"Nudging aside Meehl's paradox": Erratum.

Reports a typesetting error in the original article by L. Leventhal (Canadian Psychology, 1994[Jul], Vol 35[3], 283–298). On page 295, the sentence should read "Compared to the old views, the new views might give less weight to the confidence interval and more weight to the probability value of .007 which indicates that the theory performed far better than chance." (The following abstract of this article originally appeared in PA, Vol 82:8115.) P. E. Meehl (1967) attacked significance tests used to appraise directional theoretical predictions. With perfect statistical power, the probability approaches .5 of significance in the predicted direction, even for meritless theories. Feeble theory corroboration results. This article argues that directional predictions, not significance tests, produce the feeble corroboration. The author reviews previous solutions to Meehl, rejecting all except the multiple corroboration solution by D. T. Lykken (1968) and A. Kukla (see record 1991-31958-001). This solution is defended against Meehl's (see record 1991-31961-001) criticisms and extended.… (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

MAXCOV pseudotaxonicity.

Responds to M. B. Miller's (see record 83-32894) comments on P. E. Meehl's (see record 1995-29291-001) discussion of the use of taxometric procedures for classification in psychopathology. Meehl defends the MAXCOV-HITMAX procedure, stating that, mathematically, deviations from the classical psychometric model can produce a single pseudotaxonic MAXCOV graph but not panels of several clearly taxonic graphs that also satisfy multiple consistency tests. Meehl agrees with Miller that the dichotomous indicator variant of MAXCOV needs further study. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Toward an emancipatory psychology.

Responds to comments by W. Mieder (see record 1991-03996-001), K. L. Dion (see record 1991-03991-001), and K. J. Gergen (see record 1991-03993-001) on T. B. Rogers's (see record 1991-03999-001) examination of the role of proverbs in psychology. It is argued that theory is important for the critical social functions it serves, rather than just for the quest for truth. Also, consideration of an emancipatory psychology is recommended, in which psychology is viewed as a socially embedded discipline. (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)     

Diatribe is not dialogue: On selected attempts to attack and defend behaviorism.

Describes the emotional nature of responses to M. J. Mahoney's (see record 1990-03226-001) discussion of the differences between scientific psychology and radical behaviorism. Responses are offered to comments from R. W. Proctor and D. J. Weeks (see record 1991-06227-001), E. K. Morris (see record 1991-06224-001), C. J. Lonigan (see record 1991-06220-001), and W. J. Wyatt (see record 1991-06231-001). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Validity of phallometric measures with sex offenders: Comments on the Quinsey, Laws, and Hall debate.

In a recent debate, V. L. Quinsey and D. R. Laws (see record 1991-10127-001) and G. C. Hall (see record 1991-10106-001) discussed several major methodological issues in research on the validity of phallometric tests. This article examines specific points of the debate more closely and uncovers questionnable assumptions underlying some of the Quinsey and Laws criticisms. The implications of unresolved problems for the clinical use of phallometric measures are stressed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comments on the Meehl-Waller (2002) procedure for appraisal of path analysis models.

P. E. Meehl and N. G. Waller (see record 2002-18342-001) proposed an innovative method for assessing path analysis models wherein they subjected a given model, along with a set of alternatives, to risky tests using selected elements of a sample correlation matrix. Although the authors find much common ground with the perspective underlying the Meehl-Waller approach, they suggest that there are aspects of the proposed procedure that require close examination and further development. These include the selection of only one subset of correlations to estimate parameters when multiple solutions are generally available, the fact that the risky tests may test only a subset of parameters rather than the full model of interest, and the potential for different results to be obtained from analysis of equivalent models. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Meehl revisited: A look at paradigms in psychology.

Comments on Meehl's (see record 1979-25042-001) article on the nature of psychological debates. The author is in agreement with Meehl that there is a need to reconsider how research is designed and carried out within psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

More theoretical risks.

Responds to the comments by F. Paniagua ("Kuhn's paradigmatic view of psychology and Skinner's theory of behavior." Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology, 11, 1991, 122-125) on the current author's original article, "Meehl revisited: A look at paradigms in psychology" (Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology 9, 1989, 30-36), in which the current author reviewed Paul Meehl's (see record 1979-25042-001) famous article "Theroetical risks and tabular asterisks: Sir Karl; Sir Ronald, and the slow progress of soft psychology." According to the current author, Paniagua takes exception to two casual remarks made in the current author's paper, one about Kuhn and the other about Skinner, but neither remark is related to the actual thesis. Paniagua's comments do not carry the substantive aspects of the article forward, which is unfortunate asserts the current author, because the theory discussed therein may prove useful in understanding the nature and evolution of psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On Linz and Donnerstein's view of pornography research.

Responds to D. Linz and E. Donnerstein's (see record 1991-12837-001) commentary on S. Page's view (see record 1991-12849-001) of pornography research. Page considers whether evidence from pornography research, in view of the Meese commission report, should be portrayed as it was by D. Linz et al (see record 1988-04285-001). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A Note on Mixed Group Validation.

