Improving credit evaluation with a weighted application blank.

Using data from a credit application blank, how can poor credit risks be most effectively identified? 100 records of those who paid for their cars were compared with a like number of records of those who failed to do so. An item analysis was performed and weights assigned to items according to their ability to differentiate between the 2 sets of records. 24 items were chosen as working especially well. "A formula was presented which allows the profit obtaining from the use of any particular cut-off score to be estimated." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Self-consciousness and self-assessment.

Investigated the effect of self-consciousness on Ss' tendencies to seek out or avoid ability-diagnostic information by giving 30 male and 44 female undergraduates bogus feedback on task performance, initially indicating that they had either moderately high or low levels of "surgency" (an ability with which they were relatively unfamiliar). Ss were allowed to choose the composition of a 2nd surgency task by selecting test items from among several categories. For some items, but not others, performance norms were ostensibly available, allowing Ss to evaluate the adequacy of their performance on those items. Results show that private self-consciousness interacted with initial outcome so that seeking norms (after success) and avoidance of norms (after failure) occurred only among Ss who were relatively high in private self-consciousness (as measured several weeks earlier by a self-consciousness scale). (41 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Remembering left–right orientation of pictures.

Studied orientation retrieval and recognition memory for pictures in 32 undergraduate or graduate students. Results indicate an asymmetry in classifying test items as "same" vs "different" in left–right orientation. Identical copies of previously viewed items were classified more accurately than left–right reversals of those items. Response bias could not explain this asymmetry, and, moreover, correct "same" and "different" classifications were independently manipulable. Whereas repetition of input pictures (1 vs 2 presentations) affected primarily correct "same" classifications, retention interval (3 hrs vs 1 wk) affected primarily correct "different" classifications. Repetition but not retention interval affected judgments that previously seen pictures (both identical and reversed) were "old." Findings support a dual-process hypothesis that links "same" classifications to high familiarity, and "different" classifications to conscious sampling of images of previously viewed pictures. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Temporal instability as a moderator of the attitude–behavior relationship.

A mailed appeal was received by 286 Israeli undergraduates who had completed a questionnaire either 3 mo, 6 mo, both 3 and 6 mo earlier, or not at all. Embedded in the questionnaire were attitude items on altruistic acts (including tutoring blind children) and on various controversial issues. The attitude–behavior correlation was higher over the shorter time interval (.47 vs .13), and data from the group whose attitudes were measured twice indicated this was due to real change in individuals' attitudes. A specific attitude and its corresponding behavior correlated more strongly among those whose general set of altruistic attitudes showed high rather than low temporal stability (.47 vs –.03), but stability of the specific attitude did not moderate this correlation. Characteristics of attitudes that might influence their stability are discussed, and it is shown that attitude stability is not a general trait. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Assignment of publication credits: Ethics and practices of psychologists.

Reports results from respondents (454 American Psychological Association members, 261 psychologists with 5 or more publications, and 117 Veterans Administration psychologists) to a questionnaire concerned with publication credit practices in collaborative research situations. Questionnaire items were presented in terms of hypothetical situations requiring multiple-choice responses in the areas of the paid consultant, continuing research team, authorship order when contributions are equal, and a variety of classes of research assistants. Tentative guidelines are presented on the basis of results obtained. In general, it is noted that neither power nor status should determine credit assignment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Objections to MMPI items as a function of interpersonal trust, race, and sex.

Investigated objections to the MMPI items by 392 Black and White male and female college students who were classified as high or low trust according to their responses on the Rotter Trust Scale. Ss were instructed to consider the items in the context of applying for a job and to mark "O" by those items they found to be objectionable. Low-trust Ss objected to significantly more items than high-trust Ss. Race and sex did not influence number of objections. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A question of standards: Attributions of blame and credit for classroom acts.

