SCALES FOR SUBJECTIVE DISTANCE

By means of the method of ratio estimation, scale values were obtained for subjective distance. In three experiments different stimulus ranges of the objective distances were used. It was found: ( 1 ) Subjective distance is a power function of the objective distance. ( 2 ) The exponent of the function varies with the stimulus range. With increasing stimulus range the exponent has a tendency to decrease. It is conceivable that the change of the exponent may be explained by an adaptation of the subjective range to the stimulus range.     

四组中国被试的归因在维度上相对位置的评定

本文研究了中国被试对十项归因(心境、技巧、知识、机会、努力、帮助、能力、任务、偏好和运气)在五个维度(基源性、稳定性、控制性、预见性和普遍性)上相对位置的评定。并与钱德拉等人(Cbandler & Spies,1984),用美国被试所得的结果进行了比较。实验结果表明中国被试与美国被试评定的一致性达62%。此外,没有一项归因的评定是在维度的极端等极(1.0-2.0或6.0-7.0)。     

A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE SEMANTIC DIFFERENTIAL AND SIMILARITY ANALYSIS IN THE MEASUREMENT OF MUSICAL EXPERIENCE

N ordenstreng , K. A comparison between the semantic differential and similarity analysis in the measurement of musical experience. Scand. J. Psychol ., 1968, 9,89–96.—Ten pieces of music were rated by a group of broadcasting sound-controllers using two different scaling techniques, the semantic differential ratings of each sound on 32 scales, and similarity ratings for all pairs of sounds. The two scaling techniques were compared matching factor spaces by transformation analysis. The results indicate almost perfect similarity of the factor structures, which suggests that similarity analysis and the semantic differential in fact measure the same thing.     

BRIGHTNESS SCALES FOR MONOCHROMATIC LIGHT

By means of amethod of ratio estimation, scale values were obtained for the subjective brightness of various physical intensities of monochromatic light of various wave lengths. In a second experiment the scale was constructed by a method of magnitude estimation. The brightness functions were studied by plotting the scale values against stimulus intensity for each wave length. The two experiments gave essentially the same results. It was shown: (1) Brightness of monochromatic light is a power function of stimulus intensity. The exponent of the function is approximately one-third for all wave lengths. (2) Properties of the brightness functions can explain certain empirical relations between brightness, hue and saturation.     

SCALES FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF INNOVATIVENESS

This paper reports the results of the development of a self-report measure of innovative-ness. The utility of such an instrument in human communication research is discussed, together with issues relating to its reliability, validity, and association with social desirability.     

BEHAVIORAL OBSERVATION SCALES FOR PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL PURPOSES

Behavioral items ( N = 78) critical to the job success of logging supervisors were developed from 1204 critical incidents, the frequency with which a supervisor ( N = 300) engaged in each behavior was rated on a 5-point Likert type scale by two sets of observers. A factor analysis reduced the items to 38 and 33, respectively, for the two sets of observers which in turn constituted 10 and 11 factors or criteria for performance evaluation purposes. Multiple regression equations based on composite scores were used to predict cost-related measures of logging crew effectiveness. The shrinkage in Rs after double cross-validation was moderately small. Moreover, the behavioral observation scales (BOS) that were developed by factor analyzing the observation ratings had moderately high reliability and accounted for more variance in the cost-related measures than did the BOS developed by traditional judgmental clustering techniques. The similarities and differences between BOS and BES procedures are discussed.     

SENSATION SCALES IN THE SIZE-WEIGHT ILLUSION

S joberg , L. Sensation scales in the size-weight illusion. Scand. J. Psychol ., 1969, 10 , 109–112.-The subjects gave magnitude estimations of heaviness of a set of cylinders varying simultaneously in weight and height. The size-weight illusion could be well described by a simple model assuming heaviness to be inversely proportional to a sensation scale of size and directly proportional to a sensation scale of weight. The scale parameters corresponding to weight were a positively accelerated function of weight while the corresponding function for size was negatively accelerated.     

SEMANTIC NETWORKS IN THE DIVIDED CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES

Abstract— Hemispheric differences in the recognition and manipulation of meaning may be based on distinctions in size, composition, or organization of the right and left semantic networks. The present study describes these features of pictorially based semantic networks in 3 subjects with complete forebrain commissurotomy. Stimuli were presented for prolonged viewing to the left and right visual hemifields. For each trial, the subjects chose from a 20-choice array all pictures that were associated with a target, then indicated the member of each pair of chosen associates that was more closely related to the target. The hemispheres' networks were found to be of similar size and composition, but were organized differently. The right hemisphere more often produced linear rankings of semantic associates to a target than did the left, and rankings by the two hemispheres were not strongly correlated. Hemispheric differences in semantic organization mirror differences in perceptual organization, with the right hemisphere specialized for conventional meaning and the left hemisphere specialized for detecting and processing deviations from standard meaning.     

