bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development and Validation of the Computer Self-Efficacy Scale
Authors: Murphy Christine A. , Coover Delphine , Owen Steven V.
Published: March 2007

A 32-item Computer Self-Efficacy Scale (CSE) was developed to measure perceptions of capability regarding specific computer-related knowledge and skills. Data from 414 individuals engaged in learning to use computers in three settings were used to conduct analyses for assessing the reliability and construct validity of the instrument. A principal factor analysis with oblique rotation produced a conceptually meaningful 3-factor solution with high alpha reliabilities. An additional analysis suggested that the males and females in this study differed in judgments of their computer capability.
An Exploratory Examination of the Convergence between the Learning Styles Questionnaire and the Learning Style Inventory II
Authors: Sims Ronald R. , Veres John G. , Shake Leasa G.
Published: March 2007

The Learning Styles Questionnaire (Honey and Mumford, 1979) and the Learning Style Inventory II (Kolb, 1985) were examined for convergence. The correlation between the dimensions of the two instruments ranged from .01 to .22, indicating a relatively low level of congruence. The results from this study were also compared to similar research conducted by Honey and Mumford. The correlations obtained in this study were considerably lower than those reported by Honey and Mumford, contradicting previous comparisons of instruments measuring learning style (Kirby, 1979). Psychometric difficulties associated with both instruments are discussed as impediments to establishing construct validity, along with directions for future research.
Factor Analysis of Importance of Teacher Initial Certification Test Competency Ratings by Practicing Florida Teachers
Authors: Lavely Carolyn , Berger Neal , Blackman Joseph , Bullock Donna , Follman John , Kromrey Jeff , Shibutani Hirohide
Published: March 2007

As part of a job analysis of teaching conducted for the validation of a battery of initial certification subject area tests, 320 practicing Florida elementary teachers rated statements of teacher knowledge and skill for their importance in certification. A factor analysis of these ratings revealed a correlated configuration of factors: general knowledge and skills of teaching; subject-specific knowledge; theory of curriculum, pedagogy, and psychology; applied educational diagnosis and the maximization of achievement; and the professionalism of teaching. The factor structure obtained from the teachers' ratings was conceptually similar to the test blueprint produced by the examination development committee.
Significance Testing of Congruence Coefficients: A Good Idea?
Authors: Davenport Ernest C.
Published: March 2007

Tucker's congruence coefficient is often used to compare the equality of latent structures on a given test for different subgroups. Initial use of the index was subjective; given the same congruence coefficient, one investigator could decide that a pair of factors was similar, whereas another investigator could decide that they were different. Critical values were subsequently developed for this index to provide an objective basis for decision making. In practice, these values too often suggest congruence between factors known to differ. Results of the present study suggest that significance tests of congruence coefficients are inappropriate as currently performed.
The Accuracy of Evaluations Made by Logical and Illogical Raters Using a Mixed Standard Scale Format
Authors: Dedrick Esther J. , Dobbins Gregory H. , Desselles Mitzi L.
Published: March 2007

The present study compared rating accuracy of logical and illogical raters on mixed standard scales. A laboratory methodology was used so that the true level of ratee performance would be available and Cronbach's (1955) accuracy components could serve as dependent measures. Analyses indicated that illogical raters were less accurate than were logical raters, but only on differential evaluation. Implications for personnel practice and future research are discussed.
Development and Validation of the Virgilio Teacher Behavior Instrument
Authors: Teddlie Charles , Virgilio Irene , Oescher Jeffrey
Published: March 2007

This study was an attempt to develop an easily coded, research-oriented instrument to assess teacher effectiveness in the class- room. A 35-item Likert format scale was developed which included three subscales of teacher effectiveness: classroom management, instruction, and classroom climate. The results of the study indicated that the Virgilio Teacher Behavior Inventory (VTBI) is a reliable and valid instrument which can be administered with confidence either in elementary or junior high schools. Instrument development included the generation of an initial pool of 80 items which was refined during pilot testing to a final 35-item version. Content validity of the VTBI was indicated by an assessment of a panel of judges. Estimates of internal consistency (coefficient alpha) were .96 for the total inventory and .88, .96, and .85 for the classroom management, instruction, and classroom climate subscales, respectively. The relationship between the VTBI and a time-on-task measure ( r = .64, p < .0001) provided an indication of concurrent validity. A five-factor solution consistent with the theoretical structure of the VTBI was obtained tentatively defining one classroom management, two instruction, and two classroom climate dimensions.
A Basic Program for Converting Chronological Ages into Decimal for Averaging a Series of C As
Authors: Dreger Ralph Mason
Published: March 2007

A program for obtaining conversion of year-month-day format to decimal is described for use when birth and test administration dates are known. Errors of entry are correctable. After an average has been calculated, a reconversion routine from decimal to the usual format is available.
Predicting Graduate Academic Success from Undergraduate Academic Performance: A Canonical Correlation Study
Authors: Abedi Jamal
Published: March 2007

