The relaxation word of the day: A simple technique to measure adherence to relaxation

A new procedure of assessing adherence to home practice of relaxation is presented. The technique involved the subject identifying one of four possible relaxation words of the day at the end of a taped relaxation session. The method was employed to assess the relationship between adherence to relaxation and decline of blood pressure during a 10-session/8-week relaxation program involving 17 hypertensive subjects. No statistically significant relationship was found on either a short-term or a long-term basis. An advantage of the assessment technique is that it appears easily integrated into the overall therapeutic objective for relaxation therapy; a disadvantage is that the subject needs to comply not only with the relaxation schedule but also with the monitoring procedure.This research study was funded by NIH Grant HL27159.     

Estimating the weights for multiple attributes in a composite criterion using pairwise judgments

This paper presents a new methodology for estimating the weights or saliences of subcriteria (attributes) in a composite criterion measure. The inputs to the estimation procedure consist of (i) a set of stimuli or objects with each stimulus defined by its subcriteria profile (set of attribute values) and (ii) the set of paired comparison dominance (e.g., preference) judgments on the stimuli made by a single judge (expert) in terms of the global criterion. A criterion of fit is developed and its optimization via linear programming is illustrated with an example. The procedure is generalized to estimate a common set of weights when the pairwise judgments on the stimuli are made by more than one judge. The procedure is computationally efficient and has been applied in developing a composite criterion of managerial success yielding high concurrent validity.This methodology can also be used to perform ordinal multiple regression—i.e., multiple regression with an ordinally scaled dependent variable and a set of intervally scaled predictor variables. The approach is further extended to internal analysis (unfolding) using the vector model of preference and to the additive model of conjoint measurement.     

Rationale and considerations for proposed near-death research in the hospital setting

Further research into the question of veridical perception during the naturalistic near-death out-of-body experience (nND OBE), that phase of the near-death experience in which the experiencer seems to be perceiving a normal earthly realm, would be of value to NDErs, their caregivers, and humanity in general. I propose a research procedure that targets visual perception during nND OBEs that occur in the hospital setting. I discuss unresolved issues in the design and implementation of such a procedure, and identify areas for further research.     

Deriving ultrametric tree structures from proximity data confounded by differential stimulus familiarity

This paper presents a new procedure called TREEFAM for estimating ultrametric tree structures from proximity data confounded by differential stimulus familiarity. The objective of the proposed TREEFAM procedure is to quantitatively filter out the effects of stimulus unfamiliarity in the estimation of an ultrametric tree. A conditional, alternating maximum likelihood procedure is formulated to simultaneously estimate an ultrametric tree, under the unobserved condition of complete stimulus familiarity, and subject-specific parameters capturing the adjustments due to differential unfamiliarity. We demonstrate the performance of the TREEFAM procedure under a variety of alternative conditions via a modest Monte Carlo experimental study. An empirical application provides evidence that the TREEFAM outperforms traditional models that ignore the effects of unfamiliarity in terms of superior tree recovery and overall goodness-of-fit.     

Improving the metric quality of questionnaire data

A procedure is proposed whereby questionnaire data, which is usually ordinal in nature and often error-ridden, may be transformed to reduce the error variance in the data and to improve the metric properties of the individual variables. The technique is suggested by a result of Eckart and Young. The properties of the method are investigated by means of a Monte Carlo study. Various matrices were generated representing the usual concept of true scores. These matrices were distorted using two levels of random errors and two kinds of categorization. The distorted matrices were in turn transformed by the proposed methods and compared to the true scores. In all cases an overall measure of similarity reveals the transformed matrices are better approximations to the true scores than the untransformed data. Some properties of the transformation are discussed and some possible applications of the general technique are suggested.     

