bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dispositional Traits Versus the Content of Experience: Actor/Observer Differences in Judgments of the "Authentic Self"
Authors: Johnson Joel T. , Boyd Kenneth R.
Published: March 2007

This study investigated whether actors and observers differ in their beliefs about what features of an individual best reflect his/her "authentic self " Some subjects rated the extent to which both dispositional traits (e.g., the tendency to be adventurous or not adventurous) and the specific content of the activities, thoughts, and feelings that exemplified those traits (e.g., "the things you do for adventure") reflected their "authentic selves. " Others made the same judgments about affined. Self-raters believed that the specific contents of their experiences were better indicators of their "authentic selves" than were their general dispositions, but friend-raters believed that the "authentic selves" of their acquaintances were better reflected by their general dispositions. Female subjects, both self-raters and friend-raters, tended to believe that the contents of covert emotional experiences were better indicators of the "authentic self" than male subjects did.
Attitude Importance and the False Consensus Effect
Authors: Fabrigar Leandre R. , Krosnick Jon A.
Published: March 2007

Numerous studies have demonstrated that the attitudes people consider personally important have an enhanced impact on cognition and behavior. This article explores the possibility that importance may regulate the magnitude of the false consensus effect as well. The authors report on six experiments that involved a variety of subject samples (college students and the general population), data collection methods (telephone interviewing and selJ-administered questionnaires), and political issues (e.g., abortion, gun control, defense spending). Meta analyses summarizing the results of 12 tests revealed a strong false consensus effect but no reliable relation between its magnitude and attitude importance. These results are inconsistent with the assumption that the false consensus effect is a result of attitudes directly or indirectly influencing perceptions of others, and they lend support to explanations of the false consensus effect that posit other mechanisms (i.e., attribution and object construal).
Effects of Inconsistent Behaviors on Person Impressions: A Multidimensional Study
Authors: Vonk Roos
Published: March 2007

This study addresses effects of expectancy-inconsistent behaviors on two characteristics of person impressions: the target person 's perceived position and fit within a multidimensional trait structure of Implicit Personality Theory (IPT). Inconsistency was manipulated with respect to two dimensions of IPT evaluation and potency. Behaviors with inconsistent evaluation implications did not affect the impressions. Inconsistencies on potency produced an asymmetry: Unexpected strong behaviors had the effect of higher ratings on traits reflecting high-potency, but not proportionately lower ratings on low-potency traits (producing a shift in the target's position as well as a decrease in the target's fit within subjects'IPT); effects of unexpected weak behaviors were substantially smaller. Thus effects of inconsistent information depended on (a) dimension of contrast (evaluation/potency), (b) valence of initial expectancy, and (c) valence of response trait scales.
Relationships among Belief in a Just World, Willingness to Accommodate, and Marital Well-Being
Authors: Lipkus Isaac M. , Bissonnette Victor L.
Published: March 2007

The relationship between willingness to accommodate and belief in a just world (JW), possible mediators of this relationship, and their impact on marital satisfaction and perceived conflict were examined among older and younger married couples. In both samples, JW predicted greater willingness to accommodate. Among older couples, the relationship of JW to own accommodation was mediated by perceptions of spousal accommodation. Among younger couples, the relationship of JW to own accommodation was not explained by perceived spousal accommodation, trust, or partner perspective taking. Further, only among older couples did JW predict greater marital satisfaction and lower frequency of conflict. For older couples, the relationship of JW to satisfaction was not explained by own or perceived spousal accommodation; however; own and perceived spousal accommodation accounted for the relationship of JW to frequency of conflict. These studies suggest that belief in a just world contributes positively to interpersonal processes and marital well-being.
The Reaffirmation of Cultural Identity in Cross-Cultural Encounters
Authors: Kosmitzki Corinne
Published: March 2007

This study examined the relation between cultural contact and psychological aspects associated with cultural identity, as conceptualized in two research approaches: social identity theory and acculturation research. The groups studied were German and U.S. American individuals who either lived in the respective nonnative culture (biculturals) or had no direct contact (monoculturals). Participants provided information about their sociocultural backgrounds and their cultural experiences, and they rated how characteristic each of 120 trait-attributes was of themselves, their native cultural group, and their nonnative cultural group. They also rated the attributes' desirability. Comparisons between monocultural and bicultural groups revealed a reaffirmation effect. Compared with monoculturals, biculturals saw themselves as more similar to their native cultural group, they evaluated that particular group's attributes more positively, and they saw the two cultural groups as less similar to each other. Theoretical implications of the reaffirmation effect are discussed.
That Still, Small Voice: Commitment to Cooperate as an Internalized Versus a Social Norm
Authors: Kerr Norbert L. , Garst Jennifer , Lewandowski Donna A. , Harris Susan E.
Published: March 2007

