Showing papers in "Scandinavian Journal of Psychology in 1974"

On the centrality in a graph

Abstract: .— The paper considers the concept of centrality in an undirected graph. A system of axioms and an index for centrality satisfying the axioms are presented. The index is based on the degrees of the vertices in a given undirected graph, and it will enlarge the class of comparable graphs with respect to a centrality measure.

Overestimation of subjective probabilities

Abstract: .— When asked to estimate the probability of outcomes of draws from a binomial population, student subjects tend to report p values that clearly exceed the objective ones. The probability of specific binomial sequences was found to be even more overestimated, while the answers became much more conservative when the outcomes were grouped into a few categories. These findings were replicated in a second experiment, where the probability of heights in a male and a female student population was estimated. When the task was to estimate frequency of occurrence, instead of probability, the answers became more realistic. The conclusion is drawn that the direct p estimates are relatively independent of frequency judgments, the chief determinant being the properties of the particular sample to be evaluated, irrespective of the number and probabilities of other possible samples.

Revised questionnaire on the sense of humor

Abstract: .— A Sense-of-Humor Questionnaire (SHQ), based on the proposed 3–dimensional theory of sense of humor, was given to male and female students in social and physical sciences to test its construct validity. There were positive and significant correlations between the laughter-activating dimension (Mp) and each of the two laughter-inhibiting dimensions (Lp, and Ep), the latter being zero correlated with each other. In a two-way analysis of variance (sex X science), the main effects were a sex difference on the Lp- as well as Ep-dimension, while no main effect was found on the Mp-dimension. The Lp-scores discriminated between men and women in the social sciences, and the Ep-scores in the physical sciences. All results are in agreement with theory.

Subjective sampling distributions and the additivity of estimates

Abstract: .— Previous studies of sampling distributions have been conducted almost exclusively under the assumption that persons behave in accordance with the “fundamental convention” of probability, i.e. that the sum of all probability estimates will equal 1. When this assumption was tested by asking subjects to give “unrestricted” probability estimates of all possible outcomes of samples from a given population, a general tendency of overestimation made the sum of all probabilities exceed 1 to a considerable extent. The subjective sampling distributions appeared to be unaffected by sample size (N=5 or 10) and number of outcomes, and were flatter than the corresponding “objective” sampling distributions.

Self-reported arousal: further development of a multi-factorial inventory.

Abstract: .— The previously presented (Bohlin & Kjellberg, 1973) inventory of self-reported arousal, which contained four factor analytically derived scales, was further developed in the following way. First, the original factor pattern was cross-validated. Second, a new response scale was constructed which proved to be superior to the old one. Third, the inventory was extended with new items and factor analysis applied to this new inventory. From the model of phenomenological arousal advanced by Bohlin & Kjellberg (1973) six factors were hypothesized and it was shown that a similar solution could be obtained with the extended inventory. Finally, this six-factor pattern was cross-validated and six scales, labelled Sleep-Wakeful-ness, Energy, Stress, Irritation, Euphoria, and Concentration, were constructed.

Performance of rhythm patterns

Abstract: .— Two pianists and one percussionist performed a number of notated rhythms on the piano and on the side drum or the bongo drum. The tape-recordings of the performances were analyzed by an analyzer for mono-phonic sound sequences as regards the durations and the amplitudes. Several characteristic deviations from the norms implied by the musical notation appeared. The recordings were used as stimuli in experiments on rhythm experience described elsewhere.

A method for analysing performance in the rod‐and‐frame test

Abstract: .— Scoring only the unsigned (absolute) errors in the Rod-and-Frame Test (RFT) is questioned because the method confounds a number of variables. Another way of scoring the RFT is proposed which differentiates between (1) the subject's constant error, (2) the effect of the tilted frame, and (3) the rod starting position effect. The method also allows estimation of the response consistency of the subject. What is more, the values for each subject of the constant error, of the frame tilt effect, and of the rod starting position effect may be tested for significance on the basis of the degree of response consistency observed for that particular subject, thus making the new method more person-oriented than the unsigned error method.

Classification of art into style periods; a factor‐analytical approach

Abstract: .— An attempt was made to determine, primarily, along what dimensions a classification takes place, and secondarily whether the same dimensions appear in different style periods: renaissance, baroque, and rococo, when paintings and pieces of music were judged by the “semantic differential” technique. The factor-analysis produced six factors, which were interpreted as follows: I Aesthetic-qualitative evaluation, II Emotional tone, III Symbolism, IV Dynamics, V Clarity, and VI Stillness. Factors I, II, and III occurred in all style periods, both in painting and in music.

