PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

S B Hillman

Publications and source records attributed to S B Hillman.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Power of the independent samples t test under a prevalent psychometric measure distribution.

Studies in psychology often have low power because of inadequate sample size. Thus, recent articles in this journal have suggested making sample size determinations through readily available tables that are based on population normality. Questions have been raised on the use of these power tables because prevalent psychometric distributions, such as the discrete mass at zero with gap that occurs with first use or onset variables, are radically nonnormal. In addition to demonstrating the robustness of the independent samples t test with respect to type I error, the major finding of this study shows that researchers may use these power tables without modification for this radically nonnormal distribution.

Adolescent

Multidimensional differences between adolescent substance abusers and users.

High-school-aged adolescents responded to a 48-item survey about their substance use. From an original sample of 190 respondents, groups were created through consequence variables (e.g., school, family, medical, and legal problems) into abuse (n = 41) and use (n = 115) categories. Variables were organized along multidimensional lines: stimulus (e.g., frequency of substance use, use in school), organismic (e.g., age, grade), and response (e.g., driving a car while under the influence). From 27 comparisons of the abuse and use groups 16 significant differences emerged.

Adolescent

Maternal employment and early adolescent substance use.

Research stimulated by increases in maternal employment has focused primarily on children, even though mothers of adolescents are more likely to be employed. It is adolescents who experience developmental changes that promote participation in adult behaviors in advance of their abilities. This study investigated the effects of maternal employment on the use of alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, and other substances by early adolescents. A sample of ninth-grade students responded to a 48-item survey about their substance use behavior. A comparison of maternal employment patterns (full-time vs. part-time/not employed outside the home) indicated no significant differences in substance use behavior. These results confirmed and extended the growing literature regarding the nonharmful effects of maternal employment on adolescent adjustment and behavior.

Alcohol Drinking