bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Elderhostelers' Coping with Nuclear Threat: Peacemaking and Perception of Lifeworld
Authors: Mc Carthy S. Viterbo
Published: September 2011

37 persons whose mean age was 71.1 yr., volunteered from an Elderhostel program to participate in a quasiexperimental study of the effect of strategy for coping with nuclear threat on a planetary or lifeworld view. Coping strategy was assessed by the score on 10 forced-choice items of the Peacemaking questionnaire. When 14 high and 10 low scorers were compared on Perception of Lifeworld scores, only chance differences were noted. For this small sample, many scores reached ceiling value because of the insensitivity of the Peacemaking questionnaire. Highly truncated data were also attributed to the fact that Elderhostelers had lived through periods of war and peace. Also, this pilot study coincided with stories in the media in commemoration of the fortieth anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Replication was recommended.
Sensitivity to the Imagery Values of Words
Authors: Devane J. R.
Published: September 2011

The closer the imagery ratings of 53 subjects matched those of the subjects of Paivio, Yuille, and Madigan (1968), the more their responses on an unanticipated recognition test were determined by the imagery values of the words, suggesting that their memory was in part organized in terms of imagery strength. There was no apparent relationship between ratings and scores on the Marks Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire.
Yes, Graphology Can Predict Occupational Success: Rejoinder to Ben-Shakhar, et al.
Authors: Nevo Baruch
Published: September 2011

This is a comment on Ben-Shakhar, et al.'s paper, “Can Graphology Predict Occupational Success?” (1986), in which were reported two empirical studies concerning the validity of graphological predictions. The conclusion there was that graphology per se can not be considered as a valid predictor of occupational success. In this rejoinder an attempt is made to reanalyse the data of Ben-Shakhar, et al. and to reinterpret their findings. The conclusion here is supportive of graphology rather than refutative.
A Signal Detection Theory Analysis of a Driving Decision Task: Spatial Gap Acceptance
Authors: Wolf Yuval , Algom Daniel , Lewin Isaac
Published: September 2011

Applications of signal detection theory (SDT) in the study of road-users behavior were tested in both real and laboratory settings. The field study used a gap-acceptance task with 3 levels of experimentally produced frustration. The laboratory simulation used a parking task, again with 3 levels of frustration. In addition, a multidimensional analysis of driver's subjective road experience and behavior aided in the interpretation of one of the experimental measures. Successful applications of SDT techniques to the analysis of several traffic problems are demonstrated, and future applications are suggested.
Factors Affecting Analytic and Holistic Modes in Children's Classification Learning
Authors: Sugimura Takeshi , Inoue Toyoko
Published: September 2011

Kindergarten children, aged 5 to 6 yr. (119 boys, 121 girls) were given a 2-category classification task under the “Go together” or the “Are alike” instruction and assessed the categorization modes (analytic and holistic) after reaching each of three criteria of learning (4/4, 8/8, and 8/8 + 8). The tasks with strong or weak family-resemblance structure were provided. The exemplars were schematic faces of boys (Exp. 1) and schematic figures of girls (Exp. 2). The analytic mode was used for the weak family-resemblance task and for the schematic faces more frequently than for the strong resemblance task and for the schematic girls. With increasing criteria of learning, the percentages of the subjects who used the analytic mode increased while those who used the holistic mode decreased. The findings were discussed with reference to the stimulus characteristics, the family-resemblance structure, and the developmental trend of categorization modes.
Effects of Sex and Eye Color on Jumping Rope by Elementary School Children
Authors: Beer John , Fleming Paula
Published: September 2011

Light-eyed individuals generally perform better at self-paced activities while dark-eyed individuals perform better at reactive activities. A 2 (boy, girl) by 2 (light-eyed, dark-eyed) by 4 (Grades 1, 2, 3, 4) analysis of variance was performed on number of rope jumps in 15 sec. There was no difference among the children with different eye-colors, but there were expected differences by grade and sex. The older children of higher grades jumped more times than the younger children of lower grades, and girls jumped more than did boys.
Comparison between Gorham's Proverbs Test and the Revised Shipley Institute of Living Scale for a Black Population
Authors: Penn Nolan E. , Jacob Teresa C. , Brown Malrie
Published: September 2011

A total of 278 black women (183) and men (95) were administered the Gorham's Proverbs Test and the Shipley Institute of Living Scale (revised). This study compared Abstract scores on the Gorham's Proverbs Test with Vocabulary and Abstract scores on the Shipley Institute of Living Scale. The two tests were remarkably similar in terms of score distributions and susceptibility to the effects of age, perceived socioeconomic level during childhood, education, and perceived quality of education. Analysis also showed that abstract reasoning, as measured by these tests, is not free from the effects of vocabulary skills. Mean scores on both tests were within the range of mean scores previously reported in the literature.
Reliability and Accuracy of Self-Report of a New Body-Image Measure
Authors: Mable Harriett M. , Balance William D. G. , Galgan Richard J.
Published: September 2011

