Empowering the poor: A field study of the social psychological consequences of receiving autonomy or dependency aid in Panama.

This field study investigated the consequences of receiving poverty aid through conditional transfer programmes in the form of autonomy-oriented help (i.e., cash) or dependency-oriented help (i.e., vouchers) in impoverished rural communities in Panama. The empowering effects of autonomy- (vs. dependency-) help have so far only been studied in laboratory settings, or in settings where help could easily be refused. Little is known about the reactions of people who rely on help for extended periods of time. This study provides insights into how aid recipients are influenced by the type of aid they receive. Results showed that, as expected, recipients of cash reported more autonomy, empowerment, and life improvements than recipients of vouchers. Training, another type of autonomy-oriented help, was positively related to empowerment, personal, and family change beliefs. These findings illustrate the benefits of autonomy-oriented help programmes in empowering people from extremely poor communities around the world, who rely on aid for extended periods of time.

No le tema a los datos perdidos: enfoques modernos para el manejo de datos perdidos

La mayoría de los datos en ciencias sociales y educación presentan valores perdidos debido al abandono del estudio o la ausencia de respuesta. Los métodos para el manejo de datos perdidos han mejorado dramáticamente en los últimos años, y los programas computacionales ofrecen en la actualidad una variedad de opciones sofisticadas. A pesar de la amplia disponibilidad de métodos considerablemente justificados, muchos investigadores e investigadoras siguen confiando en técnicas viejas de imputación que pueden crear análisis sesgados. Este artículo presenta una introducción conceptual a los patrones de datos perdidos. Seguidamente, se introduce el manejo de datos perdidos y el análisis de los mismos con base en los mecanismos modernos del método de máxima verosimilitud con información completa (FIML, siglas en inglés) y la imputación múltiple (IM). Asimismo, se incluye una introducción a los diseños de datos perdidos así como nuevas herramientas computacionales tales como la función Quark y el paquete semTools. Se espera que este artículo incentive el uso de métodos modernos para el análisis de los datos perdidos.

Most of the social and educational data have missing observations due to either attrition or nonresponse. Missing data methodology has improved dramatically in recent years, and popular computer programs as well as software now offer a variety of sophisticated options. Despite the widespread availability of theoretically justified methods, many researchers still rely on old imputation techniques that can create biased analysis. This article provides conceptual introductions to the patterns of missing data. In line with that, this article introduces how to handle and analyze the missing information based on modern mechanisms of full-information maximum likelihood (FIML) and multiple imputation (MI). An introduction about planned missing designs is also included and new computational tools like Quark function, and semTools package are also mentioned. The authors hope that this paper encourages researchers to implement modern methods for analyzing missing data.

Self-efficacy, action control, and social support explain physical activity changes among Costa Rican older adults.

BACKGROUND: Self-efficacy, action control, and social support are considered to influence changes in physical activity levels in older adults. This study examines the relationship among these variables and explores the putative mediating and moderating mechanisms that might account for activity changes. METHODS: A longitudinal study with 54 older adults (≥ 50 years of age) was carried out in Costa Rica. In a moderated mediation analysis, action control was specified as a mediator between self-efficacy and physical activity, whereas social support was specified as a moderator between self-efficacy and action control. Baseline physical activity, age, and sex were specified as covariates. RESULTS: Action control mediated between self-efficacy and physical activity. An interaction between social support and self-efficacy on action control pointed to a synergistic effect at the first stage of the mediating process. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of self-efficacy on physical activity was partly explained by action control, providing evidence of action control as a proximal mediator of physical activity. Moreover, the moderator role of social support was confirmed: high social support appeared to compensate for low levels of self-efficacy.