Most existing studies on the relationship between factor analysis (FA) and principal component analysis (PCA) focus on approximating the common factors by the first few components via the closeness between their loadings. Based on a setup in Bentler and de Leeuw (Psychometrika 76:461-470, 2011), this study examines the relationship between FA…

This study delves into writing scores in both tests, aiming to uncover the reasons behind score differences. Through comprehensive comparative analysis, this research explores scoring patterns, criteria, and score distributions in IELTS and PTE writing sections. It investigates sources of score variation, including task design, rating criteria,…

Increasingly, the broader public, media and policymakers are looking to qualitative research to provide answers to our most pressing social questions. While an exciting and perhaps overdue moment for qualitative researchers, it is also a time when the method is coming under increasing scrutiny for a lack of reliability and transparency. The…

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the degree of classification quality in the basic latent class model when covariates are either included or are not included in the model. To accomplish this task, Monte Carlo simulations were conducted in which the results of models with and without a covariate were compared. Based on these simulations,…

Background: Attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) is a leading mental disorder among adolescents globally and is associated with premature mortality. Knowing the trends and key determinants of ADHD in youth are critical for earlier diagnosis and interventions. Methods: We retrospectively examined all hospitalizations in patients aged 11 to…

The distinction between "Big-C" and "little-c" creativity implies that the generative process of celebrated creators is of a special type or degree. Arguments for and against such a hierarchy of creativity are found in the literature, primarily built on rhetorical argumentation. The aim of this work is to examine the rationale…

The credibility of an Awarding Organisation's products is partly reliant upon the claims it makes about its assessments and on the evidence it can provide to support such claims. Some such claims relate to comparability. For example, for syllabuses with options, such as the choice to conduct coursework or to take an alternative exam testing…

To date, hundreds of researchers have employed the method of Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) for the purpose of causal inference. In a recent series of simulation studies, however, several authors have questioned the correctness of QCA in this connection. Some prominent representatives of the method have replied in turn that simulations…

This study investigates the evolving landscape of green universities by analyzing and comparing rankings from 2018 to 2022. It expands beyond the single score offered by the UI GreenMetric, employing Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) techniques to evaluate universities from diverse perspectives. Focusing on the top 50 universities from 2022,…

News aggregator databases offer different content and features, but there is little guidance on how these databases compare. This article compares the coverage scope, availability of 35 U.S. newspaper titles, and features of six news aggregators available to U.S. academic libraries: "Newspaper Source Plus" (EBSCO), "Factiva,"…

This study evaluates various scoring methods including number-correct scoring, IRT theta scoring, and hybrid scoring in terms of scale-score stability over time. A simulation study was conducted to examine the relative performance of five scoring methods in terms of preserving the first two moments of scale scores for a population in a chain of…

Quality Assessment Frameworks (QAFs) are standardized templates that include pre-defined criteria, open questions, or a combination to assess the quality of evaluations. They support organizations to limit risks associated with poor-quality evaluation. Qualitative research focused on four QAFs shows that five dimensions of quality are assessed…

Measures of positive well-being are needed to support the shift away from a deficit-based approach to mental health. This study examined one measure, the Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF), as a measure of positive well-being used in school-based mental health monitoring efforts. This study used latent profile analysis (LPA) to explore…

Item analysis is performed by developers as an integral part of the scale development process. Thus, items are excluded from the scale depending on the item analysis prior to the factor analysis. Existing item discrimination indices are calculated based on correlation, yet items with different response patterns are likely to have a similar item…

Children's picture books are introduced to children during their foundational years and is often a child's first exposure to culture. It is imperative that those depictions are authentic portrayals of African American culture. This study is a replication of Ussery's 2006 analysis of the characterization of African American characters in award…