title: Examining and enhancing the reliability of the Arabic version of the Clinical Perfectionism Questionnaire

authors: Alyami, Mohsen M.

abstract: Background 
Clinical perfectionism has been implicated among risks for developing depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. This study aimed to translate the widely used Clinical Perfectionism Questionnaire (CPQ) into Arabic and examine its psychometric properties. A general population sample of 1598 Saudi adults completed an online survey. Respondents were randomly selected to create two separate samples of n = 400 each, thus meeting the sample size recommendations for Rasch analysis. We applied the partial credit Rasch model to one independent sample to investigate and improve the psychometric characteristics of the scale and replicated our findings with another independent sample of the equal size. 
Results 
Minor modifications were required to address local dependency issues and resulted in a good fit of the Arabic CPQ to the unidimensional Rasch model in both samples. The scale demonstrated unidimensionality, invariance across personal factors, and good reliability (PSI = 0.78). As expected, the scale scores were positively associated with depression, anxiety, and disordered eating behaviors. 
Conclusions 
Overall, the Arabic CPQ demonstrated robust psychometric properties after minor modifications that did not change the original scale format. The utility and accuracy of the Arabic CPQ can be enhanced by converting ordinal scores into interval scale scores using conversion tables presented in this paper.

text: Examining and enhancing the reliability of the Arabic version of the Clinical Perfectionism Questionnaire Background 
Clinical perfectionism has been implicated among risks for developing depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. This study aimed to translate the widely used Clinical Perfectionism Questionnaire (CPQ) into Arabic and examine its psychometric properties. A general population sample of 1598 Saudi adults completed an online survey. Respondents were randomly selected to create two separate samples of n = 400 each, thus meeting the sample size recommendations for Rasch analysis. We applied the partial credit Rasch model to one independent sample to investigate and improve the psychometric characteristics of the scale and replicated our findings with another independent sample of the equal size. 
Results 
Minor modifications were required to address local dependency issues and resulted in a good fit of the Arabic CPQ to the unidimensional Rasch model in both samples. The scale demonstrated unidimensionality, invariance across personal factors, and good reliability (PSI = 0.78). As expected, the scale scores were positively associated with depression, anxiety, and disordered eating behaviors. 
Conclusions 
Overall, the Arabic CPQ demonstrated robust psychometric properties after minor modifications that did not change the original scale format. The utility and accuracy of the Arabic CPQ can be enhanced by converting ordinal scores into interval scale scores using conversion tables presented in this paper.

year: 2022

title: The role that experiential learning plays in intercultural awareness development: A case study of South Korean students sojourning in New Zealand

authors: Donald, Steven John

subjects: experiential learning

abstract: Research has shown that study abroad does help international students improve their language studies (Kinginger, 2011) and their understanding of another culture. Furthermore, the experience has often led to changes in the student’s belief systems as well as increases in their confidence and outlook on life (Amuzie & Winke, 2009). However, some researchers have argued that more needs to be done than merely immersing a student in another culture and language. In particular, attention has been paid to the importance that homestay contexts in study abroad programmes provide for international students with their language and cultural understanding (Silvio, Donovan, & Malone, 2014) as well as with socialisation, social networks and the development of intercultural competence (Shiri, 2015). 

What has not been investigated in-depth are the perceptions that the sojourning students’ perceptions of the quality of experience that homestays and other informal activities they undergo, and the overall impact these experiences have on a sojourn. Moreover, little research has investigated the dynamic relationship among individuals in their cohorts and the degree of intercultural competence that each has achieved while on study abroad.

The focus of this study was a group of Korean undergraduate students sent for three months to New Zealand under the aegis of a provincial polytechnic. To investigate the nature of intercultural development, the present case study used a multi-method ethnographic approach to collect data. It made use of paired interviews, focus group interviews, informal observations, field notes, and the researcher’s reflective journal. The data were subjected to a grounded analysis, and this led to a situated interpretation of the distinction between intercultural awareness and intercultural competence, and the various levels of individual achievement.

The findings suggest that these planned and unplanned activities impacted the degree of intercultural awareness developed by international students. A modified version of Byram’s (1997) model was designed to assist in mapping the trajectory that a sojourner undertakes. This is particularly so when Kolb’s (2015) experiential learning model is linked to the development of intercultural awareness.  It was also found that in such circumstances, the growing competence and/or awareness of the sojourning students could be effectively scaffolded by an informal facilitator, rather than an educational expert as recommended in the 2015 model.

