scholarly journals Wording of Daily Diary Questions Matters: An Investigation of the Effect of Daily Diary Instructional Phrases on Respondents’ Recall Time frames (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur A. Stone ◽  
Cheng K. Fred Wen ◽  
Stefan Schneider ◽  
Doerte U. Junghaenel

BACKGROUND Daily diaries are extensively used for examining participants' daily experience in behavioral and medical science. Whether participants recall their experiences within the time frames prescribed by task has received little attention. OBJECTIVE The objectives of this study are to describe survey respondents' self-reported recall timeframe and to evaluate the impact of different daily diary items on respondents reported affective states. METHODS In this study, 577 participants completed a mood survey with one of four time frame instructions: 1) today, 2) since waking up today, 3) during the last 24 hours, or 4) in the last day. They were also asked to indicate the time periods they considered when answering these items and to recall the instructional phrases associated with the items. RESULTS Almost all participants in the "Today" (97%) and "Since waking up today" (94%)" conditions reported using time periods consistent with our expectations, while a lower proportion was observed in the "during the last 24 hours" (69%) condition. A diverse range of responses was observed in the "In the last day" condition. Furthermore, the instructions influenced the levels of some self-reported affects, although exploratory analyses were not able to identify the mechanism underlying this finding. CONCLUSIONS Overall, these results indicate that "Today" and "Since waking up today" are the most effective instructional phrases for inquiring about daily experience and that investigators should use caution when using the other two instructional phrases.

10.2196/16105 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. e16105
Author(s):  
Arthur A Stone ◽  
Cheng K Fred Wen ◽  
Stefan Schneider ◽  
Doerte U Junghaenel

Background Daily diaries are extensively used for examining participants’ daily experience in behavioral and medical science. However, little attention is paid to whether participants recall their experiences within the time frames prescribed by the task. Objective This study aimed to describe survey respondents’ self-reported recall time frames and to evaluate the impact of different daily diary items on respondents’ reported affective states. Methods In this study, 577 participants completed a mood survey with one of the following 4 time frame instructions: (1) today, (2) since waking up today, (3) during the last 24 hours, or (4) in the last day. They were also asked to indicate the periods they considered when answering these items and to recall the instructional phrases associated with the items. Results Almost all participants in the today (141/146, 96.6%) and since waking up today (136/145, 93.8%) conditions reported using periods consistent with our expectations, whereas a lower proportion was observed in the during the last 24 hours (100/145, 69.0%) condition. A diverse range of responses was observed in the in the last day condition. Furthermore, the instructions influenced the levels of some self-reported affects, although exploratory analyses were not able to identify the mechanism underlying this finding. Conclusions Overall, these results indicate that today and since waking up today are the most effective instructional phrases for inquiring about daily experience and that investigators should use caution when using the other 2 instructional phrases.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (348) ◽  
pp. 131-147
Author(s):  
Beata Bieszk-Stolorz

In many fields of science, it is necessary to analyse recurrent events. In medical science, the problem is to assess the risk of chronic disease recurrence. In economic and social sciences, it is possible to analyse the time of entering and leaving the sphere of poverty, the time of subsequent guarantee or insurance claims, as well as the time of subsequent periods of unemployment. In these studies, there are different ways of defining risk intervals, i.e. the time frame over which an event is at risk (or likely to occur) for an entity. Research on registered unemployment in Poland shows a high percentage of people returning to the labour office and registering again. The aim of the article is assessment of the risk of subsequent registrations in the labour office depending on selected characteristics of the unemployed: gender, age, education, and seniority. In the study, methods of survival analysis were used. The results obtained for four models being an extension of the Cox proportional hazard model were compared. The Anderson‑Gil model does not distinguish between first and next events. The number of events that occurred is important. Two Prentince‑Williams‑Peterson conditional models and the Wei, Lin and Weissfeld models are based on the Cox stratified model. The strata are consecutive events. They differ in the way risk intervals are determined. In the analysed period, only age and education influenced the risk of multiple registrations at the Poviat Labour Office in Szczecin. Gender and seniority did not have a significant impact on this risk. The analysis performed for subsequent registrations confirmed the impact of the same features on the first subsequent registration. In general, it can be stated that the analysed characteristics of the unemployed did not have a significant impact on the second and subsequent returns to the labour office.


