Showing papers by "Albion College published in 1967"

Retention of material practiced under delayed auditory feedback: preliminary observations on two additional variables.

Abstract: Summary.-GO Ss read and recalled a short story. The two experimental groups had a portion of the story presented under delayed auditory feedback; 1 group had a delay of .2 sec., the second a delay of .8 sec. Half the Ss also gave a 15-min. delayed recall wbile the other half gave a 30-min. delayed recall. These two treaunents were equal in effect on immediate and delayed recall. The delayed recall for the material practiced under delayed auditory feedback did not produce the recall facilitation previously found with a delayed recall of 24 hr. Several past studies (King, 1963, 1965; King & Walker, 1965) have shown that retention of prose material practiced under delayed auditory feedback (DAF) is significantly poorer than that obtained from appropriate controls. In other studies (King & Dodge, 1965; King & Wolf, 1965) a second retention test for the material practiced under DAF (taken approximately 24 hr. zfter the initial retention measure) yielded greater retention, relative to the initial amount of material recalled, in comparison to material not presented under DAF. This report concerns some initial observations on two additional variables relative to the above findings. First, it should be noted that in all of those studies the amount of delay introduced in DAF was .2 sec. In this study a delay interval of .8 sec. was employed in addition to the standard control and .2-sec. delay groups. Second, the possibility was investigated that the increase in delayed retention of the material presented under DAF might be obtained in a shorter time period than 24 hr., thus delayed recalls were obtained 15 min. after original recall for one group and 30 min. afterward for another group. Method.-The learning material was a short passage, "The Wet Frontier." The 166word story was divided into three paragraphs. Sixty Ss were randomly divided among a control group and two experimental groups. Each of the three groups were further divided into rwo subgroups of 10 Ss each. One subgroup gave a delayed recall 15 min. after original learning, the other 30 min. later. A Lafayette Instrument Company (Model 775a) DAF apparatus was used with the recalls obtained by use of a Grundig Stenorette tape recorder. Following a brief introdu:tion to the experimental situation, the entire story was read, using the usual DAF setup, bat DAF was introduced only on the second or middle paragraph for the two experimental groups. An immediate recall of the story was obtained from each S. Each S was then taken to a second experimental room where he worked on a series of pencil mazes for ei-her 15 or 30 min. Following this, he was returned to the main experimental room where a second recall (henceforth called the delayed recall) of the story was obtained. The recalls were scored for accuracy by counting the total number of three-word sequences and the total number of words. The over-all accuracy score was an arithmetic sum of these two quantltles.

Errors versus correct responses in the serial learning of word lists

Abstract: Using percent error as the dependent variable in serial anticipation learning of 15-word lists, no difference in the serial position curve was found for lists of high or low approximation to sentence word-order. When percent correct responses were examined, high approximation lists produced a flatter curve.

Autokinetic word writing (AWT) and field-dependence

Abstract: Thirty males and 30 females were divided into field independent (FI) and field dependent (FD) subgroups based on rod-and-frame test (RFT) performance. All Ss were administered the autokinetic word test (AWT) with latency of response and number of words reported constituting the response measures. FI Ss were significantly quicker to respond than FD Ss although there was no difference in the number of words reported.

Field-dependence and form discrimination in males

Abstract: Forty-two males were divided into field-independent, medium, and field-dependent groups and administered a form discrimination task. Field-independent Ss made fewer combined errors than field-dependent Ss. This finding was consistent with active and passive touch as well. When the present study was compared with previous work using females, a clear-cut sex difference emerged.

Scaling the Accuracy of Recalls of Stories Under Restricted Conditions of Judgment

Abstract: Two sets of twenty recalls each of a short story were collected. Both sets had the variability in length (differences in number of words) reduced; one set by selecting recalls of much the same length from a larger population of recalls, the other by instructing those giving the recalls to write a stated number of words. Without information regarding the original story, judges were able to reliably scale the first set but not the second. Additional manipulation in the content of the first set of recalls in an attempt to make them unscalable failed. The study gave support to the two-factor nature of judgments of accuracy of recall of connected meaningful material. It further illustrated the very flexible manner in which judges are able to make judgments of accuracy in this area.

Change in tactual form discrimination error scores as a function of vibratory stimulation

Abstract: Twenty females, who had previously participated in a similar experiment some six to eight months prior to the present study, were recalled in order to test the stability of the present tactual form discrimination task and to determine the effects of brief applications of vibration in tactful form discrimination. The discrimination measure was found to be remarkably stable and vibration reduced the number of errors made in form discrimination.

Membrane potentials of thin nitrocellulose membranes

Abstract: The membrane potentials of thin (300–1300 A.) nitrocellulose (Parlodion) membranes have been investigated. Measurements were made in a Lucite cell by use of calomel electrodes with 0.05N KCl and 0.1N KCl. Variables having an influence on membrane structure, such as solvent polarity, temperature, and thickness, have been studied in relation to membrane potential. The range of potentials observed for Parlodion (2.1–9.2 mv.) is believed to be the result of differences in the orientation of the nitrocellulose molecules (and their accompanying electrochemically active carboxyl groups) in the membrane structure.