Reinforcer and response specificity in appetitive transfer of control

Three experiments examine transfer from appetitive Pavlovian conditioning to appetitive instrumental responding by varying the similarity between conditions of Pavlovian reinforcement and instrumental reward. After conditioning with rats confined in a restraining device, a CS for electrical stimulation of the brain (ESB) produced substantial facilitation of operant responding for ESB, while a CS for food facilitated operant responding for food. However, no effects on rate of responding for food were seen during a CS for ESB. In a fourth experiment, four groups of rats were trained to barpress for rewarding electrical stimulation of the brain (ESB) and then given discriminative Pavlovian conditioning with ESB. The groups differed in the degree of similarity between the stimulus-response sequences present during Pavlovian conditioning and those occurring in instrumental responding. As similarity increased, so did the degree of conditioned facilitation in subsequent transfer tests. These results indicate that conditioned incentive responses or reinforcer-derived expectancies are specific to the conditions under which they develop, rather than generalized emotional or motivational responses.     

CHARGE Association: Symptoms,behaviour and intervention

This paper reviews current knowledge on CHARGE Association. CHARGE is a relatively recently identified, heterogeneous, condition about which there is a good deal of medical information concerning the developmental anomalies involved. These include coloboma, heart defects, atrestia, retardation of development or growth, genital hypoplasia and ear problems including deafness. There is far less published material concerning the psychological and educational implications. The severity, impact and interaction between the six developmental anomalies characterising the condition can vary greatly. The paper considers aspects related to social behaviour and factors to be considered when planning educational interventions with this low incidence group of children who have more significant additional needs. Given the relatively low incidence of children with dual sensory impairment in the population and the wide range of demands made on educational psychologists' time, it is perhaps not surprising that most have little knowledge or experience of CHARGE Association. The purpose of this short paper, therefore, is to describe the main features of the condition, to note the incidence, to look at its impact upon learning and behaviour, and to consider the implications for intervention.     

Some Non‐Academic Developmental Correlates of Ability‐Grouping in Secondary Schools

Using data from the National Child Development Study, the relationship between certain non‐academic aspects of children's development and their school's ability‐grouping policy were examined.

The four areas of non‐academic development considered were: the young people's rating of their own ability in English, mathematics, science and practical subjects, their academic motivation, their plans for further education and occupational aspirations and their behaviour at school. However, in general there were no differences in any of these respects between children in streamed, setted and mixed‐ability schools.

The implications of these findings are discussed, in particular the potential differences which could arise between schools with different policies if more appropriate methods of teaching and organisation were adopted.     

Using computer simulations to assesss hands-on science learning

Two methods of assessing student learning of a hands-on instructional unit are compared. One method involves manipulation of concrete materials, and the other method involves manipulation of icons on a computer to solve an electric circuits problem. Sixth-grade students in an inquiry-based science program completed both assessments separated by three weeks. Results indicated that although mean performance was the same for each method, individual student performance varied considerably. Implications for use of computer simulations as an alternative to hands-on assessment are discussed.This research was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation and the Office of the Vice President, University of Michigan. Opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily the supporting agencies.     

Investigating the Cognitive complerrity of Science Assessments

How can knowledge of the development of expertise in a subject area inform the development of assessments in that area? How can one examine the relationship between what is anticipated from a performance assessment and what is actually seen?