bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Individual Correlates of the Belief in a Just World
Authors: Smith Kevin B. , Green David N.
Published: September 2011

The relationships between perceived social inequality, evaluated social inequality, the work ethic, political preference, several social-identity variables, and the belief in a just world were examined using data from a sample of 233 adults drawn from a metropolitan area. All seven variables were significantly associated with the belief in a just world except sex, educational attainment, and occupational prestige.
Preference for Predictable Small Rewards over Unpredictable Larger Rewards
Authors: Steinhauer Gene D.
Published: September 2011

Numerous prior studies have reported that rats, pigeons, and humans prefer predictable over unpredictable rewards of equal frequency and magnitude. A frustration-theory analysis of this preference suggests that it obtains because the unpredictable partial reinforcement procedure is aversive whereas the predictable discrimination procedure loses its aversiveness. The preference, on such an analysis, arises due to the tendency to avoid the unpredictable of two alternatives. Since frustration varies as a function of magnitude of reward, the avoidance tendency should increase with increases in reward magnitude in the unpredictable alternative. One group of rats in the present study showed a clear preference for seven versus five 45-mg Noyes Pellets. A second group showed the oft reported preference for five pellets predictable versus five pellets unpredictable. A third group of rats showed a preference for a five-pellet predictable reward over a seven-pellet unpredictable reward. The results of this experiment provide evidence for a frustration-theory analysis of the preference for predictable reward.
A Scale to Measure Optimism about College Life
Authors: Prola Max
Published: September 2011

A 15-item scale to measure optimism about college life was developed and administered to 90 female and 54 male entering college freshmen to study reliability and construct validity. An alpha of .85 was found, and predicted negative correlations with scores on the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale, Zung Depression Inventory, and Maudsley Personality Inventory (Neuroticism) were observed.
The Undergraduate Program in Psychology: 1980s
Authors: Ross Sherman
Published: September 2011

Significant factors in teaching psychology at the undergraduate level are indicated.
Meta-Analysis of the Validity of a Verbal Ability Selection Test with Psychiatric Aides
Authors: Distefano M. K. , Pryer Margaret W.
Published: September 2011

This study demonstrated an application of Schmidt-Hunter meta-analysis procedures to cumulate validities from three studies with small samples of psychiatric aides obtained over time in a single organization. The mean correlation weighted for sample size between a verbal ability selection test and a job-relevant training criterion across samples ( N = 320) was .62 ( p < .01). The variance in the individual correlations was not significantly greater than that expected by chance, providing evidence that there was no true variation in obtained validities across samples.
Difference in Response Time of Creative Persons and Patients with Depressive and Schizophrenic Disorders
Authors: Rothenberg Albert , Burkhardt Paul E.
Published: September 2011

The mean response time to 99 stimulus words of the Kent-Rosanoff Word Association Test was used to differentiate creative subjects from two homogeneous groups of psychiatric inpatients, one with depressive disorders and another with schizophrenic disorders. The creative group had significantly faster mean response times than the depressive group. While the schizophrenic group did not differ significantly from the creative or depressive groups, speed of responding in the schizophrenic group ranked both slower than the creative group and a good deal faster than the. depressives. These results do not support previous claims of a connection between depressive illness and creativity. The role of level of creative achievement and social success in relation to depressive symptomatology is briefly discussed.
Procedures in Research on Identity Status: Some Notes on Method
Authors: Raskin Patricia M.
Published: September 2011

The purpose of this paper was to delineate some of the inconsistencies in method found in research on identity status. This construct, operationalized by Marcia in 1964 as a means of testing hypotheses about late adolescent development suggested by Erikson's theory, has generated considerable interest and empirical study. Procedural aspects of the research, such as the numbers, characteristics and training of raters, disagreement among raters, scoring methods, and the use of domain vs global scores are discussed and recommendations are made. It is suggested that more consistent procedures will result in contributions to the literature that are beter integrated and more easily generalizable than current practices warrant.
Factors Influencing the Willingness to Taste Unusual Foods
Authors: Otis Laura P.
Published: September 2011

Factors associated with willingness to taste 12 unusual foods were examined among 42 mature university students in a realistic taste testing situation. Low or nonsignificant correlations were found between subjects' willingness to taste the different foods and their scores on personality measures of sensation seeking as well as their ratings of familiarity with each food. Unexpectedly, age was a significant factor, with the older subjects being somewhat more willing to taste the unusual foods. Only a scale of items dealing specifically with food habits was highly correlated with subjects' willingness to try the unusual foods. The results suggest that food adventurousness is best accounted for by highly specific attitudes about food rather than general personality measures.
Validity of the Goldberg Rules for Classifying Psychopathology in Epilepsy
Authors: Hermann Bruce P. , Whitman Steven , Dikmen Sureyya
Published: September 2011

