bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Caffeine as a Performance-Enhancing Drug in Rats: Sex, Dose, Housing, and Task Considerations
Authors: Boyer Michelle , Rees Stephanie , Quinn Joanne , Grattan-Miscio Karen , McCallum Meghan , Saari Matti J.
Published: August 2011

Past animal studies of the performance-enhancing properties of stimulant drugs, such as caffeine, may have suffered from a number of procedural and ethical problems. For example, the housing condition of the animals was often not taken into consideration. As well, endurance tests, such as the forced swim task, sometimes involved ethically (and procedurally) questionable interference with natural swimming behaviour. Some of the manipulations, such as attaching a weight to the swimming animal's tail to increase the difficulty of the task and using mortality as a dependent variable, seem grotesque, even unnecessary. In this experiment, the performance-enhancing effects of caffeine in a modified forced swim task and a dominance task were evaluated using male and female rats as subjects ( N = 60), housed in either enriched or isolated environments. Analysis indicated that rats respond to caffeine as an interactive function of sex, housing, dose, and task characteristics. It was concluded that performance-enhancing properties of stimulant drugs may be the result of a complex interplay of variables, making simple generalizations questionable.
Criteria of Personal, Boys', and Girls' Popularity as Ranked by Greek Adolescents
Authors: Nikitaras Nikitas , Ntoumanis Nikos
Published: August 2011

This study examined what Greek adolescents believe are the most important criteria of personal, boys', and girls' popularity in their age group. Participants were 364 students aged between 12 and 15 years. Seven main criteria of popularity were identified: sport competence, physical appearance, academic ability, being a good friend, being sociable, having a good sense of humor, and having the ‘right circle of friends'. With regard to personal popularity, being a good friend and being sociable were the two most highly ranked criteria for both boys and girls across all ages. Boys and girls perceived differently the most important criteria of boys' and girls' popularity. Specifically, for same-sex popularity, being a good friend was the most highly ranked criterion, whereas for other-sex popularity, physical attractiveness was the most highly ranked criterion. The findings imply that friendship and social affiliation are the most important criteria of popularity in Greek adolescents.
Supernumerary Phantoms: A Comment on Grossi, et al.'s (2002) Spare Thoughts on Spare Limbs
Authors: Brugger Peter
Published: August 2011

A recently published case report of a supernumerary phantom limb in a man with left-sided hemiplegia did not take note that this phenomenon has been extensively documented in the neurological literature for well over 100 years. The present comment provides a brief introduction to the clinical and experimental approaches to supernumerary phantom limbs. It also emphasizes the theoretical importance of this condition for understanding the neurological mechanisms subserving the experience of having a body.
Self-Esteem and Apparel Satisfaction with Appropriate Clothing: Value of Product Attributes and Support Groups for Mastectomy Survivors
Authors: Chowdhary Usha , Ryan Lenoraann
Published: August 2011

The study examined use of appropriately designed clothing for special needs of postmastectomy women, including associations with self-esteem and satisfaction with certain apparel. The study was also designed to identify the person and product attributes valued by postmastectomy women while shopping for apparel items. A pre-posttest research design was used to examine the association of intervention, the self-esteem, and apparel satisfaction of the sample. Descriptive statistics were used for general information, as well as person and product attributes, and t tests were applied to test the two hypotheses. Analysis indicated that the intervention enhanced apparel satisfaction; however, the differences were not significant for self-esteem. The participants used support groups and evaluated several product attributes before making the apparel purchases. Implications for education, research, and service are discussed.
Relations among Comfort of Fabrics, Ratings of Comfort, and Visual Vigilance
Authors: Bell Rick , Cardello Armand V. , Schutz Howard G.
Published: August 2011

Little is known about the relationship between perceptions of comfort and cognitive performance. In the present study, 40 subjects (20 men and 20 women) participated in a computerized cognitive task of visual vigilance. The computer task was completed under three conditions of clothing and tactile comfort: one condition was that of extreme discomfort, effected by the wearing of wool clothing material on the arms and neck in addition to each subject's normal clothing, including a short sleeve shirt; a second condition was that of minimal discomfort, effected by the wearing of cotton clothing material on the arms and neck, in addition to each subject's normal clothing, including a short sleeve shirt; and a third condition was a control, wherein no experimental material was added to each subject's normal clothing, including a short sleeve shirt. Comfort was assessed prior to, during, and after testing. Reaction time and accuracy of 400 trials of a visual vigilance task were assessed under each of these three conditions. Analysis indicated a significant difference in perceived comfort between the wool and each of the other conditions. In addition, both reaction time and accuracy declined in the wool condition. This study is among the first to identify a direct significant relationship between perceptions of clothing comfort and cognitive performance.
Interpret with Caution: Multicollinearity in Multiple Regression of Cognitive Data
Authors: Morrison Catriona M.
Published: August 2011

