Response-dependent prechoice effects on foraging-related choice

Three experiments explored the influence of prechoice events on pigeons' preference. In two of three studies, a fixed-interval 200-second prechoice period preceded the initial links of a concurrent chain in which outcomes differed either (a) in terms of the delay to food or (b) in terms of amount of food and delay to food. In Experiment 3, the prechoice period preceded the initial links that provided a choice between a small single food presentation and two identical, more delayed food presentations. In all three cases, obtained choice proportions did not vary as a function of prechoice duration. These results suggest that a local-contextual view adequately describes the foraging context; they also have implications for the appropriate formulation of the delay-reduction theory of conditioned reinforcement and rate-maximizing views of optimal foraging theory.     

Differences in delay, not ratios, control choice in concurrent chains

In two experiments, pigeons were trained with concurrent-chains schedules, wherein responding to equal initial links measured preference between variable-interval terminal links. Absolute terminal-link duration was varied by keeping constant the difference between the terminal-link delays and forcing their ratio to change. Delay-reduction theory scales value relative to a common temporal context and requires that delay differences control choice. Thus, preference should remain invariant. Most competing accounts, including the matching law and a strong form of Weber's law, require that preference vary with the delay ratio. Experiment 1 employed standard concurrent chains, in which terminal-link position and color were confounded. Although average preference remained constant, individual preferences were highly variable and inconsistent, possibly due to carryover of position biases across conditions. In an attempt to reduce variability, Experiment 2 used a modified concurrent-chains procedure. Preference at different terminal-link durations was assessed simultaneously to prevent order effects, and terminal-link position was alternated randomly across trials to minimize the impact of position biases. In Experiment 2, both individual and mean preferences showed the constant-difference invariance. Overall, choice was controlled by terminal-link differences, not ratios.     

Availability to peer group treatment in residential care as a function of relational ethics

Forty-five adolescent boys from abusive and depriving homes were not doing well in positive peer culture residential care. Despite their backgrounds, given a modified form of the Relational Ethics Scale, they indicated that their relational life with their families of origin was trustworthy, fair, and worthy of continued devotion. In contrast, on the Firo-B these same boys demonstrated distrust of others outside of their families and an unwillingness to get involved. These results support the inference from contextual family theory that peer group interventions cannot bypass identification and resolution of the injustices that took place in the family of origin.This project was fully supported by Teen Ranch, Inc., Marlette, MI 48453.     

CONTEXTUAL CONTROL OF PROBLEM BEHAVIOR IN STUDENTS WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES

We investigated the impact of contextual variation on the effectiveness of two interventions. The problem behavior of 2 students with severe disabilities was analyzed across two contexts (task and leisure). Effects of differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) and time-out procedures were examined in the two contexts. Results indicated that in the task context the DRO procedure effectively reduced the problem behavior and increased task performance, whereas the time-out procedure was ineffective. In addition, rate of correct task performance increased during DRO relative to baseline and time-out. In contrast, in the leisure context, the time-out procedure effectively reduced the same problem behavior and the DRO procedure was ineffective. The results are discussed in terms of contextual control of problem behavior and alternative strategies for the design of DRO procedures.     

工作绩效预测研究述评

文章介绍了国内外有关人格、能力与工作绩效关系研究和工作绩效预测模型研究的最新成果与进展。研究表明,个体的能力、人格等个性特征影响其工作绩效,合适的能力、人格测验能较好的预测其工作绩效,并受到一些中介变量和调节变量的影响。文章提出应从工作绩效结构、预测模型和跨文化研究三个方面加强工作绩效的预测研究     

创业精神的影响因素及其绩效评价

创业精神分为个体创业精神和企业创业精神。个性特质、认知模式、教育培训和创业经验影响个体创业精神,企业战略、组织结构、企业环境和组织支持影响企业创业精神。该文最后讨论了创业精神的绩效评价问题,指出准确的绩效测量是创业研究的关键。     

Scene‐context effect in visual memory is independent of retention interval1

The context of a natural scene can facilitate memory for embedded objects. It has been reported that such scene‐context effects can be lost in the flicker paradigm, which alternatively presents a picture, followed by a modified version of the picture after a brief interval. Using a follow‐the‐dot paradigm which instills serial attending, determinants of the scene‐context effect are examined by varying both scene‐context (normal, jumbled) and the retention interval (short, long) between cued and target objects. In this paradigm, a dot cue was sequentially presented on 12 different objects of a scene, then the memory for one of the cued objects was tested. This paradigm requires holding information about multiple objects in memory at once. Retention intervals were varied by manipulating the serial position of the dot on a target object. The results showed that the retention interval did not influence the scene‐context effect. Potential mechanisms for the scene‐context effect are discussed.