The purpose of the present investigation was to inquire into the validity of Rule 1 (Normal vs Abnormal) of Goldberg's MMPI sequential diagnostic system for patients with epilepsy. One hundred and five patients with epilepsy were classified according to their psychiatric status by a rater blind to MMPI scores. Consistent with Goldberg's predictions as well as with past research on other populations, Rule 1 was completely successful in discriminating among groups of patients with epilepsy classified according to psychiatric status but was substantially less accurate in making individual classifications. We conclude that Rule 1 of Goldberg's sequential diagnostic system is valid for epilepsy.
Hyperactivity in Children: Evidence for Differences between Parents' and Teachers' Perceptions of Predominant Features
Authors: Christie Daniel , De Witt Ruth Ann , Kaltenbach Pauline , Reed Daniel
Published: September 2011

The behavior of 34 hyperactive children was rated by their parents and teachers. The relationships between behavior rating scores and the actual behavior of the children in the classroom were examined. Parents' ratings correlated significantly with children's frequency of inattention in the classroom, while teachers' ratings were correlated with out-of-seat behavior. Results are discussed in terms of parents' and teachers' sensitivity to and awareness of different features of hyperactivity in children.
Correlates of Role Conflict between Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Authors: Chacko Thomas I. , Wong John K.
Published: September 2011

This study examined the relationships between personal, job, and organizational factors and perceived role conflict between physicians and nurse practitioners. Data from 361 nurse practitioners showed that perceived conflict was significantly and negatively correlated with satisfaction, task characteristics, and instrumental leadership style of the supervisory physician. Significantly positive correlations were obtained between conflict and organizational size in terms of number of physicians and nurses in the health-care setting.
Trait Anxiety, Perception of Potential Nuclear Hazard, and State Anxiety
Authors: De Man Anton , Simpson-Housley Paul , Curtis Fred
Published: September 2011

89 residents of an area located near a designated nuclear site took part in an investigation of the relationship between trait-anxiety and perceptions of potential nuclear disaster and between such perceptions and state anxiety. No significant correlation was found between trait-anxiety and expectation of future accidents or between this measure of anxiety and estimation of potential damage. Expectation of an accident and estimation of damage were significantly related to state anxiety.
Moderating Effects of Trait Anxiety on Electrodermal Reactions in Different Learning Conditions
Authors: Hentschel Uwe , Ternes Gaby
Published: September 2011

This study examined the control of the effects of trait anxiety on GSR during a problem-solving task under different conditions. Of 84 subjects, 39 men and 49 women of mean age 21 yr., 42 were classified as high in anxiety, 42 as low in anxiety. Subjects solved concept-formation tasks at different degrees of difficulty under one of three learning conditions. Low tone, unpleasant loud tone, and unpleasant electric shock provided the three kinds of error feedback. For the ‘low tone’ and ‘electric shock’ as feedback on errors significant differences in GSR values resulted for groups high and low in anxiety with the latter showing higher scores. The relevance of physiological patterns in multidimensional activation theories for research on anxiety is discussed.
On Using the Vocational Preference Inventory with Incarcerated Men
Authors: Miller Mark J. , Greco Elizabeth Ann , Parette Howard P. , Kemp E. Lee
Published: September 2011

This study examined the appropriateness of the Vocational Preference Inventory as a measure of vocational preferences of 39 incarcerated men. A relatively high percentage of profiles displayed possible uncooperative behavior, defined as random responses to the inventory.
Discipline: Do Teachers and Psychologists Agree?
Authors: Ziegler Edward W. , Smith D. Larry
Published: September 2011

An attitude survey based on a review of psychological literature on discipline was constructed and administered to public school teachers. Differences in teachers' agreement with the psychologists' statements by level taught and years of experience were analyzed by a 2 × 2 multivariate analysis of variance. No main effects or interactions were observed. Elementary teachers with the least teaching experience registered strongest agreements with the psychologists, while secondary teachers with the most experience expressed the least agreement. Greatest disagreement between teachers and psychologists was found on statements regarding punishment as a means of classroom management. Implications for teachers' education were discussed.
Empathy in Children and Social Class
Authors: Kalliopuska Mirja
Published: September 2011

Clear-cut patterns of relationships between empathy in children and social class have been stated in sparsely documented researches. 196 school children aged 9 to 12 yr. were given the Mehrabian and Epstein scale of emotional empathy. Social-class information was gathered during home interviews and checked against students' files. No significant differences in empathy appeared between social classes. The lowest and middle-social class children tended to be more empathetic than children of the highest social class.
Trait/Set Interactions in EMG Biofeedback
Authors: Drennen William T. , Holden E. Wayne
Published: September 2011