Shibihara and Kondo in 2002 reported a reanalysis of the 1997 Kanji picture-naming data of Yamazaki, Ellis, Morrison, and Lambon-Ralph in which independent variables were highly correlated. Their addition of the variable visual familiarity altered the previously reported pattern of results, indicating that visual familiarity, but not age of acquisition, was important in predicting Kanji naming speed. The present paper argues that caution should be taken when drawing conclusions from multiple regression analyses in which the independent variables are so highly correlated, as such multicollinearity can lead to unreliable output.
Comparing Performance of Pupils with High Spatial-Low Numerical and High Numerical-Low Spatial Scores on a Standardized Mathematics Test in the United Kingdom
Authors: Lord Thomas R. , Clausen-May Tandi
Published: August 2011

Questions from a national mathematics test taken by over a 1,000 12- and 13-yr.-olds in the United Kingdom were perused for heavily loaded spatial and numerical items. Pupils' answers to the two types of item were examined, and those who answered well in one of the categories but poorly in the other were selected to form two groups, those high in spatial thinking but low in numerical thinking and those high in numerical thinking but low in spatial thinking to assess whether the approaches to solve the item used by each group were different. The two groups did indeed utilize different thinking strategies to solve the questions. For example, questions involving angle and volume, items thought to require a high spatial facility, were answered correctly by the predominantly numerical thinkers as often as by the predominantly spatial thinkers. This would indicate that one of the samples, i.e., numerical thinkers, used a different strategy than the other, i.e., spatial thinkers. This was verified by examination of students' work in the test booklets and personal interviews of them. Also, the same proportion of boys in each group was recorded, but a higher percentage of girls was recorded in the spatial group than in the numerical. This reflected the large number of boys who scored high on the spatial measures also doing moderately well on the numerical items and so, being moved out of the solely spatial group. Since the tests used by mathematics educators to assess learning are so heavily laden with linguistic/analytical rather than holistic/spatial types of questions, pupils high in spatial but low in numerical thinking face a severe handicap in schools.
Mapping is Not Sufficient for Specifying Position in Visual Space
Authors: Greene Ernest
Published: August 2011

The general view is that one knows where an object is located in visual space on the basis of which neurons it activates. But there is reason to believe that a radically different method of specifying position is needed, one which identifies the position using coordinates. Those who study motor systems assume such coordinates, but the question of how the sensory system could derive these values is given no attention.
An Analysis of Streaky Performance on the LPGA Tour
Authors: Clark Russell D.
Published: August 2011

A study investigated the occurrence of streakiness among professional golfers on the LPGA Tour. For players, individually or as a group, the findings showed a significant tendency for players' par or better rounds to occur together and for players' above par rounds to occur together. However, the observed streakiness in players' scores was related to the difficulty of golf courses rather than to any inherent disposition of players' performances to be streaky. The results replicated those findings found on the PGA Tour and Senior PGA Tour.
Improved Mental Rotation by Near-Sighted Subjects
Authors: Dufour André , Després Olivier , Hoeft Alain , Candas Victor
Published: August 2011

Several studies have shown significant correlations among factors such as sex, age, and hormone levels with performance on mental rotation tasks. To perform spatial rotation also seems to be related to cognitive abilities such as musical skills. The present experiment investigated a possible relationship for enhanced spatial abilities, as observed in near-sighted subjects, with mental rotation performance. 39 near-sighted and 21 normal-sighted subjects were tested on a mental rotation task using two-dimensional representations of three-dimensional objects. Near-sighted subjects displayed fewer errors in possible rotations than normal-sighted subjects. There was no difference in errors between groups in identification of mirror images (“impossible rotations”). Results were interpreted in terms of a relation between enhanced reliance on nonvisual information by near-sighted subjects and improved spatial representation.
Cell Phone Use and Visual Attention
Authors: Golden Chloe , Golden Charles J. , Schneider Barry
Published: August 2011

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate how much cell phones and just speaking (similar to speaking to someone in the car vs a hands-free cell phone task) interfere with visual attention skills as might be required in a driving situation. Influence of cell phones on attention has been noted but little research has been completed. Licensed adult drivers were divided into three groups ( ns = 15) with all subjects taking the Connors Continuous Performance Test II. Group 1 performed without any distractions; those in Group 2 performed with someone in the same room talking to them; Group 3 engaged in a cell phone conversation during the task. Overall, there were substantial differences among groups on all variables, but primarily between the control group and the two experimental groups. While the cell phone group had lower mean scores than the talking group overall, the differences were not significant. Thus, while cell phones were distracting to visual attention functions on the Connors task, they were not more distracting than a similarly active conversation without a cell phone.
Rise in Landing-Related Skydiving Fatalities
Authors: Hart Christian L. , Griffith James D.
Published: August 2011

