bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Prior Performance on Subsequent Performance Evaluation by Field Independent-Dependent Raters
Authors: Sisco Howard , Leventhal Gloria
Published: September 2010

The importance of accurate performance appraisals is central to many aspects of personnel activities in organizations. This study examined threats due to past performance to accuracy of evaluation of subsequent performance by raters differing in scores on field dependence. 162 college students were classified as Field-dependent ( n = 81) or Field-independent ( n = 81), using a median split on the Group Embedded Figures Test. Past performance (a lecture) was good or poor, presented directly via a videotape or indirectly via a written evaluation to the Field-independent or Field-dependent groups. Analysis indicated the hypothesized contrast effect (ratings in the opposite direction from that of prior ratings) in the Direct condition and an unexpected, albeit smaller, contrast effect in the Indirect condition. There were also differential effects of performance, presentation, and field dependency on rating of lecturer's style and ability.
Promoting Step Responses of Children with Multiple Disabilities through a Walker Device and Microswitches with Contingent Stimuli
Authors: Lancioni G. E. , De Pace C. , Singh N. N. , O'Reilly M. F. , Sigafoos J. , Didden R.
Published: September 2010

Children with severe or profound intellectual and motor disabilities often present problems of balance and locomotion and spend much of their time sitting or lying, with negative consequences for their development and social image. This study provides a replication of recent (pilot) studies using a walker (support) device and microswitches with preferred stimuli to promote locomotion in two children with multiple disabilities. One child used an ABAB design; the other only an AB sequence. Both succeeded in increasing their frequencies of step responses during the B (intervention) phase(s). These findings support the positive evidence already available on the effectiveness of this intervention in motivating and promoting children's locomotion.
Development of Catching by Children in Kindergarten to Grade 8: A Multicohort Longitudinal Study
Authors: Loovis E. Michael , Butterfield Stephen A. , Bagaka's Joshua G.
Published: September 2010

The purpose of this study was to examine developmental change associated with catching by children in Grades Kindergarten through 8. Children's performance was tested on the Catching Subtest of the Ohio State University Scale of Intra Gross Motor Assessment (OSU-SIGMA). More precisely, four cohorts of boys and girls in Grades K-8 ( N = 340) from 1992 to 2000: in 1992 Grades K-8, in 1994 Grades 2–8, in 1996 Grades 4–8, and in 1998 Grades 6–8. In 2000, the original Kindergarten cohort was tested again. Data, analyzed by hierarchical nonlinear modeling, yielded significant differences in mean initial status (intercept) of all three cohorts, in mean growth rate (slope) for the K-8 cohort only, in initial status of the K-8 cohort, and for participants in baseball and softball.
Perceptual-Cognitive Skills and Performance in Orienteering
Authors: Guzmán José F. , Pablos Ana M. , Pablos Carlos
Published: September 2010

The goal was analysis of the perceptual-cognitive skills associated with sport performance in orienteering in a sample of 22 elite and 17 nonelite runners. Variables considered were memory, basic orienteering techniques, map reading, symbol knowledge, map-terrain-map identification, and spatial organisation. A computerised questionnaire was developed to measure the variables. The reliability of the test (agreement between experts) was 90%. Findings suggested that competence in performing basic orienteering techniques efficiently was a key variable differentiating between the elite and the nonelite athletes. The results are discussed in comparison with previous studies.
Outlined Objects in a Mach Pattern Create Illusions: Further Evidence of a Frequency Code for Size
Authors: Jaeger Ted , Long Stephen , Lang Jessica
Published: September 2010

In two experiments, new illusions of size were created using stimuli composed of nine trees, otoscopes, pens, hourglasses, hands, or mailboxes. The size of the nine objects varied across space in accordance with a Mach pattern. At the small side of the stimuli where there were three objects of identical size, the object at the inflection point was seen as smallest; at the large side of the stimuli where there were also three objects of equal size, the object at the inflection point was seen as largest. In Exp. 3, isolated objects and objects at the inflection points of the Mach stimuli were compared. When the stimuli were oriented to place the judged objects at the inflection points near the isolated object, figures with both pens and otoscopes at the small side of the pattern were underestimated and the figures of pens and otoscopes at the large side of the pattern were overestimated. These illusions resemble Brigner and Kauffman's Mach lines illusion and appear to result from interaction among visual neurons which are encoding the size of complex objects by frequency of their response.
Junior Football Players' Classification of Runners as Their Teammates from 400-MSEC. Video Clips
Authors: Steel Kylie A. , Adams Roger D. , Canning Colleen G.
Published: September 2010

