Effet du niveau d’études sur les performances en mémoire épisodique chez des adultes âgés : rôle médiateur de la métamémoire

Educational level is a factor of cognitive reserve and older adults with a higher level of formal education have a better memory performance than those having a lower educational level (Angel et al., 2010; Van Der Elst, Van Boxtel, Van Breukelen, & Jolles, 2005). Memory functioning can also be modulated by the beliefs and knowledge of a person about his/her own memory, that is, by his/her metamemory (Hultsch, Hertzog, & Dixon, 1987). The objective of this study was to examine the role of metamemory as a potential mediator of the effect of educational level on memory performance. Eighty-three older adults (60–80 years) participated in the experiment, they have been divided into two subgroups according to their educational level (high: 14.36 years and low level: 9.85 years). Episodic memory was evaluated with a cued recall task and metamemory by the Metamemory in Adulthood questionnaire (MIA). As shown by previous studies, results indicated that educational level had a significant effect on memory and metamemory, higher educational level was associated to better memory and metamemory capacities. At the MIA questionnaire, older adults with a high educational level affirmed using more internal and external strategies for learning, having higher motivation and perceiving less memory change with aging than older adults with a lower educational level. They also showed that the metamemory dimensions associated to the memory performance differed according to the educational level. For participants with a lower educational level, memory performance was correlated to the participants’ perception about their memory capacity and their knowledge about memory tasks, while for participants with a higher educational level, memory performance was correlated to the dimensions linked to memory control (strategies and motivation). Finally, the group effect was mediated by metamemory, specifically by the use of internal strategies. These results suggest that a prolonged educative experience would be associated to a better capacity to implement adapted strategies, which led individuals to maintain an optimal memory performance.     

L’entraînement de la mémoire de travail par le programme Cogmed et le TDAH

IntroductionAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder. Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity are key symptoms of ADHD. It is typically associated with working memory deficits at the cognitive level. For this reason, interventions have been designed to train working memory in ADHD. Currently, Cogmed Working Memory Training program is the most commonly used and studied program in clinical practice and research. This program is proposed as an intervention for ADHD that targets working memory deficits with specific exercises through intensive training sessions.ObjectivesThe goal of this literature review is to examine the effects of the Cogmed program in children and adolescents with ADHD on working memory, inhibition, non-verbal reasoning, attention functioning, ADHD symptoms and academic achievement. All existing studies on the subject that included a control group (n = 8) are reviewed.ResultsIt is clear from most studies that Cogmed training program increases and verbal and visuospatial working memory (or the phonological loop and visuospatial sketchpad in Baddeley's model (1986, 2007), among ADHD participants. However, transfer of learning is not demonstrated on other components of working memory that are not directly targeted by the program such as the central executive described in Baddeley's model or the secondary memory defined by Unsworth & Engle (2007). With regards to far transfer measures, results are controversial for inhibition, non-verbal reasoning, ADHD symptoms reported by parents, and reading abilities. No improvement is demonstrated for attentional capacities, ADHD symptoms reported by teachers and mathematic reasoning.ConclusionCogmed training improves verbal and visuospatial working memory, two cognitive functions that play an important role in ADHD. However, Cogmed's exercises need to be modified in order to train more complex working memory components such as the central executive (Baddeley, 1986, 2007) and the secondary memory (Unsworth & Engle, 2007), which are more impaired in ADHD than the phonological loop and visuospatial sketchpad. Another approach would be to design programs that can tackle a larger range of cognitive functions that are impaired in ADHD (e.g., inhibition). In future, studies evaluating such modified programs, direct observation instruments that are more sensitive to short-term changes need to be included. Follow-up measures should also be systematically included.     

Les serious games dans le monde de l’insertion : étude comparative entre méthode classique et méthode ludo-éducative

This article focuses on a comparative study between conventional methods and serious games, and their impact on learning and motivation. Two hundred and fifty-one jobseekers including 130 enjoying an edutainment and 121 enjoying a conventional counseling, participated in the study. In addition, we conducted 157 interviews with counselors of professional insertion that accompanied these jobseekers. Our results show a significant difference between serious games and conventional method. Indeed, serious games enable better learning and a stronger motivation than conventional methods and positive impact on jobseekers's professional insertion.     

Quand le genre s’en mêle : quelle conciliation entre vie professionnelle et vie privée ?

Declarations of conciliation between private life and professional life based on three factors (sex, gender and positions) are studied in this paper. Our goals were (i) to show that conciliation between the different life spheres need to be considered both in terms of conflict and of life enrichment; (ii) and to demonstrate that the gender variable has combined effects with sex variables, as well as with positions variables, over the perception of work in relation to family interferences in terms of nature (conflict/enrichment), intensity and direction (family over work versus work over family). The study, conducted with 240 employees of low or high professional positions, based on SWING and BSRI scales, shows the moderating effect of gender on the perceptions of conciliation, whether enriching or conflicting. Our results also allow us to conclude that congruent adjustment (masculine domination) of the levels of our three factors constitute a protecting factor for employees, while an incongruent adjustment can constitute a risk factor, this being especially verified for women.     

Connaissances et contrôle exécutif : deux facteurs cognitifs de protection contre le vieillissement de la mémoire épisodique ?

