bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Beneficial Academic Orientations and Self-Actualization of College Students
Authors: Davidson William B. , Bromfield Jeffrey M. , Beck Hall P.
Published: February 2008

This study tested the prediction that individual differences in self-actualization would be associated with six academic orientations which influence college students' adjustment to their studies. Volunteer undergraduates, solicited from courses in the sciences and liberal arts and invited to complete internet measures of the academic orientations and self-actualization were 137 men and 311 women ( M age = 21.1, SD = 4.8). Statistically significant bivariate correlations obtained between scores on self-actualization with all six orientations: creative expression, reading for pleasure, academic efficacy, and, inversely, structure dependence, academic apathy, and mistrust of instructors. Regression analysis showed that four orientations were independently related to self-actualization scores. The role of these four orientations in actualizing students' adjustment was discussed, and implications were drawn about the interpretation of scores on the four orientations.
Effects of Sleep Deprivation and Morningness-Eveningness Traits on Risk-Taking
Authors: Killgore William D. S.
Published: February 2008

Individuals differ along a continuum of preference for diurnal activity level, known as Morningness-Eveningness. Individuals low in Morningness traits, i.e., preferring later awakening and bed times, have been shown to score higher on personality traits of impulsiveness and novelty-seeking. No studies have yet examined the association between Morningness-Eveningness and the related construct of risk-taking. Therefore, the present study examined (1) whether Morningness was correlated with self-reported and behavioral measures of risk-taking, and (2) whether one night of sleep deprivation would produce changes in risk-taking and sensation-seeking. 54 healthy adults were administered the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire at intake, and administered the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale, Evaluation of Risks Scale, and Balloon Analog Risk Task at rested baseline, again following 23 hr. of sleep deprivation, and finally after a 12-hr. period of recovery sleep. Lower Morningness scores were associated with higher self-reported total risk-taking propensity when rested ( p< .05) and sleep deprived ( p<.005), but correlations were not significant for sensation seeking or actual risk-taking behavior. Relative to baseline and postrecovery periods, sleep deprivation significantly reduced risk-taking propensity, including self-report indices of self-control, danger-seeking, energy level, and sensation-seeking, and behaviorally measured risk-taking. Chronotype did not interact with sleep condition for any of the dependent variables, although Evening Types scored higher on several indices of risk-propensity. Findings suggest that Morningness traits are inversely related to greater risk-taking propensity, while sleep deprivation significantly reduces self-reported and behaviorally demonstrated willingness to engage in high-risk and sensational activities under conditions of uncertainty, regardless of chronotype.
The Physical Self-Attribute Questionnaire: Development and Initial Validation
Authors: Moore Justin B. , Mitchell Nathanael G. , Kilpatrick Marcus W. , Bartholomew John B.
Published: February 2008

The Physical Self-attribute Questionnaire was developed for use in conjunction with the Physical Self-perception Profile to model cognitive facets of perceived competence, certainty, importance, and discrepancy from ideal to each of the physical subdomains measured by the latter (Strength, Attractive Body, Condition, and Sport). To this end, two studies were conducted. Study 1 examined the factor structure, test-retest reliability, and validity of the questionnaire in a sample of 154 (28 men, 126 women) undergraduate health students. Reliability and validity were acceptable, and confirmatory factor analysis indicated good fit for a four-factor solution. In Study 2, the reliability, validity, and factor structure was again confirmed in a sample of 120 (83 men, 37 women) undergraduate students recruited from exercise classes. Results of these two studies suggest that the Physical Self-attribute Questionnaire is a viable tool to measure the underlying cognitive facets of subdomain-specific physical self-esteem.
Psychophysical Methods in Study of Consumers' Perceived Price Change for Food Products
Authors: Chang Ming-Hsu , Chiou Wen-Bin
Published: February 2008

When adjusting product prices, marketers wish information concerning consumers' price perceptions. The present study aimed to develop an optimal pricing framework for food products by applying Weber's Law and Stevens' Power Law in psychophysics. The first phase attempted to measure the differential thresholds when magnitudes of prices were raised and lowered. The second phase was conducted to establish the psychophysical function representing perceived changes. Analysis showed consumers' differential thresholds were positively correlated with the initial price, consistent with Weber's Law. Further, participants' perceived change differed for increased and decreased prices. Products were perceived as cheaper only when medium-and low-priced products dropped dramatically in price. However, small reductions for the high-priced products were perceived as cheaper. Regardless of price changes, participants perceived products were more expensive when prices dropped by a small amount.
Temporal Discounting in “Gain Now-Lose Later” and “Lose Now-Gain Later” Conditions
Authors: Ostaszewski Pawel
Published: February 2008