One of the major criteria employed in selecting graduate students is undergraduate GPA; generally, applicants with low GPAs will not be accepted at high quality graduate schools. This study, which uses a canonical correlation technique, examined the efficiency of the undergraduate GPA as a predictor of graduate academic success and compared it with other predictors. The results indicated that undergraduate GPA was not a good predictor of graduate academic success.
The Student Goals Exploration: Reliability and Concurrent Validity
Authors: Stark Joan S. , Bentley Richard J. , Lowther Malcolm A. , Shaw Kathleen M.
Published: March 2007

This paper reports the reliability and concurrent validity of the Student Goals Exploration, a paper and pencil inventory that measures goals students bring to college and college courses. Reliabilities demonstrating internal consistency and correlations demonstrating concurrent validity with three existing scales (LOGO II, the Need for Cognition Scale, and the Goal Instability Scale) suggest that the SGE provides good indicators for (a) general college goals, (b) general academic orientations toward courses, (c) subject-specific goals in courses, (d) specific goal attributes, and (e) levels of student confidence in course success.
A SAS Program for Testing the Hypothesis of the Equal Means Under Heteroscedasticity: James's Second-Order Test
Authors: Oshima T. C. , Algina James
Published: March 2007

A SAS program is presented which computes James's second-order procedure for testing the hypothesis of the equality of J means under heteroscedasticity.
Spjøtvoll-Stoline-Like Pairwise Comparisons among Independent Product-Moment Correlations
Authors: Williams Richard H.
Published: March 2007

An Applesoft BASIC computer program is described which enables the researcher to conduct pair wise multiple comparisons on a set of independent correlation coefficients. The statistical technique used is attributable to Levy (1977), and is a modification of the Spjøtvoll-Stoline method. Applications involving both equal and unequal sample sizes can be accommodated.
The Effect of Sample Size on the Functioning of the Mantel-Haenszel Statistic
Authors: Mazor Kathleen M. , Clauser Brian E. , Hambleton Ronald K.
Published: March 2007

The Mantel-Haenszel (MH) procedure has become one of the most popular procedures for detecting differential item functioning. Valid results with relatively small numbers of examinees are one of the advantages typically attributed to this procedure. In this study, examinee item responses were simulated to contain differentially functioning items, and then were analyzed at five sample sizes to compare detection rates. Results showed the MH procedure missed 25 to 30% of the differentially functioning items when groups of 2000 were used. When 500 or fewer examinees were retained in each group, more than 50% of the differentially functioning items were missed. The items most likely to be undetected were those which were most difficult, those with a small difference in item difficulty between the two groups, and poorly discriminating items.
The Predictive Validity of an Attitudes-To-School Scale in Relation to Children'S Academic Achievement
Authors: Marjoribanks Kevin
Published: March 2007

Scales were developed to measure children's affective and cognitive attitudes toward school. The predictive validities of the scales were examined in relation to children's academic achievement, after considering associations between the children's intellectual ability and measures of their academic achievement. Data were collected from 430 female and 450 male 11-year-old Australians. The results indicated that the scales may provide useful short-form measures of children's attitudes toward school.
Sats, Achievement Tests, and High-School Class Rank as Predictors of College Performance
Authors: Baron Jonathan , Norman M. Frank
Published: March 2007

This study asked how well students' grades at the University of Pennsylvania could be predicted from linear combinations of high-school class rank (CLR), total scholastic-aptitude-test score (SAT), and average achievement-test score (ACH), all of which are available in applications for admission to selective institutions. Underrepresented minorities were not included in the main analysis. Consideration of multiple regression coefficients revealed that CLR and ACH added significantly to overall prediction, whereas SAT did not. This asymmetry in incremental validity was not easily explained by restricted range, self-selection, or nonlinear effects. SAT did add significantly to prediction of grades in some individual courses. Of the three variables, only CLR added significantly to prediction of attrition or number of uncompleted courses.
Algorithm for Shaffer'S Multiple Comparison Tests
Authors: Rasmussen Jeffrey Lee
Published: March 2007

Shaffer has presented two tests to improve the power of multiple comparison procedures. The present article describes an algorithm to carry out the tests. The logic of the algorithm and an application to a data set are given.
A Reexamination of the Structure of the Gross Cohesiveness Scale
Authors: Cota Albert A. , Dion Kenneth L. , Evans Charles R.
Published: March 2007

