Jeffrey B. Brookings

Psychophysiological responses to changes in workload during simulated air traffic control.

In this investigation, eight Air Force air traffic controllers (ATCs) performed three scenarios on TRACON (Terminal Radar Approach Control), a computer-based air traffic control (ATC) simulation. Two scenarios were used each with three levels of difficulty. One scenario varied traffic volume by manipulating the number of aircraft to be handled and the second scenario varied traffic complexity by manipulating arriving to departing flight ratios, pilot skill and mixture of aircraft types. A third scenario, overload, required subjects to handle a larger number of aircraft in a limited amount of time. The effects of the manipulations on controller workload were assessed using performance, subjective (TLX), and physiological (EEG, eye blink, heart rate, respiration, saccade) measures. Significant main effects of difficulty level were found for TRACON performance, TLX, eye blink, respiration and EEG measures. Only the EEG was associated with main effects for the type of traffic. The results provide support for the differential sensitivity of a variety of workload measures in complex tasks, underscore the importance of traffic complexity in ATC workload, and support the utility of TRACON as a tool for studies of ATC workload.

Confirmatory factor analysis of the interpersonal support evaluation list

Summary and ConclusionsCohen and Syme (1985) suggested that the most methodologically sound way of assessing the stress-buffering properties of different functional support dimensions is through the introduction of experimental manipulations designed to elicit needs for specific support resources, and we agree. Of course, such tests are feasible only to the extent that it is possible to separate the support dimensions empirically. The results reported here indicate that despite considerable covariation among the latent variables corresponding to the four ISEL subscales, covariation that most likely represents the influence of a general second-order support factor, there is also evidence that the four subscales provide sufficient unique information to warrant their retention in the ISEL.From a practical standpoint, this means that researchers using the college version of the ISEL should follow Cohen and Hobermans (1983) precedent of analyzing both individual subscale scoresand the total support score. In the meantime, improvements in the distributional properties of the individual ISEL items, perhaps through the four-point item response format adopted recently by Cohen and his colleagues, should lead to more refined measurement of the functional support dimensions represented in the ISEL subscales and, subsequently, to more sensitive analyses of the stress-buffering mechanisms associated with different support resources.

An interpersonal circumplex/five-factor analysis of the Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire

Abstract Rejection sensitive persons expect others to reject them, readily interpret ambiguous interpersonal cues as rejection, and overreact to rejection, real or imagined ( Downey & Feldman, 1996 ). Rejection sensitivity—as assessed by the Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (RSQ)—is psychologically distressing and predicts relationship problems, but questions remain about the measurement properties of the RSQ. For this study, the interpersonal circumplex and five-factor models provided the framework for a comprehensive mapping of rejection sensitivity in the personality domain. College students completed the RSQ, the Interpersonal Adjective Scales Revised-Big Five ( Trapnell & Wiggins, 1990 ), and measures of theoretically relevant constructs. The RSQ had significant interpersonal content, as expected, its angular placement was between IASR-B5 octant scales HI (Unassured-Submissive) and FG (Aloof-Introverted), and it was correlated significantly with Neuroticism. It appears, then, that rejection sensitive persons, as identified by the RSQ, are more likely to avoid rejection by distancing themselves from others, rather than by seeking intimate relationships. The RSQ has adequate psychometric properties, but valid tests of rejection sensitivity as a variable linking early attachment problems to later rejection-avoidance strategies require the inclusion of additional measures.

