Estefanía Hernández-Fernaud

The Cognitive Interview and Lie Detection: a New Magnifying Glass for Sherlock Holmes?

The observation of serious deficiencies in the traditional police interview led Geiselman and colleagues to develop an alternative method of questioning. This method is known as the cognitive interview. The CI starts from the premise that the witness, victim or suspect wishes to cooperate. But, what happens if this is not the case? More seriously, what happens if he/she lies? The main aim of this study is to examine the differences between true and false statements, as a function of the interview technique employed (CI/STI). Participants were 73 students of the University of La Laguna. A 2×2 factorial design with the following variables was used: type of interview [traditional interview used in Spain by the Police (STI) and cognitive (CI)] and type of statement (true and false). The hypothesis was that the true and false accounts of witnesses would be qualitatively and quantitatively different independent of the type of interview used (STI/CI). Results confirmed the hypothesis.

The enhancement effect of social and employment integration on the delay of recidivism of released offenders trained with the R & R programme

Abstract The aim of this study is to assess the extent to which social and employment integration enhances the efficacy of social–cognitive training carried out in prison through a Spanish adaptation of the Reasoning & Rehabilitation (R & R) programme. A quasi-experimental design was used to compare a group of inmates who received only social–cognitive training with a group of inmates who also received social and employment integration and with a comparison group who received neither of these interventions. The total sample was composed of 117 repeat offenders, serving sentence for property offences, drug dealing and offences against the person. The results obtained through a Kaplan–Meier survival analysis after a 6-year follow-up indicate that both intervention groups are significantly different from the comparison group. The group that received social and employment integration had the highest level of delayed recidivism, but the difference with the group that only received social–cognitive training was not statistically significant. The results are discussed in relation to the Good Lives Model and to the Risk–Needs–Responsivity Model of offender rehabilitation.

Tócala otra vez Sam: repitiendo las mentiras

ResumenEste trabajo parte del criterio de secuencia definido por Trankdl (1972) que permite estudiar la mentira como un proceso dinamico de comunicacion. Nuestra hipotesis fue que habria diferencias significativas entre las declaraciones verdaderas y las falsas como resultado de la repeticion a lo largo de una secuencia d declaraciones. La muestra estuvo compuesta de 32 sujetos. El material empleado fue una secuencia de video de un incidente criminal. El diseno era un factorial 2 (tipo de declaracion: verdaderalfalsa) x 3 (repeticion: primera/segunda/tercera declaracion). Todos los sujetos veian la secuencia del incidente. Mas tarde, en funcion del grupo experimental: sincero o mentiroso, al que habian sido adjudicados debian contar su version (verdadera o falsa) de lo sucedido y repetirla a lo largo de una secuencia de tres declaraciones. Los resultados mostraron pautas de evolucion de las declaraciones a lo largo de la secuencia significativamente diferentes para la mentira y la verdad.

Discrimination of Urban Spaces with Different Level of Restorativeness Based on the Original and on a Shorter Version of Hartig et al.’s Perceived Restorativeness Scale

Restorativeness is defined as the potential of the environment to re-establish certain cognitive capacities related to human information processing. The most frequently used instrument for evaluating the restorativeness of places is the Perceived Restorativeness Scale, proposed by Hartig et al. (1991). Later on, shorter versions of the Perceived Restorativeness Scale were proposed. The aim of this work is to evaluate the discriminatory capacity of the original and of a shorter Spanish version of the PRS, considering urban settings previously selected for having different level of restorativeness, according to expert’s criteria. The study involved 244 students and used a 3 × 2 mixed experimental design, with two independent variables: Restorativeness of a place (between-subjects), which was manipulated by showing pictures of settings selected with varying levels of restorativeness (high, medium, low), and length of the scale (within-subjects), which was manipulated by asking subjects to fill in both the original and a shorter version of the PRS. The order of presentation of the two scales was counterbalanced. Results show an appropriate reliability for both version of the scale. Items of being-away, fascination, and coherence of the shorter scale correlate more strongly with the corresponding factor of the original scale, compared to the others factors. Both scales produce similar values for the perceived restorativeness of the different places, except for places with low restorativeness.

Psychosocial factors and mental work load: a reality perceived by nurses in intensive care units

