Five inferences drawn from research studies in the social sciences on the assessment of psychiatric ward atmospheres are presented as a frame of reference for psychiatric occupational therapists. The studies, based on a model stating that behavior results from the interaction of person and environment, suggest procedures for increasing successful treatment outcomes in occupational therapy. Such procedures include matching patients and staff to behavioral settings according to individual response traits and the development of programs emphasizing such variables as spontaneity, autonomy, and involvement.

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This study investigated the effects of an intermediate agent and applied pressure on the judgment of textural roughness Fifty-two subjects, aged 6 to 10 years, participated The study was designed to compare these results found for children with those found for adults Wooden blocks covered with sandpaper ranging from rough to smooth (36 to 220 grits) were used During 12 trials, a pair of blocks, each resting on a scale, was palpated with the fingertips while vision was occluded under two conditions: using an intermediate agent, and using fingertips only. The intermediate agent was a piece of bond paper held between the fingertips and the block being judged. The results were mixed, with Condition 1 being judged rougher for two out of three rough sandpaper grits (36 and 80) but not being judged rougher for finer grits. A Pearson correlation coefficient indicated that the pressure exerted by the subjects was independent of their choice of conditions ( r = .04, df = 624, p = .14). No sex differences were revealed.