Biographical Variables Research Articles

The Use of the Behavior Problem Checklist with Greek Deaf Children in Cross-Cultural Research

Abstract The Behavior Problem Checklist was completed by teachers of 127 students who attended a state supported school for the deaf in Athens, Greece. Analyses were performed which generated three, four, five, and ten factors. The biographic variables of sex and age were also included in some of the analyses to determine their effect, if any, on the factor structure. Results of the analyses were compared to analogous results for U.S. deaf children and Greek hearing children. Three factors which correspond to dimensions found in earlier research and previously labeled conduct problem, personality problem, and inadequacy-immaturity were found. Overall the Greek deaf children tended to have problem behavior patterns similar to the U.S. deaf and Greek hearing as well as other populations. It was apparent that these patterns for the Greek deaf children were largely independent of the deafness handicap and differences in cultural background.

Differences in stage of occupational field and subfield choice among students of three engineering subfields

First‐year students in three engineering subfields were compared in terms of reported stage of both field (engineering) and subfield choice as well as on several biographical variables. There were some differences, albeit insignificant, in stage at which the field was chosen. However, significant differences were found in stage of subfield choice: electrical engineering students (EE) chose the subfield earlier than did either mechanical (ME) or industrial engineering (IE) students. EE essentially made a one‐step choice of both field and subfield, whereas ME and IE, despite differences between them, made a two‐step choice process: the subfield was selected at a later stage than was the field itself.

Response Characteristics in a Mail Survey

A survey of job attitudes and job behavior was mailed to 2,268 workers and their employers. Nonresponse bias was investigated for biographic variables and three substantive variables: pay, job training, and job attitudes. The small significant effects observed suggest only minor bias. The biographic characteristics which did indicate nonresponse bias, e.g., sex, also demonstrated late-response bias. The use of late-responders' characteristics as a proxy for nonresponse bias needs further investigation.

Twelve Years On ‐‐ a Longitudinal Study of Teacher Behaviour Continued

ABSTRACT This paper is a further instalment of the study begun in 1965. The behaviour of a group of teachers was monitored at intervals over twelve years ‐‐ in 1965, in 1967, in 1972 and in 1977. In 1965, the year they entered teaching, data on the group were collected in the form of: (a) variables from an extensive series of psychological tests, (b) biographical variables,(c) college examination variables. In 1967, in 1972, and again in 1977, ratings of their own satisfaction and dissatisfaction with teaching were obtained, together with the ratings of their head teachers on various aspects of teaching ability. Analysis of the data revealed the continuing relationship between teaching ability and satisfaction, and the presence of unconventional personality characteristics amongst the more successful teachers. While the cumulative emphasis of the data was that practice makes perfect ‐‐ ‘teaching begets teaching’ ‐‐ there was distinct evidence of a fall off in performance between 1972 and 1977 amongst the highest rated group of teachers. The likely effects upon innovation and the professional development (or the lack of it) amongst these teachers are discussed in the light of the findings.

Longevity of High School Graduates (1907–1967) from Biographical, Demographic, and Motivational Data

This study reports the relationships between certain biographical, demographic, and motivational variables and longevity of 108 graduates (1907 to 1967) from a small Kansas high school. The early deceased individuals ( n = 10) were older, better educated, reported more honors, had slightly lower achievement motivation scores, and had more boys but fewer girls and slightly more children on the average, than the yet living group ( n = 98). Variables which predicted specific causes of death (cancer and heart attack victims) included the number and sex of children and achievement motivation scores.

Measurements of Backbench Attitudes by Guttman Scaling of Early Day Motions: A Pilot Study, Labour, 1968–69

This research is addressed to the problem of constructing scales of political attitudes within the British House of Commons. Our aim, broadly, is to produce measures that will enable us to distinguish between backbenchers of the same party – for example, a Right-Left scale applied to the Labour party – and to relate these data to biographical variables and other measures of political behaviour. Moreover, by observing the relationship between Members' positions on different scales, and changes over time, we hope to learn more about the belief-systems of Members of Parliament.

Verbal giftedness and sociopolitical intelligence: Terman revisited

This paper reports on a three-year study of sociopolitical intelligence-defined as the ability to formulate viable solutions to moral, social, and political problems-in adolescence. From an initial sample of 659 intellectually gifted 12- and 13-year-olds, 58 students with the highest SAT-V scores were selected for study. From a later sample of 506 equally gifted 13- and 14-year-olds, 120 students were selected using measures of verbal intelligence (DAT), social insight, and creative potential, as well as academic and nonacademic achievement. On the basis of a variety of personality and cognitive measures the students in both samples were found to be unusually mature and well adjusted but to vary considerably in sociopolitical intelligence. These results suggest in partial agreement with Terman's earlier findings concerning the gifted, that above a certain level of tested intelligence the critical determinants of effective, practical performance may be personality and biographical variables.

