bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Repetitive Motion in Perception of Tactile Sensation in the Fingers of String Players
Authors: Robinson Barbara Susan , Kincaid Anthony E.
Published: September 2010

Little is known about the mechanisms that underlie the pathophysiology involved in the development of cumulative trauma disorders. Musicians, specifically string players, may be a useful model to examine the cumulative effects of repetitive motion given the highly attended movements of their left hands and the stereotypical grasp of their right hands. Musculoskeletal disorders related to playing are experienced by 39% to 87% of musicians, making musicians a potentially good model for the study of factors involved in development of cumulative trauma disorders. Sensory thresholds for two-point discrimination and light touch were measured in all phalanges of each digit, of each hand. Comparisons were made within and between a control group of 10 nonmusicians who did not engage in repetitive motion and 10 healthy musicians who did. There were 5 violinists, 2 violists, and 3 cellists. The Non-musician group perceived two-points and light touch at significantly lower thresholds in the proximal phalanges of the left hand than the right hand. Significant differences were not present between right and left hands for the means of distal, middle, and proximal phalanges of the Musician group. This lack of significant difference may be due to higher sensory thresholds associated with repetitive use of the left hand of the musicians.
Presentation of Construction and Improvement and Modernization of the Leg Kinesthesiometer
Authors: Kampiotis S. , Zervas Y.
Published: September 2010

Construction and use of a mechanical kinesthesiometer for measuring magnitude and direction of errors at the knee for active and passive kinesthetic perception.
Self-Generated Elaboration and Spacing Effects on Incidental Memory
Authors: Toyota Hiroshi , Kikuchi Yasuko
Published: September 2010

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of self-generated elaboration on incidental memory as a function of type of presentation (massed vs spacing). Subjects generated answers to “why” questions for target sentences in a self-generated elaboration condition. They then rated the appropriateness of the answers to the questions presented by the experimenter in an experimenter-provided elaboration condition. This procedure was followed by free recall tests. The target sentences were presented twice, in either a massed presentation without intervening items between the first and the second presentation or spaced presentation in which 5 items appeared between the two presentations. The self-generated elaboration effect, namely, higher recall, of self-generated elaboration over experimenter-provided elaboration, occurred with spaced but not with massed presentation. So, self-generated elaboration was facilitated in the spaced presentation because the time between the first and the second presentations led to richer encoding of each target.
Primacy of B- and P-Words: An Exploratory Study and a Developmental Hypothesis
Authors: Ridley Dennis R.
Published: September 2010

This study explored the utility of the bilabial stops [p and b] in comparison with other phonemes at the beginnings of words having a common visual reference. The initial hypothesis, based on the author's observations, was that it is easier to name common referents using words beginning with “b” rather than any other phoneme, whether vowel or consonant. This article places the hypothesis within the context of theory and research regarding phonological development. Secondly, a method is developed to explore further the generalization that common b-words have relatively high utility for visual referencing. Analysis indicates that words beginning with the bilabial stops [p and b] have the greatest utility. A developmental hypothesis is offered to help explain the findings.
An Analysis of Home Advantage in the English Football Premiership
Authors: Thomas Sion , Reeves Colin , Davies Simon
Published: September 2010

Home advantage has been examined across different sports. Pollard provided evidence of this phenomenon in association football (soccer). This present study further considers the prevalence in the English Football Premiership, a division created from the former Football Association First Division in 1992. Archived data were obtained for the First Division seasons 1984–5 to 1991–2 from the Football Statistics Archive and for the English Football Premiership (1992–3 to 2002–3). Chi square analysis confirmed home advantage from season to season since 1984 ( p < .05). Analysis of variance compared Pollard's findings and data for the English Football Premiership (1992–2003), as well as the intervening period (1984–92). Home advantage was significantly lower in these more recent periods. Possible factors contributing to the apparent decline in home advantage were highlighted.
Variability in Head Movement during Gait Transitions
Authors: Kao James C. , Ringenbach Shannon D. R.
Published: September 2010

Predictions from a model of coupled oscillators, which was based on stationary interlimb coordination, were examined in locomotor intralimb coordination. The present study measured head linear and angular accelerations and coordination relationships of the head and torso, e.g., using relative phase measures, during walking and running on a treadmill. Head linear acceleration increased from walking to running and decreased from running to walking, and head pitch/torso pitch relative phase decreased from walking to running and increased from running to walking. No other measures were significantly different for either walking or running (head angular acceleration, mean head vertical displacement/head pitch relative phase, SD head vertical displacement/head pitch, and SD head pitch/torso pitch). This information will aid further understanding of the many aspects involved in locomotor coordination.
Discriminative Power of Basketball Game-Related Statistics by Level of Competition and Sex
Authors: Sampaio Jaime , Godoy Sergio Ibáñez , Feu Sebastian
Published: September 2010

