Response effects of equated values of event frequency, repetition, and alternation in one-and two-cue probability learning

An experiment using 50 college students equated cue values of frequency, repetition, and alternation in one- and two-cue partially random sequences in order to determine whether the cues were responded to independently or in combination and to test earlier results concerning cue saliency. Using improved methods of data analysis, previous findings that repetition is more salient than frequency and frequency more salient than alternation were replicated. In spite of the saliency differences, the design employed demonstrated that both cues in two-cue sequences were responded to and that responses to one-cue appeared to be independent of responses to the other.     

The effects of generation on item and order retention in immediate and delayed recall

Recent research has shown that generating words from fragments, relative to simply reading them, inhibits processing of order information. Nairne, Riegler, and Serra (1991) showed that this reduction in processing of order information leads to deficits in recall performance. In three experiments, we generally replicate Nairne et al.'s results and demonstrate that the deficit in recall for the generated items is dependent on the easy distractor task and the relatively short (30-sec) retention interval they used. When a difficult distractor task was used, generating produced a deficit in amount of order information processed, but actually facilitated recall when recall was delayed 80 sec. The results are consistent with the hypothesisthat generating words inhibits order processing, but they do not support the contention that the reduction in order pro~ cessing isresponsible for the deficit in recall that is sometimes observed for the generated items.     

Coping With a Health Threat: A Study of Food Safety1

The coping strategies used to respond to the perceived health threat of contaminated food are examined. Six hundred and thirty randomly selected adults in the state of Iowa responded to a mailed questionnaire asking their attitudes and behaviors concerning food safety. A principal component analysis of coping measure identified two distinct coping strategies–problem solving and fatalism/avoidance/ trust. Multiple regression analysis showed that the respondents who tended to be health conscious (i. e., engaged in health protective behaviors and had better quality diets) and perceived unsafe food as a personal threat and a social problem were more likely to select problem solving as a coping mechanism. The respondents who were low in health consciousness were more likely to select the approaches of fatalism/ avoidance. Social class variables did not differentiate coping strategies.     

The Evaluative Factor of Risk Perception

This study was aimed at identifying an evaluative factor in perceived risk that was independent of the previously identified Dread and Knowledge factors. The methodology used was that developed by Slovic, Fischhoff, and Lichtenstein (1985a) with the addition of four new dimensions: personal position, economic justification, justification through well-being, and beneficial to society. This evaluative factor was identified, and loads the four above-mentioned dimensions while excluding 11 others. This evaluative factor primarily emerges as a major determinant in subjects' demands for risk control legislation.     

Employee pregnancy: The impact on organizations,pregnant employees and co-workers

Perceptions of current and appropriate practices, and behavioral intentions regarding the treatment of pregnant employees were examined utilizing the Pregnancy in the Workplace questionnaire. Subjects believed employing organizations should provide more supportive maternity leave policies and should seek to minimize negative career impacts (e.g., reduced promotional opportunities) on pregnant employees. However, subjects also felt employers were too generous in making workload reductions for pregnant employees. While subjects believed more should be done to assist pregnant employees, they were unwilling to agree to support such actions with their personal behaviors. Opinions varied as a function of sex, age, and nationality of the respondent, as well as supervisory experience with a pregnant employee. Women, younger employees, non-U.S. citizens, and those without experience supervising a pregnant employee were significantly more supportive of pregnant employees, and indicated greater support for legislation to assist pregnant employees.     

Book notes

Lexikon der Sekten, Sondergruppen und Weltanschauungen: Fakten, Hin‐tergründe, Klärungen, 5th edn. Hans Gasper, Joachim Müller, Friederike Valentin, eds., 1997 Freiburg: Herder 1255 pp., DM 29, 80 (pb) ISBN 3–451–04271–1

Islam: A Very Short Introduction. Mause Ruthven, 1997 Oxford: Oxford University Press 162 pp., £4.99 (pb) ISBN 0–19–285334–1

Religion and the Order of Nature. Seyyed Hossein Nasr, 1996 Oxford: Oxford University Press 310 pp., £53.50 (hb), £15.50 (pb) ISBN 0–19510274–6 (hb), ISBN 0–19–510823‐X (pb)

The Intellectual Foundations of Christian and Jewish Discourse: The Philosophy of Religious Argument. Jacob Neusner & Bruce Chilton, 1997 London, New York: Routledge 184 pp., £13.99 (pb) ISBN 0–415–15399–9

The Way Forward? Christian Voices on Homosexuality and the Church. Timothy Bradshaw, ed., 1997 London: Hodder & Stoughton 229 pp., £8.99 (pb) ISBN 0–340–69393–2

Faith in the Revolution: The Political Theologies of Müntzer and Winstanley. Andrew Bradstock, 1997 London: SPCK 210 pp., £17.50 (pb) ISBN 0–281–05067–8

The Reception of the Faith: Reinterpreting the Gospel for Today. Gillian R. Evans, 1997 London: SPCK 229 pp., £15.99 (pb) ISBN 0–281–05092–9

The Bhagavad Gita: A Verse Translation. Geoffrey Parrinder, 1996 Oxford: Oneworld Publications 134 pp., £6.99 (pb) ISBN 1–85168–117–5     

The Effects of Marital Interaction,Depression and Self-Esteem on Dietary Self-Efficacy Among Married Couples1

This investigation defines the construct of dietary self-efficacy and examines the personal and interactional factors that predict efficacy in food behavior. Dietary self-efficacy is the belief that one is capable of behavior necessary to produce a nutritionally healthful diet. A path model was tested that located dietary self-efficacy as a consequence of the character of marital interaction (role disagreement, equity/inequity, and family food interaction), personal conditions of depression and low self-esteem, age, and education. One hundred fifty-five married couples were randomly selected and interviewed. The path model predicted a direct causal effect of role disagreement and inequity on depression and an indirect effect on dietary self-efficacy mediated by depression and self-esteem. The findings supported the proposed model for wives but not for husbands, suggesting that dietary self-efficacy is a female construct. Wives continue to take major responsibility for food selection and preparation, including the nutrition of children. Therefore, dietary self-efficacy gains a position of centrality for wives that is not independent of the effect of everyday interaction.