Parent ratings of EAS temperaments in twins, full siblings, half siblings, and step siblings.

A twin/family design was used to explore genetic contributions to personality; to evaluate whether twins and nontwins yield different genetic results; and to test for the presence of contrast effects, the tendency of a rater to contrast one sibling with the other, thereby magnifying existing behavioral differences. The sample consisted of 708 adolescent same-sex sibling pairs from 10 to 18 years of age. Pairs included identical (monozygotic; MZ) and fraternal (dizygotic; DZ) twins, and full siblings in nondivorced families; and full, half, and unrelated siblings in stepfamilies. Mothers and fathers rated the temperament of their children on the EAS Temperament Survey (A. H. Buss & R. Plomin, 1984). Model-fitting analyses revealed significant genetic infiuences on each of the four EAS dimensions; however, for some dimensions, heritability estimates were significantly greater for twins than for nontwins. Overall, the data were best described by a sibling interaction model, which indicated significant contrast effects. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Looking as strongly as we should in the right places: Reply to Norcross and Rossi (1994).

In response to J. C. Norcross and J. S. Rossi's (see record 1994-38252-001) comment on our article (D. A. Shapiro et al; see record 1994-38260-001), we note that research as reported does not fully represent the processes whereby it was designed and completed. The true statistical power of an investigation reflects all the analyses carried out, not just those that get reported. The power of our analyses was sufficient to address the substantive questions at issue. The importance of these questions does not depend on allegiance to equivalent outcomes of diverse therapies. The outcome phase of the Second Sheffield Psychotherapy Project is but part of its broad strategic approach to advancing our understanding of the mechanisms of change in the psychotherapies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Short-term memory and strategy use in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

The present study was designed to examine recall and rehearsal in short-term memory among children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Children with onset of IDDM before age 5 years, children with onset after 5 years, and children without IDDM were administered a measure of short-term memory that provides information about rehearsal as well as level of recall. Children with later onset of diabetes and children without IDDM were expected to recall more words and use more effective rehearsal strategies than children with early onset of diabetes. Results indicate that children diagnosed with IDDM early in life used similar rehearsal strategies but recalled fewer words than children with later onset of diabetes and children without IDDM. In addition, results provide evidence that children who are in poor control of their diabetes did not use strategies designed to increase recall as often, or as well as, children in better control of their diabetes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

White children's attitudes toward Blacks and the physically handicapped: A developmental study.

Children's behavior toward adults who differed from them along 2 dimensions was examined from a developmental perspective. A total of 80 White kindergartners and 4th graders were tested individually by either a Black or a White female adult who either was or was not seated in a wheelchair. Three kinds of behavior toward the adult were measured: physical distancing, imitation, and helping. On the basis of previous findings, it was predicted that children at both age levels would show more physical avoidance, less imitation, and less helping in the presence of other-race and handicap cues, as compared with own-race and nonhandicap cues. On all 3 types of behavior, the White E was favored over the Black E in both the wheelchair and nonwheelchair conditions. In addition, there were interaction effects involving race, handicap, age, and sex that suggest the operation of complex developmental processes in the formation of attitudes toward different types of stigmatized individuals. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Circulation analysis and lift placing in hospitals

A method for measuring the efficiency of circulation of traffic within buildings has been developed, applicable to buildings for which the traffic flows are known. A method has also been developed for placing lift banks or escalators so as to maintain an efficient circulation in buildings covering a large ground area.     

Transition from virginity to nonvirginity among youth: A social-psychological study over time.

A social psychology of behavior was employed to account for variation in an aspect of development-the transition from virginity to nonvirginity. Personality, perceived environment, and behavioral measures were collected by questionnaires administered annually to 186 male and 242 female high school students during 1969-1972, and to 78 male and 102 female undergraduates during 1970-1973. In cross-sectional comparisons, nonvirgins differed from virgins in the theoretically expected transition-prone direction on variables, including higher value on independence, lower value on achievement, greater social criticism and tolerance of deviance, and greater friends' models for deviance. In longitudinal comparisons, virgins who were to become nonvirgins in the subsequent year were already significantly more transition-prone on these antecedent measures than virgins who were to remain virgins. The results were stronger at the high school than at the college level, and for females than for males. (25 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)