bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Cross-Cultural Validation of Trice's Academic Locus of Control Scale for College Students in an Omani Sample
Authors: Ibrahim Ali Mohamed
Published: August 2011

This study examined the validity of the Academic Locus of Control scale in a nonwestern culture. Subjects were 491 college undergraduate students majoring in education (123 men and 368 women). Rotter's I-E scale and an achievement motivation scale were administered also. Correlation coefficients of .33 and .45 of scores on the Academic Locus of Control Scale match those on the two validating inventories. Predictive validity as measured by the correlation with GPA was only .20. Among the present sample, the Academic Locus of Control Scale was a better predictor of GPA than Rotter's I-E scale ( r = .06). Unlike the American sample, Omani women had a significantly higher mean externality score than men which reflects cultural differences. Although Omani subjects did not differ from American subjects in mean externality score, patterns of responses were different. An attempt was made to explain these differences in terms of cultural disparities.
Situations, Targets and Tactics for Women Faculty's Gaining Compliance
Authors: Lamude Kevin G.
Published: August 2011

In a sample of 104 college female faculty self-reported strategies for gaining compliance from their chairperson or colleagues in four “rights” scenarios for making the request situations were quite similar (Kendall W of .89).
Factor Analysis of the Intermediate Category Test
Authors: Livingston Ronald B. , Gray Robert M. , Haak Ruth A.
Published: August 2011

This study examined the factor structure of the six subtests of the Intermediate Category Test in a heterogeneous sample of school-referred students, age 9 to 14 years. A three-factor solution emerged that accounted for approximately 72% of the total variance. This indicates that the test measures multiple underlying constructs in this school-referred sample. Clinical and educational interpretations may be enhanced by utilizing factor scores that reflect the multiple abilities assessed. Recommendations for developing factor/index scores are provided.
A Further Examination of the Bizarre Imagery Mnemonic: Its Effectiveness with Mixed Context and Delayed Testing
Authors: Iaccino James F.
Published: August 2011

To assess further the effectiveness of bizarre imagery, undergraduates were exposed to a variety of paired-associate, stimulus contexts (unmixed normal, unmixed bizarre, and mixed) and then were tested at one of three retention intervals (0, 3, or 5 days). Consistent with our earlier findings, elements within the mixed context were recalled the best at both the 0- and 3-day intervals. Interestingly, the unmixed bizarre items improved performance as much as mixed ones when testing occurred at 5 days, suggesting that bizarre-only elements needed sufficient time to develop their distinctive memory traces.
Patterns of Physical Preference among Races: A Preliminary Study with College Students
Authors: Zhang Jie
Published: August 2011

A preliminary study with 202 college students yielded a rank order of the five racial stereotypes in terms of physical attractiveness. Significance of the study was discussed, and explanations were attempted for the findings.
Eyewitness Accuracy and Gender
Authors: Casiere Daniel A. , Ashton Nancy L.
Published: August 2011

43 people gave written descriptions of a 3-min. video they had viewed of an ambiguous, staged scene. Accuracy scores were determined based on the number of correct items listed minus the number of wrong items listed. The finding of higher scores for the 19 women than for the 24 men is consistent with previous research on gender and memory.
Accidental Death and the Shift to Daylight Savings Time
Authors: Coren Stanley
Published: August 2011

Records of all accidental deaths in the USA for a 3-yr. period suggest that the minimal sleep loss associated with the spring shift to Daylight Savings Time produces a short-term increase of the likelihood of accidental death, while the fall shift has little effect.
Greeting Behaviour and Psychogenic Need: Interviews on Experiences of Therapists, Clergymen, and Car Salesmen
Authors: Åström Jan , Thorell Lars-Håkan
Published: August 2011

Interviews of 47 Swedish subjects, therapists, clergymen, and car salesmen were used to investigate relationships between 22 greeting behaviours and 12 psychogenic needs mainly drawn from the Cecarec-Marke Personality Schedule. Analysis showed that most of the subjects agreed about the personality characteristics of greeting behaviours, especially regarding the dimensions of introversion and extraversion. The results confirm those from earlier studies that some greeting behaviours are potentially valid in assessing personality.
Improving Fitness of Dually Diagnosed Adults
Authors: Merriman William J. , Barnett Beth E. , Jarry Eric S.
Published: August 2011

Lack of prior research led to this study on the effect of a physical fitness program combined with a token economy reinforcement system on the physical fitness of 22 dually diagnosed adults of a day-treatment program. Between pre- and posttests, subjects participated in a 12-wk. training program of 40 to 45 min. of exercise three times a week. Subjects received tokens after each session in which they participated actively. Analysis indicated significant differences between pre- and posttest scores for muscular endurance, cardiorespiratory endurance, and flexibility but not for body composition.
Performance on the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised for Patients with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Mild Dementia
Authors: Brooker Alan E.
Published: August 2011

