Multiple,speeded assessments: Initial evidence on subgroup differences and applicant perceptions

Recently, shorter assessments have emerged as potential alternatives for more resourceful traditional selection approaches. Multiple, speeded assessments (MSAs) represent such an alternative. In MSAs, candidates participate in a large number of short (a maximum of 5 min), behavioral simulations in which they face a variety of job situations. Initial psychometric evidence on the validity of MSAs is promising. Yet, validity represents only one piece of evidence. It is not known whether MSAs disadvantage specific subgroups, which may inhibit diversity. There is also no information on candidates' experience of going through an MSA, which is pivotal for the attractiveness of the organization's selection process. Therefore, this study investigates an MSA in terms of subgroup differences (gender and nationality) and applicant perceptions. Master of Business Administration (MBA) students (N = 96) proceeded through 18 short role-plays sampling junior management situations. Score differences between men and women were negligible. Yet, there were large score differences between national citizens and foreigners. There was no evidence for predictive bias for nationality, though. Of the applicant reaction measures, interpersonal treatment perceptions contributed most to overall fairness perceptions. These findings add to the evidence in support of MSAs, while also stressing to remain vigilant for potential score differences among subgroups.     

TREATMENT OF PICA THROUGH MULTIPLE ANALYSES OF ITS REINFORCING FUNCTIONS

We conducted functional analyses of the pica of 3 participants. The pica of 1 participant appeared to be maintained by automatic reinforcement; that of the other 2 participants appeared to be multiply controlled by social and automatic reinforcement. Subsequent preference and treatment analyses were used to identify stimuli that would compete with the automatic function of pica for the 3 participants. These analyses also identified the specific aspect of oral stimulation that served as automatic reinforcement for 2 of the participants. In addition, functional analysis-based treatments were used to address the socially motivated components of 2 of the participants' pica. Results are discussed in terms of (a) the importance of using the results of functional analyses to develop treatments for pica and (b) the advantages of developing indirect analyses to identify specific sources of reinforcement for automatically reinforced behavior.     

Psychometric properties and standardised data for questionnaires measuring negative affect, dispositional style and daily hassles. A nation-wide sample

Within the behavioral field, self-report inventories measuring emotional condition from a state/trait perspective are in frequent use. Some of these measures have insufficient standardisation and/or are out of date. In order to upgrade some of the frequently used self-report inventories a nation-wide survey ( N =2500) was performed. Measures of negative affect (state-anxiety STAI-S , trait-anger STAS-T ), and depression ( CES-D ), dispositional style ( LOT ) and daily hassles ( DH ) were examined. Psychometric data and demographic differences for all the inventories used are presented. The reliability measures for the scales show high consistency, ranging from 0.76 to 0.95 (Cronbach's alpha). The overall results indicate that females are more hassled, depressed, anxious, hostile, and have a more negative dispositional style than males. These results are most pronounced among younger females.     

Predictions of developmental patterns during infancy: Assessments of children 0–1 years

The present study investigated how neonatal behavioural organization was related to later mental development during the first year of life. The study further investigated the relationship between early social affective behaviour and later mental development. A group of 40 infants was assessed five times during the infants' first year, at three and 14 days and at four, eight and 12 months. The Brazelton Neonatal Behavioural Assessment Scale (NBAS), the Duve method (a clinically based method for observation of social affective behaviour), and Griffiths' Mental Development Scales were used to assess the development of the infants. The results indicate that early predictive behavioural components can be identified. Neonatal state control capacity was related to motor development at both eight and 12 months. Social responsitivity at four months was related to hearing and speech at eight as well as at 12 months. The NBAS dimensions were good predictors of eight months performance, but were poor predictors of 12 months performance.     

Reactions to daily events as a function of familiarity with an environment

Undergraduate participants provided measures of their psychological well‐being and described the positive and negative events that occurred each day, once during the first and second semesters of an academic year. For four of the five measures of daily well‐being, reactivity to negative events decreased from the first to second semester, whereas for four of the five measures of well‐being, reactivity to positive events did not change over the year. These results suggest that familiarity with an environment moderates reactivity to negative daily events. As people become more familiar with an environment, negative events may elicit smaller decreases in well‐being. In contrast, increases in well‐being elicited by positive events appear to be unrelated to familiarity with the environment. More broadly, these differences suggest that the reactivity to positive and negative events reflect the operation of different processes. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

“增益”还是“损耗”?挑战性工作要求对工作-家庭增益的“双刃剑”影响

基于资源保存理论和不确定管理理论, 采用日记研究法收集81个样本10个工作日的数据, 从静态和动态两个视角, 通过明晰挑战性工作要求的不同属性(每日水平、平均水平、日间变动、波动变化), 全面检验了挑战性工作要求对工作-家庭增益的影响。研究结果表明：(1)在静态模型中, 挑战性工作要求通过工作专注度(增益路径)和放松(损耗路径)作用于工作-家庭增益, 且在个体间的平均水平模型中, 放松的中介作用更为显著; (2)在动态模型中, 挑战性工作要求的日间变动和波动变化, 均通过减少员工工作专注度和放松, 进而降低工作-家庭增益。最后, 本研究讨论了管理者应重视挑战性工作要求的双刃剑作用等实践启示。     

Effects of Self-Monitoring Intervention on Independent Completion of a Daily Living Skill for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders in China

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a self-monitoring intervention on the independent completion of dishwashing for three boys with autism (ages 6, 7, and 8) in China. The self-monitoring intervention included visual task analysis, in vivo modeling, self-recording, video self-feedback, and reinforcement. A multiple probe across subjects design was used. Prior to the study, the children had limited or no dishwashing skills, nor did they receive any training on self-monitoring. All three children acquired dishwashing and performed the task independently without supervision one week after the intervention. Their parents were very satisfied with this intervention.     

Depression and pain in night time and daytime functioning of individuals with lupus

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of pain and depression in night time and daytime functioning of individuals with lupus. A cross-sectional research design was used. Participants were recruited via a mail-out to members of the Lupus Australia Foundation and the Lupus Association of New South Wales. One hundred and fifty-four participants completed a questionnaire package consisting of a Lupus Medical and Symptoms Questionnaire designed by the researchers, the Cardiac Depression Scale and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that pain principally predicted levels of sleep disturbance, whilst depression and pain (to a lesser extent) together predicted daytime dysfunction. The present results suggested the need for more adequate pain management, particularly at night and psychological interventions to decrease levels of depression that interfere with daily functioning in individuals with lupus.