Aim The threats of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) have caused fears worldwide. The Fear of COVID‐19 Scale (FCV‐19S) was recently developed to assess the fear of COVID‐19. Although many studies found that the FCV‐19S is psychometrically sound, it is unclear whether the FCV‐19S is invariant across countries. The present study aimed to examine the measurement invariance of the FCV‐19S across eleven countries. Design Cross‐sectional study. Methods Using data collected from prior research on Bangladesh (N = 8,550), United Kingdom (N = 344), Brazil (N = 1,843), Taiwan (N = 539), Italy (N = 249), New Zealand (N = 317), Iran (N = 717), Cuba (N = 772), Pakistan (N = 937), Japan (N = 1,079) and France (N = 316), comprising a total 15,663 participants, the present study used the multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Rasch differential item functioning (DIF) to examine the measurement invariance of the FCV‐19S across country, gender and age (children aged below 18 years, young to middle‐aged adults aged between 18 and 60 years, and older people aged above 60 years). Results The unidimensional structure of the FCV‐19S was confirmed. Multigroup CFA showed that FCV‐19S was partially invariant across country and fully invariant across gender and age. DIF findings were consistent with the findings from multigroup CFA. Many DIF items were displayed for country, few DIF items were displayed for age, and no DIF items were displayed for gender. Conclusion Based on the results of the present study, the FCV‐19S is a good psychometric instrument to assess fear of COVID‐19 during the pandemic period. Moreover, the use of FCV‐19S is supported in at least ten countries with satisfactory psychometric properties.

Scales for perceived egocentric distance produced by three psychophysical methods in four ranges of distances were compared. It was found that (a) the exponents produced by ratio and fractionation methods are in good agreement; (b) the exponents of both these methods were larger than those produced by magnitude estimation; (c) an increase in range of distance was associated with a decrease in exponent, but this diminution seems to interact with the method used; (d) for all the psychophysical methods used, there was large variability in the individual exponent; (e) the exponent was smaller than 1.0 for approximately 78% of the pooled sample, with all adult observers (N = 612) considered; and (f) an arithmetic mean exponent equal to 0.90 represents fairly all the results obtained. The scaling of apparent distance shows that perceived distance increases as a power function of physical distance (

RESUMO JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS:A quantificação da dor enfrenta dificuldades especiais. Elas surgem devido à óbvia associação das sensações de dor com um conjunto de fatores emocionais, motivacionais e culturais. Apesar disso, a mensuração da dor é essencial para a avaliação e o tratamento dos seus efeitos. O objetivo deste estudo foi mostrar que os métodos psicofísicos podem ser adequadamente empregados para a mensuração, tanto da dor clínica quando da dor experimental. CONTEÚDO: Em adição, a metodologia pode ser útil para analisar os mecanismos da dor, a analgesia, os vieses metodológicos inerentes aos registros verbais da dor e dissociar os componentes sensoriais e cognitivos da sensação/ percepção de dor. CONCLUSÃO: A metodologia psicofísica pode ser uma medida fidedigna e válida do quinto sinal vital, que é a dor, em todas as suas dimensões. Descritores: Avaliação da dor, Dor clínica, Dor experimental, Mensuração da dor, Percepção da dor, Psicofísica da dor. SUMMARY BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Pain quantification faces special difficulties. They appear due to the

Evidence for a two-process theory of the observer's visual judgment of size and distance is summarized and evaluated. The primary process, as expressed. by the size-distance invariance hypothesis (SDllI), concerns the interrelation of perceived size (8') and perceived distance (D'), independent of information derived from memory or suggestion. The secondary process involves information regarding size (from memory or suggestion) not contained in the immediate visual stimulus. If the primary and secondary sources of size information differ, the object is seen as off-sized. This off-sized perception can be used to modify the direct report of the distance of too object. In the case of the casual suggestion of size, the off-sized judgment produces a nonper(;eptual (cognitive) report of distance (Gogel, 1981b). In the case ofthe memory ofthe size of a familiar object, some of the effect on the direct report of perceived distance is perceptual, but most is cognitive (Gogel, 1976). In the case of optical expansion, the effect of off-sized judgments on distance responses produces a clear modification of perceived distance (Swanston & Gogel, 1986). The experimental distinction between primary and secondary processes is facilitated by comparing measures of perceived distance obtained from direct procedures (e.g., verbal reports of distance) with those obtained from indirect procedures (e.g., the head motion procedure). The former (direct) methods reflect both primary and secondary sources of information. The latter (indirect) methods are sensitive only to primary sources. The significance of the two-process theory for the specification of the SDIH and the explanation of other visual phenomena is discussed. THE PROBLEMThe need to postulate more than one process in the response to size and distance information is evident in research concerned with the effect of suggestion on reports of size and distance. This research has been conducted within the paradigm of the SDIH, which in its usual form is that cation of perceptions, although it has been found recently that, under proper conditions, its effect on the response to distance can be clearly perceptual (Swanston & Gogel, 1986). As will be discussed, these two processes have been distinguished experimentally; the results are relevant to the basic problem of how and under what conditions information not available in the immediate stimulus, but available from memory or suggestion, can modify what is perceived.In this paper we consider the evidence for a two-process theory of the observer's response to visual information regarding size and distance. The primary process is responsible for the interrelation of perceived size and perceived distance, consistent with the size-distance invariance hypothesis (SDIH) (Epstein, Park, & Casey, 1961; Gilinsky, 1951; Kilpatrick & Ittelson, 1953; Schlosberg, 1950). The primary process utilizes sensory information available in the immediate visual stimulus. It does not require a memory of prior spatial extents, and it invariably results in...

