Graham Tyson

Does the Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire, predict outcomes following a work-related compensable injury?

The objective of this prospective study was to investigate the usefulness of the Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire (ÖMPQ) to predict return to work outcomes following a compensable musculoskeletal injury. Participants (n=196 injured workers, 66% male, 36% with back pain) were screened at 4–12 weeks, and followed up at 6 months, post-injury. Total scores on the ÖMPQ were able to differentiate between work status on both occasions, indicating the potential predictive validity of this instrument. This is the first study to evaluate the ÖMPQ in a compensable injury population, and although replication with a larger sample is required, the findings have significant relevance to the recommendation of routine screening for the early identification of injured workers at risk of long-term disability.

Parental Shaming and Adolescent Delinquency: A Partial Test of Reintegrative Shaming Theory

Abstract The past decade has seen an increase in the application of Braithwaites reintegrative shaming theory as a framework for restorative justice programs. However, to date the theory has received little empirical attention. The current study set out to contribute to the empirical testing of the theory by exploring the appropriateness of the causal model put forward by Braithwaite. One-hundred-and-seventy Year 9 and Year 10 high school students from 2 government high schools in the Australian Capital Territory completed a survey capturing projected delinquency, delinquent peers and family processes. Principal component analysis found an overlap between aspects of shaming with reintegration and stigmatisation. Furthermore, not all facets of reintegration and stigmatisation were found to be discrete concepts. Results from subsequent structural equation modelling were largely supportive of RST, particularly the theorys emphasis on the harmful effects of stigmatisation and the beneficial effects of reintegration. However, shaming, as defined in the theory, may not affect predatory crime in the way it is predicted by RST.

Implicit theories of the characteristics and causes of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder held by parents and professionals in the psychological, educational, medical and allied health fields

Current best practice guidelines advocate a multidisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and management of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, no research has yet examined whether parents and professionals share common beliefs about ADHD. This study examined the implicit beliefs about the characteristics and causes of ADHD held by parents and professionals in the psychological, educational, medical, and allied health fields. A total of 670 participants rated 46 characteristics and 29 causal explanations for ADHD. Principal component analyses identified five characteristic factors and six causal factors. There was a high degree of concordance between the groups in their beliefs about the characteristics and causes of ADHD. However, several important differences were also found. The implications of the overlap and differences between professional and nonprofessional groups, and the scientific literature are considered.

Astrology or Season of Birth: A “Split-Sphere” Test

Abstract It has been suggested that Pellegrinis finding of a strong correlation between astrological birth sign and the Femininity scale of the California Psychological Inventory (CPI) may be mediated by climatic variables during pregnancy. The present study tested the season of birth hypothesis with 615 South African college students by simply replicating Pellegrinis study in the southern hemisphere, where the seasons are the reverse of those in the northern hemisphere. No significant relationship was found between birthdate and any of the scales of the CPI, and thus both the season of birth and the astrological “theories” of personality were rejected.

Gender Bias in the Education System: Perceptions of Teacher–Student Sexual Relationships

Research on perceptions of child sexual abuse has documented gender bias favouring female perpetrators. The current study aimed to determine if previous findings into perceptions of child sexual abuse translated to perceptions of abuse of adolescent students by school teachers using a theoretical framework of attribution and gender-development theory. Randomly selected participants (86 female and 44 males) responded to a brief vignette about a student–teacher sexual relationship (male teacher/female student or female teacher/male student). Results identified a gender bias in favour of female teachers on emotional reactions of anger and desire for consequences. Female participants expressed greater anger and rated the sexual relationship as more serious than their male counterparts. Results suggest that adolescent victims were seen as relatively mature and suffering less harm than younger aged victims. Finally, results suggest that attributions made by both men and women regarding teacher–student sexual relationships were consistent with traditional gender-role stereotypes.

Ethnocentrism, Authoritarianism and Conservatism among Two South African Student Samples: A Two-Year Follow-Up Study

Measurements of ethnocentrism (E-scale), authoritarianism (the 29 item F-scale of Adorno, Frenkel-Brunswik, Levinson & Sanford) and conservatism (Wilson & Pattersons C-scale) were obtained on groups of English (N = 29) and Afrikaans (N = 23) speaking students during 1975 and 1977. Significantly lower F and E scores for the Afrikaans-speaking subjects and C, F and E scores for the English-speaking subjects were found at the end of the two-year period. While the scores for Afrikaans-speaking subjects became more variable, those of English-speaking subjects became more homogeneous. Despite these changes, the Afrikaans-speaking subjects remained the more conservative, authoritarian and ethnocentric group.

Game Playing Strategy as an Indicator of Racial Prejudice among South African Students.

Abstract The aim of this study was to examine racial discrimination of South African students using playing strategy in the prisoners dilemma game as an unobtrusive measure. University students (30 white and 30 black men) each played two 30-trial games, one with a black confederate and one with a white confederate. In each game, the students played against an identical 60% noncontingent strategy. Both the black and white students cooperated to a significantly greater extent with the black co-player. In the case of the white students, the degree of cooperation was largely determined by motivational orientation, with 7 of the students adopting a paternalistic approach that involved a deliberate attempt to assist the black co-player. This finding is interpreted in terms of reverse discrimination. The motivational orientation of the black students exerted a strong influence on their ratings of the co-player.

People who consult astrologers: A profile.

Abstract The aim of the study was to examine the characteristics of people who consult astrologers. Questionnaires were given out by two astrologers to their clients and 67 (approx. 45%) were returned. The demographic data of these consultees were then compared with population data obtained from the census and personality and attitudinal data were compared with those of a control group. Among the consultees there was an over representation of females, people between the ages of 30 and 39, people who were maritally marginal (never-married persons over the age of 30) and people who were either Jewish, atheist/agnostic or of a non-judeochristian faith. The consultees were also relatively well educated. With regard to the personality and attitudinal variables, these were regressed on group membership in order to control for common variance. The variable which explained the most variance was stress. This was followed by a measure of political control and then a measure of religiosity. No significant differences were found between the groups on the measures of anxiety and self control. After discussing all the results it was concluded that, in many cases, consulting an astrologer is a response by an individual to the stresses with which he or she is faced and that these stresses are mainly linked to the individuals social roles and to his or her relationships. Furthermore, it is suggested that these stresses arise partially as a result of the persons lack of social skills.

Cultural Differences in Adolescents’ Explanations of Juvenile Delinquency

Lay explanations for juvenile delinquency given by Australian adolescents from either collectivist or individualist cultural backgrounds were examined. After controlling for socioeconomic and demographic variables, differences were found between the groups, with the individualistic group tending to emphasize more individual-oriented explanations. These results are consistent with previous work on culture and attributional style.

Parental and Professional Beliefs on the Treatment and Management of ADHD

Objective: This study examined parental and professional beliefs about the efficacy of various treatment strategies for ADHD. Method: Parents of children with and without ADHD and seven medical and nonmedical professional groups (N = 673) completed a questionnaire examining their beliefs about the efficacy of various treatment regimes. Results: Principle component analysis identified four factors—school-based interventions, medical and allied health interventions, parent interventions, and nontraditional interventions. Although there were some group differences in the level of endorsement for these factors, there was a high degree of concordance between the groups. The school-based interventions factor was the most highly endorsed, whereas the nontraditional interventions factor was the least endorsed by the sample as a whole. Conclusion: The results suggest that the low level of interdisciplinary interaction that has been reported in the literature is not due to differences in beliefs about the efficacy of various treatment strategies for ADHD.