bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validity of the Estimated Learning Potential and other Measures of Learning Potential
Authors: Taylor Ronald L. , Richards Stephen B.
Published: August 2011

The validity of the Estimated Learning Potential from the System of Multicultural Pluralistic Assessment was estimated using other measures of learning potential as criteria. In addition, correlations of traditional IQs with the learning potential measures were examined. The correlations between the Estimated Learning Potential and the criterion measures were low to moderate. Further, the traditional IQ was more strongly related to the learning potential measures than to the Estimated Learning Potential. Implications of these results, including the finding that learning potential should not be considered a unitary construct, were discussed.
Sex, Sex-Role, and Machiavellianism as Correlates of Decoding Ability
Authors: Simon Lorna J. , Francis Patricia L. , Lombardo John P.
Published: August 2011

The present study examined the relationships of sex, sex-role and Machiavellianism to the ability to decode adult facial expressions. 80 undergraduates, classified into traditional, cross-sex, androgynous or undifferentiated sex-role categories based on scores on Bern's inventory, were asked to view slides of adults posing different facial expressions and asked to choose which emotion was being expressed. Subjects were given the Machiavellianism V scale to complete. Neither sex nor sex-role significantly influenced decoding ability; however, Machiavellianism was negatively related to the ability to decode facial expressions.
What is a Valid Context: Sport is Sport?
Authors: Blais Christine
Published: August 2011

The term context has been used in a large number of research articles, but context does not, as yet, have a universally accepted definition. Sport is also a term subject to multiple definitions. Therefore, there is a need for caution when trying to identify unfamiliar and familiar research contexts in sport.
Drawings of the President: 1980 and 1984
Authors: Truhon Stephen A.
Published: August 2011

In Study 1, 77 children in Grades 3 and 6 were asked to draw pictures of the three major Presidential candidates (John Anderson, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan) at 2-wk. intervals beginning October 1, 1980 (about five weeks before Election Day) and ending November 12, 1980 (about one week after Election Day). It was hypothesized that the pictures would increase in size until Election Day and decrease thereafter. Drawings of Carter and Reagan decreased after Election Day, while those of Anderson began decreasing three weeks before the election. In Study 2, 81 children in Grades 4 and 5 drew pictures of Ronald Reagan and Walter Mondale at 2-wk. intervals during the 1984 Presidential campaign. Drawings of Reagan decreased in size after Election Day but not those of Mondale.
Comparability of the Vineland Social Maturity Scale and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale—Survey Form with Infants Evaluated for Developmental Delay
Authors: Raggio Donald J. , Massingale Twila W.
Published: August 2011

The Vineland Social Maturity Scale and its revision, the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale-Survey Form, were evaluated with infants referred for suspected developmental delay. Since the latter is being used more often by psychologists in evaluation and placement of children in the age group of birth to two years, comparative studies must ensure appropriate placement of children observed to have developmental delays. The present study indicated significantly higher over-all adaptive functioning on the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale-Survey Form for 33 black and 11 white infants of mean age 12 mo. than on the original Vineland scales. Substituting the Survey Form for the original Vineland scales when evaluating developmentally delayed infants is questionable. These results are also noteworthy in that children whose Vineland Social Maturity scaled scores make them eligible for special services would be excluded if the revised form were used in the evaluation process.
Comparing Good and Poor Spellers of Equal Reading and Verbal Abilities
Authors: Ormrod Jeanne Ellis
Published: August 2011

Good and poor spellers at the university level were matched for equivalent reading ability; mean WAIS Verbal IQs for the two groups were also equivalent. The good and and poor spellers described similar reading and study habits, however, the good spellers more accurately spelled a list of unknown, difficult words (e.g., pseudogeusia), reflecting two possible strengths compared to poor spellers: (1) superior ability to dissect a word into component sounds and (2) superior knowledge of common letter patterns in the English language (e.g., pseudo).
Basic Values and Sociopolitical Ideology: A Comparison of Political Experts and Political Novices
Authors: Sidanius Jim
Published: August 2011

For 102 college students and 102 “experts” (professionals) inspection of unstandardized paths (LISREL) shows different relationships between Rokeach's terminal values and the construct of liberalism-conservatism, relationships being somewhat greater for “experts” than students (“novices”). The observation was confirmed by structural equation analysis.
Area Perception in Simple Geometrical Figures
Authors: Maio Vito Di , Lánský Petr
Published: August 2011

The results of experiments on visual perception of area of circles and squares are reported. Pairs of geometrical figures were presented simultaneously on an oscilloscope screen. While one of them was fixed, the other one was controlled by an experimental subject. The task of the subject was to match the area of the variable figure to the area of the fixed one. The obtained data show underestimation of the area of circle when compared with square. A mathematical model designed to explain this phenomenon is proposed here. The image function defined as a low-pass filtered (blurred) version of the figure is employed for this purpose. Then, instead of the position of the image function maxima, the position of a threshold value is used for area computation.
Conditioning the Reaction Time Response
Authors: Montare Alberto
Published: August 2011

