... Barlow Soper and Gary E. Milford Louisiana Tech University ... Porter (1964; Haire, Ghiselli,... more ... Barlow Soper and Gary E. Milford Louisiana Tech University ... Porter (1964; Haire, Ghiselli, & Porter, 1966), in a series of interna-tional studies of managers of different levels, attempted to assess the higher-order needs (esteem, belongingness, and self-actualization), how well ...
A study exploring gender differences in self-reported dream perspectives was performed with 282 c... more A study exploring gender differences in self-reported dream perspectives was performed with 282 college students. Significantly more of the 164 women reported dreaming exclusively in first person and more of the 114 men exclusively in third person Also, gender differences were found for those who dreamed in mixed perspective, a combination of first- and third-person points of view. Possible reasons for these differences were suggested and further research posited.
This study tested the correspondence between the general semantics notion of intensionality and E... more This study tested the correspondence between the general semantics notion of intensionality and Ellis' Irrational Beliefs. It was hypothesized that greater intensionality would be associated with greater endorsement of irrational beliefs. 73 introductory college students completed the “Is” of Identity measure of intensionality and an Irrational Belief Questionnaire. As hypothesized, scores reflecting greater intensionality on the “Is” of identity questionnaire were significantly and directly correlated with endorsement of irrational beliefs. These findings support the notion of correspondences between principles of general semantics and those of Rational Emotive Therapy.
The relationship between uncritical inference making and intelligence has been uncertain. In the ... more The relationship between uncritical inference making and intelligence has been uncertain. In the present study a group of 30 advanced undergraduate students were administered the Uncritical Inference Test and the Otis-Lennon Test of Mental Ab&cy A significant Pearson correlation of .52 indicates that this measure of intellectual functioning is associated with uncritical inference making. Further research needs to be conducted using standard intelligence measures of specific kinds of intellectual processes.
ABSTRACT The acceptance phenomenon (i.e., the general tendency for persons to accept almost any b... more ABSTRACT The acceptance phenomenon (i.e., the general tendency for persons to accept almost any bogus personality feedback; Layne, 1979) may be related to certain paranormal beliefs (Alcock, 1981; Hyman, 1981). Paranormal beliefs are beliefs in phenomena that, if authentic, violate basic limiting principles of science (Broad, 1953; Tobacyk & Milford, 1983). One specific illustration of the acceptance phenomenon is the "Barnum effect," which refers to acceptance of bogus personality feedback consisting of relatively trivial statements with a high base rate (Layne, 1979; Snyder, Shenkel, & Lowery, 1977). The Barnum effect has been implicated in personal validation and in "cold reading," both of which are used routinely by many astrologers, clairvoyants, faith healers, fortune tellers, graphologists, mediums, Tarot Card readers, and others (Hyman, 1981). It was hypothesized that paranormal beliefs emphasizing divinatory procedures that produce personalized feedback (i.e., precognition, spiritualism, superstition, and witchcraft) are associated with greater susceptibility to the Barnum effect.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1983
A 25-item self-report questionnaire designed to assess belief in the paranormal was constructed b... more A 25-item self-report questionnaire designed to assess belief in the paranormal was constructed based on the results from factor analysis of a 61-item pool administered to 391 college students. Factor analysis revealed seven independent dimensions comprising belief in the paranormal. These factors were Traditional Religious Belief, Psi Belief, Witchcraft, Superstition, Spiritualism, Extraordinary Life Forms, and Precognition. The Paranormal Scale was constructed by selecting either three or four marker items to represent each of the seven dimensions as paranormal subscales. Descriptive statistics for this Paranormal Scale and the seven subscales are presented, as well as reliability statistics. Studies were presented that support the validity of this Paranormal Scale and subscales with such personality/adjustment constructs as internal-external locus of control, sensation seeking, death threat, actual self-ideal self-concept, uncritical inferences, dogmatism, and irrational beliefs. It was concluded that this scale offers promise as an assessment instrument for paranormal belief.
The Paranormal Belief Scale and the Is of Identity Scale were given to two different samples of c... more The Paranormal Belief Scale and the Is of Identity Scale were given to two different samples of college students ( ns = 75 and 171). As hypothesized, for both samples but for men only, greater reported belief in Superstition was associated with Is of Identity scores reflecting greater intensionality.