Recent research suggests that group discussion of a social dilemma may increase cooperative behavior because group members honor the commitments they make during the group discussion. This article asks whether people honor such commitments because of the social consequences of violating them or because of the internal personal consequences of doing so. Experiment 1 replicated and extended previous research showing that the anonymity of one's cooperative/noncooperative choice does not moderate the effect of group discussion. Experiment 2 examined the possibility that commitments to cooperate were kept due to mindless adherence to a prior decision, rather than to an internalized norm. Contrary to the former possibility, enhancing mindfulness did not moderate the effect of group discussion. The scope and implications of personal norms of commitment are discussed.
Lucky Events and Beliefs in Luck: Paradoxical Effects on Confidence and Risk-Taking
Authors: Darke Peter R. , Freedman Jonathan L.
Published: March 2007

The effects of a lucky event and irrational beliefs about luck were examined. In two experiments, some subjects experienced a lucky event, whereas others did not. All subjects then completed an unrelated decision task rated their confidence, and placed a bet. The effects of a lucky experience depended substantially on individual beliefs concerning the causal properties of luck. After the lucky event, those who believed in luck (i.e., thought of luck as a stable, personal attribute) were more confident and bet more, whereas those who did not believe in luck (i.e., thought luck was random) were less confident and bet less. A third experiment identified analogous effects using multiple-choice test questions that included a monetary penalty for errors. Increased expectations following initial luck were interpreted in terms of a lucky streak effect, whereas the paradoxical decrease in expectancy was viewed as an instance of the gamblers' fallacy.
A Nasty but Effective Negotiation Strategy: Misrepresentation of a Common-Value Issue
Authors: O'Connor Kathleen M. , Carnevale Peter J.
Published: March 2007

Conflicts sometimes involve issues for which both parties want the same outcome, although frequently parties fail to recognize their shared interests. These common-value issues set the stage for a nasty misrepresentation strategy: feigning opposed interest on the common-value issue to gain an advantage on other issues. In a laboratory negotiation simulation, participants used misrepresentation in 28% of their negotiations. The strategy was more likely to occur when negotiators had individualistic motives and was less likely to occur when both parties realized their common interests. Use of the strategy led to favorable outcomes, and these were best predicted by negotiator aspirations, rather than perceptual accuracy. The authors discovered two forms of the strategy: misrepresentation by commission (the user actively misrepresented his or her common-value issue preferences) and misrepresentation by omission (the user concealed his or her common-value issue interests when the other person made a favorable offer).
Combining Trait and Stereotype Expectancies in Person Memory
Authors: Gingrich Bryan E. , Houston David A. , Lupfer Michael B.
Published: March 2007

Person memory research has investigated the effects of trait and stereotype expectancies on the organization and retrieval of expectancy-congruent and expectancy-incongruent behavioral information. We extend this work by investigating the combined effects of stereotype and trait expectancies. Participants were presented with either (a) a trait expectancy only, with no information about the target's ethnicity, or (b) an expectation that the target was African American as well as a trait expectancy. When no information was presented about the target's ethnicity, the standard advantage in recall for trait-incongruent behaviors was found. However, when information that the target was African American was added to trait information, this recall advantage for trait-incongruent behaviors was reduced for both European American and African American participants. These results are discussed in terms of the combination of trait and stereotype expectancies.
Mindfulness Limits Compliance with the That's-Not-AU Technique
Authors: Pollock Carrie L. , Smith Shane D. , Knowles Eric S. , Bruce Heather J.
Published: March 2007

The authors assessed whether That's-Not-All (TNA) influence techniques are mindless phenomena. A psychology club gourmet chocolate sale displayed either large or small boxes of chocolate. When passersby asked for the price of the chocolate, they were given a TNA offer or a control offer Inquirers were also told no reason, a placebic reason, or a good reason for buying the chocolate. The box price increased mindfulness. People considering the large box were persuaded by the real reason more than by the placebic reason, whereas people considering the small box were equally persuaded by placebic and real reasons. The TNA offer was effective in selling the small box of chocolate (76% for TNA vs. 45% for control) but not the large box (18% for TNA vs. 24% for control). These findings suggest that the TNA effect works only when people are mindlessly considering the offer.
The Relationship of Stereotypes about Helpers to Help-Seeking Judgments, Preferences, and Behaviors
Authors: Bogart Laura M.
Published: March 2007