The purpose was to assess whether adoption of potentially dangerous skydiving gear and skydiving practices has led to an increase in fatalities. Beginning in the early 1990s, civilian skydivers began to utilize high performance parachutes that fly much faster and are much more responsive than older style parachutes. Also, skydivers began to fly these parachutes in a more aggressive manner. An analysis of data from the 507 skydiving fatalities in the USA between 1986 and 2001 indicated that this shift toward high performance parachutes and aggressive flying techniques was temporally associated with an increase in parachute-landing deaths. During the same time period, the total number of fatalities remained fairly stable.
Cross-Cultural Aspect of the Group Embedded Figures Test: Norms for Turkish Eighth Graders
Authors: Cakan Mehtap
Published: August 2011

The Group Embedded Figures Test was administered to 206 Turkish (123 boys versus 83 girls) eighth grade students. Distribution characteristics, item analysis, reliability, and internal consistency are presented. No sex differences on subsections or the full scale were found. Socioeconomic status as indicated by parental education was significantly associated with the cognitive style scores of the students. Subjects whose fathers had a higher education outperformed those whose fathers had less education. No significant differences in students' means were found among groups whose mothers had low, middle, and high education. The Turkish sample showed the same performance as a 5th grade American sample, and Canadian 8th graders outperformed the Turkish participants. The practice effects are also discussed.
Comparison of the RT3 Research Tracker and Tritrac R3D Accelerometers
Authors: DeVoe Dale , Gotshall Robert , McArthur Trisha
Published: August 2011

This study compared the RT3 Research Tracker accelerometer to the Tritrac R3D accelerometer in both laboratory and field settings and tested the hypothesis that the RT3 records higher physical activity counts and smaller standard deviations than the R3D. The RT3 is relatively new and untested and its concurrent validity with existing instruments and physical activity needs to be assessed before being used in research. In this study the RT3 had higher average recordings of physical activity counts in all of the nine testing situations than the R3D. However, in terms of agreement between the instruments, the RT3 might be 582 below or 1,236 above (activity counts) the R3D in assessing physical activity. These results do not establish that the RT3 is more consistently measuring higher physical activity counts than the R3D. Comparing vector magnitude with oxygen consumption and heart rate across the 0% grade testing conditions indicated that the RT3 and R3D are sensitive to changes in various intensities of level ambulation. When the 5%, 10%, and 15% grade on the treadmill protocols were analyzed, low correlations between oxygen consumption and heart rate with vector magnitude responses were found for both the RT3 and R3D. Differences in agreement between the RT3 and R3D did not vary in any systematic way over the range in testing conditions which substantiates that the RT3 and R3D accelerometers are sensitive on flat surfaces but are insensitive to changes in grade.
Writer's Block in a Chinese Sample
Authors: Lee Sy-Ying , Krashen Stephen
Published: August 2011

To assess whether writer's block occurs in languages other than English, a Chinese language translation of Rose's Writer's Block questionnaire was administered to 98 university students in Taiwan. Analysis suggests that writer's block occurs for Chinese students, and, as in English, it is related to premature editing and to a lack of strategies for dealing with complex writing tasks.
Effects of Reducing Frequency of Intrinsic Knowledge of Results on the Learning of a Motor Skill
Authors: Butki Brian D. , Hoffman Shirl J.
Published: August 2011

The guidance hypothesis suggests too much knowledge of results during skill acquisition can be detrimental to long-term performance. Possibly, the learner becomes dependent on augmented KR and is unable to use intrinsic feedback. This study examined this hypothesis with three groups performing a golf putting task. One group received continuous KR about ball path and final location; the other groups were deprived of specific KR on 50% or 100% of the acquisition trials. As expected, the continuous KR group performed better during acquisition, but the KR-deprived groups performed better on delayed retention trials, especially when KR was absent.
Adolescents' Energy Cost in Marching Band
Authors: Erdmann Loran D. , Graham Ralph E. , Radlo Steven J. , Knepler Patricia L.
Published: August 2011

The primary purpose of this study was to examine adolescents' energy cost in a marching band. High school marching band participants ( N=15) completed five 3-min. stages of treadmill marching, using a 57.2-cm stride length (typical standard of eight steps per five yards) as follows: without instruments at 75 m · min.−1 and 132 steps · min.−1 (Stage 1); without instruments at 91 m · min.−1 and 160 steps · min.−1 (Stage 2); carrying instruments at 75 m · min.−1 and 132 steps · min.−1 (Stage 3); carrying instruments at 91 m · min.−1 and 160 steps · min.−1 (Stage 4); and playing instruments at 75 m · min.−1 and 132 steps · min.−1 (Stage 5). Mean heart-rate response to an actual parade performance was similar to the mean Stage 5 treadmill heart rate ( n = 6). With regard to a high school marching band, these results suggest that energy demand for marching cadences approximates 4.5 and 6.0 metabolic equivalents for moderate and fast paces, respectively.
Increased Pitch Increases Accuracy of Voice Identification
Authors: Rodstrom Mary-Alice , Neuhoff John G.
Published: August 2011

