A factor analysis of fine manipulative tests.

12 apparatus and 9 printed fine manipulative tests were administered to 760 Air Force technical school trainees and the intercorrelations factor analyzed. The 5 factors identified were Manual Dexterity, Finger Dexterity, Speed of Arm Movement, Wrist-Finger Speed, and Aiming. The factorial invariance in this area is confirmed, and the usefulness of printed and apparatus measures of these factors is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Paediatric gynaecology: an overview of current practice

OBJECTIVE: To provide a comprehensive assessment of smoking prevalence and risks for smoking in an entire population of United States Air Force (USAF) military basic trainees (n = 32,144). DESIGN: Population-based survey with every individual entering the USAF enlisted force from August 1995 to August 1996. SETTING: USAF Basic Military Training (BMT) facility at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. All trainees were assessed during the first week of BMT. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A 53-item questionnaire was developed to assess four domains: demographics, smoking history, risk factors for smoking, and other health behaviours. RESULTS: Approximately 32% of the trainees smoked regularly before basic training and a small percentage of the trainees (7.6%) described themselves as ex-smokers. Men, Euro-Americans, and those from lower educational backgrounds were more likely to smoke than other trainees. On average, smokers had smoked for approximately four years and had low nicotine dependence scores. Individuals who had smoked before BMT were more likely to use other drugs (such as alcohol, binge drinking, smokeless tobacco), and were less physically active than never-smokers. These findings were particularly strong for those who smoked up to basic training but were also evident for ex-smokers. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking is a prevalent risk factor among individuals entering the USAF. Furthermore, smoking was related to other risk factors believed to lower military readiness, including alcohol use and decreased physical activity. Comprehensive tobacco control policies aimed at reducing smoking among military trainees are needed.     

Does ethnicity explain functioning in group counseling? The case of Arab and Jewish counseling trainees in Israel.

This study compared the functioning in group counseling of two ethnic groups--Arab and Jews in Israel. All participants were counseling trainees in a university program, led by one group leader. Variables included self-disclosure, goals for therapy, client behavior, and therapeutic factors, measured repeatedly (at least twice), either through questionnaires or through analyses of transcribed sessions. Statistical analyses were performed by means of a hierarchical model (mixed), with the individual nested within the small group and the ethnic cohort. In contrast to our expectations, results indicated more similarities than differences between the two cohorts. Moreover, Arab trainees intended to disclose more in group and actually did (based on a questionnaire) compared with their Jewish counterparts. On the Client Behavior Scale (C. E. Hill & K. O'Brien, 1999) there were a few differences revealed: Arab trainees displayed more simple responses, more cognitive exploration, and less resistance, insight, and therapeutic change. Two differences were revealed also on the therapeutic factors. The discussion cautions against unnecessary modifications made in interventions with different cultural groups in counseling. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Suicidal ideation and behavior in youthful nonpsychiatric populations.

Administered the Suicidal Incidence Survey developed by the authors to a total of 352 music, psychology, engineering, and medical college students, and 128 Air Force basic trainees. Median age was 21 for students and 19 for military trainees. 18% of the Ss reported suicidal gestures or attempts, or serious suicidal ideation at some time in their lives, while 59% reported experience with suicidal behavior in others. Ss reporting serious suicidal behavior in the self reported significantly more suicidal behavior in others, including relatives. Significant subgroup differences suggest the possibility of a repression-sensitization continuum. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychotherapy trainees' experience of counterproductive events in supervision.

The authors conducted interviews with 13 psychotherapy trainees about a counterproductive event that occurred in individual supervision, which was defined as any experience that was hindering, unhelpful, or harmful in relation to the trainee's growth as a therapist. A qualitative analysis revealed that trainees typically attributed their experiences of counterproductive events to their supervisors dismissing their thoughts and feelings. All trainees experienced a negative interaction with their supervisors following the counteractive event, yet most did not believe their supervisors were aware of the event's counterproductive nature. All trainees believed the counterproductive event weakened the supervisory relationship and led to a change in the way they approached their supervisors. Although trainees typically thought the counterproductive events negatively affected their work with clients, most did not disclose their counterproductive experience with their supervisors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Race/ethnicity, color-blind racial attitudes, and multicultural counseling competence: The moderating effects of multicultural counseling training.

Increasing trainees' multicultural counseling competence (MCC) has been a hot topic in counseling. Scholars have identified predictors (e.g., race/ethnicity, color-blindness) of MCC, and educators provide multicultural training for trainees. Using a sample of 370 psychology trainees, this study examined whether multicultural training (a) moderated racial/ethnic differences on MCC and (b) changed the relationship between color-blindness and MCC. Results indicated a significant interaction effect of race/ethnicity (i.e., White vs. ethnic minority) and multicultural training on multicultural awareness, but not on multicultural knowledge. Specifically, at lower levels of training, racial/ethnic minority trainees had significantly higher multicultural awareness than their White counterparts; at higher levels of training, no significant difference was found. Described differently, more training significantly enhanced Whites' multicultural awareness, but did not enhance racial/ethnic minority trainees' awareness. Additionally, there was a significant interaction effect of color-blindness and multicultural training on multicultural knowledge, but not on multicultural awareness. The association between color-blindness and multicultural knowledge was stronger at higher levels of multicultural training than at lower levels of training. Alternatively, the effect of training on enhancing knowledge was stronger for those with lower color-blindness than for those with higher color-blindness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Self ratings of fear in a fear-invoking situation.

