L'avenir de l'approche par élaboration de règles

The goal of this study is the elaboration of a computerized diagnostic instrument based on Siegler's rule-assessment approach for assessing the acquisition of the probability quantification scheme in subjects aged 6–18 years. Three versions of the test were used. Version 1 was Siegler's original version (four types of problems and four rules). In version 2 five new rules were added; version 3 contained the five new rules plus eleven types of problems. Results show that version 1 allows the classification of only 50% of subjects; version 2, 60%; and version 3, 70%. Despite improved versions, some weaknesses remain, the most important one being that it is still impossible to evaluate intra-individual variability. Aware of these limits, Siegler has reassigned his model to a local model of problem solving, and suggests a developmental model of information processing inspired by a Darwinian model of variation and strategy selection. The authors hypothesize that computer engineering could not only reaffirm the general status of the rule-assessment approach, but could also allow consideration of intra-individual variability.     

The array size function in simple visual search tasks: A comparison between “go-no go” and “yes-no” tasks under conditions of high and low target-noise similarity

Summary In research on visual search within a single eye-fixation a number of different tasks are used and referred to interchangeably. Research with other types of tasks suggests that there are possibly important differences between these tasks. In the present study, two types of search tasks were compared under conditions as equal as possible: the go-no go task and the yes-no task. Conditions of low and high target-noise similarity were used. The results obtained showed: a) a steeper slope of the array size function in yes-no tasks than in go-no go tasks on the first day of practice but not on the second: b) a higher intercept value of the same function for yes-no tasks than for go-no go tasks; and c) a greater proportion of errors with yes-no tasks than with comparable go-no go tasks. A tentative model, describing the main features of the results obtained, is briefly sketched.     

Peer acceptance: The correspondence between children's sociometric scores and teachers' ratings of peer interactions

In view of the current interest in children's peer relationships and social skills, and the need for valid assessment procedures for children's peer problems, the intent of the present study was to examine the correspondence between peer ratings of acceptance and teacher ratings of a child's social behavior and likability. The 92 children were males and females from the third, fourth, and fifth grades. Classroom teachers rated each of the children on withdrawn, aggressive, and likable behavior using the Pupil Evaluation Inventory. Peer ratings of the child's acceptance in play and work situations were obtained from same-sex classmates. The teacher rating of likability was the best predictor of peer acceptance scores for males; withdrawn behavior was the best predictor of peer acceptance scores for females. Ratings of withdrawn and aggressive behavior contributed to the prediction of peer acceptance scores for males; for females, only withdrawn behavior contributed to the prediction of peer acceptance. In terms of the clinical utility of teacher ratings for assessing children with peer problems, the use of the withdrawn and/or aggressive ratings scales appeared to offer promise as a means of identifying such children. Implications for the area of children's social skills and directions for future research were discussed.     

On access representation in visual word recognition: The temporal separation technique

Summary This paper examines the evidence for an access representation based on the initial part of the word. A temporal separation technique, which presents test words in two parts, was used, and varied as to whether the first part included two, three, or four initial letters of a word. In contrast with previous studies, word-frequency effects were used to assess whether access had occurred from that initial part. Experiment 1 (in English) tested the validity of the temporal separation technique, and showed that it does impose an input segmentation. Experiments 2 (in English) and 3 (in Spanish) examined whether access to a monomorphemic word is achieved, using word frequency as a diagnostic of access. The implications of the findings for the notion of a partial input representation for access are discussed.     

The syndrome of hyperlexia

Recent research on hyperlexic children is reviewed and criticized. A case study of a mute hyperlexic girl is presented, along with comments on the implications of this case for theories of hyperlexia. The hypothesis is put forth that hyperlexia in children suggests the existence of an innate written language capacity. The implications of this hypothesis for linguistic theory are discussed.     

The effects of component duration on multiple-schedule performance in closed and open economies.

Pigeons responded on multiple variable-interval variable-interval schedules of reinforcement in an open and a closed economy. Equal duration components were increased in duration while the component rates of reinforcement were held constant, the component schedules were reversed, and component duration was decreased. In the open economy, daily sessions were limited to 1 hr, and subjects were maintained at 80% of their free-feeding weights through supplemental feeding when necessary in their home cages. In the closed economy, subjects were housed in their experimental chambers and no deprivation regimen was enforced. Relative response rate decreased as components were lengthened in the open economy, whereas in the closed economy relative rate increased as components were lengthened. Response proportions overmatched reinforcer proportions to a greater extent at long component durations in the closed economy, but there was no systematic effect of component duration on responding in the open economy.     

Effect of mouth opening on bite-force discrimination

The purpose of this study was to determine whether different extents of mouth opening affect normal subjects' (N = 24; 12 women, 12 men) ability to discriminate differences in their interincisor bite force. Three mouth openings were selected including 50, 70, and 90 percent of maximum opening for each subject. Bite force was measured using a specially designed strain gauge scale which permitted subjects to monitor visually when their biting force equalled a preset resistance. Resistance forces of 500 and 1000 gm. were selected as standards. The procedure involved the use of a modified method of constant stimuli in which each subject was presented with a series of paired resistance settings, one at a time--the first resistance setting being the standard and the second resistance was the comparator. This paired-comparisons procedure was continued until the subjects' difference limen (DL) value (the threshold of discrimination between two forces) could be established. An analysis of variance yielded no significant differences in subjects' ability to discriminate bite force as a function of mouth opening.     

早期经验和人类的发展

经验对行为的发展起着多么大的作用?这个问题是传统的先天论者和经验论者论战的中心。一方认为婴儿在生物学上已经具备能够适应感觉刺激的能力,并以一种有系统的方式与外在环境交互作用。这种观点认为儿童随着年龄的增长所完成的较复杂技能是来自成熟而不是来自经验。经验论者的观点可以William James的论述为代表:“婴儿用