bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Auditory Event Related Potential Evaluation of Sonar Task Experience and Age
Authors: Merrill Lex L. , Kobus David A. , McGuigan F. J.
Published: August 2011

To gauge the interaction of real-world sonar-task experience and age on brain electrical activity, the effect of sonar experience and age on event related potentials (ERP) was examined. A three-group design was used and the results suggest that sonar experience and age affect the amplitude and distribution of the ERP component. The results concerning age and ERPs support and extend the results of previous studies and suggest that age-related differences occur at a much younger age than is reported elsewhere. Attentional and stimulus evaluation processes which have been linked to parameters of the ERP component may be enhanced with real-world auditory task experience. Research on ERP should control for the possible confounds of auditory-task experience and age.
Alexithymia, Affect Recognition, and Five Factors of Personality in Substance Abusers
Authors: Mann Lee S. , Wise Thomas N. , Trinidad Anton , Kohanski Renee
Published: August 2011

A total of 80 adults (40 normal volunteers, 40 substance abusers) participated in a study about alexithymia and five factors of personality, measured on the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and the NEO Five Factor Inventory, respectively, and their relationship to recognition of affect. The substance abusers scored the same as the age- and sex-matched normal volunteers on recognizing posed facial expressions, but higher on the alexithymia scale, while on Neuroticism and Extraversion they had lower scores on Agreeableness.
In Similarity Judgments Hunter-Gatherers Prefer Shapes over Spatial Relations in Contrast to Literate Groups
Authors: Pontius Anneliese A.
Published: August 2011

Reverse strategies are used in judgments of similarity by hunter-gatherers who prefer using shapes (attributes) in patterns, and literates who prefer judging relations among shapes The Kohs Block Design Test was given to healthy hunter-gatherers, 19 stone-age, preliterate, Amazonian Auca Indians and 130 semi-literate Dani and Asmat of inland Indonesian Western New Guinea. Further, 196 literate Indonesian city dwellers served as controls. The Auca and the Dani and Asmat groups preferentially constructed 20 specific, “nonrandom” modifications similar to the Kohs Block Design Test and preserved the salient component shapes but neglected relations among them. Hunter-gatherers' survival depends on prompt assessment of the salient shapes of prey and attackers. By contrast, literacy skills require painstaking assessment of subtle intrapattern spatial relations among shapes.
Effect of Complexity of a Physical Task on Estimation of Time to Complete
Authors: Druyan Sara , Dani Avinoam , Hadadi Guy
Published: August 2011

Two studies were performed to examine the effect of the complexity of a physical task on the estimation of the time required for its performance. Different paradigms for the estimation of time (prospective vs retrospective) were used with different methods of estimation (reproduction vs verbal estimation). In Study 1, 32 pairs of adults were asked to throw a ball to each other in different ways. The two groups were distinguished by the motor and cognitive changes required in moving from one task to the next. One group had to perform 10 successive repetitions on each of five kinds of ball throws, while the other had to perform the same number of ball throws but with each type being split into two different successive sets of throws so here the task consisted of changes. In Study 2, 60 children (aged 7 or 8 yr.) were asked to perform a set of basketball tasks. The two groups were distinguished by the pace at which they had to perform the task, slowly or rapidly. The results of the two studies indicated a negative relation between the complexity of the task and the group's estimation of time. The reproductive method yielded shorter estimations than the verbal method. The results indicate that for physical activity the attentional model may well be valid.
Relationship of Self-Concept and Social Desirability Tendency of Hong Kong Chinese Adults with Physical Disabilities
Authors: Tam Sing-Fai
Published: August 2011

A study was performed to investigate the relationship of scores on self-concept and social desirability of 214 Hong Kong Chinese adults with physical disabilities. No significant correlations were found between self-concept and social desirability; however, their social desirability scores were significantly related to their age, education, and occupational status.
Reexamining the Snodgrass and Corwin 1988 Picture Identification Norms
Authors: Koch Christopher , Abbey Lisa , Schmidt Shana
Published: August 2011

Snodgrass and Corwin (1988) provided a database of 150 fragmented pictures identified by subjects only 35% of the time. However, recent research by Koch, Abbey, and Schmidt in 1995 with these pictures has yielded higher identification rates. The present study examined the difference in identification rates between Koch, el al., 1995 and Snodgrass and Corwin in 1988. 85 subjects were given 25 min. to identify all 150 pictures from Snodgrass and Corwin. Of the 150 pictures, 95 were identified more than 35% of the time. Since Snodgrass and Corwin used an implicit-learning task while the present study used an object-identification task, the present findings suggest that identification rates may be specific to the type of object-recognition task employed.
Suggestions for Studies of Substance Abusers' Responses to Nonverbal Facial Cues
Authors: Giannini A. James
Published: August 2011

