Showing papers by "University of North Carolina at Greensboro published in 1979"

A Simulation Study of Predictable Due-Dates

Abstract: This paper describes a simulation study of assigning attainable or predictable due-dates in hypothetical labor and machine constrained job shop settings of varying size and structure. Several predictable due-date assignment rules are developed based on conditional estimates of individual job flow time derived from initial simulation runs. Mean lateness, mean earliness and mean missed due-dates are used as measures of shop performance to compare the various predictable due-date rules under conditions of varying dispatching rules and shop size and structure. Results indicate that due-dates assigned based on expected job flow time and shop congestion information may provide more attainable due-dates than rules based solely upon job characteristics. In addition, better due-date performance appears to be achieved when due-date oriented dispatching rules are employed and when the shop system is not structurally complex.

Sensory Extinction and Sensory Reinforcement Principles for Programming Multiple Adaptive Behavior Change.

Abstract: The role of sensory reinforcement was examined in programming multiple treatment gains in self-stimulation and spontaneous play for developmentally disabled children. Two phases were planned. First, we attempted to identify reinforcers maintaining self-stimulation. Sensory Extinction procedures were implemented in which auditory, proprioceptive, or visual sensory consequences of self-stimulatory behavior were systematically removed and reintroduced in a reversal design. When self-stimulation was decreased or eliminated as a result of removing one of these sensory consequences, the functional sensory consequence was designated as a child's preferred sensory reinforcer. In Phase 2, we assessed whether children would play selectively with toys producing the preferred kind of sensory stimulation. The results showed the following. (1) Self-stimulatory behavior was found to be maintained by sensory reinforcement. When the sensory reinforcer was removed, self-stimulation extinguished. (2) The sensory reinforcers identified for self-stimulatory behavior also served as reinforcers for new, appropriate toy play. (3) The multiple treatment gains observed appeared to be relatively durable in the absence of external reinforcers for play or restraints on self-stimulation. These results illustrate one instance in which multiple behavior change may be programmed in a predictable, lawful fashion by using "natural communities of sensory reinforcement."

Teacher Expectations: Effects on Dyadic Interactions and Self-Concept in Elementary Age Children.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to describe the effects of teacher expectations on specific teacher-student behaviors occurring during physical education instruction. The study further described the effects of teacher expectations on the development of the student's self-concept. Five elementary school teachers were asked to rate their students according to how they expected each to perform in terms of physical achievement. A total of 100 students, the highest 10 and the lowest 10, in each of the five classes, comprised the sample. All five teachers used in the study were experienced physical education teachers who had previous instructional experience with the children under observation. A dyadic version of Cheffers Adaptation of Flanders Interaction Analysis System was the observational tool used to identify the teacher-student behaviors. The Martinek-Zaichkowsky Self-Concept Scale for Children was used to determine whether there were self-concept differences between the two groups. The results o...

The nature of behavioral assessment: A commentary.

Abstract: This special issue of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis provides the reader with a sample of current work in behavioral assessment. The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of behavioral assessment and to place the other articles in context of this developing area.

Eye movements initiate visual-motor development in the cat

Abstract: Visually naive kittens turn their eyes toward visual targets but lack other visual-motor coordinations. Light-reared animals were able to mediate guided behaviors with an immobilized eye, but animals with the eye immobilized before initial exposure to a lighted environment were not. Eye movement is implied to play an essential role in visual-motor development.

Sex differences in listening comprehension

Abstract: In order to examine the effect of sex of the speaker on listening comprehension in a public speaking situation, 60 male and 60 female subjects viewed either a male or female speaker presenting a talk on either a masculine (chess), feminine (interior decorating), or neutral (snow skiiing) topic. The results supported the hypotheses that when a male speaks he is listened to more carefully than a female speaker, even when she makes the identical presentation. No differences were found when the topic was biased towards one sex; males were still recalled better than females. The above relationships were also true for male and female subjects; both recalled information more accurately from male speakers than from female ones. Rating of informativeness of the presentation showed no difference for sex of the speaker; but effectiveness ratings of the speaker indicated that while both male and female subjects rated male speakers equally effective, the same was not true for the female speakers. Male subjects rated the female speakers significantly more effective than they did male speakers, whereas female subjects rated male and female speakers equally effective.

