Digital Commons Network^™

The Supreme Organ Of The Mind's Self-Ordering Growth, T. Y. Booth

Faculty Honor Lectures

As is true of other organs, when language is functioning well, we pay little or no attention to it or its complexities. Part of the difficulty, in fact, of doing justice to the problems of expression and interpretation that Richards asks us to deal with is that routine language experience occurs so effortlessly, so unconcernedly, so second-natured naturally, that when we do run into difficulties we do not always recognize them as difficulties of our developing language. Or, what can be even worse, we think of the language difficulties as if they were separable, as if the thought would be …

Operant And Classical Conditioning Of Single Units In Area 18a Of The Rat’S Cortex, Francis E. Butler

Masters Theses

The effect of the previous history of a single unit on its present firing pattern was studied using classical and operant conditioning. The units were in area 18a of the rat's cortex. It was found that there are polymodal units in that area. The firing pattern can be changed using classical conditioning. The rate of firing can be increased one standard deviation above the mean rate by reinforcing with brain stimulation. The rate can also be changed one standard deviation below the mean rate. This occurs when the trials come at a fixed time and when the trials come at …

The Use Of Multiple Auditory Cues In A Visual Search Task, Howard C. Silver

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Schedule Effects On Individual And Paired Escape Behavior Of Albino Rats, Anton P. Colasacco

Masters Theses

In Experiment I, the effects of low fixed ratios on individual escape behavior of rats was studied. When FR sessions were compared to CRF sessions, measures related to shock delivery showed highest percentage increases, especially at FR-5.

Animals were then paired. Two schedules were analyzed as alternatives to individual escape. In Experiment II, shock was terminated when a specified FR was completed, either by the responses of one animal or by the total responses of both animals. Escape as a function of both animals responding was not maintained. In Experiment III, shock was terminated individually as before, or when both …

The Effects Of Types Of Music On Worker Productivity In A Sheltered Workshop, Wayne D. Veneklasen

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Shaping Of Verbal Imitation And Multiple Effects Of Aversive Schedules For Controlling Inattention In An Infant, Leta Hunt Secker

Masters Theses

A six-month-old infant was conditioned to imitate four verbal cues presented by an adult experimenter by using food as a reinforcer. Aversive schedules (escape-avoidance of, or punishment with a loud buzzer) were then introduced to suppress inattentive behavior. Inattention defined as looking away from the investigator, crying, rate of vocalizations, and accuracy of imitations were measured. Three conclusions of the experiment were: 1) verbal imitation can be shaped and maintained through positive reinforcement; 2) the use of aversive schedules is not necessarily beneficial for the performance of the imitative task, or for the general well-being of the child.

An Exploration Of Numerous Customer Characteristics Associated With Impulse Purchasing Behavior, Ira J. Jager

Masters Theses

Introduction

The term "impulse buying behavior" evokes different connotations to different researchers. It is for this reason that it is difficult to formulate a universal definition for all research in the field. Engel, Kollat, and Blackwell (1968) list some of the definitions given to impulse purchasing by those who have done research in this field:

(1) "An impulse purchase is an unplanned spur of the moment decision to purchase a product."

(2) "An impulse purchase is a logical and efficient way of making purchase decisions since by waiting until one is in the store to finalize purchase intentions, a more …

Personal Space As A Function Of Repression-Sensitization, Sensation-Seeking And The Stigmatized Characteristics Of A Target Person, Howard M. Johnson

Student Work

The concept of personal space has been an unregarded sociological and psychological dimension. Probably the work of animal ethologists has done more to generate interest in spacing and territoriality than any other group of behavioral investigators. The characteristics of individual space in animals has been studied by Hediger (1950, 1955, 1961). From Hediger 's import ant work, research in the area of personal space in humans has evolved.

