Unobtrusive measures in behavioral assessment

A major distinguishing characteristic of behavioral assessment is the direct assessment of overt behavior. Direct assessment is assumed to provide a sample of behavior that reflects client performance in the situation in which behavior is assessed, even if the assessment procedures were not implemented. Yet, in the majority of investigations, behavioral assessment procedures are obtrusive, i.e., subjects are aware that their behavior is being assessed. The potential problem with obtrusive assessment is that it may be reactive, i.e., affect how subjects perform. Recent research has demonstrated that obtrusive observations often are reactive and that behaviors assessed under obtrusive and unobtrusive conditions bear little relation. From methodological and applied perspectives, additional attention needs to be given to unobtrusive measures of behavior change. The present paper illustrates unobtrusive measures in behavior modification including direct observations, archival records, and physical traces of performance. In addition, validation and assessment problems, questions about the obtrusiveness of the measures, and ethical issues are discussed.     

A review of observer reactivity in adult-child interactions

The present article reviews studies which have examined the question of observer reactivity in adult-child interactions. Seventeen studies were located. Studies were classified according to the paradigm used to examine reactivity, the setting in which the study was conducted, the identification of the child as a behavior problem, and the occurrence and direction (i.e., increases or decreases in the observed behavior) of reactivity. The results indicated that the awareness paradigm has been employed most frequently, the laboratory has been the primary setting utilized, and problem and nonproblem children have been employed with approximately equal frequency. Reactivity was reported in about three-fourths of the studies. For adults positive and neutral verbal and physical behaviors were more reactive than negative behaviors. The positive and neutral behaviors typically increased in the observer's presence. For children conclusions are not warranted at this time as too few studies have examined children's behavior.Preparation of this article was supported in part by NIMH Grant MH28859-01.     

情绪线索对儿童定义与评价“白谎”的影响

本研究运用图画—故事法探讨了交往意图不明确条件下 ,“听话者情绪反应”这一社会性行为结果对 5、7、9岁儿童定义和评价白谎的影响作用。结果表明 ,所有儿童能准确评定“听话者情绪反应”,内容分析发现 7、9岁儿童能运用“听话者情绪反应”信息 ,但情绪反应线索却未影响儿童对“白谎”的定义与道德评价。     

心身反应的实验研究报告

本文报告了30名健康人在进行心算、反应时、握力、冷压试验时以及其前后的生理与心理变化。发现主观感受相似的背景下,心算同样可引起明显的血压与皮电反应变化与较慢的指温变化,验证了心身相关理论的正确性。另测查结果显示个体间生理反应不同,但同一个体重复测查结果则明显正相关,验证了行为(生理反应)模式相对稳定的论点。     

REACTIVITY IN SELF-RECORDING: OBTRUSIVENESS OF RECORDING PROCEDURE AND PEER COMMENTS

Reactivity refers to behavior change that occurs during self-recording without specific programming of consequences. We analyzed the effects of obtrusiveness of recording procedure and peer comments on reactivity to self-recording. Three first-grade students in Experiment 1 completed math questions during a 5-min work period. When we gave the children recording devices and told them to try to complete more questions than the highest number they had previously completed, math performance increased, as did the number of verbalizations about it. Two children showed more reactivity when they used the more obtrusive recording device. Because the increase in math performance corresponded closely to increases in peer comments, we manipulated peer comments directly in Experiment 2. Four second-grade students completed a math task and an alphabet task. Three of the students showed increased math performance during periods when peer comments occurred compared to periods when peer comments did not occur. Although the data from the math task suggested that peer comments can enhance reactivity, we did not observe this relationship with the alphabet task. These results suggest that the conditions necessary to produce desirable results through self-recording are complex and contextually specific.     

青少年应激下皮质醇应答与风险决策相关性的性别差异

本研究旨在探讨中国青少年应激下皮质醇应答和风险决策相关性的性别差异。本研究以健康初中生为被试者, 采用特里尔社会应激测试(Trier Social Stress Test, TSST)诱发机体应激反应, 测试唾液皮质醇在应激前后不同时间段的水平, 并要求被试者在应激状态下完成气球模拟风险决策任务(Balloon Analogue Risk Task, BART)。结果发现, 男性在TSST诱导下皮质醇反应度显著高于女性, 男性中高皮质醇应答者BART表现为更高程度的冒险行为和更低的总奖励金额, 而女性中高皮质醇应答者BART表现为更高的总奖励金额。研究结果提示,中国青少年应激条件下皮质醇应答与风险决策之间的联系存在性别差异, 尤其在男性, 高皮质醇应答者更具有冒险行为。     

The role of neuroticism on psychological and physiological stress responses

This study examined the influence of personality on stressor appraisals and emotional, physiological, and behavioral responses to psychosocial stress. Appraisals were used to classify participants as threatened (they believed their coping resources were inadequate relative to stressor demands) or challenged (they believed their coping resources were commensurate with stressor demands). Neuroticism predicted threat appraisals, and both were related to negative emotional experience and poor task performance. The influence of neuroticism on negative emotions and poor performance was mediated by threat appraisals. High neuroticism confers stress vulnerability, but only when conditions are construed as threatening.     

儿童情绪表情识别的眼睛线索之发展研究

眼睛是人类识别和表达心理状态的重要脸部部位之一。本研究的目的在于考察较小的儿童能否把眼睛部位作为识别情绪表情的重要线索。共159名幼儿园和小学低年级的儿童,完成整个脸部．单独眼睛和单独嘴巴部位的情绪表情识别任务。结果发现较小的儿童通过眼睛线索识别情绪表情与通过脸部识别情绪表情的成绩同样好。最后从眼睛在心理状态识别中作用的角度进行了讨论。     

放松训练对心率、T波幅度、心算成绩的影响研究

本实验目的在于探讨放松训练对正常状态和心算应激时心率、T波幅度的影响。实验组接受放松训练,控制组不接受放松训练。结果发现：放松训练使身体常态时的心率显著降低,对心算应激时的心率和T波无显著影响;放松训练降低了心算时心率和心算错误率的方差;实验组的心算速度快,与控制组比较有显著差异。