Reengineering: deja vu all over again

There is growing interest among hospitals in reengineering. It promises dramatic improvements in performance: Costs will be reduced while work processes, productivity, and patient care will all improve. A review of the health care literature on reengineering shows that little evidence exists to support its claims. This article critiques the existing literature on reengineering and addresses the conundrum hospital executives encounter when faced with the decision to adopt a new management technique--such as reengineering--in the absence of proof of its efficacy.     

Déjà vu all over again: the re-analysis of epidemiologic data

BACKGROUND: An extraocular muscle palsy is conventionally characterized by a deviation of the visual axes, this being greater when measured with the affected eye fixing. By definition and illustrating Hering's law, this secondary angle of deviation is greater than the primary one, measured with the sound eye fixing. We present here a comparative study of the amount of subjective excyclodeviation measured in patients suffering from IVth nerve palsy, with the sound or affected eye fixing. METHODS: Two groups of patients were entered into the study: Group 1 (N = 54) for superior oblique palsies studied retrospectively and Group 2 (N = 14), for a prospective study of those recently acquired (post-traumatic) and followed over 6 months. In both groups, measurements were made at two stages, early (1 to 7 weeks after onset) and late (4 to 6 months later). RESULTS: In both groups, the majority of cases showed a greater secondary torsional deviation, the difference between this and the primary deviation lessening on late stage measurements. CONCLUSION: In both groups, the difference between primary and secondary torsional deviation was not statistically significant.     

Déjà vu all over again: Re-revisiting the conceptual status of early word learning: Comment on Smith and Samuelson (2006).

The authors assert that L. B. Smith and L. Samuelson's (2006; see record 2006-20488-029) most recent critique of A. E. Booth, S. R. Waxman, and Y. T. Huang's (2005; see record 2005-05098-004) work missed its mark, deflecting attention from the important theoretical difference between the two sets of authors' positions and focusing instead on imagined differences and minor expositional complaints. The authors' goal in this response is twofold. First, they aim to redirect attention to the 1 clear difference between the 2 theoretical positions regarding word learning, a difference that is focused on the role of conceptual (in conjunction with perceptual) information in word learning. Second, they place L. B. Smith and L. Samuelson's (2006) current critique in the context of previous exchanges. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Replicate, again and again.

In their recent analysis of the Wisconsin early intervention study, R. Sommer and B. A. Sommer (see record 1984-10654-001) deplored the absence of a replication requirement for publication in American Psychological Association journals. The present author discusses the absence of a replication requirement for publication in many psychological journals and its effects on the usefulness and quality of reported findings. The debate on this issue is traced since the 1950's, with emphasis on the 1-paragraph publication suggestion offered by H. Schlosberg (1951). It is recommended that the American Psychological Association Publication Committee or a similar ad hoc body examine the publication policy pertaining to replications. (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Blink...and it all will be over.

The editor of School Psychology Quarterly recaps seven accomplishments during his tenure, including: (1) increased teamwork; (2) utilization of practitioners to review articles; (3) utilization of a student editorial board; (4) collaboration with other journal editors; and (5) the transfer of ownership of the journal to APA. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Outcome and process evaluation of a day care centre.

Used pre-and posttest scores on the Assessment of Children's Language Comprehension Test, the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Test, the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, and the Behavioral Maturity Scale to study outcome differences in 25 children who attended a preschool day care center full-time, 25 children who attended part-time, and 25 children who did not attend at all. Ss were matched on age, sex, language ability, IQ, behavioral maturity, and socioeconomic status. Data reveal only one significant difference between groups; part-time Ss scored higher than full-time Ss on posttests of academic and emotional maturity. The Observation Schedule and Record was used to observe the behavior of the 7 teachers, and the teachers also completed a questionnaire on their goals. Results show general inconsistency between an individual teacher's goals and between observational and questionnaire findings. It is concluded that until teacher behavior and goals become more consistent, and thereby more effective, outcome evaluation is meaningless. Emphasis is placed on further teacher education and evaluation of teacher behavior. (French summary) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A review of the déjà vu experience.

For more than a century, the déjà vu experience has been examined through retrospective surveys, prospective surveys, and case studies. About 60% of the population has experienced déjà vu, and its frequency decreases with age. Déjà vu appears to be associated with stress and fatigue, and it shows a positive relationship with socioeconomic level and education. Scientific explanations of déjà vu fall into 4 categories: dual processing (2 cognitive processes momentarily out of synchrony), neurological (seizure, disruption in neuronal transmission), memory (implicit familiarity of unrecognized stimuli), and attentional (unattended perception followed by attended perception). Systematic research is needed on the prevalence and etiology of this culturally familiar cognitive experience, and several laboratory models may help clarify this illusion of recognition. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The WISC-III: Everything old is new again.

