<p> Latent growth curve modeling is an increasingly popular approach for evaluating longitudinal data. Researchers tend to focus on overall model fit information or component model fit information when evaluating a latent growth curve model (LGCM). However, there is also an interest in understanding a given individual's level and pattern of change over time, specifically an interest in identifying observations with aberrant patterns of change. Thus it is also important to examine model fit at the level of the individual. Currently there are several proposed approaches for evaluating person level fit information from a LGCM including factor score based approaches (Bollen &amp; Curran, 2006; Coffman &amp; Millsap, 2006) and person log-likelihood based approaches (Coffman &amp; Millsap, 2006; McArdle, 1997). Even with multiple methods for evaluating person-level information, it is unusual for researchers to report any examination of the person level fit information. Researchers may be hesitant to use person level fit indices because there are very few studies that evaluate how effective these person level fit indices are at identifying aberrant observations, or what criteria to use with the indices. In order to better understand which approaches for evaluating person level information will perform best for LGCMs, this research uses simulation studies to examine the application of several person level fit indices to the detection of three types of aberrant observations including: extreme trajectory aberrance, extreme variability aberrance, and functional form aberrance. Results indicate that examining factor score estimates directly can help to identify extreme trajectory aberrance, while approaches examining factor score residuals or examining a person log-likelihood are better at identifying extreme variability aberrance. The performance of these approaches improved with more observation times and higher communality. All of the factor score estimate approaches were able to identify functional form aberrance, as long as there were a sufficient number of observation times and either higher communality or a greater difference between the functional forms of interest.</p>

Context effects are a robust finding in psychology and are manifested in the form of assimilation effects and contrast effects. Assimilation effects occur when judgments of a target stimulus are biased toward the level of non-target, context stimuli. Contrast effects occur when judgments of a target stimulus are biased in the opposite direction of non-target context stimuli and are much more prevalent than assimilation effects. Limited research has been conducted on contrast effects in the area of industrial/organizational psychology and no study has yet examined contrast effects when target and non-target stimuli are observed simultaneously. The purpose of this study was to examine contrast effects in a group interaction setting (a leaderless group discussion (LGD) exercise of an assessment center) where all stimuli were observed simultaneously. Two factors were manipulated: the performance level of non-target stimuli (above standard and/or below standard candidates) and observation condition of the target stimulus (a standard candidate). In addition, the order in which the standard candidate was rated was counterbalanced. It was hypothesized that (1) contrast effects would occur in the LGD. One hundred, eighty-seven undergraduates were trained as raters and then viewed a videotape of a leaderless group discussion exercise in which a standard candidate was interacting either with two above standard candidates, two below standard candidates, or an above standard and a below standard candidate. Each videotape contained the same footage of the standard candidate; consequently, her performance was identical across conditions. Participants were assigned to observe one of the three candidates (the target candidate or one of the non-target candidates). During the rating session when the assessors discussed the performance of the candidates, performance of the standard candidate was discussed in either the first, second or third position. Individual ratings and consensus ratings were collected and analyzed. At the individual rating level, contrast effects were present in leaderless group discussion exercise ratings. Specifically, the standard candidate was rated significantly higher when performing with below standard candidates than with above standard candidates. The observation assignment had no significant influence on the magnitude of contrast effects; however, a leniency effect occurred for those assessors who were assigned to observe the standard candidate. Contrast effects were not present in the raters' consensus ratings. Conclusions, suggestions for future research, and implications for the study are discussed.

