End-point focus manipulations to determine what information is used during observational learning

We required two groups of participants to observe an end-point model (ENDPT) while another two groups viewed a full-body, point-light model (FULL) to determine the role of relative motion information in acquisition of a multi-limb, whole-body action. One ENDPT and one FULL group also bowled a ball. Following retention, all groups observed the FULL model. The participants' movements were compared to the model and outcome attainment was quantified. There was no difference in shoulder-elbow coordination between groups in acquisition or retention. The FULL groups replicated hip-knee coordination more accurately than did ENDPT groups in early acquisition only, with no significant differences in late acquisition or retention. Both bowling groups became more accurate at the task across acquisition, but the ENDPT group was more accurate and consistent in retention. Providing intra-limb relative motion in re-acquisition did not improve coordination for the ENDPT groups, but it did facilitate movement control (peak wrist velocity) and outcome attainment (target accuracy). The acquisition of coordination during observational learning is not only a result of copying relative motion information, but also involves copying of end-point trajectory information from the primary effector.     

Mindsets and pre-conscious open-mindedness to incidental information

Mindset theory (Gollwitzer, 1990) proposes that deliberative mindsets are marked by more open-minded processing of information, whereas implemental mindsets are characterized by more closed-minded processing. Accordingly, deliberative and implemental mindsets should differ in selective processing of incidental information when performing a central task. In three experiments, participants in deliberative and implemental mindsets performed a computer task while randomly presented incidental, unavoidable words. A subsequent recognition memory test assessed selective processing of these incidental words. Results revealed that deliberative mindsets led to superior recognition memory, suggesting increased open-mindedness to processing incidental information. Implications for mindset and goal theories are discussed.     

Episodic Memory in Adult Age and Effects of Sibship Size and Birth Order: Longitudinal Data

This study examined the effects of sibship size and birth order on episodic memory performance in adulthood and old age. Participants were 1,141 healthy individuals aged 35–80 years, who took part in a longitudinal project on age, health, and memory. Episodic memory measurements over a 5-year interval included tests of recognition (recognition of faces, family names, first names, and nouns) and tests of recall (free recall of sentences, free recall and cued recall of nouns, and recall of activities). Results showed significant effects for both recall and recognition, that is, the smaller the sibship size is for an individual and the earlier born, the better memory performance. These results demonstrate that the effects of sibship size and birth order previously shown in children and adolescents (Belmont and Marolla, Science 182:1096–1101, 1973; Zajonc and Markus, Psych Rev 82:74–88, 1975; Zajonc, Am Psychol 56:490–496, 2001) are robust over time and hold over a large adult range.     

How information about building design influences causal attributions for earthquake damage

Causal attributions for events are shaped by information about causal mechanisms that contribute to the events. In the case of damage from earthquakes, these mechanisms include the design of buildings. Three studies presented scenarios drawn from actual reports of recent earthquakes (Kobe, Japan and Northridge, California, USA), including statements by engineers about the quality of the design of damaged and undamaged buildings. Studies examined whether this design information affected attributions for earthquake damage. Participants attributed damage to building design more strongly and rated damage more preventable when scenarios referred to the poor building design of damaged buildings than when scenarios gave no design information. Information about the excellent design of undamaged buildings had less consistent effects. This effect was most consistent with scenarios about the design of damaged buildings. These findings show that mechanism (design) information does influence judgments about damage in earthquakes and, by implication, other hazards.     

征兵用数字搜索测验的研制

基于信息加工速度理论自编征兵用数字搜索测验,使用该测验对全国15735名应征青年及190名新兵进行了测量,3个月新兵营训练结束时由228上级对1900名士兵的智力相关工作绩效情况进行了调查,通过对上述数据的分析确定了测验方法及划界分数,并进行了信、效度检验。结果表明:缺失不同数字对题目难度有影响;划界分数为197秒正确应答27题以上;该测验的内部一致性α系数为0.864;预测符合率为95.7%。     

社会信息加工中的相关性维度

在以往的社会信息加工研究中,多数情况只对刺激作积极、消极的效价区分,这往往导致实验结论中出现困惑和矛盾之处。Peeters提出了另一个区分刺激的维度:相关性(他相关、主相关)。Wentura等人把这一区分引入实验设计后,不但合理解释了以往研究中的问题和疑点,而且获得了新的发现。因此,相关性区分的引入对于此类研究有着重要意义,并对印象形成、刻板印象和群体等其他实验社会心理研究都有一定启发。     

顿悟:是进程监控还是表征转换

当前解释顿悟问题解决机制的理论主要有表征转换理论和进程监控理论。进程监控理论主要解释了顿悟问题为什么困难,但事实上它并没有说明顿悟问题为什么会解决,只回答了在什么情况下被试才会寻求其他的方法,而且它把顿悟问题解决的一般过程看成是同常规问题解决方法相同的过程。而表征转换理论主要解释了顿悟是如何获得的——顿悟的获得是由于问题解决者对问题的表征实现了正确的转变,但它并没有解释表征什么时候、怎么样才能转变?顿悟问题的解决经历了三个认知加工阶段,顿悟问题的解决需要在消除定势情况下激活正确的启发信息(线索),并验证了顿悟问题的原型激活和关键启发信息理论假说。     

词窗口条件下老年阅读者信息提取过程的眼动研究

本研究以眼动仪为工具,通过消失文本范式考察老年阅读者从视觉刺激中提取语义信息的必要呈现时间。实验一发现,老年阅读者阅读消失文本的视觉刺激必要呈现时间在120 ms以后。实验二在实验一的基础上,将消失时间设置为120 ms1、40 ms、160 ms、180 ms和200 ms。研究结果发现,老年阅读者阅读消失文本的必要延迟时间是200 ms,结果支持眼动控制理论中认知控制模型。     

An in-situ examination of the timing of information pick-up for interception by cricket batsmen of different skill levels

ObjectivesCricket batting is performed under demanding constraints, which requires rapid and accurate decision making for successful achievement of the skill goal. To understand how batsmen negotiate these constraints, the capability of highly skilled and low skilled cricket batsmen to utilise visual information prior to and during sections of ball flight to strike balls delivered by fast bowlers was examined.MethodSix highly skilled and six low skilled batsmen faced different types of balls delivered by three fast bowlers. Batsmen wore vision occlusion spectacles and were required to strike delivered balls, while their vision of the bowler's delivery action and ball flight was selectively occluded. Three vision conditions were randomly designed that included temporal occlusion at: (i) a point prior to ball release (providing only advance information), (ii) a point prior to ball bounce (providing advance and ball flight information) and (iii) no occlusion (where all advance, ball flight and bounce information were visible). Foot movements made forward or backward were assessed as a measure of ball length judgement, while the quality of bat–ball contact was assessed as a measure of interception.ResultsResults demonstrated the superior capability of highly skilled batsmen to utilise information prior to ball release to judge short ball length. Expert batsmen were better able to utilise ball flight information prior to and post-bounce to attain a superior number of bat–ball contacts.ConclusionsFindings demonstrate that the mechanism of experts to deal with task constraints when attempting to intercept a delivered ball is their capability to pick-up visual information to judge ball landing position.