bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatial Perception and Mental Rotation Produce Gender Differences in Cerebral Hemovelocity
Authors: Walter K.D. , Roberts A. E. , Brownlow S.
Published: April 2003

Abstract We sought to determine if gender differences in cerebral blood flow velocity emerge while persons performed cognitive tasks known to favor men, e.g., tests of spatial abilities. Bilateral measures were obtained simultaneously from the middle cerebral artery (VMCA) by transcranial Doppler sonography while men and women college students performed 31-s thinking tasks. Tests of spatial ability included (1) three spatial visualizing tasks (finding words among sets of letters, locating pictures hidden within a complex scene, and finding embedded geometric patterns), and (2) a mental rotation task. Two nonspatial visualizing control tasks were looking at (1) a list of words and (2) a set of pictures. Women had significantly faster global VMCAs than men during all tasks except looking at pictures. Two tasks (looking at pictures, mental rotation) produced hemispheric asymmetry (right > left) in women only. Gender differences in the number of correct responses occurred for finding words (women > men) and mental rotation (paradoxically, men > women) but not the other tests of spatial abilities. Our study shows that transcranial Doppler sonography provides noninvasive, real-time physiological indices of gender differences in spatial abilities.
Event-Related Potential Correlates of Acquisition and Retrieval of Verbal Associations in Schizophrenics and Controls
Authors: Baving Lioba , Rockstroh Brigitte , Rößner Patricia , Cohen Rudolf , Elbert Thomas , Roth Walton T.
Published: April 2003

Abstract Reduced amplitudes of event-related potentials (ERP) have often been reported for schizophrenic patients. Positive ERPs were examined in 16 schizophrenic patients and 16 controls in a visual paired-associate learning task, in which successful learning of word pairs was evidenced by recognition of “old” versus “new” word pairs. Patients performed significantly poorer than controls. During acquisition the to-be-associated word pairs evoked a P2 and positive Slow Wave (SW) of similar amplitude in both groups. Although the recognition of items as “old” induced larger positive ERPs in controls, ERPs did not vary with recognition in patients. The presentation of the word pairs (50% old, 50% new combinations) evoked a pronounced posterior positive SW in patients but an anterior negative SW in controls. This pattern is identical to the one obtained from a previous paired-associate learning task with cue-recall and suggests that schizophrenic patients are capable of producing large amplitude positive waves under conditions different from those typical for P300 evocation in normals. The larger positive SW may indicate increased effort to compensate for deficient acquisition or association formation.
Phasic Pupil Dilation Response to Noxious Stimulation
Authors: Oka Shunichi , Chapman C. Richard , Jacobson Robert C.
Published: April 2003

Abstract The pupil dilation response (PDR) to a painful stimulus is a subtle, event-related increase in pupil diameter that occurs following brief noxious stimulation. It varies in amplitude with increasing stimulus intensity. Two competing hypotheses for the PDR are that (1) it reflects event-related cognitive efforts largely independent of pain, such as the task demand of discriminating intensity and readying a subjective report; and (2) like the pupillary light reflex, it is a simple reflexive response. In this study 21 subjects (11 male, 10 female) experienced painful stimuli matched in subjective intensity at two sites: finger tip and ear lobe, but they produced no subjective reports. If the PDR is a product of discriminating stimulus intensity levels and forming a report, then it should be minimal or nonexistent when subjects have no choices and make no overt judgments. On the other hand, if it is primarily a simple sympathetic reflex, then onset and peak latency should be longer for finger tip than for ear lobe stimulation because the conduction distance is longer. In addition to addressing these issues, we explored sex differences and the influence of age. Clear and similar PDRs appeared in response to stimulation of both sites despite an absence of subjective report requirements. PDR onset, peak amplitude and peak latency did not differ significantly across stimulation sites. Therefore, the PDR is neither an artifact of subjective report nor an uncomplicated sympathetic reflex. It appears to be an emotional arousal response, such as the defense response, the strength of which depends upon the magnitude of the noxious sensory input. Sex differences emerged, with women demonstrating a borderline larger PDR peak amplitude than men (P = .059) and a more rapid half recovery latency (P = .031). Age did not affect the PDR except at onset, with older subjects demonstrating a later onset latency (P = .003). The PDR may reflect preconscious processing associated with attention and perhaps other cognitive aspects of perception.
Tonotopy of the Auditory-Evoked Field Component N100m in Patients with Schizophrenia
Authors: Rosburg T. , Kreitschmann-Andermahr I. , Ugur T. , Nestmann H. , Nowak H. , Sauer H.
Published: April 2003

