Adaptation of Psychometric Tools in Bangladesh

Adaptation of Psychometric Tools in Bangladesh Roufun Naher Introduction Measurement refers to a procedure which identifies the value of a quantitative variable through its numerical relationship to another value (Michell, 1990). For example, we want to know the body temperature of a particular person. Suen (1990) says, â€Å"The science of developing educational and psychological tests and measurement procedures has become highly sophisticated and has developed into such a large body of knowledge that it is considered a scientific discipline of enquiry in its own right. This discipline is referred to as psychometrics†. Presently, psychological researchers are intended to conduct cross-cultural researches and they must have reliable and valid instruments conducting those researches. Psychology is a growing field in Bangladesh both for research and practice. A number of psychological researchers of Bangladesh give emphasis on quantitative research which requires standardized instruments to measure behaviors and mental processes. However, the reasonable way to get an instrument can be cross-cultural adaptation whereas development of a new instrument is relatively tricky and time consuming. Meanwhile, many researchers adapted numerous instruments or psychometric tools to measure a range of behaviors and mental processes of human being. The adaptation of psychometric tools differs in the process, study design, sampling technique, sample size, reliability and validity. Therefore, the objective of the present study is to systematically review the adaptation of psychometric tools in Bangladesh, more specifically the adaptation procedure and research methodology. Table 1 shows the review. Sousa Rojjanasrirat (2010) provided a user-friendly guideline for translation, adaptation and validation of instruments or scales for use in cross-cultural health care research. The guideline includes seven steps for the adaptation of psychometric tools. The steps are (1) Forward translation, (2) Comparison of the two translated versions (synthesis I), (3) Blind back-translation, (4) Comparison of two back-translated versions (synthesis II), (5) Pilot testing of the pre-final version, (6) Preliminary psychometric testing of the pre-final version, (7) Full psychometric testing of the pre-final version. Table 1 The Review of the Adaptation of Psychometric Tools in Bangladesh Method of Review The aim of this systematic review is to investigate the quality and utility of psychometric tools adapted in Bangladesh. For conducting this review, the psychological journals published in different public universities were taken for literature review. Then the studies on adaptation of psychometric tools were picked up initially. Finally six original papers on adaptation of psychometric tools which met the criteria of current systematic review were selected from these journals. Among them four papers were selected from ‘The Dhaka University Journal of Psychology’ and two other papers were selected from ‘Jagannath University Journal of Psychology’. Eligible Criteria The papers were basically selected based on the following criteria Has the study been done in the context of Bangladesh? Has it been done on the adaptation of psychometric tools for use in Bangladesh? Whether it is an original study or review? Whether it is published? Results of Review Information about the Reviewed Studies All the selected studies represent the adaptation of psychometric tools for use in Bangladesh. The pervasive developmental disorder assessment scale presented in first study (shown in table 1) contains 40 items and 3 subscales. Similarly, the inventory of interpersonal problems contains 64 items and 8 subscales. The inferiority questionnaire and the Bangla parental power-prestige questionnaire contain 20 and 10 items respectively. The questionnaire on stress in cancer patient contains 23 items and 5 homogenous subscales shown in fifth study of table 1. Finally the Warnick-Ebinburgh mental wellbeing scale is composed of 10 items. The sample size of the reviewed studies ranges between 50 and 232. Only the first study shown in review table followed random sampling technique. On the contrary, other five studies followed convenience and purposive sampling technique. The design of all six studies was cross-sectional survey. The reliability ranges between .72 and .96. In case of validity mo st of the studies followed content and construct validity. Adaptation Process Followed by the Studies Researchers of three studies (such as study number 1, 3, and 5 shown in table 1) among six mentioned that they followed the guidance provided by International Test Commission (ITC). However, the researchers