PUPIL CONTROL IDEOLOGY AND THE SALIENCE OF TEACHER CHARACTERISTICS

Australian Pupil Control Ideology (PCI) studies have generally utilized small samples in an endeavour to establish significant relationships between teacher/administrator control orientation, and a variety of person‐specific variables. The present study examines the tenability of a number of American biographically‐derived hypotheses in the Australian context. The explanatory power of the combined biographical variables of teacher age, experience, sex, organizational status and academic qualifications for variances in PCI is seriously questioned since as little as 6 percent of PCI variance may be explained by reference to these particular variables. Some potentially more fruitful avenues of enquiry for future PCI research are proffered.

Work values evolution in a baccalaureate student nurse population

Differences related to degree aspiration, desired nursing career specialty, and other nursing-related biographical variables were found among the four classes of a sample of 408 full-time non-RN female subjects in a baccalaureate nursing program. These differences were associated with shifts in the work values patterns of the subjects. Extrinsic work values and a nurturant nursing-specific work values system characterized the freshman profile. This was replaced by an intrinsic work values system and a leadership nursing-specific work value profile cluster in the senior sample. There was no detectable classwise change in the high altruistic work values emphasis of the sample.

Using Computerized Tests to Measure New Dimensions of Abilities: An Exploratory Study

A battery of Graphic Information Processing Tests (GRIP) was developed to utilize the display characteristics of computer terminals in measuring abilities important for processing visually presented information. The GRIP battery was especially in tended to assess five "real world" personal at tributes which have been difficult to measure with paper-and-pencil tests. The experimental tests were administered to 385 Navy enlisted men and evalu ated in conjunction with paper-and-pencil tests of the same attributes as well as with operational cog nitive tests and biographical variables. The GRIP tests were found to be useful for measuring short- term memory and sequential reasoning abilities.

Absence from work and personal characteristics.

The literature on the relationship between absence and two biographical variaables, age and length of service, is reviewed in terms of differences between results for various absence types, sex of employee, and research design. Results from a cross-sectiona l survey of 1,222 blue-collar production workers, in 16 organizations drawn from four contrasting technologies, both consolidate and augment these findings. Correlational data and analyses of critical ranges for high and low absence confirm the hypothesis that inverse relations are common between the two biographical variables and absence frequency, and that these are especially prevalent among male workers. They show further that inverse relationships are more stable and reliable for age than for tenure. Interpretation of the results is sought in terms of progressive changes in employee attachment and attendance motivation with age, and further systematic research of changing organizational cultures and organizational socialization is urged. Almost every psychological field study of blue-collar workers at some point gathers data on employee age and length of service, and yet the relationship between these measures of personal characteristics and other variables rarely commands concentrated attention or serious attempts at explanation. This has been true of absence studies, in which the state of knowledge on its relationships with these two variables is confused and conflicting, largely because of inadequate reviewing of the available evidence and casual theorizing. This article seeks to correct this state of affairs, first by reviewing the relevant literature separately for age and absence and for tenure and absence and second by presenting and discussing some fresh evidence from a cross-technolo gy survey of British blue-collar workers.

An Exploratory Inquiry into the Multi‐factor Theory of Moral Behaviour

Abstract: Using step‐wise multiple regression analyses regression equations were generated for sixty school age subjects with choice and stage of moral reasoning on moral dilemmas as the dependent variables. Age, IQ, SES, awareness of consequences, empathy, and selected mean moral maturity scores were used as the predictor variables. It was found, although the amounts of total variance explained were small (.392), that age and empathy were the primary predictors for stage of moral reasoning and the biographical variables (IQ, SES, age) were the primary predictor variables for choice on moral dilemmas. The implications of the findings for further research and curriculum were discussed.

Section Selection in Multi-Section Courses: Implications for the Validation and Use of Teacher Rating Forms

Researchers know little about determiners of section selection in multi-section college courses. Studies on teacher evaluation and on the validity of teacher rating forms have often assumed section to section equivalence of students assigned by customary registration procedures. To investigate the section selection process, a questionnaire containing items on personal history, reasons for section selection, and sources of information about the instructor was administered to 1,188 undergraduate students in multi-section first year and advanced psychology courses. Major findings were: (1) students significantly differed across sections on biographical variables and on section selection reasons, (2) time at which class was scheduled (classtime) and teacher's reputation were the primary reasons for section choice, (3) teacher's reputation was less important than classtime for first year students, but comparable to classtime for advanced students, and (4) reports from other students and published ratings were, respectively, the first and second most frequent source of instructor reputation information.

