Sosa on knowledge,judgment and guessing

Synthese - In Chapter 3 of Judgment and Agency, Sosa (Judgment and Agency, 2015) explicates the concept of a fully apt performance. In the course of doing so, he draws from illustrative examples of...     

Reconciling the Two Disciplines of Organisational Science: A Comparison of Findings from Lab and Field Research

A strong preference for field research exists in the organisational sciences. However, it is unclear whether or under what conditions this is warranted. To examine this issue we conducted a second‐order meta‐analysis of 203 lab‐field pairs of meta‐analytic effects representing a diverse range of work‐related relationships. As expected, results showed a larger effect for lab (r = .25) than for field research (r = .14). However, the correspondence between the rank‐order of effect sizes for relationships assessed in lab settings and matched effects assessed in field settings was weaker (r = .61) than previous estimates from related areas of research. Moderators of lab‐field effect size magnitude and rank‐order correspondence were tested. Effect size magnitudes from the lab and field were most similar when lab studies used correlational designs, when using psychological state and trait (as opposed to demographic or workplace characteristic) variables as predictors, and when assessing attitudinal outcomes. Lab–field rank‐order correspondence was strongest when testing psychological state and workplace characteristic predictors and when assessing attitudinal and decisional outcomes. Findings offer recommendations for interpreting primary lab and field effects and inform evaluations of “when” findings from lab and field studies are likely to align.     

Acceptability and feasibility of a brief substance use intervention for adolescents in Cape Town,South Africa: A pilot study

Substance use is prevalent among South African adolescents, but few interventions exist to reduce risk of harm. This study assesses the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effects of a brief intervention for reducing adolescent substance use and other risk behaviours. This single-arm feasibility test recruited 30 substance-using adolescents and their primary caregiver. Participants received separate interventions (2 sessions for adolescents, 1 session for caregivers), with a subsample randomly selected for post-intervention interviews. Feasibility was measured by the proportion of eligible adolescents who were enrolled and retained in the study. Interviews explored acceptability, and changes in outcomes from baseline to 1-month follow-up assessed preliminary effects of the intervention. Thirty of 43 (69.8%) eligible adolescents and their caregivers were enrolled, with 29 adolescents (96.7%) and 28 caregivers (93.3%) completing the intervention. Twenty-eight adolescents (93.3%) and 29 caregivers (96.7%) were retained at follow-up. Frequency of alcohol, cannabis use and delinquent-type behaviours decreased significantly from baseline to follow-up. Participants appreciated the intervention content and delivery and felt that it facilitated behaviour change. Suggestions for improving the intervention were provided. This study found that the intervention is feasible, acceptable and had promising effects on adolescent behaviour. Efficacy must be established with a randomised controlled trial.