bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Practice, Mapping, Stimulus and Size on String Matching
Authors: Algarabel Salvador , Soler Maria José , Pitarque Alfonso
Published: September 2011

The same-different discrepancy on a matching task on which the subject had to determine the number of common elements (physically identical and appearing in the same position) between two strings of size 1 to 4 was investigated. Manipulated also were the type of presentation (fixed or varied sets), amount of practice (four blocks), and type of stimulus (letters, words). Reaction times for pure positive responses (all same at each level) were faster than negative responses (all different), confirming the usual discrepancy shown in previous studies. The discrepancy was smaller for well-learned sets (fixed sets) and for words, indicating the development of a comparison process based on global characteristics of the stimulus.
Referential Communication Abilities of Learning-Disabled, Language-Learning-Disabled, and Normal School-Age Children
Authors: Watson Marie May , Greenberg Bonita Renée
Published: September 2011

Past research in referential communication has indicated normally developing children show developmental progression in ability to communicate a specific referent to a listener. In one paradigm subjects were given lists of word-pairs in which one member of each pair was designated as the referent. It was shown that communicating about referents found in word-pairs associated in some way was more difficult than communicating about referents in dissimilar word-pairs. The present study extended this methodology to learning-disabled children. Learning-disabled, language-learning-disabled, and normally achieving children were asked to communicate about 30 pictured referents on three different tasks. On Tasks 1 and 2 each subject was asked to give a clue for the referent that would distinguish it from the other picture. Stimuli for Task 1 were 30 pairs of pictures that were related in some way and the stimuli for Task 2 were 30 pairs of unrelated pictures. Task 3 required the subjects to evaluate the adequacy of the examiner's clues for Task 1 stimuli. The disabled subjects were matched to the normally achieving subjects on the basis of receptive vocabulary age. Few differences were noted among the groups' performances on these referential communication tasks. Implications include the importance of vocabulary and concept development to referential communication.
Effects of Office Interior Color on Workers' Mood and Productivity
Authors: Kwallek Nancy , Lewis Carol M. , Robbins Ann S.
Published: September 2011

The experiment was designed to examine the effects of a red versus a blue office environment on a typing task and mood. Empirical evidence in this area is sparse, but the prevailing view is that “warm” colors ate more arousing than “cool” colors. The 36 paid subjects were given the task of typing business forms for 20 min. in either a monochromatic red or blue office space and then asked to fill out the Eight State Questionnaire. In the second half of the experiment, subjects either returned to the same-colored office or moved to the different-colored office where the same procedure was followed but with alternate business forms and an alternate form of the questionnaire. Significant main effects found were for the number of errors made on the typing task; the subjects who moved to the different-colored office made more errors than those subjects who remained in the same-colored office. On the questionnaire, group differences were not statistically significant, but the mean anxiety and stress scores were higher for the subjects who remained in the red office, the mean depression score was higher for the subjects who remained in the blue office, and the mean arousal score was higher for those subjects who switched to the different-colored office.
Concurrent Validity of the Twelfth Grade Internal Examinations
Authors: Arap-Maritim Ezra K.
Published: September 2011

This study examined the concurrent validity of the teacher-made tests taken by 1794 Grade 12 students using raw scores on an external examination conducted by the Kenya National Examinations Council. Although internal examination scores were significantly correlated with scores on the standardized achievement test, the Kenya Certificate of Education, there were significant mean differences among schools. The data provide evidence for the validity of the internal examination as a measure of the same abilities as the Kenya Certificate of Education examination. Implications of this concurrent validity with respect to the quality of the school and the objectivity of the teachers' evaluation were discussed.
Effect of Structured Ice Hockey Training on Scores on Field-Dependence/Independence
Authors: Goulet Claude , Talbot Serge , Drouin Denis , Trudel Pierre
Published: September 2011

The aim of the present study is to test two hypotheses, (1) Witkin and Goodenough's 1982 assumption that participation in a structured physical activity increases field-independence and (2) that subjects characterized by high field-independence would show greater gains than subjects with high field-dependence on ice hockey skills. An adaptation of Oltman, Raskin, and Witkin's Group Embedded Figures Test (GEFT) was given to measure field-dependency and standardized tests were used to evaluate the players' skill. An experimental group of 26 boys ( M = 11.27 yr.) were members of an ice hockey training program; 18 boys of a control group ( M = 11.93 yr.) participated in no programmed physical activity. A pretest (field-dependency and skill) was administered 21 weeks prior to the posttest; no significant differences were found for scores on embedded figures between groups; Witkin and Goodenough's hypothesis was not supported, but field-independent subjects tended to learn more.
Choice and Stability of Young Children's Preferences for Physical-Environmental Setting Characteristics
Authors: Cohen Stewart , Trostle Susan
Published: September 2011

