bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Bender-Gestalt Test in an Italian Sample: An Analysis of Koppitz's Developmental Bender Scoring System Deviations
Authors: Mazzeschi Claudia , Lis Adriana
Published: August 2011

This study extended the research of the psychometric characteristics of Koppitz's 1963/1975 Developmental Scoring System of the Bender-Gestalt test. Attention was paid to relations among the 7 deviations. The test was administered by licensed psychologists to 1,065 white children, aged from 3 yr., 6 mo. to 11 yr., 5 mo., enrolled in the regular education track of kindergarten and elementary school in Italy.
Competitiveness: Relations with GPA, Locus of Control, Sex, and Athletic Status
Authors: Frederick Christina M.
Published: August 2011

A sample of college students and college athletes completed measures of competitiveness and locus of control. In addition, self-reports of GPA and sex were provided. Negative correlations among scores on competitiveness, GPA, and scores on internal locus of control were significant. Also, there were sex and athletic status differences in competitiveness.
Preliminary Identification of Nonlinear Correlations for Spatial Tests and Reaction-Time Tasks
Authors: Czarnolewski Mark Y. , Eliot John
Published: August 2011

Scores on three spatial tests (mental rotation, embedded figures, and gestalt completion) were significantly correlated with four same–different reaction-time tasks in a sample of 48 female university students. Scores on the Vandenberg-Kuse mental rotation test correlated best with a one-different–all-different task, embedded figures with a one-different-all-same task, and the gestalt completion with a one-same-all-same task, suggesting that the strategies subjects employ for each spatial test are similar to the strategies they use in each of the same–different tasks with which their scores correlate best. Present results support the position that stronger correlations than previously noted between scores on spatial tests and reaction-time tasks are observed when matching the tests and tasks in terms of hypothesized underlying processes.
Differentiated Ratings of Perceived Exertion and Physiological Responses during Aerobic Dance Steps by Impact/Type of Arm Movement
Authors: Schaeffer-Gerschutz Sarah A. , Darby Lynn A. , Browder Kathy D.
Published: August 2011

Overall ratings of perceived exertion, i.e., undifferentiated RPE, are often used as indicators of exercise intensity during walking, jogging, and cycling; however, conflicting results concerning RPE during aerobic dance exercise have been reported, and the use of differentiated RPE, i.e., local RPE and central RPE, has not been investigated. The purposes of this study were to assess local, central, and over-all RPE, and physiological responses [heart rate (HR); % HRmax; absolute and relative VO2; % VO2 max, ventilation (VE), ventilatory equivalent (VE · VO2−1); and oxygen pulse] during aerobic dance exercise varied by Arm Movement (Static Arm vs Dynamic Arm) and Impact (High vs Low). Trained women ( N = 25; max VO2 = 50.4± 7.5 ml · kg−1 · min.−1) completed four aerobic dance steps. No RPE were significantly correlated with heart rate or VO2; however, for all steps all RPE were significantly ( r = .40–,62) correlated with VE · VO2−1or VE. No interactions were present for RPE or physiological variables, and main effects were noted for Impact and Arm Movement. All RPE were greater for High Impact and for Static Arm Movement. Because VE and VE · VO2−1 were correlated with Overall RPE for all steps, this may suggest that participants “attended to” perceived changes in respiratory phenomena during aerobic dance exercise. It appears that during combined arm-and-leg aerobic dance exercise the use of Overall RPE is sufficient to assess perceptual sensations associated with the intensity of the exercise. Changes in Overall RPE were proportionate to objective measures of exercise intensity, i.e., HR and VO2; however, it is recommended that both HR and Overall RPE be used to assess fully a participant's objective and subjective responses during aerobic dance exercise.
Development of a Greek Version of the Sport Motivation Scale
Authors: Doganis George
Published: August 2011

The aim of the present study was to examine preliminarily the validity of a Greek version of the 1995 Sport Motivation Scale of Pelletier, Fortier, Vallerand, Tuson, Briere, and Blais. For 134 athletes the seven subscales had moderate to good internal consistency (Cronbach coefficients α from .64 to .78). Confirmatory factor analysis with nested factor models supported the structural validity of the inventory. Moreover, correlations of scores on the subscales with a measure of task and ego orientation as well as with athletes' self-reported effort in training were in the expected direction.
Intensity and Direction of Competitive State Anxiety as Interpreted by Rugby Players and Rifle Shooters
Authors: Hanton Sheldon , Jones Graham , Mullen Richard
Published: August 2011