Preliminary data support the idea that the standard RT can be classically conditioned.
Wrestlers' Perceptions of Coaches' Leadership as Predictors of Satisfaction with Leadership
Authors: Dwyer John J. M. , Fischer Donald G.
Published: August 2011

A specific aspect of the multidimensional model of leadership, athletes' satisfaction as a function of their perceptions of leaders' behaviors and type of sport, was studied. 152 wrestlers indicated their perceptions of their coaches' leadership as measured on training and instruction, democratic, autocratic, social support, and positive feedback and reported their satisfaction with leadership. Analysis indicated that, with the exception of the autocratic behavior subscale, the perceived leadership subscales had satisfactory internal consistency reliability. Consistent with the perceived leadership of other athletes, wrestlers perceived their coaches to be high on positive feedback, high on training and instruction, and low on autocratic behavior. Also, wrestlers who so perceived their coaches showed greater satisfaction with leadership.
Comments on Gustafson and Källmén's (1990) Subliminal Psychodynamic Activation Experiment
Authors: Fudin Robert
Published: August 2011

Gustafson and Källmén's (1990) line of reasoning based on Fudin's (1986) ideas about subliminal psychodynamic activation experiments is questioned. It is suggested that the methodological innovations listed in Fudin's paper are necessary for a clearer interpretation of positive findings in this area of research.
Geophysical Variables and Behavior: LXI. UFO Reports in Carman Manitoba and the 1975 Minnesota Quake: Evidence of Triggering by Increased Volume of the Red River
Authors: Persinger M. A. , Derr J. S.
Published: August 2011

The tectonic strain theory states that most UFO reports are related to luminous phenomena which are generated by the same stresses that produce earthquakes. Analyses of the epidemic-like profile of UFO reports within southern Manitoba during 1975 indicates that they were coupled to an unusually strong Minnesota earthquake. The quake occurred near the source of the Red River that flows into Manitoba. As hypothesized, (1) UFORs within the three neighboring states (ND, SD and MN) also increased dramatically during 1975, (2) there was a positive correlation between annual seismic energy release within these states and the numbers of UFORs, and (3) the numbers of UFORs within central southern Manitoba were strongly, positively correlated with the monthly volume of the Red River within this province, especially during 1975.
Locating Errors in Questionnaire Style Data: A Fortran Program
Authors: Walsh John F.
Published: August 2011

Data collected and coded from questionnaire style research tools usually contains transcription errors. A FORTRAN program which searches the data file for specific error codes is given. The two controlling features, number of variables with errors and the number of errors per variable, are set by a parameter statement. Since records are evaluated sequentially, memory requirements are minimal.
Geophysical Variables and Behavior: LXII. Temporal Coupling of UFO Reports and Seismic Energy Release within the Rio Grande Rift System: Discriminative Validity of the Tectonic Strain Theory
Authors: Persinger M. A. , Derr J. S.
Published: August 2011

Persistent, moderately strong temporal correlations (0.7 < rho < 0.8) between the numbers of UFO reports (UFORs) and the amount of seismic energy release were evident for approximately 30 years within New Mexico and Colorado, surrounding the active Rio Grande Rift System. The hypothetical construct of a moving “strain field” was suggested by the gradually closer occurrence of UFORs over time to an imminent epicenter. Tests of discriminative validity involved partial correlation analyses for different types of UFORs. The results indicated that only classic luminous phenomena, similar to historical descriptions of earthquake lights, were strongly correlated with the release of seismic energy within the area. Anomalous luminosities similar to conventional transients, such as meteors, or putative extraterrestrial intelligence, were not correlated significantly with the energy release. Both the validity and reliability of the tectonic strain theory were supported.
Behavior at 10 and 13 Years of Age for Children with Low Birth Weight
Authors: Lagerström Monica , Bremme Katarina , Eneroth Peter , Magnusson David
Published: August 2011

This study was based on data from a longitudinal research program. The cohort consisted of 874 normal children in an entire school grade in a Swedish community. The aim of the study was to investigate the relation between birth weight and behavior at school, for all children and for each sex separately. The results identified specific aspects of behaviour disorder significantly related to low birth weight (LBW) for children at the age of 10 but not at the age of 13. When the sexes were separated, there were no relations between birth weight and deviant behaviour for boys of low birth weight as compared to boys of normal birth weight, while girls of low birth weight showed specific behavioural disorders at age 10 as compared to girls of normal birth weight. For girls reared in families of low parental socioeconomic status, aggressiveness and motor restlessness at age 10 but not at age 13 was also present. Further analyses showed that girls born small-for-gestational age showed lack of school motivation and concentration difficulties both at age 10 and age 13.
Correlation of Eye Color with Performance on Two Motor Skill Tasks
Authors: Rowe P. Joanne , Miller Lori K.
Published: August 2011

