The scalability of behavioral expectation scales as a function of developmental criteria.

Conducted a scalogram analysis of the items on behavioral expectation scales (BES) to test the assumption that such scales are unidimensional and cumulative. The effects of varying developmental criteria on the scalability of BES were also examined. BES items developed for faculty evaluation were randomly ordered on a checklist and presented to 48 undergraduates. The reproducibility coefficients of the original scales ranged from .65 to .81. Analyses indicated that higher coefficients resulted from a free ordering of items or elimination of items on the basis of applying a more stringent standard deviation criterion. Reallocation percentage agreement did not affect reproducibility. Scalogram analysis is suggested as an addition to BES developmental procedures. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Orthographic processing in visual word recognition: A multiple read-out model.

A model of orthographic processing is described that postulates read-out from different information dimensions, determined by variable response criteria set on these dimensions. Performance in a perceptual identification task is simulated as the percentage of trials on which a noisy criterion set on the dimension of single word detector activity is reached. Two additional criteria set on the dimensions of total lexical activity and time from stimulus onset are hypothesized to be operational in the lexical decision task. These additional criteria flexibly adjust to changes in stimulus material and task demands. thus accounting for strategic influences on performance in this task. The model unifies results obtained in response-limited and data-limited paradigms and helps resolve a number of inconsistencies in the experimental literature that cannot be accommodated by other current models of visual word recognition. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Marketing psychological services in the public sector.

Discusses the need for psychologists to think in terms of promoting themselves as service providers and their techniques as health benefits. Particular reference is drawn to current programs within the Veterans Administration hospital system, including biofeedback training and vocational rehabilitation programs. Cost–benefit analyses are also discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evidence for a dual-factor concept of psychopathological emotional deficit: anhedonia and sensation-seeking

Correlations between measures of anhedonia and sensation-seeking were calculated in two psychiatric samples. The correlations indicated that, despite their conceptual similarity, the two represent different motivational deficits. Ther correlates appeared to indicate that sensation-seeking represents neurotic inhibition, while anhedonia reflects a separate motivational deficit apparently characteristic of process schizophrenics.     

X-Ray Compton Scatter Imaging Using a High Speed Flying Spot X-Ray Tube

A system of Compton scatter medical X-ray fluoroscopy is investigated in this research which uses a specially constructed flying spot X-ray tube. The imaging system uses a narrow pinpoint X-ray beam which scans an object in near real time and creates a penetrating frontal view radiograph of variable penetration into the object. The results of our initial work with X-ray Compton backscatter imaging were presented in a previous paper, and this research seeks to demonstrate an improved X-ray generator which allows the radiographs to be produced much more rapidly. One application of the system may be to provide an X-ray frontal backprojection view of the moving heart epicardial surface which could be useful as a noninvasive diagnostic of cardiac function.     

Planning procedural advice

A planner which generates advice about the procedures which should be carried out by a human agent in order to achieve a goal is described. The fact that the agent is a person, not a robot, makes it possible to develop plans cooperatively with the user in the course of a dialogue, but imposes special requirements on the planner. The planner should be capable of taking advantage of the user's knowledge and abilities; of providing partial plans; of planning even in the absence of complete knowledge about the user's current state; of re-planning when the execution does not succeed or the situation changes; and of providing explanations of its advice. The paper considers the implications of these requirements on the design of such an advisory planner, implemented as part of the ‘Advice System’, a knowledge-based system for advising members of the public about welfare benefits.