Contemporary militant extremism: A linguistic approach to scale development.

In this article, the authors describe procedures used in the development of a new scale of militant extremist mindset. A 2-step approach consisted of (a) linguistic analysis of the texts produced by known terrorist organizations and selection of statements from these texts that reflect the mindset of those belonging to these organizations and (b) analyses of the structural properties of the scales based on 132 selected statements. Factor analysis of militant extremist statements with participants (N = 452) from Australia, Serbia, and the United States produced 3 dimensions: (a) justification and advocacy of violence (War factor), (b) violence in the name of God (God factor), and (c) blaming Western nations for the problems in the world today (West factor). We also report the distributions of scores for the 3 subscales, mean differences among the 3 national samples, and correlations with a measure of dogmatism (M. Rokeach, 1956). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Accentuation theory and the judgment of attitudes: Exploring possible limiting conditions.

To investigate the effects of Ss' attitudes and of response language on judgments of attitude statements, 62 university students rated 20 statements on the issue of the use of hallucinogenic drugs in terms of personal acceptability, and on 4 other rating scales. Two types of scales were used: A+ scales, where the antidrug end was marked by an evaluatively positive label and the prodrug end by an evaluatively negative label; and P+ scales, where the antidrug end was negatively labeled and the prodrug end positively labeled. In Condition 1, Ss were given only A+ scales; in Condition 2, only P+ scales; and in Conditions 3 and 4, 2 A+ and 2 P+ scales. Results confirm the accentuation theory prediction that "anti"-Ss should give more polarized ratings than "pro" Ss on A+ scales and less polarized ratings than "pro" Ss on P+ scales. This was so regardless of whether scale type was a between-Ss factor (comparison of Conditions 1 and 2) or, as in previous studies, a within-Ss factor (Conditions 3 and 4). Previous findings of a tendency for more anti ratings overall on A+ scales, and more pro ratings on P+ scales, were contradicted but it is argued that this may be due to Ss finding the statements mainly unacceptable. Other findings concern choice of adjectives to describe similar and dissimilar others. (French abstract) (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Six-year experience with Swan neck presternal peritoneal dialysis catheter

Airway control is the initial priority in the management of the injured patient. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the experience of an aeromedical transport team in the utilization of rapid sequence induction (RSI) for endotracheal intubation in the prehospital setting. Records of a consecutive series of injured patients undergoing RSI between June 1988 and July 1992 by a university-based aeromedical transport team were reviewed for demographics, intubation mishaps, and pulmonary complications. The relationship between intubation mishaps and pulmonary complications was analyzed. Eighty-four patients were studied with a mean age of 30.8 +/- 15.3 years. The mean Revised Trauma Score was 11.3 +/- 2.4, and the mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 19.6 +/- 11.5. Intubation mishaps occurred in 15 patients (18%), and pulmonary complications developed in 22 (29%) of the 75 patients surviving longer than 24 hours. There was no relationship between intubation mishaps and pulmonary complications. Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) face score was significantly higher in patients with intubation mishaps, compared with patients without mishaps (1.1 +/- 1.2 and 0.5 +/- 0.9, respectively, P < .05, Wilcoxon rank-sum). ISS and AIS chest were higher in patients with pulmonary complications, compared with those without (25.7 +/- 12.6 and 17.4 +/- 10.3 and 2.2 +/- 1.8 and 1.0 +/- 1.5, ISS and AIS respectively; P < .05, Wilcoxon rank-sum). Eighty-one patients (96%) underwent successful RSI, 73 (87%) on the first attempt. Failure to intubate occurred in three patients (4%). Performed under strict protocol by appropriately trained aeromedical transport personnel, RSI is an effective means to facilitate endotracheal intubation in the injured patient requiring definitive airway control. Pulmonary complications were related to injury severity and not to intubation mishaps.     

Militant extremist mind-set: Proviolence, Vile World, and Divine Power.

