Showing papers by "Kent State University published in 1989"

Conservation of resources. A new attempt at conceptualizing stress.

Abstract: Major perspectives concerning stress are presented with the goal of clarifying the nature of what has proved to be a heuristic but vague construct. Current conceptualizations of stress are challenged as being too phenomenological and ambiguous, and consequently, not given to direct empirical testing. Indeed, it is argued that researchers have tended to avoid the problem of defining stress, choosing to study stress without reference to a clear framework. A new stress model called the model of conservation of resources is presented as an alternative. This resource-oriented model is based on the supposition that people strive to retain, project, and build resources and that what is threatening to them is the potential or actual loss of these valued resources. Implications of the model of conservation of resources for new research directions are discussed.

Discriminant analysis of risk factors for sexual victimization among a national sample of college women.

Abstract: Examined the accuracy with which rape and lesser sexual assaults were predicted among a representative national sample of 2,723 college women. A total of 14 risk variables operationalized three vulnerability hypotheses: (a) vulnerability-creating traumatic experiences, (b) social-psychological vulnerability, and (c) vulnerability-enhancing situations. Each hypothesis was tested individually, and a composite model was developed via discriminant analysis. Only the traumatic experiences variables clearly improved over the base rates in identifying rape victims, but risk variables from each vulnerability hypothesis met criteria for inclusion in the composite model. A risk profile emerged that characterized only 10% of the women, but among them the risk of rape was twice the rate of women without the profile. The concept of traumatic sexualization was used to explain this finding. However, the vast majority of sexually victimized women (75-91%) could not be differentiated from nonvictims.

Attribution in Social and Parasocial Relationships

Abstract: This study examined social and parasocial interaction from interpersonal attribution perspectives. Parasocial interaction is a perceived interpersonal relationship on the part of a television viewer with a mass media persona. We proposed that attributional confidence associated with parasocial interaction would mirror that resulting from social interaction and that personal construct theory and uncertainty reduction theory might add to knowledge about the nature of attributional confidence. Soap-opera-viewing college students (N = 105) completed questionnaires. Analysis revealed that, similar to social relationships, parasocial relationships with favorite soap opera characters were based, to some extent, on reduction of uncertainty and the ability to predict accurately the feelings and attitudes of the persona. The discussion focuses on implications of these findings for uncertainty reduction theory and personal construct theory.

The Mutual Exclusivity Bias in Children's Word Learning

Abstract: Nearly every recent account of children's word learning has addressed the claim that children are biased to construct mutually exclusive extensions, that is, that they are disposed to keep the set of referents of one word from overlapping with those of others. Three basic positions have been taken--that children have the bias when they first start to learn words, that they never have it, and that they acquire it during early childhood. A review of diary and test evidence as well as the results of four experiments provide strong support for this last view and indicate that the bias develops in the months following the second birthday but does not gain full strength or become accessible to consciousness until sometime after the third birthday. Several studies also show that, after this point, it can still be counteracted by information in input or by a strong belief that something belongs to the extension of a particular word. The full body of evidence is compatible with the view that mutual exclusivity is the default option in children's and adults' procedures for integrating the extensions of new and old words. We present several arguments for the adaptive value of this kind of bias.

Hassles and uplifts of giving care to a family member with dementia.

Abstract: The role of daily caregiving stressors (hassles) and small caregiving satisfactions (uplifts) in the well-being of 60 family caregivers was investigated. Hassles and uplifts in 4 domains of caregiving were examined, and direct effects of hassles, uplifts on caregivers' social and psychological well-being, as well as the interactive and net effects of hassles and uplifts, were assessed. Hassles associated with care recipients' behavior demonstrated strongest associations with well-being. Women and caregivers to socially responsive yet behaviorally inappropriate care recipients reported more behavior and cognitive hassles. Uplifts associated with assistance in activities of daily living and with care recipients' behavior were related to well-being, with more uplifts related to greater, rather than less, depression. More intensely involved caregivers reported more of these uplifts. Net effects in the hypothesized direction were found, but no interactive effects emerged.

Test of an Argumentative Skill Deficiency Model of Interspousal Violence.

