ABSTRACT
Working memory capacity (WMC) has been measured with a plethora of cognitive tasks. Several preeminent automated batteries of working memory (WM) tasks have been developed recently. However, despite all their advantages, most batteries were programmed in paid platforms and/or only included a single WM paradigm. To address these issues, we developed the OpenWMB, an automated battery comprising seven tasks from three distinct paradigms (complex spans, updating tasks, and binding tasks) that tap into several functional aspects of WM (simultaneous storage and processing, updating, and binding). The battery runs on open-source software (OpenSesame) and is freely available online in a ready-to-download format. The OpenWMB possesses flexible features and includes a data processing script (that converts data into a format ready for statistical analysis). The instrument is available in Portuguese and English. However, we only assessed the psychometric properties of the former version. The Portuguese version presented good internal consistency and considerable internal and predictive validity: all tasks loaded into a single factor. Additionally, the WMC estimate was strongly correlated with a fluid intelligence factor. This study also tried to contribute to the ongoing debate regarding the best method to assess WMC. We computed a permutation analysis to compare the amount of variance shared between a fluid intelligence factor and (1) each WM task, (2) homogenous WMC factors (based on multiple tasks from the same paradigm), and (3) heterogeneous WMC factors (derived from triplets of tasks from different paradigms). Our results suggested that heterogeneous factors provided the best estimates of WMC.
ABSTRACT
Decent work is positioned as the centerpiece of the recently developed Psychology of Working Theory (PWT; Duffy, Blustein, Diemer, & Autin, 2016). However, to date, no instrument exists which assesses all 5 components of decent work from a psychological perspective. In the current study, we developed the Decent Work Scale (DWS) and demonstrated several aspects of validity with 2 samples of working adults. In Study 1 (N = 275), a large pool of items were developed and exploratory factor analysis was conducted resulting in a final 15-item scale with 5 factors/subscales corresponding to the 5 components of decent work: (a) physically and interpersonally safe working conditions, (b) access to health care, (c) adequate compensation, (d) hours that allow for free time and rest, and (e) organizational values that complement family and social values. In Study 2 (N = 589), confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that a 5-factor, bifactor model offered the strongest and most parsimonious fit to the data. Configural, metric, and scalar invariance models were tested demonstrating that the structure of the instrument did not differ across gender, income, social class, and majority/minority racial/ethnic groups. Finally, the overall scale score and 5 subscale scores correlated in the expected directions with similar constructs supporting convergent and discriminant evidence of validity, and subscale scores evidenced predictive validity in the prediction of job satisfaction, work meaning, and withdrawal intentions. The development of this scale provides a useful tool for researchers and practitioners seeking to assess the attainment of decent work among employed adults. (PsycINFO Database Record
Subject(s)
Career Choice , Career Mobility , Job Satisfaction , Psychometrics/statistics & numerical data , Surveys and Questionnaires , Workload/psychology , Workplace , Adult , Female , Health Services Accessibility , Humans , Income , Interpersonal Relations , Male , Middle Aged , Occupational Health , Psychological Theory , United StatesABSTRACT
Este artigo dá conta de uma investigação centrada nas transições de jovens adultos que viveram um longo período das suas vidas em instituições de acolhimento para crianças e jovens - Lares de Infância e Juventude - e estão agora autonomizados. A estrutura pretende articular a teoria ecológica do desenvolvimento humano de Bronfenbrenner com modelos de transições (com especial incidência em Schlossberg), majorando a influência das vinculações criadas por crianças e jovens institucionalizados com cuidadores e entre os pares; visa fundamentar a metodologia utilizada na recolha e validação das entrevistas biográficas, enquadrando o trabalho em duas instituições da região Centro de Portugal, caracterizando o seu funcionamento; incide sobre a descrição, na perspetiva de adultos e jovens adultos ex-institucionalizados, das transições ao longo dos diversos espaços e tempos das suas vidas, nomeadamente através da sua perceção dos momentos de vida mais marcantes, das vinculações estabelecidas e da sua importância para aumentar a resiliência e competir para a sua integração social. Pretende-se assim compreender a perceção que os ex-utentes têm da relação entre o apoio e a formação que lhes foi proporcionada enquanto institucionalizados e o eventual contributo desses adquiridos na sua posterior integração nos diferentes contextos de vida.
This paper presents a research, focusing on transitions of young adults who lived in institutions for children and young people who are now independent. It which designed to articulate Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory of human development with models of transitions (particular focus on Schlossberg), subsequently adding the influence of the linkages created by institutionalized children and youth; which aims to support the methodology used in the collection and validation of biographical interviews, framing the work in monitoring and education and training activities carried out in two institutions in the region of Central Portugal; focuses on the description in perspective of ex-institutionalized adult and young adult transitions over the various spaces and times of their lives, particularly through their perception of the salient moments of life and established attachments.
Este artículo da a conocer una investigación aún en curso centrada en las transiciones de adultos e jóvenes que han vivido en instituciones de acogimiento de niños y jóvenes que están ahora a vivir de manera independiente. Su estructura pretende articular la teoría ecológica del desarrollo humano de Bronfenbrenner con modelos de transiciones (particular énfasis en Schlossberg) dando privilegio a la influencia de los vínculos creados por niños y jóvenes que viven en instituciones; pretende fundamentarse la metodología utilizada, en la recolección y validación de las entrevistas biográficas, encuadrando el trabajo en el acompañamiento y actividades de educación y formación desarrolladas en dos instituciones situadas en la región Central de Portugal; incide en la descripción en la perspectiva de los adultos y jóvenes adultos ex-institucionalizados, de las transiciones a lo largo de los diferentes espacios y tiempos de sus vidas, sobre todo a través de su percepción de los momentos de vida que sobresalen y de las vinculaciones establecidas. Para la consecución de este último nivel se realizaran entrevistas de cuño biográfico que visaran identificar las percepciones de los intervinientes acerca de la influencia de su institucionalización en su vida autónoma.
