Based on empirical evidence from numerous studies involving the cognitive components of creativity training, the Cognitive Processes Associated with Creativity (CPAC) scale was developed to efficiently and directly address the processes of brainstorming, metaphorical and analogical thinking, perspective-taking, imagery, incubation, and flow. An online pilot study (n = 226) and laboratory follow-up study (n = 120) collected responses to the newly created CPAC scale and a variety of other creativity measures. Overall, the results of this research indicate that the CPAC scale has many sound psychometric qualities, and the scale assesses creativity as a process variable. The data from both studies provide evidence for the construct validity of the scale, with a relatively stable factor structure reflecting the underlying theoretical subscales. A lack of relationships between the CPAC scale, social desirability, and several demographic variables suggested some evidence for divergent validity. There is mixed evidence for concurrent validity, as scores on the CPAC were not significantly correlated with product-focused measures of creativity but were significantly correlated with other previously established self-report creativity instruments. Further investigation of these findings indicated that different conceptualizations and design issues may be the reason for the nonsignificant results, and additional research in this area is needed. A deeper exploration of the relationships between the various self-report subscales led to a more vivid description of each cognitive process included in the CPAC, laying the foundation for a theoretical understanding of the similarities and differences of these processes. / Department of Educational Psychology

Orientador: Monica Sanches Yassuda / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-12T04:01:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Aprahamian_Ivan_M.pdf: 2297167 bytes, checksum: 09e06865f4593ca514927b6569c04485 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Resumo: O Teste do Desenho do Relógio (TDR) é o segundo teste mais utilizado no mundo para o rastreio das demências. Contudo, há ainda dúvida sobre seu papel no processo diagnóstico da demência em termos de sensibilidade, especificidade, forma de aplicação e análise. OBJETIVOS: avaliar o desempenho do TDR no processo diagnóstico de uma amostra de idosos brasileiros portadores e não portadores da doença de Alzheimer (DA). Avaliar a sensibilidade (S) e a especificidade (E) do TDR, segundo as escalas de Shulman, Mendez e Sunderland, com as do Mini-Exame do Estado Mental (MEEM) e do Cambridge Cognitive Examination (CAMCOG), a bateria neuropsicométrica do Cambridge Examination for Mental Disorder of the Elderly (CAMDEX). METODOLOGIA: Estudo retrospectivo no qual foram analisados prontuários de pacientes idosos, 121 com DA e 99 controles normais, submetidos ao CAMDEX entre os anos de 2002 e 2007 dentro do Instituto de Geriatria e Gerontologia de Jundiaí seguindo protocolo padronizado. Todos os pacientes avaliados neste estudo passaram por avaliação médica detalhada anterior à realização do CAMDEX, incluindo exames laboratoriais e de neuroimagem. O CAMDEX apresenta duração média de duas horas, incluindo o CAMCOG, a bateria neuropsicométrica, que possui o MEEM e o TDR em sua avaliação. O TDR foi analisado separadamente utilizando-se três escalas comumente utilizadas na literatura (Shulman, Mendez e Sunderland). Os resultados do TDR foram comparados com os do CAMCOG e do MEEM. RESULTADOS: Encontrou-se correlação significativa entre os resultados do TDR com os do MEEM (0,700 - 0,730; p < 0,001) e do CAMCOG (0,753 - 0,779; p < 0,001). As três escalas de TDR utilizadas apresentam resultados semelhantes, sendo a melhor a escala de Shulman (S = 74,2 - 84,8%; E = 66,7 - 89,9%). A utilização conjunta do TDR com o MEEM melhora a sensibilidade e especificidade no rastreio cognitivo dos pacientes (S = 89,2 - 90%; E = 71,7 - 79,8%). Houve aumento da S e E do TDR com a baixa escolaridade. CONCLUSÃO: O TDR é um bom teste de rastreio quando comparado com o MEEM e o CAMCOG, independente da escala de interpretação utilizada. A combinação do TDR com o MEEM melhora seu rendimento. A influência da escolaridade merece estudo posterior. / Abstract: The Clock Drawing test (CDT) is the second most used test in the world for the screening of dementia. Although, there is still doubt over its paper in the diagnostic process of dementia in terms of sensitivity, specificity, application and interpretation. OBJECTIVES: evaluate the performance of the CDT in diagnostic process of a Brazilian elderly sample with and without Alzheimer's disease (AD). Evaluate the sensitivity (SE) and specificity (SP) of CDT, according to Shulman, Mendez and Sunderland, with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Cambridge Cognitive Examination (CAMCOG), the neuropsychiatric battery of the Cambridge Examination for Mental Disorder of the Elderly (CAMDEX). METHODS: Retrospective study of 121 AD and 99 elderly controls medical charts that were submitted to the CAMDEX following a standardized protocol between 2002 and 2007 at the Jundiai's Geriatric and Gerontology Institute. All subjects were clinically evaluated and submitted to laboratory and neuroimaging studies. The CAMDEX has a mean time of two hours, including the CAMCOG, a neuropsychiatric battery that has the MMSE and the CDT in its evaluation. The CDT were analyzed separately using three common scales ((Shulman, Mendez and Sunderland). The results of the CDT were compared with the CAMCOG and the MMSE. RESULTS: There were significant correlation between the results of the CDT and the MMSE (0,700 - 0,730; p < 0,001) and between the CDT and the CAMCOG (0,753 - 0,779; p < 0,001). The three CDT scales showed similar results, but the Shulman's scales was slightly better (SE = 74,2 - 84,8%; SP = 66,7 - 89,9%). The combination between the CDT and the MMSE improved sensitivity and specificity in the cognitive screening of the subjects (SE = 89,2 - 90%; SP = 71,7 - 79,8%). There was improvement of sensitivity and specificity in patients with low level of formal education. CONCLUSION: The CDT is a good screening test when compared with the MMSE or the CAMCOG, independently of the scale used for its interpretation. The combination with the MMSE improves its performance significantly. The influence of education in the CDT deserves further studies. / Mestrado / Mestre em Gerontologia