Recently the efficacy of EMG biofeedback over other relaxation procedures has been questioned. Dispositional trait factors have been hypothesized as accounting for some of the contradictory results. The present study investigated the interactions of absorption and trait anxiety with instructional sets on levels of activity in the frontalis muscle. Subjects were given a set to relax by attending to biofeedback signals or a set to relax by letting go of all concerns and having a pleasant daydream. No biofeedback signals were provided the latter group. Both groups demonstrated reductions in activity of the frontalis muscle. No significant between-group differences and no significant interactions for absorption, trait anxiety, or experimental set were found. Both groups demonstrated pre-post decreases in state anxiety with subjects given the daydreaming set and no biofeedback showing significantly less post-treatment state anxiety than subjects who attended to biofeedback signals.
Factor Analysis of the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule and the Personal Report of Communication Apprehension-24: Replication and Extension
Authors: Kearney Patricia , Beatty Michael J. , Plax Timothy G. , McCroskey James C.
Published: September 2011

Prior work indicates items for the Rathus Assertiveness Schedule and the Personal Report of Communication Apprehension share one common factor, apprehension about interpersonal encounters. Employing a revised measure of apprehension, factor analysis of responses of 160 male and 144 female undergraduates to these two scales yielded five factors: apprehension about communicating in groups and meetings, apprehension in interpersonal contexts, apprehension in public speaking contexts, preventing others from taking advantage, and contentiousness. Only one common factor, apprehension in interpersonal contexts, was shared by items from both scales.
Contributions to the History of Psychology: XXXV. Dorothy Burlingham
Authors: Jackson D. Joyce
Published: September 2011

Almost nothing is known about Manhattan-born Dorothy Tiffany Burlingham, designated by Sigmund Freud as one of his original trusted pioneers, a united small body to guard the kingdom and the policy of the Master. She was instrumental in helping the Freuds leave Austria after the Nazi takeover in 1938. In addition, had it not been for Dorothy Burlingham, psychology might have never known Erik Erikson.
Relation of Parental Strictness to Competitive and Cooperative Attitudes of Primary School Children
Authors: Arap-Maritim Ezra K.
Published: September 2011

This study was undertaken to assess the nature of the relationship of parental strictness to competitive and cooperative attitudes of primary school children as measured by Minnesota School Affect Assessment. On the competitive items 109 boys did not score significantly higher than 119 girls but the girls scored higher than the boys on the cooperative items. Girls perceived their parents as being more strict than boys. For boys a significant correlation was found between parental strictness items and competitiveness, whereas for girls both competitiveness and cooperativeness showed significant correlation with parental strictness. The children apparently expressed attitudes about their parents that were strongly correlated to their sex differences in attitudes. More cross-cultural research on specific child-rearing variables is recommended using valid and reliable measures such as the Minnesota School Affect Assessment.
Depression: Influence of Hopelessness, Locus of Control, Hostility and Length of Treatment
Authors: Moore Terry W. , Paolillo Joseph G. P.
Published: September 2011

Depression is recognized as a serious problem, but there are numerous and conflicting theories and studies about symptoms and correlates of depression. This study was intended to help reduce the confusion by examining the relationships of the criterion variable, depression, to seven predictor variables, hopelessness, external locus of control, personal responsibility of external locus of control, general hostility, overt hostility, covert hostility, and length of treatment. Over 50% of the variance of depression was explained by hopelessness, 7% of the remaining variance was explained by covert hostility and approximately 1% was explained by length of treatment. These findings support the views of depression in which hopelessness and covert hostility are regarded as important correlates of depression. No relationship between depression and overt hostility was noted, suggesting that advocating outward expression of hostility will not alleviate depression.
Faculty Response Rates to a Request for Information for a Study of Salary
Authors: Dambrot Faye , Adley-Nemeth Mary , Martin Susan , Alexander Ralph A.
Published: September 2011

A study of faculty was conducted at a state university to investigate response rates to a request for information relevant to faculty salaries. Faculty members were asked to sign an authorization form to release information from their personnel file and to submit a current resume that included professional activities. Only 25.5% of all 707 full-time faculty members agreed to release information from their personnel files, 14% refused, and 60.5% did not respond to two separate requests sent through a campus mail system. A higher refusal rate and lower consent rate was found among non-tenured instructors with fewer years of service who were not eligible to teach graduate courses. Faculty members who belonged to the organization which sponsored the salary study had a higher consent rate.
Jungian Personality Types as a Predictor of Attendance at the Black College Day March
Authors: Geer Carol , Ridley Stanley E. , Roberts Albert
Published: September 2011

This study examined whether Jungian personality types, as measured by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, would be related to college students' reported behavior regarding attendance at a sociopolitical event, the Black College Day March. There were two attendance variables: (1) whether subjects planned to attend or not and (2) consistency or inconsistency between subjects' attendance plans and actual attendance, e.g., planned to attend and did vs planned not to attend but did. The personality types compared were extra-verts vs introverts, judgers vs perceivers, sensing judgers vs intuitive perceivers, and intuiting judgers vs sensing perceivers. The results supported each of the hypothesized differences among the personality types with respect to the attendance variables. These data provide further evidence of the construct validity of the Jungian personality types.
Self-Esteem and Loneliness among Unemployed Women
Authors: Joshi P. , Garon L. , Lechasseur S.
Published: September 2011

