Interactional competence in a paired speaking test: Toward designing an evidence-based rating scale.

This study examined the internal structure of the Scales for Assessing Emotional Disturbance-3 Rating Scale (RS), a teacher-completed RS developed to measure emotional disturbance (ED). As defined in U.S. law and regulations, ED involves five characteristics or patterns of behavioral and emotional maladaptation. RS data obtained on a sample of students with ED were used to examine validity evidence based on the internal structure of the assessment. Of particular interest was the extent to which multivariate factors derived from the RS data conform to the five characteristics of ED stated in the definition. Results indicate that the RS data fit a 5-factor model reasonably well. A subsequent bifactor analysis identified a considerable proportion of common variance across factors, suggesting the presence of a strong general ED factor, two distinct group factors (Inability to Learn and Inappropriate Behavior), and three weak group factors. The findings provided evidence of the validity of the SAED-3 RS based on internal structure and pointed to support for use of the RS in contributing to the process of determining whether a student qualifies for the ED education disability. Implications for improved research on the nature of ED and how students with ED can be better served are discussed.

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Interaction Rating Scale (IRS) as an Evidence-Based Practical Index of Children's Social Skills and Parenting

Journal of Epidemiology ◽

10.2188/jea.je20090171 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 20 (Supplement_II) ◽

pp. S419-S426 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Tokie Anme ◽

Ryoji Shinohara ◽

Yuka Sugisawa ◽

Lian Tong ◽

Emiko Tanaka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Skills ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Children's Social Skills

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Comprehensively addressing postpartum maternal health: a content and image review of commercially available mobile health apps

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth ◽

10.1186/s12884-021-03785-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Laura Tucker ◽

Alan Cuevas Villagomez ◽

Tamar Krishnamurti

Keyword(s):

Maternal Health ◽

Health Information ◽

Mobile Health ◽

Rating Scale ◽

The United States ◽

People Of Color ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Or Education ◽

Google Play

Abstract Background The United States is currently facing a maternal morbidity and mortality crisis, with the highest rates of any resource-rich nation. In efforts to address this, new guidelines for postpartum care suggest that mobile health (mHealth) apps can help provide complementary clinical support for new mothers during the postpartum period. However, to date no study has evaluated the quality of existing mHealth tools targeted to this time period in terms of sufficiency of maternal health information, inclusivity of people of color, and app usability. Methods Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) standards were used to review the peripartum apps from the Apple and Google Play stores in either the Health/Fitness, Medical, or Education categories. Apps were evaluated for extent and quality of maternal health information and inclusivity of people of color using an a priori coding scheme. App usability was evaluated using the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) score. Results Of the 301 apps from the Apple and Google Play stores, 25 met criteria for final evaluation. Of the 30 maternal health topics coded for, the median number addressed by apps was 19.5 (65%). Peripartum behaviors were more frequently addressed than peripartum outpatient care topics and peripartum acute health risks. The coverage of maternal health information and inclusivity of people of color in app imagery both correlated positively with the MARS usability score of the app. Only 8 apps (32%) portrayed greater than 24% images of people of color- the percent of non-white Americans according to 2019 census estimates. There was no correlation between MARS usability score and number of app users, as estimated by number of ratings for the app available on the app store. In addition, apps with evidence-based maternal health information had greater MARS engagement, information, and aesthetics scores. However, presence of evidence-based information did not correlate with greater numbers of app users. Conclusions Current commercially available peripartum apps range widely in quality. Overall current app offerings generally do not provide adequate maternal health information and are not optimally accessible to the target users in terms of inclusivity of women of color or app usability. Apps delivering evidence-based information and more usable design are more likely to meet these standards but are not more likely to be downloaded by users.

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Evidence-Based Guidelines for Interpretation of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression

Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology ◽

10.1097/jcp.0b013e31814f30b1 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 27 (5) ◽

pp. 531-534 ◽

Cited By ~ 58

Author(s):

Toshi A. Furukawa ◽

Tatsuo Akechi ◽

Hideki Azuma ◽

Toru Okuyama ◽

Teruhiko Higuchi

Keyword(s):

Rating Scale ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Evidence Based Guidelines ◽

Hamilton Rating Scale

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Community readiness assessment for disseminating evidence-based physical activity programs to older adults in Changsha, China: a case for Enhance®Fitness

Global Health Promotion ◽

10.1177/1757975918785144 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 27 (1) ◽

pp. 59-67

Author(s):

Minhui Liu ◽

Xi Zhang ◽

Jinnan Xiao ◽

Feng Ge ◽

Siyuan Tang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Older Adults ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Community Readiness ◽