It was hypothesized that a specialized gait recognition skill enables humans to distinguish the gait of familiar from unfamiliar individuals, and that this may have relevance in team sports. Runners seen for less than half a second can be classified as teammates or not by adult players, so it may be asked whether this skill would also be demonstrated by young team players. In the current study, junior football players ( M age=10.0 yr., SD = 0.8, N =13) viewed 400-msec. video clips of runners sprinting past a fixed forward facing digital video camera and similarly showed teammate recognition scores significantly above chance. Given the variation among the junior players in this skill, it seems possible for researchers to assess whether improvement can be obtained with structured training for young team players, where running teammates are seen in peripheral vision during training drills.
Electromyographic Control of Movement Time in a Rapid Aiming Movement
Authors: Sherwood David E.
Published: September 2010

One of the major issues to emerge from research on human-limb movement is the manner in which the central nervous system regulates electromyographic (EMG) activity to produce movements that differ in duration and distance. Different models of control predict different relations between EMC characteristics and movement kinematics, particularly with regard to the role of EMC burst duration and movement time. However, models have been evaluated with means averaged over individuals and across large numbers of practice trials. The goal of this study was to assess how well individual subjects' data conform to the predictions of the control models. Participants ( n = 4) performed an elbow flexion and extension task over 45° in movement times between 90 and 260 msec. EMG amplitude and EMG burst duration from the right elbow flexors were correlated with movement time for each individual. As expected, movement time was positively correlated with EMG burst duration and negatively correlated with EMG amplitude, with wider ranges in the EMG burst duration–movement time correlations across participants. Data from all participants supported predictions of the impulse-timing control model, but the slopes of the studied relations varied across participants.
Deliberate Practice Theory: Relevance, Effort, and Inherent Enjoyment of Music Practice
Authors: Hyllegard Randy , Bories Tamara L.
Published: September 2010

This study examined three assumptions of the theory of deliberate practice for practice playing music on an electronic keyboard. 40 undergraduate students, divided into two separate groups, practiced one of two music sequences and rated the relevance of practice for improving performance on the sequences, the amount of effort needed to learn the sequences, and the inherent enjoyment of practice sessions. Findings for each assumption were consistent with those suggested by theory but also showed that perceptions are affected by the amount of practice completed and performance of the skill.
Effects of Size Congruency on Item and Size Recognition with Words or Pictures
Authors: Standing Lionel G. , Bertrand Michelle I.
Published: September 2010

The effect of size changes (8:1 or 1:8) between learning and recognition sessions upon item and size recognition was tested, using either pictures or words as stimuli. Participants ( N = 34) viewed color photographs of everyday objects or the corresponding printed words and then performed 160 trials of a recognition task, including 50% new stimuli, for which they had to indicate whether each item had been seen before and whether its size had changed. Item recognition, for pictures only, was improved by size congruency between the learning and test sessions. In contrast, size recognition was raised by learning/test-size congruency for both pictures and words. Both word- and picture-learning stimuli produced higher item and size recognition when large in area rather than small. The data are interpreted as showing the stronger role of spatial coding with pictorial than with verbal stimuli.
Task-Specific Training, Learning, and Memory for Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Pilot Study
Authors: Alloway Tracy Packiam , Warner Claire
Published: September 2010

This pilot study compared learning and memory profiles of 20 children (55% boys; M age = 73 yr., SD = 0.4) identified as having learning difficulties and having or suspected of having Developmental Coordination Disorder. 10 children participated in a 13-wk. program of task-specific motor exercises, while the other 10 received none. Analysis indicated significant improvement in motor skills and in visuospatial working memory by the intervention group; however, this effect did not transfer to reading and mathematics scores. Implications regarding the relations among motor skills, learning, and memory are discussed within the context of the intervention.
Effects of Colored Light and Colors of Comparison Stimulus and Their Background on Heaviness of Lifted Weight
Authors: Huang Kuo-Chen
Published: September 2010

The effects of colored light and colors of stimuli and their backgrounds on participants' perceptions that the weight of a stimulus was identical to a standard weight were examined. A total of 23 women and 19 men, Taiwanese college students ages 20 to 23 years ( M = 21.2, SD= 0.8) were randomly divided into three groups, with each assigned to one of three possible colored light conditions. Colored light significantly affected the constant errors between weight perceptions of the comparison and standard stimuli; the perception constant errors under yellow light were significantly less than those under red and blue lights, and the constant errors under red light were less than those under blue light. Stimulus color significantly affected the constant errors, which were significantly greater for white, yellow, red, and blue comparison stimuli than for black stimuli; the constant errors were significantly greater for white and yellow stimuli than for red and blue. Moreover, an interactive two-way effect of stimulus color and colored light was detected; however, no significant effect of color of stimulus background on constant error was observed. Practical applications include development of safe lifting guidelines and package and product design.
Sex Differences in Directional Asymmetry of Digit Length and its Effects on Sex Differences in Digit Ratio (2D:4D)
Authors: Voracek Martin , Offenmüller Denise , Dressler Stefan G.
Published: September 2010

