Effects of setting and number of observations on generalizability of parent-child interactions in childhood obesity treatment

The generalizability of behaviors across observational conditions is a critical issue in behavioral assessment. Generalizability theory was used to examine two aspects of audio recorded parent-child interactions recorded over 6 days of home measurement and 1 day of laboratory measurement in a behavioral treatment program for childhood obesity. Families audiotaped parent-child home meetings during which they reviewed self-monitored diet and exercise records that were coded for the following types of interactions: praise statements, negative statements, prompts for new behaviors, and statements promoting problem solving. A similar meeting was audiotaped in our laboratory. The first question explored was the number of measurements needed to generalize to the universe of the six home measures. Results showed an increase in generalizability over measurements for each behavioral category. Using generalizability coefficients of .60 or more, praise, negative comments and prompts, respectively, could be reliably observed based on 1, 4, or 4 days of measurement. Second, the effects of setting (laboratory versus home) were assessed for 1 day of measurement in each environment. Again using generalizability coefficients of .60, generalizability analysis showed that the lab setting could not be generalized to the home setting based on 1 day of measurement, with generalizability coefficients ranging from .27 for negative comments to .57 for praise. Results suggest that 4 days of behavioral assessment in the home can be used to establish generalizable data for all the dependent measures studied. However, generalizability coefficients suggested that 1 day of laboratory measurement was not adequate to generalize to typical home behavior.This research was supported in part by Grant NIH HD 23713 awarded to the third author.     

The use of the large-scale integrated sensor (LSI) to estimate energy expenditure

The relationship between activity counts from the large-scale integrated sensor (LSI), placed at the hip and ankle, and heart rate-estimated energy expenditure was examined in three nonobese males during three conditions: normal morning activities, a 1-mi walk, and a 2-mi walk. Results showed that estimated caloric expenditure was related to activity counts for both monitoring placements, with correlations between counts and energy expenditure exceedingr=.90. These results show that energy expenditure in the activities sampled can be reliably estimated using activity monitors.This research was supported in part by a grant provided by The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Research Network on the Psychobiology of Depression, Clinical Research Center Grant 5-30915 from the NIMH, and Grant HD 16411 from the NICHD awarded to Dr. Epstein.     

Localization of receptors for the dipsogenic action of angiotensin II in the subfornical organ of rat.

The proposal of the subfornical organ (SFO) as a site of receptors for drinking induced by angiotensin II (AII) was investigated with several mutually confirmatory experiments. Intracranial injections of physiological doses of AII elicited drinking if and only if applied directly to the SFO (Experiment I). Ablation of the SFO selectively (Experiment 2) and permanently (Experiment 4) eliminated drinking elicited by physiological doses of intravenously infused AII. Animals in which SFO had been ablated responded normally to cellular dehydration but reduced responding to the extracellular thirsts of beta-adrenergic activation and hyperoncotic colloid dialysis (Experiment 3). Infusion of saralasin, an AII antagonist, directly into the SFO selectively and reversibly antagonized intravenous AII drinking (Experiment 5). The hypothesis that the SFO contains dipsogenic receptors for circulating AII is strongly supported.     

The locus of masking shape-at-a-slant

Twelve subjects provided shape and orientation judgments for a set of projectively equivalent, variously rotated rectangles under three viewing conditions—monoptic, dichoptic, and binocular—with and without the presence of a pattern mask. In the absence of the mask, partial constancy was exhibited under the first two conditions and near perfect constancy under the binocular condition. Orientation was discriminated. Presence of the mask produced projective shape matching and diminished orientation discrimination. It is argued that the site of masking was postchiasmal, and the results are related to previous work with pattern masking of projectively equivalent ellipses.     

Behavior problems of educationally handicapped and normal pupils

Male pupils identified as behaviorally disordered, learning disabled, and educable mentally retarded, as well as nonidentified normal boys, were rated by their teachers on the Behavior Problem Checklist. Analyses of the ratings indicated significant differences for pupil category, Behavior Problem Checklist dimension, and category by dimension interaction, but no significant differences for age alone or in interaction with other factors. Categories of pupils were best discriminated from one another on the basis of Conduct Disorder and Personality Problem dimensions of the Behavior Problem Checklist. Results were discussed in terms of some implications for special education and further research suggested by the present findings.This research was supported by grant number GOO-7700642 from the Bureau of Education for the Handicapped, U.S. Office of Education. Appreciation for their help in facilitating data collection is expressed to Jan Jones, Dee Tull, Dan Hurd, and Frank Kolinsky.