Standing out from the crowd: personalization of graduation attire

During 1982 and 1983 college commencement ceremonies, a tally was made of students who displayed personal adornment in addition to their traditional academic garb. Degree conferred, sex of recipient, and year of graduation were related to the frequency and forms (political and nonpolitical) of adornment. Bachelor of Arts candidates were more likely to be adorned than were Bachelor of Science candidates, women were more likely to be adorned than were men, and 1982 graduates were more likely to be adorned than were 1983 graduates. The wearing of antinuclear protest ribbons varied as a function of degree but not as a function of sex, and the wearing of nonpolitical forms of adornment varied as a function of sex but not as a function of degree. Results indicate that personalization of graduation attire follows patterns reported in studies of secular dress and adornment. This correspondence between everyday and ritual clothing expressions suggests that the graduation ceremony may be a useful microcosm for future field studies of adolescents' attitudes and social differentiation.     

Evaluation of subclinical depression in children using self-, peer-, and teacher-report measures

This study reports on several classification issues utilizing the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI), the Child Behavior Checklist-Teacher Form (CBCL-T), and the Peer Nomination Inventory of Depression (PNID). The first sample contained 752 public school children in grades 5, 6, and 9. A second sample of 142 fifth-graders was included to have an additional PNID comparison group. Results revealed moderate correlations between the CDI and the CBCL-T and PNID. Use of multiple criteria for selecting children as depressed was discussed, and selection rates using multiple measures with either strict or lenient cutoff scores were given. Normative data on the PNID were evaluated, and it was suggested that norms for the PNID may not be generalizable to other samples. Finally, race and gender analyses showed that CDI scores for females were significantly higher than for males, whereas CDI scores for Hispanics were significantly higher than for non-Hispanic whites. However, Omega-squared analyses for these two variables showed this to be of little practical significance.     

A portable biofeedback device for autonomic responses

The design of a versatile and programmable transducer amplifier device with analogue display for self-monitoring of autonomic responses is described. The design features low cost, portability, and flexibility across direct-current transducer options (e.g., photoplethysmograph or thermistor). The device can be used for the visual or auditory display of continuous blood volume pulse or temperature measures where the relative amplitude or pulse rate is of concern. Auditory or visual biofeedback may be provided via the choice of a stacked bar-graph display or piezoelectric buzzer. A common circuit design to allow programming options for the estimation of heart rate, inter-beat interval, or pulse duration is provided.     

Developmental changes in children's abilities to match and label emotionally laden situations

In two studies, male and female preschoolers and third- and fourth-graders were tested on their abilities to match and generate affective labels for 19 types of emotionally laden situations. Age changes were found in the accuracy with which situations were both labeled and matched; the ability to match similar situations was more strongly related to age than was the ability to label emotions. Matching and labeling abilities were positively related to each other. Both age groups were best at labeling situations depicting happiness, anger, and sadness, and at matching situations depicting sadness, anger, and disgust, but both age groups were capable of matching a wide variety of emotions depicted in situations at a better than chance rate. Only situations depicting fear, nervousness, and embarrassment were not matched better than chance by either preschoolers or third- and fourth-graders.This research was supported by a grant to the first author from Boston University Graduate School, No. GRS-661-PS. Portions of this paper were presented in Toronto at the Biannual Meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, April 1985. The authors would like to thank Gail Desmond, Lesley Landau, Ana Ortiz, Phyllis Sternlight, Mark Steward, and Orna Wolfson for their help in various phases of this project, and especially the Lowell Day Nursery for its cooperation.     

A variable-threshold,variable-gain,infrared photoplethysmograph

The design of a versatile, low-cost, hermetically sealed, infrared photoplethysmograph is described. The device can be used for optical readings of changes in blood volume which occur with cardiovascular events. Advantages of the device are discussed.     

Contrasting managerial perspectives of American and Italian public administrators

A 45-item Q- sort first developed in a study of Italian public administrators was used to compare managerial attitudes of 110 American and 183 Italian male administrators. Items were evaluated both with regard to mean ratings and sequential ranking within samples. Twenty-five items differentiated significantly between the samples; the correlation (rho) between the two rankings was .60. American administrators placed relatively greater emphasis on interpersonal relationships and career opportunities, whereas Italians stressed security and structure. On six Italian typologies previously established, American scored slightly above average on Type II (the mediator-tolerant, modest in his demands, generous in his relationships), and slightly below average on Type III (the actionist-tough-minded, decisive, indifferent to the feelings of subordinates).     

Orientation and lever responding in auditory discriminations in squirrel monkeys.

Head orientation during auditory discriminations was studies in squirrel monkeys using a two-lever trial-by-trial procedure. Animals were studied using auditory discriminations based on the position of the sound and on the spectral content differences between a pure tone and a noise. After the percentage of correct responses reached asymptote, head orientation was measured using videotape recordings. Orientation occurred on virtually every trial and was under the control of the position of the sound under all conditions. Lever responding was controlled by the same parameters of the sound under some conditions, and by different parameters in others. Orientation and lever responding were correlated (a level response could be predicted from the direction of orientation) when both responses were under the control of the same parameters of the sound. The two responses were uncorrelated when they were controlled by different parameters of the sound. Orientation and lever responding were not functionally related.