The eccentricity effect: Target eccentricity affects performance on conjunction searches

The serial pattern found for conjunction visual-search tasks has been attributed to covert attentional shifts, even though the possible contributions of target location have not been considered. To investigate the effect of target location on orientation × color conjunction searches, the target’s duration and its position in the display were manipulated. The display was present either until observers responded (Experiment 1), for 104 msec (Experiment 2), or for 62 msec (Experiment 3). Target eccentricity critically affected performance: A pronounced eccentricity effect was very similar for all three experiments; as eccentricity increased, reaction times and errors increased gradually. Furthermore, the set-size effect became more pronounced as target eccentricity increased, and the extent of the eccentricity effect increased for larger set sizes. In addition, according to stepwise regressions, target eccentricity as well as its interaction with set size were good predictors of performance. We suggest that these findings could be explained by spatial-resolution and lateral-inhibition factors. The serial self-terminating hypothesis for orientation × color conjunction searches was evaluated and rejected. We compared the eccentricity effect as well as the extent of the orientation asymmetry in these three conjunction experiments with those found in feature experiments (Carrasco & Katz, 1992). The roles of eye movements, spatial resolution, and covert attention in the eccentricity effect, as well as their implications, are discussed.     

Memory,Print Exposure,and Metacognition: Components of Reading in Chinese Children

This study examined the relative contributions of visual and verbal memory, metacognition about reading, and print exposure to reading comprehension among 100 Chinese fifth graders. The four concurrently measured componential skills were substantially associated with reading comprehension and reliably distinguished between good and poor readers. In a hierarchical regression, after controlling for the effects of verbal intelligence, both verbal and visual memory abilities predicted unique variance in reading comprehension. The distinctness of each memory skill underscores the existence of two unique memory processes in Chinese reading. Future research should examine the longitudinal contributions of these cognitive abilities to reading comprehension.     

Are preference reversals reduced when made explicit?

Previous research has shown that preferences for options, such as gambles, can reverse depending on the response mode. These preference reversals have been demonstrated when tasks were performed sequentially. That is, subjects completed one task before beginning another. In an attempt to eliminate preference reversals, we asked subjects to perform tasks simultaneously. That is, subjects made two types of responses for each pair of gambles before evaluating the next pair. In the condition with no financial incentives, preference reversal rates were slightly reduced. In another condition, subjects were paid for their participation and they were allowed to play a gamble with real monetary compensation. A gamble pair was randomly selected, and if a subject's responses in the two tasks were consistent for that pair, he or she was allowed to play the ‘preferred’ gamble. Otherwise, the experimenter selected the gamble from the pair. With these financial incentives, systematic preference reversals were eliminated for two of the three task combinations. Preference reversals continued to occur for attractiveness ratings versus selling prices, although, even for that pair of tasks, the reversal rate was significantly reduced. For all three task pairs, preference orders from the two tasks appeared to merge into more consistent orders.     

The Self-Consciousness Scale in Chinese College Students

Fenigstein, Scheier, and Buss's (1975) 3-factor model, Burnkrant and Page's (1984) 4-factor model, and Mittal and Balasubramanian's (1987) 5-factor model of the Self-Consciousness Scale (SCS) were tested using the revised SCS (Scheier & Carver, 1985b) on 2 convenience samples of 201 and 179 Chinese college students. Burnkrant and Page's (1984) 4-factor model showed superiority over the other 2 models in confirmatory factor analysis. It is concluded that the division of the private self-consciousness subscale is adequate, whereas the division of the public self-consciousness subscale is not justified.     

