Psychological Bulletin

Keppel, Geoffrey

doi: 10.1037/h0021590pmid: 14270774

Considerations of design which have been problems in the study of long-term memory are discussed in the context of short-term memory research. These problems include the type of experimental design (independent versus repeated measures), the measurement of immediate retention, and the means by which the retention interval is filled. This review indicates that these methodological problems are also present in the investigation of short-term memory.

Shure, Gerald H.; Rogers, Miles S.

doi: 10.1037/h0021665pmid: 14270772

Although the dangers associated with factoring test scales containing overlapping items (items used on more than 1 scale) have been pointed out by Guilford (1952), factor studies of scales embodying item overlap continue. The present study explores the possibility that the neurotic triad and the psychotic triad or tetrad factors found in 4 studies derive from the existence of a methodological artifact associated with item overlap. To test this possibility, MMPI interscale common-element correlations (produced solely by item overlap) were factor analyzed. 2 of 3 factors extracted are highly similar to neurotic triad and psychotic triad or tetrad factors found for 4 samples. These 2 factors do not appear in a factor analysis of truncated (overlap items removed) MMPI scale scores. Since the overlap factors are based solely on the scale intercorrelations due to overlap items, these results appear to support Guilford's warning and open to question the legitimacy of these MMPI factors.

Handel, Gerald

doi: 10.1037/h0021565pmid: 14270773

Analysis of whole families is delineated as a field of psychological study. Relevance to psychology of personality and social psychology is shown. Emergence of the field is traced, and major current approaches are examined. A general conceptual framework, growing out of and integrating data from psychology and other behavioral sciences, is shown to be developing. Evidence suggests that a great range of psychological phenomena, including, illustratively, social attitudes, psychosomatic symptoms, cognitive functioning, identity formation, affiliative behavior, can be illuminated by psychological study of whole families. Principal current research methods are briefly discussed. (3-p. ref.)

Razran, Gregory

doi: 10.1037/h0021566pmid: 14274542

Sechenov was the originator of the basic theoretics of Russia's distinct physiologists' psychology. Pavlov and Bekhterev were its experimental verifiers and validators. Watson's Behaviorism arose as an independent development of American experimental psychology but interacted almost immediately with Russian-opened new experimental vistas. The vast influence of the English translations (1927 and 1928) of Pavlov's 2 conditioned reflex books on American psychological systematics is fully discussed, as is also the distinctness of the Pavlov system vis-à-vis specific American systems and American psychology in general. The language barrier is shown to be a unique factor in Russo-American experimental and theoretical parallels and divergencies. Brain behavior is the keynote of current Soviet physiologists' psychology and is increasingly dominating recent American experimental psychology. Significant Russo-American rapprochements in the basics of psychology seem imminent. (4-p. ref.)

Paul, Coleman

doi: 10.1037/h0021621pmid: 14270775

The recent literature on the effects of postcriterion trials upon single habit reversal in the rat was reviewed. The early studies reported that postcriterion trials facilitated habit reversal in both visual and spatial discrimination tasks. Later work has not confirmed these findings with reasonable consistency. Since the variables critical for the facilitation effect have not been identified, it was suggested that a more detailed or analytical description of reversal behavior is needed. A tentative description of "phases" of reversal behavior was offered. (33 ref.)