The influence of correlations between noncritical features and reinforcement on stimulus generalization

One strategy to program for generalization is to vary noncritical features in teaching exemplars, thereby avoiding noncritical features from being highly correlated with reinforcement and thus gaining faulty stimulus control. In the current translational evaluation, 2 groups of adults of typical development were taught to respond to arbitrary stimuli with experimenter‐defined critical and noncritical features in a matching‐to‐sample task. The teaching arrangement used for 1 group programmed for low correlation between noncritical features and reinforcement; the teaching arrangement used for the other group programmed for high correlation between noncritical features and reinforcement. Participants in the former group displayed (a) faster acquisition of matching, (b) less variability in correct responding, and (c) a decreased likelihood of faulty stimulus control developing during training. The results contribute towards advancing the study of stimulus control and developing an explicit technology of generalization to better serve consumers of the application of our science.     

小学一年级数学新教材插图效果的眼动研究

采用2×3两因素混合实验设计,使用美国应用科学实验室（ASL）生产的EVM3200型眼动仪,对小学一年级学生阅读配有不同背景插图应用题的阅读理解指标和眼动指标进行考察。结果表明：无论应用题难易,学生对有背景插图的阅读理解优于对无背景插图的理解;复杂的插图背景有利于学生理解较难应用题;简单的插图背景有利于学生理解较容易应用题;眼动实验结果表明,小学一年级数学新教材插图效果较好     

视觉特征提取加工中的认知可塑性

本研究采用“加因素法”研究范式,通过两个实验分别检测20名飞行员和lO名老年被试及其相应控制组在视觉特征提取任务上的认知加工水平,旨在探讨视觉特征提取这一高水平视觉表象加工上的认知可塑性水平。研究结果表明,视觉特征提取加工既表现出了随外界系统训练而发生功能增强的练习效应,也表现出了随年老化过程而发生相应功能显著改变的年龄效应。研究提示,由于受大脑神经细胞活动特性改变的影响,视觉特征提取加工更多地表现出了可塑性或易变性相对较高的认知特性。结合相关的工作基础,研究结果还进一步证实高水平视觉认知加工所表现出的练习效应和年龄效应在大脑神经网络上的分布是不平衡的。本研究不仅对于揭示高水平视觉表象加工的认知特性具有重要的理论意义,而且在实践中对于建立飞行员、宇航员等特殊职业人员的选拔模型以及揭示飞行空间定向障碍的认知机制也具有重要的应用价值。     

西方童话与中国神话中人物的人格特征研究

童话和神话中人物的人格特征影响着个体早期的社会化。本文选择了24篇著名的西方童话和中国神话,采用人格形容词评定法,对其中人物的人格特征进行对比研究发现,这些人物既具有人类追求真善美的共性,也表现出不同民族所特有的民族精神和价值观的差异性。分析了这些共性和差异性的表现及其产生原因,阐述了这些人物的人格特征对儿童形成其个性品质、行为模式、道德品质、社会角色等方面的作用和意义。     

论道德现象的特点

从道德存在论看 ,道德是普遍性与特殊性的统一 ;地域性与历史性的统一。从道德价值论看 ,道德是相对性与绝对性的统一 ;多元性与一元性的统一。从道德认识论看 ,道德是客观性与主观性的统一 ;群体性与个体性的统一。从道德实现论看 ,道德是他律性与自律性的统一 ;现实性与理想性的统一。     

论道德意识的认知特征

道德作为一种实践意识 ,其认知特征主要有三 :一是人道为本 ,自觉觉他 ;二是“是”“应”同辙 ,智仁并举 ;三是情理交融 ,知行合一。     

Some Aspects of Product Shape in Mechanical Engineering

The paper examines some of the many factors that influence the shape of designed products in the mechanical engineering industries. It is shown that, once the detailed shape of a product has been determined, the analysis of that shape from the viewpoints of various engineering activities downstream of design leads to a range of inherently different perceptions of it.     

The impact of object type on the spatial analogies in Korean preschoolers

We tested young children’s spatial reasoning in a match-to-sample task, manipulating the objects in the task (abstract geometric shapes, line drawings of realistic objects, or both). Korean 4- and 5-year-old children (N = 161) generalized the target spatial configuration (i.e., on, in, above) more easily when the sample used geometric shapes and the choices used realistic objects than the reverse (i.e., realistic-object sample to geometric-shape choices). With within-type stimuli (i.e., sample and choices were both geometric shapes or both realistic objects), 5-year-old, but not 4-year-old, children generalized the spatial relations more easily with geometric shapes than realistic objects. In addition, children who knew more locative terms (e.g., “in”, “on”) performed better on the task, suggesting a link to children’s spatial vocabulary. The results demonstrate an advantage of geometric shapes over realistic objects in facilitating young children’s performance on a match-to-sample spatial reasoning task.     

Memory for vocal tempo and pitch

Two experiments examined the ability to remember the vocal tempo and pitch of different individuals, and the way this information is encoded into the cognitive system. In both studies, participants engaged in an initial familiarisation phase while attending was systematically directed towards different aspects of speakers’ voices. Afterwards, they received a tempo or pitch recognition task. Experiment 1 showed that tempo and pitch are both incidentally encoded into memory at levels comparable to intentional learning, and no performance deficit occurs with divided attending. Experiment 2 examined the ability to recognise pitch or tempo when the two dimensions co-varied and found that the presence of one influenced the other: performance was best when both dimensions were positively correlated with one another. As a set, these findings indicate that pitch and tempo are automatically processed in a holistic, integral fashion [Garner, W. R. (1974). The processing of information and structure. Potomac, MD: Erlbaum.] which has a number of cognitive implications.