The present study investigated preschool children's (17 boys and 30 girls) environmental preferences in size, shape, color, complexity, texture and lighting. Using a guided story-walk as a prop, each characteristic was presented to the child in simplified contexts incorporating the theme of home and its surroundings. Young children discriminate, in selected fashion, in their preferential responses to physical-environmental characteristics of the environment, with color and texture serving as salient dimensions for the boys and girls and also among the 24 younger children, aged 3 to 4 yr. Stability of choices across the two settings characterized the preferences of both younger and older preschool children.
Personality and Relaxation Therapy: Changes among Clinical and Normal Subjects
Authors: Bird Evelyn I. , Wilson Vietta E.
Published: September 2011

There are increasing numbers of self-referral stress-management programs, a few of which use group-relaxation techniques, but few data are available on the personalities of the symptomatic and asymptomatic clients who attend or on any changes in personality after the program. Scores on the Eysenck Personality Inventory, Multiple Health Locus of Control, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory as well as demographic information were obtained from 255 adults who attended a 10-session, university-based, group-relaxation program. The symptomatic clients reported significantly less anxiety, less neuroticism, were more extraverted and ascribed less of their behavior to chance at a 1 month post-treatment follow-up than at intake. The small group of asymptomatic clients also reported less anxiety and neuroticism at the follow-up. There were no sex differences on the Eysenck inventory or the anxiety scales but there were for the Multiple Health internal and control scales. It was concluded that group relaxation appeared to improve mental health scores effectively for both stressed and nonstressed adults and that age was significantly related to some personality scores.
Perceptions of Family Environments, Educational and Occupational Outcomes: Social-Status Differences
Authors: Marjoribanks Kevin
Published: September 2011

Regression surface analysis was used to examine relations between various family environment measures and young adults' educational and occupational outcomes. Data were collected from 330 Australians as part of a 10-year longitudinal study. The regression models included terms to account for possible linear, interaction, and curvilinear relationships. In general, the analysis suggests the proposition that parents' aspirations and adolescents' perceptions of parents' support for learning have differential linear and curvilinear associations with the educational and occupational outcomes of young adults from different social-status groups.
A Re-Examination of the Proximity Effect in Man
Authors: Bailey Mark L. , Updyke Wynn , Shames David
Published: September 2011

A recent report indicated that the mere proximity to refined sugar could reduce human grip strength. A reexamination of this hypothesis yielded no significant effect.
Interrelationships between Amplitude and Period of a Continuous Hand Movement
Authors: Gallego Jorge , Perruchet Pierre
Published: September 2011

In two experiments, subjects were trained to operate a joystick-type lever in a continuous to-and-fro movement. In the first experiment, 21 subjects had to control the “water” level of a cistern displayed on a video screen and were free to adopt any period-amplitude strategy. In the second experiment, 18 subjects had to adjust either the amplitude or the duration of successive cycles of lever pumping to target values indicated by a moving segment. Results show that (1) during steady states the amplitude and the duration of cycles remained positively correlated; (2) these variables were negatively correlated when the flow rate varied; and (3) subjects adjust the flow rate to changing target values by varying the amplitude of the cycles and only secondarily by varying duration. A superiority in perception of amplitude variations over time components could account for this. All the above features have previously been observed for breathing, suggesting that these are general properties of continuous periodic movements whatever their nervous control may be.
Haptic Identification of Letters Using the Left or Right Hand
Authors: Hunt Lester , Edwards Heidi , Quest Kathryn
Published: September 2011

The present study investigated the effects of the use of the right and left hands on haptic identification of letters of the alphabet. Each of the 64 right-handed subjects was given three series of randomly ordered presentations of the 26 letters of the alphabet. The subjects were asked to feel each letter and name correctly each letter as quickly but as accurately as possible. Analysis showed faster identification by those subjects using their left hands on Series 1 with no hand-differences appearing on Series 2 and 3. Significant over-all improvement in identification time occured with practice. The results were interpreted in terms of a novelty hypothesis of right-hemisphere function and an explanation of perceptual learning of letter identification.
Born under a Bad Sign? Astrological Sign and Suicide Ideation
Authors: Stack Steven , Lester David
Published: September 2011

This study tests the thesis that the internalization of the traits associated with astrological signs affects suicide ideation. Data are from a national sample ( N = 7,508). Only the most negativistic sign of Pisces was significantly associated with suicide ideation.
Social-Class Differences in a Sample of Nonelite Marathon Runners
Authors: Clough P. J. , Shepherd J. , Maughan R. J.
Published: September 2011

In this study the reasons for starting to run, starting to run marathons and the psychosocial benefits and costs derived from an involvement in running were compared for blue collar and for white collar nonelite runners. Extrinsic rewards were more important to the blue collar runners than to the white collar runners. No class differences were found for the importance of intrinsic rewards or in the benefits/costs associated with an involvement in running.
Sequence of Preparatory Set for Response Movement
Authors: Kinugasa Takashi , Fukuda Keisuke , Nakamura Ryuichi , Hosokawa Toru
Published: September 2011