Religious Motivation in Middle Age: Correlates and Implications

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the relative relationship of self-rated health, age, sex, race, three measures of self-concept (actual, appearance, and ideal), education, occupation, and locus of control to religious motivation in middle age. The subjects were 301 men and women between the ages of 45 and 65 years from 22 randomly selected United Methodist churches. The results of the study show that factors reflective of the process of acculturation such as sex, ideal self-concept, and locus of control maintain the strongest relationship with religious motivation. Women, persons who have high idealized self-concepts, and adults who believe that what happens to them is under their personal control are less likely than others to be extrinsically motivated or to show a "self-centered" dependence upon religion. Consequently, the findings suggest that an important relationship may exist between the "comfort" or "challenge" functions of religion and spiritual well-being in later life for middle-aged groups.

Predicting Brand Purchase Behavior: Marketing Application of the Schönemann and Wang Unfolding Model:

Abstract: The predictive power of the Schonemann-Wang joint space model is examined across three product classes. These results are compared with unfolding analyses performed by the KYST algorithm. The Schon...

Schedule control of eating by fixed-time schedules of water presentation

Abstract: Eating was measured in water-deprived rats when water was presented at regular intervals ranging from 30 to 240 sec. The temporal patterning of eating resembled that of schedule-induced behavior in that the probability of eating was high early in the interval and declined in the end of the interval. Additionally, (a) the number of pellets consumed was controlled by relative time in the interwater interval, (b) the pellets consumed per water presentation was inversely related to water rate, and (c) food-ingestion rate was directly related to water rate. These relationships parallel those found with behavior regarded as schedule induced.

A stochastic dominance ordering of scheduling rules

Abstract: This paper applies stochastic dominance (SD) preference-ordering criteria to job shop scheduling rules. A simulation model of a hypothetical dual-constrained job shop is used to derive several measures of shop performance for a number of dispatching/due-date scheduling policies. The results presented suggest that previous research conclusions concerning the relative performance of dispatching scheduling rules may need to be reconsidered if production schedulers are risk-averse utility maximizers.

Objective determination of human visual acuity from the visual evoked potential

Abstract: The natural visual acuities of 11 subjects were predicted from their flashed pattern evoked potentials. An objective data analysis technique was employed, based on the slope of the high spatial frequency side of the function between pattern element size and the amplitude of the evoked potential.

Video-Mediated Objective Self-Awareness, Self-Perception, and Locus of Control:

Abstract: Mediation of objective self-awareness by video feedback was hypothesized to elicit changes in self-perception. The effects of differences in locus of control and two feedback conditions on self-representation (categorization of free responses) were studied using a repeated-measures design. Internal and external subjects were videotaped with the monitor on (mediated) or off (non-mediated). Significant shifts in self-representations from categorical to attributive responses and from neutral (descriptive) to positive (evaluative) statements occurred for all subjects. No effects for locus of control were noted. Implications of video feedback for self-awareness and perception are discussed.

Relations among cognitive, semantic, and syntactic variables in children's comprehension of the minimum distance principle: A 2-year developmental study

Abstract: Theoretical issues regarding cognitive aspects of the semantic interpretation of two syntactic structures were examined. A 2-year study was conducted investigating possible developmental trends in children's sentence-processing strategies. Experimental materials incorporated two levels of role expectations and two levels of syntactic complexity. Subjects were initially 6–10 years old; 12 original subjects from each age group were retested a year later. Exceptional and typical syntactic structures were not of significantly different difficulty either year. Semantic and cognitive complexity, as reflected in the two levels of expectation, was significant both years (p<0.001). Performance improved, over the 12-month period, in all but the 7- to 8-year-old group (p<0.005). Results are discussed with reference to cognitive strategies in sentence processing.

