A methodology for preprocessing structured big data in the behavioral sciences.

The characteristics of big data, including high volume, increased variety, and velocity, pose special challenges for data analysis. As these characteristics generally preclude manual data inspection and processing, researchers must often use computational methodologies to deal with this type of data; techniques that may be unfamiliar to nonspecialists, including behavioral scientists. However, previous data analytics methodologies within the field of computer science, developed to handle the generic tasks of data collection, preprocessing, and analysis, can be appropriated for use in other disciplines. These methodologies involve a sequential pipeline of quality checks to prepare data sets for analysis and application. Building upon these methodologies, this paper describes the Big Data Quality & Statistical Assurance (BDQSA) model, applicable for researchers in the behavioral sciences. It involves a series of data preprocessing tasks, to achieve data understanding, as well as data screening, cleaning, and transformation. These are followed by a statistical quality phase, which includes extraction of the relevant data subset, type conversions, ensuring sample representativeness when appropriate, and assessing statistical assumptions. The resulting model thereby provides methodological guidance for the preprocessing of behavioral science big data, aimed at ensuring acceptable data quality before analysis is undertaken. Sample R code snippets demonstrating the application of this model are provided throughout the paper.

Framing Messages to Deal With the COVID-19 Crisis: The Role of Loss/Gain Frames and Content.

The goal of this study was to test the role of message framing for effective communication of self-care behaviors in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, contrasting health and economic-focused messages. We presented 319 participants with an unforced choice task where they had to select the message that they believed was more effective to increase intentions toward self-care behaviors, motivate self-care behaviors in others, increase perceived risk and enhance perceived message strength. Results showed that gain-frame health messages increased intention to adopt self-care behaviors and were judged to be stronger. Loss-framed health messages increased risk perception. When judging effectiveness for others, participants believed other people would be more sensitive to messages with an economic focus. These results can be used by governments to guide communication for the prevention of COVID-19 contagion in the media and social networks, where time and space for communicating information are limited.

Traços de temperamento estão associados ao medo e ansiedade odontológicos em crianças e adolescentes? Uma revisão sistemática / Temperament traits: are they associated to dental fear and anxiety? A systematic review

Essa revisão sistemática, foi realizada com o objetivo de verificar a associação e/ou correlação de traços de temperamento com o medo e ansiedade odontológicos de crianças e adolescentes. Registrada na plataforma PROSPERO (#CRD42020207578), seguiu-se a estratégia PEO para seu delineamento, na qual crianças e adolescentes foram a população de interesse (P), os temperamentos foram a exposição (E) e o medo/ansiedade odontológicos o desfecho (O). Foram incluídos estudos observacionais sem restrições de ano ou idioma de publicação. Foi realizada uma busca sistematizada, por dois pesquisadores independentes, nas seguintes bases de dados: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Lilacs, Embase, Cochrane e PsycINFO, complementada por busca na literatura cinzenta, sendo atualizada até abril/2021. Os seguintes dados dos artigos incluídos foram extraídos e sintetizados: local, ano, desenho de estudo, local de realização da coleta de dados, características dos participantes, métodos de avaliação das variáveis exposição e desfecho, resultados e conclusão. A análise de qualidade foi realizada pelo critério de Fowkes e Fulton e a certeza da evidência pelo método GRADE. Do total de 1362 artigos recuperados, onze foram incluídos. A heterogeneidade dos dados inviabilizou a metaanálise. Síntese qualitativa por subgrupos demonstrou associação/correlação positiva entre os traços de temperamento de emocionalidade/neuroticismo, impulsividade e timidez com o medo/ansiedade odontológicos em crianças e adolescentes. Os traços de temperamento de extroversão e sociabilidade não foram associados/correlacionados com medo/ansiedade odontológicos. A qualidade metodológica dos estudos foi avaliada como baixa em 8 dos 11 artigos incluídos. A certeza da evidência encontrada foi classificada como muito baixa. Conclui-se que crianças e adolescentes com traços de temperamento como emocionalidade e timidez são mais propensos a apresentar maior medo e ansiedade odontológicos. Este resultado deve ser avaliado com cautela devido à alta heterogeneidade e ao alto risco de viés dos estudos, com muito baixa certeza de evidência.

