Showing papers by "Marc M. Sebrechts published in 1986"

Components of Attention, Methylphenidate Dosage, and Blood Levels in Children With Attention Deficit Disorder

Abstract: In this study we analyzed some of the cognitive components that may constitute attention deficit disorder. It consisted of a double-blind, drug-placebo study of 12 children being treated with three doses of methylphenidate and placebo. Results of an attentional test battery, teacher and parent ratings, and blood levels of methylphenidate are reported. In general, performance was best with 0.6 mg/kg of methylphenidate (the highest dose tested) and worst with placebo. It is argued that no single test provides a complete assessment of attentional deficits and that methylphenidate can improve performance by affecting the allocation of cognitive resources to a task.

Remembering computer command names: Effects of subject generation versus experimenter imposition

Abstract: Two experiments analyzed the effectiveness of goal statements in aiding recall of self-generated as opposed to experimenter-imposed command names. Subjects were presented with a series of before-after pairs representing the computer states before and after a command was executed. In Experiment 1, during study, one group of subjects generated a command name in response to each pair; a second group generated a goal statement describing the goal to be accomplished in addition to generating a command name. During recall, half of each group was required to recall the name, whereas the other half was required to describe the goal before attempting to recall the name. In Experiment 2, during study, command names (and goals for those subjects in the goal condition) were imposed by the experimenter rather than generated by the subject. Subjects who generated goals and names recalled more command names than did those who generated only names or who received imposed goals and/or names. Generation of an appropriate goal at study improved encoding by helping subjects to select more appropriate command names; generation of an appropriate goal at test improved retrieval for appropriate names only, presumably by activating a relevant subset of names. Even in the relatively simple task of naming and remembering command names, having an appropriate model of the domain through the use of specific goal statements substantially improved performance.

Techniques for Acquiring Computer Procedures: Some Restrictions on “Interaction”

Abstract: Although many current theories emphasize the interactive and exploratory nature of learning, computer-aided training systems that use these principles often appear ineffective. A series of four experiments examined two kinds of interaction that are available in a number of commercial systems: (1) interactively reading instructions and then performing the indicated steps; (2) interactively selecting the order in which to explore the instructions. The data suggest that although interaction leads to better performance initially, this advantage is lost after a short delay. Likewise, unstructured access to training materials can actually inhibit subsequent performance. The consequences for the design and use of training materials is discussed.