Prior research investigating the performance differences between dark- and light-eyed individuals has indicated that light-eyed individuals perform better at self-paced activities than dark-eyed individuals while the reverse has been true with regard to reaction tasks. 92 college students performed two tasks, tennis-ball throw and rotary pursuit. Eye color (light or dark) and performance accuracy were recorded for each subject. A significant difference was found between light-eyed individuals and throwing a tennis ball (self-paced activity). No significant difference was found between eye color and performance on the pursuit rotor (reactive activity).
Importance of Game Location and Scoring First in College Baseball
Authors: Courneya Kerry S.
Published: August 2011

This study examined the effects of game location and scoring first on performance outcome in college baseball. Data were collected from 10 teams in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Analysis indicated that game location and scoring first were both significant predictors of outcome. They also combined to produce differential effects on outcome although no differences were found in their relative importance. These results suggest the importance of scoring first in moderating the home advantage and provide further support for the relative importance of game location in predicting outcome.
The Early Motor Profile: Correlation with the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency
Authors: Spiegel Amy N. , Steffens Kathleen M. , Rynders John E. , Bruininks Robert H.
Published: August 2011

A correlational study of the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency and the Early Motor Profile with 109 kindergarten children showed a significant relation between these two measures of motor abilities. These results support use of the latter profile as a measure of motor development in preschool age children.
Influence of Play on Creative Thinking
Authors: Berretta Shirley , Privette Gayle
Published: August 2011

The immediate influence of flexible and highly structured play on the creative thinking of 184 fourth-grade boys and girls was investigated. Following either flexible or highly structured art, drama, and playground activities, children's performances on the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking were evaluated. Children who participated in flexible play experiences showed significantly greater creative thinking than children participating in the highly structured play experiences. No significant differences were found between boys and girls related to effects of flexible and structured play on creative thinking. Implications for curriculum are explored.
Wire-Bending Test as a Predictor of Preclinical Performance by Dental Students
Authors: Kao Elizabeth C. , Wilson Stephen , Ngan Peter W. , Kunovich Robert
Published: August 2011

Traditional Dental Aptitude Test and academic grade point average have been shown to be poor predictors of clinical performance by dental students. To refine predictors of psychomotor skills, a wire-bending test was given to 105 freshmen at the beginning of their dental education. Grades from seven restorative preclinical courses in their freshman and sophomore years were compared to scores on wire bending and the three traditional predictors: GPA, academic aptitude, and perceptual aptitude scores. Wire-bending scores correlated significantly with six out of seven preclinical restorative courses. The predictive power for preclinical performance was doubled when wire bending was added to traditional predictors in stepwise multiple regression analysis. Wire-bending scores identified students of low performance. These preliminary results suggest that the wire-bending test shows some potential as a screening test for identifying students who may have psychomotor difficulties, early in their dental education.
Do People's Presence More Than Their Presents Makes Children Happy?
Authors: Westman Alida S.
Published: August 2011

58 women and 29 men in college indicated what made them happy during childhood. The most frequent source of happiness for 89% involved doing relatively simple things with a specific person or persons. Toys or activities involving toys were mentioned by only 39%. The frequent adult assumption that toys or extraordinary events lead to happiness needs to be reevaluated and simple social interactions explored.
Motor Development of Puerto Rican Children: Cross-Cultural Perspectives
Authors: Aponte Roberto , French Ron , Sherrill Claudine
Published: August 2011

The Test of Gross Motor Development was administered to 300 children, ages 5 to 7 yr., attending public schools in Puerto Rico. Statistical comparisons indicated that the test-manual norms for US children were applicable to Puerto Rican children except for 7-yr.-old girls. A 2 × 3 × 2 factor analysis of intercorrelations of Puerto Rican scores indicated no significant difference between rural and urban children, expected age group differences, and sex differences favoring boys.
Recency Effects and Temporal Distinctiveness: Dissociation between Free Recall and Memory for Position/Order
Authors: Sato Koichi
Published: August 2011

Temporal distinctiveness hypothesis argues that both short-term and long-term recency effects reflect the high distinctiveness of temporal (i.e., position and order) information in the recency portion. The present study tested this hypothesis. In Exp. 1, recency effects for free recall were compared to those for position/order memory in immediate, delayed, and continuous distractor conditions. Recency effects for both free recall and position/order memory disappeared in the delayed condition. In the continuous distractor condition, large recency effects for free recall reappeared (i.e., long-term recency effects), unaccompanied by the reappearance of recency effects for position/order memory. In Exp. 2, the temporal distinctiveness did not affect short-term recency effects in the immediate free recall. These results indicate that the temporal distinctiveness hypothesis is inadequate for short-term and long-term recency effects in free recall.
Research on the Clinical Usefulness of the Rorschach: 2. The Assessment of Cerebral Dysfunction
Authors: Frank George
Published: August 2011

