bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transfer of Dominance in Speed of Verbal Response to Visually Presented Stimuli from Right to Left Hemisphere
Authors: Gordon H. W. , Carmon A.
Published: September 2011

Transfer of cerebral dominance from the right to the left hemisphere was demonstrated for a response-time task of verbal naming of novel, visually presented symbols. Four sets of stimuli were used: (1) familiar numbers in the typical Arabic script; (2) Gothic-like numbers; (3) binary numbers presented in a form using dots rather than digits; and (4) symbols taken from the Digit Symbol subtest of the WAIS. Stimuli from each of these four sets were quickly flashed unpredictably to either the left or right visual half-field. Response latency was measured until the subject repeated vocally the name of the number represented by the symbol. The results show that the new symbols, e.g., binary numbers and symbols, were recognized faster by the right hemisphere at the beginning of the test session and by the left hemisphere toward the end. By contrast, numbers in familiar script showed no such hemisphere shift; dominance was constant and remained in the left hemisphere throughout. It was hypothesized that the recognition ability of the right hemisphere produced the initial superiority of the left field whereas the encoding function of the left hemisphere produced the switch to the right field. The suggestion is advanced that the new symbols used in the present study are not much different a priori than symbols normally used for language, i.e., letters, words, and therefore the abilities of the right hemisphere may be critical in acquisition of reading before and concurrently with acquisition of general language skills by the left (language) hemisphere.
Stimulus Uncertainty and Reaction Time for Identification and Recognition
Authors: Gravetter Frederick J.
Published: September 2011

The process of stimulus identification was examined by comparing reaction times for two identification tasks. In Exp. 1, 12 subjects made manual responses for 2, 4, and 6 stimulus alternatives in a simple identification condition and in a matching condition which required a unique identity for each stimulus but not a unique response. In Exp. 2, 16 subjects made verbal responses in each condition. Results from both experiments showed that stimulus uncertainty directly affected RT for identification but had no significant effect on matching. It was concluded that the time required to recognize the identity of a stimulus is essentially independent of stimulus uncertainty, while response selection is directly dependent on uncertainty. Because this result was obtained for both verbal and manual responses, it was concluded that stimulus uncertainty primarily affects selection of responses rather than their execution.
Dimensional Salience and Short-Term Memory Recognition in Mentally Retarded Children
Authors: Swanson H. Lee , Watson Bill
Published: September 2011

The purpose of this investigation was to test the a priori assumption that three-dimensional materials facilitate short-term memory recognition in 10 educable mentally retarded children. Measures from signal detection theory were used to differentiate between strength of memory and response bias. Significantly better recognition was found with three-dimensional material than two-dimensional representations. Primacy and recency effects, as well as a response bias for middle positions, were found in both treatment conditions. Present findings support Haltom's (1970) hierarchy of stimulus salience.
Race of Examiner as a Variable in Test Attainments of Preschool Children
Authors: Hartson Ralph Scott John , Cunningham Mark
Published: September 2011

This study evaluated the effect of examiner's race on the preschool readiness attainments of 2- and 3-yr.-old black and white children. The findings indicate that except for performance in the large motor skill area in which black subjects secured higher scores with the white examiner, there were no significant race-of-examiner × race-of-child effects. Significant differences, associated with race of examiner, were identified in three skill areas but scores of both black and white children followed similar trends, which does not support the thesis that an examiner of the same race promotes children's improved performance. Results must be viewed in the context of home-centered testing of 2- and 3-yr.-old children. Also, regional differences may limit the extent to which generalizations may be made. Further research appears warranted, to determine the extent to which examiner influences more subtle than race, such as attitudes and expectations of an individual child's performance, may influence children's test scores.
Isolation of Information in Learning
Authors: Fafard Mary-Beth , Prehm Herbert J.
Published: September 2011

The effects of isolation of information in a word list was studied using 24 learning disabled children. Subjects learned a list of either high or low meaningful three letter words (e.g., BUS, XIB). Four types of isolation were studied: (a) no isolation, (b) meaningfulness isolation, (c) color isolation, and (d) a combination of color and meaningfulness isolation. Analysis indicated that the influence of type of isolation was dependent on the level of meaningfulness of the list learned. In highly meaningful lists color isolation produced the greater effect. In lists low in meaningfulness the isolation of a highly meaningful item was most effective. Learning disabled children who learned highly meaningful lists made more correct responses and fewer total errors than subjects who learned lists low in meaningfulness.
Discrimination of Stereometric and Planometric Displays by Pigeons
Authors: Cabe Patrick A.
Published: September 2011

Differences in ability to discriminate stereometric displays and planometric displays have been reported for monkeys. 16 pigeons trained with objects and pictures of objects (where object-picture transfer and object-picture discriminability were tested) showed no difference in ability to discriminate object pairs (stereometric displays) and picture pairs (planometric displays), whether object-picture transfer had been obtained or not. A possible explanation based on species-typical affordances is advanced.
The Limitation of Wholistic Visualization
Authors: Beech John R.
Published: September 2011

