bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nightmare Distress and Stress-Related Health Problems
Authors: Madrid Samara , Marquez Hazel , Nguyen Tammy T. , Hicks Robert A.
Published: August 2011

Responses of 289 university students to Belicki's Nightmare Distress Questionnaire and the Stress-related Health Problems Scale were used to test the hypothesis that persons who score high on nightmare distress are more likely to report psychological problems. Since relative to the Low Nightmare Distress group, the High Nightmare Distress group scored significantly higher on all seven of the sets of symptoms that are measured by the Stress-related Health Problems Scale, this hypothesis was supported.
Self-Deprecation and Estimates of Body Size in Women
Authors: Lewis Vivienne , Donaghue Ngaire
Published: August 2011

The subject of body image in women has received considerable attention particularly with concern about its relationship to behaviours such as dieting. This study investigated the reported tendency of women to see thinness as desirable and to perceive themselves as fatter than others do. This tendency is inconsistent with the general findings on self-enhancement that show that people (including women) generally overestimate the extent to which they possess desirable characteristics. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether the tendency for women to report themselves as fatter than others perceive them is part of a general tendency to deprecate themselves on socially desirable qualities or whether this deprecation is restricted to body size. To investigate this, 29 female undergraduates in psychology participated in a study comparing own and others' perceptions of body size, attractiveness, sexiness, intelligence, and friendliness. Compared with the ratings of them given by others, women tended to make self-enhancing judgements of their attractiveness, sexiness, intelligence, and friendliness. This was not found for body size, however, for which self-ratings tended to be the same as those made by others. The failure to find self-enhancing judgements of body size is discussed in terms of the relatively unvarying standards presented to women concerning ideal body size compared to the more subjective standards used to evaluate other qualities.
Predicting the Time-Series Suicide and Homicide Rates in Hong Kong
Authors: Lester David
Published: August 2011

For the period 1976 to 1992 in Hong Kong, marriage, birth, and unemployment rates did not predict the time-series suicide or homicide rates.
Implications of the Sex Ratio for Suicide and Homicide
Authors: Lester David
Published: August 2011

In a study of the 48 contiguous states in 1980, states with a higher male: female sex ratio, that is, a relatively higher proportion of men to women, had a higher male suicide rate even after controls for other social correlates of suicide rates.
Subliminal Psychodynamic Activation: Methodological Problems and Questions in Silverman's Experiments
Authors: Fudin Robert
Published: August 2011

Analyses of procedures in Lloyd H. Silverman's subliminal psychodynamic activation experiments identify problems and questions. Given the information provided, none of his experiments can be replicated, and none of his positive results were found under luminance conditions he reckoned in 1983 were typical of such outcomes. Furthermore, there is no evidence in any of his experiments that all stimuli were presented completely within the fovea, a condition critical to the production of positive findings (Silverman & Geisler, 1986). These considerations and the fact that no experiment using Silverman's procedures can yield unambiguous positive results (Fudin, 1986) underscore the need to start anew research in this area. Such research should be undertaken with a greater appreciation of methodological issues involved in exposing and encoding subliminal stimuli than that found in all but a few experiments on subliminal psychodynamic activation.
Differences in Perceptions of Communication across Types of Relationships
Authors: Prisbell Marshall
Published: August 2011

This study explored four variables in interpersonal communication, i.e., Solidarity, Attitude-Value Homophily, Uncertainty, and Safety across four types of relationships. Scores from 160 college students indicated that participants in close relationships perceived greater Solidarity, Attitude-Value Homophily, and Safety and less Uncertainty than participants in distant relationships.
Starting Position of Movement and Perception of Angle of Trunk Flexion While Standing with Eyes Closed
Authors: Fujiwara Katsuo , Miyaguchi Akiyoshi , Toyama Hiroshi , Kunita Kenji , Asai Hitoshi
Published: August 2011

The present study attempted to investigate the effect of position on the perception of angle of trunk flexion while standing. For this purpose, the range effect was factored out by setting the constant target angle at 10°, with varied starting positions of trunk flexion. We found that subjects underestimated angle of trunk flexion when the starting position was close to a quiet standing posture, overestimated when close to maximum trunk flexion, and correctly perceived it when at the middle position. Less perceptual distortion was observed at the positions close to maximum trunk flexion in the present study than in our previous one, in which various target angles of trunk flexion were reproduced from a quiet standing posture. The reduced distortion in the present study was believed to have resulted from factoring out the range effect. The flexion angle of the hip joint changed in tandem with that of the trunk, while very little movement was observed in the ankle, knee, and neck joints. Judging from the changing pattern of hip-joint angle, the muscle activity of the erector Spinae and biceps femoris increased gradually to 90° trunk flexion. In contrast, the actual increment of muscle activity reached zero or a minimum value at the middle angles as the angle of trunk flexion increased. It was assumed that the abrupt change in kinesthetic information associated with muscle activity exerted a great influence on the perception of trunk flexion.
Age and Intelligence as Mediators of Anger in Black Suicide Attempters
Authors: Lester David
Published: August 2011

