Kerry Y. Levin

Taxonomic efforts in the description of leader behavior: A synthesis and functional interpretation

Abstract A systematic definition of the behaviors contributing to effective organizational leadership is required for both theory development and the design of training interventions. This article describes an attempt to formulate a general taxonomy capable of describing the functional behavioral requirements for effective organizational leadership. This effort began with a review of earlier taxonomic efforts for describing leader behavior and with the specification of the demands placed on leaders in organizational settings. A subsequent analysis of the actions required for an adaptive response to these demands led to the specification of 13 leader behavior dimensions. This taxonomy was then evaluated with respect to the existing taxonomic literature, principles of taxonomic development, and other available evidence. Finally, the taxonomys relationship to other theoretical systems was discussed, along with some of its broader implications for understanding the determinants of leadership performance.

Methods for Translating an English-Language Survey Questionnaire on Tobacco Use into Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, and Vietnamese:

This article reports research on procedures for translating a survey questionnaire on tobacco use from English into Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese. The goal is to offer practical guidelines for researchers involved in translating questionnaires. The authors operationalize a five-step process for translation and evaluation based on the frameworks presented in Harkness, Van de Vijver, and Mohler (2003) and the U.S. Census Bureau (2004). Based on qualitative observations, the five-step process produced effective questionnaire translations. The iterative nature of the process and the team-based approach the process encourages were particularly important to the success. Based on documented experiences, the authors identify lessons learned and make recommendations to other researchers who need to translate questionnaires.

Grid-Enabled Measures Using Science 2.0 to Standardize Measures and Share Data

Scientists are taking advantage of the Internet and collaborative web technology to accelerate discovery in a massively connected, participative environment--a phenomenon referred to by some as Science 2.0. As a new way of doing science, this phenomenon has the potential to push science forward in a more efficient manner than was previously possible. The Grid-Enabled Measures (GEM) database has been conceptualized as an instantiation of Science 2.0 principles by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) with two overarching goals: (1) promote the use of standardized measures, which are tied to theoretically based constructs; and (2) facilitate the ability to share harmonized data resulting from the use of standardized measures. The first is accomplished by creating an online venue where a virtual community of researchers can collaborate together and come to consensus on measures by rating, commenting on, and viewing meta-data about the measures and associated constructs. The second is accomplished by connecting the constructs and measures to an ontological framework with data standards and common data elements such as the NCI Enterprise Vocabulary System (EVS) and the cancer Data Standards Repository (caDSR). This paper will describe the web 2.0 principles on which the GEM database is based, describe its functionality, and discuss some of the important issues involved with creating the GEM database such as the role of mutually agreed-on ontologies (i.e., knowledge categories and the relationships among these categories--for data sharing).

Comparing cognitive interviewing and psychometric methods to evaluate a racial/ethnic discrimination scale

Proponents of survey evaluation have long advocated the integration of qualitative and quantitative methodologies, but this recommendation has rarely been practiced. The authors used both methods to evaluate the “Everyday Discrimination” scale (EDS), which measures frequency of various types of discrimination, in a multiethnic population. Cognitive testing included 30 participants of various race/ethnic backgrounds and identified items that were redundant, unclear, or inconsistent (e.g., cognitive challenges in quantifying acts of discrimination). Psychometric analysis included secondary data from two national studies, including 570 Asian Americans, 366 Latinos, and 2,884 African Americans, and identified redundant items as well as those exhibiting differential item functioning (DIF) by race/ethnicity. Overall, qualitative and quantitative techniques complemented one another, as cognitive interviewing findings provided context and explanation for quantitative results. Researchers should consider further how to integrate these methods into instrument pretesting as a way to minimize response bias for ethnic and racial respondents in population-based surveys.

Cognitive testing of physical activity and acculturation questions in recent and long-term Latino immigrants

BackgroundWe ascertained the degree to which language (English versus Spanish), and residence time in the US influence responses to survey questions concerning two topics: self-reported acculturation status, and recent physical activity (PA). This topic is likely to be of general interest because of growing numbers of immigrants in countries worldwide.MethodsWe carried out qualitative (cognitive) interviews of survey items on acculturation and physical activity on 27 Latino subjects from three groups: (a) In Spanish, of those of low residence time (less than five years living in the U.S.) (n = 9); (b) In Spanish, of those of high residence time (15 or more years in the U.S) (n = 9); and (c) in English, of those of high residence time (n = 9).ResultsThere were very few language translation problems; general question design defects and socio-cultural challenges to survey responses were more common. Problems were found for both acculturation and PA questions, with distinct problem types for the two question areas. Residence time/language group was weakly associated with overall frequency of problems observed: low residence time/Spanish (86%), high residence time/Spanish (67%), and English speaking groups (62%).ConclusionsStandardized survey questions related to acculturation and physical activity present somewhat different cognitive challenges. For PA related questions, problems with such questions were similar regardless of subject residence time or language preference. For acculturation related questions, residence time/language or education level influenced responses to such questions. These observations should help in the interpretation of survey results for culturally diverse populations.

On the nature of cancer patients' social interactions

Abstract Whereas there is general agreement that supportive relationships can be important for the psychological well-being of cancer patients, findings are mixed regarding the extent to which high quality social support is available to them. This manuscript describes two studies that investigated the possibility that subtle disruptions may occur in social interactions with cancer patients because of discomfort on the part of inter octants. In Study 1, participants conversed with a confederate, who was described to some of them as a cancer patient. Although no differences were observed on behavioral measures or on participant self-reports of reactions to the conversation, confederate and observer ratings of conversation positivity indicated that participants who believed they were speaking with a cancer patient were less positive in their interactions. As predicted, these participants appeared to have conflicted reactions toward the confederate. The second study attempted to determine the extent to which ...