learned better than others. The effects do not appear to be driven by differences in teacher quality or in teacher and student attendance. The results suggest that simple and relatively cheap information and communication technology can serve as an effective and sustainable learning tool for rural populations.Education

Competence in Medical Practice as Perceived by Malaysian Medical Interns: A Measurement Invariance Analysis

This study investigates the perception of Malaysian housemen on what the indicators of competence are in the medical practice. This derives from the need for the interns to have the requisite skill needed to make them competent in the post-medical school medical practice. A survey questionnaire was administered on all 2,046 housemen in all medical schools across Malaysia as at April 30, 2008 when data was collected. Data so obtained were subjected to statistical analysis based on N=1213 using both the structural equation modeling via SPSS AMOS 18 software. Nine skills were identified in all. These are interpersonal, IT, patient management, basic, holistic, science, ethics, coping, and clinical skills. While all the skills were found to be statistically significant, no factorial invariance was observed when the data is split into demographic divides

A Qualidade em Atividades de Grupo de Fitness: Construção e Validação do Questionário “Qualidade do Instrutor de Fitness – Atividades de Grupo” (QIF-AG)

Sabendo que comportamentos inadequados ou não gostar do instrutor são motivos invocados pelos praticantes de atividades de grupo de fitness para abandonar a prática, é cada vez mais recomendado aos ginásios implementar estratégias para diminuir o abandono e aumentar a fidelização dos praticantes (Franco, Pereira, & Simões, 2008). Pelo referido, é objetivo deste trabalho construir e validar um questionário que permita avaliar a qualidade do instrutor em atividades de grupo de fitness. A construção teve por base um modelo teórico constituído por 4 dimensões e 25 categorias (Campos, 2015). Após cumprimento das várias fases subjacentes a este processo, nomeadamente após análise fatorial exploratória e confirmatória, o questionário QIF-AG é considerado válido, apesar de com algumas limitações, apresentando uma estrutura fatorial com 2 fatores correlacionados: Qualidade Relacional (11 itens) e Qualidade Técnico-pedagógica (14 itens).The quality in fitness group activities: construction and validation of the questionnaire "Fitness Instructor Quality - Group Activities" (QIF-AG): Knowing that inadequate behaviors or don’t like of the instructor are reasons presented by group fitness participants to dropout, it is increasingly recommended to gyms to apply strategies do decrease the dropout and increase the loyalty of participants (Franco, Pereira, & Simões, 2008). By that, the aim of this study is to construct and validate a questionnaire to assess the quality of the group fitness instructor. The construction was based on a theoretical model with 4 dimensions and 25 categories (Campos, 2015). After completing of the several underlying phases of this process, in particular after the exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, the questionnaire QIF-AG is considered valid, although with some limitations, presenting a factorial structure with 2 correlated factors: Relational Quality (11 items) and Technical-pedagogical Quality (14 items).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Shifting the Burden of HIV/AIDS

As the economic burden of HIV/AIDS increases in sub-Saharan Africa, the allocation of the burden among levels and sectors of societies is changing. The private sector has greater scope than government, households, or NGOs to avoid the economic burden of AIDS, and a systematic shifting of the burden away from the private sector is underway. Common practices that shift the AIDS burden from businesses to households and government include pre-employment screening, reduced employee benefits, restructured employment contracts, outsourcing of less skilled jobs, selective retrenchments, and changes in production technologies. In South Africa, more than two thirds of large employers have reduced health care benefits or required larger contributions by employees. Most firms have replaced defined benefit retirement funds, which expose the firm to large annual costs but provide long-term support for families, with defined contribution funds, which eliminate firm risk but provide little to families of younger workers who die of AIDS. Contracting out of previously permanent jobs also shields firms from costs while leaving households and government to care for affected workers and their families. Many of these changes are responses to globalization and would have occurred in the absence of AIDS, but they are devastating for employees with HIV/AIDS. This paper argues that the shifting of the economic burden of AIDS is a predictable response by business to which a thoughtful public policy response is needed. Countries should make explicit decisions about each sector’s responsibilities if a socially desirable allocation is to be achieved

Shifting the Burden of HIV/AIDS

As the economic burden of HIV/AIDS increases in sub-Saharan Africa, the allocation of the burden among levels and sectors of societies is changing. The private sector has greater scope than government, households, or NGOs to avoid the economic burden of AIDS, and a systematic shifting of the burden away from the private sector is underway. Common practices that shift the AIDS burden from businesses to households and government include pre-employment screening, reduced employee benefits, restructured employment contracts, outsourcing of less skilled jobs, selective retrenchments, and changes in production technologies. In South Africa, more than two thirds of large employers have reduced health care benefits or required larger contributions by employees. Most firms have replaced defined benefit retirement funds, which expose the firm to large annual costs but provide long-term support for families, with defined contribution funds, which eliminate firm risk but provide little to families of younger workers who die of AIDS. Contracting out of previously permanent jobs also shields firms from costs while leaving households and government to care for affected workers and their families. Many of these changes are responses to globalization and would have occurred in the absence of AIDS, but they are devastating for employees with HIV/AIDS. This paper argues that the shifting of the economic burden of AIDS is a predictable response by business to which a thoughtful public policy response is needed. Countries should make explicit decisions about each sector’s responsibilities if a socially desirable allocation is to be achieved

Shifting the burden of HIV/AIDS

This repository item contains a single issue of the Health and Development Discussion Papers, an informal working paper series that began publishing in 2002 by the Boston University Center for Global Health and Development. It is intended to help the Center and individual authors to disseminate work that is being prepared for journal publication or that is not appropriate for journal publication but might still have value to readers.As the economic burden of HIV/AIDS increases in sub-Saharan Africa, the allocation of the burden among levels and sectors of societies is changing. The private sector has greater scope than government, households, or NGOs to avoid the economic burden of AIDS, and a systematic shifting of the burden away from the private sector is underway. Common practices that shift the AIDS burden from businesses to households and government include pre-employment screening, reduced employee benefits, restructured employment contracts, outsourcing of less skilled jobs, selective retrenchments, and changes in production technologies. In South Africa, more than two thirds of large employers have reduced health care benefits or required larger contributions by employees. Most firms have replaced defined benefit retirement funds, which expose the firm to large annual costs but provide long-term support for families, with defined contribution funds, which eliminate firm risk but provide little to families of younger workers who die of AIDS. Contracting out of previously permanent jobs also shields firms from costs while leaving households and government to care for affected workers and their families. Many of these changes are responses to globalization and would have occurred in the absence of AIDS, but they are devastating for employees with HIV/AIDS. This paper argues that the shifting of the economic burden of AIDS is a predictable response by business to which a thoughtful public policy response is needed. Countries should make explicit decisions about each sector’s responsibilities if a socially desirable allocation is to be achieved