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Abstract: Stereotype threat has been invoked to explain underperformance on a variety of groups for whom the stereotypes allege inferior cognitive abilities. In math testing, stereotype threat has been used to explain sex differences in test performance. This paper describes an experimental study on a large sample (n =313), in which the role of anxiety and mental rotation on math sex-related differences under stereotype threat has been analyzed in the tradition of Aptitude–Treatment–Interaction (ATI) designs. Results show that the manipulation effects are evident only in interaction with anxiety, which suggests that the construct validity of stereotype threat is itself seriously threatened. The analogy with the validity threat known as reactivity to the experimental situation is elaborated, and a more promising approach (the study of threat-related attentional bias in anxious and non-anxious individuals) suggested. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Sex-related differential studies on mathematical abilities have hardly taken into account the mediator role of the verbal factor, which contrasts with the interest shown in the mediator role of visuospatial aptitude. We predicted that if sex-related differences were found, mental rotation would mediate mathematical abilities typically favoring males (geometry and verbal problems) and lexical access would mediate the one favoring females (arithmetic). Data from 455 participants with a median age of 13 were analyzed, showing that sex-related effect sizes in mathematical criteria were small, ranging from d=−.16 to .18 (corrected by attenuation), as expected for unselected samples. Lexical access scores were consistent predictors for every mathematical subdomain, and mental rotation added to the prediction only for geometry and word problems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Analyzes whether mental rotation (MR) played a role as a mediating variable for sex-related differences in Visualization (VZ). Application of two tests measuring MR and VZ, to a representative sample of 309 males and 390 females in their last year of high school; Results of the application.

Introduction A high degree of self-efficacy is required from drug users if they are to adopt long-term abstinence-maintaining or harm-reducing behaviors. Our objective was to analyze the psychometric quality of the Harm Reduction Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (HRSEQ) with the Rating Scale Model (RSM), an extension of the Rasch Model for polytomous items. Methods Participants were 419 drug dependents from both harm reduction low threshold methadone program and therapeutic community programs in Portugal (84.5% male). Results Indicate that the original 11-category response system did not work adequately in any of the HRSEQ situations (Withdrawal, Negative emotions and Social pressure). There was no gender-related or group-related DIF and thus the findings of neither group nor gender-related difference in harm reduction self-efficacy cannot be plausibly attributed to that technical problem. Conclusions After recoding the rating scales by collapsing the eleven categories into four, the HRSEQ scores show good model fit and psychometric adequacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]