This study examined the relationship of two conceptually distinct components of stereotypes (perceived group stereo typicality and perceived group dispersion) to judgments and help-seeking behavior Eighty-six participants had an opportunity to request help on a math test from either an Asian American or a White American male target. Participants who perceived Asian Americans more stereotypically as a group relative to White Americans judged the Asian American target in a more stereotypic manner and requested more help from him than from the White American target. Participants who perceived Asian Americans to be more dispersed as a group relative to White Americans were less confident in their judgments and took longer to make help-seeking decisions. These results extend previous work by demonstrating that perceived stereo typicality and perceived dispersion are conceptually distinct components of stereotypes that not only have different relationships with judgments but also with behaviors.
The Stigma of Obesity in Women: The Difference is Black and White
Authors: Hebl Michelle R. , Heatherton Todd F.
Published: March 2007

This study examined whether there is subcultural variation in the stigma of obesity. Black and White women rated photographs of thin, average, and large Black and White women on a number of evaluative dimensions. The photographs depicted professional models dressed in fashionable clothing. Results showed that White women rated large women, especially large White women, lower on attractiveness, intelligence, job success, relationship success, happiness, and popularity than they did average or thin women. By contrast, Black women did not show the same denigration of large women, and this was especially true when they were rating large Black women. A number of possible explanations are offered for these results, such as the difference in Black and White women's social role models, weight salience, subcultural beliefs concerning obesity, and disidentification from mainstream values.
"What, Me Worry?": Arousal, Misattribution, and the Effect of Temporal Distance on Confidence
Authors: Savitsky Kenneth , Medvec Victoria Husted , Charlton Ann E. , Gilovich Thomas
Published: March 2007

Confidence has been found to vary with temporal proximity to an upcoming task: People's confidence that they will do well tends to diminish as the "moment of truth" draws near. We propose that this phenomenon stems in part from individuals using their pretask arousal as a cue to their level of confidence. Arousal that is part and parcel of "gearing up" to perform a task may be misattributed to diminished confidence. Consistent with this reasoning, participants in two experiments who were encouraged to misattribute their arousal to a neutral source ("subliminal noise") expressed greater confidence in their ability than did participants not able to do so-a result that would not be obtained if arousal was simply a reflection, and not a cause, of diminished confidence.
Bracing for the Worst: Severity, Testing, and Feedback Timing as Moderators of the Optimistic Bias
Authors: Taylor Kevin M. , Shepperd James A.
Published: March 2007

People are remarkably optimistic in their personal predictions. Hozwver, people occasionally will be pessimistic, bracing themselves for negative feedback, if they anticipate that their optimistic out-look might be challenged. The authors examined the effects of event severity, testing, and feedback timing on personal predictions. Participants believed they would or would not be tested for a medical condition with or without severe consequences. At the beginning of the experiment, participants who anticipated being tested believed they would receive their test results in 3 to 4 weeks. At the end of the experiment, these participants learned that they would receive their test results in anew moments. As predicted, participants who were tested were most pessimistic when anticipating immediate feedback for a deficiency with severe consequences. Further analyses revealed that participants' personal predictions were related to their affect.
A Comparison of Partial and Complete Paired Comparisons in Sociometric Measurement of Preschool Groups
Authors: Cohen Allan S. , Van Tassel Elizabeth
Published: March 2007

Low test-retest reliabilities over periods from ten days to five months have been obtained on a par tial-rank order sociometric, the PSI, of preschool- age children's peer preferences. These results have been interpreted to mean that preschool-age chil dren do not have stable and enduring friendships with their peers. An alternative possibility is that the reliabilities of partially ranked data are so low as to obscure the existence of stable individual friendships in this age group. A full-rank order so ciometric instrument, the PCST, utilizing color photographs of the children in a preschool group as aids in eliciting friendship choices from the chil dren, was developed and tested on a group of three- year-olds and a group of four-year-olds. The socio metric measurements from both the PSI and the PCST were most reliable for the four-year-old group. Correlations between the PSI and the PCST, when corrected for attenuation, revealed that the two measures were probably assessing the same peer choice behavior, although the PCST was markedly superior in reliability. Administration time for the PCST was higher but substantially less than for previous paired-comparisons procedures.
Cross-Validation of Item Selection on the Bem Sex Role Inventory
Authors: Walkup Hugh , Abbott Robert D.
Published: March 2007

Prompted by Edwards and Ashworth (1977) Bem's (1974) BSRI item selection strategy was reex amined, using her anchored rating scale and in structions. The results replicate Bem's for 18 of the 20 masculine items and 19 of the 20 feminine items. These results suggest that the failure to re plicate, reported by Edwards and Ashworth, re sulted from differences in the anchored rating scale and instructions. One masculine and three feminine BSRI items were found to violate Bem's assumption of relative desirability. Only half the neutral items were rated neutral with regard to sex by the judges.
Individual Inconsistency: Implications for Test Reliability and Behavioral Predictability
Authors: Whitely Susan E.
Published: March 2007