The present study investigated the reliability and accuracy of the Body-image Distortion Questionnaire, a paper-and-pencil self-report measure. Forty male and 41 female college students completed the questionnaire on each of two occasions 21 days apart. Daring the second session, height, weight, and body build were measured. Results indicated that the questionnaire is a reliable and accurate measure of body-image distortion.
Homosexual and Heterosexual Sex-Role Orientation on Six Sex-Role Scales
Authors: Hawkins Darryl , Herron William G. , Gibson William , Hoban Geraldine , Herron Mary Jane
Published: September 2011

A comparison was made of the sex roles of homosexual and heterosexual men and women on the Bern Sex Role Inventory, Personality Attributes Questionnaire, Personality Research Form Androgyny Scale, Adjective Checklist Masculinity and Femininity Scales, Extended Personality Attributes Questionnaire and Undesirable Characteristics Scale. The results indicated that homosexuals and heterosexuals differ in their response to different aspects of sex roles. The most consistent difference was the greater femininity of male homosexuals in respect to male heterosexuals. Other differences were scale-specific and the low interscale comparability indicated such scales should not be used interchangeably. Differences between results of studies comparing sex roles of the homosexuals and heterosexuals appear attributable to sample heterogeneity and distinctions between sex-role scales.
Cognitive Organization of Emotion: Differences between Labels and Descriptors of Emotion in Jealousy Situations
Authors: Hupka Ralph B. , Eshett Channa
Published: September 2011

The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether the cognitive organization of labels of emotion differs from descriptions of affective states. This was done in the context of determining whether the attributions of labels of emotion and descriptions of affective responses in jealousy situations differed according to the status of the interloper, presence of an audience to the untoward behavior, and sex of the respondent. The subjects, 300 male and female junior college students, read vignettes which placed them at a party where their mates passionately kissed interlopers of varying status, and whose transgressions were, or were not, observed by others. The subjects were required to indicate the likelihood that they would experience anger, disgust, fear, jealousy, sadness, and surprise, and 49 cognitive and physiological descriptions of the affective states referred to by the aforementioned labels of emotion. Different findings were obtained with the labels and descriptors of affective states. This was interpreted as support for the systems theory of G. E. Schwartz. The descriptions, but not the labels, indicated that men were most upset when the interloper was a best friend and least concerned when he was a stranger. In contrast, women were most upset when the interloper was someone of equal or lower status than themselves and least upset when the interloper was their best friend.
Evaluations of Apparel Advertising as a Function of Self-Monitoring
Authors: Lennon Sharron J. , Davis Leslie L. , Fairhurst Ann
Published: September 2011

This exploratory research was conducted to extend research on individual differences in perceptions of consumer-product advertisements, specifically apparel. Three sets of advertisements were developed, each containing two identical advertisements for each of three products: Pendleton sweater, Guess jeans, and Jordache shirt. One advertisement contained a slogan with an image appeal, while the other had a slogan which was a claim about quality/information. Self-monitoring, the extent to which an individual monitors self-presentation in social situations, was measured for each person. In Study 1, 88 women, classified as high or low self-monitors, completed an index of favorability toward the advertisements. An analysis of variance showed high self-monitors were more favorable toward the image-oriented advertisements, while low self-monitors were more favorable toward the quality/informational oriented advertisements. In Study 2, 48 women, classified as high or low self-monitors, were shown one of the advertisements and asked the amount they would be willing to pay for each product. An analysis of variance on the standardized scores showed high self-monitors were willing to pay more than low self-monitors, but only for the Jordache product. Consumers' perceptions of the products are discussed and related to the appeal to which people were more responsive.
Relation of Mobility-Fixity to the Interpretation of Pictorial Stimuli
Authors: Rydén Olof , Hansson S. Birger , Johnsson Per
Published: September 2011

A group of 61 students who had previously (in 1986) been classified by Hansson, Rydén, and Johnsson in terms of perceptual fixity-mobility using a “free” Rod-and-Frame Test, were investigated regarding their interpretations of a nonfigurative stimulus shown repetitively at short exposure-times, and their characterization of two pictures each portraying two soldiers in intensive interaction—one man apparently attacking the other in the first picture and apparently rescuing or taking care of the other man in the second. Mobile subjects on the free Rod-and-Frame Test reported a larger number of different interpretations of the nonfigurative stimulus and construed it more frequently in terms of human themes than did the fixed subjects; in rating the pictures of soldiers, they used more extreme and complex characteristics. It appeared that, when confronted with ambiguous stimuli, the mobile individual moves both “horizontally”, as it were, along the surface of objective reality, and “vertically”, from present to past realities, thus conjoining subjective-emotional and objective-analytic aspects of perception. This interpretation agrees with Werner's model of mobility-fixity which implies that the mobile individual operates on different developmental levels of perceptual functioning.
Quantification of the Müller-Lyer Illusion Using Signal Detection Theory
Authors: Lown Bradley A.
Published: September 2011