Previous work suggested that greater accuracy rates in identifying voices that have been increased in frequency over those that have been decreased in frequency may be due to complex vocal characteristics and specific memory for familiar voices. Here we asked 17 men and 21 women between the ages of 18 and 21 to learn a simple vowel exemplar produced by an unfamiliar target speaker and measured the proportion of times the frequency-shifted exemplar was identified as the originally encoded target speaker. Analysis showed that exemplars when increased in frequency were perceived as belonging to the target speaker significantly more often than exemplars which were decreased in frequency. These findings suggest that the greater accuracy in identifying speakers with increased frequency voice samples does not require previous familiarity with the vocalizations of a particular speaker or complex memory schemata for familiar voices.
Will Safety Release Cords on Children's Cameras Prevent Strangulation?
Authors: Ridenour Marcella V.
Published: August 2011

This study investigated the automatic safety release mechanisms on neck cords for children's cameras. The purpose of the safety release mechanism is to reduce accidental strangulation associated with children's toys that have neck cords. The horizontal pull forces that activate the automatic safety release mechanism were measured for two different styles of release mechanisms for neck cords. When these forces were compared to forces associated with child strangulation, the automatic safety mechanisms released at higher forces than the forces associated with accidental strangulation or death, which is contrary to what was intended and creates a false sense of security for parents who select a toy camera with such a device.
Perceptions about Exercise and Intrinsic Motivation of Students Attending a Health-Related Physical Education Program
Authors: Papacharisis Vassilios , Goudas Marios
Published: August 2011

The present study examined effects of sex, attitude towards physical activity, perceived barriers for participation in physical activity, and students' perception of their parents' participation in physical activity on the intrinsic motivation of students participating in a health related program in physical education. 643 students (303 boys and 340 girls) responded to questionnaires measuring intrinsic motivation, attitudes towards physical activity, perceived barriers to exercise and perceived parents' participation in physical activity. Mean age was 12.9 yr. ( SD=1.2, range 11–14 years). Analysis indicated that students' intrinsic motivation towards the program was influenced by perceived barriers to exercise. Sex, attitudes towards physical activity, and perceived parents' participation in physical activity seem to be less important.
Expression of Emotions in Dance: Relation between Arm Movement Characteristics and Emotion
Authors: Sawada Misako , Suda Kazuhiro , Ishii Motonobu
Published: August 2011

This study was designed to investigate the relations between emotional expression and the movement characteristics. For this purpose, we used kinematic data related to three factors of the movement characteristics: Speed, Force, and Directness. In Exp. 1, we examined how the dancers expressed emotions when they used a certain body action and body part, and how they altered the movement characteristics. In Exp. 1, 10 female dancers were instructed to express three emotions, joy, sadness, and anger, by altering arm-movement characteristics. Analysis of variance indicated that the three exhibited emotional expressions had different movement characteristics. Discriminant analysis indicated that kinematic data for evaluation of movement characteristics are useful for discrimination of the three emotional expressions in dance. In Exp. 2, we investigated how naive observers perceived the type of emotion from the arm-movement characteristics. Analysis of variance showed that 22 observers accurately perceived each emotion distinguished from other emotions. Multiple regression analysis showed that specific movement characteristics influenced the perception of particular emotion.
Factors Affecting Bone Mineral Density in the General Adult Female Population in Japan
Authors: Kawada Tomoyuki , Ikagawa Takashi , Ikeda Eiji
Published: August 2011

The factors affecting bone mineral density were evaluated in the general adult female population of Shibukawa City, Japan. Bone mineral density at the radius site of the wrist was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. 749 women between the ages of 39 and 52 years were selected from the general population by a complete enumeration method. Age, Body Mass Index, age of menarche, past history of treated chronic disease, symptoms of lower back pain, exercise habits which included any exercise at all, medication for chronic disease, diet and history of dieting, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, menstruation, childbirth, breast-feeding, content of meals which was taken at least once per week, and past history of bone fracture were used to predict bone mineral density compared with the average values for young females. The mean bone mineral density of subjects with no experience of low back pain was significantly lower than that of subjects reporting lower back pain symptoms both at rest and with moving ( p<.05). Body Mass Index was significantly related to bone mineral density ( r = .43, p<.001). Aging, past history of bone fracture, low Body Mass Index, no experience of low back pain at rest, menopause, and no history of dieting were significantly positively associated with bone mineral density using a multiple regression analysis.
Validation with a French Sample of the Four Scales of Switras's Survey of Mental Imagery
Authors: Grebot Elisabeth
Published: August 2011

The present study investigated the psychometric properties of the Switras questionnaire, the Survey of Mental Imagery, with a French sample of 162. Only Form A and four subtests of the questionnaire were given. The present factor analyses confirm the factorial composition observed by Switras in 1978. Three subcapacities of imagery were evaluated by these subtests: controllability, vividness, and formation in four specific modalities of imagery, namely, visual, auditory, somesthetic, and kinaesthetic.
Survey of Preferences for Feedback Style in High School Athletes
Authors: Chen David D. , Rikli Roberta E.
Published: August 2011