Abstract A number of clinical studies on the auditory neuromagnetic evoked field (AEF) component N100m have reported an altered lateralization in schizophrenic patients. This study addresses the problem of a possible functional reorganization of the temporal cortex in schizophrenia by examining the tonotopic organization of the N100m. Thirty-two patients with schizophrenia and 33 healthy controls of both sexes took part. Two tone frequencies (1000 and 5000 Hz tone) were applied for auditory stimuli, and AEF were recorded over both hemispheres successively using a 31-channel biomagnetometer. The comparison of N100m dipole location and orientation between hemispheres revealed no alterations in male or female patients. Between tone frequencies highly significant differences were found for N100m peak latency, mean global field power, dipole orientation, and dipole location in the anterior-posterior direction. Although the main effects of frequency were found to be the same in patients and controls, the balance between hemispheres was altered in patients with schizophrenia, with respect to the dependence between frequency and dipole location in the anterior-posterior direction as well as between frequency and latency. In patients, the influence of frequency on these variables was more pronounced in the right hemisphere and less pronounced in the left, compared to controls.
Shared and Simple Effects of Determinants of Mean Arterial Pressure During Handgrip and Mirror Tracing Tasks
Authors: Harrell Jules P. , Floyd Leah J.
Published: April 2003

Abstract Hierarchical linear regression (HLR) can be used to quantify the relative contribution specific cardiovascular (CV) mechanisms make to blood-pressure responses. The impact particular mechanisms exert varies depending on the nature of situational demands and the length of time these demands have been imposed. Theoretically, the determinants of blood-pressure changes may exercise their influence independently as simple effects, or they might evidence a relationship that is correlated or shared with other mechanisms. Following a procedure Lindenberger and Potter (1998) outlined, we used HLR and computations of shared versus simple effect ratios to quantify the portions of variance several cardiovascular parameters accounted for independently in mean arterial pressure (MAP) reactivity during isometric handgrip and mirror tracing. The predictor variables included heart rate (HR), total peripheral resistance (TPR), and cardiac output (CO). CV activity of 50 college-aged males was measured during adjacent 30-s periods using impedance cardiography and a Dinamap blood pressure monitor. HR reactivity predicted MAP changes during all measurement periods. However, for mirror tracing, a substantial portion of the variance in MAP accounted for by HR was shared with CO reactivity (39% for period 1; 13% for period 2). For handgrip, 5% and 20% of variance HR accounted for in MAP during periods 1 and 2, respectively, were shared with changes in TPR. CO shared trivial amounts of variance in MAP changes with HR during handgrip. Finally, CO changes were correlated with TPR changes and uncorrelated with MAP reactivity when handgrip was performed. However, adding CO to the equation improved TPR's predictive utility, suggesting that suppressor effects were present.
On the Reliability of Augmenting/Reducing
Authors: Beauducel André , Debener Stefan , Brocke Burkhard , Kayser Jürgen
Published: April 2003

Abstract To investigate the impact of several methodological variations in the assessment of augmenting/reducing, auditory evoked potentials to 1000 Hz tones with varying stimulus intensity (59, 71, 79, 88, 92, 96 dB (SPL)) were recorded at 19 EEG sites in 24 participants during two separate recording sessions. The internal consistency analysis revealed only weak correlations for linear regression slopes based on high intensity levels when compared to slopes based on low intensity levels. For base-to-peak and peak-to-peak ERP component measurements, acceptable internal consistency and temporal stability were confirmed for the N1/P2-based slope, and partly for the P2 slope, whereas P1, N1, and P1/N1 slopes were not reliable. After submitting auditory evoked potentials to a covariance-based principal component analysis (PCA), followed by unscaled varimax rotation, temporal stability of slope measures for the corresponding factor scores substantially increased. The findings suggest that at least five to six intensity-levels are required over a relatively broad range to yield a reliable measure of auditory evoked augmenting/reducing. If measured reliably, P2 slopes may reflect stimulus intensity changes more precisely than N1/P2 slopes, and should therefore be evaluated in future studies of individual differences in augmenting/reducing.
Correlation Between Heart Rate and the Severity of Motion Sickness Caused by Optokinetic Stimulation
Authors: Holmes Sharon R. , Griffin Michael J.
Published: April 2003

Heart rate has been reported to increase during nausea and has therefore been used as an indicator of motion sickness. However, the relationship between heart rate and subjective ratings of motion sickness has received little attention, and the autonomic origins of any increase in heart rate during motion sickness are unknown. Spectral analysis of heart rate variability can quantify the degree of sympathetic and parasympathetic stimulation of the heart, as reflected by the low frequency (LF) power and high frequency (HF) power components, and the ratio of LF:HF power (“autonomic balance”). This experiment investigated changes in heart rate and heart rate variability prior to and during the development of nausea. Forty subjects (20 male, 20 female) sat within an optokinetic drum (a visual stimulus) rotating at 5 rpm for a maximum of 32 minutes. Heart rates, measures of heart rate variability, and ratings of sickness were recorded during a resting pre-exposure period and during optokinetic stimulation. Heart rates increased significantly with increasing subjective ratings of sickness (P < .001). This appeared to be attributable to a net increase in sympathetic stimulation of the heart, (P < .05). Sickness ratings were greater for females than males (P = .09), consistent with a significantly greater history of motion sickness reported by females than males over the previous 12 months (P < .02). The findings suggest that a simple measure of heart rate may be a useful indicator of small changes in the degree of sickness that can be of interest in motion sickness research.
Gender Differences in Cardiovascular Responses to Sphygmomanometric Measurements
Authors: Rollnik Jens D. , Schneider Udo , Siggelkow Sabine , Schmitz Norbert , Kugler Joachim
Published: April 2003