No significant differences were found in self-esteem and loneliness of 40 unemployed women and 40 working women. A negative correlation (−.49) was obtained between loneliness and self-esteem for both groups.
Educational Level and Primary Beliefs about Unidentified Flying Objects Held by Recognized Ufologists
Authors: Little Gregory L.
Published: September 2011

Academic degree and primary beliefs about the nature of UFOs were collected from 102 recognized urologists by two independent raters. Over a third of the population of ufologists held doctorates while another third had bachelor's or Master's degrees. The most frequent belief about the nature of UFOs is that they are extraterrestrial in nature (39%) while a large percentage of the ufologists did not express a primary belief (30%). It was suggested that the epistemology underlying UFO beliefs is fertile ground for research.
The Loss of Teeth in Dreams: An Empirical Investigation
Authors: Coolidge Frederick L. , Bracken Duane D.
Published: September 2011

Written interpretations of the loss of teeth in dreams have existed since the second century. The present study analyzed the personality characteristics of people with the reoccurring teeth-loss dream. Twenty-eight volunteers were recruited on a college campus, 14 people who reported the reoccurring dream of teeth-loss and a control group of 14 who reported the reoccurring dream of flight. Personality questionnaires indicated that the dreamers about teeth were significantly more anxious and depressed, had lower ego strength, were less satisfied with their lives, felt they had less control over their lives, and felt helpless more often than the control subjects who dreamt of flight.
Note on the Multidisciplinary Scope of Psychological Androgyny Theory
Authors: Yarnold Paul R.
Published: September 2011

Psychological androgyny theory posits two independent behavioral domains: instrumental behavior reflects a problem-solving orientation and expressive behavior reflects an affective concern for the welfare of others. The hypothesis that these dimensions resemble others studied in literatures on leadership and conflict resolution was tested. A factor analysis of six scores, two from each of the three literatures, for a sample of 47 undergraduate men offered empirical support for the similarity hypothesis. Theoretical implications of the finding are discussed in terms of directions for further research.
Employment Characteristics, Course Satisfaction and Academic Performance of College Students
Authors: Ma Li-Chen
Published: September 2011

This study examined the role of course satisfaction in correlations between academic performance and three characteristics of employment: employment status, kind of employment, and job's relevance to major. Data were obtained from 320 students by questionnaires. A stratified (by sex, major and class standing), random-sampling technique was used to obtain data from junior and senior full-time students at a state university. Academic performance was measured by semester's grade point average, employment status by working hours per week, kind of employment by reported job title, job's relevance to major by perceived relevance of the present job to academic major, and course satisfaction by self-evaluation of general feeling toward course work. Analysis indicates that satisfaction exerts differential effects on the academic grades of students with differing employment characteristics.
The Small Group: A Bridge between Sociology and Social Psychology
Authors: Latta R. Michael , Gorman Michael E.
Published: September 2011

Most experimental social psychologists have attempted to reduce the properties of small groups to the characteristics of individuals comprising those small groups. But social psychology was developed, in part, to bridge the gap between psychological and sociological levels of analysis. We contend that the small group can serve as an experimental unit in experiments that model and manipulate group processes. The small group is an important topic for study and could provide a valuable bridge between psychology and sociology, fulfilling one of the original purposes of the field.
Reliability of the Competition Knowledge Test
Authors: Kildea Alice E. , Kukulka Gary
Published: September 2011

Disparity in the psychological dimension of competitiveness and the conceptualization of competition prompted the need for a reliable instrument to measure knowledge of competition. Results of this study indicate that the Competition Knowledge Test is reliable. Internal consistency (.89, split-half) and stability (.88, test-retest) coefficients for 178 and 130 college students respectively, denote suitable test reliability.
Violation of Privacy Norms: A Variation of the Lost-Letter Technique
Authors: Bond Barbara L. , Pedersen Darhl M.
Published: September 2011

The privacy norm was studied using a variant of the lost-letter technique. Specifically, the effect of a simple assertion of confidentiality on the salience of the norm was investigated. 60 stamped, unsealed envelopes were “lost” to provide finders with an opportunity to violate or sustain privacy without fear of detection. Half of the envelopes were scamped confidential; the other half were not. The confidentiality marking did not affect frequency or speed of return or tendency toward invasion of privacy.
Parental Perception of Cognitive Abilities of Children with Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Anton Barry S. , Dindia Gene
Published: September 2011

39 children ranging in age from 4 mo. to 9 yr. old were administered standardized intelligence tests while their parents responded to the Alpern-Boll Developmental Profile II. Analysis of IQ and the academic age scale of the Alpern-Boll profile as perceived by the children's parents indicated that parental perceptions of intellectual functioning were highly correlated with actual ability. Results are discussed in terms of the counseling health-care professionals can provide parents.
Family Backgrounds of Gay Fathers: A Descriptive Study
Authors: Skeen Patsy , Robinson Bryan E.
Published: September 2011

