Object identification as a function of discriminability and learning presentations: the effect of stimulus similarity and canonical frame alignment on aircraft identification

Aircraft that were relatively similar (homogeneous) and relatively dissimilar (heterogeneous) in appearance were studied at orientations either consistent (canonical) or inconsistent (noncanonical) with the environmental frame of reference. At test, participants' identification performance was measured with stimuli rotated to novel orientations within the picture plane. During learning and testing, identification of heterogeneous aircraft was better than that of homogeneous aircraft. At test, only identification of homogeneous aircraft revealed a strong linear degradation of performance as angular disparity between the novel test orientations and the original learning orientations increased. During learning and testing, identification was better for aircraft studied at canonical orientations than for those studied at noncanonical orientations. The results are discussed in terms of object identification, aircraft recognition training, categorization, mental representations, and visual mental rotation.     

Trait Procrastination,Hoarding, and Continuous Performance Attention Scores

We examined the relationship between chronic procrastination, hoarding, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and a computer measure of continuous performance with 84 adult patients evaluated for diagnoses. Patients were administered the General Procrastination Inventory, the Saving Inventory-Revised, the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale and the IVA + Plus Continuous Performance Test. Procrastination scores correlated negatively with auditory attention scores, while self-reported hoarding tendencies correlated negatively with visual attention. Measures of procrastiation, hoarding, and ADHD were positively correlated. Implications and limitations of findings are discussed as well as directions for futher research.     

Frege's Logic

MEDIEVAI AND RENAISSANCF LOGIC

WILLIAM OFOCKHAM, Ockham's theory of propositions. Part I1 of Summa logicae. Translated by Alfred J. Freddoso and Henry Schuurman, with an introduction by Alfred J. Freddoso. University of Notre Dame Press, 1980. viii + 212 pp. £ 12.00.

WILHELM RISSE, Bibliagraphia Logica. Verzeichnis der Handschriften zur Logik. Band IV. Hildesheim, New York: Georg 0lm.s Verlag, 1979. vii + 390pp. DM 98.

G. W .F. H EGEL, Wissenschaft der Logik. Erster Band. Die objektive Logic (l812/1813) (Gesammelte Werke, Hand 11) Herausegeben von F. Hogemannund W. Jaeschhc. Hamburg: Felix hleiner Verlag, 1978. xii + 441 S. DM 118.

G.W.F. HEGEI., Wissenschaft der Logik. Zweiter Band. Die subjektive Logik (1816). (Gesammelte Werke, Band 12.) Herausgegeben von F. Hogemann und W. Jaeschke. Hamburg: Felix Meiner Verlag, 1981. viii + 358 S. DM 122.

G. GUNTHER, Idee und Grundriss einer nicht-aristotelischen Logik. Die Idee und ihre philosophischen Voraussetzungen. Appendix by R. Kaehr. Hamburg: Felix Meiner Verlag,1978,xxx + 417 + 117 pp. DM 84.

LOGIC AND PHILOSOPHY

BFN-AMI SCHARFSTEI N, The philosophers: their lives and the nature of their thought. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1980. x + 486 pp. £18.00.

DESMONDLEE (ed.), Wittgenstein's lectures: Cambridge 1930 - 1932. From the notes of John King and Desmond Lee. Oxford: Blackwell, 1980. xix + 124 pp. £7.95.

0. HANFLING, Logical positivism. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1981. viii + 181 pp. £14.00 (cloth)/£5.50 (paper).

0. HANFLING(ed.),Essenliai readings in iogicai podivihrn. Oxford: Basil Biackwell, 1981. viii + 248 pp. £5.95(paper).     

Helping the cognitive system learn: exaggerating distinctiveness and uniqueness

The caricature advantage demonstrates that performance is better when exaggerated stimuli are presented rather than a faithful image. This can be understood with respect to a theoretical framework in which caricaturing maximises the distinctiveness and thus minimises any perceptual or representational confusion. In this study we examine the possibility to harness caricatures to enhance learning. Thus, during learning the caricatures help the cognitive system pick up the unique and distinctive features of the learned material. This in turn helps to construct representations that correctly direct attention to the critical information. We trained 113 participants to identify aircraft across any orientation and found that the use of caricature is advantageous. However, the caricature advantage was most effective in complex learning where it is difficult to differentiate among different aircraft. Furthermore, the caricature advantage for subsequent recognition is attenuated when over‐learning has been achieved. These results are discussed in terms of the learning situations in which caricatures can be most effective in enhancing learning. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Judgment Processes and Interpersonal Conflict Related to Societal Problem Solutions1

An application of multidimensional scaling to judgments about potential solutions to the overpopulation problem yielded two dimensions: Voluntary versus involuntary and economic versus noneconomic. The location of the “solutions” in this two dimensional space was closely related to their judged acceptability, for both original and cross-validation samples. The two-dimensional coordinates of the “solutions” were then used as implicit cue values in a “lens model” analysis of potential conflict among the subjects. This analysis indicated that judgmental inconsistency was likely to be the major source of conflict for these subjects.     

Examining the Role of Carbon Capture and Storage Through an Ethical Lens

The risk posed by anthropogenic climate change is generally accepted, and the challenge we face to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to a tolerable limit cannot be underestimated. Reducing GHG emissions can be achieved either by producing less GHG to begin with or by emitting less GHG into the atmosphere. One carbon mitigation technology with large potential for capturing carbon dioxide at the point source of emissions is carbon capture and storage (CCS). However, the merits of CCS have been questioned, both on practical and ethical grounds. While the practical concerns have already received substantial attention, the ethical concerns still demand further consideration. This article aims to respond to this deficit by reviewing the critical ethical challenges raised by CCS as a possible tool in a climate mitigation strategy and argues that the urgency stemming from climate change underpins many of the concerns raised by CCS.     

Social support for women with chronic pelvic pain: what is helpful from whom?

Eight women with Chronic Pelvic Pain (CPP) were asked, by means of semi-structured interview, what had been helpful and unhelpful in terms of social support from their partners, families, friends, acquaintances, doctors, nurses and other women with CPP. Firstly, thematic analysis employing a pre-defined social support category system revealed that particular forms of tangible support were preferred from specific support providers but emotional and informational support was appreciated from the whole support network. Secondly, interpretative phenomenological analysis revealed three major additional themes: ‘Pain and Suffering’ described the trauma suffered by these patients and the anger and anxiety surrounding their experience; ‘Ideal Social Support’ revealed a picture of desired support consisting of enduring emotional and practical support which did not undermine individual autonomy; ‘Shortfalls in Social Support’ had subsidiary themes entitled ‘Lack of empathy’ and ‘Lack of engagement’. These themes were described and discussed in relation to each other, extant research and their clinical implications.     

Predictive validation of an insurance agent support person selection battery

This study investigated the predictive validity of a selection battery for insurance agent support persons. The selection battery included cognitive tests, personality scales, and biodata scales. Predictor data were collected as part of the agent support person selection process. Behavior summary scale ratings made by immediate supervisors of agent support persons were used as criteria in this study. Uncorrected correlations for six matched predictor composite-criterion dimension combinations identified in a previous concurrent validation study (Ashworth, Barge, Dunnette, & Carter, 1987) ranged from .17 (p<. 01) to .28 (p< .01) (M=.21, N=357).