Sensory features and the reduction of imaginal interference

Interference generated among the sensory features of PA stimulus words is not eliminated by processing at the imaginal level. This experiment was planned to test the reverse possibility. Will interference generated by similar imaginal referents be eliminated by sensory overlap between the stimuli and their responses? Thus, stimulus words did or did not evoke similar images, pairs did or did not share initial letters, and lists were acquired either under an instructional set t o form interacting images or to repeat the items aloud. The results indicated that the imagery strategy was superior to the repetition strategy in all conditions, and that stimulus interference was statistically eliminated when pairs shared the same initial letters. The findings were interpreted as consistent with a levels of processing conceptualization.     

Visual and semantic factors in recognition from long-term memory

In recognition tests, physical and semantic relationships between targets and distractors have been shown, in separate manipulations, to affect the latency of subject's decision. Recognition was tested for distractors which were visually similar or dissimilar to targets and which belonged to the target categories or to nontarget categories in order to examine the interaction of these dimensions. Rejection latency was longer for target category than for nontarget category distractors. Latency was also longer for visually similar than visually dissimilar distractors, but only when combined with target category probes. This interaction can be explained by the hypothesis that word recognition depends on the analysis of several dimensions of the probe stimulus, and rejection can occur before all such analyses have been completed.     

Comment on Gollin and Rosser

Gollin and Rosser (Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 1974, 17, 539–544) misunderstand the way in which we use the term mediation. We agree with them in the need to reject inferences about cognitive processes from what children do not do, and we also agree in the need for age × task experimental designs.     

GROUP DECISION-MAKING AND THE RISKY SHIFT A TRANS-NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

On admet généralement que le degré de risque pris au niveau de la décision est plus élevé lors d'une décision de groupe que lors d'un choix individuel antérieur. Un nouvel instrument (Exercise Kolomon) a été utilisé pour tester la valeur interculturelle de cette hypothèse dans cinq pays : Colombie, Curaçao, Angleterre, France et Japon. Les résultats révèlent bien certaines différences culturelles quant au degré de risque pris individuellement avant la discussion mais les décalages entre les stratégies individuelles et concertées ne reflètent aucun effet systématique attribuable à la culture. Ils ne montrent pas davantage de glissement méthodique dans le sens d'un accroissement du risque. Il semblerait donc que la simple information provenant de la connaissance du choix de ses partenaires soit insuffisante pour provoquer un décalage dans le sens d'une stratégie plus audacieuse. Il convient de prendre aussi en considération l'information émanant de la tâche elle-même.     

Procrustes matching by congruence coefficients

Matching by Procrustes methods involves the transformation of one matrix to match with another. A special least squares criterion, the congruence coefficient, has advantages as a criterion for some factor analytic interpretations. A Procrustes method maximizing the congruence coefficient is given. This solution is identical to Mosier's [1939] approximate solution, but is an exact solution for maximum congruence.     

The behavioral specificity of stimulation: A systems approach to procedural distinctions of classical and instrumental conditioning

This paper presents a new methodological approach to classical Pavlovian investigations. Using a yoked group for stimulus pairing trial pacing, behavioral occurrence frequencies, sequential behavior patterns, and behavioral change dynamics are analyzed for rats in both a non-discriminative and a general setting discrimination paradigm. Theoretical issues addressed by a variety of new dependent measures are discussed, and a special emphasis is placed on comparing instrumental and classical procedures as viewed from the behavioral perspective of the subject.