On starting points and priorities: A rejoinder.

Responds to the reply by L. T. Hoshmand and J. Martin (see record 1997-02285-002) to S. C. Yanchar and K. B. Kristensen's comments (see record 1997-02285-001) on Hoshmand and Martin's (see record 1995-28533-001) proposal for a naturalistic epistemological approach to psychological science. Hoshmand and Martin argue that in Yanchar and Kristensen's stance toward some aspects of their proposal, they have attributed to Hoshmand and Martin a relationship between theory, method, and data that they do not hold. According to Hoshmand and Martin, in making their case Yanchar and Kristensen have objected to empirical means of evaluation, and essentially undermined their own argument. The authors clarify their position by responding to these claims. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Optimum service delivery to the Black client.

Replies to the comments of H. U. Ashby (see record 1986-17759-001) and P. Bronstein (see record 1986-17774-001) on the author's (see record 1985-26063-001) work on the nondisclosing Black client. Ashby's and Bronstein's objections to the term healthy cultural paranoia are addressed with assertions that the author is not the originator of the term and that the impact of the proposal on the quality of care services to Black clients was not considered by either Ashby or Bronstein. (4 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The PsyD to distinguish practitioners in psychology.

Commends A. E. Shapiro and J. G. Wiggins (see record 1994-31325-001) for their proposal that a Doctor of Psychology degree be used to distinctively identify health care psychologists to the public. Bost supports this proposal as an alternative to Oklahoma's legislative provisions for certification as a health service psychologist. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Zoos as settings for psychological research: A preliminary survey.

Presents survey results that support D. B. Miller's (see record 1977-28610-001) proposal that US zoological parks are appropriate environments for naturalistic comparative psychological research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On the multivariate analysis of clinical group profiles: Comments on Coolidge.

F. L. Coolidge (see record 1983-20096-001) examined the present author's (see record 1979-05122-001) study of the relationship between subtest means of the WISC—R for learning-disabled and emotionally disturbed children. This was an attempt to investigate the validity of the present author's proposal that groups could be distinguished using a subset of perceptually oriented subtests. However, the present author contends that Coolidge's summary measures of profile similarity ignored level and dispersion of subtests and belied the original multivariate logic of groups discrimination. The robustness of the finding of a comparative deficit in perceptual organization for learning-disabled children is discussed. (2 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On technology.

Concurs with P. London's (see record 1973-07544-001) proposal that behavior modifiers abandon their efforts to develop new theoretical principles to account for functional facts and turn their attention to technologizing their operations instead. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Correlation between genetically matched groups versus reliability theory: A reply to Jensen.

Argues that A. Jensen's (see record 1971-09170-001) proposal for interpreting phenotypes as direct proportional measures of phenotype variance attributable to trait heritability would lead to an overestimation of variance attributable to genetic factors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Nihm's polynomial law of sensation.

Claims that S. D. Nihm's (see record 1977-28640-001) spoofy proposal that sensation could be considered a polynomial function of stimulus intensity is both true and irrelevant to the validity of the power law. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Got a minute? Attentional limits revisited.

Responds to comments by R. C. Tees (see record 1991-03035-001), J. G. Adair (see record 1991-03013-001), J. E. Grusec (see record 1991-03021-001), K. Danziger (see record 1991-03016-001), L. P. Mos (see record 1991-03027-001), H. J. Stam (see record 1991-03033-001), and V. Vikis-Freilbergs (see record 1991-03039-001) on W. Thorngate's (see record 1991-03036-001) contention that the overproduction of psychological literature will lead to fragmentation of the discipline. As the works of psychologists proliterate, their scientific truth may capture less attention than their practical importance or personal interest. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The evils of researchers.

Comments on I. D. Steiner's (see record 1973-01491-001) proposal that potential researchers should be allotted a quota of studies in order to demonstrate their ability to make meaningful use of their own and their Ss' time. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The logical consequences of the common-factor definition of the term placebo..

