Maximization of biofeedback following cognitive stress preselection in generalized anxiety

53 subjects, who scored high on an anxiety check list, were evaluated for their responsiveness to relaxation exercises and biofeedback. Each subject was cognitively stressed prior to the training phase by imagining anxiety-provoking situations. Analysis was done on pertaining/posttraining anxiety scores and physiological parameters (galvanic skin response, differences in finger temperature, and frontalis muscle activity). Subjects given feedback corresponding to that physiological parameter which changed the most when stressed, maximized that feedback more than subjects receiving nonrelevant or no feedback. All groups reported significant reductions in anxiety symptoms. Follow-up analysis 15 mo. later showed 76% of the subjects were still symptom-free for anxiety regardless of type of feedback received.     

Scale properties of the Holtzman inkblots

Scaling techniques were presently applied to perceptions of inkblots, to empirically delineate the relationship between their stimulus properties and the nature of verbal associations elicited in projective testing. The Holtzman Inkblot Technique (HIT) was administered in group form to a relatively diverse group of college students. Subjects also individually rated the similarity of pairs of the HIT inkblots. Similarity judgments were analyzed via a multidimensional scaling (MDS) approach which recovered dimensions of variations among blots. The MDS procedures also captured variation across subjects in their utilization of blot stimulus properties. MDS solutions generally reflected differences among the blots along dimensions of physical characteristics of the blots. Differences in responsiveness of subjects to these characteristics appeared to reliably reflect meaningful substantive distinctions among subjects, many of which were not captured by traditional HIT variables. Implications were discussed in terms of further MDS applications and possible re-evaluation of HIT variables or procedures.     

Development and validation of the statistical anxiety scale

Nowadays, there is a great deal of evidence to suggest that personality variables can play an important role in the prediction of academic performance. However, many authors have mentioned that the differences in the prediction power of broad and narrow personality measures must be taken into account. We develop and validate a scale to assess the anxiety encountered when taking a statistics course. We designed the inventory as a set of 24 positive sentences that measure three subscales: Examination Anxiety , Asking for Help Anxiety and Interpretation Anxiety . In addition, as the three dimensions correlated with each other, they were considered related subscales from an overall scale, which measures statistical anxiety. Results show that these specific measures of anxiety about statistics have a significant relationship with academic performance in statistics whereas broader measures of anxiety or neuroticism do not.     

Development and examination of the social appearance anxiety scale

The Social Appearance Anxiety Scale (SAAS) was created to measure anxiety about being negatively evaluated by others because of one's overall appearance, including body shape. This study examined the psychometric properties of the SAAS in three large samples of undergraduate students (respective ns = 512, 853, and 541). The SAAS demonstrated a unifactorial structure with high test-retest reliability and internal consistency. The SAAS was positively associated with measures of social anxiety. The SAAS was also related to greater disparity between perceived, actual, and ideal physical attributes, beliefs that one's appearance is inherently flawed and socially unacceptable and that being unattractive is socially deleterious, feelings of unattractiveness, emphasis on appearance and its maintenance, and a preoccupation with being overweight. It was a unique predictor of social anxiety above and beyond negative body image indicators. Findings suggest that the SAAS is a psychometrically valid measure of social anxiety regarding one's overall appearance.     

Validation of the revised sport motivation scale (SMS-II)

ObjectivesAlthough the Sport Motivation Scale (SMS), published in 1995, has demonstrated validity and reliability in multiple studies, the scale has received some criticisms leading to revisions herein described. The objective of the present studies was to examine the construct validity and reliability of a revised scale sport motivation scale (SMS-II).DesignTwo studies were conducted using distinct samples of athletes. Study 1 examined adult athletes participating in a variety of sports and Study 2 examined youth basketball players and swimmers.MethodIn Study 1 the SMS-II was introduced and featured various item content changes, a reduced number of items per subscale, the addition of an integrated regulation subscale, and the introduction of a single intrinsic motivation subscale to replace the three intrinsic motivation subscales in the SMS. Relations of SMS-II subscales with each other and with expected outcomes supported the new scale's validity. In Study 2, the structure of the SMS-II and its relations with outcomes were further examined.ResultsResults of factor analyses, tests for internal consistency, and correlations among the different subscales and between the subscales and several outcomes of interest, supported the validity of the SMS-II.ConclusionsDiscussion focuses on the need for measurement improvement, and potential future directions for SMS-II research.