Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of Category-Relevance, Retention Measure, And Category-Affiliation Upon Retention Of The Aging, Gary M. Tyson

Master's Theses

The present investigation represents an attempt to further explore several parameters of short-term memory as a function of the relevance of appropriateness of the verbal materials utilized. It is the author's contention that due to changing patterns of interests and experiences accompanying chronological aging, certain types of verbal material vary with respect to their relevance for use with aging populations. In regard to parameters of short-term memory, the present study contains provisions for exploring efficiency of retention as a function of the retention measure; and category•affiliated as opposed to randomly-selected words. A more complete and integrated formulation is presented in …

An Investigation Of Personality Differences Between Smokers And Nonsmokers And The Reduction Of Dissonance, John B. Wolf Iii

Master's Theses

This thesis wil deal with alternative methods of cognitive dissonance. Primarily, the concern will be with the relationship between personality characteristics and methods of reduction. The question of personality related preferences for dissonance reduction may be studied by comparing individuals with similar personality characteristics.

The Use Of Facts And Verbal, Affect, And Content Clues In Clinical Judgements From Interviews, Nicholas Charles Anthony

Master's Theses

The clinical psychologist, experienced social worker, psychiatrist, and others, whose professions involve dealing with people who are experiencing life-problems, are frequently called upon to make judgements about these people. The basis of these judgements are almost always partially formed from interviews with the people they they must judge. The interviewers form their judgements from different cues that the clients communicate to them during these interviews. The cues employed to form these judgements that have thus far been differentiated and investigated are visual, verbal, and content cues. This study is concerned with the latter two.

Background Similarity-Dissimilarity, Interpersonal Attraction And Change In Confidence, Lewis J. Levine

Master's Theses

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of background similarity-dissimilarity on interpersonal attraction and on changing one's confidence in his own judgment. The hypotheses were as follows:

1. A stranger with a similar background to that of the S will be better liked (i.e., more attractive) than a dissimilar stranger.

2. Agreement by another person (regard less of whether he is similar or dissimilar in background) will in­ crease one's certainty of judgment about a particular issue.

3. Disagreement by another person (regardless of whether he is a similar or dissimilar otheii will decrease one' a certainty …

The Retention Of Tactile Stimulation With Young And Elderly Adults, Sally Baker Canestrari

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study is to test the retention of sensory experience in the modality of light-touch with both young and elderly subjects. Based on previous literature, it is expected that young Ss will be able to maintain more accurately the light-touch impression for a long delay period (two weeks) than older persons. The test for retention or the impression will be made immediately (two minutes) following the stimulation for one-half the Ss, and after two week a for the remaining Ss.

Classically Conditioned Licking And Acquired Orienting As A Function Of Qualitatively Different Ucs Values : Acquisition, Shifting And Extinction, Jerry Weeks Rudy

Master's Theses

The purpose of the present study was twofold: (A) to study classically conditioned licking in rats as a function of a qualitative UCS difference, defined as 15% sucrose concentration and 0% concentration (plain tap water); (B) to study acquired orienting as a function of these UCS values. Several aspects of conditioned performance were investigated: (1) the effect of UCS intensity on level of responding during acquisition; (2) the effect of UCS intensity on rate of approach to terminal level of responding; (3) a possible learning performance distinction in appetitive classical conditioning; (4) rate of extinction as a function of the …

Partial Reinforcement With A Small Number Of Acquisition Trials : The Effects Of Thwarting On Extinction Performance, W. Schuyler Miller

Master's Theses

The present study is an attempt to provide a setting in which to examine the possible contribution of the fixed time reward technique to the PREE obtained by McCain and his associates

The Weighted Application Blank As A Predicter Of Academic Success In A Junior College, Richard J. Ritchie

Master's Theses

There has been a great of research conducted to find factors which can be used to predict academic success. A number of these factors have already been identified. For example, college board scores, high school rank, and high school grades are widely used a predictors of academic success. Most of the research that has been conducted has dealt with intellectual factor, but there has been some research done to find non-intellectual factors related to academic success. These non-intellectual factors include: study habits, personality, traits, and environmental factors.

