Becoming a high‐fidelity – super – imitator: what are the contributions of social and individual learning?

In contrast to other primates, human children's imitation performance goes from low to high fidelity soon after infancy. Are such changes associated with the development of other forms of learning? We addressed this question by testing 215 children (26–59 months) on two social conditions (imitation, emulation) – involving a demonstration – and two asocial conditions (trial‐and‐error, recall) – involving individual learning – using two touchscreen tasks. The tasks required responding to either three different pictures in a specific picture order (Cognitive: Airplane→Ball→Cow) or three identical pictures in a specific spatial order (Motor‐Spatial: Up→Down→Right). There were age‐related improvements across all conditions and imitation, emulation and recall performance were significantly better than trial‐and‐error learning. Generalized linear models demonstrated that motor‐spatial imitation fidelity was associated with age and motor‐spatial emulation performance, but cognitive imitation fidelity was only associated with age. While this study provides evidence for multiple imitation mechanisms, the development of one of those mechanisms – motor‐spatial imitation – may be bootstrapped by the development of another social learning skill – motor‐spatial emulation. Together, these findings provide important clues about the development of imitation, which is arguably a distinctive feature of the human species.     

Modernization and the Male–Female Suicide Ratio in India 1967–1997: Divergence or Convergence?

The traditional view that modernization is likely to increase male vulnerability to suicide while protecting females from such self-destruction was offered by Durkheim (1951). This implies a theory of divergence of suicide rates such that the male-female suicide ratio should increase with modernization. Contemporary researchers have questioned whether modernization has had such an impact. We conducted a time series analysis of male and female suicide data to determine the impact on the suicide ratio for India for the years 1967 to 1997. We developed a modernization index comprised of urbanization, female literacy, and female work participation rates. Moreover, to improve methodological efficacy, we controlled for the passage of time. However, we found that there is no significant relationship between modernization and the male-female suicide ratio. Our conclusion is that using national male-female suicide ratios to determine modernization effects may mask significant regional gender and age differences, particularly in developing countries such as India.     

Thirty years on – a large anti‐Flynn effect? The Piagetian test Volume & Heaviness norms 1975–2003

Background. Volume & Heaviness was one of three Piagetian tests used in the CSMS survey in 1975/76. However unlike psychometric tests showing the Flynn effect – that is with students showing steady improvements year by year requiring tests to be restandardized – it appeared that the performance of Y7 students has recently been getting steadily worse. Aims. A sample of schools sufficiently large and representative was chosen so that the hypothesis of worsening performance could be tested, and estimated quantitatively. Sample. Sixty‐nine Y7 school year groups containing pupil data on the Volume & Heaviness test and the University of Durham CEM Centre MidYIS test were located giving a sample of 10, 023 students covering the years 2000 to 2003. Method. Regression of the students' school mean on Volume & Heaviness on the schools' mean MidYIS 1999 standardized score, and computing the regression at MidYS = 100 allows comparison with that found in 1976. Results. The mean drops in scores from 1976 to 2003 were boys = 1.13 and girls = 0.6 levels. A differential of 0.50 standard deviations in favour of boys in 1976 had completely disappeared by the year 2002. Between 1976 and 2003 the effect‐size of the drop in the boys' performance was 1.04 standard deviations, and for girls was 0.55 standard deviations. Conclusion. The idea that children leaving primary school are getting more and more intelligent and competent – whether it is viewed in terms of the Flynn effect, or in terms of government statistics on performance in Key Stage 2 SATS in mathematics and science – is put into question by these findings.     

Perception of Easy–Difficult: Attitude or Self‐Efficacy?

This study investigates the semantic-differential item easy-difficult in order to evaluate whether it can be considered a measure of attitude or self-efficacy in relation to consistent condom use with sex partners. Using confirmatory factor analysis and comparing a set of logically nested models, our findings suggest that easy-difficult acts most like an attitude item in relation to this particular behavior, especially for males rating condom use with their main sex partners. However, for females and to a less extent males with nonmain sex partners, easy-difficult acts as a measure of both attitude and self-efficacy. Therefore, the use of easy-difficult items should be avoided or used with caution in this research context.     

Does work–family conflict mediate the relationship between work–family culture and self‐reported distress? Evidence from five Finnish organizations

This study examined whether perceived work–family conflict would function as a mediator in the link between work–family culture perceptions and self‐reported distress. Data were obtained from employees (N=1,297) of five Finnish organizations representing both the public (local social and health care, school, and labour departments) and the private sectors (paper mill, IT company). The results showed that perceived work–family conflict functioned as a partial mediator between employees' perceptions of work–family culture and self‐reported distress in two organizations (i.e. in the social and health care department and paper mill), whereas the relationship turned out to be direct in the other three organizations (i.e. the education, labour departments and IT company). Thus, a supportive work–family culture was related directly and indirectly, through reduced work–family conflict, to the well‐being of employees.     

Self‐service – a contradiction in terms or customer‐led choice?

This paper explores the reality of self‐service today from the customer perspective and identifies what organisations need to do to maximise their contribution to improving customer service in the future. It is based on the findings of an extensive study, including original consumer research and analysis, undertaken by the Future Foundation that was sponsored by a consortium of companies consisting of Broadsystem, BT, mmO2, BUPA and GIMRA (General Insurance Market Research Association). It is structured around a series of questions that the research was designed to answer, with clear recommendations for businesses coming out of each section. Copyright © 2003 Henry Stewart Publications.     

How does the extraversion personality trait influence false recall with the Deese–Roediger–McDermott (DRM) paradigm?

Relative to more introverted persons, extraverts have been found to exhibit better recall and recognition in a range of memory paradigms including demonstrating a superior semantic priming effect. The present study sought to establish whether this aspect of personality might be associated with the false memory paradigm developed by Deese, Roediger, and McDermott (the DRM paradigm). Lists containing semantically related words were presented to extraverts, ambiverts, and introverts. Compared to the other two groups, extraverts falsely recalled more critical lures (words that although semantically related were not in the original lists) and non-list words. The results are discussed in relation to the concept of spreading activation.     

Parenting adult children – invisible ties that bind?

This paper presents the authors' ideas about parenting adult children, describes some of the results of a larger qualitative research study and explores possible implications for practice. The study is based on in‐depth analyses of narratives from interviews of a non‐clinical population of parents of adult children. It represents part of an ongoing study to develop an understanding of an under‐researched area of family life.     

Two of a Kind? Leader–Member Exchange and Organizational Citizenship Behaviors:The Moderating Role of Leader–Member Similarity

This study investigates the role of similarity in ethnic origin between supervisor and employee as a potential moderator between subordinates' leader–member exchange (LMX) and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). The results support the interaction effect of supervisor–subordinate ethnic differences with LMX and OCB. As hypothesized, OCB was positively related to LMX for both ethnically similar and dissimilar dyads, but the relationship was strongest for similar dyads.     

Does Therapist–Rater Religious Match Predict Higher Therapist Ratings?

This study investigated whether therapist–rater religious match predicts better therapist ratings. Christian and Muslim Lebanese students (N = 187) were randomized into 3 conditions. A written vignette of the therapist was constant across conditions, but her picture was manipulated to include a veil, a cross pendant, or neither. Participants filled out a therapist rating form afterward. There were no significant differences in overall therapist ratings between groups.