This study assessed data on the early family backgrounds of gay fathers with particular emphasis on parent-son relationships. Questionnaire responses from 30 gay fathers, derived from a larger nationwide study of 285 homosexual men from dignity chapters in the Northeastern, Midwestern, Southern, Southwestern, and Western United States were analyzed using chi-squared test of independence. Respondents reported growing up in intact homes where heterosexual relationships were modeled for them, pleasant memories existed, and marital discord was not commonplace. Although relationships with mothers were perceived to be slightly better than those with fathers, both maternal and paternal parent-child relationships were described more as adequate and positive than inadequate or negative.
Empathy in Orphaned Children
Authors: Kalliopuska Mirja
Published: September 2011

Empathy was studied by giving Feshbach and Roe's Affective Situation Test for Empathy for 10 orphaned children and 10 controls, aged 4 to 5 yr. old. No significant differences between groups were found on empathy, egocentricity, longing for parents, rejection and denial, moral indignation, of constructive solutions.
Predicting Change in Life Satisfaction as a Function of Group Counseling
Authors: Evans Ron L. , Kleinman Leah , Halar Eugen M. , Herzer Kaye
Published: September 2011

Clients' characteristics associated with outcome of group counseling were identified in a sample of physically disabled persons using standardized self-report inventories. 60 subjects were tested before and after an 8-wk. treatment interval for signs of emotional disorder, inactivity, and social problems related to being severely disabled. Treatment consisted of group conference phone calls using self-determined task assignments as a focus for discussion. Loneliness accounted for 68% of the variance in post-treatment life-satisfaction scores. Signs of depression and available social support were also significant predictors. Remarkably lonely persons showed significant decreases in signs of loneliness after treatment. Using regression analysis, persons with adjustment problems could be identified and prognosis for treatment predicted with acceptable reliability.
Effect of Treatment Rationale and Problem Severity upon Therapeutic Preferences
Authors: Fox Steven G. , Wollersheim Janet P.
Published: September 2011

Undergraduate men and women ( n = 172) initially indicated their preferences for behavioral or psychoanalytic therapy. Participants then read a case description of either test anxiety or paranoid schizophrenia followed by a behavioral or psychoanalytic treatment rationale tailored to the problem. They rated the credibility of the treatment rationale and then once again indicated their preference so that changes in preferences could be assessed. Behavioral treatment rationales received significantly higher credibility ratings than psychoanalytic rationales. Behavioral rationales were seen as significantly more credible than psychoanalytic rationales for test anxiety, and the two rationales received similar credibility ratings for paranoid schizophrenia. Rationales significantly affected therapeutic preferences. Women were more internally oriented, gave higher credibility ratings, and were more willing to consider seeking psychological help than men. The modifiability of therapeutic preferences is discussed.
Values of Voluntary Simplicity: Lifestyle and Motivation
Authors: Shama Avraham , Wisenblit Joseph
Published: September 2011

This paper describes the relation between values and behavior of a new life style, that of voluntary simplicity which is characterized by low consumption, self-sufficiency, and ecological responsibility. Also, specific hypotheses regarding the motivation for voluntary simplicity and adoption in two areas of the United States were tested. Analysis shows (a) values of voluntary simplicity and behaviors are consistent, (b) the motivation for voluntary simplicity includes personal preference and economic hardship, and (c) adoption of voluntary simplicity is different in the Denver and New York City metropolitan areas.
Adolescent Females' Perceived Parental Sex-Role Attributes
Authors: Hertsgaard Doris , Light Harriett
Published: September 2011

500 adolescent girls rated their mothers higher on the feminine subscale than their fathers and their fathers higher on the masculinity subscale of the Parental Sex-role Attributes. Subjects' views were stereotypic.
Age and Complexity of Avoidance Response in Rats
Authors: Satinder K. Paul
Published: September 2011

The relationship between age (100 or 300 days) and complexity of avoidance response was investigated in rats. Matched groups within each age-sex sample were tested for avoidance performance in 2-way shuttle, 1-way circular, and 1-way jump-up avoidance tasks. The older (300 days) animals showed higher avoidance response and significantly so in two-way shuttle task. Age differences in the two-way task were significant only in female rats. Age differances in the most complex task (2-way) were interpreted as resulting from the differences in arousal level.
Another Look at “Do Behavioral Observation Scales Measure Observation?”
Authors: Hoffman Calvin C. , Fredricks Arlene J. , Doverspike Dennis
Published: September 2011

