ASSESSMENT OF SMOKING BEHAVIOR

The nature of smoking risk is first reviewed and a classification of procedures for assessing smoking behavior is presented. Areas requiring assessment include not only the traditionally measured smoking rate, but also the substance used and topography of consumption. Each of these areas may be assessed through a variety of self-report, observational, or indirect techniques. These techniques as well as some of their advantages and disadvantages are presented. Recently published (1975 to mid-1978) data-based smoking research appearing in four journals (Addictive Behaviors, Behavior Therapy, Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, and Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology) is then reviewed with respect to measurement reliability and the use of multiple measures. Results show a strong tendency to assess only the risk area of smoking rate and a low frequency of appropriate measurement reliability checks, especially during baseline and treatment phases. Some of the implications of these results are discussed.     

罪犯改造成效评估量表的建构

本研究运用因素分析法,尝试建构我国监狱中罪犯改造成效评估量走。该量表分Ａ版（干警评定量表）与Ｂ版（服刑人员他评量表）。结果表明,该量表具有较高的信度、效度,所得的改造成效评估三因素结构合理,内容清晰     

INDIRECT ASSESSMENT OF INTERCULTURAL PREJUDICES

On demande à quatre échantillons de Canadiens français et anglais d'évaluer les traits de personnalité de 12 personnes qui parlent avec un accent marqué, certains avec un accent français (Parisien, Québécois ou Acadien), d'autres avec un accent anglais (Américain, Oxfordien ou Canadien). L'analyse des jugements ne confirme qu'en partie les études qui ont porté sur les préjugés des Canadiens français et anglais. On trouve que, conformément aux hypothèses, L'accent du Québec chez un homme entraîne des jugements moins favorables, quant aux traits de personnalité, que tous les autres accents étudiés ici; cette dévalorisation du Québécois mâle se retrouve dans tous les échantillons utilisés dans cette étude y compris dans L'échantillon québécois lui-méme; mais, alors qu'on s'attendait à ce qu'une femme à L'accent québécois soit, comme son homologue masculin, L'objet d'une dévalorisation, on trouve qu'elle n'est surpassée dans les jugements que par la femme à L'accent d'Oxford. Ainsi les données font apparaître une interaction significative entre L'accent et le sexe qui peut refléter le statut différent, dans le systéme canadien, du Québécois français selon qu'il est homme ou femme: ce statut place L'homme québécois plus bas dans L'échelle que la femme québécoise. Les résultats sont interprétés à la lumière des conclusions d'études précédentes sur les réactions valorisantes au langage parlé et de leur utilisation comme technique indirecte d'étude des préjugés.     

CONSTRUCTING PARALLEL SIMULATION EXERCISES FOR ASSESSMENT CENTERS AND OTHER FORMS OF BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT

Assessment centers rely on multiple, carefully constructed behavioral simulation exercises to measure individuals on multiple performance dimensions. Although methods for establishing parallelism among alternate forms of paper-and-pencil tests have been well researched (i.e., to equate tests on difficulty such that the scores can be compared), little research has considered the why and how of parallel simulation exercises. This paper extends established procedures for constructing parallel test forms to dimension-based behavioral simulations. We discuss reasons for establishing comparable, alternate simulation forms and discuss the issues raised when applying traditional procedures to simulation exercises. After proposing a set of guidelines for establishing alternate forms among simulations, we apply these guidelines to simulations used in an operational assessment center.     

ASSESSMENT OF MOTION AS INFLUENCED BY STRUCTURE OF BACKGROUND

G ottsdanker , R. Assessment of motion as influenced by structure of background. Scand. J. Psychol ., 1962, 3 , 122–128.—Detection of target acceleration was improved by having a near landmark in addition to the surrounding frame. Adding landmarks, even within the course of motion, brought no further gain. Evidently, rate is not assessed by estimating time taken to cover known distances. Best performance was found when fine background marks were near enough together to form a texture, but not if it was perfectly uniform. It is suggested that the advantage provided both by the near point and the texture is the indirect one of stabilizing space. This effect is conceived of as graded, reaching its ultimate value in a textured surface.     