Electromyographic reaction times (EMG-RTs) of the right biceps brachii muscle were examined for two movement patterns, elbow flexion and forearm supination, in 8 healthy male subjects under simple and complex RT conditions with varied preparatory intervals (PIs): 0, 200, 400, 600, and 800 msec. In the simple RT condition, the subject was informed of the movement patterns to be performed prior to beginning the trials. In the complex RT condition the subject had to choose one of the two movement patterns at the time of the presentation of a warning signal. The results indicated that: (1) compared with the simple RT condition a delay of about 100 msec. in over-all mean EMG-RT was observed at PI = 0 msec. in the complex RT condition; (2) the difference of over-all mean EMG-RT between the two RT conditions disappeared when PI = 400 msec.; and (3) the difference in EMG-RTs between flexion and supination in the complex RT condition became the same as that in the simple RT condition when PI = 700 msec. It is assumed that the preparatory set for response movements is organized in an order, resulting in the differentiation of RT.
A Field Test of Efficacy of Cognitive Style in Predicting Accuracy of Volleyball Serve
Authors: Anshel Mark H.
Published: September 2011

The effect of using selected cognitive strategies that are compatible with a person's cognitive style on performance accuracy of the overhand volleyball serve was examined. Moderate R2s between cognitive style and strategy use showed that learning this sport skill may be influenced by preferences for processing information during motor skill acquisition.
Consistency as a Moderating Factor in Self- and Observational Assessments of Personality
Authors: Kipper David A. , Baehr Melany E.
Published: September 2011

The consistency of responses to a disguised form of self-assessment, originally a check measure, was thought to serve a moderating role affecting the congruence between different forms and sources of assessment. It was predicted that scorers of high consistency would show greater congruence than scorers of low consistency between their self-assessments on two procedures, a disguised vs an undisguised. The same pattern was predicted for congruencies between disguised self-assessments and undisguised supervisors' assessments. A disguised and an undisguised version of an assessment inventory addressing Extroversion, Emotionality, and Self-reliance, were administered to 414 male executives. The undisguised version was also completed by their supervisors. The results supported the predictions except for the congruency with the supervisors' evaluation of Self-reliance. These findings, the meaning of consistency, and its moderating function are discussed.
Psychology of Computer Use: II. Sex Differences in Prediction of Course Grades in a Computer Language Course
Authors: Dambrot Faye H. , Silling S. Marc , Zook Avery
Published: September 2011

This study investigated the effects of sex, computer aptitude, computer attitudes, computer experience, mathematics aptitude, and mathematics experience on the prediction of course grades in a computer language course. The sample consisted of 119 women and 73 men who completed an assembly-language programming course at a midwestern state university. While men in general had higher mathematics aptitude and computer aptitude, women received higher course grades in the computer language course. Students who failed the course were significantly lower in computer aptitude, computer experience, mathematics aptitude, mathematics experience, and high school GPA. A discriminant analysis for the total sample correctly classified passing and failing students at 81.1% accuracy rate. A short test of computer aptitude significantly added to high school grades and mathematics experience in a regression analysis of course grades. Computer attitudes were not related to course grades.
Mothers' Estimates of Hearing Family Members' Competence in Sign Language and the Deaf Child's Loneliness
Authors: Loyer-Carlson Vicki L. , Sugawara Alan I.
Published: September 2011

This study examined the associations between mothers' estimates of both hearing family members' competence in sign language and their deaf child's loneliness. 32 mothers of children who functioned as deaf were asked to assess their hearing family members' competence in sign language and to complete the UCLA Loneliness Scale for an estimate of their deaf child's loneliness. Significant positive correlations were found among hearing family members' estimated competence in sign language; however, no significant correlations were found between hearing family members' estimated competence in sign language and their deaf child's estimated loneliness. These findings suggest that hearing members may contribute to each other's competence in sign language and may communicate with their deaf child through alternative methods rather than formal sign language.
Subjective Reactions to a Colorized Movie vs its Original Black/White Version
Authors: Cutler Gregory H. , Dalseide Angela R. , Plummer Vincent H. , Bacon Chad R.
Published: September 2011

The use of technology to color classic black and white movies has been controversial. Prior research has suggested that coloring adds to subjects' evaluation of a television episode. The present study examined whether college subjects (26 men, 60 women) evaluated a colorized movie differently from its original black and white version. As no differences were found, it was concluded that colorization may add to a marginally good performance, but its effect on outstanding movies and performances is minimal.
Alcohol and Unpleasant Stimulation: Subjective Shock Calibration and Pain and Discomfort Perception
Authors: Gustafson Roland , Källmén Håkan
Published: September 2011