Murphy, Martin, and Garcia in 1982 published a study suggesting that Behavioral Observation Scales do not measure observation. The purpose of the present study was to extend that work by comparing two commonly used rating instruments. 59 undergraduate students rated two instructors immediately after a class session and 1-wk. later. Ratings were made on Behavioral Observation Scales, Behavioral Expectation Scales, and trait scales. A 1-wk. delay in making performance ratings had no significant effect on the correlation of scores on Behavioral Observation Scales or Behavioral Expectation Scales with trait ratings of performance.
Conceptualizations of Mental Health
Authors: George Joseph C. , Brooker Alan E.
Published: September 2011

A category system of mental health is presented from which theoretical conceptualizations and empirical operationalizations can be viewed. The categories include: (a) mental health as freedom from illness, (b) mental health as ideal personality type, (c) mental health as transactional systems, and (d) mental health from multiple perspectives. The system might be employed to scrutinize and lessen the gap between theory and research.
Scores on Three MMPI Alcohol Scales of Parents Who Receive Child Custody
Authors: Ollendick Duane G.
Published: September 2011

For 38 couples the scores of three MMPI-based alcohol scales were investigated. These couples had completed child custody studies. Significant mean differences were noted on two of the three scales between parents receiving custody and those not receiving custody. These scales appear useful in supplying supportive, objective test data in these difficult clinical cases.
Effectiveness of Communication Skills Training for Dental Students
Authors: Horst Guusje Ter , Leeds Jeffrey G. , Hoogstraten Johan
Published: September 2011

A three-day communication-skills training was given to first-year dental students. The remaining first-year students were exempted from instruction and acted as a control group. To assess the effect of the short-term training a videotape of 28 fragments was shown shortly after the training course. Each fragment represented a dentist-patient interaction and ended with a statement by the patient. Per fragment the students were allowed 40 sec. to write down their reactions assuming they were in the position of the dentist. The written responses of a part of the students were scored by a category system. Students who attended the communication-skills training significantly more often explored and recapitulated patients' statements than students who did not participate in the training, but there are reasons to doubt the validity of these findings.
Personality Factors Related to Self-Reported Lapse of Attention during Lectures
Authors: Boreham N. C.
Published: September 2011

Self-reports of lapse of attention during lectures were associated with a combination of M(−) and O(+) in 10 mature students' 16 PF profiles.
Female Homosexuals' Need for Dominance and Endurance
Authors: Wilson M. Lee
Published: September 2011

An analysis of whether differing sex-object choice by 46 heterosexual and 46 homosexual females (21 to 50 yr. old) is associated with significant differences in scores on the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule indicated heterosexual women scored higher on the heterosexuality scale while homosexual women scored higher on the Dominance scale and the Endurance scale. Neither group scored above or below what is considered the normal T-score ranges of 30 to 70 on any scale.
Cross-Cultural Study of the Relationship among Academic Performance, Test Anxiety, Intelligence, and Sex
Authors: Van Der Ploeg Henk M. , Hulshof Ronald E.
Published: September 2011

The administration of the Dutch adaptation of the Spielberger Test Anxiety Inventory to secondary school children has been described. The debilitating effects of high test anxiety, and especially of the worry component, on performance were nested in the upper range of intelligence. Boys and girls with lower intelligence achieved less and were less influenced by the impairing effects of test anxiety.
The Work Ethic as Moderator Variable of Life Stress: Preliminary Inquiry
Authors: Flannery Raymond B.
Published: September 2011

Internal control and belief in hard work have each' been associated with good physical health. This study evaluated these variables (individually and as paired comparisons) in the relationship between life stress and physical illness. Each appeared to be a moderator variable; their combination was the more powerful predictor.
Reasons for Drug use: Comparison of Drug Users and Abusers
Authors: Jurich Anthony P. , Polson Cheryl J.
Published: September 2011

A paired sample of 48 subjects, matched in sex, marital status, residence, and socioeconomic status, was divided into two groups, drug users and drug abusers. Each subject was interviewed about his motivation for drug use. His responses were taped, transcribed, and coded. Analysis showed that drug users were more likely to use drugs for recreational purposes, while drug abusers used drugs to cope with an external locus of control, a low self-concept, feelings of disillusion, and personal stresses. Both groups used drugs to escape, seek personal identity, and rebel against authority. The discussion emphasized that drug users and abusers have different motivations for drug-taking and must be considered as two distinct groups.
Attributions for School Achievement of Low-Achieving Indian and Caucasian Community College Students
Authors: Powers Stephen , Rossman Mark H.
Published: September 2011

Attributions for school achievement, achievement motivation, and expectancy of success were examined among 211 Indian and Caucasian community college students enrolled in a remedial reading class. Students were administered the Multidimensional-Multiattributional Causality Scale. Indians attributed their school failure more to lack of effort than did Caucasians. Gender differences did not appear. Attributions of school success correlated positively with achievement motivation for Indians but not for Caucasians. Results suggest the necessity of examining response patterns and not just summated scales when investigating group differences.
Ability, Anxiety, and Conceptual Level
Authors: McCann Stewart J. H. , Stewin Leonard L.
Published: September 2011

