Can we decide between logical positivism and social construction views of reality?

Comments on the article by R. Madigan et al (see record 1995-31466-001) detailing the sometimes subtle differences between APA style and other forms of advanced writing. The author states that Madigan et al's article gives a very accurate historical and contemporary portrait of the centrality of writing style to the development of psychology as a science and as a profession. However, some of the conclusions could have been strengthened considerably while still adhering to the "hedged conclusions" approach necessitated by APA style and described in their article. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

APA style: Quo Vadis?

Replies to the comments by R. Josselson and A. Lieblich, J. L. Brand, and D. Vipond (see records 29110; 29108; and 29118 respectively) on the R. Madigan et al (see record 1995-31466-001) article examining APA style. The authors state that the commentators did not question the analysis or conclusions but focused on the implications of the article. The criticism of each author is discussed and i t is noted that home psychologists have proposed alternati ve epistemologies which can be expected to compete with the traditional positivistic orientation of psychology wel into the future.Issues regarding what ought to be taught to students are discussed. Perhaps the only certainty is that APA style will evolve in ways that mirror and support the tacit epistemological consensus of the discipline. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Fettering the mind in the name of "science".

Comments on the article by R. Madigan et al (see record 1995-31466-001) regarding their analysis of the epistemological implications of APA style. The authors argue that as postmodern and feminist awareness seeps into psychology, the practice of disengaged prose, passive voice, attribution of agency to the inanimate, insistence on universal laws, ignorance of language as a product, and anonymity of the researcher begin to seem foolishly antiquated goods. The authors conclude by saying that using language as a straitjacket, the way APA style does, and forcing students into this style seems to be the intellectual equivalent of foot-binding. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The limitations of behavior-genetic analyses: Comment on McGue, Elkins, Walden, and Iacono (2005).

This article takes issue with the behavior-genetic analysis of parenting style presented by M. McGue, I. Elkins, B. Walden, and W. G. Iacono (see record 2005-14938-011). The author argues that the attribution of their findings to inherited genetic effects was without basis because McGue et al. never indicated how those genetic effects manifested themselves. Instead, McGue et al. neglected important, and inevitable, developmental effects that most developmental psychologists understand to influence parent and adolescent behavior. The author also suggests that there is great merit in adopting the approach of developmental systems theory in understanding McGue et al.'s findings in particular and all developmental phenomena in general. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comment on Putnam, Adams, and Schneider, 'One day test-retest reliability of neuropsychological tests in a personal injury case."

In an article in Psychological Assessment, S. H. Putnam et al (see record 1993-04124-001) presented a case study in which retesting by separate examiners over a brief time period yielded consistent results. Although Putnam et al raised a number of points that deserve attention, some of their suggestions about the relevance of their case to legal assessments seem to extend well beyond what their data and methodology justify, and they misrepresented D. Faust and J. Ziskin's (see record 1989-11643-001) views on psychology and law. The author discusses limits of the case study method and clarifies his views on the use of psychological evidence in the courtroom. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Definitions and levels of analysis.

Presents concerns with the article by D. M. Buss et al (see record 1998-01669-001). The present author states his main concern as being the suggestion by Buss et al that S. J. Gould (see record 1992-11754-001) was inconsistent in his usage of the term "exaptation," and that his stated definitions seem to require these effects to be biological. Additionally, the author takes issue with the suggestion by Buss et al that Gould used the term to "cover novel but functionless uses or consequences of existing characteristics," and offers his own interpretation of Gould's research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On biobehavioral models of cancer stress and disease course.

Comments on the article by B. L. Andersen et al (see record 1994-38031-001) which offered a biobehavioral model of cancer, stress, and disease course. The author suggests that Andersen et al made several errors of both commission and omission while attempting to cite data relevant to their model. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Insufficient evidence.

Comments on the article by F. Rothbaum et al (see record 2000-02781-001), which highlighted evidence of cultural variations in, and noted ways in which attachment theory is laden with Western values and meaning in comparisons of the US and Japan. According to the present author, the Rothbaum et al study is particularly important to Japanese investigators, as the validity of attachment theory has sometimes been taken for granted too easily in Japan. Unfortunately, however, Rothbaum et al overlooked important empirical results that clarify the validity of attachment theory in Japanese samples. The present author contends that Rothbaum et al misunderstood or distorted the meanings of measures that are usually applied in attachment studies, and thus the arguments offered by Rothbaum et al resulted in a superficial critique of the cross-cultural validity of attachment theory. As a result of their failure to present empirical evidence to refute cross-cultural validity in attachment theory, Rothbaum et al did not provide any important challenge to researchers in Japan. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Illusion" of mental health does not explain positive illusions.

Comments on the argument by J. Schedler et al (see record 1994-09623-001) that standard mental health scales appear unable to distinguish between genuine mental health and the illusion of mental health created by psychological defenses. It is asserted that Schedler et al go beyond appropriate empirical and conceptual boundaries by extending their analysis to the body of research known as "positive illusions." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

High stakes are an opportunity.

Comments on the article by P. R. Sackett et al (see record 2001-00625-002) which examines the use of cognitive testing in employment, credentialing, and higher education post-affirmative action. The current author states that Sackett et al made 2 badly flawed assumptions in their discussion. These assumptions are addressed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On worthwhile icons: Reply to Di Lollo and Haber.