This study asked high school athletes what kinds of desirable traits or styles they would like to see in coaches when they provided correct feedback. High school athletes ( M age=14.5 yr., SD=2.1), 43 girls and 70 boys, in both individual and team sports were recruited from 2 junior high and 2 senior high schools. A questionnaire measuring preferences for feedback style was developed with 12 9-point Likert scale items. Each item dealt with one aspect of feedback style. The survey covered several characteristics of feedback style: character, timing, frequency, precision, intent, informational style versus controlling style, descriptive versus prescriptive, and context. Analyses of variance, performed on responses to each question to assess the effects of sex, age, and sport, indicated high uniformity in responses to the qualities of feedback style, with no significant differences for sex, age, or sport.
Generation and Sex Differences in Sensation Seeking: Results of the Family Study
Authors: Butković Ana , Bratko Denis
Published: August 2011

Previous research regarding sex and age differences for sensation seeking in English, American, Canadian, and Australian samples showed clear sex differences and a decline of sensation seeking across ages. The 1978 Form V of the Sensation Seeking Scale was administered to a Croatian sample of 151 high school students and their 226 parents. Analysis showed that parents had lower mean scores than their children, consistent with the hypothesis that sensation seeking declines with age. Male subjects scored higher on the total Sensation Seeking, and Thrill and Adventure Seeking, Disinhibition, and Boredom Susceptibility subscales than female subjects, while there was no difference between male and female subjects on the Experience Seeking scale. Also, several sex-by-generation interactions were significant.
Qualitative Analysis of the Overhand Throw by Undergraduates in Education Using a Distance Learning Computer Program
Authors: McKethan Robert N. , Kernodle Michael W. , Brantz Douglas , Fischer Joseph
Published: August 2011

The purpose was to (a) examine whether computer-based distance learning could enhance the qualitative analysis skills (error detection in the overhand throw) of undergraduates in education and (b) examine the effectiveness of several methods of information presentation (video file and text) on distance learning. Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups, to detect errors in an incorrect throwing motion of a model on the computer screen. Group 1 ( n = 13) was the control; Group 2 ( n = 13) viewed a video of the appropriate throwing mechanics; Group 3 ( n = 13) viewed text information describing the appropriate mechanics of the overhand throw; and Group 4 ( n = 16) received a combination of video and text information. On Day 1 participants took a pretest. Treatment and testing occurred on Days 2 through 8. Then 5 days later participants took a retention test. One-way analysis of variance confirmed no significant differences between groups at Pretest (Day 1). An analysis of variance with repeated measures indicated learning over practice. Paired-sample t tests between Days 1 and 8 showed the video plus text group without significant change.
Effects of Self-Awakening on Sleep Structure of a Daytime Short Nap and on Subsequent Arousal Levels
Authors: Kaida Kosuke , Nittono Hiroshi , Hayashi Mitsuo , Hori Tadao
Published: August 2011

To investigate the effects of self-awakening on sleep structure and daytime arousal after a short nap, a within-subjects comparison was made of participants in self-awakening and forced-awakening conditions. In the self-awakening condition, participants were instructed to wake up by themselves 15 min. after the experimenter turned the lights off. In the forced-awakening condition, the experimenter awakened them 20 min. after the lights were turned off. To control the maximum sleep time for the two conditions, we used different instructions in each condition. Participants were 10 healthy college students. Their physiological arousal and subjective sleepiness were evaluated using the P300 amplitude of the auditory event-related potential (ERP) and the visual analog scale previously described by Monk and Kathryn, et al. For evaluating sleep structure during the nap, Hori's 1994 hypnagogic EEG stages were used. P300 amplitude was significantly lower, and subjective sleepiness was significantly higher after forced-awakening than self-awakening, indicating that arousal was higher after self-awakening. The EEGs during napping in the forced-awakening condition indicated deeper sleep. Given this deeper sleep, severe sleep inertia occurred after the forced-awakening condition. In conclusion, it appeared a short nap with self-awakening was more effective in reducing a post-lunch dip than one with forced-awakening.
Imagined Events with Specific Emotional Valence Produce Specific Patterns of Facial EMG Activity
Authors: Hu Senqi , Wan Hongwei
Published: August 2011

36 subjects' facial electromyographic (EMG) activity at the zygomatic, corrugator, and levator labii (superioris/alaeque nasi) muscle regions were recorded while they were acting self-generated emotions of happiness, anger, fear, sadness, disgust, and surprise. Analysis showed that the EMG activity at the levator labii region generated significantly higher power than those at the corrugator region while acting out disgust, the EMG activity at the zygomatic region generated significantly higher power than those at corrugator region while acting out happiness and surprise, and the EMG activity at the corrugator region generated significantly higher power than those at zygomatic and levator labii regions while acting out anger, sadness, and fear. It was concluded that the negative self-generated emotions were associated with increased EMG activity of corrugator muscles and positive self-acting emotions with increased EMG activity of zygomatic muscles.
Does the Interpersonal Reactivity Index Perspective-Taking Scale Predict Who Will Volunteer Time to Counsel Adults Entering College?
Authors: Oswald Patricia A.
Published: August 2011

