Abstract
Forty Lebanese undergraduates were randomly assigned to one of two treatment conditions. Students in the experimental group were tested by an examiner who leaned forward in an attentive posture throughout the course of the examination. The examiner also established and maintained eye contact as each question was presented while simultaneously smiling and nodding after every response. The subjects in the second treatment received neutral nonverbal examiner feedback. In this instance the examiner consistently leaned back in his seat and looked down at the protocol as he presented each item while assuming and maintaining a blank expression. Significant differences were noted between the Digit Span and Similarities scores of the treatment groups. The efficacy of the treatment as a means of reinforcing performance or reducing situational anxiety was noted and recommendations for Middle Eastern and Occidental psychologists were presented.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bersoff, D.A. Silk purses into sow's ears. The decline of psychological testing and a suggestion for its redemption.American Psychologist 1973,28 892–899.
Brewer, W.D. Patterns of gestures among the Levantine Arabs.American Anthropologist 1951,42 232–237.
Glaser, A.J., & Zimmerman, I.L.Clinical interpretation of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. New York: Grune & Stratton, 1970.
Hodges, W.F., & Spielberger, C.D. Digit span: an indicant of trait or state anxiety?Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1969,33 430–434.
Rapport, S.Diagnostic psychological testing (Vol. 1). Chicago: Year Book Publishers, 1946.
Saigh, P.A., & Payne, D.A. The influence of examiner verbal comments on the WISC performance of EMR students.Journal of School Psychology 1976,4 342–345.
Saigh, P.A., & Payne, D.A. The effect of type of reinforcer and reinforcement schedule on the performance of EMR students on four selected WISC-R subtests.Psychology in the Schools 1979,16 106–110.
Whitmer, J.M., Bernstein, A.V., & Dunham, R.M. The effect of verbal approval and disapproval upon the performance of third and fourth grade children on four subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children.Journal of School Psychology 1971,9 347–356.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Saigh, P.A. Effects of nonverbal examiner praise on selected WAIS subtest performance of Lebanese undergraduates. J Nonverbal Behav 6, 84–88 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00987283
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00987283