Patterns of directional asymmetry in the length of index and ring finger (2D and 4D) may be sexually differentiated. Martin, Puts, and Breedlove (2008) found leftward bias, i.e., both a longer 2D and 4D in the left than in the right hand, more frequently in men, whereas rightward bias occurred more frequently in women. Further, rightward vs leftward bias seemed a substantial source of variation in digit ratio (2D:4D), a putative marker for prenatal androgen levels. Given the generally small effects, unreplicable results, and inconsistent findings of 2D:4D research, these findings potentially are important as the type of directional digit asymmetry could moderate or obfuscate real associations between 2D:4D and target traits. Based on six samples totaling about 3,000 individuals, the present study replicated the first finding of Martin, Puts, and Breedlove (2008): leftward bias was more frequent among men and rightward bias more frequent among women. This sex effect was small. However, the present study did not replicate the second finding of Martin, et al. (2008): relative to participants' sex the contributions of leftward vs rightward asymmetry to individual variation in 2D:4D were smaller by orders of magnitude and not significant. Implications of these findings for 2D:4D research arc discussed.
Effects of Translational and Rotational Motions and Display Polarity on Visual Performance
Authors: Feng Wen-Yang , Tseng Feng-Yi , Chao Chin-Jung , Lin Chiuhsiang Joe
Published: September 2010

This stuck investigated effects of both translational and rotational motion and display polarity on a visual identification task. Three different motion types—heave, roll, and pitch—were compared with the static (no motion) condition. The visual task was presented on two display polarities, black-on-white and white-on-black. The experiment was a 4 (motion conditions) × 2 (display polarities) within-subjects design with eight subjects (six men and two women; M age = 25.6 yr., SD = 3.2). The dependent variables used to assess the performance on the visual task were accuracy and reaction time. Motion environments, especially the roll condition, had statistically significant effects on the decrement of accuracy and reaction time. The display polarity was significant only in the static condition.
On the Unreliability of Golf Scores for Professional Golfers: A Case for Restriction of Range
Authors: Clark Russell D. , Woodward Katherine L. , Wood James M.
Published: September 2010

This study investigated whether the unreliability of golf scores for professional golfers can be accounted for by restriction of range. Reliability estimates for hole-to-hole scores were calculated from data from 2,679 players on the PGA Tour, 32 senior club professionals, and 62 men and 49 women amateurs who had won either their club or course championship. Reliability estimates were small and negative for the PGA Tour (Cronbach alphas ranging from −.31 to −.15) but mostly positive and substantially higher for senior club professionals and amateurs (Cronbach alphas ranging from −.46 to .76). It was concluded that the greater reliability of performance for senior club pros and amateurs than for PGA Tour players was due to the greater variability in skills and performance of the club professionals and amateurs.
Use of an Occlusion Paradigm to Examine Anticipation of Accelerating and Decelerating Stimuli
Authors: Millslagle Duane G.
Published: September 2010

An occlusion paradigm was used to study the effects of intratrial accelerating, decelerating, and constant stimulus velocity on coincidence-anticipation timing. The Bassin anticipation timer was used to occlude the beginning, middle, and end locations of the stimulus traveling to a designated target area. The coincident anticipation responses of 64 college-age participants (32 men; 32 women) were measured for each intratrial stimulus velocity. Analysis of variance indicated a significant main and interaction effect of occluded location by type of intratrial stimulus velocity. Decreasing intratrial stimulus velocity with the beginning and middle of the runway occluded and increasing intratrial velocity with the middle occluded produced the highest error in the participants' coincidence-anticipation accuracy. The contention that more viewing time of the stimulus would result in the lowest coincidence error was not supported for decelerating and accelerating stimulus speeds but was supported for the constant velocity condition. A temporal directional bias was found in both nonoc-cluded and occluded location conditions which may be due to an assimilation effect.
Differential Person Functioning Applied to Baseball
Authors: Johanson George A. , Brooks Gordon P.
Published: September 2010

The question of whether a baseball player generally hits better against a left-handed or right-handed pitcher is difficult to answer since handedness is only one of many possible attributes of pitchers. The concept of differential functioning from psychometrics is applied, considering both the effect of the handedness of the pitcher and his earned run average (the mean number of runs scored against a pitcher per 9 innings pitched excluding runs due to errors). Two interesting cases are examined, a left-handed batter and a switch-hitter. Suggestions for further research are offered.
Short-Term Exercise to Exhaustion and its Effects on Cognitive Function in Young Women
Authors: Bue-Estes Christine Lo , Willer Barry , Burton Harold , Leddy John J. , Wilding Gregory E. , Horvath Peter J.
Published: September 2010