In this study we refer to Craik and Bialystok's model distinguishing the “knowledge” (cultural learning experience that forms the basis for knowledge of the world) and the “executive control” (set of operations that control and regulate cognitive performance) as two main factors susceptible accounting for the age-related negative effects on the cognitive functioning, and for a possible age-related protective effect. Thus, the aim of the present study was to examine the possible protective effect of these two factors on the age-related decline in a cued-recall task. Four age groups of participants (20–39 years, 40–59 years, 60–74 years and 75–90 years) were administered with a word-stem cued-recall test to assess episodic memory, a “vocabulary” sub-test of the WAIS-R to assess knowledge and a reading span test to assess control. Results showed an age-related effect on the episodic memory, the control performance and the knowledge measure, indicating that performance decreases with age. A GLM analysis revealed a positive effect of the knowledge and the control factors on the cued-recall performance, and interaction between age and the knowledge factor resulting from a positive effect of the knowledge level only for the youngest group of participants (20–39 years). Furthermore, results revealed an interaction between age and the control factor, indicating a positive effect of the control level for the two oldest groups of participants (60–74 years and 75–90 years). These results suggest that, contrary to the knowledge, the control factor could be an effective protection against the age-related negative effects on the episodic memory.     

Ouvrir le dialogue pour comprendre l’activité. Un exemple de méthode en psychologie du travail

The investigations in occupational psychology are conditioned by the way events are observed and interpreted. When we approach subjectivity, it is necessary to understand what is hidden. And the angle from which we look at determines the analysis. This is to highlight the significance of the action. Those who work interpret situations, so they cannot be reduced to their action. But how can we reach the sense of a behaviour? The problem of interpretation arises. Understanding the activity, is trying to share the contents with the subject investigated. Therefore, the direct observation of a behaviour is not synonymous with objectivity. Through two examples of the preparatory phase of our inquiries, we present persons who explain us their professional activity. In these exchanges, what is said depends on the mode of entry. The objective is to engage the subject to explain his work to understand and transform. For this, the methodology can only be indirect. The resulting methods enable the subject to talk about what he does and come back on his activity to develop.     

L’examen psychologique dans le handicap visuel : intérêts et limites méthodologiques

The psychological assessment of visually impaired people (blind or partially sighted) confronts the psychologist with methodological constraints regarding the choice of assessment tools. Both critical judgement and an extensive psychometric knowledge are necessary. The objective of this article is to present the results of a study in which the existing tools in this field are identified. The results of this study bring to light the shortage of tools and methods of investigation specifically designed to assess the different psychological facets (affective, cognitive or conative) of visual impairment. We will then examine the methodological and psychometric issues specifically related to assessment in the field of visual impairment. Although some tools have psychometric qualities for the assessment of blind and visually impaired people (Miller & Skillman, 2003; Reid, 1997), we note that the limits of some tests are often overlooked or ignored (Reid, 1997; Tobin, 1994; Tobin & Hill, 2011). Questions relating to the use, adaptation and translation of foreign language tools are examined. In order to illustrate these points, we present some practices used by psychologists which highlight the limits of currently existing tools for the assessment of the psychological, in particular, the cognitive facet, and in addition provide some recommendations for assessment.     

Dissonance émotionnelle et bien-être dans la profession infirmière : le rôle médiateur des stratégies de régulation émotionnelle

The purpose of this study is to contribute to understanding the role of emotional regulation strategies in the relationship between emotional dissonance and well-being at work. The study was conducted on a sample of 559 nurses from two Algerian hospitals. The results indicate that emotional dissonance has a negative relationship with work engagement and job satisfaction. Attentional deployment and expressive suppression play a mediating role in this relationship. Emotional work can be understood as an important mechanism in the relationship between dissonance/well-being at work.     

Les principes d’une prévention de la récidive efficace : le modèle Risque-Besoins-Réceptivité

Recidivism prevention remains a crucial issue in France. While meta-analyses clearly indicated the effectiveness of the Risk-Need-Responsivity (R-N-R) model for assessment and rehabilitation, this model is not used in French probation services. The aim of this article is to introduce the R-N-R model, through an emphasis on its three main principles. A necessary continuity from assessment to intervention is highlighted. The article concludes by stressing the need to empirically evaluate the effectiveness of intervention to prevent recidivism.     

Engagement envers le supérieur et recherche de feedback négatif : le rôle des variables de statut du supérieur

The relationship between employees’ affective commitment to the supervisor and negative feedback seeking is barely explored in the literature. Moreover, the role of the characteristics related to the context where this relationship develops is unknown. In the present article, we examine the relationship between affective commitment to the supervisor and negative feedback seeking using data collected from 250 employees affiliated with organizations operating in the service industry. Three moderating variables were measured: supervisor-organization value incongruence, supervisors’ networking ability, and supervisors’ perceived organizational status. Data analysis through moderated multiple regression indicates that commitment to the supervisor is positively related to negative feedback seeking, and that this relationship is enhanced when the supervisor is perceived to have a low value incongruence with the organization or a weak networking ability. In contrast, supervisors’ perceived organizational status did not exert a moderating role. We discuss the implications of these findings for research on feedback seeking behavior in the workplace.     

La force normative du contrôle ordinal des contrats conclus par les médecins

Professional contracts concluded by physicians are specific. Indeed, these contracts must be compliant with ethical standards of the profession. As a professional authority, the College of physicians introduces obligations under which professionals have to stipulate several specific clauses and transmit their written contracts to the College, which controls their conformity. However, the normative power of these obligations is weak. To ensure the respect of ethical standards in professional contracts, soft law is more and more used by the College.