The purpose of this study was to delineate significant differences among mild traumatic brain-injured and early onset mild dementia patients examined using the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised subtests. In comparison to 12 mild traumatic brain-injured patients, 11 mild dementia patients scored significantly lower on Verbal Paired Associates I and II, Visual Reproduction I and II, and Visual Paired Associates I. Raw score summaries for the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised indicated significantly lower scores on Verbal Memory, Visual Memory, and the over-all composite General Memory for mild dementia patients in comparison to individuals who sustained a mild traumatic brain injury. Despite equivalent scores on Attention/Concentration, the dementia group did not show significantly lowered delay in memory recall by comparison with mild closed-head injured patients. The study recommends replication with much larger sample sizes to validate the results.
Comparison of Aggressive Behavior between Men and Women in Sport
Authors: Lenzi Alessandro , Bianco Ilaria , Milazzo Vincenzo , Placidi Gian Franco , Castrogiovanni Paolo , Becherini Daniela
Published: August 2011

A group of 33 sportsmen and 43 sportswomen and a group of 488 subjects (less than 30 years old) selected from a sample of 816 subjects representative of the general Italian population were compared using the factor scores and total scores on the Italian version of the Buss and Durkee questionnaire. Analysis suggests a positive correlation between aggressiveness and sport and are compatible with the hypothesis that sporting activities serve as a means of controlling aggressiveness of women and help the individual psychosocial development of men. The decision to practice sports would seem to be connected with the needs to conform to cultural stereotypes, which portray the man as aggressive and the woman as gentle and submissive.
Determinants of Job Satisfaction in Different Career Stages
Authors: Herbert Mary Katherine , Burke Beverly G.
Published: August 2011

Context factors were more strongly correlated with job satisfaction than content factors in all stages of tenure for 921 technical and professional employees of a state agency.
Massage Therapy as a Workplace Intervention for Reduction of Stress
Authors: Cady Steven H. , Jones Gwen E.
Published: August 2011

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a 15-min. on-site massage while seated in a chair on reducing stress as indicated by blood pressure. 52 employed participants' blood pressures were measured before and after a 15-min. massage at work. Analysis showed a significant reduction in participants' systolic and diastolic blood pressure after receiving the massage although there was no control group.
Effects of Contextual Interference and Conditions of Movement Task on Acquisition, Retention, and Transfer of Motor Skills by Women
Authors: Jarus Tal , Wughalter Emily H. , Gianutsos John G.
Published: August 2011

This experiment was designed to investigate varying conditions of contextual interference within two different conditions of movement tasks during acquisition on the acquisition and retention of a computerized task and transfer to a functional skill. Performance of head movements was conducted under open- or closed-task conditions and with random or blocked schedules of practice. Analysis indicated that learning under the open-task condition resulted in better retention and transfer than the closed-task condition. It is suggested that increasing the within-trial variability in the open-task condition produced a contextual interference effect. In this regard, support for Battig's predictions is provided by the current findings in that the high variability present during the open-task condition was more beneficial for retention and transfer than the low variability present during the closed-task condition. Differences between random and blocked schedules of practice on the retention and transfer data were not statistically significant.
A Measure of Stress for Athletic Performance
Authors: Seggar John F. , Pedersen Darhl M. , Hawkes Nena R. , McGown Carl
Published: August 2011

The Athlete Stress Inventory of 49 items was developed. Using factor analysis on the intercorrelations of responses of 148 women student-athletes, four orthogonal factors of stress in athletes were identified—Negative Mood, Team Compatibility, Physical Well-being, and Academic Efficacy. Scales for these factors were reliable and valid. The predictive validity of these scores was investigated by correlations with the athletic performance of 32 women athletes on three intercollegiate teams— tennis, gymnastics, and basketball. Stress scores (except Emotional Mood) reported four days prior to competition tended to be significantly correlated with performance for the individual sports (tennis and gymnastics) but not for the group sport (basketball). The correlation involving Physical Well-being was not significant for gymnasts.
The Effect of T'AI Chi Chuan Training on Balance, Kinesthetic Sense, and Strength
Authors: Jacobson Bert H. , Ho-Cheng Chen , Cashel Chris , Guerrero Larry
Published: August 2011

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of T'ai Chi Chuan training on lateral stability, kinesthetic sense, and strength of voluntary knee extension. Subjects consisted of 24 naive volunteers (12 men and 12 women) between the ages of 20 and 45 years. Pre- and 12-week posttests included lateral body stability, kinesthetic sense in the glenohumeral joint for 30°, 45°, and 60°, and strength of knee extension. After pretest data collection, 12 subjects performed T'ai Chi Chuan three times per week for 12 weeks, learning 108 forms of T'ai Chi Chuan. A 2 × 2 analysis of variance was used to estimate significance of group differences on all of the dependent variables. Significant group differences were found in lateral body stability, kinesthetic sense at 60°, and strength of the dominant knee extensor. No significant differences between the T'ai Chi and the control group were found for kinesthetic sense at 30° and 45° rotation of the glenohumeral joint. Film analysis indicated that the two lesser angles were not as common in the T'ai Chi training as the greater angle (60°) and thus may be less practiced. It appears that T'ai Chi Chuan presents a low-stress method to enhance stability, selected kinesthetic sense, and strength of knee extension.
Effect of Physical Exhaustion on Cognitive Functioning
Authors: Féry Y-A. , Ferry A. , Hofe A. Vom , Rieu M.
Published: August 2011

