bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Value for money tests and accounting treatment in PFI schemes
Authors: Heald David
Published: August 2003

In Private Finance Initiative (PFI) projects, value for money (VFM) tests and accounting treatment are distinct but related issues. VFM analysis should be concerned with total risk, not just with the sharing of risk, which dominates the accounting treatment decision. A framework is developed for logical thinking about what is meant by “best VFM” in the context of PFI projects. This involves consideration of the full set of alternatives, not an artificially diminished subset. The credibility of analytical techniques can be tarnished if they are misused to legitimate a predetermined decision. A reduction in construction risk may be a powerful source of VFM gains under PFI, but, under UK accounting regulation, this should not influence the accounting treatment decision. New complications about how VFM should be interpreted arise directly from the process of public sector fragmentation: affordability to the client is not necessarily the same as VFM for the public sector as a whole. Only public auditors, such as the National Audit Office, can gain access to PFI documentation on the conditions necessary for a comprehensive assessment of both accounting treatment and VFM. However, such studies require the kind of theoretical underpinning provided in this article, as otherwise the findings are likely to be ambiguous and hence vulnerable to rebuttal. In particular, VFM judgements must make explicit the basis of comparison on which they rest.
Evaluating the Private Finance Initiative in the National Health Service in the UK
Authors: Broadbent Jane , Gill Jas , Laughlin Richard
Published: August 2003

This paper seeks to develop a system of how to judge the merit and worth of Private Finance Initiative (PFI) projects in the UK National Health Service (NHS) once they are operational. This concern is couched in relation to whether PFI can be seen to provide long‐term “value for money” (VFM) using a broad definition of this term. This paper does not attempt to further the debate that has focussed on the broader macro economic VFM arguments; rather, the focus is upon developing a model for evaluation at the organisational level where there is a paucity of direction and clarity. Whilst there are many VFM criteria available to guide whether PFI in the NHS should be pursued at the pre‐decision stage, there is little in the way of post‐project evaluation systems to judge VFM once decisions have been taken. Little thought has been given to the design of these post‐project evaluation systems let alone the experiences of how such systems may operate. This paper is addressing these lacunae but only in the sense of suggesting a design for a system for post‐project evaluation. This is drawn from PFI pre‐decision processes, post‐project intentions of some PFI schemes and evaluation theory. It is not about the judgements that come from the use of such a framework which the paper conclude will take some time to be forthcoming.
Fiscal (ir)responsibility: privileging PPPs in New Zealand
Authors: Newberry Susan , Pallot June
Published: August 2003

This article explains the structures and rules built into the New Zealand government’s financial management system which encourage entry into commitments such as public private partnerships. That the system provides a means of escape from the tight constraints imposed by fiscal targets, and escapes public and parliamentary scrutiny in the process, seems at odds with espoused objectives of fiscal responsibility, debt reduction and transparency. In terms of furthering a privatization agenda, however, it is highly logical.
Investigating Enron as a public private partnership
Authors: Baker C. Richard
Published: August 2003

The bankruptcy of Enron Corp. has evolved into a scandal of enormous proportions involving allegations of fraud, corruption and unethical practices on the part of Enron’s corporate executives, members of its board of directors, external auditors, and high government officials in the USA. No doubt there will be many articles written about various aspects of the Enron scandal. The focus of this paper is on the relationships between Enron’s business model and the deregulatory phase of the American economy during the 1980s and 1990s. It is the argument of this paper that deregulation in the US electricity and natural gas industries fostered the creation of the Enron business model, and that this model was unsustainable, resulting in the demise of Enron Corp. Furthermore, while Enron can be viewed as an example of capitalistic excess, the paper reveals how the Enron business model developed as an American form of a public private partnership, similar to the types of public private partnerships that have been created in recent years in the UK. Investigating Enron as a public private partnership may help us to better understand the role of public private partnerships in contemporary capitalism and shed some light on the advisability of deregulatory schemes and the unintended consequences that can result from such schemes.
The social construction of financial statement elements under Private Finance Initiative schemes
Authors: Rutherford Brian A.
Published: August 2003

An episode in the development of accounting for Private Finance Initiative (PFI) scheme transactions is explored from a social constructionist perspective. The “carrying” of meanings between sub‐worlds of the financial accounting world through social processes, principally by means of the standard‐setting body’s conceptual framework, is shown to be implicated in the social construction, maintenance and modification of accounting meanings. The social constructionist model is developed in several ways, some of which respond to particular characteristics of the financial accounting world.
Partnerships: for better, for worse?
Authors: Edwards Pamela , Shaoul Jean
Published: August 2003