A study of drug abusers relating scores on measures of alexithymia and personality with affect recognition is reviewed. While the design is novel and provides useful data, multiple types of substance abusers were aggregated into one group. An averaging effect may have thus occurred rendering the results difficult to interpret. Duration of abstinence may have also provided a variable due to catecholamine rebound, which affects nonverbal encoding abilities.
Youth Sport Participation and Associated Sex Differences on a Measure of Spatial Ability
Authors: Glamser Francis D. , Turner Robert W.
Published: August 2011

Sex-related differences on measures of spatial ability favoring males are commonly found in psychological studies. This study investigated the possible association of differential participation in organized youth sport with scores on a measure of spatial ability among a sample of 167 college students. Such participation was not significantly related to spatial scores of men or women nor did it reduce sex differences.
Internal Consistency of Dynamometer Measurements in Healthy Subjects and Stroke Patients
Authors: Bohannon Richard W.
Published: August 2011

Measurements of strength from six muscle groups described in two previously completed reports were analyzed further using Cronbach alpha. The coefficients were greater than .948 for a small sample of stroke patients and a larger sample of healthy individuals. This finding shows in diverse samples that the measures possess internal consistency and are measuring the same underlying construct.
Coping Processes in Competitive Gymnasts: Gender Differences
Authors: Kolt Gregory S. , Kirkby Robert J. , Lindner Helen
Published: August 2011

The Ways of Coping with Sport questionnaire was used to investigate coping with performance problems in a sample of 115 adolescent gymnasts. The coping processes reported most frequently by the total sample of gymnasts were Increased Effort and Resolve, Wishful Thinking, Seeking Social Support, and Problem-focused Coping. Analysis of gender differences by multivariate analysis of variance indicated that, compared with males, the female gymnasts were more likely to use Seeking Social Support to cope with slumps in performance. The findings were consistent with previous research on coping in sporting and nonsporting populations.
Retest Reliability of the Woodcock Language Proficiency Battery
Authors: Farnill Douglas , Hayes Susan C.
Published: August 2011

The Woodcock Language Proficiency Battery: English Form was administered to 152 of the 478 students beginning medical studies at an Australian university in 1990 and 1991. Two years after admission 147 of the students were available for retest. Test-retest reliability coefficients ranged from .70 to .85 for the 8 subtests, .83 to .91 for the three cluster scores, and the coefficient for the Broad Language Cluster score was .95. The sample had deliberately over-represented students low in English language proficiency but the reliability coefficients were only slightly reduced when this bias was corrected by forming a representative sample of 72 students. The mean incremental gain on the Broad Language Cluster of 1.8 was statistically significant and corresponded closely to the 2.0 predicted from the test norms for a 2-year developmental period. These results support previous reports of the excellent psychometric properties of this instrument.
Testing Psychological Hypotheses Addressing Two Independent Variables and One Dependent Variable
Authors: Hager Willi , Hasselhorn Marcus
Published: August 2011

Psychological hypotheses addressing the simultaneous influence of two independent variables on one dependent variable lead to the prediction of certain data patterns usually looked upon from the perspective of statistical interaction in two-way analysis of variance. With respect to certain types of psychological hypotheses statistical interaction may best be interpreted as a contrast of contrasts or a difference between two differences. Three types of patterns derived from three different psychological hypotheses are analyzed from this point of view and with respect to statistical interaction. Our focus lies in discussing predicted patterns derived from some psychological hypotheses; we do not discuss subsequent problems such as choice of robust alternatives to the classical parametric tests we apply nor do we consider how to deal with the problem of possibly cumulating error probabilities. In addition, we stress the difference between examining psychological hypotheses adequately and exhaustively and tests of data to gain more information that may be interesting although not relevant to a particular hypothesis.
Simulation of Human Performance on a Random Generation Task
Authors: Ginsburg N. , Karpiuk P.
Published: August 2011

A method was described for simulating human performance on a random generation task. It was illustrated by comparing protocols thus simulated with results produced by humans themselves. Using tests to represent scores on repetition, seriation, and cycling, simulated results were similar to those of actual subjects but differed significantly from scores taken directly from truly random numbers.
Young Athletes' Perception of Coaches' Behavior
Authors: Bortoli Laura , Robazza Claudio , Giabardo Stefania
Published: August 2011

Two forms of a questionnaire were administered to 240 subjects of both genders practicing individual or team sport and aged 10 to 17 years to obtain information on their perceptions on their actual coach and their ideal coach. The results clearly showed that athletes wish to have a better coach.
Suicide Rates in Canadian Prisons
Authors: Lester David
Published: August 2011

In Canada from 1960 to 1985, the male federal prisoners' suicide rate was associated with the general Canadian male suicide rate and predicted by measures of domestic social integration.
Specificity in the Relationship between Training and Performance in Triathlons
Authors: Hendy Helen M. , Boyer Bonnie J.
Published: August 2011