Experiments utilizing reaction time to measure the effects of fatigue on cognition must discern sensitivity of peripheral and central processing to strenuous exercise. The additive factors method enables one to stipulate that if fatigue interacts with subjects' reaction time in a decision task, central processing is affected by fatigue. While pedaling at different intensities, 13 physically-fit men had to perform a series of short-term memory tests. The tests were executed during a constant workload session and a progressive workload session in which subjects pedaled until exhaustion. Subjects provided ratings on Borg's 1970 scale to measure the psychological effects of the physical effort such as perceived exertion. Allocation of processing resources was also measured to determine attentional constraints exerted by the dual-task situation. Analysis showed that decision reaction time was affected only during the exhausting bout of the progressive workload session and for the more difficult decision task. We discuss our results in the context of arousal and the allocation of processing resources.
Is the Contextual Interference Effect Generalizable to Computer Games?
Authors: Shewokis Patricia A.
Published: August 2011

The benefits of learning multiple tasks under an unstructured practice schedule have been extensively demonstrated in the laboratory. The purpose of the present study was to test contextual interference effects in a nonlaboratory setting using computer games as tasks. Undergraduate kinesiology and sport management majors ( N=19) played a computer game simulating the events of the winter Olympics. Participants were randomly assigned to either a Blocked or Random practice schedule, practicing 36 trials of three events. Delayed retention and transfer tests were performed after a 48-hr. retention interval. The dependent variable was time to complete an event. During transfer, participants in the Random schedule ( M = 248 sec.) were significantly faster than Blocked ( M = 263 sec.) participants. Results support and extend previous contextual interference findings. Transfer was facilitated for participants who learned the events in a Random practice order. Results are discussed in terms of the influence of task characteristics on learning.
Ambiguous Origins and Indications of “Poltergeists”
Authors: Houran James
Published: August 2011

The phenomena traditionally attributed to recurrent spontaneous psychokinesis is shown to be inherently comprised of vague sensory and environmental stimuli. The ambiguous nature of these experiences precludes any definite supposition as to their source of origin or whether there is only one causal mechanism. Further, many of the so-called paranormal effects are fully comparable to known psychophysical phenomena. Consequently, it is argued that this hypothesis as an explanation of poltergeist-like experiences is premature and unjustified.
Contextual Interference and Teaching Golf Skills
Authors: Brady Frank
Published: August 2011

This study was designed to examine the contextual interference effect on teaching golf skills in a naturalistic setting to 2 groups of 18 novice golfers who as undergraduate students practiced four foundational skills under conditions of low and high contextual interference, respectively. A t test for independent samples indicated no significant differences between groups. Findings are discussed and recommendations for research are made.
Seasonal Variation in American Indian Suicide
Authors: Lester David
Published: August 2011

The distribution of American Indian and Alaska Native suicides in 1980 peaked in the fall but did not differ significantly from chance.
Impulsive-Reflective Cognitive Style, Metacognition, and Emotion in Adolescence
Authors: Palladino Paola , Poli Paola , Masi Gabriele , Marcheschi Mara
Published: August 2011

The study investigated the relationship between reflective or impulsive cognitive style, metacognitive functioning, and depression in young adolescents. Metacognitive functioning (metacognitive knowledge about reading and memory, monitoring of text comprehension) and self-reported depressive feelings were analyzed in a group of subjects who showed a Reflective or Impulsive cognitive style. The sample consisted of 56 junior high-school students (Grades 6, 7, and 8) selected from a larger original group of 61 subjects. We excluded from the original group those with an IQ below 75 on both the Verbal and Performance subscales on the short form of the WISC–R, those reported by teachers to have a severe learning disability, and those that did not complete the test battery due to long absences from school. The reflective-impulsive cognitive style was identified with the Matching Familiar Figures Test-20. Using the median of the distribution for both Latency (17 sec. per item) and Errors (9 errors) on this task, the sample was divided in four partially overlapping subgroups: 16 with Impulsive cognitive style (Latency below the median, Errors above the median), 13 with Reflective cognitive style (Latency above the median, Error below the median), 4 fast and accurate (both scores below the median), and 11 slow and inaccurate (both scores above the median). Twelve subjects with one or both scores coinciding with the critical value (median) were excluded. Analysis showed that subjects with Impulsive cognitive style had significantly lower scores than those with Reflective cognitive style in monitoring of comprehension of text. No differences were found on monitoring by eighth graders, irrespective of cognitive style. No differences between the two groups were found in metacognitive knowledge. Subjects with Impulsive cognitive style had significantly higher scores than subjects with Reflective cognitive style on a self-rating scale for childhood depression, the Children's Depression Inventory. The implications of these data are discussed.
Comment on Spatt (1996)
Authors: Ginsburg N.
Published: August 2011

There are inconsistencies in Spatt's paper. Also, there are discrepancies between Spatt's results and those of the present author.
Closure and Acuity in Pseudoisochromatic Color Tests
Authors: Long Gerald M. , Tuck J. Porter
Published: August 2011