An experiment was done to investigate the use of signal-detection theory in quantifying the magnitude of the Müller-Lyer Illusion. The results showed a d' of 2.5 for the illusion. Some implications of this approach are discussed.
Family Members' Perceptions of Actual and Ideal Maternal Roles as a Function of Maternal Employment
Authors: Bollman Stephan R. , Schumm Walter R. , Bugaighis Margaret A. , Jurich Anthony P.
Published: September 2011

Using Arnott's 1972 scale, ideal and actual maternal sex-role attitudes were assessed for father, mother, and an adolescent family member in 181 rural and urban families from the midwestern United States. Although family members' perceptions of the attitudes were significantly and positively correlated, adolescents were significantly less traditional than their parents, and mothers less traditional than fathers. For all family members, ideal and actual maternal roles were closest when mothers were actually employed part-time. Furthermore, family members agreed more on mother's actual role (both in terms of high correlations and smaller mean differences) than on mother's ideal role.
Group Embedded Figures Test: Psychometric Data for a Sample of Canadian Undergraduate Business Students
Authors: McRae Lissa S. E. , Young Jeffrey D.
Published: September 2011

The Group Embedded Figures Test was administered to a group of 150 Canadian senior undergraduates in business administration. Distribution characteristics, sex differences, reliability, and internal consistency measures for this group were compared to previously published norms for samples of USA students.
Effect of Ingestion of Smokeless Tobacco on Motor Distal Latency of the Median Nerve
Authors: Lester Mike J. , Jacobson Bert H. , Edwards Steven W.
Published: September 2011

Subjects were 17 men between the ages of 18 and 32 yr. and regular users of smokeless tobacco. Each subject received three treatments consisting of one pouch of Skoal Bandits, one pinch of their regular brand, and a nonnicotine piece of chewing gum. The nervous transmission at the neuromuscular junction in the right thumb was compared before treatment and once every minute for 15 min. after treatment. Repeated-measures analysis of variance indicated a significant increase in the distal latencies for both the brand-name grouping and in the regularly used brand. No such difference was found in a control group when compared to the pretest results. It was concluded that smokeless tobacco ingestion resulted in a delay in the nervous transmission across the neuromuscular junction. This delay was hypothesized to be caused by the enduring binding action of nicotine to the acetylcholine receptor sites, thereby blocking the impulse in some of the faster conducting nerve fibers.
Japanese Monkeys' Cardiac Responses to Visual Depth
Authors: Hayashibe Keikichi , Hara Masatoshi , Tsuji Keiichiro , Matsuzawa Tetsuro
Published: September 2011

The present study examined the heart-rate changes which occurred in the visual-depth situation of Japanese monkeys ( Macaca fuscata) Four animals were tested over the first four weeks of age in the visual pitfall designed as a modification of the visual cliff. The infant monkeys showed heart-rate reduction in the depth condition. This reduction was observed from the first week and became remarkable at the third week. There were no differences in heart-rate change between monocular and binocular vision. These findings suggest that the Japanese monkey can discriminate visual depth shortly after birth and that the heart-rate reduction depends upon the fear of visual depth, not upon the novelty of the situation.
Form Discrimination: Features or Invariants?
Authors: Smets G. J. F. , Stappers P. J. , Kröse B. J. A.
Published: September 2011

Does form discrimination rely on feature analysis, as the indirect theory of perception supposes, or on affordances (behavioural meanings specified by invariant patterns), as direct theory states. Subjects were to indicate the position of a target in a perspective rendering of a plane, displayed for 100 msec. in a large screen projection. In one of the conditions the target disrupted the plane, in the other it did not. Although targets of the two conditions shared the same features, the disruptive targets were discriminated more often than the nondisruptive targets. This result supports the direct approach to perception which states that a perceiver discriminates behaviourally relevant patterns rather than geometrical properties.
Individual-Environment Correlates of Children's Reading Performance
Authors: Marjoribanks Kevin
Published: September 2011

An interactionism framework was used to examine relationships between reading performance and measures of intellectual ability and school-related attitudes for children from different family environment backgrounds. Data were collected from 900 Australian families. Each family had an 11-yr.-old child and the analyses related to those children (458 boys, 442 girls). Regression surfaces were constructed from models that included terms to account for possible linear, interaction, and curvilinear associations among the variables. The findings showed the possible complexity of relationships between children's reading performance and individual-environment variables. The study indicated that, although the identification of alterable environment variables is an important task for increasing our understanding of the variation in children's reading performance, it is also necessary to consider such measures in association with children's individual characteristics.
Effects of Living in the up-down Inverted Visual World on Apparent Movement
Authors: Nakajima Yoshiaki
Published: September 2011