The nature of individual inconsistency in per formance on trait measurements is an important topic in psychometrics because of its direct rele vance to measurement reliability. Several studies have supported short-term inconsistency as a sys tematic source of variation among individuals by finding some evidence for generalizability and rela tionship to behavioral predictability. However, these findings are questionable, since these studies con founded change with short-term fluctuation in their response inconsistency measure. The current re search separates these two sources of inconsistency in a reanalysis of the data from one major study on short-term consistency and finds little evidence for generalizability or a relationship to behavioral pre dictability. These results support the popular as sumption that measurement error from short-term fluctuations is not due to systematic individual dif ferences in response consistency, as well as sup porting a more limited definition of the individual inconsistency construct.
Application of a Simplex Process Model to Six Years of Cognitive Development in Four Demographic Groups
Authors: Humphreys Lloyd G. , Park Randolph D. , Parsons Charles K.
Published: March 2007

A simplex process model of the cross-lagged cor relation paradigm was applied to 16 tests ad ministered to samples of black and white males and black and white females in Grades 5, 7, 9, and 11. Listening, a measure of aural comprehension, con sistently anticipated individual differences on an in tellectual composite in all four groups. The other achievement test of the STEP series anticipated in dividual differences on the so-called aptitude tests of SCAT, which in turn anticipated individual dif ferences on the narrow information scores obtained from the Test of General Information (TGI). This model may be more powerful in revealing lags than the traditional methods of analyzing cross-lagged differences in longitudinal data. The model does not require stationarity and can produce a meaningful outcome in its absence.
The Rasch Model as Additive Conjoint Measurement
Authors: Perline Richard , Wright Benjamin D. , Wainer Howard
Published: March 2007

The object of this paper is to present Rasch's psychometric model as a special case of additive conjoint measurement. The connection between these two areas has been discussed before, but largely ignored. Because the theory of conjoint measurement has been formulated determinis tically, there have been some difficulties in its application. It is pointed out in this paper that the Rasch model, which is a stochastic model, does not suffer from this fault. The exposition centers on the analyses of two data sets, each of which was ana lyzed using Rasch scaling methods as well as some of the methods of conjoint measurement. The results, using the different procedures, are com pared.
Multiple Hierarchical Analysis
Authors: Hofmann Richard J.
Published: March 2007

A multivariate method for exploratory scalogram analysis of binary data is developed—Multiple Hierarchical Analysis (MHA). This method, based on certain factor analytic methodology, is demon strated using an illustrative data set. It is concluded that the MHA methodology will be functional in identifying underlying independent and noninde pendent scales in binary data.
Some New Measures of Profile Dissimilarity
Authors: Budescu David V.
Published: March 2007

Four new measures of multidimensional profile dissimilarity are proposed that are (1) either sym metric or asymmetric and (2) either conditional or unconditional on profile shape. The four similarity indices are based on alternative normalizations of the regular distance (D) statistic of Cronbach and Gleser (1953), all taking values between 0 and 1. Methods of calculation and interpretations of the indices are demonstrated and discussed, and sev eral generalizations are suggested.
The Relationship Between Preference Strength and Relative Frequency of Choice
Authors: Zakay Dan
Published: March 2007

Probability of choice is the primary method of mea surement suggested by stochastic models of choice for validating decision-making models. It can be measured by relative frequency of choice (RF) or by preference strength (PS). It is suggested in this research that the relationship between PS values and RF values is not a linear but a cubic function, in the lower section of which RF is zero. In the middle, RF is monotonically related to PS, and in the upper section, RF is always 1.0. Twenty subjects performed decision tasks result ing in 400 pairs of PS and RF values. The hypothe sized relationship between RF and PS was supported by the analyses. The methodological and theoretical implications are discussed.
A Comparison of Five Methods for Estimating the Standard Error of Measurement at Specific Score Levels
Authors: Feldt Leonard S. , Steffen Manfred , Gupta Naim C.
Published: March 2007

The Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing (1985) recommended that test publishers pro vide multiple estimates of the standard error of mea surement—one estimate for each of a number of widely spaced score levels. The presumption is that the standard error varies across score levels, and that the interpretation of test scores should take into ac count the estimate applicable to the specific level of the examinee. This study compared five methods of estimating conditional standard errors. All five of the methods yielded a maximum value close to the middle of the score scale, with a sharp decline occurring near the extremes of the scale. These trends probably char acterize the raw score standard error of most standard ized achievement and ability tests. Other types of tests, constructed using alternative principles, might well exhibit different trends, however. Two methods of estimation were recommended: an approach based on polynomial smoothing of point estimates suggested by Thorndike (1951) for specific score levels and a modification proposed by Keats (1957) for the error variance derived under the binomial error model of Lord (1955).
Modeling Individual Differences in Unfolding Preference Data: A Restricted Latent Class Approach
Authors: Böckenholt Ulf , Böckenholt Ingo
Published: March 2007