One possible predictor of academic success which has received little attention is biographical …

An Experimental Study Of Three Programed Methods, David Robinson Grove

Master's Theses

All programed training makes use of successively presented units of information, usually accompanied by a test question and usually providing the subject with. immediate knowledge of whether his answer is right or wrong. The purpose of a program whose assimilated data is in questions and answers is to shape a series of responses into a complex act.

Within this common framework there is--for psychologists, at any rate--a difference between two schools of thought which dominates the field and is reflected in the tasks and types of programs given to the trainee.

The question now becomes one in determining the "best …

The Effect Of Verbal And Visual Mnemonic Devices On The Paired Associate Learning Of An Aged Population, Franklin Peter Knill

Master's Theses

The literature on aging is abundant with studies using a variety of tasks indicating that there is a decline in learning with increasing age.

Subjects were presented pairs of words accompanied by a black and white sketch that contained both words

In a further attempt to study more directly the effects of visual vs. verbal mediators, a second condition was included where subjects were presented pairs of words accompanied by a phrase that contained both of the words.

The following bypotheaee were postulated:

1. Performance of younger subjects will be superior to old ones over all conditions.

2. Performance will …

A Revision Of The Morgan Test Of Logical Reasoning, Fred K. Mccoy

Master's Theses

Do we learn to reason logically just as we learn grammar or estimating distances? Philosophers usually say we do and have taught logic as a discipline for thousands of years. They are generally not content to teach "about" logic, or in the history of it; they generally state their intent is to teach "logic for everyday thinking". Appendix VI is a personal communication to the author from a philosopher stating this clearly and comparing the skill of logical reasoning with the skill of using grammar.

Or is logical reasoning a relatively inherent trait, as intelligence is generally assumed to be? …

The Relationship Of The Detection Of Unpredictable Visual Binary Sequences And Selected Personality Measures, Currell L. Pattie

Master's Theses

To a certain extent the everyday incidents of life occur in a chaotic and orderless fashion. But in such an unpredictable world people must predict such events even if they present themselves at random. This suggestion by Restle (1961) is especially relevant to an experiment by Pattie (1964a) in the area of human binary prediction. This study seemed to indicate that individuals search for and believe in orderly, predictable solutions in apparently orderless, random situations. Ss were given a randomized deck of 200 index cards, of which 75% displayed an easily discriminable symbol with the remaining 25% bearing another symbol. …

A Study Of The Relationship Between Wisc And School Success Of Emotionally Disturbed Children, Paul Daniel Shearer

Master's Theses

Since the publishing of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children in 1949, the majority of the validation don procedures have been correlations of the WISC with other intelligence teats or with achievement tests. As Littell (1960) indicated in his review of the research, both methods have yielded high correlations and are responsible in part for the wide acceptance of the WISC. While research has well established the ability of the WISC and other intelligence teats to predict school achievement in a normal population, the generalization of these findings to a population of emotionally disturbed children is in question for several …

An Inquiry Into The Kuder Preference Record Vocational Verification Scale And The Guilford Zimmerman Temperament Survey Falsification Scale, Ann Denton Ryder

Master's Theses

This study investigated the variables measured by the verification scale of the Kuder Preference Record-Voca tiona l and the falsification scale of the GuilfordZimmerman Temperament Survey. Responses of an experimental group of Protestant seminary students were compared with those of a control group of general psychology students. These groups were shown to be different in self-perceived values and attitudes, as defined by results on the Allport Vernon Lindzey Study of Values and the Guilford-Zimmerman Temperament Survey, with the experimental group presenting the more altruistic outlook. This was taken to indicate that this group would not be falsifying in giving positive …

Dyadic Communication As A Function Of Communicative Method And Interpersonal Mutuality, Harry Wallace Craver Jr.