To explore the interactive relationship of anxiety and ability to conceptual level, data were obtained for 90 boys and 134 girls in nonvocational Grades 11 and 12 English classes. Ability and conceptual level correlated .25, anxiety and conceptual level correlated –.18, and ability and anxiety correlated –.20. Regression analysis showed that the interaction of ability and anxiety, which was disordinal, accounted for 1.6% of the variance in conceptual level scores. It is concluded that higher anxiety may minimize the correlation between ability and conceptual level but scores for conceptual level cannot be seen largely as a function of ability and anxiety constructs.
Sex Discrimination in the Courtroom: Attorney's Gender and Credibility
Authors: Hodgson Shari , Pryor Bert
Published: September 2011

The authors examined perceptions of attorney's credibility and case verdict as a function of attorney's gender. Results indicated that (1) women rated the female attorney as less intelligent, less friendly, less pleasant, less capable, less expert, and less experienced than the male attorney, and (2) mock jurors demonstrated a preference for retaining a male attorney rather than a female attorney as their own personal counsel.
Discrimination of Male Social Status by Female Hamsters
Authors: White Pamela J. , Fischer Robert B. , Meunier Gary F.
Published: September 2011

This study was conducted to determine whether urinary ol-factants were capable of communicating information about a male's dominance status to females. Voided urine was collected from pairs of dominant and subordinate males. These odors were simultaneously presented to females in a Y-maze olfactometer. Females in estrus spent more time in proximity to the area infused with the odors associated with dominant males. Females, when tested while in diestrus, apparently preferred the odors of submissive males. It is hypothesized that male urinary odors influence male attractiveness and might provide the female with a basis for mate selection.
Effects of Sex and Serial Position on Appreciation of Humor
Authors: Connelly M. Denise , Kronenberger Earl J.
Published: September 2011

To determine effects of position on appreciation of humor, one “target” joke was placed in the 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, or 20th position in a series of 20 jokes. Male and female university students rated the 20 jokes for funniness, and the mean rating of the target joke was then compared across the five positions. Analysis indicated that the position of the target joke in the series did affect its rating of humorousness, regardless of the sex of the subjects rating the joke. The relationship between the position of the target joke and its rating appeared as a statistically significant cubic trend.
Superstitious Belief and Intensionality
Authors: Tobacyk Jerome , Milford Gary
Published: September 2011

The Paranormal Belief Scale and the Is of Identity Scale were given to two different samples of college students ( ns = 75 and 171). As hypothesized, for both samples but for men only, greater reported belief in Superstition was associated with Is of Identity scores reflecting greater intensionality.
Minority-White Differences on a Police Aptitude Exam: EEO Implications for Police Selection
Authors: Morstain Barry R.
Published: September 2011

Given the importance of demonstrating test validity and lack of adverse impact on groups covered by EEO/Title VII statutes, this study examined minority-white differences on a police aptitude examination used extensively by police agencies for selecting entry-level officers. Little information exists on the validity of the Multijurisdictional Police Officer Exam and whether use of the test adversely affects selection of minority subjects. This study focused on the relationships between the test and a reliable measure of job performance for officers ( N = 194) in 6 Mid-Atlantic police jurisdictions. Based on simple rs and multiple regression analyses, only modest and nonsignificant relationships were found for white subjects, while strong patterns emerged for minorities, findings masked by using an “over-all study sample” typically employed in previous research. Minorities had significantly lower mean scores than white officers on several subtests and the total score, but there was no significant difference in over-all performance ratings. These findings are discussed in the increasingly litigious context of EEO and Title VII regulations which affect use of test scores for selection of personnel.
Dimensions of Classroom Environmental Press
Authors: Walker William J. , Richman Joel
Published: September 2011

Murray's needs-press model provided the theoretical basis for the development of the Classroom Environment Index, a measure of the psychological environment or press of the classroom. The structure was essentially the same as other Syracuse indexes, i.e., 30 scales of 10 items each. Administered to samples of students from Grade 5 through graduate school, the instrument evolved through four successive revisions. The final form exhibited adequate reliability and homogeneity and differentiated between classrooms, subjects, grades, and educational levels. Six first-order and two second-order factors emerged. A comparison with other measures of environment illustrated the unique features of this index.
Perceived Differences in Ethnic Behavior: A Pilot Study of Italo-Australian Canberra Residents
Authors: Caltabiano Nerina J.
Published: September 2011

The purpose of this study was to identify the dimensions of ethnic identity among a group of Italo-Australians living in the Australian Capital Territory. The data from 68 of 3532 persons sampled from electoral rolls, explored by factor analysis suggests that socio-cultural activities, family, ingroup, and conservative-traditional factors are salient dimensions of Italian-Australian identity.
Characteristics of Participants and Nonparticipants in Experimental Research
Authors: Coye R. W.
Published: September 2011

