Interrelationship of knowledge, interest, and recall: Assessing a model of domain learning.

Two experiments examined the interrelationship of subject-matter knowledge, interest, and recall in the field of human immunology/human biology and assessed cross-domain performance in the field of physics. Framed by a stage model of domain learning, cluster-analytic methods were used to group individuals on the basis of their performance on cognitive and affective measures in immunology. Results using cluster profiles were compared with prediction expected from the stage model. Performance for students in these clusters was compared with their performance on similar measures in the field of physics. In Experiment 1, 30 premedical students and 17 graduate students in educational psychology served as participants. Results revealed 3 unique clusters of students that tended to conform to prediction of the domain learning model. Individuals' knowledge, interest, and recall of immunology generally paralleled their performance in the domain of physics. Experiment 2 sought to test and extend the findings of the initial experiment. Participants were 78 undergraduate students in education. Although 4 clusters emerged, patterns in knowledge, interest, and recall were similar to those revealed in Experiment 1. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Delay and reward choice in ADHD: An experimental test of the role of delay aversion.

Children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) choose smaller sooner (SS) over larger later (LL) rewards more than controls. Here we assess the contributions of impulsive drive for immediate rewards (IDIR) and delay aversion (DAv) to this pattern. We also explore the characteristics of, and the degree of familiality in, ADHD SS responders. We had 360 ADHD probands; 349 siblings and 112 controls (aged between 6 to 17 years) chose between SS (1 point after 2 s) and LL reward (2 points after 30 s) outcomes on the Maudsley Index of Delay Aversion (Kuntsi, Oosterlaan, & Stevenson, 2001): Under one condition SS choice led to less overall trial delay under another it did not. ADHD participants chose SS more than controls under both conditions. This effect was larger when SS choice reduced trial delay. ADHD SS responders were younger, had lower IQ, more conduct disorder and had siblings who were more likely to be SS responders themselves. The results support a dual component model in which both IDIR and DAv contribute to SS choice in ADHD. SS choice may be a marker of an ADHD motivational subtype. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)