Two-digit number processing: holistic,decomposed or hybrid? A computational modelling approach

Currently, there are three competing theoretical accounts concerning the nature of two-digit number magnitude representation: a holistic, a strictly decomposed, and a hybrid model. Observation of the unit-decade compatibility effect (Nuerk et al. in Cognition 82:B25–B33, 2001) challenged the view of two-digit number magnitude to be represented as one integrated entity. However, at the moment there is no study distinguishing between the decomposed and the hybrid model. The present study addressed this issue using a computational modelling approach. Three network models complying with the constraints of all three theoretical models were programmed and trained on two-digit number comparison. Models were compared as to how well they accounted for empirical effects in the most parsimonious way. Generally, this evaluation indicated that the empirical data were simulated best by the strictly decomposed model. Implications of these results for our understanding of the nature of human number magnitude representation are discussed.     

Understanding “Zoom fatigue”: A mixed-method approach

Video conference meetings, which became frequent during the COVID-19 pandemic, might result in exhaustion (so-called “Zoom fatigue”). However, only little is known about “Zoom fatigue,” the objective characteristics shaping it, and the subjective experiences eliciting this phenomenon. Gaining this knowledge is critical for understanding work life during the pandemic. Study 1, a within-person quantitative investigation, tested whether video conferences are exhausting and if objective characteristics (i.e. meeting size, meeting duration, and the presence of the supervisor) moderate “Zoom fatigue”. Employees from Germany and Israel (N = 81) participated in a 2-week study, with meetings nested within persons (n = 988). Results showed that video conferences are exhausting—more than meetings held through other media. However, objective characteristics did not moderate this relationship. In Study 2, qualitative data from Germany and Israel (N = 53) revealed employees' subjective experiences in video conferences that may lead to “Zoom fatigue”. These include, for example, experiences of loss and comparison with the “good old times” before the pandemic. Employees suggested ways to mitigate “Zoom fatigue,” particularly, better management of meetings by leaders. Our results provide empirical support for “Zoom fatigue” and suggest which subjective experiences elicit this phenomenon, opening directions for research and practice.     

The “hot hand” reconsidered: A meta-analytic approach

ObjectivesExtensive searches for the “hot hand” have been performed in a variety of sports since the pioneering study of Gilovich, Vallone, and Tversky (1985), but empirical evidence for the existence of the effect is still fairly limited. The current review reconsiders the hot hand in sports using a meta-analytic approach.DesignMean effect size and 95% confidence interval were determined using a random effects model. Heterogeneity of the mean effect size was examined applying Cochran's Q test and the “75 percent rule”.MethodTo be included in the meta-analysis, studies had to provide an empirical investigation of the hot hand phenomenon related to sport and exercise behavior. Approximately 250 papers were located, but the final dataset included only 22 publications that met inclusion criteria, with 30 studies and 56 independent effect sizes. The articles extended over a period of twenty-seven years from 1985 until 2012.ResultsThe analysis of the effects yielded a minor positive mean effect size of .02, p = .49, using a random effects model, which is sufficient evidence for arguing against the existence of the hot hand. Due to the limited sample of studies available, only a few candidate-variables could be extracted and further examined as potential moderator variables. However, none of the considered variables had the power to explain the heterogeneity of effect sizes.ConclusionsThe present study provides additional support for Gilovich et al.'s claim that a general hot hand effect probably does not exist in sport. The scientific implications of this review for prospect advances in the field are presented and discussed.     

Subclmical depression and role fulfillment in domestic settings: Spurious relationships,imagined problems,or real effects?

