No description available.

No description available.

Social Identity Theory’s (SIT) explanations of psychological and group phenomena have been endorsed repeatedly through numerous laboratory experiments (to cite a few Tajfel, 1978; Tajfel, 1982; Turner, & Oakes, 1997; Oakes, Haslam, & Turner, 1994; Ellmers, Spears & Doosje, 2002; Hogg & Cooper, 2007). However many studies applying the framework include only a small subset of the key SIT constructs that form an integral part of the overall model (Abrams & Brown, 1978; Turner & Brown, 1978). Consequently, there are only a few measures of these socio-structural variables that are widely available internationally and this problem is more pronounced in the local South African context. This research study thus aimed to construct a reliable and valid measure of fundamental SIT constructs and pilot them on naturally occurring groups within the tertiary education context. The SIT constructs included in the scale were: in-group/ out-group closeness; in-group/out-group identification; group permeability; stability; legitimacy; conflict; intergroup differentiation; and in-group/out-group homogeneity. A sample of n = 510 university students were recruited for participation in one of two study conditions. In condition one participants’ sex (male or female) was the salient social identity for intergroup comparison. In condition two participants’ student identity (undergraduates or postgraduates) was made salient. These study conditions were chosen because the groups that were used were naturally occurring groups, to elaborate, the two groups that were compared in condition one had impermeable boundaries and the status hierarchy was illegitimate; whilst in condition two the two groups had permeable boundaries and legitimate categories for comparison. A reliability analysis was then conducted in order to examine the reliability of the scale as well as to improve the scales by weeding out poor items. A confirmatory factor analysis was then performed in order to confirm the independence and statistical coherence / logic of the constructs included in the inventory. Finally four hypotheses based on SIT literature were tested to partially test the construct validity for a subset of the subscales. These procedures resulted in subscales that loaded independently and predictably on coherent factors and had an acceptable to good reliability as research instruments, but not for psychometric or testing purposes. Finally the hypothesis tests confirmed that, in accordance with theoretical predictions from SIT there were significant relationships between: (1) in-group identification and group status; (2) permeability, status and in-group identification; (3) in-group identification and in-group homogeneity. However, a fourth and more complex hypothesis, namely that low status group members in groups with low legitimacy would express more conflict than members of low status groups with high legitimacy, was not confirmed. The successful hypothesis tests indicate that the in-group/out-group identification, status, permeability, and in-group/out-group homogeneity sub-scales were able to correctly replicate the theoretical predictions that were drawn from Social Identity Theory. These findings are useful indicators of the construct and criterion validity of these subscales. Based on these results, one can conclude that the Social Identity Inventory has a reasonable reliability and there are some indications of validity. However additional research is needed to further explore the reliability and validity of the scale using a more representative sample of the general population and with the recommended final versions of the scales. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.

The purpose of the current study was to investigate three aspects of the construct validity of attributional style assessment instruments. The first purpose was to determine the independence of stability and globality. The second was to determine if controllability was a dimension of attributional style. The third purpose was to determine if inventories that use real or hypothetical events measure attributional style equally well. One hundred fifty-nine female, and one hudred fifty-five male subjects, completed four questionnaires that assessed attributional style. Results provided some support for the general construct of attributional style. All four factors were found, which demonstrates the support for the four factor model. However, the two factor model may be the best overall method. No method factor (real or hypothetical stimulus event) solution was obtained. Possible sex differences are discussed. The findings are discussed in terms of attribution theory. Suggestions for further research are presented. / Department of Psychological Science

This thesis is an original sequence of fifteen poems which. explore the author's reactions to Nature and God, her search for the meaningful in her life, and her search for answers to the "great questions."Some of the works are in blank verse; some are in more controlled rhyme to emphasize the tension the writer felt. Several poems are experiments in the sonnet.