2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 700 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Almeida ◽  
Mónica Eusébio ◽  
Jaime Almeida ◽  
Matteo Boattini

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0.35cm; line-height: 200%;" class="western"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Background:</strong> Variations in emergency department admissions have been reported to happen as a result of major sports events. The work presented assessed changes in volume and urgency level of visits to a major Emergency Department in Lisbon during and after the city’s football derby.<br /><strong>Material and Methods:</strong> Volume of attendances and patient urgency level, according to the Manchester Triage System, were retrospectively analyzed for the 2008-2011 period. Data regarding 24-hour periods starting 45 minutes before kick-off was collected, along with data from similar periods on the corresponding weekdays in the previous years, to be used as controls. Data samples were organized according to time frame (during and after the match), urgency level, and paired accordingly.<br /><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 14 relevant periods (7 match and 7 non-match) were analyzed, corresponding to a total of 5861 admissions. During the match time frame, a 20.6% reduction (p = 0.06) in the total number of attendances was found when compared to non-match days. MTS urgency level sub-analysis only showed a statistically significant reduction (26.5%; p = 0.05) in less urgent admissions (triage levels green-blue). Compared to controls, post-match time frames showed a global increase in admissions (5.6%; p = 0.45), significant only when considering less urgent ones (18.9%; p = 0.05).<br /><strong>Discussion:</strong> A decrease in the total number of emergency department attendances occurred during the matches, followed by a subsequent increase in the following hours. These variations only reached significance among visits triaged green-blue.<br /><strong>Conclusion:</strong> During major sports events an overall decrease in emergency department admissions seems to take place, especially due to a drop in visits associated with less severe conditions.<br /><strong>Keywords:</strong> Emergency Service, Hospital; Triage; Sports; Soccer; Portugal.</span></span></p>


2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
Vincenzo Capizzi ◽  
Renato Giovannini

The role of investment banks in M&A operations is analyzed on the basis of empiric evidence. In particular, to point out the variations in the impact of the certification effect which can be ascribed to investment banks, the relationship between the value created for the shareholders in companies involved in special underwriting operations and the reputation of the banks appointed to act as advisors is examined. The analysis, which uses an original measuring system in order to assess and classify the reputation variable, focuses on transactions that have taken place between listed companies in two time frames, symmetrical to each other, specifically pre and post the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy. The total sample is composed of 229 transactions, divided into 161 and 68 observations, respectively pre and post Lehman. The result is that in the post Lehman period, unlike the preceding time frame, for which no significant empiric evidence is found, the wealth of the shareholders (of both targets and acquirers) is significantly influenced by the reputation of the investment banks which have acted as advisors. This indicates that, subsequent to the shock of the Lehman Brothers collapse, the certifying effect of the investment banks takes on an important role in the shareholders' choice.


2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (40) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica E Stockdale ◽  
Renny Doig ◽  
Joosung Min ◽  
Nicola Mulberry ◽  
Liangliang Wang ◽  
...  

Background Many countries have implemented population-wide interventions to control COVID-19, with varying extent and success. Many jurisdictions have moved to relax measures, while others have intensified efforts to reduce transmission. Aim We aimed to determine the time frame between a population-level change in COVID-19 measures and its impact on the number of cases. Methods We examined how long it takes for there to be a substantial difference between the number of cases that occur following a change in COVID-19 physical distancing measures and those that would have occurred at baseline. We then examined how long it takes to observe this difference, given delays and noise in reported cases. We used a susceptible-exposed-infectious-removed (SEIR)-type model and publicly available data from British Columbia, Canada, collected between March and July 2020. Results It takes 10 days or more before we expect a substantial difference in the number of cases following a change in COVID-19 control measures, but 20–26 days to detect the impact of the change in reported data. The time frames are longer for smaller changes in control measures and are impacted by testing and reporting processes, with delays reaching ≥ 30 days. Conclusion The time until a change in control measures has an observed impact is longer than the mean incubation period of COVID-19 and the commonly used 14-day time period. Policymakers and practitioners should consider this when assessing the impact of policy changes. Rapid, consistent and real-time COVID-19 surveillance is important to minimise these time frames.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 7184
Author(s):  
Farhad Hassan ◽  
Muhammad Umar Chaudhry ◽  
Muhammad Yasir ◽  
Muhammad Nabeel Asghar ◽  
Samuel Asumadu Sarkodie

