Cross-modal exogenous attention and distance effects in vision and hearing

In the present study we investigated cross-modal orienting in vision and hearing by using a cueing task with four different horizontal locations. Our main interest concerned cue–target distance effects, which might further our insight in the characteristics of cross-modal spatial attention mechanisms. A very consistent pattern was observed for both the unimodal (cue and target were both visual or auditory) and the cross-modal conditions (cue and target from different modalities). RTs to valid trials were faster than for invalid trials, and, most interestingly, there was a distance effect: RTs increased with greater cue–target distance. This applied to detection of visual targets and to localisation of both visual and auditory targets. The time interval between cue and target was also varied. Surprisingly, there was no indication of inhibition of return even with the longest cue–target intervals. In order to assess the role of endogenous (strategic) factors in exogenous spatial attention we increased in two additional experiments the cue validity from 25% to 80%. This appeared to have no large influence on the cueing pattern in both the detection and localisation tasks. Currently, it is assumed that spatial attention is organised in multiple strongly linked modality-specific systems. The foregoing results are discussed with respect to this supposed organisation.     

The Effects of Music and a Coxswain on Attentional Focus,Perceived Exertion,Motivation, and Performance During a 1,000 m Ergometer Rowing Sprint

Music has often been portrayed as a dissociative (i.e., distracting) mechanism. This study demonstrates that music may not be unifunctional in regards to attentional focus; that is, external concentration on music can coexist with task-relevant thoughts. Female intercollegiate rowers (N = 26) performed four 1,000 m sprints on a rowing ergometer at maximal effort under music, coxswain, combined music and coxswain, and control conditions. Findings indicate that during the 1,000 m rowing sprint, both external and task-relevant dimensions of attentional focus can exist simultaneously. This implies a new consideration of music as either dissociative or associative based on task-related factors.     

Profiles and professional perspectives: Ten leading former soviet union sport psychologists

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to identify 10 leading former Soviet Union sport psychologists and describe their major contributions. The investigators also desired to determine the status and future directions of sport psychology in Russia and the other new countries that formerly comprised the Soviet Union. Balloting for the leading sport psychologists occurred at the newly formed meeting of the Interstates Association of Sport Psychologists (IASP) and 10 persons were identified: Anatoli V. Alekseev, Marina V. Ennolaeva, Leonid D. Gissen. Gennadij D. Gorbunov, Nickolai A. Hudadov. Piotr A. Jorov. Juri A. Kolomeitzev, Albert V. Rodionov, Vladimir R. Sopov, and Bronislav A. Viatkin. These individuals were subsequently interviewed and the results indicated that although many cutbacks have occurred during the previous decade (1980–1990). sport psychologists continue their work. They are developing new and innovative ways to help athletes improve their individual and collective performance. Their work in psychodiagnostics is exemplary. Nevertheless, the future of sport psychology remains uncertain in the Former Soviet Union.     

Belief in a just world and well-being of bullies,victims and defenders: a study with Portuguese and Indian students

Abstract

Previous findings characterize the belief in a just world (BJW) as a valuable resource for maintaining positive well-being and assimilating injustice. The present cross-sectional study applies just world research to school bullying and tested the hypotheses that the personal BJW is positively correlated with subjective well-being, here particularly school distress. In this paper the generalizability of this association is tested in victims, bullies, and defenders, and across gender and also two countries with different cultures, Portugal and India. We will test if BJW can best be interpreted as a personal resource (main effect) or a buffer (moderator) for the distress of victims, bullies and defenders of the victims. The participants were 465 school students (Portuguese sample: 187 students aged between 12 and 18 years; Indian sample: 278 Indian students aged between 14 and 17 years). Overall, the results of the study supported the personal resource hypothesis. The stronger the adolescents’ endorsements of the BJW the less they felt distressed at school, and this was true independent of their bullying behavior and within both sexes and across both samples, although boys, bullies, and Portuguese adolescents experienced more distress and defenders experienced less distress at school.     

Comparing the Effectiveness of Two Communication Formats on Visitors’ Understanding of Nanotechnology

ABSTRACT

The authors investigated the results of the Europe-wide initiative NanoToTouch, which aims to create innovative environments in science museums to encourage public understanding of nanotechnology and nanotechnological research. The concepts of civic scientific literacy and expert–layperson communication formed the theoretical framework of the study. Two kinds of communication formats, which varied in the degree to which presentations were individualized for visitors, were established and investigated in five museums and science centers in four countries. The findings from 522 visitors indicate (a) a positive response from visitors regarding both formats with some differences between them; (b) an increase in visitors’ self-perceived level of knowledge, which was considerably higher for nanotechnological content than for nanotechnological research; and (c) a predominance of situational aspects, compared to personal variables, influencing visitors’ learning. Results are discussed in terms of an effective implementation of these communication formats in museums.     

Emotional Disturbance in Children with Peculiar Given Names

When a person experiences feelings of low self-acceptance and further attributes this low self-acceptance to the average person, a distortion in perception is said to exist. Harry Stack Sullivan termed this distortion “parataxic.” The present study attempted to find evidence of such a distortion. Once a person was identified as a “distorter” nine factors of perceived parenting were revealed by the subjects. These nine factors examined were nurturance, instrumental companionship, predictability of standards, affective punishment, achievement pressure, deprivation of privileges, principled discipline, protectiveness, and physical punishment. Distortion was found to be significantly related to low nurturance, less instrumental companionship, excessive protectiveness, greater achievement pressure, and excessive punishment by parents as perceived by the 220 subjects involved.     

Encoding Strategies in Primary School Children: Insights From an Eye-Tracking Approach and the Role of Individual Differences in Attentional Control

The authors explored different aspects of encoding strategy use in primary school children by including (a) an encoding strategy task in which children's encoding strategy use was recorded through a remote eye-tracking device and, later, free recall and recognition for target items was assessed; and (b) tasks measuring resistance to interference (flanker task) and inhibition of attention to task-irrelevant stimuli (distractibility). Results revealed that the ability to inhibit distraction and resist interference undergoes developmental changes between the ages of 7–10 years. At the same time, children's capability to strategically focus on task-relevant aspects also continues to improve in primary school years. Although there were substantial relationships between encoding strategies and later recognition, encoding strategies appeared to be unrelated to basic aspects of attentional control.     

The Effects of Initial Habit Strength Differences Upon Performance in a Coaction Situation

The present investigation examined the effects of initial habit strength differences upon performance in a coaction situation. During a training session, a habit-strength hierarchy was developed in each of three groups through the establishment of a differential response expectancy for each of four alternative responses. In a subsequent test session, both performance and consistency of performance were affected by the pretraining on the correct habit. However, there was no statistical support for the hypothesis that coaction would interact with the habit-strength condition resulting in an improvement in the coaction/habit-correct group and a decrement in the coaction/habit-incorrect group. Similarly, no differences were found between the coaction and alone conditions.