Parallel processing in visual same-different decisions

Two to 13 geometrical shapes were exposed simultaneously to S who decided whether all shapes were the same or whether one was different from the rest. Correct different decisions were usually faster than correct same decisions, but latency was independent of the number of shapes presented. We conclude that input from all the shapes was simultaneously processed into either one or two shape categories, and that a decision-theory choice was made between “same” (one shape category) and “different” (two shape categories) independent of the total number of shapes. This parallel processing is thought to be a characteristic of codable stimuli. Some observed same-different latency reversals were probably caused by a shift in the same-different criterion on the continuum for one- vs two-category decisions.     

The partial punishment effect following minimal acquisition training: Sodium amobarbital and the stimulus properties of early punished trials

In a runway investigation, six groups of rats received limited runway training such that partial punishment, partial reinforcement, or continuous reinforcement was accompanied by sodium amobarbital or saline. Following an interpolated phase of continuous reinforcement without injections, all groups were given punished extinction. The entire experiment was conducted under widely spaced conditions (ITI = 24 hr). It was found that partial punishment increased resistance to punished extinction relative to partially and continuously reinforced controls when acquisition was given under saline. When partial punishment training was accompanied by amobarbital this effect was eliminated. The drug was observed to have no effect on the punished extinction performance of the partial reinforcement and continuous groups, respectively. Moreover, the partial reinforcement effect (PRE) did not generalize to punished extinction. These data provide information concerning the difference between the stimuli associated with the early trials of punishment and nonreward and indicate that the former but not the latter contain emotional elements.     

The Minnesota interactive statistical system

The Minnesota Interactive Statistical System (MISS) is reviewed as a successful application of on-line minicomputing in an instructional and research context. The MISS system is described with regard to (1) the instructional and research needs which prompted its development, (2) its programming design, (3) its operating system, (4) its computer hardware requirements, and (5) the continued innovative minicomputing development that it has inspired.     

Using an Apple II microcomputer for real-time control in a behavioral laboratory

This report describes the hardware and software developed to implement an Apple II (48 KB) as a real-time control device for operant experiments. The hardware has a straightforward design, so that it is readily understandable and can be built by individuals with only minimal experience in the use of integrated circuits and other electronic components. The software routines listed below represent an approach to controlling and handling the data generated by an operant experiment. Using these routines, we are able to record each response and experimental event, the time of the occurrence, and the conditions at that time.     

Nonimmediate language style and inconsistency between private and expressed evaluations

It was hypothesized that certain language style variations would reflect apprehension about affirming the validity of communication content. Wiener and Mehrabian (Language within language: Immediacy, a channel in verbal communication. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts,1968) have identified a cluster of such variations called verbal nonimmediacy, which they describe as indicators of psychological distance between the communicator and his/her communication. Four experiments are reported. Experiments 1 and 2 showed that communication about positive manifestations of disliked traits and negative manifestations of liked traits was more nonimmediate than when positive manifestations of liked traits or negative manifestations of disliked traits were described. This was true both when one's own or another's personality traits were described. In Experiment 3, nonimmediacy was found to increase when communications involved clear fabrications about either one's liked or disliked traits. Experiment 4 showed that when self-regard was experimentally manipulated, low self-regard subjects showed more opinion conformity and nonimmediacy in their disclosures to a confederate than did high self-regard subjects.     

Psychodiagnosis in hypothetical problem spaces

Computer uses are demonstrated for designing a hypothetical psychodiagnostic system that can function in artificially created mental health environments. The idea is to simulate both a psychodiagnostic system and a clinician’s strategies in order to learn about computer as well as human information processing. An inductive method for teaching humans the elements of the diagnostic system and its solutions is also introduced.