In an experiment 8 men participated in an alcohol and a sober condition in a rotated order. In both conditions subjects first calibrated a shock scale to a subjective criterion and then rated their subjective pain and total discomfort. Subjects calibrated the shock scale higher when intoxicated and rated the calibrated level equally painful in the sober and intoxicated conditions, but when intoxicated subjects actually rated the higher shock level as less uncomfortable. The shock scale was calibrated higher under intoxication not because subjects wanted to impress the experimenter but because less pain and discomfort was actually experienced.
Effects of Relaxation Response Training on Attentional Deficits in Schizophrenics
Authors: Puente Antonio E. , Peacock L. A.
Published: September 2011

Four groups of six male patients each (12 = schizophrenic; 12 = antisocial personality) volunteered. One group from each diagnostic category were instructed in the Relaxation Response while the other two groups were instructed with a placebo exercise. After training, subjects were exposed to an attentional task involving manual responding to visual stimuli. Analyses of several dependent measures including mean correct responses yielded no significant group differences.
Cerebral Dominance and Attentional Bias in Word Recognition
Authors: Leventhal Gloria
Published: September 2011

This study investigated the role of cerebral dominance, functional localization, and attentional bias on the recognition of neutral and emotionally charged words presented unilaterally and bilaterally by a tachistoscope to the left and right visual fields of 42 left and 42 right handers. The major findings were: (1) Over-all, right handers perceived more words than left handers; (2) Although more neutral words were perceived, there were no interactive effects for type of word; (3) Unilateral presentation: LVF = RVF for left and right handers; Bilateral presentation: left handers evidenced a left visual-field advantage, right handers evidenced a right visual-field advantage; (4) Directional cuing did not magnify the existing visual field advantage but increased efficiency of recognition for words presented to the correctly cued nondominant visual field and decreased efficiency of recognition for words presented to the incorrectly cued dominant visual field. It was concluded that, although each hemisphere was equally capable of processing single words, cerebral dominance and functional localization interact with attentional bias to produce the observed differential in word recognition of the left and right visual fields.
Antismoking Attitudes and General Prejudice: An Empirical Study
Authors: Grossarth-Maticek R. , Eysenck H. J. , Vetter H.
Published: September 2011

A group of 5,977 persons was interviewed concerning attitudes towards smoking and smokers. Prejudice against smoking was significantly related to prejudice against various racial, religious and political groups and was noted in personality types previously found to be characteristically prejudiced. Mortality was much greater in prejudiced nonsmokers than in nonprejudiced smokers.
Effects of Frontalis Tension Level on Discrimination Task Accuracy and Reaction Time
Authors: Moran Carmen C. , Cleary Patrick J.
Published: September 2011

The frontalis muscle is a Focal point of many relaxation training programmes, so the effects of varying frontalis tension levels on concurrent task performance need consideration when recommending in situ muscle relaxation. Two experiments are reported; performance on a discrimination task was examined across high, moderate, and low induced frontalis tension. When length of exposure to the task stimuli was unlimited, accuracy of discrimination was affected by tension; when exposure was limited, reaction time was affected. In both experiments the high frontalis tension resulted in better performance than the other levels. Implications for the practice of in situ relaxation are considered.
Weber's Law for the Reproduction of Temporal Information
Authors: Guay Michel , Salmoni Alan W.
Published: September 2011

The main purpose of this research was to determine the numeric values of Weber's fraction when subjects were required to estimate temporal durations of 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 sec. under the method of reproduction. The results provided evidence in support of a constant coefficient of proximity for time estimation of approximately 14.5%.
Enhancement of Visual Perception under Conditions of Short-Term Exposure to Sensory Isolation: A Comparison of Procedures for Altering Vigilance
Authors: Atkinson Richard P. , Sewell Marc M.
Published: September 2011

An experiment was conducted to determine the pre- and posttest performance of subjects on a signal-detection task for the following three experimental conditions: sensory isolation, sensory alertness, and sensory relaxation. All subjects were assessed on 36 pretest and 36 posttest trials. Each block of 36 trials consisted of 12 “strong signals,” 12 “weak signals,” and 12 “no signals.” Exposure durations for each experimental condition lasted for one hour. Analyses showed significant improvements in hits from the pretest trials to the posttest trials on the “strong” and “weak signals” for the sensory isolation condition. Moreover, on the posttest “weak signal” trials, subjects in the sensory isolation condition scored a significantly greater number of hits than did those in the sensory alertness or sensory relaxation conditions. It was concluded that sensory isolation produces perceptual enhancement, as measured by a signal-detection task.
Perceived Duration as a Function of Pitch
Authors: Brigner Willard L.
Published: September 2011

It was demonstrated with 7 observers that the duration of a high frequency tone was perceived to be longer than the duration of a low frequency tone, even though the actual duration of the two tones was equal.
Purpose in Life as a Function of Religious versus Secular Beliefs
Authors: Weinstein Lawrence , De Man Anton , Almaguer Linda
Published: September 2011