This systematic review aims to verify the association/correlation of temperament traits with dental fear and anxiety (DFA) in children and adolescents (PROSPERO #CRD42020207578). the PEO strategy: children and adolescents (P-population), temperament (E-exposure), and DFA (O-outcome). Observational studies without restrictions on year or language of publication were included. A systematic search was performed, by two independent researchers, in seven databases and grey literature, up to April/2021. The following data of the included articles were extracted and synthesized: location, year, study design, place of data collection, characteristics of the participants, methods for exposure and outcome variables, results, and conclusion. The risk of bias assessment was performed by the Fowkes and Fulton criteria and the certainty of the evidence by the GRADE method. 1362 articles were recovered and 11 were included. Qualitative synthesis by subgroups showed positive association/correlation between temperament of emotionality/neuroticism and shyness with DFA in children and adolescents. Eight studies had low methodological quality. In conclusion, children and adolescents with temperament like emotionality/neuroticism and shyness are more likely to present higher DFA. This result should be evaluated with caution due to the high heterogeneity and low methodological quality of the studies, with very low certainty of evidence.

Social validity of a contextual behavioral science-based intervention for retirement education.

The literature shows that retirement can bring both positive and negative effects. However, there are few tested interventions for preparing workers for this transition and avoiding or minimizing its negative impacts. This paper presents a study with multiple groups that examined the social validity of an intervention for retirement education grounded in contextual behavioral science and acceptance and commitment therapy. Twenty-seven workers aged 29 to 65 divided into three intervention groups participated (group 1, N = 15; group 2, N = 9; group 3, N = 3). According to the participants' evaluations, the intervention provided socially valid goals, socially acceptable procedures, and socially important effects. However, some improvements are still needed, such as the use of more dynamic methods, better formatted printed material, and increased fidelity between the content's implementation and the prescribed activities. The positive results indicate that contextual behavioral science may bolster the development of interventions whose components possess evidence for their social validity. The further evaluation of the intervention via a clinical trial study will offer more robust evidence for its effectiveness. It is hoped that by increasing the availability of theory-based interventions in this area, the present study will promote valid strategies to facilitate better adjustment to retirement.

Social validity of a contextual behavioral science-based intervention for retirement education

Abstract The literature shows that retirement can bring both positive and negative effects. However, there are few tested interventions for preparing workers for this transition and avoiding or minimizing its negative impacts. This paper presents a study with multiple groups that examined the social validity of an intervention for retirement education grounded in contextual behavioral science and acceptance and commitment therapy. Twenty-seven workers aged 29 to 65 divided into three intervention groups participated (group 1, N = 15; group 2, N = 9; group 3, N = 3). According to the participants' evaluations, the intervention provided socially valid goals, socially acceptable procedures, and socially important effects. However, some improvements are still needed, such as the use of more dynamic methods, better formatted printed material, and increased fidelity between the content's implementation and the prescribed activities. The positive results indicate that contextual behavioral science may bolster the development of interventions whose components possess evidence for their social validity. The further evaluation of the intervention via a clinical trial study will offer more robust evidence for its effectiveness. It is hoped that by increasing the availability of theory-based interventions in this area, the present study will promote valid strategies to facilitate better adjustment to retirement.

Understanding dentists' caries management: The COM-B ICCMS™ questionnaire.

OBJECTIVE: To design and validate a questionnaire to measure caries management based on the Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation Behavior model (COM-B) and the International Caries Classification and Management System (ICCMS™). METHODS: A combination of Cariology and Psychology experts developed a 79-item pool that measured the COM-B components according to the ICCMS™ caries management recommended behaviours. After face and content validation and a pilot study, two samples of Colombian dentists participated: clinicians (n = 277) and clinical-practice educators (n = 212). RESULTS: Using parallel analysis and exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM), the questionnaire was reduced to a 47-item 5-factor instrument that demonstrated good internal consistency and validity properties, including a robust factor structure, measurement invariance across samples and high predictive validity of ICCMS™ recommended behaviours. Scales' mean scores showed that dentists were conducting recommended behaviours "most-of-the-time" (Behavior), showed high confidence in their ability to conduct these behaviours (Capability) and considered recommendations as highly relevant (Opportunity-Relevance), while their appraisals of the available resources (Opportunity-Resources) and remuneration (Motivation) were notably lower. CONCLUSION: Overall, the findings highlight the practical utility of the COM-B ICCMS™ Questionnaire in understanding the potential antecedent variables that may explain dentists' behaviours related to caries diagnosis and management and in suggesting avenues for achieving a positive change in their behaviour.

