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In this study, we explored the temporal stability of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI), which has not been comprehensively reexamined since it was first published. Our three specific aims were to determine the utility of PAI indicators of basic protocol validity (inconsistent responses [ICN] and highly unusual/unlikely responses [INF]) in identifying suspect responding; calculate the stability coefficients for each PAI scale and subscale across 3-, 6-, and 9-week spans; and explore whether profile stability across four measurements could be prospectively predicted. We administered the PAI to a sample of undergraduates (N = 579) at four separate timepoints. ICN and INF effectively identified likely attriters and inconsistent responders. All PAI full scales and subscales evidenced good test–retest reliability, with some small exceptions. Finally, all PAI clinical scales were correlated with profile instability although many of these correlations were no longer significant when controlling for mean clinical elevation of the profile. We interpreted these results as evidence for the utility of PAI validity scales, the temporal reliability of the PAI, and the role of psychopathology in response variability over time. We also discussed some preliminary evidence that this variability can be prospectively predicted, suggesting that it in part reflects substantive changes rather than random error variance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retrieving information from memory, compared with different control conditions, improves subsequent retention of that information. Given the ubiquitous demonstration of this retrieval practice effect, researchers have asked whether such benefit is moderated by individual-difference variables. An implicit assumption in individual-difference research is that the retrieval practice effect at the participant level is reliable across participants. In this study, we tested this reliability assumption. In two sessions, 54 participants studied foreign–native word pairs, repeatedly restudied half of the word pairs, repeatedly retrieval-practised the other half, and, finally, took a final test for all pairs. Different word pairs were used in each session. We replicated the retrieval practice effect at the group level in Sessions 1 (d = 0.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.27, 0.80]) and 2 (d = 0.79 [0.53, 1.05]). In addition, we found that the retrieval practice effect at the participant level was reliable over a 1-week span both for absolute agreement, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) =.33 [.12,.51], and for consistency estimates, ICC =.35 [.14,.53]. The result bridges a gap in the literature of individual differences on the retrieval practice effect. We suggest that future studies identify whether, and under which experimental conditions, the retrieval practice effect at the participant level may show even greater reliability estimates than the ones reported here. The finding may also pave the way for studies assessing whether the magnitude of the retrieval practice effect is domain-general or paradigm-specific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the concentration and stability of crime patterns at microplaces primarily examines years as the temporal unit of observation. This study examines temporal patterns between months to explore the impact of the modifiable temporal unit problem (MTUP). We analyzed 26,555 violent crime incidents reported to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department from a 60-month observation period and geocoded these incidents to 14,106 street segments. Street segments with crime experienced these incidents across a small number of months and there is much variability in which locations are hot spots between months. Only a small number of street segments experienced a seasonal pattern between months with most locations having complete instability or unpredictability in the months when crime does occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although moral dilemma judgments are influenced by a variety of situational factors, there is evidence for considerable disagreement between individuals. Using the CNI model to disentangle (a) sensitivity to consequences, (b) sensitivity to moral norms, and (c) general preference for inaction versus action in responses to moral dilemmas, the current research examined the temporal stability of individual differences along the three dimensions. Across two time points 1 month apart, sensitivity to consequences (r =.81) and sensitivity to norms (r =.84) showed high levels of stability that were comparable to the Big Five personality traits; general preference for inaction versus action showed lower stability (r =.41). Exploratory analyses revealed reliable associations between the three dimensions of moral dilemma judgments and three of the Big Five (extraversion, agreeableness, openness). Together, these findings provide evidence for stable individual differences in moral dilemma judgments that are related to basic personality traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of Granger causality is an important tool in applied macroeconomics. Recently, recursive econometric methods have been developed to analyze the temporal stability of Granger-causal relationships. This article offers an implementation of these recursive procedures in Stata. An empirical example illustrates their use in analyzing the temporal stability of Granger causality among key U.S. macroeconomic series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy (LSRP) scale is a self-report measure that can be used to assess psychopathic traits in community samples, and recent research suggested that its three-factor model (Egocentricity, Callousness, and Antisocial) has promising psychometric properties. However, no study to date has validated the LSRP in a longitudinal framework. The present study sought to validate the LSRP scale in a longitudinal design using a sample of Dutch emerging adults (n s = 970 and 693 at time points 1 and 2, respectively). We assessed longitudinal measurement invariance and the stability of psychopathic traits over an 18-month time period, from age 20 to age 21.6. Furthermore, we replicated and extended findings on the factor structure, reliability, and construct validity of the Dutch LSRP scale. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the three-factor model fit the data well. Evidence of partial longitudinal measurement invariance was observed, which means that the Dutch translation of the LSRP scale is measuring an equivalent construct (and overall latent factor structure) over time. Psychopathic traits were relatively stable over time. The three LSRP subscales showed largely acceptable levels of internal consistency at both time points and showed conceptually expected patterns of construct validity and predictive validity, with a few notable exceptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cross-linked polymers with chromophore fragments built-in main chains can, depending on their structure and synthesis conditions, keep during a long time the orientation of chromophores that is necessary to create new organic polymer materials demonstrating nonlinear optical properties. The present work is devoted to cross-linked polymers on the basis of di-, tri-, and tetraglycidyl ethers of quercetin-8-sulfonic acid sodium salt (3,5,7,3′,4′-penthahydroxyflavon-8-sulfonic acid sodium salt) which were synthesized, and then, poled in electrical field of corona discharge. Study of thermal, optical, and nonlinear optical parameters of the polymer films was carried out. It was found that the polymers obtained from di- and triglycidyl ethers of quercetin-8-sulfonic acid sodium salt are characterized by the higher values of macroscopic quadratic susceptibilities comparing with such a value for polymer obtained from tetraglycidyl ether of quercetin-8-sulfonic acid sodium salt. However, the latter polymer demonstrates a minimal intensity of relaxation processes that evidence its highest long-term stability, and thus, could be used as a nonlinear optical material. It is supposed that the difference of the nonlinear optical properties is due to peculiarities of intermolecular interactions in physical network of the polymers, namely, to the difference between numbers of hydrogen bonds formed by hydroxyl groups of chromophore fragments and number of hydrogen bonds linked of inter fragmental parts of the polymeric chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People differ in their sleep timings that are often referred to as a chronotype and can be operationalized as mid-sleep (midpoint between sleep onset and wake-up). The aims of the present studies were to examine intraindividual variability and longer-term temporal stability of mid-sleep on free and workdays, while also considering the effect of age. We used data from a 2-week experience sampling study of British university students (Study 1) and from a panel study of Estonian adults who filled in the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire twice up to 5 years apart (Study 2). Results of Study 1 showed that roughly 50% of the variance in daily mid-sleep scores across the 14-day period was attributed to intraindividual variability as indicated by the intraclass correlation coefficient. However, when the effect of free versus workdays was considered, the intraindividual variability in daily mid-sleep across 2 weeks was 0.71 the size of the interindividual variability. In Study 2, mid-sleep on free and workdays showed good levels of temporal stability—the retest correlations of mid-sleep on free and workdays were 0.66 and 0.58 when measured twice over a period of 0-1 to 5 years. The retest stability of mid-sleep scores on both free and workdays sharply increased from young adulthood and reached their peak when participants were in late 40 to early 50 years of age, indicating that age influences the stability of mid-sleep. Future long-term longitudinal studies are necessary to explore how age-related life circumstances and other possible factors may influence the intraindividual variability and temporal stability of mid-sleep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many schools attempt to identify and service students at risk for poor mental health outcomes within a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS). Universal screening within a MTSS requires technically adequate tools. The Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavior Risk Screener (SAEBRS) has been put forth as a technically adequate screener. Researchers have examined the factor structure, diagnostic accuracy, criterion validity, and internal consistency of SAEBRS data. However, previous research has not examined its temporal stability or replicated the criterion validity results with a racially/ethnically diverse urban elementary school sample. This study examined the test–retest reliability, convergent validity, and predictive validity of teacher-completed SAEBRS ratings with racially/ethnically diverse group students enrolled in first through fifth grade in an urban elementary school. Reliability analyses resulted in significant test–retest reliability coefficients across four