A theory of veridical space perception

Abstract: .— A theory of veridical space perception based on the principles of movement parallax is proposed. Since optical changes are ambiguous with regard to veridical distances it is suggested that veridicality is obtained on the basis of an interaction between optical information and information from the body-state system. The optical system generates size and shape constancy on the basis of proximal common motions described by a vector-derivative model. The body-state system is thought to register information in a similar manner, and the interaction between the two subsystems is assumed to function according to the vector-derivative principle.

A theory of sense of humor

Abstract: .— Humor is a strategem for relating the collective social reality of a group of persons (the rational world) to their personal imaginations of alternative social worlds, meanings, or identities (the irrational world). The humorist is committed to the rational world. At the same time he permits idiosyncratic phantasies to occur within the social context if they are accompanied by an explicit message saying that the performance is made for fun. By such communications the rational social world is kept stable as well as more tolerable. The comical situation is composed of three essential elements: (1) the message, (2) the audience, and (3) the target or content treated by the message. The message brings the target to the irrational level, where it is brought into disrespect in favor of the alliance between the humorist and his audience. Laughter is the announcement that the disrespect is accepted just for fun. A person may, however, keep a straight face for different reasons. A conceptual scheme is proposed for prediction of laughter. It is based upon three dimensions of the comic situation: (1) the humorous message, (2) the interpersonal likings, and (3) the permissiveness towards actual laughter. The corresponding personal dispositions are the habitual sensitivity to such messages, the habitual tendency to favor comical situations and persons, and the habitual need for emotional-impulse control. Suggestions are made as to the modification of laughter by constellations of high and low values on these variables.

An interactionist approach to the study of anxiety An analysis of an S‐R inventory applied to an adolescent sample

Abstract: .— An inventory of anxiety was constructed according to the “S-R format”, i.e., with situations and responses selected separately. The inventory employed 17 situation scales, supposed to induce different degrees of anxiety, and 18 response scales, supposed to represent different reactions to anxiety evoking stimuli. The Ss were a group of 128 pupils, 16years of age. The main purpose was to estimate the relative proportions of variance from the different variance sources. The results showed that individuals and situations contributed only about 6% each of the total variation, responses about 19%, the simple interactions about 30%, and the residual about 40%. Factor analyses of the situation and responsescales showed that these scales were multidimensional. For the response scales two main factors were isolated, interpreted as “Psychic anxiety”, and “Somatic anxiety”. For the situation scales three main factors were isolated, interpreted as “Threat of punishment”, “Anticipation fear”, and “Inanimate threat”.

Sex differences in self-reported anxiety for different situations and modes of response.

Abstract: .— A review was made of recent studies employing different S-R inventories of anxiety and fear. The review pointed to the need for studies of sex differences for inventories where both situations and modes of response are selected separately. Such an analysis was made in the present study with regard to sex differences in both level and variability of self-reported anxiety for both total scores, factor scores, and single situation and response scales. The Ss were 116 adolescents, about 16 years of age. The inventory comprised 17 situations and 18 modes of response. With a few minor exceptions the analyses showed consistent sex differences throughout, with girls scoring higher than boys and showing greater interindividual variability in reported anxiety. Among other things, the results are discussed in relation to sex differences reported for physiological variables.

Effects of cigarette smoking on verbal rote learning and physiological arousal.

Abstract: .— Verbal rote learning was studied on 12 moderate smokers. In one condition learning was interrupted twice by smoking a nicotine-containing cigarette (Virginia King, 2.1 mg nicotine) and in another condition by smoking a nicotine-free cigarette. Immediately after the first nicotine-containing cigarette there was a drop in the number of correct responses and learning was significantly less rapid under subsequent trials as compared with learning after the first nicotine-free cigarette. After the second cigarette the picture was reversed. Learning was significantly more improved in the nicotine condition than in the nicotine-free condition. Adrenalin excretion increased significantly during learning in both conditions, and heart rate increased significantly after the first nicotine-containing cigarette.

A method for analysing performance in the rod-and-frame test. II Test of the Statistical Model

Abstract: .— A new method of scoring the Rod-and-Frame Test (RFT) has been proposed (Nyborg, 1974). The statistical model behind the new method is introduced and tested in the present work.

Sex differences in achievement motivation.

Abstract: .— Norwegian undergraduate psychology students were given Heckhausen's TAT test of achievement motivation prior to or after final course examination. Women obtained higher mean score on Fear of Failure than men on both occasions. There was no sex difference in length of protocol, nor was this variable related to any of the motivation scores. Success in terms of examination results did not affect motivation scores, whereas failure led to higher score on Hope of Success for men but not for women.

