The effect of response force on avoidance rate

In a Sidman-avoidance schedule of counter losses for two human subjects, the loss-to-loss and response-to-loss intervals were 20 sec. The avoidance response was a vocal response that was louder than a minimum vocal requirement. This requirement was set at 80 db, 95 db, or 110 db. In addition to vocal responses meeting the minimum requirement, all responses exceeding a threshold of 75 db or louder were recorded. The rate of both above-threshold and avoidance responses decreased as the response-force requirement increased. Thus, high response-force requirements produced an effect on avoidance responding similar to its effect on positively reinforced responding.     

College Student Personnel and Academic Freedom for Students

The issue of academic freedom for students is frequently a source of heated controversy. In the emotionally charged atmosphere that surrounds this question the true nature and purpose of academic freedom are too often obscured. This discussion focuses attention on the philosophical and educational premises that underlie this concept and attempts to examine it from several frames of reference. A brief summary tracing the historical evolution of academic freedom for students to the present is developed and 8 common points of emphasis as interpreted from several current statements on the subject are outlined. An additional concern of some moment involving the relationship and responsibility of the college student personnel worker to these 8 significant points of common emphasis is noted.