A review of research on the use of the Rorschach in the assessment of cerebral dysfunction indicated that the Rorschachs of patients with cerebral dysfunction do not manifest any characteristic response in terms of percentages, ratios, or any unique response to any one of the stimulus determinants of the blots (color, shading, the stimulus for movement). The patient with cerebral dysfunction does manifest a unique style of thinking; responses tend to be concrete, perseverative, and stereotypic. This finding is similar to that found with schizophrenics where research, summarized by Frank in 1990, also indicated no uniquely ‘objective’ response style but reflected a unique cognitive style. These two reviews taken together suggest that the better way to use Rorschach data in clinical work is as an opportunity to assess patients' thinking as opposed to the Rorschach being used as a psychometric device, yielding ‘numbers.’
Perceptions of Current and Ideal Body Shape of Athletes and Nonathletes
Authors: Hallinan Christopher J. , Pierce Edgar F. , Evans Jan E. , DeGrenier Jane D. , Andres Fredrick F.
Published: August 2011

This study was done to examine the relationship between sex and perception of body image among athletes and nonathletes. A total of 211 men and women athletes and nonathletes completed a questionnaire which asked them to identify from a nine-figure body-silhouette scale their current image and the image that they thought was most ideal. t tests showed no significant differences for men based upon athletic participation and that both athletes and nonathletes were satisfied with their body image. However, when comparing current image and ideal image, significant differences were found for women athletes and nonathletes. These data support previous research documenting women's dissatisfaction with their body images and show athletic participation is not associated with this perception.
Criterion-Related Validity of a Preemployment Integrity Inventory: A Large Scale Between-Groups Comparison
Authors: Jones John W. , Joy Dennis S. , Werner Steven H. , Orban Joseph A.
Published: August 2011

This study was conducted to examine whether the Honesty scale of the Personnel Selection Inventory differentiates a counterproductive group of individuals from a randomly-selected group of employment applicants. The Honesty subscale measures applicants' attitudes toward theft and counterproductivity. In this study, a group of 100,000 job applicants randomly selected from a normative data base was compared to a group of 1,073 employees from a variety of industries. Each of the latter group of employees had been hired regardless of their Honesty scale scores and had been terminated for acts of counterproductivity including workplace theft. This counterproductive group scored significantly lower on the Honesty scale than the comparison group of applicants. Also, approximately 43% of the counterproductive group admitted to past theft but only 4% of the comparison group did so.
The Relationship between Expertise and Self-Regulation in Movement Performance: Some Theoretical Issues
Authors: Ferrari Michel , Pinard Adrien , Reid Luc , Bouffard-Bouchard Thérèse
Published: August 2011

Although self-regulation has been advanced as a construct in sport psychology, little attention has been paid to the relationship between motor expertise and the actual self-regulation of a motor task. The present text examines the theoretical notions of self-regulation (on-line supervision and control), expertise, and performance, in the light of certain particularities implicated in motor skills, such as the nature of practical and conceptual knowledge and the relationship between them.
Dichotic Listening during Forced-Attention in a Patient with Left Hemispherectomy
Authors: Wester Knut , Hugdahl Kenneth , Asbjørnsen Arve
Published: August 2011

A young left-handed girl with an extensive posttraumatic lesion in the left hemisphere was tested with dichotic listening (DL) under three different attentional instructions. The major aim of the study was to evaluate a structural vs attentional explanation for dichotic listening. As both her expressive and receptive language functions were intact after the lesion, it was assumed that the right hemisphere was the language-dominant one. In the free-report condition, she was free to divert attention to and to report from both ear inputs. In the forced-right condition, she was instructed to attend to and report only from the right ear input. In the forced-left condition, she was instructed to attend to and to report only from the left-ear input. Her performance was compared with data from a previously collected sample of normal left-handed females. Analysis showed that the patient, in contrast to the normal sample, revealed a complete right-ear extinction phenomenon, irrespective of attentional instruction. Furthermore, she showed superior correct reports from the left ear, compared with those of the normal sample, also irrespective of attentional instruction. It is concluded that these results support a structural, rather than attentional explanation for the right-ear advantage (REA) typically observed in dichotic listening. The utility of validating the dichotic listening technique on patients with brain lesions is discussed.
Relations between Self-Perceived and Actual Peer Acceptance among Preschool Children
Authors: Paguio Ligaya P. , Hollett Nancy
Published: August 2011

This report describes an exploration of the relations between self-perceived and actual peer acceptance among 31 preschool children, aged 3 to 5 years who were given the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance to measure self-perceived peer acceptance and a sociometric scale to assess actual peer acceptance. Analysis showed a low but significant correlation between perceived peer acceptance and sociometric scores. Children who perceived themselves as well accepted by peers also received higher nomination scores from peers.
Learning Style and the Efficacy of Computer Training Methods
Authors: Sein Maung K. , Robey Daniel
Published: August 2011

