title: Factorial validity and invariance assessment of a short version of the recalled childhood gender identity/role questionnaire

authors: Veale, Jaimie

subjects: Social Sciences

abstract: Recalled childhood gender role/identity is a construct that is related to sexual orientation, abuse, and psychological health. The purpose of this study was to assess the factorial validity of a short version of Zucker et al.’s (2006) “Recalled Childhood Gender Identity/Gender Role Questionnaire” using confirmatory factor analysis and to test the stability of the factor structure across groups (measurement invariance). Six items of the questionnaire were completed online by 1929 participants from a variety of gender identity and sexual orientation groups. Models of the six items loading onto one factor had poor fit for the data. Items were removed for having a large proportion of error variance. Among birth-assigned females, a five-item model had good fit for the data, but there was evidence for differences in scale’s factor structure across gender identity, age, level of education, and country groups. Among birth-assigned males, the resulting four-item model did not account for all of the relationship between variables, and modeling for this resulted in a model that was almost saturated. This model also had evidence of measurement variance across gender identity and sexual orientation groups. The models had good reliability and factor score determinacy. These findings suggest that results of previous studies that have assessed recalled childhood gender role/identity may have been susceptible to construct bias due to measurement variance across these groups. Future studies should assess measurement invariance between groups they are comparing, and if it is not found the issue can be addressed by removing variant indicators and/or applying a partial invariance model.

text: Factorial validity and invariance assessment of a short version of the recalled childhood gender identity/role questionnaire Recalled childhood gender role/identity is a construct that is related to sexual orientation, abuse, and psychological health. The purpose of this study was to assess the factorial validity of a short version of Zucker et al.’s (2006) “Recalled Childhood Gender Identity/Gender Role Questionnaire” using confirmatory factor analysis and to test the stability of the factor structure across groups (measurement invariance). Six items of the questionnaire were completed online by 1929 participants from a variety of gender identity and sexual orientation groups. Models of the six items loading onto one factor had poor fit for the data. Items were removed for having a large proportion of error variance. Among birth-assigned females, a five-item model had good fit for the data, but there was evidence for differences in scale’s factor structure across gender identity, age, level of education, and country groups. Among birth-assigned males, the resulting four-item model did not account for all of the relationship between variables, and modeling for this resulted in a model that was almost saturated. This model also had evidence of measurement variance across gender identity and sexual orientation groups. The models had good reliability and factor score determinacy. These findings suggest that results of previous studies that have assessed recalled childhood gender role/identity may have been susceptible to construct bias due to measurement variance across these groups. Future studies should assess measurement invariance between groups they are comparing, and if it is not found the issue can be addressed by removing variant indicators and/or applying a partial invariance model.

year: 2016

title: The advent of liberal internationalism in New Zealand's foreign policy

authors: McCraw, David

subjects: New Zealand foreign policy

abstract: In 1935, the first Labour government introduced elements of Liberal Internationalism into New Zealand's foreign policy for the first time. Before that, New Zealand's foreign policy had been wholly Realist. The new elements were an enthusiastic support for international organisations and a concern for human rights, democracy and self-determination. These elements have formed part of New Zealand's foreign policy ever since, although they have been emphasised more by Labour governments than National ones. The first Labour government continued a number of Realist policies as well, and this mix of Idealism and Realism set the pattern of modern New Zealand foreign policy. Two further elements of Liberal Internationalism- the promotion of disarmament and of free trade — were not adopted by the first Labour government, but they would be added to New Zealand's foreign policy mix by later Labour governments.

text: The advent of liberal internationalism in New Zealand's foreign policy In 1935, the first Labour government introduced elements of Liberal Internationalism into New Zealand's foreign policy for the first time. Before that, New Zealand's foreign policy had been wholly Realist. The new elements were an enthusiastic support for international organisations and a concern for human rights, democracy and self-determination. These elements have formed part of New Zealand's foreign policy ever since, although they have been emphasised more by Labour governments than National ones. The first Labour government continued a number of Realist policies as well, and this mix of Idealism and Realism set the pattern of modern New Zealand foreign policy. Two further elements of Liberal Internationalism- the promotion of disarmament and of free trade — were not adopted by the first Labour government, but they would be added to New Zealand's foreign policy mix by later Labour governments.

year: 2003

title: How usable is a smartphone with a Māori-language interface?

authors: Mato, Paora James

subjects: Mäori

abstract: Major languages dominate contemporary technologies. For Mäori, there is opportunity to engage with some technologies using their language and to participate within Mäori- language communities in various digital media. A smartphone launched by Two Degrees Mobile Limited provides a Mäori- language interface option. An initial pilot study indicated users will engage with this interface, but when pushed for time will switch the interface to the English- language option. This paper reports on a study undertaken to test the usability of the smartphone Mäorilanguage interface. Participants reported diffi culties and some frustration as they struggled with new words and unfamiliar uses of words. They also expressed disappointment at poor translations and arbitrary truncations. The feedback highlights perceived shortcomings encountered when technologies that are normally developed and used in a major language are translated for use in minority Indigenous languages. Mäori-language strategies that consider using translated application interfaces should be cognisant of such issues.

text: How usable is a smartphone with a Māori-language interface? Major languages dominate contemporary technologies. For Mäori, there is opportunity to engage with some technologies using their language and to participate within Mäori- language communities in various digital media. A smartphone launched by Two Degrees Mobile Limited provides a Mäori- language interface option. An initial pilot study indicated users will engage with this interface, but when pushed for time will switch the interface to the English- language option. This paper reports on a study undertaken to test the usability of the smartphone Mäorilanguage interface. Participants reported diffi culties and some frustration as they struggled with new words and unfamiliar uses of words. They also expressed disappointment at poor translations and arbitrary truncations. The feedback highlights perceived shortcomings encountered when technologies that are normally developed and used in a major language are translated for use in minority Indigenous languages. Mäori-language strategies that consider using translated application interfaces should be cognisant of such issues.

year: 2016