This article proposes an extension of dominance analysis that allows researchers to determine the relative importance of predictors in logistic regression models. Criteria for choosing logistic regression R 2 analogues were determined and measures were selected that can be used to perform dominance analysis in logistic regression. A simulation study, using both simple random sampling from a known population and bootstrap sampling from a single (parent) random sample, was performed to evaluate the bias, sampling distribution, and confidence intervals of quantitative dominance measures as well as the reproducibility of qualitative dominance measures. Results indicated that the bootstrap procedure is feasible and can be used in applied research to generalize logistic regression dominance analysis results to the population of interest. The procedures for determining and interpreting the general dominance of predictors in a logistic regression context are illustrated with an empirical example.

This study describes responses of 172 single heterosexual African American men, ages 18-35, to condom negotiation attempts. Strategies used included reward, coercive, legitimate, expert, referent, and informational strategies, based on Raven's (1992) influence model. The purpose was: 1) to identify strategies influencing participant acquiescence to request, and 2) to identify predictors of participant compliance/refusal to comply with negotiation attempts. Participants viewed six videotape segments showing an actress, portrayed in silhouette, speaking to the viewer as a 'steady partner'. After each segment, participants completed measures of: request compliance, positive and negative affect, and attributions concerning the model and themselves. No significant differences were found in men's ratings across all vignettes. However, differences in response existed across subgroups of individuals, suggesting that while the strategy used had little impact on participant response, the act of suggesting condom use produced responses that differed across participant subgroups. Subgroups differed on levels of AIDS risk knowledge, STD history, and experience with sexual coercion. Also, the "least-willing-to-use" subgroup was highest in anger/rejection and least likely to make attributions of caring for partner. Effective negotiation of condom use with a male sexual partner may not be determined as much by specific strategy used as by partner characteristics.Interventions to assist persons in reducing risk for HIV infection have drawn upon a number of behavioral science theories, such as the Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1991); social cognitive and self-efficacy theory (Bandura, 1988); the Information-Motivation-Behavior model (Fisher & Fisher, 1992); and the AIDS Risk Reduction Model (Catania, Kegeles, & Coates, 1990). Although these theories approach the issue of HIV risk behavior changes from different perspectives, they all posit that behavioral skills-including the ability to communicate condom use requests with sexual partners--are important determinants of success in risk reduction behavior change.State-of-the-art skills building interventions aimed at promoting HIV risk reduction behavior change have often emphasized the acquisition of sexual assertiveness, communication, and negotiation skills to be used with sexual partners. Methods often used to teach these skills

Aim This is a report of a correlational study to test the Integrated Theory of Health Behaviour Change within the context of postpartum weight self-management including the impact of race/ethnicity and weight classification. Background Women experiencing childbirth face increasing challenges to manage their weight postpartum. Little is known about women’s weight self-management during the complex physiological and psychosocial transition of the postpartum period. Methods Data were collected during the birth hospitalization and 4 months postbirth during 2005 and 2006. A quota sample of 250 postpartum women using two strata, race/ethnicity and prepregnant weight classification, were enrolled; 179 women completed the follow-up survey. A survey questionnaire measured concepts from the Integrated Theory of Health Behaviour Change concepts, including knowledge and beliefs (self-efficacy, outcome expectancy and goal congruence), self-regulation skills and abilities, and social facilitation (social support and social influence) and the proximal outcome of weight retention. Factor analysis identified 5 factors consistent with the theoretical concepts that accounted for 47·1% of total survey variance. Results Model testing using path analysis explored the relationship among factors. The final model explained 25·7% of the variance in self regulation at 4 months, but did not explain weight retention. The contribution of select concepts to total variance was different for Caucasian and African American women, but not by weight classification. Conclusions Findings support use of theoretical concepts and relationships to understand postpartum weight self-management. The different relationships among concepts in Caucasian and African American women should be considered in planning targeted postpartum weight self-management interventions.

Variance among interviewers in prior research reflects that answers provided by respondents and recorded on questionnaires varied depending on which interviewer was assigned to the respondent. For scores from the 36-mo. In-Home Longitudinal Study of Pre-School Aged Children, a special module in the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, variance among interviewers was evident for the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-IIIA and clearly affected inferences made from test data. When variance among interviewers was ignored, mothers' perception of neighborhood closeness was significantly related to childrens' standardized PPVT-IIIA scores; however, when variance among interviewers was accounted for statistically, this effect was not significant.

Variance among interviewers in prior research reflects that answers provided by respondents and recorded on questionnaires varied depending on which interviewer was assigned to the respondent. For scores from the 36-mo. In-Home Longitudinal Study of Pre-School Aged Children, a special module in the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, variance among interviewers was evident for the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-IIIA and clearly affected inferences made from test data. When variance among interviewers was ignored, mothers' perception of neighborhood closeness was significantly related to childrens' standardized PPVT-IIIA scores; however, when variance among interviewers was accounted for statistically, this effect was not significant.