Abstract: A model of interpersonal physical violence is derived from the aggression literature and then is utilized to investigate interspousal violence. The model posits that verbal aggression is a catalyst to violence when societal, personal, and situational factors are strong enough to produce a hostile predisposition. Unless aroused by verbal aggression, a hostile disposition remains latent in the form of unexpressed anger. The framework suggests that persons in violent, marriages are more verbally aggressive than other people, and also produces the counterintuitive prediction that violent spouses are less argumentative than people in nonviolent marriages. A study is reported which compared clinical cases of abused wives and abusive husbands to a nonclinical population of husbands and wives. Strong support for the hypothesis was observed. Implications of the results are discussed in terms of understanding communication in violent marriages.

Security of Attachment and Preschool Friendships.

Abstract: Attachment theory proposes that the quality of the mother-child tie predicts the quality of a child's other close relationships. The purpose of this study was to test whether security of attachment to mother is related to the quality of a preschooler's best friendships. 33 4-year-old and their best friends participated (mean age = 46 months). Attachment Q-set data were collected to score security of mother-child attachment. Security data were used to classify the friend pairs as secure-secure or secure-insecure. Best friend dyads were observed for a 1-hour free-play session. Each pair's behavior was described with the Dyadic Relationships Q-set, a measure designed to describe the behavior of a pair of children. Secure-secure pairs were more harmonious, less controlling, more responsive, and happier than secure-insecure pairs. The results are related to previous work on attachment and social competence.

The Calcaneus of Australopithecus afarensis and Its Implications for the Evolution of Bipedality

Abstract: Calcanei from African apes, modern humans, and Australopithecus afarensis are compared to investigate the anatomical and mechanical changes that occurred in this bone as a result of the transition to terrestrial bipedality. Features analyzed include the cross-sectional area and volume of the calcaneal tuber, the geometry and orientation of the articular surfaces, and the surface topography of the calcaneal corpus. Calcaneal morphology is unequivocal in its partitioning of quadrupedal pongids and bipedal hominids.

Affective and cognitive antecedents to eating episodes in bulimia and binge eating

Abstract: The present study investigated seven antecedents to the binge-purge cycle proposed by Orleans and Barnett (1984), including restraint, stress, mood, thoughts of food, fatigue, hunger, and dichotomous cognitions. For 1 week, 19 bulimics, 15 binge eaters, and 20 normal control subjects recorded detailed information about these antecedent conditions and the types and quantities of food consumed for each eating episode. Results indicated that prior to their binge episodes, bulimics reported significantly greater stress, preoccupation with food, and negative mood than binge eaters reported prior to their binges and normal controls reported prior to all of their eating episodes. Both bulimics and binge eaters reported greater dichotomous cognitions prior to binge episodes than normal controls experienced prior to all of their eating episodes. Comparisons of the antecedents to eating episodes which bulimics and binge eaters regarded as nonbinge episodes with all eating episodes of the control group indicated that although bulimics and binge eaters experienced significantly greater negative moods than normal controls prior to their nonbinge episodes, only bulimics experienced significantly greater dichotomous cognitions prior to these eating episodes. Theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

Light modulating materials comprising a liquid crystal phase dispersed in a birefringent polymeric phase

Abstract: A haze-free light modulating polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) material is disclosed which comprises a polymer matrix which is birefringent and possesses anisotropic optical properties similar to those of the dispersed liquid crystal microdroplets such that the PDLC material in its transparent state exhibits a refractive index that is matched for all directions of incident light providing for an optically clear, scatter-free film for all angles of view. Electrooptic light shutters are possible from this material which are transparent in the field OFF-state and opaque in the field ON-state or vice versa, depending upon the microdroplet structure and configuration of the light shutter device.

On the limit sets of cellular automata

Abstract: The limit sets of cellular automata, defined by Wolfram, play an important role in applications of cellular automata to complex systems. A number of results on limit sets are proved, considering both finite and infinite configurations of cellular automata. The main concern of this paper is with testing membership and (essential) emptiness of limit sets for linear and two-dimensional cellular automata.

From rarity to evaluative extremity: effects of prevalence information on evaluations of positive and negative characteristics.

