Just one look was all it took: Reply to Berbaum, Markus, and Zajonc.

Responds to the reply by M. L. Berbaum et al (see record 1982-11793-001) to the present author's (see record 1982-11821-001) critique of the confluence model developed by R. B. Zajonc et al (1975, 1976, 1979, 1980), which relates sibling spacing to intellectual development. The author restates his criticism of the internal consistency and predictive validity of the confluence model, and discusses logical and mathematical problems with its use. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A closer look at Galbraith's "closer look."

Responds to comments by R. C. Galbraith (see record 1982-11821-001) on the mathematical properties and empirical basis of R. B. Zajonc and G. B. Markus's (see record 1975-09290-001) confluence model of sibling spacing and intellectual development. The present authors contest Galbraith's critique of the model's internal consistency and predictive validity, and state that if Galbraith's data on Mormon college students are analyzed properly, they may shed light on within- and between-families factors affecting intellectual development. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Rational explanation of the selection task.

M. Oaksford and N. Chater (O&C, see record 1995-08271-001) presented the first quantitative model of R C. Wason's (1966) selection task in which performance is rational. J. St. B. T. Evans and D. E. Over (see record 83:25190) reply that O&C's account is normatively incorrect and cannot model K. N. Kirby's (see record 1995-04302-001) or R Pollard and J. St. B. T. Evans's (see record 1984-30572-001) data. It is argued that an equivalent measure satisfies their normative concerns and that a modification of O&C's model accounts for their empirical concerns. D. Laming (see record 83:25220) argues that O&C made unjustifiable psychological assumptions and that a "correct" Bayesian analysis agrees with logic. It is argued that O&C's model makes normative and psychological sense and that Laming's analysis is not Bayesian. A. Almor and S. A. Sloman (see record 83:25168) argue that O&C cannot explain their data. It is argued that Almor and Sloman's data do not bear on O&C's model because they alter the nature of the task. It is concluded that O&C's model remains the most compelling and comprehensive account of the selection task. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Birth order, SAT, and confluence: Spurious correlations and no causality.

In response to the article by R. B. Zajonc (see record 1987-02628-001) on the confluence model describing the influence of family factors on the Scholastic Aptitude Test scores, the present author argues that the confluence model is not as powerful a behavioral model as the article implies, and that the question whether birth order is related to intellectual development is more important. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Note on clinical judgment and the formal characteristics of clinical tasks.

Analysis of clinical judgment studies by F. J. Todd (1954), K. R. Hammond et al (see record 1965-08022-001), S. Oskamp (see record 1968-02701-001), L. R. Goldberg (see record 1970-12828-001), and R. M. Dawes (see record 1971-25701-001) suggests that the same relation between consistency of inferences and task predictability holds in clinical inferences as in laboratory learning studies. Findings indicate that, to understand the process of clinical inference, it is insufficient to analyze only the clinician; it is also necessary to analyze the clinician/clinical-task system. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

I am wanting to tell you: Reply to Borgen (1995) and Dawis (1995).

This reply to F. H. Borgen (see record 1995-27394-001) and R. V. Dawis (see record 1995-27395-001)) argues that studying the causes, attributes, and benefits of participants' psychological experiencing of leisure is more likely to advance knowledge of leisure's effects on participants than efforts that recapitulate the study of vocational interests. The conceptual relation of the construct of needs to interests and values is explained, and it is suggested that K. Holmberg, D. Rosen, and J. L. Holland's (1990) taxonomy may lack validity because of its reliance on the armchair judgments of "experts." This article disagrees with Borgen's suggestion that H. E. A. Tinsley and B. D. Eldredge's (see record 1995-27399-001) findings are critical of J. L. Holland's (1985) theory and suggests a procedure for attempting to develop a valid taxonomy of leisure activities using Holland's theory. Nevertheless, Holland's theory largely ignores the amount of exertion intrinsic to an activity, and exertion is the most important dimension for distinguishing among leisure activities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Selected views of family assessment: A commentary.

Comments on articles concerning family assessment by H. D. Grotevant (see record 1990-12120-001); R. B. Hampson et al (see record 1990-12122-001); D. C. Bell and L. G. Bell (see record 1990-12106-001); C. I. Carlson (see record 1990-12110-001); and T. L. Huston and J. K. Rempel (see record 1990-12126-001). It is suggested that theory needs to be related to research and practice more consistently. It would be useful to identify the principle theories in family science and critically examine the unique assessment issues raised by each perspective. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reestimating Zajonc's confluence effects on the SAT.

In response to the article by R. B. Zajonc (see record 1987-02628-001) on the confluence model and prediction of national Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores, the present authors reestimate Zajonc's model using their estimates of proportion of high school seniors taking the SAT. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Postmodern psychology: Resonance and reflection.

K. J. Gergen comments on the reactions to his exchange (see record 1994-37275-001) with M. B. Smith (see record 1994-37277-001) from R. L. Russell and M. D. Gaubatz (see record 1995-36714-001); B. Denner (see record 1995-36711-001); D. Mente (see record 1995-36713-001); and D. White and A. Wang (see record 1995-36716-001). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

About postmodernism: Reply to Gergen and others.

In his reply, M. B. Smith comments on the issues between K. J. Gergen (see record 1994-37275-001) and himself (see record 1994-37277-001) and replies to comments by R. L. Russell and M. D. Gaubatz (see record 1995-36714-001); B. Denner (see record 1995-36711-001); D. Mente (see record 1995-36713-001); and D. White and A. Wang (see record 1995-36716-001). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Got a minute? Attentional limits revisited.