Scores of 20 Catholic and 25 Mennonite students on the Purpose-in-Life Test were not significantly different. When scores of Mennonite subjects were compared with those of Dominican Sisters, Protestants, Recent Converts, and Seculars, the Mennorutes' scores indicated significantly less meaning in life than each of the other groups. Further comparisons among the various groups identified a significant difference between the Dominican Sisters and the Catholic students. The findings are discussed in terms of the prevailing evidence that religious belief strengthens the conviction to live a full, meaningful life.
Modifying the Personal Attribute Inventory: An Alternative Way to Assess Self-Concepts
Authors: Parish Thomas S.
Published: September 2011

Since choosing 30 words that best describe a target from 50 positive and 50 negative words on the Personal Attribute Inventory may have been artificially restrictive, in the present study 58 college students chose as many adjectives as appropriate; the score was proportionally adjusted according to the number of adjectives checked. Subjects' positive and negative scores were significantly correlated with scores on the favorable subscale (.31) and the unfavorable subscale (.59), respectively, of the parent scale, the Gough (1952) Adjective Check List. Test-retest correlations on the revised version for positive (.65) and negative (.65) scores were significant. Lower test-retest correlations were obtained for the favorable subscale (.35) and the unfavorable subscale (.43) of Gough's check list. Implications are discussed.
Muslim and Judaic-Christian Perceptions of Desirable Body Shape
Authors: Hallinan Christopher J.
Published: September 2011

Undergraduate men, 94 nonUS Muslims and 168 US Judaic-Christians, rated 9 outline figure drawings as like their own current figure, what they would prefer to look like, what figure was most attractive to females, and what female figure they found most attractive. Ratings of the two groups were very similar but the female figure found most attractive was significantly thinner for Judaic-Christian men.
Psychological and Physical Variables as Predictors of Coping Strategies
Authors: Keller Colleen
Published: September 2011

26 women and 17 men between the ages of 26 and 62 yr. of age and diagnosed as having chronic illnesses were administered four questionnaires to assess physical and psychological variables and coping strategies: the Sickness Impact Profile, the Time Reference Inventory, and the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control. The Jaloweic Coping Scale assessed coping strategies. Canonical correlation indicated a single-factor link (Wilks' Λ) between scores on the first 3 tests, and the subscales of the coping scale. A significant but small correlation of .31 between the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control subscale, Powerful Others, and the coping subscale of Emotion-focused strategies was observed, that with the subscale Chance and the coping subscale confrontive strategies was negative. A second canonical correlation deleting the Time Reference Inventory score of age extension and including the three Sickness Impact Profile subscales was significant and positive for the Composite score and the subscale Palliative of the Jaloweic Coping Scale. Such data suggest that individuals who have a locus of control orientation of Powerful Others respond to chronic illness with emotionally based behaviors. In addition, chronically ill individuals who are physically dysfunctional tend to respond with palliative coping strategies.
Relations among Dimensions of Reading Attitudes and Stages of Internalization of Reading Attitudes Held by Prospective Teachers
Authors: Ley Terry C. , Schaer Barbara B. , Wright Jone P. , Neal Kathy S.
Published: September 2011

To estimate how two reading attitude scales are related, 198 prospective teachers were administered the Mikulecky Behavioral Reading Attitude Measure and the Teale-Lewis Reading Attitude Scales. The former allowed classification of subjects according to Krathwohl's five stages of internalization of attitudes, while the Teale-Lewis scale measured the value subjects placed upon individual development, utilitarian and enjoyment dimensions of reading. Canonical analysis showed that the two instruments are related, with one significant function accounting for 64% of the variance. All subscales contributed significantly. The two-way multivariate analysis of variance with three dependent measures (Teale-Lewis dimensions) and two independent measures (sex and the five Mikulecky stages) gave one significant main effect—the five Mikulecky stages Readers classified at higher stages of internalization of attitudes tended 10 place greater value on all three Teale-Lewis dimensions than did readers at lower stages. Although 22% of the subjects were classified at one of the two highest stages (organization and characterization), 69% were classified at one of the two lowest stages (attending and responding).
Modification in Movement Accuracy in the Triphasic Pattern during a Rapid Forearm-Flexion Task
Authors: Roy Michel André , Keller Betsy A. , Lagassé Pierre P.
Published: September 2011

The present study was designed to investigate modifications in the triphasic EMG pattern during a forearm-flexion task at maximum speed which required three levels of movement accuracy. 36 subjects participated in 4 training sessions, performing a total of 200 repetitions of each movement. The fastest movement time was associated with the least accurate movement task. Likewise, the slowest movement time was found for the movement requiring the greatest accuracy. Differences in the duration and amplitude of agonist 1 activity, the start of agonist 2 activity, and the start and amplitude of antagonist activity were observed for the three movements. The results indicate that agonist 1 provides a propulsive force to initiate limb movement. The antagonist EMG activity was thought responsible for braking and correcting limb movement. Modifications in agonist 2 activity suggest this burst is related to movement velocity.
Infants' Face-Recognition by Primiparous and Multiparous Women
Authors: Kaitz M. , Rokem A. M. , Eidelman A. I.
Published: September 2011

