Aprendizagem de rudimentos de leitura musical com ensino cumulativo e não cumulativo de relações condicionais / Learning Rudiments of Music Reading with Cumulative and Noncumulative Teaching of Conditional Relations

RESUMO O estudo avaliou o efeito de treino cumulativo de relações condicionais sobre a aprendizagem de rudimentos de leitura musical. Os estímulos foram sequências de notas nas modalidades: sonora (A), notação em clave de sol (B) e figura de teclado (C). Cinco estudantes universitários realizaram a Condição Não Cumulativa, composta por treinos AB e BC e testes, com dois exemplares diferentes em cada fase experimental. Na Condição Cumulativa, outros cinco participantes aprenderam as relações condicionais com os exemplares da Fase 2 acumulados aos da Fase 1. A Condição Cumulativa mostrou a manutenção de um número significativamente maior de relações AB, desempenhos superiores nos testes de formação de classes de estímulos equivalentes e escores mais elevados de leitura recombinativa do que a Condição Não Cumulativa.

ABSTRACT This study investigated the effects of cumulative training of conditional relations on learning rudiments of musical reading. The stimuli were sequences of notes in three modalities: sound (A); treble clef pentagram (B); and picture of keyboard (C). Five undergraduates were exposed to the Noncumulative Condition, which consisted of training AB and BC and testing, using different stimuli in each experimental phase. For the other five participants of Cumulative Condition, stimuli trained in Phase 1 were revised in the training of Phase 2. The Cumulative Condition showed maintenance of a larger number of AB relations, higher performances in tests of equivalence stimulus classes and higher scores of recombinative reading than Noncumulative Condition.

Behavioral observation used to estimate pesticide exposure for farm workers in Brazil

Assessment of the harm caused by exposure to pesticides requires that a measure of exposure be available. While such information is available without difficulty in controlled laboratory studies, estimating the exposure of humans who have been exposed in the real world is difficult. The difficulty is increased if exposures have taken place over an extended time period and the documentation of specifics is unavailable. Three methods of exposure assessment have previously been used: comparison of exposed and non-exposed groups, estimation of exposures through self-report of the individuals, and estimation of exposure through assessment of biomarkers or environmental levels. Each approach imposes limitations. We propose an additional approach - estimation of the degree of exposure for individuals through direct observation of their behavior and their use of personal protective equipment (PPE) during periods of exposure. We also obtain opinions from experts regarding the risk associated with the various behaviors and PPE use and combine these with the observations to create a personal risk index for each individual. By including information on chemicals in use during this period, we can characterize recent (observed) exposure for that individual. By these steps, the degree of risk may be determined for recent (observed) exposure. An estimate of long-term risk resulting from work-related exposures can be obtained for individuals by summing across their work histories.