Margaret W Pryer

Biographic Data

ID1426567
NAMEMargaret W Pryer
GIVEN NAMESMargaret W
FAMILY NAMEPryer
SIGNATUREPRYER M W
AFFILIATIONSCentral Louisiana State Hospital, Pineville
VERIFIEDNo
TOTAL WORKS28
TOTAL CITATIONS2
AUTHOR COUNT28
EDITOR COUNT0
FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR1957
LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR1988
H-INDEX1

  • Comparative Validities of Two Cognitive Ability Tests in Predicting Work Performance and Training Success of Psychiatric Aides

    Open AccessM K Distefano, Margaret W Pryer et al.ARTICLEEducational and Psychological…1988

    Two cognitive ability tests were evaluated using 98 state hospital psychiatric aides to determine if the use of both tests would improve the predictive validity. A verbal ability test used in the selection process correlated .20 (p .05) and with training scores was .49 (p

  • Evaluation of Selected Interview Data in Improving the Predictive Validity of a Verbal Ability Test with Psychiatric Aide Trainees

    Open AccessM K Distefano, Margaret W PryerARTICLEEducational and Psychological…1987

    From 13 objective interview items, five with adequate response variability were studied to determine if they would improve the validity of a verbal ability selection test in predicting the work performance of 181 psychiatric aide trainees. Multiple regression analysis revealed that a combination of three of the interview variables (prior work experience, education, and age) improved the selection test validity of .27 (p

  • Factorial Assessment of Rated Work Performance with Entry Level Psychiatric Aides

    Open AccessM K Distefano, Margaret W PryerARTICLEPsychological Reports1986

    A principal-components factor analysis of a 54-item work-performance rating scale with 173 entry-level psychiatric aides yielded three interpretable factors, Factor I: charting, record-keeping, and basic nursing care, Factor II: general work habits and compliance with rules, and Factor III: therapeutic interaction with patients. Comparisons of factorial and conceptual scoring methods yielded no differences in verbal-selection test/work-performanc…

  • Verbal Selection Test and Work Performance Validity with Aides from Three Psychiatric Hospitals

    Open AccessM K Distefano, Margaret W PryerARTICLEPsychological Reports1985

    This study demonstrated the use of meta-analysis within a study to assess validity with samples of psychiatric aides from three state hospitals where the usual method of pooling samples was inappropriate. The mean weighted correlation between the modified Personnel Tests for Industry—Verbal Test and total scores on the work performance rating scale across samples ( N = 173) was .23 (cumulative p = .001), which increased to .47 when corrected for …

  • Meta-Analysis of the Validity of a Verbal Ability Selection Test with Psychiatric Aides

    Open AccessM K Distefano, Margaret W PryerARTICLEPsychological Reports1984

    This study demonstrated an application of Schmidt-Hunter meta-analysis procedures to cumulate validities from three studies with small samples of psychiatric aides obtained over time in a single organization. The mean correlation weighted for sample size between a verbal ability selection test and a job-relevant training criterion across samples ( N = 320) was .62 ( p < .01). The variance in the individual correlations was not significantly great…

  • Factor Structure of a Clients' Satisfaction Scale with Psychiatric Inpatients

    Open AccessM K Distefano, Margaret W Pryer et al.ARTICLEPsychological Reports1983

    A principal-components factor analysis of the responses of 119 psychiatric inpatients to a 28-item clients satisfaction questionnaire yielded two interpretable factors that accounted for 52% of the total variance. The first factor concerned general satisfaction with the treatment and staff and the second factor focused on satisfaction with the activities and environment. The results of other factor studies were reported, and the methodological in…

  • Clients' Satisfaction and Rehospitalization among Psychiatric Patients

    Open AccessMargaret W Pryer, M K Distefano et al.ARTICLEPsychological Reports1982

    A clients' satisfaction questionnaire was given to 135 psychiatric patients in a state hospital. A 6-mo. follow-up of released patients indicated no significant difference in satisfaction between patients requiring rehospitalization and those not requiring rehospitalization. The results were consistent with previous research which has suggested that clients' satisfaction with treatment services may be relatively independent of other outcome measu…