The purpose of this study was to identify the basketball game-related statistics that best discriminate performances by sex of players and level of competition. Archival data were obtained from the International Basketball Federation boxscores for all games during men's senior ( n = 62), men's junior ( n = 64), women's senior ( n = 62), and women's junior ( n = 42) World Championships. The game-related statistics gathered included 2- and 3-point field-goals (both successful and unsuccessful), free-throws (both successful and unsuccessful), defensive and offensive rebounds, blocks, assists, fouls, steals and turnovers. For the analysis only the close games were selected ( N = 105, 1 to 12 points difference). Men's teams were discriminated from women's teams by their higher percentage of blocks and lower percentage of steals and unsuccessful 2-point field goals. Junior teams were discriminated from senior teams by their lower percentage of assists and higher percentage of turnovers. In the two-factor interaction, the teams were mainly discriminated by the game-related statistics identified for level of competition.
Time Required for Motor Activity in Lucid Dreams
Authors: Erlacher Daniel , Schredl Michael
Published: September 2010

The present study investigated the relationship between the time required for specific tasks (counting and performing squats) in lucid dreams and in the waking state. Five proficient lucid dreamers (26–34 yr. old, M = 29.8, SD = 3.0; one woman and four men) participated. Analysis showed that the time needed for counting in a lucid dream is comparable to the time needed for counting in wakefulness, but motor activities required more time in lucid dreams than in the waking state.
Variation in European Suicide Rates is Better Accounted for by Latitude and Longitude than by National Percentage of Finno-Ugrians and Type O Blood: A Rebuttal of Lester and Kondrichin (2004)
Authors: Voracek Martin , Formann Anton K.
Published: September 2010

The variation in contemporary suicide rates for men and women across 20 European nations is, in terms of shared variance, better accounted for by latitude and longitude than by national percentage of Finno-Ugrians and Type O blood, thus supporting the conclusion of Voracek, et al. in 2003 and refuting the supposition of Lester and Kondrichin of 2004. Discussion focuses on possible bases of this finding and on research problems pertaining to relations between suicide and blood type.
Validity and Reliability of the Wood Motor Success Screening Tool in a Special Physical Education Learning Laboratory
Authors: Zhang Jiabei , Zhang Dalun , Chen Li
Published: September 2010

The purpose of this study was to estimate the concurrent validity and test-retest reliability of the Wood Motor Success Screening Tool. Participants were 66 children with learning and behavioral disabilities (44 boys and 22 girls; M of age = 7.6 yr.; SD of age = 1.8 yr.). The concurrent validity was checked using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency–Short Form as the criterion measure. A Pearson product-moment correlation of .84 ( p < .01), a sensitivity index of .88, and a specificity index of .64 were found for estimating the concurrent validity. The test-retest reliability was checked using scores on the Wood Motor Success Screening Tool administered twice within a week. An intraclass correlation coefficient of .93 from the one-way analysis of variance was found for estimating the test-retest reliability. These results indicated that this test is valid and reliable for assessing young children.
Sex and Competitive Status in Ankle Inversion–Eversion Range of Motion of College Students
Authors: Kovaleski John E. , Hollis Marcus J. , Norell Phillip M. , Vicory James R. , Heitman Robert J.
Published: September 2010

The effects of sex and competitive status (athlete vs nonathlete) on ankle inversion–eversion range of motion was investigated. 62 collegiate athletes and 36 collegiate nonathletes, both male and female, were tested. Analysis of variance showed significant ( p < .05) main effects for sex but not competitive status or sex × competitive status. These results imply that college age women have more ankle rotational range of motion than men and that collegiate athletes in a group of various sports do not differ in ankle range of motion when compared to college nonathletes. Power in this sample did not permit definitive assessment.
Cognitive Facilitation Associated with Chinese Brush Handwriting: The Case of Symmetric and Asymmetric Chinese Characters
Authors: Kao Henry S. R. , Ding-Guo Gao , Danmin Miao , Xufeng Liu
Published: September 2010

Chinese calligraphic handwriting involves a process of visual spatial structuring of the characters as well as the motor control of the brush to follow specific character configurations through a projection of the cognitive images of the character. Previous research has shown that Chinese calligraphic handwriting facilitates perceptual and cognitive abilities. Reading Chinese characters with geometric features also facilitates cognitive processing. This study investigated Chinese calligraphic handwriting effect on cognitive facilitation measured by responses to asymmetric and asymmetric Chinese characters. 11 participants performed Chinese calligraphic handwriting for 30 min. and had their reaction time and error rate taken before and after the writing session. The reaction time to asymmetric characters was significantly shortened after Chinese calligraphic handwriting. These results confirm the general Chinese calligraphic handwriting effect on cognitive facilitation, but the asymmetric characters seem to result in greater such effects than the symmetric characters.
Elite Athletes' Sensitivity to Context: The Case of a Change in Scoring System in Table Tennis
Authors: Sève Carole
Published: September 2010