DIMENSIONALITY OF THE SEMANTIC SPACE FOR COMMUNICATION VIA FACIAL EXPRESSIONS

Facial expressions were posed by student actors and labeled by student judges, the judges being restricted to the same labels as were given to the actors. Factor analyses yielded evidence for three major dimensions resembling those proposed by Schlosberg (1954): Pleasantness, Activation, and Control. A hypothetical emotional-expression solid, a pyramid truncated at the far end (passive direction), is proposed as a resolution of recent controversies over the number and nature of dimensions. Cluster analyses confirm the existence of some seven to ten regions within this space, densely populated with quasi-synonymous states, which warrant identification as 'primary affects'.     

ON THE PROBLEM OF CATEGORY SCALES IN PSYCHOPHYSICS

E isler , H. On the problem of category scales in psychophysics. Scand. J. Psychol ., 1962, 3 , 81–87.—In the first Part of the paper it is shown that, if three assumptions are granted, the category scale must be logarithmically related to the magnitude scale: K =α log φ +β . In the second part of the paper, the relation K =α log ( kφ+ q) +β is derived, starting from the assumptions that the category scale is a pure function of discrimination and that discrimination is appropriately described by the linear generalization of Weber's law for prothetic continua. We can reconcile these two formulas by defining the zero-point of the magnitude scale as the point where variability vanishes.     

A MODEL FOR THE USE OF ATTITUDE SCALES ACROSS CULTURES

To minimize the verbal content of the attitude measurement situation with Papua New Guinea students, a set of pictorial items was selected for use in the place of verbal items. Initially, 150 pictures related to concepts in the Wilson-Patterson Attitude Inventory (WPAI) were described by a group of 50 students. Seventy of these items, those which were described in a consistent way, were presented to 227 students along with a Papua New Guinea version of the WPAI. A final set of 25 pictures was selected on the basis of their discriminative power, internal consistency, and their content validity. Reliability and validity measures and the rotated factor structure of the 25 item pictorial scale were consistent with the WPAI.     

THE DEVELOPMENT OF BEHAVIORAL OBSERVATION SCALES FOR APPRAISING THE PERFORMANCE OF FOREMEN

Behavioral observation scales (BOS) were developed for first line foremen. BOS are similar to behavioral expectation scales (BES) in that both are based on a job analysis procedure known as the critical incident technique. However, the BOS differ from BES in that, in developing BOS, (a) a group of individuals is observed and rated on a five-point scale as to the frequency with which they engage in the behavior described by each incident/statement, (b) a total score for each individual is determined by summing the observer's responses for each behavioral item, and (c) an item analysis (or factor analysis, depending upon the sample size) is conducted to select the most discriminating items. Those items with the highest correlations with the total score on a scale are retained to form one behavioral criterion or scale (BOS).     

AN EXTENSION AND FIELD TEST OF THE RETRANSLATION METHOD FOR DEVELOPING RATING SCALES

The retranslation method for rating scale development was used to develop a scale to evaluate an educational television series designed to teach basal reading skills. This extension of the method, outside the context of job performance rating, was evaluated using both developmental and actual field use data. The results during the developmental stage of the method are generally supportive of the use of the technique in this situation; the results from the field test yielded mixed support.     

FUNCTIONAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF SEMANTIC MEMORY PROCESSES IN THE FRONTAL LOBES

Abstract— Frontal-lobe activation during semantic memory performance was examined using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), a noninvasive technique for localizing neural activity associated with cognitive function. Left inferior prefrontal cortex was more activated for semantic than for perceptual encoding of words, and for initial than for repeated semantic encoding of words. Decreased activation for semantic encoding of repeated words reflects repetition priming, that is, implicit retrieval of memory gained in the initial semantic encoding of a word. The left inferior prefrontal region may sub-serve semantic working memory processes that participate in semantic encoding and that have decreased demands when such encoding can be facilitated by recent semantic experience. These results demonstrate that fMRI can visualize changes in an individual's brain function associated with the encoding and retrieval of new memories.