Correcting for unreliability in nonlinear models of attitude change

The paper opens with a brief discussion of the problems in testing nonlinear models of attitude change. The regression artifacts produced by unreliability are shown in both the linear and nonlinear case. Classical solutions for the linear case are quickly reviewed. A new solution to the linear case is presented and applied to the nonlinear case. It is shown to work well under a broad set of conditions. Regression artifacts in bivariate regression are then discussed. If the predictors are independent, then the univariate correction procedure can be applied to each predictor separately. But if the predictors are correlated, a joint correction procedure must be used. One such procedure is defined and shown to work perfectly in the case of linear regression and reasonably well in a broad set of conditions in which the regression is nonlinear.     

Phenomenological methodology in the human sciences

The author suggests that phenomenological methodology differs from traditional methodologies both in purpose and procedure. The task of a phenomenological researcher is to see the logic or meaning of an experience, for any subject, rather than to discover causal connections or patterns of correlation. The nature of the task demands extensive study of a small sample, allowing the subjects to speak for themselves and to reveal the logic of their experience as lived. The author reviews verification procedures relevant to phenomenological studies and discusses the limitations inherent in phenomenological research.     

Extending the temporal range of psychometric prediction by optimal linear filtering of mental test scores

Incorporating temporal decline in predictive validity into mental testing theory is outlined. Starting from multivariate regression of criterion on repeated measurements, an analytic extension results in a weighting function for repeated measurements, replacing the beta weights. Besides optimizing, the procedure permits an evaluation of any particular prognosis setting: In cases of exponentially declining predictive validity, prognostic range can be extended if concurrent validity is nonperfect by optimal weighting (predictive filtering) of repeated measurements. Considerable gain in prognostic range over the traditional approach can be achieved if predictive validity declines concavely downwards.This work was supported by grant Dr 58/3 from Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

Nonmonotonicity in (the Metamathematics of) Arithmetic

This paper is an attempt to bring together two separated areas of research: classical mathematics and metamathematics on the one side, non-monotonic reasoning on the other. This is done by simulating nonmonotonic logic through antitonic theory extensions. In the first half, the specific extension procedure proposed here is motivated informally, partly in comparison with some well-known non-monotonic formalisms. Operators V and, more generally, U are obtained which have some plausibility when viewed as giving nonmonotonic theory extensions. In the second half, these operators are treated from a mathematical and metamathematical point of view. Here an important role is played by U -closed theories and U -fixed points. The last section contains results on V-closed theories which are specific for V.     

International Law and Morality in the Theory of Secession

In order responsibly to decide whether there ought to be an international legal right of secession, I believe we need an account of the morality of secession. I propose that territorial and political societies have a moral right to secede, and on that basis I propose a regime designed to give such groups an international legal right to secede. This regime would create a procedure that could be followed by groups desiring to secede or by states desiring to resolve the issue of secession. It would give territorial political societies a legally recognized liberty to conduct a plebiscite on secession, and, assuming such a plebiscite is won by the secessionist side, a qualified right in international law to create a state without interference. Alan Buchanan has argued that proposals of this sort would create perverse incentives. I argue that there is no good reason to believe this. The point is to allow the legal regulation of secession in cases where there are active secessionist movements with legitimate moral claims, and to attempt to dampen the desire for secession in cases where secessionist sentiment is not well grounded in social and geographic reality.     

A rationale and test for the number of factors in factor analysis

It is suggested that if Guttman's latent-root-one lower bound estimate for the rank of a correlation matrix is accepted as a psychometric upper bound, following the proofs and arguments of Kaiser and Dickman, then the rank for a sample matrix should be estimated by subtracting out the component in the latent roots which can be attributed to sampling error, and least-squares capitalization on this error, in the calculation of the correlations and the roots. A procedure based on the generation of random variables is given for estimating the component which needs to be subtracted.I wish to acknowledge the valuable help given by J. Jaspers and L. G. Humphreys in the development of the ideas presented in this paper.     