3 elite table tennis players' streams of actions during international matches were compared under the old scoring system (3 winning sets of 21 points) and the new (4 winning sets of 11 points). The organization of actions changed under the new system, with the relative duration of exploration activity becoming shorter than that of execution activity. These results indicate that elite performance in table tennis is characterized by the athletes' close attunement to elements of context—in this case, the scoring system—for the organization of their actions.
Use of Virtual Environments to Investigate Development of Spatial Behavior and Spatial Knowledge of School-Age Children
Authors: Jansen-Osmann Petra
Published: September 2010

This review aims to show the potential of using virtual environments in developmental spatial cognition research to advance empirical knowledge and theoretical insight. The facility for easy and economic variations of environmental features, the active, self-determined exploration, and the reliable registration of the navigation behavior using virtual environments allow investigating the development of spatial behavior and spatial knowledge in more detail. As a consequence, a dissociation between spatial behavior and spatial knowledge was observed, leading to the conclusion that spatial context has to be integrated further in any theoretical model regarding development of spatial cognition.
Anxiety and Body Satisfaction before and Six Months after Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Surgery
Authors: Montebarocci Ornella , Dato Federica Lo , Baldaro Bruno , Morselli Paolo , Rossi Nicolino C. F.
Published: September 2010

As breast reconstruction is an important adjunct after mastectomy to regain physical integrity and also to improve affect, the present aim was to evaluate patients' subjective perceptions of body image during the whole breast reconstruction period and to assess the importance of their psychological reaction in terms of negative affectivity. Participants were 62 women, 43 women ( M age = 46.4, SD = 9.8) who had had mastectomies and 19 healthy women ( M age = 39.9, SD= 13.99). Patients were admitted for surgery at the Hospital S. Orsola in Bologna. Healthy subjects were relatives of the women and students, all with no history of breast pathology. The Body Satisfaction Scale and the State Anxiety Inventory-Y were administered to the two groups before, post, and 6 mo. after surgery. Analysis of scores indicated that during the period of the study, the women with mastectomies reported higher anxiety and also greater dissatisfaction with their body image than the healthy group, even when the breast had been reconstructed. This unexpected finding suggests patients' unrealistic expectations of the breast reconstruction and the surgical outcome.
Beliefs in the Inheritance of Risk Factors for Suicide Scale: Development, Reliability, Stability, and Convergent and Discriminant Validity
Authors: And Martin Voracek , Loibl Lisa Mariella , Sonneck Gernot
Published: September 2010

Findings from adoption, family, geographical, immigrant, molecular genetic, surname, and twin studies suggest genetic risk factors have a role in suicidal behavior. However, related mental health literacy (knowledge and beliefs) even of future health-care professionals who will be concerned with suicide lag behind this research progress. As no scale for assessing such beliefs is available, the 22-item Beliefs in the Inheritance of Risk Factors for Suicide Scale was constructed, its contents rated by experts in a validation survey and administered to samples of 70 medical and 165 psychology students. Medical students held stronger beliefs in the genetics of suicide than psychology students. Internal scale consistency and test-retest reliability were assessed as adequate. Factor analysis of the 22 items yielded a dominant first factor. Scores were positively related to knowledge about suicide (convergent validity) but for the most part unrelated to lay theories of suicide, political orientation, religiosity, and social desirability (discriminant validity). This novel scale shows potential for assessing individuals' beliefs about the genetics of suicide. Applications may include basic research, educational contexts, and evaluation of professional training.
Reliability of the Children's Attitudes toward the Environment Scale
Authors: Kim Sang-Min , Zeman Catherine , Kostareva Olga
Published: September 2010

The Children's Attitudes toward the Environment Scale, developed by Musser and Malkus (1994), gave Cronbach a .73 and .83 at pretest and 3-wk. later for 274 children and a test-retest r of only .47. While Cronbach alpha was similar to the value reported by the test developers, it is close to the low end of acceptability.
Relationship of Pain Tolerance with Human Aggression
Authors: Niel Kristin A. , Hunnicutt-Ferguson Kallio , Reidy Dennis E. , Martinez Marc A. , Zeichner Amos
Published: September 2010

In research with animals as well as samples of chronic pain patients and elderly persons, pain has been positively correlated with measures of irritability, hostility, and aggression. The present investigation examined the relationship of pain tolerance with aggression. 12 men participated in the Response Choice Aggression Paradigm, described previously by Zeichner and colleagues, in which aggressive response to provocation was possible but not required of participants. Subjective pain tolerance, defined as maximal electrical shock willingly tolerated by participants, was assessed. Significant but small Pearson product-moment correlations between pain tolerance and aggression ranged between .21 and .32, with the largest accounting for 9% of variance.
Membership Expulsions for Ethical Violations from Major Counseling, Psychology, and Social Work Organizations in the United States: A 10-Year Analysis
Authors: Phelan James E.
Published: September 2010