This study reports the findings of part of an ongoing research program examining sports performers' interpretations of competitive anxiety prior to competition. The notion of ‘directional perceptions’ has questioned the limited utility of examining only the intensity of competitive anxiety responses as has Jones. The purpose of this study was to examine intensity and direction, i.e., interpretation of intensity as facilitative or debilitative, of anxiety symptoms as a function of two types of sport. The types of sport were explosive (rugby league) versus fine motor skills (target rifle shooting). The sample comprised 50 male rugby league participants and 50 target rifle shooters who completed a modified version of the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory–2 prior to competition. Contingency analysis yielded a significant difference in the number of rugby players who reported somatic anxiety as facilitative and the number of rifle shooters who reported somatic states as debilitative. No such differences were evident for cognitive anxiety. Analysis of variance Indicated no differences between the two groups on the intensity of cognitive and somatic anxiety, but the performers competing in rugby league interpreted both states as being more facilitative to performance; the rugby league players also had higher scores on self-confidence than the shooters. These findings provide continuing support for the measurement of directional perceptions of competitive anxiety and highlight the importance of examining individual sports.
An Investigation of Finger and Manual Dexterity
Authors: Chan Tam
Published: August 2011

In ergonomics, handgrip has been perceived as one of the most important hand functions; however, other types of functions of the hand are also important to the ergonomist, such as finger and manual dexterity, on which few ergonomic studies have been done. This experiment involved 60 male and female college students whose performance (number of pegs placed into a board in 30 sec.) of finger dexterity were statistically significantly different between the right and left hands and between women and men. The interaction of hand and sex was significant.
Social Class Difference in Response to Christmas Cards
Authors: Kunz Jenifer
Published: August 2011

In a total of 590 Christmas cards sent perception of status was important for both the sender and the receiver. High status of the sender increased the response rate significantly, especially among the “blue-collar” receivers.
Another Look at Children's Symbol Reversals
Authors: Patton James E. , Yarbrough Donald B. , Thursby Deanna
Published: August 2011

In a previously reported longitudinal study of reversal errors for static and kinetic written symbols we found no compelling support for their academic importance in kindergarten ( n = 201), Grade 1 ( n = 156), or Grade 2 ( n = 129); however, for Grade 3 ( n = 105), kinetic reversals became a significant predictor of tested reading achievement. If reliable, this finding might have implications for the identification of children with long-term reading impairment.
Comparison of Selected Perceptual Variables for Backpacks with Internal and External Frames
Authors: Jacobson Bert , Jones Kevin
Published: August 2011

Differences in perceptions of comfort, exertion, balance, and heart rate were investigated with two types of backpack. Subjects were 20 male volunteers ( M age = 24.3 yr., SD: 3.6, M height= 180.02 cm, SD: 8.0, and M weight = 86.46 kg, SD: 14.84). Following oral briefing and practice trials, each subject was fitted at random with either an internal- or external-frame backpack containing 18.2 kg. By random, cross-over design, subjects completed a 30-m simulated hiking trail consisting of 16 separate obstacles designed to resemble actual off-trail hiking. Trials were conducted in a controlled environment with the walking intensity regulated by a metronome. Upon completion of each trial, the subjects rated the experience on perceived comfort, balance and stability, and rating of perceived exertion. Heart rate was recorded immediately prior to and following each trial. Analysis yielded a significant difference only on rating of perceived exertion in favor of the internal-frame backpack. Under limited circumstances, these data suggest that both types of backpacks provide similar comfort and balance and stability; however, internal frames in backpacks may reduce perceived exertion during short, demanding hikes.
Auditory Processing and Cluttering in Young Children
Authors: Blood Gordon W. , Blood Ingrid M. , Tellis Glen
Published: August 2011

This study examined the differences among scores on four tests of auditory processing of 6 children who clutter and 6 control subjects matched for age. sex, and grade. Scores on a consonant-vowel dichotic listening task indicated that directing the attention of the attended ear improved the percentage of correct responses for both groups of children. Those who clutter, however, showed a greater percentage of change during the directed right and left ear conditions. Cluttering children performed poorer on right and left competing conditions of the Staggered Spondaic Word Test. No differences were found between groups for the auditory attention task and the time-compressed speech task. Implications for processing of dichotic stimuli and diagnosis of children who clutter are discussed.
Is Defense or Offense More Important for Professional Football Teams? A Replication Study Using Data from the 1998–1999 Regular Football Season
Authors: Onwuegbuzie Anthony J.
Published: August 2011

The purpose of the present investigation was to replicate Onwuegbuzie's 1999 study by identifying which variables best predict a team's winning percentage in the 1998–1999 regular professional football season. Findings gave a model containing five variables: (1) turnover differential (which explained 54.4% of the variance), (2) total number of rushing yards conceded by the defense (which explained 21.3% of the variance), (3) total number of passing first downs attained by the offense (which explained 9.4% of the variance), (4) percentage of third-down plays that produce a first down (which explained 4.1% of the variance), and (5) total number of penalties conceded by the opponents' defense resulting in a first down (which explained 4.1% of the variance). These variables combined to explain 93.3% of the total variance in winning percentage for the 1998–1999 season. That the first two variables, which explained more than 75% of the variance, were characteristics of the defense supports Onwuegbuzie's conclusion that defensive gains are better predictors of success than are offensive gains.
Experimental Simulation of a Haunt Experience and Elicitation of Paroxysmal Electroencephalographic Activity by Transcerebral Complex Magnetic Fields: Induction of a Synthetic “Ghost”?
Authors: Persinger M. A. , Tiller S. G. , Koren S. A.
Published: August 2011

