bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Home Color as a Territorial Marker
Authors: Barber Nigel
Published: August 2011

Effect of color of a neighboring home on house color was investigated in a small town in northern Minnesota. It was found that color matches across common boundaries were less frequent than expected based on a random distribution of house colors. This indicates that in selecting the color for a home, there is systematic avoidance of colors previously chosen by neighbors. This effect was specific to chromatic (nonwhite) houses, suggesting that color per se serves as a territorial marker.
Sex, Eye Preference and Speed of Stimulus Effect on Anticipation of Coincidence
Authors: Dunham Paul , Reeve Jean
Published: August 2011

The intent of this study was examination of effects of sex of subject, eye preference, and speed of stimulus on anticipation of coincidence. 15 men and 15 women made estimates of a baseball's arrival at the front edge of a home plate. Subjects had blocks of trials while standing with either the preferred or nonpreferred eye closest to the oncoming ball, followed by trials of the other eye closest. Balls were projected 45 ft. by a pitching machine at speeds of 35, 40, 45, and 50 mph. Analysis indicated no significant difference for sex or eye preference but a significant speed effect, with the slowest speed being less accurate.
Lipopolysaccharide Decreases Ambient Temperature Preference in Mongolian Gerbils, Meriones Unguiculatus
Authors: Akins Chana , Thiessen Delbert D.
Published: August 2011

Animals infected with a pathogen often increase their body temperature, a reaction which can limit the reproduction of the pathogen and stimulate the immune system. Excessive body temperature increases, however, can decrease survival. The Mongolian gerbil responds to the endotoxin, lipopolysaccharide LPS, with increased body temperature. Relative to saline-injected animals, gerbils made hyperthermic with LPS choose an environmental temperature 6.7°C lower. Apparently the gerbil is attempting to limit its body temperature increases by selecting a lower ambient temperature.
Effects of Experimentally Induced Colds on Aspects of Memory
Authors: Smith A. P. , Tyrrell D. A. J. , Barrow G. I. , Coyle K. B. , Higgins P. G. , Trickett S. , Willman J. S.
Published: August 2011

Four experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of experimentally-induced colds on various aspects of memory of 27, 47, 39, and 30 adults. Free recall, digit span, and retrieval from semantic memory were unaffected by having a cold. Immediate recognition of important information from a story was impaired in subjects with colds, which suggests they were less able to follow the theme of the story. In contrast to this, volunteers with colds had better recognition of information from a story learned prior to the virus challenge.
Contributions to the History of Psychology: LXXI. “Purkinje Phenomenon”: The Genesis and the Early Uses of the Term in French, German, and English
Authors: Brožek Josef , Kuthan Vilém
Published: August 2011

In an earlier note (Brožek, 1989) regret was expressed that Zusne's valuable book Eponyms in Psychology (1987) did not provide information on persons who coined the eponyms as well as on the time and place in which they were introduced into the scientific literature. The present report provides such information for the term “Purkinje phenomenon.” In French it was used by J. Macé de Lepinay and W. Nicati in 1882, in Germany by Ewald Hering in 1895, and in English by J. B. Haycraft in 1897.
Spatial Location in Children's English: On the Mono-/Bireferential Distinction
Authors: Weist Richard M. , Uzunov Kathryn
Published: August 2011

The purpose of this research was to study the transition from mono-to bireferential spatial location in children's language. Locative relations are monoreferential when a single referent object is sufficient to establish the place of the primary object, and they are bireferential when two or more referent objects are required. 24 children at age levels 2:5, 3:5, and 4:3 were shown a pair of pictures and given two sentences having a minimal locative contrast, e.g., in/on or in front of/in back of, up to/away from. The children were asked to match one of the sentence alternatives with a picture. Monoreferential locative problems were easier than bireferential ones whether static or dynamic, and the children's capacity to process the locative contrasts improved with age. The transition from mono- to bireferential spatial location in children's language was related to the development of spatial representations.
Effects of Chronic Back Pain on the Perception of Experimental Heat Pain
Authors: Lautenbacher S. , Galfe G. , Karlbauer G. , Möltner A. , Strian F.
Published: August 2011

19 patients between 23 and 65 yr. of age whose chronic back pain was caused by lumbosacral disk disease and 19 healthy volunteers matched for age and sex were studied. Pain thresholds under phasic and tonic heat stimulation and thermal thresholds for warmth and cold were measured on the right hand. The patients rated any current back pain on a visual analog scale. There was a significant negative correlation between current back pain and the threshold for tonic pain, but there was no correlation between current back pain and either the threshold for phasic pain or temperature sensitivity. Hence, current back pain and experimental tonic pain seem to have an additive effect on pain perception because perceptual qualities are similar. Reduced somatosensory perception of chronic back pain patients could be demonstrated for temperature sensitivity and to a lesser degree for phasic pain, but as a consequence of the “opposing” effect of current back pain, not for tonic pain perception.
Exiting: Another Look
Authors: Trinkaus John
Published: August 2011

