Introduction: Not only does flood affects the household community, but it also has an impact on business entities, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs) located in flood-prone areas. In order to assist SMEs to prepare for a flood disaster effectively, the set-up of a disaster preparedness plan is essential. The purpose of this study is to devel- op a validated instrument for identifying the different levels of disaster preparedness among SMEs in their readiness to face a flood disaster. Methods: In this preliminary study, 26 items of flood disaster preparedness activities (FDPA) reviewed from works of literature were adopted and adapted to be randomly administered to 30 respondents (SME business owners) located in the Temerloh province, Malaysia, which is identified as a flood-prone area. A Rasch analysis technique was used to identify the psychometric properties of the instrument. Results: Using the Rasch mea- surement analysis technique, the instrument used was able to categorise the SMEs into two level of preparedness: low and moderate. About 25 items were found to possess good psychometric features in determining the flood pre- paredness level of SMEs despite the lack of items on measuring high-level preparedness activities. Conclusion: The results of this preliminary study have served to highlight the strength of the instrument and gaps identified for further improvement in the near future.
In the context of extending the knowledge of coaching in sports in Malaysia
particularly in Sarawak, this study aimed to identify the perception of
student athlete regarding to the coaching behavior, in addition to investigate
the preferred coaching behavior as well as perceived coaching behavior by
the student athlete of track and field sports from Sarawak state. This is a
descriptive study that using equal-size groups in stratified sampling
method. The study consisted of 252 respondents (male, n = 126; female, n =
126), who were secondary school student athletes aged between 13 to 18
years old and had represented their division for competition. Questionnaires
Leadership Scale for Sport (LSS) developed by Chelladurai and Saleh
(1980) was adapted and used as instrument for our research to measure five
coaching behaviors. Based on the Sarawak state sport track and field student
athletes perception on the coaching behavior, findings indicated that the
preferred behavior by student athletes matched with the perceived coaching
behavior of the coach. Study data demonstrated that Instruction and
Training behavior (M = 4.33, SP = 0.67) as the most preferred ranking,
followed by Positive Feedback behavior (M = 4.14, SP = 0.74). The
findings of student athletes' perceptions to perceived coaching behavior that
often existing on the coach is also Instruction and Training behavior (M =
4.13, SD = 0.68), followed by Positive Feedback behavior (M = 3.89, SD =
0.75). As the conclusion, perceptions of student athletes were not differed
by gender, with both boys and girls indicated alike thoughts in their
preferred coaching behavior as well as perceived coaching behavior, which
was Instruction and Training behavior.