Correspondence analysis and association models constrained by a conditional independence graph

The manner in which the conditional independence graph of a multiway contingency table effects the fitting and interpretation of the Goodman association model (RC) and of correspondence analysis (CA) is considered.Estimation of the row and column scores is presented in this context by developing a unified framework that includes both models. Incorporation of the conditional independence constraints inherent in the graph may lead to equal or additive scores for the corresponding marginal tables, depending on the topology of the graph. An example of doubly additive scores in the analysis of a Burt subtable is given.Thanks are due to anonymous referees who substantially improved the original draft of this paper.     

The second epistemic way revisited: Reply to Professor Beard's, ‘Professor Lucas on omniscience’

International Journal for Philosophy of Religion -     

SLOTE ON RATIONAL DILEMMAS AND RATIONAL SUPEREROGATION

The so-called optimising conception of rationality includes (amongst other things) the following two claims: (i) that it is irrational to choose an option if you know there is a better one, and (ii) there are no situations in which an agent, through no practical fault of her own, cannot avoid acting irrationally. As part of his ongoing attempt to explain why we need to go beyond the optimising conception, Michael Slote discusses a number of examples in which it seems that (i) and (ii) are inconsistent. According to Slote, these situations seem to involve the existence of rational supererogation (a denial of (i)), or rational dilemmas (a denial of (ii)). The purpose of this paper is to examine Slote's arguments for these claims, and to propose an alternative solution to the problem he presents.     

Phonemic and semantic generation norms

Independent groups of subjects generated restricted free associations that either rhymed with the cue or were members of the semantic category designated by the cue. The data include both a listing of the responses to each cue and a cross-index of all words appearing as responses to more than one cue. These data will permit researchers to take into account the a priori associative strength between cues and targets at these two levels of processing.     

Generalization of teacher behavior as a function of subject matter specific discrimination training

The effect of training on the rate of behavior-specific praise for two fourth-grade teachers was investigated within a multiple-baseline design. Training teachers to identify instances of behavior-specific praise on videotaped presentations (discrimination training) combined with instructions to use praise, and audiotape recordings of the teachers' classroom interactions as feedback, increased the rates of behavior-specific praise. However, the effects were restricted to subject-matter areas in which training was conducted.     

Pornographic Materials and Commodity Theory

In a 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 (age restriction vs. no age restriction × sex of subject × pornography vs. nonpornography × pre-stimuli vs. post-stimuli test) factorial design, 40 males and 40 females received an experimental booklet containing either pornographic or nonpornographic pictures. Prior to seeing the pictures, half of the subjects of each sex were informed that the photographs came from magazines for adults only (21 years old and over), while the other half received no such information. Subjects were asked to rate the desirability of the pictures as well as their liking of and desire to read and purchase such materials prior to viewing and after viewing the pictures. The results indicated that (a) subjects who were not given age restriction information rated the yet unseen pictures more desirable than subjects who received age restriction information; (b) subjects who were given age restriction information rated the already seen pictures more desirable than subjects who received no age restriction information; (c) males rated pornographic pictures more favorably than did females; (d) subjects in the age restriction information condition expected the yet unseen pictures to be more pornographic than subjects in the no age restriction information condition; and (e) subjects, after seeing the stimuli, rated nonpornographic pictures more desirable than pornographic pictures. There was no support for the hypothesis that the effect of age restriction is an anticipatory phenomenon. The data in part supported and in part conflicted with Fromkin and Brock's (1973) proposition that imposing restrictions on the sale or purchase of pornographic materials will make these materials more attractive and desirable than they would be if there were no restrictions on them.     

Toilet training,cueing, praise,and self-cleaning in the treatment of classroom encopresis: A case study

This study was designed to ameliorate encopresis in a 6-year-old male child in the school setting. The procedure consisted of toilet training, cueing, praise, and self-cleaning. Prior to intervention, encopresis was a daily event at home and school. The intervention was successful in reducing the soiling to near zero at school, with no reported changes at home. Implications discussed for school psychologists were: (a) handling the intervention through a consultation model, (b) using the simplest approach before attempting more powerful procedures, and (c) attempting treatment in spite of the fact that other treatment attempts at home had been unsuccessful.