Master's Theses

A large proportion of research in social psychology has been concerned with interpersonal Communication. More often than not, when different investigators got interested in an area of experimentation that is fairly broad and influenced by many variables, an evolvement of several different categories of or approaches to the research area occurs. The area of interpersonal communication is no exception.

The Effect Of Aging On Ratings Of Self, Physical Self And Related Body Concepts As Measured By A Semantic Differential, Gary V. Whalen

Master's Theses

Present Study. Although there is considerable overlap between the body image and the self concept, it would be premature to draw any conclusions regarding one based upon the other until the nature and extent of correlation is obtained. This study is an attempt to determine the extent and direction that an individual's body image may fluctuate as a function of growing old. It is concerned with how the human organism may change over time with respect to a single aspect of the constellations of factors that go into making up a person's self concept. More specifically, do body part ratings …

Personality Characteristics Related To Volunteering, Pseudovolunteering And Non-Volunteering For Different Kinds Of Psychological Experiments, Donald S. Sale

Master's Theses

Volunteer subjects are utilized in a large portion of experiments concerned with human behavior. Yet the use of volunteers is a form of systematic sampling bias which may well distort research findings. This study was undertaken to explore some of the factors related to volunteering for psychological experiments at Richmond College in the hope of providing future researchers with insight into reasons why the use of volunteer subjects may bias their research results and of stimulating them to use more representative, albeit less convenient sampling procedures.

An Investigation Of The Novelty Effect In Programed Instruction, Frederick Sale Jr.

Master's Theses

The present study was designed to overcome, at least to some extent, the problems by using older, experimentally naive subjects am shorter programs. A comparison is made between successive performances by a group of college students on a series of three programs. The null hypothesis is that there will be no significant differences between performances on the three programs. On the other hand, significant decreases in effectiveness of performance by the subjects on the successive program could be taken as evidence that the expected novelty effect operating initially in the learning situation dissipates with increasing exposure of the subjects to …

Creativity And Deviant Set Responding In Third Grade Children, Elizabeth S. Waller

Master's Theses

This study will be an investigation of the relationship between test scores of creativity, according to the Minnesota Tests of Creative Thinking (Torrance, 1960), and teacher ratings of creativity for third grade children. The hypothesis that highly creative individuals tend to give deviant response patterns on the PRT will also be tested.

The Effects Of Age At The Beginning Of Reading Instruction On Reading Achievement, Phyllis G. Wacker

Master's Theses

Hunt (1961) found that in lower socio-economio groups training provided by the child' s natural environment was often too haphazard for the efficient development of ideas of which he is capable. Limited experiences, or few "learning sets" may be the cause of lack of achievement. These questions led the experimenter, a year later, to undertake a study of these children after each had had two years of formal, in school, reading instruct ion, and to test the following hypotheses:

1. Four groups of children who had entered school at the same time, but at four different ages, would differ significantly …

The Behavioral Effects Of Partial Reinforcement As A Function Of The Stimulus Similarity Of The Intertrial Interval, Dennis L. Mclaughlin

Master's Theses

Although Pavlov (1927) and Skinner (1938) had published articles dealing with the effects of less than 100% reinforcement upon acquisition and extinction, it was not until the Humphrey's investigation (1939) that partial reinforcement became an enigma for leaning theorists. Hull's theory came under the sharpest criticism because with a decrease in the number of reinforcement in acquisition there was not a corresponding decrease in habit strength as measured by resistance to extinction. Despite much criticism, Hull did not deet it necessary to consider the problem of partial reinforcement in his Principles of Behavior (1943). Humphreys, on the other hand, proposed …

Cognitive Dissonance In Task-Orientedgroups Under Intermittent And Continuous Success, Arthur Hiram Strock Ii

Master's Theses

In a recent study by Burke (1961), the psychological effects of participation in task-oriented groups were studied. This study incorporated selected communication networks, the wheel, circle, and the all-channel, from a number of experimental arrangements that were conceived and developed by Bavelas (1950). Burke’s eighteen five-man groups were seated at a partitioned table containing slots in a center post through which written messages could be sent. This apparatus was similar in design to the table first used and described by Leavitt (1951). The groups worked on a task that required the members to find one symbol among five that was …