For a sample of 25 African Americans who attempted suicide, hostility scores were largely independent of age, sex, and intelligence.
Development of Procedures for Rating Posed Emotional Expressions across Facial, Prosodic, and Lexical Channels
Authors: Canino Elizabeth , Borod Joan C. , Madigan Nancy , Tabert Matthias H. , Schmidt J. Michael
Published: August 2011

A number of rating systems are available to evaluate emotional communication in a single modality. The main purpose of this study was to develop procedures to train human raters to evaluate posed expressions of emotion across three different channels of communication, i.e., facial, prosodic/intonational, and lexical/verbal. These procedures were used to evaluate posed emotional expressions produced by individuals with unilateral brain lesions from stroke. Posers in this preliminary report were two right brain-damaged, two left brain-damaged, and two normal control right-handed adults who were marched on demographic and neurological factors. Eight emotional expressions, both positive and negative, were produced in three channels and rated for intensity, pleasantness, and category accuracy. 15 normal adults served as raters, five per channel. The rating procedures were comparable across channels, with analogous properties, and yielded substantial interrater agreement. In this small sample of posers, it was observed that the expressions of the right brain-damaged group were rated as the least accurate and those of the left brain-damaged group as the most intense. When patterns of individual performance across the channels were examined, performance was quiet consistent for the normal controls yet variable for the right brain-damaged persons. These observations are in keeping with the notion that patients with right hemisphere pathology have difficulty in emotional communication. In summary, these findings suggest that comparison of emotional expressions across multiple channels is feasible.
A Linear Relationship between Postnatal Geomagnetic Activity and Self-Reports of Epileptic Seizures in Young Adults
Authors: Persinger M. A. , O'Connor R. P.
Published: August 2011

To test the hypothesis of a linear relationship between the intensity of geomagnetic activity during the first two days after birth and the development of epilepsy, the responses of the item “I have had an epileptic seizure” was obtained from the Personal Philosophy Inventories of 1,453 students who had been enrolled in first-year psychology courses over a 13-yr, period. The only statistically significant effect was linear and was between the successive 10 nT (nanoTesla) increments of the intensity of geomagnetic activity during the two days after birth and the percentage of students who reported epileptic seizures. The percentage of subjects reporting a history of seizures ranged from 1% for those born when the activity was less than 10 nT to 4% for those born when this activity exceeded 40 nT.
Sustained Attention and Related Perceptuomotor Functions
Authors: Weinstein Martin , Nader Todd , Silverstein Marshall L. , Turnbull Ayme
Published: August 2011

The present study examined the relationship between two measures of sustained attention on the Continuous Performance Test (reaction time and omission errors) and several performance measures on neuropsychological tests. Analysis suggests that sustained attention as measured by processing speed predicts performance on neuropsychological measures of relatively greater complexity and that the Stroop test, which requires maintaining steady focus on a changing stimulus field, may be mote sensitive to lapses in attention than other neuropsychological tests.
Perception of the Form of Stimulus Increment as a Method in Assessment of the Psychophysical Relationship
Authors: Bujas Zoran , Ajduković Dean , Szabo Silvija , Mayer Dragutin , Matutinović Željko
Published: August 2011

Among numerous procedures for determination of the psychophysical relation, one approach has seldom been applied. Essential in this method is to present a set of stimuli whose intensity increases in fixed time following different forms. The objective stimulus increment, which the subjects perceive as linear growth directly, represents the inverse psychophysical relation. In this paper the method was tested in the fields of click frequency and sound pressure. This procedure was named “Perception of the Form of Stimulus Increment in Time In comparison to other psychophysical approaches, this one has several advantages The principal ones are the following: (1) In assessing the psychophysical relation it is not necessary to try to measure the perceptual magnitude; and (2) the psychophysical relation is directly determined by its dynamic pattern. In this paper modifications to the method are reported which facilitate the subject's task and avoid some differences in subjects' individual approaches to the task. The modified procedure leads to results satisfactorily independent of the influence of the factors irrelevant to the psychophysical relationship.
Shadows as Sources of Cues for Distance of Shadow-Casting Objects
Authors: Allen Bem P.
Published: August 2011

Shadows are neglected sources of information about shadow-casting objects' distance (location). In an experiment using real shadows, participants judged the distance of two rods, either with shadows (illumination from the left) or without shadows. Without shadows, a thin rod raised slightly above the surface was incorrectly judged to be more distant than a thick rod, but with shadows the thin rod was accurately judged to be closer. For judgments to be correct, shadows had to overwhelm competing height and stimulus-size cues. Exp. II involved nonoverlapping shadows produced by a light placed in front of the rods. Again, without shadows the thin-elevated rod was incorrectly judged to be more distant, but with shadows it was correctly judged to be closer. Exp. III involved two sets of thick and thin elevated rods and frontal lighting. Judgments were accurate when shadows were present but inaccurate when shadows were absent. Experiments conducted through the American Psychological Society Web-research site replicated results of Exp. I, II, and III. A final Web experiment replicated results of the others, but with shadows produced by illumination from the right. Three properties of shadows—angles, interposition, and positioning—are possible sources of distance information associated with cast shadows.
Achromatic Visual Backward Masking of Colored Stimuli as a Function of Age Differences
Authors: Muise J. Gérard , Watier Christian , Desrosiers Marc , Caissie David
Published: August 2011

