When managers decide not to decide autocratically: An investigation of leader–member exchange and decision influence.

Examined the antecedents of decision influence in 58 male-dominated managerial dyads. Data were collected from a large US manufacturing organization, and leader-member exchange (LMX) and decision influence were measured from both subordinate and superior points of view. Results indicate that important antecedents of decision influence are the quality of LMX and the subordinate's performance level. It was found that superiors show a noncompensatory model regarding decision influence: The subordinate must possess high performance and exchange skills. In contrast, subordinates show a compensatory model in which higher performance can compensate for lower LMXs. This research replicates and extends the results of M. Wakabayashi and G. Graen's (see record 1985-10982-001) study on the interaction pattern of LMX and subordinate performance on career outcomes for Japanese work organizations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A Prince is Not a Prince.

A comment in regards to Jones' (1957, p. 287) biography of Freud that Morton Prince had once been mayor of Boston. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Not everything acid fast is Mycobacterium tuberculosis--a case report

The Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) stain is important in identifying organisms that are acid fast, principally Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, decolorisation with a weaker acid concentration (for example 1% hydrochloric acid), often used in ZN staining in histology, can result in a wider variety of organisms appearing acid fast and can be a cause of misidentification. To illustrate this point, a patient is described with pulmonary nocardiosis who was misdiagnosed as having tuberculous empyema on pleural biopsy.     

Preschooler's ability to decide whether a photographed unfamiliar object can move itself.

Does the preschooler's use of the animate–inanimate distinction reflect knowledge about which category types engage in self-initiated movements? Three- and 4-year-olds viewed photographs of unfamiliar objects, including mammalian animals, nonmammalian animals, statues with animal-like forms and parts, wheeled vehicles, and multipart rigid objects, and decided whether each item could go up and down a hill by itself. Four-year-olds were reliably accurate about the movement potentials for each of the five classes of items; 3-year-olds' scores were significantly above chance in all but one category. Analyses of rule use and verbalization data showed that children were concerned about cause of movement and used an animate–inanimate hierarchy. Explanations from both age groups varied, in a consistent manner, the kind of information and criteria used to make inferences as function of the type of item. We discuss how these data bear on a theory of concepts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Restraint-free care: how does a nurse decide?

Decisions by nurses to avoid physical restraint use in older adults is a complex process that requires individualized, comprehensive assessment and creative problem-solving. Institutional and social policy increasingly support a standard of restraint elimination influencing care decisions with frail older adults. It has become clear that the decision to avoid or use physical restraint is influenced as well by nurses' attitude or beliefs about the efficacy of restraint. To further understand how decisions are made to avoid physical restraint, it is important to also explore the degree to which nurses possess knowledge, autonomy, and accountability in this decision-making process. Understanding how decisions are influenced will advance the development of restraint-free care interventions for older adults.     

Is it time for national advertising? You decide

Central hemodynamics was studied in 53 patients divided into 3 groups who had transurethral resection of the prostate under epidural anesthesia. Patients with uneventful course of surgery (group 1) had favourable rearrangement of hemodynamic parameters in response to epidural anesthesia. In patients of group 2 hemodynamics was characterized by addition of negative effects of relative hypovolemia. A significant fall of central venous pressure was found in group 3. This low venous pressure resulted from the epidural block and contributed much to development of hyponatremia in these patients.     

To Grade or Not to Grade.

Comments on an article by N. R. F. Maier regarding innovations in education (see record 1972-11804-001). In discussing innovative ways of dealing with increased college enrollments, Maier mentioned that we might use more efficient grading methods, or dispense with grading altogether. Having switched from a traditional grading system to the total absence of evaluation within the course of a year, I may be in a good position to contrast the efficiency of the two approaches. I found that under the traditional system, somewhat surprisingly, about half my time had been taken up by grading-related activities. That is, if we eliminate grading, we might be able to double our enrollments. When I no longer had to explain grading systems in class or administer tests and exams, moreover, a great deal of class time was freed for other activities. And students for the most part used the time they would have spent in studying for tests in individual projects. These considerations, plus increasing evidence that grading is not necessary or useful and may well be harmful, might cause us to re-examine the necessity of grading practices. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)