This study examined the utility of the Dean-Woodcock Emotional Status Examination (D-WESE). As part of the Dean-Woodcock Neuropsvchology Battery, the D-WESE is a 50-item measure of emotional functioning. Its ability to predict pathology as compared to the MMPI Clinical Scales was investigated. The D-WESE gains information about a wide range of symptoms within a short period of time.An existing data set was utilized in this study. It included 207 patients referred for psychological and neuropsychological evaluation from a large outpatient Midwestern neurology practice. The age ranged between 13 and 96 years (M = 56.53).The results of an exploratory factor analysis with oblique rotation revealed an 11factor solution consisting of eigenvalues greater than 1.00. The D-WESE factors were significantly correlated with the MMPI Clinical Scales and a poor to good percent (1670%) of the variance could be accounted for through Stepwise Multiple Regressions. The results were discussed in terms of their relationship with established MMPI codetypes. Overall, the D-WESE was found to have a moderate degree of overlap and predictive validity as compared to the MMPI. / Department of Educational Psychology

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between choice repetition following blank in a right-blank (R-B) and wrong-blank (W-B) verbal feedback combination, and locus of control (LOC) orientation of male and female third grade students. The Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale was administered to 157 students. Twenty male and 20 female students receiving the highest scores in their respective groups were designated as external in their LOC orientation, whereas 20 male and 20 female students receiving the lowest scores in their respective groups were designated as internal in their LOC orientation. Half of the internal and external male and half of the internal and external female students were administered a two-choice discrimination task involving an R-B verbal feedback combination (feedback for correct but not incorrect responses). The remaining students were administered the same two-choice discrimination task involving a W-B verbal feedback combination (feedback for incorrect but not correct responses).Based on the assumption that internals are more alert and efficient information processors of non-explicit information, it was hypothesized that regardless of sex, internals would more readily discover the appropriate meaning of blank in a R-B combination than externals. A performance difference between internal and external subjects (regardless of sex) was not expected in a W-B combination, since externals would tend not to explore the alternative to blank and internals would quickly have an alternate view disconfirmed (wrong).A 2 X 2 X 2 analysis of variance with a planned comparisons approach was used to test the hypotheses. Analysis of the data indicated that internal females more readily determined the appropriate meaning of blank in a R-B combination than did external females. The difference in performance between internal and external males in a R-B combination was not in the expected direction. The data also indicated that there was no significant difference between internal and external subjects, regardless of sex, in a W-B combination.The data for female subjects was interpreted as supporting the contention that internals more effectively evaluate non-explicit information than do externals. This contention was not supported for male subjects.

The analysis of variance procedure was used to test each of the hypotheses. Three of the hypotheses were rejected at the .05 level of significance. Under the neutral story format, ego-involved subjects rated their behavior more positively than did role-taking subjects. Under the positive story format, ego-involved subjects rated their behavior more negatively than role-taking subjects. This difference was not in the anticipated direction. Under the positive story format, intentional story subjects rated their behavior more positively than accidental story subjects.The following null hypotheses for the neutral story condition failed to be rejected: there would be no statistically significant difference between the behavior ratings of subjects presented an intentional story format and subjects presented an accidental story format; and there would be no statistically significant difference between behavioral ratings of male and female subjects.One null hypothesis for the positive story condition failed to be rejected: there would be no statistically significant difference between the behavioral ratings of male and female subjects.All three null hypotheses for the negative story conditions failed to be rejected: there would be no statistically significant difference between the behavior ratings of ego-involved subjects and role-taking subjects, there would be no statistically significant difference between the behavioral ratings of subjects presented an intentional story format and subjects presented an accidental story format, and there would be no statistically significant difference between the behavioral ratings of male and female subjects. The results of the study suggest that affect does play a greater role in the moral judgment decision making process than has been previously recognized.

This study investigated the relationship between the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI; Kovacs, 1983) factor scores and the longitudinal outcomes of depressive symptomatology in a non-clinical sample of children (mean age = 10.67 years). The CDI was administered to measure depressive symptomatology at three intervals: twice within a two-week period to verify that clinical levels of depressive symptoms had persisted, and once at a seven month follow-up to measure the outcome of those depressive symptoms. Results suggested that recovery from depressive symptoms was comparable to recovery rates of depression in adult and child clinical populations. There was little empirical support for the hypothesis that Kovacs' CDI factors could discriminate between children with a good outcome of recovering from their depressive symptomatology and those with a poor outcome. An unexpected result was the lack of significant correlations among the factors in the depressed sample. The implications for these findings are discussed.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Bowling Green State University, 2008. / Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 153 p. Includes bibliographical references.