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Proactive Transfer And Acoustic Similarity In Short-Term Paired-Assoicate Learning, Richard James Pittman

Master's Theses

Interference is the most prominent explanation of forgetting in verbal long-term memory (LTM). Interference theory generally holds that forgetting is due to the competition of associations learned during the retention interval rather than to the decay of memory traces. Proactive interference results when the competing associations are learned prior to the criterion associations, and retroactive interference results when the competing associations are learned after the criterion associations. Further explanation of retroactive inhibition (RI) and proactive inhibition (PI) in paired-associate (P-A) learning is found in the extinction hypothesis of interference theory. According to the hypothesis, interference is due to unlearning or …

Schedule Interactions And Stimulus Control, Andrew Louis Homer

Dissertations and Theses

Four types of schedule interactions have been defined: positive contrast, negative contrast, positive induction, and negative induction. Most work has centered on the necessary conditions for positive contrast. One position states that a reduction in reinforcement frequency is necessary; the other view states that a reduction in response rate is necessary. Neither view can account for the occurrence of induction. The present experiment tests the hypothesis that stimulus control effects the occurrence of either contrast or induction. Three pigeons were trained to respond for primary reinforcement (strong stimulus control condition), and three pigeons were trained to respond for conditioned reinforcement …

Post-Divorce Visitation Of Minor Children; Development Of A Questionnaire, Viola Cotter, Lorraine Goldenberg, Terry Mcgill

Dissertations and Theses

The present descriptive study was broadly concerned about divorces which have an impact on minor children. It was intended to build on the previous research of Griffith, Hack, Murphy, Wieman, Williams, Van Lydegraf & Glaudin (1970) in describing the relationships between parents and children after divorce. It was the objective of the present research team to come closer to the goal of selecting a representative sample of divorced parents than was possible previously. Moreover, an attempt was made to develop a highly structured questionnaire and interview schedule growing out of the earlier experience with semi-structured interviews. Data to be collected …

Social Influence And The Estimation Of Time, Robert Montgomery, Russell F. Enzie

Psychological Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

The usefulness of time estimation as a standard task in social-influence studies was determined by replicating Sherif's autokinetic research. Divided into two conditions, Ss received 15-, 45-, or 75-sec time intervals during two sessions. Half of the Ss wrote estimates in Session 1 and gave oral estimates in Session 2. The other half of the Ss gave oral estimates during Session 1 and wrote estimates in Session 2. The results were in agreement with Sherif's autokinetic research, indicating that time estimation is an acceptable substitute for the autokinetic effect, which is expensive and cumbersome. © 1971, Psychonomic Journals, Inc.. All …

Modification Of Deviant Behavior By Parents, Jeanne M. Gabourie

All Master's Theses

It is the purpose of this study (1) to determine if a child's deviant social behaviors can be effectively modified by his own parents; and (2) to determine if parents can be trained to use behavior modification techniques in the home.

Operant Training Of Originality In Hospitalized Adult Mental Patients, David Dennis Holt

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The thesis is a report of a pilot study in the general research area of behavioral originality. In the study operant techniques were used to train originality in hospitalized mentally ill or mentally retarded subjects (Ss). Originality of behavior was defined in terms of the observable behavior of the Ss in the research setting. Original responses were defined as verbal responses different from recorded baseline verbalizations for one subject (S) and motor responses different from previously observed motor responses for each of three Ss.

An Empirical Study Of Measured Closemindedness And Intension As Exhibited Through The Response To Perceived Images, Kathleen A. Humphrey

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Relation Between Tested Intelligence And Length Of Institutionalization In Children, Janet Eileen Sanders

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between the tested intelligence of children in a public children’s shelter and the length of time these children had been institutionalized.

Detection Threshold For Heart Rate Change In Psychopaths, Recidivists And Normals, William K. Volner Jr.