The purpose of this study was to examine whether a change of perceptual framework may affect the occurrence of apparent movement. Apparent movement was observed by one subject living over four days in the prismatically inverted visual world, because this situation was considered as the operation in which the subject was forced to change the perceptual framework to adapt himself to the novel environment. Apparent movement with two points was measured in vertical and horizontal configurations before wearing and after removing the prism as well as while wearing it. Analysis showed significant effects of prism-wearing on the occurrence of apparent movement in both vertical and horizontal configurations. Although further elaboration is required, an hypothesis was suggested from the viewpoint of the loss of visual position constancy.
Confidence in Performance Appraisals as a Function of Their Perceived Purposes: A Correlational Analysis
Authors: Orpen Christopher
Published: September 2011

The relationship between confidence in performance appraisals and perceptions of the extent to which they serve four different purposes was examined among 103 Australian middle managers. Confidence was related to each perceived purpose. The stronger relationships were between confidence and feedback and between confidence and planning and control. The weaker relationships were between confidence and the provision of information and between confidence and the allocation of rewards and punishment.
The Geometric Illusion and Induced Differences in Perceived Time
Authors: Brigner Willard L.
Published: September 2011

Just as circle-size induces differences in the perceived extent of a line which interconnects the circles of the Baldwin illusion, it is demonstrated that circle-size induces differences in the perceived duration of a time interval which intervenes between circles of different sizes.
Are Visual-Perceptual and Visual-Motor Skills Separate Abilities?
Authors: Leonard Penelope , Foxcroft Cheryl , Kroukamp Tertia
Published: September 2011

This study explored the independence of visual-perceptual and visual-motor abilities. Scores on the Motor-free Visual Perception Test were correlated by Pearson's method with scores on tests that weight the visual-perceptual, motor, and visual-motor components differently. Small but significant correlations were found between the Motor-free Visual Perception Test and tests of visual-motor integration, but there was no relationship between the motor-free test and tests of motor ability. These findings support the premise that tests of visual perception, visual-motor integration, and motor ability measure different skills.
Internal Consistency of the Sport Competition Anxiety Test
Authors: Brand Handré J. , Hanekom Jurgens D. M. , Scheepers David
Published: September 2011

The Sport Competition Anxiety Test was administered to 77 university athletes, 55 men and 22 women whose ages ranged from 18 to 27 yr., to ascertain internal consistency of responses to the questionnaire. Both methods used (Guttman and Kuder-Richardson) indicated that the test satisfied the basic requirements with regard to interitem consistency normally imposed for self-report inventories: .85 and .82, respectively.
On the Validity of Graphoanalysis: A Rebuttal of Vestewig and Moss' Rejoinder to Crumbaugh's Reply to “Validity and Student Acceptance of a Graphoanalytic Approach to Personality”
Authors: Crumbaugh James C.
Published: September 2011

Vestewig and Moss, in attacking the validity of graphology, have attacked the present writer's statistical interpretations, which are herein defended. These authors have also attacked this writer's experimental conceptualizations, which are also defended. They have further argued against the presence of a built-in handicap of Graphoanalysts in the Vestewig, et al. experiment, interpreted as against graphology, which this writer shows to be an inadequate argument.
Long-Term Retention of Plausible vs Bizarre Paired Associates as a Function of Cued Recall
Authors: Iaccino James , Spirek Pamela
Published: September 2011

Past research has shown that bizarre imagery facilitates long-term recall of noun pairs. An experiment was executed to investigate the effects of bizarreness when more pronounced delays were used. Undergraduate subjects were shown 30 plausible and 30 bizarre scenes, asked to rate the pictures on their own image scale, and were then given an unexpected recall test 1 or 2 wk. later. Analysis indicated that bizarre images aided recall only under the 2-wk. delay. We have suggested that interference over time may be less with bizarre images, especially when an incidental learning paradigm is employed.
Reassessment of Gender Perception in Projected Animal Content
Authors: Lash Steven J. , Polyson James A.
Published: September 2011

The present study is an extension and refinement of previous research on the gender-relevance of commonly projected animal content. Results again support the projection of gender in animal images, and this tendency is not affected by clarity of image, sex of subject, or subject's sex-type. However, it appears that previous research may have overestimated the number of animals that elicit this phenomenon.
Does Transfer of Training Help Children Learn Juggling?
Authors: Hautala Robert M.
Published: September 2011

The effectiveness of four different learning sequences in teaching juggling to 5th grade students was investigated. Practice schedules using combinations of scarves, weighted scarves, beanbags, and balls allowed both identical task elements and learners' time-on-task to be varied during a 3-wk. practice period. The exclusive use of beanbags for practice, prior to testing with balls, resulted in significantly better juggling scores than did the other combinations. While transfer of training occurred for other groups, the amount of students' time-on-task during practice appeared to be a strong influence on final performance.
Norm Setting for the Verbal Estimation of a 40-Second Interval by Women of Childbearing Age
Authors: Beck Cheryl Tatano
Published: September 2011