Objective: To study gender differences of cardiovascular responses due to painful stimuli during sphygmomanometry. Methods: We studied 80 subjects (40 women, 40 men). Blood pressure (BP) was determined continuously and noninvasively using a Finapres device (Penaz technique). The painful stimulus was administered by inflating the arm cuff of a sphygmomanometric device to 300 mmHg maximum pressure. Results: During cuff inflation systolic blood pressure (SBP) increased in women (+3.7 mmHg, SD = 9.9), but was unchanged in men (repeated measures ANOVA, P < .05). Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate did not show significant changes. Cycle and oral contraceptives did not influence cardiovascular reactivity in the female subpopulation. Women reported a different pain quality but not intensity. Conclusions: Women and men exhibit a slightly different vascular reactivity to painful stimuli. Since cycle and hormonal contraception did not influence reactivity, hormonal influences seem to play a minor role. However, different pain perception might account for gender differences in vascular reactivity.
P300 Amplitude and Topography in an Autobiographical Oddball Paradigm Involving Simulated Amnesia
Authors: Miller Antoinette R. , Rosenfeld J. Peter , Soskins Matthew , Jhee Marianne
Published: April 2003

Abstract The P300 component of the event-related potential was recorded during two blocks of an autobiographical oddball task. All participants performed honestly during the first block (Phone), i.e., the oddball stimuli were phone numbers. During the second block (Birthday), in which the oddball stimuli were participants' birthdays, a Truth group (N = 13) performed honestly and a Malinger group (N = 14) simulated amnesia. Amnesia simulation significantly reduced P300 amplitudes, both between groups and within the Malinger group (Phone vs. Birthday), possibly because of an increase in task difficulty in the Malinger condition. Analysis of scaled amplitudes also indicated a trend for a feigning-related alteration in P300 topography. Bootstrapping of peak-to-peak amplitudes detected significantly more (93%) Malinger individuals than bootstrapping of baseline-to-peak amplitudes (64%). Bootstrapping also provided evidence of a feigning-related amplitude difference between oddball stimuli (i.e., Phone > Birthday) in 71% of Malinger group individuals. In this comparison, the peak-to-peak measure also performed significantly better in intraindividual diagnostics.
The Relationship of Automatic and Controlled Processing to Prepulse Inhibition
Authors: Elden Åke , Flaten Magne Arve
Published: April 2003

Abstract When a weak stimulus, or prepulse, is presented immediately prior to a startle reflex-eliciting stimulus, the startle reflex is inhibited. This is called prepulse inhibition (PPI). Directing attention to a prepulse increases PPI. In two experiments (N = 43 and N = 29), attention was directed to the prepulse by having the participants judge the duration of the prepulse. Prepulse inhibition was assessed at stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs) assumed to index automatic and controlled processing. The prepulse was a 60dB tone, and startle was elicited by 95dB white noise. We predicted that attention directed to the prepulse should increase PPI, and that PPI should increase on trials with correct judgments of prepulse duration compared to trials with incorrect judgments. The results from both experiments showed that attention directed toward the prepulse increased PPI at SOAs assumed to index both automatic and controlled processing. This indicates that controlled attention exerted an influence on automatic processes. There was no evidence that PPI was increased on trials with correct judgment of prepulse duration. It is concluded that attention to the prepulse increased PPI, but PPI did not differentiate between automatic and controlled processing under the present experimental conditions.
Event-Related Potentials and Cognitive Processing of Affectively Toned Words in Depression
Authors: Serfaty Marc Antony , Bothwell Robert , Marsh Richard , Ashton Heather , Blizard Robert , Scott Jan
Published: April 2003

Abstract Background: Depressed subjects and euthymic controls demonstrate differences in cognitive processing and brain electrophysiology. Contingent negative variation (CNV) and postimperative negative variation (PINV) was used to investigate the relationship between cognition and cortical event related potentials. Method: Electrophysiological responses and memory of different personality trait adjectives were measured in 15 patients with major depressive disorder and 15 euthymic controls. The words were presented acoustically to elicit event-related potentials. The subjects were asked to indicate whether the words were self-referential. Responses were measured separately for self referential and non-self referential, neutral, positively and negatively toned words. Results: Depressed patients chose more negative and fewer positive words as self-referential, though no significant differences between groups in CNV magnitude for any of the words were found. Persistence of cortical negativity after the motor response (PINV) was significantly (P < 0.02) greater in patients for all non-self-referential words, and reaction times were significantly longer for all words. Recall of positive words and recognition of all words were significantly impaired in patients. Conclusions: Both electrophysiological measures and memory tests found differences between depressed patients and controls, suggesting that the PINV wave may be a useful electrophysiological probe to clarify the neurophysiological basis of cognitive processes.
Effects of Total Sleep Deprivation on Cardiovascular Parameters: An Absence of Biologically Significant Findings?
Authors: Miró Elena , Cano Carmen , Buela-Casal Gualberto
Published: April 2003

