title: Measuring sense of safety: The reliability and validity of the Neuroception of Psychological Safety Scale (NPSS)

authors: Oorjitham, Shantini

abstract: Despite growing interest in the clinical and theoretical implications of psychological safety, particularly from a Polyvagal Theory (PVT) perspective, there has been a lack of empirically validated measurement tools for this construct. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and construct validity of the Neuroception of Psychological Safety Scale (NPSS), a 29-item self-report scale designed to measure psychological safety, conceptualised from a PVT perspective. This study also explored how individuals define "feeling safe". A total of 423 participants completed an anonymous online survey. The sample consisted predominantly of undergraduate psychology students (n = 353), while the remaining participants were members of the New Zealand general population. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted to examine the factorial validity of the NPSS, while construct validity was evaluated through correlations with measures of theoretically related constructs. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha (α) and McDonald's omega (𝜔). The NPSS demonstrated good internal consistency and was found to have a three-factor structure consistent with that proposed by the scale's developers. Construct validity was evidenced by significant correlations in the expected directions with depression, anxiety, stress, negative affect, positive affect, difficulties in close relationships, awareness of physiological responses and traumatic life experiences. In addition, themes identified in participant definitions of safety aligned with the conceptualisation of psychological safety from a PVT perspective. Overall, the main findings of this study provide evidence that the NPSS is a psychometrically sound measure, supporting the use of the NPSS in clinical practice for measuring treatment outcomes and guiding intervention strategies, and in future research to advance the theoretical understanding of psychological safety from a PVT perspective.

text: Measuring sense of safety: The reliability and validity of the Neuroception of Psychological Safety Scale (NPSS) Despite growing interest in the clinical and theoretical implications of psychological safety, particularly from a Polyvagal Theory (PVT) perspective, there has been a lack of empirically validated measurement tools for this construct. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and construct validity of the Neuroception of Psychological Safety Scale (NPSS), a 29-item self-report scale designed to measure psychological safety, conceptualised from a PVT perspective. This study also explored how individuals define "feeling safe". A total of 423 participants completed an anonymous online survey. The sample consisted predominantly of undergraduate psychology students (n = 353), while the remaining participants were members of the New Zealand general population. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted to examine the factorial validity of the NPSS, while construct validity was evaluated through correlations with measures of theoretically related constructs. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha (α) and McDonald's omega (𝜔). The NPSS demonstrated good internal consistency and was found to have a three-factor structure consistent with that proposed by the scale's developers. Construct validity was evidenced by significant correlations in the expected directions with depression, anxiety, stress, negative affect, positive affect, difficulties in close relationships, awareness of physiological responses and traumatic life experiences. In addition, themes identified in participant definitions of safety aligned with the conceptualisation of psychological safety from a PVT perspective. Overall, the main findings of this study provide evidence that the NPSS is a psychometrically sound measure, supporting the use of the NPSS in clinical practice for measuring treatment outcomes and guiding intervention strategies, and in future research to advance the theoretical understanding of psychological safety from a PVT perspective.

year: 2024

title: Compositional nonblocking verification with always enabled events and selfloop-only events

authors: Pilbrow, Colin

abstract: This paper proposes to improve compositional nonblocking verification through the use of always enabled and selfloop-only events. Compositional verification involves abstraction to simplify parts of a system during verification. Normally, this abstraction is based on the set of events not used in the remainder of the system, i.e., in the part of the system not being simplified. Here, it is proposed to exploit more knowledge about the system and abstract events even though they are used in the remainder of the system. Abstraction rules from previous work are generalised, and experimental results demonstrate the applicability of the resulting algorithm to verify several industrial-scale discrete event system models, while achieving better state-space reduction than before.

text: Compositional nonblocking verification with always enabled events and selfloop-only events This paper proposes to improve compositional nonblocking verification through the use of always enabled and selfloop-only events. Compositional verification involves abstraction to simplify parts of a system during verification. Normally, this abstraction is based on the set of events not used in the remainder of the system, i.e., in the part of the system not being simplified. Here, it is proposed to exploit more knowledge about the system and abstract events even though they are used in the remainder of the system. Abstraction rules from previous work are generalised, and experimental results demonstrate the applicability of the resulting algorithm to verify several industrial-scale discrete event system models, while achieving better state-space reduction than before.

year: 2013-10-29

title: Planning the urban foodscape: Policy and regulation of urban agriculture in Aotearoa New Zealand

authors: Hanna, Christina Jane

abstract: Policy support for urban agriculture (UA) has increased internationally in the past decade, driven by factors such as urban decay, food insecurity, climate change and disasters, self-determination efforts and the Covid-19 pandemic. To date, there has been little analysis of the emergent practices across different cities in Aotearoa New Zealand. To address this gap, we examine key aspects of UA in Aotearoa and assess the application of local plans and regulation to determine how UA is defined and treated in the four most populous cities. The results reveal a lack of specific attention to and policy direction for UA. This vacuum is compounded by purpose-driven zoning typologies, restrictive resource use controls, scant provision for Māori food practices and a failure to keep pace with the changing forms of UA. The results identify the need for cities to review and clarify provision for UA, to create greater certainty and where appropriate, facilitation of food sovereignty and diverse urban foodscapes.

text: Planning the urban foodscape: Policy and regulation of urban agriculture in Aotearoa New Zealand Policy support for urban agriculture (UA) has increased internationally in the past decade, driven by factors such as urban decay, food insecurity, climate change and disasters, self-determination efforts and the Covid-19 pandemic. To date, there has been little analysis of the emergent practices across different cities in Aotearoa New Zealand. To address this gap, we examine key aspects of UA in Aotearoa and assess the application of local plans and regulation to determine how UA is defined and treated in the four most populous cities. The results reveal a lack of specific attention to and policy direction for UA. This vacuum is compounded by purpose-driven zoning typologies, restrictive resource use controls, scant provision for Māori food practices and a failure to keep pace with the changing forms of UA. The results identify the need for cities to review and clarify provision for UA, to create greater certainty and where appropriate, facilitation of food sovereignty and diverse urban foodscapes.

year: 2021