In the present article, the authors report on the development of a scale for the measurement of the militant extremist mind-set. A previous pilot study identified 56 statements selected from writings of various terrorist groups as well as from psychological, historical, and political texts on terrorism. These statements, together with measures of personality, social attitudes, values, and social cynicism, were administered to participants from 9 countries (N = 2,424). A series of exploratory factor analyses of 56 statements produced 3 factors: Proviolence, Vile World, and Divine Power. Correlations of these factors with external variables indicate that Divine Power is a traditional religiosity scale, whereas Proviolence and Vile World scales cannot be accounted for by the existing psychological constructs. The distribution of scores on the Proviolence scale is skewed, indicating that the majority of participants disapprove of this attitude. The authors also present means for the countries included in the analysis. Participants from Malaysia endorse Vile World and Divine Power statements stronger than participants from other countries. The 3 Asian countries (China, Korea, and Malaysia) endorse Proviolence more strongly than countries from other parts of the world. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A comprehensive set of counselor competencies.

75 experienced counselors or therapists from a variety of work settings contributed statements of those competencies they believed necessary for effective face-to-face counseling. The contributed competency statements were edited and compiled into a set of 132 competencies. Each of the 132 competencies was rated for importance by 376 experienced counselors and therapists. 12 dimensions of counselor competency were defined by factor analysis of the ratings. A number of significant differences in importance were found between the ratings of 9 of the 12 dimensions by raters of different work settings, theoretical orientations, majors or degrees, years of experience, and other background categories. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Neuroradiological studies in diving accidents

In case of a type II decompression sickness (with cerebrospinal injury), the decision on how to structure a prompt hyperbaric treatment rests on an anamnesis and the clinical investigation. In looking for an associated contingent barotrauma, one has to be satisfied with an X-ray of thorax and abdomen. The myelopathy which results from a decompression mishap with medullary involvement forms a very peculiar clinical entity defined by a fascicular injury at several levels. For several years now, clinical radiologists resort to a new medical imaging technique: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR-)Imaging. For the first time, this technique allows the imaging of intramedullary lesions due to a decompression accident. Other neuroradiological investigations (such as myelography, spinal tomodensitometry, medullary angiography, isotopic tests) are without merit for evaluating decompression accidents with medullary involvement. NMR-Imaging has the potential too, of revealing ischemic cerebral injuries, even if the clinical brain impairment is often silent and therefore overlooked. The role of NMR-Imaging for evaluating cerebrospinal aspect of decompression accidents is not yet finalized. However, NMR-Imaging will give without any doubt a boost to the pathophysiological knowledge of decompression mishaps.     

Client perceptions of therapists: A study of the therapeutic relation.

A study was designed to identify the main ways that clients perceive their psychotherapists. An inventory of 65 statements was constructed to measure 8 postulated interpersonal behavior patterns. The inventory was administered to 523 patients in treatment for at least 3 mo. A factor analysis disclosed 5 dimensions of perceived therapist behaviors. The dimensions were labeled Accepting, Understanding, Authoritarian, Independence-Encouraging, and Critical-Hostile. The findings were shown to be consistent with constructs proposed by Fiedler, Apfelbaum, and Rausch and Bordin. Patient and therapist ratings of improvement were found to relate significantly to therapist Acceptance and Understanding. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Self-Presentation Processes in Job Analysis: A Field Experiment Investigating Inflation in Abilities, Tasks, and Competencies.

Although job analysis is a widely used organizational data collection technique, little research has investigated the extent to which job analysis information is affected by self-presentation processes. This study represents the first direct test of the propositions offered by F. P. Morgeson and M. A. Campion (1997) concerning self-presentation in job analysis measurement. Using an experimental design, the authors examined job incumbent response differences across ability, task, and competency statements. Results indicated that ability statements were more subject to inflation than were task statements across all rating scales. Greater endorsement of nonessential ability statements was responsible for the differences. This produced higher endorsement of ability items but lower mean ratings. Finally, frequency and importance ratings of global competency statements were generally higher than decomposed ability and task scales, but required-at-entry judgments demonstrated the opposite relationship. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Further data concerning the dimensionality of ratings of the therapist's verbal exploratory behavior.

An earlier experiment using repeated measures on the same Ss applied a semantic differential (SD) to 10 therapists' exploratory statements. It was shown that: (a) 3 orthogonal dimensions (Precision/Potency, Professional Evaluation, and Subjectivity-Objectivity) account for the ratings; (b) anxiety-Arousal is correlated only with the 1st factor. This study evaluates those findings by using 4 independent groups of Ss rating therapist's statements in 2 interviews along only 1 of the dimensions. Independence of the 3 dimensions is confirmed for 1 interview, but not quite so for the other. Anxiety-Arousal is under present conditions correlated with all 3 dimensions. Results derived from the SD model must therefore be treated with caution. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Roles of human factors and ergonomics in meeting the challenge of terrorism.

