KNOWLEDGE & RESEARCH IN APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
Year:2015 | Volume:16 | Issue:3 (61)|Papers Count:19

The present research was conducted to evaluate the reliability and validity of the revised version of the original Islamic Scale of Envy. This is a correlational research, in which from 30000 college students associated with the Consultation Department of the Supreme Leader’s Office at universities, 1918 persons were randomly selected. The students completed the original test of Envy Scale (Vali- Zadeh, 2010/1389s.c.). For the validity of the scale, factor analysis methods (exploratory and confirmatory) and concurrent validity were used. Factor analysis of the data showed that the revised form of the Islamic Scale of Envy have four factors (including sense of irritation by others’ success, sense of deprivation and inferiority, tendency to deprive others of their blessings, and sorrow of being compared) and have a good concurrent validity. To avaluate the reliability of the scale, internal consistency was measured by Cronbach’s Alpha yielding 0.93 which means a highly reliable scale. Based on findings of the reseach, it can be concluded that this questionnaire has a high reliability and validity, which can assist us in investigating people’s temperamental and personality envy-related traits and it can be employed for clinical activities and future studies.

The aim was to investigate the relationship between the dimensions of basic human values and personality traits of three adulthood stages in females and males. A sample of 328 people (169 women and 159 men) was used. The participants were divided into three age groups: young adults (20-39); middle aged adults (40-65); and old adults (66-88). As for the instruments, the Schwartz Value Survey (SVS) (Schowartz and Ross, 1995) and A 10-item short version of the big five inventory (Rammstedt & John, 2007) were used. The results of correlational analysis between dimensions of basic human values and personality traits showed a significant positive relationship between personal focus values and extraversion, openness to change and a significant negative correlation with regard to agreeableness. In addition, there was a significant positive relationship between social focus values and agreeableness and conscienceness, while there was a negative correlation with extraversion (P<0.05). The results of multivariate covariance analysis showed a significant difference among age groups with regard to social focus values (P<0.05). The development trend was increasing and the second age group had the maximum social focus values. Among the gender groups regarding personal focus values the difference was significant (P<0.05). Males showed the highest mean scores regarding the personal focus values aspect.

The present research is aimed at predicting senile spiritual well being through psychological capital components (self efficacy, hope, resiliency and optimism). Our research design was relational and the population was the senile people in Isfahan, Iran. 245 persons were selected through accessible sampling. Research instruments consisted of Spiritual Well-being Scale (Golparvar et al, 2015) and the Psychological Capital Questionnaire (Mc Gee, 2011). Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and enter method multiple regression analysis. The results showed that there were positive significant relationships between psychological capital components (self efficacy, hope, resiliency and optimism) and senile people’s spiritual well-being (P<0.01). Also the results of enter method multiple regression analysis showed that from among these components self-efficacy (P<0.01), resiliency (P<0.05) and optimism (P<0.01) have predictive power of spiritual well being in senile people.

The aim of the present research was to investigate the effect of academic self-efficacy and metacognition on test anxiety and help-seeking behavior in 3rd grade high school boys in Ahvaz. The population included the male high school students in the 3rd grade during 2013 academic year 2013-14, 330 students were selected by multistage random sampling method as the sample. Academic Self-Efficacy Scale (Midgley et al. 2000) State Metacognition Inventory (O, Neil & Abedi 1997), Ahvaz Test Anxiety questionnaire (1996) and Help-Seeking Behavior questionnaire (Ryan & Pintrich, 1997) were used to measure variables under study. Multiple regressions were used for data analysis. Results indicated that there is no significant relationship between selfefficacy and metacognition with test anxiety, while self-efficacy and metacognition had significant relationship with help-seeking behavior (P<0.001).

This study was aimed at predicting achievement motivation based on Kolb’s learning styles among high school students in Tehran. The research design was correlational. The population included all high school students in 2013. 720 students (360 girls, 360 boys) were selected through multi-stage random cluster sampling. The instruments were Learning Styles Inventory (Kolb & Kolb 3, 1 2005) and Achievement Motivation Test (Hermans, 1970). Data were analyzed by stepwise regression analysis. The results showed that among Kolb’s learning styles only divergent learning style could predict achievement motivation of students significantly (P£0.05). It should be pointed out that other learning styles including assimilator, convergent and accommodator which showed no significant effect on achievement motivation were eliminated.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of cooperative teaching on students’ group cohesion mediating the role of cooperation approaches in teaching-learning processes. The research method was correlational and the population was all undergraduates majoring in English translation as a foreign language in Bandar Abbas and Marvdasht Azad Islamic University in 2004 the academic year 2013-14. Research instruments were Group Environment Questionnaire (Carron, et al., 1985) and Cooperation Approaches Questionnaire (Triandis et al., 1994). Data were analyzed using path analysis technique and multivariable regression analysis. The results showed that cooperative teaching is a significant positive predictor of students’ group cohesion (R2=0.49, P<0.001). Also, it was a significantly positive predictor of students’ individualism and collectivism approaches, as well (R2=0.33, P<0.001). The students’ individualism and collectivism approaches were significantly positive predictors of students’ group cohesion (R2= 0.51, P<0.001).

