An evaluation of toy quality for increasing self‐control in typically developing preschool children

Children often make impulsive choices, and previous research has shown that access to activities during the delay may enhance self‐control (e.g., Newquist, Dozier, & Neidert, 2012). The purpose of the current study was to extend the results of Newquist et al. (2012) by comparing the effects of access to low‐preference, moderate‐preference, and high‐preference toys during delays. Results showed that (a) all toys increased self‐control for 2 participants when toys were available for all choice options and (b) high‐preference toys (and sometimes moderate‐preference toys) increased self‐control for 3 participants when the toys were available only for large delayed choices.     

Conditional discrimination in young children: the roles of associative and relational processing

Two experiments examined conditional discrimination in 4- to 6-year-olds. Children learned to choose one of two objects (e.g., circle) when the background was, say, red and to choose the other object (e.g., triangle) when the background was, say, blue. Awareness was assessed and interpreted as a marker of relational processing. In Experiment 1, most 4- and 5-year-olds did not reach the learning criterion. Children in Experiment 2 solved simpler reversal learning problems before the conditional discrimination problems. Most 4- to 6-year-olds reached criterion, but they did not necessarily demonstrate awareness, suggesting that reversal learning and conditional discrimination can be acquired through associative or relational processing. Relational processing increased with age and was used more on simpler problems. Fluid intelligence predicted Problem 2 performance in children who used relational (not associative) processing on Problem 1. Prior experience with simpler problems and awareness of relational structure are influential in children's conditional discrimination.     

Frequency encoding of token and type information

Two experiments examined how attention to stimulus attributes affects knowledge of frequency of occurrence. In Experiment 1, orienting tasks were used to direct subjects' attention to either the category membership or the initial letters of words. In Experiment 2, subjects' attention to words, category membership, and initial letters was directed with explicit instructions. The results of these two experiments suggest that attention to specific stimulus attributes may be necessary to initiate the encoding of frequency information. We discuss the implications of these results for claims that the encoding of frequency of occurrence is automatic.     

A series of n-of-1 studies examining the interrelationships between social cognitive theory constructs and physical activity behaviour within individuals

Objectives: Research supports the ability of social cognitive theory (SCT) to explain physical activity (PA) behaviour, but most studies have examined this theory between individuals in large group studies. The aim of the present study was to examine the interrelationships between SCT constructs and PA within individuals of varying activity levels.

Design: Correlational n-of-1 studies.

Methods: Six adults aged 29–65 with varying levels of PA provided daily measures of PA, and completed probe measures over a four-week period of SCT constructs (e.g. barrier self-efficacy, goal setting, planning, social support, outcome expectations, perceived barriers, enjoyment). Data were analysed using cross-correlational time series analysis.

Results: Cross-correlation analysis showed that at least one SCT construct was associated with PA in five participants, although no individual had the same pattern of associations across the study. On some occasions, SCT constructs predicted subsequent PA, but at other times, PA engagement caused a subsequent change in the SCT construct. There were also examples of PA and SCT constructs being concurrently associated.

Conclusions: SCT factors are associated with variations in PA behaviour, but the cause and effect of these relationships within individuals is complex.