To test the hypothesis that experiences of apparitional phenomena with accompanying fear can be simulated within the laboratory, a 45-yr.-old Journalist and professional musician who had experienced a classic haunt four years previously was exposed to 1 microTesla, complex, transcerebral magnetic fields. Within 10 min. after exposure to a frequency-modulated pattern applied over the right hemisphere, the man reported “rushes of fear” that culminated in the experience of an apparition. Concurrent electroencephalographic measurements showed conspicuous 1-sec-to-2-sec. paroxysmal complex spikes (15 Hz) that accompanied the reports of fear. A second magnetic field pattern, applied bilaterally through the brain, was associated with pleasant experiences. The subject concluded that the synthetic experience of the apparition was very similar to the one experienced in the natural setting. The results of this experiment suggest that controlled simulation of these pervasive phenomena within the laboratory is possible and that this experimental protocol may help discern the physical stimuli that evoke their occurrence in nature.
Effects of Learning and Movement Frequency on Polyrhythmic Tapping Performance
Authors: Tajima Makoto , Choshi Koji
Published: August 2011

This study examined the effect of learning a complex bimanual coordination task at different movement frequencies. 30 subjects performed 5:3 polyrhythmic tapping at either high, medium, or low movement frequency on a rhythmic synchronization task and then reproduced the polyrhythmic pattern repeatedly in the spontaneous task. Analysis showed that practice on the synchronization task qualitatively changed correct responses into anticipatory ones. The synchronization learning of the polyrhythm caused the anticipatory responses and so, may involve memorization of serial positions within the polyrhythm. Also, more anticipatory responses were indicated in performance at the medium and low frequencies than at the high frequency on the synchronization task. In addition, deviations of taps from expected tapping positions were observed in performance of the spontaneous task at the high frequency. These results suggest that the movement frequency qualitatively influenced the learning of this bimanual coordination. Especially at the high frequency, frequent shifts to other coordination patterns occurred on the spontaneous task. This means that the performance at higher frequency is more strongly affected by entrainment between the two hands.
Decrease in Serum Cortisol during Yoga Exercise is Correlated with Alpha Wave Activation
Authors: Kamei Tsutomu , Toriumi Yoshitaka , Kimura Hiroshi , Kumano Hiroaki , Ohno Satoshi , Kimura Keishin
Published: August 2011

We examined changes in brain waves and blood levels of serum Cortisol during yoga exercise in 7 yoga instructors and found that alpha waves increased and serum Cortisol decreased. These two measures were negatively correlated ( r = -.83). Comparison with a control group of nonpractitioners is desirable.
Interaction of Psychological Type and Anxiety Sensitivity on Academic Achievement
Authors: Nyland Jean L. , Ybarra Kelly M. , Sammut Kathleen L. , Rienecker Elizabeth M. , Kameda Dina M.
Published: August 2011

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Anxiety Sensitivity Index were administered to 143 undergraduate college students. Analyses of variance were performed to assess the relationship between these indices and semester grades (Grade Point Average). The Myers-Briggs Sensing–Intuitive and Judging–Perceiving dimensions showed significant main effects on GPA. The interaction of Judging-Perceiving and Anxiety Sensitivity was also significant ( F= 18.00, p<.0001), although that of Sensing–Intuition and Anxiety Sensitivity was nor ( F = 3.51, p = .06). These findings suggest that personality factors measured by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator may serve as mediating variables in evaluating whether trait anxiety has a facilitating or debilitating effect on academic achievement.
Ability Profile of the Elite Volleyball Player
Authors: Kioumourtzoglou Efthimios , Michalopoulou Maria , Tzetzis George , Kourtessis Thomas
Published: August 2011

The aim of this study was to examine the cognitive, motor, and perceptual abilities of elite volleyball players. These abilities were considered responsible for high quality performance by expert athletes. The elite group was formed with 12 members of the Greek Junior National Volleyball team. A group of 18 physical education students were the novice athletes. The measured abilities were selected by expert volleyball coaches as those most important for an elite athlete. Analysis showed differences between the abilities of the two groups of athletes were significant. An ability profile for the elite volleyball player can be formed.
Object Recognition May Distort Size Perception
Authors: Wesp Richard , Peckyno Alissa , McCall Steven , Peters Sarah
Published: August 2011

Size estimation may be influenced by characteristics recalled about the object viewed. This study evaluated the influence of object familiarity on estimation of size. We compared size estimates of several familiar objects with size estimates of undefined objects matched for dimensions of pattern and color. Those estimating the size of the familiar objects made significantly larger errors than those estimating the size of the undefined objects. In a second study size estimation errors from memory were larger than when objects were directly viewed. Experience with the objects appears to decrease accuracy of estimates of size but errors may be reduced by directly observing the object.
Performance of Children with and without Learning Disabilities on Canter's Background Interference Procedure and Koppitz's Scoring System for the Bender Test
Authors: Mitchell-Burns Jo Ann
Published: August 2011