This study examined whether (1) short-term maximal aerobic exercise to exhaustion affects Simple Reaction Time, Visual Spatial Memory, Continual Processing (attention), Code Substitution (short-term memory), and Working Memory over time and between groups and (2) exercise intensity and chronic aerobic activity in young healthy women affect cognitive performance. As women are an understudied population, cognitive function in apparently healthy active ( n = 9) and sedentary ( n = 9) 18- to 25-yr.-old female college students was evaluated before, during, and after a short-term maximal bout of treadmill running and compared with that of nonexercising, age-matched controls ( n = 8). Selected cognitive variables were assessed prior to, directly after VO2max, and after a recovery from VO2max, and working memory was assessed at 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of each individual's VO2max. Analysis showed simple reaction time was faster in Active than in Sedentary women but was not affected by exercise. Working memory declined during and immediately after short-term maximal exercise but improved after recovery from the exercise. Short-term maximal treadmill exercise was associated with reduced Working Memory performance during exercise and improved Working Memory after recovery.
Evaluation of Visual Motor Perception in Children with Developmental Articulation and Phonological Disorders
Authors: Ozcebe Esra , Kirazli Meltem Cigdem , Sevinc Sebnem
Published: September 2010

The aim of this study is to compare the visual-motor perceptual skills of children who have a developmental articulation and phonological disorder, with children who do not have such disorders. A group of 21 children between the ages 5:6 and 9:1 yr. (13 boys, 8 girls) was compared to a control group of 21 children matched on sex, age, and socioeconomic level using the Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt Test. Children with disorders had significantly more Bender errors.
Some Comments on Lohman (2008): Pseudostuttering as a Training Method
Authors: Rami Manish K.
Published: September 2010

This letter addresses some issues in Lohman's (2008) article on students' perceptions of face-to-face pseudostuttering experiences. Concerns include the valuation of the pseudostuttering experiences on the telephone as compared to face-to-face experiences in training graduate students in speech-language pathology.
Variable Practice versus Constant Practice in the Acquisition of Wheelchair Propulsive Speeds
Authors: Yao Wan X. , DeSola William , Bi Zhong C.
Published: September 2010

Previous studies have demonstrated that varied practice (involving several versions of a skill) has advantage over constant practice (involving only one version of a skill) in learning a motor skill. However, the support for variable practice mainly came from studies using discrete motor skills. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to assess if variable practice was more effective than constant practice for the purpose of learning a continuous and real-life motor skill: wheelchair propulsion. A total of 36 able-bodied undergraduate students participated in this study. There were two constant-practice groups. One group practiced wheelchair propulsion on a roller system with a single speed, 30% of the maximum speed (30%-only group), and one group practiced using 55% of the maximum speed (55%-only group). One variable-practice group (variable group) practiced the propulsion with two different speeds, 30 and 55% of the maximum speed. In addition to retention tests, two transfer tests (i.e., tests on 40 and 70% of the maximum speeds) were performed by the three groups after the 10 weeks of training. The results were mixed. The variable-practice group produced significantly fewer absolute errors on both transfer tests than the 30%-only group. However, when compared to the 55%-only group, the variable-practice group only produced significantly fewer absolute errors on the transfer test at 70% speed, but not at 40% speed.
Big Five Personality Factors and Suicide Rates in the United States: A State-Level Analysis
Authors: Voracek Martin
Published: September 2010

Partly replicating findings from several cross-national studies (of Lester and of Voracek) on possible aggregate-level associations between personality and suicide prevalence, state-level analysis within the United States yielded significantly negative associations between the Big Five factor of Neuroticism and suicide rates. This effect was observed for historical as well as contemporary suicide rates of the total or the elderly population and was preserved with controls for the four other Big Five factors and measures of state wealth. Also conforming to cross-national findings, the Big Five factors of Agreeableness and Extraversion were negatively, albeit not reliably, associated with suicide rates.
A Cross-National Analysis of Mental Toughness and Hardiness in Elite University Rugby League Teams
Authors: Sheard Michael
Published: September 2010

The relation between nationality and selected indicators of psychological performance in rugby league football was examined. Mental toughness was assessed using the alternative Psychological Performance Inventory (PPI–A) and hardiness using the Personal Views Survey III–R (PVS III–R). Participants ( N = 49, M age = 21.7 yr., SD = 2.3) were male elite-level university rugby league footballers representing Australia and Great Britain. Participants completed the questionnaires in training camp in Sydney, Australia, one week prior to the commencement of an international tournament there in 2006. Multivariate analyses revealed that the Australian Universities players had significantly higher mean scores on Positive Cognition, Visualization, Total Mental Toughness, and Challenge than their opponents from Great Britain. The Australian Universities players were also the tournament winners. The findings concur with previous research indicating superior mental toughness and hardiness are related to successful sport performance. Practical implications focus on the potentiality of ameliorative cultural environments.
Deterioration of the Useful Visual Field with Age and Sleep Deprivation: Insight from Signal Detection Theory
Authors: Rogé Joceline , Gabaude Catherine
Published: September 2010