Conditioned Suppression In Humans As A Function Of Task Complexity, Henry H. James

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

An Analysis Of Differentiating Personality Factors Between Incarcerated Heroin Addicts And Non-Addicts, Richard Whitely Davis

Master's Theses

The present study was designed to determine if long-term heroin addicts could be differentiated from short-term users and non-users of heroin on a personality inventory and by comparing their worlt histories and interpersonal relationships . Subjects were incarcerated felons at the Virginia State Penitentiary for men, and the data was collected while the men were still in the institution's Receiving Cell. First it was hyr)othesized that four factors (C, L, M, and O) from Cattell's 16 P. F. Questionnaire would be critical in discriminating addicts from non-addicts. When compared, the addict profiles and non-addict profiles did not differ significantly …

Cue Relevance As A Continuum, David A. Governski

Psychology ETDs

The primary purpose of this experiment was to demonstrate how different percentages of reinforcement can result in differential amounts of stimulus control. The initial conditions were designed to see if organisms could distinguish between different reinforcement percentages of different stimuli, even though these stimuli always appeared in compound and never in isolation. In Condition I, four stimuli were used with the following absolute reinforcement percentages: 75, 75, 50, and 0, corresponding to three different tones and a light. Results showed that the light had become a conditioned inhibitor but that no difference in stimulus control was obtained between the 75% …

A Program Of School Social Work, Phyllis Marie Jaszkowiak

Dissertations and Theses

School social work is in a state of flux. Traditional casework services in the schools, as the only function of the school social worker, is becoming less viable.

The study of Assumption school and area points out some problem areas, as well as strengths. In view of these problems and strengths, a broadened school social work program is discussed. The program centers around prevention, treatment, and research. A basic principle upon which all is based is a team approach of social work, school, and community. The discussion leads to the community school concept, which is currently seen as one of …

"America: Possibilities For Transformation", Robert Jay Lifton, Portland State University

Special Collections: Oregon Public Speakers

No abstract provided.

Some Aspects Of The Biological Bases Of Language, Lydia Artiola

MA TESOL Collection

A look into language from a biological point of view. Some aspects of language in the central nervous system, concentrating on the brain are presented. Neuroanatomy and neurophysiology of the language system are discussed. A discussion on the applicability of certain biological premises to the language system.

Ua35/11 Student Honors Bulletin, Vol. I, No. 1, Wku Honors Program

WKU Administration Documents

Articles written by honors program students. They were originally research projects, class papers or essays written for academic credit, but in each case the student has done further work editing and improving his or her manuscript for this publication. The articles represent a broad range of interests and disciplines, and they indicate a healthy attempt on the part of at least some students to dig for deeper knowledge and understanding than is usually associated with undergraduate study.

• Harris, James. The Trent Affair; Restraint vs. Irresponsibility
• Massey, Scott. Foolishness
• Oskins, Doug. Reuse of Sewage as a Potable Water Supply
• Alvey, Richard. …

Verbal Reward & Punishment & Need For Approval In Schizophrenics, Chester Gay Jr.

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The current study was designed to further examine the effects of verbal reward and punishment on task performance of schizophrenics. The relationship of need for approval of schizophrenics (as measured by the M-C SDS) to performance and to reward and punishment was also examined. Verbal reward and punishment along with need for approval served as independent variables. Task performance was the dependent variable. The following major questions were asked:

1. Does verbal reward and punishment significantly influence performance of schizophrenics?
2. How is the personality construct, need for approval, related to performance of tasks by schizophrenics?
3. Is there a significant interaction between …

The Interdependence Of Measures Of Vocational Interest And Personality, David O. Barrows

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

A basic problem encountered in the area of psychological testing is the determination of what a particular test is measuring. One means by which tests are evaluated is by making observations as to how well scores may predict some specified behavior. For example, a test may be found to predict on-the-job performance. This is known as the predictive validity of a test and is determined by simply computing the coefficient of correlation between the test scores and the criterion to be predicted, which is directly observable.

Self-Attribution Of Attitude By Nonverbal Response Manipulation : A Further Consideration, James Joseph Fitzpatrick

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The attribution process has been empirically and theoretically explored since the publication of Fritz Heider's text, The Psychology of Interpersonal Relations (1958). All of the related thinking has not been derived from Heider's theory. Reviews by Jones and Davis (l965) and Kelley (1976) indicated that other sources such as Festinger's dissonance theory and Skinner's behavioristic perspective had led to research concerned with attribution theory.

Differential Conditioning And Stimulus Intensity, Bruce A. Kushner

Psychology ETDs

The present experiments sought to investigate the effects of intensity of the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) on differential conditioning. The first experiment was an attempt to replicate the Spence, Haggard, and Ross (1958b) study in which one group of subjects (Ss) received, on a random half of the trials, a light conditioned stimulus (CS) paired with a high intensity UCS, while on the other half of the trials, a tone CS was paired with a weak UCS. Another group received the reverse pairing arrangements. Spence, Haggard, and Ross found higher levels of conditioning exhibited by the CSs paired with the higher …

Integrity House: The Addict As A Total Institution, Kenneth D. Colburn

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

The Integrity House approach to rehabilitation is an apolitical, myth-oriented method reinforcing the pseudo psychological notion that addiction is exclusively the problem of the addict. Blame is placed solely on the addict; neither social ills nor any other factors share the responsibility for drug abuse.

