Twenty-five groups, each consisting of one superior and three subordinates, participated in a problem-solving exercise to test the hypotheses that subordinates who are exposed to external conflict, in conjunction with their immediate superior, will perceive their immediate superior as more credible and more homophilous than those who are not…

The approach to problem solving which is presented has two components--closeness and reformulation. The closeness measure is a cognitively-based heuristic function. It incorporates the notion of what cognition notices as the structural difference between two situations. The problem-solver attempts to close the structural gap, and once this is done…

The study is an application of Newcomb (1953) and Heider's (1958) formulations of balance theory to verbal interviewee behavior. Two hypotheses were tested: (1) imbalanced interview conditions are associated with a faster rate of speech; and (2) imbalanced interview conditions are associated with greater interviewee productivity. Theoretical…

A word problem is more difficult to solve when the minimum number of different operations to reach the correct solution is large, when it is of a different type than a problem preceding it, when the indexed complexity of its most complex sentence is great, when there are a large number of words in the problem, and when a conversion of units (as…

Professional schools can expect to be faced with at least 2 urgent public demands: the expansion and improvement of professional training programs and the provision of certain types of professional community service by universities. The university could attempt to increase the supply of professionals by: expanding enrollement at professional…

This report consists of five separate papers. The first is an extensive review of the "state of the art" in computer simulation and artificial intelligence. This review states that artificial intelligence and computer simulation have accomplished a great deal, with particular attention to findings relevant to psychology. The second paper is an…

A discussion of traditional approaches to design forms the basis for the presentation of a methodology for architectural design. In particular, the sequence of analysis-synthesis-evaluation is given as being indicative of most design approaches. Variations of this sequence are examined and the importance of correctly ordering parts of any…

This course guide in highway lighting includes an overview of trends in highway lighting, illustrated information on three light sources for today's luminaires, a reference guide to lamp classification, specifications for highway lighting equipment, and instructions for calculating appropriate use. Maintenance notes on highway illumination and…

The author states that consultants generally pursue two goals: establishing communication with the consultee and helping the consultee to become a more effective problem solver. Consistent with these goals for the psychological school consultant are personal construct theory and attribution theory. Personal constructs refer to the dimensions, both…

The training program for which these materials have been developed is divided into two parts: the first is general, theoretical, and cognitive; the second is specific, practical, and applied to actual situations. The first part provides a highly structured, non-threatening learning situation, and makes extensive use of set exercises; the second…

This booklet is designed to assist persons who are beginning to work as community organizers. Community organization follows certain patterns: (1) The organizer must enter the neighborhood and learn about its people and problems in the community; (2) The people then get together to form Neighborhood Councils to work on the specific problems of…

The construction and validation of a learning hierarchy designed to assist instruction in the skills of science hypothesis formation and testing are described. Results of the validation using prospective elementary teachers are described, and the revised hierarchy is presented. Revalidation results for a different group of teacher trainees are…

"Outlook" publications focus on areas of science and technology in which research can be valuable to industry, government, and society as a whole. This issue deals with the problems of air pullution and air quality control. The first of six essays,". . . This Most Excellent Canopy, the Air," prognosticates the surge in atmospheric pollution and…

This dissertation outlines and demonstrates a method of analyzing full-length argumentative essays from a semantic point of view. As a method, semantic analysis is based on a theory which defines composition as a multi-leveled and multi-dimensional problem-solving process. According to the theory, the writer must be capable of making intelligent…

This document, one of several prepared by the University Urban Interface Program at the University of Pittsburgh, deals with the nature and solution of conflict within the environment. Many professionally trained managers are ill-prepared to deal with conflict in their environment. They often do not see it as a part of their managerial function.…