Judging similarity among strings described by hierarchical trees

The paper compares the tree-theoretical model of similarity judgement (in which the similarity between two objects is a function of the distance between them in a conceptual tree) with an averaging model of similarity judgement that is drawn jointly from information integration theory and from current research indicating the prevalence of anchoring and adjustment mechanisms in judgement. Results of an experiment are presented that suggest that even when subjects organize conceptual material as a hierarchical tree, judgments of similarity among the objects are better accounted for by an averaging mechanism than by distances in the tree. These data are discussed in terms of the differences between the representation in which knowledge is encoded and the processes that operate on the represented information.     

Sentence comprehension by Broca's aphasics: Effects of some suprasegmental variables

Three subtests of comprehension (one of varying sentential stress, one of shifting juncture, and one of applying emphatic stress to functors) were administered to eight Broca's aphasics and eight controls to determine the effects of stress and juncture on disambiguation of these sentences. Data indicated that the aphasic group performed significantly worse than the normals on all three subtests of comprehension. In addition, there was a strong positive correlation between severity of aphasia and error scores for all three tests. Results are discussed in relation to intact-vs.-disordered comprehension.     

Sex,wage-earner status,occupational level,and job satisfaction

This study attempted to investigate the relationship between wage-earner status, occupational level, and job satisfaction. It was proposed that wage-earner status was a more important determinant of job satisfaction than sex. However, the findings of this study suggested that sex was a more important determinant of job satisfaction than wage-earner status, and occupational level was a better predictor of job satisfaction than either sex or wage-earner status.     

Synonym and antonym pairs in the detection of dichotically and monaurally presented targets: Competing monaural stimulation can generate a substantial right ear advantage

Aligned pairs of spoken words were presented, and the subject timed in detecting the presence or absence of a prespecified target. The target, if present, was paired with either its synonym or its antonym or an unrelated word. If the target was absent, mutually synonymous, antonymous or unrelated word pairs occured. In experiment 1, presentation of the word pairs was dichotic, and in experiment 2 the same stimuli were now systematically presented to a single ear (competing monaural stimulation). In both cases a strategy of divided attention was imposed with respect to the words. A powerful REA was obtained in the second experiment, demonstrating that this phenomenon does not depend upon occlusion of the ipsilateral by the contralateral auditory pathways (Kimura 1961), but that competition within ears is sufficient. Secondly, the nature of the effect (facilitatory or interfering) from a co-present synonym or antonym of the target depends markedly upon how the ears are stimulated, in partial contrast to and extending the results of Lewis (1970).     

A controlled outcome study of phobias in mentally retarded adults

Twenty-four mentally retarded adults in the mild and moderate range based on American Association on Mental Deficiency criterion were assessed for excessive fear of participating in community based activities. Persons were matched into pairs on degree of fear and sex and then one member of each pair was randomly placed into one of two experimental conditions: no-treatment controls or those who received participant modeling for their fear. The latter condition consisted of having a trainer rehearse going into stores and related activities with the mentally retarded person at a sheltered workshop. In the next step of training, the therapist accompanied the subjects to a community grocery store where they performed the tasks of shopping through successive approximations. Treatment was conducted for a period of three months. Fear level of the mentally retarded persons was assessed on target behaviors prior to and at the conclusion of training. Follow-up assessment of treatment effects and the continued status of the control subjects was assessed four months after the conclusion of treatment. Participant modeling proved to be significantly more effective than no treatment.     

Observing spontaneous metaphor in children

The study considered whether apparent metaphors are a frequent part of child language and whether the child recognizes the metaphoric relation created. Seventy-three nursery and kindergarten children (2 to 6 years of age) were observed for one or two half-hour periods of free play. Naturally occurring utterances in unconventional uses were recorded. The children were then questioned about their possible metaphoric creations to determine their awareness and understanding of their utterances. Results suggest that metaphoric processes exist quite early in development, as exemplified by a high frequency of spontaneous metaphor in the free play of young children. The semantic extensions were often deliberate and used appropriately. On some occasions the child was able to articulate the rationale for the verbal substitution. The content and cognitive features of the figures are discussed. Several hypotheses are offered for the developmental trend of decline in frequency of metaphor use with age.     

The personality characteristics of the rigid learner

The present research investigated the personality dimensions concomitant with learner's cognitive rigidity. The results showed a highly reliable multiple relationship between rigidity scores and dimensions of IPAT's 16PF. Specifically, the personality dimensions of tenseness, compulsivity, group dependency, absent mindedness, sensitivity, and emotional stability explained 36% of the variability in subjects' increasing levels of cognitive rigidity. The results were interpreted as showing a pervasive use of stereotype behavior as a coping strategy in dealing with a greater amount of anxiety concomitant with cognitive rigidity.