Partnerships are the British government’s preferred method of procuring public sector services, and the policy is usually justified in terms of delivering value for money. Ex ante financial methodologies are prescribed to ensure that decision making is based on a sound appraisal of alternatives and the government has called for an evaluation of implemented projects. This paper seeks to contribute to that evaluative process by exploring ex post facto some of the issues and problems that arose in practice. Using a case study approach, the paper considers two failures of information technology partnerships to examine how risk transfer, which is at the heart of the partnership policy, works in practice. The cases show that the contracts failed to transfer risk in the way that had been expected. The public agencies, not the commercial partner, bore the management risk and costs fell on the public at large and/or other public agencies.
Will the real clothing industry please stand up!
Authors: Tyler David J.
Published: August 2003

Disputes the view that the clothing industry is in terminal decline, without denying the competitive pressures it faces, particularly through globalisation. Describes the work of the CAPITB Trust in indentifying a typology of successful clothing industry companies, resulting in the publication of an executive summary, Skills for Success, in 2002.
The sensory panel applied to textile goods – a new marketing tool
Authors: Philippe Flora , Schacher Laurence , Adolphe Dominique C. , Dacremont Catherine
Published: August 2003

Increasingly consumers are looking for good feeling and comfort when they buy textile goods. To respond to these demands, sensory tools are requested by industrialists to evaluate such notions. Many studies have been performed and many device developments have taken place in the textile area such as mechanical, thermal and surface testing, so as to evaluate the related physical properties, but the links between measurement and the consumer feeling of comfort are still difficult to establish. Based on studies already performed in the food industry, the development of the sensory panel applied to textile goods has been implemented. In this paper, the sensory panel will be developed and some examples will illustrate the different procedures.
Personal selling approaches used in television shopping
Authors: Lystig Fritchie Louise , Johnson Kim K.P.
Published: August 2003

Television shopping simulates a personalized selling situation: it combines salesmanship with parasocial interaction. Segments of two major shopping channels, Home Shopping Network (HSN) and Quality Value Convenience (QVC), were coded for the use of persuasion strategies by the host, co‐host, or callers. The specific persuasion strategies coded were those identified by Cialdini, strategies that often cause a person to automatically say yes in a selling situation when they might otherwise say no. Although all strategies were evident, the strategy used most frequently in the 104 segments was social proof (35.5 percent), followed by scarcity (28.4 per cent) and authority (18.4 percent).
A comparison of TV home shoppers based on risk perception
Authors: Burgess Brigitte
Published: August 2003

The introduction of television (TV) home shopping and other non‐store shopping formats is one way by which retailers have tried to meet the evolving needs of consumers. Using risk perception as the theoretical framework, the objective of this study was to categorize TV home shoppers as high or low risk perceivers and compare them for differences in types of risk perceived, types of products purchased and demographics. The sample consisted of 125 adult TV home shoppers. Significant differences were found between these two groups in terms of their perceptions of financial risk (p=0.03) as well as product categories purchased including clothing (p=0.001), accessories (p=0.014), health and beauty items (p=0.000) and maintenance, tools and cleaners (p=0.009). No demographic differences were found.
The men’s wear sector in the UK 1993‐2001: a statistical review
Authors: Morris Jones Richard
Published: August 2003

This is the second in a series of papers describing the trends in domestic production and trade in the UK clothing industry in the period 1993‐2001. In this paper the men’s wear sector is considered.
Body measurement techniques
Authors: Simmons Karla P. , Istook Cynthia L.
Published: August 2003

With the use of 3D body scanners, body measurement techniques can be non‐contact, instant, and accurate. However, how each scanner establishes landmarks and takes the measurements should be established so that standardization of the data capture can be realized. The purpose of this study was to compare body‐scanning measurement extraction methods and terminology with traditional anthropometric methods. A total of 21 measurements were chosen as being critical to the design of well‐fitting garments. Current body scanners were analyzed for availability of information, willingness of company cooperation, and relevance to applications in the apparel industry. On each of the 21 measurements, standard measurement procedure was identified for three different scanners: [TC]2, Cyberware, and SYMCAD. Of the 21 measures in the study, [TC]2 was the scanner that had the most measures identified for the study and also had the capability of producing many more with specific application for apparel.
The Auditor and Corporate Reporting on the Internet: Challenges and Institutional Responses
Authors: Lymer Andrew , Debreceny Roger
Published: August 2003

