The University of South Florida homograph norms

Norms were collected to determine the relative dominance of different meanings of homo-graphic words. Forty-six subjects wrote down the first word that came to mind for each of 320 homographs. Each homograph, the number of times each meaning was given, and the specific associates are made available. In addition, correlations with other norms are presented.     

Cross-modality matching functions generated by magnitude estimation

It is possible to generate cross-modality matching functions by having subjects make magnitude estimates of sets of stimuli appropriate to different modalities. The sets are interspersed among each other in the same test session and judged on a common absolute scale of sensory magnitude. An appropriate statistical device locates stimulus levels that appear, on the average, to match. The method is fast, efficient, circumvents the need for continuous stimulus adjustment, and holds promise for the study of the individual as well as the average psychophysical function. To illustrate its potential uses, advantages, and limitations, we used the method to generate cross-modality matching functions relating loudness and brightness. Compared to the scales of loudness and brightness generated by the magnitude estimations of the same stimuli, the matching functions (1) conform better to power functions, (2) may show less variation in slope (exponent), and (3) show far less variation in absolute magnitude (position).     

IUPS News

During the 15th International Congress of Psychology (Brussels, 1957) the problem of publications favoring the efficient communication of scientific information in the field of psychology was given special attention. The International Union of Psychological Science expressed its major interest in this field. As a consequence, a report on this matter was prepared by the Union's Secretary General, Roger W. Russell, and during the next Congress (Bonn, 1960) the Assembly of the Union approved unanimously the recommendation of the report for establishing a Committee of Publication and Communication. Prof. H.C.J. Duijker (Amsterdam) was appointed its first chairman.     

Summation of response rates to discriminative stimuli associated with qualitatively different reinforcers

In Experiment I, a four-ply multiple schedule was used to study the effects on rate of responding in rats of food, water, and food and/or water reinforcement under different deprivation conditions. Food and water were associated separately with different stimuli, the combination of which was associated with food and water together, or with food or water randomly. Rates in the presence of the combined stimuli were consistently intermediate to the rates generated by the separate stimuli, a result seemingly incompatible with a "summation" hypothesis. Experiment II was a simplified systematic replication of Experiment I, verifying the major findings.     

A nonmetric variety of linear factor analysis

The numbers in each column of ann ×m matrix of multivariate data are interpreted as giving the measured values of alln of the objects studied on one ofm different variables. Except for random error, the rank order of the numbers in such a column is assumed to be determined by a linear rule of combination of latent quantities characterizing each row object with respect to a small number of underlying factors. An approximation to the linear structure assumed to underlie the ordinal properties of the data is obtained by iterative adjustment to minimize an index of over-all departure from monotonicity. The method is “nonmetric” in that the obtained structure in invariant under monotone transformations of the data within each column. Except in certain degenerate cases, the structure is nevertheless determined essentially up to an affine transformation. Tests show (a) that, when the assumed monotone relationships are strictly linear, the recovered structure tends closely to approximate that obtained by standard (metric) factor analysis but (b) that, when these relationships are severely nonlinear, the nonmetric method avoids the inherent tendency of the metric method to yield additional, spurious factors. From the practical standpoint, however, the usefulness of the nonmetric method is limited by its greater computational cost, vulnerability to degeneracy, and sensitivity to error variance.     

A large computer looks at the distributed computing problem

The various ways in which a large computer can be of service to a small laboratory processor are discussed. The Cambridge Project and the Consistent System (a collection of programs, models, and data) are briefly described.     

A simple turntable for vestibular stimulation of cats by acceleration through a fixed angle with description of a head restraint

An inexpensive turntable for producing uniform angular accelerations for use in vestibular research is described. The table provides semicircular canal stimulation for cats or smaller animals at moderate accelerations above 3 deg sec^?2. A head restraint suitable for use on the table and designed for chronically implanted cats is also described.