Measurement of noise events in road traffic streams: initial results from a simulation study

A key question for road traffic noise management is whether prediction of human response to noise, including sleep quality, could be improved over the use of conventional energy equivalent, or percentile, measures, by accounting for noise events in road traffic streams. This paper reports initial results from a noise-events investigation into event-based indicators over an exhaustive set of traffic flow, traffic composition, and propagation distance, conditions in unshielded locations in proximity to roadways. We simulate the time-varying noise level histories at various distances from roadways using a dynamic micro-traffic model and a distribution of sound power levels of individual vehicles. We then develop a comprehensive set of noise event indicators, extrapolated from those suggested in the literature, and use them to count noise events in these simulated time histories. We report the noise-event algorithms that produce realistic, and reliable, counts of noise events for one-hour measurement periods, then reduce redundancy in the indicator set by suggesting a small number of representative event indicators. Later work will report the traffic composition and distance conditions under which noise event measures provide information uncorrelated with conventional road traffic noise indicators — and which thus may prove useful as supplementary indicators to energy-equivalent measures for road traffic noise

Prospective cognitions in anxiety and depression: Replication and methodological extension

The present study presents a replication and methodological extension of MacLeod, Tata, Kentish, and Jacobsen (1997) with a nonclinical sample, using future-directed imagery to assess prospective cognitions. Results showed that only anxiety (but not depression) was related to enhanced imagery for future negative events. Both anxiety and depression showed significant zero-order correlations with reduced imagery for future positive events. However, when the overlap between anxiety and depression was controlled for, only depression (but not anxiety) showed a unique association with reduced imagery for positive events. Implications of these findings for cognitive models of anxiety and depression are discussed

Using exploratory factor analysis in information system (IS) research

This paper is part of a field study that explored the impact of Information System implementation on Organisational Performance by examining the concept of IS effectiveness and by exploring how businesses arrive at the conclusion that the undertaking is successful or unsuccessful. Many statistical techniques have been used for the inference of conclusions. This paper will explain in brief the methodology followed and the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) conducted for the measurement of the construct if IS effectiveness. Following all tests on correlations and a number of extraction methods the final solution comprised 13 factors representing the independent variables and 4 factors representing the dependent variables. The results from our analysis provide insight into the IS evaluation field of research and provide new scales for the measurement of IS effectiveness

The effects of goal involvement on moral behavior in an experimentally manipulated competitive setting

In this experiment we examined the effects of task and ego involvement on three measures of moral behavior-prosocial choice, observed prosocial behavior, and observed antisocial behavior-in a competitive setting. We also investigated sex differences in moral behavior. Male (n = 48) and female (n = 48) college students were randomly assigned to a task-involving, an ego-involving, or a control condition. Participants played two 10-min games of table soccer and completed measures of prosocial choice, goal involvement, goal orientation, and demographics. The two games were recorded, and frequencies of prosocial and antisocial behavior were coded. Players assigned to the task-involving condition were higher in prosocial choice than those in the ego-involving or control conditions. Individuals in the ego-involving condition displayed more antisocial behaviors than those in the task-involving or control conditions. Finally, females displayed more prosocial behaviors than males

Board Intellectual Capital, Board Effectiveness and Corporate Performance: Goodness of the Data

Many factors influence corporate performance and among them, intellectual capital (IC) and corporate governance are the most important determinants. Based on the literature, the direct effect of IC and corporate governance mechanisms on corporate performance have been measured in the past several years. Nevertheless, to empirically test indirect effect of board IC and board effectiveness on corporate performance remains scant. In addition, most of the research in these areas have been conducted in developed countries. It is found that not much research has been carried out in the emerging markets of Middle-East like Iran. The purpose of this paper is to present goodness of data processes in relation to study board IC, board effectiveness and corporate performance of listed companies in Iran. The goodness of data involves screening and purifying of raw data in accordance with the assumptions of multivariate analysis. Data screening is the process of checking data for errors and correcting them before performing data analysis. The study employed census method where all listed companies in Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) were investigated. Data were obtained through the questionnaire survey on 292 board members in TSE. Raw data were keyed into Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 22. A descriptive statistic, treatment of missing data, univariate assessment and removing of outliers, normality and multicollinearity tests were conducted. The results from data cleaning revealed a significance and the suitability of the data for multivariate analysis

Determinants of customer behavioural responses: A pilot study

The paper aims at exploring a small sample data on the determinants of customer behavioural responses in the Nigerian retail banking. Hence, instrument validity, reliability and subsequently the data normality were examined through panel of expert and also by analysing small sample data with aid of SPSS software. Results show that the instrument is reliable and the data for preliminary study exhibit reasonable normality.The research explored and validated the instrument of the various antecedents of consumer behavioural responses most of which were hitherto ignored

Athletes’ perfectionism and reasons for training: Perfectionistic concerns predict training for weight control

Exercise and training for sports are associated with a number of psychological and health benefits. Research on exercise, however, suggests that such benefits depend on the reasons why individuals participate in sport. The present study investigated whether individual differences in perfectionism predicted different reasons for training and examined four dimensions of perfectionism (perfectionistic strivings, perfectionistic concerns, coach pressure to be perfect, parental pressure to be perfect) and three reasons for training (avoidance of negative affect, weight control, mood improvement) in 261 athletes (mean age 20.9 years). Regression analyses showed that perfectionistic concerns positively predicted avoidance of negative affect and weight control, whereas perfectionistic strivings positively predicted mood improvement. The findings suggest that individual differences in perfectionism help explain why athletes train for different reasons