  • Ability, Training Performance, and Demographic Factors in Voluntary Turnover among Psychiatric Aides

    Open AccessM K Distefano, Margaret W PryerARTICLEPsychological Reports1982

    This longitudinal study of voluntary turnover among psychiatric aides in a state hospital compared aides who left during the first year of employment with those who stayed on measures of ability, training performance, and demographic variables. No significant differences between stayers and leavers were found on two tests selecting for general ability and a post-training job knowledge test, but significant differences were found on race and sex (…

  • Clients' Satisfaction and Interpersonal Trust among Hospitalized Psychiatric Patients

    Open AccessM K Distefano, Margaret W Pryer et al.ARTICLEPsychological Reports1981

    A questionnaire on clients' satisfaction was given to 40 psychiatric patients in a state hospital program. Responses showed generally high satisfaction (74%). Comparisons with earlier surveys in the same program suggested that feedback of results to the program staff without concentrated efforts by management to induce change may not be sufficient to improve reported satisfaction by patients. Clients' satisfaction correlated .43 with Rotter's Int…

  • Attitudinal, Demographic, and Outcome Correlates of Clients' Satisfaction

    Open AccessM K Distefano, Margaret W Pryer et al.ARTICLEPsychological Reports1980

    48 hospitalized psychiatric patients were given a client satisfaction scale, the Future Outlook Inventory, the Opinions About Mental Illness Scale, and the Client Attitude Questionnaire. Clients' satisfaction correlated .39 with future outlook and —.34 with mental hygiene ideology on the OMI Scale. Satisfaction was not significantly correlated with the other mental health attitudes measured by the two scales. Satisfaction also was not related to …

  • Psychiatric Patients' and Staff's Perceptions of Clients' Satisfaction with Hospital Services

    Open AccessM K Distefano, Margaret W Pryer et al.ARTICLEPsychological Reports1980

    A client satisfaction scale was given to 30 psychiatric patients and 15 staff in a state hospital program. A correlation of .75 was found between staff perceptions of clients' satisfaction and the patients' reported satisfaction. Clients' satisfaction was not significantly correlated with scores on the I-E scale or Future Outlook Inventory but correlated .34 with age and —.35 with length of time in the hospital

  • Follow-up of Mental Health Attitudes of Psychiatric Aides after Training

    Open AccessM K Distefano, Margaret W PryerARTICLEPsychological Reports1979

    The Opinions About Mental Illness Scale was administered to 28 psychiatric aides who were followed up 24 to 39 mo. after completion of a basic aide training program. Changes in attitude after training were stable at follow-up on three factors. Data suggested that the unfavorable change on one factor was associated with the post-training work experience of these aides

  • Effects of Training on the Mental Health Attitudes of Black and White Psychiatric Aides

    Open AccessMargaret W Pryer, M K DistefanoARTICLEPsychological Reports1978

    The Opinions About Mental Illness Scale was administered to 71 newly hired psychiatric aides before and after a basic training program. Significant favorable change in attitude for the total group of aides was found on 4 of the 5 attitude factors. Comparisons of black ( N = 26) and white ( N = 45) aides in attitude change indicated no significant differential effects of training on attitudes of the 2 racial groups

  • General Ability and Opinions about Mental Illness among Psychiatric Aides

    Open AccessM K Distefano, Margaret W PryerARTICLEPsychological Reports1978

    Preemployment general ability tests have been found to be significant predictors of post-training mental health knowledg: of psychiatric aides (2). No attempt has been made to determine if performance on general ability tests is related to post-training mental health attitudes. Since research with the Opinions About Mental Illness Scale (1) has indicated more favorable attitudes to be associated with higher mental health knowledge scores (4), a s…

  • Relationship between Opinions about Mental Illness and Mental Health Knowledge among Psychiatric Aides