Subjects heard descriptions of arrays of objects and responded when they could no longer imagine all the objects simultaneously. This limitation was an inverted-U function of presentation rate. Subjects visualized a maximum of 5.4 objects at a presentation rate of 2.9 sec./object. Females visualized significantly more objects than males. No systematic effects emerged for ratings of confidence of achieving wholistic visualization or confidence of the decision made that a limit had been reached, as a function of presentation rate.
Cardiac Response to Internally and Externally Elicited Stressful Imagery as a Function of Field Dependence
Authors: Primakoff Laura , Goldberger Leo
Published: September 2011

The present study investigated heart-rate response to internally and externally elicited stressful imagery as a function of field dependence. 40 female undergraduates were divided into five field-dependent groups. Both the internal and the external modes of presentation included a stimulus block followed by an image block. The internal-stimulus block was an internally elicited thought, while the external-stimulus block was a visually presented typewritten statement. Half of the Ss within each field-dependent group experienced the external mode and half experienced the internal mode. A tone served as the time-locked cue to signal the thoughts and the images. The results indicated that the internal mode produced significantly greater heart-rate response than the external mode, and there was a trend toward field-independent Ss reacting with higher heart rate to both modes. These findings and trends are discussed in terms of the importance of internally elicited cognitive activity in the experience of fear, the Lacey hypothesis of directional fractionation, and the relationship between field dependence and various autonomic and personality characteristics.
Selective Hyperthermia and Reaction Time
Authors: Holt William R. , Brainard Edward C.
Published: September 2011

Two reaction time studies are reported in which subjects responded under conditions of selective hyperthermia. Wearing a helmet prototype, the cortical surface of the subject was thermally stressed to a level 1.11°C over baseline as measured by a thermocouple placed against the tympanic membrane. In a simple choice RT task, both reaction time and response variability were decreased compared to performance in either a control or placebo condition. Latency in Neisser's visual scanning task was also shortened under conditions of this thermal stress localized in the cortical region. In both cases, there was no observed decrement in accuracy or level of performance. Enhanced human performance resulting from the maintenance of cortical temperature above the normal diurnal range is implied.
Anxiety and Perceptual Articulation
Authors: Loo Robert , Cauthen Nelson R.
Published: September 2011

The study investigated Witkin's suggestion that low manifest anxiety is associated with relatively high perceptual articulation, whereas high anxiety is associated with relatively low perceptual articulation. Previous research typically has not provided adequate control for subjects' IQ; therefore, results may have been confounded by differences in subjects' ability. This study attempted to clarify the relationship between state and trait anxiety and perceptual articulation when IQ was controlled for 60 female subjects, who fell within a predetermined IQ range and were blocked into low, moderate and high A-Trait groups. Half of each group was assigned to either low or high ego-involving conditions. All subjects completed the Embedded-figures Test, Gestalt Completion and Concealed Words Tests. Contrary to Witkin, the study yielded no significant relationship between anxiety and perceptual articulation.
Visual Orientational Anisotropy and Stimulus Surround Effects in Discrimination of Spatial Numerosity
Authors: Lechelt Eugene C. , Tanne Gordon
Published: September 2011

Visual spatial numerosity perception was investigated as a function of spatial orientation and surround conditions. 3 to 13 dots arranged linearly in horizontal, vertical, or oblique orientations were presented for 200 msec. in either a square or circular stimulus field. For patterns with small numbers of dots (3 to 7), surround and orientation conditions did not substantially alter perceived number except vertical arrangements were judged as having reliably more dots than identical horizontal arrangements. For large dot-number patterns (8 to 13), surround significantly altered perceived number and left oblique linear arrangements were judged to have reliably more dots than equivalent arrangements in all other orientations.
Field Study of Risk-Taking Behavior of Automobile Drivers
Authors: Jackson Thomas T. , Gray Mc Cauley
Published: September 2011

The risk-taking behavior of automobile drivers, who were either alone or had passengers, was investigated by measuring the time spent waiting and the time interval before the next oncoming automobile while turning from a busy street without a stoplight. The results indicated that male drivers with same sex passengers had shorter wait times and drivers with mixed sex passengers had longer interval times.
Clothing as a Nonverbal Communicator of Sexual Attitudes and Behavior
Authors: Mathes Eugene W. , Kempher Sherry B.
Published: September 2011

To test the hypotheses that people believe that certain kinds and styles of clothing are indicative of liberal sexual attitudes and behavior and these beliefs are correct, questionnaires were filled out by 259 subjects. These questionnaires asked each subject for the frequencies with which he wore various items and styles of clothing, his attitude toward premarital sexual relations, the number of persons with whom he had had sexual relations, the frequencies with which he believed sexually liberal men and women wore various items and styles of clothing, and the frequencies with which he felt sexually conservative men and women wore various items and styles of clothing. Correlations showed that, although subjects believed that a large number of items and styles of clothing are indicative of liberal sexual attitudes and behavior, only a few items and styles actually were associated with liberal sexual attitudes and reported behavior.
Semantic Discrimination of Self-Mode-Related Words
Authors: Liebowitz Errol
Published: September 2011