Plausible Reasoning and the Resolution of Quantifier Scope Ambiguities

Despite overwhelming evidence suggesting that quantifier scope is a phenomenon that must be treated at the pragmatic level, most computational treatments of scope ambiguities have thus far been a collection of syntactically motivated preference rules. This might be in part due to the prevailing wisdom that a commonsense inferencing strategy would require the storage of and reasoning with a vast amount of background knowledge. In this paper we hope to demonstrate that the challenge in developing a commonsense inferencing strategy is in the discovery of the relevant commonsense data and in a proper formulation of the inferencing strategy itself, and that a massive amount of background knowledge is not always required. In particular, we present a very effective procedure for resolving quantifier scope ambiguities at the pragmatic level using simple quantitative data that is readily available in most database environments.     

Clustering with relational constraint

The paper deals with clustering problems where grouping is constrained by a symmetric and reflexive relation. For solving clustering problems with relational constraints two methods are adapted: the standard hierarchical clustering procedure based on the Lance and Williams formula, and local optimization procedure, CLUDIA. To illustrate these procedures, clusterings of the European countries are given based on the developmental indicators where the relation is determined by the geographical neighbourhoods of countries.Extended version of the paper presented at the European meeting of the Psychometric Society, Groningen, June, 19–21, 1980.This work was supported in part by the Boris Kidri Fund, Yugoslavia.     

Debiasing of Pessimistic Judgments Associated with Anxiety

This study tested the Consider-An-Alternative debiasing procedure and its ability to reduce pessimistic judgmental predictions associated with anxiety. Study participants were randomly assigned to either a control group or a debiasing group and were asked to rate the likelihood of hypothetical events. Level of trait anxiety was assessed to assign participants to a normal and a highly anxious group. The results showed that the debiasing procedure was effective in the reduction of pessimistic judgmental predictions for participants with both high and normal levels of trait anxiety. Specifically, the generation of alternative positive information significantly reduced pessimistic predictions of future events. The results were discussed in terms of availability of information in memory and cognitive biases.     

Generalizability of scores influenced by multiple sources of variance

Generalizability theory concerns the adequacy with which a universe score can be inferred from a set of observations. In this paper the theory is applied to a universe in which observations are classifiable according to two independent variable aspects of the measuring procedure. Several types of universe scores are developed and the variance components ascertained for each type. The composition of expected observed-score variance and the adequacy of inference to a particular type of universe score is a function of the procedure used in gathering data. A generalizability study provides estimates of variance components which can be used in designing an efficient procedure for a particular decision purpose.This study was conducted under Grant M-1839 from the National Institute of Mental Health while the authors were on the staff of the University of Illinois. Dr. Rajaratnam shared responsibility for the technical report of July, 1961 on which this paper is based. The present revision was made subsequent to her death in 1963. The present addresses of the other authors are: Goldine C. Gleser, Department of Psychiatry, Central Clinic, Cincinatti, 29, Ohio; Lee J. Cronbach, School of Education, Stanford University.     

Recollection training and transfer effects in Alzheimer's disease: effectiveness of the repetition-lag procedure

Objective

This study was designed to extend the use of a memory training technique, known as the repetition-lag procedure, to Alzheimer patients. The specificity of this procedure is to target the process of recollection for improvement.

Method

A group of 12 patients were trained individually for 6 h. The training procedure consisted of a series of yes/no recognition tasks in which some words were repeated throughout the test list across gradually increasing delays. Their performance was evaluated on pre-and-post tests and compared with a recognition practice group and a no contact control group.

Results

Initially, recollection training patients only performed accurately when the delay between repetitions consisted of one intervening word, but by the end of training their performance increased up to four-word intervals. Interestingly, these benefits generalized to other measures of memory, such as working memory, visual memory and source recognition.

Conclusions

Effectiveness of the repetition-lag procedure in Alzheimer’s disease is discussed.     

