Effects of light and noise test stimuli on the open-field behavior of Wistar rats

The effects of five difFerent stimulus situations on open-field behavior were studied in male Wistar rats. The results show that each test situation is unique and yields a different behavioral pattern. This should be taken into account with applications of the open-field method.     

Cognitive skills and Finnish language inflection

Covariation of cognitive processes and mastery of inflectional forms assessed by Berko's method were studied among 2.6–4.3-year-old children. The erroneous inflections produced by the children were analysed in order to discover rules underlying their morphological test responses. The use of the different rules was guided by the children's age and cognitive skills. The effects of contextual task factors varied at different mastery levels of the morphological test. The results indicate the need for concomitant analysis of the interaction between the child's existing level of morphology, cognitive skills and contextual variables of the tasks.     

The Construction,Deconstruction, and Reconstruction of Difference

The construction of difference is central to racism, sexism and other forms of oppression. This paper examines the similar and dissimilar ways in which race and gender have been constructed in the United States and analyzes the consequences of these differences in construction for the development of social policy and the growth and nature of movements for social change.     

Behavioral Assessment of Job-Related Skills

An important aspect of finding and retaining employment is a person's level of occupational skills. Little information, however, is currently available on the comparative levels of job-related skills among both unemployed and successfully-employed adults. This study, using direct-observation techniques, analyzes the occupational skills of these two groups. The results show that employed adults performed significantly better than unemployed adults on each of 13 job-related skills assessed. These differences were found for both job-finding and job-retention skills. These assessment methods may be useful to employment counselors interested in helping their clients find and retain satisfactory employment.     

THE BIG FIVE PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS AS PREDICTORS OF EXPATRIATE'S DESIRE TO TERMINATE THE ASSIGNMENT AND SUPERVISOR-RATED PERFORMANCE

Applying the evolutionary theory of personality, this study proposed and tested the hypotheses that each of the Big Five personality characteristics (Extroversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability, and Openness or Intellect) predict two criteria of expatriate success: (a) desire to prematurely terminate the expatriate assignment, and (b) supervisor-rated performance on the expatriate assignment. The participants were 143 expatriate employees (and 94 supervisors) from a U.S.-based information technology company. Results from correlation and regression analyses suggest that Extroversion, Agreeableness, and Emotional Stability are negatively related to whether expatriates desire to terminate their assignment. Conscientiousness is positively related to the supervisor-rated performance on the expatriate assignment. Practical implications for expatriate management (e.g., self-selection) are given.     

What's in a Name? The Effects of the Labels “Fat” Versus “Overweight” on Weight Bias1

This research examined the effects of the labels “fat” vs. “overweight” in the expression of weight bias, with the prediction that the label “fat” biases individuals to respond more negatively than does the label “overweight.” In Study 1, participants' attitudes toward people labeled as fat were less favorable than were their attitudes toward people labeled as overweight. In Studies 2 and 3, although participants chose similar‐sized figures to depict fat and overweight targets, weight stereotypes and weight attitudes were more negative toward people labeled as fat than those labeled as overweight. In addition, the endorsement of weight stereotypes mediated the biasing effect of the “fat” label on weight prejudice. Implications of this work for prejudice researchers and for public attitudes are discussed.