95 female college students verbally estimated a 40-sec. interval. Norms for age groups between 19 and 49 yr. were determined. All age groups overestimated the 40-sec. time interval.
Molar/Molecular Assessment in an Analogue Situation: Relationships among Several Measures and Validation of a Behavioral Assessment Instrument
Authors: Caballo Vicente E. , Buela Gualberto
Published: September 2011

The molar/molecular problem has been present for a long rime within behavioral assessment and especially in the field of social skills. Our study performed a series of molar and molecular assessments based not only on amount/frequency measures but also on measures of adequacy. The study concerned the behavior showed by a group of 65 university subjects in an analogue situation of extended interaction with a member of the opposite sex. To achieve the molecular assessment of behavior based on adequacy, an assessment instrument (the Social Skill Behavioral Assessment System) was constructed. This instrument was composed of 21 elements which are widely used in the literature of social skills. A series of relationships was found between the assessments based on adequacy and those based on amount/frequency. Our data also lend criterion validity to the behavioral assessment test constructed in this study (Social Skill Behavioral Assessment System). The application of this instrument in assessing situations different from those used in the present work could evaluate its wider validity and also assist in finding the most significant molecular elements within those situations.
Effects of Visual Aids on Acquisition of Selected Tennis Skills
Authors: Miller Glenn , Gabbard Carl
Published: September 2011

The study compared the effects of supplemental visual aids on the acquisition of selected tennis skills. The forehand and backhand drive placement tests of the Hewitt Tennis Achievement Test were used to pretest, midtest, and posttest 55 subjects who were assigned to one of three treatments: control (instructor's verbal feedback only), videotaped replay viewing (with instructor's feedback), and loop-film viewing (modeling, with instructor's feedback). Each received 1200 min of instruction. There were no statistically significant differences among groups, however, empirical evidence suggested that the use of videotaped replay and loop-film technique has merit and might be given consideration for use in instructional settings.
Research Note: Reference others and Self-Destruction
Authors: Lee Dorothy E.
Published: September 2011

48 students were presented hypothetical situations having to do with smoking, drinking liquor, using other drugs, and over-eating. They were asked to indicate their reference others and the others' expectations for their behavior in these situations. Family members and friends were the most frequently named reference others, varying in importance with the situation. Perception of reference others' expectations tends to correspond with respondents' behavior, encouraging drinking and discouraging smoking and drugs. Inconsistencies between reference-others' expectations and respondents' behaviors and respondents' values elicited comments suggesting that the questions alone may lead respondents to feel dissatisfied with the behavior.
Perceived Numerosity as a Function of Item Size
Authors: Ginsburg Norman , Nicholls Andrea
Published: September 2011

In a sample of 48 subjects, there was a significant inverse relation between item size and estimation of numerosity. This result was shown to be consistent with Gestalt theory. According to this approach, the components of good figures appear more numerous, and smaller items produce better figures.
Recognition of Emotions in Music by Children and Adults
Authors: Terwogt Mark Meerum , Van Grinsven Flora
Published: September 2011

32 children 5 to 6 yr. old, 32 9 to 11 yr. old, and 32 adults linked musical fragments to emotions in a similar manner, older subjects being more accurate. Some emotions were more difficult than others; anger and fear were often confused. Older subjects gave better justifications for their choices.
Insightful Solution of a Geometry Problem with Instructional Cues: I. Group Experiments
Authors: Tsai Loh Seng
Published: September 2011

The purpose was (1) to determine empirically the extent of insight exhibited by 429 high school and college students in solving a geometry problem directly solvable by insight without mathematical computations and (2) to study the effects of instructional cues and educational status. Educational status ranged from high school through college freshmen to upper-division students. Insightful solutions were achieved by about 4% of the participants under Condition I with no cues as a control, about 3% under Condition II where an unsolvable Pythagorean equation with two unknown sides was given, about 13% under Condition III giving a solvable Pythagorean equation with two sides of known lengths, and about 16% under Condition IV with an instructional cue that diagonals of a rectangle are equal. The last condition and the combined results suggest insightful solution increases with educational status. Two types of noninsightful responses were noted: empty or no answer and wrong response or incorrect approach through computations. The first type tends to increase, while the second to decrease from high school to college status probably due to a growing cautious deliberation with maturity and higher education. A training program on “the formation of insight sets” is proposed.
Effect of Concurrent Visual Feedback on Acquisition of a Weightlifting Skill
Authors: Sewall Leslie Paul , Reeve T. Gilmour , Day Robert A.
Published: September 2011

