Thurstone's primary mental abilities and structure-of-intellect abilities.

Attempted to find in the factor-analytic investigations of L. L. Thurstone some information concerning factorial intellectual abilities that have unique places in the structure-of-intellect (SI) model, and to determine which SI abilities are represented in Thurstone's Primary Mental Abilities Test (PMA). Although a number of his factors can be cited as probable forecasts of SI abilities, in only 1 or 2 instances was a Thurstone factor clearly representative of a single SI ability, unconfounded with other abilities. This general outcome was largely due to the fact that his analyzed batteries involved too many different SI abilities for which the number and varieties of tests were not adequate. In successive analyses, some of his factors tended to converge in the direction of SI abilities, so that his PMA tests represent 1 SI ability each, with the exception of the Reasoning and Number tests. (28 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Some misconceptions of factors.

Notes that R. Thorndike (see PA, Vol. 43:9755) and L. Cronbach have, by simple procedures of averaging coefficients of intercorrelations, attempted to determine whether new proposed abilities in the structure-of-intellect model are distinct from intellectual abilities of traditional types as in IQ scales, and even whether they are sufficiently distinct from 1 another to justify separate measurement. An example is presented which shows that the picture of structure-of-intellect abilities cannot be derived merely from averages of correlation coefficients. Unexpectedly large intercorrelations can be accounted for by the fact that most tests are not univocal. Considerable value is pointed out for differential measurement along the lines of structure-of-intellect abilities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

On the subjective character of the empirical base of Guilford's structure-of-intellect model.

Analysis of data from 3 studies that have been cited as indicating support for the structure-of-intellect (SI) theory demonstrates that Procrustean factoring methods can be used to provide results that appear to support randomly determined theories. Such results can be obtained even though (a) variables were reliable and presumably interrelated in lawful ways; (b) factors were required to be orthogonal; (c) factor loadings used in interpretation were required to be at least .30; and (d) S sample numbers were as large as 175, 205, and 240. Findings are interpreted as indicating that the factor-analytic support for SI theory is not compelling because it is not appreciably better than the support that can be provided for theories generated by random procedures. (32 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Rotation problems in factor analysis.

Replies to criticisms by J. L. Horn and J. R. Knapp (see record 1974-01085-001) regarding the methods of factor-analytic rotations that were used in deriving the empirical basis for development of the structure-of-intellect model and for testing its validity. Their arguments were not convincing because (a) they selected 3 biased cases out of more than 30 for their illustration, (b) the gaps between hits and errors in rotating to random hypotheses vs structure-of-intellect hypotheses were quite large, and (c) they failed to extend their test to include aims at invariance in terms of fit to a general theory. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Depression and perceived reinforcement: A reconsideration.

Evidence for the depressed S's hypersensitivity to any feedback about his performance and for the reversibility of depression-based perceptual deficits suggests that the depressed S can perceive response–reinforcement contingencies correctly, but only if given unassailable evidence of the efficacy of his actions. A high rate of response-contingent reinforcement is one instance of such evidence. The authors predicted that depressed Ss would misperceive skill task rewards under low- but not under high-reinforcement conditions. Changes in verbalized expectancies of success on skill and chance tasks at either 50 or 75% reinforcement rate were compared for 20 depressed and 20 nondepressed college students. Contrary to prediction, depressed Ss in no way differed from the nondepressed on the skill task at 50% reinforcement, and they produced larger expectancy changes on the chance task than did nondepressed Ss at 75% reinforcement. Results argue against the view that the depressed person misperceives response reinforcement contingencies, and they suggest instead that the depressed person overgeneralizes from any experience of success or failure in forming expectations for future successes. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Maximum likelihood confirmatory factor-analytic investigation of factors within Guilford's structure of intellect model.

K. G. J?reskog's (1969, 1970, 1974, 1978) confirmatory factor-analytic methodology was used to statistically test alternative hypotheses regarding the factor structure among tests of cognition, convergent production, and divergent production that underlies correlational data from the Aptitude Research Project. Large substantive improvements in goodness-of-fit indexes over random multifactor or general (single) factor models were not found, hence, the structure-of-intellect (SI) a priori models did not provide a superior fit to the data. The conclusion is that neither the high-dimensional SI model nor the general factor model provided a plausible level of overall fit to the data. Suggestions for future research and results of exploratory factor analyses are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The hierarchical factor structure of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence.