Performance of 66 children, 30 with and 36 without learning disabilities, in four ways using the Bender Visual-motor Gestalt Test was compared. First, the test with the standard Koppitz scoring procedure, second with the Canter Background Interference Procedure sheet using the standard Koppitz scoring procedure; third, the Bender test on a standard sheet of paper using Canter scoring procedure; and fourth, the Canter Background Interference Procedure (BIP) sheet using the Canter scoring procedure. The effectiveness of the Canter procedure was examined when scored with an age-appropriate normative scoring system. This was accomplished by combining the Canter BIP interference sheet with the Koppitz scoring system. The children ranged in age from 6 to 10 years. Using discriminant analysis, all four methods correctly categorized statistically significant percentages of both types of students but there was a significant difference on the Canter BIP sheet using the Canter scoring procedure. This procedure classified students with the least absolute number and percentage of either false negatives or false positives when compared with the other three methods, suggesting that using this scoring method with the Bender Gestalt may be better for identifying younger children with learning disabilities.
Automaticity, Spelling, and Second Language Learning
Authors: Gray Colette , Mulhern Gerry , Neil Peter
Published: August 2011

This study investigated the relationship between a Chronometric estimate of automaticity for the spelling of French words (Automaticity) and performance on four tests of French language attainment among a sample of Year 11 students of French as a foreign language. Fifty participants each completed a computerized lest of French spelling and attainment tests in four aspects of French language learning: reading comprehension, writing fluency, oral fluency, and aural comprehension. Correlations were significant between Automaticity and performance on all four tests of French language attainment as well as on overall attainment.
Tempo of Background Sound and Performance Speed
Authors: Nittono Hiroshi , Tsuda Akiko , Akai Seiki , Nakajima Yoshiaki
Published: August 2011

24 undergraduates performed a self-paced line tracing task. Fast music accelerated performance compared with slow music whereas the tempo of metronome tones did not affect performance.
Effect of the Intensity of Wireless Telephone Conversations on Reaction Time in a Braking Response
Authors: Irwin Marcia , Fitzgerald Chris , Berg William P.
Published: August 2011

Recently, concern has grown about the extent to which wireless telephone use by motor vehicle drivers constitutes a threat to traffic safety. This experiment investigated the effect of the intensity of wireless telephone conversations on reaction time (RT) for a braking response. Using a laboratory station to mimic the foot activity in driving, 16 adults were instructed to release the accelerator pedal and depress the brake pedal as quickly as possible following the activation of a red brake light. Mean RT was measured for 5 conditions which manipulated the intensity of a conversation, i.e., demand for attention, conducted on a wireless telephone. Analysis indicated that wireless telephone use caused a decrement in RT, however, there was no significant effect associated with intensity of the conversation across intensity.
Stability of the Iceberg Profile as a Function of Perceived Difficulty in Defeating an Opponent
Authors: Coker Cheryl A. , Mickle Angela
Published: August 2011

9 starters and 8 nonstarters of a university women's softball team completed the Profile of Mood States prior to playing the team perceived to be the most and least difficult to defeat in their conference. A significant interaction indicated that nonstarters displayed higher fatigue prior to playing the opponent perceived as most difficult to defeat. In addition, significant mean differences were found between starters and nonstarters on constructs of Anger, Confusion, Tension, and Depression, suggesting that nonstarters may not share same psychological profile as their peers who start.
Perceptions of Aging and Their Relation with Age, Death Depression, and Sex
Authors: Robak Rostyslaw W. , Griffin Paul W. , Lacomb Marilyn , Quint Wayne
Published: August 2011

The relations of knowledge and attitudes about aging to one's age, sex, and depression about death were examined. 111 undergraduate and graduate students completed the multiple-choice form of the Facts on Aging Quiz and the Death Depression Scale. Present results extend previous research showing that people's perceptions of aging change with age. How such perceptions change is twofold (1) perceptions of aging do not become more positive with age but do have Jess negative bias, and (2) they show more knowledge of aging on test measures. No sex differences were found in knowledge and attitudes about aging. No significant relationship was found between scores on measures of attitudes toward aging and depression about death. Sex differences were found on scores for death depression, with women reporting greater depression about death.
Sophisticated and Naïve Listeners' Magnitude Estimation Scaling Judgments of Speech Intelligibility and Speech Annoyance
Authors: Ellis Lee W. , Fucci Donald
Published: August 2011

15 women with formal training in speech and hearing sciences and 15 women with no formal training provided magnitude estimation scaling responses for the intelligibility and annoyance of audiotaped speech samples. Analysis indicated that both groups scaled intelligibility and annoyance the same. As samples became more unintelligible, they also became more annoying.
The Ropes and Challenge Course: A Quasi-Experimental Examination
Authors: Meyer Barbara B.
Published: August 2011

