title: Translation and validation of the Arabic version of the Digital Stress Scale (DSS-A) with three Arabic-speaking samples

authors: Krägeloh, Christian U.

abstract: Objective: Given the ubiquitous nature of digital technologies such as smartphones, research has increasingly focused on the health outcomes of prolonged use of such technologies. The Digital Stress Scale (DSS) has been developed recently, but it is currently only available in English and Chinese, and validations in other languages are warranted. 
Methods: The 24-item DSS was translated into Arabic using the method of translation and back-translation. Using a general population sample (n = 1069) from Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Jordan, the psychometric properties of the Arabic DSS (DSS-A) were investigated using higher-order confirmatory factor analysis.
Results: The original five-factor structure was replicated for the DSS-A without the need for any modifications such as item deletion or reassignment of items to another factor. Reliability was excellent for the total scale score (α = 0.92) as well as for the five subscales (α ranged between 0.81 and 0.91). Convergent validity was supported by significant correlations between the DSS-A and psychological distress. 
Conclusion: The strong psychometric properties of the DSS-A imply that this scale can now be used with high validity and reliability to explore the role of digital stress and its sub-characteristics in Arabic-speaking populations.

text: Translation and validation of the Arabic version of the Digital Stress Scale (DSS-A) with three Arabic-speaking samples Objective: Given the ubiquitous nature of digital technologies such as smartphones, research has increasingly focused on the health outcomes of prolonged use of such technologies. The Digital Stress Scale (DSS) has been developed recently, but it is currently only available in English and Chinese, and validations in other languages are warranted. 
Methods: The 24-item DSS was translated into Arabic using the method of translation and back-translation. Using a general population sample (n = 1069) from Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Jordan, the psychometric properties of the Arabic DSS (DSS-A) were investigated using higher-order confirmatory factor analysis.
Results: The original five-factor structure was replicated for the DSS-A without the need for any modifications such as item deletion or reassignment of items to another factor. Reliability was excellent for the total scale score (α = 0.92) as well as for the five subscales (α ranged between 0.81 and 0.91). Convergent validity was supported by significant correlations between the DSS-A and psychological distress. 
Conclusion: The strong psychometric properties of the DSS-A imply that this scale can now be used with high validity and reliability to explore the role of digital stress and its sub-characteristics in Arabic-speaking populations.

year: 2023-12-01

title: Experimental performance of water cooled building integrated photovoltaic/thermal solar collectors

authors: Anderson, Timothy Nicholas

subjects: BIPVT

abstract: The idea of integrating water cooled photovoltaic/thermal collectors into building structures (BIPVT collectors) to provide electrical and heat energy is an area that has received only limited attention. BIPVT collectors are particularly attractive, as the integration of a single photovoltaic and thermal collector into the long-run roofing structure of a building could provide greater opportunity for the use of renewable solar energy technologies. In this study, the thermal efficiency of a novel low cost water cooled building integrated photovoltaic/thermal (BIPVT) solar collector was experimentally measured. The results show that despite being made of a typical roofing material, the thermal efficiency is not unreasonably affected. Furthermore, it is shown that the measured efficiency is similar to that predicted by the Hottel-Whillier equations.

text: Experimental performance of water cooled building integrated photovoltaic/thermal solar collectors The idea of integrating water cooled photovoltaic/thermal collectors into building structures (BIPVT collectors) to provide electrical and heat energy is an area that has received only limited attention. BIPVT collectors are particularly attractive, as the integration of a single photovoltaic and thermal collector into the long-run roofing structure of a building could provide greater opportunity for the use of renewable solar energy technologies. In this study, the thermal efficiency of a novel low cost water cooled building integrated photovoltaic/thermal (BIPVT) solar collector was experimentally measured. The results show that despite being made of a typical roofing material, the thermal efficiency is not unreasonably affected. Furthermore, it is shown that the measured efficiency is similar to that predicted by the Hottel-Whillier equations.

year: 2008

title: ‘Doctoring’ our own: Confessions of a Māori doctoral supervisor

authors: Hohepa, Margie Kahukura

subjects: Māori doctoral student

abstract: There is very little literature, empirically based or otherwise, on the supervision of Māori doctoral students (Fitzgerald, 2005; Pope, 2008; Kidman, 2007; Smith, 2007). There is even less relating to Māori supervisors working with Māori doctoral students (Kidinan, 2007), let alone Māori supervisors working with non- Māori students. While the relatively large corpus of literature on doctoral supervision may be of some assistance to Māori supervisors, there is also a dearth of studies that focus on the pedagogical aspects. Research undertaken by Elizabeth McKinley and her co-researchers (McKinley, Grant, Middleton, Irwin & Williams, 2009) will now help to fill the literature gap on the teaching and learning process of supervision as it pertains to Māori.

text: ‘Doctoring’ our own: Confessions of a Māori doctoral supervisor There is very little literature, empirically based or otherwise, on the supervision of Māori doctoral students (Fitzgerald, 2005; Pope, 2008; Kidman, 2007; Smith, 2007). There is even less relating to Māori supervisors working with Māori doctoral students (Kidinan, 2007), let alone Māori supervisors working with non- Māori students. While the relatively large corpus of literature on doctoral supervision may be of some assistance to Māori supervisors, there is also a dearth of studies that focus on the pedagogical aspects. Research undertaken by Elizabeth McKinley and her co-researchers (McKinley, Grant, Middleton, Irwin & Williams, 2009) will now help to fill the literature gap on the teaching and learning process of supervision as it pertains to Māori.

year: 2010