While visual acuity was related to performance on several pseudoisochromatic color tests for 73 male college students, no evidence was found that perceptual closure also affected performance. No scores were correlated for the 69 undergraduate women.
Age Appropriateness and Safety of Electric Outlet Protectors for Children
Authors: Ridenour Marcella V.
Published: August 2011

Publications and guidelines relating to the safe use of electric outlet protectors are reviewed and summarized. 37 children, 2 and 4 years old, participated in the assessment of three different styles of outlet protectors. 43 adults also participated in the assessment by removing the outlet protectors. A series of three outlet protectors were used to compare the difficulty of removing each protector. None of the three outlet protectors could prevent all the 2– and 4-yr.-olds from access to the electrical outlet openings. One style of outlet protector was much easier than the other two for the children to gain access to the electric outlet openings. Results of this study indicate some outlet protectors may provide a false security to parents who elect to use these devices in the home.
Failure Rates of Young Patients with Sickle Cell Disease on a Hearing Screening Test
Authors: Gentry Betholyn , Davis Priscilla , Dancer Jess
Published: August 2011

100 young subjects with sickle cell disease were screened for hearing loss at the Sickle Cell Clinic at Arkansas Children's Hospital. 12% of the sample failed, which is higher than prevalence rates for the age groups suggest. Routine screening of hearing is suggested as the first step in the audiologic rehabilitation process.
Parapsychology and the Neurosciences: A Computer-Based Content Analysis of Abstracts in the Database “Medline” from 1975 to 1995
Authors: Fassbender Pantaleon
Published: August 2011

A computer-based content analysis of 109 abstracts retrieved by the subject heading “parapsychology” from the database MEDLINE for the years 1975–1995 is presented. Data were analyzed by four categories referring to terms denoting (1) research methods, (2) neurosciences, (3) humanities/psychodynamics, and (4) parapsychology. Results indicated a growing interest in neuroscientific and neuropsychological explanations and theories.
Induced Mood and Selective Attention
Authors: Brand N. , Verspui L. , Oving A.
Published: August 2011

Subjects ( N = 60) were randomly assigned to an elated, depressed, or neutral mood-induction condition to assess the effect of mood state on cognitive functioning. In the elated condition film fragments expressing happiness and euphoria were shown. In the depressed condition some frightening and distressing film fragments were presented. The neutral group watched no film. Mood states were measured using the Profile of Mood States, and a Stroop task assessed selective attention. Both were presented by computer. The induction groups differed significantly in the expected direction on the mood subscales Anger, Tension, Depression, Vigour, and Fatigue, and also in the mean scale response times, i.e., slower responses for the depressed condition and faster for the elated one. Differences between conditions were found in the errors on the Stroop: in the depressed condition were the fewest errors and significantly longer error reaction times. Speed of error was associated with self-reported fatigue.
Testing the Difference between Two or More Independent Coefficients Alpha: An Example
Authors: Charter Richard A.
Published: August 2011

The method for testing the difference between two or more independent alpha coefficients is provided along with the method for pairwise post hoc comparisons. These methods have been available for several years, but apparently have gone unnoticed. An example illustrating the use of the formulas is given.
Encouragement during Maximal Exercise Testing of Type a and Type B Scorers
Authors: Chitwood Linda F. , Moffatt Robert J. , Burke Kevin , Luchino Paul , Jordan Joel C.
Published: August 2011

The influence of verbal encouragement during assessment of maximal oxygen consumption of subjects scoring as Type A and Type B on the Jenkins Activity Survey, Form T was examined. Fourteen Type A and 12 Type B scorers performed two randomly assigned maximal tests on a motor-driven treadmill with and without verbal encouragement during testing. Treadmill time, oxygen consumption (V̇O2), heart rate, and respiratory exchange ratio at exhaustion were examined. Verbal encouragement led to significantly greater treadmill time, V̇O2, and respiratory exchange ratio for Type B scorers when compared with the no-encouragement trial. Treadmill time, V̇O2, heart rate, and respiratory exchange ratio at exhaustion were not different between treatments for the Type A scorers. Type A scorers ran significantly longer without encouragement than Type B scorers; however, when encouragement was provided, treadmill time for Type A and Type B scorers did not differ significantly. The results suggest that attainment of maximal effort is not dependent on verbal encouragement for Type A scorers, whereas verbal encouragement is necessary to assure attainment of maximal physiologic effort for those individuals scoring as Type B.
Social Status Attainment: Influence of Siblings' Background
Authors: Marjoribanks Kevin
Published: August 2011

Relationships were examined among birth order, sibsize, family environments, and young adults' attainment of social status for 300 21-yr.-old Australians. The sibling variables had significant associations with young women's social-status attainment whereas the relationships between the siblings' and young men's attainment measures were mediated by their perceptions of family environment.
Interexaminer Agreement for Applied Kinesiology Manual Muscle Testing
Authors: Lawson Arden , Calderon Lawrence
Published: August 2011

