Stage 2 processing and the divided-attention effect

In two experiments subjects performed a choice-reaction-time (CRT) task and a second task concurrently. The second task was a simple reaction-time task in Experiment 1 and sentence generation and recall tasks in Experiment 2. Both studies yielded two main findings: Performance of the second task was not affected by CRT memory load (one, two, or four items), and the requirement to perform the second task did not affect the rate of increase of CRT with memory load. The first finding indicates that the effect of memory load on CRT is attributable to memory scanning, or Stage 2 processing, and is not an artifact of the rehearsal demands of the CRT memory set. The second finding indicates that Stage 2 processing is not sensitive to division of attention between the CRT and a second task.     

Sex differences in social memory among preschool children

Preschool children, 17 boys and 18 girls, attending a day-care center, were presented with photographs of all 37 children in the center and required to supply the name of each pictured child. Girls made significantly fewer errors in identification than boys (p<.05), although boys spent more time in the day-care program (p<.025). Girls were, on the average, 4 months older than boys (p<.01), but age was not significantly correlated with number of identification errors. No sex differences were obtained on the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, memory, or perceptual-performance scales of the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities. Results were consistent with previous findings for college students and were interpreted in terms of differential child-rearing practices and observational learning.This research was supported by Grant 216-15-36 from the Cooperative State Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, to the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore.     

I can see myself helping: The effect of self-awareness on prosocial behaviour

Many studies indicate that increasing self-awareness leads to individuals reflecting on their values and ideals (Silvia & Duval, 2001). This self-reflection appears to increase prosocial behaviour (Berkowitz, 1987). However, previously studies typically manipulated self-awareness in situations in which the individual may have felt pressure from the researcher to help. Thus, experimenter pressure to behave prosocially confounds the self-awareness explanation provided in past research. We used a novel experimental paradigm to manipulate self-awareness and remove the researcher's presence to decrease the likelihood that the participant would conform to experimenter demand. Participants were 36 college students (M_age = 19.52; 25 women). The results indicated a strong probability that the experimental condition participants were more prosocial than control condition participants. These findings provide additional support for the hypothesis that self-reflection increases prosocial behaviour, even without experimenter demands. These findings and the importance of studying objective self-awareness in light of the coronavirus are discussed.     

‘Believe in me,and I will too’: a study of how teachers’ expectations instilled confidence in Grade 10 students

Social Psychology of Education - Teacher expectation research has continued to establish an association between what teachers expect of their students and what students accomplish academically....     

Selecting a new technology strategy using multiattribute,multilevel decision trees

Research indicates that selecting a strategy to best exploit a new technology is a complex decision-making process. The task involves making a series of decisions with multiple alternatives, each to be evaluated by multiple criteria whose values have high levels of uncertainty. This paper presents a methodology for modelling a new technology decision using decision trees and an optimizing algorithm. A problem of a mining company considering the adoption of new technology is used to illustrate the decision-making task and modelling methodology. A numerical solution to the case demonstrates the potential of the optimizing technique in strategy selection.     

Commentary on some of the Russian writings of Pitirim A. Sorokin

The roots of Sorokin's sociology are found in his Russian works. Barriers of language and politics however, have prohibited their study by many social scientists and historians. This article is the most systematic effort to compile, translate, and annotate the catalogue of Sorokin's scholarly writings from 1910 to 1922. The recent changes that made this bibliography possible have stimulated a resurgence of Russian respect and interest in Sorokin, and opened new opportunities for research and collaboration. These are explored in the closing section of the article.     

Repetition blindness has a perceptual locus: evidence from online processing of targets in RSVP streams

Four experiments tested whether repetition blindness (RB; reduced accuracy reporting repetitions of briefly displayed items) is a perceptual or a memory-recall phenomenon. RB was measured in rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) streams, with the task altered to reduce memory demands. In Experiment 1 only the number of targets (1 vs. 2) was reported, eliminating the need to remember target identities. Experiment 2 segregated repeated and nonrepeated targets into separate blocks to reduce bias against repeated targets. Experiments 3 and 4 required immediate "online" buttonpress responses to targets as they occurred. All 4 experiments showed very strong RB. Furthermore, the online response data showed clearly that the 2nd of the repeated targets is the one missed. The present results show that in the RSVP paradigm, RB occurs online during initial stimulus encoding and decision making. The authors argue that RB is indeed a perceptual phenomenon.