The goal of this study was to establish whether the deterioration of the useful visual field due to sleep deprivation and age in a screen monitoring activity could be explained by a decrease in perceptual sensitivity and/or a modification of the participant's decision criterion (two indices derived from signal detection theory). In the first experiment, a comparison of three age groups (young, middle-aged, elderly) showed that perceptual sensitivity decreased with age and that the decision criterion became more conservative. In the second experiment, measurement of the useful visual field was carried out on participants who had been deprived of sleep the previous night or had a complete night of sleep. Perceptual sensitivity significantly decreased with sleep debt, and sleep deprivation provoked an increase in the participants' decision criterion. Moreover, the comparison of two age groups (young, middle-aged) indicated that sensitivity decreased with age. The value of using these two indices to explain the deterioration of useful visual field is discussed.
A Comparison of Overarm Throwing with the Dominant and Nondominant Arm in Experienced Team Handball Players
Authors: van den Tillaar Roland , Ettema Gertjan
Published: September 2010

The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy, velocity, and kinematics of throws with the dominant and nondominant arms in experienced handball players. Significant differences in throwing accuracy and ball velocity were found: decreased maximal velocities of the major joint movements and especially decreased internal rotation velocity of the shoulder. Timing differences in the onset of some joint movements, which resulted in an altered throwing pattern, could explain differences in the throwing velocity. Lower ball velocity was compensated by the increased ball release height, which was caused by an increased shoulder abduction and trunk tilt sideways angle at ball release.
School Violence: Evaluation and Proposal of Teaching Staff
Authors: Alonso José Domínguez , López-Castedo Antonio , Juste Margarita Pino
Published: September 2010

The aim of this work was to evaluate the frequency of violent behaviors in educational centers, according to self-report of the teaching staff. To that end, a questionnaire about school violence was administered to a sample of 616 teachers working in primary and secondary schools in Galicia, Spain. Disruptive and antisocial behaviors in the student population were reported to affect the teaching effort negatively. The compiled data indicate verbal aggression is the most common form of violence used by the student population and reveal the dissatisfaction of teaching staff not prepared for this challenge. Teachers felt the need to devise new effective responses to promote concord in educational communities.
Deliberate Practice Theory: Perceived Relevance, Effort, and Inherent Enjoyment of Music Practice: Study II
Authors: Hyllegard Randy , Bories Tamara L.
Published: September 2010

This study, based on the theory of deliberate practice, examined the practice relevance, effort, and inherent enjoyment aspects of the theory. 25 college undergraduates practiced playing a melody on an electronic keyboard for three 20-min practice sessions. Following each session, the perceived relevance of the practice for improving performance of the melody, the effort needed to learn the melody, and the inherent enjoyment of the practice were each rated on 10-point scales. Findings were consistent with theory and similar to previous studies also involving music practice and other tasks.
Race Performance in Male Mountain Ultra-Marathoners: Anthropometry or Training?
Authors: Knechtle Beat , Knechtle Patrizia , Rosemann Thomas
Published: September 2010

The association of anthropometric variables, training volume, and prerace experience with race time was investigated in 25 male mountain ultra-marathoners ( M age = 44.5 yr., SD = 7.0; M body mass = 73.0 kg, SD = 7.8; M body height = 1.78 m, SD = 0.07; M Body Mass Index = 22.9 kg/m2, SD = 1.8) in a 7-day mountain ultra-marathon over 350 km with a total 11,000 m of altitude gained and lost. The relationship of anthropometry (body mass, body height, Body Mass Index, percent body fat, circumferences of limbs, and thicknesses of skin-folds), training, and prerace experience (years as active runner, average training volume in hours and kilometres per week, average running speed in training, and personal best time in marathon running) with total race time was investigated using bivariate correlation analysis. None of the variables of anthropometry were related to total race time. Average speed in running during training and personal best time in marathon running were associated with total race time. Speed in running during training was correlated with personal best time in marathon running. The finding that average speed in running during training and personal best marathon time were related to race performance suggests that training and especially intensity might be of increased importance in these ultra-runners compared to anthropometry.
Sex Differences in Effects of Testing Medium and Response Format on a Visuospatial Task
Authors: Cherney Isabelle D. , Rendell Jariel A.
Published: September 2010

Sex differences on visuospatial tests are among the most reliably replicated. It is unclear to what extent these performance differences reflect underlying differences in skills or testing factors. To assess whether testing medium and response format affect visuospatial sex differences, performances of introductory psychology students (100 men, 104 women) were examined on a visuospatial task presented in paper-and-pencil and tablet computer forms. Both sexes performed better when tested on paper, although men outperformed women. The introduction of an open-ended component to the visuospatial task eliminated sex differences when prior spatial experiences were controlled, but men outperformed women when prior spatial experiences were not considered. In general, the open-ended version and computerized format of the test diminished performance, suggesting that response format and medium are testing factors that influence visuospatial abilities.
Effects of Stroop Interference on Categorical Perception in Simultaneous Color Discrimination
Authors: Suegami Takashi , Michimata Chikashi
Published: September 2010

