This study aimed to investigate the influence of visual symbols on the perception and evaluation of two fictitious products as well as the effect of demographic characteristics (nationality) on consumers’ evaluations. A sample of 373 participants was split into two groups and two experimental conditions (products with Swiss symbols and products without Swiss symbols). One group of participants rated the packaging without a Swiss flag and the other one rated the same packaging with a Swiss flag. A semantic differential scale and the Self-Assessment Manikin (SAM) were used to assess attitudes toward the products. Results confirm that there are differences between the two independent groups and that nationality has an effect on product perception and evaluation. Visual symbols such as a country flag can lead to a better product perception and evaluation. Finally, implications for research are discussed.

Las grandes ciudades enfrentan una movilidad caótica producto del incremento del parque automotor, ocasionada por la falta planeación ante los nuevos sistemas de transporte. Un sistema de transporte ideal no se caracteriza por utilizar la totalidad de su capacidad en un único recorrido; sino por la disminución del uso de vehículos particulares. La participación de los Sistemas de Transporte Inteligente lo ha incrementado (Transantiago en Chile, y Transmetro en Barranquilla), aunque su implementación no garantiza el éxito en su operación; la sostenibilidad de las medianas y pequeñas empresas de transporte público pueden verse afectada. Por lo anterior, se propone de un modelo de simulación para una empresa de transporte de Barranquilla, Colombia, se determinan los aspectos internos y externos que pueden afectar al sistema, para determinar una solución subóptima, que permita mitigar el impacto social y financiero de la empresa en su entorno, se utilizan datos históricos-operacionales proporcionados por una empresa del rubro, así como un modelo de operación preliminar.

Objective: To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Shortened Version of the Token Test (SVTT), the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT-III), and the Rey–Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) using an item response theory (IRT) framework and to establish normative data for Waranka children and adolescents based on their ability scores. Methods: A total of 436 healthy people aged between 6 and 17 participated in this study. The factor structure was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and the difficulty and discrimination parameters using IRT through the two-parameter logistic model for the SVTT and PPTV-III, while for the ROCF, the graded response model was used. The ordinal alpha and McDonald’s omega were used for reliability. Results: For most items, a low ability was enough to achieve the highest scores for the ROCF and SVTT. For the PPVT-III, the items aligned sequentially based on the difficulty, and a low level of ability was enough to achieve the highest score for the first 40 items. The ROCF, SVTT, and PPVT-III demonstrated adequate reliability. The ROCF copy and immediate recall scores were influenced by the mean parents’ years of education (MPE) and quadratic age interaction. The SVTT performance was affected by the quadratic age and sex interaction, and the PPVT-III by the interaction effect of the MPE and quadratic age. Conclusions: This is the first study to analyze the psychometric properties of the ROCF, SVTT, and PPVT-III through IRT models that are accurate and relevant for the validity of the obtained data and generate normative data in the under-represented nation of Ecuador for clinical and research purposes.

Bearing in mind the need to understand and analyse the psychological processes involved in pro-environmental behaviour, in order to mitigate the negative effects of the current global ecological crisis, the aim of the research presented here is to analyse the effects of a pro-environmental competency (PEC) training programme on Colombian children. To this end, a quasi-experimental design was applied to a non-probabilistic sample of 102 subjects, evenly distributed between the experimental and control groups ( M_age = 8.13; SD_age = 0.496; 43.1% female and 56.9% male), applying the ECOPRO-N scale and structured quantitative observation to measure pro-environmental competency. The results showed an increase in the pro-environmental competency of the experimental group with respect to the control group, specifically in the dimensions Beliefs ( d = 0.75), Knowledge ( d = 0.91) and Motives ( d = 0.32), with the greatest effect observed in the Knowledge dimension. This verifies the effectiveness of the intervention programme in terms of fostering pro-environmental behaviours among Colombian children.

In this paper, we develop a theoretical study about the logistic and saturated multinomial models when the response variable takes one of R ≥ 2 levels. Several theorems on the existence and calculations of the maximum likelihood (ML) estimates of the parameters of both models are presented and demonstrated. Furthermore, properties are identified and, based on an asymptotic theory, convergence theorems are tested for score vectors and information matrices of both models. Finally, an application of this theory is presented and assessed using data from the R statistical program.