Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

Friedlander, Myrna L.; Phillips, Susan D.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.52.3.366pmid: N/A

When anchoring occurs, estimates of client pathology and prognosis are differentially related to the time judges are exposed to salient, pathognomonic case material. In the present study with 73 undergraduates, a debiasing condition was contrasted with a no-debiasing condition. In the debiasing condition, Ss were warned of possible anchoring errors and how to avoid them. M. L. Friedlander and S. J. Stockman found a robust anchoring bias among experienced clinicians. Results indicate that debiasing was irrelevant because neither the replication sample nor the debiased sample demonstrated significant anchoring errors in their judgments. Post hoc tests showed that (a) Ss' mean judgments did not differ significantly from those of the clinicians in Friedlander and Stockman but that (b) Ss reported significantly less confidence in their performance than the professionals. The implication that relatively more experienced, confident judges may be more susceptible to anchoring errors is discussed with respect to consistency and information-processing explanations for anchoring bias. (34 ref)

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.52.3.366pmid: N/A

When anchoring occurs, estimates of client pathology and prognosis are differentially related to the time judges are exposed to salient, pathognomonic case material. In the present study with 73 undergraduates, a debiasing condition was contrasted with a no-debiasing condition. In the debiasing condition, Ss were warned of possible anchoring errors and how to avoid them. M. L. Friedlander and S. J. Stockman found a robust anchoring bias among experienced clinicians. Results indicate that debiasing was irrelevant because neither the replication sample nor the debiased sample demonstrated significant anchoring errors in their judgments. Post hoc tests showed that (a) Ss' mean judgments did not differ significantly from those of the clinicians in Friedlander and Stockman but that (b) Ss reported significantly less confidence in their performance than the professionals. The implication that relatively more experienced, confident judges may be more susceptible to anchoring errors is discussed with respect to consistency and information-processing explanations for anchoring bias. (34 ref)

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.52.3.372pmid: N/A

Two relapse prevention conditions (skills training vs discussion control) were crossed with 2 levels of aversive smoking (6- vs 30-sec inhalations). 135 smokers were recruited, and 123 of them completed treatment. Ss completed an assessment battery that included the Profile of Mood States and the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory. Differences in abstinence rates and in number of cigarettes smoked favoring the skills training condition were found at 6 and 52 wks from study start. Analyses indicated that at 52 wks, lighter smokers (20 cigarettes/day or fewer at pretreatment) were more likely to be favorably affected by the skills training condition than heavier smokers. Ss assigned to the skills training condition were more likely to report use of coping skills, but they did not differ from the discussion condition in perceived costs and benefits of change or of smoking, or in mood dysphoria or physical complaints. Abstinent Ss reported less mood disturbance than nonabstinent Ss at Weeks 3, 6, and 26 and fewer physical complaints at Week 52. The relation of these findings to a model of maintenance of therapeutic change is discussed. (33 ref)

Hall, Sharon M.; Rugg, Deborah; Tunstall, Chrystal; Jones, Reese T.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.52.3.372pmid: N/A

Two relapse prevention conditions (skills training vs discussion control) were crossed with 2 levels of aversive smoking (6- vs 30-sec inhalations). 135 smokers were recruited, and 123 of them completed treatment. Ss completed an assessment battery that included the Profile of Mood States and the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory. Differences in abstinence rates and in number of cigarettes smoked favoring the skills training condition were found at 6 and 52 wks from study start. Analyses indicated that at 52 wks, lighter smokers (20 cigarettes/day or fewer at pretreatment) were more likely to be favorably affected by the skills training condition than heavier smokers. Ss assigned to the skills training condition were more likely to report use of coping skills, but they did not differ from the discussion condition in perceived costs and benefits of change or of smoking, or in mood dysphoria or physical complaints. Abstinent Ss reported less mood disturbance than nonabstinent Ss at Weeks 3, 6, and 26 and fewer physical complaints at Week 52. The relation of these findings to a model of maintenance of therapeutic change is discussed. (33 ref)

