Perceptual isolation effects: Short-term visual storage vs cognitive-perceptual structure

Two hypotheses concerning the effects of perceptual isolation were examined. Three experimental groups were defined by the interval between the first and second stimulus presentations within a recognition-discrimination problem. Ninety Ss were exposed to 12 recognition-discrimination problems for each of three physical dimensions of random forms, both before and after 1/2 h of perceptual isolation. Analyses of the number of correct responses indicated support for the hypothesis that isolation increases the duration of the short-term visual storage, but not for the hypothesis that isolation produces change in the hierarchy of physical dimensions to which Ss selectively attend.     

Stereoacuity for oscillating targets exposed through apertures of various horizontal ex tents

This experiment assesses the separate effects of several interrelated temporal variables on binocular depth discrimination as measured in a two-rod test apparatus. Equidistance settings were obtained from two Ss for a black target oscillating in a frontal plane at each of five velocities, and viewed against a constant illuminated background (1.20 log td) through 29 different horizontal apertures. Combinations of target velocities and aperture sizes were selected to produce a series of eight constant target viewing times (0.15, 0.25, 0.40, 0.50, 0.80, 1.00, 1.50, and 2.00 sec). Both the constant and the variable errors of the equidistance settings were analyzed in terms of the relative deleterious effects produced by increased target velocity and reduced horizontal aperture. The deleterious effects were discussed with respect to the contribution of presumed loss in neural integration for the changing luminous-energy distribution patterns on each retina, energy losses occurring in each pair of stimulated binocular retinal elements along the path of image movement, decreases in target viewing time, and reduction in the number of binocular retinal elements being stimulated.     

Predicting Rehabilitation Success with the MMPI and Demographic Data

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the value of selected demographic and personality variables in the prediction of rehabilitation success of handicapped individuals. Demographic data and MMPI scores of 79 clients who had been served by a state Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) were used as predictor variables in a multiple-regression analysis. An attempt was made to predict three criteria: occupational level, upward mobility, and closure status. The multiple correlations for each of the three regression equations approached significance at the .05 level. Correlations significant at the .05 level, were found between age at onset, age at time of application, type of disability, and education, for one or more of the criteria. Significant beta weights were obtained for age at time of application, IQ, and the Mf, K, and Pd scales from the MMPI.     

Gender and marital status differences in depression: The effects of chronic strains

Although women evidently have higher depression levels than men and singles have higher depression levels than the married, the reasons for these differences are yet unclear. This paper investigates whether differences in the stress-producing circumstances of the lives of men and women, and the married and unmarried, might explain the differences in their levels of depression. Using data from the National Survey of Families and Households, we found that gender differences in depression were accounted for by chronic strains. Family-based strains and economic hardship are significant predictors of higher distress in women. Chronic strains also explain why variations in depression are more pronounced among the married than among the unmarried.Bowling Green State University     

Self-control in distressed couples: a pilot study

A protocol for the short treatment of fighting couples is described. The treatment consists of three training sessions in which homework assignments are given, aimed at enhancing self-control. The participants received exact instructions on how to monitor their anger, to take time out and to write to the partner in a structured manner, instead of expressing their anger in the usual way. A pre-/post-pilot study with nineteen couples shows that the couples improve significantly more during the training than in the pre-treatment baseline period. During the follow-up phase, the improvements are maintained.     

Stimulus recognizability judgments as a function of the utility of physical dimensions in recognition-discrimination problems

The effect of different Retraining conditions on the scaling of random forms for recognizability was examined. Pretraining conditions were defined by exposure to recognition-discrimination problems structured to emphasize or de-emphasize metron variability. Analyses of the results of the scaling task indicated that exposure to problems designed to emphasize metron variability within the “compactness” and “jaggedness” physical dimensions resulted in more extensive use of those dimensions, while no similar effect resulted from training with problems emphasizing an “x-axis areal asymmetry” physical dimension.     

Memory scanning of shapes,colors, and compounds: A comparison of retarded and nonretarded adults

Three experiments were performed to assess memory scanning of shapes, colors, and shape-color compounds by retarded and nonretarded people. Attributes comprising compounds provided either redundant or nonredundant information. Large retarded-nonretarded differences in reaction time were obtained. In contrast to previous reports of slow scanning of digits and nonsense shapes by retarded people, scan rates for shapes and colors did not differ between groups. Retarded subjects were not characterized by a deficient scan rate. Although compound stimuli required twice as many attributes in their repersentation as did simple stimuli, they were not scanned more slowly, indicating that per item scan rate is not determined by the number of attributes required to define each item. Both groups were able to exploit redundant relevant information to achieve faster processing than in simple conditions. Decision rules for rejecting compound stimuli comprised one, two, or more binary tests. Groups did not differ in speed of performing elementary binary test(s).