The effects of fading,feedback, and feedback plus instruction on the perfomance of institutionalized retarded children in number retention exercises

Summary Three feedback training procedures, fading, feedback and feedback plus instruction, were used in conjunction with reinforcement contingencies to assess the performance of 12 mentally retarded boys in number rentention exercises. The fading and the feedback plus instruction procedures were the only ones to yield highly significant effects: none of the procedures led to any substantially improved performance in transfer exercises. Advantages of fading over the more traditional procedure (less errors, ability to learn difficult exercises) are discussed, as are the problems arising in the application of this method. Analysis of the exercises showed that premature removal of the additional colour cues in the fading procedure resulted in a substantial reduction of the number of correct responses, especially in the difficult exercises, and that the feedback procedure was particularly unsuccessful in difficult exercises. Methodological problems encountered in previous retention studies were indicated and an attempt made to overcome them.

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Zusammenfassung Kombiniert mit Belohnungen, die nur für richtige Antworten erfolgten, wurden drei Rückmelde-Trainingsverfahren: Fading, Feedback und Feedback plus Instruction angewandt, um 12 geistig retardierte Jungen an Zahlen-Konservations-Aufgaben zu trainieren. Nur die Fading- und Feedback plus Instruction-Techniken zeigten hoch signifikante Trainingsgewinne, doch keine der Techniken führte zu bedeutenden Verbesserungen bei Transferaufgaben. Die Vorteile der Fading-Technik gegenüber mehr traditionellen Verfahren (weniger Fehler, Erlernen schwierigerer Aufgaben) wurde ebenso erörtert wie Probleme ihrer Anwendung. Aufgabenanalysen zeigten, daß erstens verfrühtes Ausblenden der zusätzlichen Farben bei der Fading-Technik zu einem starken Absinken der Anzahl der richtigen Antworten besonders bei schwierigen Aufgaben führt; und daß zweitens die Feedback-Technik beim Erlernen schwieriger Aufgaben besonders geringen Erfolg hat. Methodologische Probleme bei vorausgegangenen Konservationsexperimenten wurden aufgezeigt, und es wurde versucht, diese methodologischen Probleme zu lösen.

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This paper is based on a thesis submitted by the author to the University Mannheim as partial fulfillmant of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (Diplom). The writer is greatly indebted to Dr. Norman H. Stein for his guidance throughout the planning and execution of the study and to his helpful suggestions and criticisms. The writer is also indebted to Dr. Byron J. Ward for making subjects available at Syracuse State School, and to the teachers of the Association for Retarded Children in Syracuse, New York. The study was conducted during a one year stay at Syracuse University. The financial support of the Studentenwerk Mannheim for tuitions and living expenses and a travel grant of the Fulbright Commission is gratefully acknowledged.     

Fitting a response model forn dichotomously scored items

A method of estimating the parameters of the normal ogive model for dichotomously scored item-responses by maximum likelihood is demonstrated. Although the procedure requires numerical integration in order to evaluate the likelihood equations, a computer implemented Newton-Raphson solution is shown to be straightforward in other respects. Empirical tests of the procedure show that the resulting estimates are very similar to those based on a conventional analysis of item difficulties and first factor loadings obtained from the matrix of tetrachoric correlation coefficients. Problems of testing the fit of the model, and of obtaining invariant parameters are discussed.Research reported in this paper was supported by NSF Grant 1025 to the University of Chicago.     

Extensions of the significance test for one-parameter signal detection hypotheses

The basic models of signal detection theory involve the parametric measure,d, generally interpreted as a detectability index. Given two observers, one might wish to know whether their detectability indices are equal or unequal. Gourevitch and Galanter (1967) proposed a large sample statistical test that could be used to test the hypothesis of equald values. In this paper, their large two sample test is extended to aK-sample detection test. If the null hypothesisd ₁=d ₂=...=d _K is rejected, one can employ the post hoc confidence interval procedure described in this paper to locate possible statistically significant sources of variance and differences. In addition, it is shown how one can use the Gourevitch and Galanter statistics to testd=0 for a single individual.This paper was written while the author was associated with the Institute of Human Learning at the University of California at Berkeley.