This report examined ethical violations as grounds for membership expulsions made by the major counseling, psychology, and social work organizations in the United States over a 10-yr. period. Data indicated that the rates of expulsions stayed steady or declined, were disproportional across organizations, and that organizational sanctioning may be even more rigid than that of state boards. In addition, not all organizations followed procedures in a consistent manner when reporting or processing cases. The most common reason for expulsion was for violations under the category of dual relationships, particularly those of a sexual nature. Further research is needed to show how the variations of membership types, the profiles of the offenders, or the potential biases of the committees' judges weigh in on the issued sanctions, particularly those of ambiguous nature (e.g., nonsexual violations). It is also recommended that the expulsion data be easily available to all, and that it be reported systemically for the analysis of trends and for the overall accountability of ethics committees.
Update on the Decline in the Education and Training in Psychological Measurement and Assessment
Authors: Merenda Peter F.
Published: September 2010

An update is presented on the steady decline in the education and training of psychometricians, quantitative psychologists, and personality assessment psychologists in North America.
Measuring Emotional Intelligence in English and in the Native Language of Students in South Africa
Authors: Maree Jacobus G. , Eiselen Riëtte J.
Published: September 2010

800 students in Grades 9 and 11 from schools in the Sekhukhuneland, Nebo, and Apel regions of the Limpopo Province of South Africa completed the English and the Pedi version of the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory in 2004 after the test was translated into Pedi language. Although there was some consistency between the answers to the same item in the two languages, it was low in general. Nuance differences in meaning probably contributed to the low consistency.
Frequencies and Relations of Body Piercing and Sexual Experience in College Students
Authors: And Jerome R. Koch , Roberts Alden E. , Armstrong Myrna L. , Owen Donna C.
Published: September 2010

This research examined the relation between having a body piercing and having engaged in premarital sexual intercourse. Data were gathered from a convenience sample of 450 college students. 72% were women; 85% were ages 18 to 22 years ( M = 20.9, SD = 4.5), 80% were Euro-American. Women with piercings reported substantively and significantly greater frequency of sexual activity than college students without piercings. There were no significant differences in sexual experience between men with piercings and those without. These findings differ from previous research comparing the sexual activity of college students with and without tattoos.
Psychometric Properties of the Multidimensional Aversion to Women Who Work Scale in Japanese Undergraduate Women
Authors: Nakano Keiko
Published: September 2010

The Multidimensional Aversion to Women Who Work Scale is a self-report measure of gender attitudes. The present study examined the psychometric properties of the scale with 213 Japanese university female students who completed the Japanese version. Exploratory factor analyses yielded the same two factors, Employment Skepticism and Traditional Roles Preference, as previously identified. A reliability estimate of internal consistency of Employment Skepticism and Traditional Roles Preference was acceptable. Confirmatory factor analysis of the Japanese version in another group of 245 university female students showed the construct validity of the 2-factor model of the 7-item scale. This study supported the generalization of the previous findings in American samples and the multicultural utility of the scale. The Japanese version of the Multidimensional Aversion to Women Who Work Scale seems a useful measure of employment-related gender attitudes.
Comparison of Separation Patterns between Parents and Offspring in Psychiatric and Nonclinical Families
Authors: Chrzastowski Szymon
Published: September 2010

This study examined the specific separation patterns of binding and expelling in families with young adults. 103 families were divided into three groups according to the ICD–10 diagnosis of offspring (18-35 years old): (1) schizophrenia ( ns = 32 mothers and 30 fathers), (2) personality disorders ( ns = 34 mothers and 30 fathers), (3) control, nonclinical group ( ns=34 mothers and 32 fathers). The participants (mothers and fathers) independently completed the Relational Individuation Questionnaire designed for this study. Despite expectations, there was no statistical significance found between the mean scores of the parents' binding of offspring diagnosed with schizophrenia or personality disorders or from the nonclinical families. There was, however, a difference in the intensity of the mothers' expelling ( F2,97 = 10.90, p< .0001) and of the fathers' expelling ( F2,89 = 5.96, p<.005) from different family groups. The parents of offspring from clinical families expelled their offspring more intensively than parents from nonclinical families. The correlation between expelling by mothers and expelling by fathers in all families was positive. These results suggest that expelling may be a strategy used by parents with children with serious mental disorders when these children reach young adulthood.
Quantifying Genre: An Operational Definition of Tragedy and Comedy Based on Shakespeare's Plays
Authors: Whissell Cynthia
Published: September 2010

Emotion and imagery in the words of Shakespeare's plays, as measured by the Dictionary of Affect in Language, were used to predict genre (tragedy or comedy). Genre distinctions, which were associated with small effect sizes, were established on the basis of 23 plays and then applied to other plays. A discriminant function which combined lower emotional Pleasantness with higher emotional Activation or arousal and more pictorial Imagery successfully (91% of the time) predicted whether a play was a tragedy or a comedy. The genre-discriminating formula provided meaningful categorizations of 23 additional plays. As hypothesized, comedies employed more Pleasant words than tragedies. Tragedies employed more Active words ( p< .001). Unexpectedly, comedies rather than tragedies employed words with lower Imagery (greater Abstraction). The predicted elevation of language in tragedy was noted instead in the use of more verse, fewer common words, and fewer personal pronouns (less subjectivity).
Resampling Programs for Multiway Contingency Tables with Fixed Marginal Frequency Totals
Authors: Mielke Paul W. , Berry Kenneth J. , Johnston Janis E.
Published: September 2010