Performed a Wherry-Wherry hierarchical factor analysis on the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI) subtest intercorrelations reported by D. Wechsler for each of the 6 age groups included in the standardization sample. A hierarchical arrangement of abilities highly congruent with P. E. Vernon's 1950 structure-of-intellect theory was obtained. The obtained arrangement consisted of a strong general intelligence factor defined by positive loadings from all subtests, and 2 subgeneral factors: a verbal-educational factor defined by the verbal subtests and a spatial-perceptual factor defined by the performance subtests. The factor structure remained stable across age groups, thus contradicting the differentiation hypothesis. These findings support the construct validity of the WPPSI as a general intelligence assessor and also provide some support for maintaining separate WPPSI Verbal and Performance IQs. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The use of personal health information in the coroner''s inquiry

A pathologist appointed by the coroner may feel that his or her role is to review the medical notes, perform a post-mortem, examination and then interpret the findings in the light of clinical information and any other information received from the coroner, and include in the clinico-pathological summary a cause of death. We believe that such an approach is not in accordance with the legal position relating to coroners' inquests. The coroner has no automatic right to see the medical notes (and neither does the coroner's pathologist); where there is, or may be, dispute as to the circumstances leading to death, the proper way for information in the medical record to be presented at the coroner's inquest is for the maker of any note to give oral evidence. Where the cause of death requires interpretation of the clinical history or knowledge of any circumstantial evidence, a pathologist should refrain from giving a cause of death; such a task is for the court, having heard all the evidence-medical or not-relating to the death.     

Benjamin Samuel Bloom (1913-1999).

Memorializes Benjamin Samuel Bloom for his many contributions to educational psychology. Bloom spent most of his academic career conducting research and designing educational programs based on the belief that virtually any student can learn what he or she is expected to learn to a high standard if proper learning conditions are provided. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Modern Factor Analysis (2nd Ed.).

Reviews the book, Modern Factor Analysis by Harry H. Harman (1967). A major attraction of Harman's writing is his ability to include technical detail for the most sophisticated reader while at the same time making more basic information available to the novice factor analyst. The second edition of Modern Factor Analysis displays this same characteristic as the first. The changes made in this revision are a matter of reorganizing some material and including discussions on more recent techniques. The current advances in electronic computers have made these inclusions not only practical, but essential. The impact of computers has made some methods, such as the centroid solution, practically obsolete for all but teaching purposes. At the same time, this revised edition contains a whole new chapter on the minimum residuals method of factoring, as well as sections on canonical form and the direct oblimin solution. Altogether, this book can be considered an essential reference for anyone engaged in using or teaching techniques of factor analysis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Commentary on crooks.

Mark Crooks (see record 2004-18788-002) effectively demolishes Dennett's theory by concentrating on its internal defects. In which case I would like to contribute to this discussion by examining some scientific evidence that may be relevant. Dennett claims that hallucinations do not involve any actual sensory element but only a change in our beliefs. A schizophrenic does not actually hear the voices he complains about--he develops the false belief that he is hearing something. This puts hallucinations on a par with the patient's delusions e.g. his false belief that other people are persecuting him. The majority view, in contrast, is that hallucinations represent defective function in the sensory system. In this impasse, evidence from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies should help. These allow us to identify those areas of the brain that are activated under the conditions we are interested in. If the majority are right, then a subject having hallucinations should show increased activity in some part of his sensory brain. On the other hand, if Dennett is right, the subject should show no such increased activity but, instead, possibly abnormal activity in the part of the brain related to the formation of delusions. To answer this question I performed a Medline search of the literature on imaging studies in hallucinations occurring under various circumstances. The results were interesting. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Technological Assessment of Radio Frequency Identification Technology for Indoor Localization

Indoor localization is needed for guiding people who are not familiar with a facility. This need is more critical when guidance is needed to locate people or objects that need immediate attention. For example, an inexperienced facility worker might need to locate a building component (e.g., leaking pipe) for repair to prevent any damage to a facility or its residents. In such situations, an approach that can help the user to reach his/her destination point (i.e., a component of interest or a specific location in a facility) based on his/her current location is desired. To provide such guidance, the location of a person needs to be determined at a given point in time. This process is known as localization. The objective of this research study is to determine the technological viability of using radio frequency identification (RFID) to support localization. To assess the capability of RFID for localization, the writers conducted multiple field tests under real operating conditions within a facility at Carnegie Mellon University. Hypothesis tests and K-nearest neighborhood algorithm were used to determine the technological feasibility of RFID to support localization. The results showed that it is possible to identify the location of a user using this approach; however, some improvements in accuracy are needed.     

On the Tendency of Solutions to Tend Toward Ideal Solutions at High Temperatures

The rule of Lupis and Elliott (LE rule) proposed for the first time in 1966 is reformulated in this article as, “Real solid, liquid and gaseous solutions (and pure gases) gradually approach the state of an ideal solution (perfect gas) as temperature increases at any fixed pressure and composition.” This rule is rationalized through the heat expansion of phases and loss of any interaction with increased separation between the atoms. It is shown that the rule is valid only if the standard state is selected properly, i.e., if mixing does not involve any hidden phase changes, such as melting. It is shown that the necessary and sufficient practical conditions to obey the LE rule is the equality of signs of the heat of mixing and excess entropy of mixing and the nonequality of signs of heat of mixing and excess heat capacity of mixing of the same solution. It is shown that these two conditions are fulfilled for most of the experimentally measured high-temperature solutions. The LE rule is compared with the existing laws of thermodynamics. It is shown that the LE rule can be considered as a potential fourth law of materials thermodynamics.     

Testing in State Hospitals: Reply.