Among the numerous anthropogenic pollutants, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is one of the leading contaminants mainly released by burning fossil fuels in industrial and transport sectors. This study evaluates the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on the growing trend of NO2 emissions in South Asia. Satellite imagery data of Sentinel-5 Precursor with Tropomi instrument was employed in this study. The analysis was performed using time series data from February–May 2019 and February–May 2020. The time frame from February–May 2020 was further divided into two sub-time-frames, i.e., from 1 February–20 March (pre-lockdown) and from 21 March–May 2020 (lockdown). Results show the concentration of NO2 pollutants over the region declined by 6.41% from February–May 2019 to February–May 2020. Interestingly, an increasing trend of NO2 concentration by 6.58% occurred during the pre-lockdown phase in 2020 (1 February–20 March) compared to 2019 (February–May). However, the concentration of NO2 pollutants reduced considerably by 21.10% during the lockdown phase (21 March–10 May) compared to the pre-lockdown phase in 2020. Furthermore, the country-specific detailed analysis demonstrates the significant impact of COVID-19-attributed lockdown on NO2 concentration in South Asia.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica E Stockdale ◽  
Renny Doig ◽  
Joosung Min ◽  
Nicola Mulberry ◽  
Liangliang Wang ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundMany countries have implemented population-wide interventions such as physical distancing measures, in efforts to control COVID-19. The extent and success of such measures has varied. Many jurisdictions with declines in reported COVID-19 cases are moving to relax measures, while others are continuing to intensify efforts to reduce transmission.AimWe aim to determine the time frame between a change in COVID-19 measures at the population level and the observable impact of such a change on cases.MethodsWe examine how long it takes for there to be a substantial difference between the cases that occur following a change in control measures and those that would have occurred at baseline. We then examine how long it takes to detect a difference, given delays and noise in reported cases. We use changes in population-level (e.g., distancing) control measures informed by data and estimates from British Columbia, Canada.ResultsWe find that the time frames are long: it takes three weeks or more before we might expect a substantial difference in cases given a change in population-level COVID-19 control, and it takes slightly longer to detect the impacts of the change. The time frames are shorter (11-15 days) for dramatic changes in control, and they are impacted by noise and delays in the testing and reporting process, with delays reaching up to 25-40 days.ConclusionThe time until a change in broad control measures has an observed impact is longer than is typically understood, and is longer than the mean incubation period (time between exposure than onset) and the often used 14 day time period. Policy makers and public health planners should consider this when assessing the impact of policy change, and efforts should be made to develop rapid, consistent real-time COVID-19 surveillance.


2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 213 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. A. Donoghue ◽  
T. Bird-Gardiner ◽  
P. F. Arthur ◽  
R. M. Herd ◽  
R. S. Hegarty

Records on 175 young Angus heifer and bull progeny from 46 sires, measured for methane production in respiration chambers, were used to evaluate the repeatability of methane measurement over short- and long-term periods. The traits assessed were dry matter intake (DMI), methane production rate (MPR), methane yield (MPR per unit DMI), and four residual methane (RMP) traits. The RMP traits were computed as actual MPR minus expected MPR, where the expected MPR for the first three RMP traits were calculated from three different published and widely used equations. The expected MPR for the fourth was computed by regressing MPR on DMI, using the data from the study. Animals underwent an initial (first) methane measurement test for 48 h, and one repeat methane measurement test up to 450 days after the first test. Repeat tests were classified into four different time periods: tested across consecutive days; re-tested within 60 days of first test; re-tested 61–120 days after first test; and re-tested 121–450 days after first test. Repeatabilities were calculated for all traits across all time periods, and phenotypic correlations for the same trait measured over time were obtained from bivariate analyses. Methane traits from tests conducted over consecutive days were highly repeatable (0.75–0.94) and highly phenotypically correlated (0.85–0.95). Repeatabilities from tests conducted within 60 days of the first test were moderate to high (0.59–0.91), whereas phenotypic correlations were, in general, moderate (0.30–0.44), with the exception of MPR (0.78). Results for both longer-term time periods (61–120 days and 121–450 days after the first test) were very similar, with low estimates of repeatabilities (0.16–0.27) and phenotypic correlations (0.12–0.27). Correlations between sire progeny means from the first and repeat methane test were moderate (0.46–0.77) for all traits except RMPR (0.19). Results from this study indicate that methane traits from tests conducted either on consecutive days or within a short-term time frame afterward (~60 days) are highly repeatable and highly phenotypically correlated. However, methane tests conducted over longer-term time frames are substantially, but consistently, less repeatable and are lowly phenotypically correlated, which indicates that multiple measures may be required to accurately record methane traits over the life time of an animal.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-67
Author(s):  
Marko Tončić ◽  
Petra Anić

Abstract. This study aims to examine the effect of affect on satisfaction, both at the between- and the within-person level for momentary assessments. Affect is regarded as an important source of information for life satisfaction judgments. This affective effect on satisfaction is well established at the dispositional level, while at the within-person level it is heavily under-researched. This is true especially for momentary assessments. In this experience sampling study both mood and satisfaction scales were administered five times a day for 7 days via hand-held devices ( N = 74 with 2,122 assessments). Several hierarchical linear models were fitted to the data. Even though the amount of between-person variance was relatively low, both positive and negative affect had substantial effects on momentary satisfaction on the between- and the within-person level as well. The within-person effects of affect on satisfaction appear to be more pronounced than the between-person ones. At the momentary level, the amount of between-person variance is lower than in studies with longer time-frames. The affect-related effects on satisfaction possibly have a curvilinear relationship with the time-frame used, increasing in intensity up to a point and then decreasing again. Such a relationship suggests that, at the momentary level, satisfaction might behave in a more stochastic manner, allowing for transient events/data which are not necessarily affect-related to affect it.


ICCTP 2011 ◽  
2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilbert Leano ◽  
Wen Cheng ◽  
Xudong Jia ◽  
Lingqi Kong ◽  
Robert Brennan

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