Practice in front of a mirror is a common procedure for activities such as dance, gymnastics, and other sports. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect that performing with concurrent visual feedback from a mirror had on the acquisition of the power clean movement. 18 college-age males who had no prior experience with the power clean movement served as subjects who were assigned to one of two groups. One group had use of a mirror during the practice trials and the other practiced without the mirror. All subjects viewed an instructional videotape and had practice trials. All subjects were evaluated for proper technique on a pretest, a posttest without the mirror, and a posttest with the mirror. Analysis showed a significant difference between pre- and posttest performances for both groups and a significant difference between groups on the posttest performances with the mirror. Evidently the videotaped instruction was sufficient to allow both groups to improve in performance of the power clean. Differences in posttest performances with the mirror reflected the type of feedback (with or without the mirror) available during training.
Comparison of the 1979 and the 1986 Norms on the Standard Progressive Matrices for Economically Disadvantaged Students: Implications for Identification of Gifted Children
Authors: Whorton James E. , Karnes Frances A.
Published: September 2011

The focus of this article is on a comparison of the 1979 (British) and 1986 (United States) norms for the Standard Progressive Matrices. To screen for potentially gifted children, 307 students in Grades 3 through 8 were tested, and the scores were analyzed using both sets of norms. The 1986 norms may identify more students above criterion. Results are discussed.
Comparison of Group Measures in Identification of Rural, Culturally Diverse Gifted Students
Authors: Karnes Frances A. , Whorton James E.
Published: September 2011

The focus of this article is on the identification of rural, culturally diverse gifted children. The Culture-fair Intelligence Test and the Standard Progressive Matrices were administered to 652 students enrolled in Grades 3 to 8 of rural elementary schools. Scores from these two tests and the California Achievement Test are reported. Their usefulness in the identification of gifted children is discussed.
Sex-Role and opposite-Sex Interpersonal Attraction
Authors: Lombardo John P. , Francis Patricia L. , Brown Susan
Published: September 2011

Androgynous, traditional, and undifferentiated male and female subjects indicated their attraction to three opposite-sex strangers who were described as having an androgynous, traditional, and undifferentiated sex-role. Subjects' ability to describe the sex-roles of the strangers was also measured. Androgynous strangers were most preferred, undifferentiated strangers least preferred. The least preferred undifferentiated strangers' sex-role was most accurately described. Subjects were least successful in describing the androgynous sex-role.
Construction and Validation of a Perceived Physical Fitness Scale
Authors: Abadie Ben R.
Published: September 2011

Numerous researchers have demonstrated that improvements in physical conditioning can influence one's psychological functioning. Heaps proposed in 1978 that physical improvement does not improve psychological functioning. Heaps contended that only when an individual is cognitively aware of the physical improvement can one expect psychological functioning to be enhanced through physical activity. The purpose of this study was to construct a valid and reliable instrument to assess an individual's perception of his physical fitness.
Gains in Performance and Attitude: An Analysis of Effectance Motivation
Authors: McConnell Ann
Published: September 2011

Two hypotheses were developed from Staats' 1967 theoretical position. These were tested in four studies that differed mainly in the ages of the subjects from college-age subjects to elementary school-age subjects. The studies with the younger age groups did not support the hypotheses. An additional study with elementary-age subjects was designed to test a possible explanation of the results. When Staats' theory proved inadequate to explain the results, other explanations were examined. Effectance motivation as developed by Harter is used to explain the results and to suggest new research.
Laterality Differences for Speed but Not for Control in Sequential Finger Tapping
Authors: Podbros Linda Z. , Wyke Maria A.
Published: September 2011

Multiple or sequential finger tapping is preferential to the dominant right hand with respect to speed. However, in more complex movement, variables other than speed become important. The present investigation uses a sequential finger-rapping task which permits assessment of between-hands differences with respect to rate and control of movement, with and without vision. 36 right-handed normal adults rapidly tapped their fingers in sequential order on a block (2.54 cm. sq.), trying not to move the block. Analyses of variance (mode × hand) performed for taps and shift of the block show the right hand to be faster than the left hand with and without vision, adding further to the notion that the left hemisphere predominates in increases in rapid movement and in sequencing aspects of motor activity. However, while both hands were steadier with vision than without, there were no between-hand differences with regard to control, suggesting equivalency of cerebral function for factors of manual sequencing other than speed.
Continuous Noise, Intermittent Noise, and Annoyance
Authors: Dornic Stan , Laaksonen Tarja
Published: September 2011

In a within-subjects design, 18 subjects listened to white noise, the intensity of which was controlled by themselves. They were instructed to choose the intensity they experienced as “clearly annoying.” Three kinds of white noise were used: continuous, intermittent regular, and intermittent irregular. In the two intermittent conditions, the proportion of time with the noise on was 50%. The duration of on- and off-periods in the regular condition was 1.15 sec.; in the irregular condition, it varied between 0.25 and 1.65 sec. The subjects chose their “clearly annoying” level three times for each noise type. The results showed that the mean level chosen was 83.9 dB for continuous, 90 dB for intermittent regular, and 89.6 dB for intermittent irregular noise. Pairwise comparisons indicated a significant difference between continuous noise and each of the two intermittent noises while there was no difference between the two intermittent noises. The results are interpreted as indicating that noise-induced annoyance may be a function of the over-all amount of noise rather than the mere presence or absence of intermittency, at least when no concurrent demanding task is performed and when the required annoyance level is set by the subjects themselves. The results further showed that the intensity chosen by the subjects correlated negatively with scores from Weinstein's Noise Sensitivity Scale while the intensity chosen was unrelated to extraversion or neuroticism scores as measured by Eysenck Personality Inventory.
Reaction Time during Walking
Authors: Sajiki Nobuhiko , Moriai Norio , Isagoda Atsushi , Nakamura Ryuichi
Published: September 2011