Confirmation of a prior study showing students preferred to exit via an open door was based on choice of an open door by most of about 102 persons per 201 train arrivals observed on 25 unobtrusive weekday observations.
Denial of Separation Anxiety as Measured by a Serial Tachistoscopic Technique
Authors: Rubino I. Alex , Grasso Silvia , Pezzarossa Bianca
Published: August 2011

A mother-child separation stimulus was repeatedly presented by standard Defense Mechanism Test procedure, at increasing durations of tachistoscopic exposure to 60 clinical and nonclinical subjects. Subjective verbal reports were coded blindly for evidence of perceptual distortions presumably indicative of denial of separation anxiety. Low scorers on two items measuring sensitivity to separation anxiety and intolerance of aloneness were, as predicted, significantly more often characterized by codings of denial on the tachistoscopic exposures than subjects with high sensitivity to separation anxiety. Stability of effect became stronger when only very low and very high scorers were compared for perceptual denial on the last four presentations of the series. This technique, employing other types of anxiety-evoking stimuli, may represent a reliable instrument to reveal the presence of defences toward each of the most relevant conflictual areas of the personality.
Deviation of Slant in Freehand Simulation of Handwriting
Authors: Halder-Sinn Petra
Published: August 2011

This study examined the question whether the deviation of slant towards uprightness in simulated handwriting is enhanced by characteristics of the model or by the manner of production. The models were varied by familiarity of shape (loops vs zigzags and waves) and by width between downward strokes. 36 subjects with a slant of 50° to 70° in their normal handwriting copied 4 different writing patterns with 60° slant in a line and in an interrupted manner of production. Analysis showed that unfamiliar and narrow models as well as copying without interruptions led to significantly greater upright slant. Also, a significant interaction between familiarity and the manner of production was found. Results were discussed as evidence for employment of formerly learned motor programs in simulation tasks. Increased strain in the copying task leads to steeper downward strokes which probably are simpler to perform.
Development of a Playground Skills Test
Authors: Butcher Janice
Published: August 2011

A six-item Playground Skills Test has been developed to measure elementary-school-age children's motor skill in moving on playground structures. Responses to the test, analyzed for test-retest reliability, objectivity, internal consistency, content and construct validity, indicate the test is both reliable and valid. Initial normative data are reported for 63 7- to 9-yr.-old subjects. Further development of the test is needed but it should be valuable in research on development of playground skill and on correlates of playground skill.
Chance Receptivity as a Function of Self-Concept: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Miller Mark J. , Wadsworth Elizabeth R. , Springer Thomas P.
Published: August 2011

In this study the relationship between attitudes about chance and self-concept of 140 college students (74 women, 66 men) were analyzed. The finding of nonsignificance is discussed in view of previous assumptions as to relations between the two variables. Suggestions for further work are outlined.
Subliminal Stimulation, Choice Behavior and Some Personality Correlates of Subliminal Sensitivity
Authors: Kotzé Hendrik F. , Möller André T.
Published: August 2011

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible relations between specific personality variables and the effect of subliminal stimulation on choice behavior. It was hypothesized that subjects with low anxiety, less neuroticism, and external locus of control and the trait of extraversion would be more susceptible to subliminal stimulation. 38 undergraduate students were exposed to subliminal messages urging them to choose symbols instead of numbers or letters. Analysis showed that subliminal stimulation did not generate a preference for symbols over numbers or letters. No support was observed for the hypothesis of an association between susceptibility and personality variables. These results may be explained in terms of symbol choice being a neutral message that did not relate to the subjects' needs and motivation.
Memory Processes Influencing Recognition Failure of Recallable Words
Authors: Bartling Carl A.
Published: August 2011

The purpose of this paper was to develop a clearer understanding of factors contributing to the failure to recognize recallable words because this phenomenon has important implications for theories of memory. The paradigm involves a sequence of tasks, including presentation of cue-target word-pairs, testing recognition, and prompted recall with the context cues serving as prompts. An important version of the recognition-failure paradigm includes a free-association task prior to testing recognition that results in subjects generating some of the target items and recognition distractors. This type of free-association task was examined in the current study. It produced problems of list differentiation (interference) that led to subjects' recognition errors and significant failure to recognize recallable words. Other important memory processes which contribute to this failure are discussed. These include generation effects during the free-association task, priming of target items on the recognition test, and associative asymmetry existing between items in the cue-target pairs.
Relationships: Art Education, Art Therapy, and Special Education
Authors: Swenson Anne B.
Published: August 2011

Links exist between physiological stimulation and the development of intelligence and also emotional and mental well-being because touching, seeing, hearing, smelling, and tasting involve active participation by the individual.
Popular Response: Different Ways of Perceiving the World
Authors: De Minzi María C. Richaud , Sacchi Carla
Published: August 2011

