Effect of a Referent's Status on the Evaluation of Job Applicants

In this study, the authors found that the status of employment referents might affect the employers's evaluations of job applicants.     

Relations between parent–child affect and synchrony and cognitive outcome at 5 years of age

This investigation involved the longitudinal assessment of 30 preterm and 39 full-term infants from 2 to 5 years of age. Measures of cognitive outcome at 2 and 5 years of age and mother-child dyadic synchrony and affect during free-play interaction were obtained at 5 years of age. Correlational and regression analyses indicated that 5-year cognitive outcome was predicted by 2-year cognitive status, mother education, and 5-year dyadic interaction. In addition, 5-year maternal positive affect contributed independently to children's cognitive status at age 5, above and beyond the contributions of early cognitive status and maternal education. Also, affect and synchrony interacted in predicting lower cognitive abilities. Findings are discussed in relation to the importance of maternal affect and synchronous interactions in transactional explanations of development during early childhood.     

THE EFFECTS OF UNREPRESENTED STUDIES ON THE ROBUSTNESS OF VALIDITY GENERALIZATION RESULTS

Researchers conducting meta-analyses such as validity generalization can never be certain that their review contains all studies relevant to the research domain. Indeed, several authors in the past have noted ways in which research reviews may be systematically biased. A few techniques have emerged for addressing the issue of "missing studies" including the use of Rosenthal's (1979) file-drawer equation. Noting that Rosenthal's technique is inappropriate when applied to validity generalization findings, this paper develops a new method for assessing the vulnerability of validity generalization results to unrepresented or missing studies. The results of this new procedure are compared to the results of file-drawer analyses for 103 findings from validity generalization studies. We illustrate that this procedure more appropriately estimates the robustness of validity generalization results.     

PROJECT A VALIDITY RESULTS: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PREDICTOR AND CRITERION DOMAINS

A predictor battery of cognitive ability, perceptual-psychomotor ability, temperament/personality, interest, and job outcome preference measures was administered to enlisted soldiers in nine Army jobs. These measures were summarized in terms of 24 composite scores. The relationships between the predictor composite scores and five components of job performance were analyzed. Scores from the cognitive and perceptual-psychomotor ability tests provided the best prediction of job-specific and general task proficiency, while the temperament/personality composites were the best predictors of giving extra effort, supporting peers, and exhibiting personal discipline. Composite scores derived from the interest inventory were correlated more highly with task proficiency than with demonstrating effort and peer support. In particular, vocational interests were among the best predictors of task proficiency in combat jobs. The results suggest that the Army can improve the prediction of job performance by adding non-cognitive predictors to its present battery of predictor tests.     

Family Rituals

Family rituals, consisting of celebrations, traditions, and patterned family interactions, are defined and illustrated in this paper. The power of ritual practice in families is explained by three underlying processes — transformation, communication, and stabilization — concepts whose roots lie in anthropology and ethology. We propose that all families struggle with finding a suitable role for rituals in their collective lives but their actual achievement varies greatly. Commitment to ritual and adaptability of ritual practice throughout the family life cycle are important considerations. The utility of these concepts in the assessment and treatment of families is discussed.     

INTRODUCING NEW METHODS FOR CONDUCTING TRAINING EVALUATION AND FOR LINKING TRAINING EVALUATION TO PROGRAM REDESIGN

While training has been conceptualized as a continually evolving process, the existing literature fails to provide adequate strategies for linking training evaluation to training needs reassessment and program redesign. This article presents two studies which describe methodologies developed for a police recruit training program to address these deficiencies in the literature. In Study 1, Lawshe's (1975) Content Validity Ratio (CVR) approach was used to establish the job relatedness of the content of the training program. Results supported the job relatedness of the training program as the average CVR value was 27 ( p < 05; N = 105). In study 2, a new methodology, the Matching Technique, was used to directly compare current training emphasis with training needs. Results demonstrated a close match of emphasis and training needs for the training program. One content area of relative training deficiency was further examined to illustrate the power of the Matching Technique for identifying areas requiring training redesign.     

The Value of the U.S. Employment Service Automated Reporting System to Employment Counselors

This article discusses the value of the Employment Service Automated Reporting System, which assists labor market planners in employment and training agencies in developing necessary programs for reducing unemployment at the local level. It is postulated that more states should use the data from the system but be careful to avoid misleading approaches.     

The Rational-Reality Based Approach to Treating the Criminal Child Abuser

The Rational-Reality based approach to treating child abusers incorporates the philosophies of Rational Behavior Training and Reality Therapy into a therapeutic strategy that helps clients to learn skills in making rational decisions that can aid them in living harmoniously within the family structure. Those persons involved with the practical implementation of theoretical constructs while working in counseling sessions with persons who are child abusers may find that an eclectic approach such as this one is beneficial in teaching people how to increase their skill in reasoning. It seems that this approach to counseling the parental child abuser is a strategy that allows the parent figure to understand and perceive positively the personal benefits that accrue from not abusing the child.     

College Students' Reactions to the Criteria Recommended for Selecting Employment Referents

This investigation offers a concise review of the literature concerning the selection of employment referents and tests the extent to which college students value the recommended selection criteria.