Reaction times (RTs) of vocalization were examined for 20 normal subjects under two conditions, standing and walking. The RT during walking was not related to the phases of walking cycle. The difference in RTs (ΔRT) was obtained by subtracting RT for standing from that of walking. The correlation coefficient between RT for standing and ΔRT was significant and negative. ΔRTs for subjects with fast RT for standing were positive, whereas those with slow RT were negative. Assuming that the arousal level when standing is different between the faster and slower reactors, the probe-RT during walking would reflect not only the extra-attentional demands of walking but also the shift in arousal.
Reliability of the Frostig Test of Visual Perception in a South African Sample
Authors: Brand Handré J.
Published: September 2011

The Marianne Frostig Developmental Test of Visual Perception was administered to 31 preschool children (19 boys and 12 girls) whose mean age was 68 mo. An item analysis showed that 52% of the test items satisfied the requirements with regard to degree of difficulty and discrimination. KR-20 reliability coefficients varied between 0.31 and 0.58 for the different subtests, with r = 0.72 for the full scale.
Relation of Sound Intensity and Accuracy of Localization
Authors: Farrimond T.
Published: September 2011

Tests were carried out on 17 subjects to determine the accuracy of monaural sound localization when the head is not free to turn toward the sound source. Maximum accuracy of localization for a constant-volume sound source coincided with the position for maximum perceived intensity of the sound in the front quadrant. There was a tendency for sounds to be perceived more often as coming from a position directly toward the ear. That is, for sounds in the front quadrant, errors of localization tended to be predominantly clockwise (i.e., biased toward a line directly facing the ear). Errors for sounds occurring in the rear quadrant tended to be anticlockwise. The pinna's differential effect on sound intensity between front and rear quadrants would assist in identifying the direction of movement of objects, for example an insect, passing the ear.
Effect of Short Lateralized Signals on Arousal versus Activation on Tasks Requiring Visuospatial or Elementary Semantic Stimulus Processing, a Replication with a Modified Experimental Design
Authors: De Brabander Bert , Boone Christophe
Published: September 2011

In this experiment, which is basically a replication of an earlier experiment done in 1988, we tested the hypothesis that the brain self-regulates its own arousal and activation. When subjects perform a putative right-hemisphere task (visuospatial), the effect of a supplementary information-processing load is supposed to lead to a delayed reaction. The opposite is supposed to be true in a putative left-hemisphere task (semantic). The former effect is supposed to be the result of increased arousal, the latter is that of increased activation. In the present experiment the reactions subject to experimental treatment are compared with control reactions of the same subject. This was not the case in the earlier experiment. Still other improvements of the experimental design were made. The results clearly confirm the earlier findings. Additional evidence is offered to strengthen the plausibility of the basic hypothesis.
Effects of Two Tasks and Two Levels of Difficulty upon Surface Electrogastrograms
Authors: Ercolani Mauro , Baldaro Bruno , Trombini Giancarlo
Published: September 2011

The effects of differentiation, novelty, and difficulty of ability tasks upon electrogastrographic activity of healthy subjects during digestion were investigated. Electrical recording of activity of the stomach by means of surface electrodes was performed in 40 healthy volunteers before and after easy or hard tasks. 20 subjects had to complete puzzles; the others had mental arithmetic. Both groups were matched in terms of scores on easy and difficult tasks. Baseline recordings were performed before each trial. The number of waves with peak amplitude > 100μv on electrogastrographic recording during each time span was measured, using a visual analysis. There was a significant decrease in number of waves/min. during task performance. A more pronounced decrease was produced by subjects working on puzzles than those working on mental calculation and by subjects working on easy tasks than those working on difficult tasks when the easy preceded the difficult ones. A larger decrease was obtained when the tasks of comparable difficulty were performed first. Emotional correlates such as anger and irritability were suggested to play a role in the interpretation of results.
Isohedonic Contour Maps
Authors: Young Paul Thomas
Published: September 2011