Psychologists have had a long-standing interest in the construct of group cohesion. Yet, how this construct should be defined and measured -remains a controversial question. A central issue in the debate concerns the dimensionality of group cohesion. Recently, some researchers have adopted unidimensional models of this construct, whereas others have used multidimensional models of the same construct. In this study, the structure of the Gross (1957) Cohesiveness Scale, which is perhaps the most frequently used measure of group cohesiveness, was examined. Based on a critical review of the results of three empirical reports and reanalyses of the results of two of these studies, it was concluded that Gross' measure is unidimensional.
A Fortran 77 Program for Detecting Differential Item Functioning through the Mantel-Haenszel Statistic
Authors: Nandakumar Ratna
Published: March 2007

The Mantel-Haenszel technique proposed by Holland and Thayer has been increasingly used by researchers and practitioners for studying differential item functioning (DIF). This paper briefly describes the Mantel-Haenszel methodology for performing DIF analysis, and describes a FORTRAN program to do the same. In addition, the procedure is illustrated through an example and interpretation of the results are discussed.
The Self-Empowerment Index: A Measure of Internally and Externally expressed Teacher autonomy
Authors: Wilson Sandra Meacham
Published: March 2007

This research was designed to construct an instrument, the Self-Empowerment Index (SEI), to measure teachers' internal sense of autonomy and how teachers express their autonomy to others. Thirty-nine paired statement items were included on a first version of the SEI which was pretested using 115 teachers. These 39 items were revised and pilot tested using 258 teachers. Following a series of item analyses, 14 paired statement items were dropped from the SEI. This revised instrument was field tested using 254 teachers. Although further research is needed on the SEI, the index appears to demonstrate sufficient internal consistency and factorial validity to suggest the promise of future use.
Sixteen Computer Programs for Selecting, Assigning, and Evaluating Samples
Authors: Aiken Lewis R.
Published: March 2007

This article describes a set of 16 menu-driven programs, written in BASICA for DOS-based microcomputers, for selecting, assigning, and evaluating samples in survey, correlational, or experimental research. Programs for selecting simple random, stratified random, and cluster samples are described. Procedures for matching samples, testing for independence, and estimating confidence intervals and power for procedures involving proportions and means are included. The problems of sample size, nonresponse or missing values, and order effects are also considered.
Measurement of Change and the Law of Initial Values: A Computer Simulation Study
Authors: Jamieson John
Published: March 2007

Computer simulations were used to examine the effect of a negative correlation between baseline and change on two measures of change: gain scores and covariance. When a negative correlation resulted from decreasing variance from pretest to posttest, as might be due to the presence of floors or ceilings (the Law of Initial Values) or skewness, gain scores were less powerful than covariance. However, when a negative correlation resulted from measurement error alone, the relative power of gain scores and covariance was unaffected. It was concluded that the correlation between baseline and change, by itself, does not invalidate the use of gain scores. However, when the negative correlation is accompanied by a decrease in variance from pretest to posttest, covariance is a superior index of change.
The Predictive Relationship of ITBS and ITED to Measures of Academic Success
Authors: Qualls Audrey L. , Ansley Timothy N.
Published: March 2007

This study investigated the relationship between achievement test scores on the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills, the Iowa Tests of Educational Development, and academic success, as measured by high school and first-year college grade point averages (GPA). The population consisted of 1,147 students who entered the University of Iowa as freshmen in 1991. Achievement test scores obtained in Grades 3 through 12 were available for a substantial portion of the population, along with high school and college GPAs. The correlational analyses indicated that there were significant relationships between 3rd- through 12th-grade achievement test measures and GPA. However, the magnitudes of these relationships, contrary to previous findings, were surprisingly low.
An Optimal, Unbiased Classification Rule for Mastery Testing Based on Longitudinal Data
Authors: Tan E. S. , Imbos Tj. , Does R. J.M.M. , Theunissen M.
Published: March 2007

An optimal, unbiased classification rule is proposed based on a longitudinal model for the measurement of change in ability. The proposed methodology can be used as an additional tool for the year-to-year evaluation of student progress as well as consideration of the master testing problem. In general, it predicts future level of knowledge by using information about level of knowledge at entrance, its rate of growth, and the amount of within-individual variation. An illustration shows how the individual-oriented threshold value above which a student can be considered a master depends on the intra-test score variation and hence differs from student to student. Furthermore, it appears that information about growth of knowledge in the first year substantially improved the prediction of relative position of ability in the future.
An Error in Cota, Dion, and Evans (1993) Produced by a GLS Error in EQS Version 3.00
Authors: Cota Albert A. , Dion Kenneth L. , Evans Charles R.
Published: March 2007

An error was found in an article published by the authors in this journal in 1993 entitled "A Reexamination of the Structure of the Gross Cohesiveness Scale." The value of .981 for the Bentler-Bonett Normed Fit Index (NFI) that was reported is incorrect. This research note was written to correct the error, which was caused by an inaccurate null model chi-square produced by the generalized least-squares (GLS) method of EQS Version 3.00. Implications for the conclusion reached in the previous report and for other researchers who have published NFI values using the GLS method of EQS Version 3.00 are discussed.
BOOTSREG: An SAS Matrix Language Program for Bootstrapping Linear Regression Models
Authors: Fan Xitao , Jacoby William G.
Published: March 2007