"Airborne trainees were asked to mark on a self rating scale the amount of fear they felt during mock-tower jumping. One group of trainees rated fear in the mock tower just prior to jumping and the second group completed the rating after they had finished mock-tower training. For both groups, performance was related to the self rating of fear. Those who subsequently passed the Airborne course estimated that they were less afraid than those who failed it… . The study appeared to show the reliability and validity of a self rating on fear." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effectiveness of the K correction in the detection of psychopathology and its impact on profile height and configuration among young adult men.

Compared the standard MMPI with and without the K correction for hit rate across patient (referral) and nonpatient (control) groups. There were 400 males (mean age 19.8 yrs) in the referral group and 200 males (mean age 19.9 yrs) in the control group; all Ss were US Air Force trainees. The impact of the K correction on profile height and configuration among Ss in the referral group was also determined. Results show a total hit rate of 80.2% for the K correction and 78.3% for no K correction. Hit rate among the referral group only was 87.5% and 82.8% for K-corrected and non-K-corrected scales, respectively. The K-corrected Psychasthenia and Schizophrenia scales had higher means than did scales that were not K-corrected, but Psychopathic Deviate was higher without the K. There were no differences for Hysteria and Hypomania. Single-scale and 2-scale high points were frequently different under K and no K conditions. It is suggested that the interpretive hypotheses available in the literature may not be applicable when K is not used. Overall, the data favor the use of the K correction. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effect of defects on the fatigue crack initiation process in two p/m superalloys: part ii. surface-subsurface transition

The change in fatigue failure initiation sites from a surface to subsurface location for two P/M nickel-based superalloys is analyzed. In particular the influences of defect size, shape, and population on the elevated temperature fatigue processes are assessed. The analysis shows that at high strain ranges, crack initiation occurs rapidly, and crack propagation rates determine the fatigue life and failure site. As a result, defect location (related to population) and size are the more important parameters. At lower strain ranges, however, crack initiation is critical in determining the failure origin, and this is primarily controlled by defect shape. Formerly with Metals and Ceramics Division, Air Force Materials Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.     

Stress management training for military trainees returned to duty after a mental health evaluation: Effect on graduation rates.

A significant proportion of people entering the military are discharged within the first 6 months of enlistment. Mental health related problems are often cited as the cause of discharge. This study evaluated the utility of stress inoculation training in helping reduce the attrition of a sample of Air Force trainees at risk for discharge from basic military training. Participants were 178 trainees referred for a psychological evaluation from basic training. Participants were randomly assigned to a 2-session stress management group or a usual-care control condition. Compared with past studies that used less rigorous methodology, this study did not find that exposure to stress management information increased the probability of graduating basic military training. Results are discussed in terms of possible reasons for the lack of treatment effects and directions for future research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Motivation and cognitive abilities: An integrative/aptitude-treatment interaction approach to skill acquisition.

Two central constructs of applied psychology, motivation and cognitive ability, were integrated within an information-processing (IPR) framework. This framework simultaneously considers individual differences in cognitive abilities, self-regulatory processes of motivation, and IPR demands. Evidence for the framework is provided in the context of skill acquisition, in which IPR and ability demands change as a function of practice, training paradigm, and timing of goal setting (GS). Three field-based lab experiments were conducted with 1,010 US Air Force trainees. Exp 1 evaluated the basic ability–performance parameters of the air traffic controller task and GS effects early in practice. Exp 2 evaluated GS later in practice. Exp 3 investigated the simultaneous effects of training content, GS and ability–performance interactions. Results support the theoretical framework and have implications for notions of ability–motivation interactions and design of training and motivation programs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychotherapy in the Remediation of Psychology Trainees: Exploratory Interviews With Training Directors.

Practicing psychotherapists and trainers of psychology doctoral students are often concerned about the role of personal psychotherapy for trainees, particularly when intended for remediation. The training directors for 14 doctoral programs were interviewed regarding the use of personal psychotherapy for remediation. The major theme in a qualitative analysis of these exploratory interviews was the challenge of balancing confidentiality of the trainee's personal therapy with training program accountability and quality assurance to protect the public. Program practices ranged from hands-off to active program involvement in aspects of the trainee's personal therapy. Recommendations for program decision making about psychotherapy as remediation for trainees are suggested. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of a method of self-supervision for counselor trainees.

