Nonmonotonic extrapolation in function learning

This article reports the results of an experiment addressing extrapolation in function learning, in particular the issue of whether participants can extrapolate in a nonmonotonic manner. Existing models of function learning, including the extrapolation association model of function learning (EXAM; E. L. DeLosh, J. R. Busemeyer, & M. A. McDaniel, 1997), cannot account for this type of extrapolation pattern. We present the results of an experiment in which participants were shown a series of paired stimulus-response magnitudes where the relationship between these 2 dimensions conformed to a cyclic function. Participants were shown to extrapolate from these training data in a nonmonotonic way, contrary to predictions from EXAM. A new model of function learning is presented, which predicts responses more accurately than EXAM.     

What do you do when things go right? The intrapersonal and interpersonal benefits of sharing positive events

Four studies examined the intrapersonal and interpersonal consequences of seeking out others when good things happen (i.e., capitalization). Two studies showed that communicating personal positive events with others was associated with increased daily positive affect and well-being, above and beyond the impact of the positive event itself and other daily events. Moreover, when others were perceived to respond actively and constructively (and not passively or destructively) to capitalization attempts, the benefits were further enhanced. Two studies found that close relationships in which one's partner typically responds to capitalization attempts enthusiastically were associated with higher relationship well-being (e.g., intimacy, daily marital satisfaction). The results are discussed in terms of the theoretical and empirical importance of understanding how people "cope" with positive events, cultivate positive emotions, and enhance social bonds.     

Ad hoc category restructuring

Participants learned to classify seemingly arbitrary words into categories that also corresponded to ad hoc categories (see, e.g., Barsalou, 1983). By adapting experimental mechanisms previously used to study knowledge restructuring in perceptual categorization, we provide a novel account of how experimental and preexperimental knowledge interact. Participants were told of the existence of the ad hoc categories either at the beginning or the end of training. When the ad hoc labels were revealed at the end of training, participants switched from categorization based on experimental learning to categorization based on preexperimental knowledge in some, but not all, circumstances. Important mediators of the extent of that switch were the amount of performance error experienced during prior learning and whether or not prior knowledge was in conflict with experimental learning. We present a computational model of the trade-off between preexperimental knowledge and experimental learning that accounts for the main results.     

ESI: Easy software interfacing tools for Turbo Pascal programming of digital input-output devices

We describe some programming tools for real-time monitoring and control of digital laboratory devices. These create several interrupt-driven processes that operate in the “background” of the user’s program. An event buffer logs switch closures, thus helping the user’s program keep up with events. Other simple commands (e.g., TurnOn) take a line number and a time argument as parameters; they are automatically executed at the time specified. Applications to operant conditioning are discussed.     

Toward a Metacognitive Account of Cognitive Offloading

Individuals frequently make use of the body and environment when engaged in a cognitive task. For example, individuals will often spontaneously physically rotate when faced with rotated objects, such as an array of words, to putatively offload the performance costs associated with stimulus rotation. We looked to further examine this idea by independently manipulating the costs associated with both word rotation and array frame rotation. Surprisingly, we found that individuals’ patterns of spontaneous physical rotations did not follow patterns of performance costs or benefits associated with being physically rotated, findings difficult to reconcile with existing theories of strategy selection involving external resources. Individuals’ subjective ratings of perceived benefits, rather, provided an excellent match to the patterns of physical rotations, suggesting that the critical variable when deciding on‐the‐fly whether to incorporate an external resource is the participant's metacognitive beliefs regarding expected performance or the effort required for each approach (i.e., internal vs. internal + external). Implications for metacognition's future in theories of cognitive offloading are discussed.     

Gender-role classification and demographic relationships: A function of type of scoring procedures

This study investigated the effect of different median split (combined-sex, single-sex, weighted, and unweighted) procedures on Bem Sex Role Inventory gender-role classifications and the effect of these procedures on demographic relationships. Results revealed significantly different gender-role classifications for all procedures except single-sex weighted and unweighted. No significant demographic relationships were found for men as a function of type of scoring procedures, but significant relationships for SES and marital status were found for women when single-sex weighted and unweighted median splits were used. Discussion focused on recommendations for further research using various median split procedures.     

On spurious allusions

The criticisms of Walker’ theory by MacLeod, Virsu, and Carpenter are shown to stem from a too simple reading of the text of the theory, a failure to investigate fully the references cited to support their position, and an effort to bolster the theory of lateral inhibition in orientation detectors. The criticisms are shown to misrepresent the experimental data of various reports. Walker’s physiological premises are shown to be sound, and the cases of “contrary evidence” are shown infact to be in agreement with the theory. Lateral inhibition in orientation detectors as an explanation of optical illusions is shown to fail completely to agree with experimental results.