An Unobtrusive Measure of Racial Behavior in a University Cafeteria

Observational data were gathered from a large university cafeteria for a period of 22 days, in 1-hr periods per day, over one semester. Observations were made of the frequency with which Black and White cashiers were selected. Chi-square analyses showed a significant association between a cashier's being Black and increased likelihood that she would not be selected. Some comments and comparisons are made with other research using similar measures.     

Representations for biased numerical judgments

Models are presented that introduce bias parameters into the numerical representations for ratio and interval judgments. An interval bias model is considered that has the capability of accounting for both interval and ratio judgments. A contrasting ratio bias model—a simple generalization of the classical model that accepts ratio judgments at face value—is also considered, and both models are tested with brightness data. The ratio estimation data lead to the conclusion that the constraints placed on the structure of the data by the classical model are too strong. In terms of goodness-of-fit and certain theoretical criteria, the interval bias model accounts for the ratio estimation data better than the ratio bias model. The interval estimation data are supportive of recent efforts directed toward the development of direct interval scaling theory.     

Imitation as a learning strategy in the acquisition of vocabulary

Twenty-four 14- to 30-month-old children observed a model use 20 new words as labels for objects of varied semantic associations. Acquisition of the new words was clear in both elicited and spontaneous imitation by the children and in generalized use of the words. Age was highly and positively correlated with elicited and spontaneous imitation and scores for recognition of the objects associated with the words. Imitation and recognition scores were highest for words associated with food and active objects and low for passive objects and words with no associations. Older children's use of the words immediately after the model's use increased rapidly with the first two presentations, and their use of the words prior to the model's use showed an increasing trend over the series of modeling sessions. Younger children responded at a lower rate.     

Emotions and cardiac contractility as reflected in ballistocardiographic recordings

Thirty-four patients with documented ischemic heart disease were followed with nine or more ballistocardiograms recorded at different occasions during a period exceeding two years. In a doubleblind procedure the reactions to life situations were explored in relation to the average rate of maximal cardiac force development as reflected from the slope of the IJ segment of the ballistocardiogram. A similar procedure was used in the analysis of emotional reactions in relation to IJ slope during stress interviews of six other patients with ischemic heart disease. Passive behavior and feelings of being defeated corresponded to low rate of cardiac force development, whereas happiness or aggressive responses to frustrations corresponded to a high rate of cardiac force development.     

LEMON-JUICE THERAPY: THE CONTROL OF LIFE-THREATENING RUMINATION IN A SIX-MONTH-OLD INFANT1

Chronic, life-threatening rumination was eliminated in a six-month-old infant by squirting a small amount of lemon juice into her mouth whenever rumination or its precursors were detected. A brief suspension of this therapy demonstrated its crucial role. Lemon-juice therapy offers a practical and acceptable alternative to other therapies for rumination, namely electric shock and massive noncontingent attention. However, since this study is limited to a single case, claims as to the effectiveness of this therapy across children are premature.     

Recall of story schema categories by reading disabled adults: effect of mode of presentation

Stein and Glenn's (1979) story schema provided the framework for testing reading disabled adults' recall of stories that they had heard on tape, read orally, or read silently. For each category of proposition in the story schema, no significant difference was found in the proportion of statements recalled across the three modes of presentation. Further, the pattern of recall of different categories was similar to that which had been exhibited in previous research by normally reading children who heard stories on tape. The findings provide further evidence that the pattern of recall of story schema categories is similar across a variety of subject groups and situations. A possible explanation of this is discussed, as are possible explanations of the specific recall pattern obtained.