bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Wheelchair Athletes and Nonathletes on Selected Mood States
Authors: Paulsen Patricia , French Ron , Sherrill Claudine
Published: August 2011

The Profile of Mood States was administered to two groups of male university students in wheelchairs. Both the 26 wheelchair athletes and the 28 wheelchair nonathletes exhibited the iceberg profile associated with positive mental health. Multivariate analysis indicated that wheelchair athletes had a significantly lower score on Depression than the wheelchair nonathletes but all scores were in the normal range.
Correlations among Ambiguous Figures, Curiosity, and Spatial Ability
Authors: Beer John
Published: August 2011

For 29 college students (6 men, 23 women) who passively viewed in each of 6 blocks both the Schroeder stair and the Necker cube for 3 min. apiece with one 3-min. rest between viewings, their frequency of reversals, sex, GPA, scores on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Information subtest, the two-dimensional Test 8, and the three-dimensional Test 9 of the Multiple Aptitude Test, measuring spatial ability, and three curiosity measures—the Which-to-Discuss Test, the Maze test, and the Ontario Test of Intrinsic Motivation—were not significantly correlated by Pearson's method with the number of ambiguous figutre reversals.
Listeners' Reactions to Misarticulations of /1, r, s/
Authors: Burroughs Elizabeth I. , Small Larry H.
Published: August 2011

This study determined whether certain articulations are perceived as more negative than others. Adult listeners heard a recording of a speaker feigning a misarticulation of /1/, /r/ or /s/ and rated him on 20 bipolar scales. Factor analysis of these ratings yielded three dimensions of judgment. Findings suggest abnormal articulation generates a negative impression on factors of activity, evaluation, and potency; however, listeners do not appear, in general, to react differentially to these six misarticulations.
Vergence Movements in Comitant Strabismus
Authors: Cipolli Carlo , Bolzani Roberto , Corazza Ruggero , Gualdi Gualtiero , Orciuolo Manfredi , Campos Emilio
Published: August 2011

Vergence movements induced by base-out prisms were recorded, with an infrared eye tracker, for 6 patients with comitant esotropia (i.e., convergent strabismus) and anomalous retinal correspondence and for 6 normal subjects. Vergence movements of strabismic subjects were much slower and showed characteristics different from those of controls. It may be argued that vergence movements are induced by disparity and represent the motor fusion component left over in strabismus. In fact, in this study accommodative as well as proximal vergence had been ruled out. Therefore, the movements recorded can be considered the objective representation of the well-known phenomenon of prism compensation or adaptation, found in many strabismic patients.
Children's Perceptions of the Gender-Appropriateness of Physical Activities
Authors: Ignico Arlene A. , Mead Barbara J.
Published: August 2011

Age, sex, and regional differences were examined in the extent to which children in Grades 1 to 4 give gender-labels to physical activities. Participants were 224 girls and 196 boys from schools in Indiana and Tennessee who completed the Physical Activity Stereotyping Index. A 2 (sex) × 2 (region) × 4 (grade) analysis of variance produced significant main effects for sex and region: boys made more stereotypical gender classifications than girls, and children in the southeast more than those in the midwest. Although the interaction for grade × region was significant, post hoc analyses indicated that children in the southeast made more stereotypical responses than those in the midwest at each grade. Scores of one class and post hoc interviews of educators suggest that stereotypical gender-role perceptions may be amenable to change.
Comparison of Elementary School Teachers' Ratings of Knowledge of Subject Matter and Statements about Skill for Initial Certification Vs Career Achievement
Authors: Lavely Carolyn , Berger Neal , Blackman Joseph , Bullock Donna , Follman John , Kromrey Jeff
Published: August 2011

Of 671 teachers of Grades 4 to 6 in Florida 320 rated 118 statements of knowledge and skills on their importance for certification and also for career achievement. Of 45 statements rated differently the areas of curriculum and instruction, tests and measures, and professionalism were rated as more important for career achievement.
Visual Imagery: Joining Images to Create New Shapes of Varying Complexity
Authors: Lelless Daniel B. , McLoughlin Caven S.
Published: August 2011

36 volunteers were randomly assigned to three experimental conditions following successful completion of a custom designed vividness of imagery pretest. They were timed on the task of completing a visual image created by joining together visual shapes functioning like “puzzle pieces.” A significant linear relationship between difficulty and time to perform operations was found; men and women performed similarly.
Retention of a Linear Task at a Novel Distance after Practice at Varied Distances
Authors: Hautala Robert M. , Kidd Thomas
Published: August 2011

