Verbal coding and the elimination of Stroop interference in a matching task.

Translational models of the Stroop effect (Virzi & Egeth, 1985) predict that Stroop interference can be eliminated if subjects can be induced to process target colors using a coding system separate from the coding system used to process distractors. This hypothesis was tested in two experiments. In the first experiment, we attempted to eliminate the need for subjects to translate target colors to verbal codes when responding to Stroop stimuli. Before responding to verbal incongruent color word distractors, subjects practiced matching colors to irregular shapes. It was expected that subjects would use nonverbal codes to mediate responding in this task. After practice, subjects continued the matching task in the presence of incongruent color words. Stroop interference persisted, contrary to predictions. Because subjects reported adopting verbal strategies to perform the matching task, Experiment 2 was designed to control the verbal coding strategies that subjects employed. Before responding to Stroop distractor stimuli, subjects in the nonsense name group practiced using nonsense names to mediate the matching of shapes to colors; subjects in the actual name group used actual color names to mediate performance in the matching task. When incongruent color word distractors were introduced, Stroop interference was eliminated for subjects in the nonsense name group, but persisted for subjects in the actual name group. The results are interpreted as consistent with an outcome conflict (Navon & Miller, 1987) or a modified translational model of the Stroop effect.

Subjective hierarchies in spatial memory.

Two experiments investigated the structure of spatial memories. Subjects learned locations of objects in spatial layouts (Experiment 1) or locations of object names on maps (Experiment 2). Physical and perceptual boundaries were absent in these spatial arrays. Subjects then participated in three tasks: item recognition, in which the variable of interest was spatial priming; free and cued recall; and Euclidean distance estimation. Ordered-tree analysis of individual subjects' recall protocols produced hierarchical trees consistent with regularities in output order. Spatial priming and distance estimations depended on whether pairs of objects appeared in the same subtree or in different subtrees. These findings indicate that spatial memories have a hierarchical component, even when physical and perceptual boundaries are nonexistent. Priming also increased with depth of clustering in ordered trees. This result supports spreading-activation theories of retrieval but provides evidence against several "non-spreading-activation" theories.

Memory for the locations of pictures: evidence for hierarchical clustering.

The role of similarity in memory for location of pictures was examined. Undergraduates memorized the locations of 10 pictures situated within a map. The similarity of the pictures was manipulated. Two days later, subjects were tested for their memory of the locations. The results indicated that subjects clustered the locations of the pictures on the basis of pictorial similarity, such that locations of similar pictures were judged as closer than equidistant locations of dissimilar pictures. The results are discussed in the framework of a hierarchical model of spatial memory.

Effect of semantic clustering on the memory of spatial locations.

The effect of altering the labels attached to points was examined in three experiments. The first experiment measured the extent of clustering that occurs based on the labels alone. This experiment also established norms for the remainder of the study. In the second and third experiments, subjects were required to learn the locations of points. The points were labeled in such a way as to suggest certain spatial clusterings. It was shown that subjects cluster points with regard to the labels attached to the points and these clusters may be based solely on the labels attached to the points. Furthermore, an alteration of the learning sequence to induce an alternate clustering showed no noticeable effect.

Strategies to attract psychiatrists to state mental hospital work. Results from a survey of potential employees.

Psychiatric residents in five states were surveyed concerning the persuasiveness of 20 policy options designed to make career work in a state mental hospital (SMH) more attractive. The most persuasive options involved either part-time employment or structural changes within the health care provision system. Persuasive structural changes included integration with other health care facilities, increased use of allied health personnel, and improved quality of care within the SMH. Further analysis was performed to examine differences across subpopulations of respondents and to examine differences among types of classes of options. both long- and short-term remedies designed to help alleviate the shortage of psychiatrists in SMHs are discussed.