The Influence of Attitudes Toward Male and Female Patients on Treatment Decisions in General Practice

Twenty-three physicians in general practice inthe southwest region of Great Britain completedchecklists on all patients consulted over approximatelysix of their consecutive daily surgeries. Twenty-two of the physicians were British Caucasian andone was of African decent. Data concerning patientgender, attitude toward the patient, and treatmentdecision for 115 consultations featuring psychological presentations were analyzed. Results indicatedthat, taken separately, patient gender and generalpractitioner attitudes did not predict treatmentdecisions. However, a significant interaction betweenthese variables showed that attitudes haddifferential effects on treatment decisions made formale and female patients. These findings are interpretedwithin a social cognition framework.     

Measurement of olfactory signal detectability using an air-dilution olfactometer

The Cheesman air dilution olfactometer, although designed for group threshold measurements, was modified to allow individual testing of subjects. However, adaptation effects of olfactory stimuli precluded use of interstimulus intervals of less than 30 sec. so that 3-hr. testing sessions were necessary to obtain a single measurement of sensitivity. Four subjects were tested intensively with isopropyl alcohol (CH3CH(OH)CH3) at concentration levels determined by previous group threshold studies. In the first condition, one concentration only was presented in testing sessions, while in the second condition, six concentrations were presented and the limits of concentrations adjusted to allow subthreshold presentations. Signal detectability indices (dc') were calculated more frequently and more reliably in the second condition than in the first.     

Social Support in Seventh-Day Adventists and Their Neighbors

Certain structural and functional aspects of social networks and support were compared among 157 middle-aged male Seventh-day Adventists and male neighbors of the same age range. The Adventist men were 11.2% more likely to be married (p<0.05), had 15% more trusted friends (p<0.10) and 31% more trusted relatives (p<0.005) than their neighbors. Of the Adventists and neighbors, 74% and 52% respectively reported feeling frequently cared for by others (p<0.001). At least weekly church attendance was practiced by 84% of the Adventists and 30% of the neighbors (p<0.001). It is speculated that some of the favorable mortality experience of Adventists may be causally related to these increased levels of social support.     

Group risk-taking and group polarization

There are two aims to this paper; to report in brief preliminary form a number of studies on group risk-taking that have been carried out in Bristol in the past two years, and to relate these studies to an explanation of group risk-taking phenomena primarily in terms of group polarization. The paper has five sections. The first section supplies some background material regarding basic phenomena and previous attempts at explanations. The second section relates to initial individual decisions and the third section to decisions following group discussion and consensus. In the fourth section a tentative explanation of group risk-taking effects is proposed in terms of group polarization processes, together with something like an overall value for risk. Group polarization itself is discussed in terms of normative and informational aspects of social influence. The final section deals with two implications of the proposed explanation, one relating to the role of individual familiarization and the other to the generality of group polarization processes.     

The relationship between riskiness and confidence in choice dilemma decisions

The relationship between riskiness of decisions and confidence in decisions was examined using Choice Dilemma items. Graphs show a clear curvilinear relationship between riskiness and confidence; on both risky items and cautious items greater confidence is associate with extremely risky and extremely cautious decisions than with moderate ones. it was also demonstrated that individual subjects have more confidence in their extreme decisions than in their moderate ones.     

Experimenter bias and other possible biases in psychological research

Ajter a brief discussion of work on experimenter-bias, it is suggested that the possibility of less well documented biases should be considered. A number of such biases are suggested. They are presented in terms of their source, namely the political ideologies, cultural backgrounds, biographical characteristics and personal characteristics of scientists. In considering implications of biases, three reactions are discussed: ignoring, controlling and understanding them. In particular, it is proposed that understanding the operation of bias might be furthered by working towards a taxonomy of biases, organized in terms of the sources of biases and the points in the research process at which they intrude.