of other studies did not mention that which guideline they followed during adaptation. The first step of adaptation process is forward translation by two different translators. Two translators should have different background for example one translator must have the knowledge of health terminology whereas the second translator must possess cultural and linguistic knowledge (Sousa Rojjanasrirat, 2010). However, no researcher among six mentioned the background of the translators in their papers. In fact, most of the researchers did not even clarify the different phases of adaptation process although the reliabilities of the adapted instruments are relatively high. Moreover, the researchers of all the above studies except study number 6 (shown in review table) did not make contact with the original developers for their consent and proof reading which is considered as an important phase of adaptation of psychometric tools. On the other hand, the blind back translation step needs two translators who are native speaker of the original language from which the instrument was translated in first step. In addition the translators must be chosen form distinct background like the translators of forward translation (Sousa Rojjanasrirat, 2010). It is paradoxical that none of the reviewed studies followed the blind back translation phase strictly. However, the other steps mentioned in introduction part were reasonably followed by the above researchers. That is why the reliabilities of their adapted instruments are relatively satisfactory. Sample size and sampling technique Whether the result of a study can be generalized or not, depends on the sample size as well as the sampling technique by which the sample is drawn. Sousa Rojjanasrirat (2010) suggested using 300 to 500 subjects for the adaptation of psychometric tools. Contrary to that all the researcher of current reviewed studies used less than 300 subjects in their research. Moreover, five out of six studies did not use random sampling. That is only available and interested people were the subjects of these studies. Consequently, Passable generalization may not be possible by these studies. Conclusion Most of the psychological researchers in Bangladesh show interest in quantitative research. Reliable and valid instruments are needed for this type of research. In fact, lots of such instruments or questionnaires have been adapted at different times in Bangladesh. However, after this systematic review it is difficult to say that the researchers could follow standardized adaptation procedure and research methodology to adapt these instruments. Standardized adaptation procedure and research methodology are important because cultural diversity among countries is a gigantic issue of discussion in research world. If the adaptation process of a psychometric tool becomes flawed it will not be able to measure a sample of behavior accurately. Ultimately the field of psychology including mental health practice may suffer as it is sometimes very much dependent on the psychological tests and measurement. The further research on adaptation of psychometric tools in Bangladesh should follow the sta ndardized procedure and research methodology strictly. References Ahmed, F., Uddin, M. K., Islam, M. J. (2011). Preliminery evidences for psychometric  properties of the bangla parental power-prestige questionnaire. Jagannath University   Journal of Psychology, 1, 97-106. Hossain, M. S., Yeasmin, M., Uddin, M. K. (2008), Adaptation of inventory of interpersonal  problems. The Dhaka University Journal of Psychology, 33, 1-10. Haque, S. Das, A. (2007), Adaptation of pervasive developmental disorder assessment scale.  The Dhaka University Journal of Psychology, 31, 11-22. Jerin, M. I., Khatun, M. N., Ahmed, A. (2013), Adaptation on questionnaire on stress in  cancer patient revised. The Dhaka University Journal of Psychology, 37, 23-30. Michell, J. (1990), An Introduction to the Logic of Psychological Measurement. Hillsdale, New  Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum. Rahman, S. T. Imran, M. H. (2013), Bangladeshi adaptation of Warwick-Ebinburgh mental  well-being scale. The Dhaka University Journal of Psychology, 37, 49-60. Sousa, V. S. Rojjanssrirat, W. (2010), Translation, adaptation and validation of instruments or  scales for use in cross-cultural health care research: a clear and user-friendly guideline.   Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 17, 268-274. Suen, H.K. (1990), Principles of Test Theories. Hillsdale, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum. Uzzaman, M. A., Islam, A. S. M. A., Haque, M. A. (2011), Adaptation of inferiority  questionnaire. Jagannath University Journal of Psychology, 1, 35-42.