Responds to R. N. Haber's (see record 1986-11000-001) and V. Di Lollo's (see record 1986-10993-001) comments on the study of a procedure to estimate the worth of an icon conducted by the present author et al (see record 1986-00309-001). In response to Haber, the author maintains that icons can be spatiotopic as well as retinotopic, knowledge of icons is necessary for designing video-display systems, and ecological validity should not be a criterion for the scientific investigation of some topics. Responding to Di Lollo, the author argues that this general model does not account for several salient aspects of data by the present author et al. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Integrating culture and attachment.

Comments on the article by F. Rothbaum et al (see record 2000-02781-001), which highlighted evidence of cultural variations in, and noted ways in which attachment theory is laden with Western values and meaning in comparisons of the US and Japan. According to the present author, culture must be defined before considering attachment in cultural contexts, and the Rothbaum et al article compared the Western middle class with the whole Japanese population, with all of its various social groups. Such a cavalier attitude on the part of Rothbaum et al shows a naive enthusiasm for cultural varieties and specifics that, without being balanced with generality, kills theorization. Lack of a proper definition in context combined with naive enthusiasm is reason, according to the present author, for theoretical disaster. Following discussion of the particular disasters of the Rothbaum et al article, the present author proposes a more proper direction for intercultural psychology to take. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Frequency effects in lexical tasks: Reply to Balota and Chumbley.

In replying to D. A. Balota and J. I. Chumbley's (see record 1990-24407-001) commentary on the article by S. Monsell et al (see record 1989-24836-001), the author addresses four issues. New data show that the effect of frequency on semantic categorization time reported by Monsell et al. was not a disguised typicality effect. An account of the small size of the effect of stress pattern on immediate naming latency observed by Monsell et al. is supplied. Inferences that may and may not be drawn from effects of frequency on delayed naming latency are discussed. The main conclusions and methodological recommendations of Monsell et al. are clarified. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Spandrels in the consulting room.

The author states that D. M. Buss et al (see record 1998-01669-001) instead of embracing the complexity of evolutionary theory, coopted S. J. Gould's (see S. J. Gould and E. S. Vrba, 1982) notion of exaptation for their own purposes. The author takes issue with criticism by Buss et al that Gould did not reduce language, religion, and so on to clear adaptive stories, while revealing their own reductionist agenda regarding their explanation for parental care. He also discusses the mention by Buss et al of constraints on design, but asserts that discussion of this concept, as applied to the evolution of human behavior, did not take into account intervening human neurophysiology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Cognitive-behavioral therapy in geriatric depression": Reply to Riskind, Beck, and Steer.

Responds to the challenge by J. H. Riskind et al (see record 1986-12531-001) to the interpretation by J. L. Steuer et al (see record 1984-21146-001) that changes observed on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) in depressed geriatric patients treated with cognitive-behavioral (CB) group psychotherapy did not demonstrate superiority for CB therapy over a psychodynamic approach. Riskind et al proposed that somatic items on the other rating instruments used might not be valid in geriatric patients and thus might render those scales less sensitive. Reanalyses of the psychotherapy data and data from a placebo-controlled study of tricyclic antidepressants by the present 3rd author et al (see record 1983-21474-001) did not support this assertion. Somatic items proved to be sensitive to change in both studies. (8 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Attachment, culture, and amae.

Comments on the article by F. Rothbaum et al (see record 2000-02781-001), which highlighted evidence of cultural variations in, and noted ways in which attachment theory is laden with Western values and meaning in comparisons of the US and Japan. According to the present author, the evidence and conclusions of Rothbaum et al are flawed. The main critique of the universality of attachment theory offered by Rothbaum et al pertained to cultural differences in how Western and Japanese children use the secure base. In the West, secure attachment is commonly believed to promote exploration. However, the present author points out that Rothbaum et al argued that for Japanese children "the major link is with dependence, and adaptation primarily refers to accommodation, avoidance of loss, fitting in with others, and ultimately loyalty and interdependence". According to the present author, this argument is unsupported by empirical studies, and while being advanced as a challenge to the universalistic core of attachment theory, Rothbaum et al subsequently argued that in Japan, secure attachment leads not to exploration but to amae (dependence). Much empirical work needs to be conducted before Rothbaum et al's proposed link between secure attachment and dependency can be evaluated. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Behavior genetics and parenting theory.

Comments on the A. W. Collins et al article (see record 2000-13816-002) which discusses behavioral genetics and the parenting theory. While the current author agrees with many of the theories put forth by Collins et al, he also points out some errors in their attribution of certain behaviors to parent–child relations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Internet–depression link?

Comments on the article by R. Kraut et al (see record 1998-10886-001) regarding links between Internet use and depression. Rierdan expresses conceptual and analytic concerns about whether Kraut et al actually assessed depression in their study or whether they found a relationship between Internet use and "depression" as they assessed it. The author expresses concern regarding the range of scores for Kraut et al study participants on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale and argues that the most valid interpretation of the scores is that the Ss in this study had low levels of distress. As a group, they were not depressed before or after the study. The author raises a second analytic issue regarding analytic techniques, arguing that effect sizes for the group were actually very small. The author suggests that the finding of an association between Internet use and distress has few implications for public policy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Models of parenting and adolescent drinking.

Comments on the A. W. Collins et al article (see record 2000-13816-002) which discusses behavioral genetics and the parenting theory. The current author points out that Collins et al made little mention of the influence of parenting on adolescent drinking behavior. Selected studies on this topic are reviewed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)