PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH
Year:2010 | Volume:13 | Issue:1 (25)|Papers Count:9

This study sets out to evaluate the effects of 30 (Theta/Beta) Electroencephalo-graphic biofeedback training sessions on ADHD symptoms and compares those with the effects of the placebo EMG-biofeedback training group. The subjects, consisting of 35 children both male (n=26) and female (n=9), between the ages of 6 and 14, were diagnosed with ADHD by independent psychotherapists and randomly assigned to either the treatment group (n=18), or the placebo group (n=17). They were examined before and after treatment by psychophysiological and psychometric instru-ments. The results showed a significant decrease in the Theta/ Beta quotient after EEG- biofeedback training and a significant decrease in the EMG-amplitude after EMG-biofeed- back training. Results of an ANOVA with repeated measures showed significant differences between the two groups in attention tests and symptom rating scores after  treatment. Ultimately, 55.6% (n=10) of children in the EEG-biofeedback group were not diagnosed with ADHD (using ICD-10 criteria) at the time of the second evaluation. In the EMG-biofeedback group, 23.5% (n=4) were not diagnosed with ADHD by independent psychotherapists at the end of the EMG-biofeedback training. The results indicate that EEG-biofeedback training, in comparison with a Placebo, is an effective method in the treatment of ADHD children.

In this research, the effect of gender and social status on conformity has been studied. For this purpose, sixty university students (30 males, 30 females) were randomly selected for Asch's basic conformity experiment. The majority group (the researcher's collaborators), were introduced as a superior social group to half of the participants and the inferior social group to the rest. Results showed that the degree of conformity was significantly higher among those having inferior status, compared to their superior counterparts (P<0.01). Also, the women's degree of conformity was higher than men's (P<0.05). Although, this was observed in women of lower social status (P<0/001), there was no meaningful difference in conformity of men and women under superior status condition (sig=0.913). Consequently, conformity is influenced by interaction of gender, group identity, and social status. 

This research has been conducted with the aim of studying relations among constructs of the Technology Acceptance Model, computer self-efficacy and computer anxiety. For this purpose a sample of 133 first term students studying for their Junior college degrees in computer sciences were selected through the cluster random sampling method and administered a 25 item questionnaire after six weeks of training. Results showed that the model had suitable fitting with the data and the direct effect of computer self efficacy on perceived ease in computer use and actual computer usage is positive and significant. Also, the direct effect of computer anxiety on perceived usefulness of the computer is negative and significant and on perceived ease of computer usage is negative but not significant. Results have confirmed some aspects of the mentioned model. The important role computer self-efficacy and computer anxiety maintain in computer actual usage by users is also confirmed.

This research has been carried out to study the role of personality traits in predicting posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in people who are exposed to psychological trauma. The total number of ER nurses and fire department staff members in Urumia city constituted the statistical population for of this research. From each group 50 individuals were randomly selected, yielding a sample of 100 participants for the research. Participants were tested individually by administering the Mississippi Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale and NEO personality inventory. The collected data were analyzed by MANOVA and regression tests. Results showed a significant difference in neuroticism, openness to experience, and conscientiousness of the two groups. However, there were no significant differences in extraversion and agreeableness between two groups. Regression analysis showed that neuroticism can predict PTSD positively and conscientiousness can predict PTSD negatively.

The goal of this study was to examine the correlation between marital conflict and parent-child relationship with children’s affective and behavioral difficulties. Also, the role of marital conflict in predicting parent-child relationship was examined. This study used multi-stage relatively random sampling with 413 fifth-grade school children in the city of Tehran (220 girls and 193 boys). Mothers responded to the O’Leary and Porter/ Overt Hostility Scale (OPS). Mothers and teachers responded to the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and children answered the parent-child relationship subscale of the Children’s Perception of Interparental Conflict Questionnaire-for Young Children (CPIC-Y). The standard and simultaneously regression analyses indicated that marital conflict and parent-child relationship, both are predictors of children’s affective and behavioral difficulties. In addition, marital conflict significantly predicts children’s negative perception of parent-child relation-ship. Hierarchical regression analyses did not confirm the mediating role of parent-child relationship between marital conflict and children’s psychopathological symptoms. These results signify that marital conflict and parent-child relationship are predictors of children’s psychopathological difficulties and marital conflict affect children’s perception of the parent-child relationship negatively.

The present research aimed to investigate validity and reliability of the Responsibility Attitude Scale (RAS). In order to achieve this aim, 128 students from Tabriz University took part in an initial research, completing the Responsibility Attitude Scale, Dysfunctional Attitude Scale, and Maudsley Obsessional and Compulsive Inventory. The result of this research showed that RAS has acceptable validity coefficient. In this research the correlations between Responsibility Attitude Scale on the one hand, and Maudsley Obsessional and Compulsive Inventory and Dysfunctional Attitude Scale on the other were 0.45 and 0.51, respectively. Validity of the RAS was evaluated by exploratory factor analysis (EFA). In the second part of research, 76 students from the same university were recruited in order to study reliability of the RAS. The test-retest reliability coefficient of the scale in a week's interval, the correlations of odd and even items, and by split-halves were 0.84, 0.92, 0.61 respectively. The internal consistency coefficient of the RAS was 0.94. In sum, results of the present research indicated that RAS had acceptable validity and reliability there for it, could be used in clinical assessments and psychological research.

This study explored the relationship of leader-member exchange leadership style, problem solving styles, and work group relationships with innovative organizational climate and innovative behavior. The sample consisted of 200 employees of Mobarakeh-Steel Complex of Isfahan who were selected through stratified random sampling. Simple and multiple correlations were used to analyze the data. The results indicated a significant positive correlation among all the antecedent (predictive) variables and innovative organizational climate and innovative behavior. In addition, the results indicated that intuitive problem solving style and group cohesiveness had the most important role in predicting innovative organizational climate and innovative behavior.