This study explores the context dependence of national stereotypes. Scottish subjects stereotyped their own national group in three between‐subject conditions: after rating the English, after rating the Greeks, and in isolation (i.e. without explicit reference to any other category). Following the logic of self‐categorization theory (Turner, Hogg, Oakes, Reicher & Wetherell, 1987; Turner, Oakes, Haslam & McGarty, 1994), we predicted that the Scottish self‐stereotype would depend on the frame of reference created by the experimental manipulations. Further we predicted that changes in the definition of this stereotype would be dimension specific. In other words, stereotype variation was predicted to be contingent upon the relevance of the dimension of judgment for capturing the differences between the Scottish and the category constituting the frame of reference. These predictions were confirmed. As these data were obtained in a context where quite specific predictions about the nature and form of stereotype variation were possible, these data confirm and extend Haslam, Turner, Oakes, McGarty & Hayes' (1992) analysis of the context dependence of stereotypes.

Psychophysiological research on preparedness has previously focused on autonomic nervous system parameters. The present study used electrocortical indices of fear conditioning. Subjects (n = 10) were tested under fear-relevant and fear-irrelevant conditions (1 week apart, order of conditions counterbalanced). Each condition comprised acquisition and extinction sessions. The contingent negative variation (CNV) was elicited in anticipation of forewarned slides (fear relevant: small animals; fear irrelevant: landscapes). In acquisition, reinforced conditioned stimulus (CS+) (but not nonreinforced conditioned stimulus [CS-]) slides were followed by white noise as an unconditioned stimulus (UCS). In extinction, the UCS was omitted. In the fear-relevant condition, CNV amplitude was significantly larger for CS+ than CS- in both acquisition and extinction. In the fear-relevant condition, CNV amplitude was significantly larger for CS+ than CS- in both acquisition and extinction. In the fear-irrelevant condition, CNV differentiation between CS+ and CS- was weak in both sessions. CNV was significantly larger in the fear-relevant than in the fear-irrelevant condition, for CS+ but not CS-. The findings are consistent with a preparedness interpretation and suggest that CNV under such circumstances may represent an automatic affective response to fear-relevant stimuli. Electrocortical measures could be particularly useful in examining information processing mechanisms in phobia and cognition-affect relationships generally.

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This paper will present an innovative new methodology for realtime monitoring of bit condition – and hence drilling efficiency - using surface measurement of alkene gases artificially created at-bit by the bit as its condition deteriorates. A drop in ROP can be an effect of a variety of causes, often disparate in nature. Can performance be improved by a change in drilling parameters and, if so, for how much further will these parameters remain effective? Is there some form of drilling dysfunction that is resulting in inefficient transfer of energy into drilling action? Is there a change in lithology and, if so, is the bit still appropriate and viable in this new formation? Or is the bit simply approaching the end of its useful life through wear earlier than anticipated, in which case at what point does it become less economic to continue drilling at low ROP and POOH instead? The decision to POOH to change a bit that is perceived to be under-performing can be costly if the bit is found to be in workable condition and the trip is therefore premature. Unnecessary trips are a major source of non-productive time (NPT) so any trusted source of indicative information on bit condition adds valuable context and confidence to operational decision-making. Realtime monitoring of contaminant alkenes provides timely indications to drillers of the degree of bit wear, mitigating invisible lost time (ILT) through excessive prolongation of an ineffectual dulled bit run, and reducing the risk of its potentially catastrophic failure. Field-based case histories are presented supporting the complementary relationship of alkene generation to other indicators of inefficient drilling, how alkene presence can assist in drilling dysfunction diagnosis, and a prototype of a software application based on alkene levels that informs decision-makers of the ‘tipping point’ at which objective commercial factors support pulling a dull bit.