Hopes and cautions in implementing Bayesian structural equation modeling

Muthén and Asparouhov (2012) have proposed and demonstrated an approach to model specification and estimation in structural equation modeling (SEM) using Bayesian methods. Their contribution builds on previous work in this area by (a) focusing on the translation of conventional SEM models into a Bayesian framework wherein parameters fixed at zero in a conventional model can be respecified using small-variance priors and (b) implementing their approach in software that is widely accessible. We recognize potential benefits for applied researchers as discussed by Muthén and Asparouhov, and we also see a tradeoff in that effective use of the proposed approach introduces increased demands in terms of expertise of users to navigate new complexities in model specification, parameter estimation, and evaluation of results. We also raise cautions regarding the issues of model modification and model fit. Although we see significant potential value in the use of Bayesian SEM, we also believe that effective use will require an awareness of these complexities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved).     

初一学生数学学习的学科领域知识表征特点

学科领域知识由学理内容知识、认知过程知识和问题条件知识组成。本研究以529名七年级学生为被试,测查学生在数学学习中的学科领域知识表征特点,结果发现:(1)三种类型知识表征存在显著差异,学理内容知识表征水平最高,问题条件知识表征水平最低;(2)学优生的学科领域知识表征水平显著高于中等生和学困生;(3)认知过程知识表征、问题条件知识表征水平与数学学业成绩显著相关;(4)学生对学理内容知识重要性评价最高,问题条件知识最低。     

印度穆斯林种姓摭议

穆斯林种姓是印度乃至南亚地区的特殊历史文化现象,它形成于中世纪时的印度,经历一定的发展变化后,以一种隐性的方式呈现。从构成形式上来讲,印度穆斯林种姓依出身尊卑划分为阿什拉夫、阿吉拉夫和阿贾尔;各种姓集团也具有传统的印度教种姓制度的一些基本特征,即存在等级秩序、流行内婚的习俗、部分种姓与世袭的职业有传统的关联。印度穆斯林种姓与印度教种姓制度并不具有同等意义。种姓作为印度穆斯林社会关系的一部分,呈现出其自身的一些特点。从整体结构来看,印度穆斯林种姓分为两大部分,即源于穆斯林群体特有的等级关系和源于种姓制度的等级关系,因而体现出混合文化的特质。     

当代大学生婚恋观问卷的编制与验证

研究在文献分析、大学生访谈、专家反馈及理论建构的基础上,编制了大学生婚恋观初始问卷。研究者在50名大学生中征求了对于问卷内容的修改建议,对300名大学生实施了试测,进行了项目分析和探索性因素分析,初步确定出问卷的维度和项目。在正式测试中,将1608名大学生随机分成对等两组,分别进行了探索性和验证性因素分析。研究结果表明,大学生婚恋观问卷包含六个维度,分别为择偶条件、婚恋价值、情感需求、性爱道德、婚姻本质及夫妻地位。该问卷的六个维度与构想模型拟合较好,并具有良好的信度和效度指标,可以作为大学生婚恋观的测评工具。     

MIRT模型中多维能力及其相关矩阵估计的影响因素

多维项目反应理论因其模型本身的天然优势及其兼具因素分析与项目反应理论于一身的优点,而被广大研究者及应用者所重视.本研究在前人研究基础上,重点讨论MIRT多维能力及能力间相关矩阵的参数估计问题.研究采用Monte Carlo模拟方法进行,在三因素完全随机设计（4 ×3×3）下,使用MCMC算法,探讨测验维度数、维度间的相关大小和测验项目数三个因素对MIRT能力及其相关矩阵估计的影响.     

少数民族大学生文化疏离感调查

本研究在文献综述、谈话、开放式问卷调查的基础上,提出自己关于南部沿海少数民族大学生文化疏离感的理论假设,并在此基础上编制了少数民族大学生文化疏离感的初测问卷,经过初测和相应统计分析,形成正式问卷。最后使用该问卷对八所大学的500名畲族、壮族及其他少数民族大学生的文化疏离感进行调查研究,回收有效问卷398份。探索性因素因素分析结果表明,高职高专学生表现出与本科大学生不同的文化疏离感维度,分别是:文化束缚感、言语疏离感、文化执着感、文化认同感。这表明出地区、民族因素外,被试所接受的教育可能也是影响其疏离感及文化疏离感的重要因素。高职高专学生与大学生所在社会环境,个人特质及心理素质还是有一定的差距。通过方差分析,结果表明,文化疏离感各维度在学历、民族、性别主效应上有显著差异。     

面孔信任评价及其与信任倾向的关系

68名大学生对随机生成的300张面孔进行是否值得信任的评价,结果显示评价者对陌生面孔的初始信任程度不同,表明由结构特征所决定的面孔可信度的高低直接影响了评价者对其信任程度的高低。随后研究进一步考察了信任倾向与面孔信任评价间的关系,结果表明信任倾向与面孔信任评价间存在显著正相关,其中在"不值得信任面孔"评价中表现尤为显著。这些结果表明,面孔可信度和信任倾向两因素对于初始信任判断具有重要的影响作用。     

Do you see what I’m singing? Visuospatial movement biases pitch perception

The nature of the connection between musical and spatial processing is controversial. While pitch may be described in spatial terms such as “high” or “low”, it is unclear whether pitch and space are associated but separate dimensions or whether they share representational and processing resources. In the present study, we asked participants to judge whether a target vocal note was the same as (or different from) a preceding cue note. Importantly, target trials were presented as video clips where a singer sometimes gestured upward or downward while singing that target note, thus providing an alternative, concurrent source of spatial information. Our results show that pitch discrimination was significantly biased by the spatial movement in gesture, such that downward gestures made notes seem lower in pitch than they really were, and upward gestures made notes seem higher in pitch. These effects were eliminated by spatial memory load but preserved under verbal memory load conditions. Together, our findings suggest that pitch and space have a shared representation such that the mental representation of pitch is audiospatial in nature.     

Role of surface roughness in hysteresis during adhesive elastic contact

In experiments that involve contact with adhesion between two surfaces, as found in atomic force microscopy or nanoindentation, two distinct contact force (P) versus indentation-depth (h) curves are often measured depending on whether the indenter moves towards or away from the sample. The origin of this hysteresis is not well understood and is often attributed to moisture, plasticity or viscoelasticity. Here we report experiments which show that hysteresis can exist in the absence of these effects, and that its magnitude depends on surface roughness. We develop a theoretical model in which the hysteresis appears as the result of a series of surface instabilities, in which the contact area grows or recedes by a finite amount. The model can be used to estimate material properties from contact experiments even when the measured P–h curves are not unique.     

张商英三教“鼎足之不可缺一”的思想

北宋著名学者、政治家张商英当理学兴起之时,回应欧阳修、二程的批佛言论,主张儒释道三教融合、鼎足而立,不可缺一。认为三教均有补于治世。一定程度地看到儒家治世思想之流弊,提倡以佛法、道书济儒教之穷。从他一再把儒学称之为"吾儒"、"吾教"而言,表明他在一定程度上还是以儒为主来调和儒佛、融合三教的。