SUBJECTIVE TIME AS AFFECTED BY GRAVITATIONAL STRESS

Subjective time as affected by positive radial acceleration in a human centrifuge was studied by a modification of the method of ratio production. Auditory signals (1–20 sec.) were used as stimuli. The results showed a marked change in subjective time during gravitational stress. Subjective time, as measured by the methods employed, was a positively accelerated function of objective time and the positive acceleration was enhanced during centrifugation. The demonstrated change in time experience was caused by a difference in retention of preceding time intervals, retention being impaired during centrifugation.     

TIME AS A FACTOR IN A SPATIAL TASK*

Subjects drawn from a variety of populations were required to build simple models of geometric figures, pictures of which they were shown. The time taken to build each model was measured and its correctness assessed. It was found that it was probably erroneous to disregard time on the grounds that in certain cultures time has a relatively low social value when assessing subjects' performance. The best index of performance, the results tentatively suggest, is probably the ratio of the total time used by a subject to the number of correct responses. This offers a superior measure of the perceptual difficulties than either of the primary measures taken on its own.     

PERCEIVED INTENSITY OF ODOR AS A FUNCTION OF TIME OF ADAPTATION

The perceived intensity of odor under conditions of constant stimulation with hydrogen sulphide was investigated in two experiments. A two-step scaling method, involving cross-modality matching and numerical scaling of the matching continuum, was used for measuring intensity of odor. Perceptual intensity was found to decrease exponentially with increase of time of stimulation. Preliminary data concerning the subsequent recovery phase were also obtained.     

TIME-SPENT RESPONSES AS TIME ALLOCATION STRATEGIES: RELATIONS WITH SALES PERFORMANCE IN A STOCKBROKER SAMPLE

Most research on job analysis treats within-job interrater disagreement on structured job analysis surveys as measurement error. The present research conceptualized time-spent responses as expressions of time allocation strategies for the relatively autonomous stockbroker job, and differences between responses as reflecting different strategies. Stockbrokers ( n = 580) in a large financial services firm provided time-spent data on a job analysis survey, and results showed that for relatively inexperienced stockbrokers (with 1-4 years'job experience), and for more experienced stockbrokers with more than 4 years'experience, adjusted RS between sales performance and time spent on activity factors were both .49. Also, there was evidence suggesting that the relatively inexperienced and experienced stockbrokers spend significantly different amounts of time on some activities and that different patterns of relationships between time spent and sales performance exist for the two groups. Discussion focuses on difficulties with interpreting certain time-spent/performance relationships, and research approaches that might better separate differential time allocation strategies from measurement error.     

COHERENCE AS A MEASURE OF FUTURE TIME PERSPECTIVE IN CHILDREN AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO DELAY OF GRATIFICATION AND SOCIAL CLASS

The relationship between social class (SC), delay of gratification (DG), and coherence of future time perspective (FTP) was investigated with a revised measure of coherence. Sixty sixth-grade Israeli children, recruited from middle vs. low social class groups were administered a future events arrangement (FEA) task, and a “candy puppet” (CP) measurement of DG. Results indicated that the two groups differed significantly on both variables and that FEA and CP correlate significantly and positively. However, partial correlation between FEA and CP, which controlled the SC variable, was nonsignificant. No sex effects were found in any of the investigated variables. Results were interpreted as lending support to the revised concept of coherence. Theoretical aspects of future time perspective are discussed, as well as further necessary research.     

AMOUNT OF INDUCED AVOIDANCE BEHAVIOUR TO LIGHT IN THE PROTOZOA TETRAHYMENA AS A FUNCTION OF TIME AFTER TRAINING AND CELL FISSION

B ergström , S. R. Amount of induced avoidance behaviour to light in the Protozoa Tetrahymena as a function of time after training and cell fission. Scand. J. Psychol ., 1969, 10 , 16–20.—Two cultures of Tetrahymena, dividing synchronously after exposure to an alternating heat treatment, were exposed to series of light and electric shocks paired. After 20 and 30 exposures resp. to the stimulus combination, samples of these cultures were drawn every 18 min and placed in a partially lighted chamber. In samples drawn shortly after training, an essentially smaller proportion was found in the light, in comparison with control samples, which had received either shocks or light or neither of the two stimuli. In later samples, this proportion increased until it approached level of control samples. The course of the increase was not influenced by intervening synchronous cell division.     

PURE TIME PREFERENCE

Pure time preference is a preference for something to come at one point in time rather than another merely because of when it occurs in time. In opposition to Sidgwick, Ramsey, Rawls, and Parfit we argue that it is not always irrational to be guided by pure time preferences. We argue that even if the mere difference of location in time is not a rational ground for a preference, time may nevertheless be a normatively neutral ground for a preference, and this makes it plausible to claim that the preference is rationally permitted.     

TIME CONSERVATION ACROSS CULTURES

L'auteur tente de determiner si les enfants appartenant à des cultures non occidentales perçoivent le temps de la même manière que les enfants occidentaux, s'ils se conforment aux stades de Piaget, et si L'âge auquel ces stades se réalisent correspond approximativement à ce que trouve Piaget. Les échantillons ont été tirés de sept cultures: anglo (Blancs), mexicaine-américaine, et indiennes (Hopis, Pimas, Papagos, Apaches et Navajos). Avec un total de 317 sujets, L'étude a porté, dans chaque groupe culturel, sur quinze enfants de sept, neuf et onze ans respectivement. Quatre épreuves ont été utilisées pour mettre en évidence la conservation du temps: deux épreuves sur la conservation de L'ordre des événements, et deux épreuves sur la conservation de la simultanéité. Les résultats font apparaître une très grande variabilité avec L'âge; dans le cas de la simultanéité, aucun groupe culturel n'atteint le critère, proposé par Piaget, de 3/4 de réponses correctes, même aux âges où cette capacité, selon Piaget, est atteinte. En ce qui concerne la conservation de L'ordre nécessaire des événements, seuls les enfants mexicains-américains, anglos et pimas ont acquis cette capacité à L'âge de onze ans. En ce qui concerne la conservation de L'ordre naturel, seuls les Navajos et les Apaches n'ont pas cette capacité à L'âge de onze ans.