Measuring change: A commentary on Keith et al. (2002).

A study by J. R. Keith et al. (2002) purported to find postoperative changes in attention in a sample of patients who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. Detecting differential patterns of neuropsychological change following treatment presents formidable methodological and statistical challenges. This commentary examines the findings of J. R. Keith et al. with regard to (a) the feasibility of randomizing research participants into treatment and control groups, (b) the handling of missing data, (c) the selection of statistical techniques to measure change, and (d) the measurement of differential neuropsychological deficit. Alternative strategies are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

What is the outcome we seek?: A commentary on Keith et al. (2002).

The article by J. R. Keith et al. (2002) raises several issues that are frequently pertinent when neuropsychological tools are used as outcomes measures. These issues include whether the main interest is the mean change on a neuropsychological measure, the number of people who show a significant change on that measure, or both. Also at issue is whether the outcome of interest is either cognitive change or cognitive impairment. A corollary is determining when the failure to produce a practice effect is of clinical significance. Finally, it may be time to move beyond asking whether coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) influences neuropsychological outcome. Rather, the pertinent question may now be, under what conditions and for which people does CABG have the least neuropsychological impact? (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Assessing postoperative cognitive change after cardiopulmonary bypass surgery.

Cognitive decline after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery has been a concern since the advent of CPB procedures. A primary focus of many studies on this topic has been to quantify the incidence of post-CPB cognitive impairment. However, studies that have used traditional parametric statistics have generally failed to confirm that long-lasting (–- I month) cognitive declines occur reliably after CPB surgery. For the present study, the authors used a split-plot analysis of variance model that revealed preoperative memory impairments in the CPB patients and new postoperative impairments of attention. The authors discuss the assumptions of, and problems associated with, analysis methods that are often used to quantify the incidence of cognitive impairment following CPB surgery. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Constraining accommodative homunculi in evolutionary explorations of jealousy: A reply to Barrett et al. (2006).

This article responds to a critique by H. C. Barrett, D. A. Frederick, M. G. Haselton, and R. Kurzban (see record 2006-10940-009), wherein it is argued that manipulations of cognitive constraints cannot be used to test general evolutionary hypotheses regarding the architecture of mind. In making this argument, Barrett et al. focus on what they believe to be faulty logic in D. DeSteno, M. Y. Bartlett, J. Braverman, and P. Salovey's (see record 2002-18731-006) use of such techniques to examine proposed sex differences in jealousy. In presenting their argument, however, Barrett et al. appear to disregard central findings presented in DeSteno et al. (2002) and, in so doing, fail to grasp the interrelations among findings that might readily address their concerns. Here, the authors present arguments for why and when manipulations of cognitive resources may prove useful in investigating evolved psychological mechanisms and, in so doing, situate their use within the ongoing debate concerning evolved sex differences in jealousy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Analysis of cognitive change: A commentary on Keith et al. (2002).

There have been significant advances in the study of cognitive change in recent years, evolving from traditional group-level parametric methods to new techniques such as the reliable change index (RCI) and the standardized regression-based (SRB) change score. In the very interesting study of cognitive change following cardiopulmonary bypass, Keith et al. (2002) opted for a more traditional group-level analysis of change (the mixed factor analysis of variance). They cited several limitations of the individual-level analytic techniques such as the RCI. In this commentary, the author attempts to address these specific concerns as well as some of the more general difficulties presented by the analysis of cognitive change. Advantages and disadvantages of the RCI and SRB methods are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Straight talk about assessment and diversity: What do we know?

This article reflects on other articles (T. Z. Keith, J. H. Kranzler et al, J. P. Braden, R. T. Brown et al, and C. L. Frisby; see records 1999-11838-003, 1999-11838-007, 1999-11838-006, 1999-11838-002, and 1999-11838-004 and 199911838-005 respectively,) that deal with assessments of cognitive abilities and academic achievements. It tries to accomplish three objectives: (a) to decide whether assessments create, or merely reflect, between-group differences in cognitive abilities and achievement; (b) to explore why school psychologists resist the conclusion that group differences are real; and (c) to consider the types of research and knowledge needed to move the discussion of assessment bias past its current intellectual logjam. The arguments state that the assessments accurately reflect, but do not create differences between English-speaking groups in North America. However, the author states that though this topic is important, the questions surrounding it are not completely answered by the special issue and more research should be done in this area.. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On Broadening the Cognitive, Motivational, and Sociostructural Scope of Theorizing About Gender Development and Functioning: Comment on Martin, Ruble, and Szkrybalo (2002).