In answering the call for empirical documentation of the effect of ropes and challenge course participation on the psychosocial function and sport performance of athletes and teams, exploratory studies have identified postcourse changes in group cohesion and approaches to sport competition. The purpose of the current study was to utilize a pretest-posttest comparison group design to expand knowledge in this area. 35 members of a girls' high school tennis team participated. The 16 individuals who participated in a preseason program and the 19 individuals who did not comprised the treatment and comparison groups, respectively. Team members completed the Group Environment Questionnaire and the Sport Orientation Questionnaire four days prior to and two days after the course experience. A series of 2 × 2 analyses of variance, (group × time) run on each of the scales, gave a significant group x time interaction on one social cohesion scale but none for scores on the Sport Orientation Questionnaire. The findings are discussed in relation to research and the implementation of these programs with athletes.
Arousal and Mood Factors in the “Mozart Effect”
Authors: Steele Kenneth M.
Published: August 2011

Some investigators of the “Mozart effect” have not controlled for the influence of differences in arousal or mood induced by treatment conditions. Studies by Rideout and colleagues reported differences in spatial reasoning after Listening to a Mozart sonata compared against a relaxation instruction tape. The conditions may have affected subjects' arousal differentially, with the sonata increasing arousal and the relaxation instructions decreasing arousal, which could have affected spatial reasoning performance. Evidence is cited in support of this suggestion and indicates the importance of analyzing the influence of arousal differences in Mozart effect research.
Decision Making in Dual-Task Environments: Analysis of Hemispheric Competition Effects
Authors: Bowers Clint , Price Catherine , Cannon-Bowers Janis , Labarba Richard , Borjesson Wiveca , Vogel Jennifer
Published: August 2011

Performance degradations in multitasking situations have been reported frequently as a predictable effect of competition that arises from different processing demands whose hemispheric locations are too proximal. This model might be useful in explaining performance deficits in complex workplaces. To test this assertion, a laboratory study was designed to create an analogue of the processing demands required by a tactical decision-making task performed by 24 right-handed men. Vocalization, dichotic listening and decision-making performance were assessed under single- and dual-task conditions. The results were consistent with the predictions from hemispheric competition in the case of dichotic listening but not with vocalization. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for both research and systems design.
Sex Differences in Sport Spectator Involvement
Authors: Bahk C. Mo
Published: August 2011

Among 107 male and 166 female college students, the present study examined sex differences in involvement with sports as spectators. A 14-item Likert-type scale was used to measure the subjects' emotional, cognitive, and behavioral involvement in sports as spectators. Confirming prior findings, male subjects exhibited higher involvement with sport spectating than did females. The current data also provide support for the unidimensionality, reliability, and validity of the Sport Spectator Involvement Scale.
Are Better Eye Movements An Advantage in Ball Games? A Study of Prosaccadic and Antisaccadic Eye Movements
Authors: Lenoir Matthieu , Crevits Luc , Goethals Maarten , Wildenbeest Joanne , Musch Eliane
Published: August 2011

The aim of this study was to compare prosaccadic and antisaccadic eye movements of experts in ball sports and controls. In the prosaccadic and antisaccadic task, subjects made saccades respectively towards and away from a suddenly appearing stimulus. By means of infrared-oculography, we compared horizontal eye movements of experts ( n = 18) and controls ( n = 20). Experts had shorter overall saccadic latencies, but significantly shorter latencies occurred only on the antisaccade task, not on the prosaccade task. Our findings seem to support the concept that prosaccades and antisaccades have different underlying mechanisms and that expertise in ball games mainly improves antisaccadic performance in terms of latency and variability.
A Force/Displacement Analysis of Muscle Testing
Authors: Caruso William , Leisman Gerald
Published: August 2011

Manual muscle testing procedures are the subject of a force and displacement analysis. Equipment was fabricated, tested, and employed to gather force, displacement, and time data for the purpose of examining muscle-test parameters as used by clinicians in applied kinesiology. Simple mathematical procedures are used to process the data to find potential patterns of force and displacement which would correspond to the testing of strong and weak muscles of healthy subjects. Particular attention is paid to the leading edge of the force pulses, as most clinicians report they derive most of their assessment from the initial thrust imparted on the patient's limb. An analysis of the simple linear regression of the slope (distance vs force) of the leading edge of a force pulse indicates that a significantly large slope is indicative of weak muscles (as perceived by the clinician), and a small slope is indicative of strong muscles. Threshold criteria for slopes are specified to create a model that may discriminate between strong and weak muscles. The model is accurate 98% of the time compared to judgments of clinicians with more than 5 years of experience but is considerably lower for clinicians with less than five years of experience (64%). this accuracy rate indicates that the model is reliable in predicting the clinician's perception of muscle strength and it also indicates that the testing procedure for muscle strength used by experienced clinicians in applied kinesiology are reliable. The experiment lays the groundwork for studies of the objectivity of muscle-strength assessment in applied kinesiology.
Executions as a Deterrent to Homicide
Authors: Lester David
Published: August 2011

