Counterparts In Control Group Research Articles

The relationship between sexual abuse and substance abuse among psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents

A comparative study using matched samples was conducted to investigate the relationship between sexual abuse and substance abuse. The sample included 48 adolescent psychiatric inpatients who had been sexually abused (abuse group) and 48 psychiatric inpatients without a known history of such abuse (control group) matched by age, race, sex, and primary psychiatric diagnosis. Statistically significant differences emerged between the groups in several areas. Abuse group subjects indicated more regular use of cocaine and stimulants, greater frequencies of alcohol and drug use, and more reported drunkenness and times high on drugs than their control group counterparts. Explanations of the association between substance abuse and sexual victimization are explored. Discussion suggests the possibility of earlier coping strategies being related to later chemical use patterns. Implications for service delivery are offered.

Changes in the frequency of basket cells in the dentate fascia following chronic ethanol administration in mice

The frequency of basket cells in the granule cell layer of the dentate fascia of Short Sleep (SS) and Long Sleep (LS) mice was determined following 3 months of ethanol exposure. These mice were bred for their differential susceptibility to the narcotic effects of acute doses of ethanol. The ethanol-insensitive SS mice were unaffected by the treatment while the ethanol-sensitive LS mice that received ethanol showed a significant decrease in basket cell frequency over their control group counterparts. These basket cells are thought to control the tonic level of activity of the granule cells. Thus, a decrease in basket cell frequency might lead to higher granule cell activity following chronic ethanol exposure. This effect could counteract the assumed stronger depressant effect of ethanol in the relatively ethanol-sensitive LS mice.

The problem of large classes in science: An experiment in co‐operative learning

The problem of large classes in science is the recurring story in most countries of the world. The intention in this study was to find out how this problem could be tackled using a co‐operative learning technique. Two hundred and twenty‐five secondary school third‐form chemistry students and two teachers were involved in a pre‐test/treatment/post‐test experiment with a control group in which students working in mixed‐ability co‐operative groups were found to perform significantly better than their control group counterparts. The implications of the findings of the experiment for the teaching of science are discussed.

To Take or Not to Take the Only One: Effects of Changing the Meaning of a Product Attribute on Choice Behavior

It was hypothesized that for females and children under the age of 11, the probability of choosing a unique product could be influenced by controlling the valence of the resulting dispositional attribution. A label was used to increase the availability of a positive attribution (“I will be unique”) versus a negative one (“I will be selfish”). Labeled females and younger children were significantly more likely to choose the unique product than were their control group counterparts.

Effectiveness of a Social Learning Method for Enhancing Children's Social Interaction and Peer Acceptance

Previous research indicates that the consequences of peer isolation or rejection may be severe. The present investigation examined changes in low-accepted children's behavior and peer acceptance resulting from social learning approach to social skill training. Third-grade children responded to a sociometric measure and were later observed on targeted social skills. 36 children with low scores on both criteria were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 experimental conditions: skill training, attention control, and nontreatment control. Children in the training condition were coached in 3 social skills: asking questions, leading, and offering support to peers. Sociometric and observational assessments were conducted upon completion of the experimental procedures and at follow-up. Trained children spent a significantly greater percentage of time engaging in 2 of the 3 trained skills at posttest and follow-up, whereas control group children remained the same or declined. Unlike their control group counterparts, trained children also evidenced significant and lasting gains in classroom peer acceptance. The results are interpreted as support for the intervention's effectiveness and a social learning explanation of behavioral change.

THE EFFECT OF A NEGATIVE INCOME TAX ON RISK-TAKING IN THE LABOR MARKET

Theory argues that negative income taxes will increase the economic risks that workers take in the labor market. Data from the income maintenance experiments is analyzed to reveal that those workers subject to a NIT seemed to bear more risks than their control group counterparts. Implications and reservations about this finding are offered.

The Enhancement of Altruistic Behaviors in Children through the Implementation of Language Conditioning Procedures

In this experiment, 48 fifth grade children were randomly divided into three groups. The 17 children in the language conditioning group observed slides of altruistic scenes paired with positive words. The 15 children in the modeling group observed these same scenes and words, but in random order. The 16 children in the control group experienced no treatment procedures. While both the language conditioning and modeling groups were given models of altruistic behaviors via the slides, only the language conditioning group of children had the benefit of the transference of affect from the positive words to the altruistic scenes. Subsequently, the children from the language conditioning group-but not the modeling group-were found to be significantly more generous than their control group counter-parts. The implications of these findings for teachers and counselors are discussed.