RECOGNISING CITY SCENES: A TEST OF MILGRAM'S FORMULA

Milgram et al. (1972) proposed the formula R = f(C X D) for the recognition of city scenes where R = Recognition, C = Centrality to the population flow and D = architectural or social distinctiveness. In this paper a slight modification to this formula was suggested. The centrality concept was replaced by the more adequate one of familiarity and an empirical test of the proposition was carried out. Fifty-four scenes of urban Adelaide, South Australia were chosen using the two techniques of fixed distance sampling along major roads and equivalent representation sampling from the entire urban area. High School students (N = 41) and University Students (N = 31) were shown colour slides and ratings were obtained for recognition and distinctiveness. Familiarity was assessed using frequency of travel patterns. Multiple regression analyses showed that frequency of encounter was the only significant predictor variable in the younger High School sample, but distinctiveness and frequency were both significant for the University sample. A possible explanation for this difference in terms of car usage is outlined and some critical comments on the distinctiveness concept are presented.     

Research activities of doctoral school psychologists

A survey was sent to doctoral school psychologists to determine their research productivity and topical interests. Approximately two thirds of 147 respondents indicated doing some research during 1974–1975. Studies dealing with topics of assessment and program evaluation were most prevalent. Only about one in five studies was actually published and most of these were in nonprestigious periodicals. Academic school psychologists were more likely to do research and publish than were applied school psychologists. Academic and applied psychologists did not differ in terms of numbers of unpublished written or oral research reports. The correspondence of these results with prior data on school psychology research was noted and suggestions to increase the circulation of research findings are presented.     

Communication Differences Between Physicians and Their Patients in an Oncology Setting

The physician-patient relationship has critical importance in the quality of medical care, especially in the oncology setting. Of particular interest over the past two decades has been the communication between physicians and their patients. It is understood that communication is related to patient and physician satisfaction as well as other medical outcomes. However, despite this interest and attention, investigators have only recently begun to assess the communication between physicians and patients from the patient's point of view. Additionally, previous investigations have primarily relied upon retrospective reports of the interaction from patients or physicians. The current investigation assessed physician–patient communication in an oncology setting, both as it was occurring and following the interaction. The units of analysis included participant ratings as well as those of trained observers. Findings revealed that physicians and patients disagree as to the valence of the messages which transpired. Additionally, results suggest that it is the patients who distort the messages in the positive direction. Research and clinical implications of this disagreement and positivity bias are discussed.     

The Haskins Laboratories’ pulse code modulation (PCM) system

The pulse code modulation (PCM) method of digitizing analog signals has become a standard both in digital audio and in speech research, the focus of this paper. The solutions to some problems encountered in earlier systems at Haskins Laboratories are outlined, along with general properties of A/D conversion. Specialized features of the current Haskins Laboratories system, which has also been installed at more than a dozen other laboratories, are also detailed: the Nyquist filter response, the high-frequency preemphasis filter characteristics, the dynamic range, the timing resolution for single- and (synchronized) dual-channel signals, and the form of the digitized speech files (header information, data, and label structure). While the solutions adopted in this system are not intended to be considered a standard, the design principles involved are of interest to users and creators of other PCM systems.