Relationships among Anxiety, Defensiveness, Sex, Task Difficulty, and Performance on Various Neuropsychological Tasks

1986 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 711-718 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan P. Buckelew ◽  
H. Julia Hannay
Keyword(s):  
Trait Anxiety ◽  
Neuropsychological Tests ◽  
Task Difficulty ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Word Fluency ◽  
Personality Differences ◽  
High Anxious ◽  
Opposite Sex ◽  
Neuropsychological Tasks ◽  
And Performance

The relationships between sex, personality differences, task difficulty, and the performance on neuropsychological tests were investigated. On the basis of trait anxiety and defensiveness, 120 college students were divided into three groups by coping style: high anxious, true low anxious, and repressor groups. As predicted, women obtained significantly higher scores than men on Digit Symbol and word fluency tests, while the opposite sex difference was found for Block Design and Finger Tapping tests. Performance did not vary with trait anxiety. However, on Block Design and one-word fluency test, rated by subjects as the most difficult tests, high state anxiety was associated with significantly poorer performance.

Replication of the Superstition and Performance Study by

2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 239-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Calin-Jageman ◽  
Tracy L. Caldwell
Keyword(s):  
Task Difficulty ◽  
Statistical Power ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Significant Heterogeneity ◽  
Performance Study ◽  
Improve Performance ◽  
Research Designs ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
And Performance

A recent series of experiments suggests that fostering superstitions can substantially improve performance on a variety of motor and cognitive tasks ( Damisch, Stoberock, & Mussweiler, 2010 ). We conducted two high-powered and precise replications of one of these experiments, examining if telling participants they had a lucky golf ball could improve their performance on a 10-shot golf task relative to controls. We found that the effect of superstition on performance is elusive: Participants told they had a lucky ball performed almost identically to controls. Our failure to replicate the target study was not due to lack of impact, lack of statistical power, differences in task difficulty, nor differences in participant belief in luck. A meta-analysis indicates significant heterogeneity in the effect of superstition on performance. This could be due to an unknown moderator, but no effect was observed among the studies with the strongest research designs (e.g., high power, a priori sampling plan).

Stem Cold Hardiness, Leaf Heat Tolerance, Growth, and Performance of Six Japanese Maples (Acer palmatum) in Northern Illinois

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 512e-512
Author(s):  
A.M. Shirazi
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Heat Tolerance ◽  
Cold Hardiness ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Leaf Tissue ◽  
Ion Leakage ◽  
Randomized Block Design ◽  
Leaf Tissues ◽  
Artificial Freezing ◽  
And Performance

Six different Japanese Maples (Acer palmatum) cultivars `Water Fall', `Burgundy Lace', `Crimson Queen', `Oshio-Beni', `SangoKaKu', and `Bloodgood' from Monrovia Nursery were planted in a randomized block design on 4 June 1997 at the The Morton Arboretum. Leaf heat tolerance was evaluated by measuring ion leakage of the leaf tissue at 25–60 °C in July, Aug., and Sept. 1997. The LT50 (the temperature at which 50% of the tissues were injured) of all the cultivars were higher in July (≈53 °C) and were lower in September (≈47 °C). Water content of the leaf tissues were higher in July compare to August and September and were not related to heat tolerance of most cultivars. Stem cold hardiness was performed by artificial freezing tests in Oct., Dec., and Feb. 1997/98. The Lowest Survival Temperature (LST) for the most hardy to least hardy cultivars in October and December were: `Burgundy Lace' (–15, –27 °C), `Bloodgood' (–18, –24 °C), `Oshio-Beni' (–15, –24 °C), `Crimson Queen' (–15, –18 °C), `Water Fall' (–9, –18 °C) and `SangoKaKu' (–9, –12 °C), respectively. Growth, dormancy development, spring budbreak and performance of these cultivars will be compared.

Facilitation on a Response-Loaded Task by Changes in Task Difficulty

1973 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard B. May ◽  
Pam Duncan
Keyword(s):  
Task Difficulty ◽  
Problem Difficulty ◽  
Optimal Amount ◽  
And Performance

The relation between changes in problem difficulty and performance was extended from discrimination studies to a speeded skill task. Children were given repeated trials with easy and hard puzzle blocks. An intermediate number of changes in difficulty facilitated performance more than trial-to-trial change or no change. It was suggested that an optimal amount of change may vary with the type of task considered and that further work with various difficulty sequences and tasks seems warranted.

Death Threat and Death Concerns in the College Student

1981 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerome Tobacyk ◽  
Daniel Eckstein
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
College Student ◽  
Trait Anxiety ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Education Students ◽  
Personality Variables ◽  
Personality Differences ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Threat Index

A four part investigation of death orientation in college students using the provided-construct form of the Threat Index and the Death Concern Scale was conducted. Part I investigated the construct validity of the Threat Index, reporting significant predicted correlations of the Threat Index with the Death Concern Scale, Trait Anxiety Scale, and Repression-Sensitization Scale. Part II explored death orientation and personality differences between a Thanatology Group (death education students) and a Control Group. Thanatology students reported significantly lesser death threat and significantly greater death concerns than controls. Part III compared pre-test to post-test changes in death threat and death concerns for the Thanatology Group with pre-post changes for the Control Group. Using analysis of covariance procedures, a significantly greater decline in death threat was obtained in the Thanatology Group relative to the controls. Part IV explored two personality variables–trait anxiety and repression-sensitization–as moderators of change in death orientation in the Thantology Group. Trait anxiety was found to be a significant predictor of change in death threat in the Thanatology Group, with lesser anxiety associated with greater decline in death threat.

scholarly journals Effect of cropping system and age of plant at harvest on tuber rot and performance of elite cassava varieties in derived savannah