A latent class scaling approach is presented for modeling paired comparison and "pick-any/ t" data obtained in a preference study. Although the latent class part of the model identifies homogene ous subgroups that are characterized by their choice probabilities for a set of alternatives, the scaling part of the model describes the single peakedness structure of the choice data. Proce dures are suggested for examining the unfolding struc ture in an unrestricted latent class solution. Two applications are presented to illustrate the technique. In the first application, scaling solutions obtained from a latent class scaling model and a marginal maximum likelihood latent trait model are com pared.
A Cluster-Based Method for Test Construction
Authors: Boekkooi-Timminga Ellen
Published: March 2007

Several methods for optimal test construction from item banks have recently been proposed using information functions. The main problem with these methods is the large amount of time required to identify an optimal test. In this paper, a new method is presented for the Rasch model that considers groups of interchangeable items, instead of individual items. The process of item clustering is described, the cluster-based test construction model is outlined, and the computational procedure and results are given. Results indicate that this method produces accurate results in small amounts of time. Index terms:
Adjustments for Rater Effects in Performance Assessment
Authors: Houston Walter M. , Raymond Mark R. , Svec Joseph C.
Published: March 2007

Alternative methods to correct for rater leniency/stringency effects (i.e., rater bias) in per formance ratings were investigated. Rater bias effects are of concern when candidates are evaluated by different raters. The three correction methods evaluated were ordinary least squares (OLS), weighted least squares (WLS), and imputation of the missing data (IMPUTE). In addition, the usual procedure of averaging the observed ratings was investigated. Data were simulated from an essentially τ-equivalent measure ment model, with true scores and error scores nor mally distributed. The variables manipulated in the simulations were method of correction (OLS, WLS, IMPUTE, averaging the observed ratings), amount of missing data (50% missing, 75% missing), rater bias (low, high), and number of examinees or can didates (N = 50, N = 100). The accuracy of the methods in estimating true scores was assessed based on the square root of the average squared difference between the estimated and known true scores. The three correction methods consistently outperformed the procedure of averaging the observed ratings. IMPUTE was superior to the least squares methods.
Estimating Individual Rater Reliabilities
Authors: Overall John E. , Magee Kevin N.
Published: March 2007

Rating scales have no inherent reliability that is independent of the observers who use them. The often reported interrater reliability is an average of perhaps quite different individual rater reliabilities. It is possible to separate out the individual rater reliabilities given a number of independent raters who observe the same sample of ratees. Under cer tain assumptions, an external measure can replace one of the raters, and individual reliabilities of two independent raters can be estimated. In a somewhat similar fashion, estimates of treatment effects present in ratings by two independent raters can provide the external frame of reference against which dif ferences in their individual reliabilities can be evaluated. Models for estimating individual rater reliabilities are provided for use in selecting, evalu ating, and training participants in clinical research.
Assessing Essential Unidimensionality of Real Data
Authors: Nandakumar Ratna
Published: March 2007

The capability of DIMTEST in assessing essential unidimensionality of item responses to real tests was investigated. DIMTEST found that some test data fit an essentially unidimensional model and other data did not. Essentially unidimensional test data identified by DIMTEST then were combined to form two-dimensional test data. The power of Stout's statistic T was examined for these two- dimensional data. DIMTEST results on real tests replicated findings from simulated tests— T dis criminated well between essentially unidimensional and multidimensional tests. T was also highly sen sitive to major traits and insensitive to relatively minor traits that influenced item responses.
The Power of Rasch Person-Fit Statistics in Detecting Unusual Response Patterns
Authors: Li Mao-neng Fred , Olejnik Stephen
Published: March 2007

Five Rasch person-fit indexes were compared on their ability to detect spuriously high and low nonsystematic response patterns. The moderating effects of test dimensionality, type of misfit, and test length were also investigated. Results indicated that (1) all fit indexes were not significantly correlated with Rasch trait estimates; (2) their sampling distributions deviated significantly from the standard normal distribution; (3) using adjusted cutoff criteria to identify misfit, ECI2z, ECI4z, Iz, and WSR-C performed equally well in the detection of misfit regardless of test dimensionality, type of misfit, and test length (however, only lz is recommended for the spuriously high response patterns for a two-dimensional test); (4) the false positive rate for each index was less than the nominal .05 level; (5) Rasch person-fit indexes are more sensitive to spuriously high response patterns than to spuriously low response patterns on a two-dimensional test, but when the test is unidimensional they demonstrate equal sensitivity to both types of misfit; and (6) the detectability of misfit increases with test length.
Perceptions of Managerial Power as a Consequence of Managerial Behavior and Reputation
Authors: Gioia Dennis A. , Sims Henry P.
Published: March 2007

