Steven J. Kass

The Cognitive Failures Questionnaire Revisited: Dimensions and Correlates

Abstract The authors reexamined the factor structure of the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (D. E. Broadbent, P. F. Cooper, P. Fitzgerald, & K. R. Parkes, 1982) and its correlates. The Cognitive Failures Questionnaire was designed to assess a persons likelihood of committing an error in the completion of an everyday task. A principal components factor analysis with varimax rotation yielded 4 internally consistent, interpretable factors. These factors were labeled Memory, Distractibility, Blunders, and (memory for) Names. This study lends partial support for the factor analytic solution proposed by L. K. Pollina, A. L. Greene, R. H. Tunick, and J. M. Puckett (1992). In addition, it extends previous findings by providing initial evidence for the construct validity of the factors established by correlating factor scores with measures of other related constructs (i.e., boredom proneness, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Type A behavior pattern).

Behavioral and pharmacologic treatment of transformed migraine with analgesic overuse: Outcome at 3 years

Objective.—To determine whether combined treatment using medication and biofeedback would be more effective than drug treatment alone for treating transformed migraine complicated by analgesic overuse.

STATE-TRAIT BOREDOM: RELATIONSHIP TO ABSENTEEISM, TENURE, AND JOB SATISFACTION

The relationship between job outcomes (i.e., satisfaction, absenteeism, and tenure) and measures of state (Job Boredom Scale) and trait (Boredom Proneness Scale) boredom was investigated. Data collected from 292 workers in a manufacturing plant in the southeast United States indicated that individuals scoring high on both types of boredom were significantly more dissatisfied with the work itself, pay, promotion, supervisor, and coworkers as assessed by the Job Descriptive Index. Those high in job boredom possessed significantly greater absenteeism and longer organizational tenure. Implications for job design and personnel selection are discussed.

A confirmatory approach to the factor structure of the boredom proneness scale : Evidence for a two-factor short form

We analyzed previous exploratory factor analytic structures on the Boredom Proneness Scale (BPS; Farmer & Sundberg, 1986) using confirmatory factor analysis in structural equation modeling in LISREL 8 (Joreskog & Sorbom, 1993). These analyses indicated that 2 factors were generally consistent across 6 exploratory models. Items that had significant loadings on these two factors (N = 12; 6 for each factor) indicated a lack of Internal Stimulation and External Stimulation. In further analysis on these 12 items using LISREL, we found a much improved fit and provided support for a short form version of the original BPS. We also found the shortened version to be invariant across gender. We discuss implications for the more precise measurement of boredom proneness and the use of the scale in applied settings.

Boredom proneness and sleep disorders as predictors of adult attention deficit scores

This study examined the extent to which boredom proneness and sleep disturbances were related to attention deficit scores in college-aged adults. In a sample of 148 college students, Attention scores on the Adult Behavior Checklist were best predicted by Boredom Proneness (BP) subscale scores, which assess one’s inability to maintain internal stimulation and feelings of constraint, and scores on the Epworth Daytime Sleepiness Scale and Athens Insomnia Scale (R 2 = .57). Hyperactivity scores were best predicted by the BP subscales, which assess one’s need for a stimulating environment, the perception of time passing slowly, and feelings of constraint, and the Epworth Scale (R 2 = .51). The findings contribute to the understanding of the symptomatology of attention deficit in adults and provide further evidence of the validity of this measure.

Watching the Clock: Boredom and Vigilance Performance

The current study investigated the relationship between a measure of trait boredom, Boredom Proneness, and vigilance performance on a variation of Mack-worths original clock test. Performance, assessed as Sensory Efficiency, was negatively correlated with Boredom Proneness scores early in the vigil but not during later trials. The results suggested that the trait of Boredom Proneness is predictive of performance on monotonous tasks within the first 10-min. block of trials; however, no differences in performance occurred on subsequent blocks, suggesting that as state boredom increases, differences between individuals diminish, e.g., a ceiling effect. The authors discuss the importance of examining Boredom Proneness as a multidimensional construct. Practical implications for these results are presented, particularly in terms of using Sensory Efficiency as a measure of performance during vigilance tasks.

