Andreas Hergovich

The effects of the presence of a dog in the classroom

Abstract This study examined the effects of the presence of a dog in the classroom on field independence, social competence, empathy with animals and social-emotional atmosphere. The participants were 46 first-graders (43 of them immigrants) of two school classes (control and experimental). In the experimental group, a dog was present in the classroom for three months. Multivariate analyses revealed significant enhancement of field independence and empathy with animals in the experimental group in comparison to the control group (no dog). Thus, the presence of the dog fostered the development of autonomous functioning and a better segregation of self/non-self, which is the foundation of sensitivity towards the needs and moods of other people. Moreover, according to the views of the teachers, the children in the experimental group exhibited higher social integration, and there were fewer aggressive children, compared with the children in the control group. In sum, the results indicate that a dog can be an important factor in the social and cognitive development of children.

Field dependence, suggestibility and belief in paranormal phenomena

This paper examines the relationships between field dependence, suggestibility and belief in paranormal phenomena. In Experiment 1, 91 subjects underwent an hypnosis session to determine their suggestibility. They also completed a paranormal belief scale and a computer test of field dependence. It was shown that suggestibility and field dependence had positive and significant correlations with the belief in paranormal phenomena. In a second experiment (n=39), the interrogative suggestibility of the subjects was assessed. Field dependence/independence was measured using the Embedded Figures Test (EFT) (Witkin, Oltman, Raskin, & Karp, 1971) and the degree of paranormal belief using the paranormal belief scale of Tobacyk and Milford (1983). The results confirmed the hypothesis that more field-dependent and suggestible subjects have a greater belief in paranormal phenomena than field-independent and non-suggestible subjects, although the relationship only held for the subscale ‘‘Superstition’’. The findings with respect to field dependence as measured with the EFT were replicated in a third study (n=150). Field dependence had a main effect on the amount of belief in ‘‘Superstition’’ across three different instructions. An effect of the different instructions suggesting that paranormal phenomena are scientifically proven (unproven) or an interaction between instructions and cognitive style of the subjects could not be found. In summary, the findings indicate a sustantial relationship between suggestibility and field dependence with belief in paranormal phenomena which could be explained by different coping mechanisms with regard to uncertainty in the external world. # 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Gender Differences in the Self-Concept of Preadolescent Children.

The aim of this study was to examine gender differences in academic and non-academic self-concept. Childrens’ self-perceptions were compared with the perceptions held by others (parents and teachers). The SDQ1 was presented to 428 children. Parents and teachers completed an adapted form. Results show that boys exhibited a higher self-concept than girls in almost all areas. Mothers, fathers and also teachers, gave the abilities of the boys in mathematics a higher rating, whereas mothers and teachers rated the verbal abilities of the girls somewhat higher. By using regression analyses, the hypothesis was confirmed that the general self-concept of girls is heavily dependent on the judgements of teachers and parents, but this was not found to be the case with boys.

Intentional faking of the single category Implicit Association Test and the Implicit Association Test.

The Implicit Association Test (IAT) provides a relative measure of implicit association strengths between target and attribute categories. In contrast, the Single Category Implicit Association Test (SC–IAT) measures association strength with a single attribute category. This can be advantageous if a complementary category—as used in the IAT—cannot be composed or is undesired. If the SC–IAT is to be a meaningful supplement to the IAT, it should meet the same requirements. In an online experiment with a large and heterogeneous sample, the fakability of both implicit measures was investigated when measuring anxiety. Both measures were fakable through specific instruction (e.g., “Slow down your reactions”) but unfakable through nonspecific faking instruction even though nonspecific instruction was given immediately before the critical blocks (e.g., “Alter your reaction times”). When comparing the methodological quality of both implicit measures, the SC–IAT had lower internal consistency than the IAT. Moreover, with specific faking instructions, the SC–IAT was possible to fake to a larger extent than the IAT.

Attitudes toward HIV-positives in dependence on their sexual orientation

Homosexual HIV-positives suffer under a double stigma. Moreover, many heterosexuals still associate HIV/AIDS with homosexuality (Herek & Capitanio, 1999). This study examined the connection between belief in a just world, sexual morality and values on the one hand and attitudes towards HIV-positives on the other. Hundred and ninety-nine subjects evaluated an HIV-positive target (homosexual for half of the subjects, heterosexual for the other half) by means of a semantic differential. Results: in general, homosexual HIV-positives were evaluated more negatively than heterosexual HIV-positives. A moderated regression analysis showed a significant effect of values on the rating of the target.

