Impact of attrition on studies of noncompliance.

Describes 2 studies that investigated past compliant behavior of volunteers and nonvolunteers in noncompliance research. In Study 1, past attendance compliance was examined for 87 Ss divided into 5 groups; Ss responded to 2 requests to participate. Participants were found to have been compliant and nonparticipants to have been noncompliant. Study 2, with 67 Ss, extended the research on the participants to determine that early dropouts were more noncompliant than those who remained to the end of the study. Taken together, the findings indicate that sampling bias exists in studies of noncompliance in volunteer samples. (5 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Untangling the performance appraisal dilemma: The influence of perceived organizational context on evaluative processes.

Previous laboratory studies found that the presence of a noncompliant worker, who deliberately refused to obey orders, resulted in an increased number of rewards and higher performance evaluations assigned by managers to compliant workers. The present study investigated whether these laboratory based findings could be detected in an ongoing work situation. 50 supervisors of clerical workers indicated that number of noncompliant workers in their work unit and evaluated the performance of their remaining compliant workers. Information on pay raises given these compliant workers was also obtained. The greater the proportion of noncompliant workers in a unit, the more favorable the supervisor's judgments of his or her compliant workers. Recommendations for promotion, pay raises, and actual pay raises given to compliant workers were also predicted as a function of the proportion of noncompliant workers, with correlations ranging from .25 to .48. Implications for understanding supervisory judgments are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Parental problem-solving skills, stress, and dietary compliance in phenylketonuria.

Parents of 30 children with phenylketonuria (PKU) who were classified as being in good dietary control (compliant, measured as within the medically acceptable range of blood phenylalanine levels of 2–20 mg) or poor dietary control (noncompliant, measured as either below or above medically acceptable 2–20 mg blood phenylalanine levels) engaged in verbal and written problem-solving situations under conditions of both high and low time-pressure induced stress. Overall, compliant parents gave higher quality verbal and written problem-solving solutions than noncompliant parents. Stress reduced the quality of problem solving in both compliant and noncompliant parents, but even under high stress, compliant parents demonstrated better problem-solving abilities than noncompliant parents. The potential importance of these findings for preventive intervention in PKU families is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interrelationships among individual difference variables, behavior in psychotherapy, and verbal conditioning.

3 variables studied were S's score on personality inventory scales, therapists' rating of S's behavior in the psychotherapy situation, and Ss performance in a verbal conditioning situation. The Ss were 60 neurotic and psychotic patients, 58 of whom were men; the Autobiographical Survey was the Personality inventory. With regard to the Autobiographical Survey, high scores on the Test Anxiety and Lack of Protection scales were associated with higher levels of verbal conditioning; high Defensiveness scores with poor verbal conditioning. Patients rated by their psychotherapists as being very compliant were found to perform in the verbal conditioning at a higher level than patients rated as being relatively noncompliant. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Predicting medical compliance among adolescents with cystic fibrosis.

Developed an incomplete stories assessment tool based on a competency/coping skills model in predicting medical compliance of adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF). Data from 40 CF patients (aged 13–23 yrs) were compared to objective measures of each S's medical compliance. Results show that the test was positively correlated with compliance and discriminated compliant from noncompliant Ss. It is suggested that data derived from Ss' responses could be used projectively to provide information useful to clinicians treating adolescents with CF. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The direct effect of graft compliance mismatch per se on development of host arterial intimal hyperplasia at the anastomotic interface