Abstract The present study analyzes the variations of heart rate (HR) and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) during 60 h of total sleep deprivation (TSD). All variables were evaluated every 2 h in a resting condition, during the performance of a vigilance task. Thirty healthy volunteers (15 men and 15 women) from 18 to 24 years old participated in the experiment. The analyses of variance (ANOVAS) with repeated measures showed some modifications of HR and SBP mean values mainly marked by circadian oscillations. The circadian oscillations had a smaller amplitude for SBP than for HR. HR showed a slight decrease on the second night of TSD and a slight increase on the third day of TSD. SBP decreased during the first 24 h of TSD and after that maintained its values without significant changes. DBP did not show any significant variations during TSD. In addition, there were no differences in function of gender for the TSD effect on the studied variables. All these statistically significant findings, however, seem to have no biological or clinical relevance. These aspects as well as the possible relationships between our results and activation or stress levels during TSD are discussed.
Olfactory Modulation of Steady- State Visual Evoked Potential Topography in Comparison with Differences in Odor Sensitivity
Authors: Owen Caroline M. , Patterson John , Silberstein Richard B.
Published: April 2003

Summary Research was undertaken to determine whether olfactory stimulation can alter steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) topography. Odor-air and air-only stimuli were used to determine whether the SSVEP would be altered when odor was present. Comparisons were also made of the topographic activation associated with air and odor stimulation, with the view toward determining whether the revealed topographic activity would differentiate levels of olfactory sensitivity by clearly identifying supra- and subthreshold odor responses. Using a continuous respiration olfactometer (CRO) to precisely deliver an odor or air stimulus synchronously with the natural respiration, air or odor (n-butanol) was randomly delivered into the inspiratory airstream during the simultaneous recording of SSVEPs and subjective behavioral responses. Subjects were placed in groups based on subjective odor detection response: “yes” and “no” detection groups. In comparison to air, SSVEP topography revealed cortical changes in response to odor stimulation for both response groups, with topographic changes evident for those unable to perceive the odor, showing the presence of a subconscious physiological odor detection response. Differences in regional SSVEP topography were shown for those who reported smelling the odor compared with those who remained unaware of the odor. These changes revealed olfactory modulation of SSVEP topography related to odor awareness and sensitivity and therefore odor concentration relative to thresholds.
Event- and Motor-Related Potentials During the Continuous Performance Task in Attention- Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Authors: Sartory Gudrun , Heine Arnfried , Müller Bernhard W. , Elvermann-Hallner Angela
Published: April 2003

Abstract Contingent negative variation (CNV) and evoked potentials were recorded during the continuous performance test in 20 children (aged 7 to 12) with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and in 19 age-matched healthy children. A series of letters were displayed every 2.1 s and a button had to be pressed whenever the letter O was followed by an X. Children were also given neuropsychological tests and questionnaires assessing anxiety and depression. Unlike ADHD children, healthy children showed a more pronounced CNV after the cue - the letter O - than after the distractors. At Fz, CNV negativity was significantly correlated with IQ and executive function. Control children also exhibited a higher parietal N375 post S1 - likely to be associated with letter processing - and a higher N550 amplitude at Fz than ADHD children post S1 and S2; both groups showed a higher N550 amplitude whenever X followed non-O or O was followed by non-X. This component appears to be involved in decision-making processes regarding the initiation or inhibition of movement. ADHD children had a faster reaction time but made more errors of omission and commission. Results suggest that ADHD children show deficits in both stimulus processing and response execution.
Validity of the Structured Interview for the Assessment of Type A Behavior Pattern
Authors: Del Pino Pérez A. , Gaos Meizoso M.T. , Dorta González R.
Published: April 2003

Summary: This is an analysis of a Spanish version of the Structured Interview (SI) employing a sample of 486 males, predominantly manual workers. The subjects are grouped into three subsamples: coronary heart patients, heart patients without coronary disease, and healthy people. SI questions are coded for contents on a 5-point scale. Frequency of specific Type A speech characteristics and clinical judgments are rated on the same scale. Factor Analysis resulted in four factors: Competitiveness and Pressured Drive, Clinical Ratings, Expression of Anger, and Speed-Impatience. The first factor differentiated between heart disease patients (coronary and noncoronary) and healthy people; the third factor showed the dissimilarities between coronary patients on the one hand, and noncoronary patients and healthy people on the other. Finally, the Global or Type A Scale also distinguished heart patients, both coronary and noncoronary, from healthy people.
The Retirement Satisfaction Inventory: Factor Structure in a French Sample
Authors: Fouquereau Evelyne , Fernandez Anne , Mullet Etienne
Published: April 2003