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the perception of psychosocial factors and mental workload of nurses who work in intensive care units. It is hypothesised that nurses in these units could perceive psychosocial risks, manifesting in a high mental work load. The psychosocial dimension related to the positions cognitive demands is hypothesised to mostly explain mental work load. METHOD: Quantitative study, with a descriptive, cross-sectional, and comparative design. A total of 91% of the intensive care unit populations of three Chilean hospitals was surveyed, corresponding to 111 nurses. The instruments utilised included (A) a biosociodemographic history questionnaire; (b) the SUSESO-ISTAS 21 questionnaire; and (c) the Mental Work Load Subjective Scale (ESCAM, in Spanish). RESULTS: In total, 64% and 57% of participants perceived high levels of exposure to the psychosocial risks Psychosocial demands and Double shift, respectively. In addition, a medium-high level of overall mental load was observed. Positive and significant correlations between some of the SUSESO-ISTAS 21 and ESCAM dimensions were obtained. Using a regression analysis, it was determined that three dimensions of the psychosocial risk questionnaire helped to explain 38% of the overall mental load. CONCLUSION: Intensive care unit nurses felt that inadequate psychosocial factors and mental work overload existed in several of the tested dimensions.OBJETIVO: analizar la percepcion de Factores psicosociales y Carga mental de trabajo de enfermeras/os que laboran en Unidades Criticas. Se hipotetiza que los/as enfermeros/as de estas unidades pudieran percibir riesgos psicosociales; Mostraran una Carga mental de trabajo alta; y la dimension psicosocial relacionada con exigencias cognitivas del puesto explicara en mayor medida la Carga Mental. METODO: estudio cuantitativo, de diseno descriptivo, transversal y comparativo. Se censo el 91% de la poblacion de Unidades Criticas de tres hospitales chilenos, correspondiente a 111 enfermeras/os. Los instrumentos utilizados fueron: (a) Cuestionario de antecedentes biosociodemograficos; (b) Cuestionario SUSESO-ISTAS 21; y (c) Escala Subjetiva de Carga Mental de Trabajo (ESCAM). RESULTADOS: el 64% y el 57% de los/as participantes perciben un alto nivel de exposicion a los riesgos psicosociales Demandas psicologicas y Doble presencia, respectivamente. Ademas, se obtiene un nivel de Carga mental global media-alta. Se obtuvo correlaciones positivas y significativas entre algunas dimensiones de SUSESO-ISTAS 21 y ESCAM, y mediante un analisis de regresion se obtuvo que tres dimensiones del cuestionario de riesgos psicosociales contribuyen a explicar un 38% de la Carga mental global. CONCLUSION: las/os enfermeras/os de unidades criticas, perciben factores psicosociales inadecuados y sobrecarga mental de trabajo, en varias de sus dimensiones.

Impact of perceived physical and environmental conditions on mental workload: An exploratory study in office workers

Abstract The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of subjective assessments of environmental conditions on mental workload. A sample of 238 office workers assessed levels of perceived mental workload and the adequacy of certain environmental conditions of their working context (temperature, lighting, noise, spatial distribution and hygienic conditions) using the Subjective Mental Workload Scale. The effect of these five environmental conditions on five mental workload factors was tested by means of multivariate analysis of variance. Results show that the perception of noise, spatial distribution and hygienic conditions are associated with greater subjective mental workload in three specific dimensions of mental workload: task characteristics, temporal work organization and working rate

Efficacy of an Intervention Program to Improve Employability of University Students.

In the current socioeconomic situation, the need to improve employability of potential workers is especially relevant. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an intervention program focusing on improving employability of university students. To do this, a two-group study was designed: one group undertook the intervention program and the other group were used for comparison. Two measurements were taken at different times (pre-intervention and post-intervention). The sample consisted of 271 university students. The results show that the group that underwent the intervention program improved their perceived employability F(1, 269) = 17.49, p < .001; η2 = .06, openness to learning F(1, 269) = 4.24, p < .05; η2 = .02, self-efficacy for labor market insertion F(1, 269) = 75.70, p < .001; η2 = .22 and for teamwork F(1, 269) = 39.43, p < .001; η2 = .13, and their knowledge of employment resources F(1, 269) = 512.89, p < .001; η2 = .66 compared to the group that did not. Furthermore, there was a high level of satisfaction of participants with the intervention program.

Factores psicosociales y Carga mental de trabajo: una realidad percibida por enfermeras/os en Unidades Críticas

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the perception of psychosocial factors and mental workload of nurses who work in intensive care units. It is hypothesised that nurses in these units could perceive psychosocial risks, manifesting in a high mental work load. The psychosocial dimension related to the positions cognitive demands is hypothesised to mostly explain mental work load. METHOD: Quantitative study, with a descriptive, cross-sectional, and comparative design. A total of 91% of the intensive care unit populations of three Chilean hospitals was surveyed, corresponding to 111 nurses. The instruments utilised included (A) a biosociodemographic history questionnaire; (b) the SUSESO-ISTAS 21 questionnaire; and (c) the Mental Work Load Subjective Scale (ESCAM, in Spanish). RESULTS: In total, 64% and 57% of participants perceived high levels of exposure to the psychosocial risks Psychosocial demands and Double shift, respectively. In addition, a medium-high level of overall mental load was observed. Positive and significant correlations between some of the SUSESO-ISTAS 21 and ESCAM dimensions were obtained. Using a regression analysis, it was determined that three dimensions of the psychosocial risk questionnaire helped to explain 38% of the overall mental load. CONCLUSION: Intensive care unit nurses felt that inadequate psychosocial factors and mental work overload existed in several of the tested dimensions.OBJETIVO: analizar la percepcion de Factores psicosociales y Carga mental de trabajo de enfermeras/os que laboran en Unidades Criticas. Se hipotetiza que los/as enfermeros/as de estas unidades pudieran percibir riesgos psicosociales; Mostraran una Carga mental de trabajo alta; y la dimension psicosocial relacionada con exigencias cognitivas del puesto explicara en mayor medida la Carga Mental. METODO: estudio cuantitativo, de diseno descriptivo, transversal y comparativo. Se censo el 91% de la poblacion de Unidades Criticas de tres hospitales chilenos, correspondiente a 111 enfermeras/os. Los instrumentos utilizados fueron: (a) Cuestionario de antecedentes biosociodemograficos; (b) Cuestionario SUSESO-ISTAS 21; y (c) Escala Subjetiva de Carga Mental de Trabajo (ESCAM). RESULTADOS: el 64% y el 57% de los/as participantes perciben un alto nivel de exposicion a los riesgos psicosociales Demandas psicologicas y Doble presencia, respectivamente. Ademas, se obtiene un nivel de Carga mental global media-alta. Se obtuvo correlaciones positivas y significativas entre algunas dimensiones de SUSESO-ISTAS 21 y ESCAM, y mediante un analisis de regresion se obtuvo que tres dimensiones del cuestionario de riesgos psicosociales contribuyen a explicar un 38% de la Carga mental global. CONCLUSION: las/os enfermeras/os de unidades criticas, perciben factores psicosociales inadecuados y sobrecarga mental de trabajo, en varias de sus dimensiones.