This study provides evidence for the predictive efficacy of Davis's Interpersonal Reactivity Index Perspective-taking scale in identifying those individuals who are more likely to help others. A sample of 162 ethnically diverse working adults (74% female) completed the Perspective-taking scale and an empathy scale and then were given the opportunity to volunteer time to help counsel adults interested in enrolling in college. Participants who volunteered time to help had higher Perspective-taking scores than did those participants who did not offer to help. Moreover, men and women did not differ in their Perspective-taking scores, nor did people from different ethnic backgrounds. Empathy was not significantly related to Perspective-taking or helping.
High School and College Students' Perceptions of Current Smokers, Former Smokers, and Nonsmokers
Authors: Brosh Joanne , Austin Megan , Chambliss Catherine
Published: August 2011

A questionnaire assessing perceptions of hypothetical male and female current smokers, a former smoker, and a nonsmoker, as well as personal smoking habits, was administered to 108 suburban high school and 115 college students. Both smokers and nonsmokers held a more negative view of smokers than nonsmokers; mean character ratings of former smokers fell in between. Paired-sample t tests indicated that smokers were viewed as less intelligent, creative, independent, conscientious, ambitious, and considerate, as having poorer judgment, and as more hostile than their nonsmoking counterparts. Respondents who currently smoke rated hypothetical smokers less negatively than respondents who did not smoke. In addition, paired-sample t tests identified no significant differences between the overall ratings of the female and male target smokers. No mean differences emerged on the ratings of targets; however, the high school students were more likely than the college students to report believing that the majority of students at their school smoke and that teachers discriminate against students who smoke.
Conditioned Taste Aversion is Not Disrupted in Rats Exposed to Weak, Complex Magnetic Fields during the CS–UCS Interval
Authors: McKay B. E. , Persinger M. A.
Published: August 2011

40 normal male Wistar rats were trained for 8 successive days to consume water ad libitum during once-daily 20-min. sessions. On the following day (training day) the rats were presented with a novel solution of 10% sucrose for 20 min. followed by a single exposure for 2 hr. to one of two weak (200 to 500 nanoTesla) complex magnetic fields or to sham-field conditions. The patterns of the two magnetic fields and the durations of their repeated presentations (interstimulus interval) were designed to be resonant with the intrinsic firing of hippocampal pyramidal and solitary neurons, respectively. Immediately after the applications of the fields one-half the number of rats were injected with lithium to evoke gastrointestinal malaise. Although on the test day, three days later, rats previously injected with the lithium exhibited the usual robust reduction in the consumption of sucrose compared to the training day, there were no statistically significant differences between field-exposed and sham-field groups for these ratios. We conclude that a 2-hr. exposure to weak magnetic fields designed to simulate the pattern of two structures likely involved with conditioned taste aversion between the conditioned stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus did not affect this behavior.
Moderating Influence of Defensiveness on the Relationship between Self-Esteem and Job Performance
Authors: Tharenou Phyllis
Published: August 2011

The moderating influence of defectiveness on the relationship between self-esteem (global self-esteem or sense of competence) and job performance (self- or supervisor-rated) is investigated with a sample of 160 male electrical apprentices. For apprentices who are higher in defensiveness positive relationships exist between global self-esteem and self-rated performance, and between sense of competence and self- and supervisor-rated performance. Defensiveness also makes an independent contribution to self-esteem. The implications of the findings for the measurement of self-esteem are discussed.
Children's Understanding of “But”: Evidence from Spontaneous Production
Authors: Gallivan Joanne
Published: August 2011

Analyses of spontaneous productions of “but” in the conversations of 3- to 7-yr.-old children showed almost error-free use of the word. This evidence that relational terms do not undergo a gradual error-ridden course of acquisition contradicts the hypothesis about semantic complexity and indicates that certain comprehension tasks may assess metalinguistic rather than linguistic knowledge.
Sex Differences in Perception of Attributes Important for Intercultural Relationships
Authors: Hughes-Wiener Gail , Wiener Paul H.
Published: August 2011

128 young adults experienced in intercultural relations were asked to rate each of 121 personal attributes hypothesized to be important to successful intercultural relationships. An analysis of responses yielded the unexpected finding that men and women differ significantly in their perceptions of which attributes are most important.
Rationale Exposure and Compliance to Relaxation Training
Authors: Riley William T. , Berry Sharon L. , Kennedy Wallace A.
Published: August 2011

