title: Evaluating depression, anxiety, and stress assessment before and during the COVID-19 pandemic using Generalisability Theory

authors: Lightburn, Scott James

subjects: Depression

abstract: The evaluation of depression, anxiety, and stress requires distinguishing between state and trait changes. Otherwise, the accuracy of evaluating the effectiveness of interventions and the reliability and validity of research can be compromised. The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced extraneous variables that have the potential to significantly impact the measurement of affective conditions and the distinction between state or trait symptoms. The Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21) is the only psychometric scale that measures depression, anxiety, and stress, and the overall psychological distress simultaneously. It is widely used and applicable to both clinical and non-clinical populations. However, no study has assessed its ability to distinguish state from trait changes or investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its temporal reliability. In this study, Generalisability Theory (G-Theory) was applied to evaluate the DASS-21 under normal and COVID-19 pandemic conditions. Data was collected from two independent samples. The first sample was collected in the United States (n = 115) before the pandemic and the second sample was collected in New Zealand (n = 114) during the pandemic. In both samples the data were collected on three occasions with 2 to 4-week intervals. The total DASS-21 scale showed excellent reliability in measuring enduring symptoms of psychological distress (G = 0.94 to 0.96), and while all DASS-21 subscales demonstrated good reliability in the pre-pandemic US sample, they showed lower temporal reliability in the NZ sample during the pandemic. These findings suggest that the overall DASS-21 reliably measures psychological distress as a trait and its scores can be generalised across different populations and occasions. However, the DASS-21 subscales are not as reliable during emergencies and uncertainty as seen in the COVID-19 pandemic. The overall psychological distress remains stable across individuals and can be reliably measured by the DASS-21, but shifts in depression, anxiety, and stress levels are likely during emergencies and uncertainty.

text: Evaluating depression, anxiety, and stress assessment before and during the COVID-19 pandemic using Generalisability Theory The evaluation of depression, anxiety, and stress requires distinguishing between state and trait changes. Otherwise, the accuracy of evaluating the effectiveness of interventions and the reliability and validity of research can be compromised. The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced extraneous variables that have the potential to significantly impact the measurement of affective conditions and the distinction between state or trait symptoms. The Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21) is the only psychometric scale that measures depression, anxiety, and stress, and the overall psychological distress simultaneously. It is widely used and applicable to both clinical and non-clinical populations. However, no study has assessed its ability to distinguish state from trait changes or investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its temporal reliability. In this study, Generalisability Theory (G-Theory) was applied to evaluate the DASS-21 under normal and COVID-19 pandemic conditions. Data was collected from two independent samples. The first sample was collected in the United States (n = 115) before the pandemic and the second sample was collected in New Zealand (n = 114) during the pandemic. In both samples the data were collected on three occasions with 2 to 4-week intervals. The total DASS-21 scale showed excellent reliability in measuring enduring symptoms of psychological distress (G = 0.94 to 0.96), and while all DASS-21 subscales demonstrated good reliability in the pre-pandemic US sample, they showed lower temporal reliability in the NZ sample during the pandemic. These findings suggest that the overall DASS-21 reliably measures psychological distress as a trait and its scores can be generalised across different populations and occasions. However, the DASS-21 subscales are not as reliable during emergencies and uncertainty as seen in the COVID-19 pandemic. The overall psychological distress remains stable across individuals and can be reliably measured by the DASS-21, but shifts in depression, anxiety, and stress levels are likely during emergencies and uncertainty.

year: 2023

title: Assessment of Self-Management Skills in a Project-Based Learning Paper

authors: Scott, Jonathan B.

abstract: This initial study revealed the potential of having management-specific assessment and business-related demonstrating staff in undergraduate engineering project- based classes. This will offer students valuable insights in preparing for engineering industries that are increasingly incorporating interdisciplinary expertise and ideas to solve complex issues.

text: Assessment of Self-Management Skills in a Project-Based Learning Paper This initial study revealed the potential of having management-specific assessment and business-related demonstrating staff in undergraduate engineering project- based classes. This will offer students valuable insights in preparing for engineering industries that are increasingly incorporating interdisciplinary expertise and ideas to solve complex issues.

year: 2017

title: Governance and legitimacy: Indigenous development in Aotearoa

authors: Dodd, Materoa

subjects: Māori governance

abstract: Within the indigenous paradigm lies a paradox over what constitutes legitimate Māori authority: Iwi structures are legitimated and recognised by the state, and traditional forms (for example, Hapū and Māori women), have had their authority diminished. Iwi authorities are colonial constructs that diminish the rights of Hapū and Māori women. The manner in which such constructs have come about generally has not involved tribewide debate over important issues in which Hapū and Māori women have an interest. For their legitimacy, emergent self-governing structures will need to be grounded in principles that ensure legitimate representation of Māori people and not socially constructed hybrids of a colonial past. Structures need to recognise Hapū and Māori women in the formulation, anything less than this will trigger a legitimation crisis.

text: Governance and legitimacy: Indigenous development in Aotearoa Within the indigenous paradigm lies a paradox over what constitutes legitimate Māori authority: Iwi structures are legitimated and recognised by the state, and traditional forms (for example, Hapū and Māori women), have had their authority diminished. Iwi authorities are colonial constructs that diminish the rights of Hapū and Māori women. The manner in which such constructs have come about generally has not involved tribewide debate over important issues in which Hapū and Māori women have an interest. For their legitimacy, emergent self-governing structures will need to be grounded in principles that ensure legitimate representation of Māori people and not socially constructed hybrids of a colonial past. Structures need to recognise Hapū and Māori women in the formulation, anything less than this will trigger a legitimation crisis.

year: 2000-10