Impact Of Insomnia On Daytime Ability To Function Essay

Insomnia pertains to a symptom that is characterized by the difficulty in falling asleep. In other cases, insomnia is also involved in not being able to sleep for the required number of hours each night. It is thus pertinent to describe insomnia as a symptom associated with poor quality or insufficiency of sleep. Several factors may trigger the symptom of insomnia in an individual, hence this condition can be considered as situational, wherein a certain incident may result in an individual’s inability to sleep. Insomnia may also be described based on its occurrence in an individual, thus resulting in intermittent or persistent forms (Davidson 109). Insomnia generally occurs with another medical condition, such as a psychiatric disease or drug abuse. The importance of treatment regimens for insomnia has been the focus of biomedical research as it has long been established that insomnia does not resolve through time. More importantly, it has been reported that insomnia can significantly affect the quality of life of an individual. In addition, insomnia can result in the further progression of a psychiatric disorder, thus putting a patient at greater risk for mental health deterioration (Davidson 112). It has also been observed that the occurrence of insomnia is positively correlated to the frequency of consultations with a physician, as additional medical disorders are caused by this sleeping symptom. Impact of insomnia on sleep As insomnia is a symptom that affects sleep, it is important to determine the causative factors that result in such condition. The most common factors that influence the occurrence of insomnia include stressful incidents in the life of an individual. Death of a loved one, as well as conflict with another individual, often results in insomnia (Davidson 110). Illness and problems with work or study can also result in a difficulty in sleeping. Environmental factors may also result in insomnia, such as that of residing in a location where there is constant noise from traffic or construction. Social conditions may also influence the occurrence of insomnia, such as that of caring for a newborn baby right after childbirth. However, it should be understood that the sleeping patterns of pregnant women after generally disturbed and thus may even be more severe after childbirth. It has been suggested that post-partum insomnia may be possibly due to the mother’s instinct of providing constant care for her child, in terms of feeding and cleaning the baby. Other social factors that result in insomnia include having an adolescent child who spends evenings outside the home and the parents worriedly stay awake until their child comes home (Davidson 110). Age has also been reported to influence the occurrence on insomnia. It has been observed that insomnia is a common symptom that afflicts women who have reached the transition stage into menopause, as this phase of their life causes much distress to them. Caring for a sick elderly individual also results in insomnia, as the caretaker vigilantly checks on an older individual throughout the night. This condition tends to be more difficult when the elderly person is also suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, which is generally characterized by straying to other places even in the late hours of the night. The caretaker thus tends to keep watch over the actions of the elderly person in order to keep him from harm. Impact of insomnia of waking functioning Circadian rhythm pertains to the cyclic patterns that an individual undertakes based on a synchronizing stimulus. Most living species synchronize their activities based on the most ominous factor, which is the light emanating from the sun. In the case of human beings, sunlight determines whether it is time to awaken or to sleep. The presence of light also influences the majority of the physiologic activities of the human body, including the time of the meals in an entire day. The circadian clock of every individual is thus set according to the standard day, wherein sunlight in present for approximately 12 hours and absence for another 12 hours. Within the evening, the human body is programmed to rest and this is mainly through sleep. The occurrence of insomnia can affect an individual’s circadian rhythm as the length or the quality of sleep is affected. An individual with insomnia may be awake at least half of the night and thus find poor coordination in his motor and mental skills during the day. Individuals who work on a shift basis are often affected by insomnia as they are generally assigned to different hours every few months (Shechter 15). Healthcare personnel, such as nurses and technologists, are usually assigned to work on the night shift for 3 months and thus their circadian rhythm is misaligned during this period. Once they return to their daytime shift, they find difficulty in falling asleep as their bodies have already adjusted to a modified circadian rhythm (Shechter 14). The same conditions also occur in other jobs that are associated with changes in shift duties, including those in the police departments and other 24-hour surveillance jobs. The perturbation in the circadian rhythm and its association to the onset of insomnia often results in the deterioration of the quality of work of an individual or a poor performance in school. In addition, an individual with insomnia usually shows poor cognitive capacity, as well as a decrease in the productivity at work. These individuals often lack the capacity to focus on their activities, resulting in accidents (Shechter 15). It is a common occurrence that drivers get into accidents due to the lack of sleep and thus their motor skills and reflex actions are not that reactive during the day. Polysomnographic features of insomnia Polysomnographic studies have shown that an individual with insomnia is generally characterized to have a short latency period during their sleep (Shechter 14). In addition, the sleep efficiency of these individuals is significantly low, resulting in the frequent and easy awakening by even simple stimuli in their immediate environment. The rapid eye movement (REM) and sigma sleep stages of individuals with insomnia are largely influenced by the circadian rhythms that are been set by their bodies and thus any change in the sleeping quality and habits may affect these sleep stages. Any disturbance in these sleep stages may result in the lack of or difficulty in sleeping. Polysomnographic investigations have also shown that the core body temperature in influenced by an individual’s circadian rhythm. Sleep is thus normally observed in the evening, when the core body temperature is