A language aptitude test for blind students.

3 studies are reported which assess the validity of sub-tests of the Modern Language Aptitude Test (MLAT) modified for use with blind students of a foreign language. 2 studies involved blind students preselected with the test to study Russian at Georgetown University. Many of the validity coefficients were not significant, however, the distributions were so curtailed, that it is probable that the tests would be useful predictors in situations where students were not selected. Results of the other study, conducted with blind high school students, supported these results. 3 subtests, Words in Sentences, Number Learning, and Spelling Clues, were generally the best predictors of achievement. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Potential intelligence or intelligence test potential? A question of empirical validity.

Administered a written form of the WAIS Comprehension and Similarities subtests to 27 male and 23 female undergraduates. Ss wrote down all of the correct answers they knew for each. The total correct responses were summed to obtain experimental scores. Differences between the experimental and standard scores were significant (p     

按转子磁链定向矢量的智能控制

对按转子磁链定向的矢量控制系统进行了智能控制研究.根据矢量控制的特点,充分运用计算机丰富的逻辑判断和数值运算功能对控制系统进行设计,不仅可以实现模拟控制器的数字化,而且可以突破模拟控制器参数为定值的局限.重点介绍了根据系统的变量变化趋势来确定数字调节器参数的变化规则,同时对于各个不同的调节规律,采用不同的控制策略,使得系统具有更好的动、静态性能指标,更强的鲁棒性.最后通过仿真和实验证明了本文理论的正确性.     

A behavioral weight control program for residence hall students.

Compared a treatment specifically tailored to the needs of residence hall students with a standardized behavioral procedure. 41 18–24 yr old students underwent 9 weekly 1-hr group treatments. Although posttreatment results indicated a very slight and nonsignificant advantage of the residence hall condition, this was no longer true at follow-up. Discussion focuses on the possibility that the procedure was overly complex and incorporated too many specific components. (8 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On the question of professional standards for computer-based test interpretation.

Comments on J. D. Matarazzo's (see record 1986-19878-001) discussion of computer-based test interpretation (CBTI) and R. D. Fowler and J. N. Butcher's (see record 1986-20446-001) response to Matarazzo. The call for the development of CBTI guidelines both by individuals with reservations about some CBTI programs (e.g., Matarazzo) and by those who are more positive about the present status of CBTI development (e.g., Fowler and Butcher) is emphasized. Matarazzo's reply to the author immediately follows this comment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Attitudes of health care providers and students towards tattooed people

Attitudes of health care providers and medical and nursing students (n = 513) towards tattooed adults and adolescents were examined. No respondent group had mean scores reflecting a positive attitude towards tattooed persons. Overall, physicians (MDs) and registered nurses (RNs) rated tattooed people less positively than did students. Womens' attitudes were consistently less favourable than those of men, especially towards tattooed professional women. Attitudes towards tattooed adolescents were generally less positive than attitudes towards the adult groups. Research has found that negative attitudes impact patient care. This study suggests that tattooed persons, especially adolescents, may be at risk of being negatively perceived when they seek health care. Increased efforts are needed to assure that those with tattoos receive non-judgemental and sensitive care.     

Cognitive modification of test anxious college students.

Assigned 15 male and 6 female test anxious 17-25 yr. olds (1 high school student and 20 undergraduates) to a group cognitive modification treatment, group desensitization, or a waiting list control group. The cognitive modification group combined an insight-oriented therapy which was designed to make test anxious Ss aware of their anxiety-engendering thoughts with a modified desensitization procedure which employed (a) coping imagery on how to handle anxiety and (b) self-instructional training to attend to the task and not ruminate about oneself. Results indicate that the cognitive modification group was most effective in significantly reducing test anxiety as assessed by (a) test performance obtained in an analog test situation, (b) self-reports given immediately after posttreatment and later at a 1-mo follow-up, and (c) GPA. Following treatment, the test anxious Ss in the cognitive modification group did not differ from a group of 10 low test anxious Ss, and in fact the cognitive modification Ss reported a significant increase in facilitative anxiety. (63 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Internalization of biopsychosocial values by medical students: A test of self-determination theory.