Níveis de alfa-amilase, cortisol salivar e avaliação comportamental de crianças com retardo do desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor na situação odontológica, participantes da dinâmica de arte: análise comparativa / Levels of alpha-amylase, salivary cortisol and behavioral evaluation of children with neuro-psychomotor development retardation in the odontological situation, receiving art´s dynamics: comparative analysis

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi analisar os níveis de atividade da alfa-amilase, de cortisol salivar e avaliar o comportamento durante o tratamento odontológico, de pacientes portadores de retardo do desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor (rdnpm), participantes da dinâmica de arte, comparando seus valores segundo os procedimentos odontológicos realizados (cirurgia, dentística e prevenção), o gênero, a idade, estímulo artístico, odontopediatria e comportamento. Participaram 71 crianças, sendo 52 portadoras de rdnpm assistidos no Centro de Assistência Odontológica a Portadores de Necessidades Especiais (CAOE), e 19 crianças neurologicamente saudáveis, assistidas na clínica de Odontopediatria, da Faculdade de Odontologia de Araçatuba-FOA-UNESP; todos na faixa etária de 6 a 12 anos e de ambos os sexos. Os pacientes selecionados foram divididos em grupos, de acordo com a necessidade de tratamento odontológico (cirurgia, dentística, e prevenção). Esses mesmos pacientes foram analisados segundo o gênero (masculino e feminino) e a idade, agrupados em dois blocos, um de 6 a 9 anos e outro de 10 a 12 anos. Os níveis de alfa-amilase e cortisol salivar foram avaliados em 3 situações: inicialmente os pacientes foram calibrados por meio de análise de seus níveis habituais de cortisol e alfa amilase, através da coleta de saliva, no período da manhã, na situação SEST (sem estímulos odontológicos ou artísticos). Os mesmos pacientes foram atendidos nos consultórios, na situação TO, onde receberam tratamentos odontológicos e as coletas de saliva foram realizadas após as assistências, para se analisar os níveis de cortisol e alfa-amilase, sem a participação deles nas atividades do projeto da arte. Na situação EATO, os pacientes participaram das atividades da dinâmica da arte, previamente às assistências odontológicas e a coleta de saliva foi realizada após as atividades artísticas e a sessão odontológica. A avaliação do comportamento dos pacientes, foi verificada durante o tratamento...

The purpose of this study was to analyze the levels of alpha-amylase and salivary cortisol and to assess the behavior during dental treatment of patients with neuro-psychomotor development retardation (NPDR), who received art´s dynamics, comparing their values according to the accomplished dental procedures (surgery, dentistry and prevention), gender, age, artistic stimulus, pediatric dentistry and behavior. The study included 71 children aging from six to twelve years old, from both genders: 52 with NPDR assisted at the Dental Care Center for Patients with Special Needs (CAOE - Centro de Assistência Odontológica ao Excepcional, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil), and 19 neurologically healthy children, assisted at the Pediatric Dentistry Clinic, both from Araçatuba School of Dentistry, UNESP. These patients were divided into groups, according to the dental treatment necessity (surgery group, dentistry group and preventive group), and analyzed according to gender (male or female) and age (grouped into two sub-groups: from 6 to 9 years old and from 10 to 12 years old). Alpha-amylase and salivary cortisol levels were evaluated in three situations. Initially, the patients were calibrated through the normal cortisol and alpha-amylase levels, in the morning, in the situation called WDAS (without dental treatment and without artistic stimulus). The same patients were attended at the Clinics, in the situation called DT (dental treatment), where they received dental treatments and, following, saliva collection, in order to analyze the levels of cortisol and alpha-amylase, without receiving activities from the arts project. In the situation called DTAS (with dental treatment and artistic stimulus), previously to the dental treatments, patients took part in art’s dynamics activities, and saliva collection was accomplished after the dental treatments. The behavioral evaluation was accomplished during the dental treatment and reported after the two situations: DT and DTAS…