This descriptive correlational research was aimed at predicting females’ love styles by codependency. The sample included 450 females who were living in the city of Isfahan and were selected by available sampling method. Participants completed Codependency Assessment Questionnaire (Hughes et al, 1998) and Love Styles Scale (Hendrick & Hendrick, 1986). The data were analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis. The results showed that certain love styles may be predicted through the subscales of codependency. This means that except pragma and agape, the rest four love styles namely eros, ludus, storge and mania were predictable through the subscales of codependency (P<0.01). According to the results, it can be said that codependency is an important variable in predicting the basic aspects of life including interpersonal relationships.

The aim of this study was to predict self-efficacy of girls based on personality traits of their mothers. Method of study was correlational. The sample consisted of 351 females who were selected by random clustered sampling from high school students in Alborz province. Research instruments were the NEO Personality Inventory (MacCrae and Costa, 1985) and Self-efficacy Scale (Sherer at.al, 1982). The result showed that conscientiousness of mothers was the only predictive variable which could predict daughters’ self-efficacy. Regression coefficient of self-efficacy (b=0.226) showed a positive relationship between mothers conscientiousness with their daughters self-efficacy (P<0.002). Also the average score of girls with regression coefficient (b=0.330) represented a significant and positive correlation and their self-efficacy (P<0.0001), and maternal age with regression coefficient (b=-0.105) indicated a significant and negative correlation with daughters’ self- efficacy (P<0.37). Therefore, considering the effect of both mothers’ role of responsibility and low maternal age gap with daughters on the self-efficacy of their daughters, it is necessary to increase self-efficacy of daughters by enriching the responsibility resources of mothers and encouraging mothers to have children at young age.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of covert sensitization with cognitive behavior therapy on craving power and probable use of crack. This quasi-experimental research used all crack-addicted people who referred to Islamshahr drug abuse treatment centers in 2010 as the population. Using convenient sampling method, 30 crack addicts were selected and then randomly assigned into experimental and control group, 15 in each. All participants answered to Relapse Predication Scale (Wright, 2001) before and after the treatment. The experimental group received 12 sessions, 45 minutes each, of cognitive behavior therapy along with covert sensitization and the control group received only cognitive behavior therapy. To analyze the data, covariance was used. Results indicated that covert sensitization along with cognitive behavior therapy were associated with decreasing craving power; however, they were not effective upon relapse prevention (P<0.001).

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of group logotherapy on the sense of loneliness of elderly women resident in nursing homes. The sample was selected from all elderly women resident in nursing homes in Shahriyar County using convenience sampling and then participants were randomly assigned to an experimental and a control group. Then the experimental group received 10 sessions of group logotherapy for 5 weeks (a two-hour session, twice a week) while the control group did not receive any intervention. Our data collection instrument was the Revised Loneliness Scale (Russell et al, 1980) and a covariance was used for data analysis. The findings of this study showed that group logotherapy significantly decreased the sense of loneliness in experimental group (P<0.001). Accordingly, we can say that group logotherapy is effective in reducing the sense of loneliness of elderly women and so professionals can apply treatments of this kind to promote mental health of the elderly.

The aim of the research was to study the effectiveness of training Kohlberg’s dilemmas procedures, real life dilemmas, and positive emotion induction on moral decision making. This was a pre-test and post-test quasi-experimental study with control group. The sample consisted of 120. female students selected via multistep cluster sampling method, who were randomly, assigned into four groups. The experimental groups received Kohlberg’s dilemmas and real life dilemmas during 8 sessions 70 minutes, one group was induced by positive emotion and the control group was left untreated. All the participants completed the daily moral decision making task (Starke & etl, 2011) as the pre-test, post-test and the follow up. Adopting MANCOVA and ANCOVA for data analysis, the findings showed that, training groups and induction positive emotion were effective in moral decision making (P<0.05). The follow up L.S.D test showed that although all intervention methods were effective in moral decision making (P=0.01), none of the interventions had significant difference with each other.

The present study aimed at investigating the reliability and validity of the Power of Food Scale (PFS) (Lowe, Butryn, Didie, Annunziato, Thomas et al., 2009) among Iranian students. 701 students, as participants, completed PFS, external eating subscale of Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ) (Van Strien, Frijters, Bergers & Defares, 1986) and the Restraint Scale (RS) (Herman & Polivy, 1980). To evaluate validity of the scale construct, confirmatory factor analysis was used. Also, Pearson correlation was used to establish convergent and discriminant validity between PFS and the External Eating subscale of DEBQ, and between PFS and RS. The results of the confirmatory factor analysis showed that the current model of PFS along with three subscales and a total aggregate score fit the data well. PFS Cronbach’s alpha was 0.88 and a four-month testretest PFS score was 0.65. Also, correlations between PFS and External Eating Subscale of DEBQ (r=0.67; P<0.01); PFS and RS (r=0.24; P<0.01) indicated an appropriate convergent and discriminant validity. The Power of Food Scale (PFS) is a brief and useful tool developed to assess the psychological impact of today food-abundant environments. This scale can be used to study eating behavior and also differences between homeostatic and hedonic hunger.