The authors tested the application of self-regulation and goal theory to self-supervision using a replicated, randomized multiple baseline (MBL) design. Specifically, 4 female novice counselor trainees were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 MBL conditions (self-supervision targeting the use of metaphor first and then empathy, self-supervision targeting empathy and then metaphor, or an attention placebo control) to test the effects of self-supervision on trainees' use of empathy and metaphor across counseling sessions. Although trainees significantly increased their use of metaphor after receiving self-supervision training, no significant effects were found for self-supervision targeting empathy. Tentative conclusions include that self-supervision appears viable with some limitations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Using client feedback in psychotherapy training: An analysis of its influence on supervision and counselor self-efficacy.

Tracking client outcome and the therapeutic relationship across treatment (i.e., client feedback) has become a recommended practice for clinicians. This study investigated whether the utility of this practice would extend to trainees if the data gained from clients was provided to their supervisor for use within supervision. Trainees (N = 28) were assigned to a continuous feedback condition or no-feedback condition for 1 academic year. Results indicated that trainees in both conditions demonstrated better client outcomes at the end of their practicum training than at the beginning, but those in the feedback condition improved more. However, those in the feedback condition did not rate the supervisory alliance or satisfaction with the supervision process differently. The relationship between counselor self-efficacy and outcome was stronger for trainees in the feedback condition than for those in the no-feedback condition, perhaps indicating that feedback may facilitate a more accurate assessment of one’s skills. Implications of how counseling self-efficacy, the supervisory alliance, and satisfaction with supervision are related to effective supervision are addressed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Validity of peer nominations in predicting a distant performance criterion.

This paper reports the follow-up phase of a study of peer nominations begun in 1955 at the Naval OCS in Newport, Rhode Island. Over 700 trainees completed several peer nomination forms at various stages of training, 1 in particular on "success as a future Naval Officer" (FO). Subsequently, 639 trainees were identified who had gone on to duty as officers for about 3 yr. The average grade they secured on a key portion of the fitness report ratings assigned by their direct superior officers was used as a performance criterion; it had a split-half reliability of .90 In the prediction of this criterion, the FO peer nomination score from the 3rd wk. of training gave a validity of .40 which was as high as that for later FO scores and which was only slightly diminished after academic grades and popularity were partialed. The findings support the use of early peer nominations as a valid supplemental measure in predicting performance after training. (17 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Union and management trainees: A comparative study of personality and occupational choice.

How is personality related to occupational entry? 40 management and 40 union trainees were compared. "The Sims SCI Occupational Rating Scale, the Allport-Vernon-Lindzey Study of Values, the California Psychological Inventory, and a custom-built, trait-centered Biographical Inventory were employed and 15 hypotheses were formulated." Differences between and within groups were found. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Improved fatigue resistance of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu (7075) alloys through thermomechanical processing

To decrease the accumulation of damage during long-life low-stress cyclic loading, microstructures must accommodate inelastic deformation by homogeneous or “dispersed” slip rather than by localized slip concentrations. In age-hardening aluminum alloys this requirement can be met by introducing a dense and uniform dislocation forest through suitable thermo-mechanical treatments. Such a treatment was developed for Al-Zn-Mg-Cu (7075) alloys, involving a process cycle of solution annealing, partial aging, mechanical working and final aging. The fatigue properties (S-N curves) of commercial and high-purity 7075TMT are compared with conventional 7075-T651 properties; with zero mean stress the alternating stress to cause failure in 10⁷ cycles is more than 25 pct higher for commercial-purity 7075TMT and almost 50 pct higher for high-purity 7075TMT. The results emphasize the importance of microstructural control when high fatigue resistance is required. F. OSTERMANN, formerly with Air Force Materials Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.     

Ethical dilemmas and U.S. Air Force clinical psychologists: A survey.

Although psychologists work in widely varying settings, all encounter ethical dilemmas. Those who are also officers in the U.S. Air Force have the double burden of upholding the ethics code of psychologists while also supporting the mission of the Air Force. Does this create unique ethical dilemmas? To address this issue, the authors sent active-duty Air Force psychologists a questionnaire asking them to describe recent ethical conflicts. These conflicts are discussed as they relate to the "Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct" (American Psychological Association, 1992) and in comparison with civilian practice. Results suggest a broad range of concerns but center on those related to perceived conflicts between the Air Force mission and the ethical demands of psychologists. Recommendations for dealing with ethical conflicts at the organizational level are offered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Analysis of a job evaluation system.

When supervisors or craftsmen attempt to rate specialists, should they combine their judgments? What is the interrelationship between the parts and what is the reliability of the Air Force's job evaluation system? The latter was tried out on a sample of jobs with 50 Air Force Specialists as Ss. Consensus ratings did not seem necessary. Using too few factors seemed undesirable. A descrepancy was found between the results of 2 measures of reliability, although one, at least, provided fairly high values. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)