B. B. Murdock (2006; see record 2006-08257-009) has interpreted remember-know data within a decision space defined by item and associative information, the fundamental variables in his general recognition memory model TODAM (B. B. Murdock, 1982). He has related parameters of this extended model to stimulus characteristics for several classic…

Introduced the hypothesis-assessment model, claiming that the strength of inductive argument is determined by the same factors that affect hypothesis plausibility in the everyday social milieu. Describes experiments conducted to assess argument strength. Discusses strengths and limitations of the proposed hypothesis-assessment model. (MOK)

A contrast weighting approach is explored for choice situations where the similarity of levels along one dimension enhances the weight of the other dimension. The contrast-weighting theory is applied to different data sets in which subjects make choices between multiattribute options. (SLD)

A decade ago, Bechara et al. [Bechara, A., Damasio, A. R., Damasio, H., & Anderson, S. W. (1994). Insensitivity to future consequences following damage to human prefrontal cortex. "Cognition, 50," 7-15] published a paper in Cognition, introducing a Gambling Task which was designed to mimic everyday decision-making. Since then, the task has been…

A study involving 11 male and 11 female inhabitants of Leiden (Netherlands) tested the hypothesis that a subject's judgments of the personality of unfamiliar target persons correspond better with the subject's Implicit Personality Theory than do judgments of the personality of familiar persons. The results confirm the hypothesis. (TJH)

Through an experiment with 30 college students, a theory was developed to describe response times and ratings of the difference of stimuli. The model was applied in ratings of the likableness of persons by 22 other college students. A theory of comparative response times and difference judgments is discussed. (SLD)

Biases in social comparative judgments, such as those illustrated by above-average and comparative-optimism effects, are often regarded as products of motivated reasoning (e.g., self-enhancement). These effects, however, can also be produced by information-processing limitations or aspects of judgment processes that are not necessarily biased by…

Examines the statistical distribution of relevance judgments by reviewing and comparing the results of several studies over the last three decades. A characteristic distribution is examined, and a hypothesis is offered to explain it based on human judging characteristics and the nature of relevance experimentation. (Contains 13 references.) (LRW)

Examined second-, third-, fifth-, and sixth-graders' evaluations of parent-child inductive discipline situations. Found that for physical transgressions, victim-oriented induction was evaluated as more appropriate and fair than parent-oriented induction. Younger children evaluated parent-oriented induction as more appropriate than older children.…

Investigated 4-, 8-, and 11-year-olds' ability to categorize intentionally false and true statements as lies and truths. Found that older children were more likely to categorize false statements as lies and true statements as truths than were 4-year-olds. Antisocial lies were rated as most serious, and "white lies" as least serious.…

Attitudes of students at an English university toward 45 campus organizations, movements, and agencies are examined. Findings suggest a positive view of campus life in general and existence of a clear, straightforward cognitive process in evaluating organizations. Comparisons are made with a major university in the United States. (Author)

Tested whether independent judges could recognize three different manual-guided psychotherapies, drug counseling, supportive-expressive psychotherapy, and cognitive-behavioral using a special rating form containing scales for the characteristic aspects of each type. Results indicated that manual-guided therapies can be reliably recognized.…

Language testing is an area of applied linguistics that combines the exercise of professional judgment about language, learning, and the nature of the achievement of language learning with empirical data about student performance and, by inference, their abilities. The relationship between judgments and empirical data in language testing is…

Prestige-suggestion, the effect that the prestige or reputation of a source has on a receiver, is the subject of this paper. Three research studies which have been done recently by researchers in reading are reported. These studies asked the following questions: If consumers evaluate products by means of reading store advertisements, will they be…

Theories or explanations of educational evaluation are discussed and categorized under two broad methodological headings, the objectivist and subjectivist epistemological orientations. They can be seen as potentially complementary empirical approaches that offer evaluators two methodological orientations to assess educational-reform outcomes.…