Dimensions of meaning in relation to the orienting reaction

dc.contributor.advisorHallworth, Herbert J.
dc.contributor.authorBirdwell, Joel Allen
dc.date.accessioned2005-07-19T20:19:06Z
dc.date.available2005-07-19T20:19:06Z
dc.date.issued1972
dc.descriptionBibliography: p. 94-102.en
dc.description.abstractThis experiment was conducted to determine whether measures of a phasic orienting reaction (OR) obtained for ~sin a verbal stimulation situation might be related to the dimensions of affective meaning. Osgood's Semantic Atlas and a semantic differential (SD) made up of 15 bi-polar adjectival scales were used to determine the dimensions of affective meaning. One hypothesis was that the affective meaning of a stimulus may be more important to the magnitude of aphasic orienting reaction than are the physical properties of a verbal stimulus. Another interest of the research was whether the concept factor scores, determined by the semantic differential technique, of some selected words could be used to differentiate subjects as high or low orienters. The concepts chosen from the Semantic Atlas were used to elicit the OR in an experimental situation. Subsequent to this the Ss rated 12 semantic differentials and filled in a debriefing questionnaire. Data were obtained for 4 physiological variables from 36 first year male university students. The data yielded frequency, latency, and amplitude scores which were subjected to multivariate statistical analysis, multivariate analysis of variance. The initial response to the first word in the experimental situation was used to divide Ss into a high orienting group (HOR) and a low orienting group (LOR). These two groups provided the criterion variable for a discriminant analysis of the evaluative, potency, and activity factor scores obtained from the semantic differential data. The results revealed that affective meaning is related to the phasic aspects of the OR. Words which are high and low in affective meaning elicit different levels of the OR than do neutrally affective words, when stimulus intensity is held constant. Further, the order in which the words are presented also affects the amplitude of the OR. The discriminant analysis results did not show that HOR and LOR groups had different SD factor score profiles. The results are discussed in relation to other findings. Precautionary statements were made about possible errors which can be introduced into a psychophysiological study by the experimental environment and the subjects. Comments were also made in regard to controlling errors in the study.
dc.description.notesThis title is not available online. Access options are: - consulting the copy from Archives in our reading room in person - https://asc.ucalgary.ca/visiting/ - borrowing a circulating copy from the Library catalogue – https://ucalgary.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?vid=01UCALG_INST:UCALGARY&lang=en
dc.format.extentxiii, 125 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm.en
dc.identifier82480815en
dc.identifier.citationBirdwell, J. A. (1972). Dimensions of meaning in relation to the orienting reaction (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/24190en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/24190
dc.identifier.lccBF 299 O7 B49 1972 Microfilmen
dc.identifier.other82480815en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/13766
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.publisher.placeCalgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subject.lccBF 299 O7 B49 1972 Microfilmen
dc.subject.lcshOrientation
dc.subject.lcshMeaning (Psychology)
dc.titleDimensions of meaning in relation to the orienting reaction
dc.typedoctoral thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineEducational Psychology
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)
ucalgary.thesis.accessionTheses Collection 58.002:Box 125 82480815
ucalgary.thesis.notesPLen
ucalgary.thesis.uarcreleasenoen
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