Michel Loranger

Social cost of pathological gambling

Pathological gambling creates enormous problems for the afflicted individuals, their families, employers, and society, and has numerous disastrous financial consequences. The present study evaluates the financial burdens of pathological gambling by questioning pathological gamblers in treatment in Gamblers Anonymous (n=60; 56 males, 4 females; mean age = 40 years old) about personal debts, loss of productivity at work, illegal activities, medical costs and the presence of other dependencies. Results show that important debts, loss of productivity at work and legal problems are associated with pathological gambling. Discussion is formulated in terms of the social cost of adopting a liberal attitude toward the legalization of various gambling activities.

Perception of marital problems and of their prevention by Quebec young adults

Abstract The perception of marital problems and the interest in different themes that could be addressed in preventive programs for marital conflict were surveyed among Quebec adults aged 18 to 25 years. Results show that communication problems were perceived as particularly frequent and damaging for couples. Furthermore, jealousy seemed to be a particular concern for these young adults. They also showed a level of interest in different premarital counseling topics that was moderately high but less than the interest shown by American college students. Adaptation to the arrival of the first child, parenting skills, and expressing feelings were judged as the most interesting themes by the participants, whereas spiritual development, organizing household tasks, and relationships with in-laws were considered the least interesting.

Self-Evaluation Questionnaire of Social Skills for Adolescents in High School

This article describes two studies concerning social conduict at high school lusing self-evaluation by quiestionnaire. The first was a construict validation study of an inistrument based on the categor-ies of Milburn (1974) that produced scores for several categories of behavior: Two samiples were used (N = 1,299 and N = 937). Image factor analysis extracted a dominant genieral factor that accouinted for the results. A second step of the first study led to the construction and examination of a n?ew 25-item quiestionniaire that produces a single total score related to thZe emergent general factor. The seconid study verified the construlct validity and reliability of the inew inst-ument, the Class Contduict Questionnaire, using a new sample (N = 744). In the discussioni it is suggested that the generalfactor is related to the respect of social ruiles at sclhool. These results do not question the diversity of social conduct, but they do show that the student judges his or her various behaviors in terms of a genieralframne of referentce.

Information-Processing Speed and Assessment of Early Response Latency among Stroke Patients

The development of assessment methods for estimating and predicting amount of functional impairment among stroke patients is important for planning rehabilitation. This study explored the contribution of speed of information processing and response latency in the assessment of 39 stroke patients. Functional impairment was assessed among these patients using the Functional Independence Measure, administered within 72 hours of admission to a rehabilitation center. The correlations between the scores on this measure and on a computerized measure of speed of information processing. Cognitive Performance Test, were examined. The Functional Independence Measure can be used with an acute stroke population. Scores are correlated with cognitive indicators of functional impairment, and scores discriminate between severity of functional impairment. These results are discussed with regard to their implication in monitoring stroke patients throughout rehabilitation.

Response latencies measured on IQ tests: dimensionality of speed indices and the relationship between speed and level

It has been suggested that correlations observed between psychometric intelligence and simple reaction-time (RT) tasks support mental speed models of intelligence. It has also been argued that when simple and complex RT tasks are contrasted, RT on complex tasks offers better estimates of intelligence (complexity hypothesis). Some points on the continuum of task complexity seem to have been neglected in the research on mental speed and cognitive ability, however. In particular, latencies measured on individually administered IQ tests have been little studied. The present study provides evidence for a relatively strong correlation between psychometric intelligence and latencies measured on IQ-test items in a sample of 131 15- to 17-year-old adolescents. In contrast with results obtained for groups of children, no age difference in latencies was found. This is consistent with more general studies of the evolution of speed in childhood and adolescence [Kail, R. (1991). Psychological Bulletin, 109, 490]. Also contrary to results obtained with children, the speed indices clustered into distinct speed factors. The central role of task complexity in assessing speed, development, and intelligence is discussed, as well as the advantage of adopting a clear operational definition of speed and level when assessing intellectual performance.

Choix de partenaires et respect des règles

RésuméCette recherche se rapporte au domaine d’étude des conduites sociales des élèves de la sixième année et aux liens qui peuvent être établis entre leurs conduites et les préférences d’affiliation exprimées pour les élèves de leur groupe-classe dans le contexte de l’école élémentaire. LeQuestionnaire des Conduites Sociales en Classe (QCSC) (Loranger & Arsenault, 1986) et leQuestionnaire à l’Enseignant (QE) (Loranger, Verret & Arsenault, 1986) ont été utilisés pour mesurer les conduites sociales, et une échelle de préférence a été utilisée pour la mesure sociométrique. L’échantillon est composé de 356 élèves et de 14 enseignants. Les résultats mettent en évidence les qualités psychométriques des questionnaires, les conduites sociales des garçons et des filles selon leur rendement scolaire et enfin les relations entre les mesures de préférences d’affiliation et les conduites sociales des élèves. Les correspondances les plus élevées entre les mesures sont issues des comparaisons des jugements des enseignants et des pairs.AbstractThe present study focusses on social behavior of sixth grade students and on the possible relationship between such behaviors and preferences for affiliation encountered in a school context. The «Questionnaire des Conduites Sociales en Classe» (QCSC) (Questionnaire on Social Behavior in the Classroom) (Loranger & Arsenault, 1986) and the «Questionnaire à l’Enseignant» (QE) (Questionnaire intended for Teachers) (Loranger, Verret & Arsenault, 1986) have been applied as a means of evaluating social behavior and a preference scale has been used for sociometric evaluation. Sampling comprised 356 students and 14 teachers. The results bring into evidence the psychometric qualities of the questionnaires as well as social behaviors among boys and girls according to their school performance and finally the relationship between evaluation of social preferences and students’ social behavior. The most important connection in matters of evaluation stems from comparisons among teachers’ and classmates’ opinions.

Computerized Cognitive Training with Learning Disabled Students: A Pilot Study

The effects of practicing computerized exercises in class by 59 learning disabled students who received an 8-hr. training program, 30 min. per week, were evaluated. Six exercises designed to facilitate basic cognitive skills development were used. Twelve subjects were assigned to a control group without any form of intervention. Covariance analysis (pretest scores used as covariates) showed a significant effect of training on mental arithmetic. These results suggest that practicing a computerized exercise of mental arithmetic can facilitate the automatization of basic arithmetic skills (addition, subtraction, and multiplication). The nature, progress, and evaluation of such types of intervention are discussed.