The social, collaborative, interpersonal, and interdependence demands of jobs, referred to as social-collaborative complexity (SCC), are rapidly expanding in the work place. One implication for human resources research is that the criterion-related validities of basic ability tests might be affected. This possibility is provocative, because although much research has shown that basic ability tests generally are valid predictors of performance in a wide range of jobs, increased SCC might modify that conclusion. Thus, a field study and a laboratory experiment were concurrently conducted to explore whether SCC moderates ability test validities. In the field study, measures of SCC for a wide range of jobs were obtained from the Position Analysis Questionnaire and the Dictionary of Occupational Titles. For these same jobs, General Aptitude Test Battery validities were obtained from the United States Employment Service. Results suggested that several job-related measures of SCC significantly moderated GATB validities. Furthermore, the moderating effects of SCC were independent of the more predictable moderating effects of other job demands. The lab experiment was conducted to explore whether motivational aspects of SCC moderated test validities. Specifically, the effects of accountability on task performance and test validity were explored in individual and group contexts. Subjects in the 2 x 2 experiment completed, among other measures, a creative thinking ability test and a brainstorming task. Results suggested that ability, accountability, and social context interacted to affect performance, and accountability and social context both moderated test validity in a "moderated moderator" effect. Implications for the work place and suggestions for future research are discussed.

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator's (MBTI) extensive use in businesses, educational institutions and in career counseling coupled with growing criticism regarding its validity demands that critical research answer the question of what it is that the MBTI measures. This research investigates three models of the underlying factors of the MBTI items (the MBTI Model, a model incorporating the five-factor model of personality (Costa & McCrae, 1991), and a model based on an exploratory factor analysis (Sipps, Alexander, & Friedt, 1985)). One thousand and thirty individuals (N men = 407; N women = 753) completed the MBTI while participating in a career development service. Confirmatory factor analysis results indicated that although the MBTI Model explains responses slightly better than the five-factor model, it is not (in its present form) optimally explanatory. These results and exploratory factor analysis results identify areas where instrument changes and additional research could lead to a more valid and reliable instrument.

Three different measures of risk taking were compared to examine the support for a unitary trait of risk taking. The measures included the Sensation Seeking Scale, an experimental lottery, and a consumer product/activity risk perception questionnaire. The measures were administered to groups of subjects believed to differ in different types of risk taking propensity: gamblers, scuba divers, and students. Although differences between the subject groups were demonstrated on the individual measures, relationships between the measures were quite weak. These results indicate that references to risk taking behavior should be specified as applying to certain individual activities.

This study examined the relationship between characteristics of adaptive testing and test takers' subsequent reactions to the test. Participants took a computer adaptive test in which two features, the difficulty of the initial item and the difficulty of subsequent items, were manipulated. These two features of adaptive testing determined the number of items answered correctly by examinees and their subsequent reactions to the test. The data show that the relationship between test characteristics and reactions was fully mediated by perceived performance on the test. In addition, the impact of feedback on reactions to adaptive testing was also evaluated. In general, feedback that was consistent with perceptions of performance had a positive impact on reactions to the test. Implications for adaptive test design concerning maximizing test takers' reactions are discussed.

The PDQ-39 is a health-related quality of life questionnaire with 39 items describing eight dimensions in Parkinson's disease (PD). The original English version of PDQ-39 showed excellent psychometric properties. The present study was aimed at assessing the construct validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability of the PDQ-39 French version as well as the degree of agreement between PD patients and their proxy respondents when completing the scale. One neurologist and two psychologists using standardized clinical scales of PD severity and depression rated 126 PD non-demented patients, attending a neurological clinic. Then, patients and their 110 proxies completed the PDQ-39 and MOS SF-36 during the psychological interview on two occasions, during the same day. All PDQ-39 dimensions showed evidence of construct validity. Internal consistency was acceptable for most dimensions and test-retest reliability was generally excellent. Agreement in patient-proxy pairs ratings varied from poor (ICC < 0.40) to good (ICC > 0.60) across dimensions.

