Rule-governed imitative verbal behavior as a function of modeling procedures

The present study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of modelling procedures alone and modeling procedures complemented by the appropriate rule statement on the production of plurals. Twenty normal and 20 retarded children were randomly assigned to one of two learning conditions and to either affective or informative social reinforcement.It was necessary for the child to generate and use a rule in the production of his respones since he was unable to directly copy the model's verbal behavior. Normal and retarded children emitted more plurals during the experimental phase when observing a model who complemented his responses by the underlying rule.     

Comparison of nonretarded and mentally retarded children on tasks involving direct and rule-governed imitation.

The influence of intellectual level and social reinforcement on imitation learning was examined. Tasks involving direct and rule-governed imitation of a mode were presented to 20 mentally retarded and 20 nonretarded children. The children within each group were randomly assigned to either an affective ("good-fine") or an informative ("correct-right") social reinforcement condition. Reinforcement, administered on a fixed ration (FR4) schedule, was contingent on the child's imitative behavior. A multivariate analysis of variance showed that both the Population X Reinforcement Type interaction and the Reinforcement main effect were significant. Univariate follow-up tests showed that only rule-governed imitation contributed significantly to the multivariate effects. Analysis of simple effects indicated that retarded children performed optimally under affective reinforcement, while the nonretarded children performed highest under informative reinforcement.     

An assessment of manager/subordinate perceptions of performance appraisal effectiveness

This study postulates that performance appraisal will be effective to the extent that managers and subordinates have a shared perception of its purpose and function and the degree to which it meets the needs of both groups. A two part research project was conducted to: 1) identify manager/subordinate perceptions of the purposes served by the formal performance appraisal process; 2) determine the extent to which these purposes are being satisfied in organizational practice; and 3) assess if managers and subordinates have a shared perception of the effectiveness of the appraisal process. The sample for the study included 36 managers and 143 subordinates from a division of a large Midwest service organization. The results were mixed with regard to the appraisal system effectively accomplishing its diverse goals. However, in general, there was support for the notion that both managers and subordinates find the appraisal process to be a worthwhile organizational practice. Approximately 70% of the respondents indicated that they would participate in the appraisal program whether they were required to do so or not.     

Acute effects of viloxazine HCl and flurazepam when given alone and in combination on sleep EEG: A double-blind interaction study with normals

Viloxazine, an aryl-oxypropanolamine type β-adreno-receptor antagonist, has been used in the treatment of depression. In a double-blind drug interaction study with flurazepam, a commonly used benzodiazepine hypnotic, viloxazine administered alone decreased the amount of time spent in REM sleep, increased the amount of time in the “light” stages of sleep, and increased the number of transitions to awake. However, no interactive effects of the combined administration of viloxazine and flurazepam could be detected.     

Theory for the mechanism of action of “miracle fruit”

The action of miracle fruit in changing the quality of a sour stimulus to that of sweet is hypothesized as being caused by blocking of the sour receptor sites. It is assumed, according to a new theory that holds that proton acceptors are sweet-evoking, that many sour stimuli are also simultaneously stimuli for the sweet receptors. However, the resulting sweet information is strongly inhibited by the sour system, so that sweet is not reported.     

Writing as an aid in pastoral counseling and psychotherapy

Summary A method of spontaneous note-writing has been presented. When the material is handled like any verbal associations in a therapeutic session, this technique has been especially helpful with the majority of patients in facilitating free association, overcoming resistance, gaining access to deep material more quickly, working through the positive and negative phases of the transference and promoting insight. It helps patients to expose themselves earlier in treatment, to express their conscious thoughts, and to furnish material for discussion. It is a form of mental catharsis.This technique aids in showing the progress, trends, and method of therapy, and to observe the needs and strivings of the patient. In a few instances, due to particular problems, the method was not advantageous. It means additional work for both therapist and patient. It cannot take the place of spontaneous verbalization in the therapeutic session; however, it can aid both patient and therapist in facilitating treatment, and provides another adjunct to the procedural psychotherapy.     

Gustatory quality changes as a function of solution concentration

Four selected female Ss were instructed to respond with the qualities of either bitter, salty, sour, sweet, or no taste to solutions of LiCl, KCl, Li₂SO₄, or K₂SO₄ which varied in concentration from 0.0040 to 0.050 M for the first two salts, and 0.0020 to 0.025 F for the last two. Mean percentages of each quality, with sweet combined with the no taste response, when plotted against concentration, gave functions in which one quality predominated within a given concentration range. This quality was superseded by another over a higher concentration range. These results are explained in terms of an inhibition phenomenon.