Psychology Commons^™

The Use Of Function In Infant Concept Acquisition, Carolyn S. Held

Student Work

The use of function for concept formation in 5 and 8 month old infants was studied in an experiment employing a conceptual adaptation of the standard habituation paradigm. A total of 64 male and female infants were shown videoptaped presentations which involved changes in form and functional attributes of selected stimuli. The stimuli consisted of striped figures which could vary in form (shmoo-shaped or H-shaped) and function (side-to-side movements or up-down movements). During habituation, all infants were shown multiexemplars of a specific figure performing a single movement pattern; the figures varied only in color. During test trials, the infants were …

The Effect Of Mother-Infant Bonding On Maternal Attitude, Roxanne Hughes

Student Work

The attachment relationship that develops between parents and their infants has been the focus of extensive research. The results suggest that parent-infant attachment can be crucial to the survival and development of the infant. Research has further shown that strong feelings of affection could be easily disturbed or altered permanently if prolonged separation between parents and their newborn occurs during the immediate postpartum period (first few hours). This study investigated whether differing amounts of early postpartum contact between mothers and their normal full term infants would be reflected in maternal attitude toward the newborn infant* documented through a questionnaire administered …

Attitude-Behavior Relationships: A Comparison Of The Fishbein-Ajzen And Bentler-Speckart Models, Arlene J. Fredericks

Student Work

This study compared the Fishbein-Ajzen (1975) model of attitude-behavior relationships with Bentler-Speckart's (1979) modifications of the model. Subjects were 236 undergraduate college students and the measures of behavior were repeated self-reports of class attendance. An analysis of linear structural relationships, using multiple indicators for each underlying construct, supported the Bentler-Speckart addition to the Fishbein- Aj zen model of prior behavior as a direct causal influence on both subsequent behavior and behavioral intentions. However, consistent with the original Fishbein-Ajzen model, a direct causal path from attitude to subsequent behavioral intentions was not found. Directions for future studies and respecification of the …

Behavioral Observation Versus Behavioral Expectation Rating Scales: Development And Psychometric Properties, Calvin C. Hoffman

Student Work

Rating scales to assess the level of proficiency of human performance have come in a wide variety of formats. The objectives of the scales, types of questions asked, and procedures followed vary widely. Prior to 1960, most rating scales utilized what is known as the graphic format. According to Guion (1965) the rating scale was relied on in 81% of the validation studies using rating scales. While this has declined somewhat (Landy § Trumbo, 1976) performance ratings still play a major part in validation. This study will compare behavioral observation and behavioral expectation scales in terms of psychometric properties. Central …

Developmental Changes In Fantasy Play The Years Two To Six And The Relationship Of Social Cognition, Diane Cole

Student Work

Fantasy play is a very general type of play and includes most types of pretending, whereas symbolic and dramatic play are specific types of pretending. There has been much controversy surrounding the age at which a child initially develops the ability to role-take, and the relationship between play and role-taking,. This study examined age and sex differences in eight categories of fantasy play— substitution, attribution of function, animation, insubstantial material, insubstantial situation, character attribution, dramatic, and other play. Relationships were also examined between play categories and egocentrism, role-taking, and verbal IQ. The subjects were 78 two- and six-year olds who …

The Relationship Of Goal Setting, Extrinsic Motivation And Performance Outcome To Expectancies, Causal Attributions, And Goal Acceptance And Commitment, Nelson Adrian

Student Work

Locke’s (1968) theory of goal setting stipulates that specific, hard goals, if accepted, lead to better performance than do less difficult goals. Locke suggests that conscious intentions are the underlying determinants of performance. However, Locke was more concerned with testing the results of these conscious intentions (goals) than with understanding the cognitions and motivation behind them. While some research has begun to consider the motivational components of goal setting (e.g., Terborg, 1976) very little attention has been given to the factors which determine goal acceptance.

Recently, Mento, Cartledge, and Locke (1980) have suggested that Valence-Instrumentality-Expectancy (VIE) theory may provide a …

Social Validation: An Investigation Of Factors That Influence Social Validity Ratings, Dianne J. Smart

Student Work

The expansion in social validation literature has initiated a growing concern surrounding several methodology issues. In particular the need has arisen for social validation research to incorporate reliable and valid measurement scales and to explore the effects of extraneous variables on judges’ ratings. The current study socially validated the effects of a consultant training program and investigated the effects of four variables on judges’ ratings: judges' position, judges' program affiliation, viewed consultant-trainee's level of training and an individual consultanttrainee factor. Teaching-Parent and consultant judges from three different training sites viewed videotapes of consultant-trainees before and after training. The judges rated …