Níveis de alfa-amilase, cortisol salivar e avaliação comportamental de crianças com retardo do desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor na situação odontológica, participantes da dinâmica de arte: análise comparativa / Levels of alpha-amylase, salivary cortisol and behavioral evaluation of children with neuro-psychomotor development retardation in the odontological situation, receiving art´s dynamics: comparative analysis

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi analisar os níveis de atividade da alfa-amilase, de cortisol salivar e avaliar o comportamento durante o tratamento odontológico, de pacientes portadores de retardo do desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor (rdnpm), participantes da dinâmica de arte, comparando seus valores segundo os procedimentos odontológicos realizados (cirurgia, dentística e prevenção), o gênero, a idade, estímulo artístico, odontopediatria e comportamento. Participaram 71 crianças, sendo 52 portadoras de rdnpm assistidos no Centro de Assistência Odontológica a Portadores de Necessidades Especiais (CAOE), e 19 crianças neurologicamente saudáveis, assistidas na clínica de Odontopediatria, da Faculdade de Odontologia de Araçatuba-FOA-UNESP; todos na faixa etária de 6 a 12 anos e de ambos os sexos. Os pacientes selecionados foram divididos em grupos, de acordo com a necessidade de tratamento odontológico (cirurgia, dentística, e prevenção). Esses mesmos pacientes foram analisados segundo o gênero (masculino e feminino) e a idade, agrupados em dois blocos, um de 6 a 9 anos e outro de 10 a 12 anos. Os níveis de alfa-amilase e cortisol salivar foram avaliados em 3 situações: inicialmente os pacientes foram calibrados por meio de análise de seus níveis habituais de cortisol e alfa amilase, através da coleta de saliva, no período da manhã, na situação SEST (sem estímulos odontológicos ou artísticos). Os mesmos pacientes foram atendidos nos consultórios, na situação TO, onde receberam tratamentos odontológicos e as coletas de saliva foram realizadas após as assistências, para se analisar os níveis de cortisol e alfa-amilase, sem a participação deles nas atividades do projeto da arte. Na situação EATO, os pacientes participaram das atividades da dinâmica da arte, previamente às assistências odontológicas e a coleta de saliva foi realizada após as atividades artísticas e a sessão odontológica. A avaliação do comportamento dos pacientes, foi verificada durante o tratamento...

The purpose of this study was to analyze the levels of alpha-amylase and salivary cortisol and to assess the behavior during dental treatment of patients with neuro-psychomotor development retardation (NPDR), who received art´s dynamics, comparing their values according to the accomplished dental procedures (surgery, dentistry and prevention), gender, age, artistic stimulus, pediatric dentistry and behavior. The study included 71 children aging from six to twelve years old, from both genders: 52 with NPDR assisted at the Dental Care Center for Patients with Special Needs (CAOE - Centro de Assistência Odontológica ao Excepcional, Araçatuba, São Paulo, Brazil), and 19 neurologically healthy children, assisted at the Pediatric Dentistry Clinic, both from Araçatuba School of Dentistry, UNESP. These patients were divided into groups, according to the dental treatment necessity (surgery group, dentistry group and preventive group), and analyzed according to gender (male or female) and age (grouped into two sub-groups: from 6 to 9 years old and from 10 to 12 years old). Alpha-amylase and salivary cortisol levels were evaluated in three situations. Initially, the patients were calibrated through the normal cortisol and alpha-amylase levels, in the morning, in the situation called WDAS (without dental treatment and without artistic stimulus). The same patients were attended at the Clinics, in the situation called DT (dental treatment), where they received dental treatments and, following, saliva collection, in order to analyze the levels of cortisol and alpha-amylase, without receiving activities from the arts project. In the situation called DTAS (with dental treatment and artistic stimulus), previously to the dental treatments, patients took part in art’s dynamics activities, and saliva collection was accomplished after the dental treatments. The behavioral evaluation was accomplished during the dental treatment and reported after the two situations: DT and DTAS…