Physical similarity (and not quantity representation) drives perceptual comparison of numbers: evidence from two Indian notations

Numerical quantity seems to affect the response in any task that involves numbers, even in tasks that do not demand access to quantity (e.g., perceptual tasks). That is, readers seem to activate quantity representations upon the mere presentation of integers. One important piece of evidence in favor of this view comes from the finding of a distance effect in perceptual tasks: When one compares two numbers, response times (RTs) are a function of the numerical distance between them. However, recent studies have suggested that the physical similarity between Arabic numbers is strongly correlated with their numerical distance, and that the former could be a better predictor of RT data in perceptual tasks in which magnitude processing is not required (Cohen, 2009a). The present study explored the Persian and Arabic versions of Indian numbers (Exps. 1 and 2, respectively). Na?ve participants (speakers of Spanish) and users of these notations (Pakistanis and Jordanians) participated in a physical same–different matching task. The RTs of users of the Indian notations were regressed on perceptual similarity (estimated from the Spanish participants’ RTs) and numerical distance. The results showed that, regardless of the degree of correlation between the perceptual similarity function and the numerical distance function, the critical predictor for RTs was perceptual similarity. Thus, participants do not automatically activate Indian integers’ quantity representations, at least not when these numbers are presented in simple perceptual tasks.     

Engaging Diasporas: a Fledgling Role of Cluster Organizations

Malaysia is probably one of the most notable countries in Asia affected by the talent mobility. In spite of important implications of the emigration, this issue is not given the due deliberations. Diaspora has taken a central role in the recent talent management policies of Malaysia. A large number of East Asian economies have benefited from the diaspora employed in the large North American and European clusters. This paper highlights the structural obstacles inhibiting brain circulation in Malaysian context. In the light of the review of successful diaspora stories of China, India, Korea, Philippines, and Taiwan, it elaborates what potential role Malaysia’s diaspora can play in the national development. It is suggested that apart from the national level policies, the industrial cluster organizations can assume the role of networking with Malaysian diaspora abroad in order to leverage their skills, contacts, and finances for cluster challenges.     

The Role of Short Vowels in Arabic Listening Comprehension

Journal of Psycholinguistic Research - The goal of the present study was to investigate the effect of short Arabic vowels on listening comprehension. It is well documented that short vowels affect...     

Just Add a Verse from the Quran: Effects of Religious Rhetoric in Gain- and Loss-Framed Anti-Alcohol Messages with a Palestinian Sample

This experiment investigated the effects of message framing (gain vs. loss) and religious rhetoric (religious vs. non-religious) on the expression of anti-alcohol civic intentions with a sample (N = 80) of Palestinian young adults. Results showed that the main effects of message framing (gain > loss) and religious rhetoric (non-religious > religious) on anti-alcohol civic intentions were significant. Furthermore, the study showed that viral behavioral intentions were strongly and significantly associated with expressing anti-alcohol civic intentions, with larger explanatory power for gain-framed PSAs that used a religious rhetoric. Additionally, a serial mediation model showed that the effect of religious rhetoric on anti-alcohol civic intentions was successfully mediated by the serial combination of attitudes toward the PSA and viral behavioral intention for gain-framed PSAs, but not for loss-framed PSAs. Findings are discussed within the framework of persuasion models.     

Personal value preferences,group identifications,and cultural practices of Palestinian Israelis working in close contact with Jewish Israelis

The present study investigates the connection between personal value preferences, group identifications, and cultural practices among Palestinian Israelis working in close contact with the Jewish population in Israel. One hundred twenty-two Palestinian Israelis participated in the study. The participants were employed in different professional positions in the Tel Aviv Metropolitan area and were recruited to the study using the snowball technique. A stronger national identification was associated with a higher preference for the security and conformity values, and a lower preference for the humility values. A stronger ethnic identification was associated with a lower preference for the security, power, and stimulation values. Group identifications mediated the connection between personal value preferences and cultural practices. A longer time working in close contact with the majority group and less frequent visits home were associated with a greater adherence to the majority group’s cultural practices but not with adherence to the ethnic group’s practices and not with the group identifications.     

