DO SITUATIONAL VARIABLES ACT AS SUBSTANTIVE CAUSES OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCE VARIABLES? TWO LARGE-SCALE TESTS OF “COMMON CAUSE” MODELS

James, Demaree, Mulaik, and Ladd (1992) proposed that situational variables may act as substantive ("common") causes of relationships between individual difference variables as well as statistical artifacts (i.e., measurement unreliability) associated with these variables, thus invalidating assumptions of current validity generalization/meta-analysis procedures. In this investigation, we report the results of two large-scale studies designed to test hypothesized relationships derived from two "common cause" models. Study 1 examines relationships between store-level organizational climate variables and employee satisfaction and performance variables for 33,097 sales personnel in 537 retail stores. Study 2 investigates relationships between store-level situational constraints and customer service perception and shopping variables for 31,611 customers from 564 retail stores. The results of these studies did not support the proposition that situational variables act as substantive causes of correlations among the respective employee and customer variables or the variances and reliabilities of these variables. The implications of these findings for meta-analyses in applied psychology as well as the generalizability of the findings are discussed.     

An Effect Of Change In Patient Status On Marital Interaction

In the treatment of couples and families, even more so than of individuals, therapists invariably are forced to face the problem of assessment of change in the marital or family "system." The purpose of the present study was to investigate changes in marital interaction for a special population, that is, in which one member of each married pair had been, but was no longer, a hospitalized psychiatric patient. The primary question we addressed was whether changes in marital interaction could be amply detected and whether these changes could be attributed to the particular role shift that had occurred in one spouse--from "patient" to "nonpatient." Utilizing a technique called Interaction Testing, which the senior authors devised in 1960, we found that such alterations in marital interaction do indeed arise when one member of the couple moves out of a patient role and that our instrument is useful in elucidating the nature of such effects. In addition, it can be expected that a study of this kind will be of theoretical and methodological value in dealing with the general issues of problem-solving interaction in couples and families. The clinical aspect of the study may also be expected to stimulate useful thinking regarding family theapy in hospital settings, patient management, and aftercare.     

THE INTERFACE PROJECT: BEHAVIOR MODELING AS SOCIAL TECHNOLOGY IN SOUTH AFRICA1

The Inter Face Project was a pilot study to improve race relationships between supervisors and employees in South African industry. The ultimate intent of this project was to find a path for more extensive research aimed at improving inter-racial attitudes and behavior in South Africa, especially in work situations. Nevertheless, this project is only a small step in the direction of improved inter-race relationships in that country. Behavior modeling training was the vehicle for attempting to change the behaviors. Several measures were used because it was uncertain how change would be found. However, performance records were incomplete and therefore not useful. A questionnaire and expectation scale did not reveal significant change, possibly because of the small sample size and the reluctance on the part of supervisors to be candid. Structured interviews, however, indicated dramatic improvements in inter-race attitudes and observations for both supervisors and employees. Second post-test improvements (20 weeks after training) were, in fact, even greater than improvements noted at the first post-test (six weeks after training). Before and after training comments by employees and supervisors provided strong evidence of the extent of change that occurred. Several suggestions for follow-up research were outlined.     

The Social Construction of Unreality: A Case Study of a Family''s Attribution of Competence to a Severely Retarded Child

Some families develop unusual or extreme versions of reality and sustain them in the face of a torrent of ostensibly discrediting and disconfirming information. Although the psychological dynamics and functions of such shared constructions have been amply considered, little is known about the routine transactions through which these unusual versions of reality are created and maintained. This paper examines the "reality work" of a family that attributed high levels of performance and competence to the severely retarded youngest child. Observation of videotaped interaction between family members and the child revealed practices that presupposed, "documented," and sustained the family's version of the child's competence. The practices are similar to those characteristic of interaction between adults and preverbal children. The implications of this similarity for the analysis of cases of folie à famille are discussed.     

The Influence of a Small Christian University's Culture on Selected Characteristics of Emerging Adulthood

In the past 50 years researchers have identified a number of demographic shifts occurring within industrialized societies that have resulted in changes in the nature of the developmental processes occurring in young adults. Arnett (2000 Arnett , J. J. ( 2000 ). A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties . American Psychologist , 55 , 469 – 480 .[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) labels this new, socially constructed time period, between the ages of 18 and 25 years, as emerging adulthood. His theory posits that culture plays a strong role in young peoples' transition to adulthood. The present study, modeled after Nelson (2003 Nelson , L. J. (2003). Rites of passage in emerging adulthood: Perspectives of young Mormons. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development , 100, 33–49. [Google Scholar]), was undertaken to explore the possible role that a university subculture may play in the process of the emergence of individuals into young adults. This study investigated the level of student involvement, subjective perceptions of adulthood status, religious identity, and behavioral activities of students attending a small Christian university located in Northern California. The results support the belief that the norms and values of a subculture may influence its members in ways that are different than the majority culture. Future studies, designed to better understand the impact of the university culture on emerging adults, are suggested.     

Psychosocial Characteristics Mediating the Stress Response: An Exploratory Study

This article identifies the psychosocial characteristics that cognitively mediate the transaction between life stressors and the stress response.