Caveats for future research on the open-field test: Comment on Royce

Notes that the literature on the open-field test is highly conflictual, and that a recent review by J. R. Royce (see record 1978-24692-001) provides the first detailed description of the open-field test's factor analytic construct validation. In the present article Royce's multivariate approach is expanded to provide a model of necessary multivariate multifactorial studies, and it is suggested that current criteria for the acceptance of open-field articles may have to be raised significantly if this area of research is to advance beyond its present impasse. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).