We examined differences between blame and credit judgments among 247 students and 13 teachers from 7 first- and 6 fifth-grade classrooms. Study 1 indicated that even young children used information about excuses and justifications in assigning blame but not in determining credit. The gap between grades for assignment of credit was most striking for norms involving specific classroom roles. At both grade levels, norms of duty differed from norms of aspiration; for the latter, more credit was assigned for good outcomes than was blame for bad outcomes. Study 2 analyzed teachers' attributions and examined links between teachers' and pupils' judgments. Children's blame attributions were more highly correlated with those of teachers than were credit attributions. Teachers who provided less negative procedural feedback (NPF) had pupils whose blame judgments were more highly correlated with their own. However, within categories of teachers (grade levels by high-low NPF), individual teachers' and pupils' idiosyncratic judgments were not associated. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of anxiety on timed and untimed intelligence tests: Another look.

Administered the timed subtests of the WAIS to 48 undergraduates, only 1/2 of whom were aware of being timed. Ss were divided into 4 groups on the basis of their response to 15 worry items and 15 emotionality items taken from the Taylor MA scale. Low-worry Ss who were timed were superior to those who were untimed, whereas high-worry Ss tended to perform more poorly under the timed than the untimed condition. This Worry * Timing interaction closely parallels the "Anxiety" * Timing interactions found by others. Emotionality was not found to interact with the task variables. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Twenty-month outcome in ventilator-dependent, very low birth weight infants born during the early years of dexamethasone therapy

We sought to examine the effect of the introduction of dexamethasone therapy on health, growth, and neurodevelopmental outcome in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants at 20 months of age. We compared outcomes in all 86 VLBW infants (mean birth weight 871 gm, mean gestational age 26.4 weeks) who were ventilator dependent on day 21 of life during the 2 years preceding October 1988 (period 1), when dexamethasone therapy became accepted clinical practice in our unit, with outcomes in all 124 infants (mean birth weight 891 gm, mean gestational age 26.9 weeks) with similar ventilator status during the subsequent 2 years (period 2). In addition, we compared outcomes in infants who received dexamethasone during period 2 with those in a concurrent cohort of less ill infants who were not given dexamethasone. There were no significant differences between periods 1 and 2 in mortality rates after 21 days (17% vs 21%), need for home oxygen (23% vs 25%), oxygen dependence at 20 months of corrected age (11% vs 10%), rate of neurosensory impairment (24% vs 25%), and mean Bayley Mental scores (81.5 vs 77.2) or Psychomotor Development Index (81.6 vs 71.1). Infants who received dexamethasone during period 2 had significantly more severe lung disease and poorer respiratory, growth, and developmental outcomes. We conclude that VLBW infants with ventilator-dependent chronic lung disease have very poor outcomes, even when treated with dexamethasone. More information is needed from prospective, randomized trials before dexamethasone can be accepted as routine therapy for chronic lung disease.     

Sexual orientation, sexual behaviors, and pregnancy among American Indian adolescents

PURPOSE: A recent study found a disproportionate number of pregnancies among Euro-American lesbian and bisexual adolescents compared to heterosexual peers. American Indian adolescents have reported higher prevalence of gay/lesbian/bisexual orientations than Euro-Americans; do they also report higher prevalence of pregnancy? METHODS: The study assessed prevalence of teen pregnancy and related factors by sexual orientation among sexually experienced, reservation-based American Indian adolescent males (n = 2056) and females (n = 1693) who participated in a national school-based survey in 1991. Self-reported orientation was classified as heterosexual, gay/lesbian/bisexual, and "unsure" of orientation. RESULTS: Gay/bisexual males were more likely than other males to report early heterosexual intercourse (<14 years), more consistent contraception, and a higher prevalence of abuse and running away (p < 0.05 to p < 0.0001). Likewise, lesbian/bisexual females were more likely to report early onset of heterosexual intercourse, more frequent intercourse, and running away. Sexual or physical abuse did not vary by orientation for females. Prevalence of pregnancy also did not vary by orientation (males, 18.6% gay/bisexual vs. 10.4% "unsure" vs. 11.8% heterosexual; females, 25.0% lesbian/bisexual vs. 22.1% "unsure" vs. 21.9% heterosexual). For lesbian/bisexual females, no variables were significantly associated with pregnancy history; for "unsure" females, pregnancy was associated with contraceptive frequency and early onset of heterosexual activity. For heterosexual females, age, intercourse frequency, and physical abuse were associated. For gay/bisexual males, intercourse frequency, ineffective contraception, and physical abuse were associated with involvement in a pregnancy; for "unsure" and heterosexual males, most items except ineffective contraception were related to pregnancy involvement history. CONCLUSIONS: Although prevalence of pregnancy is similar, findings show group differences in associated risk factors by sexual orientation. Interventions to reduce pregnancy among American Indian adolescents should include assessment of sexual orientation and behavioral risk factors.     