Single rural elders

Abstract: This research examined dimensions of life satisfaction of rural lifelong single elders in comparison with their married and widowed counterparts. A random sample including 30 singles, 214 married, and 163 widowed adults aged 65 to 99 years was interviewed. Contrary to much of the literature, the data indicated that single adults lead relatively active lifestyles. Lifelong singles reported experiencing significantly more loneliness and unhappiness than the married, but less loneliness than the widowed. Taken as a whole, self-rated life satisfaction was not significantly different for singles, the married, or the widowed.

Implications of multi-image for concept acquisition

Abstract: This study explored a number of questions related to multi-image presentation of information and acquisition of a concept — in this case, classifying plants in the subphylum Pteropsida. Of particular interest was whether redundancy (i.e., additional positive examples of plants in the classes) and an opportunity to view nonexamples as well as examples of classes would be helpful to the seventhgrade subjects.

Locus-of-control, perceived susceptibility to pregnancy and choice of contraceptive among college students.

Abstract: An exploratory investigation into locus-of-control correlates of contraceptive use among college students involved 50 students attending a Southeastern university. The subjects completed Rotters I-E scale and a contraceptive practices inventory. 16 years was the average age at 1st intercourse; 46% reported a frequency of sexual intercourse of 2-3 times/week during the period of data collection. 66.6% of men and 37.5% of women reported using no contraception the last time they had sexual intercourse. Females used birth control pills in 37.5% of the cases; and condoms and withdrawal were each reported by 16.7% of the males. Use of diaphragm spermicides IUD and rhythm made up the remainder. Respondents were asked to rate contraceptive techniques on a scale from 1-5 (most-least desirable); the following rating was obtained: oral contraceptives 1.4; diaphragm 3; condom and IUD 3.5; spermicides 3.8; sterilization and rhythm 4.3; and withdrawal 4.5. A significant correlation (P < .05) between the I-E score and desirability of oral contraceptives showed a trend of greater externality coincident with decreasing desirability of oral contraceptives. Although males scored significantly more internally on the I-E scales than females (P < .05) the I-E scores of females tended toward greater internality as perceived susceptibility to pregnancy given no contraceptive effort increased. Also correlation of I-E scores and rating of contraceptive devices reached a maximum with the rating given to oral contraceptives with males persistently showing greater internality. These data were unexpected for it had been thought that females would score in the direction of greater internality than males since women would show an unwillingness to entrust their bodies to fate. No speculation on this variation in the face of these data is offered.

Malory's "Tale of Balin" Reconsidered

Abstract: THE ATTITUDE of many Malory scholars of the 1970s is summed up in Mark Lambert's observation, "After twenty years of investigating unity it is time for us to take the fruit, leave the chaff, and rotate our crops.1 While fresh approaches are welcome, it would be a mistake to assume, as Lambert seems to do, that all the major structural problems brought to light by the debate over unity have been solved. That they have not can be illustrated through a reconsideration of Malory's "Tale of Balin." The tale became a standard topic in the controversy over unity because Eugene Vinaver, in his commentary in the 1947 edition of Malory, used it to typify the author's narrative method generally: unravelling the "interlaced" plot threads of the French sources to produce relatively brief, independent, whole tales. Vinaver argued that Malory dissociates Balin's Dolorous Stroke from the Grail theme, suppresses secondary plots, and achieves a strong central plot in which the tragic ending follows by fatal necessity from the opening events of the tale.2 His critics responded by pointing out that the tale is not truly independent of the rest of the work, for the Dolorous Stroke still motivates Galahad's quest, as in the French sources, and the main plot of "Balin" is still interwoven with others the war between Arthur and Roins, the Tristram story, and the Lot-Pellinore feud.3 Vinaver repeated his views unchanged in his 1967 edition (3:1276-1277), leaving the debate at a standoff, where it has remained.