Summary: The Retirement Satisfaction Inventory ( Floyd, Haynes, Doll, Winemiller, Lemsky, Burgy, Werle, & Heilman, 1992 ) was applied to a heterogeneous sample of male (n = 295) and female (n = 260) French retirees. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses produced consistent subscales. In the sections on “Reasons for retirement” and “Sources of enjoyment” of the inventory, the factor structure observed was similar to that observed in the American sample. Four and three factors were identified, respectively, and they are interpretable in the terms proposed by Floyd et al. (1992) . In the section “Satisfaction with life,” there were more discrepancies between American and French results. “Overall satisfaction with retirement” was reasonably well predicted thanks to the combination of four predictors: satisfaction with health and resources, anticipated satisfaction, satisfaction with marriage and family, and regained freedom and control. As in Floyd et al. (1992) , few effects regarding age, gender, socioeconomic status, and length of retirement were found.
The Cognitive Map of Occupations: Factor Structure in a Spanish Sample
Authors: Sastre María Teresa Muñoz , Mullet Etienne , Semin Christèle
Published: April 2003

Summary: The present work was aimed at assessing the factorial structure of Gottfredson's (1981) cognitive map of occupations. Participants, 500 Spanish pupils aged 14 years, were presented 129 occupations derived from Shinar's (1975) questionnaire, and asked to rate each occupation on one of 10 different scales derived from Gottfredson 's work: femininity, masculinity, prestige, income, realistic, research, artistic, social, entrepreneurial, and conventional. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted on the 129 × 10 matrix of means. The best solution was found to be a three-factor solution, with an independent social status factor and two correlated factors: gender and creativity.
Two Foundations of Rorschach Assessment Revisited
Authors: Costello Raymond M.
Published: April 2003

Summary: The Rorschach has been approached from two philosophical traditions: the hermeneutic and the scientific. The dialectical tension between these diverse traditions has led to considerable argument about the professional status of the Rorschach. Literature emanating from these traditions is reviewed and conclusions reached about the reliability and validity of the instrument from both approaches. Arguments whether the approaches are mutually exclusive and whether the approaches can be mixed are examined. A research program is recommended that follows Meehl's (1990) discussion of a Lakatosian approach to scientific theory testing.
Contemporary Perspectives on Rorschach Assessment
Authors: Weiner Irving B.
Published: April 2003

Summary: In the last 20 years the advent of the Comprehensive System has developed the Rorschach Inkblot Method (RIM) into a standardized and psychometrically sound personality assessment instrument with numerous indices that can be reliably coded, show considerable test-retest stability, and have abundant valid corollaries. Rorschach assessment has demonstrated utility in contributing to clinical diagnosis of psychopathology, providing guidelines for treatment planning and outcome evaluation, and identifying adaptive and maladaptive features of how people attend to their experience, use ideation, modulate affect, manage stress, view themselves, and relate to others. The RIM can also be effectively integrated with more structured self-report inventories in a complementary way that describes personality functioning in greater depth than would otherwise be possible. The RIM remains at present a widely used and extensively researched measure in many parts of the world. Although the inkblot method is essentially a culture-free instrument with universal applicability, further research is needed to establish cross-cultural normative data concerning its variables.
Influence of Emotional Intensity and Frequency of Positive and Negative Events on Depression
Authors: Davis Paul A. , Burns G. Leonard
Published: April 2003

This study replicates and extends aspects of psychological behaviorism's analysis of the role of positive and negative events in depression. As a first step, four pilot studies were conducted to develop a positive and negative events rating scale. This measure assesses the emotional intensity of positive and negative events (i. e., the strength of the positive or negative emotional response produced by the event) as well as the frequency of occurrence of the positive and negative events. A sample of 1089 college students then completed the Beck Depression Inventory and this new life events measure. Consistent with psychological behaviorism's analysis that emotional intensity involves a personality process and frequency an environmental process, the results showed that the emotional intensity of positive and negative events as well as the frequency of positive and negative events had independent roles in the prediction of depression (i. e., each of the four variables predicted depression after controlling for the other three). In addition, the results supported the personality and environmental subtypes of depression as specified by the theory. Suggestions are made for how subsequent research can test more explicitly this theory of depression.
Development of a Simulated Assessment Center
Authors: Lievens Filip
Published: April 2003

Summary: In this study a simulation of an assessment center is developed consisting of videotaped performances of four candidates in three exercises: sales presentation, role-play, and group discussion. To develop the simulation, candidate profiles are constructed which vary along three dimensions: problem analysis and problem solving, interpersonal sensitivity, and planning and organizing. Dimension-specific behaviors are adapted from 173 critical incidents provided by 20 experienced assessors. As a result, scripts are written and enacted by actors. To validate the simulation, experienced assessors evaluate all candidates under optimal conditions. High interrater agreement among these experts (intraclass correlation = .9) and a high correlation (r = .93) between expert scores and intended scores are found. Finally, the simulation is piloted and calibrated on 16 managers and 28 industrial-psychology students. Practical applications of the simulation involve assessor training and certification. Researchers may use it to examine which factors affect the accuracy of assessor judgments.
The Effect of Instructions on Multiple-Choice Test Scores
Authors: Prieto Gerardo , Delgado Ana R.
Published: April 2003

