A short note on the maximal point‐biserial correlation under non‐normality

The aim of this paper is to derive the maximal point‐biserial correlation under non‐normality. Several widely used non‐normal distributions are considered, namely the uniform distribution, t‐distribution, exponential distribution, and a mixture of two normal distributions. Results show that the maximal point‐biserial correlation, depending on the non‐normal continuous variable underlying the binary manifest variable, may not be a function of p (the probability that the dichotomous variable takes the value 1), can be symmetric or non‐symmetric around p = .5, and may still lie in the range from ?1.0 to 1.0. Therefore researchers should exercise caution when they interpret their sample point‐biserial correlation coefficients based on popular beliefs that the maximal point‐biserial correlation is always smaller than 1, and that the size of the correlation is always further restricted as p deviates from .5.     

Students' online collaborative intention for group projects: Evidence from an extended version of the theory of planned behaviour

Given the increasing use of web technology for teaching and learning, this study developed and examined an extended version of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) model, which explained students' intention to collaborate online for their group projects. Results indicated that past experience predicted the three antecedents of intention, while past behaviour was predictive of subjective norm and perceived behavioural control. Moreover, the three antecedents (attitude towards e‐collaboration, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control) were found to significantly predict e‐collaborative intention. This study explored the use of the “remember” type of awareness (i.e. past experience) and evaluated the value of the “know” type of awareness (i.e. past behaviour) in the TPB model.     

Factors Related to Use of Mental Health Services by Immigrant Children

Journal of Child and Family Studies - This study examined factors in immigrant children’s use of mental health services. Employed data described 4873 immigrant parents and children...     

Family Caregiver’s Positive,Negative, and Ambivalent Feelings Towards Stroke Survivors: Association with Psychological Well-Being

Applied Research in Quality of Life - Ambivalence is the simultaneous experience of positive and negative feelings toward a specific person. Recent research suggested ambivalence is negatively...     

Belief in a just world and organisational loyalty: Trust as an underlying mechanism

This research examined whether employees' personal belief in a just world (BJW) is associated with their organisational loyalty and whether this relationship is statistically mediated by organisational trust. To test these hypotheses, we conducted two studies with employees from China (study 1, N = 314) and Germany (study 2, N = 189). The results from both studies supported the proposed model. In addition, study 2 revealed that the relationship between BJW and organisational loyalty persisted when controlling for global personality traits. These suggest that managers and organisations may increase employees' loyalty by providing an environment that fosters their sense of justice and trust.     

"癌症-污染"的认知与风险应对——基于若干"癌症村"的经验研究

目前医学上尚难认定"癌症村"中的"癌症一污染"关系.但在现实中,"癌症村"作为社会事实已经存在并持续影响了村民的生活.对所选浙江、江西、广东四个"癌症村"进行实地调查,并结合自然科学的研究成果,讨论村民对"癌症"、污染及"癌症一污染"关系的认识及健康风险应对.虽然村民对外源性污染敏锐感知、对癌症高发极度担忧和敏感,但村民对"癌症一污染"关系的认识受外部认识的影响比较大,处于认知"连续谱"的两极之间.政府及相关部门难于在短期内消除因污染而致的健康风险,所以应对健康风险已是村民日常生活中的紧迫实践.他们尝试通过消除污染源、迁离污染源、改变水源、改变食物来源等办法规避健康风险.在风险应对过程中,经济因素影响其环境行动的强度及策略,也衍生出其它社会行动.更进一步,村民的风险应对往往嵌于乡村宗族势力、地方"绅权"及"单位制"遗存等社会结构中.     

技能性知识与体知合一的认识论

近年来,现象学、科学知识社会学以及关于人工智能的哲学研究对传统科学认识论提出了挑战。这些研究成果虽然主旨各不相同,但都不约而同地涉及到关于技能性知识(skillful knowledge)的讨     

几何图形类比推理的ERP研究

该研究以几何图形作为实验材料,测定14名硕士研究生在完成两种类比推理任务（大小变化和颜色变化）和其基线任务时的事件相关电位（ERP）,探讨类比推理过程的脑内时程动态变化。研究发现,两种推理任务所诱发的波形基本一致,而推理任务与其基线任务之间的ERP波形存在显著差异,两种基线任务之间的ERP波形也存在显著差异;类比推理的加工过程是有阶段性的,即编码潍断、映射、得出结论,研究结果进一步支持了Sternberg的成分理论;推断和映射这两个类比推理所特有的加工阶段都有其对应的脑机制,图式推断阶段主要激活的是前额皮层和双侧的顶叶皮层,类比映射和调整阶段主要激活的是左半球的颞叶、额叶和中央顶。     

The psychological consequence of experiencing shame: Self-sufficiency and mood-repair

Studies in social psychology and clinical psychology have demonstrated that shame is associated with social disengagement. We incorporated self-sufficiency with the mood-repair hypothesis from the feelings-as-information perspective to provide viable explanations for the psychological consequence of shame, suggesting that the mood-repair goal primed by shame is an inclination to behave self-sufficiently. In Study 1a and 1b, shamed participants preferred to work and play alone compared with control participants. Specifically, participants who were induced to feel ashamed were less likely to perform a task with a co-worker than were no-shame-prime participants. Furthermore, participants experiencing shame chose more individually focused leisure activities than did participants in a neutral mood. In Study 2, participants experiencing shame worked longer on an unsolvable task than control participants did before requesting help, suggesting that shame increased the tendency to be independent. Based on these results, we concluded that experiencing shame was associated with an increased tendency to behave self-sufficiently and to exhibit an inclination toward passive avoidance and active independence in social relationships as a means of amending a threatened social self.