Kosten und Nutzen der Sparsamkeit: zur Erhebung sozialer Netzwerke und sozialer Unterstützungspotentiale in der Umfrageforschung

Measuring ego-centered networks is an especially time-expensive endeavor. However, to be included in multi-thematic surveys, parsimony is needed instead of following a maximizing strategy. Therefore, one pressing questions is, whether and which type of parsimonious data collection produces what losses of information. We address these questions by comparing three different, but closely related operationalizations of ego-centered networks in three different surveys: the German Socio-Economic Panel Study as a multi-thematic large-scale survey, IDUN as a small study designed as a single-purpose instrument to measure egocentered networks in great detail, and the "Minipanel" as something in between these two. Different setup parameters are the number and type of name generators and descriptors of alteri and a numerical limitation of naming ties. We look specifically whether there are effects on the size of the networks, the composition of networks, andthe sociostructural differences with regard to availability of positive aspects of social networks, especially different types of social support. Additionally, we examine the differences between effects of network variables on perceived satisfaction in the surveys. Among others, and above the highly expectable differences in network size, we find an effect of different operationalizations on the network composition. Compared to IDUN, GSOEP produces a considerable overestimation of family ties and a considerable underestimation of relations stemming from school, vocational training and leisure time. We show that specific strategies of parsimony not only lead to losses of information and distortions of network characteristics but can lead in addition to different conclusions about the availability of social capital.Social networks, network measurement, ego-centered networks, social relations, name generators, social capital, social support

Using New Camera-Based Technologies for Gait Analysis in Older Adults in Comparison to the Established GAITRite System

Various gait parameters can be used to assess the risk of falling in older adults. However, the state-of-the-art systems used to quantify gait parameters often come with high costs as well as training and space requirements. Gait analysis systems, which use mobile and commercially available cameras, can be an easily available, marker-free alternative. In a study with 44 participants (age ≥ 65 years), gait patterns were analyzed with three different systems: a pressure sensitive walkway system (GAITRite-System, GS) as gold standard, Motognosis Labs Software using a Microsoft Kinect Sensor (MKS), and a smartphone camera-based application (SCA). Intertrial repeatability showed moderate to excellent results for MKS (ICC(1,1) 0.574 to 0.962) for almost all measured gait parameters and moderate reliability in SCA measures for gait speed (ICC(1,1) 0.526 to 0.535). All gait parameters of MKS showed a high level of agreement with GS (ICC(2,k) 0.811 to 0.981). Gait parameters extracted with SCA showed poor reliability. The tested gait analysis systems based on different camera systems are currently only partially able to capture valid gait parameters. If the underlying algorithms are adapted and camera technology is advancing, it is conceivable that these comparatively simple methods could be used for gait analysis

Plagiate in Hausarbeiten: Erfassung über Direct-Response und Validierung mit Hilfe der Randomized-Response-Technique

"Bislang fehlt eine systematische theoretische und empirische Auseinandersetzung mit dem Thema 'Plagiate' im deutschsprachigen Raum. Zwei zentrale Fragen stehen daher im Mittelpunkt des Vortrags: 1. Wie gestaltet sich die Bereitschaft unter Studierenden, Plagiate anzufertigen? 2. Warum sind Studierende bereit, Plagiate anzufertigen? Für die Beantwortung wurden Leipziger Studierende des Faches Soziologie befragt. Im Vortrag wird zuerst die deskriptive Frage bezüglich Qualität und Quantität der Plagiatbereitschaft beantwortet. Dazu wurden die Befragten direkt (via Direct-Response - DR) nach ihrer Plagiatbereitschaft gefragt. Da diese Frage heikel ist, musste bei der Beantwortung mit sozialer Erwünschtheit gerechnet werden. Die Randomized-Response-Technique (RRT) ist ein Verfahren, dass objektiv vollständige Anonymität garantiert. Anhand eines zweiten Datensatzes, der mittels dieser Technik erhoben wurde, konnten die DR-Daten validiert werden. Trotz potentieller Anonymitätsprobleme überrascht die hohe Bereitschaft der Studierenden, Plagiate anzufertigen. Jeder Zweite ist beispielsweise bereit, 'hier und da ein paar Gedanken/ Sätze' für seine Hausarbeit zu übernehmen, ohne die Quelle zu nennen. Wie lässt sich diese hohe Bereitschaft erklären? Die im struktur-individualistischen Ansatz dominante Rational Choice Theorie integriert die vorhandenen Erklärungsansätze zu Plagiaten. Ökonomische Kriminalitätstheorien, Normen und Framing-Ansätze erweitern den theoretischen Korpus und ermöglichen so die Ableitung verschiedener Hypothesen. Um die allgemeine Rational Choice Theorie einem empirischen Test zugänglich zu machen, musste sie zunächst für den untersuchten Kontext spezifiziert werden. Dies gelang unter Einbezug bisheriger Forschungsergebnisse und einer qualitativen Vorstudie. Abschließend werden Modellschätzungen vorgestellt, die direkt gemessene Theoriebestandteile wie Nutzen, formale Kosten, negative interne Sanktionen und Opportunitätskosten enthalten. Diese werden Modellen einer indirekten Operationalisierung mit Variablen wie der bisherigen Plagiataktivität und dem Notendurchschnitt gegenübergestellt." (Autorenreferat

A Moderated Mediation Model Explaining the Relationship Between Risk-Group Membership, Threat Perception, Knowledge, and Adherence to COVID-19 Behavioral Measures