The applicability of Schmidt's Schema Theory to a specific sport skill was investigated. 42 subjects in six intact groups practiced golf putting at different distances or combinations of distances. After 12 test putts at a novel distance, an analysis of variance of putts on test Trial 1 and the total of all test trials gave no significant differences among groups. The long-varied distance practice group (25, 30, 40, and 45 ft.) scored significantly better on test Trial 3 than the short- and long-nonvaried group (6 and 45 ft.). Analysis of test putts for varied and constant practice groups indicated a superiority of varied practice subjects in adjusting on a later test trial after initial attempts. The varied-practice groups showed a greater group consistency of score over the 12 test putts. Men performed significantly better than women, but age of subjects was not a significant factor.
Usage of Cellular Telephones: An Informal Look
Authors: Trinkaus John
Published: August 2011

The growth in the usage of cellular telephones by motor vehicle operators appears to be happening in the absence of any companion governmental operating directives. The result is a state of the world wherein drivers are mandated to be securely fastened to the seats of defect-free vehicles, yet are permitted to drive with one hand on the steering wheel, while dividing their attention between road conditions and an interactive conversation.
Nursing Students' Anticipation of Experiencing Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder
Authors: Wolfe Mary L.
Published: August 2011

40 nursing students rated the likelihood of experiencing symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder on a typical day during each of four seasons. Analysis suggests that these normal college students may expect to experience many of the symptoms, although less intensely than clinically depressed patients.
Lingual Vibrotactile Threshold Shift during Magnitude-Estimation Scaling: Effects on Magnitude-Estimation Responses and Scaling Behavior across Age
Authors: Fucci Donald , Petrosino Linda , Schuster Susan B. , Randolph Elizabeth
Published: August 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of age on tactile threshold shifts occurring during magnitude-estimation scaling of vibratory stimuli presented to the dorsal surface of the tongue. Relationships of the lingual vibrotactile threshold shifts to suprathreshold stimulus intensity, magnitude-estimation responses, and over-all scaling behavior were explored. Three groups differing in mean age participated in this study (Group 1 8.05 yr., Group 2 19.46 yr., and Group 3 56.2 yr.). Each subject performed two magnitude-estimation tasks. In one task, threshold of sensitivity was measured after every suprathreshold numerical response of the subject. If a threshold shift was recorded, threshold was allowed to return to the pretest baseline level continuing to the next suprathreshold stimulus presentation. The results showed that threshold shift during magnitude-estimation scaling took place for all three age groups and that the shift was related to the intensity of the suprathreshold vibratory stimulus being applied to the tongue. They also showed that Group 2 (young adults) performed magnitude-estimation scaling differently when threshold shift was controlled than when it was not. The other two groups of subjects were not similarly affected.
Pattern Analysis: An Alternative Approach to Interpreting Serial Recall Data in Studies of Hypermnesia
Authors: Thomas Robert , Allen Jeffery
Published: August 2011

A method of pattern analysis for evaluating data from serial recall trials assesses frequencies of response in nine possible patterns for change during learning and recall.
Psychology of Computer Use: XIX. Extent of Computer Use: Relationships with Adaptive-Innovative Cognitive Style and Personal Involvement in Computing
Authors: Foxall Gordon R. , Bhate Seema
Published: August 2011

Two aspects of the extent of computer use—the number of applications to which the computer is put and the frequency of computer use—are investigated in relation to adaptive-innovative cognitive style and personal involvement in computing. The number of computing applications taken up is related on a priori grounds to sensation-seeking, a personality trait which has been consistently associated with both the Kirton Adaption-Innovation Inventory and with consumers' exploratory behavior. Described are two studies of the extent of computer use in (i) home computing and (ii) task-oriented computing by graduate business students. The number of applications employed by home computer owners was weakly related to both adaptive-innovative cognitive style and to personal involvement in computing. The study of students' behavior shows again that scores on both inventories are related to the extent of computer use but that, while Kirton inventory scores are uniquely associated with the number of computer applications used, Personal Involvement scores are uniquely associated with the frequency of computer usage.
Reaction Time Unchanged in Older Women following Aerobic Training
Authors: Whitehurst Michael
Published: August 2011

The effect of aerobic exercise on reaction time in older women was investigated. 14 women ( M age = 65 yr.) were carefully screened for health status and lifestyle, then assigned to a random order of the exercise and control groups ( ns = 7). Pre- and posttraining tests of aerobic capacity, simple reaction time, and choice reaction time were administered. The exercise group rode a stationary bicycle ergometer for 8 consecutive weeks for 3 35- to 40-min. sessions per week. There were no significant pretraining differences between groups on simple reaction time, choice reaction time, or estimated VO2 max. No posttraining differences for simple and choice reaction time were found even though the exercise group had a significantly higher VO2 max than the controls. Contrary to some other findings, the data indicate that reaction time may be independent of aerobic training in healthy older women.
Microsoft's Fortran 5.0 Random Number Generator: Be Aware
Authors: Walsh John F.
Published: August 2011

Microsoft's in-line random number generator is of the multiplicative, congruential type. However, the generator produces duplicates of numbers in the series being generated before the value that began the cycle is repeated. Such physical dependency in the cycle makes the program suspect for applications involving pseudorandom values.
Contributions to the History of Psychology: LXXV. Subjective Acceleration of Time with Aging
Authors: Ross Sydney
Published: August 2011