This research study was performed in an attempt to fill an apparent void regarding the relative utility and comprehensiveness of three published, theoretically-based, idiographic, initial assessment inventories: Integral Intake (II), Life-Style Introductory Interview (LI), and Multimodal Life History Inventory (MI). “Experts” -- defined as professors of counseling or psychology and licensed practitioners who have been practicing as counselors or psychologists for at least five years - read through the inventories and then evaluated them by responding to both (qualitative) open-ended questions as well (quantitative) rankings and ratings. The researcher posed three primary research questions: 1) how do participants' evaluations differ regarding the overall helpfulness of the three inventories; 2) how do participants' evaluations differ regarding the comprehensiveness -- both relative to each of the eight dimensions of the client (thoughts, emotions, behaviors, physical aspects of the client, physical aspects of the client's environment, culture, spirituality, and what is most meaningful to the client) and overall -- of the three inventories; and 3) how do participants' evaluations differ regarding the efficiency with which the three inventories assessed the eight dimensions. Results indicated that participants consistently evaluated the II and MI as more helpful, comprehensive, and efficient than the LI - both overall and relative to the eight specific dimensions. The LI was consistently evaluated as the worst of the three inventories -- on all dimensions. The MI was evaluated as the best inventory on four dimensions: the client's thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and physical aspects. The II was evaluated as the best inventory on seven dimensions: physical aspects of the client's environment, client's culture, client's spirituality, what is most meaningful to the client, and, notably, on overall comprehensiveness, overall efficiency, and overall helpfulness. Another goal of this research was to obtain feedback from the participants relative to how to improve the II. This goal was also accomplished and the researcher will implement this feedback into subsequent versions of the Integral Intake.

This research attempts to confirm the reliability and construct validity of a personnel selection instrument called a Situational Judgment Test (SJT) through reliability analysis and factor analysis. The existing literature on SJTs is reviewed, including the advantages of using SJTs in personnel selection as well as the debate on whether SJTs measure a single construct or whether they can be multidimensional depending on the content. The specific SJT in this research was theoretically developed and received expert ratings to assess four general constructs: problem solving, planning, priority setting, and leadership. No support from alpha internal consistency reliability analysis was found for the assembly of these items into the four a priori subscales, thus assembly of these items into the theoretical subscales and scales was not supported.