Two trials of the interexaminer reliability of Applied Kinesiology manual testing were conducted. On the first trial three clinicians, each with greater than ten years of experience with muscle testing procedures, tested 32 healthy individuals to estimate their agreement on the strength or weakness of right and left piriformis and right and left hamstring muscles. Significant agreement between examiners was found for piriformis muscles, but little significant agreement was noted when hamstrings were tested. In a second study, the same three examiners tested 53 subjects for strength or weakness of the pectoralis and tensor fascia lata muscles bilaterally. Significant interjudge agreement was found for pectoralis muscles, but no significant concordance could be found when the tensor fascia lata was examined.
Effect of Sleep Deficit, Knowledge of Results, and Stimulus Quality on Reaction Time and Response Force
Authors: Jaśkowski Piotr , Włodarczyk Dariusz
Published: August 2011

Some recent findings suggested that response force measured during reaction time experiments might reflect changes in activation. We performed an experiment in which the effect of sleep deprivation, knowledge of results, and stimulus quality on response force was studied in simple and choice reaction tasks. As expected, both simple and choice reaction times increased with sleep deficit. Further, simple and choice reactions were faster with knowledge of results and slowed down when stimulus quality was degraded. As sleep deprivation affects both arousal and activation, we expected a detrimental effect of sleep on force amplitude. On the other hand, knowledge of results was expected to increase force by its compensatory effect on arousal and activation. No effect of sleep deprivation on response force was found. Knowledge of results increased response force independently of sleep deprivation.
Screening the Speech of Young Patients with Sickle Cell Disease
Authors: Gentry Betholyn , Dancer Jess
Published: August 2011

Ten percent of 50 young patients with sickle cell disease failed a speech screening. Such a failure rate is higher than expected and suggests that routine speech screening should be conducted.
Magnitude Estimation Scaling of Annoyance in Response to Rock Music: Effects of Sex and Listeners' Preference
Authors: Fucci Donald , Petrosino Linda , Hallowell Brooke , Andra Lisa , Wilcox Corry
Published: August 2011

The present study parallels an earlier one Fucci, Petrosino, and Banks in 1994 concerned with sex and listeners' preference effects on magnitude estimation scaling of rock music. The difference between the two studies is that the subjects in 1994 were asked to scale “loudness” while the present subjects were asked to scale “annoyance.” The prior results and those of the present study were different, i.e., the women's preference appeared influential in the magnitude estimation scaling of rock music previously but here the men's preference appeared influential. If subjects are instructed to judge the annoyance of an auditory signal, they may respond differently than if asked to judge its loudness. Judgments of annoyance appear to be more context dependent whereas loudness judgments may reflect a perceptual process more closely related to physical aspects of the signal.
Correlations for the Developmental Visual-Motor Integration Test and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III
Authors: Graf Mercedes , Hinton Richard N.
Published: August 2011

Previous studies have indicated that scores on the Developmental Test of Visual Motor Integration correlate higher with Performance than Verbal and Full Scale IQs of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised. WISC–III and Visual Motor Integration—3R scores from 99 boys and 46 girls ranging in age from 6 to 16 years were obtained by certified school psychologists to study the relationship between the two measures. Participants were drawn from six suburban Chicago school districts, two being very affluent. These Pearson correlations for standard scores ranging from .34 to .57 and following previous research, were ranked from highest to lowest and then transformed into an approximately normal Z statistic using Fisher Z. The highest correlation was compared to the next highest and so on, which yielded significant differences. Only four comparisons had to be made.
Relationship between Cognitive Style and Defensive Style
Authors: Westreich Allan H. , Ritzler Barry , Duncan Joan
Published: August 2011

This study examines psychoanalytic psychology, theories of cognitive style, and cognitive developmental psychology to examine the relationship between cognitive style and defensive style. A new set of cognitive styles of visual attention is formulated at the following developmental levels: (1) global, (2) local, (3) global-plus-local at the concrete operational level, and (4) global-plus-local at the formal operational level. 50 subjects were administered global-local sorting tasks, the Sentence Preference Test, the Embedded Figures Test, and the Defense Style Questionnaire. Analysis provided mixed support for the hypothesized cognition-defense relationship. Results suggested that the “pure” character types are not typical and that their styles of cognition and defense are positively correlated, not independent as expected. However, possible measurement problems preclude any firm conclusions at this time.
Relevance of Muscular Sensitivity, Muscular Activity, and Cognitive Variables for Pain Reduction Associated with EMG Biofeedback in Fibromyalgia
Authors: Sarnoch Harald , Adler Falco , Scholz O. Berndt
Published: August 2011

18 patients suffering from primary fibromyalgia received nine training sessions using EMG biofeedback over a period of four weeks. Pre- and posttreatment measurement of the baseline EMG activity of the trapezius, muscular sensitivity, and cognitive variables (helplessness and belief of control) were taken. Analysis indicated a significant reduction occurred in general intensity of pain and in EMG activity as well as a significant increase in muscular sensitivity. Multiple regression analyses indicated that the increase in muscular sensitivity correlated with the decrease of EMG activity in the trapezius baseline. Self-reported pain reduction was predicted by a change in cognitive variables.
Assessment of Functional Fitness among Independent-Older Adults: A Preliminary Report
Authors: Netz Yael , Argov Esther
Published: August 2011