59 undergraduates at Ohio University rated 44 words, presumed related to three hypothesized experiential referents of sense of self (body awareness, social role, and value), on the semantic differential. Factor analysis yielded five factors as opposed to the three predicted. Words related to the bodily referent clustered as did value referent words. A third set of words, thought related to the social role referent, however, showed no clear clustering patterns. Results are seen as offering but tentative support for Waterbor's “tripartite sense of self.” An alternate “bipartite sense of self” is suggested.
Anxiety, Task-Experience, and Vocal-Style of Judges as Determinants of Performer Confidence
Authors: Berg H. , Ebel H. C.
Published: September 2011

To examine the effect of umpiring vocal-manner on a performance-measure of confidence, 30 baseball players viewed a series of videotaped pitching-catching-umpiring sequences and rated confidence in their ability to hit each pitch. Matched sequences were presented under each of two controlled conditions: for Conventional, the umpire called “strikes” emphatically and “balls” in an indifferent manner; for Modified, this vocal-manner was reversed. A single Conventional (or, Modified) sequence embedded within a series of contrasting sequences and a “bad” pitch (clearly out of the strike-zone) were included as tests of the effectiveness of the experimental manipulation. Results indicated: (1) Modified umpiring enhanced confidence; (2) this effect was most prominent among highly experienced players; (3) low-anxiety players showed higher confidence under both conditions; (4) Modified sequences embedded within a Conventional background elicited significantly greater confidence than the background sequences.
Sex Cues in Estimating and Performing a Simple Motor Task
Authors: Ryan Timothy T. , Pryor Felicia A.
Published: September 2011

The present study examined direct behavioral effects of sex cues in a modified level of aspiration experiment for 60 male and 60 female undergraduates. Each S was provided a constant referent score (25), identified as the average score, average score for men, or average score for women. E's sex was controlled and its effects examined. Male Ss estimated and performed significantly higher than female Ss. All Ss provided the average score for men estimated and performed lower than Ss provided the average score for women. Effect of E's sex was nonsignificant. Results were discussed in terms of behavioral effects of sex-role stereotypes and the implications of such effects for future research.
A Multidimensional Scaling Analysis of Perceived Similarities of Rivers in Western Montana
Authors: Ullrich James R. , Ullrich Maureen F.
Published: September 2011

To investigate the usefulness of multidimensional scaling analysis, 24 canoeists and fishermen were asked to judge the degree of similarity between all possible pairings of 12 river sections in Western Montana. Using a multidimensional scaling method it was shown that perception of the river was based on a size dimension (physical breadth of the river) and altered vs natural dimension (pristine versus developed).
Wisc Characteristics of Reading Disabled Children Identified by Three Objective Methods
Authors: Muzyczka Marjorie J. , Erickson Marilyn T.
Published: September 2011

The WISC and Spache Reading Diagnostic Scales were administered to 119 third-grade children. Groups of reading disabled children were selected by three objective methods (Below Grade Level, Bond and Tinker, and the Erickson Z-score Discrepancy). The Below Grade Level and Bond and Tinker methods tended to identify the same children whose IQs and reading achievement scores were below average. The Z-score method identified children with IQs at or above the group average. Comparison of the poor readers with control groups matched for IQ and sex gave only minimal evidence for WISC subtest patterns as characteristic of poor readers.
Effects of Transcendental Meditation on Fine Motor Skill
Authors: Williams L. R. T. , Vickerman B. L.
Published: September 2011

46 college female volunteers were given 66 10-sec. trials on the pursuit rotor task in 3 practice sessions (18, 30, and 18 trials/session). After the first 18 trials, the 23 subjects who were practiced Transcendental Meditators meditated for a 20-min. period followed by a 5-min. “waking” phase prior to the performance of a further 30 trials on the rotor. A 4-min. rest was taken before resuming practice for the final 18 trials. The other 23 subjects, who were not meditators, followed the same procedures except instead of meditating they sat quietly with closed eyes. In terms of performance, learning, reminiscence and intra-individual variability, the two groups were similar. These results were not in accordance with the expectations that these parameters would reflect the facilitative effects of Transcendental Meditation on alertness, awareness, consistency, and resistance to stress. After the meditation session, inter-individual variability was increased for the meditation group. While the conclusion that the practice of Transcendental Meditation does not benefit acquisition of fine perceptual-motor skill appears strong, further investigation would assist in obtaining a more complete understanding of such effects on perceptual-motor behavior.
Predicted and Observed Activity Patterns in Campus Settings
Authors: Baird John C. , Noma Elliot , Nagy Jill N. , Quinn Joseph
Published: September 2011