significantly lower than what is usually observed during the day. Any shift in the circadian rhythm of an individual may thus result in an unexpected core body temperature, resulting in an individual’s difficulty in falling asleep. This core body temperature should be achieved approximately six hours before going to sleep, in order for an individual to achieve the normal 8 hours of sleep. For an individual who attends to a night-shift job, the usual length of sleep varies from 4 to 7 hours, which is a prime feature of insomnia. Behavior and/or therapeutic recommendations for insomnia It is possible to adapt behavioral conditioning strategies for insomnia. Individuals suffering from insomnia often spend hours or several evenings in bed but are fully awake the entire time. Their insomnia thus further worsens as their brain is conditioned to consider the bed and the bedroom as sites where one stays awake and any attempt to further induce sleep may be futile. It is thus suggested that when one feels sleepy, regardless of the time of day, one should then attempt to go to his bed in order to teach his brain that the bed is a place to sleep. It is also not helpful for an individual with insomnia to find a substitute place to sleep, such as the couch, as this will condition his mind that the couch is his sleeping niche and eventually, going back to the bedroom can even be harder to achieve. There are specific drug formulations that may also aid an individual suffering from insomnia. One of the most common medications is benzodiazepine, which binds to the gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors of the brain, which is responsible to the excitation of neural cells (Davidson 111). This binding thus results in the inhibition of the neural functions of the individual, resulting in a sleepy mode. One negative effect of benzodiazepine is that the normal stages of sleep are affected and thus may trigger unnecessary changes in the duration of each stage and possibly dependence on the drug. It is also possible that this drug may induce hypnotic effects on an individual. Non-benzodiazepine formulations are also available for the treatment of insomnia. Melatonin is another therapeutic regimen that may be administered to an individual with insomnia (Davidson 112). There is currently great debate with regards to the effectiveness of this drug, as it has mostly been applied to individuals suffering from jet lag-induced insomnia and thus this drug may not be effective for other insomnias that are caused by other factors. Antidepressants and antihistamines can also be administered to insomnia patients to alleviate their difficulty in falling asleep. Herbal concoctions have also been reported to facilitate sleep. A few of the most used herb are chamomile, kava kava and lavender, which can be supplied in tea formats. Personal reflections Insomnia is generally regarded as a simple condition that is often misunderstood and mistreated. It is important that insomnia be addressed as soon as possible because this condition often affects several systems of the human body and may thus result in the decrease in the immune capacity of an individual. Insomnia can also affect the quality of work or study of an individual and thus this negative effect should be addressed at the earliest possible time. Social interactions can also be affected by insomnia, as these individuals are often irritable and sensitive. Several accidents have also been caused by the lack of sleep and it is possible that an individual may hurt himself while working and even hurt other people, especially when they are using a motor vehicle when they suddenly lose attention or fall asleep. It is thus imperative that individuals with insomnia be educated on what to do to take control of their condition and possibly go back to their normal circadian patterns.

Altar Is a Sign of Religious People Essay

Filipinos have forever been said to be religious people – in fact, too religious, if one might say. It is one characteristic of Filipinos that describes their identity. Try entering houses of Filipinos you know, you would notice there would always be a special place for their altars. They always reserve a certain part in their houses not always necessarily as a â€Å"place of worship† but sometimes just for the traditional way of being religious. Altars are first introduced in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial times. They mostly consist of saints in different carvings, either with the use of wood or ivory. Eventually, having an altar inside the house grew as a Filipino tradition that until now is observed. In an altar, the primary attraction is either the figure of Jesus or the Virgin Mary, perfectly crafted and painted. When the figure does not include carved garments, rich ornate robes of satin were fashioned. Beads of gold and silver accentuate their clothing. Altars in different homes may vary depending on their size, location or adornments. There are altars exaggeratedly huge and elegant, adorned with different statues of angels and saints in a rock formation backdrop. Sometimes, altars and gardens are combined as one, producing a beautiful scenery. These kind are those seen outside their houses, located in their backyard. Such altar may contain of a small pond surrounded by flowers of different colors and plants of different sizes with the statue of the Virgin Mary centered inside. There are also the simple and ordinary altars inside their houses. It is usually easily seen upon entrance inside a house of a Filipino. The reason for this is because when they enter and leave the house, they touch or kiss the forehead of the figure. Mostly, the important components of such altars are candles, rosary, the Bible, a crucifix and of course, the figure of the Virgin Mary and/or Jesus. Ornamentation are only added optionally. Plastic plants/flowers may be used or sometimes the better, fresh flowers. Specifically, Filipinos most often prefer sampaguita. Aside from the fact that it has a unique sweet smell, it is cheap. Sampaguitas are hung like a lei on the body of the figure. Not only are altars found in a Filipino’s home. Even schools hear in our country have small altars located inside their classrooms. Most commonly, they are located on one corner of the classroom. Usually, a small table covered in clean white cloth serves as the base of the altar. The usual things are placed on top of the table, only that they are in a much smaller version. Pictures of the Holy Family are also sometimes posted on the wall. Altars symbolize the devotion of the Filipinos to their Catholic religion. It had been an important part of their tradition. Hopefully, as years go by, they may not be forgotten.