The use of Internet technology for corporate reporting is now a well‐established activity in countries that have developed securities markets, raising many questions for the provision of audit and assurance on such reports. This paper reviews the state of guidance provided by securities regulators and audit standards setters. We find that, notwithstanding the recognition by various audit standards bodies of the need for further guidance to auditors on the implications of Internet financial reporting; the actual pronouncements made thus far by the various bodies around the world fall considerably short as a response to the challenges that arise from current and future Internet reporting technologies. We point in particular to shortcomings related to the way in which users interact with Internet financial reporting web sites, the implications of this interaction and on what we term ‘information component’ technologies such as the XML‐based eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL). The paper sets out a range of institutional, standards setting and technological solutions to these issues.
Hyperlinking Audited Financial Statements to Unaudited Information in the Presence of the WebTrust Logo: Hodge's Model Revised
Authors: Pike Ruth V. , Lanis Romun
Published: August 2003

This paper identifies a possible relationship between WebTrust, initiated by the AICPA/CICA as an attestation service for web sites, and the potentially misleading effect of hyperlinking audited financial statements to unaudited information. We argue that firms hyperlinking such information increase the perceived credibility of the unaudited information, which may be exacerbated by the presence of a recognisable, symbolically trustworthy logo. We formulate testable hypotheses by modifying an existing theoretical framework which relates to hyperlinked materials and their effect on investor judgements. The amended model extends to all potential users of financial information and incorporates the web‐based assurance logo of WebTrust. We anticipate that this model will become instrumental in determining the extent of any expectation gap regarding user perceptions, thus facilitating the process of recommending policies to eliminate the potentially misleading effects of web‐based financial information and therefore limiting the risk of corporate fraud and the legal liability of auditors.
An Examination of the Effects of WebTrust and Company Type on Consumers’ Purchase Intentions
Authors: Kaplan Steven E. , Nieschwietz Robert J.
Published: August 2003

This study examines the effects of both WebTrust and company type on purchasing intentions in a B2C E‐commerce setting. While past studies have focused on the incremental effects of Web assurance services on Web sites, this study extends research by exploring whether WebTrust strengthens purchasing intentions for both known, and unknown, companies. Professional literature suggests that Web assurance seals such as WebTrust will primarily benefit unknown companies. A second contribution of the paper is to propose and test a model of how WebTrust and company type each lead to greater purchasing intentions. Based on a mediation model, WebTrust is expected to influence purchasing intentions through assurance beliefs. Alternatively, company type is expected to influence purchasing intentions through the formation of trusting beliefs. Under our model, because each works through a separate mediating variable, WebTrust and company type are not substitutes for each other. The results support the proposed model showing that WebTrust is mediated by assurance beliefs and company type is mediated by trusting beliefs. These results have important practical implications as they show that all companies, not just the unknown, can benefit from displaying a WebTrust seal. Thus, the results from our study suggest that the potential market for Web assurance services should include all B2C E‐commerce companies.
Conceptualizing Employee Silence and Employee Voice as Multidimensional Constructs*
Authors: Dyne Linn Van , Ang Soon , Botero Isabel C.
Published: August 2003

ABSTRACT Employees often have ideas, information, and opinions for constructive ways to improve work and work organizations. Sometimes these employees exercise voice and express their ideas, information, and opinions; and other times they engage in silence and withhold their ideas, information, and opinions. On the surface, expressing and withholding behaviours might appear to be polar opposites because silence implies not speaking while voice implies speaking up on important issues and problems in organizations. Challenging this simplistic notion, this paper presents a conceptual framework suggesting that employee silence and voice are best conceptualized as separate, multidimensional constructs. Based on employee motives, we differentiate three types of silence (Acquiescent Silence, Defensive Silence, and ProSocial Silence) and three parallel types of voice (Acquiescent Voice, Defensive Voice, and ProSocial Voice) where withholding important information is not simply the absence of voice. Building on this conceptual framework, we further propose that silence and voice have differential consequences to employees in work organizations. Based on fundamental differences in the overt behavioural cues provided by silence and voice, we present a series of propositions predicting that silence is more ambiguous than voice, observers are more likely to misattribute employee motives for silence than for voice, and misattributions for motives behind silence will lead to more incongruent consequences (both positive and negative) for employees (than for voice). We conclude by discussing implications for future research and for managers.
Spirals of Silence: The Dynamic Effects of Diversity on Organizational Voice*
Authors: Bowen Frances , Blackmon Kate
Published: August 2003

ABSTRACT When will individuals speak up about organizational issues, and when will they remain silent? We suggest that organizational voice will be significantly influenced by individuals’ perceptions of the attitudes towards an issue within their workgroup. In particular, individuals will be more likely to speak up when they believe that their position is supported by others, and remain silent when they believe that it is not. We explain this using the ‘spiral of silence’ proposed by Noelle‐Neumann (1974, 1985, 1991) and widely used in public opinion research, which explains how majority opinions become dominant over time and minority opinions weakened.

