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Biomedical subjects

W E Hensley

Publications and source records attributed to W E Hensley.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

The measurement of height.

Small differences in height seem to be related to large differences in life outcomes, necessitating the accurate measurement of this variable in studies of the impact of physical attributes. The present study investigated a procedure that uses the desired height of an individual. Results indicated that the desired-height method provided measurements that closely approximated actual height. It is noted that the proposed measurement technique was normed on young adults and may not generalize to other populations.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Height as a basis for interpersonal attraction.

Beginning with the observation of a male-taller basis in date/mate selection, this study investigated a complementary vs. a step function in choosing a dating partner. In addition, the relative advantages or disadvantages of height were examined for both genders in the dating marketplace. Our sample of college students (N = 594) indicated that while we may use a complementary standard in hypothetical date selection, the actual height of a chosen person is more likely to be made on a step function. Second, there appears to be no dating consequences for a female in a height-related sense, but taller males do enjoy a noticeable dating advantage. Finally, there appears to be a "ceiling effect" demonstrated here for the first time; the height advantage for a male seems to diminish when he is taller than six feet. Suggestions are offered which integrate the present findings into past research.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Message valence, familiarity, sex, and personality effects on the perceptual distortion of height.

The perceptual distortion of height was examined in a group of American male and female college student volunteers (n = 139). A message which announced either good or bad news was delivered by a familiar or unfamiliar person who was either male or female. After hearing the message, the students were asked to estimate the height of the communicator. Additionally, the variables of self-esteem and independence of judgment were measured. Results indicated that familiarity with the message source (p less than .0025) as well as sex of the communicator (p less than .024) were predictors of the perceptual distortion of height, but message valence was not. Neither self-esteem nor independence of judgment was functionally related to the proclivity to distort the heights of the communicators.

Affect↗
PubMed1977

Probability, personality, age, and risk taking.

Male and female college (n=22) and high school (n=18) students were presented information concerning probability and were also measured on the personality variables of independence of judgment, response set, Machiavellianism, and open-mindedness. An investigation of the risky shift phenomenon revealed that an understanding of probability did not vitiate the shift toward greater risk. Age was shown to be functionally related to risk taking, the teen years showing greater proclivity for risk than later years. Independence of judgment emerged as a powerful predictor of initial risk; Machiavelianism bore no relationship to risk taking. Both of these findings concerning personality variables were at odds with earlier work. An interpretation of contextual interaction was advanced as a possible explanation.

Adolescent↗