Straying in the methodology. II. Bias introduced by questionnaires

Some characteristics of self-report questionnaires can result in bias in responding. When a test item or a questionnaire is biased, the observed scores form an imprecise measurement of reality as a consequence of systematic errors of measurement. Causes of such bias are: unclear instructions, vague wording of the test items, culture-bound item content, suggestive questions, framing of questions, social desirability of certain answers, faking good, faking bad and the recall bias.     

Immunology in medical practice. I. Introduction

Fundamental immunology has seen a tremendous development in the past decades. This has resulted in a large body of knowledge, part of which has led to applications in laboratory diagnosis, but of which little has made its way to the clinic in terms of new therapies. The progress in understanding pathogenesis of diseases is also slow. This journal is planning a series of articles that highlight the recent achievements of immunology and their consequences for understanding and treating disease.     

One hundred years of orthopedics in the Netherlands. I. Introduction

One hundred years ago, on 1 May 1898, the Netherlands Orthopaedic Association was founded. This was prompted by the view that general surgeons paid insufficient attention to the treatment of the locomotor system; they were permitted to join the new association, however, at any rate until 1947. It was especially in the last 30 years that orthopaedic surgery underwent major changes. The most striking novelty was arthroplastic surgery. There have also been developments in the treatment of spinal abnormalities, rheumatological surgery, sports medicine, oncology and traumatology.     

'Public health status and perspectives' 1997. I. Introduction

The 'Public health status and forecasts' 1997 presents a comprehensive and integrated overview of health, disease and health care in the Netherlands, to which more than 250 experts contributed. On the basis of the findings, policy recommendations are formulated regarding target groups, planning, prevention, health care, monitoring and research.     

Marine Outfall Performance. I: Introduction and Flow Restoration

Sewage outfalls are common inclusions in the infrastructure of coastal cities and towns. Near-ocean industries may also make use of such pipes. Keeping such a conduit operating properly is by no means a trivial matter, and this paper is the first of two dealing with this complex topic. Herein, the various failure and impairment mechanisms are summarized, and the need for careful underwater inspection is stressed. Examples are given of inspection, maintenance, and repair operations for various municipal facilities. The paper closes with presentation of two improvement procedures, pigging and sliplining.     

Fuzzy methodology.

The (almost non-)publication history of "Multiple regression as a general data-analytic system" (J. Cohen, 1968) is recounted, and the following advice is offered for aspirants for publication in the Psychological Bulletin that produces many citations. Be brilliant (if possible), write on methodology (if possible, but if you do, write clearly and nontechnically), write to answer a wide-felt need (if possible), and, given the low level of reviewer reliability, be lucky (if possible). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hermeneutic philosophy. Part I: Implications of its use as methodology in interpretive nursing research

Increasingly, nurses use the philosophy of hermeneutics, especially Heideggerian and Gadamerian hermeneutics, to inform interpretive research. However, application of the work of these philosophers to interpretive nursing research has proved problematic as it fails to recognise, or act upon, obligations inherent in their work. Through a review of hermeneutically informed nursing research, methodological implications regarding the use of hermeneutic philosophy are examined in relation to: (i) the need to address forestructures and pre-understandings; (ii) checking interpretations with research participants; (iii) seeking objectivity, consensus and accuracy in textual interpretation; (iv) evaluating interpretations; and (v) gaining entry into the hermeneutic circle. This review suggests that despite obligations inherent in Heideggerian and Gadamerian hermeneutic philosophy, nurses fail to actualise these obligations in their research. In following Heidegger, nurses need to make the scientific theme secure by working out their forestructures in terms of the phenomenon under investigation. Those following Gadamer need to accept that interpretation seeks to manifest textual meanings rather than individual ones. And, whether following Heidegger or Gadamer, the way to make manifest textual meanings is to engage with the text within the hermeneutic circle by continuing to address forestructures and pre-understandings and by considering their influences upon the research.     

Definitions and methodology in the study of aggression.

Literature on aggression and hostility is viewed in the light of 2 major criticisms: (1) Definitions of terms with obvious denotations of hypothetical constructions are attempted in purely operational terms, (2) The phenotype of aggression has impaired a sound investigation of the many genotypic determinants of aggressive behavior. Present trends of studying aggression as an end result of a variety of stimulus, dispositional, and reward variables are considered, and some amplifications are suggested. (2 p. ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina. I: Introduction, Overview, and the East Flank

The failure of the New Orleans regional flood protection systems, and the resultant catastrophic flooding of much of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina, represents the most costly failure of an engineered system in U.S. history. This paper presents an overview of the principal events that unfolded during this catastrophic hurricane, and then a more detailed look at the early stages of the event as the storm first drove onshore and then began to pass to the east of the main populated areas. The emphasis in this paper is on geotechnical lessons and it also includes broader lessons with regard to the design, implementation, operation, and maintenance of major flood protection systems. This paper focuses principally on the early stages of this disaster, including the initial inundation of Plaquemines Parish along the lower reaches of the Mississippi River as Katrina made landfall, and the subsequent additional early levee breaches and erosion along the eastern flanks of the regional flood protection systems fronting Lake Borgne that resulted in the flooding of the two large protected basins of New Orleans East and St. Bernard Parish. Significant lessons learned include (1) the need for realistic assessment of risk exposure as an element of flood protection policy; (2) the importance of considering erodibility of embankment and foundation soils in levee design and construction; (3) the importance of considering all potential failure modes; and (4) the problems inherent in the construction of major regional systems over extended periods of multiple decades. These are important lessons, as they are applicable to other regional flood protection systems in other areas of the United States, and throughout much of the world.     

Development of fatigue lifetime predictive test methods for hip implants: part I. Test methodology

The fatigue failure of hip joint prostheses will be expected to assume more importance in second generation implants aimed at younger, more active patients. Furthermore, new designs and material combinations including coatings (e.g. hydroxyapatite) may introduce fatigue problems that as yet have not been considered. The current research makes an initial attempt to develop accelerated fatigue testing procedures to enhance the methodology of hip implant lifetime prediction. Tests conducted on a 'model' four point bendbar testpiece (mill-annealed Ti-6A1-4V) highlighted that the accelerated test must be conducted in a physiological solution such as Ringer's at 37 degrees C. The introduction of superimposed block overloads (50 cycles) to signify stair ascent/descent or fast walking and single overloads to signify sit/stand movements or stumbling were found to reduce fatigue life by > 50%. The findings of this fatigue study were combined with biomechanics studies to construct a variable amplitude 'in-service' load spectrum for testing hip implants. Using ambulatory trial data, a simple load sequence was designed containing 4 single (sit/stand movements) and 3 block (stair ascent/descent) overloads that repeated ten times gave one days activity; single overloads repeated every 110 base cycles (normal walking) and block overloads 80, 110 (morning/evening) and 250 (daytime) base cycles.