Personality in Cultural Context: Methodological Issues

Methodological issues in cultural and cross-cultural personality research are described. A taxonomy of these studies is presented, based on whether a study is exploratory or tests hypotheses, and whether or not contextual information is measured. Core methodological issues are bias and equivalence: a taxonomy and a brief overview of statistical procedures to examine equivalence are presented, with a focus on procedures for assessing structural equivalence (i.e., similarity of meaning of an instrument across cultures). Examples are given of studies in which cultural and cross-cultural approaches, often seen as antithetical, have been fruitfully integrated. Finally, multilevel models are described in which personality characteristics are examined at individual and cultural level.     

Methodological Issues in the Assessment of Medication Effects in Children Diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most commonly diagnosed disorders in school-aged children and is usually treated with stimulant medications, including methylphenidate (MPH; Ritalin®, Ritalin-LA®, Concerta®, Metadate®, or Focalin®) and other drug compounds (e.g., Adderall®, Adderall-XR®, or Dexedrine). Assessment of school behavior and performance is a critical component in determining the safety and efficacy of these medications. This paper reviews methodological issues in assessing drug effects in school settings by considering features of the independent variable (the medication), the dependent variables (the endpoints selected for assessment), and the design (the structure of the assessment). In addition, we consider recent conceptual advances in understanding the behavioral mechanisms of action of drugs used to treat ADHD that may influence the structure and interpretation of medication assessments.     

Methodological Issues in Psychology of Religion Research in the Chinese Context

The present study investigates methodological issues in psychology of religion in Mainland China. Beginning with an overview of Western and Eastern scholars’ representative views on methodological issues relative to psychology of religion, this essay then analyzes the distinctive Chinese cultural background in terms of influences exerted by mainstream ideology, opportunities provided by the goal of building a harmonious society, and the real demand for the development of psychology of religion. Finally, this study puts forward several methodological strategies for constructing a Chinese psychology of religion including advanced theoretical research to strengthen the basis of research methods in Chinese psychology of religion; understanding more precisely the basis of constructing localized methods with Chinese features; and encouraging exploration on diversification and promotion of methodological innovation for psychology of religion in China.     

How Schools Respond to Traumatic Events

Abstract

School systems face crises of a variety of types and forms, including the suicide death of a student, the death of a teacher, mass shootings, and the aftermath of terrorist attacks. This article examines ways for school systems to deal with the aftermath of those crises, both immediately and in the long term. Suggestions for classroom interventions, group experiences, and homework assignments are included. The impact of terrorism on school personnel is also discussed.     

积极效应研究的几个方法学问题

社会情绪选择理论从时间知觉和动机的角度推论老年人的情绪加工有积极效应; 即与年轻人相比, 老年人更偏向于加工积极刺激而回避消极刺激。但是, 关于积极效应的实证研究有诸多不一致之处。分析近年相关研究的设计细节, 验证积极效应的研究多采用年轻和老年两个年龄组的对照, 而采用3个以上年龄组被试的研究结果不一致; 积极效应在东方文化下的应用研究结论也不一致; 多样化的情绪刺激、情绪分类和刺激呈现方式是各研究结论差异的重要原因, 而且积极效应研究应区分“情绪偏向”和“情绪效应”两种年龄组评价方式。因此, 今后研究需要尽可能地扩大年龄范围以确认积极效应出现时间、加强跨文化、跨地区比较以验证积极效应的普适性, 并提高研究中所用刺激材料的生态效度, 深入探索积极效应的普遍性与神经机制。     

Attention in Children: Conceptual and Methodological Issues

This commentary discusses conceptual and methodological issues in the assessment of attention in children. The five articles in this special issue are important advances in the study of attention in children with brain-related disorders. They provide important guidelines for future studies in this area: specification of the underlying model of attention, selection of tasks according to the model, and the use of multiple tasks in well-defined clinical populations.     

基于反应时的人格内隐测量及其方法学的思考

人格测量的热点已经转向内隐层面,以反应时为基础的内隐人格测量方法不断推陈出新,如多因素特质内隐联结测验、个人化内隐联结测验、内隐联结程序、单目标词内隐联结测验等,它们从不同侧面丰富了内隐人格测量的方法,深化了内隐人格的理论建构。但新的问题也不断出现,如内隐测量的表征是无意识的吗？内隐测量能避免社会赞许性等动机的影响吗？内隐测量的表征是高度稳定的吗？内隐测量是过程纯净的吗？内隐人格测量可以防止作伪吗？文章回顾了内隐人格测量的相关理论及有关的研究,对这些问题进行了初步的思考     

Methodological Issues in Treatment Research for Anxiety Disorders in Youth

This article identifies and addresses three methodological domains relevant to the treatment of anxiety disorders in youth: (a) procedural matters, (b) the assessment of anxious distress, and (c) the analysis of treatment-produced change. Procedural topics include the need to manualize treatment, have diversity among participants and comparability of the duration of treatment and control conditions, and control for medication status. Multiple-method measurement issues include child and parent reports, observations, and structured interviewing. Our examination of change issues considers comorbidity, analyzing the intent-to-treat sample, treatment spillover, and clinical as well as statistical significance. Problems are identified and potential ameliorative strategies are offered.     

Potential Moderators of Racial Differences in Responses to Traumatic Events

Research regarding the influence of race on outcomes after trauma has been mixed, and we aimed to identify potential moderators of the relation between race and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)–related outcomes. We conducted a secondary analysis of data from 477 participants in the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys. African American individuals reported a shorter duration of and less frequent PTSD symptoms than Caucasian individuals, and also endorsed a greater number of reexperiencing and avoidance symptoms. Education, socioeconomic status, and social support did not significantly moderate relations between age of worst trauma and PTSD-related outcomes. Clinical and research implications are discussed.     

Research With the Draw-A-Person Test: Conceptual and Methodological Issues

A number of methodological, statistical, and conceptual problems are inherent in research with the Draw-A-Person Test (DAP). These difficulties invalidate the theoretical position that an individual's gender-role identification is reflected in the sex of the figure drawn. The complexity of these problems affects the evaluation of the DAP and illustrates the need for multiple approaches to its interpretation.     

PTSD Symptom Patterns Following Traumatic and Nontraumatic Events

This study extends research examining posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms following different types of potentially traumatic events. Specifically, the study examined and compared the symptom patterns observed in those who suffered a major accident, the unexpected death of a loved one, or sexual assault. Based on recent findings, this project also examines those who reported nontraumatic (but stressful) events, as well as comparing symptom patterns across gender. Findings suggest different types of traumas might be associated with differences in severity and patterns of symptoms for women (but not for men), suggesting symptom patterns manifest differently in men and women. Results also call into question the assumption that traumatic events demonstrate different symptom patterns than other types of events.     

Impact of Traumatic Life Events in a Community Sample of Toddlers

Toddlers may be at particularly high risk for a number of psychiatric, developmental and neurobiological consequences in the aftermath of trauma. The social and emotional impact of potentially traumatic life events experienced between 6 and 36-months of age was assessed in an epidemiological birth cohort of 18- to 36-month-olds from the Greater New Haven Area. Event-exposed toddlers evidenced greater symptom severity on the ITSEA Internalizing, Externalizing, Dysregulation, Atypical and Maladaptive scales, as well on the CBCL Internalizing and Externalizing scales than those not exposed. Approximately one-fifth of event-exposed toddlers were reported by their parents to have experienced a dramatic change in functioning following the event, and were described as experiencing higher levels of symptoms consistent with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), namely re-experiencing and arousal, than exposed toddlers whose parents did not report a change in their functioning. Implications for clinicians and child care providers working with toddlers and their parents are discussed.     

Issues in the Personality Assessment of Lower-Class Patients

The recent national concerns about the poor and uneducated members of our society brings to the forefront the psychological treatment of the lower class. For many years, in state hospitals and mental hygiene clinics and now in community mental health centers, psychologists have been called upon for personality assessment of lower-class patients. The results of various studies indicate rather conclusively that lower-class people, for a variety of reasons, are much more likely to be assessed less favorably than members of the middle class. This paper is an attempt to review some factors in assessing the lower class patient so that the clinician can face these issues more clearly in his psychological assessment.     

Issues in the Assessment of Outcome in Family Therapy

This paper examines several issues in family therapy outcome research. These include the need to consider numerous population and treatment variables, the influence of treatment goals and values upon the research, the difficulties in defining and operationalizing family treatment, the choice between emphasizing integrity of treatment or randomness of sampling, the selection of measurement methods, the controls needed in research design, the extent of generalizability of results, the importance of efficiency of treatment, and the special role of deterioration effects. Throughout, the need for a multivariate schema for conceptualizing this research and special attention to the role of values and assumptions in it are highlighted.     

Political Psychology as a Lens for Viewing Traumatic Events

A burgeoning area of scientific inquiry uses psychological perspectives to understand traumatic events. This research has led to the identification of psychological symptoms and disorders frequently experienced in response to traumatic events. Many of the events having traumatic effects on large numbers of persons are of interest to political psychologists. Such events include the Holocaust, war, terrorism, captivity, torture, political migration, living as a political refugee, and assassination. Some interpersonal forms of trauma, such as rape and incest, also may be viewed with a political perspective. Although a number of studies have examined psychological consequences of political events, this area of inquiry is rarely explicitly considered within the domain of political psychology. Adopting an explicitly political psychology perspective on traumatic events may enrich our interdisciplinary understanding of these events and inform the design and evaluation of intervention programs to reduce psychological distress resulting from these events.     

Adult Eyewitness Memory for Single Versus Repeated Traumatic Events

Reports from individuals who have witnessed multiple, similar emotional events may differ from reports from witnesses of only a single event. To test this, we had participants (N = 65) view a video of a road traffic accident. Half of the participants saw two additional (similar) aversive films. Afterwards, participants filled out the Self‐Administered Interview on the target film twice with an interval of 1 week. Participants who saw multiple similar films were less accurate in recalling details from the target film than participants in the control condition. On their second report, participants were less complete but more accurate compared with their first report. These results indicate that adults who have witnessed multiple repeated events may appear less reliable in their reports than adults who have witnessed a single event. These findings are relevant when evaluating eyewitness evidence and call for new approaches to questioning witnesses about repeated events.Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.