BOOTSREG is an SAS/IML program for performing the bootstrap resampling technique in regression analysis. The program can be used in any version of SAS as long as the installation includes the Interactive Matrix Language (IML) module of the SAS system. Program input and output are both highly automated, so the users need to know very little about the SAS system or the SAS language. The program produces both standard regression results (parameter estimates, goodness of fit, and standard errors) and boot-strapped sampling distributions for the parameter estimates. The program outputs both statistical summaries and graphical representations of the bootstrap distributions for each regression coefficient.
Exact Cumulative Probabilities for the Multinomial Distribution
Authors: Berry Kenneth J. , Mielke Paul W.
Published: March 2007

This article descnbes a FORTRAN program that computes exact cumulative probabilities for the multinomial distribution. Two recursive routines eliminate the need for factorial expressions and provide for efficient calculation.
Using the SAT and High School Record in Academic Guidance
Authors: Stricker Lawrence J. , Rock Donald A. , Burton Nancy W.
Published: March 2007

This study appraised the utility of SAT scores in combination with grades in high school courses and the number and quality of these courses in predicting college grades in various fields of study, with the object of providing students with predictions of their academic performance for guidance purposes. The possible impact of this feedback on the flow of students into these fields was also assessed. Data for an entering class at a large state university were used. The SAT and collateral variables were able to predict college grades in different academic areas by taking account of marked variations in grade distributions among fields. These predictions could be potentially useful in guidance. Students' predicted grades in the fields and their intended majors were unrelated, and many students had their highest predicted grades in the humanities, though few intended to major in this field. Hence this feedback would probably stimulate students to take courses or major in the humanities.
Latent Structure of Mentoring Function Scales
Authors: Tepper Kelly , Shaffer Brian C. , Tepper Benneyt J.
Published: March 2007

The latent structure of a 16-item mentoring function instrument was analyzed with the responses of 568 full-time employees. Features of the analyses included (a) assessment of the items' distributional properties (i.e., skewness and kurtosis); (b) assessment of the factor structure using the Satorra-Bentler scaled test statistic; and (c) evaluation of the instrument's invariance across sex. Confirmatory factor analyses using the scaled chi-square supported a two-factor oblique model that consisted of psychosocial and career-related mentoring functions. The invariance tests suggested that the structure was invariant across sex groups.
CHIDIM: A FORTRAN Program for Assessing the Dimensionality of Binary Item Responses Based on Mcdonald's Nonlinear Factor Analytic Model
Authors: De Champlain Andre F. , Tang K. Linda
Published: March 2007

The assumption of unidimensionality is central to most item response theory (IRT) models. Procedures based on McDonald's nonlinear factor analytic model and accompanying principle of weak local independence have proven to be useful with respect to identifying the number of dimensions underlying a set of binary item responses. In particular, an approximate chi-square statistic, which tests the null hypothesis that the off-iagonal elements of a residual correlation matrix are equal to zero after fitting an m-factor model to a set of item responses, was shown to be accurate in identifying the true number of dimensions underlying various simulated test structures. This article briefly describes CHIDIM, a FORTRAN computer program that calculates the approximate chi-square statistic. The use of the program and the interpretation of the results are illustrated through a simulated data set.
Analyzing the Results of Monte Carlo Studies in Item Response Theory
Authors: Harwell Michael R.
Published: March 2007

Monte Carlo studies in item response theory have been used in a number of ways, for example, to evaluate new parameter estimation procedures, to compare item analysis programs, and to study the effects of multidimensional data on parameter estimation. These studies typically rely on simple descriptive methods to analyze Monte Carlo results, implying that complex effects are unlikely to be detected or their magnitudes estimated. These problems are exacerbated when Monte Carlo studies lack an experimental design to guide the data analyses. The results from two Monte Carlo studies in item response theory are analyzed with inferential methods to illustrate the strengths of these procedures. It is recommended that researchers in item response theory employ both descriptive and inferential methods to analyze Monte Carlo results.
Validity of Scores on Three Attachment Style Scales: Exploratory and Confirmatory Evidence
Authors: Becker Thomas E. , Billings Robert S. , Eveleth Daniel M. , Gilbert Nicole W.
Published: March 2007

This study reports the development of three attachment style scales. The factor structure of the attachment style construct was supported via exploratory factor analysis of attachment style scores from 1,181 recent graduates of one university and confirmatory factor analysis of scores from 545 recent graduates of another university. Additional evidence for the validity of scores produced by the scales was that scores on the new measures correlated with scores from previously developed scales and were associated as expected with scores on a measure of the Big Five personality traits.
Validity Studies the Factorial Validity of Trait Positive Affect Scores: Confirmatory Factor Analyses of Unidimensional and Multidimensional Models
Authors: Roesch Scott C.
Published: March 2007