Goldstein, Gerald; Shelly, Carolyn

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.52.3.383pmid: N/A

Compared the discriminative validities of the WAIS, the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery (HRNTB), and the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery (LNNB) with regard to predicting presence or absence of brain damage in 84 neuropsychiatric patients who were divided into brain-damaged (mean age 48.61 yrs) and non-brain-damaged (mean age 43.48 yrs) Ss. Discriminant analysis showed that percentages of correct classification were lower for the WAIS than for the other procedures. A hierarchical analysis indicated that the addition of variables from the HRNTB and LNNB procedures increased discriminative validity above what was obtained on the basis of the WAIS. The discriminative validities of the HRNTB and the LNNB procedures were essentially equal to each other. It is concluded that it is worthwhile to administer the HRNTB and the LNNB in doing neuropsychological assessments despite the reported high correlations between indices derived from these batteries and measures of general intellectual function. (19 ref)

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.52.3.383pmid: N/A

Compared the discriminative validities of the WAIS, the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery (HRNTB), and the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery (LNNB) with regard to predicting presence or absence of brain damage in 84 neuropsychiatric patients who were divided into brain-damaged (mean age 48.61 yrs) and non-brain-damaged (mean age 43.48 yrs) Ss. Discriminant analysis showed that percentages of correct classification were lower for the WAIS than for the other procedures. A hierarchical analysis indicated that the addition of variables from the HRNTB and LNNB procedures increased discriminative validity above what was obtained on the basis of the WAIS. The discriminative validities of the HRNTB and the LNNB procedures were essentially equal to each other. It is concluded that it is worthwhile to administer the HRNTB and the LNNB in doing neuropsychological assessments despite the reported high correlations between indices derived from these batteries and measures of general intellectual function. (19 ref)

Sanchez-Craig, M.; Annis, H. M.; Bronet, A. R.; MacDonald, K. R.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.52.3.390pmid: N/A

Assessed cognitive-behavioral program with a goal of either abstinence or controlled drinking using 70 early-stage problem drinkers who were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 goal conditions and within each condition to 1 of 2 therapists. Ss averaged 6 individual weekly sessions, each lasting approximately 90 min. Both groups were taught to identify risk situations and existing competencies, to develop cognitive and behavioral coping, and to assess their progress objectively. The controlled-drinking group was also taught procedures for moderate drinking. Over the 2-yr follow-up period, no significant differences were found between the groups in reported alcohol consumption. Six months after treatment, drinking had been reduced from an average of about 51 drinks/week to 13, and this reduction was maintained throughout the 2nd year. Reports of drinking were corroborated by independent measures. Although the outcomes of the groups were similar, controlled drinking was considered to be a more suitable goal; it was more acceptable to the majority of the clients, and most of those assigned to abstinence developed moderate drinking on their own. (51 ref)

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.52.3.390pmid: N/A

Assessed cognitive-behavioral program with a goal of either abstinence or controlled drinking using 70 early-stage problem drinkers who were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 goal conditions and within each condition to 1 of 2 therapists. Ss averaged 6 individual weekly sessions, each lasting approximately 90 min. Both groups were taught to identify risk situations and existing competencies, to develop cognitive and behavioral coping, and to assess their progress objectively. The controlled-drinking group was also taught procedures for moderate drinking. Over the 2-yr follow-up period, no significant differences were found between the groups in reported alcohol consumption. Six months after treatment, drinking had been reduced from an average of about 51 drinks/week to 13, and this reduction was maintained throughout the 2nd year. Reports of drinking were corroborated by independent measures. Although the outcomes of the groups were similar, controlled drinking was considered to be a more suitable goal; it was more acceptable to the majority of the clients, and most of those assigned to abstinence developed moderate drinking on their own. (51 ref)

Knight, Robert G.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.52.3.403pmid: N/A

In the article "On Interpreting the Several Standard Errors of the WAIS-R: Some Further Tables" by Robert G. Knight (Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1983, Vol. 51, pp. 671-673; , the final column of Table 2 is entirely incorrect. A corrected table is published in this erratum.

doi: 10.1037/0022-006X.52.3.403pmid: N/A

In the article "On Interpreting the Several Standard Errors of the WAIS-R: Some Further Tables" by Robert G. Knight (Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1983, Vol. 51, pp. 671-673; , the final column of Table 2 is entirely incorrect. A corrected table is published in this erratum.