Studies on temporal discounting typically involve choosing between two outcomes of the same sign, i.e., positive or negative. For example, participants often are given a choice between a smaller, sooner gain and a larger, but later gain, or (less commonly) the options may be a sooner, larger loss and a later, but smaller loss. In contrast, participants in this study ( N= 129; 66 women and 63 men, volunteers from Warsaw, Poland, all employed, with college education, ranging in age from 23 to 50 years, M = 32.3 yr., SD = 7.4) had to make a yes-or-no decision as to whether they would accept a financial offer involving a combination of a gain and a loss. This offer could be either an immediate gain to be followed later by a larger loss or an immediate loss followed later by a larger gain. Despite the substantial differences between the options in the present study and those in typical discounting studies, the same hyper-boloid discounting function that describes choice between immediate and delayed gains also accurately described choice in the substantially different situations presented in the present study. In addition, steeper discounting was observed with a smaller delayed outcome than with a larger delayed outcome.
Measurement of Higher-Order Family Dimensions across Self-Report and Behavioral Observational Methods
Authors: Windle Michael , Jacob Theodore
Published: February 2008

This study used a community sample of 192 intact families to examine two issues related to conceptualization and measurement of family functioning. First, a confirmatory factor model supported the adequacy of using dyadic-level self-report measures (e.g., mother-child, child-father) to identify three family level constructs of Family Affect, Family Control, and Family Shared Activity. Second, data derived from behavioral observations during dyadic interactions identified two factors, Family Positivity and Family Negativity. Correlations among the self-report and behavioral observation factors indicated high Family Positivity was significantly associated with higher Family Affect and lower Family Control, and Family Negativity was significantly associated with lower Family Affect and with lower Family Shared Activity. Findings are discussed in terms of limitations and directions for research.
Personality Traits and Sibling Relationships in Emerging Adults
Authors: Lanthier Richard P.
Published: February 2008

Associations between the Big Five personality traits of siblings and the quality of sibling relationships were examined in a sample of 115 college students and one of their older siblings. Big Five traits, as assessed by Goldberg's 100 adjective markers, predicted a large amount of the variability in sibling Warmth and Conflict. Agreeableness was the most consistent predictor of positive sibling outcomes.
Motivational Analysis of Academic Help-Seeking: Self-Determination in Adolescents' Freindship
Authors: Okada Ryo
Published: February 2008

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role that friendship motivation plays in academic help-seeking based on self-determination theory. The relations among self-determined friendship motivation, academic help-seeking, and feeling of satisfaction were examined among high school students ( N = 670) in Japan. Analyses showed that self-determined friendship motivation was associated with the academic help-seeking, which in turn was related to the feeling of satisfaction with academic learning and friendship. The role of friendship motivation in the academic setting is discussed.
Construction and Preliminary Validation of the Barcelona Immigration Stress Scale
Authors: Tomás-Sábado Joaquín , Antonin Montserrat , Qureshi Adil , Collazos Francisco
Published: February 2008

In the study of mental health and migration, an increasing number of researchers have shifted the focus away from the concept of acculturation towards the stress present in the migratory experience. The bulk of research on acculturative stress has been carried out in the United States, and thus the definition and measurement of the construct has been predicated on that cultural and demographic context, which is of dubious applicability in Europe in general, and Spain in particular. Further, some scales have focused on international students, which down-played the importance of the migratory process, because it deals with a special subset of people who are not formally immigrating. The Barcelona Immigration Stress Scale was developed to measure acculturative stress appropriate to immigrants in Spain, using expert and focus group review and has 42 items. The scale shows acceptable internal validity, and, consistent with other scales, suggests that immigration stress is a complex construct.
An Analysis of Audit Scores of Adolescent Offenders in Two Midwestern Counties
Authors: Nevitt James R. , Lundak Joel , Codr Jessica , Adams Robert
Published: February 2008

The Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test provides an accurate measure of risk associated with alcohol-related problems across sex, age, and cultures. As a recommended screening tool to detect patients who are appropriate candidates for brief, preventive alcohol interventions, it was given to 78 adolescents in a diversion program for drunk drivers in two southeastern Nebraska counties during routine alcohol-dependency evaluations. The subjects were grouped by age (18 and younger and over 18 years) and by sex. Based on a previous study, it was hypothesized that the responses to the first three AUDIT questions, related to alcohol consumption, would reflect sex and age differences. A 2 × 2 analysis of variance of scores on separate items indicated significant main effects for age ( F1,74 = 10.40, p<.002) for Question 1 with older boys' and girls' groups reporting they have drinks containing alcohol more frequently, for sex ( F1,74 = 14.65, p<.001) on Question 2 with the older boys' group reporting more frequent drinking on a typical day, and for age ( F1,74 = 7.74, p>.01), and sex ( F1,74 = 4.12, p<.05) on Question 3 with the older boys' group indicating that they more frequently consumed six or more drinks on one occasion. It is recommended that the AUDIT–C be included in drug and alcohol assessments with adolescents similar to those tested here, and professionals be alert to the possibilities of sex and age differences in response to questions related to consumption.
What Does the Wonderlic Personnel Test Measure?
Authors: Matthews T. Darin , Lassiter Kerry S.
Published: February 2008

