An Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties and Criterion Validity of the Religious Social Support Scale

This study evaluates the psychometric properties and criterion validity of the Religious Social Support (RSS) Scale in a diverse, representative community sample of new mothers ( N = 1,156). Results indicated that two factors best represented the RSS. Criterion validity was established by demonstrating that the RSS was associated with relational and health outcomes. However, these associations were reduced to statistical insignificance once a general measure of social support was included as a covariate. There were no indications that race moderated either the psychometric properties of the RSS or the relationships between social support and outcomes. Qualitative analyses indicated that religious social support is a salient construct in the lives of women that we studied and suggested ways to improve future developments of RSS scales.     

LEARNING WITHIN A LEARNER CONTROL TRAINING ENVIRONMENT: THE INTERACTIVE EFFECTS OF GOAL ORIENTATION AND METACOGNITIVE INSTRUCTION ON LEARNING OUTCOMES

This study proposes that effective engagement in metacognitive activities is critical to success in high learner-control training environments. A model was developed that focuses on the interactive effects of goal orientation and a metacognitive training intervention on metacognitive activity and learning outcomes. Seventy-nine participants completed a Web-based training course on how to create Web pages. Consistent with expectations, learners reporting greater levels of metacognitive activity during training gained more declarative knowledge, performed better on a skill-based measure, and had higher levels of self-efficacy. Metacognitive activity was also found to partially mediate the relationship between goal orientation and learning outcomes. Finally, the expected goal orientation by intervention interaction was found. The metacognitive intervention was beneficial in enhancing metacognitive activity for trainees with low performance-avoidance orientations, but resulted in lower metacognitive activity among highly avoidant learners. Implications of these findings for research on self-regulation and training practice are discussed.     

The Creative Mode of Being

Because of misperceptions about the nature of creativity, many creative children are misunderstood in and out of their classrooms. Based on a close association with creative adults and childrenn, the authors postulate that creativity is a state of being that is challenged by the socialization process in Western civilization. The authors envisage two differing states of being namely, an essential and a conventional. These states represent end points on a continuum. Creative adults speak of their struggle to try and regain something of their original state of being. Understanding creative children who are closer to the essential state is important for their emotional well-being and the nurturing of their creativity.     

Mothers' Experience of Stress Following the Birth of a First Child: Identification of Stressors and Coping Resources1

The purpose of this study is to identify, through a retrospective methodology, stressor and coping resource variables which are involved in mothers' experience of stress one month after the birth of a first child. The variables were identified on the basis of previous work in this field, and were categorized as stressor or coping resource variables according to the writings of authors in the larger domain of stress and coping. The influence of interactive and additive combinations of stressors and coping resources, as described by Wheaton (1985), were also examined in a multiple regression model. A five-variable model, accounting for 58.74% of the variance of a measure of the experience of stress, was obtained. Discussion focuses around the predictive possibilities of such a model, the impact of coping resources, and on the potential for utilizing this model for describing the process of adaptation following this event over time.     

GENERALIZABLE BIOGRAPHICAL DATA VALIDITY CAN BE ACHIEVED WITHOUT MULTI-ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND KEYING

This research showed that the validity of a biodata instrument developed and keyed within a single organization can generalize to other organizations. It also examines a criterion measure-rate of promotional progress-that has not been used extensively in biodata research, but has several characteristics that make its use attractive. The validity of the biodata component of the Manager Profile Record (MPR), developed and keyed within a single organization, as a predictor of rate of managerial progress was cross-validated on a sample of 7,334 managers and staff professionals in 24 organizations. Results indicate the MPR was a valid predictor of rate of promotional progress across all organizations and that validity did not vary greatly across organizations ( p = .53, SD_p= .05). The MPR was also a valid predictor for both sexes, as well as for managers of all age groups, lengths of company service, and education levels. These findings demonstrate that multiple-firm development and keying of a biodata instrument was not required for generalizable validity, and argue against the hypothesis of situational specificity. Suggestions for developing biodata instruments in single organizations that will generalize to other organizations include careful attention to the validity and reliability of criterion measures and developing validity at the item level.     

Religious Perfectionism Versus Spiritual Growth

This article explores the fundamentalist Christian focus on perfectionism and its possible contribution to an increase in dysfunctional individuals, family systems, and societies. Several Bible verses are analyzed, and the results of their misinterpretation discussed. The need for a program of spiritual growth, as expressed by Alcoholics Anonymous, as opposed to a program of spiritual perfection is proposed.     

Parental Behavior and Vocational Choice: A Comparison of Counselors and Engineers

This study compared the perceived parental behavior characteristics of 41 counselors in training and 33 fifth-year engineering students in a test of a part of Roe's vocational choice theory, which suggests dichotomous pattern of vocational choice: “toward persons” (e.g., counseling) or “toward nonpersons” (e.g., engineering) categories that will have been determined by the nature of the early childhood socialization process. In essence, a person who has experienced a warm loving home situation is more likely to enter a “toward persons” occupation and an individual whose parent-child relationship was emotionally cold will most likely gravitate toward a “toward nonpersons” occupation. Both groups were administered the Parent-Child Relations Questionnaire developed by Roe and Siegelman. The findings lend considerable support to Roe's theory.     

The Response Maze: A Training and Evaluation Tool or Porteus' Complaint

An adaptation of the “Action Maze”—a problem situation requiring manager trainees to choose between alternative courses of action, each of which leads to a new situation with new alternatives—is proposed for training counselors. Advantages and limitations of this adaptation, entitled the “Response Maze,” are enumerated, possible other uses of the technique are considered, suggestions for constructing such a maze are offered, and a sample Response Maze for readers is included.