Vocational maturity and anxiety among vocationally undecided and indecisive students : The effectiveness of Holland's Self-Directed Search

This study was designed with two purposes in mind: (1) to measure the effectiveness of Holland's Self-Directed Search for Educational and Vocational Planning (SDS); and (2) to test the validity of Goodstein's (Theories of Counseling. B. Stefflure, Ed., 1965) hypothesis that career indecision and indecisiveness are differentially related to anxiety and vocational maturity. A total of 66 high school males and 60 high school females were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups and tested for anxiety and vocational maturity levels; the experimental subjects were given the SDS. Statistical analysis indicated that the SDS was an effective instrument in reducing career indecision; Goodstein's hypothesis was not supported by the results of the study.     

A simple technique for correlating film and EMG in locomotion studies

Two recurring problems hampering investigations of muscular activity patterns during locomotion are electrical “noise” and movement artifact in the electromyographic (EMG) signal and proper synchronization of behavioral events to the EMG. A relatively simple technique for achieving these ends is presented. Vigorous locomotor movements of unrestrained animals are recorded on 16-mm film and synchronized with one or more EMGs from selected muscles with little electrical noise or movement artifact interference. The system employs telemetry which is compared to hardwire techniques.     

Cross-cultural model testing: toward a solution of the etic-emic dilemma

A model for the prediction of behavior from attitudinal components, developed by Triandis, was tested with samples of U.S. and Mexican women, and with fertility relevant behaviors. The elements of the model are etic, but the operationalizations of the various variables were done emically. Results support the model in both cultures. While the predictive utility of the model is equivalent in two cultures, there are social class differences on which component of the model is most emphasized. The U.S. upper-middle-class sample and the Mexican upper-middle-class sample emphasized the person's attitude toward the act, while the Mexican lower SES (socio-economic status) sample emphasized the person's normative beliefs (moral obligations).     

Monocular acquisition and interocular transfer in albino guinea pigs as mediated by ipsi- or contralateral fiber systems.

Monocular acquisition and interocular transfer of a horizontal-vertical discrimination were measured in 12 male albino guinea pigs with unilateral lesions of the striate cortex, and in 6 sham-operated controls. In accordance with electrophysiological and anatomical findings, the animals learned readily using the contralateral fibers, while the ipsilateral fibers were found to be incapable of mediating either acquisition, or retention, of the discrimination. The control animals learned readily, but showed incomplete transfer.     

A quasi-experimental investigation of message appeal variations on organ donor registration rates.

OBJECTIVE: Approximately 6,000 Americans die every year awaiting an organ transplant. Health promotion interventions may alleviate the shortage of viable organs by increasing the number of registered organ donors. This study is the first to evaluate the differential effectiveness of various organ donor messages in naturalistic settings. DESIGN: A 4 (Appeal)x4 (Exemplar)x4 (Location) counterbalanced quasi-experimental design was implemented. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The behavioral outcome measure was the number of individuals who registered to be organ donors at computer kiosks. RESULTS: A number of significant main effects and interactions emerged. Most notably, of the 4 different appeals (counterargument, emotional, motivating action, dissonance), counterargument was by far the most efficacious, especially in academic-type settings (library, university, community college); the emotional appeal was most successful in hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this study have implications for both organ donor investigations and health campaign research in general. Statistical interactions highlight the importance of evaluating multiple exemplars in multiple locations for each type of appeal when conducting health campaign research.