Any study of the history of psychology must first determine what is to be considered psychology, whether to stick to the relatively continuous Western tradition or to include others (e.g., Eastern, Oriental), and whether to investigate the impact of the socio-cultural events of the time on the views of that period or consider those views in a…

The college psychology fair, held for high school students, is discussed as a vehicle for providing the public with a view of experimental psychology. (Author/AM)

Many studies have confirmed that mnemonic techniques facilitate the acquisition and retention of information. It was hypothesized that, through the reduction of errors in component memory for dimensions (hypotheses, cues, etc.), such techniques should improve performance on conceptual tasks. (Editor)

Investigates the amount of disclosure by undergraduate psychology students concerning their experience as research participants. Examines students' anticipated disclosure, and actual disclosure rates immediately after experiments and following a two-week interval. Shows disclosure rates were highest (85 percent) when students were promised…

Provides extensive reviews of computer software, examining documentation, ease of use, performance, error handling, special features, and system requirements. Includes statistics, problem-solving (TK Solver), label printing, database management, experimental psychology, Encyclopedia Britannica biology, and DNA-sequencing programs. A program for…

Describes a computer game used in an introductory experimental psychology class which simulates in a few months the activities of years of effort in a research laboratory. Ideas on developing new computer based simulation games are included. (Author/JJD)

Summarizes the use of field experiments designed to investigate personal space invasion. States that the experiments were designed and conducted by introductory psychology students and complemented by classroom lectures. Reports that the experiments provided an understanding of personal space, personal space invasion, and the implications…

Described is an innovative teaching method for developing student psychological literature search skills. The method involves empirical analysis of cliches and writing abstracts of psychological studies used in support or rejection of cliche hypotheses. (Author/DB)

Suggests use of the planarian D. Dorotocephala, an animal 20 mm in size, in order to provide inexpensive lab experiences for students in large introductory psychology courses. The animal can be used to study perception, memory, behavior modification, and group processes. (Author/AV)

Reports on the use of participant modeling in a study of 56 college-level students to reduce fear of laboratory rats. Discovers that even mild exposure reduced fear significantly. Finds that women were more fearful initially but that their fear reduction was equal to that of men. (CFR)

Describes two new exercises in classical conditioning that use earthworms and houseflies. The animals are available year-round and pose no risk to the students or instructor. The conditioned stimuli are odorants. These elicit a conditioned response of contraction in worms or proboscis extension in flies. (MJP)

Maintains that undergraduate psychology curricula almost always include one or more required experimental courses. Describes the use of the human subjects review process as a method of stimulating critical thinking. Discusses questions posed by the review process and classroom applications of the approach. (CFR)

Presents chapter one of V. V. Davydov's 1986 monograph, "Problems of Developmental Teaching." Examines the dialectical-materialist sources of the psychological concept of activity; and activity, the mind, and consciousness. Building from Lev S. Vygotsky's work and within a Marxist-Leninist framework, explores relationships among…

Urges the inclusion of comparative psychology in the undergraduate curriculum. Defines zoological or comparative psychology as a field that explores the behavior patterns and minds of many animal species and the genesis, control, and consequences of a range of behavioral patterns. Traces the history and development of the discipline. Discusses…

This book contains a snapshot of state-of-the-art research on the design of automated instructional systems. Selected cognitive psychologists were asked to describe their approach to instruction and cognitive diagnosis, the theoretical basis of the approach, its utility and applicability, and the knowledge engineering or task analysis methods…