Expanding the Nexus of Cognitive and Psychomotor Abilities

A study was conducted to expand the nexus of cognitive and psychomotor abilities. A cognitive aptitude battery and a psychomotor battery were administered to 429 military recruits. A confirmatory factor analysis yielded higher-order factors of general cognitive ability (g) and psychomotor/technical knowledge (PM/TK). PM/TK was interpreted as Vernon's (1969) practical factor (k:m). In the joint analysis of these batteries, g and PM/TK each accounted for about 31% of the common variance. No residualized lower-order factor accounted for more than 7% PM/TK influenced a broad range of lower-order psychomotor factors. The first practical implication of these findings is that psychomotor tests are expected to be at least generally interchangeable. A second implication is that the incremental validity of psychomotor tests beyond cognitive tests is expected to be small. These findings should help guide test developers and inform personnel selecting agencies regarding the expected utility of psychomotor tests.     

A computer-controlled electrogustometer for the estimation of evoked taste thresholds

Reliable taste detection thresholds in humans are difficult to obtain for either research or clinical purposes because ordinary taste stimuli cannot be generated and presented by means of a computer. However, in investigations of taste dysfunction, electrical taste stimulation (electrogustometry) is sometimes employed. Minute anodal direct currents are applied manually to the tongue, giving rise to an acid taste experience through the liberation of protons into the saliva. This experience accords with recent findings on the mechanisms underlying sour taste perception. The device described here is a safe and accurate constant-current device, operating under computer control at very low amperages, making it possible to apply modern psychophysical procedures to the measurement of evoked taste thresholds.     

Relationship among environmental and demographic variables and teacher-rated hyperactivity

This study assessed the role of environmental and demographic factors in the occurrence of teacher-rated hyperactivity. The subject group consisted of 79 hyperactive and 81 nonhyperactive children ranging from 5 to 12 years of age. Parents of the subjects were interviewed to obtain information regarding the environmental and demographic factors of sex, race, birth order, number of siblings, frequency of change of residence, income level, mother's age, father's age, educational level of mother, educational level of father, parents' marital status, and the method of child discipline used in the home. Comparison between the hyperactive and nonhyperactive groups suggested nonsignificant differences with the exception of sex (p<.001), in which the ratio of hyperactive males to hyperactive females was 51.The authors are grateful to Dr. Bruce Dunn for his critical suggestions.     

Construction of a tape-controlled system of presenting visual-spatial and visual-temporal stimulus patterns for use in cross-modal and intramodal matching tests

A technique of tape construction is described for use in the generation and control of all combinations of auditory-temporal, visual-temporal, and visual-spatial stimulus patterns. This technique allows the development of a set of nine tasks for testing cross-modal and intramodal matching.     

FI length and performance on an FI FR chain schedule of reinforcement

In a chained FI FR schedule, manipulating the length of the FI component produced changes confined almost entirely to the FI performance; increasing the interval length increased the total number of responses emitted per reinforcement. The configuration of the fixed-interval scallop was clearly modified as the interval length was increased, with the larger intervals becoming flatter (i.e., a larger proportion of the total responses earlier in an interval). Measurement of the postreinforcement pause is suggested as a possible indicator of fixed-interval scalloping.     

Experimental disorientation in the horizontal plane

Twenty-eight subjects were examined on a visual matching task for their ability to maintain an orientation with respect to a particular direction in the horizontal plane following a voluntary rotary body movement through 180 degrees. Each subject was examined with respect to eight different directions.

Numerous gross errors occurred when visual information was reduced to the display of an arrow indicating a direction and a second arrow manipulated by the subject. The magnitude and distribution of the errors suggest that, under the conditions of this experiment, visual information as to direction in the horizontal plane is analysed according to the two horizontal dimensions defined by the sagittal and coronal planes of the head. In correcting for the rotary body movement, failure may occur with respect to either or both of these two dimensions. The frequency of a failure to make any correction at all (i.e. 180-degree errors) is consistent with independent failure in each of the two horizontal dimensions.

Failure is markedly more frequent in the fore-aft dimension than in the left-right dimension. It is suggested that this may be explained in terms of the ambiguous spatial significance of vertical disposition on the retina and the possibility of contamination between the two systems of conceptual analysis which identify the vertical and the fore-aft dimensions of visual space.

It is demonstrated that when minimal “landmarks” are provided they tend to be utilized as reference points in attempts to maintain orientation, even when the subject is aware that the “landmarks” are misleading. Such a use of “landmarks” does not suppress the previously mentioned mechanism of dimensional orientation.

The relevance of these results to normal human orientation is discussed.     

The Vocational Interests of Beautiful Women

This paper reports the analysis of Strong Vocational Interest Blank scores for about 100 fashion models. Their interest patterns reflect preferences for the dramatic over the routine, the unstructured situation over the structured. These girls favor verbal occupations, and show particular aversion toward working with numbers in precise, disciplined settings. They are pretty, they know it, and they prefer activities that permit them to take advantage of their attractiveness.     

Mental health workshop

Pastoral Psychology -     

Links between attachment orientations and dispositional and diary–based measures of disclosure in dating couples: A study of actor and partner effects

Issues concerning the influence of attachment characteristics on own and partner’s disclosure were addressed using a sample of 113 couples in medium–term dating relationships. Individual differences in attachment were assessed in terms of relationship anxiety and avoidance. Disposition to disclose was assessed using questionnaire measures of self–disclosure, relationship–focused disclosure, and the ability to elicit disclosure from the partner; in addition, structured diaries were used to assess aspects of disclosure (amount, intimacy, emotional tone, and satisfaction) in the context of couples’ everyday interactions. Couple–level analyses showed that avoidance strongly predicted dispositional measures of disclosure, whereas anxiety (particularly partner’s anxiety) was related to negative evaluations of everyday interactions. Interactive effects of attachment dimensions and gender were also obtained, highlighting the complexity of communication behavior. The results are discussed in terms of the goals and strategies associated with working models of attachment.