Psychology Commons^™

Preferred And Nonpreferred Color As Irrelevent Background In Paired Associate Learning, Margaret Ann Kenner

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the School of Education at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Psychology by Margaret Ann Kenner in January of 1976.

The Effects Of A Drug-Induced Stress On The Contrafreeloading Phenomenon In Rats, Jeanne Bennett

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this experiment was to determine if stress, induced by intraperitoneal (IP) injections of epinephrine, influenced rats' preference to freeload (drink sucrose solution from a drinking tube) or to work for a liquid reinforcer (obtain sucrose solution by barpressing). Furthermore, the order in which stress was introduced was investigated.

Following two weeks of water deprivation, 6 female and 6 male Hooded rats approximately 90 days old were divided into two experimental groups. The first group (S-N) was stressed the first and second experimental testing days in which a choice was presented between barpressing and freeloading for a 10% …

The Protestant Ethic Effect: Children In A Multi-Choice Situation, Patricia Anderson

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Twelve kindergarten and 16 first grade children were placed in a four Protestant Ethic to obtain tokens choice situation in order to investigate the Effect (PLE). The task for each child was to trade for candy. These tokens were available from three black boxes (choice locations) which were rotated in a clockwise manner around the four corners of the testing room. These three choice locations were as follows: (B1) a location where the child was allowed the option to manipulate switches and/or obtain freely accessible tokens, (82) a location at which tokens were freely accessible, and (84) the work location …

The Effects Of A Social Stimulus On The Protestant Ethic Effect In Rats, Gary L. Cotton

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether rats’ preference to freeload (eat food pellets from a food cup) or to work for food (obtain food pellets by bar pressing) could be influenced by observing either a working or freeloading model in an adjacent operant chamber.

Following equal amounts of bar press and freeloading training, 18 male Sprague-Dawley rats approximately 100 days cold were divided into three experimental groups. The first group was permitted to view a working model while being presented a choice between bar pressing and free-loading. A second experimental group was exposed to a freeloading model …

A Methodological Consideration In The Comparison Of Two Explanatory Hypotheses Of Imagery, Paula Carter

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

A replication of the Carter and Craig (1975) investigation comparing the “conceptual peg” and “relational connective” explanations as to the effectiveness of an interaction imagery strategy in paired-associate learning was performed with the suggested changes in methodology. These changes included training the subjects and presenting the stimulus and response nouns on separate screens rather than visually side-by-side. In addition, two separation imagery strategies were investigated so that the nouns were visualized on opposite sides of the imaginary visual field or on opposite walls of an imaginary room.

An interaction imagery strategy, a separation imagery—space strategy, a separation imagery—wall strategy, and …

A Study Of The Relationship Between Overt Behavior And: I) Tat Fantasy Aggression And The Stimulus Properties Of Selected Tat Cards, Ii) Self-Report Measures Of Aggression And Guilt, Iii) Tat Fantasy Aggression, Self-Report Measures And Personal Data, Christine Ruth Bauman, David James Leitner

Dissertations and Theses

Past research has shown that there are many factors that influence projective test responses. This is especially true of the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT). Certain variables that have been found to influence the TAT response were studied in this experiment. These variables included the subjects’ scores on purported measures of the personality trait of aggression, and various parameters of the TAT cards themselves.

This experiment included three studies which investigated the relationship between test measures of aggression and aggressive behavior. The three studies were conducted concurrently using the same subject population: forty-two male inmates at the Oregon State Penitentiary. They …

An Investigation Of Possible Relationships Between Sex-Role Orientation, The Motive To Avoid Success And The Inhibition Of Aggression In Women, Joan Dayger Behn, Barbara Mcduffee Mecca

Dissertations and Theses

In this study, it was proposed that the extent to which an individual accepts the collection of attitudes, mannerisms, and abilities the culture endorses as being feminine or masculine (which we are referring to as sex-role orientation) is related to the appearance of inhibiting fears of social rejection and uneasiness about one’s femininity (which we refer to as the need or motive to avoid success). We further hypothesized that women interested in achievement, being less strongly sex-typed, would feel deviant and exposed as women and would be likely to place a premium on the maintenance of other feminine attributes.

