J. Arthur Gillaspy

Reporting Practices in Confirmatory Factor Analysis: An Overview and Some Recommendations

Reporting practices in 194 confirmatory factor analysis studies (1,409 factor models) published in American Psychological Association journals from 1998 to 2006 were reviewed and compared with established reporting guidelines. Three research questions were addressed: (a) how do actual reporting practices compare with published guidelines? (b) how do researchers report model fit in light of divergent perspectives on the use of ancillary fit indices (e.g., L.-T. Hu & P. M. Bentler, 1999; H. W. Marsh, K.-T., Hau, & Z. Wen, 2004)? and (c) are fit measures that support hypothesized models reported more often than fit measures that are less favorable? Results indicate some positive findings with respect to reporting practices including proposing multiple models a priori and near universal reporting of the chi-square significance test. However, many deficiencies were found such as lack of information regarding missing data and assessment of normality. Additionally, the authors found increases in reported values of some incremental fit statistics and no statistically significant evidence that researchers selectively report measures of fit that support their preferred model. Recommendations for reporting are summarized and a checklist is provided to help editors, reviewers, and authors improve reporting practices.

Uncope: A Screen for Substance Dependence among State Prison Inmates

Efficient and accurate screening for alcohol and other drug dependences is critical if addictions are to be addressed in correctional populations. The UNCOPE, a six-item screen developed on clinical and corrections populations, was evaluated for accuracy in a state inmate population. Results using receiver operating characteristics calculated the overall expected accuracy of the UNCOPE to approach 0.90, with 1.0 being a perfect prediction. The UNCOPE performed comparably on gender and ethnic subgroups as well as subgroups identified by education level. The findings suggest that the UNCOPE could be an effective aid in identifying treatment needs among state prison inmates.

Operant psychology goes to the fair: Marian and Keller Breland in the popular press, 1947-1966

Marian and Keller Breland pioneered the application of operant psychology to commercial animal training during the 1940s and 1950s. The Brelands’ story is relatively unknown in the history of behavior analysis. Using information from the Breland–Bailey papers, this paper describes the development and activities of Animal Behavior Enterprises (ABE), the Brelands’ animal training business. We also review popular press coverage of the Brelands between 1947 and 1966 to investigate the level of public exposure to ABE-trained animals and to the principles and methods of operant psychology. An examination of 308 popular print articles featuring the Brelands indicates that there was public exposure of behavior analysis through the popular press coverage of ABEtrained animals. Furthermore, the expansion of operant methods to the marine mammal and bird training industries can be linked to the Brelands’ mass media exposure.

Reliability of the postpartum depression screening scale in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Background:Rates of postpartum depression have been found to be significantly higher in mothers of infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) than the general population estimate of 10%–15%, making routine screening for these mothers essential. Objectives:The aim of this study was to examine the reliability (internal consistency) and construct validity of the Postpartum Depression Screening Scale with a sample of mothers of infants in the NICU. Methods:A total of 111 (40% of eligible) mothers participated in the study. Mothers completed a brief demographic questionnaire and the screening scale at 14 or greater days postpartum. Estimates of internal consistency were evaluated using Cronbach’s coefficient alpha. Results:On the basis of the scale total score, 52% of mothers had a positive screen and an additional 30% received a score indicating that they were at-risk. Reliability estimates were consistent with previous research and indicate excellent internal consistency for the total score and adequate to good internal reliability for subscales scores. The coefficient alpha for total score equaled .95, and alpha for subscale scores ranged from .72 (Anxiety/Insecurity) to .89 (Suicidal Thoughts). Interscale correlations were consistently lower than subscale reliability estimates (coefficient alpha) and were lower than subscale-to-total score correlations, suggesting initial support for the proposed structure of the scale for mothers in the NICU. Discussion:Most of this sample of mothers experienced significant symptoms of postpartum depression. The Postpartum Depression Screening Scale is a promising tool for screening mothers with infants in the NICU. Additional research is necessary to better understand the construct and predictive validity of scores among these mothers. Current and future research will contribute to the routine use of scale as a screening tool in this environment.

Predicting Academic Success With Early, Middle, and Late Semester Assessment of Student–Instructor Rapport

We used a brief scale to measure student–instructor rapport and assessed the degree to which student’s perceived rapport at the beginning, middle, and end of the semester predicted final course grades in a traditional course. Results showed a positive correlation between rapport scores and final grades such that rapport at each of the time points during the semester predicted final course grade. Those students for whom rapport decreased across the semester showed significantly lower final grades than students for whom rapport remained stable or increased. Results support the psychometric properties of the Student–Instructor Rapport Scale-9 and that student–instructor rapport formed early in the semester predicts academic success.

IQ Zoo and Teaching Operant Concepts.

Psychology texts often cite the work of Marian and Keller Breland and their business, Animal Behavior Enterprises (ABE), to demonstrate operant conditioning and the “misbehavior of organisms” from an evolutionary perspective. Now available on the Internet at the official IQ Zoo website (http://www3.uca.edu/iqzoo/), the artifacts of ABE’s work, in the form of photographs, documents, and audio/video recordings, provide a wealth of concrete examples of operant and evolutionary contingencies. Included in this site is the related work of Robert E. Bailey. These exhibits and their associated learning materials are relevant to many courses, including introductory psychology, psychology of learning, behavior modification, and history and systems of psychology.

More Misbehavior of Organisms: A PSI Chi Lecture By Marian and Robert Bailey

In 1992, Dr. Marian Breland Bailey, assisted by her husband Robert E. Bailey, gave the following presentation at the Psi Chi Banquet of the University of Central Arkansas. She and her first husband, Keller Breland, were students of B. F. Skinner and established Animal Behavior Enterprises (ABE) in 1947 and the IQ Zoo in 1955. Unknown to many historians of psychology, most of ABE’s projects extended outside the confines of the IQ Zoo and included work for the military, fairs, parks, businesses, and entertainment venues. Dr. Bailey’s Psi Chi lecture should prove invaluable to students, researchers, and scholars, for it is one of the few places where the extensive nature of ABE is described in an overarching fashion.