The authors conducted a Monte Carlo simulation of 8 statistical tests for comparing dependent zero-order correlations. In particular, they evaluated the Type I error rates and power of a number of test statistics for sample sizes (Ns) of 20, 50, 100, and 300 under 3 different population distributions (normal, uniform, and exponential). For the Type I error rate analyses, the authors evaluated 3 different magnitudes of the predictor-criterion correlations (rho(y,x1) = rho(y,x2) = .1, .4, and .7). For the power analyses, they examined 3 different effect sizes or magnitudes of discrepancy between rho(y,x1) and rho(y,x2) (values of .1, .3, and .6). They conducted all of the simulations at 3 different levels of predictor intercorrelation (rho(x1,x2) = .1, .3, and .6). The results indicated that both Type I error rate and power depend not only on sample size and population distribution, but also on (a) the predictor intercorrelation and (b) the effect size (for power) or the magnitude of the predictor-criterion correlations (for Type I error rate). When the authors considered Type I error rate and power simultaneously, the findings suggested that O. J. Dunn and V. A. Clark's (1969) z and E. J. Williams's (1959) t have the best overall statistical properties. The findings extend and refine previous simulation research and as such, should have greater utility for applied researchers.

Previous research has examined the connoted hazard of various colour and signal words separately. The purpose of the present research was to examine the interaction of signal words and colours. Two separate experiments examined the influence of colour on perceptions of hazard and on compliance to printed warnings. In experiment 1, a sample of 30 undergraduates rated the perceived hazard of signal words printed in specific hazard colours. Results indicated that the level of hazard varied as a function of the signal word and the colour in which it was presented. Of the colours used, red conveyed the highest level of perceived hazard followed by orange, black, green and blue. More importantly, it was noted that a signal word such as DEADLY connoted less hazard when printed in green than in red ink. Experiment 2 examined the effect of colour on compliance with printed warnings. Sixty-five undergraduates interacted with a pool-water test kit and a two-part adhesive. The warning on each product was factorial for colour (i.e. red, green and black). Behavioural compliance was assessed by indicating if subjects donned protective gloves as directed by the warning. The data indicated that warnings printed in red resulted in a higher proportion of compliant behaviour than green and black combined. Implications for warning design are discussed.

One hundred eighty-eight drug-abusing and conduct-disordered adolescents and their parents provided retrospective reports of the youths' frequency of alcohol and illicit drug use for each of the 6 months preceding their initial session in an outpatient treatment program. Youths' and parent reports of youths' drug and alcohol use for each month were similar. For marijuana and alcohol, frequency reports were related for each month, whereas hard drug reports were related only for the 4 months preceding intake. Relationships among alcohol and hard drug reports were strong during Months 1, 2, and 4 preceding intake, whereas strength of relationship among marijuana reports was similar throughout the 6 months.

No abstract

The purpose of the study was to assess differences in color preferences between the sexes. A sample of 193 retirees were asked to report their favorite colors. The pattern of frequencies for preferred color differed as a function of sex. Blue was chosen as the most preferred color by both sexes. Women preferred black and purple more than men did. Moreover, the men preferred red over pink, whereas the women preferred red and pink equally. The rank order of color preferences for this elderly group were very similar to the findings of Silver, et al. who sampled young adults in 1988.