Michael Dinoff

Standardized Interview Performance of Regressed Schizophrenics, Non-Medicated Schizophrenics, and Normals

Three nosological groups (19 normals, 20 non-medicated schizophrenics, and 28 regressed schizophrenics) were compared on certain temporal measures of speech derived from a standard interview. The three groups performed differently on most of the variables indicating the interviews diagnostic import. The uses of a standardized interview as a criterion measure and as a dependent variable were discussed.

Standardized interview performance of Southern elementary school children.

Early findings using a standardized interview with children clearly separate two racial groups although it is suggested that the race of the interviewer or the setting might have inhibited one group. Anticipated developmental trends were not consistent and may reflect the small sample (ns = 7 to 11).

THE STANDARDIZED VIDEO-TAPE INTERVIEW AS AN OBJECTIVE DEPENDENT VARIABLE IN PSYCHOTROPIC DRUG RESEARCH

Literature is reviewed concerning the development and present status of the standardized video-tape interview. The paper concludes that since this interview technique shows promise of being a highly reliable and clinically valid instrument for assessing clinical changes in a behavioral, objective and parsimonious manner, and because of its demonstrated ability to reflect meaningful change based on specific experimental and therapeutic conditions, it would seem to be a useful dependent variable in psychotropic drug studies.

Comparison of Video-Tape and Face-to-Face Interviewing

One highly verbal S was interviewed via a standardized videotaped presentation of E followed later by a live E reading the same library of utterances from a script to S in a face-to-face encounter. The temporal data of the two interview techniques are quite similar.

Brief Standardized Interview for Emotionally Disturbed Children

Trends suggesting differences between 11 disturbed and 15 normal children were consistent with previously published observations of nosological groups in that disturbed Ss initiated less speaking and spoke for less time. Further research is needed.

The stability of group verbal behavior.

SummaryThe data presented in this paper were compiled from seven different groups of hospitalized veterans. Stability of verbal responding was demonstrated for each group over a period of time. Frequency of speaking, total time of speaking, number of personal references and number of non-personal references were the measures of verbal behavior. The findings suggest that in a group situation there is a hierarchy of verbal behavior resembling the pecking-order established in other species.

Using a Standardized Interview with Emotionally Disturbed Children

Pre- and post-treatment of 18 emotionally disturbed children suggests that temporal aspects of speech in a standardized interview can be used as a dependent variable.

ADDITIONAL STANDARDIZED INTERVIEW DATA FOR EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED CHILDREN

Dinoff and Griffin (1968) have reported data on a standardized interview from emotionally disturbed children. They used a variation of [he rules of the interview developed by Matarazzo, e t al. (1957) and used with children by Dinoff, ec al. (1968). Dinoff and Griffin (1968) showed that there were differences between emotionally disturbed children and normal youngsters at similar ages and grade levels. Because of an error in the administration of their interviews with emotionally disturbed children they were unable to compare performance on all the usual measures of the standardized interview and could report only a few of the traditional indices. In the present study 18 emotionally disturbed boys spending a summer at Camp Ponderosa ( a program for the mild to moderately emotionally disturbed child in Mentone, Alabama) were interviewed during the 7 X w k session. Table 1 data were broken down by grade placement and in terms of the usual measures found in Matarazzo, et al. (1957). These data are by no means complete. They are meant to supplement the earlier data of Dinoff and Griffin (1968) for emotionally disturbed children. Again, as in the earlier data no developmental trends are evidenced; however, the number in each cell is small. Furthermore, no attempts were made to diagnose children but ir is probable that nosology was unbalanced. More data are needed.

COMPARISON OF AGE MATCHED REGRESSED PATIENTS ON THE MINIMAL SOCIAL BEHAVIOR SCALE

Research with the Minimal Social Behavior Scale (MSBS) has shown that it can successfully differentiate between levels of regression in chronic psychiatric patients (Dinoff, Raymaker, & Morris, 1962; Dinoff & Morris, 1964; Dinoff, Finch, Finch, & Hobbs, 1969; Dinoff, Finch, Clements, & Hodo, 1970; Finch, Welsh, Haney, & Dinoff, 1970). Prior research with the MSBS using hospitalized patients indicates that age and degree of regression vary concomitantly with the exception of Finch, et al. (1970). This paper represents an attempt to determine whether the MSBS differentiates groups based upon age or levels of regression. Thirty chronically regressed geriatric neuropsychiatric patients were selected from two wards on the same unit of the Veterans Administration Hospital, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and given the MSBS. Only physically handicapped Ss were eliminated. The one distinction between the two wards was degree of regression (as manifested in lack of ability to care for oneself); Ss on one ward were without privileges and were closely supervised while on the other ward Ss were given more hospital privileges. The two group age means were closely matched (Group I, M = 73.29 yr., range, 55-11 to 80-2; Group 11, M = 72.86 yr., range, 64-4 to 77-10). The difference in age means is not statistically significant (t = .1897). Ss were brought to one of the two interview rooms by an assistant and introduced co one of rwo interviewers who proceeded to administer the MSBS without prior knowledge as to Ss ward assignment. A statistically significant difference was found between the MSBS means (Group I,

COMPARISON OF TWO VERSIONS OF A MINIMAL SOCIAL BEHAVIOR SCALE

16 geriatric patients, distinguished by different degrees of social behavior, were randomly selected from 2 floors. The Minimal Social Behavior Scale (MSBS) in its original form and in a modified form employing a time factor were administered. Results demonstrate the usefulness of the MSBS in discriminating levels of social behavior and the increased sensitivity by adding a time factor weighting.