The present paper studied Popular responses to the Holtzman Inkblot Technique by Argentine children. The aims of the study were to assess whether Universal Popular responses reported by Knudsen, Gorham, and Moseley appeared also among Argentine children and to analyze how differences on certain intracultural variables, such as social marginality, modified Popular responses. Form A of the test was administered to 593 children attending Grades 4, 5, 6, and 7. Their ages ranged from 9 to 12 yr. This group was subdivided on social integration, yielding a socially marginal group of 57 and a socially integrated one of 536. We noted 15 concepts considered Universal Popular answers were identical for this group, Knudsen's and Holtzman's normative groups. The responses from the nonmarginal Argentine group were compared with those of the socially marginal Argentine group. Contents characteristic of each group suggest the nonmarginal group gave more elaborated and more differentiated responses than those of the marginal group.
Hearing-Impaired Children's Rhythm Perception and Speech
Authors: Arnold Paul , Willis Kate
Published: August 2011

The role of rhythm in the speech intelligibility of 18 hearing-impaired children, aged 15 years with hearing losses from 40 to 108 db, was investigated. Their perceptual judgement of visual rhythm sequences was superior to that of the hearing controls, but their scores were not correlated with their speech intelligibility.
Perception of Control and Information-Search Strategy in an Investment Decision Game
Authors: Boone Christophe , De Brabander Bert , Gerits Pol
Published: August 2011

An investment decision game was developed to analyse differences in information-search strategy between internally and externally oriented subjects. We hypothesized that the more internally oriented subjects would use more information and would engage in a more varied search behavior, given their higher desire for control, than the externally oriented. As the subjects had to perform 10 trials, the experiment allowed us to take into account task uncertainty or task novelty as suggested by Rotter. Contrary to expectations, the relationships only became apparent in the second part of the game. Additional analyses suggested that the desire to control by internal subjects may have led to “situational blindness” or some kind of “illusion of control.” Implications for further research are discussed.
Stability of Imagery Scores
Authors: Campos Alfredo , Sueiro Encarnación
Published: August 2011

Estimates of the stability of scores on imagery were given by 113 young adults, whose mean age was 16.6 yr., 129 middle adults, whose mean age was 29.9 yr., and 49 older adults, whose mean age was 53.3 yr. Significant correlations were obtained between scores given to 210 words by age and sex of groups, except for older women. Pearson correlations were calculated over words and not over subjects. The correlations were between scores of young people and adults .92, between young and old people .29, and between adults and old people .33. Men's and women's scores correlated .76.
Responsiveness to Verbal Instruction during Anesthesia: A Pilot Report
Authors: Hudesman John , Tjeuw Michael , Collins Patty
Published: August 2011

Five patients who were undergoing surgery were instructed to tense their forehead muscles. On 11 out of 12 trials, the patient's muscle tension was greater during the suggestion period than during the nonsuggestion condition.
Preferences and Performance for Various Arrangements of Keys by Mainland Chinese
Authors: Courtney Alan J.
Published: August 2011

Six arrangements for pushbuttons for keying telephone numbers were tested using 72 Yunnan Province Chinese subjects of both sexes and from a wide range of ages and backgrounds. Keying time, errors, preference for and dislike of each design were used as criteria. The results indicate that, while no single design was superior on all the criteria, one design was generally better than the others.
Facilitating the Use of Sas under the VAX/VMS System
Authors: Walsh John F. , Colmenares Josephine
Published: August 2011

A command file permits the user of SAS Institute software to control the input and output file specifications. Such control facilitates the processing of data sets in both instructional and research settings.
Passive Recovery and Optimal Arousal in Ice Hockey
Authors: Davis Henry
Published: August 2011

The present study assessed heart rate on a monitor for four experienced National Hockey League players during game play (shifts) and intershift intervals in 5 games. Mean during play was 168 bpm, recovery time was 3.9 min., and 120 bpm on the bench was average. Results are discussed for their use in individual sport psychological consultation.
Neuropsychological Rehabilitation: Microcomputer-Assisted Treatment of Brain-Injured Adults
Authors: Middleton David K. , Lambert Michael J. , Seggar Leslie B.
Published: August 2011

This study was designed to investigate the contribution of cognitive rehabilitation therapy delivered by computer within an educationally based treatment program for brain-injured adults. The effectiveness of two forms of computer-assisted neuropsychological treatment was examined. 36 head-injured adults received the treatment targeting either attention and memory skills or reasoning and logical thinking skills. Both groups were assessed on three measures of attention and memory and three measures of reasoning before and after the 8-wk. treatment. Analysis indicated significant improvement on five of six measures by both groups. No differential effect was observed by treatment condition. These findings did not support the hypothesis that computer-assisted neuropsychological rehabilitation programs which differ in both content and focus can produce specific effects on cognitive functioning of brain-injured adults.
Reaction Times Show That Both Chinese and British Children are More Intelligent Than One Another
Authors: Flynn James R.
Published: August 2011

British children were faster than Chinese on those RTs that correlated with IQ among Chinese, and vice versa. If reaction times measure neurological processes, white children have better Chinese brains than the Chinese, and vice versa. A more plausible explanation of these results would be to posit cultural differences in what IQ measures, or RT strategies, or both.
Assessing Perception of Career Role-Model Performance: The Self-Employed Parent
Authors: Scherer Robert F. , Brodzinski James D. , Wiebe Frank A.
Published: August 2011

A social learning theory of career decision-making proposes that career and occupational role models can influence an individual's career decision-making activity. Although investigators have assessed the effects of the presence or absence of career role models, measures to assess the effect of the observer's evaluation of the model have not been developed. In this study a measure of perceived performance of the self-employed parent as a career role model was developed. Analysis of responses from 223 undergraduates showed the set of items formed one dimension in two subsamples. Factorial stability between the subsamples was demonstrated. Items used to develop the measure also showed some internal consistency. A proposal is made for use of such measures in research on career decision-making and in counseling sessions.
Homogeneity and Heterogeneity in Schizophrenia
Authors: Herron William G. , Diamond Ellen
Published: August 2011

This study provides a description of replicated findings of limited heterogeneity in DSM-III schizophrenics. Based now on a sample of 145 schizophrenics in 1984 and 182 in 1991 it is suggested that the diagnosis is primarily given to chronic patients with poor prognoses, in turn restricting the utility of a process-reactive conceptualization of schizophrenia.
Autonomic and Skeletal Muscle Responses to Nonelectrical Cutaneous Stimulation
Authors: Naliboff Bruce D. , Tachiki Ken H.
Published: August 2011

Cutaneous stimulation has had a long history as a method of pain control. While there is general agreement that modern techniques such as electrical stimulation and massage often provide relief from acute pain and may in some cases significantly affect chronic pain, the mechanism by which these techniques affect pain remains unclear. Significant attention has been focused on the effects of stimulation on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) along with the increasing evidence of important ANS modulation of nociceptive activity throughout the pain pathway. However, inconsistent results on the presence and direction of ANS changes from cutaneous stimulation characterize the recent literature. The present study investigated a nonelectrical cutaneous stimulation device, the Dermapoints Massageroller, as well as an active placebo massage. The results indicate that the Dermapoints Massageroller has both general effects associated with simple skin stimulation (such as increased skin temperature), as well as specific effects from increased stimulation by the toothed design of the roller. These specific effects include decreased muscle tension (at least for some muscle sites) and increased sympathetic activation. The results are consistent with a model of activation of Pacinian receptors as a possible mechanism for the antinociceptive properties of cutaneous stimulation.
Manual Reaction Times and Error Rates in Stutterers
Authors: Postma Albert , Kolk Herman
Published: August 2011

In this study 18 stutterers and 18 nonstutterers were presented trials on which they should press a button as fast as possible, intermixed with trials which required no responding. Stutterers had slightly faster reaction times but also made slightly more errors, that is, they tended to press the button when they should not have done so. As neither difference was significant, it was concluded that stutterers did not differ from normal speakers in manual reaction speed, nor did they choose a different speed-accuracy trade-off criterion for the given task.
Accurate Knowledge about Suicide and Judgments about Suicide
Authors: Lester David
Published: August 2011

In a study of 136 college students, having more accurate knowledge about suicide was associated with viewing suicide more often as rational and less often as moral.
Field-Dependence and Extraversion: Univariate or Multivariate Research Orientation
Authors: Fine Bernard J.
Published: August 2011

Field-dependence and extraversion have been considered by Eysenck (1967, 1983) to be similar, if not identical, dimensions, whereas Fine (1972a, 1972b, 1983) has found them to be independent, but frequently to interact in a nonlinear fashion. Regardless of who is correct, both viewpoints lead to the expectation that researchers in either area should be concerned with results of research in the other. The expectation was found to be false. On the assumption that Eysenck and Witkin would be cited as “key” references for extraversion and field-dependence, respectively, 2722 journal articles published during calendar years 1986–1990, in which either Eysenck or Witkin was cited at least once, were examined. In only 27 instances (1%) were both key sources cited in the same article. The question is raised as to why so many researchers within each of these important research areas persist with a univariate approach.
Stability of Correlations among Ratings on Concreteness, Imagery, Emotionality, and Interest Values When Meaning is Controlled
Authors: Campos Alfredo
Published: August 2011

We hypothesized that correlations among ratings on concreteness, imagery, emotionality and interest of words are highly stable, independent of present ratings by the 32 boys, 80 girls, and 92 adolescents.
Cognitive and Motor Deficits in Selected Unilateral Brain-Injured Patients
Authors: Axelrod Bradley N. , Rosenbaum Gerald , Adams Kenneth M.
Published: August 2011

16 right hemisphere and 16 left hemisphere, nonaphasic brain-injured stroke patients were compared with 16 matched normal controls on the verbal and visuospatial paired-associate tasks developed by Stark in 1961 as a partial replication to a more severely impaired population. Right brain-injured patients showed a significant visuospatial deficit and contralateral motor impairment; while left brain-injured patients, screened for aphasia, showed contralateral motor impairment but did not show impairment on the verbal task. Examination of the areas of infarct resulting from the cerebrovascular accident in the left-hemisphere patients suggested that the presence of a contralateral motor deficit without verbal impairment results from specific focal occlusions of branches of the middle cerebral artery in this selective group of patients.
Improved Arithmetic Skills of French-Immersion Grade-School Students are Confounded by Higher Intelligence
Authors: Falter P. , Persinger M. A.
Published: August 2011

A total of 372 Grade 4 and 275 Grade 7 students were given a mathematics and a group-administered IQ test. About half the number of students in each grade were enrolled in either the regular (English) or the French Immersion program. There were no differences on mathematics scores or IQs between students from the two language programs in Grade 4. However, Grade 7 French Immersion students displayed significantly higher mathematics scores and IQs relative to regular classroom students; the program effect explained no more than 7% of the variance. When IQ was controlled, the differences in mathematics scores were not significant.
The Dimension of Focussed Attention: Relationship to Behavior and Cognitive Functioning in Children
Authors: Sharma Vanshdeep , Newcorn Jeffrey N. , Halperin Jeffrey H. , Wolf Lorraine E.
Published: August 2011

A sample of 73 nonreferred school children were administered a newly developed Visual Focussed-attention Test along with other measures of attentional, cognitive, and behavioral functioning. Internal reliability and construct validity for the test were established. Children were then divided into underfocussed (distractible, n = 6), normofocussed ( n = 38), and overfocussed ( n = 5) groups based upon their test scores. The three groups did not differ with regard to age, intellectual functioning, or academic achievement. However, the underfocussed and overfocussed groups contained a greater proportion of behaviorally disturbed children than the normofocussed group. Underfocussed children, as a group, were rated higher than normofocussed, but not higher than overfocussed children on the Hyperactivity factor of the Conners Teacher Questionnaire. The significance of these focussed attention deficits is reviewed in relation to the more familiar concepts of distractibility and hyperactivity.
Activity Level across the Menstrual Cycle
Authors: Chrisler Joan C. , McCool Heidi R.
Published: August 2011

7 women recorded number of miles walked per day and oral temperature daily upon rising for 6 weeks. Analysis of variance indicated no significant differences in activity level associated with cycle phases but individual differences in activity level among subjects were significant.
Latency of Auditory Event-Related Potential P3 Correlates with Forward Digit Span in an Alaskan Subarctic Sample
Authors: Bush Anita M. , Geist Charles R. , Emery Scott
Published: August 2011

16 normal women (ages 25 to 80 years) who could remember more numbers on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Forward Digit Span subtest had significantly longer mean latency for the auditory event-related potential P3 waveform than those persons who could remember fewer numbers.
Structural Equation Analysis of an Exercise/Sleep Health Practices Model on Quality of Life of Elderly Persons
Authors: Hawkins Wesley E. , Duncan Terry
Published: August 2011

An exercise/sleep model from past research was tested for relationships with a quality of life measure of the health status of 126 elderly persons. Past statistical analyses of this relationship used canonical correlation statistical analyses. In the following study, when structural equation analysis (LISREL VII) was applied to the same data, an altered model resulted: an exercise-only model. To examine this relationship further, researchers should employ a longitudinal design with a more comprehensive model and larger sample of elderly persons.
Public Preferences for High Rise Buildings: Stylistic and Demographic Effects
Authors: Stamps Arthur E.
Published: August 2011

Three styles of high rise architecture were compared to each other with respect to the preferences of a random sample of a city's population and several demographic subdivisions thereof. Contrary to expectations, the random sample of respondents actually preferred the most modern buildings over the older buildings. Also contrary to expectations, high intergroup consensus was found for all demographic subdivisions except for political affiliation.
Observations on a Science-Technology-Society Course for Nonscience Students
Authors: Wiley David A.
Published: August 2011

Science-technology-society is a current theme of recent attempts to refocus the teaching of science to nonscience high school students. This research in a suburban high school examined measures of attitude and of environmental understanding after a one-year science course focusing on societal issues. A significant increase in positive attitudes toward science and the course was shown by 309 students who took the course. 238 high school junior and senior nonscience majors showed increased environmental conceptual learning at 1 yr. and at 1 ½ yr. afterwards.
On Using the T Test on Ranks as an Alternative to the Wilcoxon Test
Authors: Sawilowsky Shlomo S. , Brown Michael T.
Published: August 2011

The equivalence of the t test on the ranks of original scores to the Wilcoxon Rank-Sum test on original scores was noted. However, this study demonstrated that, unlike the Wilcoxon, the t on ranks is not competitive with the usual t for normally distributed data. The explanation is due to the lack of a correction for ties and continuity most computer statistical packages automatically employ in the Wilcoxon routine.
Effects of Tryptophan Depletion on Poggendorff Illusion, Corner Poggendorff Illusion, and Attention
Authors: Antonietti Alessandro , Pascarella Angelo , Masini Roberto , Moja Egidio A.
Published: August 2011

The effects of a tryptophan-free amino acid mixture on Poggendorff illusion, corner Poggendorff illusion, and attention were investigated with 12 male subjects who ingested either a balanced amino acid mixture or a tryptophan-free mixture, the latter known to cause a marked depletion of brain tryptophan and serotonin. No significant difference between the two mixtures on the perceptual illusions was found.
The Defense Mechanism Test in Nonpsychotic Psychiatric Outpatients and Normal Controls
Authors: Rubino I. Alex , Sonnino Alberto , Grasso Silvia , Saya Anna
Published: August 2011

In the Defense Mechanism Test, stimuli representing a central figure threatened by a peripheral person are presented tachistoscopically, at increasing exposure times. The threat is assumed to trigger defense mechanisms that are expressed by several types of perceptual distortions. Given that to date no experimental study has validated the discriminative power of the Defense Mechanism Test between normal controls and clinical groups, 99 normal controls and 57 nonpsychotic psychiatric outpatients were given the test. Significantly more psychiatric patients than controls were coded for presence of each of the ten main defensive signs of the Defense Mechanism Test (with a weak significance for reaction formation). Ten codings or subcodings of defense which were particularly rare in the control sample were employed to discriminate between groups. This procedure correctly allocated 85.8% of the control subjects and 85.9% of the psychiatric patients. The present findings allow a preliminary distinction between codings of defense with questionable, moderate, or strong clinical significance, in the area of nonpsychotic psychopathology.
Visual Cues and Attention Demand in Locomotor Positioning
Authors: Bardy Benoît G. , Laurent Michel
Published: August 2011

The aim of this study was to determine what visual cues are used to assess the time-to-contact ( Tc) with a stationary target during locomotor positioning. For this purpose, we performed an experiment with restricted central visual cues and analysed the attention demand involved in use of visual cues. 11 subjects were asked to walk towards a target surface and stop in front of it. Two target sizes were used: the tau strategy, consisting of assessing Tc from the relative expansion rate of the target during locomotion, was possible only with the larger one. The same task was also performed in a dual-task situation wherein reaction time to auditory stimuli was recorded. Analysis showed that braking was initiated earlier only in the dual-task situation involving the small target. The secondary task reaction time also increased considerably and actually even sooner when the positioning was done on the small target. These results suggest that a strategy other than tau may be used to assess Tc: with this strategy, the braking distance and walking speed are taken into account. Furthermore, different processing levels must have been involved in these two different methods, since the attention demand differed from one positioning task to the other.
Accuracy of Weightbearing Estimation by Stroke versus Healthy Subjects
Authors: Bohannon Richard W. , Tinti-Wald Diane
Published: August 2011

This study was performed to describe and compare the accuracy of weightbearing at three target levels (25, 50, and 75% of body weight) of 14 ambulatory stroke subjects and 14 matched healthy subjects. Weightbearing through a designated lower extremity (stroke subjects-paretic, healthy subjects-randomly selected) was measured with digital scales. No significant difference was found in magnitude of weightbearing (%) between the stroke and healthy groups. Although making significantly greater errors in weightbearing than healthy subjects, stroke subjects did not consistently weightbear under target. Subjects with stroke tested in earlier studies were neither asked to stand symmetrically nor examined to judge whether they were capable of accepting the required weight through the paretic lower extremity. Before assuming that weightbearing asymmetry is a problem in patients with stroke, clinicians should examine weightbearing behavior more specifically.
Effects of Rock and Roll Music on Mathematical, Verbal, and Reading Comprehension Performance
Authors: Tucker Alexander , Bushman Brad J.
Published: August 2011

Rock and roll music played at 80 dB decreased performance of 151 male and female undergraduates on mathematical and verbal tasks taken from national aptitude tests but not their scores on reading comprehension.
Effects on Reading Comprehension Tests of Matching and Mismatching Students' Design Preferences
Authors: Nganwa-Bagumah Margaret , Mwamwenda Tuntufye S.
Published: August 2011

The learning styles of 111 children in Grades 2 to 5 were identified using the Learning Style Inventory. 63 children who indicated strong preferences for the Design Element were subsequently given a reading comprehension test in both Formal and Informal Design. On both subtests, children tested in their preferred environments achieved significantly higher scores than when tested in a mismatching one. Of particular interest were the children who preferred the Informal Design and had a higher mean score when tested in their preferred modality. These findings suggest that children who do not achieve so well may underachieve if their performance is limited by being in a classroom dissonant with their preferred learning style.
Spatial Arrangement of Personal Constructs and Frequency and Duration of Participation in Leisure Activities
Authors: Philipp Steven F.
Published: August 2011

Each person creates meaning in the world by means of cognitive conceptual systems. From this perspective, an individual formulates his own personal constructs through which he views events in a personal world. This investigation explored the spatial arrangement of personal constructs and their associated influence on the frequency and duration of participation in leisure activities. The Personal Sphere Model, a projective technique, was used to assess respondents' spatial representations of important personal constructs. The model assumes that each person stands in the center of a sphere formed by the people, ideas, and things which have influenced him throughout his life and which vary in their importance to him. Data from 149 randomly selected respondents in a southwestern metropolitan area provide evidence that the spatial arrangement of personal constructs can be significantly associated with both the frequency and duration of participation in a majority of leisure activities.
Sentence Evaluation and Response Strategies in Repeated Verification Tasks
Authors: Harpur John G. E. , Decker Joy V.
Published: August 2011

Our previous studies of problem-solving strategies in verification tasks showed different response times for different problem types. This experiment studied the effects of manipulating sentence and picture information on response strategies of 20 upper-division college students. Spatial positioning of figures affected over-all decision times, and practice improved performance for negatively phrased descriptions.
A Longitudinal Study on the Structure of Handwriting
Authors: Blöte Anke W. , Hamstra-Bletz Lisa
Published: August 2011

In this study the structure of handwriting was investigated longitudinally, across grades. The scripts of 63 primary school children were evaluated annually, starting in Grade 2. Children were followed for 5 years. An evaluation scale for children's handwriting (the BHK-scale) was used to rate the scripts on 13 characteristics and to measure the speed of writing. Principal component analysis of the BROAD matrix (in which the data collected on the five occasions are arranged side by side) showed that the structure of handwriting characteristics is very stable over these years. Principal component analysis of the LONG matrix (in which the data collected on the five occasions are arranged beneath each other) yielded three clusters of items, which concern (a) fine motor ability of the children, (b) structural performance, and (c) stylistic preference. Sex, grade, and writing speed were related to this structure. In yet another approach a principal component analysis was performed on the within-group correlation matrix of the different grades. In this way the effect of differences in means between grades was removed from the analysis. Three principal components emerged, which, after varimax rotation, correspond to the three clusters noted in the principal component analysis of the LONG matrix.
Subjective Control over Rewards: Effects of Perceived Choice of Reward Schedule on Intrinsic Motivation and Behavior Maintenance
Authors: Feehan Gregory G. , Enzle Michael E.
Published: August 2011

Two studies were conducted to assess the effect of perceived self-control over reward schedules on both intrinsic motivation (Exp. 1) and extinction-phase behavior maintenance (Exp. 2). Previous research involving yoking procedures has potentially confounded manipulations of administration of reward by self or others with how well-tailored the reward contingencies were to individual subjects' needs. The current experiments employed manipulations of choice of reward schedule rather than administration of reward to ensure that all subjects were exposed to identical reward contingencies. Significant treatment effects in the two experiments confirmed the efficacy of choice of schedule, even when illusory, in protecting intrinsic motivation from the negative effects of extrinsic rewards.
On Generalized Information Measures of Human Performance
Authors: Kvålseth Tarald O.
Published: August 2011

A brief review is given of the information measures used extensively in human performance studies (Shannon, 1948). New generalized information measures are presented as alternatives to the traditional measures. It is postulated that the new measures may be advantageous for psychological studies. Also, a new generalized chi-squared goodness-of-fit test statistic is mentioned.
Stability of Ratings of Words on Concreteness, Imagery, Emotionality, and Interest Values
Authors: Campos Alfredo
Published: August 2011

We analyzed the stability of ratings on concreteness, imagery, emotionality, and interest values. 204 subjects were 92 adolescents (52 girls and 40 boys), whose mean age was 15.6 yr., and 112 young adults (80 women and 32 men) whose mean age was 19.8 yr. Subjects were given a list of 50 concrete and 50 abstract words to rate on concreteness, imagery, emotionality, and interest. On each scale for each age group Pearson correlations over words were significant.
Influence of Performance Setting, Experience and Difficulty of Routine on Precompetition Anxiety and Self-Confidence of High School Female Gymnasts
Authors: Matheson Hilary , Mathes Sharon
Published: August 2011