To study the direct and sole effect of compliance mismatch on anastomotic intimal hyperplasia of the host arterial wall and to minimize possible confounding factors, dogs with a low thrombotic potential were selected as experimental subjects. Externally supported 6 cm x 5 mm Dacron grafts with a compliance value of approximately 1/300 of the host artery were implanted into the carotid arteries with end-to-end anastomoses on one side and end-to-side anastomoses on the other. The control graft was an autogenous carotid artery segment 4 cm in length transplanted into the femoral artery. Eight cases (24 grafts) were studied for 1 year and three (nine grafts) for 6 months. All were patent throughout the study period except for two noncompliant grafts with end-to-end anastomoses; thrombosis was the documented cause of occlusion. For the patent grafts, follow-up arteriograms showed no progressive narrowing of noncompliant anastomoses. Whether compliant or noncompliant, light microscopy studies showed slight intimal thickening within 1 to 2 mm of the anastomotic line, possibly the result of the normal healing response to stitch and surgical trauma. Quantitatively, 22 measurements representing longitudinal and circumferential thickness of the neointima were taken at each of the 40 patent noncompliant and 22 patent compliant control anastomoses. There was no statistically significant difference in anastomotic neointimal thickness in compliant and noncompliant grafts or for the different implantation periods. These data suggest that graft/host artery compliance mismatch does not cause arterial intimal hyperplasia at the anastomotic interface.     

Health independence and developmental tasks of adulthood in cystic fibrosis.

Examined participation in health behaviors, health locus of control, and negotiation of developmental tasks of adulthood with 75 patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), aged 18–42 yrs old. Ss completed the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale. Results indicate there were a number of health behaviors for which Ss had not yet assumed responsibility, such as managing their medical insurance correspondence and monitoring nutrition. Ss reported that they were more compliant with their medical regimen currently than when first assuming responsibility for their health as adolescents. Multidimensional health locus of control profiles were similar to those of other chronic illness populations. Most Ss appeared to have successfully mastered adult developmental tasks, such as living independently, getting married, and attaining educational or vocational goals. Ss who continued to live with their parents tended to be younger. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of cooperative and competitive interdependence and task complexity on subordinates' productivity, perception of leader, and group development.

Hypothesized that subordinates would (1) complete complex tasks more effectively, find their leader more supportive, and develop their group more when the leader structured cooperation rather than competition and (2) complete simple tasks more effectively under conditions of competition. 72 college students took the role of co-workers. The leader gave them either a complex or simple task and placed them in cooperation or competition. Ss in cooperation solved the complex task more effectively, considered the leader more supportive, and came to like and trust each other more compared to Ss in the competitive condition. Leaders who structured competition were seen as production oriented in the simple task condition. Results are interpreted as suggesting that leaders' structuring of cooperation can strengthen subordinates' groups and induce these groups to complete challenging organizational tasks. (French abstract) (31 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Children's justifications for their adult and peer-directed compliant (prosocial and nonprosocial) behaviors.

Examined differences in the quality of child–child and adult–child interactions and children's reasoning about their own compliant behaviors. 61 45–65 mo olds were observed in their classrooms and were interviewed briefly concerning their behavior whenever they were seen complying with either an adult's or a peer's request or demand. Only 32% of compliant behaviors requested by adults were prosocial (directly benefited another), whereas 76% of compliant behaviors requested by peers were prosocial. Ss frequently justified behaviors requested by adults with references to authorities' dictates and punishment. Ss attributed behaviors requested by peers to other-oriented or relational (friendship, liking) concerns more frequently than they did behaviors requested by adults. The difference in the use of authority/punishment and other-oriented justifications for peer- and adult-requested behaviors was found with regard to both prosocial and nonprosocial requests; Ss used more justifications regarding liking of others and friendship only when the request was prosocial in content. Data are discussed in terms of their support for theorists' assertions regarding the difference in peer and adult interaction and in relation to the literature on children's reasoning and attributions about prosocial behaviors. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evaluation of an obstacle detector for the blind.

3 series of training sessions were conducted to evaluate an obstacle detector, using 26 totally blind Ss. Performance was assessed in 1 pretraining session with the customary mode of travel and 3 posttraining sessions with the detector. Ss were also given several psychological tests and 2 interviews. Using the detector on a standard obstacle course, Ss took longer to walk than with customary aid, but errors were the same. Ss who walked unassisted made fewer errors with the detector than without it. For those Ss using a cane or a dog, it was of little help. After more training on the use of the detector, Ss reduced the time to walk the obstacle course while errors remained about the same. On the field tests Ss made fewer errors but took longer with the customary mode of travel. About ? of Ss indicated a desire to own the instrument. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Experimental investigation on the effects of study and testing on student learning, retention, and ratings of instruction.