The present study was designed to assess both the construct of psychopathy in a female jail sample as well as the quality of the measures that have been employed to assess this personality style. Utilizing the multitrait-multimethod matrix proposed by Campbell and Fiske (1959), the construct of psychopathy was measured via three instruments: (a) the Antisocial Scale of the Personality Assessment Inventory, (b) the Psychopathy Checklist - Revised, and (c) the Antisocial Scale of the Personality Disorder Examination. In addition, the predictive validity of each of these measures of psychopathy was evaluated to determine their ability to predict institutional violence and non-compliance. The results revealed significant convergence and divergence across the three instruments supporting the construct of psychopathy in a female jail sample. In addition, the measures of psychopathy demonstrated moderate predictive validity.

Deux tests sérologiques (test de fixation de complément (CFT) et l'ELISA de compétition (cELISA)) sont recommandés par l'OIE et utilisés couramment au Laboratoire Central Vétérinaire de Bamako parfois en parallèle dans le diagnostic et le dépistage de la péripneumonie contagieuse bovine (PPCB). La performance de ces tests a été estimée différemment par plusieurs auteurs dans des contextes épidémiologiques différents à partir de méthodes statistiques standards avec un statut sanitaire réel des animaux partiellement ou totalement connu. Dans un milieu où la PPCB est endémique avec différents stades d'évolution de la maladie, sachant que les tests sérologiques sont non parfaits (non gold standards), l'utilisation d'une approche bayésienne semblait appropriée pour une appréciation précise des paramètres de performance de tests qui sont la sensibilité et la spécificité, afin de mieux apprécier la prévalence de la maladie dans le cheptel bovin du delta central du Niger au Mali. Les résultats d'analyse de laboratoire des échantillons de terrain ont servi de bases de données importantes pour une analyse descriptive de la situation épidémiologique par appréciation des patrons de variations des principaux paramètres pouvant exercer une influence majeure sur la propagation de la PPCB. Ceci, dans le but d'aider à la réflexion sur la recherche d'outils et stratégies nouvelles dans le processus de prévention et d'éradication de la PPCB par le développement des modalités d'implantation d'une méthodologie innovante, pratique et efficace comme la qualification sanitaire troupeau concernant la PPCB dans un environnement d'élevage extensif. Cette thèse a permis de mieux définir les corrélations entre les deux tests, d'observer une meilleure sensibilité de cELISA par rapport à CFT permettant de justifier son utilisation seule dans un programme de dépistage à large échelle de la PPCB dans un milieu endémique. La démonstration dans l'étude de l'existence d'agrégation des animaux séropositifs à l'échelle du troupeau et aussi géographique montre qu'un système de qualification sanitaire troupeau pourrait jouer en collaboration avec le réseau national de surveillance épidémiologique vétérinaire, un rôle prépondérant dans la lutte ciblée et la maîtrise de la propagation de la PPCB au Mali. Mots clefs : PPCB-cELISA-CFT-Approche bayésienne-Agrégation-qualification sanitaire-Bovin / Two serological tests (complement fixation test (CFT) and competitive ELISA (cELISA)) are recommended by the OIE and commonly used in Central Veterinary Laboratory of Bamako sometimes in parallel, in the diagnosis and screening for contagious (CBPP). The performance of these tests has been estimated differently by several authors in different epidemiological settings using standard statistical methods with a real status of animals partially or completely known. In an environment where CBPP is endemic and where different stages of disease are available, given that serological tests are not perfect (not gold standard), the use of Bayesian approach seemed appropriate for an accurate assessment of the performance parameters of tests which are the sensitivity, specificity and predictive values to better assess the prevalence of the disease in cattle in the central Niger delta in Mali. The results of laboratory analysis of field samples were used as large database for epidemiological analysis of the geographical distribution of seroprevalence and the influence of major risk factors for the spread of CBPP. This, in order to aid reflection on tools research and new strategies in the process of prevention and eradication of CBPP by developing for implementation of an innovative, practical and effective methodology as sanitary qualification of cattle. This thesis has helped define the correlations between the two tests, observing a better sensitivity of cELISA compared to CFT to justify its use only in a program of widespread testing of CBPP in an endemic environment. In this study, the proof of the existence of aggregation of seropositive animals across herds and geographical level shows that a sanitary qualification system of cattle can play in collaboration with the national network of veterinary epidemiological surveillance a leadership role in targeted control and mastery of the spread of CBPP in Mali.Keys words: CBPP- cELISA - CFT- Bayesian approach -Aggregation- Sanitary qualification –Bovine