Spirals of silence within groups can restrict the open and honest discussion that is essential to organizational improvement. Noelle‐Neumann's spiral of silence emphasizes the horizontal pressures that the threat of isolation and corresponding fear of isolation exert to keep people from being open and honest about their opinions. We argue in this paper that the fear and threat of isolation are particularly powerful for members of invisible minorities such as gay and lesbian employees. We propose a second, vertical ‘spiral of silence’ may develop through processes at a more micro level within the workgroup and organization. This second spiral begins with the inability to fully express one's personal identity within the workgroup because of a negative climate of opinion towards a particular aspect of one's identity. This may be especially true for ‘invisible’ sources of diversity such as sexual orientation. Revealing a potentially disruptive identity might impair social cohesion: concealing it, however, can inhibit social exchange and task exchange and reduce self‐efficacy, leading to organizational silence. However, an alternate virtuous spiral can result in which individuals will feel empowered to express organizational voice.
Speaking Up in the Operating Room: How Team Leaders Promote Learning in Interdisciplinary Action Teams
Authors: Edmondson Amy C.
Published: August 2003

ABSTRACT This paper examines learning in interdisciplinary action teams. Research on team effectiveness has focused primarily on single‐discipline teams engaged in routine production tasks and, less often, on interdisciplinary teams engaged in discussion and management rather than action. The resulting models do not explain differences in learning in interdisciplinary action teams. Members of these teams must coordinate action in uncertain, fast‐paced situations, and the extent to which they are comfortable speaking up with observations, questions, and concerns may critically influence team outcomes. To explore what leaders of action teams do to promote speaking up and other proactive coordination behaviours – as well as how organizational context may affect these team processes and outcomes – I analysed qualitative and quantitative data from 16 operating room teams learning to use a new technology for cardiac surgery. Team leader coaching, ease of speaking up, and boundary spanning were associated with successful technology implementation. The most effective leaders helped teams learn by communicating a motivating rationale for change and by minimizing concerns about power and status differences to promote speaking up in the service of learning.
Voice Lessons: Tempered Radicalism and the Use of Voice and Silence*
Authors: Creed W. E. Douglas
Published: August 2003

ABSTRACTThis article explores the ontology of voice and silence in the context of tempered radicalism. The career experiences of gay and lesbian Protestant ministers illuminate key issues for understanding voice and silence in organizations. First, social actors’ discursive context provides genres and plots for the construction of self‐hood that shape their use of voice and silence. Second, voice and silence are ambiguous, intertwined phenomena. When you are saying one thing, you are not saying another. Third, self‐authorization – a form of institutional change agency – legitimates action that falls outside institutional norms for authorized resistance, while framing these actions as enactments of institutional values and beliefs.
Breaking the Silence: The Moderating Effects of Self‐Monitoring in Predicting Speaking Up in the Workplace*
Authors: Premeaux Sonya Fontenot , Bedeian Arthur G.
Published: August 2003

ABSTRACT Whereas both management scholars and practitioners emphasize the importance of employee input for improving workplace practices, research suggests that many employees are hesitant to express their opinions or voice their views because doing so might lead to retaliation. Consequently, they remain silent rather than speak up about workplace happenings, actions or ideas of others, needed changes, and other job‐related issues. Drawing on various literatures, we developed and tested a conceptual scheme for examining the influence of self‐monitoring on the relationships between two individual (locus of control and self‐esteem) and two contextual (top‐management openness and trust in supervisor) factors and speaking up. Data from 118 telecommunications employees and their coworkers provided supporting evidence. As predicted, low self‐monitors, in comparison to high self‐monitors, spoke up more often as internal locus of control, self‐esteem, top‐management openness, and trust in supervisor increased. The theoretical and practical implications of our results are discussed.
Crafting Normative Messages to Protect the Environment
Authors: Cialdini Robert B.
Published: August 2003

It is widely recognized that communications that activate social norms can be effective in producing societally beneficial conduct. Not so well recognized are the circumstances under which normative information can backfire to produce the opposite of what a communicator intends. There is an understandable, but misguided, tendency to try to mobilize action against a problem by depicting it as regrettably frequent. Information campaigns emphasize that alcohol and drug use is intolerably high, that adolescent suicide rates are alarming, and—most relevant to this article—that rampant polluters are spoiling the environment. Although these claims may be both true and well intentioned, the campaigns' creators have missed something critically important: Within the statement “Many people are doing this undesirable thing” lurks the powerful and undercutting normative message “Many people are doing this.” Only by aligning descriptive norms (what people typically do) with injunctive norms (what people typically approve or disapprove) can one optimize the power of normative appeals. Communicators who fail to recognize the distinction between these two types of norms imperil their persuasive efforts.
Statistical Language Learning
Authors: Saffran Jenny R.
Published: August 2003

What types of mechanisms underlie the acquisition of human language? Recent evidence suggests that learners, including infants, can use statistical properties of linguistic input to discover structure, including sound patterns, words, and the beginnings of grammar. These abilities appear to be both powerful and constrained, such that some statistical patterns are more readily detected and used than others. Implications for the structure of human languages are discussed.
The Origins of Pictorial Competence
Authors: DeLoache Judy S. , Pierroutsakos Sophia L. , Uttal David H.
Published: August 2003

Pictorial competence, which refers to the many factors involved in perceiving, interpreting, understanding, and using pictures, develops gradually over the first few years of life. Although experience is not required for accurate perception of pictures, it is necessary for understanding the nature of pictures. Infants initially respond to depicted objects as if they were real objects, and toddlers are remarkably insensitive to picture orientation. Only gradually do young children figure out the nature of pictures and how they are used.
The Role of Psychosocial Processes in Explaining the Gradient Between Socioeconomic Status and Health
Authors: Adler Nancy E. , Snibbe Alana Conner
Published: August 2003

The gradient between socioeconomic status (SES) and health is well established: Many measures of health show that health increases as SES increases. However, the mechanisms underlying this association are not well understood. Behavioral, cognitive, and affective tendencies that develop in response to the greater psychosocial stress encountered in low-SES environments may partially mediate the impact of SES on health. Although these tendencies might be helpful for coping in the short term, over time they may contribute to the development of allostatic load, which increases vulnerability to disease. Debate remains regarding the direction of causation between SES and health, the impact of income inequality, the interaction of SES with race-ethnicity and gender, and the effects of SES over the life course.
The Psychobiology of Stress
Authors: Kemeny Margaret E.
Published: August 2003

Stressful life experience can have significant effects on a variety of physiological systems, including the autonomic nervous system, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and the immune system. These relationships can be bidirectional; for example, immune cell products can act on the brain, altering mood and cognition, potentially contributing to depression. Although acute physiological alterations may be adaptive in the short term, chronic or repeated provocation can result in damage to health. The central dogma in the field of stress research assumes a stereotyped physiological response to all stressors (the generality model). However, increasing evidence suggests that specific stressful conditions and the specific way an organism appraises these conditions can elicit qualitatively distinct emotional and physiological responses (the integrated specificity model). For example, appraisals of threat (vs. challenge), uncontrollability, and negative social evaluation have been shown to provoke specific psychobiological responses. Emotional responses appear to have specific neural substrates, which can result in differentiated alterations in peripheral physiological systems, so that it is incorrect to presume a uniform stress response.
The Value of Stress-Management Interventions in Life-Threatening Medical Conditions
Authors: Claar Robyn Lewis , Blumenthal James A.
Published: August 2003

Emotional stress has been associated with the development and progression of several chronic medical conditions. Recently, researchers have assessed the impact of stress-management interventions on patients' psychological functioning, quality of life, and various disease outcomes, including survival. This review summarizes the value of stress-management techniques in the treatment of two important, life-threatening conditions: coronary heart disease and cancer. Results from randomized clinical trials indicate that psychological interventions can improve patients' psychological functioning and quality of life. However, there is limited evidence to suggest that these interventions significantly reduce morbidity and mortality.
Intergenerational Studies of Parenting and the Transfer of Risk From Parent to Child
Authors: Serbin Lisa , Karp Jennifer
Published: August 2003

This review describes a recent approach to studying the intergenerational processes that place families and children at risk for a broad variety of social, behavioral, and health problems. Intergenerational studies typically involve two (or more) generations of participants, observed over time. These projects are utilized to study the origins and early determinants of parenting behavior and of other environmental, health, and social conditions that place young offspring at risk for continuing behavioral, cognitive, and health problems. Convergent findings, across a broad range of research populations in several countries, suggest that problematic parenting develops in part through learning the behavior modeled by one's own parents. In addition, problematic parenting seems to be an extension of an individual's early style of aggressive and problematic social behavior. Parents with a history of childhood aggression, in particular, tend to have continuing social, behavioral, and health difficulties, as do their offspring. Conversely, parental involvement, cognitive stimulation, warmth, and nurturance appear to have important protective effects for offspring. Finally, educational achievement appears to be a powerful buffer against problematic parenting and a wide variety of difficult family circumstances, protecting families against the transfer of risk between generations.
Transfer as the Productive Use of Acquired Knowledge, Skills, and Motivations
Authors: De Corte Erik
Published: August 2003

Historically, the notion of transfer has been very controversial, conceptually as well as empirically. Therefore, there is an obvious need for further inquiry aimed at a better understanding of the processes underlying transfer. Taking into account the recent literature, this article defines transfer as the broad, productive, and supported use of acquired knowledge, skills, and motivations in new contexts and learning tasks. As an illustration, an intervention study is briefly discussed. This study shows the possibility of designing a powerful learning environment that yields transfer effects in accordance with this reconceptualized perspective on transfer.
Cognition in Schizophrenia
Authors: Barch Deanna M.
Published: August 2003

Recent research suggests that disturbances in social and occupational functioning in individuals with schizophrenia may be more influenced by the severity of cognitive deficits than by the severity of symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions. In this article, I review evidence that one component of cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia is a deficit in working memory, associated with disturbances in the dopamine system in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. I suggest that although the cognitive deficits in schizophrenia include working memory dysfunction, because they arise from a disturbance in executive control processes (e.g., the representation and maintenance of context), they extend to a range of cognitive domains. Finally, I discuss the need for further research on the ways in which contextual processing deficits may influence other aspects of this illness, including emotional processing.
Development of a Swedish version of the adolescent coping orientation for problem experiences (A–Cope)
Authors: Halvarsson Klara , Lunner Katrina , Sjödén Per–Olow
Published: August 2003

The objective was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Adolescent Coping Orientation for Problem Experiences (A–Cope) among Swedish adolescent girls. A sample of 590 13– and 15–year old girls participated. The original version of the A–Cope failed to demonstrate an adequate factor structure. A revised version was developed (A–Cope–S), consisting of 28 items forming 6 subscales with moderate to acceptable homogeneity. The findings suggest that the A–Cope–S is suitable for the study of coping among Swedish adolescent girls.
The circumplex structure of affect: A Swedish version
Authors: Knez Igor , Hygge Staffan
Published: August 2003

The taxonomy of a circumplex model has been widely applied in the emotion domain and especially by researchers advocating a systematic arrangement of conscious emotional experience (see Fabrigar, Visser & Browne, 1997; Feldman Barett & Russell, 1999 for recent reviews). To rule out some of the lexical problems in the naming of affective states in the circumplex space, Larsen and Diener (1992) suggested a labeling system with forty–eight English adjectives representing eight affective states. The objective of the present study was to examine how well Swedish adjectives map onto a dimensional model of this kind, in doing so, to compose a Swedish measure for self–reported affect. The forty–eight Swedish adjectives translated from Larsen and Diener (1992) failed to capture a pure circumplex structure. However, when approximately two thirds of these adjectives were reanalyzed, a reasonable consistency with the circumplex model was reached. This suggested a composite Swedish measure for self–rated affect, with up to four adjectives representing each of the eight affective states in the circumplex space.
PLS model building: A multivariate approach to personality test data
Authors: Henningsson Mikael , Sundbom Elisabet , Armelius Bengt–Åke , Erdberg Philip
Published: August 2003

The aim of this study was to demonstrate how personality test data can be plotted with a multivariate method known as Partial Least Squares of Latent Structures (PLS). The basic methodology behind PLS modeling is presented and the example demonstrates how a PLS model of personality test data can be used for diagnostic prediction. Principles for validating the models are also presented. The conclusion is that PLS modeling appears to be a powerful method for extracting clinically relevant information from complex personality test data matrixes. It could be used as a complement to more hard modeling methods in the process of examining a new area of interest.
Validation of an ipsative personality measure (DISCUS)
Authors: Martinussen Monica , Richardsen Astrid M. , Vårum Helge W.
Published: August 2003

The purpose of this study was to examine the construct validity of an ipsative personality test (DISCUS), and various effects of the ipsative format of the test. Both an ipsative and a normative version of the DISCUS test was administered to a sample of undergraduate students (N = 103), along with an adjective based personality test that measures the Big–Five personality traits (5PFa). The results indicated that the normative and the ipsative version of DISCUS are not equivalent, and caution is needed when using the ipsative version for psychometric evaluations as in validation studies. The four DISCUS dimensions (Dominance, Influence, Stability, and Carefulness) represented combinations of the Big–Five traits rather than independent traits as indicated by the correlations with the Big–Five measure.
A Norwegian translation of the self–liking and competence scale
Authors: Silvera David H. , Neilands Tor , Perry Judith A.
Published: August 2003

Although global self–esteem has historically been assumed to be a unidimensional construct, recent theory and research has challenged this assumption. Instead, it has been suggested that self–esteem might more fruitfully be viewed as a two–dimensional construct composed of: (a) self–liking, based on our perceptions of feedback from our social environment; and (b) self–competence, based on our internal conceptions of success and failure in performing tasks. The Self–Liking and Competence Scale (SLCS) is a self–esteem measure that has recently been developed based on this two–dimensional conceptualization of self–esteem. The purpose of the present research was to validate a Norwegian translation of the SLCS. 372 participants were given a translated version of the SLCS, and the translated scale exhibited psychometric properties similar to those of the original English version of the scale.
The relationship between cognitive abilities and maternal ratings of externalizing behaviors in preschool children
Authors: Andersson Helle W. , Sommerfelt Kristian
Published: August 2003