Subjects viewed a videotape of a manager behaving in either a positive, punitive, or goal-setting manner who was portrayed as having a reputation for effectiveness or ineffectiveness (or had no information given about his reputation). The impact of these variables upon perceptions of power was assessed. Managerial behavior signifi cantly influenced perceptions of reward, coercive, legitimate, expert, and referent power. Managerial reputation significantly influenced perceptions of legitimate, referent, and especially, expert power. The relationships between overt managerial behavior and subordinate power perception were replicated in a second more "natural" ex periment. The results suggested the existence of an "implicit power theory" evoked by these managerial behaviors and information cues.
Spatial Productivity Variations in Manufacturing: A Critical Survey of Cross-Sectional Analyses
Authors: Moomaw Ronald L.
Published: March 2007

This paper examines recent work on productivity variations over space. Labor productivity and labor productivity controlled for capital intensity both vary among regions and across city size. Urbanization and localization economies, as well as those factors that influence national productivity growth, can be expected to influence these differentials. Empirical studies, however, have not gone much beyond the use of total population or employment in a region as a measure of urbanization or localization economies. As the survey shows, much research remains to be done. Two examples of the needed research are (1) a more detailed specification of the determinants of productivity differentials, and (2) the use of more sophisticated empirical techniques.
Residential Energy Standards and the Housing Market: A Regional Analysis
Authors: Quigley John M.
Published: March 2007

This paper uses estimates of the production function for flows of housing services and estimates of the demand for these services to evaluate the allocative efficiency of residential energy standards which vary by region throughout the state of California. The results suggest that, under the assumption about price increases used by the regulators, the losses imposed by the standards are rather small.
Detecting the Economic Base: New Challenges
Authors: Farness Donald H.
Published: March 2007

A growing and significant share of the economic base of many communities is comprised of output consumed within the region by nonresidents or by residents who expend externally derived funds. That output poses problems for analysts attempting to identify basic activity. This conceptual article assesses the discriminating powers of the bifurcation techniques employed in economic base studies. It is intended to make users and builders of macro regional models more aware of the problem.
Toward Effective Regional and Location Planning for Rural and Urban Linkages: The Debate Joined
Authors: Belsky Eric S. , Karaska Gerald J.
Published: March 2007

The authors of the article that began the symposium in this journal on location analysis and rural economic development comment on some of the subsequent contributions to the discussion and offer their concluding comments.
Flexible Linkages and Offshore Assembly Facilities in Developing Countries
Authors: Echeverri-Carroll Elsie L.
Published: March 2007

The adoption of advanced manufacturing technology and new forms of organization at parent plants has created expectations of spatial reintegration of production toward developed countries. Contrary to these expectations, there has been a flexible spatial decentralization process toward developing countries that is different from the one associated with mass production. While Vernon's product cycle theory hypothesizes that "obsolete" independent units are decentralized, in a flexible production system tightly integrated and increasingly technologically sophisticated units are transferred to developing countries. This trend is the result of changes not only in the production relations within the plant, but also across plants.
Bayesian Estimation of Spatial Autoregressive Models
Authors: Lesage James P.
Published: March 2007

Spatial econometrics has relied extensively on spatial autoregressive models. Anselin (1988) developed a taxonomy of these models using a regression model framework and maximum likelihood estimation methods. A Bayesian approach to estimating these models based on Gibbs sampling is introduced here. It allows for non-constant variance over space taking an unspecified form and outliers in the sample data. In addition, estimates of the non-constant variance at each point in space allow inferences regarding the spatial nature of heteroskedasticity and the position of outliers.
The Ad Hoc Collective Work of Building Gothic Cathedrals with Templates, String, and Geometry
Authors: Turnbull David
Published: March 2007

Gothic cathedrals like Chartres were built in a discontinuous process by groups of masons using their own local knowledge, measures, and techniques. They had neither plans nor knowledge of structural mechanics. The success of the masons in building such large complex innovative structures lies in the use of templates, string, constructive geometry, and social organization to assemble a coherent whole from the messy heterogeneous practices of diverse groups of workers. Chartres resulted from the ad hoc accumulation of the work of many men.
Engineering Heterogeneous Accounts: The Case of Submarine Thermal Reactor Mark-I
Authors: Frickel Scott
Published: March 2007