A resampling algorithm is presented for analyzing multiway contingency tables with fixed marginal frequency totals. Applications are illustrated with extensions of Fisher's exact, Pearson's chi-squared, and likelihood-ratio tests to three-way contingency tables.
Stressful Life Events in Countries of Differing Economic Development: Nicaragua, Chile, and Spain
Authors: Juan Vázquez José , Panadero Sonia , Rincón Paulina Paz
Published: September 2010

the aim was to describe a study involving 481 psychology students in the last courses of their degrees ( M age = 21.9 yr., SD = 4.2; 94 men and 386 women) from Nicaragua, Chile, and Spain. The study examined the potential risk of experiencing certain stressful life events, the number of stressors, and their characteristics. Also were analyzed the strength of their relation to social class and stressful life events experienced. Greater presence of stressful life events were reported among people from less developed countries, Chile and Nicaragua, and among people belonging to lower social class.
A Case Report of Compensation in Daily Life of a Person with Memory Problems: Detailed Functional Use of Memory Aids over a Five-Year Period
Authors: Uchida Ai , Hirano Mikio , Goukon Ayumu , Noguchi Kazuhito , Kikuchi Toshihiko , Kumai Masayuki
Published: September 2010

Numerous studies have been conducted on memory aids for memory-impaired people. However, it is not known how they use these memory aids in a functional, practical way. A 20-year-old patient (MH) was monitored for five years to identify what memory aids or other means she used and how she used them to compensate for her memory problems, e.g., forgetting what was said by others in a few minutes and getting lost or turning in the wrong direction on a walk or in a building. Results indicated MH did not necessarily always use memory aids such as a notebook or calendar to compensate for her memory problems, although MH and her mother reported that she frequently used them in daily life. She coped with memory problems by using various “resources” besides the memory aid. These facts suggest that it may be necessary to redefine functionally useful compensations, which include both memory aids and resources in daily life.
Reliability and Factorial Validity of a Farsi Version of the 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale with a Sample of Iranian Students
Authors: Besharat Mohammad Ali
Published: September 2010

This study investigated the psychometric properties of the Farsi version of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale for 587 undergraduate students (349 women and 238 men) at the University of Tehran. All participants were asked to complete the Farsi version of the TAS-20, the Emotional Intelligence Scale, and the Mental Health Inventory. Findings supported the internal consistency, test-retest reliability, concurrent validity, and three-factor structure of the Farsi version of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale. The factors found in the Farsi version of this scale are similar to the three factors found previously and were accordingly labeled as Difficulty Identifying Feelings, Difficulty Describing Feelings, and Externally Oriented Thinking. The results provide evidence for applicability of the TAS-20 and its cross-cultural validity.
Moral Judgment and Conduct Disorder Intensity in Adolescents Involved in Delinquency: Matching Controls by School Grade
Authors: Chudzik Lionel
Published: September 2010

Most studies that have found associations between delinquency and moral judgment generally compare incarcerated juveniles with adolescents in normal schooling. However, this comparison is subject to two criticisms. First, a large number of adolescents in school who are not charged with any crime in the legal system are still involved in unlawful behaviour. Second, adolescents involved with delinquency often have difficulties at school. The aim of the present study was to measure this association by matching a sample of adolescents involved with delinquency ( n — 18, M age=15.8, SD=1.1) to adolescents not involved in delinquency ( n = 42, M age = 15.8, SD = 0.8) according to their school grade and Conduct Disorder Intensity as measured by a self-report index using DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. Participants who met four or more criteria were assigned to the High Conduct Disorder group ( n = 28), and the rest were assigned to the Low Conduct Disorder group ( n = 32). Their level of moral judgment was evaluated with the French version of the Sociomoral Reflection Measure-Short Form by Gibbs, Basinger, and Fuller, inspired by Kohlberg's model of moral development. Findings demonstrate that in both samples, adolescents in the High Conduct Disorder group presented moral judgment that was significantly less mature than that of adolescents in the Low Conduct Disorder group. However, the majority of participants in the Low Conduct Disorder group also scored low on the Sociomoral Reflection Measure-Short Form, suggesting more immature moral judgment. The bias introduced by the mode of recruitment in most comparisons of adolescents involved with delinquency to adolescents with no delinquency problems is discussed, and an argument is made for the importance of analysing moral judgment development within a framework of general cognitive development.
Lack of Association of Extraversion and Neuroticism with Sibship Size and Birth Order among Arab College Students
Authors: Abdel-Khalek Ahmed M.
Published: September 2010

