title: Psychometric Validation of the OnFire Measure of Drive, Extraversion, Influence, Norm Following, Optimism and Resilience

authors: Bonnett, Melody Christina

subjects: Psychometric Validation

abstract: On average, 70-80% of advisors leave financial services within their first three years in the industry (Mc Manus & Kelly, 1999; Mellor, 2012; Seligman, 1998). Addressing the financial and humanitarian costs of this high turnover of staff creates a demand for a tool that can assist in the selection of individuals who are more likely to stay and commit to the field of financial services. Consequently a New Zealand consulting firm developed the OnFire measure to help predict the survival and success of advisors within the field of financial services. The measure incorporates six personality dispositions, each derived from academic literature and anecdotal data from within the field. These dispositions were: Drive, Extraversion, Influence, Norm Following, Optimism and Resilience. 

This research assessed the validity and reliability of the OnFire measure in order to determine its psychometric properties. Surveys were distributed to various professional associations operating within New Zealand’s financial and insurance industries. The study obtained a total of 204 participants, 78.5% of whom had been in the financial service industry for ten or more years. The factor structure, convergent validity and nomological network integrity were explored for each of the OnFire variables. Finally, the criterion-related validity was determined for each of the OnFire scales using the industry commitment and industry tenure of financial advisors. 

When determining the factor structure of the OnFire scales, three scales were each found to consist of two factors. Drive was separated into Inner Drive and Workaholism, Extraversion into Group Orientation and Social Skills, and Norm Following into Process Following and Group Following. Seven of the 57 OnFire items were removed due to insignificant factor loadings. The Workaholism factor of the Drive scale and the Process Following factor of the Norm Following scale failed to achieve convergent validity with the previously established International Personality Item Pool (IPIP) scales. Furthermore, the Extraversion scale, Norm Following scale and Workaholism factor obtained alpha reliabilities below Nunnally's (1994) recommended level and did not achieve a meaningful relationship with the criterion-related variable of industry commitment. Interestingly, none of the variables obtained a significant correlation with the other criterion-related variable of industry tenure. This was attributed to the high level of range restriction within the study.

Overall, the current study found partial support for the psychometric validity of the OnFire measure. Specifically, the Influence scale, Optimism scale, Resilience scale and Inner Drive factor demonstrated their psychometric utility, whereas the other OnFire scales may require further research and development in order for their use in the selection and development of advisors to be fully endorsed within the field of financial services.

text: Psychometric Validation of the OnFire Measure of Drive, Extraversion, Influence, Norm Following, Optimism and Resilience On average, 70-80% of advisors leave financial services within their first three years in the industry (Mc Manus & Kelly, 1999; Mellor, 2012; Seligman, 1998). Addressing the financial and humanitarian costs of this high turnover of staff creates a demand for a tool that can assist in the selection of individuals who are more likely to stay and commit to the field of financial services. Consequently a New Zealand consulting firm developed the OnFire measure to help predict the survival and success of advisors within the field of financial services. The measure incorporates six personality dispositions, each derived from academic literature and anecdotal data from within the field. These dispositions were: Drive, Extraversion, Influence, Norm Following, Optimism and Resilience. 

This research assessed the validity and reliability of the OnFire measure in order to determine its psychometric properties. Surveys were distributed to various professional associations operating within New Zealand’s financial and insurance industries. The study obtained a total of 204 participants, 78.5% of whom had been in the financial service industry for ten or more years. The factor structure, convergent validity and nomological network integrity were explored for each of the OnFire variables. Finally, the criterion-related validity was determined for each of the OnFire scales using the industry commitment and industry tenure of financial advisors. 

When determining the factor structure of the OnFire scales, three scales were each found to consist of two factors. Drive was separated into Inner Drive and Workaholism, Extraversion into Group Orientation and Social Skills, and Norm Following into Process Following and Group Following. Seven of the 57 OnFire items were removed due to insignificant factor loadings. The Workaholism factor of the Drive scale and the Process Following factor of the Norm Following scale failed to achieve convergent validity with the previously established International Personality Item Pool (IPIP) scales. Furthermore, the Extraversion scale, Norm Following scale and Workaholism factor obtained alpha reliabilities below Nunnally's (1994) recommended level and did not achieve a meaningful relationship with the criterion-related variable of industry commitment. Interestingly, none of the variables obtained a significant correlation with the other criterion-related variable of industry tenure. This was attributed to the high level of range restriction within the study.