In this study a time-sharing computer was used to obtain student predictions of the behavioral activities of others in familiar campus settings. Results were then compared with actual on-site observations of the same activities. Students accurately predicted the relative frequencies of different activities but overestimated absolute frequencies. Since predictions and observations were linearly related, however, it is possible to secure accurate behavioral information without incurring the procedural costs associated with direct observation.
Automated Assessment of Intelligence: The Tapac Test Battery and Computerized Report Writing
Authors: Gilberstadt Harold , Lushene Robert , Buegel Betty
Published: September 2011

The development of an automated system of intelligence testing and report writing is described based on the TAPAC apparatus administering the following tests: Shipley-Hartford Vocabulary, Raven Progressive Matrices, and Digit Span and Digit Symbol adapted from the WAIS. Samples of Minneapolis VA Hospital patients referred for assessment of possible deficit functioning were used in the development and cross-validation of the system. Results were transferred from the TAPAC apparatus to computer by punched cards. Predictive equations for WAIS Verbal, Performance, and Full Scale IQs are presented and a statement library for the computerized report writing is described. Computerized reports included predicted WAIS IQs and a six-paragraph report. Cross-validation consisted of ratings of 50 reports on organic and non-organic patients referred for consultation. Ratings were made by referring psychologists and indicated good clinical acceptance of the procedures. General significance of the approach is discussed.
Practice Effects for Auditory Localization: A Test of a Differentiation Theory of Perceptual Learning and Development
Authors: Russell Graeme
Published: September 2011

Practice and transfer of practice in an auditory localization task were observed for three different information conditions (normal, transformed and reduced) to examine four aspects of Gibson's (1969) differentiation theory of perceptual learning and development. Support was found for the propositions that: (i) dimensions of difference, rather than prototypes, are learned; (ii) specificity is a more appropriate response measure than number of correct responses; (iii) perceptual learning will occur regardless of whether feedback is given or not; (iv) transfer of practice will be greater if dimensions of difference (as opposed to prototypes) are learned. It was also found that feedback during practice did not affect transfer. In an apparent contradiction though, specificity increased in the absence of dimensions of difference. This increase was interpreted as being associated with the detection of non-task-related information and was seen as lending support to Gibson's hypothesis that, perceptual learning is motivated by intrinsic cognitive drive and is terminated by a reduction in subjective uncertainty.
Effect of Item Arrangement on Perceived Numerosity: Randomness vs Regularity
Authors: Ginsburg Norman
Published: September 2011

Subjects were shown pairs of dot patterns, a regular one and a randomly arranged set, and were asked to say which appeared more numerous. In three experiments using 53 college students regular patterns appeared significantly more numerous than random arrays, with an average illusion of 5.5%. The results were discussed in relation to the breakdown of conservation of number.
Three Studies of Personality: Undergraduate Students in Physical Education
Authors: Ruffer William A.
Published: September 2011

In Study I, 85 male undergraduate physical education majors were compared to the norms on the 1962 16 PF test; is were higher in ego strength, dominant, enthusiastic, practical, naive, self-assured, and group-dependent. In Study II, 50 similar Ss took the 1967 test and were lower in intelligence, higher in superego strength, and were more practical and controlled. In Study III, 39 similar female Ss took the 1967 test and were lower in intelligence, reserved, practical, and conservative. Centiles calculated from the raw scores showed the groups deviated from the normative groups by 15 points or more on some of these traits. Findings generally agree with previous work using the same instrument and disagree with common conclusions regarding fitness for teaching by other investigators using different instruments.
A Phonemic Permissibility Scale for Predicting Effort Ratings and Rates of Auditory Paired-Associate Learning of Words Foreign to a Language
Authors: Koutstaal C. W. , Smith O. W.
Published: September 2011

The phonemic permissibility scale of Smith and Koutstaal (1972) was extended to five categories to include CCVCs composed of phonemes foreign to American English. A monotonic function for effort ratings of CCVCs of the five categories was predicted and obtained ( N = 43). A logic for predicting relative rates of auditory paired-associate learning of words foreign to a language was proposed.
Performance of Retardates on the Stroop Color-Word Test
Authors: Bassett John E. , Schellman George C.
Published: September 2011

Institutionalized retardates were examined on a special format of a task requiring them to name the colors of 36 color patches and to name the color of the ink in which 36 incongruent color words were printed on separate cards. Mean reaction time for the incongruent condition was significantly longer than that for the color patches and the difference was independent of fatigue and stimulus size. The color-word interference effect previously reported with normal populations when given the Stroop test was demonstrated for this retarded sample using a special format.
Idiot Savants: Rate of Incidence
Authors: Hill A. Lewis
Published: September 2011