In a sample of 450 (220 men, 230 women) Egyptian undergraduates ( M age = 20.6 yr., SD=1.9), scores on Extraversion and Neuroticism scales were not associated with sibship size and birth order.
Identity Theft and Consumers' Reaction to Preventive Technological Innovations
Authors: Ainscough Thomas L. , Brody Richard G. , Trocchia Philip J.
Published: September 2010

The use of identification technology by commercial entities has broad and, for some consumers, disturbing social implications. This two-phase study was done to specify consumers' concerns regarding various identification technologies which may be encountered in retail environments. From the qualitative findings, a 26-item survey was constructed to quantify identified areas of concern with 303 survey participants (147 women and 156 men), whose mean age category was 30 to 39 years. Using exploratory factor analysis (principal components with varimax rotation), five dimensions of consumers' concern emerged: privacy, ethics, health, humanity, and complexity.
Personal and Family Factors as Predictors of Pupils' Mathematics Achievement
Authors: Alomar Bader O.
Published: September 2010

This study examined personal and family factors in prediction of mathematics achievement by Kuwaiti fourth graders (395 boys, 501 girls; M age= 10.0 yr., SD=8.0 mo.). Personal variables included sex, total achievement, perception of parental involvement, pupil's attitude towards school, and mathematics achievement. Family variables included parental education and parental involvement, views of school, and income. The data had good fit with the suggested model. Analysis showed variables which had significant direct association with mathematics achievement were total achievement and sex. Parental education, pupil's sex, and attitude towards school had significant indirect associations with mathematical achievement. Associations were direct for boys and indirect for girls on mathematics achievement, so sex had minimal total effects on mathematics achievement.
Reliability and Validation of a Chinese Version of the Aging Males' Symptoms Scale
Authors: Chen Ching-Yen , Wang Wei-Shin , Liu Chia-Yih , Lee Shwu-Hua
Published: September 2010

This study was to assess whether the Chinese version of the Aging Males' Symptoms scale could measure aging men's symptoms as effectively as the English version. 176 psychiatric outpatient men were assessed to analyze internal consistency reliability and construct validity, and 45 male school staff were interviewed in estimating retest reliability. Cronbach a was .90, and the 3-wk. retest reliability was .72. Factor analysis yielded a two-factor structure. Construct validity was indicated by significant correlation between the two factors and the criterion variables. This scale is a validated and sensitive test for measuring symptoms in aging men in the Taiwanese Chinese-speaking population. It is suggested that the scale could be used to measure and compare health-related quality of life in groups of men over 40 years old.
Business Students' Evaluation of Their Internships
Authors: Rothman Miriam
Published: September 2010

An 8-item evaluation of a business internship was completed by 363 junior and senior undergraduates. Students agreed or strongly agreed that the internship met the following goals and criteria of the for-credit course: adequacy of orientation, clarity of expectations, helpfulness of supervision, adequacy of feedback, application of business education, development of new knowledge and skills beneficial to career exploration, value of the placement and recommendation of employer for other interns. The importance of outcome assessment is discussed within the context of internship programs.
Moral Reasoning, Executive Function, and Personality in Violent and Nonviolent Adult Offenders
Authors: Greenfield Rebekkah , Valliant Paul M.
Published: September 2010

To evaluate moral reasoning and personality, inmates from a maximum security jail were administered the Porteus Maze, the Defining Issues Test, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-168, and the Test of Nonverbal Intelligence. Scores of 20 violent and 19 nonviolent offenders were compared. The control group consisted of 20 university students who indicated they did not have criminal records. All were over the age of 18. Analysis showed the violent offenders had mature moral reasoning and were more elevated on the Antiestablishment scale of the Defining Issues Test. Furthermore, inmates displayed significantly elevated scores on depression, Psychopathic Deviance, and Social Introversion relative to the control group.
Predicting Performance in a Psychological Statistics Course
Authors: Lester David
Published: September 2010

In statistics courses for psychology students, only age and algebra skills predicted course performance of 71 students.
Retrospective Reports of Dream Characteristics and Preferences for Organic vs Junk Foods
Authors: Kroth Jerry , Briggs Ashleigh , Cummings Michelle , Rodriguez Gerardo , Martin Eva
Published: September 2010

The authors investigated correlations between retrospective dream characteristics, food preferences, and eating attitudes. Graduate students (7 men, 42 women) at Santa Clara University were administered the MEGA food scale and the KJP Dream Inventory. High intake of organic food was positively correlated with reports of multiple dream factors. Conversely, high scores on preferences for fast food, potato chips, and carbohydrates were negatively correlated with several factors. Findings are discussed in terms of the hypothesis that certain foods may influence dreaming.
Sibship Size, Birth Order, and Personaltiy among Kuwaiti College Students
Authors: Abdel-Khalek Ahmed M. , Lester David
Published: September 2010