The goal of the present study was to develop a field test for assessing various components of daily activities among independent older adults. The test has 8 subtests of Coordination, Balance, Arms Strength, Upper Extremities Flexibility, Lower Extremities Flexibility, Agility, Legs Strength, and Walking Ability. Subjects were 252 volunteers whose mean age was 72.4 (±6.3) yr. A self-report daily functioning scale and a global health scale were also administered to a group. Analysis indicated test-retest reliability of approximately .8, and factor analysis yielded three factors interpretable and meaningful as domains of motor function, i.e., neuromuscular function, strength, and flexibility. Correlations of scores on the test with scores on the two self-rated scales of daily functioning and health, while controlling for age, were significant, suggesting the test measures skills that represent the main activities of daily functioning.
Communication Screening in Older Adults with Vision Loss
Authors: Bennett Debra , Dancer Jess
Published: August 2011

25 older adults with vision loss participated in a communication screen which included hearing, speech-language, and a self-assessment of communication. 64% failed at least two of the three screenings, suggesting that routine screening might identify older adults with vision loss who need rehabilitation in communication as a complement to visual rehabilitation.
Effect of Numerical Representations of Risk on Perception
Authors: Mehta Michael D. , Simpson-Housley Paul
Published: August 2011

This review recommends that researchers consider the effects of different numerical representations of risk on perception.
Does Local or Global Orientation Determine the McCollough Effect?
Authors: Yoshioka Tooru , Ichihara Shigeru
Published: August 2011

In this research, the McCollough effect was observed by using an ambiguous test pattern of coarse gratings made out of fine gratings. Coarse gratings meet at right angles to fine gratings. The global features (coarse gratings) in the test pattern became more salient if the test pattern was blurred, and the frequency of the McCollough effect, corresponding to the global orientation of the test pattern, increased with the increase of the extent of blur. The McCollough effects corresponding to the local orientation of the test pattern occurred frequently if the subjects adapted to fine gratings before viewing the test pattern, whereas the McCollough effects corresponding to the global orientation of the test pattern occurred frequently if the subjects adapted to coarse gratings. Our results indicate that the perceptual organization is an important determinant in the McCollough effect.
Lack of Correlations of Sense-Modality-Oriented Indices of Learning Styles with Each other and with Classroom Tasks
Authors: Westman Alida S. , Alliston Gina R. , Theriault Emily A.
Published: August 2011

Four indices used to measure 36 students' preferred sense modality did not correlate well with each other or with classroom tasks such as recalling visual and auditory information from a videotape, imaging ability, problem solving, etc. Three were paper-and-pencil indices for group presentation (Fleming and Mills' test, Kirby, Moore, and Schofield's index, and Westman's index), and one required individual testing (Swassing-Barbe Modality Index). Students indicated that their analyses of task requirements rather than their preferences for sense modality determined the use of their sense modalities.
Goal Confidence and Difficulty as Predictors of Goal Attainment in Junior High School Cross-Country Runners
Authors: Lane Andrew M. , Karageorghis Costas I.
Published: August 2011

This study examined the influence of confidence in a goal and difficulty of the goal on the attainment of self-set goals regarding time and position. 63 junior high school cross-country runners ( M age = 13.5 yr., SD =.5 yr.) completed a 6-item Race Goals Questionnaire approximately 24 hr. prior to a 2-km race. Attainability of a goal was assessed by categorizing runners into either a Performed to Expectation (Time, Position) or an Underperformed group (Time, Position). A 2 × 2 multivariate analysis of variance indicated significant differences between the two groups on Time for Confidence in goals and on Difficulty of Goals. There were no differences between the two groups on Position. Discriminant function analyses to predict time goal performance indicated that 47 (74.6%) participants could be correctly classified into the groups by Time on the basis of Confidence in Goals, and Difficulty of Goals. Discriminant function analyses to predict performance in terms of Position indicated 38 participants (60.3%) could be correctly classified on the basis of Confidence in Goals, and Difficulty of Goals. The results concur with previous proposals that goals regarding time and position have a differential influence on performance.
Psychology of Computer Use: XLIV. Computer Anxiety and Learning Style
Authors: Bozionelos Nicholas
Published: August 2011

The relation between scores for computer anxiety and for Kolb's Learning Style Inventory was investigated ( N = 204). Scores on computer anxiety correlated negatively with scores on the Active-Reflective index. Further, those classified as Convergers reported lower scores on computer anxiety than did those classified as Divergers.
A Disability Awareness Unit in Physical Education and Attitudes of Elementary School Students
Authors: Loovis E. Michael , Loovis Cynthia Loeb
Published: August 2011