Summary: Most standardized tests instruct subjects to guess under scoring procedures that do not correct for guessing or correct only for expected random guessing. Other scoring rules, such as offering a small reward for omissions or punishing errors by discounting more than expected from random guessing, have been proposed. This study was designed to test the effects of these four instruction/scoring conditions on performance indicators and on score reliability of multiple-choice tests. Some 240 participants were randomly assigned to four conditions differing in how much they discourage guessing. Subjects performed two psychometric computerized tests, which differed only in the instructions provided and the associated scoring procedure. For both tests, our hypotheses predicted (0) an increasing trend in omissions (showing that instructions were effective); (1) decreasing trends in wrong and right responses; (2) an increase in reliability estimates of both number right and scores. Predictions regarding performance indicators were mostly fulfilled, but expected differences in reliability failed to appear. The discussion of results takes into account not only psychometric issues related to guessing, but also the misleading educational implications of recommendations to guess in testing contexts.
Test Use in Spain, Portugal and Latin American Countries
Authors: Muñiz José , Prieto Gerardo , Almeida Leandro , Bartram Dave
Published: April 2003

Summary: The two main sources of errors in educational and psychological evaluation are the lack of adequate technical and psychometric characteristics of the tests, and especially the failure to properly implement the testing process. The main goal of the present research is to study the situation of test construction and test use in the Spanish-speaking (Spain and Latin American countries) and Portuguese-speaking (Portugal and Brazil) countries. The data were collected using a questionnaire constructed by the European Federation of Professional Psychologists Association (EFPPA) Task Force on Tests and Testing, under the direction of D. Bartram . In addition to the questionnaire, other ad hoc data were also gathered. Four main areas of psychological testing were investigated: Educational, Clinical, Forensic and Work. Key persons were identified in each country in order to provide reliable information. The main results are presented, and some measures that could be taken in order to improve the current testing practices in the countries surveyed are discussed. As most of the tests used in these countries were originally developed in other cultures, a problem that appears to be especially relevant is the translation and adaptation of tests.
Future-Time Perspective: Analysis of a Facet-Designed Questionnaire
Authors: Stouthard Marlies E.A. , Peetsma Thea T.D.
Published: April 2003

Summary: Future-time perspective for adolescents and young adults is directed towards several objects and may extend into the far or the near future. Differences in this perspective can affect motivational qualities influencing investment in one's future. A future-time perspective questionnaire was developed along these lines using facet design. It contains an object facet with the elements school and professional career, personal development, social relations, and leisure time; and an extension facet in which the elements short-term and long-term were distinguished. This study aims at empirically confirming the facet structure of the questionnaire in a sample of young adults. The questionnaire was administered to the 1993 cohort of psychology students. In total, 517 students under 25 years of age completed the questionnaire. Empirical analysis of the facet design using confirmatory factor analysis required modeling the facet structure in terms of a block diagonal model. The well-known statistical problem of finding adequate starting values for the parameter estimates in the analysis of such models with factor complexity larger than one was resolved. The analysis resulted in the complete recovery of the facet structure. It was concluded, with some reservations, that the results seem to support the validity of the questionnaire.
Covert Reactions to Big Five Personality Traits: The Impact Message Inventory and the NEO-PI-R
Authors: Schmidt James A. , Wagner Christopher C. , Kiesler Donald J.
Published: April 2003

Summary: Participants (n = 168) rated acquaintances' personality using the NEO Personality Inventory - Revised (NEO-PI-R; Peer Rating Form) and the Impact Message Inventory (IMI) to examine the relationship between the interpersonal circumplex and Big Five models of personality. Results support the predicted finding that the NEO scales of Extraversion and Agreeableness load most strongly on the circumplex regions of Friendly-Dominance and Friendly-Submissiveness, respectively. Unexpectedly, the NEO domains of Neuroticism, Conscientiousness and Openness (to a lesser extent) also show projections onto circular structure.
Social Support as an Interpersonal Construct
Authors: Trobst Krista K.
Published: April 2003

Summary: The present article relied upon interpersonal theory ( Sullivan, 1953 ), the interpersonal circumplex model ( Leary, 1957 ), resource exchange theory ( Foa & Foa, 1974 ), and the meta-constructs of agency and communion ( Bakan, 1966 ; Wiggins, 1991 ) in the attempt to explicate a theoretical and measurement model of social support. The Support Actions Scale - Circumplex (SAS-C; Trobst, in press ) provides a circumplex measure of social support whose psychometric characteristics are comparable to the best circumplexes reported in the literature. Empirical findings using this recent measure are summarized and interpreted with respect to an interpersonal theory perspective.
Reply to the Universities' Reaction to the Canadian Psychological Association's Position Statement on the Test of English as a Foreign Language
Authors: Simner Marvin L.
Published: April 2003