A Study Of The Occupational Pattern Of The Presbyterian Ministry Of The Synod Of North Carolina, James F. Hubbard

Master's Theses

The Synod of North Carolina of the Presbyterian Church in the United States operates a Guidance Center on the campus of st. Andrews Presbyterian College at Laurinburg, North Carolina. Similar centers are in operation in other states by the appropriate Synod of the church. It is the task or these centers to provide a program or testing and counseling for high school Juniors and Seniors from local churches throughout the state. Candidates for the ministry are also examined and reports made to the Presbytery in charge. The emphasis is upon vocational and educational guidance. The Guidance Center in North Carolina …

Presentation Factors As Critical Variables In Learning By Program, Guide, And Self Study, Charles Holman Jennings

Master's Theses

Visionary suggestions for improving formal education are now at last becoming realities. More and better equipped plants are rising. Teachers' salaries are on the increase. More updated text books are available. Ability grouping is Widely practiced. A wider range and greater depth or course offerings enhances the high school curricula. Increased alumni contributions and government grants are leading to expansion of staff and facilities at the college level. However, none of these consider how a student learns. Thus none copes directly with the most basic o! needs, that of making the teaching-learning process itself more effective and efficient. The approach …

A Comparison Of The Responses Of Achievers And Underachievers In A Junior High School On A Biographical Questionnaire, Claude Ashburn Sandy

Master's Theses

The purpose of the present study is to discover some of the biographical factors (personal, family, and environmental) which are characteristic of a majority of underachievers in junior high school. The discovery of these factors may lead to the development of an instrument which would assist in the detection, early in school, of an underachieving predisposition. This seems to be a logical possibility in view of a study by Shaw and Mccuen (1960). Their results indicated individual patterns of academic achievement for male and female underachievers beginning early in elementary school. Further, the classification of these factors by content may …

Effect Of Successive Training Of Different N-Lengths Under Partial Reinforcement On Resistance To Extinction, Edward Dale Walters

Master's Theses

This experiment was designed to teat a theoretical interpretation based on Capaldi's modified aftereffects hypothesis. It held that the conditioning successively of different S^Ns to the lever-presaing response would lead to increased resistance to extinction.

Patterns Of Response As A Function Of Intelligence, Motivation, And Personality, David T. Hess

Master's Theses

The present study will attempt to investigate C and RSR differences, sampling from a broad range of functions, using measures which may be less subject to verbal sets than the more traditional methods used by Couch and Keniston. The differences will be assessed in terms of the subjects' intelligence, general personality function, and test taking motivation.

Emergent Leadership As A Function Of The Leaders Social Distance And The Task Situation, George Stephen Goldstein

Master's Theses

The present study attempts to investigate the phenomena of social distance of the leader as a function of group effectiveness on different tasks. A number of hypotheses will be studied.

An Analysis Of Extreme Response Set As Related To Personality, David L. Hamilton

Master's Theses

The phenomenon that certain individuals have unique and consistent patterns of responding to test items is called ''response set" or "response style". Such a set leads a person to respond to test items differently than he would if the same content were presented in a different manner or form. Thus, when response sets are present, the content of a statement become less important in determining the response. During the last decade, the study of various response styles has been one of the most active areas of research in psychology.

A Comparison Of The Responses Of Achievers And Underachievers In A Junior High School On A Biographical Questionnaire, Claude Ashburn Sandy

Honors Theses

The purpose of the present study is to discover some of the biographical factors (personal, family, and environmental) which are characteristic of a majority of underachievers in junior high school. The discovery of these factors may lead to the development of an instrument which would assist in the detection, early in school, of an underachieving predisposition. This seems to be a logical possibility in view of a study by Shaw and Mccuen (1960). Their results indicated individual patterns of academic achievement for male and female underachievers beginning early in elementary school. Further, the classification of these factors by content may …