Health psychologists continue to have difficulty identifying prognostic indicators of weight loss success. Psychological, social, and demographic factors have been examined, but correlations with weight loss are disappointing. Actual behaviors or quantifications of specific actions and historical measures were examined for their validity in…

To investigate developmental differences, preschoolers' performance on four tasks frequently used to measure their understanding of causal and temporal relationships was studied. Based on an analysis of cognitive processes involved in recognition, completion, construction/seriation, and verbal explanation tasks, the prediction was made that…

The relationship between achievement test performance and two variables associated with test taking were studied. The variables were the order in which the students completed the test and the time students required for completion. Recent research had been mixed concerning whether high achievers would complete tests faster. The study was conducted…

This paper reviews the aspects of cognitive science that relate best to using electrical and magnetic recording to understand the function of brain systems. It outlines a framework for relating cognitive activities of daily life (typing, reading) to underlying neural systems. The framework uses five levels of analysis: task, elementary operations,…

The effects of cursory preliminary directions on the use of numerical tables, bar graphs, and line graphs by 288 fourth and sixth graders were investigated. Participants received no directions, written directions only, or written directions with assistance where necessary. The undirected table and bar graph users performed moderately well. Their…

The effects on maladaptive behavior and test performance of stark versus enriched physical environments were examined with 16 severely and moderately retarded adults in a large residential institution. The relevant literature was reviewed and classified in four categories: cognitive development studies; studies of the effects of manipulated…

Research has documented that individuals with mental retardation can learn and benefit from relaxation training. To investigate the effects of anxiety reduction through relaxation training on the performance of a complex learning task, 15 mentally retarded adult males were studied. Following performance on an anxiety measure, subjects were…

A self-paced free recall task was employed to assess the effects of motivational and metacognitive influences on active processing and recall. A total of 81 fourth-graders were randomly assigned to one of four instructional conditions: strategy instructions plus process monitoring instructions; strategy instructions only; process monitoring…

Two groups of 20 mentally retarded boys (10-to 14-years old) were presented with an adapted version of the Royal Canadian Air Force Physical Fitness Training Program. (GW)

The study investigates the relative efficacy of self-monitored and externally imposed reinforcement in intrinsically motivated and extrinsically motivated children, grades two through five. Results show the importance of individual differences in children's dispositions to respond to incentive conditions. (JH)

A revised version of the PSCA was used to assess the interpersonal response patterns of Nebraska Department of Labor employees who had completed the Nebraska Employability Development Institute. A significantly greater percentage of understanding responses (compared to national norms for a similar group) was interpreted as meeting intermediate…

Study subjects were 180 fifty and sixth grade Catholic students. Results indicate that a positive relationship is always present in girls but not in boys. (HMV)

The concept of definition of the situation is rooted in the view that human behavior is affected by the environment only indirectly, via the person's image or cognitive map. As a communication concept, however, definition of the situation must also have a relational aspect; an interaction process depends, in part, on the relationship between the…