Reliability and validity of the kiddie mach scale in Chinese children

The present study examined the psychometric properties of a translated Chinese version of the Kiddie Mach Scale in a sample of Chinese students (N=787) ages 9 to 13 years (416 boys, 371 girls; M age= 11.3 yr., SD = 1.3). Results of confirmatory factor analysis showed a three-factor structure to be the most adequate model: Distrust, Lack of faith in human nature, and Dishonesty. These results are similar to the English version, but not the Greek version. The Chinese version exhibited weak internal consistency, but acceptable 4-week test-retest reliability. The Chinese version of the Kiddie Mach Scale was significantly associated with the Basic Empathy Scale. There was a sex effect on Kiddie Mach Scale scores with boys scoring higher on the Total scale and the Distrust subscale. Some items did not seem to function well in Chinese culture. More research will be needed to find items that represent, especially, distrust in Chinese settings.     

Studying Ideological Groups Online: Identification and Assessment of Risk Factors for Violence

Recent acts of violence have demonstrated the impact of violent ideological groups worldwide. However, the systematic study of these groups is somewhat limited. The Internet is a valuable tool for investigating ideological group behavior because it is easily accessible and commonly used by these groups. This study attempted to extend previous research by examining online message boards to assess processes particular to ideological group membership. A content analysis was conducted on several group process variables using 29 groups with message boards. A Kruskal‐Wallis test with follow‐up pairwise comparisons was used to find that violent ideological groups differed from nonviolent ideological and nonviolent nonideological groups on 7 group process variables and 3 content variables. Implications are discussed.     

N-backer: an auditory n-back task with automatic scoring of spoken responses

The n-back task is commonly used to load working memory (WM) in dual-task and neuroimaging experiments. However, it typically involves visual presentation and buttonpress responses, making it unsuitable for combination with primary tasks that involve vision and action, such as sequential object use and other tasks of daily living. The N-backer software presented here will automatically present and score auditory–verbal n-back sequences utilising the standard speech synthesis and recognition facilities that come with Microsoft Windows. Data are presented from an experiment in which 12 student participants carried out three tasks from the Naturalistic Action Test (NAT) while their attention was divided between the primary task and a continuous auditory–verbal 2-back secondary task. The participants’ 2-back performance was scored in two ways: by hand, from video recordings, and automatically, using the software, allowing us to evaluate the accuracy of N-backer. There was an extremely high correlation between these scores (.933). The videos were also used to obtain a comprehensive error score for the NAT. Significantly more errors were made in the more complex NAT tasks when participants were 2-backing, as compared with when they were not, showing that the auditory–verbal n-back task can be used to disrupt sequential object use. This dual-task method may simulate the attentional deficits of patients with brain injury, providing insights into the difficulties they face in tasks of daily living.     

Unable to resist temptation: How self-control depletion promotes unethical behavior

Across four experimental studies, individuals who were depleted of their self-regulatory resources by an initial act of self-control were more likely to “impulsively cheat” than individuals whose self-regulatory resources were intact. Our results demonstrate that individuals depleted of self-control resources were more likely to behave dishonestly (Study 1). Depletion reduced people’s moral awareness when they faced the opportunity to cheat, which, in turn, was responsible for heightened cheating (Study 2). Individuals high in moral identity, however, did not show elevated levels of cheating when they were depleted (Study 3), supporting our hypothesis that self-control depletion increases cheating when it robs people of the executive resources necessary to identify an act as immoral or unethical. Our results also show that resisting unethical behavior both requires and depletes self-control resources (Study 4). Taken together, our findings help to explain how otherwise ethical individuals predictably engage in unethical behavior.     

