Comparing two independent groups: A test based on a one‐step M‐estimator and bootstrap‐t

A new test is proposed for the problem of comparing two independent groups in terms of some measure of location. The proposed test () uses a one‐step M‐estimator and a bootstrap‐t method with the procedure proposed by Özdemir and Kurt (2006) . Eight methods were compared in terms of actual Type I error and power when the underlying distributions differ in skewness and kurtosis under heterogeneity of variances. For the 21 theoretical distributions, the Yuen test with the bootstrap‐t method was the most favourable, followed by test. For the five real data sets, the proposed test and percentile bootstrap method with the one‐step M‐estimator performed best.     

Top-down attentional modulation of spatial frequency processing in scene perception

Recent evidence suggests that spatial frequency (SF) processing of simple and complex visual patterns is flexible. The use of spatial scale in scene perception seems to be influenced by people's expectations. However as yet there is no direct evidence for top-down attentional effects on flexible scale use in scene perception. In two experiments we provide such evidence. We presented participants with low- and high-pass SF filtered scenes and cued their attention to the relevant scale. In Experiment 1 we subsequently presented them with hybrid scenes (both low- and high-pass scenes present). We observed that participants reported detecting the cued component of hybrids. To explore if this might be due to decision biases, in Experiment 2, we replaced hybrids with images containing meaningful scenes at uncued SFs and noise at the cued SFs (invalid cueing). We found that participants performed poorly on invalid cueing trials. These findings are consistent with top-down attentional modulation of early spatial frequency processing in scene perception.     

Koran reading and negotiation with jinn: strategies to deal with mental ill health among Swedish Somalis

In this paper, we discuss traditional Somali concepts of mental ill health. Qualitative interviews were conducted with some 20 Swedish Somali interviewees about factors causing mental ill health, traditional classification, strategies to deal with mental ill health, and attitudes to the mental health care services in Sweden. Social mobilisation and religious healing are cornerstones of traditional Somali measures to deal with mental suffering. Traditional Somali views of mental ill health stand in stark contrast to classification of mental ill health in the western biomedical model. These views deserve attention since they may have an impact on health-seeking behaviour among Somali immigrants in western countries. Yet a too strong focus on cultural aspects may over-shadow the fact that much mental suffering among Somali migrants must be understood within social, economic, and political contexts.     

Gender and power in school: On girls' open resistance

Drawing upon a Swedish empirical study of gender and power relations in a 9th-grade classroom, this paper focusses especially on girls' attempts to gain influence in school. Typically, such behaviours are reported to be more frequently exhibited by boys, as is almost all kinds of public classroom participation. In the class reported on here, however, girls are those actively contesting power relations and pursuing their principles. This is done through a process much resembling the idea of a representative democratic model. The features and implications of this process are elaborated in relation to two conflicts taking place in the class.     

Vollmer on Allport-some short comments

In an earlier issue of this journal, Fred Vollmer criticizes Allport's rejection of operational definitions (Vollmer, 1974), He states that it is useless to postulate an internal structure behind or within the observations made of personality. These observations constitute personality. Thus psychologists should only study the observed phenomena and operational definitions are important tools in this endeavour. In this reply we want to show that his views are confused and try to point out the roots of this confusion.     

Respectable,Disreputable, or Rightful? Young Nicaraguan Women’s Discourses on Femininity,Intimate Partner Violence,and Sexual Abuse: A Grounded Theory Situational Analysis

This situational analysis study aims to position the discourses that young Nicaraguan women use in their understanding of femininities, male intimate partner violence (IPV), and men’s sexual violence toward women (SA). Eight focus group discussions with a total of 59 women were conducted. Positional maps were used to display the data. The findings show a dominant discourse that portrays femininity as enacting attributes habitually bestowed to men such as independence and agency, while still upholding key patriarchal conceptions (respectability) limiting women’s agency. Tolerance of IPV and SA by nonpartners varies depending on women’s perceived respectability and agency. Most important, we identified a pro-women’s rights resistance discourse that constructs femininity and advocates nonviolence from a human rights perspective.     

Unconscious reasons: Habermas,Foucault, and psychoanalysis

Continental Philosophy Review - The Habermas–Foucault debate, despite the excellent commentary it has generated, has the standing of an ‘unfinished project’ precisely because it...     

Perceived stress,recurrent pain,and aggregate salivary cortisol measures in mid‐adolescent girls and boys

Measures of perceived stress have been criticized for theoretical inconsistency. However, the validated pressure activation stress scale has been suggested as a theoretically sound alternative. But it is unclear how pressure and activation stress relate to objective and subjective measures including commonly used aggregate cortisol measures and health complaints respectively. Specifically, this study aimed at investigating how pressure and activation stress were related to aggregate salivary cortisol measures and recurrent pain in mid‐adolescent girls and boys. Mid‐adolescents (119 girls and 56 boys) provided self‐reports in questionnaires on activation and pressure stress and recurrent pain (headache, stomach ache, neck/shoulder and back pain). Additionally, adolescents sampled saliva during an ordinary school day: (1) immediately at awakening; (2) 30 minutes after waking up; (3) 60 minutes after waking up, and (4) at 8 p.m. These samples were analyzed for cortisol. Hierarchical regressions showed no statistically significant associations between activation and pressure stress and cortisol, neither for girls nor for boys. However, activation and pressure stress were significantly associated with recurrent pain but only for girls. The findings may relate to subjective and objective measures reflecting distinct aspects of stress‐related functioning. However, the study participants included mid‐adolescents whose bodily systems are flexible and still relatively unaffected by the strain of their daily stress perceptions. To conclude, the non‐significant relationships between activation and pressure stress and commonly used aggregate measures of cortisol adds to the understanding of how perceived stress may relate to physiological functioning in the daily life of adolescents when using such aggregate measures.