Development and Validation of a New Instrument for Screening Bullies and Victims in Classrooms.

Although a number of studies have been conducted on the subject of bullying, there is an absence of a standard instrument which can map the bullying network and identify the groups involved in it. The current study aimed to provide a standard instrument for screening bullies and victims in the classroom, which has validity and reliability indicators to map the network of relationships between the bullies and victims. In this regard, 337 high school students (176 males and 161 females) were selected via cluster sampling and, afterward, the Screening Instrument for Bullies and Victims in Classrooms (SIBVC) was used in the sample group. To examine the concurrent validity, Matson Evaluation of Social Skills with Youngsters (MESSY) and Adolescent Peer Relations Instrument (APRI) were used. The results depicted that the individuals' scores of bullying and victimization in SIBVC are positively and negatively related to their scores in MESSY subscales, respectively. Also, individuals' scores of bullying in SIBVC is positively related to bullying scores and negatively related to victimization scores in APRI. Cronbach's alpha method was used to determine the reliability of SIBVC, and the results showed that in all classes, the obtained alpha was higher than .72. Two weeks after the first run, the instrument was reimplemented and the reliability coefficient was (p < .001, r = .97 for bullying and r = .96 for victimization). The results depicted that SIBVC benefited from favorable validity, and it was able to identify the bullies and the victims quite well in the classrooms; also, SIBVC scores had favorable reliability over time. Criteria such as the use of dyadic nomination and network mapping among the groups involved in bullying are the benefits of SIBVC, which make it a useful and new instrument in bullying research.

The influence of children's mathematical competence on performance in mental number line, time knowledge and time perception.

A growing body of research suggests that space, time and number are represented within a common system. Other studies have shown this relationship is related to the mathematical competency. Here we examined the influence of the mathematical capacities of 8-12 years old children, grouped into high (n = 63) and low (n = 58) on performance in mental number line, time knowledge and time perception. The results revealed that mathematical competency influences mental number line and time knowledge, but with regard to time perception the effects were only observed in time production task. In addition, the results of correlation analysis revealed interaction between time knowledge, time production (but not reproduction) and mental number line. Finally, the findings are discussed within the framework of the recent theories regarding representation of space, time and number.

Developing Pedestrians' Red-light Violation Behavior Questionnaire (PRVBQ); Assessment of Content Validity and Reliability.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a self-completion pedestrians' red-light violation behavior questionnaire (PRVBQ) based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and assess the content validity and reliability. METHODS: This study was conducted in three phases of (i) PRVBQ development study; (ii) Content validity study including face validity; and (iii) Reliability assessment. The directed content analysis method was used for the analysis of the qualitative interviews. The item impact score was used for face validity. Content validity index (CVI) in the item level and average scale level, and content validity ratio (CVR) were determined. Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC), and Cronbach's alpha was assessed for test-retest reliability and internal consistency respectively. RESULTS: Draft questionnaire including 86 items was constructed. Sixteen items were eliminated due to low face and content validity, remaining 70 items in total. The PRVBQ was rated as having good content validity (individual items CVI ranged from .80 to 1, and overall PRVBQ CVI-Average=0.95, p=0.05). The direct measures (reflective indicators) showed excellent internal consistency with Cronbach's alpha=0.9. All items showed excellent agreement. CONCLUSION: This study using a comprehensive process of development and assessment of content validity and reliability developed a content valid and reliable questionnaire predicting pedestrians' red light violation behavior.

Effects of emotional stimuli on cardiovascular responses in patients with essential hypertension based on brain/behavioral systems.

INTRODUCTION: Effects of emotional stimuli on hemodynamics in patients with essential hypertension based on brain/behavioral systems have not been studied broadly. METHODS: Eighty five essential hypertensive male patients who had completed Carver-White BIS/BAS scale were enrolled to the study. Later, 25 BIS and 25 BAS patients were selected and their blood pressure and heart rate were recorded prior to stimuli induction. Participants were then exposed to stressor pictures. After that, 15 minutes of relaxation and cognitive tasks were performed. Finally, the participants were exposed to pleasant pictures. The blood pressure and heart rate were recorded after presenting of 2 stimuli. RESULTS: Our study showed that BIS patients achieved higher scores in diastolic blood pressure and heart rate in comparison with BAS patients after presenting stressful stimuli. Also, BAS patients achieved lower scores in systolic blood pressure and heart rate in comparison with BIS patients after presenting pleasant stimuli. CONCLUSION: In summary, BIS patients experience negative emotions more than BAS patients. Therefore, the role of induced mood states is important in relation to physical health.

A confirmatory factor analysis of the structure of abbreviated math anxiety scale.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to explore the confirmatory factor analysis results of the Persian adaptation of Abbreviated Math Anxiety Scale (AMAS), proposed by Hopko, Mahadevan, Bare & Hunt. METHOD: The validity and reliability assessments of the scale were performed on 298 college students chosen randomly from Tabriz University in Iran. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was carried out to determine the factor structures of the Persian version of AMAS. RESULTS: As expected, the two-factor solution provided a better fit to the data than a single factor. Moreover, multi-group analyses showed that this two-factor structure was invariant across sex. Hence, AMAS provides an equally valid measure for use among college students. CONCLUSIONS: Brief AMAS demonstrates adequate reliability and validity. The AMAS scores can be used to compare symptoms of math anxiety between male and female students. The study both expands and adds support to the existing body of math anxiety literature.

A Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Structure of Statistics Anxiety Measure: An examination of four alternative models.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to explore the confirmatory factor analysis results of the Persian adaptation of Statistics Anxiety Measure (SAM), proposed by Earp. METHOD: The validity and reliability assessments of the scale were performed on 298 college students chosen randomly from Tabriz University in Iran. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was carried out to determine the factor structures of the Persian adaptation of SAM. RESULTS: As expected, the second order model provided a better fit to the data than the three alternative models. CONCLUSIONS: Hence, SAM provides an equally valid measure for use among college students. The study both expands and adds support to the existing body of math anxiety literature.