Human factors and ergonomics research focuses on questions pertaining to the design of devices, systems, and procedures with the goal of making sure that they are well suited to human use and focuses on studies of the interaction of people with simple and complex systems and machines. Problem areas studied include the allocation of function to people and machines, person–system interface design, accident prevention, risk assessment, human performance under various types of stress, crisis management, search and rescue operations, decision aiding, the training and coordination of teams, and negotiation and conflict resolution, among many others. Much human factors and ergonomics work has been directed at responding to accidents (train wrecks, airplane crashes, nuclear plant mishaps) and natural disasters (hurricanes, earthquakes, floods). Although most of this work has not been motivated by the reality of terrorism or, in particular, by the attacks of 9/11, much of it is relevant to one or another aspect of terrorism in its various manifestations, and human factors and ergonomics researchers are increasingly making the connection. The purpose of this article is to illustrate this relevance by noting a few studies, from among the many that could be cited, that have implications for helping to prevent terrorism or for dealing with the effects of terrorist incidents when they occur. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relationship between probability of endorsement and social desirability scale value for a set of 2,824 personality statements.

A group of 47 male and 48 female judges rated 2824 personality statements for social desirability using a 9-point rating scale. Another group of 110 male and 111 female Ss described themselves in terms of the same set of 2824 statements by answering each "true" or "false." The correlation between probability of a "true" response and social desirability scale value for the combined sex groups was .892. The distribution of the social desirability scale values of the 2824 statements was distinctly bimodal. These results are in accord with another large-scale study in which 1647 personality statements were investigated. In view of the large number of personality statements involved in these 2 studies, it is suggested that a correlation of .90 between probability of endorsement and social desirability scale value and a bimodal distribution of the scale values of personality statements may be characteristic of the population. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of the use of introductory rhetorical questions versus statements on information processing.

A strong or weak message was introduced to 160 undergraduates with either rhetorical questions or statements under high or low issue involvement. Introductions with rhetorical questions were found to produce more favorable thoughts and a more positive attitude than statements when strong arguments were employed, and more unfavorable thoughts and less positive attitude when weak arguments were employed. Introductions with rhetorical questions led to more favorable thoughts than statements when involvement was low and to more unfavorable thoughts and a less positive attitude when involvement was high. It is argued that introductions with questions arouse the reader's uncertainty and motivate more intensive processing of message content than statements. The possibility of a nonmonotonic relation between issue involvement and persuasion given a strong counter-attitudinal message is suggested. (31 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Poles apart? The views of general practitioners and family health services authority advisers on prescribing cost issues

BACKGROUND: In 1994, an Audit Commission report estimated that Pounds 425 million could be saved from the national drug budget if general practitioners (GPs) altered their prescribing in various ways. AIM: To assess the views of GPs and family health services authority (FHSA) advisers on issues similar to those raised in the Audit Commission report. METHOD: A questionnaire was sent to a 1 in 20 sample of GPs from 33 randomly selected FHSA areas (n = 576) and all FHSA advisers (n = 285). RESULTS: A total of 419 (72.7%) GPs and 234 (82.1%) advisers replied. There were statistically significant differences (P < 0.01) between GPs and advisers on all but one of the statements. In particular, there were marked differences on some of the statements relating to substitution with cheaper similar drugs. Differences were smaller for statements on the use of drugs of limited therapeutic value, the range of drugs prescribed, and practice prescribing policies. Differences were noted between subgroups of GPs in response to some of the statements. CONCLUSION: The majority of GPs in this survey gave responses that were supportive of many of the types of suggestion made by the Audit Commission. However, it is suggested that differences of opinion between GPs and FHSA advisers may have implications for the development of strategies to control prescribing costs.     

Comments on "Intraclass Correlation vs. Factor Analytic Techniques for Determining Groups of Profiles."

"A few of the more fundamental misconceptions or technically incorrect statements contained in the paper by Haggard et al. (see record 1960-00131-001)… have been noted. Other technically questionable discussions include the authors' presentation of the orthogonal centroid method… the possible assignment of cases to groups defined by factor analytic methods… and the testing of statistical hypotheses using sets of related observations.' (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Processing attitude statements from in-group and out-group members: Effects of within-group and within-person inconsistencies on reading times.