Disability in Chronic Migraine Patients With Medication Overuse: Treatment Effects at 1-Year Follow-up

Objective.—To determine (1) the clinical course of a sample of chronic migraine patients with drug overuse 6 and 12 months following in‐patient treatment and (2) whether functional impairment, assessed by the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) questionnaire, improved upon treatment.

Internet Use and Misuse Preliminary Findings from a New Assessment Instrument

The Internet is an affordable and easily accessible technology that has many potential applications to psychology. Interactive technologies engage users psychologically and may facilitate adaptive and maladaptive behaviors. This research explored the Internet-use patterns, psychological characteristics, and negative consequences associated with online activities of 393 college students using the Internet Use Survey (IUS), a self-report instrument designed to administer online. Results indicated that participants spent an average of 3.3 total hours per day on the Internet during the past 12 months and used the medium for multiple purposes. Although participants reported the occurrence of some potentially negative consequences related to Internet use, the prevalence rates for most problematic behaviors were generally low. Exploratory principal component analysis of the IUS subscale that attempts to measure Internet-related impairment revealed four factors: absorption, negative consequences, disrupted sleep, and deception. All of these factors were then significantly related to a measure of boredom proneness. This research supports the necessity for multidimensional assessment (e.g., frequency and context) of Internet usage to enhance our understanding of how this new technology interfaces with users psychologically and behaviorally.

Disability in chronic migraine with medication overuse: treatment effects through 5 years

Chronic migraine accompanied by medication overuse is particularly difficult to treat. The number of treatment investigations is limited, few have included follow-up beyond 6 months and almost none has examined whether treatment leads to concurrent improvements in disability and functional impairment. This open-label study addresses these limitations. We have been prospectively following an initial cohort of 84 chronic migraine patients with medication overuse, who at the time of this evaluation had been reduced to 58, for an extended period to assess longer-term maintenance of effects, using measurement procedures identical to those in the original investigation. Thus, the specific aim was to determine the clinical status, with respect to pain indices and disability level, of chronic migraine patients with medication overuse who were treated and followed prospectively for 5 years. All patients completed a brief inpatient treatment programme, in which they were withdrawn from their offending medications and subsequently placed on more appropriate preventive antimigraine medications. Both end-point, wherein missing data points were estimated, and continuer analyses, wherein data analysis was limited to the 58 individuals with complete datasets, revealed significant improvement on all measures studied—headache days per month, analgesic consumption and Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) total score. The percentage reduction from baseline to 5 years for the MIDAS total score was 76.0%, while the percentage of individuals revealing improvements of clinically significant magnitude (≥ 50%) on the MIDAS was 91.9%. MIDAS total scores were lower at 5 years than at some of the intervening follow-up intervals. Comparisons of those who completed the 5-year follow-up (n = 58) with those who did not revealed no differences at baseline. This finding, coupled with the nearly identical results for the end-point and continuers analyses, suggests that attrition did not have a bearing on outcome. None of the patients completing the 5-year follow-up had relapsed since the prior 3-year follow-up assessment. High levels of maintenance were revealed at 5 years, with disability scores showing some continued improvement over time. The implications of these findings and the limitations of the study are discussed.

Self-report measures of distractibility as correlates of simulated driving performance.

The present study investigated the relationship between self-reported measures pertaining to attention difficulties and simulated driving performance while distracted. Thirty-six licensed drivers participated in a simulator driving task while engaged in a cell phone conversation. The participants completed questionnaires assessing their tendency toward boredom, cognitive failures, and behaviors associated with attention deficit and hyperactivity. Scores on these measures were significantly correlated with various driving outcomes (e.g., speed, lane maintenance, reaction time). Significant relationships were also found between one aspect of boredom proneness (i.e., inability to generate interest or concentrate) and self-reports of past driving behavior (moving violations). The current study may aid in the understanding of how individual differences in driver distractibility may contribute to unsafe driving behaviors and accident involvement. Additionally, such measures may assist in the identification of individuals at risk for committing driving errors due to being easily distracted. The benefits and limitations of conducting and interpreting simulation research are discussed.