For the period 1977–1992, the number of homicides in a state tended to decrease more often after a year of no executions than after a year with one or more executions, the opposite of a deterrent effect.
The Familial Incidence of Symptoms of Scotopic Sensitivity/Irlen Syndrome: Comparison of Referred and Mass-Screened Groups
Authors: Robinson G. L. , Foreman P. J. , Dear K. B. G.
Published: August 2011

The familial incidence of Scotopic Sensitivity/Irlen Syndrome was investigated in two samples. One sample involved parents and siblings of 126 children identified with symptoms who had been referred for screening. The other sample involved parents and siblings of 33 children who had been identified with symptoms through mass screening of all children in Grades 3 to 6 at two local schools. Two different samples were taken to investigate the possibility of parental referral bias. Familial incidence may be inflated in a referred sample because some parents may be aware of their own symptoms and actively seek assistance. For the sample of children referred for screening, there was an 81% chance of either one or both parents showing similar symptoms and a 76% chance of siblings being similarly affected. For the sample of children identified through school screening, there was an 85% chance of either one or both parents showing similar symptoms and a 54% chance of siblings being similarly affected. The data confirm previous estimates of incidence and suggest that Scotopic Sensitivity/Irlen Syndrome may be a genetically-based deficit in visual processing.
How Japanese Students Characterize Information from Web-Sites
Authors: Iwahara Akihiko , Yamada Masako , Hatta Takeshi , Kawakami Ayako , Okamoto Masahiko
Published: August 2011

How 352 Japanese university students regard web-site information was investigated by two kinds of survey. Application of correspondence analysis and cluster analysis to the questionnaire responses to the web-site advertisement showed students regarded a web-site as a new alien medium which is different from current media. Students regarded web-sites as simply complicated, intellectual, and impermanent, or not memorable. Students got precise information from web-sites but they did not use it in making decisions to purchase goods.
Feldenkrais Sensory Imagery and Forward Reach
Authors: Dunn Poss A. , Rogers Douglas K.
Published: August 2011

To investigate the effect of sensory imagery on subsequent movement, a unilateral Feldenkrais lesson of imaging a soft bristle brush passing over one-half of the body and in which no movement occurred, was given to 12 naive subjects. Forward flexion for each side of the body was measured at a sit-and-reach box. For 8 and 10 subjects who reported the perception of a side as being longer and lighter following the sensory imagery, there was also a significant increase in the forward flexion range on that side.
Individualism and Suicide
Authors: Lester David
Published: August 2011

In a sample of 43 nations, suicide rates were not associated with the measure of individualism-collectivism of Suh, et al.
Does Residential Segregation in Cities Predict African-American Suicide Rates?
Authors: Lester David
Published: August 2011

In 38 American cities, an index of residential segregation in 1960 did not predict the 1970 African-American suicide rates.
The Psychological Refractory Period in Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Hsieh Shulan
Published: August 2011

The Psychological Refractory Period paradigm was used to investigate whether patients with Parkinson's disease showed disproportional deficits in regulating responses to two sequential presented stimuli. The first task required a speeded key-press response to an auditory stimulus, and the second task required a speeded key-press response to a visual stimulus. The stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) between Task 1 and Task 2 was 50 msec. 150 msec. and 650 msec. According to the bottleneck model, the SOA manipulation should not affect performance on Task 1, but reaction time for Task 2 should increase as the SOA between the two tasks decreased. The increase in reaction time for Task 2 was referred to as the Psychological Refractory Period. In this study, both patients with Parkinson's disease and normal controls showed classical effects. More importantly, although the 22 patients with Parkinson's disease took longer to respond to both Tasks 1 and 2 than the 20 normal controls, the effects of the Psychological Refractory Period for the two groups were of the same magnitude The results suggest that Parkinson's disease affects only the response-execution stages rather than the response-selection stages, based on the central bottleneck model.
Retention and Adaptive Control of Force Pattern on a Finger-Tapping Sequence with An Attenuated Force Tap
Authors: Inui Nobuyuki , Katsura Yumi , Yamanishi Masaki
Published: August 2011

The present study was designed to examine the retention and adaptive control of a force pattern in the scaling of speed profiles in a finger-tapping sequence with an attenuated tap. On practice trials, 11 college students tapped on a force plate connected to strain gauges with feedback. On test trials, participants recalled the force pattern (200 gm-200 gm-200 gm-100 gm) and the intertap interval (400 msec.) acquired during practice without feedback (recalled task). Then, participants adaptively tapped the acquired force pattern at the half (speeded task) and double (slowed task) the intertap interval acquired during the practice. Analyses showed that mean peak forces increased across tasks as the tapping speed was slowed down. Mean peak forces at the first three tap positions in sequence were smaller than the required forces in both the recall and speeded tasks. So, although the slowed task had the lowest ratio of forces in serial positions 1:4, 2:4, and 3:4, the ratios were less than 2 across tasks. These indicated that changing to a slow pace creates a more difficult adaptive task than changing to a fast pace, and further that a serial force pattern with an attenuated force creates a more difficult motor task for fine control than that with an accentuated-force.
Quality of Life of People with Epilepsy following Temporal Lobectomy: A Preliminary Report
Authors: Ho A. , Chan C. C. H. , Ng K. K. , Lee T. M. C.
Published: August 2011