Book reviews

A Reader on Classical Islam. F. E. Peters, 1994. Princeton, Princeton University Press. 420 pp., hb. £30.50, ISBN 0–691–03394–3; pb. £15.00, ISBN 0–691–00040–9.

The Physical Theory of Kalam: atoms, space and void in Basrian Mu'tazili cosmology. (Islamic Philosophy, Theology and Science, Vol. XIV). Alnoor Dhanani, 1994. Leiden, E. J. Brill. 209 pp., hb. n.p., ISBN 90–04–09831–3.

Empire to Commonwealth: consequences of monotheism in late antiquity. Garth Fowden, 1993. Princeton, Princeton University Press. 205 pp., hb. £12.95, ISBN 0–691–06989–1.

Religions in the UK: a multi‐faith directory. Paul Weller (Ed.), 1993. Derby, University of Derby in association with the Interfaith Network for the United Kingdom. 630 pp. plus indices, pb. £21.50, ISBN 0–901437–06–9.

Islamic Britain: religion, politics and identity among British Muslims: Bradford in the 1990s. Philip Lewis, 1994. London, I. B. Tauris. 250 pp., pb. £9.95, ISBN 1–85043–861–7.

Bosnia and Hercegovina: a tradition betrayed. Robert J. Donia and John V. A. Fine, Jr., 1994. London, Hurst and Company. 280 pp., hb. £9.50, ISBN 1–85065–211–2.

French and Algerian Identities from Colonial Times to the Present: a century of interaction. Alec G. Hargreaves and Michael J. Heffernan (Eds), 1993. Lampeter, The Edwin Mellen Press. 253 pp., hb. £39.95, ISBN 0–7734–9233‐X.

The Course of Islam in Africa. (Islamic Surveys 15). Mervyn Hiskett, 1994. Edinburgh, Edinburgh University Press. 218 pp., hb. £35.00, ISBN 0–7486–0464–2; pb. £16.95, ISBN 0–7486–0461–8.

The Writings of Eastern Sudanic Africa to c. 1900. R. S. O'Fahey (comp.) 1994. Leiden, E. J. Brill. 434 pp., hb. n.p., ISBN 90–04–09450–4.     

Spirituality Moderates Hopelessness,Depression, and Suicidal Behavior among Malaysian Adolescents

Suicide is an important public health problem for adolescents, and it is essential to increase our knowledge concerning the etiology of suicide among adolescent students. Therefore, this study was designed to examine the associations between hopelessness, depression, spirituality, and suicidal behavior, and to examine spirituality as a moderator between hopelessness, depression, and suicidal behavior among 1376 Malaysian adolescent students. The participants completed measures of depression, hopelessness, daily spiritual experience, and suicidal behavior. Structural equation modeling indicated that adolescent students high in hopelessness and depression, but also high in spirituality, had less suicidal behavior than others. These findings reinforce the importance of spirituality as a protective factor against hopelessness, depression, and suicidal behavior among Malaysian adolescent students.     

A Propensity Score Analysis of Homework Adherence-Outcome Relations in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression

Little is known about whether or not a consistently high level of homework adherence over the course of therapy benefits patients. This question was examined in two samples of patients who were receiving individual Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for depression (Ns = 128 [Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression: STAR-D] and 183 [Continuation Phase Cognitive Therapy Relapse Prevention: C-CT-RP]). Logistic and linear regression and propensity score models were used to identify whether or not clinician assessments of homework adherence differentiated symptom reduction and remission, as assessed by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 (HDRS-17), the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology–Self-Reported Scale (QIDS-SR), and the QIDS–Clinician Scale (QIDS-C). CBT-related response and remission were equally likely between both high and low homework adherers in both studies and in all models. But in propensity adjusted models that adjusted for session attendance, for both the STAR-D and C-CT-RP samples, greater homework adherence was significantly associated with greater response and remission from depression in the first and last 8 sessions of CBT. Our results suggest that homework adherence can account for response and remission early and late in treatment, with adequate session attendence.