Readiness Assessment ◽

Community Knowledge ◽

Indoor Space ◽

Stage Of Readiness ◽

Community Climate

Physical activity (PA) has declined in China due to urbanization in the past two decades. Evidence-based programs are good approaches to promote PA, but are limited in China. Adopting existing programs can be a viable option. Prior to that, readiness assessment is needed. This study aimed to assess community readiness levels for disseminating evidence-based PA programs to older adults in Changsha, China. In-person interviews were conducted with 33 participants of five districts in Changsha to assess the community readiness level in five dimensions: community knowledge of efforts, community climate, community knowledge about the issue, leadership and resources. Data was transcribed, reviewed and compared with an anchored rating scale to provide a stage of readiness score ranging from 1 (no awareness) to 9 (high level of community ownership). Participants included 14 community staff, 13 older adults, four community leaders and three health professionals. The top three barriers to disseminating PA programs were lack of appropriate locations, funding and instructors. The top three resources were availability of indoor space, chairs and loudspeakers. Community leadership was the highest-rated readiness dimension (3.3 out of 9) followed by community climate (3.2), community knowledge of efforts (3.1) and resources (2.8); knowledge about the issue scored the lowest (2.7). The overall community stage readiness score of Changsha was 3.0 out of 9. The stage of readiness for communities in Changsha, China is ‘vague awareness’. Developing strategies to improve community readiness levels may increase evidence-based PA program dissemination in Changsha, China.

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The Effects of Gamification and Oral Self-Care on Oral Hygiene in Children: Systematic Search in App Stores and Evaluation of Apps (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.16365 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Nino Fijačko ◽

Lucija Gosak ◽

Leona Cilar ◽

Alenka Novšak ◽

Ruth Masterson Creber ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Behavior Change ◽

Oral Hygiene ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Self Care ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Mobile App ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Behavior Change Techniques ◽

Evidence Based Dentistry

BACKGROUND Poor oral hygiene is a great public health problem worldwide. Oral health care education is a public health priority as the maintenance of oral hygiene is integral to overall health. Maintaining optimal oral hygiene among children is challenging and can be supported by using relevant motivational approaches. OBJECTIVE The primary aim of this study was to identify mobile smartphone apps that include gamification features focused on motivating children to learn, perform, and maintain optimal oral hygiene. METHODS We searched six online app stores using four search terms (“oral hygiene game,” “oral hygiene gamification,” “oral hygiene brush game,” and “oral hygiene brush gamification”). We identified gamification features, identified whether apps were consistent with evidence-based dentistry, performed a quality appraisal with the Mobile App Rating Scale user version (uMARS), and quantified behavior scores (Behavior Change score, uMARS score, and Coventry, Aberdeen, and London-Refined [CALO-RE] score) using three different instruments that measure behavior change. RESULTS Of 612 potentially relevant apps included in the analysis, 17 met the inclusion criteria. On average, apps included 6.87 (SD 4.18) out of 31 possible gamification features. The most frequently used gamification features were time pressure (16/17, 94%), virtual characters (14/17, 82%), and fantasy (13/17, 76%). The most common oral hygiene evidence-based recommendation was brushing time (2-3 minutes), which was identified in 94% (16/17) of apps. The overall mean uMARS score for app quality was high (4.30, SD 0.36), with good mean subjective quality (3.79, SD 0.71) and perceived impact (3.58, SD 0.44). Sufficient behavior change techniques based on three taxonomies were detected in each app. CONCLUSIONS The majority of the analyzed oral hygiene apps included gamification features and behavior change techniques to perform and maintain oral hygiene in children. Overall, the apps contained some educational content consistent with evidence-based dentistry and high-quality background for oral self-care in children; however, there is scope for improvement.

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What constitutes professional communication in aviation: Is language proficiency enough for testing purposes?

Language Testing ◽

10.1177/0265532218758127 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 35 (3) ◽

pp. 403-426 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Hyejeong Kim

Keyword(s):

Language Proficiency ◽

Limited English Proficiency ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Professional Knowledge ◽

Oral Communication ◽

Air Traffic ◽

Professional Communication ◽

Civil Aviation ◽

Air Traffic Controller ◽

Interactional Competence

This paper aims to identify what aviation experts consider to be the key features of effective communication by examining in detail their commentary on a 17-minute segment of recorded radiotelephony discourse between a Russian pilot and a Korean air traffic controller. The segment was played to three practising pilots and three air traffic controllers. Their commentary on the qualities of communication displayed in the interaction was recorded and coded thematically, using a grounded ethnography approach. The analysis revealed that although the Russian pilot was viewed as having limited English proficiency, the strategies he used to make himself understood were evaluated positively as fulfilling the requirements of the professional role. By contrast, the Korean air traffic controller, although not evaluated as having limited proficiency, was criticized for his lack of professional knowledge. The discourse analysis and the feedback given by these expert informants highlight not only the nature of the miscommunication arising in unexpected situations, but also the multiple factors that may contribute to it. While language proficiency is clearly an issue, there are many other sources of miscommunication that emerge during the exchange. These findings are used to critique the narrow, language-focused oral proficiency construct as articulated in the holistic descriptors and the rating scale stipulated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO, 2010) as the basis for tests of aviation English worldwide. Instead the paper proposes an expanded construct of oral communication incorporating elements of professional knowledge and behaviour with a focus on interactional competence specific to this context.

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