Exposure to a rationale as a method to increase compliance with relaxation was tested on 52 subjects with stress-related problems. Subjects were randomly assigned to a rationale or no-rationale condition and were trained in progressive relaxation. Compliance during the subsequent week was measured by electronic tape-rewind counters, self-report, and objective and subjective ratings of performance 1 wk. later. Use of a rationale did not have a significant effect on compliance with relaxation. Although the subjects' self-reported practice and measures of proficiency were correlated, these measures were not significantly correlated with the rewind-counter measure of compliance. Research and clinical applications of these unexpected findings were discussed.
A Comment to Bush and White
Authors: Weiss Andrea R. , Rosenberg William L.
Published: August 2011

In a recent paper published in this journal, Bush and White report on a method they claim significantly improved return rates in a questionnaire study. This paper takes issue with their interpretation of their results.
A Measure of Chronic Organizational Stress
Authors: Jenner Jessica Reynolds
Published: August 2011

The Stress at Work Scale, which was derived from an earlier measure developed by Adams (1980), was tested for internal consistency, reliability, and convergent validity. Subjects were 202 full-time employed men and women. Results indicate it is useful for research.
Reemployment on a Poorer Job after a Plant Closing
Authors: Burke Ronald J.
Published: August 2011

This study, involving 61 former Canadian Admiral employees who were employed 16 mo. after the plant closing, examined the effects of reemployment on a poorer job. Admiral jobs and present jobs were compared in two ways, hourly wages and a 10-item index of job characteristics (working conditions, supervision, nearness to home, union representation, etc.). Employees working on poorer jobs reported less life satisfaction, more psychosomatic symptoms, and greater alcohol consumption. Objective differences in hourly wages produced stronger negative effects than did differences in job characteristics.
Factors in Sexual Abuse of Children
Authors: Curtis John M.
Published: August 2011

Despite current attention to ostensibly widespread sexual abuse of children less emphasis has been directed toward identifying factors which might contribute. Accountability of professionals under mandatory reporting laws in many states now requires protection of children against inadvertent or calculated varieties of abuse. The present discussion lists factors such as family dysfunction, psychopathology, substance abuse, social ineptitude, withdrawal, and isolation, history, and psychosocial stresses and crises, which may be used to estimate the likelihood of sexual abuse of children. While determination of physical and mental abuse, neglect, endangerment, and abandonment were not the focus of the present discussion, these varieties of child abuse seem correlated with the conditions under which sexual abuse occurs. Attention to these factors—applied together with clinical intuitions and other relevant sources of information—might help professionals make more accurate assessments from which possible incidents of child sexual abuse might be averted.
What Do Employers Want: Functions, Knowledge Areas, and Characteristics Desired of Professional Psychologists
Authors: Dole Arthur A. , Levitt Deborah , Baggaley Andrew R. , Stewart Bonnie L.
Published: August 2011

To determine what they prefer when they select a psychologist, we surveyed a sample of 105 administrators in the Philadelphia area. Most respondents held doctorates in clinical, counseling, or school psychology. Preferences for functions, areas of knowledge, and characteristics suggested discrepancies with APA standards for training. There was only moderate support for a scientific, quantitative orientation. Factor analyses identified six functions, six areas of knowledge, and two characteristics. Treated as composites, the intercorrelations suggested a further reduction into a practitioner-oriented and a scientist-oriented pattern. Over-all, respondents rated highest the personal characteristics of a practitioner (rather than scientist), knowledge of human development and of psychodiagnostics, and the appraisal function. When 10 selected agency characteristics were analyzed by composite scores, sponsorship of setting and typical age range of clientele accounted for the most differences. Implications for the professional identity of the major specializations, for education, and for practice were discussed.
A Reply to “Reply to Weiss and Rosenberg”
Authors: Weiss Andrea R. , Rosenberg William L.
Published: August 2011

The original criticisms of the work by Bush and White have yet to be addressed effectively.
Testing Loneliness on the Differential Loneliness Scale
Authors: Kalliopuska Mirja , Laitinen Marketta
Published: August 2011

The Differential Loneliness Scale was presented to 30 persons in a mental growth group (test group) and to 36 adult students of psychology (controls). The majority of the subjects were aged 19 to 25 yr. The test group experienced loneliness statistically significantly more than the controls. The test group would be classified as lonely also according to American norms for the scale and for the UCLA test. There were no statistically significant differences in experiencing loneliness between men and women. Ten factors were extracted by Varimax rotation: Support from others, quality of friendship relations, group affiliation, number of friends, dependence on others, love relations, family relations, receiving understanding, reliance, and expressing emotions. The test group experienced their love relations and family relations, understanding from others, and the quality of friendship relations statistically significantly as less satisfactory than the control group. Concurrent validity for the UCLA test was satisfactory (.70) in spite of the different structure of these loneliness scales. Cross-validation is required.
Assessment of World Views
Authors: Ibrahim Farah A. , Kahn Harris
Published: August 2011