Within science and technology studies, few approaches have generated more contention—or more misunderstanding—than the "actor-network" analyses of Callon, Latour, and Law. Although many have taken critical issue with this approach, few studies have engaged the strengths and weaknesses of actor-network theory on its own terms. This article presents two arguments that constitute a critical engagement across (rather than against) actor-network terrain. First, the author suggests that the confusion surrounding actor-network accounts lies partially in the ambiguous role played by "social context" and argues for the political and explanatory importance of resketching the boundaries between the laboratory and society. Second, the author argues that a semiotic perspective is not necessarily an exclusive one and that different ways of telling stories about technoscientific practice can be combined usefully. These arguments are illustrated with a mostly Latourian account of the development of the STR Mark-I, the world's first "fully engineered" nuclear reactor.
Ink Blots or Profile Plots: The Rorschach versus the MMPI as the Right Tool for a Science-Based Profession
Authors: Buchanan Roderick D.
Published: March 2007

When a strange new test of perceptual style called the Rorschach reached the New World in the 1920s, it became almost immediately popular. Developed as a psychoana lytic "X ray" of the psyche, it succeeded because American psychologists wanted and needed it to do so, and to do so as that kind of test. Over a decade later, the MMPI was constructed as a more orthodox personality inventory geared to traditional psychiatric categories While this medical legacy was soon removed or obscured, success was more gradual. After the war, clinical psychologists adopted a professional identity independent of psychiatry. Their personality assessment tools, and what counted as success, came to reflect a reclaimed disciplinary genealogy. Standardized mappings and rule-by-numbers tended to displace a trust in experience and expert Judgment. In this context, "proper" Rorschach use came to be seen as indulgent or sadly mistaken. Supporters of the MMPI were, in contrast, able to claim both science and efficiency on their side and colonized the field. The history of these tests clearly illustrates the process of co-production, of how the right tool can become very wrong as networks dissipate and professional time goes by.
Ways of Going On: An Analysis of Skill Applied to Medical Practice
Authors: Collins H.M. , de Vries G.H. , Bijker W.E.
Published: March 2007

Humans do two types of actions, polimorphic actions and mimeomorphic actions. The ability to carry out polimorphic actions cannot be mastered outside of socialization. Mimeomorphic actions, however, can be learned in other ways; sometimes, they can be learned away from the context of practice. Polimorphic actions cannot be mimicked by machines, but some mimeomorphic actions can. Other mimeomorphic actions are too complex to mechanize. Actions that cannot be mechanized because they are physically complicated should not be confused with actions that cannot be mechanized because socialization is needed to master them. The analysis has implications for recent debates concerning the differences and similarities between humans and machines. The implica tion of the analysis is that much more can be understood about the relationship between humans and machines if the difference is treated as being a consequence of the unique properties of human societies. In this article, the analysis is applied to cardiac catheteriza tion, pacemaker implantation, simulation of bodies, and work in a medical "SkillsLab."
Sampling for Evaluation
Authors: O’Connell Ann Aileen
Published: March 2007

Sampling methods are an important issue in the evaluation of community-based HIV prevention initiatives because it is through responsible sampling procedures that a valid model of the population is produced and reliable estimates of behavior change determined. This article provides an overview on sampling with particular focus on the needs of community-based organizations (CBOs). As these organizations continue to improve their capacity for sampling and program evaluation activities, comparisons across CBOs can become more rigorous, resulting in valuable information collectively regarding the effectiveness of particular HIV prevention initiatives. The author reviews several probability and nonprobability sampling designs; discusses bias, cost, and feasibility factors in design selection; and presents six guidelines designed to encourage community organizations to consider these important sampling issues as they plan their program evaluations.
Conducting Meta-Analyses of HIV Prevention Literatures from a Theory-Testing Perspective
Authors: Marsh Kerry L. , Johnson Blair T. , Carey Michael P.
Published: March 2007

Using illustrations from HIV prevention research, the current article advocates approaching meta-analysis as a theory-testing scientific method rather than as merely a set of rules for quantitative analysis. Like other scientific methods, meta-analysis has central concerns with internal, external, and construct validity. The focus of a meta-analysis should only rarely be merely describing the effects of health promotion, but rather should be on understanding and explaining phenomena and the processes underlying them. The methodological decisions meta-analysts make in conducting reviews should be guided by a consideration of the underlying goals of the review (e.g., simply effect size estimation or, preferably, theory testing). From the advocated perspective that a health behavior meta-analyst should test theory, the authors present a number of issues to be considered during the conduct of meta-analyses.
Level of Functioning, Clinical Judgment, and Mental Health Service Evaluation
Authors: Newman Frederick L. , Rinkus Alan
Published: March 2007

A model is presented which shows how a program of services can be described in terms of its impact on consumers. Two groups of consumers are identified: the actual recipients of services, and the community at large. While program impact on service recipients can be measured using global level of functioning scales, such scales may be susceptible to bias. A study is described in which the results of a clinical judgment task are analyzed using Anderson's stimulus integration model. The methodology can provide feedback for staff development in a program's service planning, delivery, quality assurance, and evaluation procedures.
A Residential Continuum for the Chronically Mentally Ill
Authors: Drachman David
Published: March 2007

