A Super Contribution to Vocational Theory: Work Values

This article traces the influence of Donald E. Super in introducing the concept of work values into career development and vocational theory. It reviews the conceptualization, taxonomy, and assessment of work values. Research bearing on Super's “onion model,” representing his views on the relationship of work values to other variables in the affective domain, is also presented. Finally, an overview is given of the research evidence regarding any functional role that work values actually play in the career development of individuals.     

Optimal adaptive sequential designs for crossover bioequivalence studies

In prior works, this group demonstrated the feasibility of valid adaptive sequential designs for crossover bioequivalence studies. In this paper, we extend the prior work to optimize adaptive sequential designs over a range of geometric mean test/reference ratios (GMRs) of 70–143% within each of two ranges of intra‐subject coefficient of variation (10–30% and 30–55%). These designs also introduce a futility decision for stopping the study after the first stage if there is sufficiently low likelihood of meeting bioequivalence criteria if the second stage were completed, as well as an upper limit on total study size. The optimized designs exhibited substantially improved performance characteristics over our previous adaptive sequential designs. Even though the optimized designs avoided undue inflation of type I error and maintained power at 80%, their average sample sizes were similar to or less than those of conventional single stage designs. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Situational and relational factors associated with coitus during vaginal bleeding among adolescent women

Menstruation is a normal, developmental event anchored in contradictory value systems. Although it demarcates a transition to womanhood, it is often associated with negative sentiments such as shame, camouflage and discomfort. Certain behavioral expectations, including avoiding sexual intercourse, also accompany menstruation. Research has generally suggested that sex does decrease during menstruation. However, not all sexual activity is suppressed during menses; both individual and relationship factors provide influence. Accordingly, this study investigated situational and relational factors associated with the day-to-day likelihood of sex and vaginal bleeding among 387 (aged 14-17 at enrollment) adolescent women. Generalized estimating equation logistic regression, in SUDAAN 9.0, was used; predictors of coitus and bleeding included recent sexual activity, past coitus/bleeding, marijuana use before intercourse and higher partner support, higher sexual interest and lower feelings of being in love. The findings highlight appropriate areas of focus for information, education and STI prevention counseling.     

Racial disparity in Minnesota's child protection system

Minnesota has been recognized by several studies as a state with a significant amount of racial disparity in its child protection system. This study, using 2001 data from Minnesota's Social Services Information Service, was conducted to determine at which of the six decision points in Minnesota's child welfare system racial disparities are statistically significant. The authors employ a nested model to examine a child's journey through the Minnesota child protection system. Using binary logistic regression, they are able to determine the odds that a child belonging to a particular racial or ethnic group would progress to the next decision point.     

Treating emotion dysregulation in a couples context: a pilot study of a couples skills group intervention

This article reports the development of a couple-based intervention in which at least one partner had experienced chronic difficulties in emotion regulation, operationalized as having participated in a yearlong dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills training group. Integrating dialectical behavior therapy and cognitive-behavioral couple therapy, this group intervention taught couples emotion regulation, communication, and problem-solving skills, and led them through an exploration of how strong feelings affect and are affected by their relationship. The effects of treatment were evaluated in terms of relationship satisfaction and individual well-being. Sizeable treatment effects were found in several domains, including a reduction in DBT graduates' depressive symptoms and emotion dysregulation, and an increase in their partners' relationship satisfaction and confidence in their graduate spouses' ability to regulate emotions.     

Socioeconomic Status and Infant Mortality: Evidence from a Rural Agricultural State

Abstract

This research examines the nature and extent to which the tradtional inverse relationship between infant mortality and socioeconomic status holds true in Kansas for the years around 1950,1960, and 1970. A social-area ranking approach and correlation and regression analysis failed to show the significant inverse relationship reported by other researchers. Contrary to expectations, a blurring and narrowing of this relationship resulted over the three time periods. A significant negative correlation resulted between the percentage of rural farm residents in counties and infant mortality, indicating that the social organization characteristics of a rural state may provide a quality of life that transcends traditional socioeconomic differentials.     

Exact and approximate distributions of the chi-square statistic for equiprobability

The distribution of the chi-square goodness-of-fit statistic is studied in the equiprobable case. Tables of exact critical values are given for a = .1, .05, .01, .005; k = 2(1)4, N = 26(1)50; k = 5, N = 26(1)40; k = 6(1)10, N = 26(1)30, where a is the desired significance level, k is the number of cells and N is the sample size. Methods of fitting the true distribution are compared. If k> 3, it is found that a simple additive adjustment to the asymptotic chi-square fit leads to high accuracy even for N between 10 and 20. For k = 2, the Yates corrected chi-square statistic is very accurately fitted by the usual chi-square distribution.     

Reports of childhood sexual abuse by adolescents and young adults: Stability over time

The consistency of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) reporting was explored in this study. Two‐hundred seventeen adolescents and young adults (ages 14–24) enrolled in urban health care clinics completed self‐report questionnaires assessing CSA and other problem behaviors at enrollment and at 7 months. Results indicated that the stability of CSA self‐report at two time points was poor (58% consistent nonreporters of CSA, 20% consistent reporters, 22% inconsistent reporters). Consistent and inconsistent reporters were differentiated on risk measures. Adolescents who endorsed more items from the CSA scale were five times more likely to be consistent reporters. In sum, adolescent CSA reporting was quite inconsistent over time. Using multi‐item scales and assessing CSA at two time points enhances accuracy of reporting.