Effects of Response Option Order on Likert-Type Psychometric Properties and Reactions

The effects of different response option orders on survey responses have been studied extensively. The typical research design involves examining the differences in response characteristics between conditions with the same item stems and response option orders that differ in valence—either incrementally arranged (e.g., strongly disagree to strongly agree) or decrementally arranged (e.g., strongly agree to strongly disagree). The present study added two additional experimental conditions—randomly incremental or decremental and completely randomized. All items were presented in an item-by-item format. We also extended previous studies by including an examination of response option order effects on: careless responding, correlations between focal predictors and criteria, and participant reactions, all the while controlling for false discovery rate and focusing on the size of effects. In a sample of 1,198 university students, we found little to no response option order effects on a recognized personality assessment vis-à-vis measurement equivalence, scale mean differences, item-level distributions, or participant reactions. However, the completely randomized response option order condition differed on several careless responding indices suggesting avenues for future research.

Language acquisition and identity-making: Applied theatre as a mediating practice with Syrian refugees in Europe

This article addresses the potential use of applied theatre in facilitating new language acquisition among refugees who are resettled in European countries such as Germany. The article charts the applied theatre work carried out by one of the authors with Syrian refugees in Europe, with a special focus on participant reactions to the host country’s expectations surrounding language acquisition and identity-making. The authors challenge current ‘integration’ practices that prioritize focused language learning as a major indicator for the refugees’ re-nationing process, arguing for higher consideration of the trauma surrounding displacement, especially when refugees have first arrived in their host community.

Job-Seeker Reactions to Rejection Emails

The authors examined participant reactions to rejection emails. Those participants who evaluated emails that provided information in an interpersonally-sensitive manner with an opportunity for future interaction reported significantly higher attitudes toward the recruiter than did those who evaluated emails that were low in information sensitivity and interactivity. In addition, the effect of email type on word-of-mouth intentions toward the company was mediated by participant attitudes toward the recruiter. These results provide implications for organizations that are focusing on the efficiency-oriented benefits of using applicant tracking system at the expense of job-seekers' reactions and for individual recruiters who may be concerned about the effect of organization practices on their professional brand.

Population Genomic Screening for Genetic Etiologies of Neurodevelopmental/Psychiatric Disorders Demonstrates Personal Utility and Positive Participant Responses

Genomic variants that cause neurodevelopmental/psychiatric disorders (NPD) are relatively prevalent and highly penetrant. This study aimed to understand adults’ immediate responses to receiving NPD-related results to inform inclusion in population-based genomic screening programs. Nine recurrent, pathogenic copy number variants (CNVs) were identified from research exome data, clinically confirmed, and disclosed to adult participants of the Geisinger MyCode Community Health Initiative DiscovEHR cohort by experienced genetic counselors. A subset of in-person genetic counseling sessions (n = 27) were audio-recorded, transcribed, and coded using a grounded theory approach. Participant reactions were overwhelmingly positive and indicated that an NPD genetic etiology was highly valuable and personally useful. Participants frequently reported learning disabilities or other NPD that were not documented in their electronic health records and noted difficulties obtaining support for NPD needs. Most intended to share their genetic result with family members and health care providers and were interested in how their result could improve their healthcare. This study indicates that results from population-based NPD genomic screening can provide personal value for adults with NPD, were viewed positively by participants, and could improve clinical outcomes by informing symptom monitoring for NPD and co-morbidities, promoting improved health behaviors, and enhancing psychotherapeutic approaches.

Participant Reactions to Suicide-Focused Research

Background: Concerns exist regarding the perceived risks of conducting suicide-focused research among an acutely distressed population. Aims: The current study assessed changes in participant distress before and after participation in a suicide-focused research study conducted on a psychiatric inpatient unit. Method: Participants included 37 veterans who were receiving treatment on a psychiatric inpatient unit and completed a survey-based research study focused on suicide-related behaviors and experiences. Results: Participants reported no significant changes in self-reported distress. The majority of participants reported unchanged or decreased distress. Reviews of electronic medical records revealed no behavioral dysregulation and minimal use of as-needed medications or changes in mood following participation. Limitations: The study's small sample size and veteran population may limit generalizability. Conclusion: Findings add to research conducted across a variety of settings (i.e., outpatient, online, laboratory), indicating that participating in suicide-focused research is not significantly associated with increased distress or suicide risk.