In their article on gender development, C. L. Martin, D. N. Ruble, and J. Szkrybalo (see record 2002-18663-003) contrasted their conception of gender development with that of social cognitive theory. The authors of this commentary correct misrepresentations of social cognitive theory and analyze the conceptual and empirical status of Martin et al.'s (2002) theory that gender stereotype matching is the main motivating force of gender development. Martin et al. (2002) based their claim for the causal primacy of gender self-categorization on construal of gender discrimination as rudimentary self-identity, equivocal empirical evidence, and dismissal of discordant evidence because of methodological deficiencies. The repeated finding that gendered preferences and behavior precede emergence of a sense of self is discordant with their theory. Different lines of evidence confirm that gender development and functioning are socially situated, richly contextualized, and conditionally manifested rather than governed mainly by an intrinsic drive to match stereotypic gender self-conception. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Yes, cavalier attitudes can have pernicious consequences.

Responds to the comments by J. J. Krueger, K. D. Vohs, and R. F. Baumeister (see record 2007-19520-015) on the current authors' original article, "Do people's self-views matter? Self-concept and self-esteem in everyday life" (see record 2007-01685-002). Krueger et al brought up many points with which the current authors agree. Nevertheless, as Krueger et al noted these points of agreement, the current authors focus instead on several points of continued disagreement. In addition, the current authors comment on a few new twists that Krueger et al have added to their argument. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Maternal employment and child cognitive outcomes: The importance of analytic approach.

J. Brooks-Gunn, W. J. Han, and J. Waldfogel (2002; see record 2002-17576-005) and the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Early Child Care Research Network (ECCRN; 2000b; see record 2000-02736-015) came to different conclusions about the effects of maternal employment--although they were addressing similar questions using the same data set. Brooks-Gunn et al. concluded that maternal employment in infancy has a negative effect on children's cognitive abilities at age 3, whereas the ECCRN found that early nonmaternal care is not related to children's cognitive abilities in their first 3 years. The authors account for this difference by comparing 2 approaches to data analysis: a top-down testing of continuous variables (the approach used by the ECCRN, 2000b) and an a priori comparison approach that involves pairwise testing of specific dichotomous contrasts (the approach used by Brooks-Gunn et al., 2002). This comparison illustrates the critical importance of analytic approach. It also suggests that Brooks-Gunn et al.'s conclusion from this data set is overstated and should not be used on its own as the basis for practical or policy decisions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Human Cognition and a Pile of Sand: A Discussion on Serial Correlations and Self-Organized Criticality.

Recently, G. C. Van Orden, J. G. Holden, and M. T. Turvey (2003) proposed to abandon the conventional framework of cognitive psychology in favor of the framework of nonlinear dynamical systems theory. Van Orden et al. presented evidence that "purposive behavior originates in self-organized criticality" (p. 333). Here, the authors show that Van Orden et al.'s analyses do not test their hypotheses. Further, the authors argue that a confirmation of Van Orden et al.'s hypotheses would not have constituted firm evidence in support of their framework. Finally, the absence of a specific model for how self-organized criticality produces the observed behavior makes it very difficult to derive testable predictions. The authors conclude that the proposed paradigm shift is presently unwarranted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Approach and avoidance coping responses among older problem and nonproblem drinkers": Clarification.

Reports a clarification in the article by R. H. Moos et al (Psychology and Aging, 1990[Mar], Vol 5[1], 31–40). The authors wish to note that research reported in the article by P. L. Brennan and R. H. Moos (see record 1991-10154-001) was based on the sample used in the research reported by Moos et al and that this information was inadvertently deleted in the Brennan and Moos article. (The following abstract of the article by Moos et al originally appeared in PA, Vol 77:14961.) The Coping Responses Inventory (CRI) was used to study coping among older problem and nonproblem drinkers. The CRI organizes coping efforts according to their focus (approach or avoidance) and method (cognitive or behavioral). Compared with nonproblem drinkers, older problem drinkers were more likely to use cognitive and behavioral avoidance responses to manage life stressors. Problem drinkers who experienced more negative life events and more severe stressors used both more approach and more avoidance coping. Those who had more financial and social resources relied more on approach and less on avoidance coping. Problem drinkers who relied more on avoidance coping tended to have more drinking problems and to report more depression and physical symptoms and less self-confidence. Positive reappraisal was associated with less depression and more self-confidence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dissociating conflict adaptation from feature integration: A multiple regression approach.

