On the power of multivariate latent growth curve models to detect correlated change

We evaluated the statistical power of single-indicator latent growth curve models (LGCMs) to detect correlated change between two variables (covariance of slopes) as a function of sample size, number of longitudinal measurement occasions, and reliability (measurement error variance). Power approximations following the method of Satorra and Saris (1985) were used to evaluate the power to detect slope covariances. Even with large samples (N = 500) and several longitudinal occasions (4 or 5), statistical power to detect covariance of slopes was moderate to low unless growth curve reliability at study onset was above .90. Studies using LGCMs may fail to detect slope correlations because of low power rather than a lack of relationship of change between variables. The present findings allow researchers to make more informed design decisions when planning a longitudinal study and aid in interpreting LGCM results regarding correlated interindividual differences in rates of development.     

Dimensions of driver anger, aggressive and highway code violations and their mediation by safety orientation in UK drivers

Aggressive behaviour on the roads is reported to be on the increase. This study administered Driving Anger Scale (Deffenbacher et al. (1994). Development of a driving anger scale. Psychological Reports, 74, 83–91.), the Driver Behaviour Questionnaire, and the Driving Skill Inventory to a sample of 270 British drivers. Factor analysis of the Driving Anger Scale items yielded three factors measuring anger generated by the reckless driving, direct hostility and impeded progress by others—contrary to the six subscales found with the original US sample. Younger drivers and low mileage drivers were more likely to exhibit all three types of driving anger, but no differences between male and female drivers were found. In addition, a driver’s safety orientation predicted (negatively) anger evoked by impeded progress and direct hostility whereas self-assessed perceptual-motor skills were positively related to anger generated by impeded progress. Both Highway Code and aggressive violations were significantly related to the anger factors, and, using the procedure by Baron and Kenny (Baron & Kenny (1986). The moderator–mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51, 1173–1182.), the prediction of violating behaviour (Driver Behaviour Questionnaire) by reported anger was shown to be mediated by the self-assessed safety skill scale but not the perceptual-motor skill scale (Driver Skill Inventory), and moderated by neither. Implications for driver education countermeasures are noted.     

Semantic errors in a deep dyslexic

A case of a Swedish-speaking deep dyslexic is reported whose semantic paralexias appeared to result mainly from a lexical retrieval failure in oral reading. He was able to draw correct pictures of the written words for which he had simultaneously produced a semantically erroneous oral reading response. Repeated attempts to correct paralexic responses were common, indicating that the patient was often aware of the errors. His lexical retrieval problems and semantic errors extended to naming as well, and the results support Nolan and Caramazza's (1982, Brain and Language, 16, 237-264), dual-deficit model of deep dyslexia.     

Phoneme errors in Broca's aphasia: three Finnish cases

The phonemic errors of three Finnish Broca's aphasics were analyzed according to various phonological features, frequency of segments, syllable, word, and stress positions, as well as for the phonotactic structure of the uncanonical products. It was found, e.g., that the distance between the syntagmatic error and its source could not be satisfactorily counted by phonemes, since the syllable had to be taken into account also in pathological Finnish. As regards the paradigmatic dimension of the errors, the number of incorrect features is even here in reverse relation to the frequency of the erroneous phonemes. Moreover, it was found that pure quantity errors and vowel harmony deviations are infrequent in the speech of Finnish Broca's aphasics.     

Therapy for couples after an affair: A randomized-controlled trial

To examine the efficacy of a couples treatment approach for promoting recovery from a recently disclosed affair, 89 couples that disclosed an affair by one of the partners in the past 6 months were randomly assigned to treatment (n = 46) or to a control group that waited about 3 months for treatment (n = 43). The couples completed self-report measures (Beck Depression Inventory, Impact of Event Scale-Revised, Partnership Questionnaire) at pre- and post-treatment. Since about half of the couples dropped out for various reasons (e.g., ongoing affair, separation), we used multiple imputations to handle the missing data problem. We analyzed the dyadic data with hierarchical linear modeling in a two-level model. Significant improvements on scores of anxiety corresponded with large effect sizes for both partners. Yet significant improvements on depression scores were only found for the unfaithful partner with moderate effect size. Results suggest that the treatment can improve individual complaints, but not relationship satisfaction in a sufficient amount for both partners. Hence, future research should address how this intervention could encourage couples to maintain therapy, and how they might achieve more and sustained improvement in relationship satisfaction.     

The Identification of the Triune God: Robert W. Jenson's Approach to the Doctrine of the Trinity

Abstract : Robert W. Jenson's programmatic approach to the doctrine of the Trinity consists of his aim to identify the triune God in an anti‐religious and anti‐nihilistic way. Jenson has in a unique manner carried out this identification, i.e., ontologically, contextually, and narratively; and then defined the limits of his trinitarian doctrine in accordance with this approach. The fundamental prerequisite of Jenson's approach is his “negative” natural theology, including his existential analysis of living in time.