Because there is no truth criterion to measure the accuracy of behavioral recording, behavior analysts rely on interobserver-agreement scores to increase the believability of their data. This study investigated the effects of the presence and absence of a subject's peers on within-session interobserver-agreement scores. Ten variables that were components of both of the main conditions and thought to potentially affect agreement scores also were studied. The results show that interobserver agreement was significantly better in the presence of certain stimuli (i.e., when the subject's peers were present than when they were not). Of the 10 additional variables analyzed, one--Can't See--Can't Hear--correlated significantly with the differences in interobserver-agreement scores. These results suggest that experimenters need to be aware of the variations in their observers' behavior and the factors affecting it. The importance of acceptable levels of interobserver agreement for data used in making treatment decisions also is discussed.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Chronic low-dose cocaine treatment during adolescence facilitates aggression in hamsters.

Cocaine abuse during adolescence represents a significant health risk because of the potential for both acute and long-term negative physical and psychological sequelae, including increased aggressive behavior. This study examined the effects of chronic adolescent cocaine exposure on aggression in an animal model. It was hypothesized that chronic cocaine exposure during adolescence predisposes animals to heightened levels of aggressive behavior. To test this hypothesis, adolescent male golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) were administered cocaine hydrochloride during their entire adolescent development (Postnatal Days 27-54) and then tested for offensive aggression using the resident-intruder model. Animals treated with low-dose cocaine during adolescence showed significantly elevated measures of offensive aggression (i.e., increased number of bites, attacks, and decreased latencies to bite), whereas measures of social communication, sexual motivation and motor activity remained constant. Cocaine-treated animals did not differ in body weight gain from controls, suggesting no dramatic physiological effects of adolescent cocaine exposure on body growth at the doses tested.

Age Factors↗

PubMedDate not supplied

An investigation of the efficacy of transdermal therapy on sensori-neural hypacusis.

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Auditory Perception↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Gallium arsenide.

The demand for high-speed devices for a variety of communications and military purposes has resulted in a growing interest in alternatives to silicon, with particular attention to compounds of groups 3 to 5 on the periodic table. Gallium arsenide has proved to be an ideal substrate material for some uses but is associated with unique health hazards.

Animals↗