Characteristics of students who volunteered to participate in a laboratory experiment on group performance were compared with those of students who did not elect to participate. Subjects were 113 undergraduate students (65 men, 48 women; median age 23 yr.). There were no significant differences for the total sample between the participants and nonparticipants on locus of control, need for achievement, need for affiliation, age, or sex. Participation was, however, related to academic major, and male participants had higher need for achievement than male nonparticipants. Also, comparison of male and female subsamples with published national means indicated significant differences on need for achievement and need for affiliation. Male and female nonparticipants were higher than national means on need for achievement and lower than national means on need for affiliation. Need for achievement of male nonparticipants was lower than national means. Issues associated with volunteer bias are discussed and cautions raised.
Validity of the Writing Apprehension Test: Two Studies
Authors: Richmond Virginia P. , Dickson-Markman Fran
Published: September 2011

The predictive validity of the Writing Apprehension Test developed by J. A. Daly and M. D. Miller was examined. Study 1 indicated that the test is a meaningful predictor of students' American College Test scores in general and particulatly of English scores. This predictive power remained after removing variance attributable to test anxiety. Study 2 showed that apprehension about writing significantly predicted quality of message while test anxiety did not. Students scoring high reported more state anxiety about writing than those with moderate or low apprehension about writing. These studies support the predictive validity of the Writing Apprehension Test, but raise a question concerning its construct validity.
Replication of Alcoholism Acceptance Scores as a Function of Treatment
Authors: Bell A. Howard , Walsh David , Barnes Tom
Published: September 2011

The aim of this study was to collect additional data on validity in further standardizing the Bell Alcoholism Scale of Adjustment as an instrument to measure acceptance of the illness nature of alcoholism. The scale was administered to 215 patients at the beginning (Time 1) and at the end (Time 2) of their participation in an alcohol-and-drug treatment program. On admission, the mean score was 110, and at discharge 97, a statistically significant decrease. In an earlier study, the mean scores were 131 and 121 for Time 1 and Time 2. The differences in the means in these two studies are discussed in terms of possible cultural changes that have presumedly come about as a result of awareness campaigns about alcoholism carried out during the 14 yr. since the first study was conducted. In addition, the present study indicated that the more highly educated patients showed significantly greater acceptance at the beginning of treatment than those whose education was less than or limited to high school. Education should be taken into account when interpreting scores.
A Factor Analytic Evaluation of the Concern over Negative Consequences of Success Scale
Authors: Hong Sung-Mook , Caust Colin D.
Published: September 2011

Ho and Zemaitis constructed a measure of fear of success called Concern Over Negative Consequences of Success Scale on the basis of American data. In the present study, data from 188 male and 161 female Australian college students were used to evaluate the factor structure of the scale in the Australian context. The five-factor solution produced three common factors for the two sexes and indicated some differences in their factor structures as well. The assumption of unidimensionality underlying the measure was not supported, and many factors appeared to tap dimensions unrelated to fear of success. Because the measure was factorially complex, scores of men and women were not considered comparable. Sex differences in over-all factor structure and in interfactor correlations suggested need for further refinement of the scale to be used in the Australian context.
What Art Thou Macandrew Scale? Confusion and Errata in High Places
Authors: Sinnett E. Robert
Published: September 2011

As one of the most widely used and studied of the special scales of the MMPI, it is important for clinicians and researchers to know that there are errors and conflicts in major sources as to the exact composition of the MacAndrew scale, especially with respect to the inclusion of obvious items.
“Psychology as a Health Care Profession:” How Healthy Was APA's Case for the Cost-Effectiveness of Psychological Health Care?
Authors: Belden Brian D. , Braukmann Curtis J. , Wolf Montrose M.
Published: September 2011

The American Psychological Association's “Psychology as a Health Care Profession” (1979) contains a review of several studies on the cost-effectiveness of psychotherapy. As we document, that review does not consider viable alternative interpretations or qualify findings in line with the studies' substantial limitations, e.g., their lack of controls for regression or selection biases. Following our critique, we suggest that in light of the financial contingencies surrounding conclusions about the effectiveness of psychotherapy, special care must be taken to ensure that psychology's public stance on the value of psychotherapy contains the qualifications suggested by the scientific evidence. Public statements by the American Psychological Association on the issue of the effectiveness of psychotherapy might be based on a review of the scientific merits of pertinent studies by an independent body of research methodologists.
Family Resource Questionnaire: Reliability and Validity of a Social Support Measure for Families of Stroke Patients
Authors: Evans Ron L. , Pomeroy Sue , Hammond Margaret C. , Halar Eugen M.
Published: September 2011

This article describes the development of an instrument, the Family Resource Questionnaire, designed to measure dimensions of social support after stroke. Interrater reliability and concurrent validity was established with 48 consecutive stroke admissions onto a rehabilitation service. Effects of socially desirable responses were minimized with an interview protocol. Moderate validity and high reliability were found.