Research using a refinement of existing measures of mood, the UWIST Mood Adjective Checklist (UMACL), is reviewed. A factor analysis (N = 388), using a validated criterion for assessing the number of factors to be extracted, confirmed that the UMACL measures dimensions of energetic arousal, tense arousal and hedonic tone. Psychometric properties of UMACL scales were satisfactory. Discriminant validity was established by showing that correlations between UMACL scales and demographic and personality variables were small in magnitude, though of theoretical importance. Significant correlations between the arousal scales and psychophysiological measures of autonomic arousal demonstrate concurrent validity. A series of studies shows that the UMACL scales are sensitive to external ' stressors '. Specific influences on each of the three principal scales have been found.Certain stressors appear to evoke a more general stress syndrome associated with reduced energetic arousal and hedonic tone, and increased tense arousal. This paper presents psychometric and validation evidence on a refinement of existing adjective checklist measures of mood, the UWIST Mood Adjective Checklist (UMACL). The impetus for its development was provided by psychometric deficiencies or limitations in scope of existing instruments, described below. In the first section we discuss a factor analysis of 388 subjects' responses and other psychometric data, the second discusses demographic, personality trait and state correlates of the UMACL scales, and the third section reviews studies of effects of stressors on the UMACL. The paper has an empirical focus, with mood being defined here as an emotion-like experience lasting for at least several minutes. This definition distinguishes mood from cognitive evaluations per se, and from brief, phasic emotional responses to evaluations (Mayer, 1986). The factor structure of moodRecent research on the dimensionality of self-reported moods or emotional states

Reports study of the effects on 6 tasks of time of day, extraversion, and self-report arousal. We selected tasks to test processing resource explanations of interactive effects of extraversion and arousal on performance. Significant interactive effects of time of day, extraversion, and arousal on performance consistent with previous research were found with 2 tasks. One of these tasks was attentional (speed of serial reaction), the other required short-term memory (digit span). The interactions we found do not support the common assumption that effects of extraversion on performance are mediated by arousal. Also, the task specificity of the Extraversion × Arousal interactions is inconsistent with existing processing resource theories of personality. An alternative hypothesis, which resolves these difficulties, is that time of day, extraversion, and arousal interactively affect stimulus encoding at an early stage of analysis.

Personality and cognitive predictors of mail coding were investigated in 2 samples, 1 of high coding ability (N = 56) and 1 of mixed ability (N = 158). Two approaches to predicting correlates of skill within groups of differing ability were compared: Ackerman's (1988) ability theory, and Norman and Shallice's (1985) account of levels of action control. The predictors of mail-coding skill varied with ability: Personality variables were more predictive among higher ability subjects, and cognitive measures were more predictive among lower ability subjects. Implications of the findings for theories of individual differences in skill are discussed. There were 2 main practical conclusions. First, the measures used were more predictive than a standard psychometric selection test. Second, correlates of skill may be different among unselected job applicants and among the subset of applicants hired for subsequent operational training.

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