Browsing by Subject "Surveys"

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6

Evaluating the uncertainty of a UN indicator for sustainable development goal 6.1 : case study on water access in Morocco
(2017-12) Oueidat, Haytham; Eaton, David J.; McKinney, Daene
This report examines the reliability of an indicator used by the UN to monitor the progress of member nations on Sustainable Development Goal 6.1 related to improved universal water access. The report examines the international and national framework for development indicators with a case study on Morocco. This study discusses limitations posed by household surveys and post-census investigations on providers of water services. It proposes a methodology to harmonize conflicting indicator definitions that is leading to contested statistics. The new methodology combines user-based stratified sampling techniques and provider-based definitions of the population’s strata with satellite image processing to select households. Two experiments demonstrate improvements in the indicator’s precision and accuracy. A first experiment simulates the uncertainty of water access estimates resulting from a typical household survey. A second experiment provides the reasoning and implementation of the new sampling methodology, showing a clear reduction of bias and variance in water access estimates.
An Evaluation of Promotional Tactics and Utility Measurement Methods for Public Transportation Systems
(Council for Advanced Transportation Studies, 1977-03) Alpert, Mark; Golden, Linda; Betak, John; Story, James; Davies, C. Shane
This report summarizes work in the third year of a research program that has sought to build on community-researched transportation needs and measure the impact of various marketing strategies for public transportation under carefully controlled conditions. The first part of the report focuses on the promotion of public transportation. It includes a survey of relevant communications and marketing literature, the research hypotheses that were deemed relevant, the methodology used to test alternative promotional tactics, and the results of interpretation of the findings for promotion for public transportation. The second part focuses on recent advances in methods for quantifying preference levels for various product and service features of transportation modes. Similarly, it reviews the relevant literature, presents the methodology whereby alternative measurement methods may be applied to evaluate attributes of transportation systems in the study area, and reports the findings concerning the usefulness of the methods tried as well as recommendations for transit planning and future research in the problem area.
Past, present and future status of the endangered American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus) in Texas
(2010-08) Bauer, Kendra Kim; Gilbert, Lawrence E.; Juenger, Thomas E.
Nicrophorus americanus is a federally endangered species whose range has decreased dramatically since the 1920s. It is a nocturnal species that is only active from May to September when temperatures reach at least 15.5°C for three nights in a row. It once ranged throughout North America, from Maine and the southern parts of Canada, west to South Dakota and south to Texas. The historic Texas population consists of four Texas specimens from the 1880s residing at the Philadelphia Academy of Science Invertebrate Collection. Since then, there were no confirmed specimens in Texas, until 2003 when a single individual was found in Lamar County, Texas. The population discovered in Lamar County has been on a steady decrease from 2005, 223 individuals captured, until 2008 only 8 individuals captured. Since 2008, no individuals have been captured in Texas, despite intense surveys. It is possible that the Texas population is a sink population with the Oklahoma population to its north, acting as the source. Genetic analysis of the Texas and Oklahoma populations would help to answer this question and analysis of the entire population may answer questions to why the species declined leaving only the peripheral populations. The specific habitat variables that caused the population to re-colonize and go extinct in Texas are unclear, but when determined could play a critical role in managing the population.
Resisting slactorvism : toward theatrical activism in service of organizing beyond the stage
(2021-05-03) Joaquin, Anna Michaela Rogelio; Bonin-Rodriguez, Paul
While theatre practitioners often intend to create art in service of social change, academic theatre and performance studies programs do not adequately prepare artists to do so. Despite their interdisciplinary nature and bridging of theory and practice, these programs often neglect the opportunity to ground theatrical training in theories of social change (Dolan 53). As a result, many professional artists are poised to make work with activist aims detached from the political analysis necessary to responsibly and effectively work toward concrete goals. This thesis puts social change studies and performance studies in conversation with each other, drawing on theories of organizing, artistic activism, and privileged spectatorship. I first frame organizing as the most effective theory of social change—a tactic I believe to have strong potential for collaboration with theatrical events. Then, I examine strengths and limitations of theatre as artistic activism, naming The Center for Artistic Activism’s concept of AEffect as a framework for analyzing impact (Duncombe and Lambert 5). I also introduce applied theatre scholar Dani Snyder-Young’s concept of privileged spectatorship as what theatre is up against (100). These theories inform my methodology for assessing impact of two case studies: Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s 2018-2019 production of La Ruta by Isaac Gómez and Gathering Ground Theatre and Tenants Speak Up! Theatre’s 2020 production of A Tale of Two Citizens: A People’s Struggle with Housing in the Capital City. Through a critical discourse analysis of production materials and audience impact surveys, this thesis presents a generative call for a more active assessment of insularity, intentions, and impacts of contemporary theatre pursuing social change, as well as the necessity of resisting slactorvism by ensuring theatrical activism serves organizing beyond the stage.