Summary: The Canadian Psychological Association recently issued a position statement on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The purpose of the statement was to alert university officials to serious shortcomings in the use of the TOEFL as an admissions screening device for nonnative English speaking applicants. The present report, written in response to reactions from several universities, contains a detailed critique of the evidence cited by the Educational Testing Service in favor of the TOEFL and therefore provides further reason for exercising considerable caution when making admission decisions based primarily on TOEFL scores.
Question Wording Effects in the Assessment of Global Self-Esteem
Authors: Dunbar Martin , Ford Graeme , Hunt Kate , Der Geoff
Published: April 2003

Summary: Marsh (1996) produced evidence that method effects associated with negatively worded items might be responsible for the results of earlier factor analytic studies that reported finding positive and negative self-esteem factors in the Rosenberg Global self-esteem scale ( Rosenberg, 1965 ). He analyzed data collected from children using a 7-item self-esteem measure. This report details attempts to replicate Marsh 's analysis in data collected from two samples of adults who completed the full 10-item Global Self-Esteem (GSE) scale. The results reported here are similar to those given by Marsh in so much as a correlated uniquenesses model produced a superior fit to the data than the simple one factor model (without correlated uniquenesses) or the often reported two factor (positive and negative self-esteem) model. However, whilst Marsh reported that the best fit was produced by allowing negative item uniquenesses to correlate with each other, the model that produced the best fit to these data was one that contained correlated positive item uniquenesses. Supporting his claim that differential responding to negative and positive self-esteem items reflects a method effect associated with reading ability, Marsh also showed that factors associated with negative and positive items were most distinct among children who had poor reading scores. We report a similar effect among a sample of older adults where the correlation between these factors was compared across two groups who were selected according to their scores on a test of verbal reasoning.
Assessing General Ecological Behavior
Authors: Kaiser Florian G. , Biel Anders
Published: April 2003

Summary: The General Ecological Behavior (GEB) scale was developed for cross-cultural applications ( Kaiser & Wilson, in press ). The present study compares ecological behavior in Sweden and Switzerland. Questionnaire data from 247 Swedish and 445 Swiss participants are presented. Reliability and internal consistency analyses revealed that the GEB scale was applicable to both the Swedish and Swiss samples. In general, Swiss behave more ecologically than Swedes. Nevertheless, several ecological behaviors turned out to be easier to conduct in Sweden than in Switzerland and vice versa. The GEB scale takes differential behavior difficulties into account that are most likely caused by situational influences. At the same time, the proposed behavior measurement approach guides the search for potentially useful political actions that make it easier for people to behave ecologically in some societies and, thus, can be adopted by others.
Mother-Daughter Attachment and Family Cohesion
Authors: Schmitt Manfred
Published: April 2003

Summary: This contribution investigates the psychometric properties of two scales for measuring family cohesion and mother-daughter attachment. The scales were administered to 206 adult female subjects on three occasions of measurement 9 months apart. Various single-construct latent state-trait models with and without method factors were tested against the data and compared to each other. The most parsimonious version of a latent state-trait model with method factors was found to fit the data best for both constructs. The parameter estimates of this model reveal (1) that both scales are very reliable, (2) that they measure stable traits, (3) that test halves (formed by randomly splitting items) are not strictly parallel, but have their own test half-specific (method) factors, and (4) that the test scores vary across time due to systematic effects of the situation at the occasion of measurement. The last result indicates that the scales measure not only cohesion and attachment traits, but also cohesion and attachment states. In a second series of analyses, the two single-construct models were combined to a multi-construct latent state-trait model in order to determine the correlation of the latent traits and the correlations between the latent state residuals of the two constructs within the same occasion of measurement. The correlation between the two traits amounted to .61 and was considerably higher than the correlations between the corresponding manifest variables. Furthermore, the within-occasion correlations of the latent state residuals are substantial, indicating that the occasion-specific effects influenced the measures of both constructs in the same direction, i. e., attachment and cohesion states fluctuate synchronously across time.
A Four-Dimensional Model of Organizational Commitment among Belgian Employees* * The original data upon which this paper is based are available at www.hhpub.com/journals/ejpa
Authors: Delobbe Nathalie , Vandenberghe Christian
Published: April 2003

Summary: We conducted a study to examine the reliability and validity of four dimensions of organizational commitment. Using two samples from various organizations in Belgium (Ns = 216 and 201), we investigated internalization, compliance, and affective and continuance commitment as dimensions of employee commitment to the organization. Confirmatory factor analysis by LISREL showed that the four factors were reasonably distinct. However, the scales are in need of further refinement because (a) internalization and affective commitment are strongly correlated with each other and display similar relationships with major criterion variables (e. g., met expectations, job satisfaction, and intent to leave); (b) the compliance scale shows weak reliability and needs to be expanded. The implications of these results for future research are discussed.
Discriminant Validation of the Test of Reading Performance (TORP) for Identifying Children at Risk of Reading Difficulties
Authors: Susana Padeliadu , Sideridis Georgios D.
Published: April 2003