Abstract: Experiments showed a scarcity principle in evaluative judgments such that the identical characteristic is evaluated more extremely the lower its perceived prevalence. In Study 1, Ss evaluated a fictitious medical condition that was described as either beneficial or detrimental to health and as occurring in either 30% or in one half of 1% of a test population. The condition was evaluated more extremely--as as a more positive health asset or a more negative health liability--in the low-prevalence than in the high-prevalence conditions. Study 2 demonstrated the same effect in self-evaluations and with a different manipulation of perceived prevalence. Ss were told that they actually had the fictitious medical condition, that it was either beneficial or detrimental to their health, and either that they were the only 1 of 5 Ss who had it or that 4 of the 5 did. Low-prevalence Ss exhibited more extreme evaluative, affective, and behavioral reactions to the medical condition than did high-prevalence Ss. The origins and validity of the scarcity principle are discussed, as are its implications for uniqueness theory, reactance theory, and social evaluation theories.

Talk Radio as Interpersonal Communication

Abstract: Those who called in to talk radio programs tended to find face-to-face communication less rewarding, were less mobile, felt talk radio was more important to them, and listened for more hours a day than those who did not call but who did listen.

Misled subjects may know more than their performance implies

Abstract: Many studies have demonstrated that subjects exposed to misleading postevent information are likely to report the misinformation with confidence on subsequent tests of memory for the event. The purpose of the present studies was to determine whether subjects exposed to misleading postevent information come to believe they remember seeing the misinformation at the original event. A second question addressed by the present studies is whether exposure to misinformatio n reduces subjects' ability to remember the source of items they witnessed at the original event. In two experiments, subjects viewed a slide sequence depicting an event, were subsequently exposed to misleading information or neutral information about selected aspects of the event, and were later tested on their memory for the source of original and misleading details. The results showed that exposure to misinformatio n did not lead subjects to believe they remembered seeing the misinformation, nor did it reduce subjects' ability to accurately identify the source of originally seen details. The same pattern of results was obtained whether subjects were tested immediately (Experiment 1) or after a 1 -day delay (Experiment 2). Collectively, the results suggest that subjects may report misinformation even if they know they do not remember seeing it. Inaccuracies in eyewitness reporting are of great interest to cognitive psychologists because they can potentially provide insight into the workings of human memory. Perhaps the most widely studied eyewitness testimony failures are the inaccuracies brought about by exposure to misleading postevent suggestions. Many studies have demonstrated that subjects exposed to misinformatio n about selected aspects of a previously witnessed event are likely to incorrectly report the misinformation with confidence on subsequent tests of memory for the event (Bekerian & Bowers, 1983; Christiaansen & Ochalek, 1983; Loftus, 1975, 1977, 1979; McCloskey & Zaragoza, 1985a). For example, in a well-known study by Loftus, Miller, and Burns (1978), subjects viewed a slide sequence of an auto-pedestri an accident involving a stop sign. In the second phase of the experiment, some of the subjects were exposed to misleading information implying that the stop sign was a yield sign. When later asked whether they had seen a stop sign or a yield sign, subjects exposed to the misinformation were more likely to select the yield sign alternative than were subjects who had not been misled. The finding that subjects report misinformation with con

Cuphea: a new plant source of medium-chain fatty acids.

Abstract: The plant genus Cuphea (family Lythraceae) promises to provide a new source of industrially and nutritionally important medium-chain fatty acids, especially of lauric acid now supplied exclusively by coconut and palm kernel oils from foreign sources. The seed lipids of Cuphea were first discovered in the 1960s to contain high percentages of several medium-chain fatty acids, including caprylic, capric, lauric, and myristic acid. Research is still in the early stages, but it is intensifying toward the goal of developing the genus into a new temperate climate crop for production of specialty oils. Given the diversity of Cuphea seed lipid composition and the wide ecological and distributional range of the genus, it may be possible to tailor crops to produce selected fatty acids on demand under a variety of growing conditions. Cuphea comprises about 260 species, most native to the New World tropics. Its morphology, classification, chromosome numbers, distribution, ecology, and folk uses are presented. Seed structure is described and seed lipid composition for 73 species is summarized. Problems in domestication and agronomic progress are reviewed. Knowledge of the biosynthetic mechanism controlling the lipids produced by Cuphea remains very limited. Future research in this area, and particularly successful employment of gene transfer techniques, may allow genes controlling the mechanism to be transferred to an already established seed oil producer such as rapeseed. Presently, both traditional plant breeding techniques and newer biotechnological methods are directed toward Cuphea oilseed development.

