Citation

Hovland CI. J. Exp. Psychol. 1936; 19(2): 216-226.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1936, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/h0058659

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The study concerns the effect of quantity of food taken upon subsequent efficiency of 10 male subjects. Types of food taken were the following: (1) a standard meal, consisting of one ham sandwich and a glass of milk, (2) a triple meal, consisting of three times the standard meal, and (3) a divided meal, the sandwich and the glass of milk being quartered and given at hourly intervals. Insensible weight loss was measured hourly from 12 noon to 5 p. m. as a measure of energy cost, under the following conditions: (a) basal activity of rest, (b) muscular work, and (c) mental work. Indices of output were obtained by the use of tapping and addition problems. Input of effort during work was determined from the insensible weight loss during work. Efficiency was computed by the ratio of input to output. Results suggest the following generalizations: (I) Input of effort during muscular work is greatest following the heavy meal, least following the standard. (II) Input for mental work is likewise greatest under conditions (2) and least under (1). (III) The greatest output follows meal (1); the least follows (2). (IV) Under the standard meal conditions, the least amount of effort is expended to do the greatest amount of work. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)