Measures of learning and retention were obtained in ongoing college-level classes along with student ratings of instruction. Analyses of the resulting data from 90 undergraduates show that Ss who studied for and took a test not only achieved more but also retained their learning longer than Ss who "studied in order to learn rather than for a test." However, ratings of the method of instruction were lower when Ss were tested. It is concluded that testing is valuable in the learning process, but teachers who test might expect less positive evaluations from their students. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Surreptitiously observed hypnotic responding in simulators and in skill-trained and untrained high hypnotizables.

Low-hypnotizable Ss (LHs) administered cognitive skill training exhibited substantially higher posttest hypnotizability than LHs administered no treatment. Next, the Ss in these 2 conditions as well as Ss who attained high hypnotizability without training and LHs instructed to fake hypnosis (i.e., simulators) were individually tested for hypnotizability twice while their responses were recorded by a hidden camera. In the individual session, Ss were first tested for hypnotizability while alone and then tested again in the presence of an experimenter. The skill-trained Ss and high-hypnotizable controls attained equivalent (high) hypnotizability scores with the experimenter both absent and present. However, when the experimenter was absent, the simulators exhibited lowered hypnotizability and apparently failed to adopt the hypnotic role. These findings contradict the hypothesis that high hypnotizability in skill-trained Ss reflects compliant responding. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Alternative ways of analyzing effects of a short school break on students with and without disabilities.

Studied the effects of a 3-wk school break on the mathematics performance of students with and without disabilities. Ss were 84 students (aged 8–15 yrs) with mild disabilities and 44 students (aged 8–25 yrs) without disabilities in an urban elementary school in a southeastern state. Ss took the curriculum-based measurement (L. S. Fuchs, l986) of mathematics during the 3-wk periods before and after the 3-wk school winter break. Prebreak and postbreak performance scores showed that the Ss did not regress over the short break. Progress trends showed that Ss who were making gains before the break were negatively affected, and Ss with negative prebreak trends improved after the break. Both performance and progress should be considered when planning the school year. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Teaching behaviors of 9- and 11-year-old girls in mixed-age and same-age dyads.

Examined the hypothesis that the accommodations made by tutors according to the age of their tutees are not specific to the CA of the tutors themselves. Ss were 32 11-yr-old, 32 9-yr-old, and 16 7-yr-old females. Ss who were 9 and 11 yrs old, having learned the rules governing a board game, were asked to teach other Ss to play the game. Nine-year-old tutors taught 9- and 7-yr-old tutees; 11-yr-old tutors taught 11-, 9-, and 7-yr-olds. The tutees' behaviors did not vary among these dyads, but the behaviors of their tutors did. Tutors instructing younger Ss used repetitions, strategic advice, progress checkups, direct assistance, and praise more frequently than tutors who instructed same-age tutees. Overall, results are consistent with the hypothesis that elementary school children possess an implicit "theory of teaching," which assumes that younger children require more cognitive structuring and more supportive and corrective feedback than same-age children. (13 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of heightened motivation on the detection of deception.

1 of 5 cards was selected by each S and 2 minutes association to this card was required. GSR response to the selected card was compared to the responses for nonselected cards in 2 groups of Ss. 1 group was motivated to "deceive the operator and withhold responses." The other group was given no special instruction. The hypothesis that Ss who are motivated to deceive will more frequently produce disproportional large skin resistance responses to critical items as opposed to noncritical items than will Ss who have not been so motivated was upheld. Ss who were motivated to deceive were more successfully detected. In addition detection took place at a much greater than chance level in the motivated group, while in the other group it occurred only at chance levels. The degree of autonomic response to significant stimuli appears to be a function of the motivational state of the S. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The treatment of elective mutism as stranger reaction.

