One-half of the general psychology students completed computer simulations of a topic in psychology.

1.     One-half of the general psychology students completed computer simulations of a topic in psychology. The remaining half of the students spent an equal amount of time reviewing the text and their lecture notes. Both groups were then tested on the course information.

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2.     One-half of a fraternity at the University of Kansas at Lawrence watched the television program "The Day After." The program was a dramatic presentation of a nuclear holocaust. The remaining members of the fraternity watched the programs on one of the other major networks during the same time period. The fraternity members were then individually interviewed regarding their attitudes toward nuclear disarmament.

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3.     Couples completing divorce proceedings were given the opportunity to watch videotapes dramatizing some of the problems that frequently occur in divorced families. Along with demonstrating the problems, the programs showed ways the problems could be handled. Other couples went through the standard court proceedings but did not view the videotapes. Six months later the children from both types of divorced families were interviewed regarding their happiness and self-esteem.

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4.     Drivers who were arrested for driving while intoxicated were required to attend safe-driving classes as part of their punishment. One-half of the drivers were also required to ride in ambulances on weekends during the time when alcohol-related accidents were likely to occur. The other half spent an equal amount of time assisting meter readers ticketing illegally parked cars. Two years later the drivers were interviewed regarding their accident rates, arrest rates, and their patterns of social drinking.

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5.     Parents of children (ages 1 month to 3 years) were offered free membership in a support group Parents as Teachers (PAT). The PAT parents received information about childrearing, were visited by a public health nurse, and attended meetings conducted by pediatricians who provided free advice. Names of the parents who were unable to work the PAT activities into their schedules and who did not join the support group were recorded. Four years later the children from both types of parents had their intellectual and social maturity tested prior to admission to kindergarten class.

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6.     Couples who contact lawyers indicating an interest in obtaining a divorce were assigned to one of two groups. Group 1 consisted of couples who worked with one lawyer who acted as a mediator. Group 2 consisted of couples who worked with lawyers from different law firms. One year after the divorce were granted, all of the adults involved were interviewed regarding the fairness of their divorce settlement.

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