Functional asymmetries in the stepping reflex of human neonates.

Determined the leading leg in the stepping reflex of 24 infants at average ages of 17, 51, 82, and 105 days. Ss, offspring of right-handed parents, showed a clear tendency to lead with the right leg on all 4 test sessions. It is concluded that the functional asymmetry between the "support leg" and the "leading leg" in adults may have its roots very early in development. (French summary) (10 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Statistical Significance or Statistical Stability--An Improved Terminology.

In this comment the author explains that it is very hard for teachers of psychology to convey the distinction between statistical and concrete significance. He makes the claim that "statistical stability" may be a more suitable term for "statistical significance" because suitability points to the essential idea that the value in question will not change randomly. It thus has a more specific connotation than "significance". (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Anxiety and semantic differential responses.

50 words were rated on a 9-scale form of the semantic differential by 50 Ss. For each S the following scores were obtained: (a) response bias on the differential defined as the use of "very" and "neutral" categories, (b) discrimination on the differential defined as the tendency to use all categories equally often, (c) Scholastic Aptitude Test scores, and (d) Manifest Anxiety and Lie scores. It was hypothesized that there would be a positive correlation between anxiety and discrimination and 0 correlation between aptitude and discrimination. The results supported these hypotheses. In addition, a positive correlation between Lie score and response bias was found. It was argued that the nature of a high Lie score would tend to produce this type of correlation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interest among gay/bisexual men in greater Boston in participating in clinical trials of preventive HIV vaccines

To estimate interest in HIV preventive vaccine trials, we administered questionnaires to two otherwise demographically similar cohorts of older (mean 40 years) and younger (mean 23 years) gay men in Boston. Questionnaire responses were linked to concurrent behavioral and demographic data. Univariate analyses, performed separately for older and younger cohorts, identified factors that distinguished participants who were "very interested" from those who were "not at all interested". Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to adjust for confounding. Among all 630 participants, 215 (34%) were "not at all" interested in participating, 306 (49%) were "somewhat" interested, and 102 (16%) were "very" interested. Older men were significantly more likely than younger men to be "very" interested and less likely to be "not at all interested." Among both older and younger men, perceived peer willingness to enroll in vaccine trials predicted interest after adjusting for confounding. Among older men, optimism about success in vaccine development also predicted interest. In the younger cohort, men recruited in community settings (e.g., bars, nightclubs) were more interested in vaccine trial participation than were those recruited by outreach workers and word of mouth on college campuses. Vaccine-induced seroconversion evoked significant concern.     

Faking on the Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration Study.

The Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration Study was administered to 42 Ss under standard instructions under instructions to "make the very best impression," and under instructions to "make the very worst impression." It was found that the scores are susceptible to considerable faking in both directions, with greater changes in the "worst" direction than in the "best" direction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychology in space: A metaphor.

The planet Psychology has 4 major continents: Sigma, Lab, Klinikos, and Socio. The 3 major nations on Sigma are Statistics, Personnel, and Measurement. Lab "is a very intriguing continent, made up loosely of a large number of countries or baronial states of Experimental and Theoretical Psychology. This is the oldest inhabited continent on the planet, and it takes its seniority very seriously." Klinikos is made up of Clinical, Counseling, Child, Developmental, and School Psychology. This continent "developed very rapidly and its rate of population has been amazing compared to the other continents on the planet." It has engaged in interplanetary skirmishes with the continent Psyche on the neighboring planet Medic." On Socio "we are met by natives in groups." The oceans between continents are far too big and the underdeveloped parts on all continents "stretch out in tremendous size, beckoning for explorers." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Debriefing after psychological experiments: II. Effectiveness of postexperimental desensitizing.

After reviewing the distinction between the "dehoaxing" and "desensitizing" aspects of debriefing as proposed in a previous paper (see record 1977-28592-001), the problem and the process of postexperiment desensitizing are discussed. The research on the effectiveness of desensitizing is then reviewed. The limited but very consistent results indicate that desensitization is an effective means of eliminating the arousal and concerns that Ss develop as a consequence of their behavior in experiments and the personal insights that behavior might generate. Qualifications and warnings concerning the use of deceptions and stress are discussed. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The long-term effectiveness and clinical significance of three cost-effective training programs for families with conduct-problem children.

We evaluated the long-term effectiveness of three cost-effective parent training programs for conduct-problem children. One year posttreatment, 93.1% of families (94 mothers and 60 fathers) were assessed on the basis of teacher and parent reports and home observations. Results indicated that all the significant improvements reported immediately posttreatment were maintained one year later. Moreover, approximately two thirds of the entire sample showed ""clinically significant" improvements. There were very few differences between the three treatment conditions except for the ""consumer satisfaction" measure indicating that the treatment combining group discussion and videotape modeling was superior to treatments without both components. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Two views on dues.

Comments on the comment by Lawrence Lipsett in the August issue of the American Psychologist (1963, 18, 535) regarding annual dues and publications of the American Psychological Association (APA). In this comment, Lipsett addresses himself completely to the relationship between what he calls "the excessive amount" of dues and the way the money is used insofar as journals are concerned. The present author comments that those who complained about about "excessive dues" do not wish to let themselves become aware of the activities of APA through the Board of Professional Affairs, the Board of Scientific Affairs, and the many committees operating on very intensive levels, and that all too many of our colleagues want service from their local, state, and national associations without being willing to pay for it. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Genealogy in psychoanalytic education: Reinforced adherence or useful aids toward individuation?

