Showing papers by "University of Mannheim published in 1974"

Preference of dissonance reduction modes as a function of their order, familiarity and reversibility†

Abstract: Two central hypotheses of the original version of the theory of cognitive dissonance (Festinger, 1957) (1) that dissonance is to be conceived of as a primary drive and (2) that in order to reduce dissonance less resistant cognitions will be changed more than highly resistant ones led to hypotheses which were confirmed by two experiments. In Experiment I, a 2 × 3 factorial design, order and familiarity of dissonance reduction modes were manipulated. After receiving a dissonant information the subjects were offered a relatively low and a relatively high resistant cognition for dissonance reduction, each being placed first (series I, high-low resistance) or last (series II, low-high resistance) respectively. Subjects did (known) or did not (unknown) read these modes before reacting to them. Under the unknown condition dissonance will be reduced more with a specific mode if it is placed first than last. With known reduction modes the order of presentation does not have an effect. Under series I condition the first-placed, higher-resistant cognition will be changed more in the unknown condition than in the known condition. Under the series II condition the first-placed, lower-resistant cognition will be changed equally in the known and unknown condition. In short, the higher-resistant cognition will be changed more, only when it is placed first and when the following modes are not known. Two explanations for these results are possible: (1) The more dissonance is reduced by changing a more or a less resistant congnition, the less further reduction is necessary; (2) dissonance will be reduced in an internally consistent way. Experiment II excluded the first explanation. Subjects were allowed to revise their original way of reducing dissonance. First, subjects in one condition received series I unknown and subjects in the other condition received series II unknown. Reacting to the dissonance reduction modes the second time, there was more revision when the high-resistant congition was placed first (series 1 revision) than when placed last (series II revision). These results support the hypothesis that dissonance reduction by changing a less-resistant congnition more and changing a high-resistant one less is preferred. Implications of the results of the two experments for the stability of dissonance reduction, the method and interpretation of dissonance experiments are discussed.

Einzelschrittverfahren zur Lösung konvexer und dual‐konvexer Minimierungsprobleme

Abstract: Es wird ein allgemeines Einzelschrittverfahren zur Losung konvexer Minimalprobleme untersucht. A general single-step method for solving convex minimization problems is discussed.

Accentuation and attitude in social judgment

Abstract: In two experiments four sets of both favorable and unfavorable verbal material were classified as belonging to four labels, two specific labels (politicians) and two less specific labels (classes of people). Ss' attitudes towards one of the politicians were more positive than towards the other. Ss stored these stimuli in their memory under casual, incidental instructions. Then Ss retrieved information by deciding which one of two labels was formerly connected to the given verbal items. Ss were expected to accentuate on two orthogonal dependent variables: (1) Discrimination performance between labels; (2) response preference for labels. Discrimination performance was improved for politician labels compared to classes-of-people labels but was not affected by the favorableness of the verbal material. However, response preference for one politician label occurred when two conditions were fulfilled: (a) Both the verbal material and Ss' attitudes towards the label were unfavorable, and (b) the content of verbal material was characteristic of the label. The accentuation theories of Bruner-Goodman and Tajfel were reformulated and integrated into a two-level model.

The Polity as a Monitor of the Quality of Life

Abstract: The manner in which modern Western societies perceive and tackle their most urgent social problems has been described, not without irony, by Downs (1972) as the &dquo;issue-attention cycle.&dquo; Usually social problems remain latent for a long period even if they have heavy impacts on segments of the population-e.g., ghetto conditions or environmental damage. This is called the preproblem stage. Only a series of dramatic events or disclosures-e.g., riots or smog alarms, stimulates activities, discussions, and proposals. This is the stage of alarmed discovery and euphoric enthusiasm. After the crisis follows disillusion, when the cost of serious action becomes visible and when it becomes

Individual Decisions Concerning the Allocation of Resources for Projects with Uncertain Consequences

Abstract: Individual decision making behavior under uncertainty is queried by experiments. The subject's task is to allocate resources for projects with transformation results about which only uncertain expectations exist. The purpose is to get some insight into the information processing which determines the choice of an allocation rate. The data contradict any predictions based on a SEU model of decision making behavior under uncertainty. An heuristic information processing model is built which possesses better empirical validity than the SEU model. The model provides an alternative to Atkinson's theory, for it is demonstrated that individuals show both typical and atypical reactions in dynamic interaction. The variable 'situation of an individual' is defined which provides a mechanism to explain the observable switch in the priority ordering of needs.

Über das Geschlecht eines inseparablen Funktionenkörpers

Abstract: Let K/k be an inseparable algebraic function field of one variable of genus g and characteristic p>0. By using constant field extensions it is shown that 2g≥p(p−3)+2 and g≡1(mod p) (for p≠2). Indeed, there exist inseparable function fields with 2g=p(p−3)+2.

Objective knowledge out of ignorance: Popper on body, mind, and the third world

Abstract: In the fifties, Popper defended an interactionistic version of body-mind dualism. It distinguished between the world of physical bodies and states and the world of “mental states”. Later he added a third world of “objective thought contents”. He claims the assumption that there is the third world is a necessary presupposition of problem-solving in general and of his philosophy of science in particular. The present article contains separate reasonings to the effect that this presupposition is neither necessary nor even possible. It is further argued that postulating the existence of entities makes sense only relative to a criterion of ontological commitment, which Popper does not mention and obviously does not have, and that in addition it presupposes a theory, which is tentatively accepted as true and which according to the criterion implies the existence of the entities. But as yet there is no testable theory involving terms like “mind”, “intention” etc., which made the notion that itself or its terms are essentially different from what is already known in the empirical sciences at least plausible. Therefore the body-mind controversy is still pointless. Popper's stand on it seems to be but a reflex of his anti-behavioristic and anti-psychologistic attitude.