Reactions to homosexual, transgender, and heterosexual public displays of affection

At least two factors may influence reactions to public displays of affection (PDA): personal level of comfort with PDA and attitudes toward sexual minorities. In three studies, we measured participants’ reactions to videotaped heterosexual, homosexual, and transgender PDA. A measure was created to evaluate comfort with PDA. Across all studies, we found that comfort with PDA predicted participant reactions toward PDA. We also found that participants were generally comfortable with viewing all PDA scenarios, but participants were most comfortable viewing heterosexual PDA and least comfortable viewing transgender PDA. Finally, we found that multiple measures of homophobic attitudes predicted reactions to PDA featuring sexual minorities.

Participant Reactions to Medical Screening: A Survey of Satisfaction With the C8 (PFOA) Health Project

We report participant perceptions of the 2005–2006 C8 Health Project, a massive medical monitoring effort in response to perfluorooctanoic acid (C8) in West Virginia and Ohio. The C8 Health Project consisted of a health survey ( n = 69,030), blood testing for ten per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and 50+ laboratory tests ( n = 66,899). A randomly selected subgroup was surveyed in 2007 on (1) demographics (2) satisfaction with the project, and (3) perceptions of outcomes such as contribution to personal/family, community health, and links to health outcomes. The response rate was 573/1500 (38.2 percent). Most (92.7 percent) characterized their participation experience as “excellent” or “good,” and most (96.2 percent) considered the project very “important,” “important,” or “moderately important.” No demographic variable predicted important changes in satisfaction or perception of project importance. We conclude that responses to the survey indicate strong positive assessments of project benefits.

Pre-print

Understanding in the field of face perception is borne from advances in computer graphics techniques. Here, a new and fully data-driven algorithm is introduced for studying the social perception of the face, termed face regression. Given a set of photographs representing facial texture, coordinates delineating facial shape, and measured social traits, the algorithm learns relationships between each dimension of the faces (pixel values and coordinate points) and their associated social traits. Using the learned weights, the algorithm is capable of predicting faces of any score for any or all of the modelled traits, allowing for a fine-grained examination of facial features associated with social traits when compared to common facial averaging and transforming methods. In two applications, the algorithm addresses theoretical concerns with common methodologies in face perception, and demonstrates its utility through its ability to recreate face averages, and isolate the actual appearances associated with social traits. Perceptual validation experiments indicate participant reactions differ between composite images and those generated through face regression, giving novel insight to the function of social perception. A dedicated software package for utilising the algorithm is introduced, and future applications are discussed.

Influence of Group Composition on Participant Reactions to Training: A Study in an Indian Power Transmission Organization

Investments in organizational training and its evaluation is important in recent times. One of the most popular models of training evaluation is the four-level model developed by Kirkpatrick. It includes participant reactions (Level I), extent of learning (Level II), the extent of transfer of training through appropriate behaviour (Level III) and improvement in organization performance (Level IV). Despite its overwhelming use in the industry, organizations have frequently gathered data on Level I of this model only. While extant literature researched on factors affecting participant reactions; group composition influences merited scant attention. To address this gap, the current study conducted at an Indian power transmission organization, focused on the influence of group composition on participant reactions to training of a programme titled ‘Empowering Self for Better Performance’. Reaction data were collected from all the 120 participants who attended the programme. Data analyses pointed out to significant resultant differences in perception on two major dimensions of reaction—programme content and programme duration among participants with differences in age, organizational tenure, job position and educational qualifications. Our results not only provide empirical credence to the importance of group composition in influencing participant reactions but also bear implications for training design of millennials and soft skills programmes in heterogenous groups.