Discusses the treatment of 15 preschool children with elective mutism (EM), which involves a fixation at or a regression to an earlier developmental stage when children typically exhibit stranger anxiety. It is suggested that the treatment of EM children should be determined by developmental considerations as well as etiological theories and that treatment should focus on unblocking of maturational processes. Treatment techniques and setting are described. Case examples illustrate that there were subtypes of EM children who were compliant and who were noncompliant and aggressively avoidant. The former responded to slow, psychodynamically oriented treatment and the latter responded to group therapy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Does media violence increase children's toleration of real-life aggression?

Randomly divided 22 male and 22 female 3rd and 4th graders into groups for a 2 * 2 (Sex * Film/No Film) factorial design. Ss in the aggressive film group saw a cowboy film that depicted many violent events. All Ss were led to believe that they were responsible for watching the behavior of 2 younger children whom they could see on a videotape monitor. The younger children at first played quietly, then became progressively destructive. Their altercation culminated in a physical fight ending with the apparent destruction of the television camera. The dependent measures were (a) the time it took an S to seek adult help after the younger children began to be disruptive and (b) whether or not the S waited until the younger children had begun to abuse one another physically before seeking adult help. Results show that (a) Ss who saw an aggressive film took longer to seek adult help than Ss who did not see the film and (b) Ss in the film group were much more likely to tolerate all but violent physical aggression and destruction before seeking help. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The generalization of the effects of agreement and correctness on relative competence mediating conformity.

Presented a social communication task to 215 Canadian high school students (Grades 8-13). Results show that correctness and group agreement interacted with grade level, producing varying degrees of perceived competence relative to a simulated group. For Ss in Grades 8-10 only, the experimental manipulation of relative competence influenced conformity; Ss who were told that they were more competent than the group conformed less than those who were told that they were either less competent than or as competent as the group. Ss who perceived themselves to be more competent than the group also conformed less. Other findings are that: (a) females showed significantly higher conformity, (b) Ss in Grades 11-13 indicated more suspicion and awareness of the possibility of deception, and (c) no differences in conformity existed between suspicious and nonsuspicious Ss. (French summary) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Some conditions of meaningful learning for computer programming: Advance organizers and subject control of frame order.

In 2 experiments, a total of 160 nonprogrammers (undergraduates) learned a computer programming language and took a multileveled transfer posttest. Ss who were given pretraining with a concrete model of the computer before learning performed better on novel transfer and worse on near transfer relative to no-pretraining Ss including Ss who were given posttraining with the same model after learning. Similar differences in the pattern of transfer were noted for Ss who controlled the order of presentation of frames relative to E-controlled Ss. Results suggest that availability and activation of assimilative sets influence the structure of learning outcomes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of consciousness-raising groups on measures of feminism, self-esteem, and social desirability.

34 female undergraduates in 2 consciousness-raising groups were objectively assessed to determine whether changes relating to self-reported profeminist attitudes and behaviors and relating to self-esteem and social desirability would occur. 22 Ss were randomly assigned to either a 16-hr marathon group format or a 2-hr, 8-wk time-spaced group format. 12 additional Ss who took objective measures at the same time as 1 of the 2 groups acted as no-treatment controls. All experimental Ss significantly shifted toward more self-reported profeminist attitudes and behaviors both at posttesting and at follow-up. Two personality measures did not reveal any lasting changes. When compared with each other, Ss in the 2 time formats did not evidence any significant differences. When compared with control Ss, time-spaced Ss reported significantly more profeminist behavioral changes and an increase in self-esteem. Marathon Ss were significantly different from controls on a profeminist attitude measure (Attitudes Toward Women Scale). The purpose for which consciousness-raising groups have been formed was empirically supported by desired changes reported by Ss in relation to more profeminist attitudes and behaviors. Whether participation in consciousness-raising groups produces increases in self-esteem and decreases in the need for social approval is in need of further assessment. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)