The authors examined reading times of attitude statements made by group members as a function of consistency of statements with stereotypic expectancies (between-member) and consistency of statements with other statements from the same member (within-member). Stereotype-inconsistent statements were studied longer than consistent statements only when the target group was an outgroup or when subjects were instructed to focus on the group as a whole. Results suggested that the out-group was perceived as a single homogeneous whole regardless of experimental instructions. Inconsistencies within individual group members instigated the longest reading times. This effect was stronger for inconsistencies within out-group members than within in-group members, suggesting that subjects not only expected more within-group variability in in-groups than in out-groups, but they also expected more within-person variability. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A note on the independence of stereotype and attitude.

Presented 43 attitude statements and 14 evaluative and 10 stereotypic bipolar trait-adjectives concerning French-Canadians to 67 male and 94 female Manitoba undergraduates. The 1st-order factor analysis produced a separation of the 3 measures, resulting in 3 attitude factors, an evaluative trait-adjective factor, and a stereotype factor. A 2nd-order factor analysis of the relations among primary factors resulted in 2 factors: (a) a general evaluative factor comprising the evaluative trait-adjective dimension and the 3 attitude dimensions from the 1st-order analysis, and (b) a factor clearly defined by the stereotype dimension. Implications of the present findings of relative independence of stereotype and attitude are discussed in relation to traditional methods of defining and assessing stereotypes. (French summary) (15 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Gunshot wounds: 10-year experience of a rural, referral trauma center

The 10-year experience of a Level II trauma center with 122 gunshot wounds referred from a large rural area was analyzed to illustrate differences from the experience of urban centers. Most frequent causes of injury were attempted suicide in 38 (31%) patients, hunting mishaps in 32 (26%), unintentional accidents in 29 (24%), and intentional assault in 18 (15%). Of weapons specified, rifles were documented in 48 (39%) instances, shotguns in 25 (21%), and handguns in 24 (20%). Body regions injured were the trunk in 47 (39%) patients, head in 35 (29%), lower extremity in 31 (25%), and upper extremity in 29 (24%). Twenty-five patients (20%) died as a result of their injuries. The cause of death was brain injury in 18 (72%), exsanguination from truncal wounds in 5 (20%), myocardial infarction in 1 (4%), and multiple organ failure in 1 (4%). We conclude that the distributions of cause and type of gunshot wounds are unique in a rural setting. These differences have profound consequences in designing effective prevention programs for our area and support the design of more efficient trauma systems for rural North America.     

The interpretation of opinion statements as a function of message ambiguity and recipient attitude.

The purpose of this study was to replicate an earlier one by the author (Manis, 1960) to determine the validity that the interpretation of ambiguous statements permits of greater interpretation in the light of personal opinions than nonambiguous statements. College Ss having 3 opinions towards fraternity (positive, negative, neutral) were presented with statements regarding fraternities. Half the Ss were presented with nonambiguous statements, half with the same statements with every other word omitted (ambiguous). In general, the results supported the hypothesis. From Psyc Abstracts 36:04:4GD76M. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Children's ability to adjust their standards for evaluating comprehension.

144 children 8 and 10 yrs of age listened to essays that contained either false statements or inconsistencies. They were asked to indicate which essays had problems in them. The 1st group of Ss was simply informed that some of the essays contained problems. A 2nd group was additionally told that some of the statements would be false and was given examples of falsehoods. A 3rd group was told instead that some of the essays would be inconsistent and was given examples of inconsistencies. Under neutral instructions, the rate of problem detection was quite low for both age groups. Specific instructions helped Ss find problems. Moreover, the relative order of difficulty in finding falsehoods and inconsistencies shifted depending on the instructional set, suggesting that the instruction enabled Ss to adjust their standard of evaluation. (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of therapist exceptions questions on blaming and positive statements in families with adolescent behavior problems.

A multiple-baseline across families design examined the effects of therapist exceptions questions on rates of blaming and positive statements in 4 families that were referred to a crisis intervention unit. Following an initial baseline period of standard behavioral family therapy, the therapist began responding to families' blaming statements by inquiring about exceptions to the problems and attending only to reports of positive adolescent behavior. This exceptions questions condition continued into the 1st segment of the 2nd therapy session, after which time the therapist returned to baseline behavioral family therapy. Results revealed that blaming statements decreased and positive statements increased during the exceptions questions condition but returned to baseline levels when the therapist ceased asking for exceptions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)