Two lexical-decision experiments investigated the effects of semantic priming and stimulus intensity when target location varied and was cued by an abrupt onset. In Experiment 1, the spatial cue was a good predictor of target location, and in Experiment 2 it was not. The results indicate that word recognition processes were postponed until spatial…

Three experiments are reported that examined conceptual negative priming effects in children 5 to 12 years of age. Experiment 1 used a negative priming variant of a flanker task requiring the naming of a central color blob flanked by irrelevant distractors. Experiment 2 used a negative priming variant of the Stroop color-word task. Experiment 3…

Comments on analysis of attention tasks in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) provided by Wilding (2005)points out that whereas many regulatory functions, including alertness or arousal, appear to be impaired in ADHD, demonstrating basic attention deficits in selection or orienting functions in the disorder has proven difficult. Yet…

The authors investigated whether memory for object locations in pictures could be exploited to address known difficulties of designing query languages for picture databases. M. W. Lansdale's (1998) model of location memory was adapted to 4 experiments observing memory for everyday pictures. These experiments showed that location memory is…

Attention to task-relevant and task-irrelevant information was compared in high- and low-test-anxious children. Results indicated that high-test anxious persons divide their attention in evaluative situations. It is suggested that providing them with task-relevant strategies helps them to cope with the negative effects of test anxiety. (JMB)

The study compared the performance of schizophrenic patients and normal controls in their ability to direct visual attention. The first experiment compared 12 adult schizophrenic patients with 30 control volunteers in their ability to orient attention in response to peripheral visual cues. The patients were distinguished from controls by a slower…

The component selection procedure developed by Hale and Morgan was used to assess children's use of selective attention at six levels of learning ranging from undertraining to overtraining. This function was examined at each of ages 4, 8, and 12. (SBT)

Examines the relationship between resistence to interference and personality disturbance. Concludes that resistance to interference can be used as a diagnostic dimension in assessing the likelihood of personality disturbance. (HMV)

Based on author's PhD dissertation, University of California, Los Angeles (1967).

THE PERFORMANCE OF CHILDREN 5 1/2, 6 1/2, AND 7 1/2 YEARS OF AGE ON AN ODDITY PROBLEM UNDER THREE CONDITIONS OF DISTRACTION WAS INVESTIGATED. SUBJECT'S GLANCES AWAY FROM THE TASK WERE RECORDED ALONG WITH THEIR LEARNING DATA. ON THE BASIS OF EARLIER FINDINGS AND AN HYPOTHESIS THAT THE ABILITY OF CHILDREN TO MOBILIZE AND DIRECT THEIR ATTENTION…

THIS STUDY TESTED METHODS OF INCREASING TASK-ORIENTED BEHAVIOR OF INATTENTIVE SECOND-GRADE PUPILS TO HELP DEVELOP EFFECTIVE WORK HABITS AND ATTITUDES AT AN EARLY AGE. THE ASSUMPTION WAS MADE THAT THE INATTENTIVE BEHAVIOR OF PUPILS WAS MAINTAINED, IN PART, BY THE REINFORCEMENT UNINTENTIONALLY PROVIDED BY FREQUENT TEACHER REMINDERS FOR THE CHILD TO…

To determine the effect of purpose, background information, and distractions on the listening act, 692 fourth graders in 24 classrooms were randomly assigned to eight treatment conditions before listening to a 12 minute taped dramatization. One half of the classes were told they would be tested on the taped material; the other half were given no…

This study identified two groups of teachers with different control styles and examined changes in their behavior during the year. Seventeen K-2 teachers who varied in control style were observed at the beginning of school, in late October, and during the winter. Four observation instruments, a rating device, and a classroom description were used.…

This paper explores the values, techniques, and philosophy of the eastern religion of Zen Buddhism. Like other therapeutic systems, Zen techniques are based upon both personality theory (conception of man) and therapeutic goals (conception of who man can become.) The paper first gives a brief overview of Zen's personality theory: who man is; who…