Waveform moment analysis: An ASYST program for topographical analyses of nonnegative bounded waveforms

The moments of a nonnegative bounded waveform (e.g., bounded probability density functions or responses that can be expressed as bounded probability density functions) provide the basis for characterizing the waveform. Traditionally, only the lower-order moments (k ≤ 4) have been utilized in deriving topographical indices of these waveforms. Recent advances in waveform moment analysis, however, have made it possible to derive comprehensive and interpretable indices of complex nonnegative bounded waveforms by utilizing both lower-order and higher-order moments. Waveform moment analysis is reviewed briefly, and a flexible and efficient computer program is presented for conducting waveform moment analyses.     

Strong phenomenal wholes are associated with fast “same” and slow “different” responses and superior overall performance

“Same” and “different” responses to stimuli that result in strong and weak single phenomenal wholes were investigated. Present and also previous results indicate that strong phenomenal wholes tend to be associated with a fast “same” and slow “different” response pattern. This result suggests that the parts of strong phenomenal wholes are perceived as more similar (e.g., because it should be easier to respond “same” to more similar stimuli). This suggestion is consistent with results based on other measures of perceived similarity. Present and also previous results additionally indicate that strong phenomenal wholes are frequently associated with superior overall (“same” plus “different”) performance. This result is consistent with evidence that the identification of simultaneously occurring multiple targets improves when they belong to the same phenomenal whole. The present results also hint that attention can affect whether two or three objects form the effective (functional) whole and support the assimilation explanation of the Müller Lyer illusion.     

Gender differences in attitudes toward nuclear war and disarmament

A survey on attitudes toward nuclear war and disarmament is used to test two hypotheses: (1) the fundamentally different world orientations of males and females will be reflected in different factor structures for attitudes toward nuclear war and disarmament, and (2) males are more pro-force than females. A confirmatory factor analysis was used to test the first hypothesis. In addition, components of the separate factor structures for males and females were compared. Differences between the means for males and females on three factors extracted from the entire sample were used to test the second hypothesis. Both hypotheses were found to hold for the present sample. Interpretation of the differing factor structures for males and females is presented as well as implications for the more pro-force emphasis of males.     

Gender and time variations in medical students' value development

A classic study by Becker and Geer proposed that medical students underwent cycles of value development during medical school. Initially, high levels of humanitarianism declined then re-emerged as students neared graduation. Declines in humanitarianism were accompanied by increased interest in extrinsic rewards. This paper examines value development in medical school for 200 men and women recent graduates. Questionnaire data collected at three times were used to develop scales of students' orientations toward humanitarianism and extrinsic rewards. We find partial verification for value-change patterns described by Becker and Geer, but gender variations are stronger than time variations. Women showed stronger humanitarianism and stronger interest in work conditions at all times than did men. Interest in extrinsic rewards increased for students of both genders but never surpassed humanitarianism in relative importance.The authors appreciate aid in data analysis from Daniel Duross and Tod Sloan and comments on earlier drafts on the paper by Camille Wortman and Roland K. Hawkes. The research was supported partially by a grant from the Spencer Foundation. An earlier version of the paper was presented at the American Sociological Association Meeting in Detroit.     

Dual-career planning,marital satisfaction and job stress among women in dual-career marriages

This study examined the structural relationship between dual-career planning, spouse support, problem-solving effectiveness, interrole conflict, marital satisfaction, and job stress among married female professionals. Dual-career planning and spouse support were found to be negatively associated with interrole conflict and positively associated with problem-solving effectiveness in the marriage. Interrole conflict was found to be positively associated with job stress and negatively asociated with marital satisfaction.     

WHAT CONSTITUTES AN ‘APPROPRIATE PSYCHOLOGY’ FOR THE DEVELOPING WORLD?

The impact of psychology on the developing world has begun to receive some attention, but there is a need for theoretical concepts in order to provide a framework for critical discussion. Using the concepts ‘dual perception’ and ‘parallel growth’ (Moghaddam and Taylor 1985) as a framework, the concept of ‘appropriate psychology’ is introduced to assess the transfer of psychology from the developed to the developing world. Six criteria for evaluating appropriateness are discussed: self-reliance, needs responsiveness, cultural compatability, institutional feasibility, economic suitability and political practicality.     

Choice reaction performance following an error

Some data are presented showing the changes in choice-reaction time (CRT) and the probability of error (PE) on the five trials following an error in a two-choice experiment. The magnitudes of the increase in RT and the decrease in PE are different according as the error-trial stimulus is re-presented or the alternative stimulus is preservec. In addition, RT is quicker to recover its equilibrium value than is PE.This pattern of changes implicates two distinct adjustments to the underlying decision process following an error: (i) a selective outward adjustment of the boundary at which the error was uttered, and (ii) a delay, with respect to presentation of the reaction stimulus, of the epoch at which the subject begins sampling information from the stimulus display. When these ideas are concatenated with the sequential probability-ratio-test model for CRT, a theoretical relation can be derived between the difference in mean RT for an error and for the same response given correctly, on the one hand, and the decrease in PE on the trial following an error, given that the alternate stimulus is presented, on the other. This relation is satisfied by the data.     

An individual differences pure extinction process

A pure extinction process memory retrieval latency model is completely characterized by the number of items to be recalled n and the recall rate λ. In this paper λ is allowed to vary across the population of subjects. Results are given for arbitrary individual differences distributions on λ. When λ is distributed gamma the results are very simple and method of moment estimators are easily obtained. In addition the shape parameter of the gamma individual differences distribution turns out to be an index of the degree of heterogeneity of the recall parameter. The pure extinction process model is also appropriate for certain collection and detection tasks.     

Book reviews

Johnson-Laird, P. N. and Wason, P. C. (Eds). Thinking: Readings in Cognitiwe Science. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1977. Pp. xii+615. ISBN 0 521 21756 3. £17.50. (Also paperback ISBN 0 521 29267 0. £5.95.)

Marks, L. E. The Unity of the Senses. Interrelations among the Modalities. London: Academic Press. 1978. Pp. 289. ISBN 0 12 472960 6. £11.35.

Callaway, E., Tueting, P. and Koslow, S. H. (Eds). Event-Related Brain Potentials in Man. New York: Academic Press. 1978. Pp. ix+630. ISBN 0 12 155150 4. £22.00.

Clifford, B. R. and Bull, R. The Psychology of Person Identification. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. 1978. Pp. 254. ISBN 0 7100 8867 1. £7.95.

Albert, M. A. and Obler, L. K. The Bilingual Brain. New York: Academic Press. 1978. Pp. 302. ISBN 0 12 048750 0. £12.65.

Welch, R. B. Perceptual Modification: Adapting to Altered Sensory Environments. London: Academic Press. 1978. Pp. 346. ISBN 0 12 741850 4. £15.90.

Wales, R. J. and Walker, E. (Eds). New Approaches to Language Mechanisms. Amsterdam: North-Holland. 1976. Pp. 296. ISBN 0 7204 0523 8. $19.75.

Lomax, E. M. R. Science and Patterns of Child Care. San Francisco: Freeman. 1978. Pp. 247. ISBN 0 7167 0296 7. Hardback £5.50; paperback £3.70.

Armington, J. C., Krauskopf, J. and Wooten, B. R. (Eds). Visual Psychophysics and Physiology New York: Academic Press 1978 Pp 488 ISBN 0 12 062260 0. $29.50.

Williams, M. Brain Damage, Behaviour and the Mind. Chichester: Wiley. 1979. Pp. 187. ISBN 0 471 99704 8. £8.50.