Spanish Scientists' Opinion about Science and Researcher Behavior.

We surveyed 348 Psychology and Education researchers within Spain, on issues such as their perception of a crisis in Science, their confidence in the quality of published results, and the use of questionable research practices (QRP). Their perceptions regarding pressure to publish and academic competition were also collected. The results indicate that a large proportion of the sample of Spanish academics think there is a crisis in Science, mainly due to a lack of economic investment, and doubts the quality of published findings. They also feel strong pressure to publish in high impact factor journals and a highly competitive work climate.

Knowledge level of effect size statistics confidence intervals and meta-analysis in spanish academic psychologists / Grado de conocimiento sobre los tamaños del efecto, intervalos de confianza y meta-análisis en psicólogos académicos españoles

BACKGROUND: The statistical reform movement and the American Psychological Association (APA) defend the use of estimators of the effect size and its confidence intervals, as well as the interpretation of the clinical significance of the findings. METHOD: A survey was conducted in which academic psychologists were asked about their behavior in designing and carrying out their studies. The sample was composed of 472 participants (45.8% men). The mean number of years as a university professor was 13.56 years (SD= 9.27). RESULTS: The use of effect-size estimators is becoming generalized, as well as the consideration of meta-analytic studies. However, several inadequate practices still persist. A traditional model of methodological behavior based on statistical significance tests is maintained, based on the predominance of Cohen's d and the unadjusted R2/η2, which are not immune to outliers or departure from normality and the violations of statistical assumptions, and the under-reporting of confidence intervals of effect-size statistics. CONCLUSION: The paper concludes with recommendations for improving statistical practice

ANTECEDENTES: el movimiento de la reforma estadística y la Asociación Americana de Psicología (APA) defienden el uso de estimadores del tamaño del efecto y sus intervalos de confianza, así como la interpretación de la significación clínica de los hallazgos. MÉTODO: se realizó una encuesta a psicólogos académicos sobre su conducta en el diseño y realización de estudios. La muestra estuvo compuesta de 472 participantes (45,8% hombres). La media en años como académico fue 13,56 (DT= 9,27). RESULTADOS: el uso de estadísticos del tamaño del efecto se está generalizando, también la consideración de los estudios meta-analíticos. Sin embargo, persisten prácticas estadísticas inadecuadas. Se mantiene un modelo tradicional de comportamiento metodológico basado en las pruebas de significación estadística, predominio de la d de Cohen, y del R2/η2 no ajustado que no son inmunes a la existencia de outliers y violaciones de las asunciones y un escaso uso de los intervalos de confianza de los estadísticos del tamaño del efecto. CONCLUSIONES: se concluye con recomendaciones para la mejora de la práctica estadística

Spanish Validation of the Polymorphous Prejudice Scale in a Sample of University Students.

The shortened version of the Polymorphous Prejudice Scale (PPS) analyzes new manifestations of prejudice toward gay men and lesbian women. Specifically, this instrument consists of 16 items distributed in four subscales: values gay progress, positive beliefs about gay men, positive beliefs about lesbian women, and resistance to heteronormative expectations. The aim of the current study is to add new evidence about the reliability and validity of the scale. The scale is administrated to 348 heterosexual university students from Spain with a mean age of 22.62 years (SD = 7.63). Reliability and factorial validity estimates are presented. A four-factor structure is supported using confirmatory factor analysis (short version). Our results can be useful in planning variables for intervention programs designed to foster the tolerance and normality of sexual diversity.

Knowledge level of effect size statistics, confidence intervals and meta-analysis in Spanish academic psychologists.

BACKGROUND: The statistical reform movement and the American Psychological Association (APA) defend the use of estimators of the effect size and its confidence intervals, as well as the interpretation of the clinical significance of the findings. METHOD: A survey was conducted in which academic psychologists were asked about their behavior in designing and carrying out their studies. The sample was composed of 472 participants (45.8% men). The mean number of years as a university professor was 13.56 years (SD= 9.27). RESULTS: The use of effect-size estimators is becoming generalized, as well as the consideration of meta-analytic studies. However, several inadequate practices still persist. A traditional model of methodological behavior based on statistical significance tests is maintained, based on the predominance of Cohen’s d and the unadjusted R2/η2, which are not immune to outliers or departure from normality and the violations of statistical assumptions, and the under-reporting of confidence intervals of effect-size statistics. CONCLUSION: The paper concludes with recommendations for improving statistical practice.