The present investigation examined the concurrent validity of the Wonderlic Personnel Test and Woodcock-Johnson–Revised Tests of Cognitive Ability which were administered to 37 college students, 27 women and 10 men, who ranged in age from 18 to 54 years ( M = 27.1, SD = 8.7). Analysis yielded significant correlation coefficients between the Wonderlic Total score and the score for the WJ–R Broad Cognitive Ability Standard Battery ( r = .55) and the Comprehensive Knowledge score ( r = .34). Performance on the Wonderlic was not significantly correlated with fluid reasoning skills ( r = .26) but was most strongly associated with overall intellectual functioning, as measured by the Woodcock-Johnson Standard Battery IQ score. While scores on the Wonderlic were more strongly associated with crystallized than fluid reasoning abilities, the Wonderlic test scores did not clearly show convergent and divergent validity evidence across these two broad domains of cognitive ability.
False Recall of Critical Lures in Students with Diagnosed Learning Disabilities
Authors: Branch David L. , Hilgert Larry D. , Browne Blaine L. , Monetti David M.
Published: February 2008

40 students ( M age = 13.5 yr., SD=1) from a rural south Georgia school system participated. 20 participants (11 boys, 9 girls) were receiving special education services for diagnosed learning disabilities, and 20 were general education students (10 boys, 10 girls). Students attempted to memorize a list of 15 words in 1 min., tried to recall the words, and then repeated the process for each of 10-word lists. As predicted, students with diagnosed learning disabilities recalled fewer words overall and fewer critical lures than did the general education students.
Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Paralinguistic Expression
Authors: Gawda Barbara
Published: February 2008

The purpose of this study was to test the associations among neuroticism, extraversion, and paralinguistic expression. The relevant literature provides ample information on the association between personality traits and voice intensity, pitch, pace of speaking, frequency of pauses, slips of the tongue, and other speech impediments. The author attempted to verify and supplement work reported previously. Scores for 100 persons (56 women, 44 men; M age = 21.5 yr., SD = 1.5) were analyzed with respect to two aspects of personality, neuroticism and introversion-extraversion. To analyze the paralinguistic properties of speech, elicited oral messages were examined, i.e., a fairy tale told by the examinees. While the analysis did not give unambiguous evidence that the assumptions were correct, it indicated singular and statistically significant relations of introversion and neuroticism with speech fluency impediments.
A Content Analysis of the Japanese Interpretation of “Eating a Balanced Diet”
Authors: Akamatsu Rie
Published: February 2008

The purpose of this study was to examine how Japanese workers ( n = 391) think about “eating a balanced diet” daily. Respondents were 263 men and 128 women whose mean age was 43.1 yr. ( SD= 10.9). Content analysis was used to analyze qualitatively responses to a survey. Responses were categorized into Eating a variety of foods, Different types of foods, and Nutritional components. The category, Eating a variety of foods, contained unique behaviors, such as “not continually eating the same foods” rather than eating specific foods or for nutrition. Because interpretations of what “eating a balanced diet” means varied, nutrition professionals should rephrase their advice into language which specifies more clearly practices for daily life.
Parenting Styles and Adolescents' Self-Esteem in Brazil
Authors: Martínez Isabel , García José Fernando , Yubero Santiago
Published: February 2008

This study explored the relationship between parenting styles and self-esteem among 1,239 11- to 15-yr.-old Brazilian adolescents (54% girls; M age = 13.4 yr., SD=1.4). Teenagers' families were classified into 1 of 4 groups (Authoritative, Authoritarian, Indulgent, or Neglectful) based on adolescents' answers to the ESPA29 Parental Socialization Scale. Participants completed the AF5 Multidimensional Self-Esteem Scale which appraises five dimensions: Academic, Social, Emotional, Family, and Physical. Analyses showed that Brazilian adolescents from Indulgent families scored equal (Academic and Social) or higher (Family) in Self-esteem than adolescents from Authoritative families. Adolescents from Indulgent families scored higher than adolescents from Authoritarian and Neglectful families in four Self-esteem dimensions, Academic, Social, Family, and Physical. Adolescents from Authoritative families scored higher than adolescents from Authoritarian and Neglectful families in three Self-esteem dimensions, Academic, Social, and Family. These results suggest that Authoritative parenting is not associated with optimum self-esteem in Brazil.
Using the Megargee System among Belgian Prisoners: Cross-Cultural Prevalence of the MMPI-2 Based Types
Authors: Sneyers Michèle , Sloore Hedwig , Rossi Gina , Derksen Jan J. L.
Published: February 2008

On the basis of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, and later the MMPI-2, E, I. Megargee and colleagues empirically developed a classification system to enhance management and treatment of offenders throughout the criminal justice system. This preliminary study extended the application of the MMPI-2 based system for the first time to a non-U.S. prison sample and classified the MMPI-2 profiles of 1,636 male inmates from Belgian federal prisons. The typology was capable of classifying most of the subjects and all 10 Megargee types were represented. Compared to American prevalence data, types Delta and Charlie were overrepresented and type George was underrepresented. Issues that warrant further investigation are discussed.
Death Depression and Death Obsession: Are They Different Constructs?
Authors: Tomás-Sábado Joaquín , Limonero Joaquín T.
Published: February 2008