The role of familiar size in the visual judgment of size and distance was investigated using reduced conditions of observation and instructions that called for either objective or apparent size and distance judgments. Each observer was presented with one object at one distance (56, 107, or 149 cm). This object, which was of constant physical size, was either a normal-sized playing card or a blank rectangle of the same size as the playing card. Distance responses were yerbal and size responses were tactual. For the blank rectangle, reported distance remained constant, whereas judged size decreased as physical distance increased for both objective and apparent instructions. For the playing card, reported distance increased as physical distance increased for both objective and apparent instructions. The judged size for the playing card, however, remained constant with objective instructions but decreased with apparent instructions as the physical distance increased. This pattern of results is consistent with the theory that, to a substantial degree, familiar size contributes to spatial responses by means of a cognitive process based upon familiar objects' appearing as smaller or larger than normal. Under conditions in which the familiar objects are normal in size (as in the present experiment), this process acts to correct a direct response to distance for any errors that might be present in the perception of distance. Familiar Size and the Size-Distance Invariance HypothesisTo investigate whether the characteristic size of a familiar object provides an effective cue to its distance from an observer, (1) verbal reports of distance often are used to measure perceived distance, and (2) cues to distance other than that of familiar size are reduced by having the observer view the familiar object monocularly in an otherwise dark visual field, with accommodation held constant. It has been found, under these conditions, that the observer's report of the distance of a familiar object often varies directly with its physical distance, if the familiar object is normal in size, or with its simulated distance, if the familiar object is larger or smaller than normal, where simulated distance is the distance at which the familiar object of normal size would need to be placed in order to subtend a particular visual angle (Epstein,

RESUMO: Cientometria é definida como o estudo da mensuração e quantificação do progresso científico, estando a pesquisa baseada em indicadores bibliométricos. A cientometria tem um grande potencial de aplicação, havendo interesse de Governos e instituições de pesquisas em utilizar este conhecimento com o objetivo de implementar diferentes formas de apoio ao desenvolvimento científico e tecnológico. Nos últi-mos tempos, também, ela tem sido usada para ajudar nações a tomarem decisões sobre quais áreas do saber necessitam de fundos especiais; além disso, a análise das citações ou dos fatores de impacto de periódicos e artigos vem se tornando uma fonte importante de informação para historiadores, sociólogos e outros pesquisadores interessados na evolução da ciência. Este artigo focaliza como diferentes indicadores de citação tornam possível verificar tanto a evolução das descobertas quanto o impacto do trabalho publicado. Esta análise quantitativa complementa as opiniões e os julgamentos realizados por especialistas (avaliação pelos pares), fornecendo instrumentos úteis e objetivos para avaliar os resultados da atividade científica.Palavras-chave: Indicadores Bibliométricos, análise de citações, atividade científica, fator de impacto SCIENTOMETRICS: THE MEASUREMENT OF SCIENCEABSTRACT: Scientometrics is defined as the study of the measurement and quantification of scientific and technological progress and much the research is bibliometric in nature. Scientometric has a wide potential applicability. Government and research institutions have expressed interest in applying this knowledge of scientific growth to the management of science.. Ultimately, scientometrics may be used to help nations make decisions on what areas of research need funding. The citation analyses have become an increasingly significant source of information for historians, sociologists, and other researchers studying the evolution of science. This article focuses on how citation indexes make it possible to trace the background and development of discoveries as well as to assess the credit that publishing scientists assign to particular discoverers. This kind of analysis complements the opinions and judgments of experts (peer review), thus providing objective and useful tools for evaluating the results of scientific activity. Key-words:Bibliometric indices, citation analysis, scientific activity, Journal Citation Report, Impact Factor Examinando a evolução das ciências verifica-se que o problema da medida tem sido objeto de atenção desde muito tempo, de tal modo que quanto mais evoluída uma ciência se mostra, mais cedo aconteceu sua preocupação com a mensuração. A Física e, sobretudo, a Astronomia desde a Antigüi-dade vêm estimando a distância entre as estrelas e

Knowing about teacher perceptions contributes to the understanding of teachers’ attitudes toward the behavior of their students. We evaluated the perceptions of 501 teachers about the genetic and environmental influences on behaviors considered relevant to the educational environment using an original questionnaire from the United Kingdom, adapted to the Portuguese language of Brazil. We found that the teachers attributed genetic and environmental influences evenly regarding personality and learning difficulties; greater genetic influence on intelligence and mental illness; and greater environmental influence on behavioral problems. Most teachers stated that having a student with genetically influenced learning difficulties would affect their method of instructing them.

O presente artigo visou apresentar o surgimento da Psicologia Positiva como um importante novo campo de estudos da Psicologia contemporânea, em um momento em que novos estudos têm focado a compreensão das forças e virtudes humanas. Especial atenção é dada a um de seus principais componentes - o bem-estar subjetivo -, também conhecido como felicidade. Buscando elucidar os aspectos envolvidos no estudo do bem-estar subjetivo, este artigo procurou abordar alguns de seus principais correlatos. O melhor entendimento dos fatores envolvidos com o surgimento tanto de emoções positivas quanto de negativas permite uma maior compreensão da condição humana diante das adversidades.