The present study examines whether swim, cycle, and run performance during a triathlon are predicted best by training in the same sport, as suggested by the theory of specificity for the relationship between sport training and performance. Using behavioral measures of training (pace, mileage, workouts), multiple regression analyses of questionnaire responses from 624 triathletes (443 men, 181 women) showed pace of training in the same sport to be the best predictor of swim and run performance for both sprint and endurance triathlons. No clear patterns were seen for cycle performance. Thus, specificity in the relationship between training and performance appears supported, especially for sports that rely more on the body (swim, run) and less on equipment (cycle).
Path Analysis Examining Relationships among Antecedents of Anxiety, Multidimensional State Anxiety, and Triathlon Performance
Authors: Lane Andrew M. , Terry Peter C. , Karageorghis Costas I.
Published: August 2011

The study explored predictive paths for antecedents of anxiety, state anxiety responses, and performance. Male triathletes ( N = 175) completed a modified Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 which included the original intensity scale and a direction scale of Jones and Swain. They also completed a 23-item Prerace Questionnaire which measured antecedents of anxiety among triathletes. Factor analysis of intercorrelations for the Prerace Questionnaire identified six factors similar to those found in 1995 by the present authors. Path analysis to predict state anxiety from antecedents of anxiety indicated that rated intensity of anxiety was predicted by the perceived difficulty of race goals and by perceived readiness. Direction of anxiety was predicted by coach's influence, recent form, and perceived readiness. Path analysis to predict performance from state-anxiety scores and antecedents of anxiety indicated that recent form predicted performance directly without mediation of anxiety responses. Anxiety scores did not predict performance. The findings support the notion that intensity and direction of anxiety responses have different antecedents.
Covert Speech Behavior during Video-Viewing Tasks with and without An Overt Speech Soundtrack
Authors: Livesay Jerry R.
Published: August 2011

This pilot study tested the prediction that covert speech activity measured by lip EMG(μv) is significantly greater during the presentation of prerecorded speech than in a ‘speechless’ video-viewing test condition and conditions of rest. A single-subject multiple-baseline design was used and nondominant forearm EMG(μv) activity was also measured for comparison purposes. Analysis showed a significant increase in lip EMG(μv) activity in 1 out of 2 rest-to-test conditions involving the presentation of prerecorded overt speech. There was no significant difference in the subjects' mean lip EMG(μv) values across 3 test conditions, however.
Suicide Rates in Canadian Aboriginals and Size of Population
Authors: Lester David
Published: August 2011

There was no association between the proportion of aboriginals in the nine major Canadian regions and the aboriginal suicide rate or motor vehicle death rate.
Clinical Neurological Indicators are Only Moderately Correlated with Quantitative Neuropsychological Test Scores in Patients Who Display Mild-Moderate Brain Impairment following Closed-Head Injuries
Authors: Persinger M. A.
Published: August 2011

Quantitative comparisons were completed between mean scores for standardized neuropsychological tests (requiring 6 hr.), numbers of neurological signs (tests requiring 15 min.), anomalies within the electroencephalogram, subjective symptoms during a structured interview (requiring 20 min.), and an indicator of an organic brain syndrome for 81 patients who had sustained significant mechanical impacts to their skulls. The composite of neuropsychological scores was correlated 0.70 with a composite of neurological indicators and EEG anomalies. There were no significant correlations between neuropsychological or neurological scores and the numbers of subjective complaints, abnormal personality indicators, duration of coma or the interval of posttraumatic dysmnesia. However, the scores for the severity of the organic brain syndrome, partial complex epileptic symptoms, and subjective complaints were inversely correlated ( rho = −0.35) with the duration of coma, the period of posttraumatic amnesia, and the numbers of qualitative electroencephalographic anomalies.
Apparent Horizontal and Vertical Extents of Patterns with and without a Surround
Authors: Day R. H. , Degoldi B. R.
Published: August 2011

Following earlier informal observations, the first of two experiments confirmed that, whereas the vertical and horizontal extents of a printed passage are more or less veridically perceived when the passage is surrounded by margins as is usual on a page, they appear reduced when the margins are removed by cropping them close to the edges of the passage. In Exp. 2 with a horizontal-line grating a similar reduction occurred vertically but not horizontally, suggesting that the effect occurs for patterned regions but less or not at all for unpatterned, i.e., uniform, regions. The possible relationship between this effect and the Delboeuf illusion of size is discussed.
Bias in the Estimated Frequency of Names
Authors: McKelvie Stuart J.
Published: August 2011

Sixty-three undergraduates listened to a list of 26 names (13 famous men and 13 nonfamous women or 13 famous women and 13 nonfamous men), then judged how many men's and women's names there seemed to be. Subjects gave higher estimates for the gender that was famous, an effect size that was moderate ( d = 0.53). However, this effect of fame availability was not greater for famous men than for famous women as predicted from the hypothesis of a male-fame stereotype.
Figural and Semantic Factors in Change in the Ebbinghaus Illusion across Four Age Groups of Children
Authors: Zanuttini Lucia
Published: August 2011

