Retroactive interference in rats: Independent effects of time and similarity of the intervening event with respect to acquisition

Events occurring during the retention intervals for a 5-min delayed alternation task were used to investigate the factors that influence retroactive interference. Appetitive reinforcement in an E-maze was employed to train rats on the delayed alternation task consisting of a forced-choice (target event) trial followed by a free-choice (test) trial. Occasional probe trials added a potentially interfering event either at the beginning, middle, or end of the retention period. These events also varied in similarity to the target events, ranging from low similarity to the converse of the target event. Interference increased both with the interval between the target and intervening events and with the similarity between the converse of the target event and the intervening event; however, there was no tendency, significant or otherwise, towards an interaction between stimulus similarity and the interval between the target and intervening events. Control groups demonstrated that the interference was of an associative nature and that the interval between the intervening event and the test trial was little consequence. These results are discussed in terms of two separate types of interference: similarity interference which depends on stimulus similarity of the intervening event to the converse of the target event but not on the temporal location of the intervening event, and processing interference which depends on the temporal location of the intervening event but not on its similarity to the converse of the target event.     

The Dynamics of Job-Seeking Behavior

Job placement readiness as a continuum is discussed. High and low readiness are specifically treated. Personality characteristics and case histories of the two types are given.     

Consistent occupational preferences,vocational maturity,and academic achievement

This study explored the differences in vocational maturity, academic aptitude, and achievement variables among female sorority students who made congruent, incongruent, and undecided occupational choices. The variables were operationally defined by the Career Maturity Inventory, the American College Test Battery, and a self-report questionnaire. Congruent, incongruent, and undecided current occupational choice groups were defined operationally using the Self-Directed Search. The analysis of variance revealed the main effect of groups to be significant for two variables. The findings suggest that students in the congruent female group tend to be more vocationally mature than students in the incongruent and undecided groups.     

Sex-role socialization and employment realities: Implications for vocational interest measures

Methods for reporting vocational interests which do and do not reflect sex-role stereotypes are examined. Interest inventory validation procedures based on the prediction of occupational preference and group membership are shown to favor inventories providing scores that reflect past sex-role stereotypes and current employment inequities. Reporting and validation procedures minimizing these shortcomings are suggested. These procedures, which are supported by past practice and recent research, result in similar interest score distributions for men and women. Finally, career counseling problems arising from the confounding of reports of human interests with current employment realities are discussed.