<p> Homelessness in the United States is recognized as a grave societal problem with longstanding and pervasive implications. A substantial body of research has shown that substance use disorders occur at higher rates among homeless adults than among housed persons. Mental disorders, particularly depressive disorders, are also known to occur at substantially higher rates among the homeless. Given the prevalence of these conditions, it is important that clinicians working with homeless adults have access to reliable and valid assessment tools. The purpose of this study was to examine the usefulness of the Drug Abuse Screening Test-20 (DAST-20) in a sample of treatment-seeking, homeless men engaged in a residential substance abuse recovery program. Other goals included analysis of the relationship of the DAST-20 to the Beck Depression Inventory, Second Edition (BDI-II). The participants were 86 males with a mean age of 43.08 years. The sample was ethnically diverse, tended to be single, and most participants had at least a high school education. This was an archival study. All participants had voluntarily sought psychological services in a university-affiliated clinic at the inner city mission that provided the substance abuse recovery program. In addition to the DAST-20 and BDI-II, the instruments included an intake application form for psychological services and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Mean scores on the DAST-20 and BDI-II were 10.07 and 21.94, respectively. Internal consistency reliability was .862 for the DAST-20 and .91 for the BDI-II. There were no statistically significant differences across ethnic groups in mean DAST-20, BDI-II, or AUDIT scores. As predicted, DAST-20 scores were positively correlated with intake form-based measures of drug abuse, supporting the validity of the DAST-20 as a measure of substance-related concerns. The DAST-20 also correlated significantly with the BDI-II, consistent with other research findings. There was a trend (p = .083) for the DAST-20 to be correlated with the AUDIT. Other findings, clinical implications, limitations, and suggestions for future research are also explored. The results supported the reliability and validity of the DAST-20 as a measure of problematic substance use among treatment-seeking homeless men.</p>

<p> In Therapeutic Assessment individuals are given feedback based on questions developed prior to administration of psychological testing. It is hypothesized that feedback delivered in this manner results in greater therapeutic outcomes than standard feedback administration. This study compared the therapeutic outcomes of individuals who received Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory Second Edition &ndash; Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF; Ben-Porath &amp; Tellegen, 2008) feedback based on personally-developed questions to the outcomes of individuals who received standard MMPI-2-RF feedback. The study utilized a two (group) by three (time) design; the sample consisted of 39 undergraduate university students (17 men, 22 women). Nineteen participants received feedback based on their questions, while 20 participants received standard feedback. Symptoms of distress and self-esteem were assessed prior to MMPI-2-RF administration, immediately after MMPI-2-RF feedback, and two weeks after feedback. Participants also rated their perceptions of the assessment process at the final two time points. Results indicated that all participants, regardless of feedback style, experienced statistically significant decreases in anxiety and depressive symptoms two weeks after feedback. There were no differences in self-esteem or perceptions about the assessment process between groups or across time. This study provides further evidence of the therapeutic utility of feedback, but does not suggest that basing feedback on client-developed questions results in a greater magnitude of therapeutic benefits than standard feedback. An additional finding was that all participants were engaged in the assessment process as evidenced by a 100 percent valid MMPI-2-RF profile rate, which speaks to the importance of making individuals aware they will receive feedback prior to testing as it may lead to increased engagement in the assessment process. </p>

Stress plays a significant role in the initiation and continuation of drinking. Furthermore, epidemiological studies have shown a higher incidence of alcoholism in males than females. Objective. The current studies aimed to investigate the presence of gender differences in the interactions of ethanol and stress with the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. Methods. Participants included 12 males and 10 females with no previous personal or familial history of alcoholism. Plasma levels of ACTH and cortisol were estimated following a placebo drink, a low and a high dose of alcohol and a psychological stress task performed 30 minutes after the ingestion of the placebo, the low and the high alcohol drinks. Results. Male participants presented a more pronounced response of the HPA-axis to both alcohol and psychological stress. Prior ingestion of the low and to a lesser extent of the high dose of alcohol induced a more pronounced and longer lasting attenuation of the HPA-axis response to stress in males than females. Conclusions. There are gender differences in the interactions of ethanol and stress with the HPA-axis, which may contribute to the gender differences in alcohol consumption.