Changes in the Ebbinghaus illusion across age groups have been studied with 80 children ( ns = 20) from 4 to 8 yr. old. The distortion, whose magnitude increases across age groups, depends on active cognitive comparative processes. In fact, if some cues make the geometrically identical inducing elements semantically different from the central one, the illusion decreases as older children develop conceptual categories. Across ages 4 to 8 years not only the magnitude of the illusion changes but also the interfering role of the taxonomic organization.
Baroreceptor Activity and the Induction of Sleep
Authors: Velden Manfred , Wölk Christoph
Published: August 2011

Sleep onset latency was substantially reduced in an experiment for 9 adults when short acoustic stimuli were given in synchrony with the heartbeat compared to a control condition in which the same stimuli were given asynchronously. By the same stimulation technique sleep quality was ameliorated in a group of 10 patients with primary insomnia.
Development of Content: Influences on Girls' Junior High School Volleyball Success in Practice and Achievement
Authors: Pellett Tracy L. , Nix Charles L.
Published: August 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine the success of practice by lower- and higher-skilled girls in Grades 7 and 8 in response to different tasks (extension, refinement, and application) throughout an 11– day instructional and practice period for volleyball. More highly skilled girls were more successful than those lower in skill for all skills (forearm pass, set, serve) and tasks. Girls had nearly equal success in practice for different tasks.
Graphing Correlation Coefficients: An Optional Procedure
Authors: Li Jian-Chuan
Published: August 2011

A procedure is described for depicting the quantitative relationships among the coefficients of correlation ( r), determination ( r2), nondetermination (1 − r2) and alienation ([Formula: see text]) and the predictive index ([Formula: see text]).
An Investigation of a Method of Simplified Scoring for the Kaufman Hand Movements Test as a Measure of Limb Apraxia
Authors: Neiman Michael R. , Duffy Robert J. , Belanger Steven A. , Coelho Carl A.
Published: August 2011

A simplified, 3-category method for scoring the Kaufman Hand Movements test was devised to replace a previously used, more complex 21-category scoring method. The concurrent validity and diagnostic sensitivity of the rescored test as a measure of limb apraxia were investigated in a reanalysis of the test protocols of 23 aphasic adults. Using the Limb Apraxia Test as the criterion measure, a Pearson r of .71 and predictive validity of 100% were obtained. These results encourage further investigation of the Kaufman Hand Movements test as an efficient measure of limb apraxia.
Exner's Depression Index and the Harris-Lingoes MMPI-2 Subscales for Depression
Authors: Khouri Sarah , Greenway A. Philip
Published: August 2011

This study examined the relationship between scores on the Harris-Lingoes MMPI-2 subscales for Depression and the categories of Exner's Rorschach Depression Index (DEPI) for 53 clients of a counselling agency. Scores on the subscale Mental Dullness related to the Depression Index as a whole and to the category Blends < 4. The subscale Subjective Depression also related to the category Blends < 4.
Sex Differences for Speech and Manual Skill
Authors: Nicholson Karen G. , Kimura Doreen
Published: August 2011

Young men and women were compared on the speeded repetition of speech ( ns = 20 and 18, respectively) and manual movements ( ns = 37 and 38). The repetition of a single speech or manual movement was used as a measure of baseline speed, against which to compare a sequence of movements. Males tended to be faster at repeating a single movement, but using baseline speed as a covariate resulted in a female advantage for the repetition of a sequence of movements. It was concluded that men have a basic motor-speed advantage, but that women may be faster at programming a sequence of speech or manual movements. The results are discussed with respect to sexual variation in the neural organization of motor programming systems.
Perception and Reality of Learning Barriers in an Electronics Course
Authors: Cleeton Gilbert
Published: August 2011

Students often express their anticipated learning difficulties when they enter a course. Keeping a record of such statements raised questions as to whether their perceptions were realized in practice. 1677 students taking an undergraduate electronics course were asked to describe their anticipated difficulties in writing. Many of these were anticipations of difficulties outside the learning syllabus, rooted in domestic, financial, and personality problems. Accordingly, a learning barrier was defined as any factor which hinders a person's intentions or goals. The students ranked the most frequent responses of the group in order of anticipated difficulty. Their performance in electronics was measured by a test of previous knowledge given at the beginning of the course and by examination scores at the end. Some anticipated learning difficulties were associated with real learning difficulties in practice. Lack of practical experience and unfamiliarity with the vocabulary of electronics were indicated as disadvantages for some students at the start of the course. Using research findings, the presentation sequence of some concepts was changed to smooth out barriers which presented steep profiles to the students. Equalizing studies were recommended to bring individuals up to a baseline from which they could effectively learn.
The Horizontal Vertical Illusion: Evidence for Strategic Factors in Feedback-Induced Illusion Decrement
Authors: Harris Katherine M. , Slotnick Burton M.
Published: August 2011

This study assessed whether feedback would improve performance on a horizontal vertical illusion task and whether such improvement would transfer to different forms of the illusion. Subjects shortened the extended vertical line of small, medium, and large inverted-T figures to be equal in length to the horizontal line before and after being shown a correctly adjusted medium-sized figure (visual feedback). Next, they were tested on three alternate forms of the illusion; a production task (drawing 1-in. lines in the horizontal and vertical planes), an adjustment task using L figures, and a task requiring them to choose which of several sailboat drawings had mast height equal to hull length. Prior to feedback, vertical lines were adjusted shorter than the horizontal lines on each size inverted-T figure. After feedback on the medium-size figure, experimental subjects were more accurate than the controls on each size inverted-T figure. The results suggest that transfer of illusion decrement was also obtained for the boat-selection and, to a lesser extent, the L-figure adjustment tasks but not to the line-production task. These findings are consistent with the notion that improvement after feedback is not due to structural changes in visual processing or to simple feedback-induced compensation in performance but involves some strategic or cognitive change in judging line length.
Visual Recognition Training of Older Adults with Speech Spectrograms
Authors: Drummond Sakina S. , Dancer Jess , Casey Bettie E. , O'Sullivan Pat
Published: August 2011

10 adults' performances on visual training through recognition of speech spectrograms were examined. All subjects completed the training within eight 1-hr. sessions. Success and retention of training were also evident in the subjects' performances on two posttests.
Route Learning in a Computer Game
Authors: Kökdemir Doğan
Published: August 2011

The present experiment was conducted to find out whether 20 male and 20 female undergraduates made more errors if their previously learned route were reversed. The results confirmed this expectation, that is, subjects made significantly more errors when they were tested on a reverse route than subjects given the original route. Results were discussed with reference to conceptualization as a “map in the head” and implications for other research were noted.
Use of the Long vs Short Form of the Speech Sounds Perception Test in a School-Age Population
Authors: Gray Robert M. , Marshall Richard M. , Livingston Ronald B. , Haak Ruth A.
Published: August 2011

A sample of 645 school-age children, ages 9 to 14 years, were administered independent forms of the Speech Sounds Perception Test for older children. 328 subjects took the complete test (SSPT-60) and 317 were administered only the first 30 items (SSPT-30). Comparison of mean errors indicated that significantly more errors were made by subjects given the SSPT-30. Decisions regarding the use of each form for school-age children are discussed.
An Initial Evaluation of Work Fatigue and Circadian Changes as Assessed by Multiplate Posturography
Authors: Kohen-Raz R. , Himmelfarb M. , Tzur S. , Kohen-Raz A. , Shub Y.
Published: August 2011

The sensitivity of postural responses to the effects of work fatigue and circadian changes was explored in a pilot study using a specific method of multiplate posturography based on the differential assessment of vertical pressure on four separate platforms for each heel and set of toes of each foot, respectively. 8 normal subjects, M.D.s, were given six posturographic examinations immediately before and after three 8-hr. work shifts in the emergency room of a major hospital in Tel-Aviv. 3 posturographic measures (stability, spectral power of postural sway at low frequency of 0.1–0.25 Hz, and unilateral weakening of heel-toe synchronisation) were significantly affected by work fatigue whilst also showing interaction with circadian rhythm. 2 additional measures (power of sway at high frequency of 1.00–3.00 Hz and dysharmonic distribution of weight over the four platforms) were not related to workload but showed significant circadian changes. These effects appeared only on positions involving restricted visual and somatosensory feedback causing vestibular stress. Results justify the application of multiplate posturography as an ancillary tool in measuring objectively the effects of fatigue and circadian changes as well as the interaction between endogenous chronobiological processes and their external conditioning factors (Zeitgebers). Pragmatic implications of the findings in the context of industrial medicine and interdisciplinary efforts to prevent road and air accidents are discussed.
The Five-Step Strategy and Air Gun Shooting Performance of Experienced Shooters
Authors: Chung Sangtack , Kim Jingu , Janelle Christopher M. , Radlo Steven J.
Published: August 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether experienced shooters would benefit from using the Five-step Strategy while performing in their shooting environment. Experienced shooters ( N = 24) were randomly assigned to one of two conditions, the Five-step or a control. Absolute and variable errors were analyzed by 2 × 4 (groups × trial blocks) analyses of variance with repeated measures on trial blocks. Subjects in the group using the Five-step Strategy performed significantly better than the control group in both accuracy and variability of shooting performance.
Errors on Cues for Consonant Identification on Auditory and Visual Word-Recognition Tasks
Authors: Berryman Lynn , Dancer Jess , Drummond Sakina
Published: August 2011

For 9 women and 9 men undergraduates the proportion of voice, place of articulation, and manner of articulation errors were significantly different on an auditory word-in-noise task but not on a visual word-discrimination task. Results are most surprising for the visual condition, since voice cues are considered the least visible of the three cues for identification of consonants.
Simple Reaction Time and Perception of Temporal Order: Dissociations and Hypotheses
Authors: Jaśkowski Piotr
Published: August 2011

Simple motor reaction time and judgment of temporal order are commonly recognized as two methods for estimation of perceptual latency. Unfortunately, the results obtained by the methods under the same conditions do not agree. We review hypotheses attempting to explain the disagreement. Although some of these seem to be promising, no one at present could be fully accepted.
Contextual Mediation of Perceptions in Hauntings and Poltergeist-like Experiences
Authors: Lange Rense , Houran James , Harte Timothy M. , Havens Ronald A.
Published: August 2011

The content of perceived apparitions, e.g., bereavement hallucinations, cannot be explained entirely in terms of electromagnetically induced neurochemical processes. It was shown that contextual variables influential in hallucinatory and hypnotic states also structured reported haunting experiences. As predicted, high congruency was found between the experiential content and the nature of the contextual variables. Further, the number of contextual variables involved in an experience was related to the type of experience and the state or arousal preceding the experience. Based on these findings we argue that a more complete explanation of haunting experiences should take into account both electromagnetically induced neurochemical processes and factors related to contextual mediation.
Testing the Equality of Two Alpha Coefficients
Authors: Charter Richard A. , Feldt Leonard S.
Published: August 2011

This paper reviews and illustrates statistical tests of the equality of two values of Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient. Tests for independent and dependent coefficients are considered. Possible pitfalls in determining the critical value for these tests or in computing the p value associated with the tests' outcome are discussed.
Exploring Psychosocial Task Resolution and Self-Concept among African-American Adolescents
Authors: Brookins Craig C.
Published: August 2011

Developmental task resolution and self-concept of adolescents were examined for a sample of 110 African-American youth. The Erikson Psychosocial Stage Inventory was used to measure Erikson's stages of psychological development and the Bronstein-Cruz Child/Adolescent Self-concept and Adjustment Scale was used to measure multiple components of the self-concept. Scores for Self-concept and Resolution of Identity stages were highly correlated although scores on Resolution of Identity, commonly seen as the primary psychosocial task of adolescence, were not related to scores on either Emotional Well-being or Family Relations. The results are discussed in terms of improving understanding of relationships between processes in development, identity, and other salient psychosocial variables.
Comparison of Passive Sensory Stimulations on RPE during Moderate Intensity Exercise
Authors: White Victor B. , Potteiger Jeffrey A.
Published: August 2011

The purpose of this study was to compare three passive attentional manipulations on ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) during exercise. College subjects (13 men, 11 women) completed four 20-min. periods of cycling at 70% of peak aerobic power. Four stimulus conditions were randomly assigned from auditory (listening to fast upbeat music), visual (viewing high-action videotape of human stunts), auditory/visual (both stimulations), and control (no stimulation). Heart rate, peripheral RPE, central RPE, and over-all RPE were measured at 5-min. intervals. Peripheral RPE was significantly higher for visual at 5 and 20 min. compared with auditory/visual and at 5 min. compared to auditory stimulation. Central RPE was significantly higher for visual stimulation at 5, 10, 15, and 20 min. compared with auditory/visual, at 5, 10, and 20 min. compared with auditory, and at 5 min. compared to the control condition. Over-all RPE was significantly higher for visual stimulation at 5, 10, 15, and 20 min. compared with auditory/visual and at 5 and 10 min. compared with auditory stimulation. Passive dissociations using high-action visual images may evoke a strong, emotional response which may heighten awareness of physical sensations.
Eyeblink Activity in a Word-Naming Task as a Function of Semantic Priming and Cognitive Load
Authors: Ohira Hideki
Published: August 2011

Eyeblink activity was examined based on a discrete-trial paradigm in which 17 subjects engaged in a semantic priming task. They were presented a series of pairs of words (prime and target) associatively related or associatively unrelated and were required to name them as quickly as possible. Cognitive load or difficulty of naming of the target word was also manipulated. The latency data for naming of the target word showed a typical priming effect, namely, facilitation of naming speed by the associatively related prime word. The eyeblink rate changed synchronically to onset of stimuli as a function of prime-target relationship and cognitive load during the task. Specifically, the eyeblink rate was suppressed during presentation of the target word and peaked just after that. This study showed that suppression of eyeblinks was longer on trials with high cognitive loads than on those with low cognitive loads and the peak of eyeblink rate was higher on trials for which the prime and target were unrelated than on those for which they were related. These results suggested that the eyeblink activity is influenced by inner cognitive processes of word recognition.
Social Physique Anxiety: Personality Constructs, Motivations, Exercise Attitudes, and Behaviors
Authors: Frederick Christina M. , Morrison Craig S.
Published: August 2011

Social physique anxiety is a feeling of distress associated with the perceived evaluation of one's physical self. Since its inception, the construct has been associated with a variety of exercise-related constructs including perceived competence, self-consciousness, and the exercise milieu individuals choose. The present purpose was to relate social physique anxiety to participants' attitudes toward exercise, adherence behaviors, participation motivation, personality variables, and emotional attitude toward exercise. 326 university fitness-center participants were surveyed and asked for demographic information, to self-report their exercise habits, and to answer questions measuring the construct, motivation, personality, and attitudes toward exercise. Women had higher scores on the Social Physique Anxiety Scale than men; individuals who scored high were more likely to endorse extrinsic motives for exercise than individuals scoring low on the scale, and high scores were indicative of higher public body awareness. Individuals with high scores on the Social Physique Anxiety Scale exhibited an emotional profile similar to addicted exercisers. Given these results, implications for alleviation of such anxiety were discussed.
Prediction of Criminal Behavior in Young Swedish Women Using a Group Administration of the Hand Test
Authors: Lie Nils , Wagner Edwin E.
Published: August 2011