An observation made 160 years ago by Jacob Abbott (1803–1879), subsequently reinforced and publicized by Robert Southey (1774–1843), that half the duration of human life seems to be passed within its first 15 to 20 years, is shown to agree with Lemlich's quantitative hypothesis of subjective aging.
Memory Psychophysics for Area: Effect of Length of Delay
Authors: Algom Daniel
Published: August 2011

For groups of 10 subjects magnitude estimation of area presented physically or symbolically (using prelearned CVCs) could be described by power functions. Memorial judgments were also governed by power functions, but shallower ones. These relations held regardless of length of delay of the memory-based judgment.
Early Infant Crawling Experience is Reflected in Later Motor Skill Development
Authors: McEwan Margaret H. , Dihoff Roberta E. , Brosvic Gary M.
Published: August 2011

The influences of early crawling experience on motor skill development were examined in children identified by parents as crawlers or noncrawlers during early infancy. Relative to the performance of crawlers, noncrawlers showed lower average and subtest-specific performance on selected measures of the Miller Assessment for Preschoolers. These results, interpreted through Ayres' sensory integration theory and applied to current occupational therapy practices, support Farber's hypothesized importance of early crawling experience in the development of sensory and motor systems of the body and general motor skill development.
Effect of Time of Day on the Relationship between Mood State, Anaerobic Power, and Capacity
Authors: Hill David W. , Smith Jimmy C.
Published: August 2011

Mood state was estimated in six men using the Profile of Mood States questionnaire, with a “right now” directional set prior to performance of a modified Wingate power test, once at 03.00 hr., 09.00 hr., 15.00 hr., and 21.00 hr., on different days. Anaerobic power was measured as peak power output in 5 sec., and anaerobic capacity was measured as total external work performed during the 30-sec. test. Intraindividual difference scores were calculated as a subject's score minus his mean over the four tests. Multiple regression analyses showed that time of day and the Profile of Mood States fatigue score accounted for 51% of the variance in peak power and 62% of the variance in anaerobic capacity. However, the relationships between fatigue and subsequent anaerobic power and capacity reached statistical significance only at 21.00 hr. These results suggest that intraindividual differences in the mood state are related to subsequent performance. Greater than usual levels of fatigue are associated with reduced performance capacity. However, this relationship is dynamic and is dependent upon the time of day.
Relationships among Locus of Control, Type of Task (Visuospatial versus Semantic), and Arousal or Activation by an Unexpected Preparatory Signal: A Reanalysis of the Data
Authors: De Brabander Bert , Gerits Pol , Boone Christophe
Published: August 2011

A corrected analysis of EMG values reported in 1990 in this journal shows a puzzling significant second-order interaction to be no longer significant. Other findings are confirmed.
Rescue Expectations and Hopelessness in Adolescent Parasuicides
Authors: Pillay Anthony L. , Wassenaar Douglas R.
Published: August 2011

The study examined 40 adolescent parasuicides' reports of whether they expected to be rescued following parasuicide gestures. Measures of hopelessness were also assessed. 45% of these Indian South Africans reported that they expected to be rescued while the rest did not. There was no significant sex difference in expectation of rescue. There was also no significant difference between hopelessness scores of those expecting rescue and those not expecting rescue; however, the latter had a mean hopelessness score above the cut-off score suggested as predictive of subsequent suicide.
Maximal Aerobic Power as a Function of Achievement Motives, Future Time Orientation, and Perceived Intrinsic Instrumentality of Physical Tasks for Future Goals among Males
Authors: Halvari Hallgeir
Published: August 2011

The following results, based on responses of 128 high school boys, were found: (i) Motive for success affects maximal aerobic power indirectly positively through motive for failure and perceived intrinsic instrumentality. According to the indirect effects, increased strength of motive for success is accompanied by a decreased motive for failure which results in increased maximal aerobic power. In addition, increased strength of motive for success has a positve influence on perceived intrinsic instrumentality which results in increased maximal aerobic power. (ii) The direct effect of motive for failure on maximal aerobic power is negative. However, this negative effect is reduced somewhat by the positive indirect effect of motive for failure on maximal aerobic power through perceived intrinsic instrumentality. Increased strength of motive for failure is accompanied by an increased perceived intrinsic instrumentality which results in increased maximal aerobic power. (iii) Perceived intrinsic instrumentality affects maximal aerobic power directly and positively. (iv) Future time orientation did not affect maximal aerobic power. (v) Motive for success affects future time orientation directly and positively, and indirectly positively through motive for failure. According to the indirect effect, increased strength of motive for success influences a decreasing motive for failure which increases the future time orientation. The interpretations of these findings are based on the following assumptions related to Nuttin's (1984) cognitive model: achievement motives are transformed or channeled into future goal objects, means-end structures, and plans of action, i.e., motives stimulate goal setting and the development of the individual's future time orientation, structure subgoals and goals in the path after importance is related to the ultimate goal (i.e., instrumentality), regulate the behavior at each step and realize the goals. In addition, the interaction of motives with one or more of the following variables, i.e., motor, cognitive (e.g., future time orientation), cognitive-situational (e.g., instrumentality), and situational (e.g., goal distance in time) variables, is supposed to have an important effect on the different types of mentioned behavior.
Spatial Ability in Classic Dancers and Their Perceptual Style
Authors: Corsi-Cabrera M. , Gutierrez L.
Published: August 2011

