Tue, Jan 26 2010 1:39 AM by Meyer, Christine Sandra; Hagmann-von Arx, Priska; Lemola, Sakari; Grob, Alexander
For more than a century the veracity of Spearman's postulate that there is a nearly perfect correspondence between general intelligence and general sensory discrimination has remained unresolved. Most studies have found significant albeit small correlations. However, this can be used neither to confirm nor dismiss Spearman's postulate, a major weakness of previous research being that only single discrimination capacities were considered rather than general discrimination. The present study examines Spearman's hypothesis with a sample of 1,330 5- to 10-year-old children, using structural equation modeling. The results support Spearman's hypothesis with a strong correlation (r = .78). Results are discussed in terms of the validity of the general sensory discrimination factor. In addition, age-group-specific analyses explored the age differentiation hypothesis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved)
Tue, Jan 26 2010 1:39 AM by Schmidt, Sarah; Randler, Christoph
Eating disorders and morningness-eveningness preferences are presumed to be associated with each other. We tested this hypothesis in an adolescent population using a questionnaire for morningness (CSM) and three scales of the EDI-2: drive for thinness, bulimic behavior, and body dissatisfaction. After controlling for age and BMI, we found a positive association between eveningness and all three scales; evening-oriented girls reported higher values in eating disorders. There was a positive correlation between body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness on the one side and bedtimes during the week and on the weekend on the other, again supporting the view that eveningness and eating disorders are associated. The association between circadian preference and eating disorders thus emerges already in adolescence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved)
Tue, Jan 26 2010 1:39 AM by Meyer, Thomas D.; Barton, Stephen; Baur, Marina; Jordan, Gabriele
The role of attributional style in bipolar disorder has received empirical support. Research suggests that a pattern of global, stable, and possibly internal attributions for positive events might even trigger mania. We tested whether hypothesized risk factors for bipolar disorder are associated with such attributions after feedback of success in an ability- and chance-based test. University students (n = 115) completed the Behavioral Inhibition and Behavioral Activation Scales (BIS/BAS) and the Hypomanic Personality Scale (HPS) to assess risk for bipolar disorder. In addition, participants were interviewed using the Structured Clinical Interview. All participants performed an ability-based (intelligence) test and a chance-based (dice-throwing) test, and success was induced by providing positive feedback regardless of their actual test performance. Attributions of perceived success were assessed after each test. Results showed that high scores on the BAS scale were generally predictive of self-serving attributions in the ability-based test, while scores on the HPS predicted a more global and self-serving attributional style in the chance-based test. Current depression, lifetime affective disorder, BIS, or the dysregulation of the BAS did not consistently predict attributions on either test. Despite some methodological limitations, results suggest that anticipated or experienced success in skill-related contexts triggers self-serving attributions in individuals scoring high on the BAS scale, while perceived positive outcome in chance-related, more unrealistic contexts triggers similar attributions in individuals scoring high on the HPS. Future research has to examine whether these overly positive attributions after positive, chance-related situations are a stable characteristic with respect to vulnerability to mania. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved)
Tue, Jan 26 2010 1:39 AM by Goldbeck, Lutz; Daseking, Monika; Hellwig-Brida, Susanne; Waldmann, Hans C.; Petermann, Franz
This study investigates cognitive sex differences in child and adolescent intelligence as measured by the WISC-IV (German edition; Petermann & Petermann, 2007). It was hypothesized that there would be no differences attributable to sex in Full Scale IQ (FSIQ), but on various composite score levels. Sex effects were expected to be more pronounced during/after puberty than before. Method: The standardization sample of the German WISC-IV (N = 1650) was used to assess and evaluate sex differences in test performance across defined age groups (6–9, 10–12, and 13–16 years). Results: At all ages, there were no gender effects in the Full-Scale IQ, but gender effects favoring boys in the Verbal Comprehension Index (t = 3.94, p
Tue, Jan 26 2010 1:39 AM by Ziegler, Matthias; Schmukle, Stefan; Egloff, Boris; B�hner, Markus
After a long debate there is now growing agreement that implicit and explicit achievement motivation can be seen as distinct constructs. One of their major differences lies in their predictive validity, which supposedly differs depending on the setting. Empirical evidence exists to the effect that different explicit measures based on different theoretical concepts build one construct. For implicit measures, however, such evidence is lacking. Thus, scores on three implicit and three explicit achievement motivation measures, an intelligence test, and a Big 5 questionnaire were obtained (N = 150) as well as two criteria. The explicit achievement motivation measures were classified as being based either on Murray's or on McClelland's theory. Results replicate the idea of a common construct for explicit measures but not for implicit measures. The assumed predictions did not occur for all tests and disappeared when controlling for intelligence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved)
Tue, Jan 26 2010 1:39 AM by Wilhelm, Oliver; Witth�ft, Michael; Schipolowski, Stefan
The Cognitive Failure Questionnaire (CFQ) is a well-known and frequently used self-report measure of cognitive lapses and slips, for example, throwing away the candy bar and keeping the wrapping. Measurement models of individual differences in cognitive failures have failed to produce consistent results so far. In this article we establish a measurement model distinguishing three factors of self-reported cognitive failures labeled Clumsiness, Retrieval, and Intention forgotten. The relationships of the CFQ factors with a variety of self-report instruments are investigated. Measures of minor lapses, neuroticism, functional and dysfunctional self-consciousness, cognitive interference, and memory complaints provide evidence across several studies for the interpretation of self-reported cognitive failures as an aspect of neuroticism that primarily reflects general subjective complaints about cognition. We conclude that self-report measures about cognition ought to be interpreted as expressing worries about one's cognition rather than measuring cognitive abilities themselves. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved)
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