Artur Parreira

The use of numerical value of adverbs of quantity and frequency in the measurement of behavior patterns: transforming ordinal scales into interval scales

This paper presents a research on rating scales in response to different situations. It aims to improve the significance and accuracy of ordinal scales, transforming them into interval scales. To reach this objective, the presented scales combine quantitative and qualitative perspectives, joining the ease of the Likert scale and the Thurstone’s procedure. In this research, a sample of subjects was asked to indicate the numerical value of adverbs, in reference to a numerical scale. The results were subjected to statistical analysis, to assess their validity. Combining the qualitative dimension with a quantitative evaluation, this procedure can meet the biopsychosocial specificities of subjects, as required by the complexity paradigm. The results of this study seem to be an affirmative response to the questions about validity and reliability, and about the practicality of this procedure.

Human resources’ student’s sensitivity to factors of sustainability

This paper analyzes the sensitivity of college students to sustainability factors, including their definition of the concept and their perception of human resources management as a factor of sustainability. The prospects of the construct of sustainability – from the United Nations Conference in 1972, in Stockholm, to contemporary achievements and theoretical explorations-are reviewed as a conceptual framework. The research among college students has been developed along two lines: the study of their idea of sustainability; and the assessment of people’s management practices as a factor of sustainability. The research combined the use of a semantic differential questionnaire and a focus group to collect data and to complement the quantitative data with a more qualitative vision and understanding. The results consolidate the idea that: it is interesting to use the sustainability concept in combination with the complexity level of contexts; students of HRM are well informed about the concept; and that their attitudes on the subject are positive, as they are motivated to lead companies to adopt sustainable practices in human resource management, as an effective sustainability factor.This paper analyzes the sensitivity of college students to sustainability factors, including their definition of the concept and their perception of human resources management as a factor of sustainability. The prospects of the construct of sustainability – from the United Nations Conference in 1972, in Stockholm, to contemporary achievements and theoretical explorations-are reviewed as a conceptual framework. The research among college students has been developed along two lines: the study of their idea of sustainability; and the assessment of people’s management practices as a factor of sustainability. The research combined the use of a semantic differential questionnaire and a focus group to collect data and to complement the quantitative data with a more qualitative vision and understanding. The results consolidate the idea that: it is interesting to use the sustainability concept in combination with the complexity level of contexts; students of HRM are well informed about the concept; and that their attitudes on the subject are positive, as they are motivated to lead companies to adopt sustainable practices in human resource management, as an effective sustainability factor.El articulo analiza la sensibilidad de los estudiantes universitarios a los factores de sostenibilidad, incluyendo la percepcion de la gestion de los recursos humanos como factor de sostenibilidad. Como marco conceptual, se colocan las perspectivas del constructo de sostenibilidad, desde la conferencia de las Naciones Unidas en 1972, en Estocolmo, hasta los logros y reflexiones contemporaneas. La investigacion entre los estudiantes universitarios se ha desarrollado en dos lineas: el estudio de la representacion de sostenibilidad; y la evaluacion de las practicas de los principios y de la gestion de personas como un factor de sostenibilidad. La investigacion utilizo un cuestionario de tipo diferencial semantico y un grupos focal, para recopilar los datos y para complementar su tratamiento cuantitativo con una vision mas cualitativa y mas comprensiva. Los resultados consolidan la idea de que es interesante utilizar el concepto de sostenibilidad en combinacion con los niveles de complejidad de los contextos; ademas muestran que los estudiantes de gestion de recursos humanos estan bien informados sobre el concepto y que estan motivados para llevar a las empresas a adoptar practicas sostenibles en la gestion de recursos humanos.

A lógica complexa da avaliação

This paper presents the theoretical part of a study on the logic which the evaluation process must meet. It explains the concept of general logic and its essential criteria, highlighting the key steps of evaluative reasoning. The authors discuss the problem of the possibility of an objective evaluation, scientifically underpinned. They propose ways to control the factors responsible for some harmful biases to the objectivity of evaluation; define the structural and procedural conditions that affect objectivity; and show that the degree of objectivity depends on the use of an appropriate combination of power and information, the two components of the evaluation process, as a decision making behavior.

The complex logic of evaluation

This paper presents the theoretical part of a study on the logic which the evaluation process must meet. It explains the concept of general logic and its essential criteria, highlighting the key steps of evaluative reasoning. The authors discuss the problem of the possibility of an objective evaluation, scientifically underpinned. They propose ways to control the factors responsible for some harmful biases to the objectivity of evaluation; define the structural and procedural conditions that affect objectivity; and show that the degree of objectivity depends on the use of an appropriate combination of power and information, the two components of the evaluation process, as a decision making behavior.

La lógica compleja de la evaluación

This paper presents the theoretical part of a study on the logic which the evaluation process must meet. It explains the concept of general logic and its essential criteria, highlighting the key steps of evaluative reasoning. The authors discuss the problem of the possibility of an objective evaluation, scientifically underpinned. They propose ways to control the factors responsible for some harmful biases to the objectivity of evaluation; define the structural and procedural conditions that affect objectivity; and show that the degree of objectivity depends on the use of an appropriate combination of power and information, the two components of the evaluation process, as a decision making behavior.