Ever …

The Projective Expression Of Need For Achievement In Women, Robert S. Gibson

Masters Theses

Introduction

Psychologists generally assume that the motive to achieve is one of the major determinants to striving to succeed. A theoretically consistent body of data exists which enables one to predict achievement behavior as a function of the strength of the achievement motive, when it applies to men (Atkinson, 1958; Bardwick, 1971; McClelland, Atkinson, Clark, & Lowell, 1953). However, when one attempts to find psychological data to predict achievement behavior in women, there is difficulty.

The few comparable studies of achievement motivation in females that have been made are neither consistent with the findings for males, not even consistent with …

The Effect Of Bar Holding Training On Subsequent Shock Escape Behavior Under Different Shock Intensities In Rats With Septal Lesions, John W. Moore

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology in the Graduate School of Morehead State University by John W. Moore on July 23, 1974.

Physical Fatigue As A Discriminative Cue In Choice Learning In The T-Maze, Robert L. Detty

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

It has been found that animals which have acquired a response while under the influence of a drug , fail to emit this response when subsequently tested while nondruggedo Likewise, animals which have acquired a response while nondrugged fail to emit this response when subsequently drugged. However, under both conditions, Ss emlt the response when retested in the original condition. either drugged or nondrugged. Thus, the presence of the response appears to be conditional upon the drug state of the organism during acquisition. This phenomenon has been called state dependent (StD) or dissociative learning (Overton, 1964). Dissociation apparently varies along …

A Comparison On The State Dependent Effects Of Electroconvulsive Shock And Physostigmine On A Choice Task, Candace Susanne Brown

All Master's Theses

Two experiments compared the state-dependent effects of electroconvulsive shock (ECS) and physostigmine relative to a normal state (saline or no injection). Rats were trained in a water T maze using a discrimination-training paradigm. In Experiment 1, discrimination was found between the ECS- and normal state. However, response control was strongest in the ECS-0 treatment-training order and on non-ECS training sessions. In Experiment 2, dissociation also occurred but was more pronounced in the P-0 (physostigmine-saline) treatment-training order and on the saline training sessions. Results from both experiments indicate learning is most rapid in the treatment-no treatment training order and that a …

The Generalizability Of Learned Helplessness, Ian J. Grabenhorst

All Master's Theses

While it has been experimentally demonstrated that "learned helplessness" can be conditioned in a number of species, the subjects commonly employed have been dogs. This paper presents an attempt to investigate "learned helplessness" in rats (a variant of the Long-Evans strain), and examine the question of its generalizability from shock as an aversive stimulus to noise. It also explores the possible generality of "helplessness" to exploratory behavior in an open field. The results demonstrated that the Ss were susceptible to "helplessness" conditioning across shock conditions; however, "helplessness" did not generalize across shock to noise conditions. The present study also showed …

The Relationship Of Verbal And Symbolic Mediation To Induced Meaning, Dennis G. Groome

All Master's Theses

Four experimental groups were presented nine induced-meaning training trials with 20 CVC stimuli and either abstract or concrete noun, picture alone, or picture plus noun responses. Two control groups received no training trials. Two experimental groups were required to learn associations and the other two simply viewed S-R pairings. Half the groups in each condition generated images and the other half generated word associates to 12 nouns and 20 CVCs. No evidence of induced meaning or of active versus passive learning differences was found. Suggestions for more effective experimental procedures are made.

Reversal Shift Performance By Young Children As A Function Of Stimulus Presentation Mode, Beverly Faye Miller

All Master's Theses

The present study required three groups of Ss (gifted preschoolers, average preschoolers, and first graders) to solve a reversal shift (R). It was hypothesized that greater verbal competency among any of the three groups would lead to superior performance on the R shift. The results indicated that first graders performed significantly better than the average preschool children on the R shift. Also the performance of the first graders was reliably superior to the gifted children on one postshift phase analysis; on the remaining postshift comparisons a visual trend in the same direction was observed. Three separate stimulus presentation modes were …

The Effects Of Pattern Of Extraneous Auditory Stimuli And Sex On Vigilance Performance, Paul G. Fisher

