Peter F. Briggs

Further Normative Data on a Frostig Subtest, Eye-Hand Coordination.

Scores on the eye-hand coordination subtest of the Frostig for 360 males and females from age 3 to 39 confirmed the Frostig standardization scores through age 7.

Concurrent Schedules of Social Reinforcement and Dependency Behavior among Four-Year-Old Children.

Abstract An experiment exploring the validity of the Gavalas and Briggs concurrent schedules of social reinforcement model of dependency is reported. In a puzzle completion task, two responses were defined as follows: dependent (R D ), S obtaining a puzzle piece from the E who was seated some distance away; and, competent (R C ), S obtaining a puzzle piece by himself. Experimental groups received different concurrent schedules of social reinforcement for R C and R D . Analysis of variance yielded few reliable experimental group differences. Girls emitted reliably more R D during extinction than did boys, independent of schedule of reinforcement. However, correlational analysis indicated that the model predicted the order effects of the concurrent schedules during extenction on a measure of R D relative to R C for sexes combined, but more reliably for girls than boys. The model also reliably predicted order effects on a mean rate of R C for both sexes during extinction, but the relationship was stronger for boys than girls.

CONTENT AND ORDER IN THE FORMATION OF IMPRESSIONS

Two contrasting character descriptions from each of three short stories were rated by Ss on a set of semantic differential scales and a set of descriptive statements. Ratings were obtained for two orders of presentation and in two conditions of judgment. In one condition, a rating was introduced after the reading of the first story section, as well as at the conclusion of reading the second section. In the other condition, the rating occurred only at the conclusion of reading the second section. The results indicate that some story sections dominate the final judgment regardless of order or interpolated judgment. When such a potency effect is not a factor, primacy (first impression) effects occur when intermediate judgment is not interpolated, and recency (last impression) effects are strengthened when intermediate judgment is interpolated. For two of the three characters the potency of one episode influenced final impressions. The design of the study permits an analysis of content effects in impression-formation and the results suggest the value of the further investigation of content variables which influence the judgment of characteristics of others.