James O. Benedict

The Relationships between Privacy and Different Components of Job Satisfaction

The level of workspace architectural privacy has previously been found to relate to overall job satisfaction. It was hypothesized that because privacy may serve particular functions, only particular facets of job satisfaction will be related to it, both in the short term (less than 1 year) and in the long term (more than 1 year). One hundred thirty professional secretaries assessed their level of privacy and their level of job satisfaction as measured by the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire. The results supported the hypotheses and showed that the environment in which one works affects some but not all facets of job satisfaction.

STRESS AND SLEEP PATTERNS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS

The present study investigated the relationship between stress and sleep. A self-report measure was used to assess three domains: environmental events, personality mediators, and emotional responses. It was hypothesized that one or more of the domains would predict seven different aspects of sleep. 227 college students completed the Derogatis Stress Profile and the Sleep Questionnaire. Analysis indicated that scores on emotional response were the best predictor of five different sleep aspects: depth of sleep, difficulties in waking up, quality and latency of sleep, negative affect in dreams, and sleep irregularity. Presence of environmental events was the best predictor for the length of sleep only. It was concluded that research looking at the effects of stress on sleep must consider all three components of stress and that perhaps the emotional response to stress is the best predictor of sleep complaints.

Addiction versus intimacy as related to sexual involvement in a relationship.

Forty couples aged 18-25 years who were in love relationships of three months or more were tested concerning the level of addiction or maturity in the relationship. The results of three questionnaires revealed significant positive correlations between the following: self-esteem and maturity, adjustment and maturity, adjustment and relationship satisfaction, relationship satisfaction and maturity, relationship satisfaction and self-esteem, sexual satisfaction and maturity, and sexual satisfaction and relationship satisfaction. In a multiple regression, three variables (adjustment, relationship satisfaction, and intercourse) predicted a significant amount of the variance surrounding the maturity variable. The results supported the hypotheses proposed.

Computer Simulation or Real Experimentation: Is One Better for Teaching Experimental Design?

An experimental approach to the question yields support for both methods, and an order preference.

TERRITORIALITY AND THE USE OF LIBRARY STUDY TABLES

This experiment examined the influence of three different spatial markers at three different types of college library tables. College students were told to assume they were using the library either to do research or to study for a test and were then presented slides each showing a different table with a different marker. The students were asked to rate their level of avoidance for sitting at each of the seats at the table or to sitting at the table itself. The types of tables were a four-person table, four study tables with low partitions at front and sides, and four carrels with high partitions at front and sides. The markers were an open book, a jacket, and a person. The presumed purpose for using the library did not affect the reactions to the tables or markers. However, the type of table and type of marker affected reactions to sitting at each of the different seats. All seats except the diagonal seat at marked tables with low or no partitions led to high avoidance. Only the marked seat was avoided at the carrels. The marker that was rated with the highest level of avoidance at the tables was the person marker. Implications for the design of efficient and comfortable study and workspace were discussed.

Judgment of covariation in classical and instrumental conditioning contexts

College students judged the covariation of noncontingent events in both classical and instrumental conditioning contexts. The type of early contingency and the overall probability of events were varied. The subjects rated the covariation higher in the instrumental conditioning context and in conditions in which the probability of events was higher. The type of early contingency did not consistently affect the magnitude of the ratings. It appeared that the act of responding increased the ratings of covariation in noncontingent situations.

A study of Zajonc’s theory of social facilitation using a wheel-turn Sidman avoidance response in rats

Rat subjects were used to study the acquisition of a wheel-turn Sidman avoidance response under three levels of social interaction: physical, spectator, and single subjects. Zajonc’s (1965) theory of the effects of social interaction was supported. Subjects run alone acquired the avoidance response quickly, but subjects run with spectators or with co-responders did not acquire the response.