Videoclip of Experiment 2- Constructive Processes I

Videoclip

Screen: In this experiment, you will read three small stories. After you've read all three, you will be asked some multiple-choice questions about the stories. First you will read a practice paragraph.

Screen: Title of Screen: Practice

Screen: Thousands of years ago, a dying star coughed up some gases. The smoldering remains of the star formed a shape that looks like an eye, and the gases made the eye appear to blink. Recently, winds have pushed new gases into the area, making it appear as if red streaks are in the eye. Astronomers are debating what exactly is causing this astronomical "pink eye".

Screen: The remains of the star are shaped like: an apple; a nose; an eye; a rose

Screen: Correct

Screen: The streaks in the eye: are caused by gases; are green in color; are caused by electrical storms; are tears

Screen: Correct

Screen: That concludes the practice questions. The three stories will now be displayed one at a time. Read each through once, then click the Continue button. There will be a short pause before the next story appears. After you've read all three, you will be given further instructions. Be sure to read each story carefully, but only once, then click the Continue button.

Screen: No Title

Screen: Rocky slowly got up from the mat, planning his escape. He hesitated a moment and though. Things were not going well. What bothering him was being held, especially since the charge against him had been weak. He considered his present situation. The lock that held him was strong be he thougth he could break it. He knew, however, that his timing would have to be perfect. Rocky was aware that it was because of his early roughness that he had been penalized so severely - much too severely from his point of view. The situation was becoming frustrating; the pressure had been grinding on him for too long. He was being unmercifully. Rocky was getting angry now. He felt he was ready to make his move. He knew that his success or failure would depend on what he did in the next few seconds.

Screen: Worries of a Glassware Factory Manager

Screen: In the last days of August, we were all suffering from the unbearable heat. In a few short weeks, our daily job had turned from a game into hard labor. 'All we need now,' said the manager in one of his discouraged moods, 'is a strike.' I listened to him silently but I could not help him. I hit a fly. 'I suppose things could get even worse,' he continued. 'Our most valuable pitchers may crack in this heat. If only we had more fans, we would all feel better, I'm sure. I wish our best man could come home. That certainly would improve everyone's morale, especially mine. Oh, well, I know a walk would cheer me up a little.'

Screen: An Evening with Four Poker Players

Screen: Every Saturday night, four good friends get together. When Jerry, Mike, and Pat arrived, Karen had just finished writing some notes. She quickly arranged the cards and stood up to greet her friends at the door. They followed her into the living room and sat down facing each other. They began to play. Karen's recorder filled the room with soft and pleasant music. Her hand flashed in front of everyone's eyes and they all noticed her diamonds. They continued for many hours until everyone was exhausted and quite silly. Jerry made his friends laugh as he theatrically took a bow, entertaining them with the wildness of his playing. Finally, Karen's friends went home.

Screen: Now you will see multiple-choice questions about the stories you just read. For each question, click the answer you think is best and then click Continue. There are 24 questions.

Screen: Rocky felt that he must act.. in a few weeks. the next day. slowly and deliberately. in the next few seconds.

Screen: Rocky was becoming frustrated because... it seemed as though the round would never end. of the continued tension from his desire to escape. his requests from the guards had not been met. of the continuing weight of his opponent's body.

Screen: How had Rocky been punished for aggressiveness? He had been arrested and imprisoned. His opponent had been given points. He lost his privileges for the weekend. He had been demoted to the B team.

Screen: Where did Rocky get up from? a chair; the floor; his bed; his knees

Screen: It aggravated Rocky that.. the others were taunting and insulting him. there was a lack of decent food and drink. his opponent showed no signs of giving up. spectators were beginning to boo.

Screen: Thinking over the situation, Rocky decided... that he could force the door open. that he could enlist the guards' help. that his opponent was too strong for him. that he could cause his opponent to let go of him.

Screen: How did Rocky get up? He pulled himself up. He got up slowly. Someone helped him up. He jumped up.

Screen: Rocky was bothered by.. the fact that he was beginning to tire. being in the grip of an opponent he considered weaker. being in a prison with such poor conditions. being imprisoned with little evidence against him.

Screen: Something which would improve everyone's morale was... the arrival of the most important man in the company. shorter work days. a scored run. an error by the other team.

Screen: What did the manager say was all they needed? a batter letting a good pitch go by him. a worker quitting during the summer rush. a general walkout called by the employees' union. a player dropping a ball hit to him.

Screen: What did the narrator of the story do? He listened to the manger, then swatted a bug. He listened to the manger and helped him out. He hit the ball straight to the center-fielder. He reported that the employees were not working.

Screen: What had happened in a few short weeks? Everyone's daily job had become unpleasant. Everyone's daily job had become too easy. Some employees had received too much vacation time. Some players had received a change in position.

Screen: The manager would feel better if... the team captain had not been injured. he could get some exercise. the player would throw four bad pitches. it were quitting time.

Screen: What would make the manager feel even worse? if the best workers of the factory were to quit; if his most expensive jars were to shatter; if the team equipment were to fall apart; if his players started throwing bad pitches

Screen: What was making everyone suffer? the tedious quiet; the miserable rain; the unbelievable noise; the intolerable heat

Screen: What would make everyone feel better? more people attending games to watch the team; more employees; more cooling units for the factory; more beers for the players

Screen: What did Jerry do to make his friends laugh? He danced an Irish jig around the room. He gestured with his violin as he played merrily. He bluffed and won to the applause of his friends. He told them some funny stories about Vegas.

Screen: Before going to answer the door, Karen... straightened the deck of playing cards. turned off the radio. answered the telephone. placed the music cards in order.

Screen: Question When her friends arrived, what was Karen doing? She was composing a melody. She was setting up a card table. She was setting out the musical instruments. She was jotting down information about playing poker.

Screen: What filled the room with pleasant sounds? Karen's radio; Karen's tape deck; Karen's musical instrument; Karen's voice.

Screen: Where were the four friends playing? in a nightclub; in Karen's living room; in Karen's garage; in a saloon

Screen: What did everyone notice about Karen's hand? her sparking jewelry; her bright nail polish; her royal flush of red cards; her dry rough skin

Screen: How long did the friends play? for many days; for one hour; for a whole evening; for two hours

Screen: What flashed in front of everyone's eyes? the light from the flash bulb on Karen's camera; Karen's five cards' Karen's fingers on her musical instrument; the memory of their last evening together

Screen: Each of the stories you read had two possible interpretations: a "strong" or very likely interpretation and a "weak" or less likely interpretation. For one story you saw a title that biased you toward the strong interpretation; and for one story there was no title. Each of the questions you answered had responses consistent with both interpretations. The results of interest are whether you chose weak or strong responses depending on the type of title the story had, weak, strong, or no title.