To test the hypothesis that accelerated aging factors may be responsible for previous findings of reduced performance by diabetics in a visual backward-masking task with colored stimuli, we compared masking performances of observers from three age cohorts (20-, 40-, and 60-yr.-olds). Since masking performance declined in a very similar fashion for all colors with age, it was concluded that the differential color-performance decrements associated with diabetes cannot be attributed to visual processes associated with normal aging. The application of the Lagged Accrual Model showed that sensory transmission time increases and asymptotic performance decreases as a function of age. Suggestions for the normative use of the present data and for further research are discussed.
Analysis of Factor Structure in a Dream Inventory
Authors: Kroth Jerry , Gilbert Harmony , Guichard Anamarie , Quatman Teri
Published: August 2011

Intercorrelations of responses to the KJP dream inventory, initially a checklist of dream elements, were factor analyzed from a database from 65 graduate majors in psychology. Six factors were identified within the checklist: repetitive traumatic dreaming, reoccurring pleasantness, openness or depth, discontentedness, dissociative avoidance, and uninhibitedness. Scoring criteria were developed for each subscale.
25 Facts on Sickle Cell Disease: A Regional Survey of Public School Nurses
Authors: Hale Doris , Davis Priscilla , Gentry Betholyn , Dancer Jess
Published: August 2011

Public school nurses in four states with large percentages of African-American citizens were surveyed regarding their knowledge of sickle cell disease. The nurses had Limited knowledge of many of the facts on sickle cell, suggesting that educational workshops are needed.
Intrasubtest Scatter on the WAIS–III Information Subtest and Psychometrically Defined Retrieval Deficits
Authors: Ryan Joseph J. , Paul Christine A. , Arb Julie D.
Published: August 2011

Milberg, et al. (1996) postulated that significant intrasubtest scatter on the Wechsler Information subtest reflects impaired retrieval. From a pool of 205 male referrals at a VA medical center with complete WAIS–III and WMS–III protocols, 28 participants with impaired retrieval (Group I) defined by a high Retrieval Composite score were identified. A sample (Group II) without similar evidence of impaired retrieval was matched to Group I on age, education, Full Scale IQ, race, and diagnosis. Intrasubtest scatter on the Information subtest was the same across groups (Group I M = 6.3, SD = 2.7; Group II M = 6.9, SD = 3.4). A second study identified impaired retrieval using the WMS–III Word Lists subtest. 21 participants (Group III) had impaired retrieval indicated by a Recognition scaled score being ⩾4 points higher than the Delayed Recall scaled score. A matched sample (Group IV) of VA patients without similar evidence of impaired retrieval was constituted. Intrasubtest scatter on the Information subtest did not differ across groups (Group III M = 6.6, SD = 2.4; Group IV M = 6.0, SD = 2.5). Evaluations of the retrieval deficit hypothesis should be based on responses of participants whose Information performance is characterized by abnormal amounts of intrasubtest scatter. It is possible that a specific amount of response variability must be present within the subtest before retrieval problems can be detected.
Relationship of Fitness and Gross Motor Skills for Five- to Six-Yr.-Old Children
Authors: Reeves Lynda , Broeder Craig E. , Kennedy-Honeycutt Leah , East Chip , Matney Laura
Published: August 2011

51 kindergarten children participated to assess how various fitness components, ½-mile run, the Prudential PACER test, body composition, shoulder stretch, trunk lift, sit-and-reach, curl-up, and flex arm-hang related to motor performance on the Bruininks-Oseretsky test battery including running, speed, agility, balance, bilateral coordination, and strength. All values recorded in the fitness components were compared with standardized motor skill scores. Analysis indicated that ½-mile run performance was significantly correlated with body weight and relative body fat, showing that as body weight or relative body fat increased run performance times were slower. Comparisons between the fitness parameters and motor skills indicated that the ½-mile run performance also was negatively correlated with measures of balance, bilateral coordination, and strength while the Prudential PACER test was positively correlated with strength. During continuous walk-jog movements (half-mile run) in a relatively homogeneous sample, increases in body size improved balance, bilateral coordination, and strength but negatively affected running during the ½-mile fitness test. In more interval-related activities such as the Prudential PACER test, an increase in strength was related to improved performance.
Capture-Recapture Methodology: Direct and Inverse Sampling
Authors: Mielke Paul W. , Berry Kenneth J.
Published: August 2011

