INTRODUCING NEW METHODS FOR CONDUCTING TRAINING EVALUATION AND FOR LINKING TRAINING EVALUATION TO PROGRAM REDESIGN

While training has been conceptualized as a continually evolving process, the existing literature fails to provide adequate strategies for linking training evaluation to training needs reassessment and program redesign. This article presents two studies which describe methodologies developed for a police recruit training program to address these deficiencies in the literature. In Study 1, Lawshe's (1975) Content Validity Ratio (CVR) approach was used to establish the job relatedness of the content of the training program. Results supported the job relatedness of the training program as the average CVR value was 27 ( p < 05; N = 105). In study 2, a new methodology, the Matching Technique, was used to directly compare current training emphasis with training needs. Results demonstrated a close match of emphasis and training needs for the training program. One content area of relative training deficiency was further examined to illustrate the power of the Matching Technique for identifying areas requiring training redesign.     

Counselors' Reports of Performance: Facilitative and Debilitative Cognitions in the Job Interview

Thirty vocational counselors participated in a job interview thought-listing procedure. Potentially facilitative and debilitative cognitions relating to the job interview were grouped and analyzed in terms of their frequency of occurrence and their impact. The results show that the interviewee's cognitions relate to social evaluation and the skilled performance of interview tasks.     

MODELING THE EFFECTS OF BANDING IN PERSONNEL SELECTION

Selection outcomes under banding are affected by characteristics of the selection system and the applicant pool. This study examined the effects of eight parameters on the proportions hired from higher- and lower-scoring groups: (a) selection ratio; (b) reliability; (b) fixed vs. sliding bands; (d) top-down vs. random within-band selection; (e) preferential vs. nonpreferential selection; (f) mean differences; (g) standard deviation differences; and (h) proportion of applicants from the lower-scoring group. Simulation results were analyzed in a fully-crossed eight-way ANOVA. Higher-order interactions among selection system and applicant pool characteristics had virtually no effect on selection outcomes; the proportion of the applicant pool from the lower-scoring group accounted for nearly half the variance in out-comes. Other important effects are, in order, the effects of standard deviation differences, mean differences, preferential hiring, and the selection ratio. Applicant pool characteristics have considerably more influence on selection outcomes than do selection system characteristics.     

Racially Diverse Congregations: Organizational Identity and the Accommodation of Differences

Racial integration in religious congregations is a topic of keen interest to researchers and religious leaders. Although not common, there are congregations that successfully reach across cultural lines to attract adherents. Prior studies tend to dichotomize congregations into categories of multiracial and nonmultiracial and, thereby, miss a wider range of racial variation. Using nationally representative congregational data, this article paints a more representative picture of racial diversity in U.S. congregations and puts forward a theory of congregational identity to account for why some congregations succeed at accommodating multiple racial groups in a society where religious life remains overwhelmingly segregated. The analysis capitalizes on a numeric scale of diversity, which measures the evenness of racial group representation in a congregation. While the external environment creates opportunity for racial diversification in congregations, findings demonstrate racially diverse leadership, charismatic worship, and small groups as internal congregational features also relevant to diversity.     

Trauma‐focused CBT with maltreated children: A clinic‐based evaluation of a new treatment manual

The effectiveness of a locally developed trauma‐focused cognitive behavioural therapy (TF‐CBT) program for maltreated children with post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was examined across different therapists in a child protection clinic setting. An earlier phase of the research piloting the program had provided promising results. This second phase involved two studies evaluating the completed TF‐CBT manual delivered by (a) the developer and (b) other therapists. A single‐case multiple‐baseline design was used to demonstrate the controlling effects of the treatment on PTSD symptoms and child coping. Eight 9–13‐year‐old abused children with PTSD were treated. Positive outcomes support the effectiveness of the TF‐CBT program delivered by both the developer and other therapists. The study design and methodology were robust enough to confirm empirically the clinically beneficial effects and potential for this new program. It was also apparent, however, from study limitations, including missing data for some patients, that there are a number of challenges in carrying out such research in a busy child protection service setting with multiply‐abused patients. This paper considers implications and ways forward for engaging in empirically supported practice as well as future development and research.     

Men's and women's reactions to fair and unfair treatment in relationship conflict

Abstract Evidence of gender differences in reactions to experienced fair and unfair treatment in relationship conflict was examined in 4 studies among dating, cohabiting, and married participants in The Netherlands. Using a critical incidents method and a scenario, this research provided convergent results suggesting that the relationship between fairness of treatment and affective feelings or relationship satisfaction is stronger for women than for men. This gender difference disappeared under conditions of high relationship commitment. Furthermore, men who identified strongly with their relationship showed stronger reactions to fair treatment than men who identified weakly with their relationships. Finally, the manipulation of relationship salience led to heightened sensitivity to fairness of treatment among men, but not among women.     

HUME ON KNOWLEDGE,CERTAINTY AND PROBABILITY: ANTICIPATING THE DISINTEGRATION OF THE ANALYTIC/SYNTHETIC DIVIDE?

Abstract:  This paper contends that the first argument of Hume's "Of scepticism with regard to reason" entails that humans have no knowledge as Hume understands knowledge. In defending this claim, we also see how Hume's argument anticipates an important aspect of an extremely influential 20th century development: the collapse of the analytic/synthetic distinction.     

BRING BACK THE MAGIC

Abstract:  Magical ersatzism is the view that possible worlds are primitive abstract entities. In On the Plurality of Worlds , David Lewis presented what appeared to many to be a devastating argument against magical ersatzism. In this paper, I show that Lewis' central argument does not succeed. Magical ersatzism remains a viable theory of possible worlds.