Using Systems Theory to Organize Confusion

This paper represents an initial step in applying to complex clinical situations the symbolic logic developed by G. Spencer Brown and elaborated by Francisco Varela. This way of modeling turns out to yield an interesting mixture of rigidity, ambiguity, and paradox, perhaps inevitable at our present level of understanding of systems containing feedback. Applying the Brown-Varela concepts seems a useful transitional step toward the future use of more sophisticated quantitative models such as those of Powers and Forrester.     

A factorial study of fluency in writing

A factorial study of fluency was undertaken to test an hypothesis that at least two fluency abilities would be measured by a battery composed both of word fluency tests used by Thurstone and tests of fluency described by several British investigators. Twenty-eight tests, including ten reference tests for five primary mental abilities, were administered to 181 high-school seniors. Ten centroid factors were extracted, a simple structure was found, and eight factors were interpreted. Five factors defined were the following reference abilities: memory (M), number (N), reasoning (R), verbal comprehension (V), and perceptual speed (P), the last one being somewhat tentatively identified. The main finding is the analysis of fluency into two factors: word fluency (W) and ideational fluency (F). Word fluency is defined as a facility in producing single, isolated words that contain one or more formal restrictions, without reference to the meaning of the words. Ideational fluency is described as a facility in expressing ideas by the use of words and their meanings. Another verbal ability indicated is tentatively interpreted as verbal versatility, the ability to express essentially the same idea by means of several different words or combinations of words.The writer wishes to express his appreciation to Dr. L. L. Thurstone for his guidance throughout the study and for providing facilities and materials needed; to Miss Jessie LaSalle and the Washington, D. C., high schools for providing the subjects; to Ledyard Tucker, Frank Medland, and Mrs. Virginia Brown for computational assistance; and to others who gave aid during the study.