Book reviews

International Journal for Philosophy of Religion -     

Further evaluation of self and peer judgements of speech with delayed auditory feedback

Fifteen undergraduate students recorded a standard reading passage under simultaneous auditory feedback (SAF) and delayed auditory feedback (DAF, 210 ms). These pairs were rated for articulation and fluency differences, reading rate differences, pitch differences, loudness differences, and overall differences in quality of speech by the fifteen speakers and by ten peer judges. Results suggest that naive speakers under DAF form a self-impression of the effects of DAF upon their speech that is not different from the qualitative ratings of independent peer judges. The hypothesis that there was no overall difference between self and peer ratings was not rejected. Implications for the use of DAF as a research or treatment modality, or as both, are discussed.     

Interpersonal Assessment in Counseling and Psychotherapy

This article provides a review of some of the major instruments, methodologies, and strategies available to assess clients' interpersonal functioning. The focus is on instruments that provide characterizations of clients' and counselors' overt interpersonal behavior and covert reactions translated onto interpersonal circle models. A suggested interpersonal assessment battery is presented, and how the information obtained from this battery can be applied to assist in conceptualization and treatment efforts is described.     

FEMALE VS. MALE ABSENCE RATES: A TEMPORAL ANALYSIS

The purpose of this research is to test the importance of temporal trends within absenteeism data for males and females. The data support previous findings of higher absenteeism rates for women when compared to men. The data also indicate the importance of temporal trends as suggested by Dansereau, Alutto, and Markham (1978). Conclusions are drawn concerning the use of absence rates as dependent variables.     

Electrocutaneous stimulation II. The estimation of distance between two points

Using a numerical estimation procedure, subjects judged the perceived distance between pairs of brief electrical stimuli presented over different physical distances, on different body regions, and in different spatial orientations. The skin turns out to be anisotropic, with the same physical separation between electrodes appearing greater on the forehead than on the forearm, greater on the forearm than on the abdomen. Perceived distance also depends on the orientation and, to some extent, on the time relation between the two electrical pulses. Under all conditions, the perceived distance between electrical stimuli was “compressed” as compared with visual distance. These results bear on the design of devices that attempt to transmit information by electrical stimulation of the skin.     

Electrocutaneous stimulation L The effects of stimulus parameters on absolute threshold

Thresholds for detecting electrical stimulation were measured as a function of (1) body locus, (2) electrode configuration, (3) stimulus waveform, and (4) pulse duration. The results were: (1) the forehead gave slightly, but not reliably, lower thresholds than the abdomen; (2) concentric electrodes gave slightly, but not reliably, lower thresholds than unifocal electrodes; (3) cathodal monophasic (?) pulses and biphasic pulses (+/? and ?/+) gave identical thresholds, while anodal monophasic (+) pulses gave higher thresholds; and (4) thresholds decreased as pulse duration increased up to .5 msec, but changed less with longer pulses.     

Some foundations and directions for applied developmental psychology

Applied developmental psychology (ADP) is an “umbrella” discipline which includes a range of psychological sciences and professions committed to use of the data base and methods of developmental psychology to address problems in education, health, human services and public policy. ADP emerges now as a manifestation of increasing recognition of the limits of developmental psychology's traditional models and paradigms, increasing recognition of our appropriate role in social problem-solving and public policy formation and an employment market which reflects these awarenesses. Consideration of clinical psychology as an ADP provides examples of synergies and distinctions helpful in defining ADP. The “linkage” concept inherent in a “scientist-practitioner” model is emphasized as a key in this definition and as a basis for designing appropriate doctoral training programs in ADP.