Daniel Graybill

Finkelhor's risk factor checklist: A cross-validation study

Finkelhors (1979) Risk Factor Checklist factors were reexamined as predictors of childhood sexual abuse. Special procedures were employed, designed to facilitate a high degree of honest and diligent task implementation by the female college students who served as subjects, and to provide strong ethical safeguards for them. Results indicated (a) that subjects reported a relatively high incidence, 24.3%, of childhood sexual abuse; and (b) that the eight factors comprising the Risk Factor Checklist, employed individually and collectively, did not strongly and significantly predict sexual victimization. Only one factor, low family income, proved predictive, while three others showed trends in the predicted direction. Results sound a cautionary note regarding our ability to actuarially predict childhood sexual victimization.

Comparison of MMPI-2 scores of foreign Chinese and Caucasian-American students.

MMPI-2 scores of foreign Chinese students (n = 25) were compared to those of a matched sample of Caucasian students (n = 21) and to normative data on American college students. Although responses for all groups were within normal limits, Chinese men appeared more socially introverted than Caucasian men. Relative to Caucasian women, Chinese women were more defensive, depressed, unaware of somatic and psychosocial problems, and gender astereotypic in interests. These tentative findings are discussed in terms of ethnicity and adjustment.

Prediction of adolescent aggression by childhood personality measures : A comparison of projective procedures, self-report tests, and behavior ratings

Projective procedures, self-report measures, and teacher behavior ratings were compared as to which type of assessment best predicted adolescent aggressive behavior 6 years after they were administered. A questionnaire that assesses aggressive behavior was given to 125 adolescents in grades seven through twelve who had been administered a variety of projective, self-report, and teacher ratings of aggression 5 years earlier. Their parents were given the same questionnaire. Controlling for sex, age, and academic ability, the results indicated that childrens scores on the projective measures predicted aggressive behaviors 5 years later. In addition, projective procedures were at least as valid as the other types of assessments in predicting aggressive behaviors. Results suggest that criticisms of projective procedures may be addressed with continued efforts to evaluate their validity.

Remediation of impulsivity in learning disabled children by special education resource teachers using verbal self‐instruction

Special education resource teachers trained impulsive learning disabled children to use Verbal Self-Instruction (VSI) to decrease the childrens impulsivity. Sixteen LD children enrolled in special education resource rooms were identified as impulsive on the basis of the Matching Familiar Figures Test and ratings by regular classroom teachers. Eight children received four weeks of VSI training from their resource teachers, while the other eight served as controls. Results were that the children trained with VSI showed reductions in impulsivity on the Matching Familiar Figures Test, but not in ratings by regular classroom teachers. Implications for the effectiveness of VSI programs for impulsive children are discussed.

Developmental changes in the response types versus aggression categories on the Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration Study, Children's Form

To examine the developmental changes on the Childrens Form of the Picture-Frustration (P-F) Study, the instrument was administered to 291 children between the ages of 6 and 13, from two schools. Developmental changes in the 11 response types were compared with changes in the six aggression category scores, which were combinations of the 11 response types. In contrast to the findings for the aggression categories, changes in the response types were consistent with developmental research on childrens aggression. The findings supported the validity of the P-F Study as a measure of childrens thought content in response to frustration and supported previous research indicating that the response types may be more meaningful data from the instrument than from the aggression category scores.

Parent-Teacher Communication in Relation to Child Academic Achievement and Self-Concept.

The potential value of parental involvement in schools is widely discussed by professionals concerned with education.1 In general, communication between parents and teachers is expected to yield dividends for children in the form of increased academic achievement and better adjustment. Some empirical research supports the position that parent-teacher contact relates to child academic achievement. Anchor and Anchor,2 for example, reported a relationship between low rates of school failure and parental attendance at parent-teacher conferences in an urban junior high school. Similarly, Schiff,3 studying fifth grade students, and Heisler and Crowley,4 working with first graders, found evidence that reading achievement does relate to

For children's sake: training students in the treatment of child witnesses of domestic violence

The authors describe For Childrens Sake, an innovative program at Illinois State University focused on serving children who have witnessed domestic violence and on training graduate students in working with this special population. Unique aspects of the program including its funding source, child maltreatment focus, and training model in complete program delivery, are highlighted. Additionally, a multilevel integration of the For Childrens Sake program into the School Psychology doctoral program is discussed. Challenges, dilemmas, and successes that faculty and graduate students involved with For Childrens Sake have experienced are mentioned to assist and encourage trainers in developing other innovative programs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)

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.

MMPI-2 and Family Environment Differences between Bulimic and Nonbulimic Women and their Parents

We examined the relationships among psychological adjustment, perceptions of family environment, and the presence of bulimia. Twenty-nine bulimics and 33 nonbulimics completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) and Family Environment Scale (FES) parents of bulimics and nonbulimics were sent the FES to complete independently. Bulimics had higher scores than nonbulimics on MMPI-2 F, Hs, D, Hy, Pd, Pa, Pt, and Sc scales and lower scores on the L and K scales, with a clinically elevated mean configuration of 7-8-1. No differences in perceptions of family environment were found between bulimics and nonbulimics or between their fathers. Mothers of bulimics perceived more active-recreational orientation and less control than mothers of nonbulimics. For bulimics, perceived family cohesion was positively correlated with the Si scale of the MMPI-2. Finally, there was qualitatively less agreement on perceptions of family environment within bulimic than nonbulimic families. We discuss the clinical and research implications of these findings.

Deprivation/enhancement fantasy patterns in children.

Previous studies have shown that females tell stories that change from negative experiences (deprivation) to positive experiences (enhancement) and males tell stories that change in the opposite direction. The current study examines this phenomenon in children using a different story-telling procedure. Results were not consistent with those of previous studies.