2,074 Swedish girls and adolescents were administered a group version of the Hand Test. About ten years later, 80 of these subjects had committed crimes serious enough to be entered on the General Police Register. These young women offenders were then matched by age with nonoffenders and the two groups compared on 17 quantitative Hand Test variables. Significance was found for the Tension and Pathology scores, suggesting that these young female lawbreakers were characterized as youngsters having scores indicating anxiety and other forms of psychopathology rather than innate hostility.
Note on Reliability and Validity of Self-Evaluation of Ability Scales
Authors: Oosterveld Paul , Vorst Harrie C. M.
Published: August 2011

A four-scale questionnaire on self-evaluation of ability was developed, testing 402 pupils. The Differential Aptitude Test was used as the criterion for estimating validity. Values of Cronbach alpha for the Verbal, Reasoning, Spatial, and Numerical Ability scales ranged from .74 to .86. The Reasoning Ability scale lacked validity.
Dichaptic Scanning of Braille Letters by Skilled Blind Readers: Lateralization Effects
Authors: Semenza Carlo , Zoppello Marina , Gidiuli Ornella , Borgo Francesca
Published: August 2011

Dichaptic scanning of Braille letters was studied in 14 skilled blind readers, using Posner's paradigm. A right-hand (left-hemisphere) advantage was found when letters could be matched on the basis of their names (Name Identity Condition), a genuinely linguistic task, while no effects of lateralization appeared when matching could be performed on the basis of perceptual identity (Perceptual Identity Condition) or on “Different” responses. This result provides information about the cerebral lateralization of Braille reading and casts doubts about the current claim that linguistic material, when presented in the tactile modality, is initially analysed in a spatial code by the right hemisphere.
Proofreaders' Decreased Stroop Interference
Authors: Borzoni Steve , Hines Terence
Published: August 2011

12 professional proofreaders and 12 control subjects performed a Stroop color-word task. The control subjects showed significantly more Stroop interference than did the proofreaders. It appears that a career in proofreading makes it easier for subjects to ignore the meaning of word stimuli.
Reading a Smiling Face: Messages Conveyed by Various Forms of Smiling
Authors: Otta Emma , Abrosio Fabiana Follador E , Hoshino Rachel Leneberg
Published: August 2011

This study investigated the effect of various forms of smiling (closed smile, upper smile, or broad smile) on person perception. Brazilian undergraduates ( N = 330) judged a photograph of a male or female stimulus person in three age ranges (young, middle-aged, and old) and smiling or not. 7–point scales were used to measure respondents' perception of the stimulus persons on various attributes (attractiveness, happiness, extroversion, sympathy, kindness, submission, ambition, and intelligence). We found that a smile enhanced attractiveness and kindness ratings independently of its form, whereas the influence of the various forms on ratings of happiness was additive. As the neutral face changed to a closed smile and the closed smile became a broad smile, target stimuli were attributed greater rated happiness. We also found a contribution of perceivers' gender to the judgements of extroversion and sympathy, indicating a slightly greater discrimination of facial expressions among women than among men.
Revisiting the Standard Errors of Measurement, Estimate, and Prediction and Their Application to Test Scores
Authors: Charter Richard A.
Published: August 2011

In 1979 Dudek presented a simplification of Lord and Novick's 1968 work on standard errors and their application to test scores. However, the standard error of measurement has continued to be misinterpreted. The interpretations of the standard errors of measurement, estimate, and prediction are presented. The use of confidence intervals and their importance to test score interpretation are discussed.
Visual Search of Good and Poor Readers: Effects with Targets Having Single and Combined Features
Authors: Casco Clara , Prunetti Elena
Published: August 2011

This study examined differences between normal and poor readers in the visual-search strategy used to detect a target shape in a background of similar shapes. No differences between the two groups occur in search for simple features (Exps. 1 and 3) and conjunction of features (Exp. 2). However, the performance of the two groups differ on search tasks with multifeatured shapes, in which targets and nontargets differ in both the identity of features and their spatial relationship or in the spatial relationship of features alone. Results suggest that, rather than a problem in searching complex stimuli, poor searchers have difficulty within stimuli like letters and geometrical shapes which require integration of features within a module of the visual system.
How Do Nonalcoholics View Alcoholics?
Authors: Groettum Garth , Lester David
Published: August 2011

Older students saw alcoholics as accepting more responsibility for their alcohol abuse than did younger students. Gender, locus of control, and experience with alcoholics were not associated with the 37 students' perception of alcoholics.
Differences in Map Representation by Indian and American Adolescents
Authors: Parameswaran Gowri , Krishna Geetha
Published: August 2011