In a sample of 460 (103 men, 357 women) Kuwaiti college students ( M age = 21.9 yr., SD=3.0), scores on the Arabic Scale of Optimism and Pessimism, the Death Obsession Scale, the Arabic Scale of Obsession-Compulsion, the Kuwait University Anxiety Scale, the Taoist Orientation Scale, and the Suicidal Ideation Scale were not associated with sibship size and birth order.
Mediating Effect of Cooperative Norm in Predicting Organizational Citizenship Behaviors from Procedural Justice Climate
Authors: Lin Shang-Ping , Tang Ta-Wei , Li Chao-Hua , Wu Chien-Ming , Lin Hsiu-Hsia
Published: September 2010

Although the relationships between procedural justice climate and organizational citizenship behaviors have been examined in recent years, little research has explored the mechanism by which procedural justice climate shapes individual employee prosocial behaviors in the workplace. The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating role of a group-level cooperative norm on the relationships between the group-level procedural justice climate and individual-level organizational citizenship behaviors. The survey involved 45 work groups in four different industry fields in Taiwan, including manufacturing, technology, banking, and insurance, and each of the groups was composed of one supervisor and three subordinates. Cross-level analyses using hierarchical linear modeling (ULM) indicated that the cooperative norm fully mediated the relationship between procedural justice climate and individual helping behaviors. Procedural justice climate indirectly affects individual helping behaviors through their effects on the cooperative norm.
Factorial Structure of the Kuwait University Anxiety Scale in a Large Sample of College Students: Rejoinder
Authors: Abdel-Khalek Ahmed M.
Published: September 2010

Recently a study by Lester of American college students found a different factor structure for the Kuwait University Anxiety Scale than studies with students from Arab countries. Thus, a large sample of college students ( N=3,064) was recruited from 10 Arab countries to examine the replicability of the factors previously extracted from the Kuwait University Anxiety Scale. Three factors, identified in the present sample, were compatible with those in the prior larger sample ( N = 9,031). These were labeled Cognitive/Affective Anxiety, Subjective Anxiety or Nervousness, and Somatic Anxiety. The factorial pattern of the scale has been verified by both large samples.
Evaluating the Individualism and Collectivism Scale for Use in Mainland China
Authors: Chen Guo-Hai
Published: September 2010

A Chinese translation of the 27-item Individualism and Collectivism Scale was administered in southern mainland China to 626 Chinese university students (210 men and 416 women) with a mean age of 19.9 yr. ( SD= 1.5). From analysis of the responses to these items, the prior four factors, Horizontal Individualism, Vertical Individualism, Horizontal Collectivism, and Vertical Collectivism, did not clearly emerge in the Chinese sample. Further research on the viability of the scale and conceptualization of the horizontal and vertical distinction in the Chinese context is recommended.
Students' Attitudes towards use of Compustat in Teaching an Introductory Course in Business Finance
Authors: Sachdeva Darshan
Published: September 2010

This paper describes the use of the COMPUSTAT database in teaching an introductory course in business finance at a large College of Business Administration. To understand students' attitudes towards this innovative method of instruction in business finance, a simple one-page questionnaire of 10 attitudinal statements was used. Responses of 148 students, analyzed by chi square, indicated students were unanimous in their opinion that the World Wide Web greatly paved the way in data retrieval from the COMPUSTAT database. They further reported that this interface facilitated analyses for the course. Also their understanding of finance was enhanced, and they were motivated to learn more. They seem to be highly in favor of using COMPUSTAT database in the introductory courses in business finance and expressed this view by suggesting that this financial database should be made an integral part of teaching other courses in finance.
Measures of Expressions of Love
Authors: Goff Brent G. , Goddard H. Wallace , Pointer Lucille , Jackson Gary Brian
Published: September 2010

This study developed scales for Chapman's five expressions of love: quality time, receiving gifts, words of affirmation, physical touch, and acts of service (two dimensions). A total of 338 student respondents were surveyed resulting in 321 usable surveys (95%). Of this total, 177 were women and 144 men, with a median age of 24 yr.
Use of Pirated Compact Discs on Four College Campuses: A Perspective from Theory of Planned Behavior
Authors: Chiang Lichun , Huang Ching-Yuan
Published: September 2010

The Theory of Planned Behavior was chosen as the framework, assuming that college students are rational decision makers seeking to maximize economic gains in purchasing compact discs. A questionnaire was given to 450 students from four college campuses in the Kaohsiung area of Taiwan. Analyses showed that the more positively rated the Behavioral Intention toward purchasing pirated music compact discs, the more likely the college students were to purchase them. Conversely, when Subjective Norms and Perceived Behavioral Control were higher, college students were less likely to make a purchase. Therefore, buying pirated compact discs was consistent with the premises for Attitude, Subjective Norms, and Behavioral Control.
Individual Consistencies in Behavior: Achievement Persistence Interactions as Personality Styles
Authors: Ribes-Iñesta Emilio , Contreras Sagrario
Published: September 2010