The relation between spatial ability (body orientation and body awareness) and field dependence/independence was assessed by measuring performance on the Embedded Figures Test and WISC or WAIS Block Design at four different training levels in classical ballet, beginners to advanced, and a control group with no training in ballet, gymnastics, or sports ( n = 70). No significant correlation was found between perceptual style or Block Design performance and body orientation or body awareness at any of the four levels of training. No significant differences were observed between the advanced group and the control group. Training in a particular type of spatial skill such as orientation within surrounding space was not related to the skill required to manipulate an abstractly represented space.
The Irrationality of the Catharsis Theory of Aggression as Justification for Educators' Support of Interscholastic Football
Authors: Bennett J. C.
Published: August 2011

The notion that hostile feelings can be catharted from the psyche by playing football or other aggressive sports was virtually destroyed by behavioral scientists several decades ago. Nonetheless educators continue to support interscholastic football as a means of venting the aggressive emotions that supposedly characterize adolescence. This work examines this phenomenon, concluding that educators realize the sport actually increases aggression but hide behind the outdated hypothesis about catharsis to perpetuate the sport—an activity which gives them much pleasure.
Machines, Intelligence, and Individuality
Authors: Farrimond Thomas
Published: August 2011

For a machine to be considered intelligent it should have the capacity to monitor both its environment and also its own processing activities. The question is raised as to whether such a machine would then be useful as a tool.
Sex Differences in the Effect of Exercise upon Sleep
Authors: Weydahl Andi
Published: August 2011

A survey in a high school in the city of Tromsø in the spring of 1988 was designed to examine the characteristics of sleep and factors promoting and disturbing sleep. Out of 621 students 465 (74.9%) responded to 11 questions about last night's sleep and what the individual perceived as usual sleep (10 questions). On this information two sleep-quality scores, a special score for last night's sleep and a general score for what is perceived as usual sleep, were computed. The sleep-quality score was the sum of answers identical to a preset “right” answer indicating good sleep-quality. Multiple regression analyses separately by sex showed that different variables influence sleep-quality of boys and girls. Activity and intensity of exercise were taken into the regression model for the special sleep-score for boys but not for girls. For girls psychological factors seemed of greater importance to sleep-quality than exercise.
Attitudes toward People with Disabilities and Judgments of Employment Potential
Authors: Christman Lisa A. , Slaten B. Lewis
Published: August 2011

The relationship between employers' expressed attitudes toward people with disabilities and their impressions of the employment potential of female job applicants was investigated. 120 subjects viewed videotapes of a simulated interview situation which included either an able-bodied applicant, one on crutches, or one in a wheelchair. The dependent measures included a scale for employment characteristics and management potential and the Attitudes Toward Disabled Persons Scale. Analysis of variance showed the applicants depicted as disabled were rated higher on the employment characteristics and management potential scales than the able-bodied applicant. Mean scores on the Attitudes Toward Disabled Persons Scale were also higher for all depictions of physical condition than published norms indicate. This group of employers appeared to be positively oriented toward people with disabilities.
Geophysical Variables and Behavior: LXVI. Geomagnetic Storm Sudden Commencements and Commercial Aircrashes
Authors: Persinger M. A.
Published: August 2011

The hypothesis that sudden commencements of global geomagnetic activity (“sudden impulses”) could induce anomalous changes in onboard computers and facilitate commercial aircrashes was investigated. During the years 1988 and 1989 the mean daily occurrence of a commercial disaster somewhere in the world increased from 0.06 to 0.12 within 24 hr. of a sudden commencement. When numbers of sudden commencements per month were correlated with eight major categories of catastrophes (including air disasters) only aircrashes, primarily occurring during maximum computer-dependent flight conditions, were significantly correlated (.54) with numbers of sudden commencements but not with average monthly geomagnetic (aa) activity.
Persistence among Young Male Gymnasts
Authors: Lufi Dubi , Tenenbaum Gershon
Published: August 2011