weeks for all SAEBRS scales. Furthermore, nonsignificant paired samples t tests were observed with the exception of the third-grade Emotional subscale. Validity analyses yielded significant concurrent and predictive Pearson correlation coefficients between SAEBRS ratings, oral reading fluency, and office discipline referrals. Limitations and implications of the results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex relationship between crime and economic change has had a long pedigree in criminological research. This article considers the temporal stability of the Cantor and Land model of unemployment and crime using a decomposition model of Canadian provinces, 1981 to 2009. We include multiple economic measures for a more comprehensive representation of economic performance, allowing for the estimates of long- and short-run unemployment effects to vary over time. We undertake this analysis considering 12 crime types, finding strong support for the Cantor and Land model in both property and violent crimes. However, in a number of cases, we find that there is significant variation of these relationships over time. This result implies that support for this model depends on the time period analyzed and that any policy derived from this model of unemployment and crime is time-period dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many human action sequences, such as speaking and performing music, are inherently rhythmic: Sequence events are produced at quasi-regular temporal intervals. A wide range of interindividual variation has been noted in spontaneous production rates of these rhythmic action sequences. Dynamical theories of motor coordination suggest that individuals spontaneously produce rhythmic sequences at a natural frequency characterized by minimal energy expenditure and maximal temporal stability, relative to other frequencies. We tested this hypothesis by comparing the temporal variability with which musicians performed rhythmic melodies at their natural spontaneous rate with variability in their performances at faster and slower rates. Musicians’ temporal variability was lowest during performances at their spontaneous rate; in addition, performers’ tempo drift during trials at other rates showed bias toward their spontaneous rate. This study provides the first direct evidence that spontaneous rates of motor coordination represent optimally stable natural frequencies of endogenous rhythms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A common assumption about implicit measures is that they reflect early experiences, whereas explicit measures are assumed to reflect recent experiences. This assumption subsumes two distinct hypotheses: (a) Implicit measures are more resistant to situationally induced changes than explicit measures; (b) individual differences on implicit measures are more stable over time than individual differences on explicit measures. Although the first hypothesis has been the subject of numerous studies, the second hypothesis has received relatively little attention. The current research addressed the second hypothesis in two longitudinal studies that compared the temporal stability of individual differences on implicit and explicit measures in three content domains (self-concept, racial attitudes, political attitudes). In both studies, implicit measures showed significantly lower stability over time (weighted average r = .54) than conceptually corresponding explicit measures (weighted average r = .75), despite comparable estimates of internal consistency. Implications for theories of implicit social cognition and interpretations of implicit and explicit measures are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite its popularity, few studies have assessed the temporal stability and cross-lagged effects of the Theory of Planned Behavior factors: Attitude, subjective norms and self-efficacy. For this study, 298 adolescent learners from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, filled out a Theory of Planned Behavior questionnaire on teenage pregnancy at baseline and after 6 months. Structural equation modeling showed that there were considerable cross-lagged effects between attitude and subjective norms. Temporal stability was moderate with test-retest correlations ranging from 0.37 to 0.51 and the model was able to predict intentions to have safe sex (R2 = 0.69) Implications for practice and future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research to study driver inattention as a trait-like variable and provide new evidence of validity for the Attention-Related Driving Errors Scale (ARDES). Topics discussed include use of ARDES can for measuring individual differences in driving inattention and as an instrument of driver self-assessment in educational and training; driver distraction as cause of automobile collisions; and evaluation of relationship between inattention and social desirability bias.