The implications suggest that the theoretical constructs of intercultural awareness and competence need to be differentiated, and that further research will facilitate this; specific suggestions are made. On a practical level, despatching and hosting institutions can apply the revised model provided in this thesis to plot the intercultural awareness development of individual students and groups. Another implication is that experiential development of intercultural awareness in a study abroad programme can usefully be monitored and facilitated by an impartial mediator, who can enable international students to better understand the positive and negative experiences they have undergone and articulate their reactions and responses to what has happened, and in this way make the overall study abroad experience more meaningful.

text: The role that experiential learning plays in intercultural awareness development: A case study of South Korean students sojourning in New Zealand Research has shown that study abroad does help international students improve their language studies (Kinginger, 2011) and their understanding of another culture. Furthermore, the experience has often led to changes in the student’s belief systems as well as increases in their confidence and outlook on life (Amuzie & Winke, 2009). However, some researchers have argued that more needs to be done than merely immersing a student in another culture and language. In particular, attention has been paid to the importance that homestay contexts in study abroad programmes provide for international students with their language and cultural understanding (Silvio, Donovan, & Malone, 2014) as well as with socialisation, social networks and the development of intercultural competence (Shiri, 2015). 

What has not been investigated in-depth are the perceptions that the sojourning students’ perceptions of the quality of experience that homestays and other informal activities they undergo, and the overall impact these experiences have on a sojourn. Moreover, little research has investigated the dynamic relationship among individuals in their cohorts and the degree of intercultural competence that each has achieved while on study abroad.

The focus of this study was a group of Korean undergraduate students sent for three months to New Zealand under the aegis of a provincial polytechnic. To investigate the nature of intercultural development, the present case study used a multi-method ethnographic approach to collect data. It made use of paired interviews, focus group interviews, informal observations, field notes, and the researcher’s reflective journal. The data were subjected to a grounded analysis, and this led to a situated interpretation of the distinction between intercultural awareness and intercultural competence, and the various levels of individual achievement.

The findings suggest that these planned and unplanned activities impacted the degree of intercultural awareness developed by international students. A modified version of Byram’s (1997) model was designed to assist in mapping the trajectory that a sojourner undertakes. This is particularly so when Kolb’s (2015) experiential learning model is linked to the development of intercultural awareness.  It was also found that in such circumstances, the growing competence and/or awareness of the sojourning students could be effectively scaffolded by an informal facilitator, rather than an educational expert as recommended in the 2015 model.

The implications suggest that the theoretical constructs of intercultural awareness and competence need to be differentiated, and that further research will facilitate this; specific suggestions are made. On a practical level, despatching and hosting institutions can apply the revised model provided in this thesis to plot the intercultural awareness development of individual students and groups. Another implication is that experiential development of intercultural awareness in a study abroad programme can usefully be monitored and facilitated by an impartial mediator, who can enable international students to better understand the positive and negative experiences they have undergone and articulate their reactions and responses to what has happened, and in this way make the overall study abroad experience more meaningful.

year: 2019

title: Reha Aperahama: a Ngati Rahiri rangatira

authors: Hart, Philip

abstract: Reha Aperahama had an illustrious whakapapa and was affiliated to several hapu. His father was notable as one of the most loyal rangatira (from the Crown’s perspective) in Hauraki, and Reha followed his lead, probably in part because of the financial rewards he received from selling land to settlers. He tried to maximize his income from this source, spending several years pleading for permission to sell his Te Kawana block (near Te Aroha). After opposing Ngati Haua ambitions to acquire the Aroha block, by 1878 he was willing to encourage road building. 
Reha was regularly before the courts because of his inability or reluctance to pay his debts, occasionally perjuring himself to avoid liability. In his later years he had little money. Despite occasionally being drunk and even violent, he was an important figure in Maori society, with a leadership role in his hapu and in the Mormon church. He was also notable for his marital complications.

text: Reha Aperahama: a Ngati Rahiri rangatira Reha Aperahama had an illustrious whakapapa and was affiliated to several hapu. His father was notable as one of the most loyal rangatira (from the Crown’s perspective) in Hauraki, and Reha followed his lead, probably in part because of the financial rewards he received from selling land to settlers. He tried to maximize his income from this source, spending several years pleading for permission to sell his Te Kawana block (near Te Aroha). After opposing Ngati Haua ambitions to acquire the Aroha block, by 1878 he was willing to encourage road building. 
Reha was regularly before the courts because of his inability or reluctance to pay his debts, occasionally perjuring himself to avoid liability. In his later years he had little money. Despite occasionally being drunk and even violent, he was an important figure in Maori society, with a leadership role in his hapu and in the Mormon church. He was also notable for his marital complications.

year: 2016