Persistence is a trait which probably affects many human activities. It is especially important in the developmental stages of young athletes who are exposed to making intensive effort over a long period of time. Many talented youths fail to achieve their potential directly because they lack the trait of persistence. This is most pronounced in activities such as athletics, music, and arts, where practice is required beginning at very early ages. The purpose of this study was to contrast several components comprising persistence of athletes and nonathletes. The Persistence Scale for Children was administered to 50 young male gymnasts who persisted in the sport for more than two years and to 99 male nonathletes. Analysis showed that the gymnasts scored significantly higher than the nonathletes on over-all persistence. Further analysis indicated that the gymnasts scored significantly higher on four particular components. The discussion emphasizes the importance of persistence in selection and development of young athletes.
The Irrationality of Greater Funding as Justification for Educators' Proliferation of Interscholastic Football
Authors: Bennett J. C.
Published: August 2011

Logical analysis of interscholastic football indicates the sport is not perpetuated to win greater funding for the cause of education.
Autokinetic Illusion as Affected by Suggestions of Experimenter and Observer
Authors: Ozeki Tatsuya , Takahashi Keisuke , Tsuji Keiichiro
Published: August 2011

Two experiments were done to examine whether an experimenter's suggestion and self-suggestion could affect the autokinetic illusion and to specify that effect. Exp. I compared the effect of a facilitative suggestion with a suppressive one, by measuring the moving latency, duration, frequency, and by analyzing the movement trace. Time and frequency did not detect any effects of marked individual differences. Trace analysis, on the other hand, showed that suggestions were effective in the expected direction for some subjects. Exp. II gave the suggestion for and against subjects' dominant direction of the movement and was designed to specify the effect. While effects indicated by time and frequency measures were not consistent, the movement trace showed the effect in suggested directions, which was more distinct for subjects whose nonsuggested illusion was not so markedly directed. These findings indicate that suggestion could affect the spatiotemporal aspect of the illusion, so the trace analysis may be useful for studies in this field.
Visually Based Amendments of Aiming Movements: A Reappraisal of Christina (1970)
Authors: Barrett Nicholas C. , Glencross Denis J.
Published: August 2011

The present paper examines the processing of visual information during the initial and corrective phases of an aimed movement. Visual processing in the corrective phase is related to the nature of the error in the initial phase. By producing a deliberate error, the system knows the approximate amplitude and direction in advance, allowing for the preprogramming of the corrective response. The final response, however, awaits visual confirmation with a processing time on the order of 130 msec. This strategy is feasible only if the variability in the initial response is constrained, which is the role of an additional very rapid feedback loop (70 to 100 msec).
Redundancy in Perceptual-Motor Testing: Confirmation and Generalization
Authors: Watson J. Morrissa , Wagner Edwin E.
Published: August 2011

The Developmental Test of Visual-motor Integration was administered to 63 children in regular classrooms and 51 children in Special Education. Prediction based on total score ( r = .68) was similar to a multiple R utilizing only five scores (.67). The over-all raw test score, based on all 24 designs, correctly classified 85% of the children while a combined abbreviated score utilizing only 5 designs achieved an 80% differentiation. Results were interpreted as confirming the hypothesis of redundancy in this perceptual-motor test.
Reaction Times for Fine Discrete Movements
Authors: Shidoji Kazunori , Matsunaga Katsuya
Published: August 2011

Three experiments ( ns = 20, 10, and 20) were conducted in which the reaction times for responses to complexity were investigated for small-scale, discrete, terminated movements. In a choice reaction-time situation, the reaction time for the finger-lift response was longer than that for the finger-lift response followed by the pressing of another key with the same finger. The reaction times for these responses, however, did not differ in a simple reaction-time situation. The difference in reaction times between these responses may have been associated with some differences in allocation of the subjects' internal resources. The subjects' attention might be more attracted to the more complex response.
Spatial Sustained Attention: Better Focused Than Divided?
Authors: Bisiacchi Patrizia S. , Proverbio Mado A.
Published: August 2011

Visuospatial attention was studied using three different reaction time tasks in a sustained attention paradigm ( N = 35). Contrasting with findings from a phasic attention paradigm, our results suggest an equal ability to divide or focus sustained attention in the left and right fields in simple RT, a Go/No go-task, and choice RT.
Contributions to the History of Psychology: LXXVII. Note on Issues for the Discipline
Authors: Arens Katherine
Published: August 2011

The conclusions of Haupt (1990) suggest problems to be addressed in writing the history of psychology.
Male and Female Perceptions of Women as Managers: A- Constructive Replication
Authors: Orpen Christopher
Published: August 2011

30 male and 36 female undergraduates completed the Attitude to Women Managers Scale, indicating their own views and how they felt members of the opposite sex would respond to the scale. Women had significantly more positive attitudes than men. Women's attitudes were significantly more positive than men felt they would be. However, men's attitudes were not as negative as women expected them to be. The results suggest that men and women misperceive each others' attitudes and that this is not improving women's efforts to enter managerial ranks.
Use of Telephone Contact to Enhance Response Rates from a Mail Survey
Authors: Reddon John R. , McNeil Diane C. , Schmitke Marion L. , Willis Laurie A.
Published: August 2011