This study focused on evaluating the temporal stability of self-reported and teacher-reported perceptions of students’ social and emotional skills and assets. We used a test–retest reliability procedure over repeated administrations of the child, adolescent, and teacher versions of the Social-Emotional Assets and Resilience Scales. Middle school students in Grades 6 through 8 reliably self-reported on their social and emotional competencies. In a similar vein, teacher ratings of students in Grades K through 5 also showed strong temporal stability. Although all samples and versions of this scale demonstrated temporal stability, multiple administrations of the child self-report version of the SEARS showed evidence of the mean score of the initial administration being significantly lower than what was obtained on later administrations. Implications for further research and development efforts are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The Career Decision-Making Profile (CDMP) questionnaire is a multidimensional measure of the way individuals make career decisions, developed as an alternative to the single, most-dominant trait approach. Using a sample of freshmen students, the 2-week reliability (N = 273) and 1-year stability (N = 182) of the CDMP was tested for each of the 12 CDMP dimensions. The median Pearson correlation of the 12 dimensions was .81 for the 2-week test–retest and .62 for the 1-year test–retest. The structure of the 12 CDMP dimensions was compatible with the underlying model and stable across administrations. The median within-individual Pearson correlation across the 12 dimensions, reflecting the 2-week reliability and 1-year stability of the participants’ profiles, were .90 and .81, respectively. The career-decision adaptability (CDA) of individuals, referring to the quality of the way individuals approach and make career decisions, was derived from 6 of the 12 dimensions. The CDA was also found reliable (r = .99) and stable (r = .75). Implications for the assessment of the way individuals make career decisions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many concerns have been raised about the validity of the existing instruments measuring teachers’ efficacy. Recently, a new instrument to measure teachers’ perceived efficacy has been presented, namely, the Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale (TSES). The purpose of the present study is to examine the psychometric properties of the TSES in the Greek educational context. A total of 405 Greek secondary school teachers voluntarily participated in the study. A within-construct and between-construct approach was used to examine the validity and reliability of the Greek version of the TSES (factorial validity, internal consistency, temporal stability, and correlation with external criteria). Results are encouraging and seem to support the suitability of the TSES to assess teachers’ efficacy within the Greek educational context. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article tests whether individual differences in inferring one trait from another (intertrait inferences) can be linked to lay beliefs about the malleability of personality (person theories). It finds that holding the belief that personality is malleable (incremental theory) rather than fixed (entity theory) at the time of inferences is associated with less extreme inferences involving semantically related (but not unrelated) traits. Although person theories have been assumed to be stable over time, existing short-term test-retest coefficients do not capture their instability over a longer period. These results can illuminate interrater discrepancies in assessments of personality pathology and job performance, enrich understanding of such phenomena as stereotyping and impression formation, refine the interpretation of past research involving person theories, and inform research planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temporal stability of the effects induced by the Cued Reaction Time Task (CRTT) on the orienting of attention was assessed across four weekly sessions. Benefits, costs, and validity effects were computed for each session, and the correlation coefficients between each session were calculated (interindividual stability index). Intraindividual stability indices, the percentage of individuals showing both costs and benefits or the validity effect, were also calculated. The results (based on 41 participants) show a low stability for the effects in which the neutral trials were involved (benefits and costs) but an acceptable reliability for the validity effect, especially when evaluated using the intraindividual index. To maximize the reliability of the data collected using the CRTT, the validity effect seems to be a better probe of spatial orienting of attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently three studies have reported on the test-retest reliability of the Francis Scale of Attitude toward Christianity; however, these studies were limited to comparatively small samples (Ns = 39, 114, 58). The present study examined the temporal stability of the 7-item version of the Francis Scale of Attitude toward Christianity over a 15-week period among a sample of 581 English children aged between 10 and 12 years. Data demonstrated that stability across the two administrations was very high (r = .79); however, there was a significant change in mean scores between Time 1 and Time 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined three types of personality change and continuity (mean-level, individual-level, and rank-order stability) over the 2-year period in a nationally representative longitudinal sample of Estonian adolescents (N = 876) aged 12–18. According to the Reliable Change Index, 82.1% of adolescents maintained the same level on any given personality trait measured by the NEO Five-Factorial Inventory (NEO-FFI) indicating that the individual-level continuity of adolescents did not differ compared to young adults. A reliable increase was found in Openness. Across the five dimensions, the average test–retest correlations were 0.51, 0.56 and 0.67, and the computed biennial stability values were 0.80, 0.83 and 0.89 for age groups 12 → 14, 14 → 16 and 16 → 18 years, respectively. Neither intelligence nor school performance moderated the differential continuity. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]