An analysis of a discrete complex skill using Bernstein's stages of learning.

The purpose of this study was to provide quantitative data about changes in coordination after practicing a racquetball forehand drive serve. Novice women (N = 10) were videotaped before and after 10 min. of practicing a racquetball forehand drive serve on Day 1, and after 10-min. practice sessions on consecutive Days 2 through 5. The PEAK5 Motion Measurement System was used to evaluate the following dependent variables: (a) range of motion of the wrist, elbow, upper torso, and pelvis from backswing to ball contact: (b) racket head velocity at ball contact; and (c) coordination. Coordination was evaluated based on analysis of the angular velocity graphs of each performance to assess sequencing and timing of the segmental contributions. Shared positive contribution was assessed between adjacent 2-segment combinations: pelvis-torso and elbow-wrist. A repeated-measures analysis of variance indicated racket velocity, pelvic rotation, and upper torso rotation significantly increased over the 5 days of practice. Although participants increased their pelvic and torso ranges of motion and racket velocity, improvement in coordination was not documented.     

Performance of the Duke Religion Index and the Spiritual Well-Being Scale in Online Samples of Men Who Have Sex with Men

Religiosity is associated with behaviors that reduce the risk of HIV/STI infection among general-population and heterosexual-specific samples. Whether this association is similar to homosexual persons is unknown. Measures of religiosity have not been evaluated psychometrically among men who have sex with men (MSM), a population who, because of stigma, experience religiosity differently than heterosexual persons. We assessed the duke religion index and the spiritual well-being in two samples of MSM. Neither instrument produced adequate model fit. To study the association between religiosity and HIV/STI risk behaviors among MSM, scales are needed that measure the religious and spiritual experiences of MSM.     

Knowledge of Self,knowledge of others,error; and the place of consciousness

"Knowledge of self, knowledge of others, error and the place of consciousness" examines texts and problems from the phenomenological tradition to show that the other does not present her/himself as a consciousness enclosed in a merely material body. I discuss Merleau-Ponty's attempt to supplant this view with the view that the other is always seen as an "incarnate consciousness" - a unity of mind and body in activity. This view faces a difficulty in that it seems to collapse the distinction between one's own understanding of one's behavior and the understanding which another might have of this same behavior. In response to this objection, I study how the meaning of people's behaviors are settled in dialogue. I argue that the meanings that an actor gives to her or his behavior cannot rest entirely with that person, nor are they determined solely by the interpreter, but instead develop in the interaction between the actor and the interpreter.     

A Test of Coworkers' Influence on Organizational Cynicism,Badmouthing, and Organizational Citizenship Behavior

Basing hypotheses on social information processing theory, we tested for evidence of coworkers' social influence on employees' organizational cynicism, badmouthing, and supervisor assessments of employees' organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). A significant positive relationship was found between (a) close coworkers' badmouthing behavior and focal employee organizational cynicism; and (b) focal employee organizational cynicism and focal employee badmouthing behavior. A hypothesized negative relationship between organizational cynicism and OCB was not supported. Future research directions are also considered.     

Socially Desirable Responding in Computerized Questionnaires: When Questionnaire Purpose Matters More Than the Mode1

The impact of questionnaire purpose (job screening interview vs. consumer survey) and the impact of questionnaire mode (paper-and-pencil vs. computer) on multiple measures of socially desirable responding (SDR) were examined. Students (N= 85) participated in experimental job screening (high SDR demand) and consumer survey (low SDR demand) conditions. Dependent measures included the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale and the impression management subscale of the Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding, Version 6. Significant questionnaire purpose effects suggest one possible, context-related explanation for mixed SDR findings between earlier experiments. Mode effects were nonsignificant, adding further evidence of paper-and-pencil and computer equivalence with respect to SDR.     

Ego identity, egocentrism, and formal operations

This study examined the relationship between ego identity and formal operations and egocentrism in an adolescent population. Results indicated significant positive correlations between ego identity and formal operations and between ego identity and grade in school. Multiple regression analysis revealed that grade in school explained 21 percent of the variance while formal operational thinking, egocentrism, and sex accounted for only an additional 2 percent of the variance.     

Changes in Behaviour and Body Weight Following a Single or Double Social Defeat in Rats

In a series of experiments, the consequences of a single and double social conflict on various behaviours and body weight in rats were studied. Animals were subjected to social defeat by placing them into the territory of an aggressive male conspecific for one hour, either once, or twice at the same time on two consecutive days. To assess the consequences of social defeat, three experiments were performed with independent groups of rats. In the first experiment, an open field test was performed two days after the last conflict. Locomotor activity was strongly reduced after social defeat. There were no differences between the single and double defeat group. To assess the effects of social defeat on subsequent social behaviour, a second experiment was performed in which experimental animals were confronted with an unfamiliar non-aggressive rat two days after a single or double conflict. Social defeat resulted in a reduction of social contact with the unfamiliar conspecific. There was no difference between the single and double conflict group. In the third experiment, the effects of social conflict on food intake, body weight and saccharine preference were measured. Food intake was not affected after a single conflict, but in the double conflict group food intake was decreased for several days. Body weight gain was decreased after both single and double social defeat. The decrease was stronger in the double conflict group. Water intake and saccharine preference were not significantly affected. This study revealed that social defeat in rats causes pronounced changes in various behaviours and body weight. Different aspects of behaviour are differentially affected by defeat with respect to the magnitude and time course of the changes induced. Moreover, different behavioural parameters are differentially sensitive to repetition of the stressor.