Psy 337 Writing Assignment 

                               Instructions and Formatting Requirements

 

Read  two  articles from the attached reading list and write an Abstract   and a Critical  Analysis  of each article. 

 

Abstract.

The Abstract  should be approximately 100-500 words in length and must include the main idea of the article. If it is an empirical research study, describe how it was conducted, who the participants were (state the number of subjects and the species), the main result(s) of the study and any theoretical or clinical conclusions that were drawn. If the article concerned a comprehensive review of several empirical studies, an ethical issue, or a biographical sketch of a learning theorist, then briefly summarize the major points raised by  the author. In short,  the Abstract  section should include an objective, accurate, and concise summary of the content of the article as it was written from the authorÕs perspective.

 

Critical Analysis.

Also, for each article write a Critical Analysis  of approximately 100-500 words. Essentially, in this section I'm calling for your subjective reaction to the article.  Being as concise and clear as possible, tell  me what new insights you gained about the behavior of humans or animals from reading the article or  tell me how  the article helped to clarify concepts that were covered in other courses that you have taken.  If the article was a report of an empirical research study, you might wish to tell me about problems or flaws you may have detected in the methodology, or tell me about hypotheses which you thought about after reading the article. If you objected to the ethics of the research, the Critical Analysis  section is the place to elaborate on your sentiment. You might even comment on the clarity of the authorÕs writing style (this can help me make a judgment about retaining that paper for future assignments). In short, one or more topics  can be discussed in the Critical Analysis section: Theory, methodology, ethics, improved understanding, or writing style mechanics are all  avenues for discussion - but  remember to keep the discussion clear and concise.

 

Course Point Value of Assignment.

Each article is valued at 10 course  points (5/Abstract, 5/Critical Analysis). The total value of the assignment is worth 20 course points. The assignment will be graded on how clearly you express your ideas, how closely the assignment conforms to style and length requirements and your apparent level  of understanding of the articles.

 

 

Assignment format.

            1.The assignment must be done on a word processor;  do not  turn in a hand-                   written copy. Use 1 inch margins all the way around. The font should be Times,                      Helvetica, New York or  something similar  to what you're reading now.               Use 12 point size.

            2. Double space every line of text.

3. Attach a face sheet to your summary which contains the following information, centered 3 inches down from the top edge. 5. In the upper right corner, about 1 inch from the top, type your  last name, followed by the page number (the face sheet is page 1).

 

              

                                                                                                Smith  1

 

 

                                                            Joe Smith

 

                     Psy 337 - 01 (or 02)

 

Abstracts for Animal Learning

 

                     Part 1 (or Part 2)

                       

4. On the next page, identify each article that youÕre summarizing by                                  numbering it. Cite the complete reference using APA style (see the                              example below). Note the proper way to punctuate, indent and italicize the       reference information in the    citation below.

 

            Article 1.

 

            Watson, J. B., & Rayner, R. (1920). Conditioned emotional

                       

reactions. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 3, 1-14.

 

            Abstract. (Label the Abstract section with the word Abstract (in bold print0,           then begin your summary on the next line).          

                       

Critical Analysis. (Identify this section as Critical Analysis (in bold print) then begin your analysis on the next line). The analysis may read as follows:

                        The article by Watson and Rayner (1920) is a classic experiment

 

            demonstrating that the emotion of fear can be classically conditioned in                             

children. On the positive side, the authors have contributed

 

 important new insights into the role of the learning process in acquiring fears in

 

children, even before language is acquired. However, the experiment is    

 

            objectionable because of the usage of  aversive, stressful  

 

            stimulation on an infant and because of Watson and RaynerÕs failure to                              

extinguish the conditioned fear response, which may have made Albert fearful                  

of  similar furry objects later in life. 

           

 

 

5. Fasten multiple pages with one staple in the upper left corner. Protect your assignment with a folder- a manila folder is preferred over the clear plastic type because it's sturdier and will keep the document clean and "pressed". However, when I collect your assignment I will ask you to remove the folder so be sure that multiple pages are securely stapled.

 

6. The finished assignment should appear neat, clean, and professional when you turn it in to me.

 

                                                Psy 337 The Reading List

Attitudes and ethical issues of animal research

Dewsbury, Donald A. (1990). Early interactions between animal psychologists and                        animal activists and the founding of the APA Committee on Precautions in                Animal Experimentation.  American Psychologist, 45, 315-327.

Gallup, G. G., & Beckstead, J. W. (1988).  Attitudes toward animal research.                                 American Psychologist, 43, (6), 474-476.

Miller, N. (1985). The value of behavioral research on animals. American                                       Psychologist,  40, 423-440.

 

Classical conditioning of emotions

Jones, M. C. (1924). A laboratory study of fear: The case of Peter.

            Journal of Genetic Psychology, 31, 308-315.

Watson, J. B.,  & Rayner, R. (1920). Conditioned emotional reactions. Journal of                           Experimental Psychology, 3, 1-14.

 

Classical conditioning, the immune system and health

Ader, R. (2001).  Psychoneuroimmunology. Current Directions in Psychological                            Science,   10, 94-98.

Overmier J.B. and Murison, R.  (1997).  Animal models reveal the ÒPsychÓ in the                           psychosomatics of peptic ulcers. Current Directions in Psychological Science,                      6, 180-184.

Overmier, J. B. & Seligman, M.E.P. (1967). Effects of inescapable shock upon                              subsequent  escape and avoidance responding. Journal of Comparative and                  Physiological Psychology, 63, 23-33.

