Adult age differences in episodic memory: further support for an associative-deficit hypothesis

This study further tested an associative-deficit hypothesis (ADH; M. Naveh-Benjamin, 2000), which attributes a substantial part of older adults' deficient episodic memory performance to their difficulty in merging unrelated attributes-units of an episode into a cohesive unit. First, the results of 2 experiments replicate those observed by M. Naveh-Benjamin (2000) showing that older adults are particularly deficient in memory tests requiring associations. Second, the results extend the type of stimuli (pictures) under which older adults show this associative deficit. Third, the results support an ADH in that older adults show less of an associative deficit when the components of the episodes used are already connected in memory, thereby facilitating their encoding and retrieval. Finally, a group of younger adults who encoded the information under divided-attention conditions did not show this associative deficit.     

Developing an Iranian ELT Context-Specific Grit Instrument

Grit as an interesting and significant topic in psychology has been associated with better study habits and higher grades through perseverance and passion for long term goals. The only available measurement instrument of grit (Duckworth et al. in J Personal Soc Psychol 92:1087–1101, 2007) is general both in terms of its subject matter and context. Thus, this study aims to develop and validate an English as a foreign language (EFL) grit instrument whose items are specific to EFL context to obtain a more detailed view of its components for Iranian EFL learners, and to tap on other grit related factors in the EFL context. A four component model of EFL grit was developed through reviewing the existing literature and exploring EFL experts’ perspectives. This tentative theoretical model of EFL grit encompasses overarching construct of effort including the following main components: Trying hard to learn English (THLE) having interest in learning English (ILE) practicing a lot in order to learn English (PLE) and having goal for learning English (HGLE). The model was then cross checked against the results of the interviews, and evolved into a scenario-based, 5 point Likert-scale EFL grit instrument. It was later operationalized by an instrument consisting of 26 items, i.e. 6 items for each component plus 2 items for themes 1 and 3. The piloting and testing of the tentative model through exploratory and confirmatory data analyses on a sample of 306 EFL learners indicated the reliability of 0.833 and an acceptable validity. The findings called for a more meaningful interpretation of the concept of grit in relation to Iranian EFL context and offered new insights for higher education administrators considering student academic performance.     

Correction to: Comparison Study of the Effects of Resistance and Endurance Exercise Interventions for the Treatment of Depression: A Meta-Analytical Review

Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy -     

Effect of context on performance approach orientation

We proposed and tested a theoretical model that argues that different work contexts influence the relationship between performance approach orientation and work performance. Across three studies and three different types of work performance, results consistently supported a theorized interaction between performance approach orientation and rewarding climate. Two self-rating studies showed generally similar interactions, with some important differences in the significance of the simple slopes. Larger differences emerged between the self-rating and a supervisor rating study. The present research supports a model in which type of work (part time vs. full time), rewarding climate, the criterion of performance (supervisor vs. self-rating), and type of work performance are important contextual components of a model relating performance approach orientation to work performance.     

Introducing Emotioncy as a Potential Source of Test Bias: A Mixed Rasch Modeling Study

This article attempts to present emotioncy as a potential source of test bias to inform the analysis of test item performance. Emotioncy is defined as a hierarchy, ranging from exvolvement (auditory, visual, and kinesthetic) to involvement (inner and arch), to emphasize the emotions evoked by the senses. This study hypothesizes that when individuals have high levels of emotioncy for specific words, their test performance may systematically change, resulting in test bias. To this end, 355 individuals were asked to take a 40-item vocabulary test along with the emotioncy scale. Mixed Rasch model was employed to flag differential item functioning items. Results illustrated that the test takers with high emotioncy toward specific words outperformed the ones in the low-emotioncy group, characterizing emotioncy as a potential source of test bias.     

Investigating the moderating effect of rewarding climate on Mastery Approach Orientation in the prediction of work performance

The study of Mastery Approach Orientation as an achievement goal is central to the understanding of basic motivational processes though controversy surrounds its impact. This research extends the literature regarding this goal orientation by investigating the interaction between Mastery Approach Orientation and Rewarding Climate in the prediction of self and supervisors' ratings of work performance across two studies. Results indicated that Mastery Approach Orientation positively and consistently predicted self and supervisors' ratings of work performance at high Rewarding Climates. At low Rewarding Climates, the relationship between Mastery Approach Orientation and performance was more variable across the studies and reasons for this are explored.     

Innovative Work Behavior in Public Organizations: The Roles of Ethical and Knowledge Sharing Behaviors

Public organizations are in continuous need of innovation in their products, services, and processes in order to grow and survive. Innovative work behaviors play important role in employee innovation in these organizations. The present study aimed to test the roles of ethical and knowledge sharing behaviors on innovative work behavior in public organizations. The questionnaire consisting of 44 items was used. The data were collected from 266 participants in public organizations, and data analysis was performed through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). According to the results, ethical behaviors had positive and significant effect on innovative work behavior, and knowledge sharing behaviors mediate the effect of ethical behavior on innovative work behaviors. The proposed model highlighted the importance of sharing mistakes and best practices in an organization to develop innovative work behavior. Furthermore, ethical behaviors were likely to be more significant predictors of innovative work behavior through knowledge sharing behaviors.