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

To test this a three part study would be required. First, it should be determined if there is a difference between the threshold for perception of increased heart rate in psychopaths and normals in order to see if the problem is an attentional one. If such a difference were not found the next step would be to compare psychopaths and normals on the strength of the cognitive fear reaction to S_arm the source of which in this case is increased heart rate. Finally, if results show no cognitive fear attached to the awareness of their increased heart rate, …

Attitudes Toward The Policeman Among First Grade Children, Rose Mary Zacharia Finnegan

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Individual Differences In Person Perception: Assessment Of A Model, Tulio Peter Ferisin

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Anagram Solution Times: A Function Of Bigram Frequency And Versatility, Gene Edward Topper

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Individual Versus Triadic Performance On A Multidimensional Complementary Task As A Function Of Initial Ability Level, Laurence G. Branch

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Dependency And Plausibility On Attitude Change, Virginia Heenan

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Color Vision In Mentally Retarded Children, Ralph M. Mesenbrink

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Three Kinds Of Influence Upon The Moral Judgments Of Objective And Subjective Boys And Girls, David A. Utech

Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Differential Effects Of Reward And Punishment On Subsequent Altruistic Behavior, Sharon Browning

Theses and Dissertations

In today's complex society, no one can be independent and survive; people must help others. There appear to be limits on help giving or at least some conditions under which help is not given. For example, why did thirty-eight people stand silently and watch Kitty Genovese being murdered without one person calling the police or offering any assistance? In addition to making people more interdependent, our rapidly expanding technological society may also account for increased im-personalization and accompanying apathy and alienation. However, the research which has been done in the area of altruism or helping behavior seems to indicate that …

Action-Oriented Group Therapy For Lower-Socio-Economic-Status Clients, Joan C. Peters

Dissertations and Theses

An attempt is made to present a model of group therapy for Lower-Socio-Economic-Status (LSES) clients. The theoretical issues include a definition of traditional group therapy along with a brief description of the more recent sensitivity training approaches. A rationale for combining these two different group approaches is presented to form the model for action-oriented group therapy (ACT groups) which utilizes both the traditional approach and action techniques of the sensitivity group. It is proposed that this hybrid, the AOT group, is more appropriate for treating the LSES client. The needs and expectations of the LSES client are discussed. The goals …

Response Latency As A Function Of Hypothesis Testing Strategies In Concept Identification, Richard T. Fink

Psychology ETDs

The ability of Levine’s subset-sampling assumption to account for the gradual decrease in response latency following the trial of the last error was investigated in two experiments. Levine’s account assumes that Ss monitor a set of hypotheses (H) and reduce the set until only the correct H remains. This assumption leads to the prediction that latencies will decrease until S holds only the correct H and will remain constant thereafter. Levine’s assumption was tested by employing a distributed stimulus set composed of four binary dimensions and a procedure which required Ss to make an overt response in order to sample …

The Effects Of Free And Forced Choice With A Time Gradient And Monetary Incentive In A Serial Learning Task, Ernest Joseph Lucier Jr.

All Master's Theses

This experiment was designed to determine the effects of free and forced choice within time gradients of five and eight seconds using monetary incentive on a serial learning task. A series of nonsense symbols were successively presented to thirty-six subjects whose task was to learn the serial with the least number of exposures.

Explorations In Personal Space., Alice Biernoff Hiat

Psychology ETDs

It has been observed by a number of workers that humans tend to maintain some degree of physical distance between themselves and other persons or objects. This "individual distance" (ID) is assumed to reflect an area surrounding the person that he regards as a part of himself, rather like a portable territory; this area is termed "personal space" (PS).

Though there have been several experimental studies of PS in humans, none has determined the test-retest reliability of ID, nor has individual consistency of relative size of ID over a range of situations been investigated. The present study was designed to …

The Modification Of Form And Color Responding In Young Children As A Function Of Differential Reinforcement And Verbaliziation., Joan F. Gusinow

Psychology ETDs

When young children are presented with a learning task composed of two dimensional stimuli that vary along both. a form and a color continuum, they solve the problem in a consistent and unidimensional manner. This response bias, or dimensional dominance, has in the literature been called a form or color preference. The results of developmental studies have indicated that children at the. youngest ages display a form preference which gradually shifts to a color preference by the age of 4-1/2 years and then this preference shifts back. to form. This lawful relationship has then explained by developmental theorists as being …

The Effects Of False Feedback And Stimulus Intensity Upon Simple Reaction Time:An Investigation Of The Variable Criterion Model., Kerm Henriksen

Psychology ETDs

The purpose of the present simple reaction time (RT) study was to evaluate the application of the variable criterion model to the effects of false feedback and stimulus intensity. The variable criterion model is a decision-theory approach relating stimulus intensity and response evocation. According to the model, stimulus intensity determines the rate of neural events or "impulses" originating from stimulus onset, whereas contextual and motivational variables determine the S's decision criterion, or the number of impulses that must accumulate before a response is made. The time required to reach the criterion value is the reaction time. Reaction time is thus …