The Kolb Learning Style Inventory was administered to 80 novice computer users. Using one of two training methods based on different conceptual models, subjects were trained to use an electronic mail filing system. Performance accuracy was assessed on three experimental tasks. As hypothesized, those with the Converger learning style had highest over-all performance, however a significant interaction between training approach and learning style was also hypothesized and supported, indicating that the efficacy of training models depends on a fit with learning style.
Perspectives on Health Effects of Electric and Magnetic Fields
Authors: Lin James C.
Published: August 2011

Some epidemiological studies have fostered concern about cancers caused by electric and magnetic fields associated with distribution and use of electric power. At present, there is no scientific consensus as to which factors, the electric field and/or magnetic field, are biologically important. Similarly, there is no clear indication whether higher field levels are of greater risk than lower level fields. The complex scientific issues attending health effects of power-frequency electric and magnetic fields would be most effectively resolved through interdisciplinary research involving investigators from biological, medical and engineering research communities. A critical need, at present, is a significant increase in federal funding for research on interaction mechanisms and animal studies, while maintaining efforts in epidemiology but with greater emphasis on confounding factors and known cancer-causing agents.
Effects of Attention and Expectation on Tickle Sensation
Authors: Hoshikawa Takashi
Published: August 2011

The purpose of the present study was to examine the changes of the tickle sensation reflected in effects of the direction of attention to one's own body (Exp. 1) and the expectation of the experimenter's gestures (Exp. 2). In Exp. 1, for 15 subjects, when tickled on their own foot soles, the tickle sensation was not significantly changed by attending to the stimulus and to one's own sole. These results suggested the importance of instructions. In Exp. 2, 6 subjects were tickled and were required to report their experience while they looked at the experimenter's gestures and were tickled. Although the subjects' stimulations were unaffected by looking at the gestures, the tactual stimulus elicited a tickle sensation. From these results, quantitative and qualitative differences in subjects' tickle sensation may be identified.
Psychology of Computer Use: XX. Sexual Abuse Recalled: Evaluation of a Computerized Questionnaire in a Population of Young Adult Males
Authors: Bagley Christopher , Genuis Mark
Published: August 2011

Development of a computerized questionnaire for investigating prevalence of child sexual abuse as “unwanted sexual contact” prior to Age 17 and associated long-term mental health sequelae is described. The computerized technique has technical advantages, and in a study of 200 university men elicited significantly more recall of prior abuse (in 14% of subjects) than a paper questionnaire
Effects of Monocular versus Binocular Viewing in the Ames Distorted-Room Illusion
Authors: Pilewski Julie L. , Martin Beth Ann
Published: August 2011

The different effects of monocular and binocular vision in a distorted-room illusion suggest both an interaction between apparatus and vision and a significant main effect for monocular/binocular vision, with monocular viewing resulting in a greater illusion than did binocular viewing.
Time-on-Task Effects within a Probabilistic Task Environment
Authors: Mahan Robert P.
Published: August 2011

The emergence of complex automated systems in the workplace has been viewed by many as shifting the kind of work people are asked to perform. This shift has tended to be toward more cognitively-oriented tasks, such as those associated with inferential decision making. In addition, it is very likely the future workplace will require that people perform cognitive tasks for continuous periods of time. The present findings indicate that statistically significant decrements in accuracy of performance on a multicue-judgment task were evident over the course of a continuously performed 4-hr. computerized work experiment. In contrast, performance accuracy on two analytical tasks remained high during the experiment. These results are evaluated in the context of the fatigue explanation for decrements found in research on continuous performance.
Availability Heuristic and Judgements of Letter Frequency
Authors: White Peter A.
Published: August 2011

Evidence from 175 adults is reported which suggests, contrary to the study by Tversky and Kahneman (1973), that people do not use the availability heuristic to make judgements of letter frequency.
Comparison of Two Locus of Control Scales in Predicting Relapse in an Alcoholic Population
Authors: Johnson Edward E. , Nora Rena M. , Tan Benito , Bustos Nenuca
Published: August 2011

A 3-mo. follow-up was made of 64 male veterans who were discharged from a 21-day Alcohol Detoxification Treatment Program at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center at Lyons, NJ. Scores on the Rotter I-E and Alcohol Responsibility Scales were significantly correlated with tendencies toward a more external direction among the 13% who relapsed, significant on the I-E scale and nonsignificant on the Alcohol Responsibility Scale. When tests were compared as possible predictor variables of alcoholic relapse, the difference in favor of the I-E scale was statistically nonsignificant.
Preliminary Study of the Ability of Reasoned Action Model in Predicting Exercise Behavior of Young Children
Authors: Theodorakis Yiannis , Doganis George , Bagiatis Konstantinos , Gouthas Marios
Published: August 2011

