Observations concerning research literature on neuro-linguistic programming.

Discusses 6 categories of design and methodological errors contained in 39 empirical studies of neurolinguistic programming (NLP) documented through April 1984. NLP refers to a way of organizing and understanding the structure of subjective experience and is concerned with the ways in which people process information (through visual, auditory, or kinaesthetic modes). The 6 categories of errors found in the literature include lack of understanding of the concepts of pattern recognition and inadequate control of context, unfamiliarity with NLP as an approach to therapy, lack of familiarity with the NLP meta-model of linguistic communication, failure to consider the role of stimulus–response associations, inadequate interviewer training and definitions of rapport, and logical mistakes. Representative reports reflecting each category are discussed. Suggestions are offered for improving the quality of research on NLP. (49 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ultrasonic studies of solids

Ultrasonics is being used in many areas in solid-state physics. One is Fermi surface mapping of normal metals by the magnetoacoustic technique. The detailed knowledge gleaned is valuable in theoretical calculations of many of the electrical and optical properties of metals. Another area is that of ``hard' superconductors. Measurements of ultrasonic attenuation in the study of the metallurgical microstructure of high-field superconducting alloys (such as the Nb-Zr alloys) could have technological significance, especially in the field of power transmission. A new ultrasonic tool has been developed to aid investigations?the depletion layer transducer. It has prominent advantages over a conventional quartz piezoelectric transducer, including a higher fundamental frequency and the ability to change the resonant frequency by varying the dc bias level. Along with the new transducer, a new piezoelectric semiconductor amplifier produces substantial amplification of ultrasonic waves in photoconductive CdS by applying a dc electric field in the direction of wave propagation. This feature could find use in acoustic delay line technology.