Piaget and Inhelder (1967) outlined three stages of spatial representation of the environment culminating in an abstract map-like understanding of space. 120 boys and 120 girls from India and the USA were asked to draw a map of their neighborhoods displaying roads and other landmarks, especially their homes and schools. Analyses indicated both gender and cross-cultural differences in the stage performance of the participants. Implications of these findings as well as future lines of research are discussed.
Spatial Intelligence and the Six-Factor Personality Questionnaire
Authors: Dunn Annie , Eliot John
Published: August 2011

45 female and 30 male undergraduates were administered three putative spatial tests and the personality scales of Jackson, et al.'s Six-factor Personality Questionnaire. Only three significant correlations were found between the scores from the spatial tests and Jackson, et al.'s Six-factor Personality Questionnaire. Moreover, the findings support Jackson, et al.'s claim that the dimensions of that questionnaire were uncorrelated.
Hemispheric Differences in Detection of Deception with Content-Filtered Speech
Authors: Rockwell Patricia
Published: August 2011

Participants ( N=139) listened to 15 speakers (8 deceptive, 7 truthful) in one of three conditions, left ear (right hemisphere), right ear (left hemisphere), and both ears (combined hemispheres) and attempted to decide which speakers were deceptive. Accuracy of detection was not significantly different across the three conditions.
Increasing Social Smiles of Young Children with Disabilities
Authors: Calhoun Mary Lynne , Kuczera Michele L.
Published: August 2011

Play activities associated with eliciting smiles in typically developing infants were used with three young children with severe disabilities whose smiling behaviors were substantially delayed. Two children showed increased social smiles in response to auditory (high pitched human voice) or tactile (gently blowing air at child's face, hands or body) stimuli but none smiled in response to rattles or pop-up toys.
Effects of Self-Schema on Assumptions about and Processing of Schema-Consistent Traits of other Persons
Authors: Hochwälder Jacek
Published: August 2011

Whether self-schema may be a personality variable that affects assumptions about and processing of schema-consistent traits of other persons was investigated. Respondents classified as schematic and aschematic rated the schema-consistent traits of unfamiliar stimulus persons and familiar stimulus persons. The former relative to the latter (1) had higher mean ratings of unfamiliar but not of familiar stimulus persons, as predicted; (2) did not differ in their variances of ratings of unfamiliar but had larger variances for ratings of familiar stimulus persons, as predicted; and (3) did not differ in correlations between ratings of unfamiliar stimulus persons but had larger correlations between ratings of familiar ones, not as predicted. Some limitations of this study and suggestions for research were discussed.
Effects of Left Basal Ganglia Lesions on Language Production
Authors: Fabbro Franco , Clarici Andrea , Bava Antonio
Published: August 2011

Three patients with lesions mainly confined to the left basal ganglia were studied with a series of neuropsychological and neurolinguistic tests. Two patients were nonfluent, whereas one presented with fluent spontaneous speech. All of them produced agrammatic sentences and lexical and semantic mistakes. Perseverations and echolalias were two further characteristic disorders of their speech production. The linguistic symptoms observed in these three patients suggest that the left basal ganglia play an important role (a) in regulating arousal and speech initiation, (b) in monitoring the semantic and lexical aspects of language, and (c) in switching from one linguistic element to the following during language production.
Exact Probability Values for a Matrix Occupancy Problem: A Fortran 77 Program
Authors: Berry Kenneth J. , Mielke Paul W.
Published: August 2011

An exact inference procedure for a matrix occupancy problem is described. An algorithm and FORTRAN 77 program are provided to compute the exact probability value.
Television Viewing and Muscular Fitness of Children
Authors: Tucker Larry A. , Hager Ronald L.
Published: August 2011

The findings of this study indicate there is no significant relationship between time spent watching TV and measured muscular fitness (pullups, pushups, and situps) in 262 9- and 10-yr.-old boys and girls. Apparently, frequent TV viewing is not detrimental to the muscular fitness of children this age.
A Hazardous Environment and City Suicide Rates
Authors: Lester David
Published: August 2011

In a regional study of 49 American cities, suicide rates were not associated with levels of sulfur dioxide, particles, or oxidants, but suicide rates tended to be lower in colder cities with more rain and higher wind speeds.
Religion and Self-Identity
Authors: Pedersen Darhl M.
Published: August 2011

Comparisons of the centrality of four factors in self-identity (Spiritual, Personal/Social, Family, Identifications) were made for 226 participants according to their religious preference. A repeated-measures analysis of variance showed that religious preference was related to the relative centrality of those factors.
Goal Setting and Feedback as a Posttraining Strategy to Increase the Transfer of Training
Authors: Shoenfelt Elizabeth L.
Published: August 2011

12 female intercollegiate basketball players trained to shoot free-throws were matched on performance at midseason then randomly divided into two groups. The treatment group received participatively set individual goals, feedback on shooting technique, and summative feedback. After the intervention, the treatment group had greater free-throw accuracy than the control group in seven of eight games, averaging 73.2% (93/127) versus the control group's 63.6% (63/99).