Responds to J. W. Critelli and K. F. Neumann's (see record 1984-26517-001) criticism of the present author's (see record 1980-32909-001) conclusion that "existing definitions [of the term placebo] either lead to the inclusion of procedures that are not generally regarded as placebos… or result in an empty set." Two problems with Critelli and Neumann's proposal that placebo factors be defined as factors that are common to most types of therapy are identified. The present author proposes a restrictive definition of placebos as substances given in the guise of active medication that have no pharmacological effect on the condition being treated. (4 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Group membership as a predictor variable: A comment on McNemar.

Argues that Q. McNemar's (see record 1975-30837-001) proposal to eliminate unfairness in predictions yielded by regression equations would exacerbate the unfairness of rejecting applicants on the basis of their minority status. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Determining neuropsychological "strengths" and "weaknesses" on the Luria-Nebraska: Good practice or wishful thinking?

Comments on the proposal by C. R. Reynolds (see record 1982-27041-001) that strengths and weaknesses can be determined statistically from patient profiles on the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery. The present authors contend that this proposal is inappropriate because it assumes that construct validity exists for each scale. It is suggested that inappropriate methods of test interpretation should be avoided. (11 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mental representation of social relationships: Dimensions, laws, or categories?

The study of social relationships lies at the heart of the social sciences, but psychologists' understanding of the cognitive structures that support them remains in the hinterlands. Two studies supported the proposal that social relationships are represented by a small number of implicit categorical forms in contrast with accounts proposing dimensional representations or formally specifiable laws. Discrete forms based on 2 of A. P. Fiske's (1991; see also PA, Vol 80:5502) relational models predicted prototypicality ratings defined over a comprehensive field of hypothetical relationships better than corresponding dimensions of communality and authority and 3 laws of complementarity and symmetry propounded by D. J. Kiesler (see record 1983-30243-001), J. S. Wiggins (see record 1980-23392-001), and G. Bateson (1979). In addition, "competition" between the orthogonal dimensions was observed, strengthening the argument for categoriality. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The psychiatric will: Is the cure worse than the illness?

Points out legal difficulties concerning T. S. Szasz's (see record 1983-05532-001) proposal of a "psychiatric will," similar to a "living will," to resolve the conflict between involuntary hospitalization vs the right to treatment of individuals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Postmodern psychology: Resonance and reflection.

K. J. Gergen comments on the reactions to his exchange (see record 1994-37275-001) with M. B. Smith (see record 1994-37277-001) from R. L. Russell and M. D. Gaubatz (see record 1995-36714-001); B. Denner (see record 1995-36711-001); D. Mente (see record 1995-36713-001); and D. White and A. Wang (see record 1995-36716-001). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

About postmodernism: Reply to Gergen and others.

In his reply, M. B. Smith comments on the issues between K. J. Gergen (see record 1994-37275-001) and himself (see record 1994-37277-001) and replies to comments by R. L. Russell and M. D. Gaubatz (see record 1995-36714-001); B. Denner (see record 1995-36711-001); D. Mente (see record 1995-36713-001); and D. White and A. Wang (see record 1995-36716-001). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reconstructing fathers.

Comments on the L. B. Silverstein and C. F. Auerbach (see record 1999-05337-001) examination of the essentialist perspective on fathering, family structure, and child development. The author advocates J. Westman's (1994) proposal for parental licensure. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

'The structure of phenotypic personality traits": Author's reactions to the six comments.

L. R. Goldberg replies to the comments by R. O. Kroger and L. A. Wood (see record 1994-17497-001), S. Guastello (see record 1994-17488-001), D. R. Comer (see record 1994-17481-001), H. J. Eysenck (see record 1994-17486-001), W. D. Shadel and D. Cervone (see record 1994-17520-001), and H. E. Cattell (see record 1994-17479-001) on Goldberg's (PA, Vol 80:17546) article on the Big Five personality traits. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Encounter research.

Refers readers interested in the article by D. Hartley et al (see record 1977-01609-001) to 4 articles on encounter research by M. J. Diamond and J. L. Shapiro (see record 1976-05062-001), J. Rowan (see record 1976-02670-001), W. Schutz (see record 1976-02672-001), and P. B. Smith (see record 1976-02673-001). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)