Intimate Partner Violence in Self-Identified Lesbians: A Systematic Review of Its Prevalence and Correlates.

This article presents the first systematic review on intimate partner violence (IPV) in self-identified lesbians in same-sex couples. Studies published from January 1990 to December 2013 were analyzed. Of the 687 studies reviewed, 59 were preselected, of which 14 studies were selected that met the inclusion and methodological quality criteria. A summary is presented of the characteristics of the studies, the participants, the prevalence of IPV victimization and perpetration, and its correlates. All the studies were carried out in the United States and used a nonprobabilistic sampling method. The majority of participants were White with a high educational level. The results indicate that all the forms of violence occur, but the most prevalent is emotional/psychological violence. The correlates positively associated with IPV are certain personality characteristics, fusion, previous IPV experience, a family history of violence, and alcohol consumption. This review finds significant limitations in the analyzed literature. Methodological recommendations are made for future studies.

Interpretation of the p value: A national survey study in academic psychologists from Spain.

BACKGROUND: Incorrect interpretations of p values affect professionals’ decisions and jeopardize the quality of psychological interventions and the accumulation of valid scientific knowledge. This study analyzes the errors made by Spanish academic psychologists in interpreting p values. METHOD: We surveyed academic psychologists about their interpretations of p values. The sample is composed of 418 academic psychologists from Spanish public universities. The mean number of years working as a university professor is 14.16 (SD = 9.39). RESULTS: Our findings suggest that many academic psychologists do not know how to correctly interpret p values. The inverse probability fallacy presents the greatest comprehension problems. Methodology instructors also interpret the significance of the p value erroneously. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the importance of the statistical re-education of professors.

Interpretation of the p value: A national survey study in academic psychologists from Spain / Interpretación del valor p: una encuesta nacional entre profesores españoles de Psicología

BACKGROUND: Incorrect interpretations of p values affect professionals' decisions and jeopardize the quality of psychological interventions and the accumulation of valid scientific knowledge. This study analyzes the errors made by Spanish academic psychologists in interpreting p values. METHOD: We surveyed academic psychologists about their interpretations of p values. The sample is composed of 418 academic psychologists from Spanish public universities. The mean number of years working as a university professor is 14.16 (SD = 9.39). RESULTS: Our findings suggest that many academic psychologists do not know how to correctly interpret p values. The inverse probability fallacy presents the greatest comprehension problems. Methodology instructors also interpret the significance of the p value erroneously. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the importance of the statistical re-education of professors

ANTECEDENTES: las interpretaciones incorrectas de los valores p afectan a las decisiones de los profesionales y ponen en peligro la calidad de las intervenciones psicológicas y la acumulación de conocimiento científico válido. Este estudio analiza los errores de interpretación del valor p y su interpretación correcta entre el profesorado de las universidades de Psicología de España. MÉTODO: se encuestó a profesores universitarios sobre sus interpretaciones de los valores p. La muestra está compuesta por 418 profesores de Psicología de las universidades públicas españolas. La media de años como profesor universitario es 14,16 (DT = 9,39). RESULTADOS: nuestros hallazgos sugieren que muchos profesores universitarios no saben interpretar correctamente los valores de p. La falacia de la probabilidad inversa presenta los mayores problemas de comprensión. Los profesores de Metodología también cometen errores de interpretación del valor p. CONCLUSIONES: estos resultados resaltan la importancia de la re-educación estadística de los profesores

Etiology of homosexuality and attitudes toward same-sex parenting: a randomized study.