Visintainer, M. A., Volpicelli, J. R., & Seligman, M. E. P. (1982).  Tumor rejection in rats                  after inescapable or escapable shock.  Science,  216,  437-439.

 

Classical conditioning of taste aversions

Batsell, R.W.  (2000). Augmentation: Synergistic conditioning in taste-aversion                               learning, Current Directions,  9  (5) , 164-168.

Bernstein, I.L. (1978). Learned taste aversions in children receiving chemotherapy.                      Science, 200, 1302-1303.

Gustavson, C. R., Garcia, J., Hankins, W. G., & Rusiniak, K.W. (1974). Coyote                             predation control by aversive conditioning. Science, 184,  581-583.

Sahley, C.L., Rudy, J.W., & Gelperin, A. (1981). An analysis of associative learning                       in the terrestrial mollusc. Higher order conditioning, blocking, and a transient                        US pre-exposure effect. Journal of Comparative Physiology, A, 144, 1-8.

           

 

Habituation

Solomon, R. L.  (1980). The opponent-process theory of acquired motivation. 

            American Psychologist,  35 , 691-712.

 

Classical conditioning of drug tolerance

Siegel, S. (1984). Pavlovian conditioning and heroin overdose: Reports by  overdose                    victims. Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society, 22, 428-430.

Siegel, S., & Ellsworth, D. W. (1986). Pavlovian conditioning and death from apparent                    overdose of medically prescribed morphine: A case report. Bulletin of the                                   Psychonomic Society, 24, 278-280.

Siegel, S., Hinson, R. E., Krank, M. D., & McCully, J. (1982).

            Heroin "overdose" death:Contribution of drug-associated environmental cues.                   Science, 216, 436-437.

 

Cognition topics

            -Self-recognition and Theory of Mind

Gallup, G. G. (1977). Self-recognition in primates: A comparative approach to the              bidirectional properties of consciousness. American Psychologist, 32,                                     329-338.

Gallup, G. G.  (1970). Chimpanzees: self-recognition.  Science, 167, 86-87.

Povinelli, D. J. & Bering, J. M. (2002). The mentality of apes revisited. Current                               Directions, 11, 115-119.

                         

            -Insight

Premack, D., & Woodruff, G. (1978). Chimpanzee problem-solving: A test for

            comprehension.  Science, 202, 532-535.

Teuber, Marianne L. (1994). The founding of the primate station, Tenerife, Canary                         Islands. American Journal of Psychology, 107 (4), 551-581.

Weir, Alex, A.S., Chappell, Jackie, & Kacelnik, Alex. (2002). Shaping of hooks in New                    Caledonian Crows. Science,  297,  981.

 

            -Addition and subtraction in infants

Wynn, Karen. (1992). Addition and subtraction in human infants. Nature, 358, 749-750.

 

            -Cognitive mapping

Menzel, E.W. (1973). Chimpanzee spatial memory organization. Science, 182, 943-                      945.

Olton, D. S. (1979).  Mazes, maps, and memory.  American Psychologist,  34 , 583-                     596.

Tolman, E.C. (1948). Cognitive maps in rats and men. Psychological Review, 55, 189-                  208.

   

            -Trouble forming concepts in Alzheimer patients

Morris, R. (1987). Identity matching and oddity learning in patients with moderate to                       severe  Alzheimer-type dementia. Quarterly Journal of Experimental                                    Psychology,    39B, 215-227.

 

            Thorndike, Skinner and the law of effect

Breland, K. & Breland, M. (1961). The misbehavior of organisms. American                                    Psychologist, 16,  681-684.

 

Chance, Paul. (1999). Thorndike's puzzle boxes and the origins of the experimental                      analysis of behavior. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 72, 433-                       440.

Donahoe, J. W. (1999). Edward Thorndike: The selection connectionist. Journal of the                  Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 72, 451-454.

Skinner, B.F. (1948). Superstition in the Pigeon. Journal of Experimental Psychology,                    38, 168-172.

 

-The law of effect and behavior modification therapy

Bacon-Prue, A., Blount, R., Hosey, C., & Drabman, R. S.  (1980). The public posting of                 photographs as a reinforcer for bed making in an institutional setting.

            Behavior Therapy, 11, 417-420.

Carr, E. G., & McDowell, J. J. (1980). Social control of self-injurious behavior of

            organic etiology.  Behavior Therapy,  11, 402-409.

Kazdin, A. E. & Benjet, C. (2003). Spanking Children: Evidence and issues. Current                      Directions in Psychological Science, 12,  (3), 99-103.

Singh, N. N., Dawson, M. J., & Gregory, P. R.  (1980). Suppression of chronic

            hyperventilation using response-contingent aromatic ammonia.

            Behavior Therapy,  11, 561-566.

Inheritance of learning ability

Innis, Nancy K. (1992). Tolman and Tryon: Early research on the inheritance of the                      ability to learn. American Psychologist,  47, 190-197.

Tryon, R.C.  (1940). Genetic differences in maze-learning ability in rats. Yearbook of                    the National Society for Studies in Education, 39, 111-119.

 

Animal Culture

Pennisi, Elizabeth. (1999). Are our primate cousins "conscious"? Science,  284, 2073-                  2076.

Vogel, Gretchen. (1999). Chimps in the wild show stirrings of culture. Science, 284,                      2070-2073.

Whiten, A., Goodall, J., Mcgrew, W.C., Nishida, T., Reynolds, V., Suglyama, C., Tutin,                   C.E.G., Wrangham, R.W., & Boesch, C. (1999). Cultures in chimpanzees.  Nature,  399, 682-685.