Subretinal semiconductor microphotodiode array

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the predictive validity of the Emergency Physician Job Satisfaction (EPJS) and Global Job Satisfaction (GJS) instruments. METHODS: Prospective mail survey of 223 Canadian emergency physicians (EPs) using a 42-item questionnaire, including 14 items evaluating their reasons for leaving emergency medicine (EM). Original (1990) EPJS and GJS scores were analyzed using 1-way ANOVA and Scheffe's test comparing the physicians who left EM with those still in their original jobs, and those who had left their original jobs but who stayed in EM. Mean scores on the 14 "reason for leaving" items were compared with scores from an earlier sample of U.S. physicians using a t-test for independent means. Criteria for statistical significance were set at alpha = 0.05 for all analyses. RESULTS: The response rate for the primary study questions was 99.1%. Of the respondents, 29.4% had left their original jobs, and 10.4% had left EM altogether. The GJS scores for the physicians who left EM were significantly different from those for the physicians who stayed (p = 0.004). The EPJS scores for the physicians who left EM were not significantly different from those for the physicians who stayed (p = 0.56). There was no significant difference in scores between the Canadian and U.S. physicians' reasons for leaving EM (all p-values > 0.05). Shiftwork scored the highest as a reason to leave EM. CONCLUSIONS: A low GJS score is associated with physicians' leaving EM, but not with changing jobs. The EPJS instrument was not associated with either outcome. Canadian and U.S. EPs place similar levels of importance on potential reasons for leaving EM.     

A genetical theory of species selection

The operating characteristics of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale were compared between Japanese and U.S. adult workers. Data were analyzed from age- and education-matched male white collar workers (n = 368 for each) selected from 2016 workers in Japan and 3059 in the United States. The U.S. data were obtained from the 1974-75 Augmentation Survey of the National Health and Examination Survey I. The Japanese responses to positively worded items markedly differed from those of U.S. workers, whereas responses to negatively worded items were generally comparable in the two groups. Thus, spuriously higher positive subscale and whole scale scores were found among the Japanese workers compared with U.S. workers (mean scores: 6.03 vs. 1.83 for the positive subscale and 9.94 vs. 5.35 for the whole scale, respectively; both differences were statistically significant). Negative subscale scores did not differ significantly in the two samples (3.91 vs. 3.52). The present study confirmed the hypothesis of Iwata et al. that Japanese respondents have a tendency to suppress the expression of positive affect.     

Obligations to self and society in the United States and Germany.

"A questionnaire covering various value sentiments and a picture-story test for measuring n Achievement and n Affiliation were administered to 87 German and 74 United States male students preparing for college who had been carefully matched for age (around 18 years) and socio-economic background (largely upper middle class). A factor analysis of the questionnaire results yielded two factors that could be matched in the two countries and a third set of items that shifted from one factor to the other across countries. The 'switchover' items which dealt largely with decency and obligation to others were associated with Factor A ('rational striving') in Germany and were more strongly accepted by the Germans than by the Americans, as were also the Factor A items. In the United States, the switch-over items were associated with Factor B ('resigned cynicism') suggesting that acceptance of statements about strong obligations to others tend to be associated in the United States with a kind of deviant 'Un-American' passive resignation." (17 ref.) From Psyc Abstracts 36:01:1GB45M. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Personalization, respondent anonymity, and response distortion in mail surveys.