We have compared the ability of 49 primiparous and 75 multiparous women to recognize photographs of their newborn infants. In line with previous research on infant cries, we found that multiparous women who had been with their infant 0.5 to 5.0 hr. were significantly more successful in recognizing their infants' photographs than primiparous women with comparable exposure to their newborns. For women who had not been with their infants more than 5 hr., parity was not related to recognition. We propose that the transient performance deficit of the primiparous women indicates a short-lived impairment of perceptual/cognitive skills associated with their more stressful childbearing experience.
Vividness of Movement Imagery Questionnaire: Relations with other Measures of Mental Imagery
Authors: Campos Alfredo , Pérez María José
Published: September 2011

We studied the relation between the Vividness of Movement Imagery Questionnaire and other measures of vividness of image, absorption of image, and effort required to form a mental image. Results for 51 men and 82 women indicate that vividness of movement imagery is associated with some, but not other, measures of imagery ability for college students.
Motor Learning and Ultradian Sleep Cycle: An Electroencephalographic Study of Trampoliners
Authors: Buchegger Joachim , Meier-Koll Alfred
Published: September 2011

Evidence from both animal experiments and human studies suggests that sleep might be involved in neuronal and biochemical mechanisms of learning. In the present study distinct changes in the temporal organization of sleep stages were observed in 8 volunteers participating in a training course in trampolining. Since trampolining requires the acquisition of unaccustomed motor skills, it can be regarded as a special case of motor learning. Subjects who were able to acquire new motor skills during distinct training units in trampolining showed an increase in sleep-cycle period and mean duration of REM and slow-wave sleep. These results are discussed with respect to biochemical mechanisms which may be involved in both learning and organization of sleep stages
Complex Evaluation of Velocity, Force, and Accuracy Characteristics of the Movements of Upper Extremities in Young Athletes
Authors: Jaščaninas J. , Gutnik B. , Skurvydas A. , Stasiulis A.
Published: September 2011

8 measures recorded during alternate tapping of two targets by left and right hands for 15 boys, 13 or 14 yr. old, were made during 4 30-sec. trials using a force averaging 450 gm. Mechanical and electrical activity (EMG from m. biceps brachii) of both hands suggested asymmetric characteristics of the two hands and the likely involvement of different types of muscle fibers or asymmetry of the CNS.
Expecting the Unexpected: An Explanation of Category Width?
Authors: Walker Iain , Gibbins Keith
Published: September 2011

Pettigrew's (1958) construct of category width has been an enigma for the past three decades. His scale is highly reliable and appears to have good construct validity, but relationships with other variables are far from clear. We report a serendipitous finding which relates a new construct of neophilia (openness to novel information) to category width. The empirical results are promising and a conceptual argument is made that neophilia may help integrate some literature on category width.
Altered Sensory-Motor Control of the Head as an Etiological Factor in Space-Motion Sickness
Authors: Lackner James R. , Dizio Paul
Published: September 2011

Mechanical unloading during head movements in weightlessness may be an etiological factor in space-motion sickness. We simulated altered head loading on Earth without affecting vestibular stimulation by having subjects wear a weighted helmet. Eight subjects were exposed to constant velocity rotation about a vertical axis with direction reversals every 60 sec. for eight reversals with the head loaded and eight with the head unloaded. The severity of motion sickness elicited was significantly higher when the head was loaded. This suggests that altered sensory-motor control of the head is also an etiological factor in space-motion sickness.
Laterality and Force of Handgrip during the First Two Years at School
Authors: Krombholz Heinz
Published: September 2011

The connection between lateral dominance and force of handgrip was investigated by means of a repeated-measures design. 521 children participated. Performance on a paper-and-pencil task and force of handgrip were measured at the beginning of the first year at school and at the end of the first and of the second years at school. On the paper-and-pencil task 84% of the children were classified as right-handers, 8% as left-handers, and 8% as ambidexterous. About 2% of children classified as right-handers at the beginning of the first year at school were classified as left-handers at the end of the second year at school while 18% of left-handers shifted to right-handedness. 52% of children attained their best performance on handgrip with the right hand and 39% with the left hand. No differences could be found either for the right or for the left hand in force of handgrip between right- and left-handed and ambidexterous children. For right-handers, however, the more skilled hand showed superior performance in force of handgrip. These results indicate that left-handers are less strongly handed than right-handers.
Prognosis of Aphasia by Fitting Growth Curves
Authors: Yamada Kyoichiro
Published: September 2011

