The number of active palmar sweat glands (palmar sweat index,PSI) as an activation measure in field studies

The number of active sweat glands within a defined area of a fingertip, called the palmar sweat index (PSI), can be easily determined by means of the plastic fingerprint method. Two experiments were carried out to demonstrate the applicability of this technique in field research and to investigate the properties of the PSI as an activation parameter. In Experiment 1 (in a blood donors’ ward), PSI rose significantly during venous puncture and dropped after the cannula had been installed. In Experiment 2 (in a dental office), PSI values increased when patients were seated in the dental chair and rose to a higher level at the dentist’s entry. Values after treatment were significantly lower. In both experiments, it was observed that the initial assessments yielded higher PSI values. This is best explained as a reaction to the assessment procedure itself, and it is recommended that the first two prints not be used for the determination of baseline values.     

The number of active sweat glands (PSI, palmar sweat index) in stress caused by blood donation

The number of active sweat glands (PSI), heart rate, systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were assessed every 2 minutes in 109 male blood donors. Three measurements were taken at the beginning (adaptation phase), three later but before blood donation (baseline), one during the venous puncture (phase 3), three thereafter but still during donation (phase 4), and four after removal of the cannula (phase 5). Analysis of variance yielded significant differences between phases; PSI and SBP behaved similarly, decreasing from adaptation to baseline, rising during puncture, and decreasing again thereafter. Mean within-subject correlations between variables were significantly above 0. Between-subjects correlations were significantly negative for PSI and DBP. This is best explained by the influence of age on both variables. Correlations of PSI values as determined by three raters had a mean of 0.90. The study shows that the PSI is a very sensitive indicator of stress that is easily accessible also in field studies.     

Recognition assessed by D' and by a non-parametric alternative (the A-index) as a function of the number of choices

Freedom from restrictive assumptions and ease of psychological interpretation are two basic criteria for a satisfactory measure of recognition performance. The A-index (Brown, 1965a) comes close to fulfilling these criteria. It is based on the proportion of wrong choices rejected in a multi-choice test as revealed by the number of choices required to select the correct choice. It can be transformed into the d' measure of signal detection theory (SDT) if the standard assumptions of this theory hold, but not in general. Two experiments on the recognition of words-in-noise are described. In the first there were 3, 5, 8 or 16 choices. They were typed on a card which was displayed to the listener during the presentation of a word. On both measures 5-, 8- and 16-choice recognition did not differ significantly, while 3-choice recognition was slightly, but significantly, superior. The second experiment concerned the effect of delaying the display of the card until 2 sec. after presentation. No evidence for an effect was obtained. In both experiments, there was suggestive but not conclusive evidence that the d' measure tended to overestimate recognition efficiency.     

Frequency of reinforcement as a parameter of conditioned suppression

Two pigeons were trained on a multiple VI-1; VI-4 min schedule for food reinforcement until a stable differential rate of response was established. Each component of the multiple schedule was in effect for 10 min and was separated from the other by 1 min time out. An Estes-Skinner conditioned suppression procedure was superimposed on each component of the schedule. The relative magnitude of the suppression behavior was measured during its acquisition and extinction, and at CS durations of 100, 200, and 300 sec. The initial magnitude of the suppression behavior was less severe on the VI-1 baseline than on the VI-4, and it extinguished more rapidly on the VI-1. As the relative duration of the CS was increased, the suppression behavior became less severe on both baselines, but the initial differential magnitude in the suppression remained intact.     

The muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) as a laboratory animal

Methods for the capture, maintenance, taming, and behavioral testing of wild-born muskrats(Ondatra zibethicus) are described. The muskrat is simple and inexpensive to maintain in the laboratory and seems suitable for behavioral research.     

The use of co-working (co-therapy) as a training method

This paper formed the basis of a Workshop at the A.F.T. Conference 1981, although the bulk of the theoretical material was not presented in the Workshop. The primary aim of the Workshop itself was to enable participants to think about how they themselves would use the co-working method as a way of training and to test these thoughts out to some extent in role-play.
The experimental part of the Workshop fell into two sections. In the first the aim was for participants to consider in pairs what they might wish to teach by this method and how; and in the second it was intended that they test out in pairs an attempt to teach a specific aspect of family therapy.
In practice members found in the first part some of the difficulties that this method presents, as shown in my research, and thus for the second part they felt it essential to focus on the issue of developing a contract between the two potential co-workers in order to clarify and confirm the nature of the training relationship. This was no doubt as it should be, since there is evidence that to press ahead with trying to teach a method in this close working relationship when there are substantial problems in, or uncertainty about the relationship can be disruptive. Hence the workshop as a whole was much concerned with the nature of the training experience rather than the actual transmission of family therapy skills.