Test feedback has been recommended as an effective adjunct to brief therapy, despite a continued lack of empirical support. Previous research demonstrates the benefits of providing test feedback; however, it is unclear whether feedback interventions are responsible for producing positive outcomes. To clarify the efficacy of incorporating test feedback into the counseling process, a constructive research strategy was followed to examine collaborative MMPI-2 feedback as an isolated treatment component in brief counseling. A multiple source effect, as outlined by social influence theory (Strong, 1968) and the elaboration likelihood model (Petty & Cacioppo, 1981), was proposed to explain the benefits of collaborative test feedback. Specifically, the source characteristics of the counselor and the test were hypothesized to facilitate counseling outcomes.Forty undergraduate students, who were willing to discuss personal concerns with a counselor during two counseling sessions, were randomly assigned to either a counseling-only or a counseling + feedback intervention. The counseling process in both treatment groups was the same (i.e., participants answered personal questions), but MMPI-2 feedback was provided only in the counseling + feedback group. After each counseling session and a two-week follow-up, participants completed the Session Impact Scale, Outcome Questionnaire, Counselor Rating Form, Thought Listing procedure, as well as counseling attitudes and persuasion to change measures.Regardless of whether personality feedback was provided, the counseling sessions were evaluated favorably, participants' psychological functioning improved, and counselors were perceived to be influential. Although group differences were not large enough to be statistically significant, providing MMPI-2 feedback was associated with more reliable change in symptomatic distress. In addition, participants from both groups reported comparable levels of cognitive processing and counseling attitudes and were similarly persuaded to alter their behavior. Because significant changes occurred regardless of test feedback, counseling outcomes were not moderated by providing test feedback. Multiple source effects were not demonstrated in the test feedback process. These results indicate common therapeutic factors, such as answering therapeutic questions and finding solutions to presenting concerns, are responsible for treatment gains previously attributed to test feedback. Suggestions for future test interpretation research are provided and recommendations for theoretical development are discussed. / Department of Educational Studies

The Neuropsychological Symptom Inventory (NSI; Rattan, Dean, & Rattan, 1989), a self report measure of psychiatric and neurological symptoms, was revised to be presented in an electronic format. This revised instrument, the Neuropsychological Symptom Scale (Dean, 2010), was administered to 1,141 adult volunteers from a medium-sized Midwestern university. The collected data was subjected to exploratory factor analysis which suggested three primary factors related to emotional, cognitive, and somatosensory functioning. The items on the NSS were then organized into three subscales reflecting these areas of functioning. A fourth experimental subscale was also created to facilitate the collection of data on items that did not load on any of the three primary subscales. Item Response Theory (IRT) analysis and Classical Test Theory (CTT) approaches were then applied and compared as means of developing standard scores on the three primary subscales of the NSS. The results of these analyses are provided along with recommendations related to the further development of the NSS as an assessment tool. / Department of Educational Psychology

Mental health recovery is a complex phenomenon involving clinical, functional, physical, and social dimensions. The social dimension is understood to involve meaningful relationships and integration with supportive individuals and a wider community. While the recovery model developed from a movement led by consumers and survivors of the mental health system to promote hope, self-determination, and social inclusion, the clinical aspects of recovery have dominated mental health research and practice. The under-investigated area of social recovery calls for psychometrically sound measurement instruments. The purpose of the current study was to develop and validate the Social Recovery Measure (SRM). The study was grounded in disability and mad theories which locate disability at the intersection of the person and the environment. The SRM is a 19-item self-administered instrument scored on a 5-point Likert scale that consists of two domains: Self and Community. Items for the SRM were developed through focus groups and interviews with 41 individuals in recovery from mental health challenges and the preliminary measure was administered to a purposive, nonprobability sample of 228 individuals in recovery. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted and a re-specified model resulted in good model fit. The SRM exhibited excellent internal consistency with a Cronbach's coefficient alpha of .951 and demonstrated excellent test-retest reliability, content validity, and construct validity. Social recovery is highly relevant for social work given the discipline's commitment to disenfranchised populations and investment in creating enabling environments. The SRM has utility for use in evidence based practice and evaluation. The SRM can be used to further research in social recovery, test underlying theory bases, and explore the differential effects of the multiple dimensions of recovery. There is a need to better understand social recovery which this measure can facilitate.

M.A. (Research Psychology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract