bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Equidistant Categorical Labels for Construction of Likert-Type Scales
Authors: Dobson Keith S. , Mothersill Kerry J.
Published: September 2011

Though Likert-type scales are frequently employed in research, typically little systematic consideration is given to the process of identifying the number of response categories, selecting appropriate category labels or ensuring that the scale yields an acceptable level of measurement. Relatively little research has been performed to identify the category labels which yield scales with equidistant category points. Unidimensional ratings of category labels associated with the psychological dimensions of intensity, frequency, and similarity on 5-, 7-, and 9-point scales by 192 introductory psychology students yielded several scales with equidistant intervals. Researchers are encouraged to employ such Likert-type scales with interval levels of measurement and to validate them on the population being studied.
Relationship between Sex, Age, Education and Field-Dependence: A Cross-Cultural Comparison
Authors: Cionini Lorenzo , Magaro Peter , Smith Philip , Velecogna Francesco
Published: September 2011

Past examination of the relationship between field-independence and age has indicated a developmental trend of increased field-independence up to 17 yr., with a movement toward greater field-dependence after this point. However, discrepancies between longitudinal and cross-sectional findings suggest that this relationship may be confounded by socioeconomic variables. The present study examined the age/field-dependence relationship in a sample of Northern Italians controlling for educational background. Results for females indicated statistical control of educational variables modified the age/field-dependence relationship, but did not for the male sample.
Concurrent Validity of a Children's Version of the Stroop Color-Word Test: The Fruit Distraction Test
Authors: Cammock Tommy , Cairns Ed
Published: September 2011

To assess the concurrent validity of the Fruit Distraction Test, the Stroop Color-Word Test and the Fruit Distraction Test were administered to two groups of boys aged 12 yr. ( N = 63) and 8 yr. ( N = 52). Partial correlations, with IQ controlled, based on time and error scores derived from both tests, provided no convincing evidence that the Fruit Distraction Test is a valid downward extension of the Stroop.
Empirical Description of Effects of Exercise on Mood
Authors: Nowlis David P. , Greenberg Nathan
Published: September 2011

18 experienced joggers showed altered Mood Adjective Check List responding after jogging 12.5 miles, highlighted by increased pleasantness. Results support a broad-spectrum, unipolar approach to quantification of exercise-induced mood change.
Individual Differences and the Similarity/Attraction Relationship: Effects of Level of Similarity-Dissimilarity
Authors: Snyder Robert A.
Published: September 2011

This paper demonstrates empirically that the relative strength of an individual differences variable as a moderator of the relationship between attitude similarity and interpersonal attraction in first encounters may be associated with the level of similarity to which subjects are exposed. The results help explain inconsistencies in previous research and suggest methodological changes for the future.
Relationships among Selected Perceptual-Motor Tests and Teachers' Rankings as a Function of Children's Age and Sex
Authors: Anshel Mark H.
Published: September 2011

28 third grade ( M = 8.4 yr.) and 28 sixth grade ( M = 11.8 yr.) children were administered the Body Coordination Test and Gross Motor Skill Test to assess the relationship between these measures as a function of age, sex, and the subjective ratings (ranks) of their physical education teacher. Scores were significantly correlated (.76) for all as were scores within each grade and sex. The teachers' subjective ranking of younger subjects on their general physical performance was significantly related to scores on both tests but only moderately related to general coordination and unrelated to somatic development. Significant correlations were observed for the older subjects for all ranks on the Gross Motor Skill Test but were only moderately related or unrelated on the Body Coordination Test. These tests may have utility in evaluating motor developmental differences among children.
Differentiated Perceptions of Exertion: Part II. Relationship to Local and Central Physiological Responses
Authors: Robertson Robert J. , Gillespie Robert L. , McCarthy Jean , Rose Kenneth D.
Published: September 2011

Differentiated ratings of perceived exertion in the legs and chest were compared to local and central physiological adjustments during sub-maximal cycle ergometer exercise. 50 male subjects performed three separate cycle ergometer tests. Power output was held constant at 840 kpm/min., while pedalling rate was randomly set at 40, 60, or 80 rpm. Differentiated reports of exertion from the legs were considered to be local signals and reports from the chest to be central signals. Ratings of exertion for the legs, chest and over-all body were each significantly higher at 40 rpm than 60 or 80 rpm. Heart rate, oxygen uptake, ventilation and respiratory rate were also higher at 40 rpm. Lactic acid, pH, and pCOs were similar between pedalling rates. Lactic acid did not operate differentially to influence local perceptual signals from the legs. Central measures of respiratory and aerobic metabolic adjustments were consistent with the more intense regional report of chest exertion at 40 rpm.
Monocular and Binocular Visual Evoked Potentials before and after Cataract Surgery
Authors: Andreassi J. L. , Zalkind S. S. , Gallichio J. A. , Young N. E.
Published: September 2011

Visual evoked cortical potentials (VEPs) were recorded from an individual with a mature cataract in one eye. Stimulation was both monocular and binocular and VEPs were obtained from three occipital scalp sites. Comparisons of recordings taken prior to cataract removal and after removal showed a dramatic increase in amplitude of potentials derived through stimulation of the affected eye. Slight differences in hemispheric amplitude prior to surgery suggest a greater degree of opacity in one portion of the affected lens.
Sex Bias and Career Evaluations by College Women
Authors: Basow Susan A. , Howe Karen G.
Published: September 2011

Careers described by a woman were rated by 55 undergraduate women as having greater potential for advancement than when presented by a man. Sex bias was not found for 5 other factors in careers.
Responsiveness of Pre- and Non-Delinquents to Incentive Aspects of a Reinforcing Event
Authors: Levine Stephen M. , Pearson Loren M.
Published: September 2011

A learning task, a six-position modification of a Fellows (1967) sequence, was used to examine the differences in responsiveness to symbolic and tangible incentives with 24 pre-delinquent and 25 non-delinquent 15-yr.-old boys. Under the low-incentive condition, only the symbolic incentive was available while under the high-incentive condition a symbolic and material reinforcer was employed. The high-incentive condition had no significant effect on the non-delinquents but did significantly affect the delinquents. Also, the high-incentive delinquent group performed similarly to both non-delinquent groups. Recommendations for research are given.
Body Perception in Athletes and Non-Athletes
Authors: Rossi Bruna , Zoccolotti Pierluigi
Published: September 2011

20 male athletes and 20 control subjects were required to make estimates of the length of their body dimensions and of external comparison objects. Athletes were more accurate in judging body dimensions than comparison objects while the reverse pattern was demonstrated by non-athletes. The results are discussed on the basis of the possible influence of sports activities on body perception.
Effect of Rhythmic and Non-Rhythmic Cadence on Synchronization of Responses of Several Subjects
Authors: Dunham Paul
Published: September 2011

The effectiveness of rhythmic cadence on synchronization of responses of small groups of 7 males but not for groups of 7 females ( N = 84) was demonstrated, perhaps because college age males have had more such experience.
Pupillary Responses to Pictures and Descriptions of Sex-Stereotyped Stimuli
Authors: Green Marsha L. , Kraus Susan K. , Green Ronald G.
Published: September 2011

An attempt was made to replicate Hess and Polt's (1960) report of sex differences in pupillary responses to sex-stereotyped pictures. Some methodological refinements were used that seem desirable for future studies. College men and women were either shown or told they would be shown pictures of a semi-nude man, a semi-nude woman, a baby, and a landscape. With resting pupil size as covariate, a three-factor analysis of covariance did not show sex differences in response to visually presented stimuli. Men responded more to verbal than visual mode of presentation and more than women to verbal stimuli. Contrary to previous results, men responded as much or more than women to verbal or visual presentation of baby stimuli. The verbal or anticipatory mode seems to be at least as sensitive as the visual and eliminates problems of control of visual materials.
Summative Evaluation of Teaching Effectiveness in Legal Education
Authors: Meredith Gerald M.
Published: September 2011

This study identified items for end-of-semester evaluation of teachers' effectiveness in law school education.
Response Bias in Deaf and Hearing Subjects as a Function of Motivational Factors
Authors: Bross Michael
Published: September 2011

This experiment assessed the effect of different payoff matrices on 6 deaf and 6 hearing subjects on a visual brightness discrimination task. Subjects were required to make forced-choice responses to three different monetary payoff conditions, designed to induce a liberal, a conservative, and an equal-bias response criterion, respectively. The results showed that the deaf did not select the superior response strategies they had exhibited in a previous study (Bross, 1979) on the effect of changes in stimulus probability. Furthermore, the deaf earned significantly less money than the controls for all three conditions, indicating that the introduction of motivational demands affects their response strategies adversely.
A New Visual Aesthetic Sensitivity Test: I. Construction and Psychometric Properties
Authors: Götz K. O. , Lynn R. , Borisy A. R. , Eysenck H. J.
Published: September 2011

This paper reports progress in construction of a new test of visual aesthetic sensitivity, differing from previous tests in that the items were drawn by an experienced artist of international reputation. There are 42 sets of 2 non-representational pictures, differing in that one of these has been changed by the incorporation of certain intentional design faults; there is thus a “right” and a “wrong” picture, and it is the task of the subject to discover the right answer. Eight practising artists validated the construction by agreeing 100% in their answers with the key. The test was administered to 111 male and female students, and 369 male and female children. There were no sex differences, no very significant correlations with intelligence, and very little by way of correlations with personality traits. The mean score of the children was 30, that of the students 35, a very significant difference. Within the group of children, however, there was no correlation with age. The distribution of scores was skewed, with easy items (high scores) predominating. The difficulty levels of the items were similar for adults and children, male and female. The internal reliability of the test was .84 for the adults. The retest reliability of the test was .70 for girls and .32 for boys, but the samples were small.
Leaders' Behavior, Subordinates' Reactions, and Perceptions of Organizational Climate and Effectiveness
Authors: Hendrick Hal W.
Published: September 2011

6 to 8 enlisted personnel from each of 60 army companies were interviewed during an organizational assessment. The initiating structure and consideration behaviors of the company commander were related to and perceived determinants of between company differences in (a) subordinates' behavior, (b) three organizational climate dimensions, and (c) perceived unit effectiveness. Commonly held perceptions among officers and noncommissioned officers supported the subordinates' perceptions of the causal significance of the company commander's behavior. Perceptions of battalion commanders also supported this view and provided a partial validation of subordinates' global perceptions of the company's climate and effectiveness. A model of the relationships among the variables identified was developed. Refinements to the consideration dimension of leadership are suggested by the data. Limitations of the interview approach utilized and suggestions for subsequent research are given.
An Approach to Prediction of Performance Using Behavioral and Physiological Variables
Authors: Briggs C. A. , Sandstrom E. R. , Nettleton B.
Published: September 2011

10 male, middle-distance runners selected for their potential or actual success in running 1500 metres were subjected to laboratory tests of VO2 max and run time at 85% VO2 max. Using the Eysenck Personality Inventory (Eysenck, 1962), data were collected from the runners from which they were given a score on the Extraversion/Introversion dimension of personality. Pearson product-moment correlations were computed between 1500 m. run times and VO2 max, 85% utilization of VO2 max, and Extraversion scores. The highest correlation was between Extraversion and the 1500-m. run ( r = .75). The multiple correlation between times for the 1500-m. run and Extraversion with VO2 max was .77. The results support the value of building comprehensive profiles for the athlete which include not only physiological and anatomical variables but behavioral measures as well.
Time-Varied Noise Effects on Color-Word Test Performance
Authors: Ogden George D. , Rieck Angela M. , Coates Glynn D.
Published: September 2011

The effects of continuous and time-varied 85 dBA broadband noise on the performance of a Stroop-type color-word test and a related word-reading task were investigated. 10 subjects served in one of three groups receiving either continuous, periodic, or aperiodic noise. All subjects performed in both low noise (65 dBA) and high noise (85 dBA) conditions on 80 trials of both word reading and color naming. Median reaction times in the word-reading task were unaffected by either noise intensity or the time-varied aspects of the noise. However, median reaction times in the color-naming task were significantly elevated in the 85-dBA noise condition. Also, reaction times in the high aperiodic noise condition were significantly elevated relative to the continuous and periodic noise conditions. Results are discussed within the framework of arousal, filter, and information theories.
Relationships among Spatial Skills, Communication Skills, and Field Independence in Deaf Students
Authors: Parasnis ILa , Long Gary L.
Published: September 2011

The hypotheses that deaf students would be more field-dependent than hearing students and that their competence in communication skills would be positively related to field-independence were supported for a group of 77 male and 67 female deaf students. Step-wise multiple regression analyses of the data showed that for females spatial skills followed by communication skills were significant predictors of field-independence; for males spatial skills followed by the extent of hearing loss were significant predictors of field-independence. Sex differences found on tests of field-independence and spatial relations were consistent with those obtained from the hearing population. It was suggested that socialization experiences and competence in communication skills may influence development of field-independence in deaf students.
Statistical Considerations for the Univariate Analysis of Repeated-Measures Experiments
Authors: Ludwig David A.
Published: September 2011

The areas of research within the field of motor learning almost always permit a repeated measures design. The ability to describe the effects which occur over different periods of time is essential for the analysis of experiments which seek to describe the interaction between a given treatment and its effect on learning. Even though researchers in motor learning do not hesitate to set up repeated-measures designs, they often violate basic assumptions of statistical inference which are necessary for valid conclusions. It is therefore the purpose of this article to describe the basic statistical assumptions which underlie analysis of repeated measures and to describe the alternatives available when these assumptions are violated.
Student's Perception of Ability Scale: Comparison of Opscan and Handscoring Forms
Authors: Chapman James W. , Boersma Frederic J.
Published: September 2011

An Optical Scan (OPSCAN) computer-scoreable form of the Student's Perception of Ability Scale was compared with the Regular hand-scored form. The results indicated that similar scores may be obtained using either form of the scale.
Hemisphere Differences and Judgments of Simultaneity of Brief Light Flashes
Authors: Newman Stanton , Albino R. C.
Published: September 2011

A series of experiments was conducted to investigate the possibility of hemispheric specialization for judgments of the simultaneity of two light flashes. Right-handed subjects adjusted two light flashes until they appeared simultaneous. The comparison of measures derived from the two possible orders of the light flashes suggested that the right hemisphere of right-handed subjects performed the function of ordering visual stimuli in time. Two further experiments examined an alternative explanation, that of a left-to-right scanning mechanism, the results of which also suggested a hemisphere explanation. The results of these experiments are discussed in terms of previous research and theories which located a temporal ordering mechanism in the speech hemisphere.
A Left-Ear Advantage for Chords in Non-Musicians
Authors: Peretz Isabelle , Morais José
Published: September 2011

Contrasting with previous reports, left-ear advantage was found for recognition of chords by non-musicians ( n = 16). It is suggested that the less memory is involved the more the effect may appear in musically naive subjects.
The Slingerland Screening Tests for Identifying Children with Specific Language Disability: Screening for Learning Disabilities in First Grade
Authors: Dinero Thomas E. , Donah Carol H. , Larson Gerald L.
Published: September 2011

The responses on the Slingerland tests of 29 learning disabled and 11 nondisabled children in Grade 1 distinguished the two groups, except for copying (near vision). Copying (far vision) and auditory, visual, and kinesthetic perception and discrimination together were the strongest predictors of group membership.
Relation of Intelligence to Childhood Depression in Children Referred to an Educational Diagnostic Center
Authors: Brumback Roger A. , Jackoway Marlin K. , Weinberg Warren A.
Published: September 2011

With the development and application of specific diagnostic criteria, depression has been clarified as a major cause of behavioral disturbance in children. 62% of a group of 100 prepubertal children with school problems fulfilled the criteria for childhood depression. There was no significant difference in age, sex, grade level, intelligence quotient, or school skills achievement in the depressed versus nondepressed children. The family history was positive for psychiatric illness in 71% and for depression in 42% of the depressed children. In the depressed children, episodic hyperactivity and secondary enuresis were evident during the depressive episode.
Mood Profiles of Marathon Runners, Joggers and Non-Exercisers
Authors: Wilson V. E. , Morley N.C. , Bird E. I.
Published: September 2011

10 marathon runners and 10 joggers reported less depression on an adjective check list than 10 non-exercisers, as well as less confusion, more vigor. Marathoners scored better on each than joggers.
Hemispheric Laterality Differences among Four Levels of Reading Achievement
Authors: Garren Richard B.
Published: September 2011

80 male children between the ages of 8 and 10 yr. were divided into four groups on the basis of their reading ages. 20 words were tachistoscopically presented to the left and right visual half-fields to determine if incomplete hemispheric laterality is associated with all levels of reading deficiency or only with the more severe cases. The results support the hypothesis that incomplete hemispheric laterality is only associated with reading deficiency when the deficit exceeds 18 mo.
Influence of Different Preparatory Sets on Reaction Time and Arm-Movement Time
Authors: Inomata Kimihiro
Published: September 2011

The effect of three different preparatory sets on reaction time (RT), movement time (MT) and reaction time-movement time (RT-MT) relationship was examined. All 15 subjects were required to perform under the three conditions regarding the relative payoff of stimulus and speed of movement. No significant effect on RT was found, while the significant difference between MT under MT-payoff condition and MT under RT-payoff condition was found. The correlations between RT and MT under MT-payoff condition and RT-MT-payoff condition are significant ( p < .05). Also high canonical correlation between RTs and MTs was found. Results suggested that the motor program in the simple task may be executed more effectively under MT-payoff condition than RT-payoff conditions and also that a certain amount of generality between RT and MT under the payoff conditions might exist in multivariate domains.
Sex of Model and Sex of Subject in Reduction of Snake Avoidance
Authors: Somervill John W. , Rimm David C. , Spudic Thomas J.
Published: September 2011

The effects of sex of experimenter on approach to a snake were assessed in both modeling and non-modeling conditions. Subjects were selected on the basis of a pretest in which they indicated that they would never pick up a harmless snake depicted on one of eight color slides of animals. 72 subjects (36 males and 36 females) served in one of 8 groups (4 groups of males and 4 groups of females). Each group of 9 subjects served in one of the following conditions: (a) a non-modeling condition with the same sex experimenter, (b) a non-modeling condition with an opposite sex experimenter, (c) a modeling condition with the same sex experimenter, and (d) a modeling condition with an opposite sex experimenter. All experimenters were selected to be attractive. Analysis of variance for scores on a 19-step sequence of approach yielded a significant interaction of sex of experimenter by sex of subject ( F = 4.18, df = 1/64, p < .05). All other comparisons were non-significant. Results indicate that an attractive experimenter of the opposite sex increases approaching a snake particularly by male subjects.
Smooth Pursuit Eye Movements, Schizophrenia, and Distraction
Authors: Upton Richard B. , Frost Laurie A. , Holzman Philip S.
Published: September 2011

This study tested whether smooth pursuit eye-movement dysfunctions, prevalent in a large percentage of schizophrenic patients, are distinguishable from impaired pursuit induced in normals by a distracting task. Results showed clear qualitative and quantitative distinctions between records of 23 distracted normals and those of 13 schizophrenics.
Temporal Orientation Pre- and Post-Delivery of a Child
Authors: Keller C. S.
Published: September 2011

17 men and 30 women were administered Roos' Time Reference Inventory during the third trimester before delivery and again at 6 wk. post-delivery to assess temporal orientation with respect to the delivery of a child. There was no significant difference in temporal orientation in terms of future, past, and present age estimate.
Effects of Hypnosis and Perceptual Deprivation on Vigilance in a Simulated Radar Target-Detection Task
Authors: Barabasz Arreed F.
Published: September 2011

Detection efficiency of humans deteriorates rapidly in a variety of monotonous monitoring tasks. The experiment was performed to determine whether or not superior vigilance performance could be obtained through hypnosis in the context of perceptual deprivation. Subjects, forty U.S. Navy personnel, were divided into four groups. Subjects worked on a simulated radar target-detection task before and after one of four treatments. Those given post-hypnotic suggestions for increased alertness made significantly fewer errors in target detection while those exposed to suggestions for decreased performance or perceptual deprivation only showed significant increases in errors. Controls showed no significant changes in errors. Change scores were significantly related to Stanford Hypnotic Clinical Scale hypnotizability scores for subjects in the hypnosis-augment performance group but not for other groups.
Part and Whole Practice for a Tracking Task: Effects of Task Variables and Amount of Practice
Authors: Stammers R. B.
Published: September 2011

Whole and part methods were compared to test Naylor's hypothesis that, in a task of high organization, whole methods should become more efficient with increased complexity. Task complexity was varied by having two levels of display-control relationship. The part versus whole comparisons were made in two conditions, one requiring early changeover, the other later changeover to whole task practice. In the early changeover condition no significant differences were found between part and whole methods at either level of complexity. With later changeover, on the other hand, pure part training was inferior to whole training in the high complexity task. This result was present only in the first block of whole practice. No differences were found with the low complexity task. The experiment offers limited support for Naylor's hypothesis. The predicted superiority of the whole method in the high complexity task was only short lived and disappeared with further practice. Furthermore, this prediction was upheld only with later changeover to whole task performance.
Contributions to the History of Psychology: XXVII: Shinkuro Iwahara: 1923–1978, Part 1
Authors: Fujisawa Kiyoshi , Naitoh Paul
Published: September 2011

This obituary describes the training and professional activities of Shinkuro Iwahara, an outstanding Japanese scholar, teacher, and researcher.
Head Tip, Cue to Object Elevation and Location: Implications for the Blind
Authors: Thurlow Willard R.
Published: September 2011

Sighted subjects can accurately direct a light-beam source mounted on their head to the position of their hand on a vertical or horizontal scale by tipping their head in the up-down dimension. A blind person might be trained to utilize head-tip cues for location or objects in space. If he scanned his environment vertically (by tipping his head) with a horizontal linear array of photosensitive elements, presence of an object at a given position and elevation could be signalled to him by a small light attached to the object.
Racial and Sex Differences in “Images of the Future”
Authors: Torrance E. Paul , Allen Walter R.
Published: September 2011

Scenarios of future careers were written by 454 senior high school students in a southeastern high school. Random samples of 40 black females, 40 black males, 40 white males, and 40 white females were scored for eight characteristics and means were compared through analysis of variance. Only one sex difference was found, girls rated higher than boys on perception of self as changed in the future. The blacks projected greater career satisfaction for the future but the whites wrote longer scenarios and projected greater perceptions of changes in the world/mankind, greater awareness of future problems, more proposals of solutions to future problems, and stronger perceptions of self as a creative problem solver. There were no differences in commitments to making a better world or solving future problems.
Personality Characteristics of Three Sub-Groups of Children with Reading Disabilities
Authors: Fuller Gerald B. , Lovinger Sophie L.
Published: September 2011

It has been demonstrated that three subgroups of poor readers have a number of unique behavioral characteristics on intelligence, psycho-linguistics, and achievement. The present research explored whether further unique behavioral patterns could be delineated between the groups when considering the dimension of personality. The subjects were 64 children between the ages of 7 and 14 yr. who had been referred to a public school summer reading remediation clinic. Four tests were administered: Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, Durrell Analysis of Reading Difficulty, Minnesota Percepto-Diagnostic Test, and the Rotschach. The subjects were grouped on the Minnesota test cut-off scores into one of three groups and then compared on the dimension of personality. There were significant diffetences on certain personality variables allowing different group profiles to be established. These personality profiles were discussed.
Psychological Measurement of Memory Deficits in Dialysis Patients
Authors: Ziesat Harold A. , Logue Patrick E. , McCarty Sarah M.
Published: September 2011

In light of recent research on “dialysis dementia,” two questions were raised: (1) Is such dementia an all-or-none phenomenon or is it distributed in severity throughout the population of dialysis patients? (2) Is the dementia related to the uremia itself or to some aspect of dialysis? Memory decline was used as the operational definition of dementia. The Russell revision of the Wechsler Memory Scale was used to measure short- and long-term semantic and figural memory. Results suggested that both semantic and figural memory disturbances were distributed in varying degrees throughout the population of dialysis patients ( n = 28). Further findings suggested that figural memory functioning was negatively correlated with the number of dialysis sessions and with the amount of time elapsed since the first dialysis session. Suggestions are made for further research and clinical considerations.
On the Validity of Projective Measures of Interpersonal Distance
Authors: Edwards David J. A.
Published: September 2011

A model of the cognitive basis of the subject's response to projective measures of interpersonal distance is described and used as a basis for arguing for the validity of these methods in research on cultural patterns of interpersonal distance regulation.
Basic Concepts and Conservation Skill Training in Kindergarten Children
Authors: Wasik Barbara H. , Day Barbara D. , Wasik John L.
Published: September 2011

This study investigated the effects of basic concepts training on conservation acquisition in kindergarten children. A total of 41 children, 17 white boys, 15 white girls, 6 black girls, and 5 black boys, were randomly assigned within level of race and sex to four groups: Group 1, Basic Skills Training and Conservation Training; Group 2, Basic Skills Training; Group 3, Conservation Training; and Group 4, Contact Control. The experimental design called for Groups 1 and 2 to receive training on basic concepts, specifically “more than,” “less than,” “same,” and “different.” Following a second test session, Groups 1 and 3 then received training on conservation while Group 4 served as a contact control group for both training sessions. Only the conservation training program resulted in significant effects and that was for the white students alone. A retention testing administered several months after the conservation training showed a significant drop for those students who had received the conservation training and a significant increase for the contact control group.
Relationship of Students' Ranks and Developmental Readiness Scores
Authors: Wyckoff Winnefred L.
Published: September 2011

Analysis indicated that the Purdue Perceptual Motor Survey and the Santa Clara Inventory targeted virtually the same student population. Thus the two tests were similar in discriminating levels of readiness necessary for successful academic performance. Further, both developmental tests were moderately correlated with the teachers' ranking for first grade placement. Kindergarten students from Philomath Elementary School, Philomath, Oregon, participated in the study, 26 5-yr.-old males and 38 5-yr.-old females.
Lateral Eye Movement Behavior in Children
Authors: Reynolds Cecil R. , Kaufman Alan S.
Published: September 2011

The lateral eye movement phenomenon, studied frequently in adults, was investigated for 52 children aged 2–8 to 9–11, using both spatial and verbal-analytic questions. The phenomenon was observed in 50 of the 52 children and appeared well established by age 3 1/2; about half of the children were classifiable as either right movers or left movers. Some interesting developmental findings were noted, including a few important discrepancies with the results of adult studies. In addition, type of question had no effect on the direction of a child's eye movements. The implications of these findings were discussed.
Role of Visual Feedback for Response Guidance and Response Confirmation in Typewriting
Authors: Hayes Virginia , Reeve T. Gilmour
Published: September 2011

The purpose of this study was to determine the use of visual feedback by typists at various skill levels. 73 volunteers from 5 college typewriting classes completed three 1-min. timed typewriting trials and four 3-min. trials. Subjects' gross words per minute were used to classify subjects by skill level into five groups: 35 gross words per minute or less, 36 to 45, 46 to 55, 56 to 65, or 66 or more gross words per minute. Subjects performed each of the four 3-min. trials in a different condition of visual feedback: unrestricted visual feedback, visual feedback for response confirmation, visual feedback for response guidance, and restricted visual feedback. Three analyses of variance (groups × conditions) were calculated using gross words per minute, percent dependable feedback, and total errors as dependent variables. Main effects of groups and conditions were significant for gross words per minute and percent dependable feedback. Only the main effect of conditions was significant for total errors. There were no statistically significant interactions. Results suggest that typists at different skill levels use visual feedback similarly, with the best over-all performance occurring when visual feedback is available and used for response guidance.
Consistency of Cognitive and Motor Performance Measures over Two Years in Reading Retarded Children
Authors: Aman M. G. , Mayhew J. M.
Published: September 2011

Children identified for specific reading retardation were tested at initial contact and after 2 yr. on a variety of measures including seat activity, and cognitive and motor steadiness tasks. Developmentally there were few improvements on the accuracy and response time measures, whereas response speed and motor steadiness improved substantially with maturation. Consistency of performance over the 2 yr. showed the following pattern. Correlations for accuracy and response time were generally around chance levels, whereas the predictive validity for seat movement was in the low to moderate range. Speed of response and motor steadiness showed moderate to very high consistency over the 2 yr. Reliability estimates at each test interval were generally high for all variables except accuracy. These results suggest that there may be an advantage in adopting speed measures in preference to response time, and they also highlight the importance of the temporal dimension in cognitive testing.
Self-Touching, Performance, and Attentional Processes
Authors: Barroso Felix , Freedman Norbert , Grand Stanley
Published: September 2011

Previous observations in our laboratory suggested that self-touching, the continuous movements of the hands on the body or onto each other, would increase during periods of attentional disruption or interference. The present study explored this notion further by testing whether or not variation in self-touching is associated with variation in performance in three different experimental tasks. The results indicate that certain types of continuous self-touching are consistently and significantly associated with three different performance measures. Since performance in a task is usually viewed as involving attentional processes, the present findings suggest a link between activity of hands and variations in the effective deployment of attention.
Effects of Operative Level upon Hypothesis-Sampling Systems across the Life Span
Authors: Gholson Barry , Daniel Cynthia
Published: September 2011

There are qualitative differences in the modal hypothesis-sampling systems of preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational children and young adults. These are congenial to predictions derived from Piaget. Preoperational kindergarten children show mostly stereotypes, while their concrete operational peers exhibit use of dimension and hypothesis-checking in more than half their problems. After training formal operational eighth graders and college students show perfect processing in most problems; those who score as concrete operational appear unable to acquire this strategy. Cognitive level is not a good predictor of performance among middle-aged (40 to 50 yr.) and older adults (60 to 80 yr.).
Effects of the Transcendental Meditation Technique on Normal and Jendrassik Reflex Time
Authors: Warshal Debra
Published: September 2011

Fractionated normal and Jendrassik reflex times were assessed on 14 subjects over a 6-wk. period to examine the short- and long-range effects of Transcendental Meditation on the neuromuscular system. While no significant differences in reflex times were observed pre- and posttreatment, a significant reduction in reflex times was found over sessions. Possible explanations were offered.
Cardiovascular Perception and Voluntary Control of Heart Rate
Authors: Puente A. E. , Clark L. S. , Beiman I. H.
Published: September 2011

From 519 participants administered the cardiovascular functioning items of the Autonomic Perception Questionnaire, 42 were chosen and divided into groups low, middle, or high in perception based on the total score. Each participant was given six 2-min. trials during which they were to raise or lower heart rate. The short version of the questionnaire did not predict ability to control heart rate. However, the three groups were able to increase and decrease heart rate on command.
Effect of Reversal of Response Scales in a Questionnaire
Authors: Edvardsson Bo
Published: September 2011

This study investigated the effect of reversal of response scales in a questionnaire. Two versions, A and B, were constructed. A was identical with B except that all response scales were reversed in B. The two versions were randomly distributed to a group of psychology students. No statistically significant differences were found concerning means and standard deviations of the response distributions when the sign test was applied to six different groups of response scales in the questionnaire.
Effect of Distance on Heterochromatic Matching
Authors: Pratt Francis , Macdonald Ranald R.
Published: September 2011

The brightness of colors in a number of paintings by Francis Pratt appeared to vary as a function of the viewing distance. These pictures were composed of narrow strips of different colors varying in brightness and saturation. Five experiments were undertaken to replicate and study this effect under controlled conditions using heterochromatic brightness matching of various pairs of colored stimuli. The subjects were first-year students in psychology, participating as a course requirement. The number of subjects varied in the different experiments, between 6 and 9. The relative brightness of blue as compared to red, orange, and yellow-green varied as a function of viewing distance. The relative brightness of the blue decreased as distance increased. By varying the physical size of the stimuli it was possible to keep the angle subtended at the retina constant for two distances and the effect remained. Any explanation must therefore account for the finding that the effect is not due to the apparent size of the stimuli.
Age, Sex, Race, and the Lüscher Color Test
Authors: Hafner James L. , Corotto Loren V.
Published: September 2011

Scores on Lüscher Color Test are claimed to be independent of age, sex, and race. The test was administered to 102 consecutive admissions (71 males, 31 females; 35 Negroes, 67 Caucasians) to an acute psychiatric inpatient unit. The preference for each of the 8 Lüscher colors was correlated with age, sex, and race. Two of the 48 biserial correlations were significant ( p = .05). Negroes demonstrated significantly greater preference for grey than did Caucasians. Females showed significantly greater preference for red than males. These results are essentially supportive of the Lüscher premise, i.e., age, sex, and race are independent of color preference.
Reliability and Validity of the Group Embedded Figures Test across the Life Span
Authors: Panek Paul E. , Funk Laura G. , Nelson Pamela K.
Published: September 2011

Data from a previous investigation were reanalyzed to determine the split-half reliability and two forms of validity, i.e., internal consistency and construct, of the Group Embedded Figures Test across the life span. Subjects were 175 females, ranging in age from 17 to 72 yr., who fell into one of seven age groups. The Group Embedded Figures had adequate split-half reliability for the entire sample and for each age group. Significant, consistent differences between performance on Parts II and III of the GEFT were found. Estimates of internal consistency were adequate. Though satisfactory construct validity for the total correct on Parts II and III was obtained as correlations with the Portable-Rod-and-Frame Test for the entire sample, the construct validity of the Group Embedded Figures and separate parts was not adequately demonstrated within all age groups.
A Microcomputer-Based Simultaneous Vigilance Test
Authors: Burch W. M. , Butlin A. T.
Published: September 2011

A “simultaneous vigilance” test of information-processing rate has been translated from its original academic role to a clinical diagnostic tool. Its clinical purpose is the investigation of the effects of anticonvulsants in epileptic patients. The key to this translation lies in the use of microcomputer technology. This approach offers flexibility in development of a protocol and massive capability for data capture which cannot be equalled either in convenience or extent by any other method. The test period required to obtain an estimate of information-processing rate is approximately 20 min. During this time data on reaction times, relationship between score and pattern symmetry, and the temporal sequencing of errors can be collected and stored in a readily analyzable form. This initial report describes the design principles of the system (hardware and software) and two representative normal results. Clinical data will be the subject of later publications.
Personality Correlates of Bidirectional Heart-Rate Control
Authors: Pardine Peter
Published: September 2011

This study examined the combined effects of personality with instruction and treatment variables in human operant heart-rate conditioning. The Edwards Personal Preference Schedule was administered to 50 subjects tested for bidirectional heart-rate control during no-feedback and analogue auditory feedback conditions. Findings indicated that relative to pre-trial baselines, subjects were able significantly to alter heart rates according to instructed direction of change, but treatment effects for augmented sensory feedback were not reliable. Correlational analyses employing personality variables demonstrated that different traits define successful speeding and reduction performance. Further, post hoc analyses for personality high-low classification × treatment × instructions effects indicated that personality variables of succorance and abasement moderated treatment effects for heart-rate reduction. Questions are raised concerning the efficacy of proportional auditory treatment in biofeedback training.
Observation Survey of Crib and Playpen Toys
Authors: Sheiman Deborah Lovitky
Published: September 2011

Judgments of appropriateness of five crib and playpen toys were made by 30 observers.
The Charlop-Atwell Scale of Motor Coordination: A Quick and Easy Assessment of Young Children
Authors: Charlop Marjorie , Atwell Constance W.
Published: September 2011

The Charlop-Atwell Scale of Motor Coordination was designed to meet the need for a quick and easily used measure of some aspects of gross motor coordination of children between the ages of 4 and 6 years. The scale was provisionally standardized on 201 children who were sampled across age, sex, race and income level. It is short, relatively simple for school teachers and researchers to administer, and does not require special equipment. The scale contains a subjective subtest, based on quality of performance, in addition to an objective subtest based on accuracy of performance. Results show a developmental trend, high test-retest and interobserver reliability, and strong external validity.
A New Visual Aesthetic Sensitivity Test: III. Cross-Cultural Comparison between Hong Kong Children and Adults, and English and Japanese Samples
Authors: Chan J. , Eysenck H. J. , Götz K. O.
Published: September 2011

The Visual Aesthetic Sensitivity Test was applied to 287 male and 252 female Hong Kong children of Chinese extraction, aged from 7 yr. upwards, and to 58 adult males and 144 adult females. Their responses were compared with those of English and Japanese children and adults, and somewhat lower scores recorded for the Hong Kong children and adults. A group of German girls were also tested. Difficulty levels for the items were not dissimilar to those observed in England and Japan.
Relationship of Relaxation Training to the Controllability of Imagery
Authors: Hamberger Kevin , Lohr Jeffrey M.
Published: September 2011

Imagery and relaxation training have been used as major components of systematic desensitization. While imagery vividness and clarity ate not related to degree of relaxation or effectiveness of systematic desensitization, it is hypothesized that controllability of imagery is facilitated by relaxation. Increased controllability of imagery could aid in reduction of fear through extinction of conditioned fear or symbolic mastery. The present study tested the hypothesis that controllability of imagery increases as a function of relaxation training. The data showed that such training was effective in reducing EMG activity and level of self-report measures of tension. A didactic training control group showed no change on EMG and self-report measures. Controllability of imagery increased over training trials for both groups but was not differentially affected by type of training. The results are discussed in terms of methodological issues in measurement of imagery and future research on the relationship of relaxation and processes of imagery.
Relationship between Self-Esteem and Depression among High School Students
Authors: Battle James
Published: September 2011

26 students, males and females, aged 15 through 18 yr. referred to the school psychologist for assessment participated in the study to determine the relationship between self-esteem and depression in high school students. Each subject was administered a self-esteem checklist and two measures of depression on one occasion. The correlations between self-esteem and depression were significant (.34 to .75) for both measures of depression.
Relationship between Depression and Self-Contact
Authors: Ruggieri Vezio , Guiliano Carmela , Fusco Antonio
Published: September 2011

To study the relationship between depression and self-contact, 25 male subjects between 30 and 35 yr. of age were administered Zung's Depression Questionnaire and measured for duration of self-contacts in a group situation and during the completion of a questionnaire on contact. Positive correlations of .73, .78, and .66 were obtained between duration of self-contact and depression score.