The Eighth International Literacy & Education Research Network Conference on

SPETSES, GREECE
4-8 July 2001

Abstract

This paper summarizes data from two surveys replicating and extending recent studies relating to self-reported fears among samples of Australian secondary school-aged boys and girls. In the first study, adolescents responded to a prompt technique using King and Gullone's revised Fear Survey Schedule for Children (FSSC-II) and, as expected, those data were supportive of our previous findings. In the second study, participants were asked to generate their own fears and to respond to fear prompts (FSSC-II). Again, the prompt method replicated earlier data concerning sex and developmental differences. Comparatively, females and younger respondents reported greater intensity and frequency of fears than males and older teenagers. But when participants where asked to generate their own list of fears, age and sex disparities were not statistically significant and clear differences in fear content were noted. An implication of these data is that variations in self-reported fear is dependent on the method of measurement and that the validity of normative measures would be enhanced if complemented by ipsative information.

Bionote

I have published more than 60 refereed journal articles - mostly in educational and general psychology. My early work (PhD)was at the U of Alberta with J P Das and this research on simultaneous and successive syntheses has served as the theoretical basis for the Das and Kaufman cognitive processing instruments. My most recent interests are in fear and stress among school-aged children.

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Presentation Type
30min. Paper

Presentation Equipment and Other Requests
OHP

Speaking Date/Time Restrictions

Country
Australia