"Drugs for treating behavior problems: How safe are they?": Comment.

Responds to J. Rubin's (see record 1990-31492-001) comments on discussions of treatments for behavior problems of children by J. M. Tuma (see record 1989-27149-001) and B. Henker and C. K. Whalen (see record 1989-26516-001). The articles were amiss in not emphasizing the potential side effects of pharmacotherapies for children, but Rubin overemphasized the dangers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

How much does guessing influence recall? Comment on Erdelyi, Finks, and Feigin-Pfau.

M. H. Erdelyi et al (see record 1989-38884-001) present evidence that variations in recall criteria can affect the number of items correctly recalled. In this comment, we (a) describe some procedural differences between their work and the earlier experiments of H. L. Roediger and D. G. Payne (see record 1986-13690-001), (b) note that their large manipulations of recall criteria produced only small effects on the amount recalled, and (c) describe recent research complementing that of Erdelyi et al. We observe that variations in recall criteria have larger effects after a 1-week delay than on an immediate test. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Meta-analysis of cognitive gender differences: A comment on an analysis by Rosenthal and Rubin.

Extends both the logic and the statistical procedures used in a recent analysis by R. Rosenthal and D. B. Rubin (see record 1983-02381-001) of data on gender differences in cognitive abilities reported in a meta-analysis by J. S. Hyde (see record 1982-07673-001). The logic of a "model fitting" approach to meta-analysis is described. Relevant statistical procedures and goodness-of-fit tests are illustrated. It is concluded that sex differences are changing over time and that essentially all of the variability in the sex differences reported by different studies can be explained as a function of the publication date and the selectivity of the sampling plan used in the studies. (10 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

How are we doing in soft psychology?

Comments on research in "soft psychology" involving more ephemeral and unreplicable areas of study, focusing on the question of how large an effect must be to be considered important. The binomial effect size display (R. Rosenthal and D. B. Rubin; see record 1982-22591-001) is viewed as a useful way to display the practical magnitude of an effect size, regardless of whether the dependent variable is dichotomous or continuous. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Why psychologists should study race.

Notes useful and potentially harmful effects of the article by A. H. Yee et al (see record 1994-09250-001) addressing psychology's problems with race. Eisenman expresses the fear that the position taken by Yee et al will lead to ignorance, justifying those who say "ignore race" either because they consider it an unscientific concept or because they think it politically harmful to study race. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Bridging the research traditions of task/ego involvement and intrinsic/extrinsic motivation: Comment on Butler (1987).

In an experiment on the effects of different feedback conditions on motivationally relevant variables, R. Butler (see record 1988-21628-001) tested the hypothesis that the effects of feedback on intrinsic motivation would depend on whether that feedback promotes a task-involving or ego-involving orientation. She interpreted the findings as they relate to J. G. Nicholls's (see record 1984-28719-001) theory of task/ego involvement and our cognitive evaluation theory (E. L. Deci and R. M. Ryan, 1985). Although the data were very interesting, Butler failed to review a series of highly relevant studies, she misportrayed cognitive evaluation theory, and she drew conclusions that were not necessarily warranted given her experimental manipulations and data. This article provides a commentary on that research and presents a discussion of the relation between the two theories that Butler claimed to have tested. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Early childhood education for at-risk four-year-olds? Yes.

Extends E. F. Zigler's (see record 1987-23352-001) discussion of early childhood education, concluding, contrary to Zigler, that early childhood education for at-risk children is a positive step in helping them resist the harmful effects of poverty. (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)     

In defense of alternative advice and counsel and the ways in which it can be researched.

Argues that F. R. Wilson's (see record 1982-01645-001) comments on the present authors' (see record 1980-32896-001) study mistakenly define it as one that is concerned with the causal influence of the variable alternative counsel. Additional data on follow-up are presented that help to substantiate the claim that the effects of therapy in the authors' study were real and lasting. (6 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

More on nonmaternal child care.

Cautions that C. Etaugh's (see record 1980-11778-001) conclusion that high-quality nonmaternal care does not appear to have adverse effects on a child's development could be interpreted as meaning that nonmaternal care is never harmful to children. More consideration to the developmental status of each family member and to each member's feelings about the childcare arrangement is needed in further research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Unsuccessful redefinitions of the term placebo..

Argues that J. W. Critelli's (see record 1986-12543-001) modifications of his earlier definition of the term placebo in response to the present author's (see record 1986-01780-001) comment on Critelli and K. F. Neumann's (see record 1984-26517-001) article on placebo effects render it impossible to decide whether a given procedure should be assigned the placebo label. (7 ref) (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)     

Balancing Type I risk and loss of power in ordered Bonferroni procedures.

Comments on the use of Bonferroni procedures for avoiding increases in Type I errors as outlined by R. Rosenthal and D. B. Rubin (see record 1985-15969-001). It is contended that these procedures conserve power for more important tests while sacrificing power for less important tests. It is suggested that with judicious choices of parameters (assessing both costs and benefits when choosing weights for individual tests and overall level of protection against Type I errors) the insurance cost is not large. (4 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Comments on three recent subliminal psychodynamic activation investigations": Rejoinder to Oliver and Burkham and to Porterfield.

Considers the replies of A. L. Porterfield (see record 1986-11991-001) and J. M. Oliver and R. Burkham (see record 1986-11985-001) to the critique of the present author (see record 1986-12007-001). The original criticisms are seen as valid. A critical deficiency in the design of Porterfield and S. L. Golding's (see record 1986-11992-001) study is viewed as disqualifying it as a fair attempt at replication. It is suggested that although Oliver and Burkham's (see record 1983-01571-001) study was well-designed, statements made in their write-up are unwarranted. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Voice recognition and self-deception: A reply to Sackeim and Gur.

H. A. Sackeim and R. C. Gur (see record 1985-22770-001) rejected the present authors' (see record 1983-29703-001) claim that voice recognition is inadequate as a demonstration of self-deception and presented evidence to support their position, especially with reference to the motivational aspects of self-deception. It is argued that Sackeim and Gur's (see record 1979-26213-001) data do not necessarily require the operation of a self-deception process. Sackeim and Gur argue that Ss' reports and their GSRs are both measures of recognition. They claim that when people are faced with their own tape-recorded voices, the overt and covert measures of recognition often do not coincide, and this lack of agreement implies that self-deception is operating. It is asserted that the evidence cannot be regarded as watertight, because almost exactly the same results are obtained when the target is a voice that is not their own. It is also contended that motivational manipulations fail to provide firm evidence for the self-deception hypothesis. (10 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Concerns about misinterpretation and uncritical acceptance of exaggerated claims.

Responds to T. Smith's (1988) concern that the present author (see record 1987-32878-001) overemphasized placebo effects in discussing treatment effectiveness in programs for autistic children and criticizes Smith for comparing the present author's study with that of O. I. Lovaas (see record 1987-16420-001). (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)     

Misleading postevent information and the memory impairment hypothesis: Comment on Belli and reply to Tversky and Tuchin.

R. F. Belli (see record 1989-24859-001) and B. Tversky and M. Tuchin (see record 1989-24890-001) used a "Yes"/"No" recognition procedure to explore effects of misleading postevent information on memory for events. We examine the data and arguments presented in these studies, concluding that neither study demonstrates that misleading postevent information impairs memory for the original event. (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)