The Effect Of Perceptual-Motor Training On Maladaptive Behaviors Of Emotionally Disturbed Children, Julia Frances Hall

Dissertations and Theses

Twenty emotionally disturbed children between the ages of six and twelve from three agencies providing special treatment for behavioral or emotional problems were the subjects for this study. The subjects were divided into two major diagnostic categories, withdrawn and acing out, and then matched in pairs by age and diagnosis. One half of each pair was randomly assigned to the experimental condition and the remaining halves were assigned to the control condition. Both the experimental and control groups contained five withdrawn and five acting out subjects. Four experimenters were used, and each experimenter worked with two or four experimental children …

The Relative Importance Of Structure And Individual Differences In Determining Behavior In Two Person Games, Ronald A. Flint

Psychology ETDs

Three factors have been proposed in the literature as determinants of game playing behavior. These are: a structural factor, a factor arising out of the interaction between the players, and an individual differences factor. A recent study was able to separate the structural factor from the combined effects of the interaction factor and the individual differences factor. This was done by using a within-subjects design and between-game correlations to uncover behavioral consistencies across different games. Between-game consistencies were found, thus indicating that the structural factor is not the sole determinant of game playing behavior. However, because the interaction factor and …

Television-Mediated Aggression And Its Effects On Children’S Level Of Aggressiveness, Thomas M. Ferguson

All Master's Theses

It was hypothesized that subjects viewing film-mediated aggressive models would perform more aggressive behaviors in the test situation, than either of the other two groups, despite the low similarity factor. Results failed to confirm this hypothesis. It was found that boys were more aggressive than girls across all treatment levels.

Added Cue Control As A Function Of Reinforcement Predictability, Jerome M. Feldman

Psychology ETDs

In Experiment 1, 32 rats were pretrained to press a lever for a .045 gm. Noyes food pellet either in the presence of a light or a tone. For half of the Ss within each group, responses were reinforced 100% or 25% of the time. After 16 days of pretraining, a novel stimulus (light or tone) was simultaneously compounded with the pretraining stimulus for another 16 days. Probability of reinforcement continued at the pretraining value for half of the Ss within each group. The remaining Ss had their reinforcement probability increased (from 25% to 100%) or decreased (from 100% to …

Two Systems Of Efference From Visual Cortex To Anterior Middle Suprasylvian Gyrus, John Marshall Orem

Psychology ETDs

Both an early and a late system of efference could be detected in anterior middle suprasylvian gyrus upon stimulation of ipsilateral visual cortex with single pulses in chloralosed cats. The early system was seen as a positive potential peaking within 10 msec after the stimulus, and it was eliminated or reduced by vertically sectioning between visual cortex and anterior middle suprasylvian gyrus. The late system (a positive potential peaking 15 to 30 msec after the stimulus) was eliminated by either an undercutting of visual cortex or aiscrcte lesions in the ipsilateral superior colliculus. The early system was maximally elicited from …

An Evaluation Of The Collegiate Experience Of The Usu Student, Mark G. Christensen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The American College Testing Program's Institutional Self-Study Survey was used in this study to consider USU students' goals, achievements, and evaluations of their collegiate experience. Goals included were students' educational majors, vocational plans, final college degree sought, and the relative importance attached to attaining Vocational, Academic, Social, and Non-Conventional goals. Achievements studied were both intellectual and nonacademic out-of-class accomplishments, and students' perceived progress in achieving Intellectual-Humanistic, Group-Welfare, Scientific-Independent, and Practical-status outcomes of their collegiate experience. Student evaluations of instructors, college services, selected policies, practices, facilities, and required courses were also studied. National normative data were compared with USU data in …

A Longitudinal Evaluation Of The Ogden City Head Start Program, Robert D. Eyestone

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study attempted to investigate the differences in the Head Start population of the Ogden City Schools and to determine if the differences had a significant influence on ability comparisons. An attempt was also made to evaluate the longitudinal benefits of Head Start training. The original data was collected in the 1966-67 evaluation of the Head Start program. Additional data was collected as this original group of Head Start children progressed through kindergarten, first, and second grades.

Variables considered in this study were, residence, age, sex, socio-economic deprivation, family constellation, and ethnic group. In addition, a comparison was made of …