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Biomedical subjects

R A Berk

Publications and source records attributed to R A Berk.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1979

Prediction of the academic success of children with suspected neurological impairments.

Explored a multivariate approach to the prediction of 8-year academic achievement. Ss were black, of low socioeconomic status, and had been diagnosed as suspect neurologically impaired at age 7. A serial array of early predictors that included maternal education, sex, birth weight, 8-month and 4-year intelligence, and 3-year speech, hearing, and language were entered into multiple regression analyses to determine their value in predicting 8-year academic achievement in word recognition, arithmetic, spelling, and oral reading. The 4-year intelligence measure was the best overall predictor, although maternal education, sex, and birth weight contributed slightly to the predictions. The resulting equations, however, could not be used to predict accurately 8-year academic achievement.

Achievement↗
PubMed1979

The discriminative efficiency of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development.

This study was designed to determine the discriminative efficiency of the Bayley Mental and Motor Scales for classifying infants as neurologically suspicious and neurologically normal. The two groups employed in the study were formed on the basis of the results from comprehensive neurological examinations performed at ages 1 and 7. Three discriminant function analyses were conducted, one for each scale separately and a third incorporating both scales using a stepwise procedure. Efficiency was measured in terms of number of correct and incorrect classifications, false positive and false negative errors, and validity coefficients. Comparisons among the analyses were examined by means of relative discrimination power and incremental validity. The findings suggested that the Motor Scale provides the most accurate identification of infants with suspected neurological impairments. A statistically significant likelihood discriminant function derived from both scales yielded some additional discriminative power. The law of parsimony, however, dictated the use of the single Motor Scale.

Child↗
PubMed1979

Technical considerations in the evaluation of pediatric motor scales.

Guidelines are suggested for evaluating the validity and reliability of fine and gross motor scales. In the process of examining three types of validity (domain, construct, discriminant) and two types of reliability (interobserver, decision-making), it was found that there were marked deficiencies in most of the instruments currently available, particularly in the areas of discriminant validity and decision-making reliability. Each psychometric property of the scales was addressed from both scale-developer and user perspectives. An evaluative checklist is generated to assist occupational therapists who need to decide on the quality and appropriateness of a motor behavior scale for specific decision applications.

Child↗
PubMed1979

Generalizability of behavioral observations: a clarification of interobserver agreement and interobserver reliability.

Sixteen indices of interobserver agreement and six methods for estimating coefficients of interobserver reliability were critiqued. The agreement statistics were found to be imprecise, limited psychometrically, and relatively inflexible in terms of the diverse categorical and quantitative data sets typically encountered in mental retardation research. Five of the reliability statistics produced precise estimates of agreement, yet possessed similar limitations. Only the intraclass correlation--generalizability theory approach seemed to offer the precision, comprehensiveness, and flexibility required to deal with the complexity of reliability assessment. A basic generalizability model was described and illustrated with group and single-subject research data.

Humans↗
PubMed1978

MEDLINE training within the library school curriculum: quality control and future trends.

In order to assess the current status of MEDLINE training provided by schools of library science, a survey was conducted of those schools having an educational identification code issued by the National Library of Medicine. Information was gathered on such variables as the instructors' background and preparation, the course objectives and content, and the amount of on-line experience provided to students in each of eleven programs. An evaluation of these measures indicates that more opportunities to gain experience in using MEDLINE should be initiated by library schools and that current efforts should be continued and expanded. Specific recommendations for accomplishing these goals are outlined; they are addressed to health sciences librarians, library school educators, the Medical Library Association, and the National Library of Medicine.

Curriculum↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Healthcare needs scale for patients with HIV/AIDS: content validation.

The authors of this study adapted Peters' (1987) community health specifications of patients' nursing requirements so they could be applied to patients with HIV/AIDS in hospital, dedicated outpatient HIV clinic, home care, and long-term care settings. The authors then collected validity evidence on the revised specifications, developed a sample of 62 multiple-choice items, and obtained content-related validity evidence via a judgmental review panel. The results produced: (a) a set of specifications for the environmental, psychosocial, physiological, and health behaviors domains; and (b) a 44-item scale of patient characteristics related to four levels of healthcare needs.

Community Health Nursing↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Using a faculty evaluation triad to achieve evidence-based teaching.

Aneffective and comprehensive faculty evaluation system provides both formative and summative data for ongoing faculty development. It also provides data for annual faculty evaluation and tenure and promotion decision making. To achieve an effective system, a triad of faculty evaluation data sources--student ratings, teaching portfolio, and peer evaluation--were developed. Concurrently, a system of faculty mentorship was implemented, as well as an administrative structure to effectively use data to assist in merit pay and promotion decisions. Using a comprehensive, evidenced-based system to document, analyze, and improve teaching effectiveness is essential to assuring excellence in teaching and learning.

Education, Nursing↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Healthcare needs scales for patients with HIV/AIDS: construct validation.

The authors report on the quantitative analysis phase in the development of the Healthcare Needs Scales for Patients with HIV/AIDS (Berk, Poe, & Bagis-Smith, 1992). The scales were administered to a cross-sectional sample of 386 patients from hospital, outpatient HIV clinic, homecare, and long-term care settings. The authors collected construct validity evidence based on a factor analysis and comprehensive item, subscale, and scale analyses, concurrent validity evidence of primary caretakers serving as proxies for hospital patients, and internal consistency reliability evidence. The results produced an instrument for diagnosing the psychosocial and physiological needs of the target population.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