Of 175 hospitals contacted by telephone prior to sending a large questionnaire by mail, 31% returned the survey. An additional 35% returned the survey after a second call so the over-all response rate was 66%. Analysis indicated that telephone contact may substantially increase response rate when provision is made for a follow-up call.
Goal Distance in Time and its Effects on the Relations between Achievement Motives, Future-Time Orientation, and Motor Performance among Girls and Boys
Authors: Halvari Hallgeir
Published: August 2011

Among the 348 pupils 11 to 13 years old, 148 girls and 158 boys participated in this study. Among success-oriented individuals, girls increased all types of performance responses (i.e., tasks attempted, attempts with score, quality score, and force), and boys increased their quality score and force as the goal distance in time decreased. Among the failure-oriented girls, no performance measures were affected by decreased goal distance in time, except for the force response which decreased. Failure-oriented boys seem to be more actively oriented than girls on all responses, except for force, when the goal distance in time decreased from 1 month to the goal situation. Although not consistent with the predicted lack of relationship, future time orientation modified the performance of failure-oriented individuals in the goal situation. Interactions of motives (success- and failure-oriented individuals) and goal distance in time were significant on all types of performance responses for girls, but not for boys. Results are discussed in relation to achievement motivation theory and theory of stress and the coping process.
Complementary Colors' Effect on Closure Speed
Authors: Mahar Maureen , Chen Kathleen C.
Published: August 2011

Contour closure of complementary colors as figure/ground (measured as RT and correct recognition) was difficult for 20 subjects. Perhaps this involves opponent cells in lateral geniculate nucleus.
Business Students' Feelings about the Academy and Themselves: An Informal Look
Authors: Trinkaus John
Published: August 2011

A Business Week/Harris poll of executives and graduate students, as to their feelings about business schools and their graduates, was replicated among 600 of 833 entering first-year baccalaureates. The results imply that undergraduate opinions are more attuned to those of graduate students than to those of executives, lending further support to the existence of some divergence of thinking between business practitioners and learners.
Mental Practice among Olympic Athletes
Authors: Ungerleider Steven , Golding Jacqueline M.
Published: August 2011

Recent research has focused on the relation of mental rehearsal, specifically visualization, to enhanced performance. Some have suggested that mental practice enhances performance on cognitive tasks more than on motoric ones. The present study describes two waves of survey data from elite track and field athletes before the 1988 US Olympic trials ( n = 633) and those same athletes after the Olympic Games in Seoul ( n = 450). The focus was on several measures of mental practice and visualization, including internal and external perspectives and association with sociodemographic data, prior collegiate experience, coaching influences, and Olympic team selection. Analyses suggest that mental practice may be associated with more successful track and field performance for selected groups of athletes.
Preferred Sound Intensity Increase for Sensation of Half Distance
Authors: Begault Durand R.
Published: August 2011

Two experiments are reported that examine the preferred increase in intensity for creating a percept of half auditory distance from a reference. The results of both experiments indicate that the use of an inverse square law (increments of 6 dB) is not the best signal-processing method for this purpose. The application of the results is potentially useful towards the software design of 3-D auditory display systems that manipulate the perceived distance of auditory inputs in relationship to actual distances of physical objects.
Utility of Musical Mnemonics
Authors: Scruggs Thomas E. , Brigham Frederick J.
Published: August 2011

The results of an investigation reported in 1990 by Chazin and Neuschatz are discussed with respect to the mnemonic value of music as compared with other means of facilitating the recall of associative information. Suggestions are made for further examination of musical mnemonics.
Perception of Goal Proximity, Latency and Duration of Action Plans, and Worry in Relation to Goal Distance in Time and Personality Characteristics
Authors: Halvari Hallgeir
Published: August 2011

128 male high school students were tested for achievement motives, future-time orientation and perceived intrinsic instrumentality, and answered several questions related to future goals or tests at different distances in time. Success-oriented individuals and individuals with high future-time orientation perceived the goals as closer, planned to initiate preparations for the goals earlier, and planned to devote more time in the preparation than failure-oriented individuals and those with low future-time orientation. Interactions of motives and future-time orientation on the perception of goal proximity and planned time of initiating goal preparations did also emerge. Motives and future-time orientation affected the dependent variables most when the goals were at some distance in time (i.e., 1 yr. and 3 mo.), and the effects were minimized for the goal relatively close in time (i.e., 1 wk.). Individuals with high instrumentality report that they would start preparations earlier, devote more time to all goal preparations, and perceive more worry for the goal closest in time than individuals with low instrumentality. In addition, interactions of motives and instrumentality and of future-time orientation and instrumentality are presented. The results are interpreted and discussed in relation to the dynamics of action theory of Atkinson and Birch and other theories of achievement motivation.
Empathy, Others-Concept, and Prosocial Orientation
Authors: Fakouri Carolyn , Zucker Karl B. , Fakouri M. Ebrahim
Published: August 2011