Studied the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-3rd Edition (WISC-III), the most recent of the tests in the Wechsler series. Like its predecessor, the WISC—Revised (WISC—R), the WISC-III is structured into verbal and performance sections, but unlike other Wechsler tests, a procedure is provided for calculating factor scores. The materials are an improvement over the WISC—R. They are colorful, contemporary, easy to administer, and appear enjoyable to children. The standardization is excellent, as is reliability. However, weaknesses exist in the factor structure, especially the inclusion of a freedom from distractibility factor, and calls for caution in interpretation. Treatment validity remains a problem. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The scientist-practitioner model: Gandhi was right again.

Examines the adoption of and the ideas behind the scientist-practitioner model from the Boulder Conference. The author discusses the implementation of scientist-practitioner training programs and graduate student reaction to it. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Try again, Dr. Albee.

Comments on G. W. Albee's (1980) article on the value of the IQ concept and notes that the sentence attributed to H. H. Goddard (1913) on excessive retardation in the IQs of immigrants was actually L. Kamin's (1974) sentence. The statement was probably based not on IQ scores but on a test known to overestimate adult retardation even in native English-speaking populations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On computer program packages: Not all things to all people.

Comments on L. Cronin's (see record 1982-00190-001) warning to users of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences because it does not indicate, in its Crosstabs routine, when the cell sizes are too few in number. Other packages also do not include warnings of statistical assumption violations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Outcome of transurethral prostatectomy in men over 80 years

Two-hundred-and-twenty-nine men aged between 80 and 97 years (mean 83 years) underwent transurethral prostatectomy (TUR-P) for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). All case records were reviewed. The follow-up period was 6-16 years. One-hundred-and-seven patients underwent operation because of acute urinary retention, and 122 because of chronic retention. The mean weight of tissue removed was 20 g (1-200 g). The perioperative mortality (< 1 month) was 2% (5 patients). Postoperative complications occurred in 21% (49 patients). Reoperation was performed in 11% (26 cases). The result was considered satisfactory in 196 patients (86%). The present data demonstrate that transurethral resection of the prostate in men over 80 years has a good outcome with an acceptable urological complication rate and mortality, and we therefore advocate surgery instead of watchful waiting in the fit patient.     

Outcome evaluation findings of a Hawaiian culture-based adolescent substance abuse treatment program.

As part of efforts to identify effective culturally appropriate treatment for Hawaiian and Asian and Pacific Islander adolescents with substance abuse and co-occurring disorders, this evaluation research sought to assess the efficacy of the I Mua Mau Ohana program. This long-term residential program combined culturally based experiential learning/therapy, education, spirituality, counseling, and family involvement. Participants were interviewed at intake and followed up at 3, 6, and 12 months using the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) Tool and the Global Appraisal of Individual Needs (GAIN) instruments. Results showed long-term improvement in substance use and related problems, decreased criminal justice involvement, and improved mental health and social functioning, while showing positive trends in education and employment. However, unexpected findings were revealed in family functioning. Although promising, further research is needed to substantiate the program's effectiveness and possibility of being considered an "evidence-based program." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Beyond déjà vu in the search for cross-situational consistency.

Recent efforts to resolve the debate regarding the consistency of social behavior are critically analyzed and reviewed in the light of new data from 63 college students. Even with reliable measures, based on multiple behavior observations aggregated over occasions, mean cross-situational consistency coefficients were of modest magnitude; in contrast, impressive temporal stability was found. Although aggregation of measures over occasions is a useful step in establishing reliability, aggregation of measures over situations bypasses rather than resolves the problem of cross-situational consistency. Congruent with a cognitive prototype approach, it is proposed and demonstrated that the judgment of trait consistency is strongly related to the temporal stability of highly prototypic behaviors. In contrast, the global impression of consistency may not be strongly related to highly generalized cross-situational consistency, even in prototypic behaviors. Thus, the perception and organization of personality consistencies seem to depend more on the temporal stability of key features than on the observation of cross-situational behavioral consistency, and the former may be easily interpreted as if it were the latter. (65 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On the road again: Predicting the job transfer decision.

This study used survey data collected from mobile employees (n?=?66) and their spouses over a 5-year span to link attitudes, behavioral intent, and behavior in a model of the individual job transfer decision. Results showed that willingness to relocate strongly predicted the decision to accept or reject a job transfer. In turn, willingness to relocate was reliably associated with key demographic, career attribute, and attitudinal variables. Not only do these results have important implications for organizations that regularly relocate employees, but they also provide another example of a work situation in which attitudes reliably predict behavior. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)