Based on the replies to a survey of 300 public residential facilities for the mentally retarded, an incidence rate for idiot savants was established. This rate of .06% is based on the reporting of 54 idiot savants within a population of 90,000 residents. Several reasons for caution in the acceptance of this incidence rate are discussed.
The Enigmatic Eidetic Image: A Reply to Gray and Gummerman
Authors: Giray Erol F. , Altkin Warren M. , Roodin Paul A. , Vaught Glen M.
Published: September 2011

Gray and Gummerman (1975) contended that eidetic imagery differs from visual-memory imagery only in quantitative aspects. There is evidence to controvert that argument and to support a theory of eidetic imagery as a qualitatively distinct phenomenon. It is proposed that eidetic imagery plays an essential role in early development and that superimposition methods are adequate for measurement of eidetic imagery in young children. It is further suggested that eidetic imagery is the precursor of iconic storage. The persistence of eidetic imagery in older children appears to be associated with some but not all forms of brain damage and may be overshadowed by more advanced memory imagery.
Alpha Asymmetry over the Right and Left Hemispheres of Stutterers and Control Subjects Preceding Massed Oral Readings: A Preliminary Investigation
Authors: Moore W. H. , Lang Mary K.
Published: September 2011

Interhemispheric alpha asymmetry of both stutterers and non-stutterers measured preceding each of five massed oral readings of the same material was investigated. Preliminary results indicated a reduction of alpha over the left hemisphere for non-stutterers, while a reduction for stutterers was found for the right hemisphere. Present results, together with other investigations using dichotic, tachistoscopic, and EEG procedures, suggest right hemispheric processing for the stuttering group as compared with left hemispheric processing for the non-stuttering group.
Psychomotor Rehearsal: Enhancement of Rotary-Pursuit Tracking Using a Massed-Training Procedure
Authors: Sterner Ray T. , Carpp Larry
Published: September 2011

Two groups of male volunteers ( n = 8/group) performed 14 10-min. sessions of either alternate 30-sec. rotary-pursuit tracking and rehearsal of tracking or rotary-pursuit tracking and object-slide naming (nonrehearsal). Ten-min. problem-solving tasks separated these sessions. Results showed that subjects in the rotary-pursuit/mental rehearsal group displayed significantly enhanced tracking performance relative to those in the rotary-pursuit/object slide group, i.e., mean time-on-target scores of 12.8 sec. and 8.9 sec. per trial, respectively.
Use of Operant-to-Operant Interval Data in the Applied Analysis of Academic Behavior
Authors: Willis Jerry , Gueldenpfenning Joerg , Smithy Deborrah
Published: September 2011

Two elementary school students worked in a programmed math text under three conditions: baseline, response cost, and bonus points. Data in the form of percent of time attending did not reflect changes in performance across conditions although the amount of work produced did vary considerably. To obtain greater precision, operant-to-operant intervals were obtained by having the subjects press a footswitch each time they completed a frame. The footswitch operated an event recorder. The results indicated operant-to-operant interval data were more sensitive than percent attending data and provided useful information not available through the attending data or the data based on total amount of work produced per session.
A Weight Illusion Produced by Lifting Movements
Authors: Davis Christopher M. , Taylor Margo , Brickett Paul
Published: September 2011

The perceived relative heaviness of objects was manipulated by instructing 13 subjects to lift them gently or vigorously. Objects lifted gently generally felt heavier than those lifted vigorously, as was predicted by the motor theory of weight judgment and the known behavior of proprioceptors. The time-order error was shown to be significantly related to lifting movements.
Influence of Cold Bath on Maximum Handgrip Strength
Authors: Johnson Dewayne J. , Leider Fred E.
Published: September 2011

12 female college students participated in a repeated-measures experiment, receiving an experimental treatment and a control treatment. The former was a 30-min. cold bath to the forearm while the control was a similar 30-min. period without the cold bath. Subjects' maximum handgrip strength was measured 11 times, immediately prior to treatment, immediately following treatment, and then every 20 min. for 3 hr. The subjects were tested at the same time of the day, on the same day of the week, for two consecutive weeks. Grip strength was significantly decreased immediately following the experimental treatment below pre-treatment measures and post-treatment measures for the control session. Grip strength during the experimental session significantly increased at 80 min. post-treatment when compared to the strength measures for the control at the same time interval or when compared to pre-treatment measures for either treatment. The strength measures for the two treatments remained significantly different over the rest of the testing occasions.
Correlational Study of McCarthy, Wisc, and Stanford-Binet Scales
Authors: Harrison Kenneth A. , Wiebe Michael J.
Published: September 2011

A correlational study of scores on the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children and the Stanford-Binet was conducted as an effort to demonstrate validity for the McCarthy scales. While the Binet IQ was related to the McCarthy Verbal score and General Cognitive Index, the WISC subtest scores and IQs were significantly related to McCarthy scale scores. The results indicated a lack of specificity among McCarthy scale index measures and an ambiguous definition of the General Cognitive Index.
School Environment and Values of Indian Children Estimated by Uses of Common Objects
Authors: Pandey Anirudh
Published: September 2011

