The equivalence of three statistical packages for performing hierarchical cluster analysis

Three different software programs which contain hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis procedures were shown to generate different solutions on the same data set using apparently the same options. The basis for the differences in the solutions was the formulae used to calculate Euclidean distance. Users of statistical software were warned of terminological confusion concerning cluster analysis.This research was supported by a National Science Foundation grant (DCR#74-20007) entitled A Consumer Report on Cluster Analysis Software. I wish to thank the authors of the three programs for their helpful comments on the paper.     

The relationship of sexual attitudes,attitudes about women,and racial attitudes in white males

A questionnaire measuring sexual attitudes, attitudes about women, and racial attitudes was administered to 350 White male college students. Sexual attitudes characterized by sexual guilt, emphasis on personal and social control of sexual expression, and depersonalization of sex were significantly positively correlated (p<.001) with attitudes that typified women in terms of traditional masculine—feminine stereotypes and good (nonsexual)—bad (sexual) dichotomies. These stereotyped and dichotomous attitudes about women and constricted and depersonalized sexual attitudes were both significantly positively correlated (p<.001) with negative racial attitudes. The implications of these results and other research suggested by this investigation are discussed.This report is based on a dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree at Michigan State University, 1973. The author would like to express appreciation to Dozier W. Thornton for continued guidance and assistance as dissertation advisor. In addition, the author gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Donald L. Grummon, Andrew M. Barclay, and Jeanne E. Gullahorn, all of whom served on the dissertation committee.     

Teachers’ perceived time pressure,emotional exhaustion and the role of social support from the school principal

Social Psychology of Education - Many teachers experience high levels of work-related strain due to time pressure, which over time can lead to various health problems, such as emotional exhaustion....     

Autoradiography of hypothalamic regions after acute hyperosmolarity in mice

Many regions around the third ventricle of the brain are thought to participate in the regulation of water intake. In this study we have visualized in acutely hyperosmolar mice the hypothalamic regions by using autoradiography and [14C]deoxyglucose as marker. By applying a recently published, inexpensive, calibrated photographic method for the analysis of the autoradiographs, we can show that the medial parts of the hypothalamus near the third ventricle increased their uptake of deoxyglucose in comparison with the lateral parts. Densitometric measurements confirmed the results. The results also indicate that parts of the medial hypothalamus, even those that are more caudal than the paraventricular nuclei, react to hyperosmolarity.     

Enhancing social diffusion theory as a basis for prevention intervention: A conceptual and strategic framework

Social diffusion theory has recently been recognized as a promising approach for large-scale disease prevention and health promotion efforts. This paper describes how principles and tactics from social cognitive theory, operant psychology, social psychology, social marketing, and the overarching stages of change model can be used to further develop the conceptual and strategic (technological) bases of social diffusion theory. Within an integrative framework, we discuss in detail more effective ways to train peer mediators of behavior change as one example of how social diffusion theory can benefit from this conceptual and strategic reformulation. We then further illustrate the use of peer mediators of change in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and cancer prevention intervention studies with both interventions training peer mediators to diffuse information, norms, and risk reduction strategies. Although the results of these studies showed reductions in high-risk behaviors across population segments, more closely following the framework discussed in this article should further increase the behavior change potential of future interventions based on social diffusion theory.