Using quantitative and qualitative methods to evaluate survey item quality : a demonstration of practice leading to item clarity
(2011-05) Alanis, Kelly Lynn; Emmer, Edmund T.; Beretvas, Susan N.; Holleran, Lori K.; Sherry, Alissa R.; Spence, Richard T.; Raffeld, Paul C.
The purpose of this study was to propose and evaluate a procedure for revising an existing self-administered survey that is in need of item revision and/or scale reduction while maximizing validity and reliability. The procedure was demonstrated using the Client Evaluation of Self and Treatment (CEST; Joe, Broome, Rowan-Szal, & Simpson, 2002), a self-administered survey used in drug and alcohol treatment agencies. The procedure included confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses of a large dataset of completed CEST surveys, a readability analysis, and cognitive interviewing of two different groups of respondents to determine what problems they might have with CEST items. The cognitive interviewing revealed a number of issues that led to confusion among respondents, including items with two distinct concepts embedded, items containing absolutes and vague qualifiers, misinterpreted items, and terms and phrases respondents had difficulty understanding. The CEST was also judged to be long and potentially burdensome to respondents. Based on the results of this evaluation, a new survey—the Brief Assessment of Self in Context (BASIC)—also intended for use by substance abuse treatment providers, was constructed. First, factor analyses of the CEST and advice from an expert panel were used to determine which scales to retain. Next, quantitative analyses and cognitive interviewing helped determine which CEST items to retain and which to revise. Readability, sound item writing principles, and response format and scale requirements were also used to determine which items to include in the initial draft of the BASIC and guided item construction when needed. After the panel of experts provided feedback on the first revision, a final draft was prepared. Another round of cognitive interviewing was followed by administration of the final draft of the survey to a representative sample. The results indicated that the BASIC’s items are clear, unambiguous, and easy to interact with and understand, and that the instrument is an improvement over the CEST. In brief, the procedure demonstrated in this study produced a psychometrically sound instrument composed of items that are easy for respondents to access.
Utilizing the All of Us Research Program : exploring the use of wearable activity trackers in adults with heart failure
(2023-04-21) Leggio, Katelyn E.; Radhakrishnan, Kavita; Koleck, Theresa A; Zuniga, Julie A; Kesler, Shelli
Heart Failure (HF) continues to be a social and economic problem in the United States (US). Interventions to improve outcomes have focused on reducing 30-day readmissions while concerns remain with increasing post-discharge mortality and 60- and 90-day readmission rates. Self-care interventions are essential to improve outcomes, yet there remain issues with the sustained engagement of behavioral changes. Activity trackers have been shown to increase physical activity for adults with HF; however, questions remain if they motivate individuals for sustained engagement over time as well as influence health care utilization and quality of life (QoL). This study aims to understand the overall impact of wearable activity trackers as a self-care tool on health behaviors and health outcomes in adults with HF using the All of Us dataset. Firstly, a systematic review examined six research articles using a Fitbit or Apple Watch as an intervention in adults with HF. Study participants improved or had no change from baseline in QoL, health behaviors (steps/day or general daily activity), and physical parameters (6MWT, weight, or blood pressure); not all results were statistically significant. Subsequently, a cross-sectional analysis of the All of Us Research Program participant data (survey responses, Fitbit, and electronic health record [EHR] data) of adults with HF (n = 93) was conducted. Multiple linear regression was performed to predict scores for Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Global Health Short Form subscale scores for Physical Health and Mental Health based on Fitbit usage (duration and level of activity), social support, perceived stress, food security, and neighborhood safety. People with HF and reported Fitbit use (n = 93) and lack of reported perceived stress (B = -0.312, p = .022) and level of activity (B = 3.868, p= 0.044) were significant predictors for Physical Health. Perceived stress (B= -0.689, p < 0.001) was a significant predictor of Mental Health. Fitbit users (n = 93) were compared to non-reported users (n = 1,577) and the analysis failed to demonstrate a difference in days hospitalized and self-reported Physical Health and Mental Health. Finally, the last aim of this dissertation was to demonstrate methods for using the All of Us Research Program in a nursing dissertation by providing a step-by-step guide for designing a research project, exemplar R codes for calculating outcome scores such as PROMIS Global Health, and a review of the facilitators and barriers encountered. This dissertation advances science in several ways, including (1) addressing personalized self-care strategies important for developing precision health interventions in adults with HF, (2) providing a longitudinal perspective on the influence of Fitbit usage in adults with HF, and (3) providing a guide for nursing doctoral students to utilize the All of Us Research Program in dissertation studies.