First- and second-order confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to evaluate the factorial validity of scores on two positive affect (PA) measurement instruments and a multidimensional representation of PA. Using a sample of college undergraduates (n = 232), trait PA was measured with items from the Differential Emotion Scale (DES) and the Positive Affect Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Both multifactorial first-order and second-order models fit the DES and PANAS reasonably well. Moreover, the first-order factors within each instrument were significantly correlated. With respect to the multidimensional representation of PA, both three- (Joviality, Self-Assurance, Interest/Attentiveness) and four-factor (the three-factor model plus Surprise) models were tenable. However, in the four-factor model, only a nominal amount of variance in a first-order Surprise factor was explained by a second-order PA factor.
Single-Item Versus Multiple-Item Measurement Scales: An Empirical Comparison
Authors: Gardner Donald G. , Cummings L. L. , Dunham Randall B. , Pierce Jon L.
Published: March 2007

Common methods variance often is a problem with psychological measures that require respondent self-reports of attitudes, beliefs, perceptions, and the like. The present study examined this problem by comparing multiple-item, Likert-type measures of psychological constructs to single-item, non-Likert-type measures of the same constructs. Using confirmatory factor analysis, the alternative forms were compared on criteria of methods variance and construct validity. Neither method appeared to be empirically better than the other. Unusual situations in which well-developed single-item measures might be appropriate are discussed.
The Construct Validity of Scores on the Ways of Coping Questionnaire: Confirmatory Analysis of Alternative Factor Structures
Authors: Edwards Jeffrey R. , O'Neill Regina M.
Published: March 2007

One of the most widely used measures of coping is the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WCQ). Despite its widespread use, evidence regarding the construct validity of WCQ scores is limited and inconclusive, due primarily to the use of exploratory factor analyses to examine WCQ data and the absence of evidence regarding the correspondence between the WCQ and coping dimensions specified a priori by Lazarus's transactional theory. The present study uses confirmatory factor analysis to evaluate alternative factor structures for the WCQ, based on previous exploratory factor analyses and a priori coping dimensions derived from Lazarus's theory. Results provide little support for the factor structures examined.
Microclimate and Downtown Open Space Activity
Authors: Zacharias John , Stathopoulos Ted , Wu Hanqing
Published: March 2007

Microclimatic conditions in business district open spaces tend to be more extreme than prevailing weather conditions. Although the buildings are chiefly responsible for this inclemency, their shapes and arrangement could also potentially be used to moderate or enhance prevailing conditions. To provide better guidance in design, we need to know how humans respond to microclimatic conditions. In particular, we need to know first how sunlight, temperature, humidity, and wind combine in sensations of outdoor human comfort, and second, how important microclimatic factors are in behavior. This article reports on a study of revealed preferences for certain local climatic conditions, measured in terms of presence levels and activities in seven closely spaced corporate plazas and public squares in a built-up, downtown area. The observations were conducted over a 5-month period. The measured microclimatic conditions accounted for most of the variance in activity levels and types. Temperature was the single most important variable. Although great variation in level of use among spaces cannot be explained solely in terms of microclimatic differences, use within spaces varies chiefly as a function of microclimate.
Dimensions of Environmental Management
Authors: Rickson Roy E.
Published: March 2007

A fruitful approach to studying environmental management is the analysis of industry-government relationships. Policy is defined and translated into action in this context. We find that industrial managers legitimize government regulation of industrial water use. However, the pattern of responses suggests that some of the support may be based on economic self-interest and industry's ability to control agency action. Managers legitimize a policy-setting role for federal agencies and an enforcement role for local and state government. The role of public opinion in industry-agency relationships is also discussed.
The Effects of Litter on Littering Behavior in a Forest Environment
Authors: Crump S. Larry , Nunes Dennis L. , Crossman E. K.
Published: March 2007

Previous research has suggested that there are stimuli in the environment that can influence the amount of litter discarded in that environment. This experiment investigated the effects of litter already present within an area on littering behavior in a forest setting. The study was conducted for a period of four successive Fridays. The first and third Fridays were used to obtain an estimate of the amount of litter that accumulated after the areas were cleaned of litter (the nonlittered condition). During the second and fourth Fridays all litter was removed from the area, then 60 pieces of litter were scattered throughout the picnic site (the littered condition). The number of pieces of litter was counted each Saturday morning. The amount of litter found on Saturday mornings following a littered condition was always less than the amount of litter found following a nonlittered condition. In those areas which were littered, people had a tendency not to discard additional litter.
Residents' Assessment of a New Zealand Public-Housing Scheme
Authors: Mullins Patrick , Robb J. H.
Published: March 2007