... Barlow Soper and Gary E. Milford Louisiana Tech University ... Porter (1964; Haire, Ghiselli,... more ... Barlow Soper and Gary E. Milford Louisiana Tech University ... Porter (1964; Haire, Ghiselli, & Porter, 1966), in a series of interna-tional studies of managers of different levels, attempted to assess the higher-order needs (esteem, belongingness, and self-actualization), how well ...
A study exploring gender differences in self-reported dream perspectives was performed with 282 c... more A study exploring gender differences in self-reported dream perspectives was performed with 282 college students. Significantly more of the 164 women reported dreaming exclusively in first person and more of the 114 men exclusively in third person Also, gender differences were found for those who dreamed in mixed perspective, a combination of first- and third-person points of view. Possible reasons for these differences were suggested and further research posited.
This study tested the correspondence between the general semantics notion of intensionality and E... more This study tested the correspondence between the general semantics notion of intensionality and Ellis' Irrational Beliefs. It was hypothesized that greater intensionality would be associated with greater endorsement of irrational beliefs. 73 introductory college students completed the “Is” of Identity measure of intensionality and an Irrational Belief Questionnaire. As hypothesized, scores reflecting greater intensionality on the “Is” of identity questionnaire were significantly and directly correlated with endorsement of irrational beliefs. These findings support the notion of correspondences between principles of general semantics and those of Rational Emotive Therapy.
The relationship between uncritical inference making and intelligence has been uncertain. In the ... more The relationship between uncritical inference making and intelligence has been uncertain. In the present study a group of 30 advanced undergraduate students were administered the Uncritical Inference Test and the Otis-Lennon Test of Mental Ab&cy A significant Pearson correlation of .52 indicates that this measure of intellectual functioning is associated with uncritical inference making. Further research needs to be conducted using standard intelligence measures of specific kinds of intellectual processes.
ABSTRACT The acceptance phenomenon (i.e., the general tendency for persons to accept almost any b... more ABSTRACT The acceptance phenomenon (i.e., the general tendency for persons to accept almost any bogus personality feedback; Layne, 1979) may be related to certain paranormal beliefs (Alcock, 1981; Hyman, 1981). Paranormal beliefs are beliefs in phenomena that, if authentic, violate basic limiting principles of science (Broad, 1953; Tobacyk & Milford, 1983). One specific illustration of the acceptance phenomenon is the "Barnum effect," which refers to acceptance of bogus personality feedback consisting of relatively trivial statements with a high base rate (Layne, 1979; Snyder, Shenkel, & Lowery, 1977). The Barnum effect has been implicated in personal validation and in "cold reading," both of which are used routinely by many astrologers, clairvoyants, faith healers, fortune tellers, graphologists, mediums, Tarot Card readers, and others (Hyman, 1981). It was hypothesized that paranormal beliefs emphasizing divinatory procedures that produce personalized feedback (i.e., precognition, spiritualism, superstition, and witchcraft) are associated with greater susceptibility to the Barnum effect.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1983
A 25-item self-report questionnaire designed to assess belief in the paranormal was constructed b... more A 25-item self-report questionnaire designed to assess belief in the paranormal was constructed based on the results from factor analysis of a 61-item pool administered to 391 college students. Factor analysis revealed seven independent dimensions comprising belief in the paranormal. These factors were Traditional Religious Belief, Psi Belief, Witchcraft, Superstition, Spiritualism, Extraordinary Life Forms, and Precognition. The Paranormal Scale was constructed by selecting either three or four marker items to represent each of the seven dimensions as paranormal subscales. Descriptive statistics for this Paranormal Scale and the seven subscales are presented, as well as reliability statistics. Studies were presented that support the validity of this Paranormal Scale and subscales with such personality/adjustment constructs as internal-external locus of control, sensation seeking, death threat, actual self-ideal self-concept, uncritical inferences, dogmatism, and irrational beliefs. It was concluded that this scale offers promise as an assessment instrument for paranormal belief.
The Paranormal Belief Scale and the Is of Identity Scale were given to two different samples of c... more The Paranormal Belief Scale and the Is of Identity Scale were given to two different samples of college students ( ns = 75 and 171). As hypothesized, for both samples but for men only, greater reported belief in Superstition was associated with Is of Identity scores reflecting greater intensionality.
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Papers by Gary Milford