This is a preliminary report of the quality of life of 9 people, 5 men and 4 women, in Hong Kong who underwent temporal lobectomy for seizure control. The Chinese version of World Health Organization Quality of Life Measure Abbreviated Version, validated in Hong Kong, was used as the outcome measure. Analysis suggested that the quality of life of these participants after successful temporal lobectomy was poorer than that of 157 healthy controls in the physical and psychological domains as measured. This suggests that other factors in addition to achieving complete seizure control play significant roles in promoting the quality of life of such patients.
A Psychometric Investigation of the Clinical Instruction Analysis Tool-Athletic Training II
Authors: Stemmans Catherine L. , Gangstead Sandra K.
Published: August 2011

To identify clinical instructors', students', and patients' behaviors during athletic training clinical education, the Clinical Instruction Analysis Tool-Athletic Training II was developed and used by two trained observers to assess interobserver agreement, which was 95.4%.
Sidedness Preference as an Index of Organization of Laterality
Authors: Polemikos Nikitas , Papaeliou Christina
Published: August 2011

A rightward bias to all forms of sidedness seems to be particularly human and perhaps characteristic of every human society. However, this phenomenon has been studied mainly in relation to lateralization of handedness and language. This study investigated the consistency of right- and nonright-handed individuals in preferring the same side for foot, eye, and ear using Coren's Lateral Preference Inventory. The sample of 194 students, 91 boys and 103 girls, ranging in age from 11.5–14.5 years ( M age 13.2 yr.) was recruited from public junior high schools in a rural area in Greece on the island of Rhodes. Despite the dominance of the right side observed in handedness, footedness, eyedness, and earedness, this tendency was not equally strong in all four indexes of lateral preference, with handedness showing comparatively the strongest tendency and earedness showing comparatively the weakest tendency. Moreover, the strength of preference for the same side for foot, eye, and ear was significantly weaker in nonright-handed individuals compared to right-handed individuals. These results agree with the hypothesis that nonright-handers may have reduced rather than reversed asymmetry.
Relations of Empathy and Social Responsibility to Guilt Feelings among Undergraduate Students
Authors: Ishikawa Takayuki , Uchiyama Ichiro
Published: August 2011

Empathy and social responsibility as related to guilt feelings were investigated among undergraduate students. Subjects (337 men and 353 women) were assessed for guilt feelings, empathy, and social responsibility. The Guilt Inventory was used to assess guilt feelings. Analysis indicated that scores on the two empathy subscales, Fantasy and Personal Distress, were related to rated Trait Guilt and State Guilt, whereas Social Responsibility scores were associated with those on Moral Standards of the Guilt Inventory.
Parental Attribution of Artistic Ability in Talented Children
Authors: Hyllegard Randy
Published: August 2011

Attributed talent is a powerful construct that can have important consequences for the lives of children. Parents and schools often provide special programs to support talented children, and attributed talent can influence children's behavior. The purpose of this study was to examine how the parents of children in a program for gifted and talented students explain the artistic capabilities of their children. Analysis indicated parents attributed the artistic capabilities of the children primarily to innate talent and intrinsic motivation. However, estimates of accumulated hours of involvement in art showed that the children had similar patterns of involvement in art as did individuals with strong records of achievement in other domains. Alternative explanations for achievement, including deliberate practice theory, are discussed.
Study of Anticipatory Postural Adjustments in an Air Pistol-Shooting Task
Authors: Minvielle Gérard , Audiffren Michel
Published: August 2011

A segmental teleokinetic movement performed from an upright standing position is usually preceded by a sequence of postural movements having the goal of counteracting the imbalance which will be caused by the forthcoming movement. This study had two aims, (1) to verify whether the postural component was programmed in the same way as that of the teleokinetic component and (2) to verify whether the postural component was specific to the direction and speed of the movement. 12 participants performed a pistol-shooting task involving a rapid arm-raising movement. Three directions, two time deadlines, and three types of cue were manipulated. This study showed that the postural component was sensitive to the cue effects, the characteristics of anticipatory postural adjustments were specific to the direction of the movement, and the characteristics of the postural muscle EMG burst were the same whether the participants programmed or deprogrammed and reprogrammed their movements for a given direction. The speed parameter did not seem to have any significant influence on the characteristics of the anticipatory postural adjustments.
Sex and Skill Differences in Translation of English Color Words by Chinese Students
Authors: Yang Yonglin
Published: August 2011

