Showing papers by "Boise State University published in 1982"

Feature mislocalizations and misjudgments of intercharacter distance.

Abstract: Three experiments were conducted to gather evidence for Wolford's (1975) feature perturbation model and claims derived from it. The first experiment found that perturbation or mislocalization of features toward the foveal center predominated when a distinctive standard for localization was presented and short-term memory factors were minimized. The second experiment found that foveal mislocalizations do seem to cause two figures in the visual field to be reported as closer to one another than they actually are presented. The final experiment provided no support for the notion that interference between figures in the visual field is caused by foveal mislocalizations making features from the figures appear to be at the same location. A distinction between mislocalizations of figures due to feature perturbations and errors due to figures which were correctly localized but not reported in the instructed order was possible in the last two experiments.

Confusability and interference between members of parafoveal letter pairs.

Abstract: In each of three experiments, confusability between members of a parafoveally exposed pair of letters affected accuracy of identifying the peripheral, but not the central, letter. Confusability was determined from a confusion matrix developed for each subject. In Experiment 1, only one letter in each pair was identified on each exposure, and the position of pair members was varied over trials while the absolute position of the pair was held at a constant distance from fixation. In Experiment 2, both letters were identified on each exposure. In Experiment 3, the criterion letter was presented at a constant distance from fixation, and both letters were identified on each exposure. Since results in Experiment 3 were the same as in Experiments 1 and 2, the effect cannot be explained with reference to an interaction between confusability and acuity. The implications of the findings for various models of visual information processing are discussed.

Alliance Norms and WarA New Piece in an Old Puzzle

Abstract: The relationship between alliance aggregation and war is one of the most perplexing research questions within the field of international relations. We propose that by measuring the degree to which international norms support binding treaty obligations, a macroindicator of alliance commitment can be devised that is grounded in the cultural attributes of the international system, and that can be used in conjunction with indicators based on structural attributes to account for the onset of war. Based on the results from tests conducted on the European great power system of 1820–1914 and the central power system of 1820–1939, we conclude that peace is best preserved when there is a moderate amount of flexibility in the structure of alliances, and when alliance commitments are considered binding by prevailing international norms.

Stable isotope methodology in a pharmacokinetic study of the interaction of theophylline and cimetidine.

Abstract: Theophylline administered orally and (1, 3-15N,2-13C)theophylline administered intravenously in tracer quantities were used to investigate under steady-state conditions the interaction of theophylline with cimetidine in a patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Both compounds were quantified simultaneously by mass spectral-analysis after solvent extraction and high pressure liquid chromatographic purification of plasma samples. The assay is reliable and accurate to a plasma level of 50 ng mI−1 for the stable isotope tracer with a practical lower limit of detection of 10 ng mI−1.

Choice Criteria Model for Selecting Live-Case Marketing Research Class Projects

Abstract: This article provides a two-stage model for selecting clients for live-case marketing research class projects. After research design requirements have been met, the importance and probability of benefit to students, clients, instructors and the institution can be calculated to derive a weighted expected value score for potential projects. Examples are evaluated.

Scanning, holistic encoding, and the word-superiority effect.

Abstract: The role of holistic encoding induced by scanning in the superior identifiability target letters in orthographic strings (words) enjoy over those in strings of unrelated letters was examined in two experiments. Both the set of potential targets and the critical position in the letter arrays were predesignated. One group in each experiment was induced to scan each array from left to right in a dot-counting task. A dot could precede the array to its left and/or appear with the array to its right. Only this group displayed the word superiority. For the second group in the first experiment, any dot(s) present always appeared with the array. The second group in the second experiment was shown no dots but, rather, performed the letter-identification task only. The absence of a word-superiority effect in other studies is related to holistic encoding stemruing from scanning requirements, and the implications for positional uncertainty explanations of the phenomenon are discussed.

An Analysis of Verbal Language in Saturday Morning Children's Programs.

Abstract: Content analyses of program variables and verbal content features were conducted on Saturday morning children's programming. Three tools were developed for the study which assessed general context features, supportive and defensive language, and other verbal language features. The results describe the verbal climate of Saturday morning programs.

