title: Investigating stable and dynamic aspects of psychological needs using generalisability theory

authors: Drabble, Scott Dean

subjects: Stable

abstract: Satisfaction of psychological needs has been linked to human flourishing and improved wellbeing and basic psychological needs are central to self-determination theory (SDT) and include autonomy, relatedness, and competence. Accurate distinction between stable and dynamic aspects of these psychological needs is necessary for the development and assessment of interventions aiming to maximize satisfaction of these needs. The widely used Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction scale (BPNS) was developed to measure the degree to which people feel satisfaction of the three basic psychological needs but its ability to reflect stable and dynamic aspects of needs and generalisability of assessment scores of were not thoroughly examined by implementing an appropriate methodology. Generalisability theory (G-theory) has been recommended as an appropriate statistical method to evaluate the state-trait distinction while providing reliability analysis and accurate evaluation of sources of measure error. G-theory was implemented to distinguish between state and trait aspects of psychological needs and to assess the reliability of the BPNS. A longitudinal person by item by occasion observational design was applied to an adequate sample of 116 participants who completed the 21- item BPNS at three time points with a one-month interval between assessments. The total BPNS showed acceptable reliability and generalisability of scores in assessing the need satisfaction trait across sample population and occasions (G = 0.75-0.88) while individual subscales of the BPNS appeared less reliable due to dynamic nature of needs reflected by these subscales. A brief subscale to measure the most dynamic needs as a state was developed using items reflecting dynamic aspects of psychological need. The overall good reliability of the total BPNS and dynamic properties of the individual subscales, suggest the overarching latent trait of neediness that varies across individuals while specific needs are state like and therefore can shift from one aspect to another depending on circumstances of individual’s life.

text: Investigating stable and dynamic aspects of psychological needs using generalisability theory Satisfaction of psychological needs has been linked to human flourishing and improved wellbeing and basic psychological needs are central to self-determination theory (SDT) and include autonomy, relatedness, and competence. Accurate distinction between stable and dynamic aspects of these psychological needs is necessary for the development and assessment of interventions aiming to maximize satisfaction of these needs. The widely used Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction scale (BPNS) was developed to measure the degree to which people feel satisfaction of the three basic psychological needs but its ability to reflect stable and dynamic aspects of needs and generalisability of assessment scores of were not thoroughly examined by implementing an appropriate methodology. Generalisability theory (G-theory) has been recommended as an appropriate statistical method to evaluate the state-trait distinction while providing reliability analysis and accurate evaluation of sources of measure error. G-theory was implemented to distinguish between state and trait aspects of psychological needs and to assess the reliability of the BPNS. A longitudinal person by item by occasion observational design was applied to an adequate sample of 116 participants who completed the 21- item BPNS at three time points with a one-month interval between assessments. The total BPNS showed acceptable reliability and generalisability of scores in assessing the need satisfaction trait across sample population and occasions (G = 0.75-0.88) while individual subscales of the BPNS appeared less reliable due to dynamic nature of needs reflected by these subscales. A brief subscale to measure the most dynamic needs as a state was developed using items reflecting dynamic aspects of psychological need. The overall good reliability of the total BPNS and dynamic properties of the individual subscales, suggest the overarching latent trait of neediness that varies across individuals while specific needs are state like and therefore can shift from one aspect to another depending on circumstances of individual’s life.

year: 2021

title: Numerical determination of parasitic resistances of a solar cell using the Lambert W-function

authors: Ghani, Faisal Abid

subjects: series resistance

abstract: Several methods are currently available to determine the values of series and shunt resistance of a solar cell. A new method is presented here to numerically locate these values using the popular Newton–Raphson technique at maximum power point. Equations based on the Lambert W-function and their partial derivatives are provided so that all calculations may be performed in a Matlab or similar environment. The results of this new method are presented and compared with two published methods and the analytically obtained for a blue and grey type solar cell in earlier work (Charles et al., 1981). Additionally, three modules of various type (single, poly, and amorphous crystalline) were investigated. Values determined agreed with experimentally verified results and were obtained with quadratic convergence in all instances provided initial estimates of the roots were within vicinity of the actual roots.

text: Numerical determination of parasitic resistances of a solar cell using the Lambert W-function Several methods are currently available to determine the values of series and shunt resistance of a solar cell. A new method is presented here to numerically locate these values using the popular Newton–Raphson technique at maximum power point. Equations based on the Lambert W-function and their partial derivatives are provided so that all calculations may be performed in a Matlab or similar environment. The results of this new method are presented and compared with two published methods and the analytically obtained for a blue and grey type solar cell in earlier work (Charles et al., 1981). Additionally, three modules of various type (single, poly, and amorphous crystalline) were investigated. Values determined agreed with experimentally verified results and were obtained with quadratic convergence in all instances provided initial estimates of the roots were within vicinity of the actual roots.

year: 2011

title: Collectivism, cultural identity and employee mental health: A study of New Zealand Māori

authors: Brougham, David M.

subjects: Anxiety

abstract: Māori are a collectivistic people living within a largely individualistic country. The present study tested whether Māori who practice higher levels of workplace collectivism feel greater alignment with their overall cultural beliefs, and report better mental health results because of their lower levels of anxiety and depression. Three hundred and thirty-six Māori employees were surveyed, and a regression analysis showed significant direct effects, with collectivism accounting for a sizable 20 % of the variance in both anxiety and depression. Two moderators relating to cultural knowledge and cultural language were also tested. Significant two-way interactions were found: high collectivism and high cultural knowledge led to low depression, and high cultural knowledge and high cultural language skills led to low depression and anxiety. A three-way interaction was found between anxiety, collectivism and cultural knowledge and/or language: low anxiety was reported by respondents with high collectivism and either high cultural knowledge or cultural language. Overall, the study highlights the importance of collectivism and cultural identity for Māori employees' mental health

text: Collectivism, cultural identity and employee mental health: A study of New Zealand Māori Māori are a collectivistic people living within a largely individualistic country. The present study tested whether Māori who practice higher levels of workplace collectivism feel greater alignment with their overall cultural beliefs, and report better mental health results because of their lower levels of anxiety and depression. Three hundred and thirty-six Māori employees were surveyed, and a regression analysis showed significant direct effects, with collectivism accounting for a sizable 20 % of the variance in both anxiety and depression. Two moderators relating to cultural knowledge and cultural language were also tested. Significant two-way interactions were found: high collectivism and high cultural knowledge led to low depression, and high cultural knowledge and high cultural language skills led to low depression and anxiety. A three-way interaction was found between anxiety, collectivism and cultural knowledge and/or language: low anxiety was reported by respondents with high collectivism and either high cultural knowledge or cultural language. Overall, the study highlights the importance of collectivism and cultural identity for Māori employees' mental health

year: 2012