Eine allgemeine, symmetrische Formulierung des Dekompositionsprinzips für duale Paare nichtlinearer minmax- und maxmin-Probleme

Abstract: Es wird eine allgemeine Formulierung des Dekompositionsverfahrens zur Losung konvex-konkaver Sattelpunktprobleme angegeben.

Zwei Fallstudien zur Prüfung des Falsifikationismus

Abstract: Die Uberprufung des Falsifikationismus kann im Lichte einer neuen Methodologie anhand wissenschaftsgeschichtlicher Beispiele erfolgen. Um 1640 wurde das Fallgesetz nicht aufgrund seines empirischen Gehalts, sondern aufgrund seiner logischen Beziehungen zu metaphysischen Annahmen als ernstzunehmende Hypothese betrachtet, die es empirisch zu prufen galt; ferner wurde eine Falsifikation fur die Verwerfung der horror-vacui-Theorie weder als hinreichend noch als notwendig angesehen. Diese wissenschaftsgeschichtlichen Tatsachen sind mit Hilfe der Methodologie der Forschungsprogramme, nicht aber mit Hilfe des Popperschen Falsifikationismus, rational interpretierbar und bestatigen damit die methodologische Kritik, die in den letzten Jahren am Wissenschafts- und Fortschrittskriterium Poppers geubt worden ist.

An Extension of the Method of Feasible Directions

Abstract: In this contribution we are going to discuss the extension of the method of feasible directions[1],[2],[3] to programming problems involving an infinite number of constraints. Problems of this type arise frequently in applications. We shall be working with arbitrary convex approximations instead of with linearizations, simply to emphasize the fact that the feasible direction method belongs to that class of methods where not differentiability but rather convex-likeness of the functions involved is the essential property.

Bedingungen für Widerstandsverhalten in psychologischen Experimenten: Ton der Instruktion sowie Einstellung zum Forschungsgegenstand und Studienfach der Versuchsperson

Abstract: Gemas der Theorie der Psychologischen Reaktanz von BREHM (1966) werden Personen durch Freiheitseinengung dazu motiviert, sich die bedrohte oder verlorene Freiheit wiederherzustellen. Die eingeengte Person geht gegen den Einflusversuch an. Angewendet auf Versuchspersonenverhalten bedeutet dies, das freiheitseinengende Instruktionen und Manipulationen zu Sabotageverhalten gegenuber dem Experiment fuhren konnen. Es sollte uberpruft werden, ob der Ton der Instruktion (freundlich-verpflichtend und autoritar vs. liberal) einen wesentlichen Einengungsfaktor darstellt; dies konnte teilweise festgestellt werden. Auserdem wurde getestet, ob negative Einstellung zum Experimentieren antikonforme Reaktionen bedingt; diese Hypothese konnte nicht aufrechterhalten werden. Zusatzlich wurde kontrolliert, wie sich das Studienfach der (studentischen) Versuchspersonen im Testverhalten reprasentiert; Sozialwissenschaftler reagierten auf autoritare Instruktionen mit mehr Opposition als Wirtschaftswissenschaftler.

A note on equational compactness

Abstract: In [4, Theorem 3] J. Mycielski and C. Ryll-Nardzewski proved that a universal algebra 9/is equationally compact if the relative solvability property holds for systems S of equations with constants in 2[ of the following more restrictive sort: S must be the union of finite systems -r i, ie I , such that for a fixed variable x o, the variables occurring in .r e and those occurring in I;j have only x o in common, whenever i r The question arises, whether the equivalence is still retained when restricting even further to strong Xo-Systems, i.e., systems S in which, in addition to the above partition property, each equation actually depends on xo. l) This question comes up quite naturally in connection with a paper of S. Bulman-Fleming ([2]), and also in certain deliberations on equationally compact lattices; the latter prompted an independent proof using pure extensions due to G. H. Wenzel of the Mycielski result above, but left the motivating question still unanswered. In certain classes of algebras, however, the answer is known to be positive. For example, S. Balcerzyk showed in [ l ] that an abelian group (5 is equationally compact whenever the relative solvability property holds for systems of the type

Zur existenz optimaler schichtungen 1

Abstract: In addition to the article [1] a proof of the ixisieiice of optimal stratifications is presented. Further it is shown that the DALENIUS-equations are necessary conditions for the optimality of a stratification, even if the variance of the stratified sample mean is not everywhere differentiable. Finally an example of a density is given for which the solution procedure presented in [1] splits up into several branches. Notations and arrangement follows article [1].

Schätzbare Parameterfunktionen in der Stichprobentheorie

Abstract: Den Elementen 1,2, ...N einer vorgegebenen Grundgesamtheit, seien, die Auspragungenx1, x2, ... xN eines Untersuchungsmerkmals zugeordnet. Jemand, dem man zwar nicht die Zahlenx1, ...xN, wohl aber daraus berechnete „Kennzahlen” wie z. B. $$\mu = \frac{1}{N}\sum {x_i ;} \sigma ^2 = \frac{1}{N}\sum {(x_i - \mu )^2 } $$ mitgeteilt hat, besitzt zweifellos eine gewisse Vorstellung von der fraglichen Grundgesamtheit. Jemand dem weder die Zahlenx1, ... xN, noch daraus zu berechnende Kennzahlen bekannt sind, wird unter Umstanden einige Elemente der Grundgesamtheit zufallig auswahlen und die zugeordneten Auspragungen ermitteln. Jede Funktion der so ermittelten Auspragungen soll Schatzfunktion, genannt werden, speziell erwartungstreue Schatzfunktion, wenn ihr Erwartungswert mit der gerade interessierenden Kennzahl ubereinstimmt.