Age differences in the temporal locus of memory organization in children's recall

Age differences in when (i.e., at input or output) children organize information for recall were investigated in terms of a model specifying that information organized at input is more resistant to forgetting over time than information not organized at input. In Experiment 1, recall of items from categorically related and unrelated lists was assessed either immediately or after a 4-min delay. For 9-year-olds, the effect of delay was comparable for the related and unrelated lists, indicative of spontaneous organization at time of output. In contrast, 13-year-olds showed a significantly smaller delay effect with related than with unrelated lists, indicative of spontaneous organization at time of input. Experiments 2 and 3 demonstrated that, for 9-year-olds, high levels of clustering in and of themselves do not eliminate effects of delayed testing characteristic of output organization, and that when 9-year-olds are biased to organize information at input, delay effects are reduced only when measures are taken to ensure that all the category labels are retrieved.     

Psychological research on videotex

Videotex is considered to be a powerful, but simple to use, computer network available for use in homes, offices, and schools. Information in the form of text and color graphics can be requested and displayed on the user’s television set. While retrieval of information is the first service provided on videotex, many other services, including electronic mail, electronic shopping, and electronic funds transfer, will be developed. However, in order to achieve the popularity predicted for videotex, a number of human factors and social problems must be solved. Research concerning some of these problems, and the role psychologists can play in their solution, is described.     

Computer-managed inferential statistical analysis of EEG data

Much of the neuroelectrical/psychophysiologic research of the past has involved the use of “group-type” statistics. Often, this has resulted in large variances that make it difficult, if not impossible, to find significant differences. Using the INNOVATE technique of single-subject design, we are able to consistently demonstrate significant differences in EEG spectra related to experimental and clinical effects previously masked.     

Degree of consistent training: Improvements in search performance and automatic process development

Previous research has shown substantial improvements in detection performance when subjects consistently detect a subset of stimuli. In contrast, in conditions in which stimuli appear as both targets and distractors, there is little performance improvement with practice. The present experiments examine how varying degrees of consistency determine the improvement of detection accuracy with extended practice. The degree of consistency was varied by manipulating the frequency with which a letter was a distractor while holding the number of occurrences as a target constant. The experiments utilized a multiple-frame target-detection search paradigm in which subjects were to detect single-letter targets in a series of rapidly presented letters on four channels. Experiments showed that detection performance improvement with practice was a monotonic function of the degree of consistency, decreasing to zero as the target-to-distractor ratio increased from 10:0 to 10:20. As consistency decreased, detection performance asymptoted earlier and at a lower level. A dual-task experiment examined subjects’ ability to perform the previously trained search task as a secondary task. Results showed that the previous targetto-distractor consistency had a marked effect on resource sensitivity of the detection task. The general issues of consistency in the development of skilled performance and in the development of automatic processing are discussed.     

A group behavior modification approach to adolescent obesity

This article describes a group weight control project with severely obese adolescent girls in a medical setting. Behavior modification and nutritional principles were utilized with peer group interaction. Significant others were included through separate group meetings. This approach produced small amounts of net weight loss for the girls. The drop-outs continued to have a net gain. As a treatment method, this program was more effective for these girls than previous individual clinic contacts had been. When losing weight, the girls tended to use behavior modification techniques more often, and their diets became more adequate nutritionally. Development of group cohesion was tenuous and temporary. Girls who were functioning more independently appeared to do better in weight loss. Disinterested significant others were preferable to nonsupportive ones. A predictive factor was identified, the girls' perception of control. This was measured by the I-E test. Those with a more internalized perception of control were more likely to continue with the program and more likely to lose weight. Because the patient group was small, findings are tentative. However, this program helped to define particular areas that deserve further exploration.     

Maintaining patients' improvements in a token economy.

Eighteen long stay male patients (diagnosis chronic schizophrenia) were involved in a six month token economy prior to random assignment to one of three experimental groups to investigate the importance of social reinforcement and other token-related variables in maintaining improvements brought about by the token system. Assessment included standardised psychiatric rating scales, nurse rating scales, and behavioural measures. Analysis of variance suggests the full token economy system produced significant improvements, but that the social factors involved in token exchanges were not demonstrably important sources of reinforcement. and that none of the variables studies at the experimental phase were critical factors. Once patients returned to a complete token system, results indicate that this may have more value in the promotion of work activities rather than social responding. It is argued that the token system provides a necessary clear structure within which nurses can encourage continuous improvements with long stay patients.     

Communication and language in severely deaf adolescents

One of the most important psychological effects of early severe or profound deafness is an impairment in natural language-processing ability, with a consequent reduction in communicative skill secondary to the sensory deficit. Prelingual damage blocks the development of certain sequential/syntactical skills necessary for the acquisition of normal linguistic competence. Educators of the deaf in the UK have typically attempted to improve linguistic ability using amplification and intensive training in lip-reading, but evidence from several psychological studies suggests that communication systems based upon manual signing are more productive of both linguistic and basic cognitive skills. This paper reports an experimental study of the communicative characteristics of both oral and total communication systems as a function of language structure. For almost all types of structure investigated, the total system was found to be the more effective method of communication.     

Differential Responses to Being Ignored: The Effects of Architectural Design and Social Density on Interpersonal Behavior1

This study examines the experience of being ignored when social interaction is chronically at high or low levels. Subjects in these studies resided in either traditional corridor dormitories or in suite-type apartments. Previous research has shown that the corridor arrangement leads to an excess of unwanted contacts with other residents. Hence, corridor residents should desire less interaction with strangers than suite residents. It was hypothesized that corridor residents would be less adversely affected if they were ignored during a group discussion. The results of two experiments reported here support this hypothesis. They also demonstrate the generally negative effects of being ignored. Results are discussed in terms of Altman's (1975) model of contact regulation.     

Thiamin deprivation in ventromedial hypothalamic hyperphagic rats: anorexia, specificity of food aversion, and a dietary consideration.

The anorexic consequence of thiamin deprivation was investigated in ventromedial hypothalamic (VMH) hyperphagic rats under either high-fat or low-fat thiamin-free diet conditions. The low-fat diet maintained feeding significantly longer in thiamin-deprived VMH rats than in intact rats, whereas the hig-fat diet sustained feeding in thiamin-deficient intact rats and accelerated anorexia onset in vitamin B1 deprived VMH rats. This effect was noted under both ad lib and pair-feeding conditions. Thiamin-deprived VMH rats subjected to weight control developed anorexia sooner than intact subjects regardless of the diet employed. The VMH rats fed a high-fat diet failed to resume feeding after thiamin readministration, which was interpreted as a permanent aversion to this diet. The relation between dietary intake and conditioned taste aversion is discussed with reference to the VMH and intact rat.