Impacto de las condiciones físico-ambientales percibidas sobre la carga mental de trabajo: un estudio exploratorio en empleados de oficina

Resumen El objetivo de este estudio fue explorar la relación entre las condiciones físico-ambientales del puesto de trabajo y la carga mental de trabajo percibida. Una muestra de 238 trabajadores de oficina evaluó los niveles de carga mental de trabajo percibida y la adecuación de ciertas condiciones físico-ambientales del entorno laboral (temperatura, iluminación, ruido, distribución espacial y condiciones higiénicas) mediante la Escala Subjetiva de Evaluación de la Carga Mental de Trabajo. Mediante análisis de varianza multivariante se comprobó el efecto de las cinco condiciones físico-ambientales sobre cinco factores de carga mental. Los resultados mostraron que la percepción del ruido, la distribución espacial y las condiciones higiénicas se asocian con una mayor carga mental de trabajo subjetiva en tres dimensiones concretas de la carga mental: características de la tarea, organización temporal y ritmo de trabajo

Fatores psicossociais e carga mental de trabalho: uma realidade percebida pelos enfermeiros em Unidades de Terapia Intensiva 1

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the perception of psychosocial factors and mental workload of nurses who work in intensive care units. It is hypothesised that nurses in these units could perceive psychosocial risks, manifesting in a high mental work load. The psychosocial dimension related to the positions cognitive demands is hypothesised to mostly explain mental work load. METHOD: Quantitative study, with a descriptive, cross-sectional, and comparative design. A total of 91% of the intensive care unit populations of three Chilean hospitals was surveyed, corresponding to 111 nurses. The instruments utilised included (A) a biosociodemographic history questionnaire; (b) the SUSESO-ISTAS 21 questionnaire; and (c) the Mental Work Load Subjective Scale (ESCAM, in Spanish). RESULTS: In total, 64% and 57% of participants perceived high levels of exposure to the psychosocial risks Psychosocial demands and Double shift, respectively. In addition, a medium-high level of overall mental load was observed. Positive and significant correlations between some of the SUSESO-ISTAS 21 and ESCAM dimensions were obtained. Using a regression analysis, it was determined that three dimensions of the psychosocial risk questionnaire helped to explain 38% of the overall mental load. CONCLUSION: Intensive care unit nurses felt that inadequate psychosocial factors and mental work overload existed in several of the tested dimensions.OBJETIVO: analizar la percepcion de Factores psicosociales y Carga mental de trabajo de enfermeras/os que laboran en Unidades Criticas. Se hipotetiza que los/as enfermeros/as de estas unidades pudieran percibir riesgos psicosociales; Mostraran una Carga mental de trabajo alta; y la dimension psicosocial relacionada con exigencias cognitivas del puesto explicara en mayor medida la Carga Mental. METODO: estudio cuantitativo, de diseno descriptivo, transversal y comparativo. Se censo el 91% de la poblacion de Unidades Criticas de tres hospitales chilenos, correspondiente a 111 enfermeras/os. Los instrumentos utilizados fueron: (a) Cuestionario de antecedentes biosociodemograficos; (b) Cuestionario SUSESO-ISTAS 21; y (c) Escala Subjetiva de Carga Mental de Trabajo (ESCAM). RESULTADOS: el 64% y el 57% de los/as participantes perciben un alto nivel de exposicion a los riesgos psicosociales Demandas psicologicas y Doble presencia, respectivamente. Ademas, se obtiene un nivel de Carga mental global media-alta. Se obtuvo correlaciones positivas y significativas entre algunas dimensiones de SUSESO-ISTAS 21 y ESCAM, y mediante un analisis de regresion se obtuvo que tres dimensiones del cuestionario de riesgos psicosociales contribuyen a explicar un 38% de la Carga mental global. CONCLUSION: las/os enfermeras/os de unidades criticas, perciben factores psicosociales inadecuados y sobrecarga mental de trabajo, en varias de sus dimensiones.