A French Translation of the Revised Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index (CASI-R): Its Factor Structure, Reliability, and Validity in a Nonclinical Sample of Children Aged 12 and 13 Years Old.

in Psychologica Belgica (2013), 53(1), 57-74

This study (n = 237 Belgian children; mean age = 12.3 years; SD = 0.41) examined the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the French translation of the Revised Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity ... [more ▼]

This study (n = 237 Belgian children; mean age = 12.3 years; SD = 0.41) examined the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the French translation of the Revised Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index (CASI-R). We obtained a hierarchical factor structure with four lower-order factors – “fear of cognitive dyscontrol,” “fear of publicly observable anxiety reactions,” “fear of respiratory symptoms,” and “fear of cardiovascular symptoms” – loading on a single higher-order factor (“anxiety sensitivity”). The French translation revealed acceptable internal consistency and a good interitem structure. Anxiety sensitivity was connected with the anxiety and depression scales but the correlation between the CASI-R and the depression score was more modest than that between the CASI-R and the trait anxiety score, indicating that the CASI-R is an anxiety scale. Girls reported more fear of anxious feelings than boys. This revised version allows for a more fine-grained assessment of the anxiety sensitivity concept. [less ▲]

Measuring positive and negative occupational states at work : A structural and differential item functioning analysis

in Psychologica Belgica (2012), 52(1), 3-17

How to Statistically Show the Absence of an Effect

in Psychologica Belgica (2011), 51(2), 109-127

In experimental studies, the lack of statistical significance is often interpreted as the absence of an effect. Unfortunately, such a conclusion is often a serious misinterpretation. Indeed, non ... [more ▼]

In experimental studies, the lack of statistical significance is often interpreted as the absence of an effect. Unfortunately, such a conclusion is often a serious misinterpretation. Indeed, non-significant results are just as often the consequence of an insufficient statistical power. In order to conclude beyond reasonable doubt that there is no meaningful effect at the population level, it is necessary to use proper statistical techniques. The present article reviews three different approaches that can be used to show the absence of a meaningful effect, namely the statistical power test, the equivalence test, and the confidence interval approach. These three techniques are presented with easy to understand examples and equations are given for the case of the two-sample t-test, the paired-sample t-test, the linear regression coefficient and the correlation coefficient. Despite the popularity of the power test, we recommend using preferably the equivalence test or the confidence interval. [less ▲]

Learning a motor skill: Effects of Blocked vs. Random Practice. A review

in Psychologica Belgica (2011), 51(1), 15-48

Procedural learning refers to the ability to learn new perceptual, motor or cognitive skills. While many studies have explored procedural learning abilities in patients with different types of brain ... [more ▼]

Procedural learning refers to the ability to learn new perceptual, motor or cognitive skills. While many studies have explored procedural learning abilities in patients with different types of brain damage, the cognitive mechanisms involved in the acquisition of a new skill are still not well understood. The present review focuses on the conditions that optimize skill acquisition, and more specifically on the contextual interference effect (CIE), which refers to the advantage of a ‘random’ over a ‘blocked’ practice condition in skill learning tasks. According to both the ‘elaboration’ and ‘reconstruction’ hypotheses, the CIE can be explained by the fact that the random schedule requires more cognitive activity than the blocked one. However, if the CIE has been consistently demonstrated in laboratory studies, it is not so clear in fieldbased studies. We discuss this ‘laboratory and field dilemma’, and suggest that two main factors – task complexity and individual variables – may explain the discrepancy between the two types of studies. [less ▲]

Measuring positive and negative occupational states (PNOSI) : Structural confirmation of a new Belgian tool

in Psychologica Belgica (2009), 49(4), 227-247

This article reports on the validation of the Positive and Negative Occupational States Inventory (PNOSI), a new tool for measuring positive and negative occupational states. Three goals were defined ... [more ▼]

This article reports on the validation of the Positive and Negative Occupational States Inventory (PNOSI), a new tool for measuring positive and negative occupational states. Three goals were defined: testing the structural validity of the PNOSI, testing its stability, and testing its convergent and discriminant validity with engagement, burnout, commitment, and workaholism. Data were collected in seven different companies (more than 16,000 participants). The factorial validity of the PNOSI was demonstrated using covariance structure analyses. A two-factor model with a negative occupational state factor and a positive occupational state factor fitted the data better than an alternative one-factor model. The two corresponding scales demonstrated good internal consistency. The results confirmed that positive and negative occupational states are distinct constructs and should be measured with different items. Convergent and discriminant validity with related constructs, such as engagement, burnout, commitment, and workaholism, were also demonstrated. The conclusion is that the PNOSI has good psychometric properties. [less ▲]

The phenomenological diversity of hallucinations: Some theoretical and clinical implications

in Psychologica Belgica (2006), 46(1-2), 163-183

Event-related brain potentials in psychopathology: Clinical and cognitive perspectives

in Psychologica Belgica (2006), 46(1-2), 5-36

Since the discovery of the P300 component, a large number of studies have been conducted with the aim to find abnormalities of this psychophysiological marker among the main psychiatric disorders. The ... [more ▼]

Since the discovery of the P300 component, a large number of studies have been conducted with the aim to find abnormalities of this psychophysiological marker among the main psychiatric disorders. The first studies were very promising, but successive findings were rather controversial resulting in two main positions (the pros and the cons) as regard to the usefulness of P300 in clinical psychopathology. However, P300 studies provide interesting findings concerning information processing in psychopathology. Moreover, other Event-Related Potentials (ERPs), such as the Mismatch Negativity (MMN) and the Error-Related Negativity (ERN) are particularly interesting for the study of cognitive processes in psychopathology. In this review, the author will give an overview of the main findings of P300, MMN and ERN values in psychopathology from a clinical and a cognitive point of view. After a brief description of the rationale of ERPs, the findings in schizophrenia, depression, alcoholism, posttraumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder will be sequentially reviewed. The diagnostic usefulness of P300 in psychopathology is limited, but could be increased if variables known to influence P300 amplitude or latency are controlled. Doubtless, grouping two or more different ERP components would greatly improve the usefulness of the clinical applications of brain potentials. On the other hand, a growing number of studies have provided evidence of the relevance of ERPs to investigate cognitive processes in psychopathology. [less ▲]

Normative and psychometric data from the Body Image Assessment - Revised in a population of french-speaking women

in Psychologica Belgica (2002), 42(4), 227-249

This article concerns the creation of norms and the validation in French of the Body Image Assessment – Revised (BIA-R; Beebe, Holmbeck, & Grzeskiewicz, 1999). The sample comprised 100 normal female ... [more ▼]

This article concerns the creation of norms and the validation in French of the Body Image Assessment – Revised (BIA-R; Beebe, Holmbeck, & Grzeskiewicz, 1999). The sample comprised 100 normal female subjects. They completed questionnaires assessing body experience, eating pathology, psychological functioning, general perception and the BIA-R (Beebe et al., 1999). This test consists of nine silhouettes from which the subject has to choose the somatotype corresponding to her actual shape (cognitive response), the way she feels (affective response) and the way she would like to look (optative response). The results show a good concurrent validity for the cognitive and affective indices and the affective/ cognitive vs. optative divergences. On the other hand, we were not able to demonstrate such validity for the optative index and the affective vs. cognitive divergence index [less ▲]

Does the artificial grammar learning paradigm involve the acquisition of complex information?

in Psychologica Belgica (1997), 37(1-2), 69-88

Temporal reasoning and reasoning theories : a case study in anaesthesiology

in Psychologica Belgica (1993), 33(2), 311-328

The purpose of this article is to clarify the theoritical base necessary for the design of a computer-based simulation of temporal reasoning. Simulation allows a better understanding of phenomena that ... [more ▼]

The purpose of this article is to clarify the theoritical base necessary for the design of a computer-based simulation of temporal reasoning. Simulation allows a better understanding of phenomena that appear in working situations and even, understanding and preventing some human errors. In order ot illustrate theoritical concepts, we will provide examples of a situation in which the dynamic character of the evolution, the critical character of the planning and of the synchronization force temporal reasoning. This situation will be that of anaesthesia. [less ▲]