Alvin E. House

Measures of interobserver agreement: Calculation formulas and distribution effects

Seventeen measures of association for observer reliability (interobserver agreement) are reviewed and computational formulas are given in a common notational system. An empirical comparison of 10 of these measures is made over a range of potential reliability check results. The effects on percentage and correlational measures of occurrence frequency, error frequency, and error distribution are examined. The question of which is the “best” measure of interobserver agreement is discussed in terms of critical issues to be considered

Predictors of childbirth pain and maternal satisfaction

There is little multivariate, multiphasic research on childbirth pain and satisfaction. We explored the relationship of demographic, medical, psychological, and environmental variables at different times to multiple indices of pain and satisfaction in 70 primiparae and multiparae. Induced labor, desirability of pregnancy, and coachs helpfulness predicted sensory pain. Duration of labor, depression, and outcome expectancy that childbirth education would facilitate medication-free childbirth predicted affective pain. Physician-anticipated complications, induced labor, and motivation to be medication-free predicted pain intensity. Grade level predicted satisfaction. The results also demonstrated differences between primiparae and multiparae in the pattern of variables that explained pain and satisfaction as well as the temporal sensitivity of pain predictors. We discuss the implications of our findings for research and practice.

Frequency, complexity, and clarity as covariates of observer reliability

Factors affecting interobserver agreement (reliability) with a comprehensive coding system in the naturalistic observation of children were examined. Data from 117 pairs of observations on 35 children and their families were examined with respect to reliability and three possible covariates: response frequency, observation complexity, and code definition clarity. Analysis of results strongly supported response frequency as a positive covariate of interobserver agreement. Complexity was found to negatively covary with interobserver agreement. The relationship between code clarity and reliability was in the predicted direction but failed to obtain statistical significance. Implications for observer training and data collection in observational studies are discussed.

Multimodality Treatment of Migraine Headache: A Case Study Utilizing Biofeedback, Relaxation, Autogenic and Hypnotic Treatments

Abstract The longitudinal treatment of a well-documented case of migraine headache using an additive treatment paradigm is presented. The relative effects of various pharmacological treatments, biofeedback, relaxation, autogenic and hypnotic approaches was assessed. Only autohypnotic anesthesia treatment produced significant symptom remission maintained over one-month and eight-month follow-up periods.

Relation of Success and Nontraditional Career Choice to Selection for Dating and Friendship

Women who succeed in traditionally male-dominated fields have previously been found to experience lower social acceptance, both from men in romantic contexts and from women in platonic contexts. The present study examined whether such preferences continue to exist. Participants were 256 university students (110 men, 146 women) with an average age of 21.4 yr. (SD = 3.6). They answered the Bem Sex Role Inventory and the Modern Sexism Scale and also responded to four descriptions of stimulus persons which represented the variables of traditional versus nontraditional field and successful versus nondescribed academic performance. Results indicated that men preferred to date women in traditional careers (independent of their success). This finding was unrelated to mens scores on sex role orientation or egalitarianism and sexism. However, in platonic relationships, women favored women in nontraditional careers as friends.

Luria-nebraska neuropsychological battery: High rates of false positives for geriatirc subjects

This study examined false positive rates obtained for two normal adult age groups, using three different methods for interpreting performances on the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery (LNNB). Among normal subjects ages 18 to 30 and ages 65 to 85, false positive rates were found to range from 3.9% to 7.7% for younger subjects and 13.5% to 32.7% for older subjects. Significant differences were found between the proportion of false positives in each age group on each method of interpretation. A lack of agreement was found between the three different methods of interpretation concerningwhich subjects should be classified as impaired. Further analysis was performed by dividing older subjects into two groups, ages 65 to 70 and over 70. False positive rates for subjects over age 70 were found to range from 20.7% to 41.4%. Significant differences were also found between the proportion of false positives in each of these two groups.

Generalizing about sex role and self-esteem: Results or effects?

In a study of the relationship between sex role and self-esteem, very different results were obtained with two different measures of self-esteem. Questions are raised as to the generalizability of results obtained in this area.

Effects of Intrinsic and Experimenter-Induced Motivation for Change on Accuracy of Self-Monitoring

The effects of motivation to change a behavior on the accuracy of self-monitoring that target behavior were investigated in 53 subjects. Both subjects initial desire for change and experimenters instructions to change were examined. Intrinsic motivation led to more accurate self-monitoring as predicted. Contrary to expectations, experimenters instructions to change the behavior did not enhance self-monitoring accuracy.

The Role of Mental Events in Behavior Therapy

The human ability “to see in the mind’s eye” has been of interest to those who ponder human behavior throughout recorded history. Systematic philosophical speculation within western civilization regarding mental imagery is often traced to Hume’s distinctions in the 18th century between the impressions arising from externally produced sensations and the faint images of these experiences that formed thought (Hume, 1912). Hume saw the primary distinction between these two types of mental experiences to be the greater force and vividness of the sensations. The question of how mental images are distinct from percepts has remained a key issue in philosophical inquiries on the topic.

EFFECT OF RESPONSE CLASS ON SELF-MONITORING ACCURACY

The effect of response class on self-monitoring accuracy was investigated in a clinical population. 16 in-patients of a VA hospital self-monitored verbal and nonverbal behaviors in a counterbalanced design. The results supported suggestions of superior self-recording accuracy with nonverbal target behaviors. The implications for clinical use of self-monitoring in assessment are discussed.