A quantitative valuation of tourist experience in Lisbon

The increasing value of tourist satisfaction for tourism promotion has led to a substantial increase in research into the process of measuring the satisfaction of tourists, and various approaches and theories have been developed.This paper proposes an Item Response Theory (IRT) approach to ensure the measurements of perceptions and satisfaction of tourists. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire administered to tourists who had visited Lisbon. The formulation of the IRT models allowed us to determine the influence of some demographic and travel behaviour characteristics on a number of given destination attributes. We also specified georeferenced IRT models to attain geographically differentiated measures of tourist satisfaction. The main findings from the models are compared and discussed.     

Hotel cancellation policies in respect of conference and function bookings

Conference and function bookings are on occasion subject to cancellation. Current business practice regarding cancellation policies operated by hotels under such circumstances is examined in terms of types of cancellation policy, levels of cancellation fees charged, and when and how the customer is informed of cancellation terms.     

居民旅游影响感知调查问卷设计的回顾与反思

居民旅游影响感知问卷调查是量化旅游对接待地影响的有效途径,然而问卷调查能否真实地反映旅游影响的程度、范围和方向则受制于问卷设计水平．运用文献回顾方法,对12篇硕士、博士毕业论文所使用居民感知调查问卷进行了回顾与反思,反思发现问卷设计在“问什么”和“怎么问”两方面存在诸多问题,据此提出了居民感知调查问卷设计的一般步骤．     

会计专业毕业生外语能力要求的调查与分析

通过问卷调查发现,用人单位对会计专业毕业生外语能力的要求正在逐步提高,但是现行的会计专业的双语教学安排难以满足用人单位的实际需要。应提高任课教师的教学水平,改革现行教学模式,提高会计专业学生的外语能力,增强学生的就业竞争力。     

基于利益主体的土地利用规划实施的调查分析

采用问卷调查与社会统计方法对我国现行土地利用规划实施困境调查,分析了不同利益主体对土地利用规划的社会认知、指标分配和实施作用的态度。研究结果表明,作为一项为实现土地利用公共利益的制度安排,以耕地保护和建设用地指标分配为核心的我国现行土地利用规划的制度供给,与当前社会经济发展结构转型对土地利用规划的制度需求存在矛盾,为从制度分析视角进行土地利用规划研究提供了理论基础。     

Measurement of patient-reported outcomes. 2: Are current measures failing us?

Abstract

All instruments designed to measure latent (unobservable) variables, such as patient-reported outcomes (PROs), have three major requirements; a coherent construct theory, a specification equation, and the application of an appropriate response model. The theory guides the selection of content for the questionnaire and the specification equation links the construct theory to scores produced with the instrument. For the specification equation to perform this role, the patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) must employ a response model that generates values for its individual items. The most commonly applied response model in PROM development is the Rasch model. To date this level of measurement sophistication has not been achieved in PRO measurement. Consequently, it is not possible to establish a PROM’s true construct validity. However, the development of the Lexile Framework for Reading has demonstrated that such objective measurement is possible for latent variables. This article argues that higher quality PROM development is needed if meaningful and valid PRO measurement is to be achieved. It describes the current state of PROM development, shows that published reviews of PROMs adopt inappropriate criteria for judging their quality, and illustrates how the use of traditional PROMs can lead to incorrect (and possibly dangerous) conclusions being drawn about the efficacy of interventions.     

Reducing Missing Data in Surveys: An Overview of Methods

Although item nonresponse can never be totally prevented, it can be considerably reduced, and thereby provide the researcher with not only more useable data, but also with helpful auxiliary information for a better imputation and adjustment. To achieve this an optimal data collection design is necessary. The optimization of the questionnaire and survey design are the main tools a researcher has to reduce the number of missing data in any such survey. In this contribution a concise typology of missing data patterns and their sources of origin are presented. Based on this typology, the mechanisms responsible for missing data are identified, followed by a discussion on how item nonresponse can be prevented.     

城镇居民森林意识研究——以长沙市为例

本文通过对长沙市150户居民的问卷调查研究结果显示:城镇居民对森林的多种效益的认识程度多停留在宏观层面上的大致了解,缺乏微观层面上的细致把握,在对森林多种效益费用的支付愿望上表现出较强的政府依赖倾向.对此,加大森林、林业知识的普及力度,拓展林业产业的发展空间,是提高人们认识森林意识的重要途径.     

Development and validation of a new instrument to evaluate the ease of use of patient-controlled analgesic modalities for postoperative patients

Abstract

Objective: To describe the development and psychometric evaluation of a questionnaire assessing the ease of use that patients associate with patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) modalities.

Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted with patients who had experience with intravenous (IV) PCA for postoperative pain management to generate items relevant to the ease of using PCA modalities. The content validity of the resulting questionnaire was examined through follow-up patient interviews, and an expert panel reviewed the questionnaire. Cognitive debriefing interviews were conducted with patients to determine the clarity and content of the instructions, items, and response scales, and the ease of completing the instrument. Psychometric evaluation was performed with patients who had undergone surgery and received IV PCA for postoperative pain management. Item and scale quality and the internal consistency reliability of the questionnaire were assessed. Construct validity was evaluated by examining the relationship between subscales of the questionnaire with patient-reported outcome measures. Known-groups validity was determined by assessing the instrument's ability to differentiate between patients with versus without an IV PCA problem. A potential limitation of this study was the exclusive sampling of patients who had experience with IV PCA.

Results: The Patient Ease-of-Care (EOC) Questionnaire included 23 items in the following subscales: Confidence with Device, Comfort with Device, Movement, Dosing Confidence, Pain Control, Knowledge/Understanding, and Satisfaction. Coefficient alpha reliability estimates were ≥0.66 for Overall EOC (includes all subscales except Satisfaction) and all EOC subscales. Construct validity was supported by the moderate relationship between the Pain Control subscale and measures of pain severity and pain interference; additional evidence of construct validity was provided by correlations of the Confidence with Device subscale, the Satisfaction subscale, and Overall EOC with measures of pain severity, pain interference, and satisfaction. Significant mean score differences were reported between participants with and without IV PCA problems for Overall EOC and for the Comfort with Device, Confidence with Device, Movement, Pain Control, and Satisfaction subscales indicating known-groups validity.

Conclusions: Results provide evidence for the reliability and validity of the Patient EOC Questionnaire as a measure of the ease of use that patients associate with PCA systems and may be useful for evaluating emerging PCA modalities.     

Older Workers' Communication Satisfaction in the Lodging Industry

Abstract

Labor shortages and high turnover trouble the lodging industry. Older workers have been overlooked as a solution to these problems. Older workers have demonstrated qualities such as loyalty, a strong work ethic, good customer relations, and reliability of performance that the lodging industry desires. The lodging industry needs to strive to increase older workers' job satisfaction in order to attract and retain them. Previous research has already proven that communication satisfaction has a significant impact on job satisfaction. This study examines the important communication factors that influence older workers' job satisfaction. Suggestions regarding older workers' communication satisfaction are provided.