Physical attractiveness as a correlate of peer status and social competence in preschool children.

The physical attractiveness of 59 preschoolers (aged 4 yrs 8 mo to 5 yrs 7 mo) was rated by 77 undergraduates. Two measures of social competence, sociometric status and rank in an attention structure, were also obtained. Rank-order correlations among the 3 measures indicated that physical attractiveness was a significant correlate of sociometric rank but not of attention rank. Sociometric and attention ranks were also significantly interrelated. The relationship between attractiveness and sociometric status was stronger for girls than for boys, and attractiveness was not significantly related to attention rank. Partial correlation analyses indicated that attractiveness did not mediate the relationship between attention and sociometric rank. Results suggest that sociometric data may be influenced by variables such as physical attractiveness that are not necessarily related to social competence. (30 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Predictors of math anxiety and its influence on young adolescents' course enrollment intentions and performance in mathematics.

We used structural modeling procedures to assess the influence of past math grades, math ability perceptions, performance expectancies, and value perceptions on the level of math anxiety reported in a sample of 7th- through 9th-grade students (N?=?250). A second set of analyses examined the relative influence of these performance, self-perception, and affect variables on students' subsequent grades and course enrollment intentions in mathematics. The findings indicated that math anxiety was most directly related to students' math ability perceptions, performance expectancies, and value perceptions. Students' performance expectancies predicted subsequent math grades, whereas their value perceptions predicted course enrollment intentions. Math anxiety did not have significant direct effects on either grades or intentions. The findings also suggested that the pattern of relations are similar for boys and girls. The results are discussed in relation to expectancy-value and self-efficacy theories of academic achievement. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The contribution of environmental events and social support to serious suicide attempts in primary depressive disorder.

Interviewed patients (18–65 yrs old) about the events that occurred to them or their spouse in the 12 mo previous to the suicide attempt. Only primary depressive attempters (14 Ss) were selected, and for purposes of comparison, a primary depressive control group (14 Ss) was selected. Ss were administered the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Moreover, seriousness of suicide attempts was quantified and assessed in each patient, and only moderately or severely serious attempters were chosen. Results show that the occurrence of serious suicide attempts is strongly associated with an increased rate of independent events (events not influenced by the patient's behavior, decisions, or disorder) in the year preceding the attempt, and that a particularly high density of such events between episodic onset and the attempt may serve as the direct initiator of an attempt. Data also suggest that exit events, where an important social support is lost to the patient, may play a significant role in initiating an attempt. Implications for the highest risk period of suicide are discussed. (40 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Peer group influence on educational outcomes: A quantitative synthesis.

To estimate the correlation of peer group variables at the elementary and high school level with a range of educational outcomes, 110 correlations taken from 10 prior studies were analyzed. Peer influence was shown to be a small but consistent correlate of educational outcomes. Across 4 types of outcomes (standardized achievement tests, course grades, educational aspirations, and occupational aspirations) the median correlation with peer influence was .24. By applying methods of research integration, the strength of the peer influence–outcome relationship was found to be significantly higher in cities and was also higher in studies in which peer influence was determined by having individuals report the aspirations or achievement levels of their best friends. (29 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Training factors influencing felt psychotherapeutic competence of psychology trainees.

Used self-report data from a questionnaire survey of 183 respondents from 10 graduate programs in clinical psychology to assess (a) trainees' views regarding the importance of their personal competence as psychotherapists to their ideal future professional roles and (b) the relationship between trainees' present felt psychotherapeutic competence and quantitative aspects of psychotherapy supervision, curricular, and personal-trainee variables. Results indicate that Ss attributed a high degree of importance to their personal competence as a psychotherapist. Multiple regression analysis yielded 7 predictor variables, which accounted for 41% of the variance in self-ratings of present competence as a psychotherapist. Subsequent partial correlation analysis, controlling for age and year in program, suggested that total number of psychotherapy supervisors and total hours of psychotherapy supervision were the best predictors of Ss' ratings of their current level of psychotherapeutic competence. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reshaping IS Strategic Planning

In most organizations, there is an increasing investment in strategic planning for information systems and technology. The context and motivation for this type of planning is different from that of the past and, as a result, the planning approach itself is being transformed. Applying this new approach to strategic planning produces high leverage for the enterprise and profoundly changes information systems management.     

News

This section of Scientometrics will carry fresh and reliable news of people, programs, recent and forthcoming meetings and publications, etc. Its effectiveness depends greatly on your assistance. Items for inclusion should be submitted to the Coordinating Editor, Dr. J.Farkas.     

Combined toxicity of free chlorine, chloramine and temperature to stage I larvae of the American lobster Homarus americanus

The differential effects of free chlorine and chloramine on stage I larvae of the American lobster Homarus americanus have been investigated in continuous flow bioassay units. Applied chloramine was more toxic than corresponding concentrations of applied free chlorine to lobster larvae with estimated lc₅₀ values at 25° of 16.30 mg/l applied free chlorine and 2.02 mg/l applied chloramine. The synergistic effect of temperature on the toxicity of both free chlorine and chloramine has also been demonstrated. Exposure to applied free chlorine at 20° resulted in no significant mortality of test organisms, whereas exposure at 30° resulted in an estimated lc₅₀ value of 2.50 mg/l. Applied chloramine was considerably more toxic with an estimated lc₅₀ value at 20° of 4.08 mg/l and at 30° of 0.56 mg/l.The action of each toxicant appeared to be an alteration of standard metabolic activity as revealed by changes in respiration rates during and after exposure to applied free chlorine and chloramine. Initial respiratory stress was detected during exposure to 0.05 mg/l applied chloramine and 5.00 mg/l applied free chlorine. Reductions in respiration rates 48 h after exposure were observed with exposure to all concentrations tested, similar results being obtained following exposure to 0.05 mg/l applied chloramine and 0.10 mg/l applied free chlorine. These results are indicative of the need for information in addition to that obtained in standard bioassays for an adequate assessment of chlorine toxicity.The apparent chlorine demand of the seawater used in this study was determined after removal of particulate and dissolved organics and ammonia. Approximately 18% of the applied level of free chlorine and chloramine was recovered as residuals, measured by amperometric titration; however, no reason for this low recovery has been determined. Until it has been established that undetected chlorine and chloramine in seawater do not result in the production of toxic compounds, both applied and residual levels should be reported in toxicity studies.