Multidimensional scaling of political parties A methodological study

Abstract: .— With 7 Norwegian parties as stimuli, comparisons were made of various content and distance approaches to scaling. As expected, the former gave two factors, socialistic and nonsocialistic, and the latter gave one bipolar dimension, interpreted as socialistic-non-socialistic. Individual differences in structure were not found. Among several principles of similarity, Ekman's original (1961) gave the best fit. It is maintained, however, that the fundamental vector model of the content approach is inadequate, both for theoretical reasons and because subjects are unable to operate in accordance with it.

Epidemiological investigation of mental disorders of children in Reykjavík, Iceland.

Abstract: .— A representative sample of 1100 children aged 5–15 years in Reykjavik was investigated with the WISC test, the Rorschach test, and an extensive semistructured interview with the mothers. The purpose of the investigation was to estimate the frequency of mental disorders in the population of children in Reykjavik, and their socioeconomic and educational correlates. The percentage of severely disordered children for the different mental health variables ranged from 11.8% to 30.8%. No significant differences were found as to age and sex. Most clearly associated with mental health were the parents' educational level, occupational status of father, the maternal attitudes of warmth and emotional involvment and the child's IQ and school achievement.

The effect of simulation exercises on the control of aggressive behaviour in children

Abstract: .— The subjects consisted of two. matched, extremely aggressive (experimental = ExG and control = CoG) groups of twelve 8–year-old boys. and of one criterion group (CrG) of extrovert, well-controlled boys. Video-tape recording of behaviour was used both in pretest (T1) and post-test (T2). Between T1 and T2 the ExG was submitted to simulation exercises of 8 lessons given in a period of four weeks. The exercises consisted in social problem solutions on the purely cognitive (imaginary and symbolic) level and in role-playing (behavioral level). The hypothesis was that the combination of cognitive training and observational learning with the aim of making children realise alternatives to aggression in coping with thwarting situations and their after-effects. would influence individuals with strong aggressive habits to abandon theiraggressive reactions in favour of more constructive behaviour. As to aggression, the results supported the hypothesis. For constructive behaviour, (1) the ExG maintained the samelevel of control of social behaviour in T1 and T2, while a significant drop occurred in the GoC, and (2) the strategies of problem solution improved significantly in the ExG. In T2, the behaviour of the ExG resembled more closely that of the CoG than the behaviour of the CrG, as hypothesized.

Three attitude dimensions of sense of humor as predictors of laughter

Abstract: .— A theory of sense of humor was made the basis for construction of an exploratory attitude test. The theory distinguishes between three dimensions of a comical situation and their personality equivalents, the latter being (1) sensitivity to humorous messages (Mp), (2) personal likings of comical situations (Lp), and (3) need for emotional control (Ep). From a group of 96 subjects, 30 were selected for observation of the occurrence of laughter in an entertainment situation. The attitude dimensions were tested as predictors by a combined factorization and regression approach. No prediction was obtained for the total group. Laughter in men was, however, predicted by the Lp-variable, and in women by the Ep-variable, as expected on the basis of an avowed sex difference in style of social behavior.

Policy conflict, policy consistency, and interpersonal understanding

Abstract: .— A number of studies have shown that inconsistency in the subjects' policies is a major reason for disagreement in policy conflict. It has been hypothesized that the lack of consistency makes it hard for subjects to understand each other's policies. The present results provided evidence for this hypothesis by showing that subjects asked each other more questions about policy when their policies were less consistent in an experiment where policy consistency was manipulated by varying the predictability of the conflict task.

The validity of the serial color-word test A reply to Lennart Sjöberg

Abstract: .— In reply to Lennart Sjoberg's conclusion that the reliabilities and validities of the serial Color-Word Test are at best moderate the present authors claim that, given reliable and adequate criteria, the validities are high. Hence, the true reliabilities can hardly be low. Supporting data are presented. However, the test should not be used merely to identify psychiatric syndrome groups, but rather to broaden our knowledge about them by unveiling their adaptive strategies.

No universality of cognitive structures? Two experiments with almost‐perfect one‐trial learning of translatable operators in a Ural‐Altaic and an Indo‐European language

Abstract: .— One set of animated pictures showing the geometric relationships defined by 21 Swedish prepositions, and a second set showing the relationships defined by 12 Finnish case endings, were made. Strict criteria of simplicity, systematicity and minimum learning time were applied to this stimulus material. In two experiments, one with the Swedish and the other with the Finnish material the correctness of the stimulus material was tested by using a PA-design. The visual stimulus was paired with either the operator it intended to depict, or with some other operator. A minimum of learning time was needed in the experimental conditions, and the control conditions also gave results in accordance with the predictions. Suggestive evidence as to a possible different encoding of time in Swedish and Finnish is reported.

