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    Some theoretical studies of intelligence : extensions and tests of aspects of Piaget's model : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1979) Voges, Kevin E.
    This study attempts to integrate two particular aspects of piaget's theory, seriation of weight behavior and the equilibration model, with the recently developed information processing approaches to psychology, derived from the development and proliferation of the computer. It is felt that computer based technologies will be more widely used in the future in psychology, to help solve a variety of common problems. A major contemporary problem that the computer may help to overcome, is that of trying to integrate the great mass of experimental data that has been collected over the years of psychological investigation. The paper has a number of major sections, a preliminary section discussing methodology, a section concerned with single subject performance on a weight seriation task, and a section concerned with Piaget's theoretical model, equilibration. A review is given of a range of modern approaches to psychology, including computer-based approaches and systems science. As well, the details of the methodologies of computer simulation, systems science, and single subject performance models are considered. The actual experimental work deals with the development of a production system based on a study by Baylor and Gascon (1974), which deals with the seriation of a number of weights. Computer programs were written, in PASCAL to facilitate portability, to simulate the weight seriation behavior of children in the age ranges or approximately 6 to 9 (Stages 1, 2 and 3). As well as validating the findings of Baylor and Gascon, a further approach to weight seriation problems was discovered for the Stage 1 child (this approach has been termed "Opposite placement of couples" to complement Baylor and Gascon's "Juxtaposition of opposites". These programs are presented in the paper, along with examples of the print out obtained, and a comparison between these and the children's protocols were made. Only children exhibiting Stage 1 and Stage 3 behavior were considered in detail, as it was felt that the Stage 2 behavior was too complex and required more extensive observation before actual modelling of the behavior should be attempted. Piaget's equilibration model is reviewed and discussed, with emphasis being placed on its relationship to cybernetics. As well, other mechanisms of the transition from one stage to another are considered, specifically the models of Klahr and Wallace (1976) and Pascual-Leone (1970). It was concluded that the models embedded in the programs give an accurate simulation of the various types of behavior observed through the age range discussed. Various extensions of the work are also considered, relating to the integration of other aspects of cognitive and motivational aspects into the model. It Is felt finally that it is important to extend work in the area of representation of the environment to enable the program to have something to manipulate. Piaget's work already has an information Processing flavour, through his development of the concept of operations, but there is hardly any work based on the processing of representations of the environment. This helps give a direction to future research.
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    In defence of behaviourism : a Skinnerian reinterpretation of Stenhouse's ethological theory of intelligence, supported by a Galilean philosophy of science : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Education at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1977) Southon, Lawrence David
    This thesis attempts to justify a Skinnerian interpretation of intelligence. The justification has three major themes. Firstly it is argued that Skinnerian behaviourism has the status of scientific knowledge comparable to Newtonian mechanics. Secondly it is argued that Stenhouse's ethological theory of intelligence has a number of defects, so that a behaviourist theory which retains the strengths of the ethological theory while avoiding those defects is to be preferred. Thirdly it is argued that certain widely received accounts of scientific knowledge are mistaken; an alternative account is presented. This venture into philosophy of science underlies the other two themes and is presented first. The supposition that science may be represented in terms of general laws of the form 'All swans are white' is critically examined, following Toulmin's analysis which is illustrated with three exemplars of scientific knowledge. A Galilean ideal of science is then elaborated. The ideal is formulated in terms of scientific knowledge following Toulmin, and illustrated with three exemplars of scientific knowledge. The processes of revolutionary science, normal science, technology, and justification of theories, are interpreted in terms of the ideal alluded to above with further illustrations. Convergences with de Bono's 'lateral thinking' are suggested. Criticisms of statistical 'social science' are noted. The conventional contrast between physical and social science is critically examined. A formulation of Skinnerian behaviourism is presented, to demonstrate that behaviourism conforms to the Galilean ideal of science. Various criticisms of behaviourism are responded to. The proposed criteria for justification of theories are applied to behaviourism. Stenhouse's ethological theory of the nature and evolution of intelligence is criticially examined. The divergent development of ethology and behaviourism from reflexology is outlined. Skinner's critique of Pavlov's concept 'inhibition' is applied to Stenhouse's 'P-factor'. The use of metaphors in science is discussed. De Bono's 'special memory surface' is noted as an alternative to the usual mechanical or electronic storage systems as a metaphor for memory. Skinner's analysis of the nature and evolution of intelligence is elaborated. Stenhouse's factors and especially the P-factor are reinterpreted in behaviourist terms. It is argued that a behaviourist theory of intelligence is preferable to Stenhouse's ethological theory in terms of the Galilean ideal of science. Educational and political implications of various philosophical and theoretical positions are also noted.
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    Cognitive ability and job performance in a New Zealand service organisation : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science in Industrial/Organisational Psychology at Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2011) Mann, Catherine
    This study investigated cognitive ability and job performance theoretically and empirically. A New Zealand government organisation tested job candidates’ verbal, numeric and abstract abilities during their selection procedure and appraised employees’ task, contextual and team performance as part of their performance management system. The service-based organisation provided scores on these variables for 43 recently hired employees. There was partial support for the hypothesis that cognitive abilities were related, as numeric reasoning scores correlated significantly with verbal reasoning (r = .38, p = .018) and abstract reasoning scores (r = .36, p = .023). Verbal reasoning scores did not correlate significantly with abstract reasoning scores (r = .24, p = .128), though this was probably due to low power. Individual task and contextual performance ratings correlated with each other as hypothesised (r = .32, p = .036), supporting the theory that some performance processes relate to both task and contextual performance. Team dynamics were expected to obscure simple linear relationships between team performance and individual-level variables and, as hypothesised, team performance did not correlate significantly with task or contextual performance, or cognitive abilities. Abstract reasoning did not show significant positive correlations with task or contextual performance, contrary to expectations, indicating that participants already had job-related experience. Numeric reasoning was not expected to relate to task or contextual performance as work was service based and not likely to require numeric ability, which was borne out in the non-significant correlations. Verbal ability scores correlated positively with task performance ratings (r = .44; p <.001), supporting the hypothesis that verbal ability would be associated with task performance in a service organisation. Verbal reasoning scores did not correlate with contextual performance ratings. Implications of these results for criterion-related validity, as well as cognitive ability and job performance theories are discussed along with limitations of the study and suggestions for future research.