Investigated whether the level of personalization expressed in an advance notice and cover letter distorted the reporting of common demographic information in a mail survey. A factorial design with 2 levels of advance notice (telephone call, mimeographed form letter) and 2 levels of cover letter (personalized, form) was employed. Ss were 276 married females (representing a 42% response rate) for whom 7 items of demographic information were available from an independent source (credit application). Comparison of mail-survey and credit-application responses revealed that distortion in reporting family income and occupation of wife was related to the use of personalized cover letters. Implications of the findings for behavioral scientists who depend on mail surveys for data collection are considered. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Inference in inconsistency reduction: New evidence on the "Socratic effect."

Examined the cognitive processes underlying the "Socratic effect" shown by 96 undergraduates in reporting logically related beliefs. Predictions concerning latencies of responses and inconsistencies among beliefs were based on an assumed asymmetrical inference process. By manipulating the order in which related beliefs were initially reported (syllogistic vs nonsyllogistic order), a clustering vs nonclustering grouping of related items in a set, and the time interval between sessions (5 min vs 2 days), partial support for the predictions was obtained. The magnitude of the Socratic effect over sessions varied significantly as a function of grouping, delay of retest, and syllogism set. Contrary to expectation, the order in which beliefs were reported had no main effect on initial inconsistency among beliefs. (11 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Performance implications of corrective testing.

Compared testing with immediate feedback and partial credit to a traditional multiple-choice exam format in 2 experiments. In Exp I, Ss were 286 students in 3 large introductory courses. Feedback to Ss about their performance dramatically increased the impact of doing well or doing poorly on the test: Among Ss doing well, those who were aware of that fact performed far better overall than counterparts who were unaware of their performance. Among Ss doing poorly, those who were aware of their poor performance did much less well than Ss who were unaware of it. Interestingly, this polarizing effect was particularly dramatic among low-test-anxious Ss. Subjective reactions of 35 high- and 34 low-test-anxiety Ss to immediate feedback and partial credit were assessed in Exp II. Immediate feedback and partial-credit testing was rated as indicating more about one's ability and effort than traditional testing, a finding that fits well with the performance effects uncovered in Exp I. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interests of engineers related to turnover, selection, and management.

"Using the Strong Vocational Interest Blank, four groups of interest items were found to distinguish engineers who left the service of a particular electrical utility within the first 2 years from engineers who stayed longer. Comparing the interests of engineers who had assumed senior responsibility in relatively short time confirmed the suspicion that some of the men who were leaving might be those who were similar in interest to the leaders. Thus, those likely to leave the organization could be separated into two identifiable groups. One group it is considered relatively safe to screen out at the time of application. The other group should be encouraged to stay by efforts to change conditions in the organization so as to provide better satisfaction for their interests. It is suggested that, as well as selecting suitable people, an organization may need to adapt itself so as to satisfy the needs of the kind of people it requires." From Psyc Abstracts 36:04:4LI43B. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Young people considering nursing as a career: starters vs. non-starters

This study focused on applicants who were accepted to a nursing education program but did not begin their studies, thus wasting time, effort and money. Of 953 accepted applicants, 27% did not enter the program. Significant variables differentiating starters from non-starters were higher psychometric score, higher paternal education, lower priority for nursing studies, older age, non-Israeli country of birth and not completed army service. The study relating to starters vs. non-starters is one aspect of a large study (Ehrenfeld, Rotenberg, Sharon, & Bergman, 1995). In most nursing education programs the number of applicants exceed the faculty's capacity, and suitable candidates must be rejected. It is therefore both wasteful and disappointing when accepted applicants change their mind and do not actually begin in the program. In light of the costs and complexities involved in the student screening process and the continuous efforts extended today all over the world to raise the standards of nursing education and care, the factors differentiating starters from non-starters may have important implications. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the screening process at the Tel Aviv University baccalaureate nursing program and determine which variables were predictive of starters and non-starters among accepted applicants.