An evaluation of the yellow brick road test through a full prediction-performance comparison matrix

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the predictive validity of the Yellow Brick Road Test (YBRT) relative to performance in reading as measured by the Metropolitan Achievement Test (MAT). A full prediction-performance comparison matrix was employed to compare three different cutoff scores for the YBRT for the identification of “at-risk” children. Four hundred and fourteen kindergarten-aged children were administered the YBRT, 214 of whom were followed to the end of second grade. It was concluded that the YBRT is a moderately valid instrument for predicting the level of reading achievement in a population with a different average performance level from the normative sample. However, the results of this study failed to support the utility of the test author's suggested use of a score of 120 as the cutoff score. Finally, it is recommended that a prediction-performance comparison study be considered standard methodology for the evaluation of the validity and efficiency of screening instruments.     

Induction by reinforcer schedules.

Traditional strategies for determining whether a reinforcer schedule enhances the occurrence of an activity are reviewed and critically evaluated. A basic assumption underlying these strategies is that it is possible to isolate the effect of reinforcer intermittency on schedule induction. It is concluded that this is not, in fact, possible. An alternative approach is proposed that emphasizes the inductive effects of the reinforcer schedule as a unit and the effects of particular aspects of the reinforcer schedule (e.g., interreinforcer interval, repetition of the reinforcer, reinforcer magnitude).     

Cognitive Impairment and Personality Adjustment in Vietnam Veterans

This study investigated the intellectual functioning and personality characteristics of 81 Australian ex-servicemen, 42 of whom had served in Vietnam. A Cognitive Impairment Model (SCIM) developed by Savage (1978, 1981, 1984) enabled intellectual functioning levels, intellectual deterioration and learning ability in the verbal and performance modalities to be asses. The Clinical Analysis Questionnaire (CAQ) of Krug (1980) based 00 Cattell's theory and personality measurement techniques provided an assessment of normal personality characteristics and clinical factors. The data suggested that the two groups, Australian ex-servicemen and Australian Vietnam veterans, were relatively homogeneous with regard to cognitive functioning and gave no indication of impairment in their intellectual levels or of their learning ability. Significant personality differences were, however, found between the two groups of ex-servicemen. The Vietnam veterans showed significantly more tension, depression, guilt, resentment, alienation and hypochondriasis than their colleagues who had remained in Australia. They were more withdrawn from others and from reality and had more abnormal thought than the ex-servicemen who had not been to Vietnam. The cognitive data do not support the view that Vietnam veterans suffered from any serious cognitive impairment. The personality data, however, suggest a significant “Psycbological Stress Syndrome” in these Vietnam veterans which required professional psychological treatment.     

The effects of ethanol intoxication on phobic anxiety

Behavioral conceptions of alcohol abuse often include the hypothesis that drinking behavior is a negatively reinforced operant, with ethanol intoxication viewed as alleviating aversive environmental and internal states. This hypothesis has not been confirmed or refuted by previous studies which employed mild stressors and limited assessment methodology. In the present experiment, 22 patients with severe phobias approached their phobic animal under two consecutive conditions—first while sober and second after drinking either a placebo or an intoxicating dose of ethanol. The severe anxiety induced was assessed behaviorally, physiologically and by the patient's self-report of fear. The intoxicated patients did not experience decreased anxiety, tachycardia or avoidance, compared to the placebo group. These results have clinical implications and suggest the need to reconsider tension-reduction theories of alcohol abuse.     

The effects of progressive relaxation on stress and diabetic control

Four insulin-requiring diabetic Ss were followed in single-S designs to measure the impact of progressive muscle relaxation training on blood glucose and stress levels. Measures of blood glucose, stress, activity and caloric intake were taken four times a day, along with a daily measure of anxiety. Two of the 4 Ss showed a significant decrease in blood glucose during treatment periods as compared to baseline measures. Similarly, 2 of the 4 Ss showed a significant decrease in stress levels during treatment. A multiple regression analysis revealed some significant relationships between blood glucose, stress, activity level and caloric intake. The results support previous studies that show relaxation techniques to be a viable aid in establishing greater diabetic control.