Vision and audition in driving : Henderson, R.L. and Burg, A. Nov 1974, 309 pp; abstr in Government Reports Announcements (Report No PB-238 278/6GA)

A systematic analysis was made of the visual and auditory requirements of automobile and motorcycle driving which resulted in the identification of visual performance parameters that appear important to driving but that are not currently considered in the visual screening of driver license applicants. These include such parameters as perception of motion, dynamic performance of the total visual system, visual performance under low levels of illumination of in the presence of glare, and useful peripheral vision. The analysis did not identify similar requirements of auditory performance. A device was designed and constructed to test performance on the new visual functions as well as on selected conventional measures. Performance on these tests was measured on 669 licensed California drivers and compared with past accident record. The results show that poor performance on several of the new vision tests is associated with poor driving record. Further, it was shown that some vision test score serve as better predictors of accident involvement than such measures as age, sex, annual mileage or other biographical variables generally considered to be the best available predictors. It is concluded that if the results of the study are verified and cross-validated on a much larger sample of the driving population, a basis will exist for developing and implementing a standardized visual screening program for driver license applicants that could contribute to improving highway safety.

SEVEN YEARS ON‐‐A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF TEACHER BEHAVIOUR

Abstract The behaviour of a group of teachers, who did not differ significantly in college grades in educational theory and in practical teaching from their parent population nor in their distributions on sex and type of school from the national population of teachers, was monitored in 1965, in 1967 and in 1972 ‐‐ seven years in all. In 1965 the year they entered teaching data on the group was collected in the form of #opa#cp variables from an extensive series of psychological tests, #opb#cp biographical variables, #opc#cp college examination variables. In 1967 and again in 1972 ratings of their own satisfaction and dissatisfaction with teaching were obtained, together with the ratings of their head teachers on various aspects of teaching ability. An analysis of the data suggests that higher ratings of teaching ability at the initial stage persist over the seven year period as do levels of satisfaction and dissatisfaction with teaching. Those of higher verbal ability tended to have lower ratings of practi...

Intrapsychic and environmental variables as predictors of length of hospitalization.

The purpose of this study was to examine the competing hypotheses that environmental variables contribute independent variance to the prognosis of general psychological disorders or that their predictive potential is accounted for by their relationship to initial level of psychopathology and other biographical data. A survey of the last 10 years of prognostic research for hospitalized psychiatric patients (Clum, Note 1) suggests that the patient's role in the family and their expectations of him play significant parts in his adjustment. Others (Fulkerson & Barry, 1961) have argued that whatever prognostic validity psychological tests have could be attributed to the extent to which they measure severity of illness. A multiple regression analysis which included level of symptomatolog y, measures of the family environment, and biographical data provided the vehicle for testing these hypotheses. The measure of symptomatolog y was provided by the Katz Adjustment Scales (Katz & Lyerley, 1963) (significant-other forms), whcih yielded six symptom factors. The significant other was ,asked to rate his expectations of the patient's performance after hospitalization and the kinds of deviant behavior that would be tolerated before a hospital or mental health professional would be consulted. The patient's role in the family was inferred from two biographical variables, age and living with spouse after hospitalization. Length of hospitalization was the criterion used to determine prognosis. Subjects (JV=119) were consecutively admitted psychiatric patients at the University of Virginia Hospital. This sample was divided to test cross-validities of any significant relationships.

Biographical Correlates of Sensation-Seeking

The Sensation-seeking scale (Zuckerman, et al., 1964) and a biographical questionnaire were administered to 50 undergraduate students to identify variables which correlated with sensation-seeking. Two mobility variables were significant ( p < .001) and seven other biographical variables also correlated with scores on the scale.

A USE OF REPERTORY GRID MEASURES FOR EVALUATING MAP FORMATS

Effects of colour and base on construing urban planning maps are examined in relation to measures of grid structure and content. Four sets of seven redevelopment plans, differing in colour and/or base, were shown to random samples of 50 local women. Individuals construed the plans in a typical repgrid procedure. Differentiation measures, including percent variance of grid elements and principal components, and construct‐type frequencies are compared across map sets by analysis of covariance, using biographical variables as covariates. Some effects of colour on plan construing are demonstrated, though for base the evidence is equivocal. Information available in the grid‐structure measures is illustrated further.

Colour and Base in Urban Planning Maps

Four map formats, differing in chromaticity and extent of base are compared for readability in an urban planning context. To test readability a repertory grid procedure and derived measures were used. The composition of the sampies was based on seven biographical variables by analysis of covariance. Hypotheses with respect to the effect on readab?lity of map colour, but not of amount of base, were supported.

Colour and Base in Urban Planning Maps

Four map formats, differing in chromaticity and extent of base are compared for readability in an urban planning context. To test readability a repertory grid procedure and derived measures were used. The composition of the sampies was based on seven biographical variables by analysis of covariance. Hypotheses with respect to the effect on readab?lity of map colour, but not of amount of base, were supported.