In private and in central schools each 60 children 10 to 12 yr. of age were given Dennis' Uses Test. Private school children preferred the Sustentive value whereas central school children scored higher on the Benevolent, Malevolent, and Hedonistic values. Schools differed in socio-economic level and use of punitive measures.
Self-Esteem of Prisoners Committing Directly versus Indirectly Destructive Crimes
Authors: Yelsma Paul , Yelsma Julie
Published: September 2011

62 prisoners from a county jail and a state forensic hospital, having committed 12 types of crimes, were administered the Coopersmith Self-esteem Questionnaire and a biographical form. Self-esteem scores were compared across three classifications of destructiveness of criminal acts. A significant difference was found between self-esteem scores for those prisoners who were indirectly destructive to others and those prisoners who were directly destructive to others or to themselves. Also, prisoners who were on work release and/or in psychology classes tended to have higher self-esteem. No causality was inferred between the instruction in psychology and work-release programs and higher levels of prisoners' self-esteem.
Remedial Reading: Effects of Tokens, Material Back-up Reinforcers, and Response Cost
Authors: Winefield Helen
Published: September 2011

Children of 8 to 10 yr. received 20 individual remedial reading lessons each. Four groups ( ns = 4) were given token reinforcement with either material or nonmaterial back-up reinforcers and with either a response-cost contingency for errors or not. A fifth group received equal lessons but no tokens, and a sixth had no extra lessons ( ns = 4). The remedial program had a limited effect on reading achievement; token reinforcement, however, did not enhance the effect of extra lessons. Material back-ups were associated with less favourable ratings of the lessons than were nonmaterial back-ups. Deducting tokens for incorrect responses led to fewer errors when the token system was in operation but more when it finished compared with having no response-cost contingency. Results are taken to demonstrate the value of control groups, and the complex operation of “reinforcement” in human cognitive activity is discussed.
Validation of Graphoanalysis by “Global” or “Holistic” Method
Authors: Crumbaugh James C. , Stockholm Emilie
Published: September 2011

Graphoanalysis is the most systematically developed and best researched of all methods of handwriting analysis (generically called graphology). This is a projective expressive movement that is neither better nor more poorly validated than most projective techniques as a means of personality assessment, which is inadequate because their subjectivity makes statistical study difficult. With all projective techniques “sign” or trait validation has been minimal, and the best validation has come from “global” or “holistic” methods. The present study presents a paradigm for the latter type of approach to handwriting analysis, using a matching technique with probabilities of 1/5, wherein five subjects were matched by people who knew them to one of five blind Graphoanalyses of the subjects' writing. This design is herein replicated five times, with total data significantly different from chance expectation ( p < .001), supporting the hypothesis that it is possible to evaluate personality through analysis of handwriting.
Interpersonal Perception of Values
Authors: Linder Fredric
Published: September 2011

The study investigated the perception of 69 conservative and 69 liberal undergraduate students regarding traditional American values by means of the Interpersonal Perception Method. Kendall correlations indicated agreement, partial understanding, and awareness about priorities given to certain values. x2 tests further indicated specific values that were mutually agreed upon, understood, and realized as well as values that reflected disagreement, misunderstanding, and unawareness. The results suggest that, while conservatives and liberals may agree about the relative position of a specific value in a rank order, they may basically disagree about accepting or rejecting that value.
Stuttering, Speech Rate, and the Metronome Effect
Authors: Hanna Richmond , Morris Stephen
Published: September 2011

Methodological inadequacies cast doubt on previous investigations of the hypothesis that metronome-paced speech reduces stuttering by slowing the rate of speech. In the present study, 6 stutterers' fluent speech rates were calculated by excluding the time occupied by stutters and pauses. The fluency-enhancing effect of metronome pacing was independent of speech rate.
Wais Digit Span Differences between Prisoners and Psychiatric Patients
Authors: Ruff Carol F. , Templer Donald I. , Ayers Joyce L. , Barthlow Victoria L.
Published: September 2011

37 prisoners tended to exceed 29 psychiatric patients in having WAIS Digit Span scaled scores higher than the mean of their 5 other Verbal scaled scores. MMPI T scores were slightly to moderately inversely related to Digit Span performance.
Hemispheric Differences in Simple Reaction Time to Auditory Stimuli of Different Frequencies
Authors: Dick Stuart , Rosenberg Sidney , Karp Eric
Published: September 2011

To determine whether reaction time varies as a function of tone frequency and/or ear stimulated 27 adult subjects were presented with two two-tone series (1,000 Hz vs 2,500 Hz and 1,500 Hz vs 4,000 Hz) in a simple reaction-time paradigm. The analyses clearly indicated that the higher tone in each series and stimulation to the right ear resulted in significantly shorter reaction times. These results were interpreted as indicating that cerebral asymmetries are apparent in tasks and with stimuli that do not seem to require higher-order inferences regarding the functional organization of the cerebral hemispheres.
Relationship between the Geriatric Interpersonal Evaluation Scale and the Wais Verbal Scale
Authors: Smith James M. , Oswald William T. , Waterman Laura J.
Published: September 2011