Learning of Geometric Concepts in a Logo Environment

Abstract: To investigate the effects of computer programming in Logo on specific geometric conceptualizations of primary grade children, 48 third graders were randomly assigned to either a Logo or a control group. The Logo group was given 26 weeks of instruction in a Logo environment. The children were then interviewed to ascertain their conceptualizations of angles, shapes, and motions. In both groups children's notions of angle and angle measure were multifaceted and included a number of misconceptions, although performance was uniformly higher for the Logo group. The Logo children were more aware than the control children of the components of geometric shapes and were more likely to conceptualize geometric objects in terms of the actions or procedures used to construct them.

Argumentativeness and affirming communicator style as predictors of satisfaction/dissatisfaction with subordinates

Abstract: While previous research has focused on the communication characteristics of superiors which predict their subordinates’ satisfaction, this study investigated subordinates’ communication and satisfaction with the subordinate from the perspective of the superior. Superiors from a variety of organizations rated the communicator style and argumentativeness and verbal aggressiveness of a subordinate with whom they were either satisfied, dissatisfied, or undecided regarding the subordinate's job performance. The results supported a hypothesis about affirming communicator style and satisfactory subordinate job performance, and also a counterintuitive prediction about how argumentativeness relates to appraisal of subordinates.

Predicting receipt of social support: a longitudinal study of parents' reactions to their child's illness.

Abstract: A sample of 101 women whose children required medical attention were interviewed at the time of initial hospital contact and again 1 year later. On the second occasion, their spouses were also interviewed for their assessment of their wives' personal and social characteristics. Greater personal resources, more intimate relations, and lower discomfort in seeking support were related to greater receipt of social support 1 year later. Chronic stress conditions were found, however, to diminish the effect of individuals' social characteristics on receipt of support. Spouses assessments showed moderate agreement with that of their wives, lending support to the validity of the findings. Implications for interventions in health-care settings were discussed.

Reflective Writing and the Spirit of Inquiry

Abstract: (1989). Reflective Writing and the Spirit of Inquiry. Cambridge Journal of Education: Vol. 19, No. 1, pp. 71-80.

Histopathological changes induced by malathion in the gills of bluegill Lepomis macrochirus.

Abstract: Malathion is a widely used broad spectrum organophosphorus insecticide. Its wide use provides many occasions for its entry into aquatic environments. The presence of this chemical in the aquatic environment would adversely affect many non-target species like fish. About 50 to 90% of the absorbed malathion can be eliminated in one to three days by the fish. About 25% of malathion remained in river water after 2 wk, and 10% remained after 4 wk from the time of its entry. Respiratory distress is one of the early symptoms of pesticide poisoning. These toxicants appear to cause a loss of adhesion between the epithelial cells and the underlying pillar cell system, accompanied by a collapse of the structural integrity of the secondary lamellae. Gills are important in respiration as well as osmoregulation of the fish. Therefore it was decided to study the effects of malathion on the gills of bluegill sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus. Bluegills were selected for this study due to the following reasons: (1) Bluegills are more sensitive to malathion when compared to fathead minnows and goldfish. (2) They are important both as edible and game fish. (3) They are easily available and easy to maintain in the laboratory.

Effect of chronic endurance exercise on retention of dietary protein.