Two studies tested self-determination theory with 2nd-year medical students in an interviewing course. Study 1 revealed that (a) individuals with a more autonomous orientation on the General Causality Orientations Scale had higher psychosocial beliefs at the beginning of the course and reported more autonomous reasons for participating in the course, and (b) students who perceived their instructors as more autonomy-supportive became more autonomous in their learning during the 6-month course. Study 2, a 30-month longitudinal study, revealed that students who perceived their instructors as more autonomy-supportive became more autonomous in their learning, which in turn accounted for a significant increase in both perceived competence and psychosocial beliefs over the 20-week period of the course, more autonomy support when interviewing a simulated patient 6 months later, and stronger psychosocial beliefs 2 years later. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social class differences in verbal communicative accuracy: A question of which question?

Reviews the literature to determine which communication task and social class sample variables increase the likelihood of finding social class differences in communicative accuracy. The most critical factors appear to be (a) a communication task sensitive to possible social class differences in vocabulary or perceptual skill, (b) a communication situation that does not reflect normal conversation, (c) differences between the social class samples in IQ or formal education, and (d) a lower-lower-class sample. The drawbacks of focusing only on social class, rather than on possible mediating social processes, are discussed. Social class differences in communicative accuracy were found to be greater than race or sex differences and comparable to small age differences. No clear conclusions could be drawn about how social class differences in communication skills vary as a function of age or about whether within-class communication is more effective than between-class communication. Little support was found for hypothesized social class differences in verbal communicative style. The issue of the representativeness of past studies is discussed. (3 p ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Academic control and action control in the achievement of college students: A longitudinal field study.

A contradiction to the typical pattern of academic success occurs when bright, enthusiastic high school students fail after entering university. Two measures, perceived academic control and action control (i.e., preoccupation with failure) were administered to 524 college students at the beginning of a 2-semester course. Achievement-related cognitions, emotions, motivation, and final grades were measured at the end of the course. High-academic-control students exerted more effort, reported less boredom and anxiety, were more motivated, used self-monitoring strategies more often, felt more in control of their course assignments and of life in general, believed they performed better, and obtained higher final grades. Failure-preoccupied students received higher final grades, which corroborated their self-reported performance. Of note, high-control, high-failure-preoccupied students outperformed the other 3 groups by 1 to 2 letter grades. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Control performance monitoring and advanced control towards energy conservation

High performance control of an interactive process such as iron and steel plant relies on ability to honor safety and operational constraints;reduce the standard deviations of variables that need to be controlled(e.g.product quantity,quality );de-bottlenecking the process;and,maximize profitability or lower cost(e.g.energy savings, improve hot metal content).These objectives may be prioritized in this order,but can vary and are very difficult to achieve optimally through conventional control.A multivariable predictive controller solution,along with its extensive inferential sensor and built-in optimizer,provides online closed loop control and optimization for many interactive metal and mining processes to lower the energy cost,increase throughput,and optimize product quality and yield. Control loop performance is also a key factor to improve iron and steel plant automation and operation result; Honeywell CPM offers vender-independent product which provides monitoring,tuning,modeling of control loop and sustainable loop performance analysis and maintenance solution towards operation stability and energy saving.     

A comparison of Anglo- and Mexican-American college students on locus of control.

Data from 47 Anglo and 47 Mexican-American college students matched for sex and socioeconomic background show that Mexican-American Ss scored significantly less external on the full Rotter Internal-External Control Scale and on 2 of the 5 dimensional categories (respect and luck and fate). Findings not only contradict the stereotype that Mexican-Americans are fatalistic but also suggest that their culture contributes to a greater perception of internal control. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)