The aim of this study was to examine the ability of the Reasoned Action theory to predict exercise behavior of 56 children 10 to 11 yr. of age. Analysis showed that the Reasoned Action model's efficacy to predict exercise behavior of young children increased when the subjects' past behavior was entered in the analysis as an external variable. The regression of intention and behavior over exercise yielded significant multiple correlation coefficients of .52 and .70, respectively. Also, two variables of the Reasoned Action model (Behavioral Beliefs and Attitudes toward the Behavior) were strongly correlated with scores on the Children's Attitudes Toward Physical Activity. Although this inventory is a more general attitude scale, it may, in conjunction with Reasoned Action theory, satisfactorily contribute to the explanation of the exercise behavior.
Sex Differences in Body-Image Perceptions
Authors: Brodie D. A. , Slade P. D. , Riley V. J.
Published: August 2011

Data of 30 men and 30 women in college show similar body-image perception which is associated with abnormalities of eating or psychological instability.
Physical Fitness, Body Image, and Locus of Control in College Women Dancers and Nondancers
Authors: Adame Daniel D. , Radell Sally A. , Johnson Thomas C. , Cole Steven P.
Published: August 2011

This study assessed the correlations among measures of physical fitness, body image and locus of control in college freshman women dancers and nondancers. 39 students enrolled in courses in modern, ballet, and jazz dance, and 120 students enrolled in an introductory personal health course were administered the Hall Physical Fitness Test Profile, the Winstead and Cash 54-item short-form Body Self-relations Questionnaire (BSRQ), and the Adult Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale. Analysis showed dancers were more physically fit, scored more positively on the BSRQ physical fitness and health domains, and were more internal in their locus of control than the nondancers. There was no significant difference between dancers and nondancers on the BSRQ appearance domain. The significant positive correlation between BSRQ health and physical fitness among dancers was not observed among nondancers. The significant positive correlation for BSRQ appearance and health was noted for nondancers but not for dancers.
A Medical Model for Specialists in Biologically-Based Brain Disease
Authors: Peschel Richard , Peschel Enid
Published: August 2011

This response to Spiegel's comments on our proposal for a new medical specialty emphasizes the need for a residency designed to provide training in evaluation and treatment of patients with biologically-based brain disease.
Empathy among Children in Music Class
Authors: Kalliopuska Mirja
Published: August 2011

Higher empathy scores for 20 girls in a Grade 8 music class and in general ( n = 273) than for 11 boys in one Grade 8 music class and 375 in general were observed. Students in music scored higher than those who did not study music. Education on empathy in 4 cities formed the framework of this study.
Anagram Solving is Facilitated by Intra- but Not Cross-Modal Priming
Authors: Antonietti Alessandro , Girotti Giuseppe
Published: August 2011

200 undergraduates had to solve a series of typewritten single-solution anagrams after the presentation of their solution words (primes). Primes were visually (in a typewritten or in a handwritten format) or auditorily presented, and subjects were or not informed about the relationships between primes and anagrams. Analysis showed that visual primes facilitated anagram solution regardless whether typed or handwritten; auditory primes were ineffective for the anagram task. No significant differences between informed and uninformed subjects were found. Data suggested that word models are modality-specific in a mental lexicon even though they do not preserve perceptual features. Finally, there is evidence that in anagram solution—as on other linguistic tasks—priming effects are not due to strategic processes.
Monthly Fluctuation in Task Concentration in Female College Students
Authors: Lord Thomas , Taylor Kathleen
Published: August 2011

50 university women with consistent and rhythmic menstrual cycles were given Golden's version of the Stroop color-word test to evaluate their concentration accuracy. 50 male undergraduates were also tested as a control sample. The participants took the Stroop test every seven days for four consecutive weeks to allow examination of whether change in the color and word naming activity occurred. A split-plot analysis of the variance of the scores gave a significant difference for the sequence in which the tests were taken, the measures recited during the testing, and the sex of the respondent. When the values for the women were ordered to correspond to stages of their menstrual cycle, the over-all mean accuracy rose slowly to midcycle, then dropped as menses approached. This supports the hypothesis that the women's concentration was at the lowest level during the latter part of the monthly cycle. Women scored significantly higher on the color and word naming task on the Stroop test than men.
Reaction Times and Intelligence in Chinese and British Children
Authors: Lynn Richard , Chan J. W. C. , Eysenck Hans J.
Published: August 2011

239 British and 118 Chinese Hong Kong nine-year-old children, each representative for intelligence of Britain and Hong Kong, were tested on the Standard Progressive Matrices and on reaction times. The reaction time apparatus measured simple and complex reaction times proper (i.e., decision times), movement times, and variabilities. The results showed that all the reaction time measures were associated with intelligence and that Hong Kong children had a higher mean IQ and faster reaction times than British children. This suggests that the difference in mean IQ between Hong Kong and British children has a neurological basis. However, the British children showed faster movement times and lower variabilities, contrary to expectation. This suggests independent neurological processes may underlie reaction times, movement times, and variabilities.
Effects of Age, Sex, and Marital Status on Person Perception
Authors: Etaugh Claire , Birdoes Lisa Napoli
Published: August 2011