Two experiments were conducted to assess the effects of verbal interference on categorical perception. The task involved simultaneous color discrimination with no memory demands, and a concurrent Stroop task was employed as verbal interference. Exp. 1 demonstrated that categorical perception was eliminated by an incongruent color word (i.e., Stroop interference), but not by a congruent color word or nonword fixation crosses. Exp. 2 demonstrated that categorical perception decreased when the intensity of Stroop Interference was increased, and it increased when correct verbal coding was enhanced. These results provide further evidence that interfering with verbal coding disrupts categorical perception, suggesting that verbal coding has a crucial role in categorical “perception.” It is also suggested that categorical perception could occur at the encoding or decision level but not at the storage or memory level. The possible mechanisms for categorical perception are also discussed.
Mental Practice and the Retention of Motor Learning: A Pilot Study
Authors: Spittle Michael , Kremer Peter
Published: September 2010

This study compared the effects of mental practice, physical practice, and no practice on the performance and retention of a novel throwing task. Research supports the effectiveness of mental practice on performance; however, retention of learning has not been adequately investigated. Participants were 152 students ages 18 to 44 years ( M = 20.5, SD = 2.9), who completed a pretest, posttest, and five-week delayed retention test of dart throwing with the nonpreferred hand. In the practice phase, participants completed 50 mental practice or physical practice trials of the darts task or 50 trials of a catching task. Results indicated that overall scores increased from pretest to posttest and retention test, and decreased from posttest to retention test, but that these effects did not differ for type of practice. The findings suggest equal learning and retention of learning for novel throwing tasks for control, mental practice, and physical practice conditions; however, further research that considers issues raised is recommended.
Hand Dominance and Grip Strength of Older Asian Adults
Authors: Wang Ching-Yi
Published: September 2010

Hand dominance in a group of Asian adults 60 to 89 years old was examined. Participants were independently living in the community; free of pain, injury, and disease of the upper limbs; and had no restrictions on use of upper extremities in daily activities. The grip strengths of both hands were measured with a Jamar hand dynamometer. Analysis showed that being male, of younger age, and using the dominant hand were significantly associated with stronger grip than being female, of older age, and using the nondominant hand. The dominant to nondominant grip ratio varies from 1.05 to 1.10 across age–sex subgroups.
Concurrent Evidence of Physical Educators' Attitude toward Teaching Individuals with Disabilities
Authors: Casebolt Kevin , Rizzo Terry L.
Published: September 2010

This study assesses the criterion-related relevance or concurrent validity of Physical Educators' Attitude Toward Individuals with Disabilities III survey, developed in 1993 by Rizzo. The criterion measure was the Learning Handicapped Inventory, developed in 1982 by Jansma and Shultz, because it, like the former, has validity and reliability in assessing attitudes of physical educators toward teaching students with disabilities. Participants were 179 physical education majors attending a major midwestern university, 94 (53%) women and 85 (47%) men whose average age was 20.7 yr. ( SD = 2.5 yr.). Both surveys were administered in one sitting, and the correlation of .88 indicates strong concurrent validity.
Elite Athletes' Differentiated Action in Trampolining: A Qualitative and Situated Analysis of Different Levels of Performance Using Retrospective Interviews
Authors: Hauw Denis , Durand Marc
Published: September 2010

Using a situated cognition approach, this study analyzed elite athletes' actions, i.e., behaviors link to cognitions, during competitive trampoline performances, which are evaluated from a succession of 10 acrobatic movements characterized by flight time and fall risk. 27 exercises performed by 10 elite athletes were ranked poor, average, or good and analyzed. Self-confrontation interviews were conducted and transcribed in relation with behavioral descriptions derived from video recordings. Qualitative analysis was performed to identify units of meaningful action and their components. The succession of units describing the stream of actions was used to identify differentiated organization of trampolinists' performances. Three patterns, corresponding to performance levels, were distinguished by (a) an increasing number of meaningful actions occurring at the same time, (b) a reduction in actions of waiting, and (c) the emergence of new actions aimed at interaction with the situation. These results suggest that differentiation in performance level is linked with meaningful actions modified through interaction with the context.
Understanding Air Force Members' Intentions to Participate in Pro-Environmental Behaviors: An Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior
Authors: Laudenslager Mark S. , Holt Daniel T. , Lofgren Steven T.
Published: September 2010

At a single installation, a cross section of 307 active duty Air Force members completed questionnaires to assess whether the theory of planned behavior was useful in explaining the service members' intentions to participate in three environmentally protective behaviors—recycling, carpooling, and energy conservation. While the individual tenets of the theory of planned behavior, i.e., attitude toward the behavior, subjective norms, and perceived control, accounted for differing amounts of variance in intentions, the results indicated that the intentions of these Air Force members to recycle, conserve energy, and carpool were moderately explained by the tenets of the theory of planned behavior collectively when the results of a multiple regression were analyzed.
Conflicts, Burnout, and Bullying in a Finnish and a Polish Company: A Cross-National Comparison
Authors: Varhama Lasse M. , Björkqvist Kaj
Published: September 2010