This study examined the dimensional structure of Templer, et al.'s Death Depression Scale-Revised and Abdel-Khalek's Death Obsession Scale. The responses of 353 Spanish undergraduates, 261 women and 92 men ( M age=19 yr., SD = 3.1), to the Spanish forms of both scales were evaluated by means of a principal axis factoring with oblimin rotation. Three significant factors were identified: (1) Death Sadness, (2) Death Obsession, and (3) Death Anergia and Anhedonia. The distribution of the factor loadings for the items of both scales supported discriminant validity and capacity to evaluate aspects of human reactions to death.
Sex and Grade Differences in Verbal Creative Thinking among Iranian Middle-School Children
Authors: Sajjadi-Bafghi Seyed Hossein
Published: February 2008

The relations of sex and grade with verbal originality of 407 boys and 479 girls ( M age = 12.7 yr., SD=.9) in Iranian middle schools (Grades 6 through 8) were investigated. The Sounds and Images test, one of the components of Thinking Creatively with Sounds and Words, was administered to measure verbal originality. Analysis showed boys scored significantly higher than girls on verbal originality and Grade 6 children scored significantly higher than Grade 7 children. The results were discussed in terms of sociocultural factors.
Nonsupportive Disclosure in Child Sexual Abuse: Confidants' Characteristics and Reactions
Authors: Collings Steven J.
Published: February 2008

In a sample of 856 South African child victims of sexual abuse ( M age= 10.2 yr., SD = 4.2), 26% experienced nonsupportive reactions at initial disclosure, with nonsupportive reactions taking two forms, ignoring the child (16% of cases) and punishing or silencing the child (10% of cases). Nonsupportive disclosure was equally likely when the confidant was a nonoffending guardian (OR=1.00), another family member (OR = 0.84), or a professional person (OR=1.07) but significantly more likely in cases where the confidant was a community member (OR = 3.41).
Psychometric Properties of the Child Behavior Checklist/2-3 in an Arab Population
Authors: Yunis Feisal , Zoubeidi Taoufik , Eapen Valsamma , Yousef Saeed
Published: February 2008

Child Behavior Checklist 2–3 is a parents' report questionnaire whose psychometric properties are known in the Western setting, but no studies have investigated this in an Arabic culture. In this study, the psychometric properties of the Arabic translation were studied using a sample of 694 children age 3 yr., ascertained as part of a community-based epidemiological study in the United Arab Emirates. The item-total correlations for items were satisfactory, ranging from .16 to .58. Cronbach alpha values for reliability ranged from .70 to .88 for the subscales and .93 for the Total score. The test-retest reliability coefficient for the Total score was .83. The validity was also high as 94.1% of those who scored above the cut-off point were classified correctly by a blind clinical interview. The results suggest that Child Behavior Checklist 2–3 is a reliable and valid checklist for use in the Arabic culture.
Evaluating Appreciation of Measures Attending to Pupil Diversity (EMAD)
Authors: Pino Margarita , Dominguez José , Lopez-Castedo Antonio
Published: February 2008

Evaluating appreciation of measures attending to pupil diversity (EMAD) is a scale for evaluating the understanding of measures describing pupils' cultural and diversity needs among the staff responsible for such measures in Spanish primary schools. Its 9 Likert-scale items correspond to the various types of action in this area that are currently being promoted in Spain. The principal objective of this study was to assess the scale's factor structure and internal consistency, to which end the scale was completed by the heads of the Departments of Orientation of 140 Spanish primary schools. Corrected item-total correlations and Cronbach alpha (.91) indicated adequate scale homogeneity. Principal components analysis followed by varimax rotation indicated two factors jointly accounting for 71.4% of total variance, one associated with actions involving modification of syllabuses, and the other with actions not requiring such changes. Cronbach alphas were .89 and .79 for the two factors.
Religious Coping, Family Support, and Negative Affect in College Students
Authors: Hovey Joseph D. , Seligman Laura D.
Published: February 2008

To understand the influence that religion may have on mental health, the present study examined influences of religious coping and family support on anxiety and depression in 190 college students (women = 67.4%; M age = 21.7 yr., SD = 4.9). Subjects were recruited as volunteers from undergraduate psychology courses and completed the Ways of Religious Coping Scale, the General Functioning subscale of the Family Assessment Device, the Anxiety Scale of the Personality Assessment Inventory, and the Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition. Analyses indicated greater family support was significantly associated with less anxiety and depression, whereas religious coping was not significantly correlated with anxiety and depression. Overall findings suggest that family emotional support may provide a stronger source of support for college students than religious coping.
Self-Assessments of Risk Tolerance by Women and Men
Authors: Grable John E. , Roszkowski Michael J.
Published: February 2008