Comments on the original article by R. M. Dawes and P. E. Meehl (see record 1966-11283-001) which considered mixed group validation. In the current article, a basic assumption of mixed group validation is questioned and a means of checking the validity of the assumption is suggested. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Clinical Versus Statistical Prediction.

Reviews the book "Clinical versus statistical prediction," by Paul Everett Meehl (see record 1996-97896-000). Meehl attempts to plot a course to the port of valid prediction through the "rigorous" channels of statistical methods and the "sophisticated" undercurrents of clinical dynamics. Most of the book is devoted to a thoughtful but discursive analysis of the alternative strategies for prediction of statistical or actuarial methods as compared with clinical or casestudy methods. Meehl believes that much confusion could be avoided if careful distinction were made between two different uses of statistics, the types of data involved in prediction, and the methods of combining data in making predictions. Meehl does an excellent job of raising some of the basic problems and issues which have to be considered in carrying out research in this area. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Revealed, concealed, congealed, curdled: A reply to Pomichalek, Lamb, and Denner.

Replies to M. Pomichalek's (see record 1992-19269-001), S. Lamb's (see record 1992-19263-001), and B. Denner's (see record 1992-19257-001) remarks on P. Cushman's comments (see record 1991-17982-001) on D. Stern's (1985) study. Cushman defends constructionist research by maintaining that it can acknowledge and interpret ideology and thereby the moral framework in which the study is embedded. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Neural nets for generalization and classification: Comment on Staddon and Reid (1990).

The neural net model of J. E. R. Staddon and A. K. Reid (see record 1991-03032-001) explains exponential and Gaussian generalization gradients in the same way as the diffusion model of R. N. Shepard (1958). The "cognitive" generalization theory of Shepard (see record 1988-28272-001), which also has been implemented as a connectionist network, goes beyond both of these models in accounting for classification learning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Child effects—still unwelcome? Response to Dodge and Wahler.

Commentaries by K. A. Dodge (see record 1991-04756-001) and R. G. Wahler (see record 1991-04823-001) agree with Lytton (see record 1991-04795-001) on the importance of drawing attention to the joint action of biological and environmental factors in conduct disorder (CD). This article is a response restating why it is useful to try to disentangle "child effects" from "parental effects." Although each construct is an amalgam of genetic/biological and environmental factors, child effects will be nearer the biological end, and parental treatment effects nearer the environmental end, of a spectrum of influences. Ten convergent lines of research, taken together, provide evidence that has persuaded me that the child's own tendencies are stronger contributions to CD than are parental influences. Others should at least consider the evidence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Microgenetic methods revisited.

Responds to the comments of R. C. Fowler (see record 1993-05092-001) and M. Pressley (see record 1993-05123-001) to the authors' article (see record 1991-27066-001) regarding the microgenetic method (MM) of studying cognitive development. The authors discuss views of development and methodological issues to assert that the MM produces more useful data than available alternatives. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Effects of age and gender on perceived facial attractiveness": Reply.

Responds to comments by R. H. Bradshaw et al (see record 1995-01642-001) on B. McLellan and S. J. McKelvie's study (see record 1993-45212-001) investigating the effects of age and gender on attractiveness of photographs of faces. Although the major result of this study was a negative relationship between age and perceived attractiveness, the authors conclude that sociobiological theory received qualified support, with 4 out of 6 revised predictions confirmed. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Formulations théoriques contemporaines en motivation intrinsèque: Revue et critique.

Reviews recent theoretical formulations on explaining and predicting the effects of reinforcement on intrinsic motivation. Included are the overjustification hypothesis of M. R. Lepper et al (see record 1974-10498-001), cognitive evaluation theory of E. L. Deci and R. M. Ryan (1975, 1980), the competing response hypothesis of S. Reiss and L. W. Sushinsky (see record 1975-28914-001), and the delay of gratification hypothesis of W. Mischel et al (see record 1972-20631-001). Cognitive evaluation theory was found to provide the most complete theory in that it generates predictions of both decreases and increases in intrinsic motivation. Little conceptual evidence was found for the major theoretical formulations, and the use of an interactional paradigm in future research is stressed. (73 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Clinical versus statistical prediction: A theoretical analysis and review of the evidence.

Reviews the book "Clinical versus statistical prediction: A theoretical analysis and review of the evidence" by Paul E. Meehl (see record 1996-97896-000). This book talks about a continuing debate among psychologists regarding the relative accuracy and efficiency of statistical (actuarial) predictions and those made by clinicians on the basis of subjective "understanding" of individual cases. This book represents the author's first published statement of his position. In the reviewers opinion, the author has succeeded admirably. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Purging concepts from the study of marriage and marital therapy.

Responds to J. C. Coyne's (see record 1991-13300-001) comments on the F. D. Fincham et al (see record 1991-13304-001) appraisal of cognition in marriage and marital therapy (MMT). Commonalities and differences are highlighted between the opposing positions concerning the utility of concepts from the cognitive domain for MMT. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)