Analogical reasoning in a capuchin monkey (Cebus apella)

Previous evidence has suggested that analogical reasoning (recognizing similarities among object relations when the objects themselves are dissimilar) is limited to humans and apes. This study investigated whether capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) can use analogical reasoning to solve a 3-dimensional search task. The task involved hiding a food item under 1 of 2 or 3 plastic cups of different sizes and then allowing subjects to search for food hidden under the cup of analogous size in their own set of cups. Four monkeys were exposed to a series of relational matching tasks. If subjects reached criterion on these tasks, they were exposed to relational transfer tasks involving novel stimuli. Three of the monkeys failed to reach criterion on the basic relational matching tasks and therefore were not tested further. One monkey, however, revealed above-chance performance on a series of transfer tasks with 3 novel stimuli. This evidence suggests that contrary to previous arguments, a member of a New World monkey species can solve an analogical problem.     

Move it! Visual feedback enhances validity of preferential looking as a measure of individual differences in vocabulary in toddlers

Forty toddlers aged 20 to 24 months were presented with 32 pairs of images with the auditory stimulus Look followed by the name of the target image (e.g. Look . . . tree) in an intermodal preferential looking (IPL) paradigm. The same series of 16 items was presented first with one image as target and then with the other member of the pair as target. Half the children were given feedback, in the form of movement of the target image at the end of the trial, while the other half were presented with static images. IPL performance was quantified in terms of number of words showing at least 15% increase in proportion of looking time in the post-naming interval. Looking preference for the named item was correlated with parental report of vocabulary, this effect being stronger for those receiving feedback. The correlation with parental report of vocabulary comprehension was .65 for those receiving feedback, but only .37 for those with no feedback. It is concluded that the preferential looking task, which has been widely used in group studies, has the potential to act as a reliable index of comprehension level in individual children, especially when movement feedback is used to maintain attention.     

Parenting of low birth weight infants: A review of issues and interventions

Factors that may adversely affect parenting of low birth weight infants, including infant characteristics, parental emotional responses to premature birth, and patterns of parent-infant interaction, are reviewed. In addition, intervention studies designed to improve infant developmental outcomes through influencing parenting behaviors are examined. There was great diversity in theoretical frameworks, in timing of onset and frequency of interventions, and in measurement of outcomes. The interventions that were most effective in influencing behaviors and infant developmental outcomes were those in which there were multiple long-term contacts with parents and/or those that actively involved them in the intervention. The specific theoretical framework upon which the interventions were based appeared to be of less importance in influencing results. In order to increase our knowledge and ability to provide costeffective programs, there is a need to focus attention and data collection efforts on the process and intermediary steps of intervention as well as on outcome measures. There is also a need to improve our ability to recruit and retain those families who are most at risk for parenting and infant developmental problems including those with very low birth weight infants, those whose infants have serious perinatal complications, and those with indications of high social risk such as poverty-level incomes and problems of substance abuse.     

A Postmodern Analysis of a Course on Clinical Supervision

A qualitative study of a supervision course included pre-and post-interviews of the participants in addition to in-class participant observation. In an effort to be consistent with a postmodern perspective, the data were reviewed by the four members of the research team, each of whom shares his or her analysis, or story. Common themes which emerged in response to the focus on student change include greater awareness of isomorphic processes, ethical and legal issues, and evaluative processes.     

Mathematics performance in left and right brain-lesioned children and adolescents

Children and adolescents with unilateral left- or right-hemisphere lesions were administered a standardized test of mathematics ability and a battery of experimental tests that examined the components of numerical and arithmetic processing. All lesioned groups showed at least marginally lower scores on the standardized test than the controls. More importantly, lesion-related deficits in performance were observed, especially for younger left-lesioned subjects (ages 7-12), on the verbal counting, digit matching, speeded addition, and written subtraction tasks; deficits among younger right-lesioned subjects were similar in nature, yet less pronounced than in the left-hemisphere group. Older left-lesioned subjects showed differences from their controls only on complex verbal counting and speeded addition. Correlations among the various measures indicated two further points. First, earlier onset of left-hemisphere lesion is associated with more serious disruption of mathematical processing. Second, these disruptions are not well assessed by a typical standardized test of mathematical performance, but are clearly in evidence with more precise, focused tasks.     

Empirical bayes estimation of coefficients in the general linear model from data of deficient rank

Empirical Bayes methods are shown to provide a practical alternative to standard least squares methods in fitting high dimensional models to sparse data. An example concerning prediction bias in educational testing is presented as an illustration.The authors would like to thank the referees for several useful comments.The analysis of the data discussed in this report was part of a study funded jointly by the Graduate Management Admission Council and Educational Testing Service.