The association between child cognitive abilities and maternal ratings of child externalizing behaviors was investigated in a randomly selected sample of 290 preschool children. Child cognitive abilities were assessed by the WPPSI–R, whereas mothers completed the Yale Children's Inventory for the assessment of child externalizing behaviors. Maternal education, and maternal child–rearing style, as defined by scores on the Child Rearing Practices Report, was significantly related to perceived externalizing child behavior. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that for girls, low child IQ remained a significant predictor of perceived externalizing behavior when effects of maternal education and child–rearing style were controlled for (p < 0.01). Maternal child–rearing style made independent contributions to explaining variance in girls’ and boys’ behavior score. The results are discussed in terms of differential gender socialization practices and gender stereotypes.
Post–traumatic stress disorder in patients with coronary artery disease: A review and evaluation of the risk
Authors: Pedersen Susanne Schmidt
Published: August 2003

Psychosocial factors are known to impact on the prognosis of patients with coronary artery disease independently of disease severity. However, few studies have looked at whether these patients are at risk of developing post–traumatic stress disorder, and the potential implications for morbidity and mortality. Through a review of the empirical literature, the objectives were to investigate whether patients with coronary artery disease are at risk of developing this disorder, to look at relations between post–traumatic stress disorder and heart disease, and to stimulate further research. The review indicated that some patients with coronary artery disease are at risk of developing post–traumatic stress disorder, although the prevalence varied considerably. Methodological issues together with recommendations for future research are discussed. Although only some cardiac patients may develop post–traumatic stress, this disorder should not be overlooked due to its potential role in reinfarctions and mortality.
Obsessive–compulsive symptoms, white noise and intrusions of self–relevant negative thoughts in a thought suppression paradigm
Authors: Smári Jakob , HermóÐsdóttir Inga Huld
Published: August 2003

Forty female students participated in an experiment where they were asked to suppress a negative self–relevant thought. Half the group suppressed in a loud white noise condition (90 decibels) whereas the other half suppressed in a noise condition of much lower intensity (50 decibels). The subjects were divided up into two groups on the basis of their scores on the Obsessive Compulsive Thoughts Checklist (Bouvard, Cottraux, Mollard, Arthus, Lachance, Guerin, Sauteraud & Yao, 1997). It was predicted that 1) Subjects scoring high on obsessive–compulsive symptoms would show more intrusive thoughts 2) Loud noise would increase intrusive thoughts, especially for subjects scoring high on obsessive–compulsive symptoms. As expected subjects who scored high on obsessive–compulsive symptoms showed more intrusive thoughts, but contrary to expectations loud noise did not increase intrusive thoughts. In fact obsessive–compulsive symptoms were related to more intrusions in the condition of noise of less intensity but not in the condition of loud noise. Implications are discussed.
Memory deficits in young schizophrenics with normal general intellectual function
Authors: Landrø Nils Inge , Pape–Ellefsen Emily , Hagland Karl Otto , Odland Torleiv
Published: August 2003

The aim of the present study was to examine different dimensions of memory functioning in young schizophrenics with normal general intellectual abilities. Thirty–three patients with schizophrenia and 33 healthy controls were included in the study. The results suggest that immediate short–term memory is intact, though there emerged a working memory deficit in the schizophrenia group. Deficient encoding of verbal material was observed in some, but not in other, testing conditions. There also seemed to be a retrieval deficit for verbal material in schizophrenia, though no storage deficit was indicated. Impaired memory for non–verbal material was also revealed. These results occurred in a context of intact executive functioning as measured by the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. The results indicate that temporal and frontal structures, as well as their interconnections, may be compromised in schizophrenia.
Psychological characteristics of women with eating disorders: Permanent or transient features?
Authors: Blaase Helle , Elklit Ask
Published: August 2003

