Order and serial position effects in response time with multiple-item probe recognition

We examined the order effect in item-recognition response time, that is, differences in response time for multiple-item probes containing items in the same or in the reverse order as those in the memory set. Experiment 1 used the response condition in which only one item must be positive for a positive response, Experiment 2 used homogeneous probes in which all the items are either positive or negative, and Experiment 3 used the condition in which all the items must be positive. Of particular interest were the serial position variations in order effects for probes containing items that were adjacent in the memory set. We previously found that such effects are an indication of subjective grouping of the memory set and the matching of the probe with these subgroups. The order effect in the one-positive condition was only weak in most cases, but it was strong with homogeneous probes when the memory set was objectively grouped or was ungrouped but with a constant set size. There were also strong order effects in the all-positive condition for probes with items that were nonadjacent in the memory set. Our results are interpreted in terms of a parallel match process based on a distribution over position of items in subjective or objective groups. We account for the origin of the distribution-over-position process in terms of multiple representations of the grouped memory sets. The model assumes that each subgroup is represented in memory several, and perhaps very many, times and that considerable error in item positioning can occur over the multiple representations of any group.     

Unemployment and youth: A longitudinal study

In order to examine further some of the effects of the experience of unemployment on school leavers of both sexes, measures of self-esteem, depression and locus of control were administered to 57 males and 56 females prior to their leaving school (Time 1), and again 5 months later (Time 2). At Time 2, the subjects had either returned to school, found employment, or were unemployed. The longitudinal nature of the design enabled statements about causality to be made. Group and sex differences at Time 1 and Time 2 were analysed using discriminant analysis and factorial analysis of variance. Results showed a clear effect of the experience of unemployment on the unempoyed, with the unemployed group increasing their scores on depression and external locus of control, and decreasing their self-esteem scores. Sex differences for depression and self-esteem were found at Time 1, and for depression only at Time 2. Significant employment group x sex interactions were found for self-esteem and locus of control at Time 2.     

Guidance for Submission: Social Control and Guidance in Schools for Black Pupils in South Africa

The use of a school guidance service to transmit the economic and cultural interests of the ruling group(s) in a country is explored through the case-study of guidance in the Republic of South Africa, and in particular the introduction of guidance as a subject in Black schools in 1981. An analysis of the syllabus for guidance in Black schools reveals a social-control strategy on the part of the power group, which is different to that used within the White guidance service. Whereas the White service emphasises cultural interests, the Black-school syllabus stresses the economic interests of the ruling group. Each service, however, reflects the tension between economic and cultural interests, and the guidance situation in South Africa demonstrates the complex relationship between these interests, as well as that between group power relations and the nature of guidance services. The case-study also comments upon the relationship between the power of the ruling group in South Africa and the degree to which its economic and cultural interests are made explicit in the syllabus of its guidance services.     

Oculomotor adjustments and size constancy

The effect on matched size of the oculomotor adjustments was determined by stimulation and relaxation of accommodation and convergence by means of spherical lenses. The normal coupling between accommodation and convergence was maintained by introducing the amount of convergence appropriate to the lens power and each S’s interpupillary distance. Data indicate that the oculomotor adjustments are adequate to account for size constancy up to approximately 1 m, beyond which their effect progressively decreases. The actual accommodation in force was assessed by means of the laser scintillation technique. It was determined that the magnitude of accommodation responds accurately to the spherical lens introduced up to about 1 m observation distance, beyond which underaccommodation was noted. Examination of the matched size as a function of the actual accommodation distance reveals a very close correspondence to the size constancy prediction up to about 1 m.     

Differentiation of a precise timing response

Humans, monkeys, and rats were trained by a process of successive differentiations to press a bar for at least 1.00 sec but for no longer than 1.27 sec. Initially, animals were reinforced for all responses, then a minimum duration of response was gradually differentiated, below which no responses were reinforced. Finally, a maximum duration of response was differentiated above which no responses were reinforced. The duration of response in all three species approximated the minimum duration of response necessary for reinforcement. As the duration of response necessary for reinforcement increased, so did the mean duration of response in the three species. As the maximum allowable duration decreased, further compression of the mean occurred. The fact that the acquisition of the differentiation was approximately the same in all three species is a further indication of the control reinforcement exerts on operant responding.     

Attributes of successful approaches to weight loss and control

Most weight loss treatments result in only temporary losses, followed by slow regain. This paper examines those factors that are correlated with the most favorable results in terms of loss and maintenance of loss. Weight loss is positively related to self-monitoring, goal setting, social support, and length of treatment. Maintenance of weight loss is correlated with regular physical activity, self-monitoring, and continued contact with therapists. Regain is associated with inconsistent and restrictive dieting, life stress, negative coping style, and emotional or binge eating patterns. The implications drawn from these findings are (a) normalize eating patterns, (b) emphasize exercise, (c) ensure social support, (d) set realistic goal weights, (e) focus on health rather than appearance, (f) focus on self-esteem, and (g) target binge eating.     

Honeybees (Apis mellifera) Remember Two Near-Target Landmark Constellations

A set of experiments tested whether honeybees can remember two different landmark constellations within the same room, or whether the two constellations are mixed together in a single composite memory. Bees were trained to find a reward location with two different landmark arrays. For example, when the blue landmark was north of the yellow one, the reward was to the east; when the yellow landmark was north of the blue one, the reward was to the west. On occasional unrewarded tests, either one of the training arrays was presented (control tests), or else a training array rotated by 90° (rotated tests). A rotated array consisted of part of one training array added to a part of the other training array. Should honeybees form a single composite memory by combining the two training arrays, they should search as much at the target location on rotated tests as on control tests. Results refute this and suggest that they had two separate memories.