An investigation into the sensory mechanisms underlying the two point threshold, with particular reference to the practice effect
- Authors: Gradwell, Peter Bertram
- Date: 1971
- Subjects: Sensorimotor integration , Perceptual-motor learning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3209 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012085 , Sensorimotor integration , Perceptual-motor learning
- Description: The two point threshold was studied extensively by the psychophysical experimenters of the last century. More recent formulations in signal detection theory have suggested that the statements of these workers about absolute thresholds should be viewed with caution. This study investigates the two point threshold in the light of these formulations, and has two main aims :- (1) To state and deal with the problem of relating a limitation in perceptual ability, such as that which is represented by the two point threshold, to the receptor organisation of the body. (2) To demonstrate a practice effect on the two point threshold, and to consider this in the light of (1) above. To fulfil these two aims, a model of the neural mechanisms underlying the discrimination of two points applied to the skin is proposed, and this is able to accommodate what is known of the two point threshold. Although the model is simple it explicitly accounts for size transfer and the practice effect, and provides some clues as to the type of neural mechanism capable of producing them. The practice effect is demonstrated experimentally, and the results are then referred to the model proposed. The physiology of an organism sets the limits for its behaviour. 'The first aim is thus an important one, in that it considers a specific case of this general problem. And secondly, the practice effect on the two point threshold is typical of a number of fairly simple "learning" phenomena, which are part of the psychologists' study of learning.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1971
- Authors: Gradwell, Peter Bertram
- Date: 1971
- Subjects: Sensorimotor integration , Perceptual-motor learning
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3209 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1012085 , Sensorimotor integration , Perceptual-motor learning
- Description: The two point threshold was studied extensively by the psychophysical experimenters of the last century. More recent formulations in signal detection theory have suggested that the statements of these workers about absolute thresholds should be viewed with caution. This study investigates the two point threshold in the light of these formulations, and has two main aims :- (1) To state and deal with the problem of relating a limitation in perceptual ability, such as that which is represented by the two point threshold, to the receptor organisation of the body. (2) To demonstrate a practice effect on the two point threshold, and to consider this in the light of (1) above. To fulfil these two aims, a model of the neural mechanisms underlying the discrimination of two points applied to the skin is proposed, and this is able to accommodate what is known of the two point threshold. Although the model is simple it explicitly accounts for size transfer and the practice effect, and provides some clues as to the type of neural mechanism capable of producing them. The practice effect is demonstrated experimentally, and the results are then referred to the model proposed. The physiology of an organism sets the limits for its behaviour. 'The first aim is thus an important one, in that it considers a specific case of this general problem. And secondly, the practice effect on the two point threshold is typical of a number of fairly simple "learning" phenomena, which are part of the psychologists' study of learning.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1971
Creative processes in young children
- Authors: Styles, Irene Mavis
- Date: 1971
- Subjects: Creative ability in children , Creative thinking
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3244 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013327
- Description: Enthusiasm for developing creativity in the individual has been remarkably widespread - at least in America - over the past twenty-five years or so. The armed services, the arts and sciences, educational institutions, businesses and industries are recognising to a greater and greater extent, the urgent necessity of developing this relatively neglected aspect of people is personalities. Their reasons differ, of course, and usually the welfare of the individual himself is not the main concern. This is perhaps fortunate, as advances made on philanthropic grounds alone have never progressed very rapidly. In business and industry, new ideas are urgently needed for survival - this was especially evident after World War II which was, in the end, really a battle of ideas. The importance of this implication has not decreased with distance in time from that conflagration, indeed, individuals in the armed services are probably the people most deeply involved in and the most concerned with the problem of developing creative thought. "We are in a mortal struggle for the survival of our way of life", writes Guilford. "The need (for developing creativity) is a national crisis" says Anderson*. Intro., p. 1.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1971
- Authors: Styles, Irene Mavis
- Date: 1971
- Subjects: Creative ability in children , Creative thinking
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:3244 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013327
- Description: Enthusiasm for developing creativity in the individual has been remarkably widespread - at least in America - over the past twenty-five years or so. The armed services, the arts and sciences, educational institutions, businesses and industries are recognising to a greater and greater extent, the urgent necessity of developing this relatively neglected aspect of people is personalities. Their reasons differ, of course, and usually the welfare of the individual himself is not the main concern. This is perhaps fortunate, as advances made on philanthropic grounds alone have never progressed very rapidly. In business and industry, new ideas are urgently needed for survival - this was especially evident after World War II which was, in the end, really a battle of ideas. The importance of this implication has not decreased with distance in time from that conflagration, indeed, individuals in the armed services are probably the people most deeply involved in and the most concerned with the problem of developing creative thought. "We are in a mortal struggle for the survival of our way of life", writes Guilford. "The need (for developing creativity) is a national crisis" says Anderson*. Intro., p. 1.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1971
Effects of vigilance decrement on the recognition of embedded figures
- Authors: Daniel, Robert David
- Date: 1971
- Subjects: Perception -- Testing , Cognitive psychology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3202 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1010961
- Description: Field independence was described by Witkin et al (1962) as the ability to separate an item perceived from its context. Here most experiments have used visually presented material where the subject was shown a simple geometrical figure and then a complex one containing the simple figure as part of it: the subject's task was to find and point out where the simple figure was hidden. Recent work has suggested that the skills involved in Witkin's tests might be associated with particular cultural backgrounds. This extension of Witkin's theory of field independence by Wober linked visual phenomena with those of a social and maturational nature: the ability to separate visual items from their context was shown to be aligned with the development of a sense of personal identity ; the person was considered to be an item set in a context or social field, be it family or society around him: an individual, depending on the way he was socialized as a child, may perceive the world analytically, if he did he was labelled field independent, if not he was field dependent. Intro. p.1.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1971
- Authors: Daniel, Robert David
- Date: 1971
- Subjects: Perception -- Testing , Cognitive psychology
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3202 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1010961
- Description: Field independence was described by Witkin et al (1962) as the ability to separate an item perceived from its context. Here most experiments have used visually presented material where the subject was shown a simple geometrical figure and then a complex one containing the simple figure as part of it: the subject's task was to find and point out where the simple figure was hidden. Recent work has suggested that the skills involved in Witkin's tests might be associated with particular cultural backgrounds. This extension of Witkin's theory of field independence by Wober linked visual phenomena with those of a social and maturational nature: the ability to separate visual items from their context was shown to be aligned with the development of a sense of personal identity ; the person was considered to be an item set in a context or social field, be it family or society around him: an individual, depending on the way he was socialized as a child, may perceive the world analytically, if he did he was labelled field independent, if not he was field dependent. Intro. p.1.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1971
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