The Activity/Achievement Indicator: A Possible Alternative to the Behavioral Consistency Method of Training and Experience Evaluation
This paper describes the development of a new type of selection procedure, the activity/achievement indicator (A/AI), and compares it with the behavioral consistency method of training and experience evaluation. Total scores from these two methods were found to correlate at r = .58. Examination of the six dimension scores of each method by means of the multitrait-multimethod matrix technique revealed convergent validity for only two of the dimensions, and discriminant validity for none. Implications of the findings are discussed.
A Preliminary Study of a Job Analytic Inventory Derived From a Behavioral Consistency Method for Assessing Intrinsic Motivation
A Preliminary Study of a Job Analytic Inventory Derived From A Behavioral Consistency Method For Assessing Intrinsic Motivation William J. Banis Old Dominion University 1993 Director: Wolfgang Pindur, Ph.D. The research question for this study asked if the Job Specifications Inventory (JSI) had acceptable internal reliability and an ability to differentiate among occupational groups. The JSI was designed to have subject matter experts rate the importance of skill, content, context, relationship and work focus requirements of jobs or occupations. The JSI used a taxonomy of 268 behavioral elements derived from the content analyses of satisfying achievements reported by a large, diverse clientele. A clinical-type behavioral consistency method was used to extract performance dimensions from clients’ achievements to build the taxonomy. The achievement-based taxonomy was seen as potentially enhancing productivity for employers and job satisfaction for employees. The JSI was intended to be used in conjunction with behavioral consistency methods to address individual and organizational problems associated with person-job fit. The relationship between persons and jobs was viewed as having important consequences for individuals, organizations and society. Person-job fit has been linked to employment
Applications of nanocomposite hydrogels for biomedical engineering and environmental protection
Nanocomposite hydrogels are polymeric networks that possess a unique property of hydration. The presence of alcohols, carboxylic acids and amides as hydrophilic moieties in structure of nanocomposite hydrogels enhances their stiffness and water-absorbing capacity. Addition of cross-linker in the synthesis of hydrogels increases their stability under extreme conditions of temperature, pH and pressure. Natural polymer-based nanocomposite hydrogels are biodegradable, highly hydrophilic and possess good mechanical strength. Gelatin, chitin, cellulose, pectin, carrageenan, starch and alginate are natural polymers commonly used to fabricate nanocomposite hydrogels. Nanocomposite hydrogels have special characteristics such as high swelling rate, selectivity and stimuli-sensitive nature. Here we review nanocomposite hydrogels for environmental protection and biomedical engineering. Applications in biomedical engineering include drug delivery agents, wound dressing, tissue engineering and antibacterials. Applications in environmental protection include ion exchangers, adsorption, photocatalysis and soil conditioning. Many nanocomposite hydrogels show excellent adsorption selectivity for heavy metal ions: Cu2+ up to 30.35 mg/g, Pb2+ up to 35.94 mg/g, and Zn2+ and Fe3+ up to 94.34 mg/g. Xanthan gum-based nanocomposite hydrogel has removed 96% dye from industrial effluent as reported. In addition, most of the nanocomposite hydrogels showed better adsorption capacity for pollutants in the pH range from 5 to 7. The nanocomposite hydrogels could also be regenerated and successfully utilized for several times. Nanocomposite hydrogels are therefore good bio-absorbent materials for environmental detoxification.