The present study investigated sex and skill differences in color-word translation by Chinese-speaking students in university English classes. A questionnaire was administered to estimate the correlation between subjects' performance and their color-related hobbies. To conceptualize the issue better, two more groups of correlated parameter (academic achievements plus demographic factors) were introduced in this research as well. 40 English majors (20 women, 20 men), ranging in education from level one to level four, were randomly drawn from a metropolitan university and tested in the experiments as subjects. These university students were asked to provide Chinese equivalents for a list of 33 elaborated English color terms chosen from a thesaurus by mapping on the 11 color-tone categories defined by basic color theory. The results confirm the findings in relevant studies that used native speakers as subjects by observing that (1) women possessed a richer color vocabulary both in their source language and in their target language, (2) women also provided more elaborated Chinese equivalents to the color words used as stimuli, and finally, (3) women showed a superiority in accuracy in this color-lexicon matching or translating task. As a whole, the effects of skill and age were not significant. A significant correlation was found between the learners' proficiency in English and performance in translation of color words, but this relationship was rather weak and only true for the men. Color-related hobbies did not significantly correlate with the color-decoding performance of these language learners. Neither did the demographic factors. Taken together, it is sensible to state that differences reported here were affected primarily by the sex of the learner, conditionally by language proficiency, and presumably by the cognitive and perceptual sex differences as well. These findings further indicate that the process of color codability is a complicated but unstudied issue in language learning and that sex should be treated as an independent variable in this area of research.
Self-Perception of Breath Odor: Role of Body Image and Psychopathologic Traits
Authors: Eli Ilana , Koriat Hilit , Baht Roni , Rosenberg Mel
Published: August 2011

Oral malodor is a common complaint in Western society and is an important reason why adults seek dental counsel. In the present study, an attempt was made to evaluate the contribution of Psychopathologic traits and of body-image characteristics on participants' self-perception of breath odor. 60 participants without any specific complaint concerning breath odor (55% men: M age 35.5 yr., SD=10) were evaluated. Variables included self-evaluation of participants' own breath odor (generally and current), an organoleptic evaluation of an impartial judge of odor, measurement of the volatile sulfide level in the oral cavity, and questionnaires referring to Psychopathologic symptoms and body-image characteristics. Stepwise regression analysis showed that in addition to impartial measurements, self-perception of breath odor among noncomplaining subjects can be predicted by their feelings and attitudes toward the body and by their hostility.
Field Dependence and Verbalized Strategies on the Portable Rod-and-Frame Test by Depressed Outpatients and Normal Controls
Authors: Calamari Elena , Pini Mauro , Puleggio Antonio
Published: August 2011

This study examined the relationships between scores on the cognitive style of field dependence-independence and verbalized strategies on the Portable Rod-and-Frame Test for normal and psychopathological outpatients. We attempted to verify (a) Manning's hypothesis (1991) of a correspondence between scores on field dependence and external strategies (reference to the visual field) and scores on field independence and internal strategies (reference to the body) on perceptual tasks, and (b) a tendency of depressed persons to score as field dependent, and (c) use of external verbalized strategies. A total of 50 depressed outpatients and 50 normal controls were administered the test and requested to report the strategy they had employed to solve the problem. Contrary to Manning's findings, no significant relationship was found between cognitive style and verbalized strategies in the total sample. Depressed outpatients classified as internal scored significantly higher on the Group Embedded Figures Test but appeared more field dependent on the Rod-and-Frame Test. Moreover, only for the former test did depressed outpatients score more field-dependent than controls. Finally, no significant relationship was found between the diagnosis of depression and use of external strategies; however, field dependence and the use of external strategies on the Rod-and-Frame Test were associated with more severe depressive symptoms measured by the D scale of the MMPI–2. Further research is needed to assess the role of premorbid personality structures of depression in subjective and objective aspects of Rod-and-Frame Test performance.
Comparison of Body Mass Index by Self-Reported versus Measured Height and Weight
Authors: Jacobson Bert H. , DeBock Devin H.
Published: August 2011

This study compared differences between self-reported and measured height and weight and subsequent Body Mass Index. College students ( N = 62) were asked to complete a health questionnaire as accurately as possible. Height and weight were self-reported without the knowledge that these variables would be subsequently measured. Self-reported and measured heights, weights, and calculated Body Mass Indexes were statistically compared. Analysis indicated that measured height was significantly less than self-reported height for men, but weight was not significantly different. Calculated Body Mass Index for men was not significantly different, however, self-reported Body Mass Index resulted in placement in the Normal range (18.5 to 24.9) category and measured Body Mass Index placement in the Overweight category (25.0 to 29.9). Women's self-reported and measured heights were not significantly different, however, self-reported weight was significantly less than measured. Further, significantly different Body Mass Indexes were found for women. It was concluded that self-reported height and weight might be viewed with caution in Body Mass Index assessment for convenience samples of college-age subjects.