Relationships between job evaluation ratings and self-ratings of job characteristics

Self-ratings by 308 shop workers of their job variety, autonomy, task identity, and skill challenge correlate significantly with ratings by observers of the jobs' skill requirements. Self-ratings, however, are unrelated to observers' estimates of the physical demands of the jobs or to environmental conditions of the work. The self-ratings and observer measures provide complementary, not substitute, information. Self-ratings can signal person-job dysfunctions, and more objective job measures can identify possible sources of the dysfunctions. Modifications to job characteristics measures are discussed and suggestions are made to begin a new phase of programmatic job characteristics research.     

TEACHING SELF-CATHETERIZATION SKILLS TO CHILDREN WITH NEUROGENIC BLADDER COMPLICATIONS

We examined the effects of simulation training on the acquisition of self-catheterization skills in 2 female children with spina bifida. Based on a task analysis, the children were taught to perform on a doll each of the components of preparation, and, using a mirror to locate the urinary meatus, to insert and remove the catheter and to clean-up. Before, during, and after training, the children's performance of the skills on the doll and on themselves was assessed. Results of a multiple baseline design across subjects and skill components showed that doll training facilitated the children's acquisition of self-catheterization skills.     

Electrooculographic indices of changes in simulated flying performance

Recent investigations have revealed statistically reliable relationships between signal detection by human subjects performing vigilance tasks and changes in the electrophysiologically recorded waveform of the eyeblink. Thus, this relatively simple and easy-to-obtain measure may have potential use as a predictor of impaired performance. This report describes a study in which eyeblink data were recorded on analog tape while subjects (instrument-rated pilots) “flew” a computer-generated flight plan in a General Aviation Trainer (GAT-1). Eyeblink data were reduced and scored with an adaptation of software from the Washington University Behavioral Research Laboratory. Subjects’ “flying” performance was evaluated with the Pilot Performance Evaluating System (PPES) implemented on a Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), PDP-11/34 computer. The PPES samples each of four primary flight instruments once per second. It scores performance by generating a combined error score for each maneuver it assigns on the flight-plan display in the cockpit. The PPES/GAT-1 linkup has proved to be a valuable research tool with which to realistically evaluate stress effects and physiological correlates of flying performance in a laboratory setting. This study examined the relationships between eyeblink and flying performance scores collected during a pilot-fatigue study. Analysis of the data supports the use of computers cored eye movement measures as predictors of flying performance decrements.     

The humanities and gross anatomy: Forgotten alternatives

Researchers in medical education have extensively studied negative reactions to gross anatomy, sometimes grouped under the term “the cadaver experience.” Although there has been disagreement about the extent and importance of such phenomena, several attempts at curricular reform have been designed to “humanize” the student-cadaver encounter. However, some obvious sources linking gross anatomy and the humanities have been consistently overlooked. Such sources—from the history of art, the history of anatomy, and autobiographical and imaginative literature—not only bear witness to the “cadaver experience” for anatomists of the past, but also offer forgotten alternatives for placing present-day reactions in perspective. Former methods of teaching which used such material might serve as models for reintegrating the humanities into the study of gross anatomy as a possible humanizing force.     

Effects of incidental pictorial and verbal adjuncts on text learning

In this study, college students read and studied texts on historical figures in psychology, which were supplemented by drawings and/or brief biographies of these persons. In Experiment 1, a 2 x 2 between-groups design was conducted in which students received one adjunct with each text, both adjuncts, or neither. In Experiment 2, a single group of students received a within-subjects manipulation of the same adjunct conditions. In the between-groups comparison, students receiving biographies learned less of the target text passages, with the group receiving illustrations and biographies performing least accurately. In the within-subject conditions, texts accompanied by an illustration were better learned, with these students doing best on the text with both picture and biography. The results suggest that adjuncts may emphasize some texts, at the expense of learning from the other texts, but that too much adjunct material interferes with the learning of the target passages.     

Energy Processing Characteristics of Spatial Vision: The Spectral Characteristics of Perceptive Fields

To this stage a large amount of information has accumulated on one-dimensional broadband frequency channel characteristics of the visual system. Only recently have attempts been made to define additional two-dimensional narrow-band response profiles-particularly in central vision. In this paper questions concerning the number, tuning widths and phase sensitivity of such two-dimensional narrow-band coding units are reviewed. Results with grating and two-dimensional images are discussed, particularly within the context of energy processing and information reduction strategies which reflect human performance. Finally, a consequent principle of univariance is defined and shown to hold with such filter units.     

6-羟基多巴胺所致旋转行为的动物模型

选用神经毒素(6-OHDA)造成动物大脑黑质纹状体的单侧性损伤,致使动物的大脑两半球机能显示不对称性。致伤后以可卡因诱发动物的旋转行为。 本实验共观察了成年的Holtzman种系雌性大白鼠43只。结果表明,有38例(88.37％)的多巴胺的耗竭率在85一100％,它们的伤情较为理想。但是,3只动物(6.98％)的多巴胺的耗竭率小于60％,2只动物(4.65％)的多巴胺的耗竭率在60—84％。 本文详细地介绍了如何制备和利用旋转仪自动记录动物的旋转行为,以及用高效液相色谱法测定大脑纹状体内多巴胺的含量。