The prevalence of conflicts, burnout, and bullying among employees of two similar companies, one situated in Poland ( n = 66) and the other in Finland ( n = 330) was investigated with the Psychosocial Workplace Inventory of Björkqvist and Österman. Both companies were of Finnish ownership and manufacturers in heavy industry. They were similar in most respects, such as organization, production and marketing. Significant differences were found between the two companies. Polish workers had higher scores on conflicts and self-experienced bullying, while Finnish workers reported higher burnout, both self-experienced and observed by others.
Social Support and Salivary Secretory Immunoglobulin a Response in Women to Stress of Making a Public Speech
Authors: Ohira Hideki
Published: September 2010

Acute experimental stressors transiently increase volume of secretory immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) in saliva. The present study examined buffering effects of social support on response of s-IgA to a brief psychological stress (giving a public speech). 24 women were divided at random into three groups, an emotional support group, an informational support group and a no-support group (control). For each group, s-IgA measures were obtained from each person under baseline conditions, during preparation of a speech when social support or no support was given, immediately after the speech and during a ‘recovery’ period. Level of s-IgA in the control group significantly elevated during preparation for the speech and just after the speech compared to baseline, suggesting that the speech task stimulated secretory immune function. On the other hand, the subjects in the emotional support group showed increased s-IgA during the preparation period but secretion of s-IgA rapidly returned to the baseline after the speech task. Secretion of s-IgA in the informational social support group was unchanged at any measurement point. These results suggest that social support attenuates the affect of a stressor on somatic state.
Body-Shape Perceptions in Older Adults and Motivations for Exercise
Authors: Schuler Petra B. , Broxon-Hutcherson Amanda , Philipp Steven F. , Ryan Stuart , Isosaari Robert M. , Robinson Destini
Published: September 2010

This study examined the relationships among age, sex, exercise and body-image dissatisfaction in older adults and evaluated the role of body-shape dissatisfaction as a motivation to exercise. A pencil-and-paper questionnaire was administered to 175 older adults (101 women and 74 men) ranging in age from 50 to 98 years ( M = 72 yr., SD = 9) to obtain general information, information regarding exercise participation, motivations for exercise and body-shape perceptions. A body-shape dissatisfaction score was calculated using the difference between the participant's choice for current and ideal body shape from a nine-figure body-silhouette scale. Present study findings suggested that both older adult men and women expressed a desire for a thinner body shape independent of age and current participation in exercise. In addition, the results indicated that body-shape dissatisfaction did not motivate this sample to engage in regular exercise; physical health and physical fitness emerged as the most important motivations to exercise.
Sleep Deprivation and Hemispheric Asymmetry for Facial Recognition Reaction Time and Accuracy
Authors: Pallesen Ståle , Johnsen Bjørn Helge , Hansen Anita , Eid Jarle , Thayer Julian F. , Olsen Trond , Hugdahl Kenneth
Published: September 2010

We investigated the processing of emotional stimuli during a nonsleep-deprived state and following sleep deprivation in 36 right-handed men. Using the visual half-field technique, cartoon line drawings of emotional facial expressions were flashed on a computer screen for 250 msec. The participants were instructed to remember the content of the picture seen and to recognize it among nine alternatives shown immediately after the display of a single picture. Compared to the nondeprived condition, response latencies increased and accuracy decreased in sleep deprivation. Moreover, response latencies indicated that the performance of the right hemisphere deteriorated more following sleep deprivation than did the performance of the left hemisphere. The results also showed that hemispheric preference (for response latencies and response accuracy) tended to favour the left hemisphere when the participants were tested during sleep deprivation.
False Recognition with the Deese-Roediger-McDermott-Reid-Solso Procedure: A Quantitative Summary
Authors: McKelvie Stuart J.
Published: September 2010

In the Deese-Roediger-McDermott-Read-Solso (DRMRS) procedure, participants study lists of words associated with central concepts (critical themes) that are not on the lists, then their memory is tested. Based on 224 estimates, the rate of False Recognition of the nonstudied critical themes was .59 (95% confidence interval of .56 to .61), which is smaller than the Hit rate of .75 for correct recognition of studied items (95% confidence interval of .73 to .77) but greater than various rates of False Alarms for other nonstudied items (ranging from .13 to .19). Ratings of subjective confidence were similar on Hits and on False Recognitions but higher than on False Alarms, confirming that false recognition was more like correct recognition than like other errors. The results from judgments of feeling of remembering or knowing, from the effects of intervening activities (particularly recall) between study and test, and from the effects of age suggest that False Recognition occurs because the critical theme is activated along with studied items during list presentation and perhaps also during recall. Invoking fuzzy trace theory, it is argued Hits are based on verbatim traces whereas False Recognition is based on gist traces and a failure of source memory. Proposals are made for research.
Sailing Experience and Sex as Correlates of Spatial Ability
Authors: Devlin Ann Sloan
Published: September 2010

