Individual distress and dyadic adjustment over a three‐year follow‐up period in couple therapy: a bi‐directional relationship?

This study examined the relationship between depressive symptoms and dyadic adjustment, as well as between interpersonal problems and dyadic adjustment, during residential couple therapy and at a three‐year follow‐up (N=106). Mixed models were used in the analyses. Significant improvement (p<.001) occurred on all measures from admission to discharge (effect sizes .27?.83) and from admission to three‐year follow‐up (effect sizes .52?.79). During the observation period, improvement in depressive symptoms at the first time point predicted improvement in dyadic adjustment at the subsequent time point. Furthermore, the dyadic adjustment level at discharge predicted improvement in depressive symptoms in the follow‐up period. There were only modest associations between personality variables and dyadic adjustment. The clinical implication is that in couples suffering from co‐existing relational and symptomatic distress, couple therapy should include the aim of lowering depressive symptoms.     

Effects of extensive dual-task practice on processing stages in simultaneous choice tasks

Schumacher et al. Psychological Science 12:101–108, (2001) demonstrated the elimination of most dual-task costs (“perfect time-sharing”) after extensive dual-task practice of a visual and an auditory task in combination. For the present research, we used a transfer methodology to examine this practice effect in more detail, asking what task-processing stages were sped up by this dual-task practice. Such research will be essential to specify mechanisms associated with the practice-related elimination of dual-task costs. In three experiments, we introduced postpractice transfer probes focusing on the perception, central response-selection, and final motor-response stages. The results indicated that the major change achieved by dual-task practice was a speed-up in the central response-selection stages of both tasks. Additionally, perceptual-stage shortening of the auditory task was found to contribute to the improvements in time-sharing. For a better understanding of such time-sharing, we discuss the contributions of the present findings in relation to models of practiced dual-task performance.     

Two Kinds of Learning

Episodic analysis is the separation of a novel into its component episodes —i.e., into short stories each of which has a unitary theme—in order to provide equivalent units for content analysis. Independent coders show two types of disagreement. Neither is serious for content analysis, and both may be minimized by some suggested ground rules. In a study of 13 stylistically different books, intercoder reliability ranged from 76% to 94%. Variations in accuracy were clearly related to literary style. Relevant information on the coding process and reliability, as well as data on the number and length of episodes in the 13 books, are given in tabular form. Problems connected with reliable coding are discussed and some solutions are suggested.     

A New form of Tachistoscope

Howard C. Warren. Dictionary of Psychology. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin, 1934. Pp. x+372. $4.50 Reviewed by Raymond Royce Willoughby