A convenience sample of 1,741 Internet users completed a 12-item financial risk-tolerance questionnaire. They also rated themselves on their tolerance for financial risk using a 4-point rating scale. The 12-item summated rating score was used to predict the self-rating. The residual between actual and predicted self-rating was compared by sex. The residual for males was positive, indicating that men tended to overestimate their proclivity for taking risks. Conversely, the residual for females was negative, suggesting that women underestimate their tolerance for risk. The relationship held when controlling for other factors linked to risk tolerance, i.e., age, household income, marital status, and education. It was also noted that risk tolerance was overestimated by younger respondents and those with a graduate education.
Some Factors in Perceived Unwanted Transparency
Authors: Tabata Naoya
Published: February 2008

The feeling experienced when another person seemingly notices something about them that they would rather conceal from others is referred to as a sense of unwanted transparency. Effects of perception of others on one's sense of unwanted transparency were investigated. Participants, after being led to believe that they had performed poorly on an important ability test, interacted with an instructor who was apparently unaware of their poor performance. Participants' perception of the instructor was manipulated by the self-introduction of the instructor, either as a person who perceived the participants' inner selves or as a person who did not. Analysis indicated that participants interacting with an instructor who they believed could perceive their inner selves rated the sense of unwanted transparency higher than those interacting with an instructor who they believed could not perceive their inner selves.
Facts and Myths about Seasonal Variation in Suicide
Authors: Voracek Martin , Tran Ulrich S. , Sonneck Gernot
Published: February 2008

The prevalence of suicide presents a universal seasonal pattern. In the Northern hemisphere, suicides peak during spring and early summer and the trough occurs during winter. This peculiar pattern might be counterintuitive for everyday reasoning. Data from 1,093 medical and psychology undergraduates from Austria (382 men and 711 women; M age 25.0 yr., SD = 6.6) indicated an almost perfectly reversed pattern of beliefs about suicide seasonality compared with the actual seasonal distribution. The vast majority of respondents believed the peak to be located in late autumn and early winter and the trough occurring in late spring and the summer months. Implications for education and practice are discussed.
Application of Ecological Models to Risks Related to Being Overweight among Nurses
Authors: Chambers Rebecca L. , Turner Lori W. , Hunt Sharon B.
Published: February 2008

This paper provides a discussion of environmental strategies to improve health behaviors of nurses. Behavioral choices, partly due to social and environmental factors, influence risk of chronic disease. Strategies that modify environments are critical components of public health interventions, particularly those concerned with improving diet and physical activity. Nurses' health behaviors may be especially important, due to their influence as models when caring for patients. Modifications in work environments may enable nurses to acquire and maintain healthy behaviors.
Effect of Perceived Benefits on Reluctance to Trade
Authors: Lin Hung-Ming , Kao Danny T. , Chuang Shih-Chieh
Published: February 2008

People often tend to be reluctant to trade an owned object for an alternative object. This concept of reluctance to trade is generally called “endowment effect”. Loss aversion, which denotes that losses are weighted more heavily than gains, has been applied to interpret the endowment effect. Specifically, no “reluctance to trade” will occur when no loss is involved. In this research, 172 (90 women, 82 men; M age = 21 yr., SD =1.2) and 152 (82 women, 70 men; M age = 21 yr., SD =1.8) undergraduates voluntarily participated in two experiments, respectively. Results of both experiments indicated that participants were willing to trade an owned object for an alternative object when both objects were of the same benefit type and were reluctant to trade when objects were different. Clearly, an exchange was perceived as lower loss when the owned object and the alternative object were of the same benefit type, leading to no reluctance to trade.
Can Child Self-Report Measures of Depression and Anxiety Be Used in College Samples?
Authors: Weir Kirsty F. , Jose Paul E.
Published: February 2008

Depression and anxiety are typically measured in college samples using adult scales. However, some child and adolescent versions of internalizing symptoms may be appropriate for use with college samples. Child versions may be appropriate to use with college samples when multi-sample designs are utilized, e.g., both children and adults are assessed. To explore this possibility, 149 college students ( M age = 21.9 yr., SD = 6.3; 43 men, 106 women) were assessed on child and adolescent versions and adult scales of anxiety, i.e., the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale and the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and depression, i.e., the Children's Depression Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory. Both sets of depression scores were highly correlated ( r = .81), which suggests that the children's measure can be used in college samples. Although scores on the two anxiety scales were also significantly correlated, these scales shared less common variance. An exploratory factor analysis provided evidence that a single factor composed of all items for depression was an optimal solution. It was concluded that the Children's Depression Inventory can be used with college samples; however, the Revised Children's Manifest Anxiety Scale should not.
Word Comprehension in a Second Language: A Direct or an Indirect Route to Meaning?
Authors: La Heij Wido , Akerboom Simone Petri
Published: February 2008