The relationship between sailing experience and men's and women's spatial ability was examined by assessing the sailing history and Mental Rotations Test scores of 230 participants. The 102 men and 128 women came from three groups: college sailors ( n = 65), members of the general student body ( n = 110), and college crew team members ( n = 55). Participants completed the Vandenberg and Kuse Mental Rotations Test and Lawton's Way-finding Strategy Scale and Spatial Anxiety Scale. Demographic variables and sailing experience were also assessed. Men scored significantly higher on the Mental Rotations Test than did women, and sailing team members scored significantly higher on that test than did student body members and crew team members. Results are discussed in terms of current explanations for sex differences in spatial ability.
Refinement of Terminology in Qualitative Analysis of Human Movement
Authors: Morrison Craig
Published: September 2010

The emergence of qualitative analysis of human movement as a subdiscipline within the discipline of Kinesiology has led to a slow refinement in definitions and terms used to describe the area as a whole and parts of the total analysis process. A 2003 paper by McKethan, Kernodle, Brantz, and Fischer illustrates some differences in use of terminology. Using their terminology, differences are noted with a view to standardizing terminology in the subdiscipline.
Interaction between Preference and Instructions for a Focus of Attention in Billiards
Authors: Ehrlenspiel Felix , Lieske Jascha , Rübner Anne
Published: September 2010

The present study evaluated the interaction between preference for a focus of attention and instructions for focusing attention. 4 experienced billiard players had to shoot a billiard ball into a target area and received a focus instruction either corresponding or opposite to their preferred focus of attention. Two-dimensional error scores of accuracy and consistency were obtained. Accuracy of performance increased between Phase 1 without instructions and Phase 2 with focus instructions, independent of preference or instruction. However, participants with a preference for an external focus receiving an internal focus instruction showed less consistent performance.
Expertise and Position of Line of Sight in Golf Putting
Authors: Naito Kiyoshi , Kato Takaaki , Fukuda Tadahiko
Published: September 2010

The purpose of this study was to clarify golfers' scanning patterns while putting through direct measurement of their eye movements. Each of the 17 subjects (3 experts, 3 intermediates, 11 beginners) performed 10 consecutive putts on a practice mat, from a position 2 m from the hole. The analysis of their eye-movements indicated differences among these groups. The intermediates and beginners had longer fixation durations on the ball than the experts. The beginners exhibited a range of behaviors among the trials, some of which did not include any fixations on the ball. Experts held their eyes steady but did not fixate on the ball. These results suggested that experts may have relied on a mental image of the ball; in contrast, the intermediates and some of the beginners relied on visual data.
Visual Analogue Scale Correlates of Musculoskeletal Fatigue
Authors: Leung Ada W. S. , Chan Chetwyn C. H. , Lee Alice H. S. , Lam Keith W. H.
Published: September 2010

Visual analogue scale has been shown to reflect subjective feelings but rarely has it been used for musculoskeletal fatigue so in the present study VAS ratings were used to quantify musculoskeletal fatigue. A total of 20 students underwent a fatigue protocol ( M age = 21.3 yr., SD = 1.0). A series of randomized external loads at 0, 5, 10, 15, 25, 35, and 50% of the maximum voluntary contraction was generated by the BTE Primus and applied at the distal end of the dominant arm, which was sustained at the 90° forward flexion position. After 60 sec. of force exertion for each loading, the subject marked the scale to reflect their extent of fatigue at the shoulder muscle. Analysis showed fatigue scores were significantly correlated with the percentages of maximum load applied ( r = .73, p ≤ .01). The correlation between higher external loads (25–50% maximum load) and fatigue scores was .57 ( p ≤ .01) and that for lower external loads (0–15% maximum load) was .44 ( p ≤ .01). The validity of using a visual analogue scale as a measure of musculoskeletal fatigue requires further study, particularly for a low load.
Body Satisfaction in Adolescent Boys and Girls: Associations with Parental Behavior
Authors: Pritchard Mary E.
Published: September 2010

In a sample of 449 high school students, maternal smoking and maternal and paternal eating habits were significantly related to self-reported Body Satisfaction for girls, as measured by the Body Shape Questionnaire of Cooper, Taylor, Cooper, and Fairburn. However, only paternal eating habits were significantly related to self-reported Body Satisfaction for boys.
Goal Orientations, Motivational Climate, Equality, and Discipline of Spanish Physical Education Students
Authors: Cervelló Eduardo M. , Jiménez Ruth , del Villar Fernando , Ramos Luis , Santos-Rosa Francisco J.
Published: September 2010

This study analyzes how dispositional goal orientations and perception of different motivational climates are related to the students' perception of sex-related egalitarian treatment and the appearance of disciplined or undisciplined behaviors in physical education classes. Analyses showed that ego orientation is a predictor of undisciplined behavior. Task orientation was positively associated to discipline. The perception of task-involving motivational climate is related to the students' perception of equal treatment. On the contrary, the perception of ego-involving climate has been linked positively to the prediction of the perception of sex discrimination in physical education classes and negatively to the perception of equality and the appearance of disciplined behavior. This study discusses the implications of these results related to teaching instructional actions in physical education classes.