Approximation,Idealization, and Laws of Nature

Traditional theories construe approximate truth or truthlikeness as a measure of closeness to facts, singular facts, and idealization as an act of either assuming zero of otherwise very small differences from facts or imagining ideal conditions under which scientific laws are either approximately true or will be so when the conditions are relaxed. I first explain the serious but not insurmountable difficulties for the theories of approximation, and then argue that more serious and perhaps insurmountable difficulties for the theory of idealization force us to sever its close tie to approximation. This leads to an appreciation of lawlikeness as a measure of closeness to laws, which I argue is the real measure of idealization whose main purpose is to carve nature at its joints. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

关于健康社会性格的跨文化研究

社会性格作为国民素质的重要组成,其健康程度将直接影响精神文明建设的成效。本研究发现,当代人健康社会性格体系由五个因素构成,分别是：进取心、道德感、安定感、领导性与家庭性,为进一步深入探究,本研究采用跨文化方式,将日韩、欧美的参照样本与当代中国人进行比较研究,发现性别与国别因素对于五个因素中的若干项具有显著性影响,体现出跨文化差异性。本研究对于成功塑造跨世纪中国人健康社会性格将具有积极的理论与实践意义。     

抚养困难与教养行为的关系及其调节因素

本研究考察了567名2-5岁幼儿母亲的抚养困难与教养行为的关系,并进一步探讨了在高抚养困难情景下母亲教养行为的可能调节因素.结果发现(1)幼儿母亲的抚养困难感受总分与其教养行为的各个侧面均有非常显著的相关,母亲抚养困难程度越高,则其敏感性、参与性、积极情感及对儿童发展的指导性均较低,而其对儿童的消极情感较多;(2)回归分析表明,来自儿童侧面的"积极强化缺乏"、"多动/注意分散"、"不良心境"与"过度要求"以及来自母亲侧面的"缺乏依恋"、"缺乏能力感"等方面的抚养困难是预测母亲教养行为的重要因素;(3)在母亲抚养困难较高的情况下,夫妻双方的受教育水平分别对母亲教养行为的一些侧面具有调节作用.     

婴儿客体永久性发展机制的研究

客体永久性是婴儿早期发展中一项重要的心理能力,本研究以２０８名８－１１个月的婴儿为被试,采用实验法和访谈法探讨了婴儿客体永久性的发展机制及其发展趋势问题。结果表明：１）我国婴儿的爬行与其客体永久性的发展无直接关系,支持了爬行对婴儿客体永久性发展的作用可能来自爬行经验而不是爬行动作的假设：２）我国婴儿的客体永久性随年龄增长而持续发展,提示爬行并不是客体永久性发展的唯一途径,爬行不能发挥作用时,婴儿的客体永久性可以通过其它途径得到发展;３）在８－１１个月间,我国婴儿的客体永久性达到了阶段Ⅳ水平,８个月的婴儿已经具备了初步的客体永久性。从发展速度来看,婴儿的客体永久性在８、９个月间发展较为迅速,出现了显著的发展性变化,在９－１１个月间没有显著的差异。     

8─11个月婴儿迂回行为发展特点与学习能力的研究

采用程序标准化的婴儿迂回行为测验,探讨了２４４名８─１１个月婴儿的迂回行为发展特点及学习能力。结果表明：（１）８─１１个月婴儿的迂回行为水平表现出随婴儿月龄的增长而提高的趋势。（２）８─１１个月的婴儿具有从反复尝试中学会迂回行为的可能性,其中９、１０个月婴儿的学习可能性较大,而８个月婴儿的学习可能性较小。（３）８──１１个月婴儿的学习速度随月龄增大而提高     

用多元概化理论对普通话的测试

用多元概化理论 (MGT)研究了国家语委编制的普通话测验。在G研究中 ,利用香港人普通话测试的数据 ,估计了引起分数变异的各种来源的方差与协方差分量。在D研究中 ,首先估计了该测验 3个部分的全域分数和各自的概化系数等技术指标 ,然后估计了全域合成分数及其概化系数、信噪比等指标。结果表明 ,该测验的信度从总体上讲是较高的 ,把三个部分的全域分数进行合成也是合理的 ,但从细节上看其第 3部分的信度较低。另外 ,当评分者个数为 3、试题数量为 2 8时 ,测验的第 1、2部分的信度已经较高 ,因此 ,在实测时减少这两部分的题量并不会有太大问题