Congruency effects are typically smaller after incongruent than after congruent trials. One explanation is in terms of higher levels of cognitive control after detection of conflict (conflict adaptation; e.g., M. M. Botvinick, T. S. Braver, D. M. Barch, C. S. Carter, & J. D. Cohen, 2001). An alternative explanation for these results is based on feature repetition and/or integration effects (e.g., B. Hommel, R. W. Proctor, & K.-P. Vu, 2004; U. Mayr, E. Awh, & P. Laurey, 2003). Previous attempts to dissociate feature integration from conflict adaptation focused on a particular subset of the data in which feature transitions were held constant (J. G. Kerns et al., 2004) or in which congruency transitions were held constant (C. Akcay & E. Hazeltine, in press), but this has a number of disadvantages. In this article, the authors present a multiple regression solution for this problem and discuss its possibilities and pitfalls. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Making neuropsychological outcomes research consumer friendly: A commentary on Keith et al. (2002).

J. R. Keith et al. (2002) examined the effects of cardiopulmonary bypass surgery on cognition and suggest that the use of parametric, inferential statistics may have advantages over incidence reports. This commentary addresses several issues that arise when conducting outcomes studies within the context of evidence-based medicine. "Consumer friendly" research within the context of evidence-based medicine must carefully attend to the selection of appropriate and relevant reference groups and recognize that clinicians practice and record outcomes as individual rather than as group events. Traditional null hypothesis significance testing and inferential statistics are useful in establishing the reliability of group differences but do not provide the statistical indexes and base-rate information that clinicians can easily use in their treatment of individual patients. Data analysis and presentation of results using methods from clinical epidemiology can make neuropsychological outcomes research consumer friendly and help bridge the all too frequent schism between academic research and clinical practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Job demands and worker health: Three-dimensional reexamination of the relationship between person€nvironment fit and strain.

The most influential study of the person–environment (P–E) fit approach to stress was conducted by J. R. French et al (1982). Unfortunately, this study operationalized fit using various transformations of difference scores, thereby introducing numerous substantive and methodological problems. In the present study, the authors reanalyze data from French et al, using a procedure described by J. R. Edwards (in press) that avoids problems with difference scores and captures the underlying 3-dimensional relationship between environment, person, and strain. Results resolve ambiguities in the French et al findings and identify relationships between environment, person, and strain that, although consistent with P–E fit theory, cannot be adequately represented by fit measures such as those used by French et al. Implications for P–E fit research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An evaluation of cognitive processing therapy for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder related to childhood sexual abuse.

This study compared the effectiveness of cognitive processing therapy for sexual abuse survivors (CPT-SA) with that of the minimal attention (MA) given to a wait-listed control group. Seventy-one women were randomly assigned to 1 of the 2 groups. Participants were assessed at pretreatment and 3 times during posttreatment: immediately after treatment and at 3-month and 1-year follow-up, using the Clinician-Administered Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Scale (D. Blake et al., 1995), the Beck Depression Inventory (A. T. Beck, R. A. Steer, & G. K. Brown, 1996), the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV (R. L. Spitzer, J. B. W. Williams, & M. Gibbon, 1995; M. B. First et al., 1995), the Dissociative Experiences Scale-II (E. M. Bernstein & F. W. Putnam, 1986), and the Modified PTSD Symptom Scale (S. A. Falsetti, H. S. Resnick, P. A. Resick, & D. G. Kilpatrick, 1993). Analyses suggested that CPT-SA is more effective for reducing trauma-related symptoms than is MA, and the results were maintained for at least 1 year. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Consequences and causes of correlations in process dissociation.