Abstract This study investigated the discriminant validation of the Test of Reading Performance (TORP), a new scale designed to evaluate the reading performance of elementary-school students. The sample consisted of 181 elementary-school students drawn from public elementary schools in northern Greece using stratified random procedures. The TORP was hypothesized to measure six constructs, namely: “letter knowledge,” “phoneme blending,” “word identification,” “syntax,” “morphology,” and “passage comprehension.” Using standard deviations (SD) from the mean, three groups of students were formed as follows: A group of low achievers in reading (N = 9) including students who scored between -1 and -1.5 SD from the mean of the group. A group of students at risk of reading difficulties (N = 6) including students who scored between -1.5 and -2 SDs below the mean of the group. A group of students at risk of serious reading difficulties (N = 6) including students who scored -2 or more SDs below the mean of the group. The rest of the students (no risk, N = 122) comprised the fourth group. Using discriminant analyses it was evaluated how well the linear combination of the 15 variables that comprised the TORP could discriminate students of different reading ability. Results indicated that correct classification rates for low achievers, those at risk for reading problems, those at risk of serious reading problems, and the no-risk group were 89%, 100%, 83%, and 97%, respectively. Evidence for partial validation of the TORP was provided through the use of confirmatory factor analysis and indices of sensitivity and specificity. It is concluded that the TORP can be ut ilized for the identification of children at risk for low achievement in reading. Analysis of the misclassified cases indicated that increased variability might have been responsible for the existing misclassification. More research is needed to determine the discriminant validation of TORP with samples of children with specific reading disabilities.
Psychometric Properties of a New Family Life Satisfaction Scale
Authors: Barraca Jorge , Yarto Luis López , Olea Julio
Published: April 2003

Summary: A scale of bipolar adjectives, the Family Satisfaction by Adjectives Scale (F.S.A.S.), is presented, consisting of 27 items designed to measure family satisfaction, mainly related to the affective connotation derived from family interaction. After applying the scale to a sample of 274 subjects and 16 patients in family therapy, we obtained (a) acceptable indicators of internal consistency (α = .976) and temporal stability (rxx = 0.758), (b) clear evidence of unidimensionality, (c) significant linear correlations with other measures of family satisfaction (Family Satisfaction, Olson & Wilson, 1982 ; Family Satisfaction Scale, Carver, & Jones, 1992 ), and (d) significant differences between a normal sample and a clinical one.
A Validation Study of the Interpersonal Circumplex Scales in the Italian Language
Authors: Blas Lisa Di
Published: April 2003

Summary: Eight interpersonal scales, developed within the Italian lexical context, were tested with respect to different kinds of validity. The observed continuum of interpersonal attributes corresponded to, in terms of content, Wiggins' circumplex (substantive validity). Several tests, performed across different subsamples, showed that the scales conformed to circumplex properties (structural integrity). Correlational and regression results indicated some concurrent validity with the IASR-B5, CPS, and 16 PF measures of personality dimensions. The results demonstrate the validity of the developed scales, thereby suggesting their potential utility for measuring the interpersonal dimensions of Dominance and Love/Nurturance in the Italian language.
Personality and Self-Rated Work Performance
Authors: Cook Mark , Young Alison , Taylor Dean , Bedford Anthony P.
Published: April 2003

Summary: Data are reported on the correlation between the California Psychological Inventory (CPI) and self-ratings of work performance for 889 municipal employees. Overall, CPI scores do not correlate with self-rated general or technical proficiency, or effort. CPI scales that assess relations with others correlate modestly with self-ratings of leadership. CPI scales that assess attitudes, values and “character” correlate modestly with self-ratings of personal discipline. These results give some evidence of the differential validity of the CPI and also indicate the usefulness of multidimensional criteria for performance at work.
Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Sternberg Triarchic Abilities Test in Three International Samples
Authors: Sternberg Robert J. , Castejón J.L. , Prieto M.D. , Hautamäki Jarkko , Grigorenko Elena L.
Published: April 2003

Summary: In the current study we compare different theoretical models of the underlying structure of the STAT (Sternberg Triarchic Abilities Test), Level-H, by using the techniques of confirmatory factor analysis on a combined sample of 3278 school students from the United States, Finland, and Spain. The results of the comparison of a number of models - using the strategy of hierarchical confirmatory factor analysis (HCFA) and comparing nested and alternative models, specified under different assumed theories relative to a unidimensional concept of general intelligence, a traditional factorial concept, and a triarchic model - illustrate that the second-order factor model based on the triarchic theory of intelligence achieves the best (albeit far from perfect) fit to the empirical data.