Capture-recapture methods can be valuable tools for psychological research; however, many textbooks on psychological methods, statistics, and sampling either do not include capture-recapture methods or present biased or inefficient estimators. In this paper, unbiased capture-recapture estimators are provided for both direct and inverse sampling without replacement.
Differential Effects of Transformation on Facial Recognition in Young Children: A Pilot Study
Authors: Metzger Mitchell M.
Published: August 2011

This study sought to examine further the effect of facial transformation on accuracy of recognition by a sample of young children. Specifically, groups of 6- and 8-yr.-old children were familiarized with 10 target stimuli and were then given a recognition test in which the targets were randomly mixed with 20 distractor stimuli. During the test, half of the target stimuli were transformed (addition of a mustache) and half of the target stimuli remained unchanged (clean-shaven). Subjects indicated which stimuli were previously viewed target faces, regardless of whether a mustache had been added. Analysis indicated no differences between the two groups for the unchanged faces; however, the addition of facial hair increased false alarms and lowered hits and d' values for the younger group only. These results suggest that the groups performed equally well on recognition test for unchanged stimuli, but accuracy of recognition of transformed stimuli was differentially affected for younger subjects. This study raises further questions for assessing the accuracy of facial memory by children, especially when faces to be identified have been altered in physical appearance.
Color Scission and Phenomenal Transparency
Authors: Masin Sergio C.
Published: August 2011

When an observer with a holistic viewing attitude perceives transparency in an achromatic two-dimensional pattern, some areas of the pattern form a single transparent phenomenal surface. In each of these areas the observer simultaneously perceives the gray color of the transparent surface and the gray color of the background that is visible through the transparent surface. With an analytic viewing attitude the observer perceives a single gray color in each area of the pattern. When the viewing attitude changes from analytic to holistic, the term color scission means the phenomenal replacement of the single analytically perceived gray color of an area of the pattern with the two gray colors that are perceived in the same area when such area forms a transparent surface. The concept of color scission has been used by Moore Heider and Metelli to explain phenomenal transparency. An analysis of experimental results reported in the literature shows that color scission does not occur in transparent patterns formed by only three areas and that it involves incorrect predictions of the occurrence of transparency in patterns formed by four or more areas. It is concluded that in general the concept of color scission is inadequate to explain phenomenal transparency.
Changes in Basketball Shooting Patterns as a Function of Distance
Authors: Liu Suyen , Burton Allen W.
Published: August 2011

The effect of distance on the accuracy and movement form in basketball shooting was examined using a dynamic systems approach. Five male and five female young adults ( M = 26 yr.) with no basketball experience beyond regular physical education shot a basketball 20 times at each of eight distances from 5 to 40 ft. (Natural condition). Also, they pretended to shoot the ball 5 times at each of the eight distances, for a total of 200 shots each (Pretend condition). In the Natural condition, shooting accuracy significantly decreased as shooting distance increased. Across both conditions and across four body components (feet position, hand position, trunk rotation, and jump height), the participants shifted from one movement pattern to another 86.3% of the time as shooting distance increased. The distances at which the transitions occurred were significantly shorter in the Natural than the Pretend condition for the feet and hand components but not the trunk and jump-height components. These results indicated that shooting a basketball at increasing distances can be portrayed as a dynamic system characterized by abrupt changes in at least four body components at critical distances.
What is the Chinese Suicide Rate?
Authors: He Zhao Xiong , Lester David
Published: August 2011

Estimates of the Chinese suicide rate are made from two sources and found to be in the range of 13 to 19 per 100,000 per year.
Examination of the Biasing Properties of Cronbach Coefficient Alpha under Conditions of Varying Shapes of Data Distribution: A Monte Carlo Simulation
Authors: Sideridis Georgios D.
Published: August 2011

The biasing properties of Cronbach alpha in fixed-format tests were examined in a Monte Carlo simulation under conditions of varying shapes of data distribution. The distributions of data examined were normal (3, 1), uniform (1, 5), skewness biased, Kurtosis biased (leptokurtic), and U-shaped. Analysis indicated that alpha was significantly different from zero under the normal and uniform distributions; however, negative interitem correlations and marginal SDs might have been responsible for that effect. The magnitude of alpha was negligible so it is suggested that researchers can use alpha with data having various distributional properties.
The Weber Fraction versus Perceived Similarity
Authors: King Donald L. , Henry Grace E. , Shanks S. Christina
Published: August 2011

The Weber fraction type of discrimination outcome means that stimuli of high magnitude are difficult to discriminate. Simultaneous and successive discriminations between two long (high magnitude) lines and also between two short (low magnitude) lines were carried out. Over-all performance on the successive discrimination between the two long lines was much poorer than on the three other discriminations. This discrimination also produced the poorest performance on different stimuli relative to same stimuli. The latter result should indicate that the two successive long lines were perceived as most similar. These and additional results support the conclusion that over-all discrimination performance and perceived similarity were consistently associated even though they were not consistently associated with length and time of occurrence (simultaneous versus successive). Nevertheless, the association of discrimination with perceived similarity has received minimal attention in the psychophysics area.
Disturbance of Imagination and Symbolization in Pervasive Developmental Disorders: Preliminary Study Utilizing the Rorschach Inkblot Test
Authors: Bernabei Paola , Palli Fulvia Gicca , Levi Gabriel , Mazzoncini Bruna , Cannoni Eleonora
Published: August 2011

