We construct an empirical Bayes (EB) prediction interval for the finite population mean of a small area when data are available from many similar small areas. We assume that the individuals of the population of the i area are a random sample from a normal distribution with mean μi and variance σ 2 i . Then, given σ 2 i , the μi are independently distributed with each μi having a normal distribu...

introduction: falling is a common problem after stroke that occurs following the physical and psychological problems. psychological factors such as reduce of self-efficacy in maintain balance could have an equal or even greater contribution than physical problems in falling. therefore, having a suitable tool with acceptable repeatability seems to be necessary for evaluation of individual confid...

A vertical score scale is needed to measure growth across multiple tests in terms of absolute changes in magnitude. Since the warrant for subsequent growth interpretations depends upon the assumption that the scale has interval properties, the validation of a vertical scale would seem to require methods for distinguishing interval from ordinal. In taking up this issue, two different perspective...

BACKGROUND The PANSS (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale) is one of the most important rating instruments for patients with schizophrenia. Nevertheless, there is a long and ongoing debate in the psychiatric community regarding its mathematical properties.All 30 items range from 1 to 7 leading to a minimum total score of 30, implying that the PANSS is an interval scale. For such interval scale...

  Background :Fear of falling may be related to falling during stroke onset. The Fall Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) with excellent psychometric properties, is an instrument developed to assess patients’ concerns about fallings. The aim of this study was to determine validation of this scale in Iranian patients with stroke.   Methods : The “forward-backward” procedure was applied to trans...