For bilingual persons, comprehension of a word in a second language (L2 word) could be achieved via an indirect route, in which the L2 word is first translated into the first language (L1) before meaning is accessed, or via a direct route, in which an L2 word directly activates its meaning. To test these two accounts, proficient Dutch-English bilinguals were asked to translate and to categorize L2 words of high and low familiarity. These L2 words were accompanied by a Dutch context word that was either phonologically related or unrelated to its Dutch translation equivalent. The results showed a clear phonological facilitation effect in the translation task but no phonological facilitation in the categorization task. This result was taken as evidence for a “direct route” from the L2 word to its meaning.
A Meta-Analysis of the 2004 Campaign Polls: An Analogy to Practice and Publication in Psychology
Authors: Collings Raymond D. , Eaton Leslie G. , Hendrickson Miranda
Published: February 2008

The current practice of relying on single sample null hypothesis tests is being re-evaluated in the behavioral sciences. To highlight the issues raised by both sides of this discussion, a meta-analysis of The Gallup Organization's most recent U.S. Presidential election polling data was conducted. During the 2004 Presidential campaign, most pre-election polling percentages reported Bush ahead of Kerry, although the differences between the voters' preferences were typically within the margin of error. The meta-analyses used in this study showed significant differences between the two candidates' polling percentages, thus yielding a more accurate prediction than the conventional analysis which was based on single samples. These improved predictions provide support for a continued discussion about potential changes in statistical approaches to psychology.
Perceived Social Loafing and Anticipated Effort Reduction among Young Football (Soccer) Players: An Achievement Goal Perspective
Authors: Høigaard Rune , Ommundsen Yngvar
Published: February 2008

This study investigated the relationship between motivational climates, personal achievement goals, and three different aspects of social loafing in football (soccer). 170 male competitive football players completed questionnaires assessing perceived motivational climate, achievement goal, and measures of perceived social loafing (anticipation of lower effort amongst their teammates and themselves). The results indicated a marginal but significant positive relationship between an ego-oriented achievement goal and perceived social loafing. In addition, a mastery climate was negatively associated with perceived social loafing and anticipation of lower effort of team members, particularly for athletes who also strongly endorsed a task-oriented achievement goal. A performance climate, in contrast, related positively with these two aspects of social loafing. A mastery climate also related negatively to the third aspect of social loafing, i.e., players' readiness to reduce their own effort in response to their perception of social loafing among their teammates.
Cognitive Impairment and Quality of Life among Stroke Survivors in Nigeria
Authors: Fatoye Femi O. , Komolafe Morenikeji A. , Eegunranti Benjamin A. , Adewuya Abiodun O. , Mosaku Samuel K. , Fatoye Grace K.
Published: February 2008

The study investigated cognitive impairment and quality of life (QOL) among 109 consecutive stroke survivors and 109 normal controls. Each group comprised 64 (58.7%) men and 45 (41.3%) women. The modified Mini Mental State Examination (mMMSE) and the WHO Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-Bréf) indicated that 19 (17.4%) stroke survivors had cognitive deficits (mMMSE score < 16) compared with 5 (4.6%) control participants (χ12 = 4.27, p<.05). Control participants performed significantly better on orientation, language comprehension, laterality, and the WHOQOL-Bréf. Being GHQ-30 positive predicted poor performance on the mMMSE among the stroke survivors and reduced QOL on three of the four domains of the WHOQOL-Bréf. In addition, previous psychiatric illness, paresis, low education, and shorter time elapsed after a stroke predicted reduced QOL on one or more domains of the WHOQOL-Bréf but age and sex of the stroke survivors were not associated with quality of life, and not with cognitive function.
Psychometric Properties of the Brief Verision of the Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale in a Turkish Sample
Authors: Koydemir Selda , Demir Ayhan
Published: February 2008

The purpose of the study was to report initial data on the psychometric properties of the Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale. The scale was applied to a nonclinical sample of 250 (137 women, 113 men) Turkish undergraduate students selected randomly from Middle East Technical University. Their mean age was 20.4 yr. ( SD= 1.9). The factor structure of the Turkish version, its criterion validity, and internal reliability coefficients were assessed. Although maximum likelihood factor analysis initially indicated that the scale had only one factor, a forced two-factor solution accounted for more variance (61%) in scale scores than a single factor. The straightforward items loaded on the first factor, and the reverse-coded items loaded on the second factor. The total score was significantly positively correlated with scores on the Revised Cheek and Buss Shyness Scale and significantly negatively correlated with scores on the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Factor 1 (straightforward items) correlated more highly with both Shyness and Self-esteem than Factor 2 (reverse-coded items). Internal consistency estimate was .94 for the Total scores, .91 for the Factor 1 (straightforward items), and .87 for the Factor 2 (reverse-coded items). No sex differences were evident for Fear of Negative Evaluation.
Some Sex Differences in Sentencing Severity for a Mock Crime Scenario
Authors: McKelvie Stuart J.
Published: February 2008

Canadian undergraduates (84 women, 65 men) read one of two crime vignettes which varied in how justified a murder was perceived to be, then made sentencing recommendations. Men were more likely than women to recommend capital punishment, but men and women did not differ on recommendation of execution method or prison sentence and parole.
Spirituality and Resilience in Families in Which a Parent Has Died
Authors: Greeff Abraham P. , Joubert Anne-Marie
Published: February 2008