This article centres on the reactions of residents to a New Zealand public housing city. It found, in contrast with both popular opinion and the findings of much overseas (notably American) research, that residents responded to their dwelling and residential environment in a largely positive way—a reaction determined by the provision of mainly single-family housing, contact with neighbours and the localization of friends and kin. Dissatisfaction was greatest among residents of dwellings with densities greater than single-family housing and among "pool" housing residents: government employees living in dwellings specially set aside for them.
Density, Expectation, and Extended Task Performance
Authors: Glassman Joel B. , Burkhart Barry R. , Grant Richard D. , Vallery Georgia G.
Published: March 2007

The effects of density and expectation on academic performance and ratings of spatial and social satisfaction were investigated. Ss were all volunteers who resided in on-campus residence halls in one of two arrangements: high density,' three students sharing a dormitory room, and low density, the conventional two students per dormitory room. Subjects' responses to a questionnaire determined their placement in either the confirmed or disconfirmed expectation category. Grade point averages and satisfaction measures compiled during the academic quarter were significantly negatively affected by exposure to density. A second study replicated the results, demonstrating that density led to both greater dissatisfaction and more frequent avoidance responses.
The Measurement of Community Social Climate
Authors: Krupat Edward , Guild William
Published: March 2007

The aim of this research was to develop an instrument capable of assessing the perceived social climate of urban settings and differentiating among the social climate of communities of varying sizes. To do this, a large item pool descriptive of a number of settings was generated, and a subset (75) of these were given to subjects to rate. Each item was rated as to how characteristic it was of (1) a large metropolis, (2) a midsized city, and (3) a small town. Factor analyses of the ratings yielded six interpretable factors and reduced the scale to 30 items. Factor indices were created and the climates of the rated environments were compared. Results indicated that there were large differences between community types and that ratings were not a function of subjects' hometown. Possibilities for further field validation of the scale are suggested as well as a variety of potential uses for the scale.
Adjustment to the Highrise
Authors: Williamson Robert C.
Published: March 2007

The study concerns interviews with a German sample of 430 residents of highrise complexes (with comparison with 166 nonhighrise residents). The data were analyzed primarily according to social backgrounds such as social class, sex, marital status, and age. Satisfaction in the highrise was largely conditioned by physical aspects of the apartment, but also by the ability to form social networks. Whatever their reservations about the highrise, parents were more enthusiastic about the adjustment of children than were childless respondents. On the whole, there appears to be considerable self-selectivity among highrise residents even though many regard their residence as temporary.
Relating Attitudes to Residential Energy Use
Authors: Becker Lawrence J. , Seligman Clive , Fazio Russell H. , Darley John Mcconnon
Published: March 2007

The present research examined the relationship between homeowners' attitudes and their winter gas consumption. During the winter, 207 couples filled out questionnaires about their energy-related attitudes. The results confirmed prior results: thermal comfort was the most important determinant of household energy use. In addition, an analysis of the results of a 55-couple subsample who had filled out attitude questionnaires in both the winter and the summer showed that there was some consistency in the attitudinal factors over seasons, and that there was a significant positive correlation between summer and winter energy consumption.
Environmentalism and Local Growth Control
Authors: Neiman Max , Loveridge Ronald O.
Published: March 2007

This is a report probing certain aspects of the argument that environmentalism and environmental protection policies are class biased in favor of the middle and upper classes. Survey data from a local growth control dispute are employed to test some assertions regarding the conditions under which a class division between supporters and opponents arises. The findings suggest that such divisions are likely to occur when the environmental policy has some immediate and real significance for the respondent, as opposed to being abstract or hypothetical, or when strong class appeals are made by a dominating campaign organization.
Moving after the Crisis
Authors: Goldhaber Marilyn K. , Houts Peter S. , Disabella Renee
Published: March 2007

A study was conducted to determine the effect of the 1979 nuclear accident at Three Mile Island (TMI) on residential mobility and population composition. The entire population living within five miles of TMI was registered shortly after the accident and traced one year later to identify movers. An estimated 15% of movers (about 2% of total residents) gave TMI as the main reason for their moves. However, the rate at which people moved remained the same the year after the accident as before. Those moving because of TMI had attributes highly associated with mobility. When those attributes were controlled in analysis, attitudes about TMI were virtually the same among movers and nonmovers. Demographic characteristics of new people moving into the area were not different from those who had moved out. However, attitudes about TMI were significantly more positive among the new people.
Playground Designs and Preschool Children's Behaviors
Authors: Brown James G. , Burger Charles
Published: March 2007