Locus of Control and Human Sexuality Education

Abstract: In a review of the research on the dimension Locus-of-Control, Phares (3) concluded that internal subjects are superior to external subjects in efforts to gain control over their environment. Similarly, MacDonald ( 2 ) reported that among sexually active female college students, 62% of the internal subjects utilized some form of contraceptive method compared with 37% of the external subjects. One of the tenets of Health Education is that through education for personal health one becomes motivated toward assuming responsibility for personal health. This should apply to courses on human sexuality within Health Education curricula Taking such a course would be expected to promote a shift in students' locus-of-control toward greater internality. This paper repons results of such an exploratory investigation, based on students who were enrolled in an undergraduate course in human sexuality. Students (N = 50) , enrolled in the 15-wk. course as a general education elective, represented a cross section of major fields of undergraduate concentration at the University. The course is designed to introduce students to fundamental concepts concerning sexual behavior in modern society. Ethical issues and personal decision-making skills are emphasized. To control for evolution of locus-of-control over time, 25 students not enrolled in a human sexuality course were randomly selected as a comparison group ( 4 ) . Locus-of-control was measured on Levenson's scale ( 1 ) . All the students completed the instrument during the first week of classes and again during Week 14. At the pretest the mean scores and SDs for the subjects in the sexualicy course were -10.6, 5.5; 6.02, 6.7; and 6.22, 6.7; for the Internal, Powerful Others, and Chance parameters, respectively. Pretest mean scores and SDs for the comparison group were -10.0, 5.0; 6.30, 6.7; and 6.50, 6.7, respectively. At Week 14 the means and SDs for the sexuality course were -12.32, 5.1; 3.98, 6.7; and 5.48, 7.0, while the comparison group's scores were -9.50, 5.0; 5.30, 6.7; and 6.0, 6.9. At the pretest, z for the differences between the sexuality classes and comparison group were -.43, -.17, and -.I7 for the Internal, Powerful Others, and Chance parameters, respectively. None of these values of z are statistically significant ( p = .05). At the posttest, the zs were -2.24, -.79, and -3.0, respectively. The Internal dimension z was statistically significant ( p < .05) and represents a change toward greater internality. At the end of the term, then, students in the course on sexuality differed from the comparison group in one aspect of their locus-of-control orientation. The shifts toward greater internality may indicate that the course does in fact influence students toward reporting greater control over their sexual behavior. However, the stability of this phenomenon in this and other areas should be assessed. It is not known whether the shifts reflect the process of Ode-mystification" of sexual response, the instructional method which emphasized ethics and decision-making, or something else. The primary unresolved issue, however, is whether shifts in locus-of-control are related to subsequent sexual behavior. Replication of this study and further investigation are needed.

Evoked Potential Indicants of Size- and Orientation-Specific Information Processing: Feature-Specific Sensory Channels and Attention

Abstract: One advantage of evoked potentials (EPs) to transient stimuli is that they contain information as to the time-course of the electrophysiological response to such stimuli. This time course may be presumed to reflect the temporal sequence in which information contained in the stimulus is processed. The present paper is primarily directed toward a better understanding of the time course of information processing specific to the size (spatial frequency) and orientation of the elements of visual stimuli. Such processing will be considered both in relationship to sensory information channels and selective attention. The final section will be a brief review of preliminary data on the potential applications of these types of procedures to clinical problems.

The Chamberlin and Stackelberg Duopoly Relation

Abstract: The paper investigates and identifies an important relationship between the Chamberlin and Stackelberg duopoly models. Under conditions of symmetry, linear demand and constant costs, the two iso-profit curves identifying the Stackelberg leadership points are shown to be tangent at the Chamberlin point. Under these conditions profit-maximising duopolists are indifferent to being Stackelberg output leaders and coalescing in an equal-shares-joint-monopoly solution. This result is shown to be sensitive to the constant cost and linear assumptions. Under increasing linear marginal costs, the joint monopoly solution is preferred by both sellers to a leader-follower solution.