The recovery of word-emission ability by Japanese aphasics was examined quantitatively. The scores on a word-emission task were obtained in a series of language tests for aphasia. 17 aphasics were asked to utter names of animals, giving as many as possible within a minute. The task was repeated four times at intervals of 104.1 days on the average, ranging from 27 to 271 days. The score on the word-emission task was estimated by fitting a growth curve to scores on the former three tests. Modified exponential, logistic, and Gompertz curves were used for estimation. All estimated scores by three growth curves were larger than the observed scores. The modified exponential curve which does not have an inflection point produced the most remarkable error. Between two curves which have an inflection point the logistic curve produced less error than the Gompertz curve. The difference in error of estimation was due to the difference in the saturation level of the two curves.
Effect of Different Videotape Instructional Units on Undergraduate Physical Education Majors' Qualitative Analysis of Skill
Authors: Morrison Craig , Reeve Jean
Published: September 2011

This study concerned the effects of treatment and sex of subject on the qualitative analysis of skill of undergraduate physical education majors. 29 majors in undergraduate physical education were randomly assigned to two groups, who viewed a pretest tape and a posttest tape together but were separated for instructional treatment. The instructional tapes covered throwing, catching, and striking skills and differed only in the information presented. One instructional tape showed examples of good and bad skill while the other showed only examples of good skill. Using the Group Embedded Figures Test as a covariate, a three-way (sex by treatment by tests) analysis of variance yielded a significant main effect for tests and an interaction of tests by treatment. Posttest means for both groups were superior to pretest means, and good examples gave higher means than good and bad examples. No effect was found for sex of subjects or the other interactions.
Estimating Costs of Diagnostic Medical Procedures: An Informal Look
Authors: Trinkaus John
Published: September 2011

A recent survey of health care practitioners, conducted to assess their knowledge of the cost to patients of a number of medical diagnostic procedures, showed a lack of familiarity with prices. This inquiry was replicated using as a sample students and faculty at a collegiate school of business. As with the original study, the results suggest a tendency to underestimate patient billing costs.
Some Observations upon Perceptual Organization and the Mere Exposure Effect
Authors: Todman McWelling
Published: September 2011

The mere repetition of events tends to enhance subjective familiarity and subjective preference for those events. It has been shown that the enhancement of subjective preference is neither contingent upon a feeling of familiarity nor an awareness of the physical identity of the stimulus during learning. This finding is surprising since the weight of existing theoretical and empirical evidence suggests that subjective preference is derivative of familiarity. An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that at least one preattentive/preconscious product, figure-ground organization, is shared between the processes responsible for preference enhancement and those responsible for the enhancement of recognition memory. There were two significant findings. First, subjects were able to discriminate between objectively familiar stimuli and objectively unfamiliar stimuli on the basis of preference judgments but were unable to do so on the basis of familiarity judgments. Second, preference enhancement occurred only for those objectively familiar stimuli for which the figure-ground aspects had not been phenomenally reversed. The significance of these findings is discussed.
Effects of Hue, Value, and Chroma on College Students' Preferences for Apparel and Upholstery Fabrics
Authors: Radeloff Deanna J.
Published: September 2011

To investigate the effects of hue, value, and chroma on college students' color preferences for apparel and upholstery fabrics, experimental conditions were established for evaluation of coded fabric swatches by 118 college students. On a repeated-measures analysis of variance, significant differences were noted among all variables for both conditions. From post hoc tests summer and winter hue categories did not differ for apparel but did for upholstery. Conversely, spring and autumn hue categories did not differ for upholstery but did for apparel. Cool hues were preferred over warm hues for apparel and upholstery. There was no consistent preference for value for apparel and upholstery. For chroma, dull colors were preferred significantly for both apparel and upholstery. Of 20 sets of matched fabrics, only five color preferences for apparel and upholstery fabrics were not significantly different. Overall, color preferences were not equivalent for apparel and for upholstery.
Body-Image Affect: Gestalt versus Summing the Parts
Authors: Cash Thomas F.
Published: September 2011

Analysis of scores from a stratified random sample of the US population (987 men, 1066 women) confirms the convergence of body-part and global indices of body-image affect and suggests most discrete body parts contribute uniquely and additively but not equally to the affective Gestalt.
Performance of the Vertical Position in Synchronized Swimming as a Function of Skill, Proprioceptive and Visual Feedback
Authors: Starkes J. L. , Gabriele L. , Young L.
Published: September 2011

This experiment assessed the efficacy of proprioceptive and visual information for the performance of “vertical position” by synchronized swimmers. Three skill groups of 5 senior, 5 intermediate, and 5 novice synchronized swimmers performed 40 vertical positions under four conditions. The conditions were: self-initiated with and without vision, and following experimenter perturbation, with and without vision. The dependent measure was degrees of error from true vertical. Analysis indicated that either proprioception or proprioception and vision may be used in performing vertical positions. A significant main effect was found among skill groups.
Speech Sounds Perception Test: Nonrandom Response Locations Form a Logical Fallacy in Structure
Authors: Reddon John R. , Schopflocher Donald , Gill David M. , Stefanyk William O.
Published: September 2011

