A developmental perspective of self-construals and sex differences: comment on Cross and Madson (1997)

S. E. Cross and L. Madson (1997) proposed that women and men differ in self-construals, with women as interdependent and men as independent, and that these construals are seen to underlie many sex differences in social behavior. In this article, the authors address the issues of sex differences in self-construals, the stability of self-construals, and the centrality of interdependence-independence to sex differences. They examine the proposal next from a developmental perspective, suggesting that development of the self does not precede children's gender-related behavior. Evidence regarding the socialization processes that may contribute to sex differences in self-construals is largely inconclusive, especially regarding the differential treatment of boys and girls by parents. Their developmental perspective provides insights into ways that Cross and Madson's approach can be elaborated to explain sex differences in social behavior.     

Recent developments and more internship tips: A comment on Mellott, Arden, and Cho (1997).

Comments on the article by R. N. Mellott et al (see record 84-24441) which provided useful information for the prospective internship applicant regarding the preparation for internship. In the interest of increasing the comprehensive scope of the information provided by Mellott et al, the authors offered additional facts about the steps involved in preparing for internship and added a crucial step: managing selection anxiety. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cross-cultural career psychology: Comment on Fouad, Harmon, and Borgen (1997) and Tracey, Watanabe, and Schneider (1997).

This article uses the theoretical framework of cultural validity and cultural specificity in career psychology proposed by F. T. L. Leong and M. Brown (1995) to comment on the theoretical and methodological issues raised by N. A. Fouad, L. W. Harmon, and N. H. Borgen (1997) and T. J. G. Tracey, N. Watanabe, and P. L. Schneider (1997) in the Special Section on Cross-Cultural Career Psychology. In terms of theoretical issues, the important distinction between etic and emic approaches to cross-cultural research is discussed, as well as the role of the cultural context in understanding vocational behavior. Methodologically, the specific issues surrounding the problem of equivalence of measurement (functional, conceptual, linguistic, and metric equivalence) as it relates to the two studies are discussed. Finally, the importance of studies of both internal and external validity as means of advancing cross-cultural career psychology is highlighted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

What do men want? Gender differences and two spheres of belongingness: comment on Cross and Madson (1997)

In response to S. E. Cross and L. Madson's (1997) suggestion that men's behaviors reflect a desire for independence and separateness, the authors propose that those same behaviors are designed to form connections with other people but in a broader social sphere. Women's sociality is oriented toward dyadic close relationships, whereas men's sociality is oriented toward a larger group. Gender differences in aggression, helping behavior, desire for power, uniqueness, self-representations, interpersonal behavior, and intimacy fit this view.     

Toward a clinically relevant model of counseling research: Comment on Patton, Kivlighan, and Multon (1997) and Gelso, Kivlighan, Wine, Jones, and Friedman (1997).

This response to the articles by M. J. Patton, D. M. Kivlighan, and K. D. Multon and C. J. Gelso, D. M. Kivlighan, B. Wine, A. Jones, and S. C. Friedman (see records 84-23832, and 23827, respectively) focuses on the significance and timeliness of these studies, elements of an emerging model for counseling research, the current context of psychoanalytic theory relevant to the counseling and research models of these studies, and measurement of clinical constructs. A broader, though not exhaustive, set of constructs useful for research and practice in psychoanalytic counseling is suggested. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Strengths and weaknesses of the reading level design: A comment on Backman, Mamen, and Ferguson.

In an article on the design of studies of different reading abilities in children, J. E. Backman et al (see record 1985-13169-001) advocated using a combined method of comparing reading-disabled children with younger normal controls who are reading at the same level and comparing reading-disabled children with children of the same chronological age. The present authors argue that this design will produce interpretable results in some circumstances. Negative results in a reading-level comparison and positive results in an age comparison will be ambiguous. It is concluded that causal hypotheses are best tested by longitudinal studies combined with intervention. (13 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Using research to determine the efficacy and modes of treatment in university counseling centers: Comment on Jobes, Jacoby, Cimbolic, and Hustead (1997) and Hayes (1997).