It is very likely that disagreements leading to opposing factions and conflict are universal, and part of the very nature of academic (intellectually and behaviorally expressive) institutions. Analytic "education" shares in this tradition. Internal conflict and splits within and between psychoanalytic training centers have continued to reappear throughout the history of the psychoanalytic movement. They were greatly magnified with the formation of "official, formal training." The authors propose highlighting the composite of personal and professional genealogies within the training analysis couple as opportunities to provide experiential, graphic consideration of the affiliative, disaffiliative, and identification processes, greatly enhanced when analysands, training analysts, and the Institute regard this as a valuable method to study the parallel phenomena evoked, experienced, and shared communally. These personal and group considerations are part of the shared genealogy and history of psychoanalytic Institute and Society life, their "parent" organizations, and "relatives" nationally and internationally. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Public release of cardiac surgery outcomes data in New York: what do New York state cardiologists think of it?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Since 1990, risk-adjusted outcomes for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery in New York state have been released to the public. The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which referring cardiologists share these data with patients and use these data to make referrals. METHODS: A survey questionnaire was sent to all cardiologists in New York in the New York State Chapter of the American College of Cardiology. RESULTS: Four hundred fifty cardiologists responded to the survey. Most (94%) found the report "easy to read." A majority (67%) found the report to be "very accurate" or "somewhat accurate" in capturing differences in the performance of cardiac surgeons, whereas 33% found it to be "not at all accurate." Twenty-two percent reported that they "routinely discuss the reports with their patients," and 38% responded that the information has affected their referrals to surgeons "very much" or "somewhat." CONCLUSIONS: A majority of cardiologists has not generally changed their well-established referral patterns as a result of the New York coronary artery bypass graft surgery reports. However, there has been a modest impact on referrals resulting from the distribution of these reports. The findings also suggest that increased dialogue between clinicians and policy makers regarding the format and structure of public releases would be a valuable undertaking.     

Graduate women: Career aspirations and desired family size.

Reports results of a questionnaire answered by 263 female graduate students at a large university. The majority were single and in their 1st or 2nd yr. Respondents indicated the relative importance of having a career. Those who checked "very important" were classified as "career women" (approximately 50%). It was hypothesized that career women would more likely anticipate conflict between the career goal and marriage and would differ from noncareer women in terms of various expectations. Results indicate that a higher percentage of career than noncareer women expected (a) to have 2 or less children, (b) that the husband would have equal responsibility for housework and child care when she was working, (c) not to give priority automatically to husband's career, and (d) to work full-time even with preschool children. Neither group, however, anticipated much conflict between career and marriage. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The relationship between smoking and body weight in a population of young military personnel.

Evidence indicates that middle-aged smokers weigh less than nonsmokers and that smoking cessation reliably produces weight gain, but recent studies have questioned the weight control "benefits" of smoking in younger populations (the time that people typically initiate smoking). The relationship between smoking and body weight was evaluated in all U.S. Air Force Basic Military Training recruits during a 1-year period (n?=?32,144). Those who smoked prior to Basic Military Training (n?=?10,440) were compared to never smokers or experimental smokers. Results indicated that regular-current smoking had no relationship to body weight in women (p? >?.05) and a very small effect in men (p?     

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)     

Research Program for Peace.

Comments on an article by E. J. McGuigan (see record 1959-08088-001). According to the commentator, this article carries a number of confusing assumptions which make it very difficult for the respondents to talk to the question. The article is essentially a letter raising questions and requesting information about encouraging nonphysical sciences (social and biological) to solve problems of "our very survival." To the commentator, the author's logic seems to be than an organism's "aggressive tendencies" are at the root of fighting among individuals; that fighting among nations-the phenomena of war-is another example or extension of fighting among individuals; therefore, to learn how to stop wars among nations, we need a research program to study the individual's aggressive tendencies and ways of controlling them. The commentator states that the assumption of an equation between fighting among persons and international warfare seems to ignore the extensive transformations of individual drives and instincts in the socialization of the individual, and the fabric of society. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Imprinting: Empirical basis and theoretical significance.

What are the effects of very early experience of the neonate animal? This is the problem called "imprinting." The present paper, after reviewing the literature, emphasizes the effect of "anxiety" upon imprinting. The author states that much of additional data is needed. (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)     

Undergraduate Psychology: An Extreme View.

The author opines that Buxton's "Issues in Undergraduate Education in Psychology" (American Psychologist, 1956, 11, 84-95; see record 1957-02112-001) has very properly raised a number of provocative questions that need careful and considered attention. He feels compelled to offer some clarification on whether psychological teaching should be directed at "the whole man" or primarily at intellectual aspects of the student's development. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Subjective measures of well-being.

Traditionally, the "happiness" of the American population has been measured in economic or objective terms. But research (A. Campbell et al, in press) indicates that between 1957 and 1972, while the economic and social indicators were rapidly moving upward, the proportion of the population who described themselves as "very happy" declined steadily, particularly among the most affluent portion of the population. It is argued that in order to describe the quality of the experience of the population, more subjective measures are needed to examine the experience itself. Three general measures of life experience (satisfaction with life, affective quality of life, and perceived stress) are discussed in terms of an earlier (1972) author-conducted study. Findings from that study indicate that while the 3 measures are moderately related to each, people living in different circumstances express different patterns of well-being and that these patterns reflect the peculiar quality of the situation in which they live. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)