All Master's Theses

Eighty introductory-level psychology student volunteers performed a sweep-clock perceptual vigilance task. Each subject was exposed to one of four noise conditions: 65-dB constant noise, 100-dB constant noise, 100-dB regularly-intermittent noise and 100-dB variable intermittent noise. No overall effects of pattern of presentation schedule of noise on performance were found. Time-related changes in three measures, correct detections, reaction times, and incorrect detections plus sex differences in reaction times, were found. In the regularly-intermittent condition females showed a greater time-related decrement in correct detections than males and made fewer incorrect detections. With intermittent background stimulation the time-related change in incorrect detection rates …

Reality Conceptualization As A Factor In Socialization And Adjustment, Glen A. Frese

All Master's Theses

Forty-four high school students were involved in one of three separate classes. The target class received a conceptual framework and practice in identifying assumptions and evaluating their consequences. The object was to teach a process of self-evaluation. The other students received their regular class work. The POI was administered before and after to measure changes in values. The results were not significant but raised a question involving the structure through which behaviors and values are learned and internalized.

Spatial Orientation Of Children In Dyads With Female Adults, Susan Menig Karstetter

All Master's Theses

Subjects were requested to enter the experimental setting, choose a chair, and sit while speaking to an adult female who listened to the child for two minutes. The distance and angle of seating were measured and studied with regard to the age, sex, grade level, height, handedness, academic achievement, size of chair used, and the listener.

The results indicated that seating distance was influenced by the sex, age and height of the subject and size of chair chosen. The angle of seating chosen was influenced by the sex and height of the subject and the size of chair chosen. It …

The Role Of Memory In Rule Learning Problems, Alan S. Kertes

All Master's Theses

Thirty-six college subjects who had taken a memory test from the Wechsler series were chosen from an introductory psychology class and divided into three memory levels (high, medium, and low). Twelve subjects from each of the memory groups were required to categorized geometrical stimulus patterns into positive and negative instances according to an unknown conceptual rule that prescribed a relationship between two known attributes. Each subject was assigned to one of three postfeedback delay intervals of 1.5, 20, or 30 seconds. Performance among the three memory levels was not statistically different even though differences from best to worst were apparent …

The Role Of Postfeedback Intervals In Rule Learning Problems, Donald E. Lloyd

All Master's Theses

Subjects classified bidimensional stimulus patterns of variable colors and shapes into positive or negative instances of the concept, according to one of three conceptual rules (Disjunctive, Conditional, or Biconditional). Four postfeedback intertrial intervals were used: 1.5, 5, 20, or 30 seconds. Performance on the Dj rule was significantly higher than either the Cd or Bd rule and there was no reliable difference between the later two rules. The postfeedback delay was not a reliable source of variance among all rules, but did yield significant differences within the Bd rule. Inconsistent performance trends in the Cd and Bd rules as the …

Low Intensity Footshock Examined As A Possible Reinforcer For Sensory Deprived Rats, Ron J. Madesh

All Master's Theses

Two experiments were performed, first to test the footshock threshold for rats reared in the Central Washington State College rat colony and second to test for reinforcing effects of low level footshock for sensory deprived subjects. The threshold study consisted of an active avoidance situation with a low intensity footshock as the conditioned stimulus. Using the method of limits, thresholds were established (using 200k. ohms resistance in series) at 19.10 Vac and 22.60 Vac for sensory deprived and control subjects respectively. The second study tested for preference for footshock versus no footshock in an open shuttle box situation. No significant …

The Effects Of Extraneous Stimulation And Activity On Performance In A Recognition-Memory Task, Richard Armstrong

All Master's Theses

Reaction times of 36 subjects in a recognition-memory task were used to evaluate the effects of extraneous stimulation and activity upon memory processes. No significant effect of noise on RT was suggested. A linear increase in reaction time as a function of memory load was found in all noise conditions. When the recognition-memory task was accompanied by a simultaneous shadowing task, a significant difference in the positive and negative reaction times was suggested.

The Effects Of Experimental Manipulation Of Status On Signature Size, Karen Jensen Gillespie

All Master's Theses

This paper presents an attempt to change the size of a person's signature by changing his perceived status within the experimental situation.