The relationship between 56 nursing students' empathy and their others-concept was investigated to establish ties to a broader construct, prosocial orientation. The female Caucasian nursing students were rated for empathy by two clinical instructors. They were also given the Paired Hands Test to assess their others-concept. The students with the higher empathy ratings had more positive others-concepts. The responses of the low empathy group to the Paired Hands Test indicated a much stronger tendency to perceive and interpret social interactions negatively. Besides practical implications for nurses and other helping professionals, these findings have theoretical ramifications as well. Others-concept has been shown previously to be related to a cluster of variables such as positive social behavior and moral judgment. Evidence of the relationship to empathy helps to tie this cluster to the prosocial orientation construct as a base for further research.
Locus of Control and Alcohol Placebo Effects on Performance in a Driving Simulator
Authors: Breckenridge Robert L. , Dodd Michael O.
Published: August 2011

Performance in a driving simulator was evaluated as a function of locus of control, perceived alcohol ingestion (no alcohol versus a no-alcohol placebo), and sex. Using a pretest-posttest design, an analysis of covariance was performed using the pretest performance on a driving simulator as the covariate. There were 10 men and 10 women in each of four groups. As predicted, the external-scoring placebo subjects made more posttest errors than did the internal-scoring placebo group or either of the no-alcohol control groups. This indicated that the external-scoring placebo subjects were more affected by what they expected to happen than their actual physiological state warranted. A difference was also found in which external-scoring women made more errors than did any other group. This was an unexpected finding which, being inconsistent with previous findings involving sex, warrants further research.
Interscorer Reliability for the Hand Test Administered to Children
Authors: Carter Donald E. , Moran Joseph J.
Published: August 2011

The utility of the Hand Test as a quick, reliable measure of 100 children's personalities was assessed. The interscorer reliability of the Hand Test was estimated by both intraclass correlations and the Kappa coefficient for 100 children. Following training, satisfactory intraclass correlations were obtained for the Quantitative scores (20 of 22 above .70) and Qualitative scores (12 of 27 above .70) Kappa coefficients were generally lower. Scorers' memory overload and low response frequency are discussed as possible bases for the low reliabilities of Qualitative scores. Although the Hand Test reliability for Quantitative scores is consistent with those of other projective tests, consideration should be given to the modification of the directions of administration for young children and clarification of scoring rules.
Ready, Aim, Fire … Relaxation Strategies for Enhancing Pistol Marksmanship
Authors: Hall Evelyn G. , Hardy Charles J.
Published: August 2011

Although many types of relaxation techniques are available, definitive data are needed to examine their effectiveness. The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of a 6-week program of visuomotor behavior rehearsal, and a control on slow fire, timed fire, rapid fire, and composite (total) pistol-shooting performance of 15 male and 15 female undergraduates. A 3 treatment (Transcendental Meditation, Visuomotor Behavior Rehearsal, Control) × 2 (Trial 1, 2: Pretest, Posttest) randomized design was used to examine the data. The visuomotor behavior rehearsal group showed a consistent increase from pretest to posttest on all four types of pistol-shooting performance. Results were discussed in relation to cognitive and somatic types of relaxation and their effect on specific sport skills.
Visual Discrimination and Visuomotor Integration among Two Classes of Brazilian Children
Authors: Frey Paul Douglass , Pinelli Balsem
Published: August 2011

The Raven Matrices, Beery, and Bender-Gestalt rests were given to 415 Brazilian children in public and private schools corresponding to two socioeconomic statuses. Both social class and grade in school influenced all scores more than age. The Raven Matrices appeared to be the most affected by social class differences. Visual-motor integration and visual discrimination skills were moderately (.47—.69) correlated, especially among the private school students. Maturational differences based on age and school grade were considered somewhat better assessed by the Beery than the Raven or Bender-Gestalt tests. The wide age range at each grade and the decreasing enrollment in higher grades makes interpretation difficult.
Factor Structure of the Khatena-Morse Multitalent Perception Inventory
Authors: Morse David T. , Khatena Joe
Published: August 2011

Responses of a sample of 4016 adults and children, balanced by sex, subgroup, and grade, to both Forms A and B of the Khatena-Morse Multitalent Perception Inventory, 50-item inventories of talent in several areas, yielded five orthogonal factors: Artistic, Musical, Creative Imagination, Initiative, and Leadership. The analysis supports the construct validity of the measure which provides a means for more sensitive appraisal of an individual's talent relative to these areas.
How Would You Have Liked to Have Been Remembered?
Authors: Furst David M. , Dicarlo Jack
Published: August 2011

53 male and 53 female college students were asked how they would like to have been remembered in high school. Unlike those in previous studies, students now in college wanted to be remembered as brilliant students, popular, and then as athletes, respectively. Results varied by sex and graduation date.
Cardiac Reactions to Two Psychological Stressors, Acting in Combination
Authors: Hoffman Howard S. , Khan Tasleem , Papaconstantinou Valerie , O'Herron Felicity
Published: August 2011