With informed consent 430 students in Grades 2 through 6 from two elementary schools in a large, suburban-rural school district were pretested and post-tested on the Children's Attitudes Toward Handicapped Scale. Students, by grade, rotated among four to seven different locations within the school's gymnasium, each identified by a different disability. There was no control group. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to assess the effect of sex on pre- and postexperimental exposures on the attitudinal scores. A 2 × 5 (school × grade) analysis of variance assessed the main effects of school and grade on attitudinal scores. Significant effects were sex but not school or grade.
Illusion Decrement as a Function of Duration of Inspection and Figure Type
Authors: Brosvic Gary M. , Walker Marcia A. , Perry Natalie , Degnan Sherrie , Dihoff Roberta E.
Published: August 2011

Illusion decrement for the Müller-Lyer and Horizontal-Vertical illusions was examined. The experiment consisted of an initial adjustment of an illusion followed by 20 test trials, each with an intervening 60-sec. intertrial interval during which a comparator line and a standard line set to equality were visually inspected for 0, 20, 40, or 60 sec. After each intertrial interval the length of the comparator line was reset by the experimenter to either 0 or 90 cm, and subjects then adjusted its length to perceived equality with the standard line (42 cm). Illusion decrement was inversely related to the duration of inspection for each illusion, with significant reductions in magnitude of illusion observed for all groups. These results support prior demonstrations that perceptual learning mechanisms are operative during brief periods of visual inspection, especially when these periods are followed by the opportunity to make repeated adjustments.
Effects of Cue Validity upon Performance in the Attention Cueing Paradigm
Authors: Whitehead Roger , MacKenzie Thom , Schliebner Scott , Bachorowski Jo-Anne
Published: August 2011

Two experiments were run wherein normal subjects made choice reactions to targets preceded by location cues. Systematic manipulation of the predictive validity of the cue produced consistent advantages for subjects in the low as opposed to the high predictive validity condition. Performance advantages were observed in both response time and accuracy measures. The results are discussed with respect to models of visual orienting and controlled versus automatic processing.
Effects on Archery Performance of Manipulating Metamotivational State and Felt Arousal
Authors: Kerr J. H. , Yoshida H. , Hirata C. , Takai K. , Yamazaki F.
Published: August 2011

This study investigated the effect of the four different combinations of metamotivational state and felt arousal level (telic-low, paratelic-low, relic-high, paratelic-high) on archery performance. Skilled, average, and novice archers ( n = 28) were voluntary subjects, randomly divided into 2 groups, balanced for ability. Each group performed 2 out of the 4 experimental conditions. In this reversal theory-based field experiment, telic and paratelic metamotivational states and arousal level were manipulated prior to archery performance. The hypothesis that archery performance would be superior under telic-low arousal conditions was rejected, but evidence pointed to the possible importance of hedonic tone in performance. Post hoc analysis showed differences between combined high (telic-low, paratelic-high) and combined low (telic-low, paratelic-high) hedonic-tone groups which fell short of significance. This observation is taken as justification for further exploration of the relationship between hedonic tone and sports performance.
Noise-Limited Detection in Young and Old Observers
Authors: Speranza Filippo , Moraglia Giampaolo , Schneider Bruce A.
Published: August 2011

11 young ( M age = 24.3 yr.) and 11 old ( M age = 67.4 yr.) observers attempted to detect signals of limited bandwidth in visual noise. The older observers did not perform as well as the young ones. We considered whether, as suggested by a current hypothesis, these differences could be attributed to higher internal additive noise in the elderly observers. The results suggested that internal noise did not differ across the two age groups and that the lower performance of the older observers stemmed instead from reduced processing efficiency.
Michigan Physicians' Perceptions of Their Role in Managing Obesity
Authors: Pratt Charlotte A. , Nosiri U. Ijeoma , Pratt Cornelius B.
Published: August 2011

In a random sample of 211 primary-care physicians in Michigan, about 33% ( n = 70) perceived their role in the prevention of obesity as coordinating and 39% ( n = 82) as cooperative and of equal importance to that of other professionals. Perceived barriers to prevention of obesity were inadequate time to educate patients, method of reimbursement, and inadequate training in management of obesity. These results suggest that physicians' involvement in managing obesity can improve if they work closely with other health professionals.
Interscorers' Agreement of the Human Figure Drawings with a Referred Group of Children
Authors: Fuller Gerald B. , Vance Hubert “Booney” , Awadh Abeer M.
Published: August 2011

Agreement of two scorers using the Koppitz scoring system for emotional indicators on the Human Figure Drawings with 30 subjects randomly chosen from 132 students referred for special education services was .85. Implications for clinicians using the Human Figure Drawings in a battery of tests are discussed.
Sex-Related Coping Responses in Mice Selectively Bred for Aggression
Authors: Ewalds-Kvist S. Béatrice M. , Selander Ritva-Kajsa , Sandnabba N. Kenneth
Published: August 2011