Overall, the current study found partial support for the psychometric validity of the OnFire measure. Specifically, the Influence scale, Optimism scale, Resilience scale and Inner Drive factor demonstrated their psychometric utility, whereas the other OnFire scales may require further research and development in order for their use in the selection and development of advisors to be fully endorsed within the field of financial services.

year: 2012

title: Electrically Polarised Electrodes in DMSO and DMF electrolytes of Pseudohalide Salts: In situ IR studies supported by EXAFS/XANES and other techniques

authors: Alwis, Kethsiri H.K.L.

subjects: IR spectroelectrochemistry

abstract: This thesis presents, subtractively normalised interfacial Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic (SNIFTIRS) investigations of anodically polarised nickel, copper and gold electrodes in pseudohalide-containing (i.e. NCO⁻, NCS⁻, NCSe⁻, CN⁻ and TeCN⁻) dimethyl formamide (DMF) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solutions, with a supporting electrolyte, tetrabutylammonium perchlorate (TBAP), is presented. Cyclic voltammograms, and current-potential data were recorded while the infrared spectral acquisition was in progress for nickel, copper and gold electrodes in a thin-layer cell. A thin layer electrochemical cell with CaF₂ IR windows was used to acquire data.

For the anodic dissolution of Ni, Cu and Au electrodes in DMF and DMSO media containing pseudohalide ions, it was found that all electrodes anodically dissolved generating  Ni²⁺, Cu⁺/Cu²⁺ and Au⁺ coordination complexes consisting of  pseudohalide ions (i.e. NCO⁻, NCS⁻, NCSe⁻) and solvent molecules. These conclusions were confirmed by demonstrating that the same complex ion species were formed in model solutions prepared by mixing Ni(II), Cu(I), Cu(II) and Au(III) salts with the corresponding  pseudohalide salts (KOCN, NaSCN, KSeCN, KCN and KTeCN)  in either DMSO or DMF solvent by comparison of their IR transmission spectra with the in situ IR spectra. Additionally the geometry of the nickel/copper-pseudohalide complex ions formed in particular during anodic dissolution experiments was probed   using other techniques which involved X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Further electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was also used to confirm the presence of such species and to characterize other by-products formed in the model solutions.  

In general, the data showed that the nickel electrode undergoes irreversible anodic dissolution in all solutions studied at high applied potentials, greater than +500 mV (AgCl/Ag). Nickel predominantly speciated into Ni²⁺ complexes.  Insoluble films and dissolved CO₂ were also detected, though mostly in the Ni/NCO⁻ systems studied.

In general, the Ni/NCO⁻ electrochemical system behaved differently relative to those of Ni/NCS⁻ and Ni/NCSe⁻ , as observed via the difference in colours in cell solutions produced after SNIFTIRS experiments which was mirrored in the model solutions. Ni(II)-cyanate species had a different coordination geometry and gave a characteristic bright blue colour due possibly to the species [Ni(NCO)₄]²⁻ , while Ni(II) thiocyanate and selenocyanate complex ion species were proposed to have octahedral coordination geometry containing solvent and one coordinated pseudohalide ion, and formed green-yellow solutions. 

X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) were used to obtain direct information on the coordination state of electrogenerated products. From EXAFS/XANES data, the Ni(II)/NCS⁻ and NCSe⁻ complexes were confirmed to be  octahedral  bearing  at least one monopseudohalide-ligand with the balance of ligands being the coordinated DMSO solvent  while the data for Ni/cyanate system suggested a “five-coordinate” Ni/pseudohalide-ion complex. In reality, this suggested species was regarded as the result of XAS being a sample averaging technique and that in this solution there is perceived to be a mixture of 4 coordinate (tetrahedral) [Ni(NCO)₄]²⁻ and octahedral [Ni(DMSO)₆]²⁺ species. These observations of the octahedral geometry for the Ni(II)/thiocyanate and Ni(II)/selenocyanate systems and  5-coordinate geometry in the Ni(II)/cyanate systems are supported by the differences in colour observed between the two samples. 

An IR spectroelectrochemical and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) study of anodically polarized copper electrodes in polar aprotic solvents (DMSO and DMF) in the presence of pseudohalide ions and tetrabutylammonium perchlorate has been presented in Chapter 5. Cu dissolves in all 6 systems studied (i.e. DMF and DMSO, in the presence of ⁻, NCS⁻ and NCSe⁻) to produce stable Cu(I) pseudohalide complex ion species in addition to other species such as electrogenerated CO₂. Insoluble films were also observed to be deposited at higher anodic applied potentials. These films were thought to be CuSCN and K(SeCN)₃ depending on the solvent system used. The predominance of the Cu(I) oxidation state in these complexes was clearly proven from examining the single scan spectra and was supported by model solution studies.  
SNIFTIRS studies of Au electrodes under similar experimental conditions are presented in chapter 6.  This work has demonstrated the significance of the Au(I) oxidation state which occurs after applied voltages of +500 mV(AgCl/Ag) in the little characterised electrochemistry of this metal in polar aprotic solvents, DMSO and DMF. Generally, all studies conducted showed that Au electrodes dissolved to form the corresponding Au(I) pseudohalide complexes (i.e. [Au(NCO)₂]⁻, [Au(SCN)₂]⁻ and [Au(SeCN)₂]⁻).