This preliminary study explored the prevalence of spirituality in family resilience in the adaptation process after the loss of a parent. Twenty-five families who lost a parent between one and six years previously were identified by four postgraduate students in their respective neighborhoods in Cape Town, South Africa. Each of the single parents ( M age = 48.3 yr., SD = 7.7), 19 women and six men, were asked to indicate verbally in what way spirituality or religion had contributed to family adaptation after the death of the spouse. The semistructured interviews supplied evidence that a relationship between spirituality and family resilience does indeed exist.
Disabled Children in Special Education Programs in Taiwan: Use of Mental Health Services and Unmet Needs
Authors: Liang Hsin-Yi , Chang Hsueh-Ling
Published: February 2008

Despite national health insurance coverage in Taiwan, many health care needs remain unmet. In the current study, the behavior and emotional problems of 1,042 disabled children in special education programs were evaluated using the Chinese version of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL-C) and the Teacher's Report Form (TRF). Using the 60th percentile on the two tests as a cutoff representing a clinical indication, students who reached this cutoff point but did not receive mental health services in the past six months were considered to have “unmet mental health needs.” Of the special education students in the study 73.9% reached clinical indications, but did not receive mental health care.
Positive Mood as a Mediator of the Relations among Musical Preference, Postconsumption Product Evaluation, and Consumer Satisfaction
Authors: Teng Ching-I , Tseng Hsu-Min , Wu Heng-Hui
Published: February 2008

This study of how positive mood mediates the influences of musical preference and postconsumption product evaluation on consumer satisfaction focuses specifically on a model in which positive mood fully mediates the influences. The proposed model is compared with two competing models, and a structural equation model is used to test and compare the three theory-driven models. This study sampled 247 students majoring in management at a single university. They had mean age of 23 yr. ( SD = 2.5). This study used questionnaires to measure subjects' evaluations of a cup of coffee, preference for the music broadcast in the coffee shop, positive mood, and satisfaction after they had the coffee. Analysis indicated that the proposed model outperformed the two competing models in describing the data using chi-square difference tests. Positive mood was identified as a full mediator of the relationship between musical preference and consumer satisfaction. Moreover, the results demonstrate for service managers the importance of creating positive consumer mood.
Intention to Be Physically Active: A Theory-Guided Study in Italian Teenagers
Authors: Miglioretti Massimo , Pravettoni Gabriella
Published: February 2008

This study investigated the relationship of self-efficacy, outcome expectancies, and risk perception on intention to increase physical activity in a group of adolescents. The 833 participants ( M age = 16.2 yr., SD =1.5) completed a Survey of Health Behavior anonymously. 88% of the sample said that they engaged in physical activity; 42.1% said that they spent 4 hours per week exercising. Boys appeared to be more active than girls. The results indicated self-efficacy, outcome expectancies, and risk perception as key factors in explaining behavioural intention in teenagers. As regards outcome expectancies, it seems that adolescents are effectively motivated by objectives which affect them closely, such as maintaining the right weight, and which may influence their everyday life.
Sex Differences and Learners' Autonomy toward E-Learning Based on Surveys in U.K. and Taiwan
Authors: Liaw Shu-Sheng
Published: February 2008

A questionnaire was designed to investigate attitudes toward e-learning of 102 university students from the United Kingdom and 130 from Taiwan who completed the questionnaire on an intranet. The statistical analyses showed sex differences in users' attitudes toward computers and e-learning. Also, learners' autonomy in use of e-learning was affected by perceived enjoyment of e-learning multimedia, perceived usefulness of e-learning interaction, and quality of e-learning interaction and functions.
Empirical Comparison of Equity Preference Questionnaire and Equity Sensitivity Instrument in Relation to Work Outcome Preferences
Authors: Wheeler Kenneth G.
Published: February 2008

Until the development of the Equity Preference Questionnaire in 2000, the only measure of equity sensitivity available was the Equity Sensitivity Instrument. However, only one out of nine empirical studies conducted since 2000 has used this questionnaire, perhaps given the concerns about its applicability to earlier equity sensitivity research findings. This paper empirically examined both measures in relation to work outcome preferences based on the previous study by Miles, Hatfield, and Huseman in 1994 and finds that the two questionnaires produce comparable results.
A Psychometric Assessment of the Self-Reported Youth Resiliency: Assessing Developmental Strengths Questionnaire
Authors: Donnon Tyrone , Hammond Wayne
Published: February 2008

As opposed to the problem-based approach of dealing with specific at-risk behaviors, the objective of the self-reported Youth Resiliency: Assessing Developmental Strengths questionnaire is to provide a statistically sound and research-based approach to understanding the factors that contribute to the development of adolescent resiliency. The study of protective factors, or the more recent attempts at conceptualizing the phenomena of individual resiliency, has been prevalent in the social and health sciences research for decades. In this study, the psychometric characteristics of the Youth Resiliency questionnaire, based on a large urban sample of Grades 7 to 9 adolescents ( N = 2,291), are presented. The findings from this study present a potential framework for understanding the construct and function of resiliency as it pertains to both the extrinsic and intrinsic factors of adolescent development.
Association between periodontal disease and coronary artery disease
Authors: Zibaeenezhad Mohammad
Published: February 2008