Considerable evidence has accumulated in support of the hypothesis that subclinical depression may inhibit role performance in important ways. However, interpersonal stress and marital discord often precede the development of depressive symptomatology and may independently predict deficits in family role functioning. In addition, cognitive theories suggest that persons with subclinical depression may report poor role functioning even in the absence of any real performance deficits. The current research examines the possibility (1) that the effect of depression on the fulfillment of important family roles is attributable to previously unmeasured contextual variables of ongoing interpersonal stress and/or relationship dissatisfaction or, alternatively, (2) that this relationship is the result of depressive distortion associated with self-report of symptoms and performance. Multiple regression analyses of interview data collected from 495 community-dwelling adults found, however, that depression is related to role functioning beyond any spurious effects attributable to interpersonal stress, spousal stress, or marital satisfaction. In addition, the effect of depression persists when collateral reports of role functioning utilized. Accordingly, it appears that subclinical depression is related to decrements in role performance, and this effect is not entirely due to contextual elements or shared method variance between self-report measures.The authors acknowledge research support from Research Grants R01-AA-07250 and R01-AA-07218 from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Research Grant R01-DA-07417 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and National Institutes of Mental Health Grant A-41487-07.     

“Just another pretty face”: A multidimensional scaling approach to face attractiveness and variability

Findings on both attractiveness and memory for faces suggest that people should perceive more similarity among attractive than among unattractive faces. A multidimensional scaling approach was used to test this hypothesis in two studies. In Study 1, we derived a psychological face space from similarity ratings of attractive and unattractive Caucasian female faces. In Study 2, we derived a face space for attractive and unattractive male faces of Caucasians and non-Caucasians. Both studies confirm that attractive faces are indeed more tightly clustered than unattractive faces in people’s psychological face spaces. These studies provide direct and original support for theoretical assumptions previously made in the face space and face memory literatures.     

Computer “personalities”: A new approach to understanding user compatibility

While many scholars have looked at computer processes as a means of better understanding how the brain functions, very few have explored the opposite perspective, that computers have personalities which may influence how they interact with people. This article describes a study which compared the personalities of two popular personal computers, then discusses the implications for computer development, documentation, marketing and training.John Penrose is a professor in the Information and Decision Systems Department at San Diego State University. Lawrence M. Seiford is Associate Professor at the Department of Industrial Engineering and Operations Research at the University of Massachusetts.     

The rate of “mental rotation” of images: A test of a holistic analogue hypothesis

This paper discusses the analogue-propositional distinction and argues that, given an appropriate understanding of this issue, the question of whether a particular cognitive function is analogue or not is an empirical one. As an example of how the question can be empirically investigated, the proposed analogue operation for mental rotation of images is considered. It is argued that the view that images are rotated in a holistic analogue manner should predict that rotation rate is independent of such factors as the conceptual complexity of the stimulus or of the comparison task. Two experiments are described that investigated the effects of several stimulus and task variables on the apparent rate of “mental rotation” of images in a Shepard-type task. Instead of comparing a stimulus and misoriented probe figure to determine whether they are identical (except for orientation) or mirror images, as was the case in most of previous studies, the present experiments required subjects to judge whether the misoriented probe was a subfigure of the target stimulus. The results showed that the “rotation rate” (i.e., the slope of the RT vs. angle of misorientation function) was influenced by practice, stimulus attributes, and the nature of the comparison task. In particular, when the probe was a “good” subfigure of the reference stimulus, apparent rotation rate was greater. These results are interpreted as indicating that the linear RT vs. angle relation is not due to a holistic analogue rotation of images, as had been supposed, but arises from a more articulated and piecemeal process in which analysis of the stimulus figure interacts with the comparison task.     

Work-Related Impression Formation: Reviewing Parenthood Penalties and Investigating a “Fatherhood Penalty” for Single Fathers

Abstract

We review the evidence that mothers, compared to childless women or fathers, are discriminated at work (“motherhood penalty”) and that fathers may receive “caregiver penalties.” We conclude that (implicitly or explicitly) expected family roles appear to determine parenthood penalties. On this basis, we examined penalties for fathers who are only assumed to be primary caregivers. We found “fatherhood penalties” for single fathers compared to married fathers (Experiment 1, N?=?343) and compared to singles and single mothers (Experiment 2, N?=?142 professionals). We discuss the mixed evidence on work-related perceptions of parents.     

A correction to “The retinal reference of the tilt aftereffect” by Coltheart and Cooper

Coltheart and Cooper (1972) reexamined the data of Day and Wade (1969) concerning the retinal or gravitational reference for normalization and the tilt aftereffect. Their analysis contained a factual error concerning the procedure employed in the latter investigation, which is here corrected. Day and Wade did not, however, distinguish between normalization and aftereffect. When this distinction is made, the data from the two studies taken together indicate that deviation of an inspection line from the vertical retinal meridian is not sufficient to produce normalization but does yield a visual tilt aftereffect.     