An Examination Of Sampling Strategies In Concept Identification, Gary B. Gentry

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Adult humans make choices in concept identification problems which are determined by the particular strategies which they adopt at the time. In such problems, every presentation of a rnultidimensional concept, such as a stimulus which varies in form, color and shape, is referred to as an "instance". Described two general approaches which Ss take in learning a concept. The wholist strategy involves using all of the attributes of a concept as a working hypothesis. As successive instances are presented, the S gradually eliminates the irrelevant attributes. Another approach to discrimination learning may be referred to as the partist strategy. In …

The Effects Of Training, Sex Of The Rater, And Contrast In The Evaluation Of Lgd Behavior, William Richard Garrett

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Sex Discrimination In The Evaluation Of Leadership Behavior: Two Simulation Techniques, Jayne B. Drucker

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Color Perception In Golden Mantled Ground Squirrels, Robert F. Cooley

Dissertations and Theses

Squirrels appear to be unique among sub-primate mammals in being able to see at least some colors. A readily available Oregon squirrel species, golden mantled ground squirrels (Citellus lateralis), which has not previously been tested under laboratory conditions for color vision, was subjected to color discrimination testing in a Skinner box. On the basis of recent physiological tests of color reception capacity and behavioral tests of color discrimination response in closely related species, it was predicted that this species should be able to discriminate blue, green and possibly yellow, but not red. Three experiments were conducted. The first, a pilot …

A Descriptive Follow-Up Study Of 21 Children From Parry Center, Paul Duke

Dissertations and Theses

The age-old question persists: Does an agency operated treatment program contribute significantly to a child’s personal development and adjustment following release from the institution? Since it is the agency's responsibility to weigh the needs of the disturbed child and provide appropriate services according to those needs, their basic question--whether residential treatment or another mode of treatment is more effective--remains unanswered and, in many instances, uncontested. If residential child care benefits the disturbed child, which characteristics of that agency are conducive to the improvement of the child's behavior and re-adaption? The following study will attempt to isolate such characteristics. We will …

Changes In Personality Traits And Identification In Adolescent Female State School Residents, As A Function Of Length Of Residence, Mary L. Thompson

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of a significant exposure (six months) to a State School environment on selected personality traits and identity factors of adolescent girls. A second objective was to ascertain whether greater change takes place early in the period of residency (three months) or in a later stage. A third aim was to determine whether there is a significant difference in the degree of change between girls showing fewer pathological signs and healthier identity than those who show a greater number of such signs and a stronger delinquent identification.

Efficacy Of Reinforcement In An Observational Paradigm, Charles M. Krizic

Masters Theses

Study investigated the effectiveness of reinforcement in an observational paradigm where the dependent variable was indicated by increased morphological resemblance of an observer (O) after viewing a model (M). The stimulus was a series of novel responses recorded on videotape with each child viewing the tape individually. The subjects were 32 Head Start males divided into four groups. The first group was administered verbal praise prior to the modeling session. The second served as the vicarious reinforcement condition and observed an adult praise the model. The third group received direct reinforcement during the test for acquisition. The control group received …

Occupational Identification: A Study Of Undergraduate College Students, Martin J. Schultz

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Progesterone On Food And Water Intake And Weight In The Adult Male Rats After Stomach Loads Of Hypertonic Saline, Michael D. Smith

Master's Theses

Eight adult male albino rats were randomly assigned to each treatment condition of progesterone injections (0,10,40, and ·100 mg/kg/day dissolved in Bee of sesame seed oil), and all 2s received a hypertonic NaCl stomach loading. A control group for procedural effects was given injections of sesame seed oil alone and isotonic NaCl stomach loads. The dependent variables were body weight, food intake and water intake. Single factor analyses of covariance revealed a significant difference between the 0 mg progesterone group and the control group for food and water intake but not weight. No significant differences were found in food and …

Effectiveness Of Experimenter-Supplied And Subject-Originated First Letter And Descriptive Sentence Mnemonics In Learning Word Pairs, Michael B. Pines

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.