Function,Perception and Normal Causal Chains

Philosophical Studies -     

Adaptation and validation to Spanish of the Psychological Capital Questionnaire–12 (PCQ–12) in academic contexts

Current Psychology - Psychological Capital is a construct that is experiencing strong growth within the framework of Positive Psychology. In work contexts, it has been related to employee...     

Family Profiles of Cohesion and Parenting Practices and Latino Youth Adjustment

Using a sample of 279 (52% female) Latino youth in 9th grade (M = 14.57, SD = .56), we examined profiles of family cohesion and parenting practices and their relation to youth adjustment. The results of latent profile analyses revealed four family profiles: Engaged, Supportive, Intrusive, and Disengaged. Latino youth in the Supportive family profile showed most positive adjustment (highest self‐esteem and lowest depressive symptoms), followed by youth in the Engaged family profile. Youth in the Intrusive and Disengaged profiles showed the lowest levels of positive adjustment. The findings contribute to the current literature on family dynamics, family profiles, and youth psychological adjustment within specific ethnic groups.     

Increasing calcium intake in young women through gain-framed,targeted messages: A randomised controlled trial

Background: Adequate calcium consumption during early adulthood can help prevent osteoporosis in women.

Purpose: The effects of gain-framed, targeted messaging on calcium intake were examined over 12 months.

Methods: Young women (18–19 years) not consuming sufficient calcium were randomly assigned to receive standard care materials (control) or gain-framed, targeted materials (experimental). Health belief model (HBM) constructs, calcium intake and markers of bone formation, resorption and bone mineral density were assessed at various time points throughout the year.

Results: Calcium intake increased significantly more in the experimental versus the control condition (p?<?0.01). Self-efficacy was the only HBM construct to improve significantly more in the experimental condition versus control (p?=?0.05). The HBM did not mediate changes in calcium intake. Measures of bone health did not differ between conditions by the end of this nonpharmacological intervention (p's?>?0.05).

Conclusions: It is possible to increase young women's calcium consumption through gain-framed, targeted messages.     

Which modality is best for presenting navigation instructions?

Three experiments involved college students receiving and following instructions of various lengths for navigating in a three-dimensional space displayed on a computer screen. The purpose was to evaluate which is the best modality for presenting navigation instructions so that they can be executed successfully. Single modalities (read, hear, and see) were considered along with dual modalities presented simultaneously or successively. It was found that when there were differences between single modalities, generally execution accuracy was best for see and worst for read. Information presented in two modalities did not yield better accuracy than information presented twice in a single modality. Also, the ordering of modalities depended on the extent of practice. Thus, presentation modality does not have a consistently large effect on receiving and following navigation instructions. Repetition and the amount of practice are much more important variables than is presentation modality in determining how well navigation instructions are followed.     

Interpretation of the low-temperature photoconductivity in a-Si

Abstract

The paper is concerned with the interpretation of steady-state photoconductivity results on undoped a-Si at temperatures of 50K and below which lead to an essentially constant value of the (photogeneration efficiency x mobility x lifetime) product νμτ?10^?11 cm² V^?1. Measurements on p⁺-i-n⁺ junctions and Cr-i-n⁺ barriers were carried out to determine the above parameters separately: (i) steadystate reverse saturation currents gave a generation efficiency of ν? 5×10-² below 50K, suggesting that geminate recombination limits the generation process. (ii) the electron drift mobility μ_e through the tail states and the charge extracted from the absorption region of the incident light were investigated by transient experiments, these showed that μ_eτ_a is limited to about 3×10^?10cm²V^?1 at low T. The independent results account for the observed νμτ values and suggest that, contrary to the interpretation of Hoheisel, Carius and Fuhs (1984), the main contribution to the low-temperature photoconductivity arises from transport in tail states.     

Emotional intelligence research in Australia: Past contributions and future directions

Emotional intelligence (EI) is an intriguing and popular area of research, focusing as it does on individual differences in qualities at the intersection of intelligence and emotion. Research to date has focused on three key questions: (a) How to define EI? (b) How to measure EI? and (c) What is EI good for? This review describes the key contributions of Australian researchers to these questions before outlining the current focus and future directions of EI research in Australia. Australian research teams have been instrumental in clarifying the definition of EI, developing innovative measures of EI and examining the life domains EI influences. We suggest that with the contributions of Australian research to the earlier definitional and measurement questions, Australian researchers are now able to address questions about the processes and mechanisms by which EI translates into positive outcomes in diverse life domains.     

Does adolescent heavier alcohol use predict young adult aggression and delinquency? Parallel analyses from four Australasian cohort studies

While the association between heavy alcohol consumption and aggression has been well documented, the causal direction of this association, particularly at a population level, is disputed. A number of causal sequences have been proposed. First, that aggression leads to heavy alcohol use. Second, that heavy alcohol use leads to aggression. Third, that the association between alcohol use and aggression is due to confounding by (a) sociodemographic variables or (b) delinquency. We report here data from four Australasian prospective longitudinal studies of adolescents, to assess the temporal sequence of heavy drinking and aggression over the period from adolescence to young adulthood. The four cohort studies provide a total sample of 6,706 persons (Australian Temperament Project, n = 1701; Christchurch Health and Development Study, n = 931; Mater-University of Queensland Study of Pregnancy, n = 2437; Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study, n = 1637). We use multinomial logistic regression to determine whether early adolescent aggression predicts subsequent age of onset of heavy episodic drinking (HED), after adjustment for concurrent sociodemographic factors and delinquency. We then consider whether HED predicts subsequent aggression, after adjusting for past aggression, concurrent delinquency, and a range of confounders. There are broadly consistent findings across the four cohort studies. Early aggression strongly predicts subsequent HED. HED predicts later aggression after adjustment for prior aggression and other confounders. Policies that alter population levels of alcohol consumption are likely to impact on levels of aggression in societies where HED linked to aggression is more common.