Two clinical cases of children of 6 and 7 years are presented with their respective Rorschach records. The first case had a diagnosis of autism, the second of Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. The modes of elaboration and responses to the ambiguous stimuli of the Rorschach test were compared with the clinical symptoms of the two subjects, which are centered on the two opposite poles of absence of imagination in the first case and distortion of the imaginative processes in the second.
Relationship between Aesthetic Motivation and Preferences for Aggressive and Nonaggressive Sports
Authors: Wann Daniel L. , Wilson Anthony M.
Published: August 2011

Two studies were designed to replicate the finding that people scoring high on aesthetic motivation, as measured by Warm's Sport Fan Motivation Scale, tend to prefer nonaggressive sports. Study 1 correlated 75 college students' scores on aesthetic motivation with their enjoyment of watching aggressive sports. Study 2 correlated 44 college students' scores on aesthetic motivation with their enjoyment of watching a series of aggressive football plays. Neither study replicated the previous finding that people high on aesthetic motivation tend to prefer nonaggressive sports, suggesting that the earlier finding was an artifact of the method used.
Role of Team Performance, Team Identification, and Self-Esteem in Sport Spectators' Game Preferences
Authors: Wann Daniel L. , Roberts Angie , Tindall Johnnie
Published: August 2011

The current study tested the hypothesis that sport fans would prefer contests in which both teams had been successful over contests in which one or both of the teams had been unsuccessful. Further, it was predicted that highly identified fans would report greater game preferences than lowly identified fans Finally, an interaction was predicted in which highly identified fans with high self-esteem would prefer games involving two successful teams while highly identified fans with low self-esteem would prefer games in which their team had a high likelihood of success. Participants ( N = 54) were asked to complete measures of their team identification and self-esteem as well as report their preferences for different types of games. Analysis indicated that, although contests involving two successful teams were the most preferred and highly identified fans did report greater game preferences than lowly identified fans, the hypothesized interaction was not significant.
One Hundred Years of an Ambiguous Figure: Happy Birthday, Duck/Rabbit!
Authors: Brugger Peter
Published: August 2011

In the present study, Jastrow's famous ambiguous drawing of a duck/rabbit was presented to 100 students along with 11 published variants from later research. The beak/ears of the animal pointed to the right for half of the subjects and to the left for the other half. For each figure subjects were required to rate the ease of bird and of rabbit identification on a 9-point scale. Raw data of subjects' ratings are presented for the convenience of experimenters planning research with a specific bird/rabbit figure. Of the 12 figures, 6 were significantly bird-dominant, 2 were rabbit-dominant, and only 4 figures were truly ambiguous, i.e., a bird was as easily identified as was a rabbit. With the exception of one figure (the whole-body representation of a duck/rabbit), bird and rabbit ratings were not affected by the orientation of the beak/ears. Jastrow's original drawing was the seventh out of the 12 figures in rated ambiguity, suggesting a secure place for it in research on visual ambiguity.
Speaking Speed Effects on Delayed Auditory Feedback Disruption of Speech Fluency
Authors: Zanini Sergio , Clarici Andrea , Fabbro Franco , Bava Antonio
Published: August 2011

24 Italian medical students performed a task of verbal fluency. 12 students (the control group) receiving Normal Auditory Feedback and 12 students receiving Delayed Auditory Feedback (delay of 200 msec.) performed six trials in six different experimental settings: normal or increased speaking rate, and, for each condition, once with bilateral input of the auditory feedback, once to the right ear, and once to the left ear. At the normal speaking rate, the disruptive effect of delayed feedback was confirmed. As the speaking rate increased, the total number of errors increased within the control group but decreased within the group given delayed feedback, although the total number of errors was always greater for the latter. In addition, speech was more disrupted when the auditory input was returned to the right ear (left hemisphere) for all the different conditions: Normal and Delayed Auditory Feedback, normal and increased speaking rate. In particular, the left hemisphere was less resistant to the disruptive effect of the delayed feedback than the right hemisphere. From these results, we suggest that, when speaking more quickly, one uses more central mechanisms of movement programming (cortical-cerebellum-thalamus-cortical, cortical-corpus striatum-thalamus-cortical, and cortical-thalamus-cortical circuits), or attentional control (cortico-reticular-cortical circuits) than peripheral mechanisms (tactile, proprioceptive, and acoustic circuits). This may explain the decreased disruptive influence of delayed auditory feedback on speed, fluency, and quality at increased speaking rates. Hemispheric specialization processes, however, may explain the more pronounced susceptibility of the left hemisphere or the less pronounced susceptibility of the right hemisphere during the delayed feedback condition. In fact, the former processes phonemic, grammatical, and lexical features of words whilst the latter is competent in using metaphors and prosody in controlling the emotional aspects of language. Moreover, the right hemisphere is more active on attentional tasks.
Relationship between Years Training and Performance Time on the Three Taikyoku Kata for Shotokan Karate Black-Belts
Authors: Layton Clive , Moran Philp
Published: August 2011