The etiology of coronary artery disease (CAD) is multifunctional. There is increasing evidence that dental infections could play a role in the initiation and development of CAD. In a case control double blind study, one hundred male and female (mean age 51 ± 9.4) angiographically documented CAD, compared with one hundred male and female patients (mean age 50.6 ± 9) with angiographically negative coronary artery. All the patients (cases and control) underwent dental examination for the presence and severity of periodontitis by a dentist who was oblivious the result of the angiography performed. The association between periodontal disease status and CAD was significant (P=0.011); periodontitis was apparently more frequent in CAD positive patients than in control (86% versus 61%). Adjustment of coronary risk factors (smoking, DM, hypertension and hyperlipidemia) in both cases and control groups suggests that the association between periodontitis and CAD in our study was independent of coronary risk factors. There is increasing evidence that dental infection, especially aerobic organisms which have capability of aggregation of platelets, is the most important cause. Dental infection would be an independent risk factor for CAD.
Keitel Functional Test for Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: Translation, Reliability, Validity, and Responsiveness
Authors: Holm Bente , Jacobsen Soren , Skjodt Henrik , Klarlund Mette , Jensen Trine , Hetland Merete Lund , Ostergaard Mikkel
Published: February 2008

Background and Purpose

The purpose of this study was to translate the German Keitel Functional Test (KFT) into Danish and test it for reliability, concurrent and predictive validity, and responsiveness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

Translation of the KFT was performed according to international recommendations, and the translated version was tested twice by 2 observers for intraobserver and interobserver reliability, with a 1-week interval between assessments, in 20 patients with RA with stable disease activity. Validity was investigated by studying 2 patient groups: (1) 15 patients with long-lasting (median=6 years) active RA, tested before and after 2, 6, and 14 weeks of anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) inhibitor therapy, and (2) 35 patients with early (median=0.25 year) RA, tested at years 0, 0.5, 1, and 2. Twenty-three patients in the early RA group also were tested at year 7. KFT, conventional clinical and biochemical markers of disease activity, and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) were used.

Results

The translated KFT showed good intraobserver reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients [ICC]=.90 and .95, coefficient of variation [CV]=3.5%) and interobserver reliability (ICC=.99 and .92, CV=3.5%), and the KFT correlated with several measures of disease activity and, most closely, with the HAQ. The KFT was, in contrast to clinical disease activity measures, not sensitive to changes over time. Only baseline KFT data were significantly related to functional changes over a long period of time as measured by the KFT, and only in the early RA group.

Discussion and Conclusion

The Danish translation of the KFT showed good reliability, acceptable concurrent validity, very poor responsiveness, and inconclusive results concerning predictive validity. The results of this study do not support the use of the KFT for monitoring function in clinical practice, as an outcome measure in clinical trials, or as a predictor of functional changes.
Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Physical Therapists: A Prospective Cohort Study With 1-Year Follow-up
Authors: Campo Marc , Weiser Sherri , Koenig Karen L , Nordin Margareta
Published: February 2008

Background

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) have a significant impact on physical therapists, but few studies have addressed the issue. Research is needed to determine the scope of the problem and the effects of specific risk factors.

Objectives

The objectives of this study were: (1) to determine the 1-year incidence rate of WMSDs in physical therapists and (2) to determine the effects of specific risk factors.

Design

This was a prospective cohort study with 1-year follow-up.

Methods

Subjects were randomly selected American Physical Therapy Association members (N=882). Exposure assessment included demographic data, physical risk factors, job strain, and specific physical therapy tasks. The primary outcome was WMSDs, with a severity rating of at least 4/10 and present at least once a month or lasting longer than a week.

Results

The response rate to the baseline questionnaire was 67%. Ninety-three percent of the subjects who responded to the baseline questionnaire responded to the follow-up questionnaire. The 1-year incidence rate of WMSDs was 20.7%. Factors that increased the risk for WMSDs included patient transfers, patient repositioning, bent or twisted postures, joint mobilization, soft tissue work, and job strain.

Limitations

The primary limitation of this study was the number of therapists who had a change in their job situation during the follow-up year.

Conclusions

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are prevalent in physical therapists. Physical therapy exposures, patient handling, and manual therapy, in particular, increase the risk for WMSDs.
Performance Evaluation of Concrete Bridge Deck Affected by Chloride Ingress
Authors: Konečný P. , Tikalsky P. J. , Tepke D. G.
Published: February 2008

Modeling is presented for the effect of cracks on chloride ingress into bridge decks with epoxy-coated reinforcing steel. A finite element diffusion model is used in conjunction with a Monte Carlo probabilistic method to address the inherited randomness of input variables. Field data from New York and Pennsylvania bridge decks under service are used to derive the distributions of diffusion coefficients and concrete cover depths under common specifications and construction practices for bridges in the northeastern United States.