High‐resolution seismic study in the Gas Hills uranium district, Wyoming

Abstract: A study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of the high‐resolution seismic technique for the mapping of stratigraphic and structural controls in the Gas Hills uranium district, Wyoming. The test area is one in which uranium deposits are in Tertiary sediments which unconformably overlie a Mesozoic Paleozoic section. Paleochannels on the unconformity appear to control the localization of the uranium. Drilling in the area allows an evaluation of the effectiveness of the study. Using both sonic and density logs, we computed synthetic seismograms to evaluate the feasibility of predicting the success of the seismic reflection technique and to test this prediction using surface seismic methods. The field study was undertaken utilizing primarily two energy sources—a high‐frequency vibrator (40–350 Hz), and one‐pound dynamite charges shot in 10-ft holes. A limited amount of data was also acquired using detonating cord on the surface. Some three‐dimensional (3-D) data were also acquired, and a later study ...

The Appraisal Interview: Management Techniques for Evaluating Teachers.

Abstract: Performance ap praisal theories from industry, writes this edu cator, may provide principals with in sight and commu nication pos sibilities in the supervision of teachers, specif ically in the appli cation of commu nication techniques in the post- observation conference.

Masking and the identification of characters presented simultaneously and sequentially to the parafovea.

Abstract: The effects of masking and simultaneous vs sequential exposure on identification accuracy of parafoveally presented pairs of stimuli were examined in four experiments. When masking figures were continuously present in positions not occupied by stimulus characters, accuracy of identification was significantly poorer on the relatively central member of a pair when members were simultaneously exposed and when the central member was exposed second. When masking figures were not used, performance was significantly poorer on the central member only when pair members were exposed simultaneously. Requiring the identification of both members of the pair produced a different ordering of overall accuracy among the simultaneous and sequential conditions from when only one member was identified. It was concluded that asymmetric lateral inhibition of feature extraction operated only when target and nontarget were simultaneously present. An additional source of asymmetric disruption occurs when masking figures flanking the target change before or with the appearance of the target.

The Obligation to Believe

Abstract: Do we ever have an obligation to choose to hold beliefs, religious or otherwise? The relations between belief, volition and moral responsibility are the subject of William James' widely discussed essay ‘The Will to Believe’. James first takes up the relationship between volition and belief: Does it make sense to speak of choosing to believe a proposition? His answer is that it does, in the sense that we can choose to act in ways which encourage the production of a believing attitude in ourself. For example, we can be selective in attending to evidence, and we can incline ourselves toward belief by acting as though we already believe. By avoiding certain influences and subjecting ourself to others, we can encourage the development of belief. In so doing, we in effect treat ourself as a third person, and our behaviour is analogous to what we might engage in when encouraging others toward favourable evidence. The question of moral responsibility then becomes appropriate in our own case in a way analogous to that in which it does with respect to our belief-producing actions toward others. Just as the deception of others raises moral questions, so does the deception of ourselves.

Asymmetric parafoveal interference with dichoptic presentations

Abstract: A Landolt C target and letter X nontarget were dichoptically presented to 8 subjects. The nontarget presented to one eye foveally or peripherally flanked the area of the parafovea corresponding to that receiving the target in the other eye. Identification of the orientation of the C was poorer with the nontarget in the peripheral position. If, as has been proposed previously, asymmetric lateral inhibition is responsible for the phenomenon, its locus would seem to lie beyond the retina.

The interaction of spatial visualization and general reasoning abilities with instructional treatment in absolute value inequalities

Abstract: This study is one in a series that have used the aptitude variable of spatial visualization and general reasoning abilities. One hundred and six college students were randomly assigned to two treatments on the topic of absolute value inequalities. The algebraic treatment was designed to use the algebraic definition of absolute value and the goemetric treatment was designed to use the geometric definition of absolute value as a distance on the number line. It was hypothesized that subjects having good general reasoning ability would do better in the algebraic treatment and subjects having good spatial visualization ability would do better in the geometric treatment. The analysis was done by multiple regression technique. No interactions were found between the dependent variable of achievement on absolute value equations and inequalities and the aptitude variable. However, general reasoning was a significant predictor for the algebraic treatment group on the equation test and spatial visualization was a sig...