Roel Popping

Knowledge Graphs and Network Text Analysis

A knowledge graph is a kind of semantic network representing some scientific theory. The article describes the present state of this field and addresses a number of problems that have not yet been solved. These problems are implicit relations, strength of (causal) relations, and exclusiveness. Concepts might be too broad or complex to be used properly, so directions for solving these problems are explored. The solutions are applied to a knowledge graph in the field of labour markets.

DISABILITY ASSESSMENT INTERVIEW: THE ROLE OF DETAILED INFORMATION ON FUNCTIONING IN ADDITION TO MEDICAL HISTORY-TAKING

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether the provision of detailed information on participation and activity limitations, compared with medical information alone, influences the assessment of work limitations by physicians. METHODS Three groups each of 9 insurance physicians used written interview reports to assess work limitations in 30 patients with low back pain or lower extremity problems. Each group was given different kinds of information on the patient: the first group received only medical information; the second group received detailed information on participation and activity limitations; and the third group was provided with both types of information. Agreement percentages within the groups and differences between the groups in scores given on the work limitation items of the Functional Ability List were measured. RESULTS The groups showed no important differences in agreement percentages (mean percentage approximately 80%). The physicians who received either medical information or both forms of information indicated fewer work limitations compared with physicians using detailed information on participation and activity limitations. CONCLUSION Information on participation and activity limitations provided by the patient has only limited influence on inter-rater reliability. However, there was a significant difference in scores on assessed work limitation items compared with medical history-taking alone. Therefore, in disability assessment interviews physicians should ask for medical information as well as detailed information on participation and activity limitations.

Computer-supported content analysis: some recent developments

This paper presents an overview of some recent developments in the clause-based content analysis of linguistic data. It introduces network analysis of evaluative texts, the analysis of cognitive maps, and linguistic content analysis. The focus is on the types of substantive inferences afforded by the three approaches. Keywords: content analysis, text analysis, computer programs.

Ag09: A Computer Program for Interrater Agreement for Judgments

This text describes a computer program that allows computing the interrater agreement index Scott’s π for at least two ratings per object. The program allows using weights; therefore, the user is not restricted to data on a nominal level of measurement. If wanted, it is possible to compute the agreement per category.This text describes a computer program that allows computing the interrater agreement index Scotts pi for at least two ratings per object. The program allows using weights; therefore, the user is not restricted to data on a nominal level of measurement. If wanted, it is possible to compute the agreement per category.

No-Show at a Forensic Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic: Risk Factors and Reasons

Nonattendance for and late cancellations of scheduled appointments, that is no-show, is a well-known phenomenon in psychiatric outpatient clinics. Research on the topic of no-show for initial and consecutive appointments in the field of forensic psychiatry is scarce. This study therefore aims to determine the prevalence and causes of no-show and to explore reasons for nonattendance. The study was carried out in an outpatient clinic in northern Netherlands. Telephone interviews were administered to 27 no-show clients, 84 follow-up no-show clients, and 41 attendees of 18 years and older. A no-show rate of 24.9% and a follow-up no-show rate of 9.8% was found. The majority of appointments missed were in the beginning phase of clinic contact. No-show clients were younger than their attending counterparts and more often dropped out from clinic contact. Also, less family social support was experienced by nonattendees. Reasons for nonattendance were having forgotten about appointment and work commitments.

Themes, syntax and other necessary steps in the network analysis of texts: A research paper

Recent approaches to the qualitative analysis of texts afford visual depictions of words as networks. Yet network characteristics can also be quantified, enabling one to draw probabilistic inferences about a population of texts from a sample of texts-encoded-as-networks. This article describes three types of ambiguity (and related methodological problems) that arise during three necessary steps in the quantification of texts as networks: idiomatic ambiguity (in the identification of themes [or nodes]); illocutionary ambiguity (in the identification of syntactic links [or arcs]); and relevance ambiguity (in the identification of network characteristics). As one moves from theme to syntax to network, not only does one add complexity to ones conclusions, but one also adds complexity to the encoding process as distinct types of linguistic ambiguity must be resolved. The added complexity of network encoding will be unnecessary for most research questions - questions that might better be addressed via thematic or semantic text analysis.

Representation and integration of sociological knowledge using knowledge graphs

The representation and integration of sociological knowledge using knowledge graphs, a specific kind of semantic network, is discussed. Knowledge is systematically searched; this reveals inconsistencies, reducing superfluous research and knowledge, and showing gaps in a theory. This representation is conceivable under certain conditions, which are discussed. A graph for sociological theories about labour markets is presented.

Human or Machine Coding of Open-ended Questions

It is argued in studies in which open-ended questions are used that the choice is not between human or machine coding. It is the position the investigator takes with regard to the coding process that is relevant: from whose perspective is the coding performed? This choice determines whether human or machine coding can be performed. The results one obtains when these approaches are used can be very different.

IN SEARCH OF ONE SET OF CATEGORIES

A method is described for transferring the categories as developed by several raters on the basis of the answers given to open-ended questions to one set of categories. This set covers all possible answers in an adequate way.

Semantic text analysis and the measurement of ideological developments within fledgling democracies

This methodological article presents an introduction to the field of clause-based semantic text analysis. The method is introduced and elaborated with regard to the study of ideological developments within fledgling democracies. In such studies modality plays an important role. Democratic societies are maintained in accordance with either a modality of achievement or one of necessity. This is illustrated using editorial texts from Hungary, one of the countries in Central and Eastern Europe where people had to find their democratic way after communism disappeared in 1989.