What should playgrounds for young children be like? Do those design suggestions that have appeared in the contemporary literature make a difference? What design factors seem to influence preschool children's behaviors on playgrounds? These questions are addressed by an analysis of recent research and design suggestions, and an observational study of preschool children's free play in six outdoor playgrounds. Results indicated that on the whole, playgrounds with more contemporary designs did not necessarily promote greater amounts of educationally desirable social, language, or motor behaviors. There were differences in children's behaviors on various playgrounds, but not strictly according to the extent to which they reflected contemporary design suggestions. The most important design characteristics seemed to be: (1) zoning, (2) encapsulation, and (3) the provision of appropriate materials (vehicles appeared to be extremely valuable).
Working Mental Representations of the Environment
Authors: Foley Joan E. , Cohen Annabel J.
Published: March 2007

Performance on a direct distance estimation task in a large, complex environment was studied as a function of variation in some members of the set of test locations. Features of the multidimensional scaling solutions-along with effects on the imagery that subjects reported experiencing while engaged in the spatial task-support the notion that a working representation is constructed for the solution of a spatial problem. It is hypothesized that this construction draws selectively upon various mental representations of the environment available in long-term store, depending on the way the task is structured. Subjects who were highly familiar with the environment reported more abstract and less scenographic imagery than less-experienced subjects and were superior in their sensitivity to distance variation.
Hospital Design and Wayfinding
Authors: Carpman Janet Reizenstein , Grant Myron A. , Simmons Deborah A.
Published: March 2007

A videotape simulation of the entrance drive to the new University of Michigan Hospital was used to test the effect on turning behavior of constructing a parking deck entrance directly off the hospital's drop-off circle. One hundred randomly sampled visitors were shown this videotape and asked where they would turn, if they were coming alone to visit a patient and needed to park their car. There were several turn-off areas along the entrance drive before the parking deck turn-off. Each turn-off had a sign listing its respective functions and directed drivers to continue straight ahead for parking. Half the visitors saw a videotape in which there was an entrance to the deck from the drop-off circle, and half saw a tape in which the entrance from the drop-off circle was absent. Each visitor saw two scenarios, one having the drop-off circle crowded with cars, and one uncrowded. The results of the study showed that the presence of the entrance to the deck from the drop-off circle did make a significant difference in reported turning behavior. The results of this study had a direct impact on the subsequent design decision. In addition, the results of this study are meaningful beyond the data themselves. The study used an inexpensive, simple, and highly imageable research technique, yet one rarely used in environment-behavior research. It was a "quick turn-around" research effortthat resolved a specific design dilemma. The study also demonstrates that signs alone are not sufficient to guide wayfinding behavior in large complex environments like hospitals.
Nuclear Power
Authors: Levi Daniel J. , Holder Elaine E.
Published: March 2007

This study examined the responses of college students to the construction of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. Acceptance of nuclear power plants correlated negatively with environmentalism and positively with belief in experts' evaluations of the safety of nuclear power plants. Although environmentalism correlated with nuclear power attitudes, these appeared to be separate issues. Environmentalism also correlated with other energy issues, such as energy conservation and burning coal. There was no significant relationship between nuclear power attitudes and self-reported measures of anxiety about aging, dependency, and death. However, nuclear power protesters had lower anxiety scores with regard to dependency issues. The findings are counter to the notion that nuclearpoweropponentsengage in irrational thinking and sufferfrom higher levels of anxiety.
People and Home Interiors
Authors: Rullo Giuseppina
Published: March 2007

An annotated bibliography is presented concerning the psychological research of people-home relationships with focus on the role of home interior in human experience of dwelling.
Secondand Third-Generation Zoo Exhibits
Authors: Shettel-Neuber Joyce
Published: March 2007

The present study compared visitor, staff, and animal responses to two second-generation and two third-generation exhibits that displayed the same species of animals-Bornean orangutans and Pigmy chimpanzees-at the San Diego Zoo. Four methods were used to assess responses to the two types of exhibits: behavior mapping, timing, a visitor questionnaire, and staff interviews. Attitudinal measures showed a clear preference for the third-generation exhibits over the second-generation ones on the part of visitors and zoo professionals, whereas behavioral responses were less clear-cut. Results were interpreted as being reflective of the conflicting needs and preferences of visitors, animals, and staff members in the complex zoo system. Implications for the study of zoos and for zoo design, planning, and management were discussed.
Affective Functioning, "Light Hunger," and Room Brightness Preferences
Authors: Heerwagen Judith H.
Published: March 2007

