29 research outputs found
Measuring the Intrapersonal Component of Psychological Empowerment: Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Sociopolitical Control Scale
The Sociopolitical Control Scale (SPCS) is a widely used measure of the intrapersonal component of psychological empowerment. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were conducted with data from two samples to test the hypothesized structure of the SPCS, the potential effects of method bias on the measure's psychometric properties, and whether a revised version of the scale (SPCSâR) yielded improved model fit. Sample 1 included 316 randomly selected community residents of the Midwestern United States. Sample 2 included 750 community residents of the Northeastern U.S. Results indicated that method bias from the use of negatively worded items had a significant effect on the factor structure of the SPCS. CFA of the SPCSâR, in which negatively worded items were rephrased so that all statements were positively worded, supported the measure's hypothesized twoâfactor structure (i.e., leadership competence and policy control). Subscales of the SPCSâR were found reliable and related in expected ways with measures of community involvement. Implications of the study for empowermentâbased research and practice are described, and strategies to further develop the SPCS are discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/117223/1/ajcp9070.pd
Gravitational waves from single neutron stars: an advanced detector era survey
With the doors beginning to swing open on the new gravitational wave
astronomy, this review provides an up-to-date survey of the most important
physical mechanisms that could lead to emission of potentially detectable
gravitational radiation from isolated and accreting neutron stars. In
particular we discuss the gravitational wave-driven instability and
asteroseismology formalism of the f- and r-modes, the different ways that a
neutron star could form and sustain a non-axisymmetric quadrupolar "mountain"
deformation, the excitation of oscillations during magnetar flares and the
possible gravitational wave signature of pulsar glitches. We focus on progress
made in the recent years in each topic, make a fresh assessment of the
gravitational wave detectability of each mechanism and, finally, highlight key
problems and desiderata for future work.Comment: 39 pages, 12 figures, 2 tables. Chapter of the book "Physics and
Astrophysics of Neutron Stars", NewCompStar COST Action 1304. Minor
corrections to match published versio
The Evolution of Compact Binary Star Systems
We review the formation and evolution of compact binary stars consisting of
white dwarfs (WDs), neutron stars (NSs), and black holes (BHs). Binary NSs and
BHs are thought to be the primary astrophysical sources of gravitational waves
(GWs) within the frequency band of ground-based detectors, while compact
binaries of WDs are important sources of GWs at lower frequencies to be covered
by space interferometers (LISA). Major uncertainties in the current
understanding of properties of NSs and BHs most relevant to the GW studies are
discussed, including the treatment of the natal kicks which compact stellar
remnants acquire during the core collapse of massive stars and the common
envelope phase of binary evolution. We discuss the coalescence rates of binary
NSs and BHs and prospects for their detections, the formation and evolution of
binary WDs and their observational manifestations. Special attention is given
to AM CVn-stars -- compact binaries in which the Roche lobe is filled by
another WD or a low-mass partially degenerate helium-star, as these stars are
thought to be the best LISA verification binary GW sources.Comment: 105 pages, 18 figure
Conducting Action Research: Relationships between Organization Members and Researchers
Action research in an organizational setting draws researchers and the employees involved into a joint process aimed at meeting both research and intervention objectives. The active collaboration of participants has major implications for researcher roles, and the manner in which these role shifts are carried out has a significant effect on study outcomes. Few have concretely analyzed the issues faced by researchers and organization members as they assume shared roles in the action research process. This article treats the relational aspect of researcher-participant co-investigation as a methodological issue. The authors share aspects of their experience in implementing an action research project aimed at understanding and reducing the deleterious effects of occupational stress. Relationships between researchers and organization members are dynamic. As they develop over time, role-related tensions and differences may arise around the issues of values and interests, resources and skills, control, political realities, and rewards and costs. Each of these is addressed, using examples from the authors' recently completed 6-year study. Further, the action research study participants helped revise this article and that process taught the authors much about these methodological issues.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68172/2/10.1177_0021886392281008.pd