27 psychogeriatric patients at Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center were tested by separate examiners on the WAIS Verbal Scale and the Geriatric Interpersonal Evaluation Scale to determine the relationship between these two tests. The sample was restricted to patients who were judged clinically to be “in contact,” i.e., oriented as to time, place, and person. The correlation between the WAIS Verbal IQs and the geriatric scale raw scores was .80; correlations with the individual verbal subscale scores ranged from .58 to .76. Relative advantages and disadvantages of the geriatric scale are discussed.
Availability and Formation of Stereotypes
Authors: Jones Russell A. , Scott Joanne , Solernou Jose , Noble Audrey , Fiala Joe , Miller Kathy
Published: September 2011

Availability refers to the ease with which instances of a particular class of events can be brought to mind and constitutes a potential source of bias in judgments of the size of that class. Bias occurs when the magnitudes of related classes do not correspond to the ease with which instances of those classes can be retrieved from memory. Previous research has indicated that, if events in a class are defined by the co-occurrence of phenomena which are themselves rare, then recall of that class is likely to be facilitated and its magnitude exaggerated. Based on a study by Hamilton and Gifford an experiment was designed in which male and female subjects viewed a series of slides. On each slide an attribution of a desirable or an undesirable trait was made to a member of one of two fictitious groups. The slide set was constructed such that one group had twice as many members as the other; desirable traits were two and one-half times more frequent than undesirable traits, and each group had the same ratio of members with undesirable vs desirable traits. As anticipated, when asked to recall the number of undesirable characteristics attributed to the two groups, subjects significantly overestimated the number of such characteristics which had been assigned to the smaller group. The results are discussed in terms of the concepts of availability and illusory correlations.
Five Factors of Environmental Press of Rural High School Pupils as Identified by the Stern High School Characteristics Index
Authors: Roberge Leonard P. , Drummond Robert J.
Published: September 2011

The purpose of the study was to look at the factor structure of the perceptions of the environment of 210 male and 205 female rural high school students. Stern's High School Characteristics Inventory based upon the need-press taxonomy of Murray was used to assess the structure. Five factors were identified as accounting for 47.5% of the variance.
Imposed Delay of Response: Effects on Aphasics' Auditory Comprehension of Visually and Non-Visually Cued Material
Authors: Yorkston Kathryn M. , Marshall Robert C. , Butler Myrtice R.
Published: September 2011

Two groups of aphasics were administered an auditory comprehension task under conditions of 0-, 5-, and 10-sec. imposed delay of response. The auditory-visual group received auditory and visual cues; the auditory group received only auditory cues. Comprehension for the auditory-visual group was significantly better than for the auditory group. Increase in delay time significantly improved comprehension for the auditory-visual group but not for the auditory group.
Verbal Productivity and Expression of Primary Process
Authors: Ebert John N. , Ewing James H. , Prost Marlene A. , Enoch Annice L.
Published: September 2011

The effects of verbal fluency upon the production of primary-process thinking on the Holtzman Inkblot Test as scored by the Holt system were investigated for a group of 49 male university students. Increasing verbal productivity resulted in a significant increase in primary-process scores in both high and low primary-process groups, selected on the basis of a trial of unlimited verbal productivity. In addition there were consistent significant differences in primary-process scores comparing the high and low primary-process groups at different levels of fluency. The importance of considering the level of verbal fluency when using scores from inkblot records is discussed.
A Binocular Pinhole Device for Visual Field Constraint during Reading
Authors: Piggins David , Macerollo Robert
Published: September 2011

The Binocular Pinhole Device requires binocular vision, without constraints on head-movements, for viewing a group of letters at one fixation. It is simple and adjustable for individual differences. The role of peripheral vision can be explored in experimental settings.
Delayed Gratification, Motoric Ability and School Success in the Early Grades
Authors: Weller Leonard
Published: September 2011

The hypothesis tested was that children with higher school grades would exhibit delayed gratification and superior motoric ability. 360 Israeli-born children in Grades 1 to 4 were given the Draw-a-Line Test, in which they were asked to draw a vertical line as slowly as possible between two horizontal lines. They were also given a choice between a small candy bar which they would receive immediately or a larger one which they receive in the future. Each child's grades in 5 school subjects were recorded. No consistent pattern was found between school grades and choice of candy. However, in each school subject it took the unsuccessful children (“passing,” “almost passing”) less time to draw the line.
Subjective Frequency in Flicker Perception
Authors: Fukuda Tadahiko
Published: September 2011