This study examined changes in cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, and self-confidence as measured by the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 in a sample of 50 female high school gymnasts prior to their performances at a practice session, dual meet, and district championship meet. The purpose of the study was to examine (1) the relationship between state anxiety and performance setting, (2) experience, and (3) difficulty of the movement task. Analysis showed that at the dual meet athletes experienced significantly greater cognitive and somatic anxiety and lower self-confidence than at the practice or district championship. State anxiety did not vary significantly with the athletes' over-all experience or the difficulty of the routines they performed. The unexpected finding that the dual meet was the most anxiety-provoking was attributed to the greater uncertainty of outcome in a competition and the fact that the dual meet occurred early in the season.
College Executives' Perceptions of and Frequency of Use of Information Sources
Authors: Flake Wesley L.
Published: August 2011

To assess factors which affect college executives' perceptions of information sources, 155 executives at 16 universities were surveyed. The perception of an information source was positively correlated with the frequency of use of that source. Women had a more positive perception of formal information sources than did men. Men and women had more positive perceptions of external sources than of internal sources. Executives in academic affairs had more positive perceptions of all information sources than did executives in business affairs. The executives' risk-taking propensity and dogmatism were inversely correlated with perceptions of all sources of information.
Attention of Preschool Children: Temporal Variation of Electrodermal Activity during Auditory Stimulation
Authors: Shibagaki Masamitsu , Yamanaka Tadashige
Published: August 2011

Temporal variation of electrodermal activity during passive and active listening tasks of 43 healthy preschool children was studied. The procedure included the baseline recording, a passive listening task, instruction, and an active listening task. The frequency of spontaneous skin-conductance responses (SCRs) showed a significant negative correlation with SCR latency and rise time. Mean SCR amplitude, moreover, displayed a significant negative correlation with the SCR latency and rise time. Reaction time exhibited a significant negative correlation with age. A decrease in the SCR latency was noted during the active listening task below that for the passive listening task over 10 trials. The children seemed to pay more attention as SCR latency and rise time decreased, and the younger children seemed to pay attention later than the older ones. Children seemed to pay more attention during the active than during the passive listening tasks, since the need to press the key should require and perhaps increase general attention.
Presenting Problems in Black Children Referred for Outpatient Psychological Consultation in South Africa
Authors: Pillay Anthony L.
Published: August 2011

An examination of outpatient referrals for psychological consultation at a psychiatric hospital in South Africa was undertaken. Over an 18-month period, 87.1% of a total of 31 children were referred with problems of poor school performance. Behaviour problems were underrepresented. The results are discussed in the context of inadequate community mental health services, which are implicated in the under-detection of childhood psychopathology.
Styles of Modulation of Emotional Behavior: Relationship with Myographic Tension and Morphology of the Shoulder
Authors: Ruggieri Vezio , Giustini Simonetta
Published: August 2011

We examined the morphology of the shoulder through anthropometric measures and the style of modulation of emotions of 54 women. The hypothesis was that the morphology of the shoulder (angles related to the position of the scapula, etc.) can be considered as partially inhibited gestures. The hypothesized relationship between emotions and shape of the shoulder is supported by the suggestion that some aspects of the morphology of the shoulder, as, for example, the habitual position of the scapulae, are an expression of particular gestures. The research indicates interesting relationships between morphological aspects of the shoulder and styles of modulation of emotion. These are discussed within the framework of a psychophysiological model.
Achievement Motivation for Learning in Physical Education Class: A Cross-Cultural Study in Four Countries
Authors: Nishida Tamotsu
Published: August 2011

This study was designed to compare the strength of achievement motivation for learning in physical education among 6,835 junior and high school pupils in Japan, 908 in the United States of America, 686 in Canada, and 698 in England. The Achievement Motivation in Physical Education Test developed by Nishida was administered to assess achievement motivation for learning in physical education. In comparison with the pupils of the other three countries, Japanese pupils showed lower scores on the positive aspects of achievement motivation for learning in physical education or tendency to achieve success, and they were higher on the negative aspects of achievement motivation or tendency to avoid failure. These results could be attributed to such cultural factors as orientation toward affiliation, enjoyment of taking part in some groups, and tendency to establish or maintain positive affective relations with other persons, which the Japanese pupils would traditionally express.
Effects of Field-Based Training on Teachers' Knowledge and Attitudes and the Motor Proficiency of Their Handicapped Students
Authors: Melograno Vincent J. , Loovis E. Michael
Published: August 2011

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of field-based training on the knowledge and attitudes of regular physical education teachers and the motor proficiency of their handicapped students. Twenty-four physical education teachers from a large, city school district completed a program in two phases, one on appropriate motor development for special populations followed by an implementation phase involving 46 handicapped students. An inventory was designed to measure teachers' knowledge, the Measurement of Attitudes Toward Disabled Persons scale measured teachers' attitudes, and the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency measured handicapped students' motor ability. Analysis showed that teachers' knowledge increased significantly from pre- to midproject. Nonsignificant changes were noted for teachers' attitudes although positive increases occurred throughout the project. There was a significant increase in the motor ability of the handicapped students as a result of appropriate programming. Some change among teachers and students was encouraging.