Two experiments were carried out to Find within-subject consistencies as well as individual differences in a choice situation involving achievement persistence. Four volunteers, two men (21 and 23 years old) and two women (21 and 22 years old) were exposed twice, with a 1-mo. interval, to a filling-patterns task, to evaluate their choices for two options. For one option, task-time and outcomes for every response were constant. For the other option, task-time decreased in correlation with an increase in earnings for every response. Analyses showed reliable profiles for three of the four subjects when percent of responding to each option was compared in independent experiments. Results are discussed in terms of interactive styles.
A Model of Users' Satisfaction with Taiwan's Government Website
Authors: Chung Yu-Ko , Sheu Liang-Chyau , Chien Sarina Hui-Lin
Published: September 2010

Taiwan's Government web portal has been the sole communication link between citizens and E-Government since being launched in 2002 to provide citizens with government-related information promptly via effective classification. The assessment of the service quality and citizens' satisfaction with E-Government has rarely been explored. The present study explored how the service quality of E-Govemment subsequently affects the users' psychological and behavioral responses. A structural model was proposed that contained four constructs: service quality, service value, users' satisfaction, and behavioral intention as well as their interrelations. A survey was used to collect users' ratings. Structural equation modeling was applied to verify the factor analysis of the obtained data and fit of a model. Analyses indicated adequate fit of model as follows: E-Government service quality → service value → users' satisfaction → behavioral intention.
Adolescents' Secure-Base Behavior from the Perspective of Information Processing
Authors: Shima Yoshihiro
Published: September 2010

Secure-base behavior in adolescents was examined from the perspective of information processing. The secure-base behavior was operationally defined as accessibility to attachment-related information and assessed by reaction time to target stimuli. Study 1 was conducted on 37 undergraduates (10 classes as Secure, 12 men, M age=19.3 yr.) to investigate whether differences in attachment styles would show different forms of information processing. There was a difference in reaction time to negative targets between Secure and Insecure participants. Study 2 was conducted on 45 undergraduates (8 classed as Secure, 22 men, M age = 19.4 yr.) to investigate whether activation of the internal working models would show different forms of information processing. There was a difference between Secure and Insecure participants in patterns of reaction time to stimuli for positive and negative relationships. Results were discussed on the basis of secure-base behavior.
Undergraduate Students' Knowledge of Infant and Child Development in a Sample from a Religiously-Oriented University
Authors: Vandiver Trish , Barrera Monica , Kutac Adam , Mireles Heather
Published: September 2010

Knowledge of child rearing is based on many factors. In the present study, 85 undergraduates (56 women, 46 Catholic) enrolled in psychology classes at a private university completed the Student Knowledge of Child Development Scale. Analysis showed a moderate relationship between scale scores with whether participants had taken a child development class and whether participants stated highest priority was a career or marriage and children.
An Exploratory Study Assessing Relations of Demographic Characteristics with Police Recruits' Attitudes toward Abuse of Children and Abusive Parents
Authors: Patterson George T.
Published: September 2010

The purpose of this exploratory study was to assess the relationships of demographic characteristics with attitudes toward abusive parents and abused children in a convenience sample of 183 police recruits. Police academy training staff invited recruits to complete a questionnaire which contained three vignettes and a 36-item questionnaire that depicted child neglect, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and demographic information. Analysis of responses showed that African Americans and Latinos reported more negative attitudes of anger, disgust, sadness, and discomfort toward an abusive parent than the Euro-American group. Women reported more negative attitudes toward an abused child and also more positive attitudes of sympathy and caring toward an abused child. Results partially support previous research suggesting demographic characteristics influence report of attitudes toward abusive parents and abused children. These findings about the influence of demographic characteristics on positive and negative emotional reactions toward abusive parents and abused children add to the literature.
Is Processing Emotional Signals Necessary for Performance on Tasks Requiring Understanding a “Theory of Mind”
Authors: Goukon Ayumu , Noguchi Kazuhito , Hosokawa Toru
Published: September 2010

In this case study, HY had lived in a persistent vegetative state for 6 years after onset of encephalitis at age 10. His processing of emotionally and socially meaningful information was impaired by the age of 20, as it is in individuals with amygdala damage; however, his performance on tasks requiring understanding a “theory of mind” improved by age 22. A series of responses to photographs of facial expressions and to a gambling task were obtained to evaluate his functioning related to the amygdala. He was particularly impaired in recognizing fear. One may tentatively suggest that processing emotional signals, i.e., functioning related to the amygdala, may not play an important role in the neural systems supporting development of understanding a “theory of mind.”
Sensitivity of the 16 PF Motivational Distortion Scale to Response Bias
Authors: Simón Armando
Published: September 2010

The shortened versions of the 16 PF (Forms C or D) were given to 227 college students (who took Form D twice), 33 prisoners (who took Forms C and D), and 95 substance abusers (who took Form C twice). All were asked to answer honestly, then retake these tests to appear in a better light. Significant differences in Motivational Distortion scores were found between test and retest in each group.