Behavior-based versus trait-oriented performance ratings: An empirical study.

23 US Navy officer raters evaluated the performance of subordinate officers using (a) behaviorally anchored scales, (b) scales containing the same dimensions and definitions but without behavioral anchors, and (c) a series of scales involving trait-oriented dimensions, also without anchors. Comparisons of the formats' psychometric properties indicated that the behaviorally anchored scale format was somewhat superior to the other 2 on 3 of 4 dependent variables (involving estimates of leniency, halo, interrater agreement, and degree of differentiation among ratees). However, the magnitudes of the differences due to formats were small, in no case exceeding more than 5% of the variance on the dependent variable. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Group performance as function of task difficulty and the group's awareness of member satisfaction.

Investigated the hypothesis that group effectiveness increases with increased member awareness of group satisfaction, and that this effect is greater for difficult than for easy tasks. 5-person groups attempted 3 tasks differing in difficulty, under 3 conditions of satisfaction feedback: no feedback, overt feedback, and covert feedback. In the overt condition, Ss publicly indicated their satisfaction with the problem-solving process, whereas in the covert condition their satisfaction was indicated anonymously. The results supported the hypothesis. It was suggested that valid communication of satisfaction leads to more complete use of members' contributions, and hence improves performance. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Why Teacher Certification for School Psychologists?": Comment.

Comments on Piers' article (American Psychologist, 1959, 14, 656-657). Powell agrees with Piers' comments but notes that Piers did not mention another area of confusion: the college training programs for school psychologists. Powell asserts that there is often conflict between education and psychology departments concerning whose function it should be to train the school psychologist. It is suggested that there is a need for both departments to upgrade the courses required for school psychologists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

PIT: A macro-implemented implementation language

An implementation technique called PIT, for pseudo instructional technique, is described which utilizes the macro capabilities of most macro assemblers. A low level machine architecture is described via a set of macros that include some ‘high level’ features. Since the macros manipulate computer words, and refer to actual registers, their implementation in a system is relatively efficient, but since they do not reflect any one particular hardware design, they can be implemented by almost any macro assembler. Tests are built into the macros so that a PIT program will run without change on any machine that has defined these macros This technique should provide an alternative to using higher level languages as implementation languages if the object code produced by those compilers is deemed too slow (or too large) for the application that is being programmed.     

Do fire retardants contaminate helicopters?

A fear that certain fire retardants will corrode aircraft and produce a structural failure or engine damage, has deterred fire control agencies from using helicopters to apply them. Using a dye as a substitute for a fire retardant, the authors conducted tests with several combinations of helicopter and tank types to determine where and how much material would be sprayed on the aircraft during dumping operations.     

Dimensions of sensation seeking.

Tested 63 new items for the Sensation Seeking Scale (SSS) in an attempt to develop new scales representative of hypothesized dimensions of sensation seeking. An experimental form was given to 332 and 92 undergraduates at 2 universities. Data from the 1st university was factor analyzed separately for males and females. Besides the general factor running through diverse items, 4 factors were extracted from the rotated factor loadings: thrill and adventure seeking, experience seeking, disinhibition, and boredom susceptibility. The 1st 3 factors showed good factor and internal scale reliability in both sexes and samples. Since boredom susceptibility was not well defined in females and was of minimal reliability, it was retained as a subscale for males only. (24 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Contrasting patterns of fantasy and motility in Irish and Italian schizophrenics.

Several hypotheses concerning differences in fantasy and motor activity of schizophrenics of Irish and Italian descent were developed on the basis of anthropological evaluation of cultural patterns and child-rearing practices. Schizophrenics of Irish descent were expected to be more given to imaginative behavior and motor control when compared with those of Italian descent. Psychological instruments used were the Rorschach, Barron's Movement-Threshold Inkblots, TAT, Porteus Mazes, tests of time estimation, motor inhibition, admission-denial of frustration, and ward behavior ratings. 60 male, veteran patients were used as Ss, one-half of Irish and one-half of Italian descent. The results appeared to support the hypothesis of persistent differences in motor and fantasy activity. Implications for review of psychiatric nosology, personality research, and interdisciplinary collaboration were suggested. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The case of clinical psychology: A search for identity.

Clinical psychology presents itself in a state of chronic anxiety, great ambivalence, insecurity, and self-doubt." Clinical psychology is confused concerning its identity. The "role of the internship in the training of clinical psychologists is a crucial one." It should provide a clear example of the role model the clinician will eventually be expected to assume. "Both academic departments and internship training centers must assume fully their responsibility for training clinical students in the role society demands of them." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Synthesis and thermodynamics of oligonucleotides containing chirally pure R(P) methylphosphonate linkages

Methylphosphonate (MP) oligodeoxynucleotides (MPOs) are metabolically stable analogs of conventional DNA containing a methyl group in place of one of the non-bonding phosphoryl oxygens. All 16 possible chiral R(P) MP dinucleotides were synthesized and derivatized for automated oligonucleotide synthesis. These dimer synthons can be used to prepare (i) all-MP linked oligonucleotides having defined R(P) chirality at every other position (R(P) chirally enriched MPOs) or (ii) alternating R(P) MP/phosphodiester backbone oligonucleotides, depending on the composition of the 3'-coupling group. Chirally pure dimer synthons were also prepared with 2'-O-methyl sugar modifications. Oligonucleotides prepared with these R(P) chiral methylphosphonate linkage synthons bind RNA with significantly higher affinity than racemic MPOs.