Restrictions in working memory capacity during parachuting: a possible cause of ‘no pull’ fatalities

Working memory capacity of novice and experienced parachutists was compared under three conditions: prior to exiting the aircraft, on landing and during a control, non‐jumping day. Analysis of the operation span task revealed significant impairments in both storage and processing capacities of working memory prior to jumping. Storage capacity continued to be impaired in novice parachutists on landing whilst experienced parachutists showed full recovery. Neither group showed impairment in processing capacity on landing. Significant increases in heart rate were found for both groups in the jump and landing conditions compared to baseline but no differences existed between novices and experienced parachutists. Initial analyses support processing efficiency theory and suggest that cognitive processing may be slowing down during a jump. However, post hoc analysis of incorrect responses suggest that executive function may actually become disrupted. The results are reviewed in the context of ‘no pull’ parachuting fatalities. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Team Autonomy, Performance, and Member Job Strain: Uncovering the Teamwork KSA Link

En raison du développement des équipes de travail dans les organisations, on souhaite obtenir des informations sur la meilleure façon de structurer les groupes pour les rendre efficients. Cette étude porte sur la relation de l'expérience de l'autonomie et du travail en équipe, des capacités et des compétences (KSAs) avec la performance du groupe et l'effort émanant de ses membres. Deux modèles ont été mis à l'épreuve à partir d'une recherche théorique et empirique continue. Des données provenant d'un échantillon de 41 équipes de production (174 participants) apportèrent des éléments en faveur du modèle de médiation selon lequel l'autonomie est associée à la perfomance et à l'effort par l'intermédiaire des KSAs. Le modèle alternatif de modération qui suppose que l'autonomie et les KSAs interagissent pour déboucher sur la performance et l'effort ne fut pas corroboré.
Given the increasing use of work teams in organizations, interest exists in identifying the best ways to design teams so that they lead to positive outcomes. This study examined how team autonomy and teamwork knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) relate to team performance and member job strain. Based on extant empirical and theoretical work, two models were tested. findings from a sample of 41 production teams (174 team members) showed support for the mediation model—that autonomy is associated with performance and strain through teamwork KSAs. The alternative moderation model, suggesting that autonomy and teamwork KSAs interact in predicting performance and strain, was not supported.     

Mountain Bike Trail Building, “Dirty” Work,and a New Terrestrial Politics

Abstract

Dirt is evoked to signify many important facets of mountain bike culture, including its emergence, history, and everyday forms of practice and affect. These significations are also drawn on to frame the sport's (sub)cultural and counterideological affiliations. In this article we examine how both the practice of mountain biking and, specifically, mountain bike trail building, raises questions over the object and latent function of dirt, hinting at the way that abjection can, under certain circumstances, be a source of intrigue and pleasure. In doing so, we suggest a resymbolization of our relationship with dirt via a consideration of the terrestrial.     

Maternal reports of adaptive behaviours in young children: urban–rural and gender comparisons in Italy and United States

We compared how 182 Italian and US American urban and rural firstborn 20‐month‐old girls and boys cope with the demands of their environment through their adaptive behaviours in everyday activities. Using the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scales, we collected maternal reports of children's communication, daily living, socialization, and motor skills. Three sets of main effects (and no interactions) emerged. With respect to country, Italian children scored higher than US American children in adaptive communication and motor skills. With respect to region, urban children showed higher adaptive motor skills than rural children, and rural children showed higher adaptive daily living skills than urban children. Finally, with respect to gender, girls scored higher on an adaptive behaviour composite as well as adaptive communication skills, but boys higher in adaptive motor skills. We set these country, region, and gender main effects in the context of a discussion of developing adaptive behaviours in young children. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.