The Presidential Debate At Longwood University Essay

The Vice Presidential debate, held at Longwood University on October 4th, was between the Democratic candidate, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, and Republican candidate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence. Specific issues were asked about by the moderator, Elaine Quijano, such as specific qualities of the candidates that would make them good leaders if tragedy were to occur. However, the candidates used much of their allotted time to target the opposing presidential candidate and would then interrupt their opponent multiple times throughout their answer. Comparing the citizenship qualification of the United States to Germany may be helpful in solving the current immigration problems facing our country. The Vice Presidential debate showed the differences in opinion on immigration; the Republican campaign looks to build on the current enforcement-only policies and the Democratic campaign seeks to secure the country while attempting to help immigrants and their families. The Republican candidate, Donald Trump, has shown an openly negative opinion of immigration, specifically of Muslims and Mexicans. The common remark people remember is Trump’s promise to build a massive border wall, which would be devastating to the economy. Mike Pence focused his reply to the question of immigration on the safety of American citizens being the top priority. He also stated that their party would suspend the Syrian refugee program because it is too complicated to know if a person is associated with the IslamicShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Book Jim Lehrer Essay1487 Words   |  6 PagesJim Lehrer is a former news anchor for PBS newshour on PBS, as well as a former journalist. Another important job title he upholds is that he is a former debate moderator for United States presidential election campaigns. The important thing for us to know is that he is an author of many books, most importantly he is the author of the book Tension city. After he graduated col lege he joined the United States Marine Corps. After that he started his career as a journalist. Then went on to moderatingRead MoreThe Vice Presidential Debate 20162415 Words   |  10 PagesThe vice presidential debate 2016, featuring Virginia Senator Tim Kaine and Indiana Governor Mike Pence, was held at Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia, at 9 pm ET, and was moderated by CBSN anchor Elaine Quijano. The campaigns have agreed to the rules of this 90-minute debate. There will be nine different segments covering domestic and foreign policy issues. Each segment will begin with a question to both candidates who will each have two minutes to answer. The debate stretched for 90Read MoreNew World Order in Conspiracy Theory13987 Words   |  56 Pagesrather than evidence of its hidden agenda.[39] Illuminati The Order of the  Illuminati  was an  Enlightenment-age  secret society founded on  1 May  1776, in  Ingolstadt  (Upper Bavaria), by  Adam Weishaupt, who was the first lay professor of  canon law  at the  University of Ingolstadt. The movement consisted of advocates of  freethought,  secularism,  liberalism,  republicanism  and  gender equality, recruited in the  Masonic Lodges  of Germany, who sought to teach  rationalism  through  mystery schools. In 1785, the orderRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesOrganizational Behavior This page intentionally left blank Organizational Behavior EDITION 15 Stephen P. Robbins —San Diego State University Timothy A. Judge —University of Notre Dame i3iEi35Bj! Boston Columbus Indianapolis New York San Francisco Upper Saddle River Amsterdam Cape Town Dubai London Madrid Milan Munich Paris Montreal Toronto Delhi Mexico City Sao Paulo Sydney Hong Kong Seoul Singapore Taipei Tokyo Editorial Director: Sally Yagan Director of Editorial Services: