Fourier analysis of polar coordinate data in visual physiology and psychophysics

Techniques are presented for analyzing data collected as a function of: a circular independent variable (e.g., angle, direction, or orientation) or an independent variable which is cyclical (e.g., months of the year). The procedures are presented in a tutorial manner, emphasizing their relationship to more traditional statistics in experimental psychology.     

Metamorphosis of the Mushroom Bodies; Large-Scale Rearrangements of the Neural Substrates for Associative Learning and Memory in Drosophila

Paired brain centers known as mushroom bodies are key features of the circuitry for insect associative learning, especially when evoked by olfactory cues. Mushroom bodies have an embryonic origin, and unlike most other brain structures they exhibit developmental continuity, being prominent components of both the larval and the adult CNS. Here, we use cell-type-specific markers, provided by the P{GAL4} enhancer trap system, to follow specific subsets of mushroom body intrinsic and extrinsic neurons from the larval to the adult stage. We find marked structural differences between the larval and adult mushroom bodies, arising as the consequence of large-scale reorganization during metamorphosis. Extensive, though incomplete, degradation of the larval structure is followed by establishment of adult specific α and β lobes. Kenyon cells of embryonic origin, by contrast, were found to project selectively to the adult γ lobe. We propose that the γ lobe stores information of relevance to both developmental stages, whereas the α and β lobes have uniquely adult roles.     

More than "just a joke": the prejudice-releasing function of sexist humor

The results of two experiments supported the hypothesis that, for sexist men, exposure to sexist humor can promote the behavioral release of prejudice against women. Experiment 1 demonstrated that hostile sexism predicted the amount of money participants were willing to donate to a women's organization after reading sexist jokes but not after reading nonhumorous sexist statements or neutral jokes. Experiment 2 showed that hostile sexism predicted the amount of money participants cut from the budget of a women's organization relative to four other student organizations upon exposure to sexist comedy skits but not neutral comedy skits. A perceived local norm of approval of funding cuts for the women's organization mediated the relationship between hostile sexism and discrimination against the women's organization.     

Development and initial validation of public domain Basic Interest Markers

Goldberg (Goldberg, L. R. (1999). A broad-bandwidth, public-domain, personality inventory measuring the lower-level facets of several five-factor models. In: I. Mervielde, I. Deary, F. De Fruyt, & F. Ostendorf (Eds.), Personality psychology in Europe (Vol. 7, pp. 7-28). Tilburg, The Netherlands: Tilburg University Press) has argued that the commercialization of personality measures limits the range of questions investigated in empirical research. We propose that the commercialization of interest measures has had a similar effect on research in vocational psychology. Following Goldberg’s example of developing public-domain personality markers, we also propose that the development of public-domain interest markers would facilitate new directions in career-related research. The present study outlines the development and validation of a set of public-domain Basic Interest Markers (BIMs) that are freely available on a website. Using Day and Rounds’ (Day, Susan. X, & Rounds, J. (1997). A little more than kin, and less than kind: Basic interests in vocational research and career counseling. Career Development Quarterly, 45, 207-220) basic interest taxonomy, 343 items and 31 BIM scales were generated. Validity evidence is presented from correlations with the General Occupational Themes and Basic Interest Scales of the Strong Interest Inventory (Harmon, L. W., Hansen, J. C., Borgen, F. H., & Hammer, A. L. (1994). Strong Interest Inventory applications and technical guide. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press). Discriminant validity is demonstrated by the capacity for the BIMs to differentiate major field of education or training. Implications for research and use in applied settings are discussed.     

Re-conceptualizing the past: Historical data in vocational interest research

Noteworthy progress has been made in the development of statistical models for evaluating the structure of vocational interests over the past three decades. It is proposed that historically significant interest datasets, when combined with modern structural methods of data analysis, provide an opportunity to re-examine the underlying assumptions of J.L. Holland’s [Holland, J. L. (1959). A theory of vocational choice. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 6, 35–45; Holland, J. L. (1997). Making vocational choices (3rd ed.). Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources] RIASEC model. To illustrate this potential, data obtained from J. P. Guilford’s study of interest structure were re-analyzed using modern circumplex and hierarchical clustering techniques to evaluate Holland’s and I. Gati’s [Gati, I. (1979). A hierarchical model for the structure of interests. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 15, 90–106; Gati, I. (1991). The structure of vocational interests. Psychological Bulletin, 109, 309–324] interest structures. Obtained results indicate that a circumplex model can be used to effectively represent the structure underlying Guilford’s interest measures. However, hierarchical clustering results suggest that Holland’s RIASEC types may not be the most effective categories for grouping specific interest measures into broader interest areas. The current findings provide support for the continued investigation of alternatives to Holland’s interest categories using modern measures of basic interests.     

An ethologist aboard hms beagle: The young darwin's observations on animal behavior

Darwin's notes from the Beagle period abound with observations on animal behavior. Although in places anecdotal and anthropomorphic, they include many detailed, lively comments of the activities of birds, reptiles, mammals, Crustacea, insects, and other invertebrates. In his comparative approach, belief in the importance of heredity, an understanding that behavior might be of assistance in taxonomy, and that it was linked with both the organism's morphology and habitat, and his attempts at experiments, Charles Darwin in his early and mid-twenties was using techniques and concepts that were to be of great significance in his later work.     

Examining the Impact of Policy on Collaboration in Systems of Care

Since Jane Knitzer’s 1982 report on Unclaimed Children, many states and localities have been developing systems of care to more effectively serve children with serious emotional disturbance. We report on the methods and outcomes of a two-phase study designed to determine the relationship between the mechanisms that have been used to establish systems of care and their resulting levels of collaboration. A national survey of state mental health authorities revealed that, allowing for multiple approaches, 82% of respondents with systems of care used legislation, 15% used inducements, 41% used capacity building and 44% used other means of system change (e.g., blended funding). Cluster analysis was used to select 10 sites for visits. Multiple methods of collecting data at these sites were used including the administration of a scale on collaboration. Data were obtained from 302 respondents. Difference in beliefs about collaboration and collaborative behaviors were found, indicating that level of collaboration may be an important variable to consider in studies of outcomes of systems of care for children and families.     

How effective are minimally trained/experienced volunteer mental health counsellors? Evaluation of CORE outcome data

Background: Existing research findings indicate that minimally trained/experienced paraprofessional counsellors can be as effective as professionally trained and experienced counsellors. More research into the effectiveness of paraprofessionals with specific client populations is required to determine the conditions under which they can be most effective. Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of a group of 12 minimally trained/experienced volunteer mental health counsellors. Method: Data were collected over a one year period on 118 clients referred to a voluntary sector counselling agency. The CORE-OM was used to measure clients' levels of distress on a session-by-session basis. Clients and counsellors also completed a range of additional self-report measures. A benchmarking strategy was used to evaluate the outcomes achieved by participants in this study against three benchmark studies selected from published literature. Results: Paraprofessionals in this study were less effective than their professional counterparts. Results showed that participants in this study achieved an effect size of .70 compared to effect sizes of 1.36, 1.39 and 1.42 in the selected benchmark studies. Implications: Findings suggest that minimally trained/experienced paraprofessional counsellors working in mental health settings may benefit from longer and more targeted training programmes before engaging in practice. Conclusions: The benchmarking strategy provided a valuable and practical means of evaluating the comparative effectiveness of paraprofessional and professional counsellors. Findings should be interpreted cautiously as the selected benchmarks are not precise measurements and may not reflect the organisational factors operating within voluntary sector counselling agencies.