A Comparison of Written,Vocal, and Video Feedback When Training Teachers

We compared the effectiveness of and preference for different feedback strategies when training six special education teachers during a 5-day summer training program. In Experiment 1, teachers received written or vocal feedback while learning to implement two different types of preference assessments. In Experiment 2, we compared either written or vocal feedback to vocal feedback combined with video replays of performance while training the teachers to implement two variations of discrete-trial training. The different forms of feedback were similarly effective for all of the participants. However, all of the teachers showed a preference for vocal feedback when they could choose which form of feedback they would receive from the experimenter. Results have important implications for the use of feedback when training teachers.     

Observational Context of Mother-Child Interaction: Impact of a stress Context on Emotional Availability

Previous studies have found that a stressful observational context challenges the mother-child relationship, thus highlighting negative interactive behavior. However, the impact of observational context has only been investigated in infants and preschoolers without specifically using the Emotional Availability Scales. Nor have they explored whether the association of mother-child interaction with children’s emotional or behavioral problems depends on the observational context. We observed 140 mothers and their five to 12-year-old children in non-stressful free play and in a stressful task context. In general, dyads showed higher emotional availability in the task context compared to the free play. Specifically, mothers showed higher levels of Sensitivity, Structuring and Nonhostility, but lower levels of Nonintrusiveness during the task compared to the free play context; children showed higher levels of Responsiveness during the task than during free play. After controlling for dyadic stress, contextual effects decreased for all dimensions of emotional availability. The association of mother-child interaction with child problem behavior depended on the observational context. Specifically, we found maternal emotional availability during free play to be more strongly associated with child problem behavior than during the stressful task; however, emotional availability of the child was more strongly associated with problem behavior when obtained during the task. We conclude that context impacts on mother-child interactive behavior and also on the association of mother-child-interaction and child behavior. Stress is a relevant contextual factor influencing mother-child interactive behavior.     

The Duration and Intensity of the Exposure Light as Factors in Determining the Course of the Subsequent Dark-Adaptation: I. the Matching Method

The authors investigated the phenomenon that performance in an ongoing task declines when individuals must carry out a prospective memory (PM) task. This effect is referred to as the PM interference effect. The authors examined whether the PM interference effect differs between event-based and time-based PM tasks and whether it is increased among the elderly. The authors also investigated adult age differences in PM performance and the potential underlying mechanisms of the age deficits in PM. They found that the PM interference effect was greater in event-based than in time-based tasks. However, aging was not associated with an increase in PM interference effects. Age differences in PM performance were more exaggerated in time-based than event-based PM, but they were not mediated by age differences in traditional cognitive ability measures. In time-based PM, age showed a unique adverse effect even after controlling for the ability to externally monitor the time, leading to the possibility that aging disrupts time-based PM because of deficits in internally processing the time.     

How need for cognition and perceived control are differentially linked to emotional outcomes in the transition to retirement

This study contrasts how need for cognition and perceived control relate to positive and negative affect in 351 adults experiencing the transition to retirement (age range 44–79 years, M = 60). Structural equation modeling was used to identify significant pathways between exogenous variables of conscientiousness, openness, and education to need for cognition, and between neuroticism and health to perceived control. Need for cognition and perceived control emerged as separate and distinct forms of motivation, contributing to positive and negative affect in this model through differing patterns and to different degrees. Mediators between need for cognition and positive affect were frequency of cognitive activity and problem-focus coping. Perceived control had direct effects on positive and negative affect and indirect effects through cognitive activity on positive affect. The model helps to explain some of the psychological mechanisms instrumental in successful adaptation to change in adulthood. The dispositional motivation of need for cognition is described as a character strength with unique predictive value for older adults.     

Die Therapeutenvariable

Background

The objective of this study was to investigate the therapeutic attitude as a self-contained dimension of the therapeutic process.

Patients and methods

The psychotherapists’ beliefs and attitudes in therapeutic matters are measured according to the Therapeutic Attitude Scales (TASC) of the Therapeutic Attitude Questionnaire (ThAt) and were applied to investigate the therapist variable. The investigation concentrated on the therapist’s belief in the curative value of a number of ingredients of psychotherapy, on the therapist’s individual style of conducting psychotherapy and on basic assumptions about the nature of psychotherapy and the nature of the human mind. A total of 451 psychotherapists (81 psychodynamic psychotherapists, 208 psychoanalytic psychotherapists and 162 behaviour therapists) were investigated.

Results

There were highly significant differences between the three groups of therapists, a finding which is in line with the basic theory. Adaptation and insight of the assumed curative factors as well as supportiveness and neutrality of the technique factors, differentiate the groups highly significantly. The multivariate analysis underlines the importance of adaptation and insight to differentiate between all groups.

Conclusion

The results by and large confirm the general assumptions held on the differences between the groups. Thus the ThAt appears to be a valid instrument to grasp more subtle features of the therapist variable that may influence the outcome of psychotherapy.     

Die DPG-Praxis-Studie

All psychotherapeutic methods must be scientifically evaluated. Empirical evaluation of evidence is a prerequisite for acceptance as scientific psychotherapy as well as for payment by health insurance. Currently the psychotherapy methods accepted within the German health system (behavioural therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and analytic psychotherapy) are reviewed by a governmental evaluation committee concerning evidence, necessity and cost-effectiveness. The DPG practice study has basically two aims: 1) to conduct a large naturalistic study to investigate effectiveness, sustainability and economic aspects of psychodynamic and analytic psychotherapy and 2) to offer a framework for psychoanalytic institutes, members, candidates or groups to realize own research ideas by collecting additional data within the study. The present article describes the background, main research questions, structure and design of the DPG practice study with regard to the evaluation questions.     

TRANSFER OF BEHAVIORAL FUNCTION AS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN TREATMENT RELAPSE

When relapse occurs following successful treatment to reduce problem behavior, it is often attributed to inconsistent implementation of maintenance programs. Although less likely, another potential cause for relapse is a change in the behavior's maintaining contingency over time. To examine this possibility, additional assessment was conducted with 4 individuals who were rereferred to a day-treatment program due to recurrence of their self-injurious behavior (SIB) 2 months to 2 years following successful treatment. In each case, the original treatment had been developed and implemented based on the outcome of functional analysis assessments. For 1 subject, results of a second functional analysis were consistent with those from the original assessment, indicating that the function of her SIB had remained unchanged. For the other 3 subjects, results of the second assessment suggested that their SIB had acquired new or additional functions. These findings indicate that factors other than program inconsistency can lead to relapse, and that clinical revaluation for such cases should include a current functional analysis to determine if new treatment components are needed.     

Comparison of student and recruiter values

Value priorities of campus employment recruiters and senior liberal arts students were compared using Rokeach's Value Survey. Three hypotheses were confirmed: (1) Significant differences were found between groups' rankings of values. Students ranked idealistic values high, while recruiters ranked values applicable to business near the top. (2) A greater number of significant differences were found among instrumental values than among terminal values. (3) Regardless of the sex of the applicants, recruiters chose applicants expressing masculine rather than feminine values.