Examining the Criterion‐Related Validity of the Employee Screening Questionnaire: A Three‐Sample Investigation

Across three samples (N=475, 358, and 112), the authors examined the criterion‐related validity of the Employee Screening Questionnaire (ESQ), a brief forced‐choice measure of integrity in the workplace. Results suggested that ESQ scores correlate highly with self‐ and other‐reports of counterproductive work behaviors (rs of .59, .50, and .47 on the consolidated scores), as well as self‐reports of job satisfaction (rs of ?.41 and ?.22 on the consolidated scores), and intention to leave the organization (rs of .30 and .21 on the consolidated scores). No predictive bias by gender was found for the ESQ scores. Based on these results, the authors encourage more research on the use of personality‐based (covert), forced‐choice integrity tests in selection contexts.     

英语阅读问题解决的认知诊断

本研究尝试将认知诊断技术应用于中学生英语阅读问题解决(ERPS),以实现对中学生英语阅读问题解决的认知诊断,探讨中学生英语阅读问题解决的认知发展特点及其所存在的问题,为中学生的相关认知发展和知识获取服务。研究发现:(1)基于文本表征和反应决策两个加工过程中的七个认知属性是影响中学生ERPS的主要认知成分(R2=0.792);(2)中学生对于文本表征加工过程所涉及的属性的掌握情况优于反应决策加工过程所涉及的属性,学生所面临的主要困主要难于在反应决策加工阶段;(3)对不同属性掌握情况上存在显著的学校类型差异。(4)学生认知掌握状态的类型主要集中在15种(占73%),最多的三种为(1111011)、(1111110)和(1111101)(占34%)。总体来说,学生的属性掌握还是比较好的。相对地,对推理、信息匹配和正确选项的加工水平三个属性掌握较差,应引起重视。     

HO-DINA模型的MCMC参数估计及模型性能研究

认知诊断目前在国内外越来越受到重视,而要真正实现认知诊断,需借助一定的计量学模型即认知诊断模型。国际上,目前已开发近60种认知诊断模型,不同模型又各具特点。本研究重点分析国外研究较成熟的模型--HO-DINA/DINA模型,具体探讨该模型参数估计的实现及模型性能,采用Monte Carlo模拟方法进行,研究发现：(1)本研究对项目参数、属性参数和被试参数估计返真性较好、稳健性较强、HO-DINA模型具有较高的判断率,MCMC算法可行;（2）诊断的属性个数越多,诊断的模式正确率越低,建议实际使用该模型时,诊断的属性个数不宜超过7个;（3）用于诊断的项目数越多,诊断的模式正确率越高,在实际工作中,若要保证有80%以上的模式判准率,则4个属性的至少需20题,5个、6个和7个属性的至少需要40题,8个属性至少需60题。实际运用者应根据实际情况考虑适当的项目数及属性数。     

数学学习困难初中生的记忆广度特点

记忆广度包括短时记忆广度和工作记忆广度,为揭示数学学习困难学生认知缺损特点,筛选103名初中生（平均年龄12.57岁）,比较数学困难学生（49名）与数学优秀学生（54名）的记忆广度差异,通过词语系列任务、阅读广度任务以及倒背数字任务,分别测查了短时记忆、言语工作记忆以及数字工作记忆。结果发现,数困组与优秀组的学生在词语系列任务中没有显著差异（t＝-1.59, p>.05）,在阅读广度任务中,具有显著差异（t＝-2.38, p<.05）,在倒背数字任务中具有极其显著的差异（t＝-4.69, p<.01）。阅读广度和倒背数字之间具有显著相关(r=.24, p<.05),词语系列任务与阅读广度(r=.19, p>.05)和倒背数字任务(r=.05, p>.05)之间不存在显著相关。研究表明,在具有干扰情况的任务更能有效预测数学成绩,数学学习困难的认知缺损主要是对抗干扰的能力不足,而非简单的短时记忆广度。     

元记忆监测研究综述

元记忆监测是元记忆能力的重要部分,元记忆监测能力是元记忆能力的关键。近年来元记忆监测引起越来越多人的研究兴趣,这种研究兴趣渗透到心理学的不同领域,如记忆心理学、认知神经心理学和社会心理学等。本文探讨了元记忆监测的含义、类型、机制理论和研究方法,也指出了存在的问题并进行了展望。