Replies to a comment made by James E. Woods (see record 2005-11050-002) regarding an original comment made by the author on the issue of testing in state hospitals. The author states that he agrees with Woods on many of the issues he presented in his comment and feels that he did not make his position clear or that Woods failed to detect his views. In summary, Hauck believes the evidence against the use of tests is not so convincing that testing should be foregone; and, until something better comes along, it is foolish to discard it, imperfections and all. He realizes his survey took for granted that such evidence does not exist and because tests remain there must be a firmer policy regarding their assumptions and how these assumptions are handled administratively. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Hebbian perspective on mind-brain relations.

Reviews the book, Essay on Mind by D.O. Hebb (1980). This is the third book by Canada's most distinguished and influential psychologist, Donald Olding Hebb. Essay on Mind presents readers with an opportunity to see why Hebb and his writings have had such an impact: In this book, Hebb presents a succinct account of the development of cell-assembly theory and its applications, as well as views on important philosophical and scientific issues. Hebb argues that his type of theory is not "mere translation" because the physiological theory and data impose constraints on psychological concepts. Moreover, such theorizing can be useful in that it leads to new evidence or tells a theorist how to look at available evidence from different aspects. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Eigenvalue Problem from the Stability Analysis of Slopes

Of the existing methods for the three-dimensional (3D) limit equilibrium analysis of slopes, none can simultaneously satisfy all six equilibrium equations. Except for Fellenius’ method that satisfies only one condition of moment equilibrium, all these methods could encounter numerical problems in their applications. Based on the global analysis procedure that considers the whole sliding body instead of individual columns as the loaded body, it is shown that the 3D limit equilibrium analysis of slopes simply reduces to the solution of a generalized eigenvalue problem in which the largest real eigenvalue is just the factor of safety (FOS). The proposed solution is rigorous and can accommodate any shape of slip surfaces. Under undrained conditions, the problem has a unique solution and the FOS has an explicit expression. In addition, through transforming the volume integrals over the sliding body into the boundary integrals, the proposed method does not need to partition the sliding body into columns.     

Clarification on Psychological Treatments and Psychotherapy.

In this article, the author responds to a set of comments (see record 2005-11834-009; 2005-11834-010; 2005-11834-011) on his original article, "Psychological Treatments" (see record 2004-21168-001). The author responds to each comment. Hal Arkowitz (2005) misread the proposed distinction between "psychological treatments" and "psychotherapy" by presuming that the author was implying that the former is evidence based and the latter is not. Kwekkeboom et al. (2005), representing the nursing profession, noted quite correctly that nurses often deliver psychological treatments on the frontlines of primary care and are independently licensed to provide nursing services, including many approaches that could be categorized as "psychological." Ahmed and Boisvert (2005) agreed that psychological treatments are a core strength of psychology and also go on to provide additional interesting examples and to identify other areas of practice in which psychologists may be uniquely qualified. Overall, the author notes that only certain well-defined pathologies will be included in any health care system, and treatment for these conditions will increasingly need to be based on evidence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Mathematical Model for the Biofilm–Activated Sludge Reactor

A steady state mathematical model is developed for describing the completely mixed biofilm–activated sludge reactor (hybrid reactor). The model is derived by simultaneously considering Monod kinetics expressions and Fickian’s diffusion theory for substrate in biofilm. In addition, it includes the basic concepts, which describe both culture (suspended and attached) and the competition between them for limiting substrate. By using this model the suspended biomass concentration can be obtained for this system. Subsequently, the other remaining parameters of the system can be computed. Therefore it helps to design and operate the hybrid reactor under different conditions for any given set of kinetic parameters. The utility of the model has been explained for a given set of data and verified by comparing with another solution. It is found that for the same set of data, the model is accurate in the results. The model has been presented in more than one form, each form having an explicit solution of the system. Compared with other solutions of such a system, the model provides a good tool for describing such a system based on fundamental principles.     

Albee's charges are unsupported.

Challenges G. W. Albee (see record 1971-08263-001) to prove his assertions that White Protestant men hold a disproportionate share of wealth, power, and influence in the US and that any one religious group, race, or sex is more prejudiced than others. A reply follows in which Albee cites supporting evidence for his allegations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

In vitro synthesis of sulfated glycosaminoglycans coupled to inter-compartmental Golgi transport

We have used isolated rat liver Golgi membranes to reconstitute the synthesis of sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) onto the membrane-permeable, external acceptor xyloside. Biosynthetic labeling of GAGs with [35S]sulfate in vitro is shown to have an absolute requirement for ATP and cytosolic proteins and is inhibited by dismantling the Golgi apparatus with okadaic acid or under mitotic conditions suggesting that inter-compartmental transport between Golgi cisternae is a prerequisite for the successful completion of the initiation, polymerization, and sulfation of GAGs. Accordingly, we show that in vitro synthesis of 35S-GAGs utilizes the same machinery employed in Golgi transport events in terms of vesicle budding (ADP-ribosylation factor and coatomer), docking (Rabs), targeting (SNAREs), and fusion (N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor). This provides compelling evidence that GAGs synthesis is linked to Golgi membrane traffic and suggests that it can be used as a complementation-independent method to study membrane transport in Golgi preparations from any source. We have applied this system to show that intra-Golgi traffic requires the function of the Golgi target-SNARE, syntaxin 5.