Task differences on conservation and transitivity problems

Task differences were assessed with 120 first graders in a 2 × 3 × 3 factorial design combining Socioeconomic level (middle vs lower), Concepts (conservation of length, transitivity of length, and conservation of continuous quantity), and Tasks (three tasks for each concept selected on the basis of frequency of usage). As predicted, task by concept interactions were found on all four task response measures. This finding is consistent with Piaget's concept of horizontal decalage and with Flavell and Wohlwill's competence-performance model, which proposes that intermediate phases of stage transition are characterized by considerable intertask differences and initial and final phases by intertask consistency in performance. The importance of investigating the effects of task variables on multiple dependent measures at various age levels and points in time was emphasized. Concept, task, and socioeconomic class differences were also found on some of the measures.     

Determining the degree of inconsistency in a set of paired comparisons

Consistency in paired comparison data is defined. Two types of inconsistency which may arise are defined. Computational formulas for these types of inconsistency are derived, and examples illustrating the use of these formulas are presented.These ideas were developed while the first author was on the staff of the Research Center for Human Relations. The work was made possible by the ONR contract NONR 285(10). The authors are indebted to Jack Moshman for his helpful critical suggestions. The United States Government is authorized to reprint this article in whole or in part.     

An analysis of learning data which distinguishes between initial preference and learning ability

Several sets of learning data furnished by I. Krechevsky have been analyzed in terms of meaningful parameters of the learning curve, and the changes in the frequency distributions of these parameters with changes in the experimental conditions have been studied. One of the parameters represents the animal's initial preference for the light or dark, the other represents learning ability. The analysis shows that destruction of about ten or fifteen per cent. of the cortex, increases the animal's preference for the light and decreases the learning ability slightly. By ordinary methods of analysis, it is not possible to discover thatboth initial preference and learning ability have been changed by any given factor.The author wishes to acknowledge financial assistance from the Social Science Research Committee of the University of Chicago in the completion of this study.     

Maximizing test validity by item selection

The exact condition for discardingk items from a test in order to obtain a residual test with higher validity is derived. A proof that validity always increases is given for the casek=1. The lack of uniqueness of maximum validity when achieved by use of the condition is discussed. With the use of additional restrictions on items to be included in the initial test, a practical test construction procedure which has several advantages over previous methods is developed. The homogeneity of tests constructed by the method is discussed, and applications are given.     

A theory of learning and transfer: I

A rational theory of discrimination learning is developed for the special case in which the subject must discriminate between two stimuli which differ with respect to one variable such as size or brightness. It is shown that the previous equations developed by Gulliksen and Thurstone are special cases of the present one. It is predicted that the ultimate level of accuracy of the discrimination is inversely related to the difference, as determined psychophysically, between the two stimuli. Other implications of the theory for experimental work are presented.We are grateful to the members of Professor Thurstone's Seminar in Mathematical Psychology for criticism of this paper and particularly to Mr. John Reiner for assistance in the derivations involved.     

Response cost effects during extinction following fixed-interval reinforcement in humans

This study examined the effects of response-produced cost upon human observer responses during extinction following FI reinforcement. Relative to a no-cost condition, cost produced marked and rapid response attenuation.     

Investigating the Effects of Applicant Justice Perceptions on Job Offer Acceptance

Drawing on extant recruitment and organizational justice theory, this research examines the effects of justice perceptions on job acceptance decisions across 2 samples (n = 332 and 2,974) of applicants to jobs within the U.S. military. More specifically, we examine justice–job offer acceptance relations relative to other pertinent recruitment predictors including, organizational image, familiarity, person–organization (P–O) fit perceptions, and recruiter behaviors. Findings from both studies support the importance of justice perceptions in influencing job offer acceptance. Fairness perceptions accounted for 29.37% and 19.22% of the unique variance in job offer acceptance, in Studies 1 and 2, respectively. The results of this research provide much needed empirical evidence to the scant literature on actual job acceptance and highlight important practical implications for employers.