27 experienced black-belt subjects were individually timed on each of the three Taikyoku kata and correlations calculated between performance time and years training. Correlations were nonsignificant, more clearly clarifying the reasons why performance time increases as years of training increases in more complex forms.
Acoustic Characteristics of Vocal Emotions Simulated by Actors
Authors: Whiteside S. P.
Published: August 2011

This paper reports on a set of acoustic measures of vocal emotions simulated by a skilled actor and actress who read 12 short sentences. The emotions simulated were Neutral, Cold Anger, Hot Anger, Happiness, Sadness, Interest, and Elation. Acoustic measures were examined for digitised samples of the 168 sentences (2 speakers × 12 sentences × 7 emotions). These measures included the over-all mean energy, standard deviations of energy, mean fundamental frequency, mean values of the first six formant frequencies and their corresponding frequency bandwidths, mean durations of utterance, and mean articulation rate. Results displayed both similarities and differences in the acoustic measures of the two actors' simulations of the different emotions. These are presented and discussed.
Classroom Management Programs for Deaf Children in State Residential and Large Public Schools
Authors: Wenkus Mary , Rittenhouse Bob , Dancer Jess
Published: August 2011

Personnel in 4 randomly selected state residential schools for the deaf and 3 randomly selected large public schools with programs for the deaf were surveyed to assess the types of management or disciplinary programs and strategies currently in use with deaf students and the rated effectiveness of such programs. Several behavioral management programs were identified by respondents, with Assertive Discipline most often listed. Ratings of program effectiveness were generally above average on a number of qualitative criteria.
Laboratory Studies on the Effects of Temperature Variations on Drowsiness
Authors: Landström Ulf , Englund Kjell , Nordstrom Bertil , Stenudd Anita
Published: August 2011

20 subjects were analysed in a laboratory study investigating the inhibition of drowsiness by altering air temperature. The EEGs of the subjects were used to measure the effect of sequences of temperature lowerings of 10° for 2- and 4-min. periods. The effect upon wakefulness was analysed through EEG recordings and subjective ratings. Results indicated that reductions of the air temperature of 10° during repeated 2- and 4-min. periods significantly increased wakefulness.
Effects of Sex Composition by Class and Instructor's Sex on Physical Self-Efficacy of College Men
Authors: Gibbons Emma S. , Blassingame Carol L. , Rust Dawnella M. , Reed Judy L.
Published: August 2011

The relationship of sex composition of class and instructor's sex to Physical Self-efficacy has yielded conflicting results in several studies. This study examined the relationship of sex composition of class and instructor's sex to scores on Physical Self-efficacy, Perceived Physical Ability, and Physical Self-presentation Confidence of 80 male students enrolled in one of four sections of a strength training class. Analysis indicated no significant difference on Physical Self-efficacy between male students who were enrolled in all male classes or in coeducational classes; improvements in scores on Physical Self-efficacy were not specific to the sex composition of the class or sex of the instructor and no significant difference on Perceived Physical Ability and Physical Self-presentation Confidence between male students who joined an all male class or a coeducational class. Perceived Physical Ability improved from the pretest to the posttest in all classes; and no improvement in scores for Physical Self-presentation Confidence was found in all classes. In conclusion, the analysis showed that sex composition of the class and sex of the instructor were not significantly related to scores for self-efficacy.
Comparison of the Trail Making and Color Trails Tests in a Chinese Context: A Preliminary Report
Authors: Lee Tatia M. C. , Chan Chetwyn C. H.
Published: August 2011

The Color Trails Test developed as a culturally fair analogue of the Trail Making Test, was used to examine the relationship between the two tests with 35 undergraduate Chinese in Hong Kong recruited as the subjects. The scores on these two tests of the 12 men and 23 women were significantly correlated .71. The equivalence of the Trail Making and Color Trails Tests when applied to Chinese in Hong Kong was discussed.
Group Exercise Reduces Depression in Obese Women without Weight Loss
Authors: Hayward Lorna M. , Sullivan Annemarie C. , Libonati Joseph R.
Published: August 2011

Given participation in a 6-mo. exercise and relaxation training 8 obese women showed significant change in scores on the Beck Depression Inventory over the 6-mo. interval, but not on Body Mass Index or Medical Outcome Study Short-Form-36.
Minimizing Error in Measurement of Error: A Proposed Method for Calculation of Error in a Two-Dimensional Motor Task
Authors: Kim Jingu , Chung Sangtak , Tennant L. Keith , Singer Robert N. , Janelle Christopher M.
Published: August 2011

