Psychological Reports, 1992, 70, 10. O Psychological Reports 1992
IMPULSIVITY IN PROBLEM STUDENTS ' JANICE SCHAEFFLER AND DAVID LESTER
Richard Stockton State College Summary.-16 high school students with behavioral problems showed less functional impulsivity than 32 normal students but were similar in dysfunctional impulsivity.
Finch, Saylor, and Spirito (1982) found that impulsivity among children was associated with the presence of behavior problems. To explore this association, a measure of functional and dysfunctional impulsivity (Dickman, 1990) was administered to 9 male and 7 female students at an alternative high school attended by those who had consistently broken the rules at their regular high schools and also given to 18 male and 14 female students at a regular high school. The mean age of the students was 17.0 yr. (SD = 0.9). The point-biserial correlations for problem and normal students were 0.22 on dysfunctional impulsivity and on functional impulsivity -0.2 1; neither value was statistically significant. However, sex was significantly associated with functional impulsivity scores (point biserial Y = 0.39), and the partial correlation coefficients controlling for sex were 0.22 with dysfunctional impulsivity (not significant) and -0.25 with functional impulsivity (one-tailed p < .05). Thus, the present analyses provided only weak support for the hypothesis that problem students showed more dysfunctional impulsivity and less functional impulsivity. REFERENCES DICKMAN,S. J. (1390) Functional and dysfunctional impulsivity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58, 95-102. FINCH,A. J., S A ~ O C R , F , & S P ~ OA., (1982) Impulsive cognitive style and impulsive behavior in emotionally disturbed children. Journal of Genetic Psychologv, 141, 293-294.
Accepted January 23, 1792.
'Address correspondence to Dr. D. Lester, Psychology Program, Richard Stockton State College, Pomona, NJ 08240.
IMPULSIVITY IN PROBLEM STUDENTS ' JANICE SCHAEFFLER AND DAVID LESTER
Richard Stockton State College Summary.-16 high school students with behavioral problems showed less functional impulsivity than 32 normal students but were similar in dysfunctional impulsivity.
Finch, Saylor, and Spirito (1982) found that impulsivity among children was associated with the presence of behavior problems. To explore this association, a measure of functional and dysfunctional impulsivity (Dickman, 1990) was administered to 9 male and 7 female students at an alternative high school attended by those who had consistently broken the rules at their regular high schools and also given to 18 male and 14 female students at a regular high school. The mean age of the students was 17.0 yr. (SD = 0.9). The point-biserial correlations for problem and normal students were 0.22 on dysfunctional impulsivity and on functional impulsivity -0.2 1; neither value was statistically significant. However, sex was significantly associated with functional impulsivity scores (point biserial Y = 0.39), and the partial correlation coefficients controlling for sex were 0.22 with dysfunctional impulsivity (not significant) and -0.25 with functional impulsivity (one-tailed p < .05). Thus, the present analyses provided only weak support for the hypothesis that problem students showed more dysfunctional impulsivity and less functional impulsivity. REFERENCES DICKMAN,S. J. (1390) Functional and dysfunctional impulsivity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58, 95-102. FINCH,A. J., S A ~ O C R , F , & S P ~ OA., (1982) Impulsive cognitive style and impulsive behavior in emotionally disturbed children. Journal of Genetic Psychologv, 141, 293-294.
Accepted January 23, 1792.
'Address correspondence to Dr. D. Lester, Psychology Program, Richard Stockton State College, Pomona, NJ 08240.
