PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES: CONSTITUENCY PERSPECTIVES AND PREFERENCES

The multiple constituency approach is proposed as a meaningful framework for analyzing the activities of the personnel department. A basic hypothesis on the differences in constituency preferences was empirically tested in 150 organizational units of three large organizations. Four constituencies were found to desire significantly different activities from the department. Minor contextual effects on the pattern of differences were also observed across the three organizations. Future research agendas and implications for practice based on the multiple constituency approach are discussed.     

Task influences on judgemental forecasting

This study investigates the effect of imminence, time duration and subjective desirability on judgemental forecasts. People were found to be more sure of specified events happening in a one-month time period subsequent to an imminent one-month period. The time duration of a forecast period, one month versus two months, had no effect on forecasting response and performance and any effect of the subjective desirability of an event on its perceived likelihood was negligible. Although evidence of the consistency of individual forecasting response and performance was obtained, individual measures of coherence in probability assessment were not related to forecasting performance. A measure of the subjective difficulty of the forecasting task was not related to forecasting performance, indicating that attempts to re-scale forecasting responses to improve forecasting performance on the basis of subjective difficulty are inappropriate.     

Robert H. Shaffer: The Quintessential “Do-Gooder”

Robert H. Shaffer, a pioneering administrator, faculty member, and professional association leader, was interviewed about the early days of AACD (formerly APGA) and his contributions to the student affairs field.     

The Binomial Expansion: Simplifying the Evaluation Process

Individual, small group, and program effectiveness can be evaluated quickly and painlessly using the binomial expansion. This powerful, but seldom used, nonparametric method is described and specific examples are used to illustrate its simplicity and elegance. An abbreviated table of probabilities is included.     

Gender and Creativity In An Afro-Arab Islamic Culture: The Case of Sudan

This study investigated the differences between males and females in creativity among a Sudanese sample of 149 males and 151 females; with ages between 15–20 years. Males and females performed about equal in one creativity test. Males performed significantly better than females on two of four creativity tests. However, females performed significantly better on the fourth test. The study showed no significant interaction between gender and education. The differences between males and females are thought to be related to the different opportunities for freedom and independence in the indigenous Sudanese culture which affect the promotion of creative thinking. These opportunities depend on the level of education as well as the degree of authoritarianism and conformity in the sociocultural system.     

Toward a Telic Vision of Human Beings: A Dialogue with Joseph F. Rychlak

Over the past 25 years, Joseph F. Rychlak has developed a unique approach to theory, research, and practice in counseling that he refers to as “rigorous humanism.” His conceptualization of human action is radically different from the mainstream understanding of human beings in scientific theory and research. His position is quite compatible, however, with the views of most practicing counselors. Rychlak's proposals have been instrumental in developing a modified view of science, upon which a research-based understanding of counseling practice can be constructed.     

CONSTRUCT VALIDITY OF TWO CATEGORIES OF ASSESSMENT CENTER DIMENSION RATINGS

The construct validity of assessment center final dimension ratings was examined within a nomological network of cognitive and personality measures. Four hundred forty-one employees of a large mid-western petroleum company were assessed on 11 dimensions in two broad categories and completed four tests. Results showed that several cognitive ability measures related more strongly to performance-style dimension ratings than to interpersonal-style dimension ratings, providing evidence for convergent and discriminant validity. Correlation analysis and factor analysis support the two a priori interpersonal- and performance-style categories. The results suggest that final dimension ratings possess construct validity and that assessors can differentiate between two broad categories of assessment dimensions.     

Counseling Counselors: A Survey of Values

This study surveyed counselors' rates of involvement in counseling, explored whether counselors value seeing therapists of a similar theoretical orientation to their own, and examined which characteristics were important in choosing one's therapist. Of 2,000 randomly selected ACA members, with a 38% return rate, 80% were found to have attended counseling, with women seeking counseling at significantly higher rates than men. Having been in counseling varied as a function of division affiliation as well as counselor's theoretical orientation. Finally, this study also explored the characteristics deemed important in choosing one's counselor and the values counselors hold regarding involvement in their own therapy.