The purpose of the study was to make a psychological profile of Danish women with Eating Disorders, who were not currently hospitalized. 75 women between the ages of 19 and 46 years participated. 22 participants suffered from a clinical eating disorder (ED). 20 women had previously suffered from a clinical ED, and 33 women had never suffered from ED. The study included sociodemographic data, problems in relation to eating and weight, exposure to stressful life events, and the following questionnaires: The Eating Disorder Inventory, the Rosenberg Self–Esteem Scale, the Coping Styles Questionnaire, the Perceived Stress Scale, the Defense Style Questionnaire, and the Trauma Symptom Checklist. Psychologically, women with ED differed significantly from women without ED by using a more primitive defense style, perceiving themselves as being more exposed to stress, using more inefficient methods of coping and having lower self–esteem. Unexpectedly, the study also showed that recovery from an ED was resulting in normalisation of both behavioral and psychological characteristics. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Marital Conflict and Children's Adjustment: Parental Hostility and Children's Interpretations as Mediators
Authors: Stocker Clare M. , Richmond Melissa K. , Low Sabina M. , Alexander Elise K. , Elias Nadine M.
Published: August 2003

The associations between marital conflict, maternal and paternal hostility, children's interpretations of marital conflict, and children's adjustment were examined in a sample of 136 school‐aged children and their parents. Observational measures were collected from videotapes of marital interaction and family interaction. Self‐report data were collected from parents and children. Results showed that mothers’ and fathers’ hostility mediated the association between martial conflict and children's internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Children's feelings of being to blame for marital conflict and being threatened by it mediated between marital conflict and children's internalizing problems but not their externalizing problems.
Are Children More Angered and Distressed by Man–Child than Woman–Child Arguments and by Interadult versus Adult–Child Disputes?
Authors: Harger JoAnn , El‐Sheikh Mona
Published: August 2003

Six to 10‐year‐olds’ responses to witnessing videotapes of five contexts of verbal and physical arguments (man–woman, man–boy, man–girl, woman–boy, and woman–girl) were compared to examine the hypotheses that: (1) man–child disputes would be perceived more negatively and evoke more negative affect in children than woman–child conflict; and (2) man–woman conflict would be viewed more negatively and elicit greater negative emotions in children than adult–child arguments. Results lend support to the two predictions, and consistent with the emotional security hypothesis, reveal that (1) man–child conflict evoked more sadness and fear in children than woman–child disputes; (2) man–woman arguments evoked more intense feelings of sadness and fear than any of the adult–child disputes, and the adult in the conflicts was perceived as more sad and scared when arguing with the spouse than with the girl or boy; and (3) physical conflict evoked more negative affect than verbal disputes.
Preschoolers’ Beliefs About the Stability of Antisocial Behavior: Implications for Navigating Social Challenges
Authors: Giles Jessica W. , Heyman Gail D.
Published: August 2003

The relation between 3‐ to 5‐year‐old children's beliefs about sociomoral stability (the tendency for antisocial behavior to remain stable over time) and their reasoning about peer interactions was examined. Participants were 100 preschoolers enrolled in a Head Start program. Children who endorsed sociomoral stability beliefs were less likely than their peers to make prosocial inferences, were rated by their teachers as less likely to engage in prosocial behavior, and were more likely to endorse the use of aggression to solve conflict with peers. These findings suggest that as early as preschool, children have general patterns of beliefs about the stability of antisocial behavior that predict a tendency to de‐emphasize prosocial strategies that can mediate social challenges.
The Relationship Between Psychological Understanding and Positive Social Behaviors
Authors: Cassidy Kimberly Wright , Werner Rebecca Stetson , Rourke Mary , Zubernis Lynn S. , Balaraman Geetha
Published: August 2003

This research investigates the relationship between psychological understanding and positive social behavior in preschool children. A sample of 67 children were given measures of mental state understanding and emotion understanding. Positive social behavior was measured by classroom observation, teacher report and peer ratings. Both mental state understanding and emotion understanding were positively related to teacher ratings of social skills, behavioral observers’ global ratings of social skills and peer popularity. When language ability was partialled out of these relationships, many of the significant correlations disappeared; however, for variables related to peers’ perceptions, psychological understanding continued to predict unique variance. The results are discussed in terms of the multiple determinacy of positive social behaviors and the potential role of language in these processes.
The Friendship Features of Preschool Children: Links with Prosocial Behavior and Aggression
Authors: Sebanc Anne M.
Published: August 2003

This study assessed features of young children's friendships and determined whether the features reported were associated with prosocial and aggressive behavior. Teachers completed the friendship features questionnaires (FFQ) on the mutual friendships in their class identified by the 98 children who were interviewed (M age =3.91 years). Four subscales (support, conflict, exclusivity/intimacy, and asymmetry) were differentiated from the 36‐item questionnaire. Teacher reports of friendship features showed moderate inter‐rater reliability and were associated with teacher reports of aggression and prosocial behavior and peer reports of acceptance and rejection. Friendship support was positively correlated with prosocial behavior, friendship conflict was positively correlated with overt aggression and peer rejection, and friendship exclusivity/intimacy was positively associated with relational aggression and negatively with peer acceptance. Findings are consistent with research on school age children's friendship features and their behavioral correlates.