Positive Illusions: Positively Correlated with Subjective Well-Being, Negatively Correlated with a Measure of Personal Growth

Psychologists have long debated the benefits and costs of self-deceptive enhancement or positive illusions. Accurate perception of reality is central to the definitions of mental health proposed by many personality and clinical psychologists, but Taylor and Brown have suggested that having positive illusions is associated with increased happiness and satisfaction with life. One explanation for the conflicting assertions is that mental health, broadly defined, includes both subjective well-being and personal growth, distinguishable factors which are differentially related to positive illusions. For this study, 81 college students completed measures of positive illusions (Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding Self-deceptive Positivity and How I See Myself Questionnaire), subjective well-being (Satisfaction With Life Scale and Existential Anxiety Scale), and moral reasoning (Defining Issues Test) as an index of personal growth. As predicted, positive illusion composite scores were positively correlated with scores on the subjective well-being composite (r = .40) but negatively correlated with Defining Issues Test scores (r = −.25). The quadratic relationship between these measures of positive illusion and subjective well-being composites was not significant, indicating no support for an “optimal margin of illusion.”

Sexual Assault Recovery and Male Significant Others

A questionnaire addressing rape crisis services for male significant others (MSOs) of rape victims (i.e., husbands, fathers, brothers, close male friends) was mailed to the directors of all 700 rape-prevention and -treatment programs in the United States. Completed questionnaires were received from 411 programs, including 162 that were identified specifically as full-service rape crisis centers. Although 97% of the center directors responded that services for MSOs facilitate victim recovery, few centers offered services to males other than referral or short-term crisis counseling. Furthermore, 85% of the directors acknowledged that males were reluctant to use these services. The authors offer strategies for involving men in the recovery process with the assistance of rape crisis centers, including groups for secondary victims and staffing and referral considerations.

Factor structure of the Death Concern Scale: a replication.

An item factor analysis of the Death Concern Scale replicated the results of a previous study which indicated that the scale measures two modrately correlated components, Conscious Contemplation and Negative Evaluation. Coefficients of congruence for matching factors from the two studies were .96 and .92, respectively. It was concluded, however, that the authors of the previous study recommended the deletion of several items from the scale solely on the basis of a questionable judgmental criterion and that these items should instead be retained.

Predicting driving anger from trait aggression and self-control

Undergraduates (N=115) completed the Propensity for Angry Driving Scale, Driving Anger Scale, and measures of trait aggression and self-control. Aggression and self-control correlated significantly with scores on the two scales, and Aggression subscale scores explained significant unique variance in both, but the predicated interaction of aggression and self-control was not significant. The Propensity for Angry Driving Scale is recommended to measure self-reported aggressive driving, and the Driving Anger Scale for assessment of driving-related anger.

Prediction of job satisfactoriness for workers with severe handicaps from aptitudes, personality, and training ratings

The predictive validity of General Aptitude Test Battery and Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire scores were compared to standard training ratings made by vocational instructors against the criterion of work performance measured by the Minnesota Satisfactoriness Scales for a sample of 106 employees with severe handicaps. The psychometric test variables were not correlated with the criterion; however, the training ratings were consistently predictive of the job satisfactoriness scores. These results suggest that the employment potential of job applicants with disabilities can be assessed more accurately using situational training ratings, as opposed to standardized psychometric test scores.

Factorial Validity of the United States Employment Service Interest Inventory.

Abstract The United States Employment Service Interest Inventory (USES-II) was completed by 732 adult clients at a comprehensive medical and vocational rehabilitation institution. For both males ( n = 502) and females ( n = 230), principal components and LISREL analyses of item parcels provided strong support for a first-order model with factors corresponding to the 12 USES-II scales. Second-order exploratory and confirmatory analyses provided no evidence for a meaningful higher-order organization of the 12 scales. In general, these results support the U.S. Department of Labors Counselee Assessment/Occupational Exploration System for use with persons with disabilities.

A Confirmatory Factor Analytic Investigation of time Sharing Performance and Cognitive Abilities

Eighty-one male subjects performed four information processing tasks and six dual task combinations, and completed a battery of psychometric ability tests selected to define three first-order factors and a second-order general ability factor. Confirmatory maximum likelihood factor analyses of the performance data provided no support for a general time-sharing factor, but a model with factors corresponding to the four single tasks provided a good fit to the data. The Grammatical Reasoning factor was highly correlated with the Verbal and second-order General Ability factors, suggesting that this task may be a good single index of total attentional resources.