The Au(I) species observed electrochemically by SNIFTIRS were confirmed by independent preparation in DMSO/DMF containing mixtures of  KAuBr₄ and the  pseudohalide salt (KOCN/NaSCN/KSeCN) and exploiting fortuitous redox chemistry where Au(I) formed spontaneously. The model solutions examined by transmission FTIR and ESI-MS confirmed the existence of the Au(I) species posited in the SNIFTIRS experiments but additionally  revealed other interesting side reactions occurring in the model solutions.

In situ IR studies are reported of the interaction of the little studied tellurocyanate ion with electrically polarised nickel, copper and gold electrodes in TBAP supported DMSO and DMF-based electrolytes for the first time. SNIFTIRS combined with voltammetric methods (and model solution + DFT calculations) have revealed that the TeCN⁻ ion is decomposed at anodic potentials at the metal electrodes. It was found that the speciation observed in the in situ IR spectra reflected more that of an interaction of a metal electrode with a CN⁻ ion species (a decomposition product of the TeCN⁻ ion) rather than with the TeCN⁻ ion itself. This ion was incapable of forming any discrete metal ion complexes. Fouling of the electrode by deposited elemental Te was also found to have influenced electrochemistry by blocking surface reactions. In general, the studies have confirmed the instability of TeCN⁻ ion when subjected to electrical polarisation with the observed speciation being indicative of the difference in chemical reactivity of the “fouled” Ni, Cu and Au electrodes toward anodic polarization in the presence of CN⁻ ion.

text: Electrically Polarised Electrodes in DMSO and DMF electrolytes of Pseudohalide Salts: In situ IR studies supported by EXAFS/XANES and other techniques This thesis presents, subtractively normalised interfacial Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic (SNIFTIRS) investigations of anodically polarised nickel, copper and gold electrodes in pseudohalide-containing (i.e. NCO⁻, NCS⁻, NCSe⁻, CN⁻ and TeCN⁻) dimethyl formamide (DMF) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solutions, with a supporting electrolyte, tetrabutylammonium perchlorate (TBAP), is presented. Cyclic voltammograms, and current-potential data were recorded while the infrared spectral acquisition was in progress for nickel, copper and gold electrodes in a thin-layer cell. A thin layer electrochemical cell with CaF₂ IR windows was used to acquire data.

For the anodic dissolution of Ni, Cu and Au electrodes in DMF and DMSO media containing pseudohalide ions, it was found that all electrodes anodically dissolved generating  Ni²⁺, Cu⁺/Cu²⁺ and Au⁺ coordination complexes consisting of  pseudohalide ions (i.e. NCO⁻, NCS⁻, NCSe⁻) and solvent molecules. These conclusions were confirmed by demonstrating that the same complex ion species were formed in model solutions prepared by mixing Ni(II), Cu(I), Cu(II) and Au(III) salts with the corresponding  pseudohalide salts (KOCN, NaSCN, KSeCN, KCN and KTeCN)  in either DMSO or DMF solvent by comparison of their IR transmission spectra with the in situ IR spectra. Additionally the geometry of the nickel/copper-pseudohalide complex ions formed in particular during anodic dissolution experiments was probed   using other techniques which involved X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Further electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was also used to confirm the presence of such species and to characterize other by-products formed in the model solutions.  

In general, the data showed that the nickel electrode undergoes irreversible anodic dissolution in all solutions studied at high applied potentials, greater than +500 mV (AgCl/Ag). Nickel predominantly speciated into Ni²⁺ complexes.  Insoluble films and dissolved CO₂ were also detected, though mostly in the Ni/NCO⁻ systems studied.

In general, the Ni/NCO⁻ electrochemical system behaved differently relative to those of Ni/NCS⁻ and Ni/NCSe⁻ , as observed via the difference in colours in cell solutions produced after SNIFTIRS experiments which was mirrored in the model solutions. Ni(II)-cyanate species had a different coordination geometry and gave a characteristic bright blue colour due possibly to the species [Ni(NCO)₄]²⁻ , while Ni(II) thiocyanate and selenocyanate complex ion species were proposed to have octahedral coordination geometry containing solvent and one coordinated pseudohalide ion, and formed green-yellow solutions. 