Attribution theory suggests the hypothesis that heterosexuals' attitudes toward homosexual sexual orientation will be more negative when homosexuality is attributed to controllable causes. Our randomized study analyzed (a) whether beliefs about the genetic or environmental etiology of the homosexual sexual orientation can be immediately modified by reading a text and (b) the causal effect of attributions about the controllability (environmental etiology) or noncontrollability (genetic etiology) of homosexual sexual orientation on the rejection of same-sex parenting and their social rights. The sample was composed of 190 Spanish university students with a mean age of 22.07 years (SD = 8.46). The results show that beliefs about the etiology of the sexual orientation could be modified by means of a written text. Furthermore, participants who believed that sexual orientation had a genetic etiology showed greater support for social rights and less rejection of same-sex parenting. However, the effects were detected only when there was a traditional opposition to the family with same-sex parenting. When the opposition was normative, the effect was not statistically significant. Our results can be useful in planning variables for intervention programs designed to foster tolerance toward and normality of sexual diversity.

Beliefs about children's adjustment in same-sex families: Spanish and Chilean university students

The main purpose of our study is to compare the beliefs of Spanish and Chilean university students about the effects that same-sex parents might have on their children. A total of 491 participants completed the study (208 Spaniards and 283 Chileans). The results indicate a kind of modern and subtle rejection based on hetero-normativity. Furthermore, the results indicated the effects of sex (men have a greater degree of rejection), traditional and sexist opinions linked to a greater rejection of same-sex parents, and the contact variable which inversely correlates with this rejection. The results show that the etiology of homosexual orientation also correlates with rejection of same-sex parents when it is believed that homosexuality is learned or can be changed (AU)

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Beliefs about children's adjustment in same-sex families: Spanish and Chilean university students.

The main purpose of our study is to compare the beliefs of Spanish and Chilean university students about the effects that same-sex parents might have on their children. A total of 491 participants completed the study (208 Spaniards and 283 Chileans). The results indicate a kind of modern and subtle rejection based on hetero-normativity. Furthermore, the results indicated the effects of sex (men have a greater degree of rejection), traditional and sexist opinions linked to a greater rejection of same-sex parents, and the contact variable which inversely correlates with this rejection. The results show that the etiology of homosexual orientation also correlates with rejection of same-sex parents when it is believed that homosexuality is learned or can be changed.

A sustainable city environment through child safety and mobility-a challenge based on ITS?

Our cities should be designed to accommodate everybody, including children. We will not move toward a more sustainable society unless we accept that children are people with transportation needs, and 'bussing' them around, or providing parental limousine services at all times, will not lead to sustainability. Rather, we will need to make our cities walkable for children, at least those above a certain age. Safety has two main aspects, traffic safety and personal safety (risk of assault). Besides being safe, children will also need an urban environment with reasonable mobility, where they themselves can reach destinations with reasonable effort; else they will still need to be driven. This paper presents the results of two expert questionnaires focusing on the potential safety and mobility benefits to child pedestrians of targeted types of intelligent transportation systems (ITS). Five different types of functional requests for children were identified based on previous work. The first expert questionnaire was structured to collect expert opinions on which ITS solutions or devices would be, and why, the most relevant ones to satisfy the five different functional requests of child pedestrians. Based on the first questionnaire, fifteen problem areas were defined. In the second questionnaire, the experts ranked the fifteen areas, and prioritized related ITS services, according to their potential for developing ITS services beneficial to children. Several ITS systems for improving pedestrian quality are discussed. ITS services can be used when a pedestrian route takes them to a dangerous street, dangerous crossing point or through a dangerous neighborhood. An improvement of safety and other qualities would lead to increased mobility and a more sustainable way of living. Children would learn how to live to support their own health and a sustainable city environment. But it will be up to national, regional and local governments, through their ministries and agencies and public works departments, to promote, fund, and possibly mandate such systems. It is clear that we need to offer an acceptable level of convenience, efficiency, comfort, safety and security to pedestrians but it is less clear if society will prioritize resources toward this.

A scale on beliefs about children's adjustment in same-sex families: reliability and validity.

In this study, we developed a new instrument named Scale Beliefs about Children's Adjustment on Same-Sex Families (SBCASSF). The scale was developed to assess of the adults' beliefs about negative impacts on children who are raised by same-sex parents. An initial pool of 95 items was generated by the authors based on a review of the literature on homophobia and feedback from several focus groups. Research findings, based on a sample of 212 university students (mean age 22 years, SD = 8.28), supported the reliability and validity of the scale. The final versions of the SBCASSF included items reflecting the following two factors: individual opposition (α = .87) and normative opposition (α = .88). Convergent validity of the scale is demonstrated by predictable correlations with beliefs about the cause of same-sex sexual orientation and the support for gay and lesbian rights. Our study reveals a strong positive association between high scores on SBCASSF and beliefs that the origin of same-sex sexual orientation is learned and opposition to gay and lesbian rights.