Abstract: On two separate occasions, five well-trained endurance runners (VO2max = 71 +/- 5 ml/kg/min; means +/- SD) consumed a meat-free diet for 6 days. For one trial the subjects consumed the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of protein (REC-PRO = 0.86 +/- 0.23 g/kg body wt/day). Protein intake for the other trial was 1.7 times higher (HI-PRO = 1.49 +/- 0.29 g/kg body wt/day). Each subject followed his regular training program (12-16 km running/day), and on day 5 of each diet completed a treadmill run at a similar intensity and duration (75 min at 72% VO2max). Seventy-two hour urinary urea N loss (days 4, 5, and 6 of each diet) and day 5 exercise sweat urea N excretion were measured. Serum urea N and creatinine increased significantly during the treadmill run under both dietary conditions (P less than 0.05). No significances between diet differences were observed in sweat or urinary urea N excretion; however, excretion of both tended to be higher on the REC-PRO diet than on the HI-PRO diet. The differences in protein intake combined with the nitrogen excretion measures resulted in significant differences in estimated whole-body nitrogen retention between the two treatments. Nitrogen retention (means +/- SE) remained positive during the HI-PRO trial (2.41 +/- 1.99 g/day) but was significantly (P less than 0.005) reduced to -5.29 +/- 2.58 g/day during the REC-PRO trial. These results suggest that the current protein RDA may be inadequate for athletes engaging in chronic high-intensity endurance exercise. Future studies are needed to confirm this observation.

Latest cretaceous/earliest tertiary transition on seymour island, antarctica

Abstract: ABsTRAcr-Seymour Island, Antarctica (64?17'S), offers the first opportunity to examine the crisis at the end of the Cretaceous from the high southern latitudes. The K/T boundary sequence on Seymour Island consists of a nearly continuous sequence of siliciclastic sediments deposited in a mid-shelf environment. The faunal changes across the boundary occur through a 30-m interval with no single extinction horizon, in contrast to other well-studied K/T boundary sections. The "expanded" nature of the Seymour Island section makes placement of the K/T boundary difficult because boundary indicators such as planktic foraminifera, ammonites, and dinocysts disappear at different levels within the section.

Athlete Burnout: Potential for Research and Intervention Strategies

Abstract: Burnout research has predominately focused on individuals within the helping professions, such as teachers and social workers. Only recently have studies been conducted to include the sports world. However, these studies focus only upon coaches (Capel, Sisley, & Desertrain, 1987) and athletic trainers (Capel, 1986), not on athletes. This review examines the literature on burnout and specifically relates it to athletes. Major findings from the literature are identified. In addition, future directions in athlete burnout research are recognized, and possible variables contributing to athlete burnout are examined.

The Impact of Physical Attractiveness, Gender, and Teaching Philosophy on Teacher Evaluations

Abstract: This study explored the impact of teachers’ physical appearance and teaching philosophy on other persons’ perceptions of their competence. Secondary-level student teachers were given photographs of attractive and unattractive teachers of both genders. Each photograph was attached to a written statement about teaching, describing the teachers’ instructional approach as either authoritarian or humanistic. We did not find any main effects of attractiveness or gender upon perceptions of competence. These findings contradicted the results of some previous studies in which the only basis for evaluation was a photograph. A significant interaction occurred between attractiveness, gender, and authoritarianism. The attractive female authoritarian teacher was rated significantly less negatively than the other three types of authoritarian teachers. We hypothesized that she may have been less credible as an authoritarian figure and was consequently spared some of the negativity directed toward the others.

Fecal sac removal: do the pattern and distance of dispersal affect the chance of nest predation?

Abstract: Etude de la predation sur le nid et de l'influence des excrements dans le reperage du predateur. Le pattern et la distance de dispersion de ces excrements sont determines pour estimer leur influence dans l'evitement de la predation

Reading and spelling connections in third and fifth grade students

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the connections between the oral reading abilities and the spelling behaviors of third and fifth grade students. Seventy-two third graders and sixty fifth graders from two different schools (one urban and one suburban) were the subjects of the study. Each subject read a selection one level above his/her current grade placement, spelled the words on the appropriate grade level list of the Qualitative Inventory of Word Knowledge and took the appropriate level of the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Tests. Oral readings were scored for accuracy, rate and phrasing. Spellings were scored for accuracy, phonetic quality and stage of spelling development. These scores were then analyzed using correlations, partial correlations and multiple regression techniques. At both grade levels there were high, significant correlations between spelling and reading variables, with spelling variables accounting for from 40% to 60% of the variance in oral reading measures and a smaller, but stil...