A comparison of the precision of three experimental designs employing a concomitant variable

Three techniques are commonly employed to capitalize on a concomitant variate and improve the precision of treatment comparisons: (1) stratification of the experimental samples and use of a factorial design, (2) analysis of covariance, and (3) analysis of variance of difference scores. The purpose of this paper is to compare the effectiveness of these alternatives in improving experimental precision, to identify the most precise design and the conditions under which its advantage holds, and to derive, in the case of the factorial approach, recommendations as to the optimal numbers of levels.     

An IBM method for computing intraserial correlations

A method for computing intraserial correlations using a 602-A Calculating Punch, an 077 Collator, a 513 Gang Punch, and a 403 Tabulator is described. An example of the use of the procedure and an estimate of the time needed with each machine are given. This procedure is compared with another method, which makes use of a more powerful IBM machine.This research was supported in part by the United States Air Force under Contract No. AF 33(038)-25726, monitored by the Air Force Personnel and Training Research Center. Permission is granted for reproduction, translation, publication, use and disposal in whole and in part by or for the United States Government.     

Advance information in sensori-motor skills

Two experiments were carried out to demonstrate the effects of advance information. In both cases greater smoothness of performance was found to be possible when advance information was available. This effect was considered more important than the reduction in response time. Both effects were reflected in a reduction of the stopping times between successive responses.     

Needed: Standards for Occupational Licensing

Occupational licensing in the states constitutes a growing public problem from the legislator's point of view. No standards exist to permit sound judgments on specific proposals, and the operation of licensing acts tends to be in the hands of the occupation itself, operating with the sanction of the state. No groups exist to act as counter-lobbyists or disinterested public representatives to protect the public interest. Licensing sometimes closes off employment opportunities to young people entering the employment market. Standards for occupational licensing and the administration of licensing acts must be developed. Those involved in guidance and personnel work could perform a valuable public service by taking an interest in occupational licensing both from the theoretical standpoint and by actively providing advice to legislatures considering occupational licensing proposals.     

Conditioning,learning and psychopathology

The total of all conditioning and learning may be summed up as part of the adaptive patterns for survival. Adaptive learning is the person's way of discovering how to live successfully. He is not just sick or well. In one fashion or another, he learnshow to be sick orhow to be well within a certain milieu. Personality function signifies the integrant of this learning as the individual tries to realize his potentials, live effectively, and achieve gratification. Should his learning be deficient or distorted in any area proportionate difficulties in his total function will afflict him. Such areas of insufficiency or distress expose the psychopathologic process.

The ever-changing patterns of conditioning and adaptive learning continually modify mental function and create a feedback; the learning is used adaptively and adaptation, doubling back, adds to the learning. As the person adapts according to what he is and what he has learned, his ensuing patterns, still in the process of being conditioned, further change him and make him what he will be.

     

Induced autokinesis

The egocentric location of a fixated visual stimulus was shifted away from the apparent median plane through induced movement. When the stimulus appeared to lie in the periphery of vision, the inducing frame was occluded resulting in autokinesis toward the phenomenally straight-ahead position. This effect was termed “induced autokinesis.” It was used in demonstrating that apparent egocentric displacement is sufficient for initiating autokinesis.     

The effect of meaning on the allocation of visually induced movement

The directional characteristics of a meaningful target were found to affect its apparent motion when it was displaced relative to a neutral object. The effect was destroyed, however, when the target was surrounded by a frame. This was because the frame imparted a meaning which tended to override that conveyed by the target.     

Author Index Volume 111 2002

Philosophical Studies -