Significant Within-group Differences Research Articles

Preparation Time and Response Complexity Effects on Stutterers’ and Nonstutterers’ Acoustic LRT

Nonstutterers', mild stutterers', and severe stutterers' acoustic laryngeal reaction times (LRTs) were recorded for isolated vowels and nonpropositional VCV responses in different stimulus conditions governing response preparation. In all stimulus-response conditions severe stutterers produced the longest LRTs, followed in turn by mild stutterers and nonstutterers. The three groups significantly differed from one another in most conditions, but the magnitude of difference between mild and severe stutterers was notably greater than the difference between mild stutterers and nonstutterers. LRT changes as a function of stimulus condition showed that, in general, nonstutterers were best able to use a preparation-facilitating stimulus condition to reduce LRT, and severe stutterers least able to do so. LRT changes as a function of response complexity showed that only nonstutterers produced statistically significant within-group differences. Patterns of LRT change as a combined function of group, stimulus condition, and response type suggest a complex relationship between stutterer severity, preparation time, and type of response complexity. Results illustrate aspects of Goldberg's (1985) model of preparation processes, and support hypotheses that stutterer subgroups show differential preparation deficits along with high motor initiation variability.

Does a single local absorptiometric bone measurement indicate the overall skeletal status? Implications for osteoporosis and osteoarthritis of the hip

Regional bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD) (head, arms, chest, spine, pelvis, legs) of a total body dual photon 153Gd absorptiometry (DPA) scan were measured in 20 healthy postmenopausal women, 27 postmenopausal women with hip fracture, and 17 postmenopausal women with osteoarthritis of the hip. In addition, local BMC and BMD were measured in the proximal and distal regions of the distal forearm (BMCprox, BMDprox, BMCdist, BMDdist) by single photon absorptiometry (SPA); and in the lumbar spine (BMCL2-L4 and BMDL2-L4) by 153Gd DPA. The overall impression was a reduction of bone mass in hip fracture patients compared with healthy controls and an increase in the bone mass of osteoarthritic patients. These results were valid using both regional values of the total body scan, and local forearm and lumbar spine measurements, and statistically significant using one-way analysis of variance. There were, however, also significant within-group between-region differences (one-way analysis of variance), showing that the bone mass of the pelvis and legs in hip fracture patients was more reduced than in the remaining skeleton; in osteoarthritic patients it was not increased but rather unchanged or slightly reduced. The differences between the level of the three local measurements (BMDprox BMDdist BMDL2-L4), on the one hand, and the level of the six regional BMD values, on the other hand, were investigated by the two-way analysis of variance: local measurements = rows; regional values = columns. This analysis showed that none of the three local measurements was statistically better than the other two in predicting the overall level of skeletal bone mass as judged by the six regional values. We conclude that serious osteoporotic bone loss has a generalized nature, however, with a tendency towards lower values in the regions affected by fracture (viz: low bone mass in the legs of femoral neck fracture patients). Osteoarthritis may be associated with a high bone mass in most areas, but low values in the affected regions. Local lumbar spine measurement of bone mass by DPA is not superior to local forearm measurement of bone mass by SPA in predicting the nature of overall osteoporotic or osteoarthritic bone change.

Eeg Coherence and Power During Yogic Flying

Frontal, central and parietal power and coherence of ten subjects practicing the TM-Sidhi technique of Yogic Flying (YF) were compared to that of ten controls who jumped from a seated position to approximate hopping during YF. All movement artifacts were removed before signal analyses. The most significant group differences were seen in the 2.12-second period just before lift-off: the YF subjects '30-32 Hz power, and theta, alpha, and beta (broad band) coherence were significantly higher than those of the controls'. Within the YF group, the first period's 30-32 Hz power and broad-band coherence were significantly higher than those of the two preceding 2.12-s periods, and of the whole YF period. There were no significant within-group differences in the control group. A similar EEG pattern has been reported during the experience of pure consciousness in TM practice, suggesting that the experience of "pure consciousness" underlies successful TM-Sidhi performance.

A cognitive stress-reduction intervention program for adolescents.

A cognitive stress-reduction intervention program for adolescents.

DMI-measured defenses and HIV-related risk behaviors in IV compared to non-IV substance abusers

The Defense Mechanism Inventory (DMI) and The Risk Behavior Inventory (RBI) were administered to substance abusers hospitalized on a drug detoxification service. The groups were categorized on the basis of self-reported IV versus non-IV substance abuse. Significant between- group differences were obtained on the DMI and RBI. The non-IV group responded less often than the IV group with the Turning Against Object (TAO) response option, resulting in higher scores when Turning Against Self (TAS), Reversal (REV), Principalization (PRN) and Projection (PRO) were summed into a single score. Significant within-group differences were obtained for DMI response levels and defenses. Both groups relied less on TAO at the thought level and more on PRN and REV as primary defenses. The IV group reported twice as many risk behaviors as the non-IV group and risked HIV exposure through needle use and sexual transmission modes. Consideration was given to the role of principalization and denial within the addicted individual's defense structure and the relationship of these defenses to HIV-related risk behavior.

Secondary Pupils and Teacher Qualities: Contrasts in Appraisals

Twelve teacher qualities were ranked for relative importance by 266 Canadian and American senior-secondary pupils in anonymous responses to a questionnaire for which they volunteered. Subdivisions of the sample were formed for purposes of comparison on the basis of respondents' sex, nationality, program of studies, and social class (defined by reference to parental occupations). The ratings distributions for these groups were compared (males with females; Canadians with Americans; academic with non-academic pupils; entrepreneurs with professionals, unskilled labourers, and skilled labourers) to explore the extent to which an assumption of homogeneity of orientation and appraisals is warranted. Eleven of 48 (23%) comparisons revealed significant differences. Of these differences, 4 were found in program group comparisons; 3 arose from nationality comparisons; 3 emerged from gender comparisons; and the remaining difference was revealed through social class comparison. At least one significant difference was found in the comparisons for the majority (7 of 12) of the teacher attributes. Finer-grained analyses (i.e., within sex and within nationality) revealed 9 other significant within-group differences in ratings of teacher qualities. The results are discussed relative to issues which arise from simplification by deletion, categorical treatment of diversity or complexity, decomposition strategies in research, and teacher preparation and selection practices.

The Development of Aerobic Capacity: A Comparison of Continuous and Interval Training

Abstract Untrained college males were randomly assigned to one of two experimental groups or a control group. There were five, seven, and nine subjects in the control, interval, and continuous groups, respectively. Training consisted of jogging or running on a quarter-mile track for a distance of 2 miles, 5 days a week for 6 weeks. The continuous group trained at an intensity of 162 beats per minute (bpm), while the interval group trained at 174 bpm. A minimum of three 4-minute work intervals and a work/rest ratio of 1:1 were utilized by the interval group. Significant (p < .01) within-group (pre- versus posttraining) differences were found in the experimental groups for oxygen uptake (ml/kg·minute) at 180 bpm and Balke treadmill performance. Analysis of covariance demonstrated significant (p < .05) differences in aerobic capacity and treadmill performance among groups. Post hoc comparisons revealed significant (p < .05) differences between the control group and each experimental group. No significant dif...