Interaction data from 96 married couples in which the husband was an alcoholic, depressive, or normal control were coded with Marital Interaction Coding System and subjected to multidimensional scaling, principle components analysis, and transitional probability analyses. Resulting solutions indicated several clusters common across methods and…

Despite much evidence that the Jenkins Activity Survey Type A (JAS Type A) scale is lacking in essential psychometric properties, it continues to be widely used for measuring coronary-prone behavior. Four psychometric properties of the scale were assessed. The scale failed to satisfy accepted reliability and validity criteria. (Author/JAZ)

The structure and item performance of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator was investigated using data from 39 college students. Factor analysis was applied to the items, factor adequacy and invariance coefficients were computed, and the appropriateness of the recommended item weights was examined. Results strongly supported the instrument's construct…

The practicality of three appraisal instruments was measured in terms of user preference, namely, behavioral observation scales (BOS), behavioral expectation scales (BES), and trait scales. In all instances, BOS were preferred to BES, and in all but two instances, BOS were viewed as superior to trait scales. (Author/ABB)

Advantages and disadvantages of behavior rating scales and observation systems are presented, followed by preliminary validity data for the Mayes Hyperactivity Observation System, a clinically feasible system to identify preschool children with both Attention Deficit Disorder and Hyperactivity. Hyperactive and normal children were identified with…

Problem-behavior rating scale data on elementary-aged learning disabled and normal boys were factor analyzed. Somewhat different factors were identified for normal and learning disabled groups. Implications of the findings for hyperactivity as distinct from other conduct problems and for classifying youngsters' behavior and emotional problems are…

Describes a specific empirical method for the systematic observation of examiner behavior during psychoeducational assessments, the Systematic Observation Scale for Assessments (SOS-A). Discusses development of the instrument and presents data on intra- and interobserver agreement. The instrument is regarded as an initially adequate method for…

The development of a scale to assess drug and other treatment effects on severely mentally retarded individuals is described. Separate factor analyses of the data from two samples resulted in a five-factor scale: (1) Irritability, Agitation, Crying; (2) Lethargy, Social Withdrawal; (3) Stereotypic Behavior; (4) Hyperactivity, Noncompliance; and…

Compared a checklist of distress behaviors to patient (N=67) and observer ratings of pain and anxiety. Results indicated that children showed greater evidence of behavioral distress than adolescents only during the actual medical procedure; however, additional behaviors were observed that suggested that the checklist was age biased. (LLL)

Describes the development and validation of a behavioral peer-rating measure of depression. The scale was developed by converting self-report indices of depression into behavioral rating items. Results of two studies (N=272) suggested that the nine-item scale has adequate internal consistency, criterion-related validity, and concurrent validity.…

A factor analytic study of the Behavior Problem Checklist was conducted on 259 mildly and moderately retarded (MR) adolescents and 306 non-handicapped adolescents. Results were generally in line with previous studies of normal learners. For MR Ss, factors included conduct problems, attention deficit disorders, socialized delinquency, personality…

Reported on the development of a behavior rating scale for doctor-patient interactions. Results revealed that raters can reliably and accurately discriminate between medical and personal aspects of both speech and touch using written transcripts and audiovisual tapes of doctor-patient interactions. (JAC)

Describes development of the Kirton Adaption Innovation Inventory (KAI) for rating respondents on a continuum of adaptiveness-innovativeness, discusses tests of the validity and utility of the KAI model, and evaluates the KAI model's characteristics. For availability see EA 507 670. (Author/JG)

This study applies the A-B scale to psychotherapists and tests the hypotheses that A's describe themselves as more feminine and less masculine than B's. A's, purportedly more effective with schizophrenics, tend to dislike mechanical-technical activities, while B's, more effective with neurotics, like them. Results show no association between A-B…

Those Ss who scored high, medium or low on a scale of trait (predispositional) anxiety were found to differ reliably in level of state (situational) anxiety when tested before and after two standardized interviews. This relationship held for both male and female Ss, although males manifested consistently higher levels of state anxiety than…