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Introduction
Privacy concerns are an important barrier to adoption and continued use of digital technologies, particularly in the health sector. With the introduction of mobile health applications (mHealth apps), the construct of app information privacy concerns has received increased attention. However, few validated measures exist to capture said concerns in population samples, although they can help to improve public health efforts.
Methods
Using a cross-sectional survey of German adults (mean age = 35.62; 63.5% female), this study examined psychometric properties of the app information privacy concerns scale (AIPC). Analyses comprised confirmatory factor analysis, factorial validity (exploratory factor analysis), internal consistency, convergent validity (i.e., correlations with privacy victimhood, and app privacy concerns), and discriminant validity (i.e., daily app use, adoption intentions, and attitudes toward COVID-19 contact tracing app use).
Results
The analysis did not support the proposed three-factor structure of the AIPC (i.e., anxiety, personal attitude, and requirements). Instead, a four-factor model was preferable that differentiated requirements regarding disclosure policies, and personal control. In addition, factors mirroring anxiety and personal attitude were extracted, but shared a significant overlap. However, these factors showed good reliability, convergent and discriminant validity.
Discussion
The findings underline the role of app information privacy concerns as a significant barrier to mHealth app use. In this context, anxiety and personal attitudes seemed particularly relevant, which has implications for health communication. Moreover, the observed differentiation of external (disclosure) and internal (control) requirements aligns with health behavior change models and thus is a promising area for future research.
The reduction of individual carbon consumption could make an important contribution to the worldwide effort to limit global warming. Based on Bandura’s theory of moral disengagement, we hypothesized that the propensity to morally disengage concerning high-carbon behaviors (e.g., eating meat or traveling by plane) is one important factor that prevents individuals from reducing their carbon footprint. To measure the propensity to morally disengage in high-carbon-related behavior contexts, a questionnaire (MD-HCB) was developed and psychometrically validated in an online study with a German sample (N = 220). Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that the final nine-item scale had a one-dimensional structure, as intended. The internal consistency of the scale was excellent (Cronbach’s α = 0.94) and the scale interpretation had predictive validity for both past low-carbon consumption behavior and the intention to engage in such behavior in the future. Correlational analyses with relevant existing instruments confirmed the construct validity of the interpretations that can be drawn from the MD-HCB, as its resulting score is related to, yet separable from, the general tendency to morally disengage and is meaningfully connected to related constructs. A pre-study with a student sample (N = 89) not only helped to identify limitations in the study design but also showed a weak predictive ability of moral competence concerning high-carbon consumption behavior and intention to change. Based on our findings, future media campaigns designed to increase people’s intention to reduce high-carbon behavior could focus on the modification of common cognitive disengagement strategies.
This study explored the evidence of validity of internal structure of the 12-item Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy—Spiritual Wellbeing Scale (FACIT-Sp-12) in Brazilian adolescents with chronic health conditions. The study involved 301 Brazilian adolescents with cancer, type 1 diabetes mellitus, or cystic fibrosis. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and Item Response Theory (IRT) were used to test the internal structure. Reliability was determined with Cronbach’s Alpha and McDonald’s Omega. The EFA suggested a one-dimensional scale structure in contrast to the original 2-factor model or the 3-factor model which were not reproduced in the current CFA. All quality indicators for the EFA one-factor exceeded the required criteria (FDI = 0.97, EAP = 0.97, SR = 3.96 and EPTD = 0.96, latent GH = 0.90. and the observed GH = 0.85). The FACIT-Sp-12 for adolescents yielded strong evidence for a 1-factor model and with good reliability.
AbstractArchetype analysis is a promising approach in sustainability science to identify patterns and explain mechanisms shaping the sustainability of social-ecological systems. Although considerable efforts have been devoted to developing quality standards and methodological advances for archetype analysis, archetype validation remains a major challenge. Drawing on the insights from two international workshops on archetype analysis and on broader literature on validity, we propose a framework that identifies and describes six dimensions of validity: conceptual; construct; internal; external; empirical; and application validity. We first discuss the six dimensions in relation to different methodological approaches and purposes of archetype analysis. We then present an operational use of the framework for researchers to assess the validity of archetype analysis and to support sound archetype identification and policy-relevant applications. Finally, we apply our assessment to 18 published archetype analyses, which we use to describe the challenges and insights in validating the different dimensions and suggest ways to holistically improve the validity of identified archetypes. With this, we contribute to more rigorous archetype analyses, helping to develop the potential of the approach for guiding sustainability solutions.