Social pressure and policy change in the “lens model” interpersonal conflict paradigm

Abstract: .— The effects of conflict and policy inaccuracy on policy change in the “lens model” interpersonal conflict paradigm were investigated in an experiment which compared amount of policy change for subjects who were paired with a stooge who did not change his policy even though it was incorrect with the amount of policy change for subjects whose opponents changed their policies to reduce the inaccuracy of these policies. The amount of policy change was the same in both of these conditions, indicating that task adaptation is a more important goal to the subjects than conflict reduction in these experiments.

An empirical comparison between some models for multidimensional scaling

Abstract: .— The results of three methods for multidimensional scaling—Torgerson's metric analysis, a non-metric method (TORSCA), and a method dealing with individual differences in multidimensional scaling (INDSCAL)—were compared in experiments on rhythm experience and on perception of sound quality. The INDSCAL analysis seemed to be the most adequate method for treating the data in these experiments.

Policy conflict and policy change as a function of task characteristics III. The effects of the distribution of the validities of the cues in the conflict task

Abstract: .— The effects of the distribution of the validities of the cues in the conflict task on policy conflict, as studied in Hammond's “lens model” interpersonal conflict paradigm, was investigated in a 2 (levels of task predictability) by 2 (levels of cue validity distribution: only one cue valid vs. two equally valid cues) factorial experiment. The results showed that the level of agreement was higher when only one cue was valid than when both cues were valid, but this effect was obtained only when task predictability was high. In the low predictability condition, there were no differences between the two levels of cue validity distribution. In agreement with earlier findings, the results also showed that agreement was a positive function of the predictability of the task. These results show that, to understand policy conflict, it is not sufficient to analyse only the characteristics of the parties to the conflict; it is also necessary to analyse the characteristics of the task facing the parties.

Immediate and long‐term retention of connected concrete discourse as a function of mnemonic picture‐type sequence and context

Abstract: .— Two stories each containing 30 sentences of connected, concrete discourse were presented with or without an illustrating picture preceding each sentence, and with or without within-story context. Immediate paced recall with pictures or empty frames was demanded. With the with-context material, paced recall and free recall was also studied after the lapse of one year. Storey 1 was made according to the en-route mnemonic scheme and story 2 according to the within-a-building scheme. On immediate recall pictures as well as context had a strong positive effect. There was no interaction between pictures and context., which may be interpreted to mean that these factors may be intrapsychically identical. Recall after one year was generally poor, but indicated that the en-route mnemonic scheme may be more effective in long-term memory. Very little reconstruction from the pictures seems to have taken place.

Evidence for the latency-time explanation of the Pulfrich phenomenon.

Abstract: — The explanation of the F'ulfrich stereophe-nomenon has been based on the laws of stereoscopic depth and angular disparity, together with the assumption that the timing of the neural discharges from the retina of the Eltered eye is delayed If this hypothesis is plausible the stereoscopic effect is at least reduced when the pendulum swings vertically in relation to the condition in which the path of the pendulum crosses the observer's line of sight horizontally, because the vertical disparity is ineffective as a depth cue The results of the present experiment show that the Pulfrich phenomenon is reduced when the pendulum swings vertically

Psychometric properties of the serial colour word test

Abstract: .— Lower bound reliabilities for the various parameters of two previously suggested models for the serial colour word test—one linear and one quadratic —are derived and estimated. The quadratic model gave mostly very low reliabilities, and the stronger, linear model also gave only a few high reliabilities. Validity was studied by means of discriminant functions (4 groups being used; 3 clinical and 1 normal). The validity of the test was low. The linear model gave the best results under cross validation.

Visibility distances with halogen and conventional headlights

Abstract: .— Using visibility distance as a criterion, halogen and conventional continental European high and low-beam headlights were compared in a series of field experiments. On high-beam without opposing light the halogen headlights offered about 25% longer visibility distances than the conventional headlights. With both opposing cars using low-beam there was a slight advantage (<5 m) in favour of halogen headlights. The optimal dipping distance was a function of high-beam system (intensity) rather than low-beam system. Small differences in aiming, atmosphere etc. caused larger differences in visibility distance than did the headlight system.

Human information processing capacity in counting several things simultaneously

Abstract: .— In the area of human information processing an important concept is that of a limited capacity central processing system (CPS). Posner (1970) emphasized the distinction between a short-term memory (STM) and an operational memory (OM). To evaluate this distinction, as well as to obtain data on the capacity limit of the CPS, and experiment was carried out, in which 14 subjects had to keep a running count of the number of occurrences of two or more predetermined items in a series of stimuli. Based on the experimental data a register model of the CPS was suggested which emphasized the distinction between the STM and the OM as one of two different memory functions carried out by a common memory system. The model also suggested that the capacity limit of the CPS was around eight items of verbally coded information.