Felicitometric hermeneutics: interpreting quality of life measurements

The use of quality of life (QOL) outcomes in clinical trials is increasing as a number of practical, ethical, methodological, and regulatory reasons for their use have become apparent. It is important, then, that QOL measurements and differences between QOL scores be readily interpretable. We study interpretation in two contexts: when determining QOL and when basing decisions on QOL differences. We consider both clinical situations involving individual patients and research contexts, e.g., randomized clinical trials, involving groups of patients. We note the ethical importance of such understanding: proper interpretation and communication facilitate health care decision making. Communication that facilitates interpretation is of moral significance since better communication can attenuate ethical problems and inform choices. Much of what is communication worthy about QOL assessments is determined by the particular QOL instrument used in the assessment and how it is administered. In practice, these choices will be driven by the purpose of the assessment, but, it is argued, to maximize understanding, we should combine the information garnered from traditional standardized QOL instruments, from individualized QOL assessments, and from a recently proposed dialogic paradigm, where QOL is determined by shared conversation regarding the interpretation of texts. And, while some studies can surely succeed using abbreviated methods of administration (e.g., postal surveys may suffice for certain purposes), we will focus on methods of administration involving interviewer?Crespondent interaction. We suggest that during the QOL elicitation process, interviewer and respondent should engage in a two-way conversation in order to achieve a shared understanding of the ??answers?? to QOL ??questions?? and, finally, to reach a shared interpretation of the individual??s QOL.     

Assessments of learning‐related skills and interpersonal skills constructs within early childhood environments in Singapore

Social skills are necessary for developing successful relationships and promoting learning. Interpersonal skills (IPS) are needed for maintaining friendships while learning‐related skills (LRS) are required for positive classroom behaviours. In this study, we investigated the construct validity of LRS and IPS within two existing assessments: the Child Behavior Rating Scales (CBRS) and the Preschool and Kindergarten Behavior Scales—2nd edition (PKBS‐2). Teachers completed the CBRS and PKBS‐2 for 117 Singaporean children aged 3–6 years. Rasch analysis was used to identify items that fit the unidimensional constructs of LRS and IPS within each instrument. Specific items from within the CBRS were found to measure LRS and IPS. Within the PKBS‐2, items were found to measure IPS and a new construct labelled Compliance. Instead of creating new assessment tools to measure new constructs, this study innovatively demonstrated how Rasch analysis can be used to document the existence of new constructs within already existing tools. The identification of new constucts and the use of these tools in an Asian context are presented. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Applying Relational and Contextual Reasoning (RCR) to Understand Human–Divine Relationships

The topic of human–divine relationships invites reflection from multiple perspectives. This paper explores methodological issues related to the coordination of psychological, neurobiological and theological accounts of divine–human relationships. In particular, biological and psychological work relating to human attachment relationships are considered in relation to Christian understandings of God as Trinity. The approach of relational and contextual reasoning (RCR), a type of complementarity proposed by K. Helmut Reich, is proposed as one means of exploring relationships between some of the accounts suggested by contemporary work in the three disciplines of psychology, neurobiology and theology.     

The Higgs Boson: An Adventure in Critical Realism

Abstract

The search for the Higgs boson has been like the search of a pirate for buried gold. Like the pirate, the physicist has a map, a conceptual map—the Standard Model (SM) made up of mathematical formulas. Without the Higgs boson in the SM, fundamental particles would be massless. Where could the mass mechanism be? The conceptual map pointed in the right direction. On July 4, 2012 the pirates found their treasure with the help of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. In this article a physicist and theologian ask: could this be critical realism (CR) at work? Could CR constitute a set of presuppositions shared by both physicists and theologians who cannot see the object of their inquiry but employ conceptual models that presuppose the reality of its referent? What role could shared CR play in the creative mutual interaction between science and theology?     

Shattered dreams,resiliency, and hope: “restorying” after loss

Abstract

Experiences of shattered dreams can cause some to lose hope and the capacity to dream new dreams and create new stories. Unless family professionals pay attention to and aid persons in grieving lost dreams, children, adults, and families may have difficulty turning the corner to hope and healing after loss. The connections among attention to losses, especially shattered dreams, the promotion of resiliency, story telling, and hope are addressed in this article.     

Happy Danes and Deep Incarnation

The new Copenhagen School of Deep Incarnation posits that, in Jesus Christ, God has become incarnate and therefore present “in, with, and under” all physical and biological processes. This claim raises the issue of “compatibilism,” according to which divine action and creaturely action are compatible, and “incompatibilism,” according to which divine action must be absent to allow for free creaturely action. Niels Henrik Gregersen, representing the Copenhagen School, affirms both compatibilism at the quantum level of physical activity and incompatibilism at the level of nature's self‐organization. This article points out the incoherence of this position along with the positions proffered by process theologians and kenotic theologians.     

The reliability of three visual perception tests used to assess adults

Summary.-The reliability of three adult visual perceptual tests was investigated. Participants aged 20 years and older (N = 221; 49 adults with neurological impairment, 172 adults without) completed the Developmental Test of Visual Perception-Adolescent and Adult (DTVP-A), the Motor-Free Visual Perception Test-3 (MVPT-3), and the Test of Visual Perceptual Skills (non-motor) Third Edition (TVPS-3). Participants (n = 46) without neurological impairment completed these tests twice. Cronbach's alpha for the DTVP-A, MVPT-3, and TVPS-3 total scales were .86, .74, and .80 and test-retest correlations .51, .71, and .72, respectively.