Traditional one-dimensional error scores are still consistently used in research on motor learning to quantify two-dimensional error; however, the inherent differences in two-dimensional tasks render that application inappropriate and often misleading. Consequently, the purpose of this paper was to propose a novel method of presenting errors, which more precisely represents the accuracy, direction, and variability of error in two-dimensional settings. Although closely related to several alternatives for representing errors, the methodology used and the results obtained provide a more accurate procedure for pinpointing critical trends in what have been commonly referred to as AE (absolute error), VE (variable error), CE (constant error), and E (total variability). The proposed measurements of AVE (adjusted variable error), DE (directional error), TSE (total spread of error), and RE (radial error) provide composite error scores carrying a variety of information about performance on two-dimensional tasks. Formulas and examples are provided to facilitate computation and enhance understanding of the proposed scores.
Evaluating Architectural Design Review
Authors: Stamps Arthur E.
Published: August 2011

Architectural design review is a method of environmental management which is widely used bv governmental agencies in both the United States and in Great Britain. Because design review is a governmental function, there is a major need to assess how well it works Research covering over 29,000 respondents and 5,600 environmental scenes suggests that scientific protocols can be adapted to provide an accurate and efficient design review protocol. The protocol uses preference experiments to find the standardized mean difference ([Formula: see text]) between a proposed project and a random sample of existing projects. Values of d will indicate whether the project will increase, maintain, or diminish the aesthetic merit of the sampled area. The protocol is illustrated by applying it to the case of design review for a single residence. Implications for further implementations are discussed.
Absence of a Numerical Memory Span Advantage in Japanese Kanji
Authors: Flaherty Mary , Moran Aidan
Published: August 2011

Research suggests that people's memory span for Arabic numerals is consistently greater than that for digit words written in an alphabet, even when these stimuli have been matched for word length, lexicality, and semantics. It is not clear whether this “numeral advantage” holds true for other scripts. The present study tested this possibility in the case of Japanese kanji (the Chinese characters used in Japanese). 23 Japanese adults responded to stimuli comprised of two sets of random number sequences, one set presented in Arabic numerals and the other in digit word kanji. Each set began with three two-item sequences followed by three three-item sequences and so on, until three 12-item sequences were presented. Consecutive repetition of stimuli was avoided. Memory span was measured as the length of the last correctly recalled item sequence. Results indicated no numeral advantage effect, as there was no significant difference between people's recall of numerals and digit words. Memory strategy in dealing with kanji appears to bear more resemblance to numerals than to words in English.
Perceived Relative Importance of Psychological and Physical Factors in Successful Athletic Performance
Authors: Pedersen Darhl M.
Published: August 2011

Ratings of the perceived relative importance of psychological and physical factors for successful athletic performance were obtained from 29 men and 53 women in sports of track, swimming, soccer, volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, baseball or Softball, tennis, diving, and golf, by level of competition (high school, college, and professional), and sex of athlete. The over-all rating of the relative importance of psychological factors was 39%. Significant differences in the ratings of the relative importance of psychological factors were found for sport, level, sex, sport × level, and level × sex. Ratings of the relative importance of psychological factors for successful performance in various sports increased in the order listed above. The significant effect for level and interaction of sport × level were accounted for primarily by the higher ratings given to professional golf. The significant effect of sex and the interaction of sex × level were attributable to higher ratings of the importance of psychological variables for high school women athletes as compared to high school men athletes.
Human Movement-Related Brain Potentials Preceding Voluntary Movements in Different Arousal States Monitored with Skin Potential Level
Authors: Masaki Hiroaki , Takasawa Noriyoshi , Yamazaki Katuo
Published: August 2011

The present study investigated the readiness potential (RP) preceding a brisk extension of the right middle finger during different arousal states as monitored by skin potential level (SPL). The late component of the readiness potential in the medium arousal state was significantly larger than those in the low and high arousal states. This finding indicates that the RP waveform may vary as a function of arousal stares suggesting the inverse U-shaped relationship proposed in studies of the contingent negative variation.
The Role of Object Violation in the Development of Visual Analysis
Authors: Lange-Küttner C.
Published: August 2011

The present study investigated whether sensitivity to object violations in perception as well as in action would vary with age. Five-, 6-, and 11-yr.-old children and adults solved tasks which involved perception only, motoric indication of parts, actual assembly of parts, and drawing of a violated figure. In perception, object violation was the only factor showing change across age groups, with violations being increasingly noticed. In composition tasks involving motor components, object violation was just one factor besides quantity of parts and type of segmentation contributing to task difficulty and showing increase in performance across age groups. Analysis of object violations in visual structure required abilities similar to those needed when analysing shape interference. Improved visual detection and graphic construction of object violation seemed not to occur because segmentation increased quantitatively but more likely because fast perceptual processes came under scrutiny.
Influence of Aerobic and Stretching Exercise on Anxiety and Sensation-Seeking Mood State
Authors: Parente Debora
Published: August 2011