The response format of the Speech Sounds Perception Test confounds speech perception with irrelevant method variance. To rectify this problem the response format was revised by randomizing the response locations. An empirical comparison of the revised and original forms was undertaken with forensic ( n = 59) and psychiatric ( n = 67) samples. The empirical results coupled with the logical problem in the original form indicates that a revision is necessary.
Aesthetic Responses to a Series of Paintings by Paul Klee
Authors: Parrott A. C.
Published: September 2011

The effects of exposure to a series of colour slides of paintings by Paul Klee were assessed with 69 nonexpert subjects. All subjects viewed the same 2 paintings by Klee while the other 10 paintings were varied between groups. The control group viewed paintings by 10 different artists (da Vinci, Picasso, Rubens, Dali). The first experimental group viewed 10 different paintings by Klee while the second experimental group saw 3 Klees in close detail. Differences in response to the 2 Klees seen by every group comprised the empirical data. The experimental groups produced higher ratings on questions of painting style; it was judged significantly more ‘clear’ and ‘representational’ in comparison with control group scores. Emotional expression was also significantly affected, but ratings of liking the painting were not generally changed. The effects of familiarity depend upon the nature of the aesthetic response being evaluated. Familiarity breeds understanding and perhaps comfort, but not increased interest.
Implementation of the NCA Modified Assessment Instrument with a Population of Intoxicated Drivers in Two Wisconsin Counties 1982–1985
Authors: Gurnack Anne M. , Kramer Craig
Published: September 2011

Upon completion of a 3-yr. research project which assessed the effects of Wisconsin's mandatory testing program for drunk drivers, the evaluation showed that a disproportionate number of repeated offenders who were being rearrested had been assessed initially as social drinkers. While there are several possible causes for this finding, the most probable one seems to be that of under-assessment by the testing instrument.
Effects of a Negative Social Experience on the Emotional and Social-Cognitive Responses of Aggressive-Rejected Children
Authors: Vitaro Frank , Pelletier Daniel , Coutu Sylvain
Published: September 2011

Social problem-solving skills of aggressive-rejected children are usually assessed through hypothetical situations in a neutral setting where little or no reference is made to the emotional aspects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the social problem-solving skills of 57 aggressive-rejected (Group 1) and 57 prosocial-popular (Group 2) children of both sexes in Grades 1 and 2 by using as problem situations what happened in standardized provocations involving them with a trained peer-accomplice. An individual interview, aimed at disclosing emotions felt during the provocations, intentions attributed to the accomplice and possible reactions if confronted again with the same provocations, was conducted immediately after the session for half the subjects of each group. The other subjects were interviewed after a 10-min. delay. Analysis showed that Group 1 subjects would be less verbally assertive than Group 2 subjects if confronted again with the same provocations. The first graders from Group 1 also attributed fewer positive intents to the author of the provocations than Group 2 classmates. Second graders of both groups attributed more negative and fewer positive intents to the peer-accomplice when the interview immediately followed the provocations than when it was delayed. Similarly, second grade boys interviewed right away were more prone to use physical and verbal retaliation if the provocations were to happen again. These results highlight the influence of emotions on the social reasoning skills of aggressive-rejected and nonaggressive-nonrejected children.
Relationship of Maternal Report of Feminine Behaviors and Extraversion to Clinician's Rating of Gender Disturbance
Authors: Rekers George A. , Morey Shasta Mead
Published: September 2011

50 boys, aged 3 to 16 yr., referred for psychotherapy for a gender-identity disorder were assessed by two parent-report instruments completed by their mothers—The Gender Behavior Inventory for Boys for preadolescent subjects and a modified form of the Parents' Evaluation of Child Behavior. Without access to these data, an independent clinical psychologist provided a diagnosis of the severity of a gender disturbance on a 5-point rating scale, based on clinical interviews and a psychological test battery. The gender-disturbed boys scored significantly above the mean of the standardized normal boys on the Gender Behavior Inventory for Boys Feminine Behavior subscale and significantly below the mean on the Extraversion subscale of the Gender Behavior Inventory. The ratings of severity of gender disturbance were significantly correlated .34 with Feminine Behavior subscale scores and −.50 with the Extraversion subscale scores. On the Parents' Evaluation the number of observed feminine behaviors listed was significantly correlated .57 with rated severity of gender disturbance but not with the Feminine Behavior subscale scores on the Gender Behavior Inventory.
Construct Validity of the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire
Authors: Marks David F.
Published: September 2011

Chara (1989) recently questioned the construct validity of the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ) on empirical grounds. Unfortunately, Chara in that paper has erroneously construed construct validity as independent of criterion-related validity. This error is compounded by Chara and Verplanck's 1986 assumption that the VVIQ assesses purely memory imagery. Further problems arise from Chara's 1989 selective reporting of the relevant literature. Comprehensive review of the VVIQ literature in its totality is necessary before conclusions are possible concerning the questionnaire's construct validity.