Social metrics of song learning

Five metrics of song learning are described for brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater). The intent of these metrics is to capture not only the behavior of the song learner but the social context in which song learning occurs. Playback procedures, observations of mating, and acoustic and functional assessment of song content are combined to yield measures of song potency, functional validity, social dynamics, vocal flexibility, and social reactivity. Taken as a whole, the results revealed by these metrics indicate that males learn to be effective singers by attending to the social consequences of their behavior.     

The generalizability of context effects on word recognition: A reconsideration of the roles of parafoveal priming and sentence context

In three experiments, subjects named target words preceded by congruous, incongruous, or neutral sentence contexts. There was no evidence that the recognition of the target word was affected by the semantic characteristics of a word presented immediately to the right of it. The nature of the preceding sentence context did affect target-naming speed. However, the magnitude of the context effect was considerably smaller in these experiments, in which nonterminal target words were used, than in previous experiments in which the target word was always the final word of the sentence, was highly predictable from the context, and was often semantically related to words in the sentence. The implications of these two findings for theories of reading and context effects are discussed.     

ON CHAOTIC BEHAVIOR

Abstract— Neuringer and Voss (1993) described experiments in which humans generated response sequences that approximated features of chaotic sequences generated by iterating the logistic difference equation Although this demonstration is very interesting, we argue that the logistic equation is not a convincing model of their subjects' behavior Further, although any chaotic behavior is in a narrow sense deterministic, there is reason to believe that the prevalence of chaos actually undermines a more globally deterministic view of the world     

Clients' experience of bodywork psychotherapy

One-hundred and fifty ex-clients of 17 Energy Stream Psychotherapists were sent a questionnaire about their experience of their therapy. Sixty-eight clients completed the questionnaire. Of these 77% were highly satisfied or satisfied with their therapy. The frequency of use of some key Reichian psychotherapy techniques was explored. They were found to be used relatively frequently with at least 75% of the clients and rated as helpful by most clients. Also investigated were Rogers' core conditions, which were found not to be present as often as expected. The possible impact of transference on this is discussed. Some non-specific factors such as feeling listened to, or being given feedback, were generally found to be present and valued. Respondents also answered various qualitative questions about their experience of the therapy, including being asked to provide a metaphor for it. What emerges is a picture of an articulate, informed group of therapy consumers often with previous and subsequent experience of therapy. The questionnaire, which combines a mixture of quantitative and qualitative items, can be used with suitable modification to explore other clients' experience of bodywork psychotherapy.     

Developing practice in a context of religious faith: A study of psychotherapists who are Quakers

Nineteen Quakers who are also counsellors or psychotherapists were interviewed in a qualitative pkenomenological study about the impact, if any, of their spiritual beliefs on their work. The research was conducted using an approach based on Moustakas' heuristics. The spiritual faith of the therapists impacted on their work in several ways: their sense of their own spiritual journey helped them understand their clients' spiritual journey; their spiritual faith underpinned their work; it gave them something extra, which included inspiration, spiritual preparation before and between therapy sessions, and prayer; and for a minority of respondents there were conflicts which were sometimes expressed in supervision. The implications of these findings are explored in relation to training, supervision, and the secular settings in which these therapists mosdy worked.     

Who uses base rates andP(D/∼H)? An analysis of individual differences

In two experiments, involving over 900 subjects, we examined the cognitive correlates of the tendency to viewP(D/～H) and base rate information as relevant to probability assessment. We found that individuals who viewedP(D/～H) as relevant in a selection task and who used it to make the proper Bayesian adjustment in a probability assessment task scored higher on tests of cognitive ability and were better deductive and inductive reasoners. They were less biased by prior beliefs and more datadriven on a covariation assessment task. In contrast, individuals who thought that base rates were relevant did not display better reasoning skill or higher cognitive ability. Our results parallel disputes about the normative status of various components of the Bayesian formula in interesting ways. It is argued that patterns of covariance among reasoning tasks may have implications for inferences about what individuals are trying to optimize in a rational analysis (J. R. Anderson, 1990, 1991).     

Video training of imagery for mature adults

To examine the effectiveness of videotaped memory training, two groups of middle-aged and older adults were given imagery training that included videotaped presentation of interactive imagery for object location recall and linking items on a list, and the image-name match method for name recall. The training group performed significantly better than the waiting list on the initial post-test, and the two groups were comparable after both groups had received training. Evidence for both maintenance and generalization was found. Videotaped presentation of imagery training is effective for mature adults as a self-paced at-home intervention, and has cost-saving advantages over the predominant training methodology.