Background: COVID-19 is a threat to individual and global health, thus, reducing the disease's spread is of significant importance. However, adherence to behavioral measures against the spread of COVID-19 is not universal, even within vulnerable populations who are at higher risk of exposure to the virus or severe COVID-19 infection. Therefore, this study investigates how risk-group membership relates to adherence to COVID-19 behavioral measures, whether perceived threat of COVID-19 is a mechanism explaining this relationship, and whether knowledge about COVID-19 moderates these effects. Methods: We conducted a web-based survey (N = 4,096) representative of the adult population in Germany with regard to gender, age (18 to 74), and province. Therein, we assessed risk group membership with two indicators (risk of exposure to COVID-19 and risk of severe COVID-19 infection), perceived COVID-19 threat with the Perceived Coronavirus Threat Questionnaire, knowledge about COVID-19 with a knowledge test; and adherence to six behavioral measures to protect against the spread of COVID-19 (e.g., keeping distance, using mouth-nose protection, and following contact restrictions). We used moderated mediation models to test whether perceived threat mediates the relationship between risk-group membership and adherence and whether knowledge about COVID-19 moderates this relationship. Results: We found that risk group members had more perceived COVID-19 threat and that knowledge about COVID-19 increased perceived threat. Moreover, risk group membership had a positive direct effect on adherence to most behavioral measures and risk group members with less knowledge about COVID-19 violated measures more frequently. Risk-group membership also had positive indirect effects on adherence via perceived COVID-19 threat. The moderated indirect effects of threat indicate that threat led to more adherence when knowledge was low, but lost relevance as knowledge increased. Conclusion: The results may help to evaluate disease-regulation measures and to combat the pandemic more effectively. For example, increasing COVID-19 knowledge in the general population could increase adherence to COVID-19 behavioral measures. However, policy makers should be mindful that this could also have negative mental health implications as knowledge increases perceived COVID-19 threat

Associations Between the Big Five Personality Traits and the Non-Medical Use of Prescription Drugs for Cognitive Enhancement

Sattler S, Schunck R. Associations Between the Big Five Personality Traits and the Non-Medical Use of Prescription Drugs for Cognitive Enhancement. Frontiers in Psychology. 2016;6: 1971.While the number of studies of the non-medical use of prescription drugs to augment cognitive functions is growing steadily, psychological factors that can potentially help explain variance in such pharmaceutical cognitive enhancement (CE) behavior are often neglected in research. This study investigates the association between the Big Five personality traits and a retrospective (prior CE-drug use) as well as a prospective (willingness to use CE drugs) measure of taking prescription drugs with the purpose of augmenting one's cognitive functions (e.g., concentration, memory, or vigilance) without medical necessity. We use data from a large representative survey of German employees (N = 6454, response rate = 29.8%). The Five Factor Model (FFM) of Personality was measured with a short version of the Big Five Personality Traits Inventory (BFI-S), which includes: openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Together with this, demographic variables such as gender, age, education, and income were used as potential confounders in multiple logistic regression models. Our results show a 2.96% lifetime prevalence of CE-drug use and a 10.45% willingness to (re)use such drugs in the future. We found that less conscientious and more neurotic respondents have a higher probability of prior CE-drug use and a greater willingness to use CE drugs in the future. No significant effects were found for openness, extraversion, or agreeableness. Prior CE-drug use was strongly associated with a greater willingness to take such drugs in the future. This study shows that specific personality traits are not only associated with prior enhancement behavior, but also affect the willingness to (re)use such drugs. It helps increase understanding of the risk factors of CE-drug use, which is a health-related behavior that can entail severe side-effects for consumers. The knowledge gathered can thus help improve interventions aimed at minimizing health problems

Ex vivo Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy: A Potential New Diagnostic Imaging Tool in Onychomycosis Comparable With Gold Standard Techniques

Ex vivo confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) is an innovative imaging tool that enables real-time examination of specimens and may be used in evaluating fungal infections. We aimed to assess the applicability of ex vivo CLSM in the diagnosis of onychomycosis by comparing results to those obtained by histopathology, potassium hydroxide (KOH) examination, and fungal culture. In this prospective study, 57 patients with the clinical diagnosis of distal nail fungal infection were examined and compared using all four of the above-mentioned diagnostic tools in terms of sensitivity, positive and negative predictive value. Ex vivo CLSM showed the highest sensitivity, followed by KOH examination, histopathology and fungal culture. Regarding positive and negative predictive values, ex vivo CLSM was superior and showed even higher sensitivity than the combined gold standard comprised of KOH examination, fungal culture or histopathology

Topology effects in molecular organic electronic materials : pyrene and azupyrene

Abstract: Pyrene derivatives play a prominent role in organic electronic devices, including field effect transistors, light emitting diodes, and solar cells. The flexibility in the desired properties has previously been achieved by variation of substituents at the periphery of the pyrene backbone. In contrast, the influence of the topology of the central π‐electron system on the relevant properties such as the band gap or the fluorescence behavior has not yet been addressed. In this work, pyrene is compared with its structural isomer azupyrene, which has a π‐electron system with non‐alternant topology. Using photoelectron spectroscopy, near edge X‐ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, and other methods, it is shown that the electronic band gap of azupyrene is by 0.72 eV smaller than that of pyrene. The difference of the optical band gaps is even larger with 1.09 eV, as determined by ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy. The non‐alternant nature of azupyrene is also associated with a more localized charge distribution. Further insight is provided by density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the molecular properties and ab initio coupled cluster calculations of the optical transitions. The concept of aromaticity is used to interpret the major topology‐related differences