CONCRETE TRANSITIVITY OF LENGTH: A METHOD OF ASSESSMENT

The problem of assessing concrete transitivity of length is explored with a non-verbal design employing nine sets of three sticks each. A training phase is used to establish the relevant variable to which the subjects must attend, to obtain a bead. A test phase consists of eight trials, in which the elements A, B, and C, are displayed in a systematic variation. A subject is said to display transitivity, when he more than five times in the eight trials chooses the largest of three sticks, A, on the basis of the information A > B and B 7< C. In a group of 20 children, varying in age between 52 and 80 months, half of the group, which is socio-economically upper-middle class, displayed transitivity. However, the youngest child displaying transitivity with six correct test-trials was 5 1/2 years old. The youngest child displaying transitivity with eight correct trials was 6 1/4 years old.     

MULTICOMPONENT ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT OF CIGARETTE PICA

We conducted a multicomponent assessment and treatment for 4 individuals who engaged in cigarette pica. During Phase 1, three stimulus preference assessments were conducted to identify (a) the reinforcing component of the cigarette, (b) potential alternative reinforcers that may be used during treatment, and (c) whether the alternative reinforcer would compete effectively with cigarettes. Results were successful in identifying the reinforcing component of the cigarette and suggested the feasibility of using alternative reinforcers during treatment to eliminate cigarette pica. During Phase 2, the effects of two treatment procedures were evaluated. Noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) with the alternative edible reinforcer reduced the pica of 2 of the participants, but effects were not maintained when the initial dense schedule of NCR was thinned. Subsequently, differential reinforcement of alternative behavior with the alternative edible reinforcer was effective in reducing pica for 3 participants. An evaluation of nine treatment procedures failed to identify an effective intervention for the remaining participant; consequently, preventive measures were designed to minimize occurrences of cigarette pica.     

EVALUATION OF A BRIEF STIMULUS PREFERENCE ASSESSMENT

We evaluated the utility of a brief (5-min) stimulus preference assessment for individuals with developmental disabilities. Participants had noncontingent (free) access to an array of stimuli and could interact with any of the stimuli at any time. Stimuli were never withdrawn or withheld from the participants during a 5-min session. In Experiment 1, the brief preference assessment was conducted for 10 participants to identify differentially preferred stimuli, and reinforcer assessments were conducted to test the reinforcing efficacy of those stimuli identified as highly preferred. In Experiment 2, a comparison was conducted between the brief preference assessment and a commonly used paired-stimulus preference assessment. Collectively, results demonstrated that the brief preference assessment identified stimuli that functioned as reinforcers for a simple operant response, identified preferred stimuli that were differentially effective as reinforcers compared to nonpreferred stimuli, was associated with fewer problem behaviors, and required less time to complete than a commonly used paired-stimulus preference assessment.     

航空安全文化评估新进展

安全文化作为组织文化的重要组成部分,是影响组织成员安全态度和行为的核心价值体系,通过个体变量对组织安全保健和安全绩效产生深远的影响。在安全态度与价值观层面上利用问卷调查的形式探讨航空安全文化的结构成份,不仅揭示了安全文化现象背后的基本隐形内涵,同时也有助于我们理解特定文化因素在现代航空安全管理中的重要作用。该文阐述了安全文化与航空安全管理的关系问题,介绍了不同航空组织内安全文化的作用及评估机制,并进一步指出了目前研究中存在的不足和对未来研究的展望。     

INFLUENCE OF ASSESSMENT CENTER METHODS ON ASSESSORS'RATINGS

Recently a number of authors have argued persuasively that performance ratings are influenced to a large extent by the way the rater selects, organizes, stores, and recalls information. Although the influence of the rater's cognitive processes on the obtained ratings has been considered in the job-performance evaluation literature, this issue has not been considered in the assessment center literature. The purpose of the present study was to examine how assessment center methods affect the way assessors organize and process assessment center information and affect the ratings they make. Independent groups of assessors underwent one of two methods for evaluating candidates in an assessment center. Data indicated differences in the convergent and discriminant validities and differences in the factor structures of the ratings for the two methods. The pattern of results suggested that the two methods for evaluating assessment center candidates affected the way the assessors organized the assessment center information and affected the obtained ratings. Future research should consider assessment center methods and assessors as sources of variation in assessment center ratings.     

LEADER INFLUENCE IN THE ASSESSMENT OF PERFORMANCE

The role requirements of leaders in an assessment group context were manipulated in a laboratory simulation. Discussion leaders (chairholders) either did or did not have first hand contact with an individual who was being assessed. Furthermore, chairholders were either allowed a formal say in the group's decision or were not. As predicted, different configurations of role requirements had an impact on the influence wielded by the chair, as indexed by measures of group process, group decision, accuracy and group member attitudes. Both prior contact and voting rights had direct and interactive effects and served to increase chair influence. Particular role requirement combinations also produced a type of group disruption as reflected in group member ratings of the quality of the session. The results of the study are discussed in forms of implications for the standardization of procedures in assessment center programs.     

《青少年良心评估问卷》的编制

通过团体施测抽样测查了从初一到大四的被试共1635余人,在进行两次项目分析和探索性因素分析的基础上,正式问卷由认知,情感,行为,意志四个分问卷组成,各分问卷各由四个维度构成,最后《青少年良心评估问卷》由70个项目构成,总问卷的内部一致性系数为0.924,分半系数为0.853,验证性分析表明各分问卷的结构拟合度较好,结果表明良心评估问卷可作为一种评估工具进行使用。     

企业高层管理者胜任特征模型评价的研究

该文采用BEI行为事件访谈技术探讨了我国通信业高层管理者的胜任特征模型 ,研究结果表明 :(1)优秀组与普通组在访谈字数的长度上无明显差异 ,而胜任特征编码的频次与访谈长度上有显著性相关 ,编码指标采用平均分数具有更好的稳定性 ;(2 )采用概化理论计算不同编码者的编码一致性 ,结果表明 ,胜任特征评价法具有较好的编码者一致性 ;(3)效标群体的分析结果证实 ,我国通信业高层管理者的胜任特征模型包括 :影响力、组织承诺、信息寻求、成就欲、团队领导、人际洞察力、主动性、客户服务意识、自信和发展他人     

INTERACTIVE VIDEO ASSESSMENT OF CONFLICT RESOLUTION SKILLS

In this research we developed and validated an interactive video assessment of conflict resolution skills. A model of conflict management was used to develop the conflict scenarios and part of the scoring key. Computer assessments of conflict resolution skills and two cognitive abilities were administered to 347 supervisors and job performance ratings were collected from their managers. The conflict skills assessment was found to be significantly related to supervisory ratings of on-the-job performance in managing conflict but to be unrelated to the measures of cognitive ability. In addition, the conflict skills assessment had no adverse impact for women. The implications of these results and directions for future research are discussed.     

CONSTRUCT VALIDITY OF TWO CATEGORIES OF ASSESSMENT CENTER DIMENSION RATINGS

The construct validity of assessment center final dimension ratings was examined within a nomological network of cognitive and personality measures. Four hundred forty-one employees of a large mid-western petroleum company were assessed on 11 dimensions in two broad categories and completed four tests. Results showed that several cognitive ability measures related more strongly to performance-style dimension ratings than to interpersonal-style dimension ratings, providing evidence for convergent and discriminant validity. Correlation analysis and factor analysis support the two a priori interpersonal- and performance-style categories. The results suggest that final dimension ratings possess construct validity and that assessors can differentiate between two broad categories of assessment dimensions.     

THE EFFECT OF MOOD ON THE RELIABILITY OF ESSAY ASSESSMENT

Summary . One potential source of bias that has not been examined in relation to the grading of essays is that of the mood of the marker. Several lines of research in social psychology can be generalised to predict different assessment outcomes as a function of mood. This study examined the effect of mood on student grading of children's essays. Markers first watched a film designed to induce either a positive or a negative mood state. They then graded nine essays, including a number of target essays. Mood affected only the first essay graded. The results do not support a mood effect in essay assessment.     

BEHAVIORAL ASSESSMENT OF FEEDING PROBLEMS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES

As many as 80% of the individuals with severe or profound mental retardation exhibit feeding problems. Although behavioral interventions have been used to treat these problems, no assessment procedure for determining a functional relationship between a person's acceptance of food and the type and texture of that food has been reported. The purpose of this study was to test a behavioral assessment procedure for a feeding problem of limited intake. Five individuals with severe or profound mental retardation were fed 10 to 12 types of foods with one or more textures. Behavioral categories of acceptance, rejection, expulsion, and other negative behavior were recorded. Results indicated that each subject fit into one of four categories of feeding problems: (a) total refusal, (b) type selectivity, (c) texture selectivity, or (d) type and texture selectivity. Thus, although all 5 subjects exhibited limited intake, the food characteristics correlated with the problem were different for each individual. Results suggest that treatments for limited intake may be based on assessments that show the association of food type or texture to a person's rejection or expulsion of food.