96 female and 96 male college students evaluated a briefly described stimulus person on 20 7-point bipolar scales which described personality traits and professional performance characteristics. Each subject rated one of 16 adults who was described as either female or male, either young or middle-aged, and either never-married, divorced, widowed, or married. Females and males were perceived similarly on nearly all characteristics. Married individuals were evaluated more favorably on several traits than were all groups of unmarried individuals, regardless of sex or age. Middle-aged women were perceived more positively than young women on some characteristics, whereas men were rated similarly regardless of age.
Tactile Discrimination, Response Mode, and Interhemispheric Communication by Learning Disabled Children
Authors: Berlin Donna F.
Published: August 2011

32 right-handed, learning disabled children aged 8–10 yr., 11–13 yr., and 14–16 yr. were presented a tactile discrimination task. Pairs of fabrics of different or the same texture were presented to the same hand (uncrossed condition) or alternating hands (crossed condition). Discrimination errors were compared using a verbal response mode and a nonverbal response mode. Analysis indicated that the number of crossed errors was significantly greater in the verbal response mode than in the nonverbal response mode for only the youngest children. These results suggest selective attention-activation bias and/or hemispheric processing limitations for younger learning disabled children.
Using Hypnosis to Improve Performance of College Basketball Players
Authors: Schreiber Elliott H.
Published: August 2011

This study examined, after discussion with the two coaches, whether hypnosis would improve shooting performance of a group of college basketball players and compared them with a control group of basketball players. Throughout one basketball season 12 male and 12 female basketball players were interviewed prior to individual and group sessions with hypnosis. The athletes' shooting scores were compared with those of the previous basketball season. The hypnosis groups showed higher cumulative scores for shooting than players in the control group.
Variables Affecting Perceptual Boundaries in Bipedal Stair Climbing
Authors: Meeuwsen Harry J.
Published: August 2011

The present study examined the effects of hip joint mobility and relative leg strength on perceived and attained action boundaries in bipedal stair climbing. If action boundaries are directly perceived and action is intimately linked to perception, one should be able to quantify these boundaries (Warren, 1984) and identify what variables affect these perceived boundaries. In the present experiment the perceived and attained absolute and relative (riser height divided by leg length) action boundaries were significantly affected by hip joint flexibility. Relative leg strength also affected absolute and relative perceived action boundaries. These results clearly show that factors in addition to body size and body proportions may affect the perception of affordances and their boundaries.
Effect of Mobility on Academic Performance of Sixth Grade Students
Authors: Johnson Roger A. , Lindblad Arnold H.
Published: August 2011

The purpose of this study was to determine whether mobility has an adverse effect on the academic performance of students and whether possible adverse effects can be attributed to the students' social class, sex, and/or ethnic group. For all 1686 sixth-grade students in an eastern city of 130,000 information on student mobility, social class, sex, ethnicity, and scores on the SRA Assessment Survey (Naslund, Thorpe, & Welty, 1978) were noted from school records. Those students who had changed attendance tracts scored significantly lower on the SRA Assessment Survey than did their peers who moved from city to city or who had remained within a single attendance tract. It appears that some types of mobility may be harmful to academic achievement while other types of mobility may not be deleterious to school achievement.
Strength of Stereotype and Response Time for Linear Displays and Rotary Controls
Authors: Courtney Alan J.
Published: August 2011

101 Hong Kong Chinese subjects were tested on six configurations of linear displays and rotary controls. A significant linear relationship was found between the average response times and the strength of direction-of-turn stereotype as measured by the proportion of response made by the majority of subjects.
Acquisition and Retention of Perceptual Learning and the Horizontal-Vertical Illusion
Authors: Brosvic Gary M. , Rowe-Boyer M. Michelle , Dihoff Roberta E.
Published: August 2011

The present study examined procedure-specific differences in the acquisition and retention of perceptual learning using four forms of the Horizontal-Vertical illusion. Training to criterion was conducted using intertrial feedback, continued visual inspection, or yoked-control procedures. Retention of perceptual learning was assessed at posttraining intervals ranging from 1 minute to 1 month. Subjects trained with feedback achieved criterion in fewer trials and showed greater accuracy and short-term retention of perceptual learning on the inverted-T figure and the 1-in. vertical line-production task. The present results show that the correction of inaccurate strategic factors most likely represents the temporary acquisition of compensatory strategies that facilitate performance on simple perceptual-motor skills tasks.
Psychophysiological Activity as a Mediator of Neuropsychological Test Performance in Alcoholics
Authors: Braggio John T. , Pishkin Vladimir
Published: August 2011

Resting levels of electromyogram and systolic blood pressure modulated the performance of 54 alcoholics on Raven's Matrices, a neuropsychological test of abstraction.
Developing Realistic Stimuli for Assessing Observers' Perceptions of Male and Female Body Types
Authors: Salusso-Deonier Carol J. , Markee Nancy L. , Pedersen Elaine L.
Published: August 2011