This paper reports the development of a scale to assess world views both within and across cultures. It is a 45-item Likert-type scale, developed to assess beliefs, values, and assumptions on five variables (views of human nature, interpersonal relationships, nature, time, and activity). The scale was administered to 501 university students. Reliability and validity data are described. A multidimensional scaling procedure was used to assess intra-group variation and to determine the profile of world views of the sample studied.
Dogmatism and the Influence of Sources of Advice for Students' Choice of Accountancy as a Career
Authors: Gul F. A. , Attapallil A. V. , Teoh H. Y.
Published: August 2011

Following the theory underlying dogmatism authors hypothesized that there would be significant differences in the influence of nine sources of career advice between highly dogmatic and low dogmatic students' choice of accounting as a career. For 72 accounting students as subjects there were significant differences between highly dogmatic and low dogmatic students in the influence of five sources of career advice. These five sources were viewed as ‘authoritative-type’ sources, while the other four for which there were no significant differences, the sources were perhaps viewed by the students as non-authoritative.
Opinions of Clergy and Guidance Counselors about the Desirability of Irrational Beliefs in Children
Authors: Prola Max , Stern Daniel
Published: August 2011

About one-third of 102 clergy and none of 118 female high school guidance counselors regarded Ellis's Beliefs 3, 8, 9, and 10 as desirable for young children. More than one-fifth of male high school counselors judged Beliefs 3 and 9 to be desirable.
Effect of Ballot Color, Sex of Candidate, and Sex of College Students of Voting Age on Their Voting Behavior
Authors: Garrett John C. , Brooks Charles I.
Published: August 2011

College students were asked to vote for one of two hypothetical candidates for political office. Three studies examined the influence of color of ballot (pink or green), sex of candidate, and sex of voter. Men generally preferred a green ballot and women preferred pink. Also, men tended to vote for men, and women tended to vote for women. Color of ballot interacted with candidate's sex in an unexpected way. For both male and female voters, the highest preference shown for a candidate was when the candidate was the same sex as the voter but whose platform was printed on the less favorable color.
Note on Psychological Differences between 18-Yr.-Old Finnish Females Who Use vs Do Not Use Oral Contraceptives
Authors: Wright Maijaliisa Rauste-Von
Published: August 2011

18-yr.-old Finnish women who use vs do not use oral contraceptives differed in their leisure activities, social contacts, life values and experienced “atmosphere at home,” and with respect to some educational values of their parents.
Measuring Resistance to Hypnosis and its Relationship to Hypnotic Susceptibility
Authors: Spanos Nicholas P. , Cross Wendi P. , De Groh Margaret M.
Published: August 2011

After hypnotic susceptibility testing, 484 subjects completed a 13-item questionnaire that assessed feelings and responses toward the hypnotic testing. Subjects were divided into two samples. Subjects' responses to the 13 items were factor analysed and yielded a 7-item factor that assessed subjects' tendency to resist hypnosis and hypnotic responding. These 7 items were combined into a resistance scale. Each scale item correlated substantially with the total scale score, and internal reliability of the scale was adequate. Resistance scores correlated significantly and negatively with objective and subjective dimensions of hypnotic susceptibility.
MMPI Indicators of Long-Term Therapy in a College Counseling Center
Authors: Elliott Timothy R. , Anderson Wayne P. , Adams Nicholas A.
Published: August 2011

Differences on four MMPI Scales were studied among 288 college students who were classified into one of three durations of therapy. Multivariate analyses showed Scales D and Si to be significantly higher for those remaining in therapy ≥ 13 sessions, and these scales predicted duration.
Dimensions of Ethnic Identity in Israeli Jewish Families Living in the United States
Authors: Elias Noa , Blanton Judith
Published: August 2011

The study examines several dimensions of ethnic identity in parents and children from Israeli-Jewish families who had resided in the United States for at least five years. Three components of identity (American, Israeli, and Jewish) were assessed using three different instruments which tapped certain aspects of behavioral, cognitive, and affective domains. The pattern of relationship between identity scores varied among the different modalities of measurement. The results indicate that identity components are complex, rather than unidimensional constructs and that they manifest themselves differently in different domains.
A Predictive Validity Study of the Learning Ability Profile with Collegiate-Level Officer Cadets: Some Canadian Data
Authors: Fabi Bruno , Maillet Léandre
Published: August 2011

The purpose of this study was to test the predictive validity of the Learning Ability Profile (LAP) test, developed by Henning to obtain a quantitative measure of learning abilities. The results obtained on the LAP were correlated with grade point averages (GPA) of two academic sessions and with the results of the individual courses followed by the subjects during the same period. The sample consisted of 94 French speaking students at Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean in Canada. The LAP scores were only significantly correlated with the GPA of the first academic session (.20) as well as with the grades of a few specific courses followed during that session: Calculus (.22), Chemistry (.84), Economics (.35), and Linguistics (.33). Such results could indicate a better predictive validity of the LAP with respect to quantitative rather than verbal courses. Research considerations regarding increased predictive validity of the LAP were also presented.