Jefferson L. Sulzer

MANUAL LEVER D: A BASIC PSYCHOMOTOR APPARATUS FOR THE STUDY OF FEEDBACK

A relatively simple device requiring a lever-displacing response is described. It should be useful in training and retention research. It was specifically designed so that E could remind S of (a) a previous response, (b) an alternative response, and (c) a previous feedback.

Long-term retention under conditions of artificially induced recall of related events.

This is the second of a series of four major studies which examine the interrelationships between two training factors (the first response and informative feedback) and three memory factors (the second response, the recalled feedback, and the response alternative). Only two trials were given, 28 days apart. 671 Ss were reminded of two of the three antecedents in order to evaluate the effect of near perfect recall of two antecedents on memory for the third. The results confirm the hypothesis that reminders are effective in altering memory in a variety of ways. The method of reminders is analysed in detail and so is its relation to similar techniques recently evolved in the field of verbal learning and retention.

Note on the Role of Negative Affectivity in Understanding Relationships between Self-Reports of Exercise and Sick Leave

Previous research indicates that observed correlations between self-reports of job stress and self-reports of strain may be reduced after partialling out the variance due to the personality trait of negative affectivity. The present study examined the effect of negative affectivity on the relationships between self-reports of exercise and strain in a sample of 128 governmental employees. While the magnitudes of the bivariate correlations between exercise and strain were small, the results of semipartial correlation analyses were somewhat consistent with expectations that the magnitudes of bivariate correlations between exercise participation and self-reports of strain would be reduced after controlling for negative affectivity in measures of strain. The implications of these findings for incorporating a measure of negative affectivity in studies of exercise-strain relationships involving self-reports are discussed.

Quality Circles: The Effects of Varying Degrees of Voluntary Participation on Employee Attitudes and Program Efficacy

This study, with 206 federal government employees, examined hypothesized relationships between degree of voluntary participation in quality circles, employee work climate perceptions, and quality circle outcome measures. Primary results revealed that the degree of voluntary participation in quality circles was positively related to following quality circle guidelines and that following quality circle guidelines was positively related to estimated economic gain. The implications of voluntary versus nonvoluntary participation on quality circle group processes and quality circle cost/benefit outcomes is discussed.

Goal and error training methods in the learning of a positioning response

Three hundred twenty Ss were given 2 Training trials with one of 3 Goal Training Methods or 5 Error Training Methods prior to 6 Test trials with no IF. The Error trained Ss performed consistently worse during Testing, suggesting that the widely used Error Training techniques are not necessarily the most efficacious.

A Test for the Effect of Numerical Magnitude of Knowledge of Results

Ss were given 3 guided training (T) trials, each followed by a free response, to learn to move a concealed lever 60°. No KR was administered. Six unguided countertraining (CT) trials followed, during which KR related to a target 20° above the origin was administered after each free response. A unit error of 2° was reported as 1, 10, 100, or 1000 units, depending upon the group. In the first post-KR trial and over all CT trials, no significant differences among the groups were observed. The Groups X Trials interaction was likewise non-significant. It was concluded that inflating error by “adding zeroes” was a very weak manipulation in this situation.

Placebo Attribution in Methadone Patients

The effect of external cues on the attributed effectiveness of a placebo was evaluated with methadone patients and a nonaddict control group. Two sources of external feedback, implicit dosage strength (liquid drug color) and explicit performance information (pursuit rotor feedback), were varied along with drug usage. The results indicated that the methadone patients made significantly greater placebo attributions and relied more upon the external cues in making those attributions than did the nonaddict control group. Implications for drug therapy are presented.