This study randomly assigned participants to either an aerobic, non-aerobic, or lecture group to assess whether one bout of exercise would alter mood state. Regardless of experimental condition, changes in mood state were found on the Sensation Seeking and Anxiety State Tests, where sensation-seeking scores increased and anxiety state decreased from pre- to posttest.
Equipment Malfunctions and Attribution of Causality
Authors: Powell Larry , Kitchens James T.
Published: August 2011

The purpose of this study was to test whether individuals would be more likely to attribute the cause for the malfunction of a new piece of equipment as a manufacturing problem in the equipment or as an inability on their part to properly work with the equipment. The subjects were 600 residents of Florida, selected by a stratified random sample and interviewed in a statewide telephone survey. Subjects were more likely to attribute the cause to themselves rather than the machine. Overall, 71% attributed the cause to themselves, while only 24% said the machine was at fault. There was also an interaction effect in terms of income, with middle-income users more likely to blame the machine and upper-income users more likely to blame themselves. Further, there was also a significant relationship between attribution of cause and age, with older respondents being more likely to attribute cause to themselves. These results imply that attribution may differ when the potential object of attribution is a machine rather than another person.
Electropalatographic and Spectrographic Descriptions of Allophonic Variants of /1/
Authors: Lehman Mark E. , Swartz Bradford
Published: August 2011

Prevocalic and postvocalic /l/ were investigated in three adult subjects utilizing a combination of electropalatographic and acoustic techniques. Results indicated that prevocalic /l/ was characterized by both alveolar and lateral lingua-palatal contact, while postvocalic /l/ was primarily alveolar contact only. Acoustically, prevocalic /l/ had a lower first formant and higher second formant than postvocalic /l/. In addition, the second and third formants were often weak or absent for prevocalic but not postvocalic /l/. Vowel context had a greater effect on the electropalatographic and acoustic characteristics of prevocalic than postvocalic /l/. Models that relate physiological and acoustical aspects of speech were utilized to account for the observed results.
Severity of Injuries Due to Accidental Fall across the Life Span: A Retrospective Hospital-Based Study
Authors: Kingma Johannes , Duis Henk-Jan Ten
Published: August 2011

This retrospective study investigated injuries due to accidental fall across the life span for which 19,593 patients were admitted to the Emergency Unit of the Groningen University Hospital during the period 1990 through 1997. 64% of the accidental falls were found for those in the age range between 10 years and 59 years; however, the proportion of accidental falls with regard to other causes of injuries by age group were the highest in youngsters (infants up to 9 years old) and in elderly persons (over 60 years old), 43% or more of these patients having falls with injuries. The clinically treated patients had on the average a statistically greater Injury Severity Score (7.2) than the outpatients (2.4). The highest percentages of medically treated inpatients were the patients of 60 years and over. Their mean ISS score was about the same for elderly inpatients, but the percentage of clinical treatment increased with age as well as the mortality. 30% of the injuries were found in the lower extremities and 30% in the upper extremities. Bone fracture was statistically significantly the major (36%) injury followed by contusion (20%). 34% of the accidental falls occurred at home, and statistically significantly more females, 50 years of age and older, were injured than males.
Auditory Backward-Masking Performance by Children Who Stutter and its Relation to Dysfluency Rate
Authors: Howell Peter , Rosen Stuart , Hannigan Geraldine , Rustin Lena
Published: August 2011

The fluency of people who stutter is affected markedly when auditory feedback is altered suggesting that stuttering may be associated with hearing. Peripheral hearing problems, however, are no more common in people who stutter than in those who do not. Performance was investigated in a task that involves central auditory processing (backward masking). Children who stuttered had deficits in backward masking (indicated by higher thresholds) compared with a group of fluent control children. The backward-masking thresholds were positively correlated with frequency of stuttering.
Imagix: Multimedia Software for Evaluating the Vividness of Movement-Imagery
Authors: Fournier Jean F.
Published: August 2011

This article presents a new software, Imagix, designed for the evaluation of the vividness of movement-imagery. This multimedia test is comprised of 18 movements in six different psychomotor categories whose vividness of imagery is to be appraised. Imagix has the advantage of offering an evaluation of the vividness of imagery in a normative way. The participant chooses among four films displaying a vividness gradient, which includes contrast and luminosity. The participant is first asked to visualize a movement verbally suggested. The participant is then asked to evaluate the vividness of this mental image by choosing on a computer screen the movie that best corresponds to the vividness of the movement-imagery. The first versions of this freeware (in English and French) are currently being validated.
Left-Handedness and Inheritance of Bronchial Asthma
Authors: Andreou Georgia , Karapetsas A. , Gourgoulianis K. I. , Molyvdas P. A.
Published: August 2011

A statistically significant difference in mean laterality quotients of 15 asthmatic and 106 nonasthmatic children showed a coexistence of left-handedness and asthma early in life. It is suggested that this phenomenon is not only a fetal event as the Geschwind-Galaburda hypothesis claims but it is mainly based on maternal line inheritance.