The movement of a group of chronically mentally ill clients among various facilities for residential care was described with a Markov probability model. The results of a goodness-of-fit test indicated that the model accurately captured the flow of clients among the state psychiatric hospital, the in-patient units, the community, and three types ofgroup homes. The model was then used to answer several policy-relevant questions about the functioning of the continuum of residential care, such as how often vacancies can be expected to arise and how efficiently clients are progressing along the continuum.
Role Conflict and Ambiguity:
Authors: Rosse Joseph G. , Rosse Pamela Hyder
Published: March 2007

A review of the nursing literature provides a number of hypotheses regarding levels among nurses of role ambiguity (uncertainty regarding others' expectations) and role conflict (incompatible demands from various role senders or from multiple roles held simultaneously). Questionnaire data collected from 504 registered staff nurses, licensed practical nurses, nurses aides and head nurses/supervisors in five hospitals failed to provide much support for these hypotheses. Although levels ofrole conflict and ambiguity were low for most nurses, they were significantly related to job stress, organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and intentions to quit.
Use of Resident Physicians:
Authors: Posavac Emil , Carey Raymond , Marin Barbara
Published: March 2007

Medical school graduates have become increasingly dependent on former community hospitals for residency programs because charitable institutions attached to medical schools are disappearing. It is not known what impact residencies have on hospitals that were community hospitals. We interviewed private practice physicians, residents, nurses, patients, and other groups in a large former community hospital. Overall, the interviews indicated good support for the hospital's new teach ing function. Furthermore, the residents were viewed in very favorable terms by all groups. There were two problem areas. One, some residents seem less sensitive to human relations than private practice physicians and other hospital groups. Two, many private practice physicians are concerned over the number of hospital-salaried physicians and the outpatient care offered by residents supervised by hospital-salaried physicians. This research suggested several recommendations that, if followed, would serve to increase the value of the residency in meeting patient needs in the most effective manner.
Quantitative Analysis of a Licensing Examination Using Adverse Impact
Authors: Chesney James D. , Engel Rafael J.
Published: March 2007

Does licensure restrict entry fairly, or does it serve as a discriminatory barrier for minorities? The use of the concept of adverse impact, a legally mandated, quantitative tool to assess selection procedures, is a useful mechanism to make such determinations. The results of a study in Michigan of the nursing examination for licensure show how adverse impact may be used. The implications of the outcome of the adverse impact study weigh heavily not only on the nursing examination but also on the use of such tools in other health professions.
Data Sources for Health Care Quality Evaluation
Authors: Baker Frank
Published: March 2007

The central purpose of this article is to review the major approaches to evaluation of health care quality in terms of its use of different data sources. The areas of application, advantages, and disadvantages of seven data sources arepresented, including direct observation, clinical records, record abstracts, clinical and administrative staff survey, patient survey, significant others survey, and population survey. Then the selection of data sources is discussed as this process is influenced by the answers to seven critical questions concerning the context of the quality assurance effort.
Quality of Care Assessment in Long-Term Care Facilities
Authors: Zimmer James G.
Published: March 2007

Quality of care assessment is in a rather rudimentary state of development in most long-term health care settings. Some of the mandates and initiatives in this area of evaluation are described and discussed. A few caveats are presented and suggestions made as to appropriate approaches to quality assessment in chronic carefacilities, which are different in many respects from the more traditional approaches used in acute care hospitals. Of particular importance, and at the same time of greatest difficulty, is the assessment of quality of life in institutions where many patients spend the remainder of their lives.
Diagnosis-Related Group Prospective Payment
Authors: McMahon Laurence F.
Published: March 2007

The new system for hospital reimbursement, called "reimbursement by diagnosis-related group" (DR G), offers a unique opportunity for the development of novel approaches to quality assurance. Groups of medically similar patients with stable patterns of resource use have been defined. These groups form the basis of the new payment system. Patients whose care deviates from the norm of resource consumption for their group, so-called outliers, will need to be reviewed by the hospital's administrative and medical staff. Such outliers are likely to constitute different types of patients than those in their assigned group: (1) patients whose medical complexity precludes grouping because of limitations in the abstracted clinical data; (2) patients whose medical care deviated because of complications of therapy or inappropriate diagnostic andlor therapeutic interventions; (3) patients whose medical course is so unique that they would never fit any classification system. The DRG-based reimbursement system, then, will compel hospitals to review the care of these outliers. The rigorous examination of these patients and their care, although just a first step, should be a major boon to quality of care evaluations.