X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) were used to obtain direct information on the coordination state of electrogenerated products. From EXAFS/XANES data, the Ni(II)/NCS⁻ and NCSe⁻ complexes were confirmed to be  octahedral  bearing  at least one monopseudohalide-ligand with the balance of ligands being the coordinated DMSO solvent  while the data for Ni/cyanate system suggested a “five-coordinate” Ni/pseudohalide-ion complex. In reality, this suggested species was regarded as the result of XAS being a sample averaging technique and that in this solution there is perceived to be a mixture of 4 coordinate (tetrahedral) [Ni(NCO)₄]²⁻ and octahedral [Ni(DMSO)₆]²⁺ species. These observations of the octahedral geometry for the Ni(II)/thiocyanate and Ni(II)/selenocyanate systems and  5-coordinate geometry in the Ni(II)/cyanate systems are supported by the differences in colour observed between the two samples. 

An IR spectroelectrochemical and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) study of anodically polarized copper electrodes in polar aprotic solvents (DMSO and DMF) in the presence of pseudohalide ions and tetrabutylammonium perchlorate has been presented in Chapter 5. Cu dissolves in all 6 systems studied (i.e. DMF and DMSO, in the presence of ⁻, NCS⁻ and NCSe⁻) to produce stable Cu(I) pseudohalide complex ion species in addition to other species such as electrogenerated CO₂. Insoluble films were also observed to be deposited at higher anodic applied potentials. These films were thought to be CuSCN and K(SeCN)₃ depending on the solvent system used. The predominance of the Cu(I) oxidation state in these complexes was clearly proven from examining the single scan spectra and was supported by model solution studies.  
SNIFTIRS studies of Au electrodes under similar experimental conditions are presented in chapter 6.  This work has demonstrated the significance of the Au(I) oxidation state which occurs after applied voltages of +500 mV(AgCl/Ag) in the little characterised electrochemistry of this metal in polar aprotic solvents, DMSO and DMF. Generally, all studies conducted showed that Au electrodes dissolved to form the corresponding Au(I) pseudohalide complexes (i.e. [Au(NCO)₂]⁻, [Au(SCN)₂]⁻ and [Au(SeCN)₂]⁻).

The Au(I) species observed electrochemically by SNIFTIRS were confirmed by independent preparation in DMSO/DMF containing mixtures of  KAuBr₄ and the  pseudohalide salt (KOCN/NaSCN/KSeCN) and exploiting fortuitous redox chemistry where Au(I) formed spontaneously. The model solutions examined by transmission FTIR and ESI-MS confirmed the existence of the Au(I) species posited in the SNIFTIRS experiments but additionally  revealed other interesting side reactions occurring in the model solutions.

In situ IR studies are reported of the interaction of the little studied tellurocyanate ion with electrically polarised nickel, copper and gold electrodes in TBAP supported DMSO and DMF-based electrolytes for the first time. SNIFTIRS combined with voltammetric methods (and model solution + DFT calculations) have revealed that the TeCN⁻ ion is decomposed at anodic potentials at the metal electrodes. It was found that the speciation observed in the in situ IR spectra reflected more that of an interaction of a metal electrode with a CN⁻ ion species (a decomposition product of the TeCN⁻ ion) rather than with the TeCN⁻ ion itself. This ion was incapable of forming any discrete metal ion complexes. Fouling of the electrode by deposited elemental Te was also found to have influenced electrochemistry by blocking surface reactions. In general, the studies have confirmed the instability of TeCN⁻ ion when subjected to electrical polarisation with the observed speciation being indicative of the difference in chemical reactivity of the “fouled” Ni, Cu and Au electrodes toward anodic polarization in the presence of CN⁻ ion.

year: 2015

title: Sharing, listening, learning and developing understandings of Kaupapa Māori research by engaging with two Māori communities involved in education.

authors: Kana, Fred

subjects: Kaupapa Maori research methodology

abstract: This paper is a culmination of common understandings that were elicited from two pieces of research: ‘The Impact of the BHP New Zealand Steel Mining on the Tangata Whenua and the Environment’ and ‘The Impact of Maori Medium Education within a Mainstream Secondary School on the Lives of its Participants, in particular the Teachers, Caregivers and Students’. It was at the conclusion of each research project and as a consequence of informal conversations and discussions that this paper evolved. The paper discusses shared understandings in the context of Kaupapa Māori research methodology and key findings from the two research projects.

text: Sharing, listening, learning and developing understandings of Kaupapa Māori research by engaging with two Māori communities involved in education. This paper is a culmination of common understandings that were elicited from two pieces of research: ‘The Impact of the BHP New Zealand Steel Mining on the Tangata Whenua and the Environment’ and ‘The Impact of Maori Medium Education within a Mainstream Secondary School on the Lives of its Participants, in particular the Teachers, Caregivers and Students’. It was at the conclusion of each research project and as a consequence of informal conversations and discussions that this paper evolved. The paper discusses shared understandings in the context of Kaupapa Māori research methodology and key findings from the two research projects.

year: 2006