In this study, room brightness preferences of two groups of subjects were tested across an eight month period in a lighting simulation laboratory. Subjects were selected on the basis of their responses to the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ) used by researchers to screen for seasonal affective disorder (SAD). One group of 10 subjects scored high on the SPAQ, indicating seasonal changes in mood and behavior. A control group matched on age and gender did not experience seasonal changes in any of the symptoms measured by the SPAQ. The study tested two hypotheses: (a) people with SAD are "light hungry" and should prefer a more brightly lighted room; and (b) if "light hunger" is seasonal, then the SAD group should prefer brighter light in the winter than in the spring months. Results indicate that the SAD group preferred a more brightly lighted room than did the control group across all testing sessions, thus supporting the first hypothesis. Because lighting levels did not differ significantly across the testing sessions, light hunger does not appear to be a seasonally expressed need. The SAD group had significantly higher levels of negative affect and depression across the testing sessions than did the control group. However, the SAD-like symptoms did not disappear in June, as expected. These findings suggest that (a) the SAD group did not, in fact, have SAD; or (b) testing did not occur long enough to measure mood and behavior changes. Results are discussed in terms of vulnerability to affective episodes and lack of light in the environment.
Grocery Shopping Patterns of the Ambulatory Urban Elderly
Authors: Smith Geoffrey C.
Published: March 2007

This article examines spatial aspects of the grocery shopping behaviors of the ambulatory urban elderly. Hypotheses are formulated and tested to discover whether these behaviors vary between (a) the downtown elderly and their suburban counterparts, and (b) the young-old and the old-old. The data are based on a questionnaire/interview survey of samples of elderly residents of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The findings disclose that the elderly's grocery shopping is mainly confined to the home neighborhood regardless of the types of outlet available locally. As a result, the downtown elderly are spatially disadvantaged because they lack a competitively priced local supermarket and are often deprived of access to automobile transportation. The results also reveal only moderate disparities between the behaviors of the young-old and the old-old. A separate analysis reveals that the elderly's grocery shopping trips are frequently linked to other activities. In light of the findings, policy recommendations are offered.
Managing Municipal Waste
Authors: West Jonathan P. , Lee Stephanie J. , Feiock Richard C.
Published: March 2007

Municipal waste management problems have become more pronounced in recent years. Strategies for dealing with these problems include source reduction, recycling, landfills, and incineration. Environmentalists and solid waste managers may differ in their preferences regarding these strategies and a variety of other issues dealing with solid waste management. Opinions of environmentalists and administrators were analyzed based on a random survey of 101 members of the Florida Audubon Society and 242 members of the Government Refuse Collection and Disposal Association in Florida. Four major opinion differences were found among members of these two groups: First, environmentalists were more supportive of preventive strategies, particularly recycling, than managers; second, environmentalists were more supportive of recycling for cost avoidance reasons on three of the five measures examined; third, environmentalists were more critical of state government policy implementation than solid waste managers; and fourth, environmentalists were more supportive of private organizations' involvement in solid waste management. The implication of these results for solid waste planning and program implementation are discussed.
Person-in-Environment Transitions
Authors: Wapner Seymour , Craig-Bray Laura
Published: March 2007

Four theoretical perspectives-role theory, family theory, person/life span theory, and a holistic, developmental, systems-oriented theory-that examine critical person-in-environment transitions through the life span are described and compared with respect to central theme/world hypothesis, unit of analysis, treatment of change, problem formulation, methodology, and types of research conducted. Areas are indicated where study of critical transitions can be profitably pursued.
Polluted Neighborhoods in Texas
Authors: Napton Mary Luanne , Day Frederick A.
Published: March 2007

Some of the most hazardous air pollution areas of the United States are found in Texas. This study compares the socioeconomic composition of 40 neighborhoods most severely affected by air pollution to 40 randomly selected metropolitan neighborhoods in the state. While studies in other states indicate that it is poor, minority people who live in polluted areas, this analysis indicates that in Texas middle-class, working persons live there to be near their jobs. The study draws on past research in environmental hazards and argues that air pollution might most clearly be understood as part of a new class of hazards: insidious technological hazards.
"Sir, Please Do Not Take Away My Cubicle"
Authors: Mazumdar Sanjoy
Published: March 2007

Based on an ethnographic study of a work organization, from a microsocial ecological perspective, I describe a phenomenon I call environmental deprivation, its various conditions and effects, as well as the ways organizational members cope with it. The article concludes with a section on the pragmatic and policy implications of this study.
Long-Term Effects of Homeownership on the Self-Perceptions and Social Interaction of Low-Income Persons
Authors: Rohe William M. , Basolo Victoria
Published: March 2007

A variety of public, private and non-profit organizations have developed programs to assist low-income families purchase homes. These programs are often justified on the grounds that homeownership has a number of social and-psychological benefits. On the individual level, homeowners are said to enjoy higher social status and self-esteem, increased sense of control, and higher levels of life satisfaction. On the societal level, homeowners are said to have higher rates of participation in voluntary organizations and local social interaction. The longitudinal research described in this article assesses the validity of these claims by comparing changes in self esteem, perceived control, life satisfaction and social interaction between a group of low-income home buyers and a demographically similar group of continuing renters. The results show that home ownership has a positive and significant impact on both the life satisfaction and participation in neighborhood and block association meetings. Home ownership, however, was not found to significantly affect self-esteem, perceived control or informal social interaction in the local area.