Eight-four subjects were divided into four equal groups. Each group received two treatments, one of which was a status treatment, the other a success-failure manipulation. The results showed a significant difference in signature size between high and low status treatment groups. A significant variation was also noted between females in the success manipulation group and females in the failure manipulation group. The direction of this variation was opposite to predictions.

Recommendations included addition of a control group, presentation …

The Effect Of Environmental Enrichment On Delayed Alternation, Passive Avoidance And Exploration Behavior, David L. Knobel

All Master's Theses

Long Evans Hooded rats were reared in either perceptually complex (EC) or simple (IC) environments. As adults, exploration, delated alternation and passive avoidance task performance was investigated. The exploration level of the EC and IC reared groups was identical on Day 1, but on subsequent days the IC rats on delayed alternation and passive avoidance tasks was not found, but the alternation response was acquired with significantly fewer trials by EC rats.

The Effects Of Instructions With And Without Contingencies On Parent’S Attending Behavior, Betty Lou Fry

Masters Theses

Mother attending to appropriate child behavior and accompaning changes in appropriate child behavior were measured to assess the effects of various instructional conditions. Several appropriate behaviors for a group of child subjects were measured con currently under various stimulus conditions using interval recording procedures. A multiple baseline design was used with instructional conditions of (a) no instructions to mother, (b) instructions to mother to attend to all appropriate behaviors and only to appropriate behaviors, (c) instructions to mother to attend to specific behaviors as defined by one-word definitions, (d) instructions to mother to attend to the same specific behaviors as …

The Effects Of Septal Lesions On A Free Food Vs. Response Produced Food Task, Teresa L. Cornett

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology in the Graduate School of Morehead State University by Teresa L. Cornett on July 25, 1973.

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.

Effects Of Reinforcement Schedules On The Eating Behavior Of Hooded Rats, Wayne T. Pratt

All Master's Theses

While the eating behavior of organisms has been the subject of considerable research, the methods commonly employed to disrupt eating behavior also result in irreparable damage to the central nervous system. This paper presents an attempt to evaluate some effects of reinforcement schedules on the eating behavior of hooded rats when external motivating factors were introduced.

The results indicated that stress tended to inhibit food intake to a significant degree.

Problems associated with this method of creating obesity were discussed and suggestions offered for further research.

Transfer Of Active Avoidance Response Tendency By Brain Extract, Marlene Sanders

All Master's Theses

Interanimal memory transfer was tested using an active avoidance task in which donor rats were trained to jump onto a platform to avoid a footshock. One control group was allowed to freely explore the experimental chamber and a second control group received footshock in the chamber but without the opportunity to avoid.

Results indicated that recipients of trained donor extract learned the task in significantly fewer trials than recipients of control donor extract. Suggestions for further research and modifications of this study were discussed.

Food Choice Preferences And Delay Of Reward In Obese And Normal Weight Children, Mitzi M. Rochester

All Master's Theses

Thirty-seven obese and thirty-six normal weight children, ages eight to eleven, of both sexes were tested to determine if the cue prominence theory of obesity would be supported early in life. Ss chose a candy bar as a reward for a task from one of three bowls, containing either large bars in plain brown wrappers, small bars in brightly colored wrappers, or small bars in plain brown wrappers. Obese and normals did not differ in their choices: 67% of the obese and 80% of the non-obese children chose the large candy bars in plain wrappers. However, obese Ss chose significantly …

The Course Of Amnesia Up To Twenty-Four Hours After Non-Contingent Treatment As A Function Of The Footshock-Electroconvulsive Shock Interval, Thomas C. Whitaker

All Master's Theses

This study tested specific predictions of the state-dependency hypothesis concerning the effects of footshock (FS)-electroconvulsive shock (ECS) treatment interaction on memory storage. Rats were trained in a water "T" maze to turn either left or right. Twenty-four hours later they received FS-ECS treatment. The FS-ECS intervals were .5 sec., 10 sec., 30 sec., and sham (no FS-ECS). Testing took place either 1, 6, 12, 18, or 24 hr. after treatment. Results indicated trends, but no significant evidence of the amnesia gradient being related to the FS-ECS interval.