In T. Curran and D. L. Hintzman's (see record 1995-42725-001) article, the authors explained how violations of the independence assumption could affect the process-dissociation procedure and presented evidence that was consistent with the hypothesized effects of independence violations. L. L. Jacoby, I. M. Begg, and J. R Toth (see record 84-21424) argued that independence violations could not account for Curran and Hintzman's results. In this reply, the current authors demonstrate that even moderate correlations between recollective and automatic word-stem completion can cause paradoxical dissociations like those the authors previously reported, and they explain how Jacoby et al came to their contrary conclusion. Second, the authors argue that discussion by Jacoby et al of process-dissociation "boundary conditions" is consistent with Curran and Hintzman's original claims. Finally, the authors discuss problems with the evidence for independence that Jacoby et al presented in their Table 1, including their questionable criteria for excluding experiments from the table and the fact that they did not consider statistical power. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Implicit category learning performance predicts rate of cognitive decline in nondemented patients with Parkinson's disease.

Nondemented patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) are impaired in learning to categorize simple perceptual stimuli when category membership is defined by a nonlinear relationship between stimulus dimensions but not when the relationship is linear (J. V. Filoteo, W. T. Maddox, D. P. Salmon, & D. D. Song, 2005). In the present study, the authors examined whether performance in either of these 2 category learning conditions was predictive of global cognitive decline following a mean of 1.6 years since the time patients were 1st seen. Results indicated that final block accuracy in the nonlinear condition, but not the linear condition, predicted global cognitive decline. Performance on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) did not significantly predict global cognitive decline, although there was a trend for this to be the case. In addition, the association between nonlinear category learning and global cognitive decline was not impacted by patients' performance on the WCST. Results suggest that nonlinear category learning predicts cognitive decline in nondemented patients with PD and that nonlinear category learning and WCST performances may provide independent measures of integrity of the posterior and anterior caudate, respectively. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Alerting and orienting in Alzheimer's disease: Are they interdependent? Reply to Festa et al. (2006).

The area of contention between E. Festa-Martino, B. R. Ott, and W. C. Heindel (2004; see record 2004-12990-007) and A. Tales and colleagues (A. Tales, J. L. Muir, A. Bayer, R. Jones, & R. J. Snowden, 2002; A. Tales, J. L. Muir, A. Bayer, & R. J. Snowden, 2002; see record 2002-06031-015) is whether the Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related increased spatial orienting effect is attributable directly to the decreased phasic alerting effect or whether they are two separate effects. In a subsequent study, A. Tales, R. J. Snowden, M. Brown, and G. Wilcock (2006; see record 2006-20657-014) have provided evidence to suggest that the increased spatial orienting effect in AD is not necessarily the result of a decreased phasic alerting effect, as an AD-related increase in spatial orienting effect occurred under conditions in which the phasic alerting effect was the same for both groups. In a commentary to this article, E. K. Festa, B. R. Ott, and W. C. Heindel (2006; see record 2006-20657-015) discuss what they suggest may be potential confounding factors within the authors' study. In this reply, further data in support of the authors' interpretation are provided, and the authors address the points highlighted by Festa et al. (2006). In addition, the authors request that if Festa et al. (2006) are to account for the changes in spatial orienting effects in AD in terms of the shifts in the phasic alerting effects, then how do they postulate how so small a change in one can produce so large a change in the other? (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Some history of a methodological rediscovery.

Comments on the article by S. M. Kosslyn et al (see record 2002-12932-001). The article extended to biopsychological research an important principle the authors traced to B. J. Underwood (1975): Systematic study of individual differences in a relationship between two or more dependent and independent variables can contribute greatly to the extension of psychological theory. R. R. Holt calls attention to several earlier discoveries of the same point. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Cognitive Substrate of Subjective Probability.

The prominent cognitive theories of probability judgment were primarily developed to explain cognitive biases rather than to account for the cognitive processes in probability judgment. In this article the authors compare 3 major theories of the processes and representations in probability judgment: the representativeness heuristic, implemented as prototype similarity, relative likelihood, or evidential support accumulation (ESAM; D. J. Koehler, C. M. White, & R. Grondin, 2003); cue-based relative frequency; and exemplar memory, implemented by probabilities from exemplars (PROBEX; P. Juslin & M. Persson, 2002). Three experiments with different task structures consistently demonstrate that exemplar memory is the best account of the data whereas the results are inconsistent with extant formulations of the representativeness heuristic and cue-based relative frequency. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)