Errores de interpretación de los métodos estadísticos: importancia y recomendaciones / Interpretation mistakes in statistical methods: their importance and some recommendations

Trabajos empíricos previos han identificado las opiniones de los investigadores respecto de las pruebas de significación y de otros recursos estadísticos, algunas de estas opiniones resultan totalmente inaceptables. En esta investigación comprobamos el grado en que estos errores aparecen en una muestra española de profesores e investigadores de universidad mediante la aplicación de un cuestionario. Los datos obtenidos son importantes para: a) la prevención de interpretaciones inadecuadas; b) la corrección de usos incorrectos; c) el análisis de alternativas posibles; y d) proponer cambios editoriales en los criterios de publicación

Prior research has identified some of the most common misconceptions on how researchers interpret the results of significance tests. In this study, we examine the scope of these misconceptions in a sample of university professors and researchers from Spain on the basis of a short questionnaire. The obtained results provide important information: i) to prevent wrong interpretation from the data, ii) to correct the wrong use of statistical testing, iii) to suggest new ways of examining the data, and iv) to propose some modifications on the editorial criteria to publish scientific work

[Interpretation mistakes in statistical methods: their importance and some recommendations]. / Errores de interpretación de los métodos estadísticos: importancia y recomendaciones.

Interpretation mistakes in statistical methods: Their importance and some recommendations. Prior research has identified some of the most common misconceptions on how researchers interpret the results of significance tests. In this study, we examine the scope of these misconceptions in a sample of university professors and researchers from Spain on the basis of a short questionnaire. The obtained results provide important information: i) to prevent wrong interpretation from the data, ii) to correct the wrong use of statistical testing, iii) to suggest new ways of examining the data, and iv) to propose some modifications on the editorial criteria to publish scientific work.

Factorial structure of recklessness: to what extent are older drivers different?

PROBLEM: This study tests whether the original factorial structure of a recklessness questionnaire can be maintained for the current Spanish population of older drivers. JUSTIFICATION: Our recent interest in dedicating special attention to senior citizen mobility (Monterde, 2001), is due to the impending increase of the aging population in Western countries; this has led us to reinitiate the psychometric study of the construct validity, revising and including older drivers in the psychometric aspects of those evaluation instruments that will then be used in the Spanish psycho-medical check of drivers and in research. METHODS: Factorial analysis was used to determine validity. RESULTS: There was an appearance of a different psychological pattern in elderly drivers, specifically, a psychological anxiety trait related to the task of driving. Furthermore, interesting data were found about the attitude of this sector toward the "traffic society" and toward some of the measures included in Spanish legislation that affect especially older drivers (such as the psycho-medical check). IMPACT ON INDUSTRY, RESEARCH AND PRACTICE: These results suggest the possible existence of some kind of "compensation phenomenon," which could have influence over the scores obtained and their interpretation. Consequently, the evaluation instruments should be tested and, if necessary, adapted or specifically created for use with this age group.

Tratamientos psicológicos con apoyo empírico y práctica clínica basada en la evidencia / No disponible

La investigación sobre el efecto de los tratamientos psicológicos ha ido progresando desde una postura de validación y apoyo empírico hasta su formulación como un modelo de práctica basada en la evidencia. Encontrar la evidencia más válida, desarrollar teorías coherentes y comprensibles, trabajar con clínicos expertos y reconocer la importancia del paciente permitirá componer un modelo que facilite el avance del conocimiento sobre los tratamientos psicológicos más eficaces (AU)

The investigation on the effect of psychological treatments has gone progressing since a position of validation and empirical support to its formulation as a model of practice based on the evidence. To find the most valid evidence, develop understandable and coherent theories, work with clinical experts and recognize the importance of the patient will permit to compose a model that facilitate the advance of the knowledge on the most efficacy psychological treatments (AU)