THE ART OF DYING: IN LUTHER'S SERMON ON PREPARING TO DIE

Luther counseled those preparing to die to ponder the three ‘glowing pictures’ of Christ –‘life, grace, and heaven’, as well as the affective ‘sign’ of the sacrament – to drive out the three counterpictures produced by the devil –‘death, sin, and hell’. The proper timing of contemplation before death and the proper orientation of clinging to Christ and his merciful acts on the cross will empower the sufferer to face death with confidence. Before the saving image of Christ, the trilogy produced by evil vanishes of itself without opposition, a psychological phenomenon which incites faith in us and praise of God at this last hour. The annihilating knowledge of the negative images may be useful, therefore, if it drives us into the arms of Christ.     

THREE-ALTERNATIVE MULTIPLE CHOICE TESTS: AN ATTRACTIVE OPTION

Traditionally, multiple choice tests have included four or five alternatives. Data from public sector employment tests are presented that indicate that tests composed of multiple choice items containing three alternatives have psychometric properties similar to those offered by tests composed of items containing five alternatives. Given the similarity of the psychometric properties and the likely reductions in cost of development and administration time, three-alternative multiple choice items may be preferable to five-alternative multiple choice items for some testing purposes.     

Institutional Affiliations of Contributors to the Personnel and Guidance Journal: Volumes 47–62

The institutional affiliations of contributors to the Personnel and Guidance Journal were examined for a 16-volume period (Vols. 47–62). Authors from colleges and universities represented the major source of contributions (80%). Colleges and universities were then ranked according to the number of articles submitted in each of the two 8-volume periods studied. The top 25 institutions for the entire 16-volume period were identified and ranked according to their contributions to the Journal. Results were compared to a previous study of Journal contributors to highlight trends across a 32-volume period.     

OBTAINING VALID PREDICTORS BY MINIMIZING RATING ERRORS IN THE CRITERION1

The correlations between each of five predictors and supervisory ratings of job effectiveness were not significantly different from zero. On the basis of the job analysis that preceded the validation study, the author concluded that the low correlations between each of the five predictors and the criterion were not due to problems inherent in either the tests or the performance appraisal instrument. Rather, it was hypothesized that the low correlations were a result of rating errors made by supervisors. The results of an eight hour training program (Latham, Wexley, and Pursell, 1975) designed to minimize rating errors supported this hypothesis. Four of the five predictors correlated significantly with the performance ratings that were conducted after the supervisors had received the training.     

Content Analysis of the Journal of Counseling and Development: Volumes 48–66

A content analysis of the Journal of Counseling and Development was conducted for a 19-year period (Vols. 48–66). Articles were cross-classified under content headings and then grouped by the four editorship periods during this time (e.g., Goldman, 1969–1975; Sue, 1975–1978; Barclay, 1978–1984; Goodyear, 1984–1988). Results were compared to earlier studies to illustrate changes and trends in both the counseling professions and the Journal.     

Curiosity was Framed*

This paper explores the nature of curiosity from an epistemological point of view. First it motivates this exploration by explaining why epistemologists do and should care about what curiosity is. Then it surveys the relevant literature and develops a particular approach.     

Reaping the Right Fruits: Luther's Meditation on the 'Earnest Mirror, Christ'

Abstract:  To meditate aright, for Luther, is not to arouse in us an emotive piety for the crucified, but to be acquainted with the knowledge of our sinnerhood, and be devastated by it. Thus there is no natural knowledge of sin. The knowledge of sin flows directly from Christ, whom he called 'the earnest mirror'. This mirror causes sin to surface in our conscience so that it might cause it to disappear from it. This is made possible in Christ's atoning efficacy, where Christ, after exposing our sins, appears to us as our sin-bearer, the one who suffers our sins but suffers them into defeat in his cross and resurrection, if only we believe. The mirror then leads us beyond Christ's heart to the friendly heart of God, the one and same heart, which from eternity beats with such earnest love for us. Thus to grasp God aright, as the mirror reveals, is to grasp him not in his power and majesty, which might be terrifying, but in his opposites, that is, in his weakness and humility. God's way of being 'most himself' is by being for us ( pro nobis ), bearing and suffering the judgement of sin, and eventually dying on the cross. Then our faith and salvation stand immovably certain.