The goal of this research was to create more realistic stimuli for research in assessing observers' perceptions of male and female body types. Stimuli were developed by classifying large samples of photographs and using representative photographs to illustrate body types. Resultant stimuli go beyond current stereotypic stimuli to provide realistic representations of commonly occurring body types among men and women ages 18 to 40 years. Realistic stimuli can be used in a wide range of research both to understand observer perceptions and to teach the reality of human variation.
Partial Standardisation of Initial-Letter Word-Association Test and a Likely Interpretation
Authors: Živković Momčilo
Published: August 2011

From the standardisation sample ( n = 1003) for the Initial-letter Word-association Test (ILWAT), data for a sample of convenience, 145 students, were studied. Analysis indicates only the most frequent test-words and their associations, mean quotients of the quantitative scores, and relationship between semantic and syntactic characteristics of associations and quotients of quantitative scores are to be used as the norms of the test. 12 most frequent test-words should be analyzed: airplane, automobile, anaconda, Amazon, America, Afghanistan, Asia, Australia, mother, Anna, mortar (vessel, avan in SerboCroatian), and love; all save mother and love have the initial letter A as the most frequently selected initial letter, followed by initial letters M and S. The first eight test-words referring to vehicles (airplane, automobile) and nature (earth, water, and animal) were reported by men. The next four test-words (including airplane and automobile as the common test-words for both men and women) referred also to vehicles, human beings (mother, Anna), household objects (mortar, vessel). Positive emotional attitudes (love) were reported by women.
Coping with a Major Stressor: Differences between Habitual Short- and Longer-Sleepers
Authors: Hicks Robert A. , Marical Catherine M. , Conti Patricia A.
Published: August 2011

We compared the coping strategies of 39 short-sleepers and 33 longer-sleepers to the stresses associated with the October 17, 1989 San Francisco Bay Area earthquake using their responses to the eight scales of the Ways of Coping Questionnaire. Over-all, the short-sleepers scored significantly higher on this questionnaire and in general, the pattern of their responses was consistent with inferences that could be drawn from a 1972 paper by Hartmann, Baekeland, and Zwilling.
Premature Mortality Associated with Alcoholism and Suicide in American Writers
Authors: Lester David
Published: August 2011

In a sample of 70 deceased American writers, both alcoholism and suicide were observed to contribute to premature mortality.
Effects of Frequency and Duration of Exercise Sessions on Physical Activity Levels and Adherence
Authors: White Sally A. , Croce Ronald V. , Loureiro Elizabeth M. , Vroman Neil
Published: August 2011

The purpose of this study was to assess the relations among physical activity, adherence, and frequency and duration of exercise sessions for 33 male and female sedentary university students. Analysis indicated that frequency and duration of the exercise program did not significantly affect adherence. However, frequency and duration of the exercise sessions did significantly affect leisure activity once the structured exercise program terminated.
Contribution of Perceptual and Lexical-Semantic Errors to the Naming Impairments in Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Cormier Pierre , Margison Judith A. , Fisk John D.
Published: August 2011

The contribution of perceptual and semantic processing deficits to naming-test performance by Alzheimer's Disease subjects was examined. Groups of 34 Alzheimer subjects and 25 elderly controls completed tests of naming standard line drawings and naming perceptually degraded figures, and a test of verbal fluency for a specific semantic category. Alzheimer subjects were impaired on all measures and, when their naming-test errors were analyzed, they showed higher proportions of perceptual errors and failures to respond. Further, considerable variability in the proportions of different types of error was found both among subjects and among test items. These findings indicate that poor naming-test performance cannot necessarily be attributed to a specific deficit in semantic processing. Also, the discrepancies between previous reports of the naming deficits in Alzheimer's Disease may reflect differences in task difficulty and item selection that were apparent in this study.
The Seasonal Variation of Suicide in Zimbabwe
Authors: Lester David
Published: August 2011

In Zimbabwe, suicides were found to peak in January (possibly a registration artifact), with a subsidiary peak in November (consistent with the spring peak found in the northern hemisphere).
Mood States of Professional Female Tennis Players
Authors: Wughalter Emily H. , Gondola Joan C.
Published: August 2011

To develop a psychological profile of professional female athletes, specifically of elite tennis players, 16 professional female tennis players from five countries were given the Profile of Mood States to measure six mood states: tension, depression, anger, vigor, fatigue, and confusion. When age was controlled in the design, older female athletes exhibited the “iceberg profile,” i.e., they scored higher on the vigor mood state and lower on all other mood states than college-age women. Younger athletes scored like college-age women. These results only partially support the 1987 work of Morgan, O'Connor, Sparling, and Pate.
Sex Differences in Self-Concept among African Adolescents
Authors: Mwamwenda Tuntufye S.
Published: August 2011

To examine sex differences in self-concept among black African adolescents in Umtata, South Africa, 97 boys and girls whose mean ages were 18.0 and 17.7 yr., respectively, were drawn from St. John's College students who were in their final year of high school and were preparing for their final year and national matriculation examinations. On the Canadian Self-esteem Inventory mean scores obtained by girls and boys were not significantly different.