For several years experiments have been carried out under the following conditions. We have used need-free rats, i.e., animals maintained upon an unlimited supply of tap water and adequate diet, in order to control the appetite-drive factor. We have worked with compound, as well as simple, taste solutions. Compound solutions have a distinct advantage in that hedonically positive and negative solutes can be combined within a single solution that is positively acceptable to rats. We have worked with an electronic preference tester which makes it possible to test squads of six rats simultaneously. The tester is built upon the principle of the electronic drinkometer described by Hill and Stellar (1951).
Spatial Discrimination and Reversal Learning Involving Differential Magnitude of Reinforcement
Authors: Davenport John W.
Published: September 2011

Three experiments are reported in which choice in the acquisition of spatial discrimination and subsequent reversal learning was based on differential magnitude of reinforcement. Exp. I presented evidence suggesting the operation of an important frustration factor on the smaller-magnitude side in this type of discrimination, and revealed a significant effect of temporal distribution of reinforcement on reversal learning. Exp. II showed that, while differential-magnitude discriminations may be originally acquired as readily as reinforcement-nonreinforcement discriminations, the former are not reversed as readily as the latter, and both types are affected by the administration of forced trials guaranteeing equal response frequencies to the two sides as compared with allowing free choice on all trials. Exp. III, concerned with reversal learning as a function of the magnitude ratio and delay of reinforcement, provided further evidence of poor reversal performance under differential-magnitude conditions, but indicated that performance resembling that in traditional reversal learning may be found if the magnitude ratio is very high.
The Need for More Specific Formulations of the “Competing-Response” Interpretation of Extinction
Authors: Marx Melvin H.
Published: September 2011

The need for more specific formulations of the “competing-response” interpretation of extinction is supported.
Mediated Transfer in Verbal Learning
Authors: Barclay A.
Published: September 2011

An attempt was made to isolate the effect of mediation from that of general transfer, using an experimental technique wherein mediating stimuli were under experimental control and wherein a sensitive comparison of mediated transfer and general transfer was thought to be possible. Statistical analysis suggested neither evidence for the presence of a mediation effect per se nor evidence for a differential effect attributable to the levels of occurrence of the mediating stimuli. It was concluded that other factors such as relatively low meaningfulness of the learning materials might account, in part, for these disconfirming findings.
Memory and Hypothesis in Solving Alternation Problems with Random Competition
Authors: Linker Eugene , Ross Bruce M.
Published: September 2011

Three experiments are described dealing with solution attempts for single, double, and quadruple alternations in one or two of three possible symbol-sequence classification dimensions. Results showed that alternation length did not alter solution difficulty. The conclusion is formulated that the way in which Ss tackled alternation problems could not lead to solutions on the basis of “reading off” from memory or learning on an incremental basis. Therefore the concept of an hypothesis must be brought in to account for Ss with incomplete evidence often obtaining successful solutions and yet not differing in problem-solving approach from nonsolvers. There is also some indication that single alternation may be easier than double alternation when coding of symbol sequences is most straightforward, but there is no indication of any circumstances that favor double over quadruple alternation.
Learning and Performance in a Verbal Paired-Associate Task with Preschool Children
Authors: Price Louis E.
Published: September 2011

The aims of the present investigation were to explore the hypothesis that a short anticipation interval in verbal paired-associate learning affects performance rather than learning and to design a procedure suitable for preschool-aged children. One group of Ss received practice on a paired-associate list with a short anticipation interval while another group learned the same list with a longer anticipation interval. When the interval of the former group was increased, they performed as well as the latter group. The results suggest that the number of trials administered in a verbal paired-associate task is a better measure of learning than S's level of performance.
Factors of Creativity and Temperament in the Assessment of Officers
Authors: Marks Alvin , Michael William B. , Kaiser Henry F.
Published: September 2011

A factor analysis of the self-scores of 204 Marine officers on 21 aptitude tests of 11 hypothesized creative aptitudes, of the evaluations for these officers made by their superiors on a situational rating scale that was designed to reflect the same 11 creative aptitudes as well as a criterion variable of military leadership, and of self-scores on 10 scales of the G-Z Temperament Survey revealed 15 interpretable factors, each one of which was exclusively defined by variables within only one of the three types of assessment devices.
Third-Party Selection of Subjects and Biased Samples
Authors: Blane Howard T.
Published: September 2011

An instance of sample biasing casts doubt on the tenability of the frequently made, tacit assumption that third-party S selection results in an unbiased sample.
Does Training with Differential Reinforcement on Similar Problems Help in Solving a New Problem?
Authors: Hoffman L. Richard , Burke Ronald J. , Maier Norman R. F.
Published: September 2011

An experiment to determine, for achieving correct solutions to the Hatrack Problem whether prior experience on a simpler version of the problem helps and the effects of positive and negative reinforcement. After 30 min., 50.0% of the 30 Ss with no experience but only 25.0% of the 60 Ss with experience on the simpler version solved the problem ( p < .05). Positive and negative reinforcement showed no differential effects for 30 Ss receiving each. Previous experience may inhibit productive problem solving by providing too many false directions. Principles of reinforcement developed for learning are limited in their applicability to problem-solving behavior.