2017 ◽  
Vol 109 (2) ◽  
pp. 165
Author(s):  
Joy N Odedina ◽  
Sunday Ojo Adigbo ◽  
Peter Kulako ◽  
Peter Iluebbey ◽  
Thomas O Fabunmi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tuber Yield ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Cropping System ◽  
Improved Varieties ◽  
Cropping Season ◽  
Cropping Seasons ◽  
Rot Disease ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Tuber Rot ◽  
Cassava Varieties

Devastated tuber rot disease among farmers prompted the evaluation of the elite improved varieties in the intercrop and the practice of delaying harvesting when there is glut in the market necessitated this study. Trial was carried out at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta between 2011 and 2014 to evaluate yield performance of 21 elite cassava varieties planted as sole crop verse intercropped and harvested at different age. The 2 x 21 x 3 factorial experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design and replicated three times. The tuber yield obtained from sole plot in 2011/2012 cropping season was significantly higher than intercrop whereas those of 2012/2014 cropping season were similar. Land Equivalent Ratio was above one in both cropping seasons indicating that the performance of the improved varieties in intercrop was efficient. The pooled mean tuber yield showed that TMS 30572, 92/0326, 95/0211, 01/1371, 00/0338, 01/0046, 00/0098, 01/1097, 01/0085, 98/0581 and 98/510 were among the top eight varieties. Harvesting could be delayed up to 15 months after planting to reduce tuber rot.

Effects of a Rational–Emotive Education Program on Heightened Anxiety Levels of Female Collegiate Gymnasts

1991 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 235-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Kevin Elko ◽  
Andrew C. Ostrow
Keyword(s):  
Education Program ◽  
State Anxiety ◽  
Sport Competition ◽  
High Anxious ◽  
Self Talk ◽  
Rational Emotive ◽  
Rational Emotive Education ◽  
Anxiety Levels ◽  
Collegiate Gymnasts ◽  
And Performance

This study examined the effects of a Rational-Emotive education program on the competitive state anxiety levels and performance of female collegiate gymnasts who were identified as anxiety prone. The gymnasts (n=6) were participants on a Division I gymnastic team during the 1988–89 season. The high-anxious gymnasts were distinguished from their teammates via the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 (Martens, Burton, Vealey, Bump, & Smith, 1983) and the Sport Competition Anxiety Test (Martens, 1977) and were interviewed by the investigator prior to competition. They ranged from 17 to 22 years of age (M=19.25 yrs). Additionally, this study analyzed the effects of the education program on performance and thought listening (positive vs. negative self-talk). The results revealed that the Rational–Emotive education program significantly decreased levels of cognitive anxiety in five of the six gymnasts. However, the influential effect of the program on somatic anxiety, performance, and thought listening was not significant.

scholarly journals Older Black Adults’ Satisfaction and Anxiety Levels After Completing Alternative Versus Traditional Cognitive Batteries

2018 ◽  
Vol 75 (7) ◽  
pp. 1462-1474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alyssa A Gamaldo ◽  
Shyuan Ching Tan ◽  
Angie L Sardina ◽  
Carolyn Henzi ◽  
Rosalyn Guest ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neuropsychological Tests ◽  
Cognitive Status ◽  
Comfort Level ◽  
Education Quality ◽  
Neuropsychological Battery ◽  
Black Adults ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Paper And Pencil ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Age Range

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to examine satisfaction, test anxiety, and performance using computer-based cognitive batteries versus a paper-and-pencil neuropsychological battery among older Blacks. Method Self-identified Black adults (n = 87, age range: 55–86; mean education = 14) completed two computer-based tests (CogState and Joggle) and a paper-and-pencil neuropsychological battery. After each battery, participants reported their testing anxiety and satisfaction using the batteries. Descriptive, correlational, and regression analyses compared satisfaction, anxiety, and performance across the batteries. Results Majority of the participants reported more satisfaction with the computer-based (Joggle: 66%; CogState: 77%) than the neuropsychological (52%) battery. Participants also reported less testing anxiety after completing the computer-based batteries than the neuropsychological battery, F(2, 172) = 22.96, p < .001. Older adults’ familiarity and comfort level with the computer were not associated with their performance on the computer-based tests (p > .05). Although testing anxiety was not associated with performance across the batteries, age and education quality were uniquely associated with performance on the CogState and neuropsychological batteries. Conclusions Computer-based cognitive batteries appear to be less intimidating than the commonly used paper-and-pencil neuropsychological tests for Black adults. Thus, these cognitive batteries may be useful tools for monitoring older Blacks’ cognitive status.

scholarly journals Maintaining a Sense of Control in the Context of Cognitive Challenge

GeroPsych ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Agrigoroaei ◽  
Shevaun D. Neupert ◽  
Margie E. Lachman
Keyword(s):  
Task Difficulty ◽  
Control Beliefs ◽  
Sense Of Control ◽  
Protective Function ◽  
Challenging Tasks ◽  
Multiple Trials ◽  
Cognitive Challenge ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Stable Control

We considered the functional role of control beliefs for cognitive performance by focusing on patterns of stability across multiple trials increasing in level of difficulty. We assessed 56 adults aged 18–88 on working memory tasks. We examined stability vs. lability (intraindividual variability, IIV) in control beliefs and the relationships with anxiety, distraction, and performance. Age was positively associated with IIV in control and performance, and IIV increased with task difficulty. Those maintaining stable control beliefs had better performance and showed less anxiety and distraction. Those with lower stability and less control showed steeper declines in performance and increases in distraction. The findings suggest that stability of control beliefs may serve a protective function in the context of cognitively challenging tasks.

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