56 student volunteers (mean age 21 yr.) participated in a study designed to assess how the Stroop procedure and delayed auditory feedback affect cardiac activity when they are used individually as well as when they are combined in the same task. In a preliminary study, listening to tape-recorded instructions on how to relax produced a significant decrease in cardiac activity. In the major study, when used individually, both the Stroop procedure and delayed auditory feedback produced significant increases in cardiac activity. The largest increase, however, occurred with systolic blood pressure and was induced by delayed auditory feedback. When the Stroop procedure was used in combination with delayed auditory feedback, systolic blood pressure again increased, but this effect was no greater than when delayed auditory feedback was used alone. This pattern of results implies that, when combined, the Stroop procedure and delayed auditory feedback have largely independent effects on cardiac activity and that, when tested under similar conditions, delayed auditory feedback has the larger effect.
Correlates of Modified Stroop Tasks, Reading Ability, and Mental Ability among College Students
Authors: Toma Roberta J.
Published: August 2011

13 men and 13 women in college viewed 40 modified Stroop tasks consisting of line drawings with embedded words and nonwords. Scores on vocabulary, reading comprehension, and a mental abilities measure were correlated with percent errors on the modified Stroop tasks. Significant correlations (.34 to .70) were found.
Activation Peaking during the Acquisition of a Motor Task under High and Low Contextual-Interference Conditions
Authors: Husak William S. , Cohen Michael J. , Schandler Steven L.
Published: August 2011

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of high and low contextual-interference conditions on physiologic activation levels during the acquisition of a simple positioning task. 29 subjects, over 192 acquisition trials, learned to move to four positions in either a random (high interference) or blocked (low interference) sequence. Data on movement information, heart rate, and skin conductance were collected and analyzed. The movement data showed typical effects of contextual interference for acquisition that conformed to previously published findings. Heart rate was sensitive to the demands of movement extent. The high contextual-interference condition showed slower acquisition rates and higher activation levels as measured by skin conductance. It was concluded that changes in activation levels during practice may contribute or provide a sensitive index of contextual interference.
Methodological Consideration in Color Research
Authors: Dunwoody Lynn
Published: August 2011

Color can influence physical and emotional variables, but the evidence is equivocal. Replications are often hampered by inadequate specification of colored stimuli. It is proposed that a standardized method for reporting colored stimuli should be employed to facilitate empirical testing of the effects of color, namely, the CIE chromaticity coordinates x and y or Munsell values, for both allow translation from one to the other.
Lack of Correlation between Frontalis Electromyography and Self-Ratings of Either Frontalis Tension or State Anxiety
Authors: Taylor Douglas N. , Lee Ching-Tse
Published: August 2011

Since training in deep muscular relaxation is common to most behavioral treatments for anxiety and tension-related disorders, muscle tension measures, such as electromyography (EMG), would provide valuable information as to the efficacy of these treatments. In the past, however, the majority of clinical reports on behavioral treatments employing muscular relaxation have based results primarily on self-rated outcome measures, despite evidence in the literature of a lack of correspondence between self-ratings and physiological measures of muscle tension. An experiment was performed on 20 normal subjects comparing self-ratings of anxiety and frontalis muscle tension with frontalis EMG before and after a 15-min. relaxation period accompanied by frontalis EMG biofeedback. Analysis showed that the self-ratings of anxiety and frontalis tension correlated significantly both before and after the relaxation period. However, no correlation was observed between self-rated anxiety or frontalis tension and frontalis EMG either before or after the relaxation period. The relaxation period had no significant effect on the dependent measures. It is suggested that, if people are unable to report accurately on their somatic states, then physiological outcome measures, such as EMG, would be preferable to self-rated measures in assessments of relaxation training procedures.
Vocal Communication of Affect and its Perception in Three- to Four-Year-Old Children
Authors: Baltaxe Christiane A. M.
Published: August 2011

Little information is available on very young children's identification of vocal-verbal expressions of affect and the accurate differentiation of various affect types. The present study examined the perception of affective prosodic intonation patterns in 10 normal children aged 39 to 48 months. Audio-recordings of affective intonation patterns (angry, happy, neutral, and sad) served as perceptual stimuli. The children were asked to match each auditory stimulus with an appropriate visual-facial representation. Analysis showed that children's correct identification exceeded errors by more than 2 to 1. There was a significant difference in the identification of different types of emotions. All types of affect, except neutral, occurred above chance. Misperceptions from all categories fell predominantly into the happy category, an apparent “pollyanna” effect Receptive language age, sex, and IQ did not affect the outcome, but chronological age did. Results are discussed in terms of perceptual salience of acoustic parameters and other factors. Possible effects of emotional trauma on the performance of one subject are discussed.