Object relations and addiction: The role of “transmuting externalizations”

Addiction is viewed as resulting from a failure in the separation-individuation process. Due to lack of reliable selfobjects and failure to make transmuting internalizations, the addict remains dependent upon transmuting externalizations in an attempt to incorporate soothing objects into the self. As comfort provided by transmuting externalizations cannot be internalized into the self, the process inevitably fails. Treatment of addiction is thus conceived here as a multimodal strategy to help addicts complete separation-individuation and make transmuting internalizations of the soothing and realistic capacities of the therapist and peer group members.     

A Review of: “Brothers and Sisters”

Abstract

Swimming Pool. Directed by François Ozon.     

A review of: “Philosophy and psychotherapy”

E. Erwin (1997) Philosophy and Psychotherapy, London: Sage, pp. 192, $37.50 (hb), $12.95 (pb)     

Individual classification of elementary school children’s physical activity: A time-efficient,group-based approach to reference measurements

The objective measurement of physical activity using accelerometers is becoming increasingly popular. There is little consensus, however, about how to analyze acceleration data. One promising approach is the use of reference measurements in which the subjects conduct specific activities. This makes it possible to identify data patterns that indicate these activities for each subject. The drawback of this approach is its rather high cost, in terms of both time and money. We propose a new approach in which a group of children conduct the reference measurements at the same time. We trained support vector machine models on the accelerometer data of 70 children (ages 8–11 years) to predict their activities during those reference measurements. We correctly classified activities with an accuracy of 96.9 % when fitting the individual models for each subject, and 87.5 % when fitting general models for all subjects. The obtained accuracies were comparable to results reported in previous reference measurement studies, in which each subject was measured individually. They were higher than the accuracies obtained by the traditional approach, which transfers accelerometer data to counts and classifies those on the basis of predefined cut points. We concluded that our approach can yield a valuable contribution, particularly to studies with larger samples.     

Categorising intersectional targets: An “either/and” approach to race- and gender-emotion congruity

Research on the interaction of emotional expressions with social category cues in face processing has focused on whether specific emotions are associated with single-category identities, thus overlooking the influence of intersectional identities. Instead, we examined how quickly people categorise intersectional targets by their race, gender, or emotional expression. In Experiment 1, participants categorised Black and White faces displaying angry, happy, or neutral expressions by either race or gender. Emotion influenced responses to men versus women only when gender was made salient by the task. Similarly, emotion influenced responses to Black versus White targets only when participants categorised by race. In Experiment 2, participants categorised faces by emotion so that neither category was more salient. As predicted, responses to Black women differed from those to both Black men and White women. Thus, examining race and gender separately is insufficient to understanding how emotion and social category cues are processed.     

HIV and AIDS and “family” counselling: A systems and developmental perspective

This paper describes first, a developmental and systems/interactional conceptual model for understanding HIV and AIDS and second, outlines four basic principles of a systems model of therapeutic counselling used with people infected and affected by HIV Clinical examples are taken from the work of a team of family therapists at Bouverie Family Therapy Centre in Melbourne, Australia, to demonstrate that a systems developmental model is an appropriate therapy to assist HIV and AIDS affected people and their significant others to live with a chronic and stigmatized terminal illness.     

A Review of “Divorce: Causes and Consequences”

Substance abuse affects millions of adults each year, of whom one in five are older adults. Given pervasive stereotypes about later life and the ways in which older persons internalize such messages, dealing with and using previous work on substance abuse, the social breakdown syndrome, and narrative therapy, we describe the importance of and ways for marriage and family therapists to work with older persons facing the compounding experiences of ageism and substance abuse. The purpose of this study was to: 1) identify the prevalence of substance abuse among those 65 and older; 2) document and emphasize the unique challenges of addressing this issue among those 65 and older; and 3) provide an application of the narrative approach to working with older persons presenting with substance abuse.