The articles by D. A. Jobes, A. M. Jacoby, P. Cimbolic, and L. A. T. Hustead (1997) and J. A. Hayes (1997) in the Special Section on Research in Counseling Centers are reviewed in the context of changes in college and university counseling centers. D. A. Jobes et al.'s study dealt with the development and application of the Suicide Status Form; J. A. Hayes's study reported the results of a factor analysis of the Brief Symptom Inventory that used data gathered specifically from college students. Suggestions are offered as to how the results of these studies might be applied to current counseling center work. A greater role for research in counseling centers is argued for, and examples of how research might abet counseling center personnel in their attempts to be both efficient and efficacious are offered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Promise and problems in theory and research on women's career development: Comment on Lucas (1997), Richie et al. (1997), McCracken and Weitzman (1997), Rainey and Borders (1997), and Schaefers, Epperson, and Nauta (1997).

The articles by M. Lucas, B. S. Richie et al., R. S. McCracken and L. M. Weitzman, L.M. Rainey and L.D. Borders, and K. G. Schaefers, D. L. Epperson, and M. M. Nauta (see records 84-22118, 22345, 22343, 22131, and 24623, respectively) in the Special Section on Women's Career Development are considered within the context of prospects and problems in the empirical and theoretical literature. Promising trends include an increasing convergence on core themes such as gender role attitudes, relational and family issues, multiple role dilemmas, cultural influences, and the effects of support and barriers on women's career development. Methodological and theoretical issues are also examined and discussed. Primary among the concluding recommendations are the need for comparative model testing and the integration of important new constructs into existing conceptual models. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Culture, variation, and levels of analysis in folk psychologies: comment on Lillard (1998)

Not only do folk psychologies differ for adults in different cultures, but naive psychological conceptions begin early in life and develop. Understanding cultural variation requires understanding these beginnings and developments as well as considering naive psychological conceptions at several different levels of analysis.     

Psychological theory testing versus psychometric nay-saying: comment on Neuberg et al.'s (1997) critique of the need for closure scale

S. L. Neuberg, T. N. Judice, and S. G. West (1997) faulted our work with the Need for Closure Scale (NFCS) on grounds that the NFCS lacks discriminant validity relative to S. L. Neuberg's and J. T. Newsom's (1993) Personal Need for Structure (PNS) Scale and is multidimensional, which, so they claim, renders the use of its total score inadmissible. By contrast, the present authors show that neither of the above assertions is incompatible with the underlying need for closure theory. Relations between NFCS and the PNS are to be expected, as these were designed to operationalize the very same construct (of need for closure). Furthermore, no unidimensionality of the NFCS has been claimed, and none is required to use its total score for testing various theoretically derived predictions. An instrument's ultimate utility hinges on theoretical considerations and empirical evidence rather than on questionable psychometric dogma unrelated to the substantive matters at hand.     

A historical review (1965-1997) of studies on class, health, and quality of life: a personal account

This article is based on a speech presented by the author at the annual meeting of the American Public Health Association in November 1997, on the occasion of the association's homage to Professor Vicente Navarro's 30 years of research on the relationship between class, health, and quality of life. In the article, the author expands on the historical evolution of this type of research in the United States, its different dimensions and consequences.     

The statistics of failure to replicate: A comment on Buriel's (1978) conclusions.

Examines the statistics critical to a conclusion that there has been failure to replicate previous research. Many research workers, including R. Buriel (see record 1979-09549-001), incorrectly compared the results in each study, independently of the other, with null hypotheses of zero differences between means or the equivalent zero population correlations. Instead, a test of the difference between the mean differences in the 2 samples or the direct comparison of the 2 sample correlations is required. Appropriate standard errors are readily available. The appropriate test for the difference between sample correlations requires only the 2 correlations and the 2 Ns; however, access to both means and variances is required for the difference between mean differences. A convenient procedure for approximating the t for the latter test is presented that requires knowledge only of the separate t ratios in the 2 samples and of the sample Ns. If this minimal information is available, an investigator publishing a supposed replication can compare his or her results directly with the original findings. (5 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)