Electronic Library of Scientific Literature
Electronic Library of Scientific Literature
Volume 40, No 3, 1998
Thomas H. RAMMSAYER
Georg Elias Müller Institute of Psychology, University of
Göttingen, Gosslerstr. 14, D-37073 Göttingen, Germany
Abstract: There is accumulating evidence that estimation of durations in the range of seconds or above is based on cognitive representations, whereas processing of extremely brief durations in the range of milliseconds appears to be of a highly sensory nature and beyond cognitive control. Therefore, in Experiment 1, seventeen male and seventeen female subjects had to reproduce 5-, 15-, and 40-second auditory intervals, while in Experiment 2 twenty-four male and twenty-four female subjects had to decide which of two empty auditory intervals, ranging from 50 to 98 milliseconds, was longer. Male subjects showed superior performance on reproducing intervals as compared to female subjects who overestimated 5-, 15-, and 40-second time intervals much more than the male subjects. However, no differences were found in temporal discrimination of brief durations. These results were replicated in Experiment 3 applying a within-subjects design. The present findings suggest superior performance on processing of durations in the range of seconds in male than in female subjects due to sex-related differences in cognitive representation of temporal information in memory. Furthermore, distinct timing mechanisms that may account for differential effects of sex on temporal information processing are discussed.
Key words: time estimation, time perception, sex differences
pp. 149-164
Petr KNOTEK, Helena KNOTKOVÁ
Center for Pain Management and Research, University Hospital V
Motole, V Úvalu 84, 150 00 Prague 5, Czech Republic
Institute of Physiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech
Republic
Abstract: The AIM of our study is to analyze Suffering as specific construct, to operationalize it and to show the most simple way of its clinical testing. We suppose a continuum of states from Pain to Suffering, expressing a function of sensory-perceptual, cognitive, affective and behavioral components of the mechanism of chronic pain. VAS (Intensity of pain) and VAS-S (intensity of) Suffering measure the boundary variables of this continuum. HYPOTHESIS: VAS-S correlates with factors Pain feeling, Cognitive processing and Affective-Motivation Processes. VAS correlates with Nociceptive Processes (experimentally induced pain), Pain Feeling and Affective-Motivation Processes. (These factors were isolated by exploratory and confirmatory analysis, Knotek, Blahuš, Knotková, 1997.) METHODS: 67 rheumatic patients were tested by Paintester (heat stimulator), VAS, VAS-U (Unpleasantness of pain), VAS-S, MPQ-SF, PBAPI, STAI, STAXI, BDI-SF, and ACTIVITY 5. RESULTS: The hypotheses were confirmed, with the exception of correlation of VAS with Nociceptive Processes (R2 = .159, p < .0702). The regression analysis has shown that VAS-S significantly correlates with Pain Feeling, Cognitive Processing and Affective-Motivation Processes, and does not depend on Nociceptive Processes. VAS-S explains more common information with Nociceptive Processes, Pain Feeling, Cognitive Processing, Affective-Motivation Processes and Responses and Behavior than VAS. Biserial r between VAS-S and VAS is .360. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the supposition that VAS-S expresses general cognitive and affective assessment of different negative influences and events, from pain to existential problems. The clinical using of VAS-S shows to be easy, useful and practical.
Key words: suffering, chronic pain, cognitions, affects,
regression analysis, clinical testing
pp. 165-173
Viliam BÍRO
Institute of Experimental Psychology, Slovak Academy of Sciences,
Dúbravská cesta 9, 81364 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Abstract: We are reporting on a probe research project involving individuals dependent on heroin (the dominant drug). The results of psychophysiological examination of a group of control students - by age, sex and number - are compared with a group of drug addicts. In our study, we examined the degree of laterality in handedness and in blood pressure measurements in both arms (systolic and diastolic) as well as heartbeat. The results have indicated a more pronounced degree of laterality in the case of drug addicts, particularly in the fine motor functions, an increased tremor in the left hand a greater number of "contacts" in the tracing task using the left hand. We also detected a greater psychomotoric rate (tapping) on the right hand. Similarly, in the final examination we found a higher diastolic pressure in the left hand (second measurement) and higher heart rate in the right hand (first measurement). Our interpretation of the results is placed in a psychological context with respect to focus of attention, conscious activation control, taking into consideration negative emotional states.
Key words: laterality, heroin, fine motorics, dependency
pp. 175-180
P. CARRERAS, J. FERNÁNDEZ-CASTRO
Departament de Psicologia de l'Educació, Universitat Autònoma
de Barcelona, Apartat de Correus 29, 08193 Bellaterra, Spain
Abstract: The aim of this study is to assess adaptation
to examination stress in students during the first two years at
university. Heart rate (HR) of medical students in exam situations
was recorded with a portable instrument, and anxiety and control
appraisal were measured before the start of the examinations.
The coping strategies used to deal with examination stress were
also evaluated.
Two groups were selected, one from the first academic year, and
one from the second. Each included eleven subjects of both sexes.
The measurements were performed during mid-term and final exams.