Responds to comments by R. C. Tees (see record 1991-03035-001), J. G. Adair (see record 1991-03013-001), J. E. Grusec (see record 1991-03021-001), K. Danziger (see record 1991-03016-001), L. P. Mos (see record 1991-03027-001), H. J. Stam (see record 1991-03033-001), and V. Vikis-Freilbergs (see record 1991-03039-001) on W. Thorngate's (see record 1991-03036-001) contention that the overproduction of psychological literature will lead to fragmentation of the discipline. As the works of psychologists proliterate, their scientific truth may capture less attention than their practical importance or personal interest. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Thinking and feeling: A skeptical review.

Comments that R. B. Zajonc's (see record 1980-09733-001) claim that poetry, intuition, and experimental evidence support the claim that preferences need no inferences is one-sided. Zajonc fails to mention that a simpler theory can account for the evidence he cites. M. H. Birnbaum and B. A. Mellers's (see record 1980-29307-001) one-mediator model provides a better fit to Zajonc's data. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A comment on Zajonc.

Comments that the article by R. B. Zajonc (see record 1987-02628-001) using the confluence model to establish a connection between birth order and Scholastic Aptitude Test scores, is interesting and provides valuable suggestions for future research, but that there are errors of omission and assumption. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Neural nets for generalization and classification: Comment on Staddon and Reid (1990).

The neural net model of J. E. R. Staddon and A. K. Reid (see record 1991-03032-001) explains exponential and Gaussian generalization gradients in the same way as the diffusion model of R. N. Shepard (1958). The "cognitive" generalization theory of Shepard (see record 1988-28272-001), which also has been implemented as a connectionist network, goes beyond both of these models in accounting for classification learning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evaluation of confluence model variables on IQ and achievement test scores in a sample of 6- to 11-year-old children.

The confluence model, proposed by R. B. Zajonc and G. B. Markus (see record 1975-09290-001) as a psychosocial model of cognitive development, was tested on a nationally representative cross-sectional sample of 7,060 male and female children born during a period of high and increasing birth rate. Family size, sibling order within family sizes, and hypothesized age-dependent effects were tested. Scores on subtests of the WISC and the Wide Range Achievement Test served as dependent variables. Findings indicate an inverse relationship between family size and the dependent measures, whereas other confluence variables failed to account for a significant proportion of the variance in test scores. Age-dependent effects were also nonsignificant. Obtaining support for family size effects in the absence of other effects predicted by confluence is viewed as a failure to support the model. The need for theoretical refinements of confluence variables is discussed. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On starting points and priorities: A rejoinder.

Responds to the reply by L. T. Hoshmand and J. Martin (see record 1997-02285-002) to S. C. Yanchar and K. B. Kristensen's comments (see record 1997-02285-001) on Hoshmand and Martin's (see record 1995-28533-001) proposal for a naturalistic epistemological approach to psychological science. Hoshmand and Martin argue that in Yanchar and Kristensen's stance toward some aspects of their proposal, they have attributed to Hoshmand and Martin a relationship between theory, method, and data that they do not hold. According to Hoshmand and Martin, in making their case Yanchar and Kristensen have objected to empirical means of evaluation, and essentially undermined their own argument. The authors clarify their position by responding to these claims. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychological adjustment and cancer outcome: Levy versus Taylor.

In response to S. Levy's (see record 1985-25856-001) criticism of R. Taylor's (see record 1984-17824-001) proposed cognitive theory of adaptation to cancer, the present author argues that Levy's contention that psychological maladjustment is associated with positive biological outcome is unjustified and bears little relevance to Taylor's model and its testability. (4 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The view from here: Rejoinder to Temoshok.

Replies to the comments of L. R. Temoshok (see record 1996-14854-001) on the article by B. L. Andersen et al (see record 1994-38031-001). The author addresses each of the points brought forth by Temoshok including: use of references, the usefulness of the biobehavioral model, and the availability of research in the cancer area. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The fan effect: New results and new theories.

The fan effect (J. R. Anderson, see record 1975-06644-001) has been attributed to interference among competing associations to a concept. Recently, it has been suggested that such effects might be due to multiple mental models (G. A. Radvansky, D. H. Spieler, & R. T. Zacks, see record 1993-16287-001) or suppression of concepts (M. C. Anderson & B. A. Spellman, see record 1995-16174-001); A. R. A. Conway & R. W. Engle, see record 1994-08314-001). It was found that the Adaptive Control of Thought—Rational (ACT-R) theory, which embodies associative interference, is consistent with the results of G. A. Radvansky et-al. and that there is no evidence for concept suppression in a new fan experiment. The ACT-R model provides good quantitative fits to the results, as shown in a variety of experiments. The 3 key concepts in these fits are (a) the associative strength between 2 concepts reflects the degree to which one concept predicts the other, (b) foils are rejected by retrieving mismatching facts; and (c) participants can adjust the relative weights they give to various cues in retrieval. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interpersonal view of depression: Review and integration.

Reviews the interpersonal models of depression of J. C. Coyne (see PA, Vols 61:1146 and 71:15607), G. L. Klerman et al (1984), and L. B. Feldman (see record 1979-13538-001). A reciprocal model of depression is presented that is based on systems theory, A. Bandura's (see record 1979-08427-001) concept of reciprocal determinism, and a cognitive approach to depression described by A. T. Beck et al (1979). According to the model, depression is reinforced by the reciprocity of cognitions, emotions, and behaviors on the intra- and interpersonal levels. Long-term results of treatment may be expected only when change occurs in depressed persons and their significant others. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)