The discrepancy between the actual flicker frequency and the perceived rate was investigated. We tried to quantify the subjective rate of successive visual flicker by matching it with a second stimulus, the audio flutter. The wave form of each stimulus employed in the present study was sinusoidal. The auditory stimulus employed as a reference was a pure tone which was frequency-modulated by a sine wave. The perceived rate of flicker increases approximately in direct proportion to the frequency presented when target size is small and tends to be lower than the actual rate when target size is large. Perceived rate never exceeds approximately 10 Hz regardless of the presented flicker frequency or the luminance of the target. These tendencies are observed commonly in the fovea and in the periphery of the retina.
An Explanation for the Müller-Lyer Illusion
Authors: Davies T. N. , Spencer J.
Published: September 2011

An investigation into the composite or colinear form of the Müller-Lyer illusion, with one shaft adjustable by subjects, was carried out using black-on-white and CRT displays. Three fin-angle and two fin-length conditions were examined for both configurations of this figure, i.e., arrow-headed and feather-headed standards. Adaptations of the Müller-Lyer figure were also studied. Framing effects influenced the extent of this illusion. A highly consistent illusion error for balanced-field conditions, based on the formula k L cos A can be predicted which relates closely to previous experimenters' observed illusory errors and gives a remarkably simple explanation for this illusion.
Balance Performance as Related to Task Stress under Varied Conditions of Sensory Cues
Authors: Shick Jacqueline , Stoner Lela June
Published: September 2011

27 junior high school girls performed three trials on a dynabilometer on each of 7 days. Subjects learned the balance task with all sensory cues available but were tested under three conditions of partial feedback occlusion, i.e., with blindfold, earphone, and combination of blindfold and earphone. On six days heart rate was monitored. Although the tasks were “stressful” based on heart rate, the various conditions did not invoke significantly different response. However, significant differences in balance performance were related to the conditions. Best performance resulted when both auditory and visual cues were withheld, while the worst performance occurred when subjects wore either the blindfold or the earphones.
Ornstein's “Storage Size” Metaphor: A Cautionary Note
Authors: Jankowicz A. Z.
Published: September 2011

Research investigating Ornstein's information-processing model for the estimation of the duration of short time intervals requires that stimuli be recoded after input into material of varying redundancy. An attempted replication of Ornstein's work provides evidence that such recoding is difficult to achieve and may not have occurred in the original study in sufficient strength for his conclusions to be unambiguously acceptable. Alternative stimuli are suggested.
Touch: A Computerized Bibliography
Authors: Lederman S. J.
Published: September 2011

A computerized bibliography of references relating to “touch” has been prepared. It currently contains approximately 4000 references which belong under the following general categories—physiology and neurophysiology; sensation; perception; cognition; social, cultural, and developmental issues; clinical pathology; the deaf and blind; tactile communication and tactile aesthetics. References have been obtained primarily from the Psychological Abstracts, with classification codes added on the basis of the abstract's content. Master copies and keyword searches may be obtained on the most up-to-date version of the bibliography.
Protein Deprivation in Primates: XII. Food Preferences of Juvenile Rhesus Monkeys
Authors: Hillman Nancy M. , Riopelle Arthur J.
Published: September 2011

21 male and 18 female juvenile rhesus monkeys whose mothers' prenatal diets varied according to protein content (either 1-, 2-, or 4-gm protein/kg body weight/day) were given a food-preference task. 20 monkeys were between 3 and 4 yr. old; 19 were between 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 yr. old. For each trial small pieces of the same type food were placed in 8 equally spaced wells about the circumference of a circular tray held outside each monkey's cage. Responsiveness to the 21 natural foods (assorted cheeses, meats, vegetables, nuts, cereals, fruits, and candies) offered 3 times on 3 different occasions was measured by recording number of pieces taken, number eaten, and elapsed time for taking all 8 pieces. All 3 measures were highly correlated. All diet groups exhibited the same general order of preference, males taking and eating more food pieces faster than females. Order of preference was significantly different for old versus young juveniles, with older juveniles' preferences more similar to those of adult female monkeys given the same task. The most notable differences in eating behavior were that younger juveniles played with their food and were less finicky about what they ate. Results suggest that food preferences of juvenile monkeys are not altered as a consequence of their mothers' prenatal protein deprivation.
Effects of Certainty and Uncertainty of Stimulus-Response Correspondence on Auditory Reaction Times
Authors: Puleo Joseph S. , Sheldon Paul E.
Published: September 2011

Complex reaction time (RT) was measured for a task in which a discriminative auditory cue designated whether the right or left hand was to be used in responding. Facilitation of monaural RT compared to binaural RT occurred on trials in which both (1) the ear stimulated corresponded to the hand specified for response and (2) each of 20 male college students had received a prior signal signifying that stimulus-response correspondence would occur on the trial. RT was slower for monaural than binaural input when the monaural stimulus was applied to the ear contralateral to the hand designated by the tonal cue regardless of a prior signal signifying that stimulus-response noncorrespondence would occur on the trial. These slower RTs were attributed to an inability of subjects to inhibit their initial tendency to react toward the source of stimulation.