    Open AccessMargaret W Pryer, M K DistefanoARTICLEPsychological Reports1977

    The Opinions About Mental Illness Scale and a job-related mental health knowledge test were administered to 61 psychiatric aides in a mental hospital. Scores on the knowledge test were significantly correlated with four favorable attitudes. Correlations between subtest scores on the knowledge test and various attitude factors suggested possible differential relationships between certain types of mental health knowledge and specific attitudes

  • Effects of Brief Alcoholism Training on General Hospital Personnel

    Open AccessM K Distefano, Stella H Craig et al.ARTICLEPsychological Reports1975

    A brief (31-hour) training program on alcoholism was provided by state mental hospital staff for 27 general hospital personnel. Pre- and post-training comparisons were made on a 20-item opinions about alcoholism scale and a 26-item test designed to measure knowledge of how to interact with alcoholics in a more positive, therapeutic manner. The results indicated that the program significantly improved both staff attitudes and knowledge

  • Discrepancies in patient and family reasons for readmission of chronic mental patients

    Open AccessThomas E Deikek, Margaret W PryerARTICLEJournal of Community Psychology1974References: 10

  • Short-term follow-up evaluation of a rehabilitation program for multiple readmission psychiatric patients

    Open AccessMargaret W Pryer, M K DistefanoARTICLEJournal of Community Psychology1973References: 4

  • Orientation and Job Success of Mental Hospital Patients

    Open AccessM K Distefano, Margaret W Pryer et al.ARTICLEPsychological Reports1966

    A follow-up study of 43 mental hospital patients in a Vocational Rehabilitation program indicated a significant relationship between successful job placement and orientation toward work. Successfully placed patients were higher in Task-Orientation and lower in Self-Orientation than unsuccessful placements

  • Task-Orientation, Persistence, and Anxiety of Mental Hospital Patients with High and Low Motivation

    Open AccessM K Distefano, Margaret W PryerARTICLEPsychological Reports1964

    Much emphasis is now being given to the rehabilitation of the chronic hospitalized mental patient. One of our efforts involves the use of a Vocational Rehabilitation Unit. Approximately half of the patients in the Vocational Rehabilitation Program have been in the hospital for 2 yr. or more. Perhaps one of their crucial problems is motivation. The present study explores whether certain tests can discriminate between patients of high motivation (H…

  • Group Effectiveness and Consistency of Leadership

    Margaret W Pryer, Austin W Flint et al.ARTICLESociometry1962

    The purpose of the present analysis is to examine empirically the significance of early effectiveness of a leader on his subsequent success in influencing others. Seventeen five-man groups of R.O.T.C. sophomores were tested for admission to Advanced R.O.T.C. by an objective method for studying group behavior and measuring successful and effective leadership. If a member had been an effective leader earlier, then the group should currently tend to…

  • Serial Position Effects in Superior and Retarded Subjects

    Open AccessCharles D Barnett, Norman R Ellis et al.ARTICLEPsychological Reports1960

  • Note on Habit Formation in Normal and Retarded Subjects

    Open AccessNorman R Ellis, Margaret W Pryer et al.ARTICLEPsychological Reports1960

  • Experimental Manipulation of Verbal Behavior in Defectives

    Open AccessCharles D Barnett, Margaret W Pryer et al.ARTICLEPsychological Reports1959

    Although the empirical basis of contemporary reinforcement theory consists largely of data on infrahuman Ss, there has been a strong tendency among psychologists to extend the principles to human behavior. One of the more notable attempts has been Skinner's treatment of verbal behavior ( 5 ) . According to this view, language is a form of operant behavior, highly contingent upon reinforcement parameters. A testable implication of the position is …

  • Some Effects of Feedback on Behavior in Groups

    Margaret W Pryer, Bernard M BassARTICLESociometry1959Cited by: 2

    A theory of leadership (1) builds upon the application of the empirical law of effect. Leadership evolves partly as a function of the differential ability of members to reinforce or reward the group to make the group more effective to its members. The present study examined the significance of knowledge of results, independent of its reinforcing effects on content learning, to the objectively assessed performance of members and their interaction