Automatic Generation of Quantitative Reasoning Items

This paper deals with three studies on the computer-based, automatic generation of algebra word problems. The cognitive psychology based generative/quality control frameworks of the item generator are presented. In Study I the quality control framework is empirically tested using a first set of automatically generated items. Study II replicates the findings of Study I using a larger set of automatically generated algebra word problems. Study III deals with the generative framework of the item generator by testing construct validity aspects of the item generator produced items. Using nine Rasch-homogeneous subscales of the new intelligence structure battery (INSBAT, Hornke et al., 2004), a hierarchical confirmatory factor analysis is reported, which provides first evidence of convergent as well as divergent validity of the automatically generated items. The end of the paper discusses possible advantages of automatic item generation in general ranging from test security issues and the possibility of a more ...

The effect of pseudo-psychic demonstrations as dependent on belief in paranormal phenomena and suggestibility

This paper describes two experiments which investigate the effects of pseudo-psychic demonstrations (i.e. conjuring tricks which could be misinterpreted as genuine paranormal phenomena). In the first study, a demonstration of a supposed medium was presented to 91 subjects individually, in which the playing card selected by a subject was identified ‘‘telepathically’’. It was found that hypnotic suggestibility and belief in paranormal phenomena had a large effect on how the demonstrations were assessed. Suggestible persons or believers in paranormal phenomena were more impressed by a phenomenon and were more likely to rule out the possibility of fraud than were persons who were less suggestible or believed less in paranormal phenomena. In the second study, two trick demonstrations were shown. In each case, half the subjects (n=68) were given the information that this was a magic trick, and the other half were told that this was a paranormal demonstration by a medium. The results with respect to belief in paranormal phenomena confirm the results of Study 1. Believers in paranormal phenomena, as compared with sceptics, tended to view the demonstrations as examples of paranormal phenomena, regardless of the information they had received, they tended to rule out the possibility of fraud and had a greater tendency to react with amazement. Interrogative suggestibility had no effect. # 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Exotic Animal Companions and the Personality of Their Owners

ABSTRACT The present study explored sex-specific differences in the Big Five factors of personality between different pet ownership groups, in order to understand individual differences in the choice of companion animals. A total of 250 pet owners completed a German version of the NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). For the first analysis, participants were divided into four broad groups: those owning traditional pets (e.g., cats, dogs), those owning cold-blooded exotic pets, those owning warm-blooded exotic pets, and those not owning animals. For the second analysis, participants were subdivided into nine groups, based on species of animal owned: cats, dogs, birds, fish, reptiles, spider/insect, small mammals, owners of many different animals, and non-owners. In both analyses, separate analyses of variance were applied to the scores of the NEO-FFI scales. Interaction effects between sex and several ownership groups on the traits Openness to Experience and Agreeableness were found in both analyses. Female owners of traditional pets scored, for example, significantly lower on openness to experience than female owners of cold-blooded exotic pets as well as male owners of traditional pets. Furthermore, female owners of cold-blooded exotic pets scored significantly higher on openness to experience than their male counterparts. Regarding agreeableness, male owners of cold-blooded exotic pets scored significantly lower than their female counterparts as well as male owners of traditional pets. These and other results indicate that personality may affect choice of pets—but in different directions for the two sexes.

Scores for Schizotypy and Five-Factor Model of a Sample of Distant Healers: A Preliminary Study

A preliminary study was conducted to evaluate the personality scores of 18 distant healers on the NEO-Five Factor Inventory and the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief. These distant healers differed significantly in their schizotypic tendencies, both in comparison to normed scores and to a control group of 19 masseurs. Further differences were found on scales of Conscientiousness and Openness to experience.

The Vienna Risk-Taking Test - Traffic

Abstract. The study reports results regarding the dimensionality and construct validity of a newly developed, objective, video-based personality test that assesses the willingness to take risks in traffic situations. On the basis of the theory of risk homeostasis developed by Wilde, different traffic situations with varying degrees of objective danger were filmed. During the test the respondents are asked to indicate at which point the action that is contingent on the described situation will become too dangerous to carry out. Latencies at the item level were recorded as a measure for the subjectively accepted degree of a persons willingness to take risks in the sense of the risk homeostasis theory by Wilde. In a study on 274 people with different educational levels and gender, the unidimensionality of the test as corresponding to the latency model by Scheiblechner was investigated. The results indicate that the Vienna Risk-Taking Test - Traffic assesses a unidimensional, latent personality trait that ca...