Sex differences in strategies of coping with novel situations were studied in three strains of mice with regard to metabolism and open-field and maze activity as well as learning-induced adjustment. The 140 mice were selectively bred for high (Turku Aggressive [TA]) and low (Turku Nonaggressive [TNA]) levels of aggressiveness and originated from a Swiss albino stock normally distributed [N] for aggressiveness. The results indicated that TNA sex differences are more similar to those of the control N mice as compared to those of TA mice. In maze learning, however, the sex differences of TA mice are more in agreement with those of the N strain. Recordings of metabolism and open-field as well as maze activity were correlates of both gender and strain. Sex differences in learning-induced open-field coping behavior were unrelated to strain.
Two Scales of Death Anxiety: Their Reliability and Correlation among Kuwaiti Samples
Authors: Abdel-Khalek Ahmed M.
Published: August 2011

Arabic versions of the Templer Death Anxiety Scale and the Thorson and Powell Revised Death Anxiety Scale were administered to 117 male and 157 female Kuwaiti undergraduates. Cronbach coefficients alpha for the two scales were, respectively, .79 and .77. Pearson correlations for scores on the two scales were .54, .67, and .64 for men, women and the combined group, respectively, so reliability and concurrent validity of the scales were adequate for the Kuwaiti sample.
Measures of Language Proficiency as Predictors of Behavioral Difficulties, Social and Cognitive Development in 2-Year-Old Children
Authors: Carson David K. , Klee Thomas , Perry Cecyle K. , Donaghy Tracy , Muskina Gail
Published: August 2011

An exploratory study of the relation of language proficiency, behavioral difficulties, and various areas of development was conducted with 64 children ranging from 24 to 29 months of age ( M = 25.7 mo.). Data were obtained through language sampling, direct developmental assessment, and maternal reports of children's development and behavior. While scores on measures of expressive language abilities were moderately predictive of scores on measures of behavior problems, a stronger association was found between indices of delayed speech and lower scores on both social and cognitive development. The results point to the centrality of language development to other developmental and behavioral milestones. Further, findings support the importance of identifying late-talking children at an early age so that remedial help may be considered.
Multiple Selves and Self-Monitoring
Authors: Lester David
Published: August 2011

Students who declined to list the number of ‘selves’ they experienced had lower self-monitoring scores than those who did so.
Contributions to the History of Psychology: CVII. Carl R. Gustavson, Ecological Comparative Psychologist (1946–1996)
Authors: Garcia John
Published: August 2011

A tribute to Carl Gustavson's work as an ecological comparative psychologist is briefly presented in terms of his affection for animals, his ingenuity in research, and his persistence in adversity.
Prevalence of Parental Substance-Abuse among Child Psychiatric Inpatients
Authors: Pillay A. L. , van der Veen M. B. W.
Published: August 2011

Of 100 consecutive admissions to an acute child psychiatric facility in South Africa 43 bad at least one substance-abusing parent, while 10 children were from families in which both parents abused substances. 23 children received a diagnosis of depression, but no significant association was found between their diagnoses and parental substance-abuse status.
Attitudes toward Gun Control
Authors: Meyler Erin , Lester David
Published: August 2011

A factor analysis of intercorrelations based on 85 students' responses to a scale measuring attitudes toward gun control yielded three factors of restrictions on purchasing/owning, sales, and carrying firearms.
Effects of Nondirective Suggestions on Pain Tolerance, Pain Threshold and Pain Intensity Perception
Authors: Neumann W. , Seelbach H. , Kugler J. , Krüskemper G. M.
Published: August 2011

In this experiment, we followed the issue whether nondirective suggestions have an effect on pain threshold, pain tolerance, and perception of pain intensity. 48 healthy subjects consented to take part. At intake into the study (t1), pain threshold and pain tolerance were assessed in all subjects using a pressure algometer. Perception of maximum pain intensity perception was rated on a scale of 0 to 25. Seven days later, the session was repeated (t2). Subjects were randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group received nondirective suggestions as pretreatment. Subjects listened to a tape of 20 min. which consisted of general information about pain theory. In this context, suggestions for coping with pain were placed. The other group served as a control and received no pretreatment. Analysis showed that pain tolerance was significantly prolonged in the group who received nondirective suggestions, while pain threshold and perception of maximum pain intensity did not differ across groups. This study demonstrates that nondirective suggestions are effective in prolonging pain tolerance. It can be stated that, beside information, cues on coping with pain may be helpful in clinical practice.
Baseline Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia and Heart-Rate Responses during Auditory Stimulation of Children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Authors: Shibagaki Masamitsu , Furuya Takeshi
Published: August 2011

During passive and active listening tasks baseline respiratory sinus arrhythmia and heart-rate responses were studied of 18 children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and 49 healthy school children. The experimental procedure included baseline recording (no task), a passive listening task, instructions, and both simple and discriminative active-listening tasks. ADHD subjects showed less respiratory sinus arrhythmia than normal children but were similarly responsive to tone stimuli.
Effect of Language Dominance on Cognitive Processes in a Stroop Task
Authors: Bahri Toufik , Bendania Ahmed
Published: August 2011

The present study investigated the effect of language dominance on 40 subjects' performance on a Stroop task. In the first group were 20 Education majors using mainly the Arabic language, while in the second group of 20 students were majors in English. Each group performed two different Stroop tasks. Analysis showed that language comprehension affected the way subjects processed the information. This difference was explained in terms of cognitive processes involved and by a late selective attention process.