No differences were found between the groups in terms of basal
HRs, coping strategies and control appraisal. However, anxiety
and HR during the examination were higher in the first year group.
We conclude that students experience a passive adaptation to examinations.
Key words: heart rate, anxiety, stress, examinations,
university students
pp. 181-186
Svjetlana KOLIÆ-VEHOVEC, Ljiljana ARAR
Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of
Rijeka, Klobuèariæa 1, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
Abstract: Memory for surname-words and surname-nonwords labeled either as surnames or as words was examined under one intentional and two incidental learning conditions. Undergraduate students (18-20 years) were asked to find rhymes for the items (phonological task) or to produce associations (semantic task) in the incidental learning conditions, and just to remember items in the intentional learning condition. The results showed that surname-words were better recalled than surname-nonwords. Labeling produced no difference in surname recall. The interaction between lexicality and labeling was not significant, which means, the "Word-word" paradox was not found. The effect of the orienting task on surname recall was significant. Recall performance was highest in the intentional learning condition and lowest in the incidental learning condition with the phonological task. There was an interaction between lexicality and orienting task, such that surname-words were better recalled after semantic encoding than after the phonological encoding, whereas recall of surname-nonwords did not differ between the two incidental learning conditions. Surname-words were better recalled than surname-nonwords after the semantic task and in the intentional learning condition, but there was no difference after the phonological task. The absence of "Word-word" paradox preclude definite conclusions about appropriateness of Cohen's and Brennen's hypothesis as explanations of specificity of memory of proper names. The interaction between lexicality and orienting task however gives support to Cohen's representational hypothesis. Possible ways of additional testing of the "Word-word" paradox are suggested.
Key words: proper names, lexicality, memory, incidental
learning
pp. 187-196
Cirila PEKLAJ, Blaž VODOPIVEC
Department of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of
Ljubljana, Aškerèeva 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between metacognitive and affective processes and achievement in mathematics. 367 fifth grade pupils participated in the study. A 39-items questionnaire was constructed to measure the pupils' metacognitive and affective processes in mathematics. Factor analysis of the items revealed four different factors: two metacognitive (strategies of learning and solving mathematical problems, attention in solving mathematical problems) and two affective (experiencing fear of mathematics and feeling of success and interest in mathematics). Further analysis showed negative correlations between mathematics achievement and the factors of strategies of learning and solving mathematical problems, experiencing fear in mathematics. Positive correlations with achievement were found with the following factors: attention in solving mathematical problems, feeling of success and interest in mathematics. Implications for educational practice were discussed.
Key words: metacognitive processes, affective-motivational
processes, achievement, mathematics
pp. 197-209
Tomáš KOVÁÈ
Research Institute for Child Psychology and Pathopsychology, Trnavská
112, 821 02 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Abstract: 25 grammar-school students - soccer players (17 years of age) from a Private Secondary School specialized in soccer underwent a special psychological creativity training. It consisted of divergent problem solving tasks, methods of directed imagination and role playing. They were applied during the whole school-year (10 months). The effects were measured by the Second Subtest of TTCT, Urban's Creativity Test and Creative Memory Test - The Pictographs. The control group comprised 25 state secondary school students. The results showed the extent of effectiveness of the creativity training program and are discussed in the text.
Key words: creativity, soccer talent, creativity training
program
pp. 211-217
Amancio Costa PINTO
Faculty of Psychology, University of Porto, R. Campo Alegre, 1055,
4150 Porto, Portugal
Abstract: Two studies were carried out to assess the rate of forgetting of academic contents in secondary school over a period of 3-4 years using recall, cued recall and recognition tests. The first study tested two groups in Portuguese literature, one before exam and the other 3 years later. Significant differences were obtained with memory tests, but not with retention intervals. The second study tested 3 groups in geography, one group before exam and the other two groups 3 and 4 years later. The same pattern of results were revealed with an additional significant interaction between retention intervals and tests. It was suggested that some sporadic exposure to the school materials selected might explain the results obtained.
Key words: long-term retention, school knowledge, memory
tests
pp. 219-225
Mária JURÈOVIÈOVÁ, Ida VÁLKYOVÁ
Institute of Preventive and Clinical Medicine, Limbová
14, 833 01 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Abstract: The emotional well-being in 153 adolescent
pregnant women, under 19 years of age, and in 843 adults over
19 years of age was measured during pregnancy and at 6 weeks after
childbirth. All participating women completed self-report questionnaires
at both time periods and were recruited from Bratislava as a part
of the European Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy. The emotional
state was measured by the Crown-Crisp Experimental Index (CCEI)
and by the Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). In our
study we found:
1) during pregnancy no differences between adolescent and adult
mothers in both scores.
2) after childbirth the decrease of CCEI score in both groups
of mothers and decrease of EPDS score in adolescents only.
3) a positive relationship between well-being measures during
pregnancy and after childbirth in both groups.
Our results show the continuity in women's mood from pregnancy
to the postpartum period in all mothers and the potential of adolescents
to better master the situation of being a mother than the adults.
Key words: adolescence, adolescent pregnancy, well-being,
Crown-Crisp index, Edinburg scale
pp. 227-233