A market concept for media problems: A few theses
The author explores the concept of markets and marketplaces and how they apply to media and research on media activities. He argues that media markets cannot be considered to be self‐defining, self‐regulatory systems because of their interdependent relations with other subsystems in society, and that traditional regulatory policies are inadequate for dealing with contemporary media because of changing temporal and social factors.
Cross-diagnostic validity of the Nottingham health profile index of distress (NHPD)
BackgroundThe Nottingham Health Profile index of Distress (NHPD) has been proposed as a generic undimensional 24-item measure of illness-related distress that is embedded in the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). Data indicate that the NHPD may have psychometric advantages to the 6-dimensional NHP profile scores. Detailed psychometric evaluations are, however, lacking. Furthermore, to support the validity of the generic property of outcome measures evidence that scores can be interpreted in the same manner in different diagnostic groups are needed. It is currently unknown if NHPD scores have the same meaning across patient populations. This study evaluated the measurement properties and cross-diagnostic validity of the NHPD as a survey instrument among people with Parkinson's disease (PD) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD).MethodsData from 215 (PD) and 258 (PAD) people were Rasch analyzed regarding model fit, reliability, differential item functioning (DIF), unidimensionality and targeting. In cases of cross-diagnostic DIF this was adjusted for and the impact of DIF on the total score and person measures was assessed.ResultsThe NHPD was found to have good overall and individual item fit in both disorders as well as in the pooled sample, but seven items displayed signs of cross-diagnostic DIF. Following adjustment for DIF some aspects of model fit were slightly compromised, whereas others improved somewhat. DIF did not impact total NHPD scores or resulting person measures, but the unadjusted scale displayed minor signs of multidimensionality. Reliability was > 0.8 in all within- and cross-diagnostic analyses. Items tended to represent more distress (mean, 0 logits) than that experienced by the sample (mean, -1.6 logits).ConclusionThis study supports the within- and cross-diagnostic validity of the NHPD as a survey tool among people with PD and PAD. We encourage others to reassess available NHP data within the NHPD framework to further evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of this simple patient-reported index of illness-related distress.
Do Holiness Sects Socialize in Dominant Values
Exception is taken to the adequacy of the prevailing sociological view that the function of Holiness religion is to offer underprivileged groups an emotional and other-worldly escape from the realities that beset them. This article presents evidence for the view that Holiness religion may also function as an agency of the socialization of the lower class in the dominant values of American society.